Chapter 161: The Regional Commander's Test (A Chapter Off)

Inside the courtyard.

Jiang Yuanhua rose and cupped his fist in return, a hint of curiosity surfacing in his eyes, then gestured politely: "General Shen, no need for ceremony, please sit."

As the Regional Commander of Qingzhou, this was the first time he had ever laid eyes on the Zhenmo General under his command — no matter which province one looked at, it counted as a strange tale.

Shen Yi stole a glance at You Longtao, who happened to look over at the same moment.

"Keep that bow with you for now." General You smiled gently, clearly having read the thought in the other's mind.

"Thank you, General You." Only then did Shen Yi pick a seat and sit down.

Jiang Yuanhua exchanged a few pleasantries, taking the opportunity to size up this young man.

Most of what he knew about Shen Yi came from Lin Baiwei's praise, and then from yesterday's debriefing.

From his disciple to the demon hunters, and then to several Zhenmo Generals, it seemed everyone had some understanding of this young man.

"I heard from Aunt Aqian that you're about to go to Jingcheng for the Wumiao Refining. When the time comes, you can travel with Qiulan — she can show you around the Jingcheng Wumiao."

After Jiang Yuanhua finished speaking, the Miss beneath the great tree showed no reaction at all, gazing quietly into the distance.

The Regional Commander seemed long accustomed to this scene, and the others present saw nothing amiss either.

"However, before you leave, General Shen, might I ask you to do one more thing for me."

After laying out the arrangements for the trip to the capital, a sudden chill entered Jiang Yuanhua's voice: "My disciple may be useless, but she's not someone just anyone can bully. I had originally planned to have Qiulan take her there, but since you've just taken up the post, General Shen, I wonder if you'd be willing to make a trip to Bai Yunxian — to remind that fox on my behalf that Qingzhou is not a place it can stay in for as long as it pleases."

"It will also let the other generals see what our newly appointed Zhenmo General of Qingzhou is capable of."

A new general taking office must establish his authority.

Slaying another Embracing Elixir Realm great demon would be unrealistic, but intimidating a wandering demon that had wandered here and making it withdraw from the Qingzhou region could also serve as a test for the Zhenmo General.

You Longtao still wore that same mild-mannered look.

With Master's cultivation, he didn't even need to leave the city — just sitting here would be enough to make that old fox understand the gravity of the matter.

Rather than letting the other generals see, it was more that Master wanted to see for himself just how much real ability this highly praised young General actually had.

Perhaps out of guilt toward Junior Jiang Shimei, Master's temperament seemed to have changed a great deal — far from his former iron-handedness — but deep down, he was still the same Regional Commander who ruled over an entire province, trusting only his own judgment.

He would never let the words or deeds of others sway his decisions — not even with Junior Jiang Shimei as guarantor.

"You'll depart for the capital in five days, General Shen — don't miss the time." Jiang Yuanhua gave a slight nod.

"Shen Yi obeys the order."

To enjoy better treatment and obtain superior martial arts and techniques, one naturally had to shoulder greater pressure.

Shen Yi did not show any change in expression; he rose, cupped his fist, and took his leave.

Even after being away from Bai Yunxian for so long, he still remembered the little fox demon he had slain with the Four Harmony True Gang back then.

Even without the order, once he found the time, he would have made a trip to North Cliff anyway.

After the young man left the courtyard.

You Longtao suddenly thought of something: "He didn't even ask about little Lin Shimei?"

Fang Heng poked his head out from the kitchen and confirmed: "Indeed he didn't."

……

In the Captain's side courtyard.

Chen Jinyu rushed in flustered, carefully knocking on the door: "Is my lord Shen in?"

Soon, the door opened quietly.

The little girl instinctively held out the fierce wolf cloak in her hands: "You forgot this…"

Her words cut off abruptly.

Chen Jinyu blinked, staring at the pretty older sister before her in a daze.

The other woman took the cloak with practiced ease, habitually smoothing it out again, then said softly: "Shen Yi isn't here, I'll pass it on to him for you."

"Thank you, Miss." Chen Jinyu realized her own impropriety and quickly averted her gaze from the other's lovely face — even within the Zhen Mo Si, she had never seen such a gentle and beautiful Miss.

"It's so late — have you eaten? Would you like to eat together?" Lin Baiwei smiled and stepped aside, her fingertips lightly tracing the wolf-devouring pattern on the cloak. Even though it had been washed very clean, a faint lingering scent of demon blood still clung to it.

It fit her understanding of the young man well enough.

"I-I…" Chen Jinyu clutched her sleeve tightly, then suddenly heard footsteps behind her; she shyly shook her head: "My brother is still waiting for me."

She turned and stole a glance at that figure in black armor, then fled from the courtyard in some panic.

"What was that about?"

Shen Yi glanced casually at the little girl's retreating figure, then walked through the door.

He unfastened his crimson cloak; Lin Baiwei took it with practiced ease, then pulled out a chair: "Brought your clothes — hurry up and eat something, I'm starving."

On the table was a basin of steaming braised lamb ribs.

Shen Yi sat down beside the table, somewhat curious: "I heard your Core Formation failed?"

"…" Lin Baiwei rolled her eyes, picked up a piece of lamb rib with her chopsticks and dropped it into his bowl: "Three months gone, and you're still just as annoying."

This time there weren't so many pairs of eyes watching.

Shen Yi finally had the chance to savor properly that somewhat disappointing last meal from Bai Yunxian back then.

Sure enough, it was the familiar taste.

"Stop staring at me." Shen Yi took a sip of hot soup.

"If you don't want me looking, I won't look." Lin Baiwei withdrew her gaze. Although she had countless questions she wanted to ask, she had to finish dinner first.

The two worked their chopsticks quickly, until the basin was empty save for a little leftover broth.

Lin Baiwei cheerfully wiped her lips clean and rubbed her belly: "I thought once you became a General, your mouth would get pickier."

"Just took the post — haven't had the chance to enjoy it yet." Shen Yi rose and sat back on the edge of the bed.

"So how did you get it?" Lin Baiwei finally could no longer contain her curiosity and astonishment. She could guess that Li Xinhan would never have allowed Shen Yi to soak in a medicinal bath, but even if he'd entered as a Captain, it was impossible to have risen to Zhenmo General in such a short time.

"Just like back then." Shen Yi said calmly.

As the words fell, Lin Baiwei's thoughts instantly returned to Bai Yunxian—the other party setting out at dawn and returning at dusk, their clothes forever stained with demon blood, and the faintly weary arch of their brow.

She roughly understood what Shen Yi meant: kill demons, get promoted—sounds especially simple… but just how many demons and monsters would one have to slay before Old Man Chen would proactively propose such an astonishing matter, and for even her senior sister to trust him without the slightest reservation.

Beneath those offhand words, what was concealed was likely countless life-and-death crises.

Moreover, to have caught the eye of the other Town-Demon Generals, the demons and monsters he had slain were certainly no ordinary lot.

This speed of cultivation realm advancement also explained why the Grand General of Yang'an Commandery suspected Shen Yi of being a great demon in disguise.

Then she thought of herself.

Lin Baiwei felt a touch of dejection: "I've wasted a very precious opportunity…"

Even before her senior brothers and junior brothers she had not shown the slightest oddity, but now beside Shen Yi, a hint of loneliness finally surfaced on her face—after all, he had once seen her in an even more disheveled state.

"Talent isn't good enough—that's just how it is." Shen Yi gave a slight shake of his head, offering a measure of comfort.

Because of talent issues requiring more opportunities and time, he knew this kind of thing intimately.

"…"

Lin Baiwei was speechless, at a loss for words.

She looked at the young man's earnest expression, suddenly rubbed her eye sockets, and inexplicably felt much more at ease.

She wouldn't think he was mocking her—where Shen Yi was concerned, he would never waste time on such boring things.

If lacking talent was an objective fact, then one could only try to do well what needed to be done.

"So, what is General Shen going to do next?" Lin Baiwei quickly adjusted her mindset.

Shen Yi removed the Black Armor from his body, lay down on the bed: "Return to Bai Yunxian."

At these words, Lin Baiwei suddenly realized something, and said in surprise: "Is Master going to use that old fox to test you? Although its cultivation hasn't reached the Embracing Elixir Realm, it's not a demon of the Great Qian Dynasty—it went to Qingqiu to study the arts, and its methods are utterly bizarre and unfathomable."

"If Senior Jiang Shimei came in person, out of respect for her, that fox should behave and leave."

"But you've just been promoted to General—it may not give you face…"

Hearing this, Shen Yi rested his head on his folded arms and did not refute anything.

He had never intended to rely on this suit of Black Armor to intimidate the other party.

(End of chapter)