https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-96-Seeking-Mountains-and-Scrying-Turtle-Breath-and-Transformation/12553931/
Chapter 95: The Demon Catcher's Gift
Chapter 95: The Demon Catcher's Gift
"What is this?"
Shen Yi loosened the sheath of his dagger, having already guessed what it might be.
Sure enough, Ah Qian's voice took on a teasing tone:
"A demon catcher's waist token."
"Demon catcher..." Shen Yi had heard this title more than once and had even seen a few of them on Green Peak Mountain.
"They search far and wide for demon traces, operating outside the bounds of the Demon Suppression Bureau. They listen to orders but not summons, that's a demon catcher for you."
Jiang Chengyun stepped slowly into the room, his expression neutral, tucking the silver bell at his waist into his cloth belt as he did so.
Listening to orders but not summons.
While they might carry out the Bureau's directives, no one could interfere with their methods, giving them the utmost autonomy. They were only concerned with results, regardless of the process.
This freedom from interference extended even to the generals.
And it was a choice to act; if they felt they had more important matters to attend to, or if they simply felt lazy, they could just as easily ignore the call.
This applied both externally and internally—within their ranks, they were distinguished by copper, silver, and gold bells, but even a gold bell demon catcher couldn't give orders to one with a copper bell.
Such lax rules indicated the empire's unconditional trust in them.
To join their ranks, one had to be at least a deputy commander, but they also assessed core intelligence, personality, and strength.
"What are the benefits?" Shen Yi withdrew his gaze.
At this, Jiang Chengyun bit his teeth slightly, while Ah Qian laughed and covered her belly, leaning back in her chair. "Demon catchers have direct access to the imperial court. Whatever you desire, as long as the Great Qian Empire has it, we can get it... Plus, we don't have as many pesky rules as the Demon Suppression Bureau."
"We only care about one thing."
Ah Qian held up two fingers. "How many demon traces you can collect or demon heads you can bring back."
Jiang Chengyun glanced at his grandmother's fingers helplessly and added in a low voice, "You'll also gain access to the largest intelligence network in Qingzhou. Of course, you'll be a part of that network yourself."
Ah Qian jingled her bell again. "You can leave messages anywhere with this. Anyone with a similar bell, from deputy commanders upward, can receive them if they're within a hundred li, and they can communicate with each other using these bells... But if you want to use it to woo girls, that's fine too."
"Additionally, you can store some items in it temporarily for self-defense."
Ah Qian propped herself up on the table again and slowly pushed the silver bell toward him. "It contains stealth techniques, shape-shifting techniques, and qi-sensing techniques. There's also a little gift from me, Ah Qian. According to General Chen, you seem to have a particular liking for this kind of thing. Big brother, do you need to think about it?"
A smile played at the corners of her delicate face, but it seemed somewhat odd. Jiang Chengyun, too, narrowed his eyes, looking at Shen Yi.
The two of them had just outlined a tempting set of benefits.
But anyone who wasn't a fool would know that accepting this bell would also mean facing immense risks.
A silver bell demon catcher's status would never be lower than that of a deputy commander, but their situations were at opposite extremes.
If the members of the Demon Suppression Bureau were like people gingerly walking through a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, then the demon catchers were arrogant madmen dancing barefoot on knife edges.
While they had the capital to be arrogant, the old saying still held true—if you hang around the riverbank long enough, your shoes are bound to get wet eventually.
In other words, their shoes were never truly clean.
"I think I'll pass."
Under their watchful eyes, Shen Yi casually picked up the bell, his gaze calm as if it were truly just an ordinary trinket.
"..."
Seeing this, Ah Qian and Jiang Chengyun exchanged a glance.
Such nonchalance. Such indifference.
If this youth in ink-colored robes wasn't an idiot who didn't understand what they were offering, then it could only mean one thing.
His arrogance had even exceeded Ah Qian's expectations!
"Are you sure?"
Ah Qian lifted her wrist and jingled the delicate golden bell on it. "Here, trade with me."
Watching the bell sway, Jiang Chengyun's drooping eyes lit up with fervor. In all of Qingzhou, there were only three of these golden bells, each representing a figure comparable to a Grand Demon Catcher.
In other words, the twelve Grand Demon Catchers, along with the three golden bell demon catchers, comprised a total of fifteen Core Formation experts—the pinnacle powerhouses of Qingzhou, excluding the Generalissimo.
But soon, Jiang Chengyun concealed his fervor. "Never mind. Let's talk about it again after you've passed away and I've achieved a perfect Golden Core. Then, when I officially step into the Core Formation stage, we can discuss it."
"Sure, whatever." Ah Qian rolled her eyes. "What's the use of a broken bell, anyway? Anything Chen Qiankun can offer, I can offer too. The real skill is in collecting enough demonic energy and heart-tip blood essence to exchange for precious elixirs and martial arts techniques."
"Does he have that ability?" Jiang Chengyun asked, puzzled.
Ah Qian stopped in her tracks, looking at him as if he were foolish. "No, I mean, do you really expect someone at the Jade Liquid stage to accomplish much? It's just a way to boost his morale. Tracking down and slaying demons is your job; his job is to work hard and grow stronger."
The two walked on.
In the quiet room of the separate courtyard, Shen Yi sat back down on the bed and took out the silver bell, his eyes filled with confusion.
Lately, his luck had been extraordinary.
All he had done was stay quietly in his room, and then two people had suddenly appeared, offering him intelligence, treasure, and a host of self-defense techniques.
That girl's mischievous smile had almost made Shen Yi nervous.
And the final price for all this was... nothing? Slaying demons alone was something he had planned to do anyway.
"How bizarre," Shen Yi muttered, shaking his head.
He tried infusing the bell with his qi.
Immediately, it was as if he had entered a state of inner sight, and several items appeared before his eyes.
There were several secret manuals detailing various techniques.
And there was also the little gift Ah Qian had mentioned.
It was a Condensation Pill, quietly resting in the bell.
(End of Chapter)
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