Shen Yi walked slowly to the courtyard outside the duty room.
There, he saw Butcher Zhang squatting on the stone steps, yawning repeatedly, looking utterly listless.
Noticing someone approaching, Butcher Zhang looked up and teased, "Why did it take you so long? Did you deliberately wait until the end to shock those officers?"
Hearing this, Shen Yi was slightly taken aback.
Seeing his expression, Butcher Zhang casually stood up and comforted him, "Hey, I had the same thought when I first joined the Vajra Sect. Unfortunately, these Demon-Suppression Division officers have traveled far and wide. They've seen it all. They wouldn't be awestruck just because someone is talented. Don't be disappointed."
If someone's talent were truly extraordinary, they wouldn't have left him to come alone.
"What are you talking about?" Shen Yi stopped in his tracks.
"..."
Butcher Zhang fell silent, finally becoming serious.
"Last night, just after the second watch, all the military personnel and officers were called to the west of the city. They've already finished selecting people and are now giving instructions at the yamen... Did they really leave you out?"
"These bastards, they really look down on people! I was hoping to follow you back to Qingzhou to visit an old friend!"
Butcher Zhang cursed a couple of times, then grabbed Shen Yi's arm and rushed toward the yamen.
The Demon-Suppression Division was always meticulous in their work.
It was unlikely they would simply overlook someone.
It was probably intentional.
Shen Yi's martial prowess, if he had grown up in Qingzhou, wouldn't be anything special.
But in Baiyun County, it was extremely rare and valuable.
If it weren't for the fact that he was under the imperial court's banner, no sect would have turned him away.
How could they treat him like this?
Although Shen Yi's expression remained calm, he was indeed puzzled inside.
He had thought of many possibilities, but he hadn't expected this.
At this moment, the yamen was empty, with only military guards stationed there.
Butcher Zhang barged in without a care, his robust martial skills making it impossible for the ordinary guards to stop him.
They stopped in front of the main hall.
Two young men in black robes with jade belts stood with their arms crossed.
The golden threads on their shoulders, depicting fierce wolves, added a touch of lethality.
They coldly said, "Halt."
Butcher Zhang obediently stopped, forcing a smile on his face.
"Officers, there's... there's still one more here."
No matter how fierce the Demon-Suppression Division was, they wouldn't attack without reason.
But seeing these black-robed figures, even though Butcher Zhang had done nothing wrong, he still felt a bit nervous.
He mustered his courage and gently nudged Shen Yi with his shoulder.
"What are you standing there for? Go in first."
"Tsk, I don't know what's so interesting about watching people get lectured."
Shifting his gaze from Butcher Zhang, one of the Demon-Suppression officers' cold expressions gradually softened.
He rolled his eyes at Shen Yi and said helplessly, "Instead of catching up on sleep at home, why come here to join the excitement? We're exhausted and still have to stand guard at the door. You're really something."
Old Liu wasn't carrying his sugar figurine stick today, and he had changed out of his patched old clothes.
He stepped aside to make way, muttering, "If you want to watch, go ahead, but don't get too close."
The Demon-Suppression officer's words clearly caught Butcher Zhang off guard.
He instinctively looked to the side.
Shen Yi seemed to be standing as obediently as he was, but there was no unusual expression in his eyes.
Do these two know each other?
Inside the main hall, Li Xinhan sat in the main seat, his eyes lightly closed, his expression cold and aloof.
Six well-built young men stood in a row, hands behind their backs, their bodies tense.
They were all dressed in yamen military uniforms.
The beggar, now also in uniform, looked completely different from the day before.
Though his features were plain, there was a certain vitality in his expression.
He slowly walked past the six men, his gaze landing on Chen Ji, who seemed distracted.
Suddenly, he kicked him.
Just as he was about to scold him, he looked up and saw the familiar figure at the door.
He opened his mouth but inexplicably lost the desire to continue.
With a lack of interest, he said, "Stand properly, don't daydream."
Seeing this, Old Liu could only smile wryly.
The usual routine when selecting new recruits was to first establish the mysterious and authoritative image of the Demon-Suppression Division in their minds, to suppress their arrogance.
But the beggar had just been kicked yesterday.
Now, seeing the real deal, how could he muster that kind of spirit?
"Eight hundred soldiers, over a hundred officers, and in the end, only six were chosen. And half of them will probably be sent back."
Butcher Zhang sighed.
Although it was only about a thousand people, these thousand were already the ones who could receive imperial salaries, meaning they had already been screened once.
At the very least, their physical condition was decent.
It was like selecting six people from the entire Baiyun County.
And even if they went to the Demon-Suppression Division, they would only serve as thugs trained through medicinal baths, with few opportunities to rise.
Those with cloud patterns on their sleeves were selected from a young age, each trained according to their strengths, far surpassing ordinary martial artists of the same level.
No other martial sect had this kind of foundation.
Li Xinhan finally opened his eyes, his tone devoid of emotion.
"Go back and pack your things. We leave for Qingzhou tomorrow. Each person can bring at most one family member or attendant. Report their names, and arrangements will be made. Personal belongings must not exceed eighty pounds."
Hearing this, the six men's tense bodies relaxed slightly.
Two of them were familiar faces.
Niu Da secretly scratched the side of his thigh, feeling conflicted.
"Only one person... Should I bring my brother to see the world... or my wife... My mother has no one to take care of her."
Chen Ji had trained hard for three years and finally showed his worth today.
Not only had he achieved some mastery in both sword and fist techniques, but he had also mastered the Eight Steps of the Spirit Snake.
The Wind and Thunder Manual was also showing signs of breaking through the first barrier.
Even the Demon-Suppression officers had given him a second glance.
He didn't have Niu Da's dilemma, as he had no other relatives besides his sister.
But Chen Ji still frowned tightly.
From the moment the soldiers called him out of his home until now, he hadn't seen Officer Shen.
Could he have overslept like usual?
At that moment, Li Xinhan slowly stood up.
He walked to the door.
Every movement exuded a powerful aura.
Butcher Zhang unconsciously took half a step back.
The forced smile he had given Old Liu earlier now held a bit more sincerity.
Those with three cloud patterns on their sleeves were almost all Jade Liquid Realm experts.
Each cloud pattern represented countless demon corpses.
Moreover, the man was so young.
Given time, he would undoubtedly become a lieutenant general guarding a region.
Just being glanced at by him made Butcher Zhang break out in a cold sweat.
Li Xinhan's hand reached toward his waist.
He quietly stared at Shen Yi in front of him.
His cold expression gradually twisted, a mix of conflict, jealousy, and confusion.
It was hard to imagine a person's face could simultaneously display so many emotions.
After a moment, Li Xinhan withdrew his gaze and slapped a silver note and a stamped letter into Shen Yi's hand.
"With this seal, you can exchange for silver at any major bank in Qingzhou."
After saying this, he turned and left without looking back.
Only the people from Baiyun County and Butcher Zhang remained standing there in a daze.
For the yamen to send silver to the Demon-Suppression Division, though somewhat suicidal, was still somewhat understandable.
But for the Demon-Suppression Division to hand silver to a yamen officer was truly unheard of.
Only the officers who knew the situation chuckled and approached, seemingly enjoying seeing Li Xinhan embarrassed.
Old Liu patted Shen Yi's shoulder.
"Don't mind him. He's just got a bad temper, but he means no harm. Go pack your things. We'll escort you back to Qingzhou."
"Escort?" Shen Yi stared at the silver note worth a thousand taels, feeling something was off.
The beggar clicked his tongue but didn't mention the beating from yesterday.
He just said somewhat despondently, "You're about to join the General's command. How could we let you walk back on your own?"
(End of Chapter)