Chapter 47

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 47: Demon Slayer, Xiuyi Guard, Goucha Envoy

"A good man's ambition lies in the four directions."

Wu Ting glanced at Zhao Chan's profile, which looked like the silhouette of a mountain—handsome, tough, yet with a gentleness that didn't make him feel unapproachable.

Whether in Xiaoshi Village, Youju Town, or other villages, one couldn't find a second person like Zhao Chan.

She wondered if all the spiritual qi of this place had gathered in Zhao Chan alone.

The front of the Demon Slayer Division was full of people.

Several outsider cultivators stood by the street, watching with great interest.

Wang Huan was bleary-eyed, his eyes bloodshot, as if he still hadn't rested.

He was carrying the Lion Mountain blade and saw Zhao Chan and Wu Ting walking over as soon as he passed through the crowd.

"Did Wang Dage go to kill that demon?" the young lad asked.

Wang Huan asked: "That's right."

His voice was muffled, as if he were weak, holding on entirely by the belief of protecting the people of Youju Town.

"I've already killed it."

Wang Huan nodded, not surprised. This fourteen-year-old lad had brought him too many surprises.

If he hadn't known Zhao Chan for several years and known what kind of character he was, he would have already treated him as a puppet possessed by a demon.

Zhao Chan walked to Wang Huan's side and whispered: "I estimate the people of Xiaoshi Village won't want to go back and stay there anymore."

"Sigh, these are troubled times."

Wang Huan turned to face the people of Xiaoshi Village and pointed back at Zhao Chan: "Villagers, the demon has already been killed by Zhao Chan, a Demon Slayer of our Demon Slayer Division. You can go back and live there."

He was just testing the waters.

Not long after.

Someone shouted: "Warrior Wang, that vacant mansion of the wealthy family is nice, but it's easy to suffer demon infestations at the edge of town. Can you find us another place to stay?"

"That's right, Warrior Wang, we really don't dare to live there anymore."

"How about we live in the Demon Slayer Division?"

"The Demon Slayer Division is good. Don't you Demon Slayers usually say that slaying demons and suppressing monsters is to protect the borders and the people? Now is an extraordinary time; you can open up the Demon Slayer Division for us to live in."

Wang Huan didn't even think about it and nodded: "The Demon Slayer Division is only this big. If you want to live here, you absolutely can, just don't mind that the Demon Slayer Division is shabby."

"How could we mind that the Demon Slayer Division is shabby? Let's save our lives first and talk about other things!"

"Villagers! Let's go! We're moving into the Demon Slayer Division!"

They swarmed into the Demon Slayer Division. Wang Huan turned his head to scan the outsider cultivators watching the fun, then whispered to Zhao Chan: "Don't go; I've found you a handy sword."

When the Green Snake Sword killed the old flood dragon, it was bitten to pieces by the dragon. Without using the peach branch, Zhao Chan could only fight demons with his bare hands.

Wang Huan didn't go through the crowded gate of the Demon Slayer Division; he grabbed the wall and flipped inside, then quickly flipped back out: "The sword is named 【Feishi】. It's a treasure at the bottom of the box in Youju Town, a low-grade dharma artifact. That Green Snake Sword can't be compared to 【Feishi】 at all; it's no different from broken copper and iron."

Zhao Chan waved his hands repeatedly: "Wang Dage, it's too precious; I'm not worthy."

"You're not worthy? If you're not worthy, who is? This is an order from Hundred-Household Kong. Take it." He threw Feishi to Zhao Chan.

The young lad took the sword.

The Feishi sword was an inch longer than the Green Snake Sword and not light; after weighing it in his hand, it should be over thirty jin.

The scabbard, however, didn't seem to be the Feishi sword's original scabbard; it was nearly two fingers wider.

"Hide the peach branch in there too."

Zhao Chan pulled out the peach branch from his waist and inserted it into the scabbard; it fit just right.

"Thank you, Wang Dage."

"Hey, don't thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Hundred-Household Kong. A low-grade dharma artifact is a weapon that only a Captain official can use. Without the Hundred-Household's permission, I wouldn't dare to touch Feishi."

Wang Huan looked at Feishi and explained: "The first Demon Slayer to arrive in Youju Town was a Captain. He founded the Demon Slayer Division here. Later... later, because his lifespan was exhausted, he simply buried himself in the mountains. His sword, Feishi, was left behind, and the Yang County Demon Slayer Division never took it back."

After hearing the origin of Feishi, Zhao Chan asked: "Where is Hundred-Household Kong?"

Wang Huan gestured with his chin: "Look behind you."

Zhao Chan turned around.

Kong Yanxing was riding on a horse, his right hand gripping a horsewhip, and asked: "Go to your house."

"Okay." He and Wang Huan agreed without thinking, just like they had agreed to the villagers of Xiaoshi Village.

"Lead the way."

Kong Yanxing glanced at those outsider cultivators and sneered: "Courting death."

Zhao Chan said to Wu Ting: "Sister Wu, why don't you come to my house too?"

She hesitated slightly: "No, I know the villagers, so I'll stay here."

"Take care in everything."

"Mm, you too."

Zhao Chan grabbed the reins and led the horse toward Nongsui Lane.

Wang Huan went to patrol the streets and lanes of Youju Town again. He had only just closed his eyes to rest when a demon broke in. If Zhao Chan hadn't rushed to save the day, Wang Huan couldn't imagine what serious consequences would have been caused.

"Kong Dage, your injury..."

"Much better." Kong Yanxing saw out of the corner of his eye that as he rode through Caiyan Street, the number of people observing him in the lanes was gradually increasing.

"Are those all outsiders?"

"Yes, outsider cultivators."

Kong Yanxing whispered: "Give me a little more time. By noon tomorrow at the latest, I'll be sure to deter these bold bastards!

Hmph, do they think the Demon Slayer Division doesn't care about a small Youju Town?

Wrong! Dead wrong!"

Finally, he said to Zhao Chan: "If they dare to attack you again today, if you can handle it, kill them directly. If you can't handle it, lead them to your house and I'll kill them."

"Yes," Zhao Chan nodded earnestly.

Kong Yanxing's personality was much more decisive than Wang Huan's. Wang Huan was somewhat hesitant and always thought about a perfect ending, while Kong Yanxing, although thinking about the big picture, dared to let go and fight when facing danger.

Because of this, he had taken the Anger Origin Spirit Ascension Pill and used the "Please Monitor Soldier Divine Monarch Talisman" to fight the old flood dragon.

"Zhao Chan..."

"Yes."

"I have a few talismans on me, but I can't give them to you. Although the talismans issued by the Demon Slayer Division can be used as long as you know the hand seals, they also depend on the Demon Slayer's cultivation. Talismans for the Body Refining Realm don't require cultivation, but you must first record your name in the 'Slaying Demon Record.' Talismans for the Qi Gathering Realm and above require it."

Zhao Chan recalled Wang Huan writing his name in the "Slaying Demon Record." At that time, he saw that the "Slaying Demon Record" had nothing unusual about it.

Kong Yanxing laughed: "Do you think the 'Slaying Demon Record' of Youju Town is very ordinary?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"It is indeed very ordinary, but the 'Slaying Demon Record' of Youju Town has obtained the aura of the 'Slaying Demon Record' in Yang County.

And the Yang County 'Slaying Demon Record' is one of the 'Slaying Demon Records' of Lancang Prefecture.

The Lancang Prefecture 'Slaying Demon Record' was created with the nod and consent of the Xitang Kingdom 'Slaying Demon Record,' so it counts as a branch of the main record.

Your name appearing in the 'Slaying Demon Record' means it will also appear in the Xitang Kingdom main record.

The reason for submitting the Youju Town 'Slaying Demon Record' to the Yang County Demon Slayer Division for confirmation is just to let us know that there is a new Demon Slayer in Youju Town."

Zhao Chan was confused: "Kong Dage, I don't quite understand."

"Let me explain it to you in detail. The Xitang Kingdom 'Slaying Demon Record' main record is a very powerful dharma treasure. As for what grade it is, I don't know.

The main record will think like a human. Once it agrees, the branch records created become its branches; in other words, they are the cultivator's clones.

Can you understand this point?"

"Understand!"

"The 'Slaying Demon Record' branches are handed over to important places like Lancang Prefecture. Youju Town is subordinate to Yang County, our Yang County is subordinate to Lancang Prefecture, and Lancang Prefecture is the prefecture city of the Yushan Commandery of the Xitang Kingdom. The Commandery Governor appointed by the imperial court, and our Demon Slayer Division's prefecture division in Yushan Commandery, are all located in Lancang Prefecture...

The Yang County 'Slaying Demon Record' is one of the 'Slaying Demon Records' of Lancang Prefecture.

Speaking of this, can you understand?"

"I understand."

"This 'Slaying Demon Record' in Youju Town just touched a wisp of aura from the Yang County 'Slaying Demon Record' and only has the function of recording names for Demon Slayers. Don't underestimate recording names; Wang Huan wrote your name in the 'Slaying Demon Record' and submitted it to the Yang County Demon Slayer Division for confirmation, so you count as a proper Demon Slayer."

Zhao Chan asked: "What if the Yang County Demon Slayer doesn't agree to me becoming a Demon Slayer?"

"It's good that you can think of this level."

Kong Yanxing explained slowly: "At the beginning, many Demon Slayers wrote their own relatives into the 'Slaying Demon Record' to collect empty salaries. However, such behavior greatly affected the slaying of demons and wasted too much money.

That's why a town recruiting a Demon Slayer must be confirmed by the county city. If they are indeed qualified to become a Demon Slayer, the name on the county city's 'Slaying Demon Record' stays. If they are not qualified to become a Demon Slayer, the name is removed, and the Demon Slayer who recorded the name is punished."

He broke it down and explained it carefully to Zhao Chan.

Although it was just a small matter that Demon Slayers were accustomed to, since Zhao Chan didn't know, Kong Yanxing was extra willing to explain it to him.

"The real 'Slaying Demon Record' has various abilities."

"That's right."

"Then, can it punish Demon Slayers who have already recorded their names?" Zhao Chan asked back.

Kong Yanxing laughed: "As far as I know, the 'Slaying Demon Record' cannot, but the 'Baize Jade Record' can."

"'Baize Jade Record'..."

"The Demon Slayer Division doesn't just have us human cultivators; it also has demon cultivators. The Yuan Thousand-Household you've met, Yuan Hou, is a demon cultivator whose name is recorded in the 'Baize Jade Record,' called the Baize Hall.

The 'Baize Jade Record' has another set of ways to recruit demon cultivators, which I don't know much about. When Thousand-Household Yuan finishes that matter in Ze County and returns to Yang County to rest, I'll ask it to tell you about it."

Kong Yanxing intended to give Zhao Chan a good introduction to the Demon Slayer Division.

"Demon cultivators belong to the Baize Hall, we human cultivators belong to the Patrol Platform, and there is also the Goucha Court, whose duty is to investigate Demon Slayers who have committed crimes such as colluding with demons, corruption, and poisoning living beings.

Thousand-Household Yuan was originally a Baize Hall demon cultivator, but later transferred to the Goucha Court. He is on this trip precisely to investigate Demon Slayers."

Zhao Chan suddenly realized; no wonder Thousand-Household Yuan was in such a hurry; he was actually shouldering such an important matter.

"You kid have good talent; it's best to be a proper Demon Slayer in the Patrol Platform. Otherwise, if you are investigated by that group of 'ox-heads and horse-faces' in the Goucha Court, the light punishment is being thrown into prison, and the heavy punishment is having your soul scattered and never being able to be reincarnated."

"Kong Dage, I've noted it down."

"Let me tell you again why it's called the Patrol Platform. Our duty as Demon Slayers is not only to patrol and kill demons that cause trouble, but also to pacify the people... understand?"

"I understand. This lane is Nongsui Lane."

"Let's go."

Kong Yanxing suddenly remembered something and whispered: "Kid, the Patrol Platform, Baize Hall, and Goucha Court of the Demon Slayer Division seem to be one family, but in reality, there are many tricks inside!

It was only because Thousand-Household Yuan once sat in Yang County and had an excellent relationship with us that it was easy to talk.

When you meet other Goucha Envoys from the Goucha Court, you must never be too trusting. This group of dogs thinks everyone looks like they've committed a crime."

"Are the people in the Goucha Court called Goucha Envoys?"

"Ha, right, they are indeed all called dog shit. They don't kill half a demon and stare at Demon Slayers all day; if they aren't dog shit, what are they?"

Zhao Chan scratched his head; he didn't say dog shit...

Xie Wan hid in a corner of Caiyan Street, watching Zhao Chan walk into Nongsui Lane holding the reins: "Could that person be a Demon Slayer from the Yang County Demon Slayer Division?"

She then ran into the Xizhao Inn, glanced at the tea on Bai Yuqing's table, and hurriedly went to the back kitchen to carry the hot water kettle, full of smiles: "Is the tea at my place alright?"

"Average," Huangfu Changqiu shook her head.

Xie Wan laughed: "At a glance, the young lady is a noble lady from a famous family, so of course you wouldn't look down on the tea in a small place. I won't hide it from you, young lady; I ran through all the surrounding villages and went to Yang County to decide on these tea leaves. They are already the best in this small place."

"Who is he to you?" Huangfu Changqiu looked at A Ping.

"Him? He's my distant relative who came to Youju Town to visit me. Sigh, the mountains are high and the waters are long; we haven't seen each other for many years."

Bai Yuqing and Xun Lan didn't care. Even if the inn landlady in front of them was in the Middle-Grade Foundation Establishment Realm... she was a bit immature, and her thoughts couldn't be hidden at all. She clearly wanted to probe for information but showed an eager expression.

Huangfu Changqiu looked at Bai Yuqing again: "What do you think, Senior Sister Bai?"

A very strange sentence.

Bai Yuqing raised her eyebrows and said heroically: "The landlady's craft is quite good; the food suits our sisters' tastes."

Xie Wan listened to their conversation and was instantly lost in the clouds, not knowing what they meant.

Huangfu Changqiu laughed: "Didn't the landlady understand? My Senior Sister Bai said we are hungry, so serve the food."

"Okay, okay, I'll go prepare it right away. What would the honored guests like to eat?"

"Your best dish," Huangfu Changqiu pointed at Bai Yuqing playfully, "Senior Sister Bai is treating."

Xie Wan had no choice but to change their tea and fill it with hot water, then carry the hot water kettle back to the back kitchen, with A Ping following her holding a picture book.

There was also a group of shadow puppet theater troupe members in the inn.

Xun Lan sighed lightly: "Fairy Bai's puppet control technique is truly exquisite."

When they rushed to Youju Town, they encountered a flash flood, and Bai Yuqing used her clever hands to save the theater troupe. Not only did she avoid exposing their aura and being noticed, but she also allowed the shadow puppet theater troupe to survive a desperate situation.

Therefore, the two sisters, Bai Yuqing and Bai Youjun, simply hid in the theater troupe and arrived in Youju Town together.

In fact, this matter was Bai Youjun begging Bai Yuqing; she liked the colorful puppets and the various musical instruments in the theater troupe.

Bai Yuqing accompanied her in the fun as if playing house.

"Just a small technique I learned when I was young."

Xun Lan watched the theater troupe members sitting in the hall drinking tea and chatting: "Fairy Bai's puppet control technique is not inferior to the elders of mountain sects."

Bai Yuqing shook her head slightly: "At that time, their souls hadn't left their bodies and they still had a breath of yang energy. I just used the puppet control technique to lock their souls and let their yang energy grow slowly."

"For mountain cultivators, these actions are a bit troublesome," Xun Lan said. "Look, this group of people doesn't thank their savior at all; they don't even know Fairy Bai saved them."

Bai Yuqing was disdainful: "They are living beings after all, and saving them is accumulating virtue. Besides, I do my good deeds; why do I need others to thank me?

Let me tell you a saying that circulates in the Baize Hall: Just do good deeds and don't ask about the future."