Chapter 13: Guyue Village

A short nap.

Shen Changqing had already woken up at the crack of dawn.

A year in the Demon Suppression Division had cultivated in him the habit of sleeping late and rising early.

In particular, the cultivation of the Pure Yang Technique required him to absorb the first wisp of purple qi from heaven and earth, which meant he could not afford to sleep in.

Routine cultivation.

Feeling that his Pure Yang Technique had grown a fraction stronger, a faint smile appeared on Shen Changqing's face.

Although there was still a significant gap before reaching the ninth stage, at least he had made some progress.

Suddenly.

His ears twitched slightly.

He stood up and opened the door.

As the door swung open, he saw Zhang Long, who had just raised his hand to knock.

"Lord Shen is up quite early!" The sudden opening of the door caused Zhang Long to freeze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Constable Zhang is also very early."

Shen Changqing smiled.

As he spoke, he walked to the table in his room and sat down.

"Please, have a seat as well, Constable Zhang!"

"Thank you, Lord Shen."

Zhang Long placed the item he was carrying with his other hand onto the table and sat down opposite Shen Changqing.

"Lord Shen likely hasn't eaten yet. These are some local specialties from Lin'an City; being far away in the capital, you might not have had the chance to taste them."

As he spoke, Zhang Long unwrapped the oiled paper, revealing several exquisitely crafted pastries. A light fragrance wafted from them, instinctively making one feel refreshed.

"You are very thoughtful, Constable Zhang."

Shen Changqing's smile deepened, prompting a slight smile from Zhang Long as well.

He picked up a pastry and took a light bite.

"Speaking of which, do you have any other views regarding the demons causing the recent disturbances?"

"I don't know much about demons. After all, I am just a lowly constable and do not have the standing to be involved in such matters."

Zhang Long shook his head. His expression remained largely unchanged when discussing the demons.

Afterward, Shen Changqing asked about several other matters, and Zhang Long was able to answer them all fluently.

For a time, the two engaged in a long conversation.

Setting down the pastry, Shen Changqing stood up.

"In that case, Constable Zhang, please lead the way so I can take a look at the site!"

"Lord Shen, aren't you going to eat?"

"No. Eating too much in the early morning is bad for digestion. I'll eat once the matter is handled."

"Uh—"

Zhang Long was momentarily stunned. Digestion? That felt a bit foreign.

But he didn't dwell on it.

Since Shen Changqing wanted to see it, it was only right that he accompany him.

After all, once the demons were dealt with, he and his men could finally get a peaceful night's sleep.

Walking along the streets.

Watching the flow of people, Shen Changqing couldn't help but smile. "While the prosperity of Lin'an City may not compare to the capital, it has its own unique charm. Staying here long-term would surely be a pleasant thing."

"If you like it, Lord Shen, you are welcome to visit Lin'an City often in the future," Zhang Long chimed in with a smile.

***

With Zhang Long leading the way, Shen Changqing followed him out of the city.

Ten miles outside the city.

It was not a very long distance.

However, once they left the city, the sense of prosperity vanished, replaced by a desolate, uninhabited atmosphere.

"Constable Zhang, where have the villagers from that village been relocated to?"

As Shen Changqing spoke, he glanced sideways at Zhang Long.

Hearing this, Zhang Long replied without hesitation, "Most of the villagers were relocated to nearby villages. Some with relatives in the city have moved into the city itself. For now, our main objective is to blockade the village where the demon appeared. We haven't placed many other restrictions."

"Lord Zhao is truly considerate of the people!"

"Lord Zhao has served as the County Magistrate of Lin'an for twenty years; he is indeed a good official. Over the years, whenever demons caused havoc, magistrates were replaced batch after batch, but only Lord Zhao has remained steadfast in his duties, undeterred by the calamities of demons."

When mentioning Zhao Fang, a look of admiration appeared on Zhang Long's face.

Shen Changqing nodded.

What the man said indeed made sense.

"Demons"—it was another way to refer to monsters and specters. Because specters were also called evil entities, the term "demons and evils" had emerged.

Before long, the two arrived in front of a paddy field. One could still see that the crops in the fields were lush and vibrant, yet they lacked a sense of vitality.

"Lord Shen, Gu Yue Village is just ahead," Zhang Long said in a heavy voice, pointing toward the village.

Gu Yue Village was the place where the demon had originally caused chaos.

Looking in the direction Zhang Long was pointing, Shen Changqing could see the houses clustered together in the distance.

Soon, they crossed the paddy fields and reached the entrance of the village, where a stone monument stood with the words "Gu Yue Village" inscribed upon it.

Besides the monument, six men dressed in bailiff uniforms were guarding the village entrance. Each of them looked extremely tense, glancing into the village from time to time as if a demon might burst out at any moment.

Even the midday sun provided little comfort.

"Constable Zhang!"

"Constable Zhang is here!"

Seeing Zhang Long and Shen Changqing arrive, the expressions of the bailiffs instantly relaxed.

With a solemn expression, Zhang Long introduced the man beside him to the bailiffs: "This is Lord Shen Changqing of the Demon Suppression Division. He has come specifically to eliminate the demon."

The Demon Suppression Division!

As expected, upon hearing the name, the bailiffs' expressions turned to awe. They bowed toward Shen Changqing: "Greetings, Lord Shen!"

Even though Shen Changqing looked quite young, they did not dare to be even slightly disrespectful.

The name "Demon Suppression Division" was a walking brand in the Great Qin.

No one who emerged from the Demon Suppression Division was ever a simple figure.

"Mm. Has anyone entered or exited the village so far?" Shen Changqing looked at the desolate scene within the village and turned his head toward one of the bailiffs.

Upon hearing the question, the bailiff felt an inexplicable surge of pressure.

"Reporting to Lord Shen, since the demon caused havoc, not a single person has entered or exited the village!"

"Alright, Lord Shen and I are aware of this. You may return to report your duties. Leave the rest to us," Zhang Long said, waving his hand with a hint of impatience.

"We shall take our leave!"

The bailiffs dared not say anything more and could only bow and retreat.

Only Shen Changqing and Zhang Long remained.

"Lord Shen, would you like to enter the village now, or wait for a certain time?"

"Since we are already here, let's go in and take a look now!"

With one hand hanging at his side and the other resting on his sword hilt, Shen Changqing strode into Gu Yue Village.

Seeing this, Zhang Long immediately followed him.

The moment they stepped into the bounds of Gu Yue Village, a faint, chilling coldness surged in from all directions.

As the chill struck, it immediately triggered the protective aura of his Pure Yang True Qi.