Chapter 130: First Meeting with You Longtao

Returning to Tingyang City, he called upon the local Zhen Mo Si to requisition over twenty horse-drawn carriages.

All were top-grade demon horses, with astonishing speed.

In just three days, they carried everyone to Tingyang City.

As the capital of a commandery, the city's scale was no smaller than Outside Qingzhou, and everywhere the eye looked was prosperity.

Yet among the various buildings, the most eye-catching was not the commandery governor's government office, but that grand, imposing Zhen Mo General's Residence.

A line of carriages drew near.

The two Zhen Mo Si deputy captains at the gate swept their gazes over coldly, and only after seeing it was one of their own carriages did their expressions soften slightly.

Xiao Qiangwei stepped down and stood steady.

Upon recognizing her, the two deputy captains' faces gained a bit of a smile, and they actually stepped forward to greet her: "You actually have time to come back for a visit, the General has been missing you for quite a while."

Unlike the smiles on their faces, Xiao Qiangwei slowly knit her brows: "Why would you two be in Tingyang City, and standing guard at the gate? Has something happened in the city?"

Not every Zhen Mo General had Jiang Qiulan's reputation, where simply sitting in Juncheng could intimidate all the demons in the four directions.

General You normally held station outside, and unless necessary, almost never returned to Huicheng to rest.

"Hiss."

The two deputy captains exchanged a somewhat pained glance, seeming deeply ashamed, and lowered their voices: "A thief broke into the house."

The words, once spoken, made one's face twitch involuntarily.

The dignified Zhen Mo General's Residence had not been harmed by a Demon Lord, but had instead been stolen from by a petty thief.

Xiao Qiangwei froze for a moment, as if realizing something: "Yan Xingkong?"

"That damned thief!" The deputy captain gritted his teeth, wishing he could bite the bone from him alive: "Instead of going after the Prince's fine wine, he came to Tingyang City to cause trouble. We'll chop off his legs sooner or later."

Clearly, his words were just venting his grievances.

The other party, as the most despised thief king of Pingsha Valley among the first-rate factions, could do as he pleased not only in Tingyang City, but even in Outside Qingzhou.

Yan Xingkong… travels eighty thousand li, and never leaves empty-handed.

"Enough, no need to get this worked up. He has his limits."

Xiao Qiangwei waved her hand. This thief king being able to live peacefully until today, apart from his movement arts that look down on all of Qingzhou, was also because he never made things too big.

He always borrowed and returned… of course, what he returned was another matter.

One thing was certain: he never touched what he shouldn't touch.

The two deputy captains sighed, but did not continue. After General You returned to investigate, he indeed did not think it was a big deal, but for subordinates like them, it was undoubtedly being slapped in the face.

Setting that topic aside.

They looked curiously at the carriages, and saw Xiao Qiangwei politely murmur a few words to those inside, and a bit of surprise immediately flashed through the two men's hearts.

Given Xiao Qiangwei's status, and especially on her own turf, where would she need to show such restraint to others?

Then, a young man in black descended from the carriage.

When the deputy captains saw the silver bell at the young man's waist, the doubts in their hearts lessened by a third.

Such a young silver-bell demon hunter, if one had to say, was indeed worth this courtesy.

"Didn't you used to tuck it into your waistband?"

Xiao Qiangwei glanced at Shen Yi in confusion, and then her movements stalled slightly.

Good lord, at Black Rock Pool it was the Zhen Mo Si's internal affairs, and now at the General's Residence it becomes the demon hunter's merit.

Truly, no one is allowed to ask a single question.

Unlike these people's ease, the many Captains and deputy captains on the carriage were all pale-faced. They had thought that since General You was not in Tingyang City, they could stall for a few more days, but as it happened, they had just so happened to run right into the other's blade.

Until Liu Bin tumbled off the carriage with a thud.

The two gate-guarding deputy captains stared at him in confusion, and only recognized him after quite a while, exclaiming: "Brother Liu?!"

The once-mighty old general, how had he ended up in such a wretched state?

"You two should save the brotherly bonding for later."

A few hints of seriousness appeared in Xiao Qiangwei's expression: "Go report to General You, the demon hunter has important matters to report."

The deputy captain froze for a moment, then laughed: "Since when does coming home require a report…"

After noticing the woman's expression, he hurriedly replied: "I'll go right now."

Seeing this, Xiao Qiangwei likewise turned back, wanting to remind Shen Yi to rein in his temperament a little. Even if he had to pretend, he should hide that aloof demeanor. You Longtao was actually a very easygoing great general, and if the two of them made early contact and left a good impression, it would benefit the young man in the future.

Just then, she noticed that the young man's hand rested quietly on the hilt at his waist, and she was reminded once more of the Turtle Breath Art that had reached perfection earlier.

Xiao Qiangwei's lips curled in helplessness: "Tch."

Forget it, she'd better say less herself. It seemed the other party had no intention of taking the chance to cozy up to his superior.

"…"

Shen Yi was still not quite used to standing defenseless beside a target whose magic power he could not match. Aunt Aqian back then was like this, and now You Longtao was the same.

Even knowing they were on the same side, he still felt a bit uneasy.

This shortcoming was actually easy to fix: as long as one's strength surpassed the other's, it would resolve itself naturally.

Soon, several Captains hurried over, extending their hands in welcome: "Please, this way, the two of you."

Under their guidance.

The group quickly entered the residence and arrived at a side courtyard.

A middle-aged man with a tall, upright silhouette rose to greet them, dressed in a blue-green padded robe, his sharply contoured face carrying a touch of scholarly elegance. His features were not sharp, and his voice was clear yet warm.

He cupped his hands respectfully: "Many thanks to the two demon hunters."

Xiao Qiangwei likewise returned the courtesy: "General You."

After several breaths, no sound came from beside her.

She looked over in confusion, and saw Shen Yi's expression was calm. Looking again at General You, she found him likewise gazing calmly at the young man's waist—not at the silver bell on the right, but at the hand resting on the scabbard on the left.

Seeing the situation, Xiao Qiangwei hurriedly explained, "Shen Yi is just like this by nature; he is not targeting the General."

You Longtao came to his senses and smiled casually, "Aunt Xiao has misunderstood. But from your words, it seems you are quite familiar with this young brother."

Xiao Qiangwei instinctively pressed her lips, immediately realizing her loss of composure. She raised her delicate eyebrows and said calmly, "Have you now become so bold as to tease me?"

She rarely saw the other party make such jokes while handling official business, but since it had already come to this, maintaining a formal demeanor was meaningless; her relationship with You Longtao was known to more than half of the Zhen Mo Si.

With the Zhen Mo Great General casually sidestepping the topic, the atmosphere instantly shifted from a government office to a home.

"Brother Shen need not be so polite; please sit."

You Longtao held a smile; as a cultivator of the Embracing Elixir Realm, he seemed to truly have no airs.

Shen Yi bowed respectfully without being humble or arrogant, "Shen Yi greets General You."

He was certain that from the moment he walked in, the other party had been staring at the Ink Blade, not because of any movement.

Although he did not know the reason, since the other party had already avoided the topic, Shen Yi naturally acted as if nothing had happened; this blade was a gift from the Ape Demon in Boyun County, not stolen.

A few more pleasantries were exchanged.

Xiao Qiangwei brought up the main matter, explaining clearly the reasons for Liu Bin's three absences from his duty report.

You Longtao listened carefully, pondered for a moment, then raised his head to look at the old man being held captive in the distance and said gently, "Old Liu has done much for Outside Qingzhou; even without merit, he has suffered hardship. I, a junior, will grant you dignity."

Hearing this, Liu Bin silently looked at his elegant face; his originally cloudy pupils gradually scattered, and his mouth, which had no tongue, opened and closed slightly but emitted no sound.

Moments later, he lowered his head as if accepting his fate.

Seeing his expression, You Longtao closed his eyes slightly; between his breaths, it seemed a gentle breeze brushed through the courtyard.

Liu Bin's body suddenly collapsed to the ground, with not a trace of life remaining.

At the same time, over a hundred Captains and Deputy Generals from Black Stone Pool fell to their knees with a thud, covered in cold sweat; not a single person spoke to explain, and the entire courtyard was so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard.

You Longtao opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over them, then thought carefully again, seeming extremely cautious about every decision he made.

Moments later, he nodded and said, "Remove your name tags and cloud-patterned robes, your salaries will be suspended. Find proper work in the city yourselves and guard this place for the Zhen Mo Si for ten years. If you have neither merit nor fault, you may stay or leave as you wish; if you achieve merit, and if you wish, you may also return to the Zhen Mo Si and start again as ordinary Captains."

"If you still do not reform and commit offenses..."

The middle-aged man fell silent for an instant; numerous Captains directly drew their swords from their waists and held them across their necks, shouting with lingering fear, "We will end our own lives here! We dare not hesitate for a single moment!"

Hearing this, You Longtao shook his head slightly, "That is unnecessary. I may not be good at other things, but killing is something I do swiftly; there is no need for all of you to do it for me."

(End of this chapter)