Chapter 90: Lining the Streets
Chapter 90: Lining the Streets
Qingzhou City.
At the majestic city gates, two rows of soldiers stood tall, holding long spears with unwavering posture.
From afar, on the wide and smooth official road outside the city, hundreds of riders in black shirts approached on horseback, like a dense dark cloud, their hoofbeats thundering like thunder.
The people of Qingzhou City had seen many things, but it was rare for them to witness such a grand display by the Demon Suppression Bureau.
"So many?" they exclaimed, their eyes wide as they crowded onto the long street.
"Tsk, this is nothing. The main force is still behind, responsible for escorting," said a young man from a small family, standing with his arms crossed, mocking the crowd for their lack of knowledge. Compared to the top-tier forces, their existence was neither high nor low, and in the future, they were likely to join the Demon Suppression Bureau. They didn't feel the same sense of loss as the Qingfeng Mountain's destruction.
To them, whether it was the top-tier forces or the Demon Suppression Bureau, they were equally unattainable.
The Li siblings stood in the crowd, their faces grim.
Li Xinhan never expected that in just a few days of his injury, his older sister would send Shen Yi to Qingfeng Mountain. Even the deputy commanders didn't dare to guarantee their safety there, let alone Shen Yi.
He knew that Shen Yi had once slain a late-stage Jade Dew Realm river demon, even though the demon was in poor condition at the time. It wasn't a task he could have completed, which made him admire Shen Yi.
But he had also heard about the reward Shen Yi received upon his return—the Wind and Thunder Melting Sun Scripture. If it were the battle to annihilate Qingfeng Mountain, even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator with a few deadly moves would have a lower chance of survival than those with higher cultivation.
In such a slaughterhouse, it was more about having tough skin and running fast, with a deep cultivation and solid foundation, than having sharp weapons.
"..."
Li Mujin didn't explain the situation that night. She silently stared at the area outside the city gates.
Her hand, hidden in the wide sleeves, clenched slightly.
The first to return were likely the captains and deputy commanders who had been temporarily reassigned, as they didn't have to deal with the aftermath.
If Shen Yi was still alive, he would most likely be among them.
Even Li Mujin didn't know what she was looking for.
A severely injured Shen Yi?
Did she want to prove that his choice that night was foolish? Or that his action of pushing back the document was reckless?
She bit her lip slightly; it would be better if he returned safely.
How could a momentary argument compare to the life-saving grace he had shown her?
But the chances were slim.
With even Qingfeng Mountain gone, one could imagine how intense the battle was. A Second Rank Warlord who was forcibly reassigned would likely be sent to weaken the sect's disciples.
"Huh!"
As the reins were pulled, hundreds of demonic horses came to a halt.
Countless black-robed figures dismounted one after another.
It was a rule set by the Commander-in-Chief of the Demon Suppression Bureau that, unless there was an emergency, the captains and deputy commanders were not allowed to ride horses within Qingzhou City.
Those who violated this rule would not only have their salaries docked but also be whipped.
The people rushed towards the city gates again, and even the young masters and young ladies from the aristocratic families couldn't help but get excited. "Can we see General Chen?"
"There! General Chen Qiankun!"
Someone shouted and pointed outside, and countless eyes, like a surging tide, followed his finger.
With all the black-robed riders dismounted, one figure stood out among them.
A group of Golden Eagle Captains slowly entered the city, their eyes cold and unblinking, quickly clearing a path.
Several deputy commanders, clad in silk cloaks, surrounded a demonic horse.
On the back of the tall and robust horse, a handsome young man held the reins, his black robe thin but standing tall, with sleeves fluttering in the wind.
His fair face, clear eyes, straight nose, and thin lips, paired with the black saber at his waist, gave off a slightly stern aura.
As the hoofbeats approached, even without the Golden Eagle Captains guarding, the surrounding crowd involuntarily stepped back.
"Damn, General Chen is not that handsome... I mean, young."
The young men were slightly disappointed, pushing back the person who had shouted earlier. The girls, however, continued to stare at his face, seemingly satisfied even if he wasn't General Chen.
With captains clearing the way and deputy commanders protecting and leading his horse, his status was undeniable.
In the crowd, the Li siblings suddenly started breathing rapidly.
Li Xinhan looked at the two cloud patterns on the man's sleeves and then at his familiar face. He slapped his face twice and turned to his sister, stunned. "Did I recognize him correctly?"
The Commander-in-Chief's rules were something he was more familiar with than anyone else.
After all, he had just been whipped not long ago.
"It shouldn't, no."
Li Mujin suppressed the slight tremor in his voice, raising his head to watch the tall horse pass by in front of him and gradually move away.
The other party didn't even spare him a glance.
Nor did he show the imagined mocking smile, ridiculing the arrogance he had displayed when he thought he could manipulate the other party with his documents.
Just like that... he calmly passed by.
"..."
"Hey, why are you looking so cold?"
Hong Lei followed beside the demon horse, speaking in a low voice with some confusion, "We're from the Demon Suppressing Bureau, not tax collectors."
"I'm being aloof."
Shen Yi's expression remained unchanged as he stared at the empty space ahead, appearing slightly stiff.
He quietly wiped the sweat stains from his palm on the horse's mane.
Hong Lei noticed his subtle movement and pouted. If it were him riding the horse, he would have waved his hands left and right continuously, drawing cheers, only then would it not be considered a waste.
Finally, after struggling through the excited crowd, they reached the Demon Suppressing Bureau. Shen Yi didn't hesitate to turn around, intending to dismount.
Just as he made a move, Hong Lei used his shoulder to firmly pin down his calf, gritting his teeth, "General Chen instructed that if we don't reach the office, and you dare to get down, your leg will be broken."
"..."
...
At the same time.
In the medical hall of the Demon Suppressing Bureau, within a simple and elegant bamboo building.
Bai Ziming irritably picked up a needle and pricked Fang Heng's arm, listening to his muffled hum as he clenched his teeth. He said indifferently, "If you continue to act recklessly, next time I'll demonstrate the Crystal Core Realm acupuncture technique that my master obtained from the court for me."
"It's been these many days, how much longer will it take?"
Fang Heng lay on the bed, feeling the numbness in his arms, his mood slightly agitated.
"Interesting, you're wasting so much of my salary on treating your injuries, and now you don't even call me Senior Brother."
Bai Ziming smiled gently, reaching out and inserting more than ten needles.
Fang Heng's entire body jumped like a carp, his forehead veins popping out, almost biting his teeth in pain, pleading, "Senior Brother Bai... I'm really anxious... I need to go to Qingfeng Mountain..."
"If Master knew he had accepted such a useless disciple as you, tsk, a dignified martial immortal, who hasn't even seen the other party's face and has been rejected twice in a row, and you, as his disciple, still want to go and grovel before others."
Bai Ziming shook his head, retrieving the silver needles one by one.
He stood up and patted his robe, "Let's go."
"Where to?" Fang Heng asked, raising his head in confusion.
"To see how capable this ruthless Captain really is."
Bai Ziming's eyes remained calm as he put the flat needle box into his bosom, "While Senior Brother and Sister are not at home, I'll beat you up like this. If Senior Sister Jiang finds out, she'll think that I, Bai, have forgotten how to fight after abandoning martial arts for medicine these past few years."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
