Chapter 99: The Demon Slayer Bureau
Chapter 99: The Demon Slayer Bureau
Dozens of city guard patrolmen escorted a carriage towards the City Guard Headquarters.
Xu Hongyu, wearing a straw hat and a veil that concealed her face, led the way, while Chen Mu and Xiao He followed by her side. Although she wasn't dressed in the official uniform of the Chief Magistrate, her presence was unmistakable to the passersby. They recognized Chen Mu as the Willow Grove Patrolman and, seeing their demeanor, could guess Xu Hongyu's identity, stepping aside with reverence.
Some onlookers secretly glanced at her, but the veil obscured her features, leaving them disappointed. After all, the Chief Magistrate of the Southern District was rumored to be as beautiful as a celestial, and this was a rare chance to catch a glimpse of her.
Along the way, Xiao He approached Chen Mu and whispered some matters to him. Chen Mu listened attentively, occasionally responding.
He glanced at the bustling streets they passed, and a sigh escaped his lips. In less than half a year since he took charge of Willow Grove, he was already leaving. The next patrolman would likely not govern with the same care for the common folk as he had.
Xiao He's thoughts were confirmed; Chen Mu was not one to cling to power.
Even without his current strength, he would have the confidence to do so. Whether as a regular patrolman or a Chief Magistrate, he would make the same choice: to follow Xu Hongyu to the inner city rather than stay in the outer city.
With He Mingxuan's death, the Southern District would be a place of turmoil and controversy for some time. Chen Mu had always tried to avoid such situations, and his actions thus far had been out of necessity.
Having been nurtured and promoted by Xu Hongyu, he naturally wanted to share her burdens and do his part. As a patrolman, he should also consider the welfare of the people under his jurisdiction, including covert actions to eliminate dangerous criminals and the inevitable conflict with the He family.
The position of Deputy Chief Magistrate offered little room for meaningful action.
Spending some time in the inner city would be appropriate, and he could also see more of Chen Yue. Although they had met recently, opportunities to meet had been scarce since Chen Yue left for the inner city to train in martial arts over a year ago. Despite his trust in the Yu Clan Martial Academy's teachings, he was more reassured by his personal cultivation.
In the past, he lacked this ability, but now, it was no problem.
Soon, the group arrived at the City Guard Headquarters.
The headquarters was bustling with activity. In addition to the original Southern District City Guard personnel, there were also members of the He family and a group from the Western District, along with He Guangzong, the Chief Magistrate.
Xu Hongyu, with a cold demeanor, entered the headquarters, paying no heed to the He family members or the Western District patrolmen. She directly summoned her Southern District subordinates and ordered them to take charge of the contraband goods Chen Mu had escorted, delivering them to the rear hall.
"The Chief Magistrate is certainly busy, issuing orders as soon as she returns."
He Guangzong descended the main building, accompanied by several Southern District patrolmen. He cast a cold glance at Xu Hongyu.
Xu Hongyu stood with her hands behind her back, maintaining her cool demeanor as she faced He Guangzong and the others. "Regarding my handling of the Southern District affairs, does He Guangzong have any opinions?"
He Guangzong replied in a calm tone, "One of your Deputy Chief Magistrates in the Southern District was mysteriously killed by evildoers at night. As the Chief Magistrate, do you have any explanation for this?"
Xu Hongyu retorted coldly, "He Mingxuan's association with the Black Cloud Bandits led to his death at the hands of villains. What does this have to do with the Southern District Headquarters? Moreover, He Guangzong, it seems, is not yet qualified to meddle in Southern District affairs."
"Hmph!"
He Guangzong's expression darkened at her words, and he coldly retorted, "You can't just make baseless accusations. As the Chief Magistrate of the Southern District, you claim my nephew associated with bandits. Without evidence, you slander him. Where is the law of the Great Xuan Dynasty?"
Xu Hongyu gave He Guangzong a dismissive glance. "I'm not interested in arguing with you. If you have any complaints, you can report them to Yan Guang. The Southern District is not under your jurisdiction, so please leave."
"..."
He Guangzong stared coldly at Xu Hongyu.
In his heart, however, he shook his head slightly.
Xu Hongyu's reaction seemed to confirm that she was indeed uninvolved in He Mingxuan's death and likely unaware of the circumstances. Although he had limited interactions with her, he knew that Xu Hongyu didn't possess deep cunning, merely putting on a cold exterior. Her words and reactions revealed no flaws, suggesting she truly had no connection to the matter.
He Guangzong shifted his gaze, casting a cold glance at Xiao He, then turned to Chen Mu. He appraised him up and down and said, "This must be Chen, the Willow Grove patrolman. Truly impartial and incorruptible."
"He Guangzong is too kind. I merely fulfill my duties."
Chen Mu responded indifferently.
"Hmph!"
He Guangzong coldly humphed and turned to leave without another word.
Behind him, Fu Linjiang and the other patrolmen exchanged glances before following He Guangzong. The situation was now clear to them; it was highly unlikely that Xu Hongyu would remain as the Chief Magistrate of the Southern District. Instead, someone from the He family would likely take over, and it was probable that He Guangzong himself would assume the role.
Although Xu Hongyu was still the Chief Magistrate, the current circumstances dictated that they would follow the He family.
Xu Hongyu observed Fu Linjiang and the others leaving with indifference.
She had never been interested in power struggles, and these men had always been loyal to He Mingxuan. Now, following He Guangzong, she had no desire to use her remaining authority to reprimand them.
Soon, after giving some instructions and arranging matters, the contraband goods were secured.
After packing their belongings, Xu Hongyu changed into her white flying fish robe and led Chen Mu and Xiao He into the inner city.
...
Chen Mu had been to the inner city numerous times before, but he had never wandered around or ventured deep into its heart. His visits were primarily to see Chen Yue at the Yu Clan Martial Academy.
This time, Xu Hongyu led them straight into the heart of the inner city.
The inner city of Yu City was divided into distinct sections, with the central area being the City Lord's Mansion, which also served as the Chief Government Office. All the government offices were located here.
Behind the central area was the vast residence of the Xue family, covering an expansive area.
The Xue family alone had several thousand members, and when including servants, maids, and followers, their population neared a staggering one hundred thousand, making them the largest group within the inner city.
The other major families, like the Xie and He families, had a population of merely tens of thousands, occupying different corners of the inner city.
Additionally, there were smaller families like the Ji and Fan clans, but they couldn't compare to the four major families. Most of these smaller families were affiliated with the four major ones, such as the Ji family, who were distant relatives of the Yu family through generations of intermarriage.
In a 1699 book, it was recorded that these families' influence far surpassed that of the Zheng and Nan families. The Zheng family's greatest aspiration was to enter the inner city and become an established family there, even becoming in-laws with the He family. However, this hope was dashed by Chen Mu.
As they approached the city center, the architecture became increasingly grand and solemn. The walls, made of green stone, stood two to three zhang tall, making it difficult even for well-trained martial artists to leap over. Inside, there were three to four-story buildings.
Each building was as grand and imposing as the General Office of the Southern District City Guard.
Along the way, there were guards stationed at regular intervals, and patrols were frequent.
These guards belonged to the City Guard Office of the inner city. They were not mere 'patrolmen' but more like 'elite soldiers.' Not only were they well-trained, but they also had undergone skin and muscle training, and wore iron armor. Even a small detachment of these soldiers could easily crush gangs like the Sand Dunes Gang in the outer city.
Soon, Xu Hongyu led Chen Mu and Xiao He to a group of buildings in the northern part of the central area.
It was a row of three-story buildings with a five-story tower in the center. Outside the buildings stood a tall green stone tablet with the three gilded characters 'Demon Slayer Bureau' inscribed on it.
"We're here. I'll go in first; you two wait here for a moment." Xu Hongyu instructed Chen Mu and Xiao He before stepping inside.
Demon Slayer Bureau! Chen Mu looked up at the stone tablet.
The gilded characters on the tablet seemed to possess a mystical power, and staring at them gave one a heart-pounding sensation, as if they were ablaze.
Chen Mu had heard much about the Demon Slayer Bureau. During the heyday of the Great Xuan Dynasty, it was one of the most powerful government offices, renowned for its numerous experts and elite heavy-armored troops like the Vermilion Bird Guard.
Wherever the Demon Slayer Bureau went, demons were slain. They had eliminated countless eighth and ninth-rank demonic beasts, and their authority surpassed that of all other government offices. When the Demon Slayer Bureau arrived, all other offices had to assist them to the best of their abilities.
Even though the Great Xuan Dynasty had declined, the Demon Slayer Bureau remained the top government office in Yu City. Led by the Xue family, it included powerful members from the Xie, He, and Yu families. Some members from smaller inner-city families and a few individuals who rose to prominence based on personal strength also served in the Demon Slayer Bureau.
The Demon Slayer Bureau's setup was a testament to its power.
It had a Supreme Commander, three Governors, and twelve Deputy Governors, each at the Bone Forging Realm or above. Even Xue Lin, who relied on the Xue family's influence to become a Deputy Governor, had firmly entered the Bone Forging Realm.
The Demon Slayer Bureau held a high position, primarily responsible for maintaining peace in Yu Prefecture. They would travel to wherever demons caused chaos and eliminate them.
Xu Hongyu, as the Chief Magistrate of the outer district, would go on demon-hunting missions under the Demon Slayer Bureau's name. Upon her return, she would first report to the Demon Slayer Bureau before heading to the City Guard Office.
The Demon Slayer Bureau had access to almost all the resources available in Yu City, including Sinew Transformation Pills, Bone Forging Pills, and even the Eight Aspects Intentional Diagram of Heaven and Earth. Here, only merit mattered, and nothing else.
Merit could be exchanged for everything.
However, entering the Demon Slayer Bureau was challenging. The minimum requirement was to have mastered the Perfect Meat Cultivation and Body Tempering Art, which meant that those who could serve as patrol commanders in the outer city were only considered low-ranking soldiers in the Demon Slayer Bureau.
For commoners to rise, the only path was to master the Body Tempering Art, cultivate one's power form, join the Demon Slayer Bureau, establish merit, and then exchange it for Sinew Transformation Pills or the opportunity to study the Intentional Diagram. It was a long and arduous climb.
This path was even more challenging now.
During the Great Xuan Dynasty's heyday, it was still possible, but nowadays, the Demon Slayer Bureau's positions were mostly controlled by the inner-city families. Moreover, the casualty rate among the lower-ranking soldiers was high. Fighting demons without reaching the Sinew Transformation Realm was extremely dangerous, and commoners without connections would often be sent on suicide missions.
(End of Chapter)
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