https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-159-Promoted-to-Grand-General-Meeting-the-Commander/12554207/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-161-Triumphant-Return-to-One-s-Hometown/12554209/
Chapter 160: Testing the Commander-in-Chief (A Leave of Absence)
Chapter 160: Testing the Commander-in-Chief (A Leave of Absence)
In the courtyard.
Jiang Yuanhua stood up and returned the salute, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. He then reached out and politely said, "General Shen, there's no need for formalities. Please, take a seat."
As the commander-in-chief of Qingzhou, it was quite unusual that he had never met the Demon-Subduing General under his command. This would certainly be considered a strange occurrence in any province.
Shen Yi glanced discreetly at You Longtao, and their eyes met.
"Go ahead and leave that bow with him for now," You Longtao said with a gentle smile, clearly understanding what was on the young man's mind.
"Thank you, General You," Shen Yi said, finally choosing a spot to sit down.
Jiang Yuanhua made some small talk and casually sized up the young man.
Most of what he knew about Shen Yi came from Lin Baiwei's praises and their discussion about duties the previous day.
From his disciple to the demon catchers, and even the other Demon-Subduing Generals, they all seemed to have some knowledge of this young man.
"I heard from Aqian that you're about to go to the capital for the Martial Temple training. You can travel with Qiuluan, and she can show you around the Martial Temple in the capital," Jiang Yuanhua said.
However, the girl under the big tree remained silent, her gaze fixed on the distance.
The commander-in-chief seemed accustomed to this scene, and the others present didn't find it unusual either.
"But before you leave, General Shen, I have one more favor to ask of you."
After discussing the arrangements for the trip to the capital, a hint of coldness crept into Jiang Yuanhua's voice. "My disciple may be incompetent, but she's not someone anyone can bully. I had intended to have Qiuluan take her there, but now that you've just taken office, I wonder if you would be willing to make a trip to Boyun County and remind that fox that it can't stay in Qingzhou as long as it wishes."
"This will also give the other generals a chance to see the capabilities of our newly appointed Demon-Subduing General."
It was necessary for a new general to establish their authority.
While it might not be realistic to expect the young general to slay another Nascent Soul great demon so soon, subduing or driving away a wandering demon would be a fitting test for the Demon-Subduing General.
You Longtao maintained his usual mild-mannered appearance.
With his master's cultivation, he didn't even need to leave the city. Just sitting here, he could make that old fox understand the severity of the situation.
Rather than wanting the other generals to see, it seemed that his master wanted to assess for himself the true capabilities of this highly praised young general.
Perhaps due to his guilt towards Jiang Yushi, his master's personality seemed to have changed a lot. He was not as stern as before, but deep down, he was still the commander-in-chief who trusted only his own judgment and ruled over a province.
He would never let anyone's words or actions influence his decisions, not even if Jiang Yushi vouched for them.
"You will set off for the capital in five days. Don't be late, General Shen," Jiang Yuanhua said with a slight nod.
"Yes, General Shen Yi," Shen Yi replied.
To enjoy higher treatment and gain access to better cultivation techniques and martial arts, one had to shoulder greater pressure.
Shen Yi remained unmoved and stood up to bid farewell with a bow.
Even after being away from Boyun County for so long, he still remembered the little fox demon he had cut down with the Four Harmonious True Yang.
Even without his master's order, he would have made a trip to the North Cliff once he had the time.
As the young man left the courtyard, You Longtao suddenly remembered something. "It seems he didn't even ask about his little junior sister."
Fang Heng poked his head out of the kitchen and confirmed, "Yes, he didn't ask."
...
In the deputy commander's courtyard.
Chen Jinyu rushed in, looking flustered, and knocked gently on the door. "Is General Shen in?"
Soon, the door quietly opened.
Unconsciously, the little girl held out the Ferocious Wolf Great Cloak that she had been carrying. "You forgot..."
Her words trailed off.
Chen Jinyu blinked, staring at the beautiful young woman in front of her in a daze.
The young woman casually took the cloak from her and habitually rearranged it, smoothing out the folds. Then, she said in a gentle voice, "General Shen is not here, but I'll make sure to pass it to him."
"Thank you, sister," Chen Jinyu said, realizing her boldness and quickly shifting her gaze from the young woman's pretty face. Even within the Demon-Subduing Office, she had never seen such a gentle and beautiful girl.
"It's so late. Have you eaten? Would you like to join me for a bite?" Lin Baiwei smiled warmly and gestured with her fingers, lightly tracing the wolf-swallowing pattern on the cloak. Even though it had been washed clean, a faint scent of demon blood still lingered.
Turning around, she sneaked a glance at the shadowy figure in the Xuanjia armor before scurrying out of the courtyard in a fluster.
"What was that about?" Shen Yi casually glanced at the little girl's retreating figure before stepping into the house.
He removed his scarlet cloak, which Lin Baiwei deftly took and hung up. She then pulled out a chair, saying, "Someone brought you clothes. Come and eat something; I'm starving."
On the table was a steaming pot of mutton stew.
Shen Yi sat down and asked curiously, "I heard you failed to condense your Core (Jindan)?"
"..." Lin Baiwei rolled her eyes and poked a piece of mutton with her chopsticks, placing it in his bowl. "After not seeing you for three months, you're still as annoying."
This time, there weren't as many eyes watching them.
Shen Yi finally had the opportunity to savor the somewhat disappointing last meal he had in Boyun County.
As expected, it was the familiar taste.
"Stop staring at me," Shen Yi said, taking a sip of the hot soup.
"I won't look then," Lin Baiwei replied, withdrawing her gaze. Although she had countless questions, she decided to finish her dinner first.
The two ate quickly, and soon, the pot was empty except for a little leftover broth.
Lin Baiwei happily wiped her lips and rubbed her slightly bulging stomach. "I thought that after becoming a general, your taste would become more refined."
"I've just been promoted, so I haven't had the chance to enjoy the perks yet," Shen Yi said as he got up and sat back on the edge of the bed.
"So, how did you become a general?" Lin Baiwei finally gave in to her curiosity and amazement. She could guess that Li Xinhan would never let Shen Yi go for a bath, but even if he had entered as a squad leader, it was impossible for him to be promoted to a Demon-Subduing General in such a short time.
"It's just like what happened back then," Shen Yi said calmly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Baiwei's thoughts flashed back to Boyun County. She remembered how he had left in the morning and returned at dusk, his clothes always stained with demon blood, and the hint of fatigue in his brows.
She now understood what Shen Yi meant. He had been promoted because of his demon-slaying exploits, which sounded simple, but it was unclear how many life-and-death crises he had faced to earn Old Master Chen's recommendation and Sister Jiang's trust.
Moreover, to catch the attention of other Demon-Subduing Generals, the demons he had slain must have been extraordinary.
No wonder the Grand General of Yang'an County suspected that Shen Yi was a powerful demon in disguise. His rapid improvement in cultivation was indeed astonishing.
Thinking of her own situation, Lin Baiwei felt a twinge of disappointment. "I wasted such a precious opportunity..."
Even though she had shown no signs of strangeness in front of her senior martial brothers, she now felt a hint of dejection beside Shen Yi, as he had seen her at her most vulnerable.
"It's because of my inferior aptitude," Shen Yi said with a slight shake of his head, offering some consolation.
Having experienced the challenges of his own inferior aptitude, he could empathize with her situation.
"..." Lin Baiwei was at a loss for words.
She looked at the youth's serious expression and suddenly felt her eyes sting. Her mood inexplicably lightened.
She didn't feel that he was mocking her. Shen Yi wouldn't waste his time on such trivial matters.
If her inferior aptitude was an objective fact, then she could only try her best to do what she could.
"So, General Shen, what are your plans now?" Lin Baiwei quickly adjusted her mindset.
Shen Yi took off his Xuanjia armor and lay down on the bed. "I'm going back to Boyun County."
Upon hearing this, Lin Baiwei suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "Is Master testing you with that old fox? Although its cultivation is not enough to reach the Core Formation realm, it's not a demon from the Great Qian Dynasty. Instead, it went to Qingqiu to learn its craft, and its abilities are cunning and unpredictable."
"If Sister Jiang went there in person, the fox would probably leave out of respect for her."
"But you've just been promoted to general, and it might not give you face..."
Hearing this, Shen Yi, propped his arms behind his head, did not refute.
He hadn't intended to rely on this set of Xuanjia armor to scare away the old fox.
(End of Chapter)
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