Chapter 99: The Reappearance of Yin Soldiers

"A recommended mission?" Wang Donglai was somewhat surprised.

"Brother Li, there is a whole pile of them on the mission bulletin board; you don't need me to recommend one, do you? Oh, I understand. Could it be that you want to take on some easy missions? That makes sense; you haven't stopped for a moment recently, so taking on some easy missions is only right."

Before Li Heng could even speak, Wang Donglai had already realized it with a sudden flash of insight.

"Brother Li, how about you take a look at this mission?"

He took a piece of paper filled with writing from under the counter. "I just finished writing this mission, and I haven't had the chance to post it on the mission bulletin board yet. But this mission is absolutely easy, feel free to take it!"

He smiled smugly and gestured for Li Heng to take a look.

Li Heng glanced at it, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

"Some commoners in Bei'an City are exhibiting symptoms of weakness, lethargy, and physical fatigue. Please investigate immediately and report the findings. Reward: 500 Merit?"

"Yes, that's right." Wang Donglai was even more smug.

"This mission is quite rare. An investigation mission doesn't require you to fight to the death with Weirds. The mission location is also within Bei'an City, so there's no need to worry about entering any mysterious or dangerous places."

"I wonder if this mission is to Brother Li's liking?"

He looked at Li Heng with anticipation.

As an old hand who had been navigating social circles for a long time, he knew very well that if someone helped you once, you had best help them back; only then could you show that you were worth befriending.

Of course, when helping back, it was best to only help a little.

Because this meant the favor had not yet been repaid, which meant one could continue to be friends and continue to repay favors. This avoided the awkward situation of having no reason to offer help after a favor had been fully repaid.

Li Heng frowned and did not reply immediately.

He scrutinized the paper filled with information. Weakness, lethargy, physical fatigue? He quickly thought of the Earth Temple built by that aristocratic family member, Wang Xuanji. These commoners showing symptoms of weakness and lethargy seemed to live around those Earth Temples...

"What, is it not to Brother Li's liking?"

Seeing Li Heng frown, Wang Donglai's heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be, could it? This counted as the simplest mission in the Demon Suppression Division, just an investigation. If one wanted to be even lazier, one could just stroll around the streets and write a few lines.

It was practically going out to play and getting paid in Merit for it!

Usually, investigation missions like this would be snatched up by those old-hand Demon Exorcists who had been lurking for a long time the moment they were posted on the bulletin board; they wouldn't stay on the board for even a second longer.

"Is it that you are dissatisfied with the difficulty?" he asked, following up.

"If Brother Li thinks it's too hard, I have..."

"It's too easy."

Li Heng spoke, interrupting Wang Donglai, and said indifferently.

"Too... easy?!" Wang Donglai had originally wanted to say he had a few other missions here that were easier. He hadn't expected Li Heng to say such a thing, which left him completely stunned.

Good heavens, there were actually Demon Exorcists who complained that a mission was too easy?

He didn't even want the Merit delivered to his doorstep?

"Recommend a mission with a higher difficulty. It would be best if it involved a real Weird, and a powerful one at that."

Li Heng stated his requirements.

He could roughly guess the truth behind the residents' weakness and lethargy, but he couldn't be bothered to deal with it. After all, no one had died, and the person behind it was from an aristocratic family; killing them wouldn't earn him any Source Power.

If he had the time to waste on this, he might as well go kill Weirds.

Perhaps this matter was already tacitly accepted.

When that Ren County Magistrate, Ren Hai, first took office, he had smashed an Earth Temple directly. Now, however, he sat by and watched as people from aristocratic families built Earth Temples, acting as if he didn't care at all.

This phenomenon was enough to set one's imagination running wild.

At most, if it were on the way, he could do some mischief; after all, strictly speaking, he had already crossed the aristocratic families. Even if the families didn't know of his existence...

"This... is Brother Li certain you want a difficult mission?"

Wang Donglai asked tentatively. He was somewhat puzzled; did Li Heng have a grudge against Weirds? For example... he and his little sister had relied on each other since childhood, but then one day his sister died at the hands of a Weird, and then...

His mind began to wander.

"Certain. Please, recommend one."

Li Heng glanced at Wang Donglai, bringing him back to his senses.

"Alright, I don't have many difficult ones here. I wonder if this mission is suitable for Brother Li? A while ago, Yin soldiers appeared in the XC District at night. During that time, several Demon Exorcists took this mission, but when daytime came, only their headless corpses appeared. It was terrifying, and to this day, no one dares to take it."

He pushed out another piece of paper filled with writing and handed it to Li Heng.

Li Heng frowned once again.

This couldn't help but make Wang Donglai pause. What was going on? Was it not to his liking again? This mission was already very difficult! They had even considered whether to just ignore this case entirely.

After all, not many people had died because of this.

"Fine, I'll take it."

Li Heng handed over his Token for Wang Donglai to register the information.

Wang Donglai was stunned. He suddenly felt that Li Heng was somewhat unfathomable. You didn't take the one when you frowned just now, but now that you're frowning, you're taking it?

Was this the great expert who could kill an aristocratic genius?

He indicated that he couldn't quite understand.

However, he also had his own professional standards. After a brief moment of being stunned, he registered it according to the rules and didn't ask another word, knowing that too many secrets were bad for both of them...

Taking back his Token, Li Heng bid farewell to Wang Donglai and walked out of the Demon Suppression Division through the east gate of the Merit Hall, thinking about the appearance of these Yin soldiers.

He had originally thought that the Yin soldier incident had ended since the destruction of the Zhang family's Ghost Domain, but he hadn't expected Yin soldiers to still appear in the West City? Could it be that the Yin soldiers in the West City had no connection to the Zhang family's Yin soldiers?

Or perhaps the connection was not significant?

Various speculations appeared in his mind, but they were quickly swept away. Whatever, he would go and see for himself. For him, the more Yin soldiers, the better, because that meant he would earn more Source Power.

Arriving at the Inner City gate, he saw Xing Yong standing there like an iron tower. Li Heng raised an eyebrow; he had thought this Constable Xing didn't need to guard the city anymore, but it turned out he was still guarding it?

"Constable Xing, has the search ended?"

Xing Yong was startled at the words and turned his head to look. "So it's Brother Li. Are you going to complete a mission for the Demon Suppression Division again? My search here has indeed ended. And so, I'm back to guarding the gate."

He said with a hint of self-mockery.

Li Heng nodded slightly. He had figured it out; this Constable Xing had likely offended someone. It was probably none other than Ren County Magistrate, who was known by the commoners as Ren Bapi.

Otherwise, with Xing Yong's Blood Exchange Realm cultivation, shouldn't he be a Chief Constable? Or perhaps he had already been a Chief Constable, but without the actual authority, having been dismissed to guard the city gate.

Xing Yong hesitated for a moment, then spoke again.

"Brother Li, you are likely aware of the current situation in your Demon Suppression Division. Once you go to the Outer City later, I expect there will be many underworld gangs monitoring your movements or using various methods to disgust you."

"At such times, you must not be impulsive; they have people backing them."

He gave Li Heng a few words of advice very sincerely.

Li Heng's expression was amused; was it really just the same old tricks?

Given the arrogance of the aristocratic families, they probably couldn't come up with such methods. It was likely just their subordinates guessing their superiors' intentions, thinking they would receive various rewards for doing so, and thus acting this way?

However, he couldn't be bothered to be impulsive.

He could kill a person with a casual pat right now.

Did that count as impulsive? It was just a casual pat.

This... Seeing Li Heng's expression, Xing Yong felt a bitter smile in his heart. This Brother Li likely didn't take his words to heart; although he was indeed very strong, and had even cracked the Flower Boat Weird case.

But those people were low-class and didn't even have a bottom line. If a dog bit you, could you bite the dog back?

They were just hoping you would make a move, so they could seize your handle and go claim credit from their boss or superior.

After thinking about it, he didn't say these words out loud.

Speaking deeply when the acquaintance is shallow is a great taboo.

This Brother Li was in the prime of his youth, high-spirited and vigorous; how could he listen to the advice of an old hand like him? He would probably have to take a big fall before he learned his lesson.

"Many thanks, Constable Xing. I shall head out now."

Moving from the Inner City to the Outer City did not require going through any strict inspections. Li Heng thanked him and walked straight out of the Inner City.

Just as he stepped out of the Inner City and arrived on a main street, Li Heng sensed some gazes locking onto him. Looking far off into the distance, there were three or five ruffians who looked extremely troublesome.

After a moment's thought, he walked straight toward them.

Seeing this, the ruffians in the distance were stunned. Good heavens, where did this greenhorn come from? He actually took the initiative to look toward them?

Could it be that this Demon Exorcist still thought it was like before?

They couldn't help but laugh; it seemed another merit had fallen into their hands. After laughing, they didn't stay where they were, but went straight to meet him.

"This Demon Exorcist, we have something to report."

"Yes, yes, yes, we discovered a Weird!"

"Look, there is a toilet over there, and there is a toilet Weird inside. You should hurry over and take a look!"

They pointed at a dry latrine in the distance, laughing maliciously.

Li Heng stopped in his tracks, saying nothing.

These ruffians were taken aback, their expressions turning unkind.

"What, does this Demon Exorcist intend to neglect his duty?"

"Your Demon Suppression Division has regulations that whenever you encounter a report of a Weird from the commoners, you must go to resolve it immediately. You haven't forgotten this rule, have you?"

"By the way, I heard the Demon Suppression Division produced a murderer. Do you know about it? If you know, you had better tell us honestly; we won't make things difficult for you."

They said this with a sarcastic Yin and Yang tone.

"Which gang are you from?" Li Heng asked.

"What gang? We don't know."

They denied it directly, claiming they were just ruffians and didn't know any gangs! Come to think of it, those who could survive in gangs were basically not stupid; how could they honestly report their origins?

The Demon Suppression Division was, after all, a special violent institution.

How could they confront it head-on?

Li Heng shook his head. He understood the style of these gangs now; they just wanted to force him to make a move, then stir up trouble about the Demon Suppression Division killing people, hurting people, and ruining the reputation of the Demon Suppression Division.

Their conduct was truly worthy of the name "low-class."

"What, does this Demon Exorcist want to make a move?"

"A Demon Exorcist who doesn't exorcise demons or slay Weirds, but instead wants to make a move on us ordinary people? Are you trying to bully others by relying on your power?"

"Come on, make a move! Do you think we are afraid of you!"

These "ruffians" began their script again.

Li Heng did not answer, but patted each of them on the shoulder. Then he turned and left gracefully, heading toward the West City, leaving behind only the ruffians who were frozen in place, completely unable to move.

He had used his internal energy to directly suppress their bodies and incidentally destroyed some things, which could help them live the rest of their lives in peace, without fighting to the death with others.

Thinking of his own compassionate heart, Li Heng felt some emotion.

He was truly worthy of being a great philanthropist.

At this time, Ma Suxuan also arrived above Bei'an City.