Volume Two: The Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture Chapter 168: The Great Mountains of the Northern Frontier

"Master Jiu, I am still taking a loss here. We clearly agreed that I would get twenty-five thousand taels," the large black dog complained, still feeling cheated.

"Is your life more important, or are twenty-five thousand taels more important?" Lu Jiuzhang asked. "If I hadn't brought in a few experts, you would probably have already gone to be reincarnated. Would you have anywhere to spend all that silver then?"

"This..."

The large black dog found itself completely unable to refute.

"Let's split it this way. If you don't like it, you can take zero taels of silver," Lu Jiuzhang said.

"Sigh!"

The large black dog let out a long sigh; it had no other choice.

Only then did Bai Xiaosu, standing to the side, react. "Master Jiu, were you and Blackie just acting earlier?"

She had stayed in the relic world for far too long, and moreover, she had remained in a sealed state throughout.

She was somewhat out of touch with the outside world.

This was simply terrifying!

With just a wave of their hands and a casual demeanor, several martial artists had lost their lives.

Rank Seven martial artists were hardly weaklings even within the relic world, yet they had perished just like that.

"Little sister, you're still young, so you have a lot to learn! The world is too chaotic, and if you want to protect yourself, you have to learn how to deceive people," the large black dog said. "If you don't deceive others, others will deceive you!"

"Oh!"

Bai Xiaosu nodded heavily.

With the matter more or less resolved, the next order of business concerned the one-armed ruffian.

Lu Jiuzhang looked over at him. The one-armed ruffian hurriedly knelt on the ground and cried, "Master Jiu, I was wrong! I shouldn't have let greed blind my heart. Please spare my humble life!"

"I will never dare do it again!"

The one-armed ruffian wept as he begged for mercy.

"Originally, I intended to take this cheap life of yours long ago. As a bandit, how many innocent lives have you ruined? I only kept you alive until now in order to bring down Prefect Wang!"

"This time... I will spare your life once more, but I cannot let you go entirely unpunished. Cut off one of your own legs. Once your leg is broken, you won't be able to run around stirring up trouble anymore!"

"Are you satisfied with this outcome?"

Lu Jiuzhang asked.

"Satisfied, extremely satisfied! Master Jiu, you are the greatest benevolent benefactor in the world!" The one-armed ruffian shed tears of gratitude; regardless of the cost, his life had at least been preserved.

To live in ignominy is better than a noble death!

The one-armed ruffian declared, "I won't trouble Master Jiu and Blackie; I'll do it myself!"

Picking up the saber from the ground, he brought it down relentlessly...

***

Early Summer, the fifteenth day.

It is auspicious for forming alliances, praying for blessings, and offering sacrifices; it is inauspicious for opening businesses or conducting burials!

In the early morning, Lu Jiuzhang headed to the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Office.

Accompanying Lu Jiuzhang was the large black dog.

As for Bai Xiaosu and the one-armed ruffian, they remained behind in Guard Mo's residence.

Although he had been in Anxi Prefecture for quite some time, this was Lu Jiuzhang's first visit to the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Office.

Unlike the Changshui County Demon Suppression Office, the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Office covered an immensely vast area.

At the entrance stood the skeletal remains of two demonic beasts.

Those beasts had been immensely powerful, exuding a faint, oppressive aura.

Merely approaching them made Lu Jiuzhang feel his pressure multiply.

With a thought, he mobilized his Confucian vital energy to shield his body, and only then did Lu Jiuzhang feel significantly relieved.

As for the large black dog, it was a divine beast by nature with an extremely noble bloodline.

The oppressive aura of these demonic beasts could not cause it any trouble whatsoever.

Two attendants were on duty at the entrance of the Demon Suppression Office.

"Lu Jiuzhang, Demon Suppression Envoy of the Changshui County Demon Suppression Office, has come here upon the orders of Director Chen Xuanfeng," Lu Jiuzhang announced.

"Wait a moment!"

One of the attendants pushed open the door and stepped inside, presumably to verify the matter with Chen Xuanfeng.

After about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, the attendant emerged.

Chen Xuanfeng followed closely behind the attendant and came to the front gate to welcome Lu Jiuzhang.

The two men and one dog entered the prefectural city's Demon Suppression Office together.

"Director Chen, what are those skeletal remains at the entrance?" Lu Jiuzhang asked.

"Those are the bones of a Rank Five demonic beast, the Dark Gold Lion,"

Chen Xuanfeng introduced, "These bones have stood here for over a hundred years. More than a century ago, the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Office produced a prodigy whose martial arts cultivation progressed rapidly. With his own strength, he slew a pair of Rank Five demonic beasts, then stripped them of their tendons and peeled their hides, placing their skeletons right here."

The skeleton of a Rank Five demonic beast—no wonder it was so imposing!

Lu Jiuzhang nodded in acknowledgment.

"The Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Office is massive, and there are many powerful experts within. Once you enter, speak less and listen more," Chen Xuanfeng exhorted. "First, complete the task of subduing the demons, and make sure no mistakes occur along the way."

"There are many restricted areas inside; do not wander around randomly, and stay close behind me."

Chen Xuanfeng led the way forward, with Lu Jiuzhang and the large black dog following closely behind step by step.

The Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Office was indeed extraordinary, its interior layout brimming with solemn majesty.

The architectural style was predominantly black, giving it a somewhat gloomy appearance.

Chen Xuanfeng walked ahead the entire time, eventually bringing Lu Jiuzhang to a place resembling a martial arts arena.

A dense crowd of people stood here, numbering at least several hundred.

These hundreds of martial artists were divided into two distinct camps, standing apart with clear boundaries.

One camp consisted of personnel from the prefectural city's Demon Suppression Office, while the other comprised the assembled personnel from the county-level Demon Suppression Offices.

Chen Xuanfeng led Lu Jiuzhang into the ranks of the county-level Demon Suppression Office.

After a short while, an elderly man dressed in purple robes and wearing a scholar's scarf stepped forward.

The aura emanating from the old man was intensely formidable, seemingly reaching the ultimate peak of a Rank Seven martial artist, or perhaps even breaking through into the realm of Rank Six martial artists.

"Several months ago, this old man gathered personnel from both the county-level and prefectural-level Demon Suppression Offices to head outside the city and suppress demons. I thought the mission was accomplished with great success, but unfortunately, the traces of demonic beasts have surfaced once again, and they are even more rampant than before."

"For the safety of the people of Anxi Prefecture, after seeking the opinions of Prefect Xu and the Beilu County Demon Suppression Office, this old man is organizing another demon suppression campaign. This time, we must wipe those demonic beasts out completely."

"Everyone, months ago I uttered a phrase—your stipends and salaries are the fat and grease of the common people; the lower subjects are easy to oppress, but the heavens are hard to deceive. I have also heard it said—he who partakes of the ruler's bounty must share the ruler's burdens!"

"You all draw your salaries and enjoy the grace of the new Emperor; it is only proper that you solve problems and relieve worries for the new Emperor and the people of Anxi Prefecture."

"This demon suppression campaign will be led by Deputy Director Xu of the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Office. With demonic unrest flaring up everywhere, this old man must make a trip to Beilu County to handle critical affairs there."

"..."

Following a lengthy and tedious speech, the procession finally began to move.

Lu Jiuzhang stayed close to Chen Xuanfeng's side.

Being the director of the county-level Demon Suppression Office, Chen Xuanfeng had his own independent carriage.

Lu Jiuzhang hitched a ride in his carriage as they headed outside the city.

The others were not nearly as fortunate.

Many people rode horses or crossbreeds between ordinary animals and demonic beasts, while numerous attendants walked on foot alongside them.

Inside the carriage, Lu Jiuzhang asked, "Director Chen, where are we heading for this demon suppression campaign?"

"The Northern Frontier Mountains!" Chen Xuanfeng replied. "The Northern Frontier Mountains form a massive mountain range stretching across multiple prefectures, and Beilu County lies deep within its heart."

"Among them, Anxi Prefecture, Beiwei Prefecture, Yangshan Prefecture, and several others border the Northern Frontier Mountains. These mountains are a paradise for demonic beasts; entrenched there like tumors, they are extremely difficult to eradicate."

"By the way, Changshui County also possesses a trailing spur of the Northern Frontier Mountains. The mountains behind the Three Virtues Manor are also a part of the Northern Frontier Mountains. However, because the spiritual energy there is sparse, very few demonic beasts reside there."