Chapter 30 I Suspect My Master Is a Demon

Pei Hu walked toward Chu Chen, clapping his hands.

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

"When I noticed that you were secretly grabbing a handful of pebbles every time you rolled, I had no idea what you were planning."

Chu Chen felt a jolt of alarm upon hearing this. His movements had been so subtle; he hadn’t realized Pei Hu had seen through them.

"I never imagined you could come up with such a shameless, rotten trick."

Chu Chen gave a bitter smile, choosing to interpret that as a compliment. "You certainly have a unique way of praising people, sir."

"I don't think the Demon Suppression Division is the right place for you. Any interest in joining the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of Justice? The Minister of Justice was my peer when we took the imperial examinations, and we are on very good terms."

Before Chu Chen could respond, Bai Ning, standing behind him, became displeased. How dare this man openly try to poach her disciple?

"You dog, are you tired of living?"

With a sharp curse, she rolled up her sleeves, looking ready for a brawl. Chu Chen turned around and quickly held back his volatile master.

"Master, I have decided to follow you for the rest of my life. I’m not going anywhere."

Hearing this, Bai Ning’s mood eased slightly, though she still glared fiercely at Pei Hu. "You aren't welcome here. Get lost."

"I won't force you, then," Pei Hu said with a smile, adding one last attempt before giving up. "Chu Chen, whenever you change your mind, come find me."

Chu Chen shot him a look that clearly communicated: *You truly have no fear of death, do you?*

"It won't happen. Absolutely not."

Pei Hu said no more. Taking Xiao Kui and the eight hundred taels of silver, he departed the courtyard.

The onlookers stared at Chu Chen with intense hostility. *What did I do? I killed a Tier 4 demon beast—why is everyone so angry at me? Is it because I’m too talented and they’re jealous? I think I’m beginning to understand Master’s helplessness. It is indeed lonely at the top.*

"Well done!" Huang Yuan roared, jogging over to Chu Chen. He shook Chu Chen’s hand with excitement, clearly tempted to pull him into a bear hug. "Good lad, that was a stellar performance. Clever, decisive—you didn't let me down."

"Thank you for the praise, General Huang Yuan."

Huang Yuan glanced at Bai Ning, then back at Chu Chen. "Chu Chen, from now on, whenever you go on missions, you should join my disciples. Our two groups ought to get closer."

Having just obtained the Thousand-Silk Needle, Chu Chen was indeed in need of a team. General Huang Yuan’s offer hit the nail on the head.

"That would be wonderful."

Upon hearing Chu Chen’s consent, Huang Yuan turned and called out, "You lot, come over here."

Three men and a woman approached from the distance, all dressed in the black robes that symbolized the Spirit Refining Realm.

"Zhou Mi, twenty-two, a local from Jinnan Commandery, fifth layer of Spirit Refining, specializes in spear techniques."

Aside from the standard Demon-Slaying Sword, most members of the Demon Suppression Division learned one or two extra skills for emergencies. The man named Zhou Mi had a long sword at his waist and three short spears strapped to his back.

"Sun Xinxin, twenty-three, from Pengcheng, seventh layer of Spirit Refining, proficient with hidden weapons."

"Huang Zhengliang, twenty, my eldest grandson, seventh layer of Spirit Refining, also trains in physical body tempering."

"Zheng Zhong, twenty-one, ninth layer of Spirit Refining, specializes in the Demon-Slaying Sword."

After the introductions, Huang Yuan continued, "From now on, you five will be a fixed unit. Help each other and grow together."

Chu Chen was very satisfied with the team's composition. There were tanks, damage dealers, and an assassin who could strike from the shadows. As for his own role, he figured he was the all-rounder.

Just as he was filled with joy, a cold voice sounded from behind him.

"Chu Chen will not be taking any missions until he reaches the Incarnation Realm."

His volatile master was acting up again. General Huang Yuan froze, and his four disciples looked bewildered. *Isn't this like offering kindness only to be slapped in the face? My master clearly didn't do his homework before coming here to curry favor—how embarrassing.*

"General Bai Ning, look at how Chu Chen handled the spider demon—he has a quick mind and ruthless methods." As he spoke, Huang Yuan glanced at the spider demon in the courtyard, his eyes locking onto the chrysanthemum that had been "bloomed" by Chu Chen. *That is fucking brutal.*

He suppressed his thoughts and continued, "With my disciples on the team, taking on missions involving demons below Tier 5 should be perfectly safe."

Huang Yuan was being conservative. By the hierarchy, Tier 4 to 6 demons corresponded to the Spirit Refining Realm. With five Spirit Refining practitioners, four of whom were beyond the mid-stage, they could practically walk wherever they pleased in front of such threats.

But Bai Ning was as stubborn as a mule; she wouldn't let Chu Chen take a single step outside the Demon Suppression Division.

"I'm sick of this. How many times do I have to say it? Chu Chen will not set foot outside the Demon Suppression Division until he reaches the Incarnation Realm."

She turned and glared at Chu Chen. "If I let you die out there, I might as well kill you myself."

Chu Chen swallowed hard, looking as docile as a newborn kitten. "Yes, Master."

General Huang Yuan had no choice but to leave, disappointed. "Sigh..."

Chu Chen sighed as well, a question popping into his mind: Who was going to clean up this trashed courtyard? And what about the spider demon?

"Master, what about these..." Chu Chen asked tentatively.

"Someone will handle it," Bai Ning replied, then asked with complete seriousness, "What other demon beast do you want? I'll go catch one right now."

Chu Chen felt a cold sweat. The battle had just ended, and she was already eager for the next one. *Volatile Master, do you have any conscience at all?*

"No need for now."

"Xiao Yao, watch him practice his strikes!" Bai Ning left behind that instruction and retreated inside.

"Yes." The little girl replied, her eyes showing a hint of fear as she looked at Chu Chen.

*Heh, little thing, now you know how dangerous I am.* Chu Chen put on a "bad uncle" expression, his tone turning oily. "Don't think that just because you have the Matriarch's backing, I won't deal with you. If you don't listen to me, I'll send you back and sell you to that old man who sits at his doorstep eating."

Wu Xingyao blinked her large eyes and nodded obediently.

Chu Chen leaned down and whispered, "Do me a favor."

"Please speak, Master."

"The Matriarch went back to sleep. You go follow that old man who was just talking to her. Tell me by nightfall who he met and what he did."

Chu Chen was still harboring a grudge about being followed earlier. He wanted to confirm whether it was his own negligence or if this little girl possessed a natural talent for tracking. Before he had transmigrated, the veterans used to say that some people have such a weak presence that they are perfect for tracking criminals. Chu Chen’s own aura was too strong, making it easy to trigger a target's sixth sense—even if they couldn't see him, they would feel the instinct that they were being watched. Experienced criminals would react immediately. Therefore, the people responsible for surveillance in a team were always hand-picked.

"If you get caught, just say that Master is looking for him."

"Understood." Wu Xingyao left the courtyard.

Chu Chen sank his consciousness into the Bestiary Gallery to claim his rewards.

"Killed Tier 4 Demon Spider. Reward: Thousand-Silk Needle."

"Defeated demon using demon. Bonus reward: One piece of the Ancient Battlefield Puzzle..."

Chu Chen gasped, not daring to reach out and touch that puzzle piece. He confirmed to himself that only he and his volatile master had touched that spider demon.