Chapter 426

Wei Yuan looked at Lü Tu speechlessly; if it weren't for knowing that Lü Tu is the Thousand Commander of the Fengyin Prefecture Demon Suppression Office, hearing Lü Tu's words he would suspect that Lü Tu is a woman, or some impotent thing—how could a grown man be so petty, over and over? With a fawning smile, he tried to ingratiate himself, saying:

"Lü Qianhu, look at what you're saying—our Qingyang County belongs to Fengyin Prefecture, you are the Thousand Commander of the Fengyin Prefecture Demon Suppression Office, and our Qingyang County also falls under your jurisdiction."

"Don't even talk about nobody seeing you get annoyed; even if someone sees you annoyed, she can only keep it bottled up inside—no matter what, she wouldn't dare say it to your face, Lü Qianhu."

"If she had the guts to say it, I'd be the first to disagree!"

Having said that, Wei Yuan hurriedly looked at Yu Die with a pleading gaze, hoping she would be more magnanimous and not be petty like Lü Tu.

They hadn't even started a conflict, yet here they were being sarcastic and snide.

He was quite curious—maybe Lü Tu had taken the wrong rebirth in the Underworld; he should have been a woman.

However.

Actually, he didn't have much objection to Lü Tu's pettiness; he had served in Qingyang County for many years and dealt with all sorts of people.

He'd seen all kinds of people from the three teachings and nine streams.

There are plenty of people even more detestable than Lü Tu's temperament, and most of them are loud-mouthed braggarts.

Someone like Lü Tu can settle things with just a few words, without extra expense—how could he not like that?

Anyway, kind words cost nothing!

Lü Tu gave Yu Die a mocking glance, as if trying to provoke her, and joked, "Really?"

"Naturally it's true!"

Wei Yuan said speechlessly.

After a long while, seeing no change in Yu Die's expression, Lü Tu felt a bit disappointed. Although this dog‑thing's cultivation might not be great, she only became a Hundred Commander of the Demon Suppression Office thanks to her background, but her composure is decent—she doesn't show joy or anger—and he said:

"Fine, I'll stay here, but I'm not confident I can protect you all. However, isn't there a Hundred Commander from the Capital City here? I believe she can protect you!"

Yu Die ignored Lü Tu's sarcasm; since becoming a Hundred Commander of the Demon Suppression Office, she's seen plenty of behind‑the‑back gossip and even open mockery.

She does have some background—enough to enter the Capital City's Demon Suppression Office—and who doesn't have some background?

Even if someone lacks background, his astonishing cultivation talent is his background.

Unless someone has done something that arouses heaven's wrath and public resentment, they generally won't be expelled from the Demon Suppression Office.

Even assigning a suicide mission wouldn't do.

Every mission in the Demon Suppression Office is assessed—what kind of person gets what kind of mission.

Even the highest leaders of the Demon Suppression Office cannot interfere with mission assignments, nor can they assign a suicide mission to someone they dislike.

The only possible effect is a promotion and raise!

Under these circumstances, they develop an arrogance unique to Demon Suppression Office personnel.

They're not just like her, who got in through the back door as a Hundred Commander; even the high‑ranking officials of the Demon Suppression Office, if they've done wrong, may not dare mock them to their faces, but gossiping behind their backs is no problem. Over the years, they naturally cultivate an impassive demeanor.

She actually knows deep down that the person who promoted her and gave her a raise will treat her this way—not just to provoke her growth with this matter, but in fact the best outcome they'd want is to drive her out of the Demon Suppression Office.

It's not that she's done something that arouses heaven's wrath and public resentment, nor that she has a conflict with the person who promoted her; it's that her mother doesn't like her being in the Demon Suppression Office.

He merely couldn't withstand her pleading, so he reluctantly agreed to her promotion and raise; if he could, he'd naturally wish she'd leave the Demon Suppression Office.

Perhaps this matter was actually orchestrated by her dear mother!

"That child!"

Lü Tu followed Wei Yuan's group into the main hall; his casual gaze wandered around, and he immediately noticed Liu Dongzhu holding Wang Ping'an in her arms. His eyes lit up, he hurried forward—startling Liu Dongzhu, who stepped back. Knowing his rash act might have frightened her, he smiled slightly and said:

"Madam, I don't know if I may have a look at the child in your arms—I feel this child is quite fated with me!"

Liu Dongzhu hesitated.

Dai Zhishang, who had followed over, explained: "Sister Dongzhu, this is Lü Qianhu of the Fengyin Prefecture Demon Suppression Office; the whole office obeys his orders. He wants to take a look at your Ping'an, which would be a good thing for him!"

Lü Tu's rash act reminded him of Hu Meiniang—back when she got what she wanted, she didn't hesitate to abandon him; before leaving, she had inquired about news of the Wang family.

He had to answer, which made him very worried that Hu Meiniang might be harmful to the Wang family; he had secretly sent servants to Hutou Gou to gather information.

He discovered that the Wang family had once fought a great battle that drew everyone from Hutou Gou; it was said a monster had stormed the Wang residence. Though he didn't know who the monster was, he was clear that it was almost certainly Hu Meiniang.

This novel you have arrived at

At that time, hearing that news, he felt great regret; only when he heard that the Wang family was unharmed did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He had originally planned to wait a few days, let his body recover, then go to the Wang family to apologize—but he hadn't expected to hear that a mountain god had appeared on Shizi Ling, so he rushed to the Zhang family, never expecting to run into the Wang family.

Seeing that the Wang family's old and young were safe, he finally let out a complete sigh of relief.

Upon hearing Dai Zhishang's reply, Liu Dongzhu then handed over the Wang Ping'an she was holding.

Dai Zhishang saw Lü Tu take Wang Ping'an, examined him carefully, his eyes growing brighter each time, and asked: "Lü Qianhu, isn't this kid not bad? Have you thought about taking him as a disciple?"

He knew Wang Ping'an already had a master—Xuanqing Daozhang of the Xuanqing Temple—who had still granted him a life‑saving kindness; recommending Wang Ping'an to Lü Tu felt a bit sorry to Xuanqing Daozhang, but doing so would bring tremendous benefit to Wang Ping'an and even the Wang family.

If the Wang family had Lü Tu as their backing, who within a hundred li would dare bully them?

A monster like Hu Meiniang, knowing the Wang family had Lü Tu as their backing, would certainly not dare storm the Wang residence again.

I suppose.

Xuanqing Daozhang could understand his thinking.

Furthermore.

Wang Ping'an would simply have another master; it's not that he'd stop venerating Xuanqing Daozhang as his teacher.

Lü Tu stopped his gaze inspecting Wang Ping'an; as he inspected him, the more he looked, the more satisfied he became—he really wanted to take this child as a disciple. Looking at Dai Zhishang and his clothes, it was obvious he wasn't from the same household as Liu Dongzhu, and he said: "Who are you, and what's your relation to this child?"

(End of chapter)