As the first light of dawn broke, a thin mist hung in the air.
Outside the quiet county town, more than ten carriages were lined up in a row.
The ebony carriages were not adorned with auspicious patterns but instead bore vivid carvings of ferocious beasts, which sent a chill down the spine of anyone who looked at them.
The horses pulling the carriages were robust, with long, powerful limbs and a sleek black coat, standing half a head taller than ordinary strong horses.
Their heads were covered with a layer of dark red fuzz, and when they lifted their heads, their vertical pupils and the snorts they let out were enough to make Niu Da quickly step back, clutching his bundle.
"What kind of horse has eyes like that? They look like a leopard's," he muttered.
A beggar walked over, gently patting the horse's neck and smiling.
"These are half-demons. They run fast and steady, even at night. They'll get us back to Qingzhou in just two days."
Half-demons were livestock whose bloodlines had been tainted by demons.
Once they gained intelligence, they became true demons.
However, through specialized breeding over generations, their demonic nature had weakened, and they had almost no chance of gaining intelligence.
After calming the demon horse, the beggar returned to Li Xinhang's side and whispered, "From what I've seen, he's learned quite a mix of things. He's practiced body-refining martial arts similar to the Vajra Sect, and he's also somewhat skilled in saber techniques. According to the constables, when he draws his saber, there's even a noticeable demonic aura."
"From what I observed yesterday, his movements are light and agile, and there's a hint of the Eight Steps of the Spirit Snake in his footwork."
"Hmm... It's too messy, too chaotic. It doesn't seem like he has a proper master."
Body-refining martial arts, demonic saber techniques, and the light-footed skills of the Demon-Suppression Division—just from what could be seen, he had already dabbled in three completely different styles.
The beggar spoke with a hint of helplessness: "With such a wild and unorthodox approach, he still managed to knock me down in one move."
For martial artists, the most taboo thing is to have a disorganized and chaotic learning path.
After all, life is limited.
If you dabble in a bit of everything, it might seem advantageous in a fight, but in reality, it wastes a lot of time on any one skill.
"His talent is probably no less than yours, and he's about the same age as you. That's probably why he's lagging behind you in terms of cultivation level."
Hearing this, Li Xinhang remained expressionless.
"That's a good thing."
Having a messy learning path proves that the other person has no connections and a clean background.
"Also, we're not the same age."
Li Xinhang's gaze drifted into the distance, looking at the figure approaching from afar.
He said indifferently, "I'm a year and six months younger than him, and I reached the Jade Liquid Realm two years ago. If it had been me instead of you who visited him the other day, he wouldn't have lasted a single move against me either."
Seeing that Li Xinhang was clearly bothered but still trying to act nonchalant, the beggar couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "If it had been Lord Lin at the door, you wouldn't have lasted a single move either... It's just a matter of a potential match that hasn't even been confirmed yet. Why are you so jealous?"
Li Xinhang's mouth twitched, and he let out a cold snort before turning around and mounting his horse.
"..."
Old Liu stretched his body and yawned, not wanting to get involved in the argument between the two.
Both were from respectable families in Qingzhou and had been selected for the Demon-Suppression Division at the same time.
Li Xinhang had better talent and had progressed faster, but he didn't have the habit of putting on airs in front of his comrades.
It was common for them to poke fun at each other, and no one took it to heart.
He rubbed his neck and walked over to the group in the distance.
"You're here? Family members and servants can sit in the carriages at the back."
Chen Ji nodded and helped the slightly nervous Chen Jinyu onto the carriage filled with women.
"Hmm..."
Old Liu turned around and was startled by the large figure of Butcher Zhang.
"Forget it, you'd better ride alone."
He led Shen Yi and Chen Ji to the first carriage.
As Li Xinhang gently tugged the reins and rode ahead, the other demon horses followed without needing a driver, stepping in line behind him.
"Once we get to Qingzhou, train hard. You're a good seedling, and there's a chance you might add a cloud pattern to your sleeve in the future."
Sitting in the steady carriage, Old Liu first gave Chen Ji an encouraging look.
"I understand, sir."
Chen Ji cupped his hands in response, knowing full well that the other party was just giving face to Shen Yi.
"I won't stand on ceremony with you."
Old Liu turned to Shen Yi and rubbed his hands together.
"So, what do you think? Interested in joining us? Li Xinhang has a few pretty girls under his command. You're not married yet, are you?"
Shen Yi lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Only Li Xinhang and the beggar were riding horses.
"Where are the others?"
Hearing this, Old Liu sighed.
"They stayed in Baiyun County, waiting for the internal patrol to take over."
"Internal patrol?" Shen Yi was slightly curious.
Old Liu seemed reluctant to explain, but when a snort came from outside the carriage, he had no choice but to continue.
"The Demon-Suppression Division in Qingzhou is divided into three camps. Besides the place where the newcomers stay, there are also the internal and external camps."
"The internal camp, aside from patrolling the counties on schedule, usually stays in Qingzhou City, patrolling the streets, drinking wine... They're well-versed in the art of guarding and rarely leave the city. It's boring as hell."
"Our external camp is much more impressive. Both the general and Lord Lin came from the external camp when they were young. Not only do we have more freedom, but we also often travel through mountains and rivers, enjoying the beauty of the world. It's incredibly liberating."
Chen Ji listened in confusion and asked softly, "But if you're often wandering outside the city, wouldn't you encounter a lot of demons?"
"You..."
Old Liu glared at the young man, opening his mouth but finding it hard to continue his fabrication.
"It wouldn't be hard for Brother Shen to join the internal camp. Li Xinhang could put in a good word for you. His family is a wealthy household in Qingzhou, and they have plenty of money. He could easily pull some strings... The girls in our team are really pretty. Think about it."
Shen Yi put down the curtain, feeling like Old Liu was acting like a pimp.
Being able to stay in a safe place for a lifetime, free from the threat of demons, and with a stable job—such a good deal would be hard for anyone to refuse.
Except for him.
Without the support of demon lifespan, Shen Yi's so-called "talent" would be exposed in an instant.
The true level of this body was that of a diligent practitioner who could barely be considered a skilled saber user.
Compared to these Demon-Suppression Division officers, let alone Li Xinhang, even Chen Ji was far superior.
"The external camp sounds good. I'll follow the officer's arrangements."
Shen Yi retracted his gaze, appearing as if he truly believed Old Liu's nonsense.
Hearing this, Li Xinhang, who was riding outside the carriage, still maintained a calm expression, but the hand gripping the reins relaxed slightly.
"See, you've got good taste!"
Old Liu clapped his hands happily and gave a thumbs-up.
"You can see that we have a bright future ahead of us."
Within the Demon-Suppression Division, achievements were highly valued, and the competition was fierce.
If Li Xinhang wanted to be promoted, he needed to build his own team.
Compared to other teams led by lieutenants, he was young and lacked seniority, so he was naturally at a disadvantage when selecting people.
Someone like Shen Yi, who had some skills, might not be much in the eyes of other lieutenants, but for them, he was a treasure.
"..."
Chen Ji sat in the corner, feeling a bit emotional.
They had all come from Baiyun County, and while the rest of them were still anxious about their future, Shen Yi had already become someone these Demon-Suppression officers were fighting over.
(End of Chapter)