[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons":3,"chapter-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-51":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortality Begins with Slaying Demons",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317939,4533,"Chapter 51: The Small Courtyard","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-51",51,"\u003Cp>In such times, those far from towns avoid drawing attention at all costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Demon Suppression Bureau’s carriage dares to race down the road with an empty cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, many merchants began traveling in groups behind it, even sending guards on horseback to catch up and offer dried rations and meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This reputation is far better than ours, the constables.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ji hugged a pile of food, his youthful face glowing with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had traveled nonstop for nearly two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage slowed to a stop beneath towering, majestic city walls; above the arched gate, the characters “Qingzhou” were etched in iron and silver, radiating grandeur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xinhan tossed his official token to the city guards, then dismounted and walked forward, leading the horse by its reins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Old Liu stifled a chuckle: “Those few whippings last time really stuck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their confusion, he explained: “The Demon Suppression Bureau’s rule: anyone riding a horse within the city without urgent business receives three lashes and two months’ pay deducted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already dusk; in Baiyun County, the streets would have been nearly empty by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this broad avenue, paved with blue bricks wide enough for eight carriages to pass side by side, was packed with people, noisy and bustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi stepped down from the carriage, feeling a strange illusion of returning to his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the lack of towering skyscrapers, it was even more prosperous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group followed slowly behind Li Xinhan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until they halted at a peculiar spot within the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A high wall, two zhang tall, stretched endlessly, encircling an entire smaller city within the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Prefect himself approved twenty-eight hundred mu of land for the Demon Suppression Bureau’s headquarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beggar took his family and six new recruits with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xinhan entered through a side gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are many rules inside, but none of them concern our outer camp. Just remember where to eat, where to sleep, and where to collect your pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Liu led Shen Yi while introducing the facilities within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, they went to the Internal Affairs Office to register his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xinhan personally appeared and soon returned holding a set of uniforms and a small medicine bottle, with a jet-black waist token placed on top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed the items to Shen Yi: “I noticed your waist blade is exceptional, so I didn’t issue you a sword. If you need anything else, come here and ask. If you have questions, find Xiujie directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiujie clicked his tongue: “Where does he live?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xinhan hesitated, then turned back: “Do as Master Lin instructed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Liu Xiujie’s expression changed slightly: “Why make things harder for him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi watched the two in silence, not quite understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Liu Xiujie sighed and led him deeper inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By standard practice, outer camp Captains reside in the West Courtyard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about a stick of incense time, Liu Xiujie stopped before a quiet courtyard and smiled wryly: “Watch yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi frowned, looking closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Regional Commander’s residence, and his five disciples: two Demon Suppression Generals, one Deputy General, one demon hunter, and one who just joined five months ago… also a Three-Stripe Captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa, you probably don’t know much about the Demon Suppression Bureau—guess why there are no guards here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiujie took a deep breath, rubbed his temples, and rephrased: “Let me put it this way: besides the Regional Commander, the other rooms here are occupied by two Golden Core cultivators, two Jade Fluid peak, and one Jade Fluid mid-stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you—armed with nothing but a letter—must move in here too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure if this is a good thing. As the saying goes: tall trees attract wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiujie frowned, unable to fathom what Master Lin was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to him, he understood the minds of ordinary Captains better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it. Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiujie plunged inside as if entering a den of dragons and tigers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his words, and recalling the rumors Zhang the Butcher had mentioned,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi’s earlier suspicions about Lin Baiwei’s identity were now fully confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply couldn’t understand what she intended to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the courtyard, he saw one locust tree and one ancient well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bare-chested, muscular youth sat on a stone bench, his body like cast steel, muscles sharply defined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully peeled beans in his hand; across from him, an elderly woman with silver hair pinched vegetable sprouts between her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene looked peaceful and serene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Outer camp Liu Xiujie, greetings to Master Fang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Liu forced a smile and pulled Shen Yi aside: “Master Fang, this is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. I received my sister’s letter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Heng continued peeling beans without looking up, but the old woman glanced curiously at Shen Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiujie smiled nervously, far from the ease he showed with Li Xinhan, and gestured sideways: “Come, pay your respects to your Master Fang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Heng spoke coolly: “No need for ‘Master.’ Just call me by name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Liu Xiujie looked awkward, sighing inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—just a letter couldn’t possibly justify such a great opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kid, when you speak, look at the person.” The old woman slapped the youth on the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Heng, used to it, looked up and pointed to the smallest side courtyard: “Move in there. My sister owes you—I’ll repay it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, it was Liu Xiujie who didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi silently exhaled. So that’s how it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he’d had some expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such a massive gift falling from nowhere made him hesitant to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he finally understood the reason, he felt much more at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Baiwei had promised him two Jade Fluid martial arts manuals; Four-Union True Gang  was one. He assumed that after the trouble was settled, she might forget—or simply pick any other Demon Suppression Bureau technique to fulfill the deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected her to actually remember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since this man was also the Regional Commander’s disciple, and treated this so seriously, the martial art passed down wouldn’t be weaker than Four-Union True Gang .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing there was nothing left for him, Liu Xiujie bowed and took his leave, casting Shen Yi a sympathetic glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d warned him earlier, but being so bluntly rejected must have hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi shot him a look and walked into the small room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new uniform was made of silk, smooth to the touch; even the ordinary Captain’s belt was inlaid with jade—no wonder Zhang the Butcher envied the Demon Suppression Bureau’s luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried it on briefly; it fit well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad there was no mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He adjusted his sleeves, then picked up the small medicine bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiujie hadn’t explained anything clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the so-called divine medicine?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hung the waist token on his belt, picked up his black blade, and prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he heard the old woman’s voice outside: “Boy, come out and eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1173,"2026-06-20T15:00:36.117Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a3c9bb9282f1cf6ef6600ee69887c5c4df1f4da432b2655c5386691bb83116f8","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-52","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-50",840,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-cover.jpg"]