https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-89-The-Demon-Suppressor-Returns-to-Qingzhou/12553924/
Chapter 90: Lining the Streets
Chapter 90: Lining the Streets
Qingzhou City.
At the grand and imposing city gates, two rows of soldiers stood tall and straight, their hands gripping long spears.
In the distance, on the smooth and expansive official road outside the city gates, hundreds of riders on black horses approached like a dense dark cloud, their hoofbeats thundering.
The people of Qingzhou City were well-traveled, but it was rare for them to witness such a grand display from the Demon Subduing Force.
"So many of them?" They exclaimed, their eyes wide as they jostled in the long street.
"Psh, this is nothing. The main force is still behind, escorting the cargo," boasted a young man from a minor family, scoffing at the crowd's lack of knowledge. Compared to the top-tier forces, their existence was neither high nor low, and they would most likely end up joining the Demon Subduing Force. They had no personal connection to the destruction of Qingfeng Mountain, so they didn't share the same emotions as those affected.
To them, whether it was a top-tier force or the Demon Subduing Force, they were equally unattainable.
The Lee siblings stood in the crowd, their faces somber.
Lee Xin Han never imagined that while he was injured for a few days, his older sister would send Shen Yi to Qingfeng Mountain. That was a place where even the deputy generals didn't dare claim they could return unscathed, let alone Shen Yi.
He knew that Shen Yi had once slain a late-stage Jade Liquid Realm river demon, even if the demon was in a weakened state at the time. It was still an accomplishment that inspired respect.
However, he had also heard that the reward Shen Yi chose was the Wind, Thunder, Melt, Sun manual... If it really was a battle that wiped out Qingfeng Mountain, even a few killing moves from an Initial Realm cultivator would be far less useful than having a higher cultivation realm and a better chance of survival.
In such a brutal battle, what was needed more than sharp weapons was thick skin, quick reflexes, and a deep and enduring Qi.
"...”
Lee Mu Jin remained silent, offering no explanation for what had happened that night. She just stared silently at the city gates.
Her hand, hidden within her wide sleeves, clenched slightly.
The first to return were likely the captains and deputy generals who had been temporarily reassigned. After all, they didn't have to deal with the aftermath.
If Shen Yi was still alive, he would most likely be among them.
Even Lee Mu Jin didn't know what she was hoping to see.
A badly injured Shen Yi?
Did she want to prove that his choice that day was foolish? That his impulsive decision to return the manual was reckless?
She bit her lip slightly, hoping that Shen Yi had returned safely.
What was the point of arguing over a moment's pride when it was nothing compared to the debt she owed him for saving her life?
But the chances of that were slim.
With even the Qingfeng Sect destroyed, one could only imagine the severity of the battle. A second-order captain who was forcibly reassigned would likely be pushed to the front lines to weaken the sect's disciples.
"Whoa!"
As the riders pulled on their reins, the hundreds of demonic horses came to a simultaneous stop.
The endless stream of black-clad figures dismounted.
It was a rule set by the commander of the Demon Subduing Force himself: unless there was an emergency, the captains and deputy generals were not allowed to ride their horses within Qingzhou City.
Anyone who disobeyed would not only have their salaries docked but would also be punished with a lashing.
The crowd pushed forward again, and even the young masters and mistresses of the aristocratic families couldn't help but get excited. "Can we see General Chen?"
"There! General Chen Qiankun!"
Someone shouted and pointed outside the gates, and countless eyes followed his finger like a surging tide.
With all the black-clad riders having dismounted, one figure stood out.
A group of Golden Eagle Captains walked slowly into the city, their eyes cold and indifferent as they quickly cleared a path.
Several deputy generals, cloaked in large capes, surrounded a demonic horse.
On the back of the tall and sturdy demonic horse sat a handsome young man, his hand holding the reins. His black robe hung loosely on his slender frame, fluttering in the wind.
His face was fair, his eyes clear and unblinking, his nose straight, and his thin lips pressed together, giving him a slight air of sternness, accentuated by the black sword at his waist.
As the horse's hooves clopped on the ground, even without the Golden Eagle Captains guarding him, the crowd unconsciously took a few steps back.
"Damn, General Chen isn't that handsome... I mean, young," some of the young men muttered in disappointment, pushing back the one who had shouted earlier. However, the young women continued to stare at his face, seemingly satisfied even if he wasn't General Chen.
The captains cleared the way for him, and the deputy generals guarded him and led his horse—one could guess his status from this treatment alone.
In the crowd, the Lee siblings suddenly found themselves breathing faster.
Lee Xin Han looked at the two cloud patterns on the man's sleeves, then at his familiar face, and slapped his own face twice. He turned to his sister, his eyes wide, and asked, "Am I seeing things?
The rider didn't even spare her a glance, let alone offer a mocking smile to ridicule her past arrogance when she had thought she could manipulate him with a mere document.
He just... calmly rode past.
"..."
"Hey, why the long face?" Hong Lei, walking beside the demonic horse, whispered in confusion, "We're the Demon Subduing Force, not tax collectors."
"I'm cool." Shen Yi's expression was blank as he stared at the empty space in front of him, his posture slightly stiff.
He discreetly wiped the sweat from his palms on the horse's mane.
Hong Lei noticed his small movement and twisted his mouth. If it had been him riding the horse, he would have been waving left and right, drawing cheers from the crowd. That would have been worth it.
Finally, they managed to shake off the excited onlookers and arrived at the Demon Subduing Force headquarters. Shen Yi wasted no time in trying to dismount.
However, Hong Lei blocked his attempt by pressing his shoulder against Shen Yi's leg and gritting his teeth. "General Chen gave strict orders. If you try to get down before we reach the office, your legs will be broken."
"..."
...
At the same time, in the medical ward of the Demon Subduing Force headquarters, within a bamboo building that exuded a pure and clean aura.
Bai Zimin impatiently picked up a needle and pricked it into Fang Heng's arm, listening to his muffled groans as he clenched his teeth in pain. "If you keep causing trouble, next time I'll show you the needle technique my master obtained from the imperial court to subdue Nascent Soul realm cultivators."
"How much longer will it take? It's been so many days already."
Fang Heng lay on the bed, feeling the numbness in his arms, his mood growing restless.
"How interesting. You're wasting so much of my salary on treating your injuries, and now you don't even address me as Senior Brother." Bai Zimin smiled gently and then swiftly inserted over ten needles into Fang Heng's body.
Fang Heng's body arched like a carp, his veins popping out on his forehead, his teeth clenched so hard they almost cracked. "Senior Brother Bai... I'm really in a hurry... I need to go to Qingfeng Mountain..."
"If Master knew he had accepted such a useless disciple as you, tsk. A dignified martial arts master, and you've been rejected twice by the same person without even getting a chance to meet them. As your senior brother, you're still insisting on pursuing this?"
Bai Zimin shook his head and slowly withdrew the silver needles, placing them back into the flat needle box before tucking it into his embrace.
He straightened his clothes and said, "Let's go."
"Go where?" Fang Heng asked, confused as he lifted his head.
"To meet this captain who was ruthless enough to injure you so badly. I want to see how skilled he truly is."
Bai Zimin's eyes remained calm as he said, "While Senior Brother and Sister are away, he dared to treat you like this. If Senior Sister Jiang finds out, she'll think that I, Bai Zimin, have forgotten how to fight after turning to medicine these past few years."
"He's back? So soon?" Fang Heng sat up anxiously, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something. Finally, he sighed in disappointment and said, "Senior Brother, I made the first move."
"How badly did you lose?" Bai Zimin glanced at him, already guessing the outcome.
"I lost nine out of ten bouts." Fang Heng hung his head, and in response to Bai Zimin's confused look, he sighed. "I used all my strength, but he still slapped me to the ground with one palm strike."
"..."
Bai Zimin pretended to reach for his needle box. "I almost forgot, as a healer, I should be compassionate and not seek to be aggressive. I'll leave this matter to Senior Sister Jiang."
Fang Heng knew he was being teased and said helplessly, "If you were to fight him, Senior Brother Bai, you would definitely win. After all, your methods are so insidious. He may have some tempering body skills, but they are far from sufficient."
Both Shen Yi and Bai Zimin were experts capable of defeating him in one move. Shen Yi needed to be close, but Senior Brother Bai was a master of poisoned flying needles, extracting toxins from Jade Liquid demons and even possessing precious pills given to him by his master for self-defense. They were extremely deadly to ordinary warriors.
He was difficult to guard against and loved to sneak attack with a smile.
One second he would be greeting you, and the next, his flying needles would be upon you.
In comparison, Shen Yi seemed more like a true powerhouse, always giving Fang Heng the first move, but also making it easier for him to be at a disadvantage.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Bai Zimin was unbothered as he strode out of the bamboo building, his curiosity about the new captain truly piqued.
The two of them quickened their steps toward the foreign affairs hall.
As they approached, they saw a swarm of captains crowding the entrance, blocking it entirely.
(End of Chapter)
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