Chapter 153: The Silver Bell Demon Hunter Signs Off

Amid the deafening roar, the distant village plunged into chaos.

Soon, several bold fishermen crept out cautiously and glanced at the three terrifying corpses of dragon serpents on the riverbank; their bodies trembled with fear, and just as they prepared to retreat, they suddenly recognized a face etched deep in their minds.

Moments later, countless fishermen flooded out of the village, with madmen and widows racing to the front.

After confirming that the earlier man had not been lying, they immediately knelt en masse, bowing in unison toward the distance.

"…"

Chen Qiankun turned back and sighed faintly.

How little time had passed—Shen Yi had, single-handedly, established authority here rivaling that of the Zhen Mo Si.

These people might not know who the Zhen Mo General was, but they certainly recognized their River God.

"Nothing brings you here without purpose; you didn't come just to chat with an old man."

Chen Qiankun sighed, knowing he was likely the most miserable of all Zhen Mo Generals—since personally appointing the youth as his personal deputy captain, until now, the young man had probably set foot in Linjiang County for the first time.

Shen Yi loosened his clasped hands and nodded: "Under Commander Jiang's orders, I've come to report to the old general: the demons of Qingfeng Mountain have been eradicated."

Hearing this familiar title, Fang Heng felt an odd unease wash over him.

Didn't Shen my lord go out to hunt demons? How did he get entangled with his senior sister?

And what in the world are these three dragon serpents falling from the sky?!

He was about to speak when Chen Qiankun shot him a glance: "What's a child like you asking about? Go away."

When adults discuss serious matters, even the most gifted youth must step aside.

"Yes, my lord." Fang Heng opened his mouth, then reluctantly retreated into the ranks of the Captains.

"Continue." Chen Qiankun turned back to Shen Yi, genuinely curious—what great demon would dare warn him under such circumstances?

Shen Yi remained expressionless: "Commander Jiang pursued demons to Xitai Mountain, where she was ambushed by Bai Lu, the Demon Lord, alongside a minor demon king and another Embracing Elixir Realm dog demon. The minor demon king and the dog demon fled; Bai Lu was slain."

Watching the youth's calm expression, Chen Qiankun slightly raised his eyebrows: "You're saying… Jiang Qiulan was ambushed and killed, and then Bai Lu died?"

Shen Yi gave a slight nod: "Mm."

Chen Qiankun closed his eyes, then opened them, meticulously re-examining the youth from head to toe.

How had he never noticed before—this kid was quite skilled with words.

To date, not a single Embracing Elixir Realm demon lord had died in Jiang Qiulan's hands, because they weren't fools—they'd flee long before hearing the news, never giving her a chance to see them.

The least likely of all was Bai Lu.

Because it was cowardly, and ran fast—even with the minor demon king's backing, it would never put itself in direct danger facing Jiang Qiulan.

Even if Bai Lu truly was dead, it couldn't have been killed by Jiang Qiulan.

"Sigh."

Chen Qiankun had guessed roughly right—though he'd served as Zhen Mo General for decades and witnessed countless strange events, he still felt a bizarre, absurd sensation welling inside him.

After a long silence, he shook his head in wonder: "She's signaling me."

She deliberately sent Shen Yi to Linjiang County to notify me, solely to make two things clear.

First, she's already assessed this man—she finds him excellent, without flaw, and no one else needs to doubt him.

Second, she's returning this capable talent back to my side.

"I understand."

Chen Qiankun gripped his iron great halberd tightly; even if he refused to admit it, he could no longer deny—he was truly too old: "Return quickly to Qingzhou City. When the Inspector returns, I'll give her a satisfactory reward."

Watching the old man's shifting expression, Shen Yi didn't know why the man suddenly radiated a sense of fading years.

He turned his gaze toward the Yangchun River: "The dragon clan…"

"Are you planning to turn the entire Yangchun River upside down to find it?"

After their previous exchange, Chen Qiankun no longer thought Shen Yi was overreaching by targeting an Embracing Elixir Realm ancient dragon—his words merely reflected the vastness of the Yangchun River.

"Don't worry too much—the Inspector will return to Qingzhou City within no more than ten days. When he comes back, at least these great demons will grow quieter."

One Wu Xian can protect an entire province.

This is no exaggeration.

Hearing this, Shen Yi felt a faint regret—he possessed the dragon immortal's divine power, unafraid of great rivers.

But to search for a hidden dragon within this river… better to spend that time hunting the other few demons on land.

Besides, though he'd personally slain Bai Lu, Embracing Elixir Realm cultivators still differ greatly—he wouldn't assume he'd always be so lucky to encounter demons perfectly countered by his abilities.

"I heard General You say the Inspector won't return for months—why the sudden change?" Shen Yi steadied his thoughts, curious about the strongest man in Qingzhou, whom he'd never met.

What level of cultivation could make people believe his return alone would calm the entire twelve-commandery region?

"You've met You Longtao?" Chen Qiankun glanced at him again—why did his personal attendant seem familiar with everyone, yet never with him?

"It's nothing much—just a girl whose martial heart was unstable; after much hesitation, she decided to wait until her emotions stabilized before attempting to condense her Elixir again, to avoid wasting such a precious opportunity."

Chen Qiankun continued: "The Inspector will return soon; Aunt Aqian is leaving Qingzhou. You should return to report your achievements, then pack and prepare to head to Jingcheng. I'll return to Qingzhou City to submit my report as well—I won't keep you any longer."

"Jingcheng?" Shen Yi paused slightly.

For a man who'd just come from a small county to Qingzhou City, the Great Qian Dynasty was still a vague concept.

He didn't even know how many provinces the Great Qian had, what the Emperor's name was, or which direction Jingcheng lay.

"To purify yourself at the Wu Miao, you must go to Jingcheng—go quickly and return swiftly." With the youth beside him, Chen Qiankun's tense spirit seemed to ease.

A genuine smile appeared on the old man's face.

Compared to vision, what was the Inspector? What were Jiang Qiulan and You Longtao? Latecomers—all of them. Only his own old eyes had spotted this rising phoenix first.

Though the speed of his rise was astonishing—even making him question it.

But since Jiang Qiulan said there was no problem, it likely wasn't one.

After all, true cultivation geniuses had their own ways of judging each other—ways this ordinary old man couldn't comprehend.

"Your servant takes his leave."

Even though his strength had leapt forward, Shen Yi still did not lose his respect for the old general.

Back then, borrowing the other's name to wipe out the Vajra Sect had yielded the Life-and-Death Zen Body, which in turn gave rise to the later Nine Immortal-Demon Molts.

He had only just stepped to the rear when Fang Heng, face alight with excitement, blocked his way.

"Lord Shen, did you see Jiang Shijie? How is she?"

"Not bad, she's a decent person." Shen Yi recalled how she had delivered a demon on the brink of death to his feet, and could not help but offer a word of praise.

Not bad? Fang Heng fell into astonishment once more.

This was the first time he had heard anyone describe Jiang Shijie Jiang in such an offhand, understated way.

As expected of Lord Shen…

Fang Heng forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart; the figure the youth had just leapt down from the sky had nearly stunned him senseless.

Even though he had already looked up to Shen Yi a great deal — to the point of reverence — every time the man appeared before him, his understanding would be refreshed all over again.

He had wanted to ask what was going on with those few flood dragons, how the three princes of the flood-dragon race had died so silently, but Shen Yi cut him off: "Are you heading back to the city outside Qingzhou?"

"I won't be going back, I've come out on this trip and haven't done a single thing." When it came to himself, Fang Heng lowered his head in shame; compared to the other's hurried figure, he felt as though he had been idling about all day: "Oh, Lord Shen, the salary the Zhen Mo Si issued, I've put it all away for you in the side courtyard."

"Fine, we'll catch up when there's time." Shen Yi nodded and casually stretched his body.

After being out so long, he was finally about to go back.

From what Old Man Chen Qiankun had implied, the reward he could get his hands on seemed quite generous?

(End of chapter)