Chapter 32

"The magistrate of Lin'an City actually dared to collude with demons, how despicable!"

"From the letter, it seems that Zhao Fang has already committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

"Hmph, colluding with demons is not something that can be resolved by just committing suicide. If everyone who colludes with demons can simply atone for their sins by dying, how many people would betray the human race?"

Zhou Yuanzheng sneered. In his eyes, Zhao Fang's death was just the beginning.

"Colluding with demons, betraying the human race, and attempting to sacrifice Lin'an City to feed the strange creatures, all these crimes combined deserve the extermination of nine clans!"

As he spoke,

his gaze fell on Dongfang Zhao.

In response,

Dongfang Zhao slowly said, "From the Qingling Jade Pendant, it is indeed true that the magistrate of Lin'an City colluded with demons. However, Zhao Fang is still the magistrate of a city, and to exterminate his clan requires the emperor's approval.

Tomorrow, when I enter the court, I will report this truthfully.

Speaking of which, for an apprentice demon slayer to be able to slay a powerful Yin-level strange creature and kill a demon, his strength is quite remarkable. Are you familiar with this person?"

The one being asked

was Jiang Zuo, who stood below without moving.

Upon hearing the question,

Jiang Zuo clasped his hands and replied, "Reporting to Lord Dongfang, Shen Changqing has been in the Demon Suppression Bureau for a year now, becoming an apprentice demon slayer. According to the records left by the previous Yellow Department Demon Suppression Academy manager Liu Chang, Shen Changqing advanced to the Pulse-Through stage within three months of joining the Demon Suppression Bureau.

In terms of talent, Shen Changqing is more powerful than most demon slayers."

"Oh, advancing to the Pulse-Through stage in three months, I didn't expect him to be such a genius!" Dongfang Zhao's eyebrows slightly raised. "Advancing to the Pulse-Through stage in three months, it wouldn't be difficult to break through to the middle Pulse-Through stage in eight or nine months, and even the late Pulse-Through stage is possible.

In that case, slaying a powerful Yin-level strange creature is also normal."

A world-class genius.

Their cultivation speed is naturally incomparable to others.

Advancing to the Pulse-Through stage in three months, and to the middle or late Pulse-Through stage in a year, is not at all unlikely.

Of course,

the leap from Pulse-Through to Innate is not so easy.

To break through this barrier requires much more time than advancing from Body Tempering to Pulse-Through.

"By the way,"

Zhou Yuanzheng thought of something and looked at Jiang Zuo. "A few days ago, the Heavenly Inspection Guard reported that there was a demon's essence blood appearing in the Lin'an City area of Guangyuan Prefecture. Is the one currently stationed in Lin'an City also this Shen Changqing?"

"Exactly!"

Jiang Zuo nodded and replied truthfully.

Zhou Yuanzheng understood.

Too many things happen in the Demon Suppression Bureau every day, and the Heavenly Inspection Guard continuously sends all the collected information.

He has heard of many things, but if they are not particularly important, he won't deliberately remember them.

For example, the appearance of the demon's essence blood in Lin'an City.

For the Demon Suppression Bureau, such a level of demon's essence blood is not a big deal. After someone made arrangements, Zhou Yuanzheng put it out of his mind.

Now, because of the collusion with demons,

he has once again thought about some things related to Lin'an City.

"A world-class genius who advanced to the Pulse-Through stage in three months, if he were to fall in Lin'an City, it would be a significant loss. The demon's essence blood is not a precious thing, but it has considerable allure for ordinary forces.

He is a martial artist who has not yet broken through to the Innate stage, and even with the Demon Suppression Bureau's reputation, he may not be able to maintain order."

One of the garrison commanders shook his head, clearly intending to recall Shen Changqing.

Dongfang Zhao's expression was calm. "A world-class genius who has grown up is a true genius. Currently, most of the Demon Suppression Bureau's forces are tied up by demons in various regions. Although he is just an apprentice demon slayer, his strength is not weak.

Even a regular Yellow Rank demon slayer may not be able to compare.

It's good to let him stay there. If he can return safely, he will be a talent worth cultivating. Jiang Zuo, what do you think?"

"I will follow the orders of the garrison commanders!"

Jiang Zuo was startled and hurriedly bowed his head in response.

He was just a small manager and had no right to influence the garrison commanders' decisions. At this moment, it was best to be invisible.

"However—"

Dongfang Zhao changed his tone. "He has only been in the Demon Suppression Bureau for a short time and is not yet a Yellow Rank demon slayer. This mission is quite challenging, and the Demon Suppression Bureau cannot show no response."

After saying this, he looked at Zhou Yuanzheng and the others.

"What do you think, garrison commanders, how should we proceed?"

"Since we have decided to let him garrison in Lin'an City, we should give him the treatment of a Yellow Rank demon slayer. Let him choose a martial art from the second floor of the library. If he can break through to the Innate stage in the future, it will be a good thing."

Zhou Yuanzheng replied without hesitation.

The other two did not speak, but their meaning was similar.

Dongfang Zhao nodded and looked at Jiang Zuo. "From today on, Shen Changqing will be a Yellow Rank demon slayer. Additionally, he can choose an internal martial art from the second floor of the library, and we will also give him a bottle of Pulse-Smoothing Pills. Send these things to Lin'an City along with other items."

"Understood, sir!"

Jiang Zuo bowed to receive the order.

"Tomorrow, I will enter the palace to report to the emperor and handle the Lin'an City matter. However, a new magistrate will not be appointed so quickly. Before that, let Shen Changqing temporarily take over the position of Lin'an City magistrate. We do not require him to achieve any political accomplishments, just to maintain stability in the city.

If the Lin'an City matter is not resolved by then, and the Demon Suppression Bureau can spare the resources, we will send people to assist."

—

After returning from Yongfu Pawnshop, Shen Changqing went back to his original inn.

Originally,

he intended to just gather information about the demon's essence blood, confirm some things, and then return to the capital's Demon Suppression Bureau.

As for other matters in Lin'an City, they had little to do with him.

Shen Changqing never expected that just as he was about to leave, the Demon Suppression Bureau would give him such a task.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to the Heavenly Inspection Guard!"

He sighed helplessly, but he also understood that even if he hadn't gone to the Heavenly Inspection Guard, he would still have to garrison in Lin'an City.

In fact,

the letter from the Demon Suppression Bureau, once it fell into the hands of the Heavenly Inspection Guard, could easily be delivered to him.

The only difference was the timing.

Even if he had already left Lin'an City and even Guangyuan Prefecture, he might still be recalled.

Two days passed quickly.

During these two days, Shen Changqing also took a serious look around Lin'an City. The news of Zhao Fang's collusion with demons had already spread.

After all, many people had witnessed what happened that night, and not all the constables kept their mouths shut.

Additionally,

the death of Zhao Fang, a respected magistrate, could not be kept secret. The strict guarding of the Zhao family by the constables also caused a significant commotion.

So by now, the people of Lin'an City mostly knew about Zhao Fang's collusion with demons.

For a time,

Zhao Fang and his family were widely condemned.

Of course, for Shen Changqing, it had little impact.