Chapter 5: The Little Demon Blocks the Way

The other generals of the Jinnan Town Demon Suppression Division had long grown resentful of Bai Ning. When others exerted their utmost effort to slay a formidable demon, they would be in high spirits. But when Bai Ning spoke of it, it was always something so effortlessly done, yet she shamelessly boasted about it everywhere. It wasn’t empty talk; Bai Ning could indeed easily slay demon beasts of the same rank. You can imagine how infuriating that was.

As a result, the generals of the Demon Suppression Division deliberately ignored Bai Ning. She was already accustomed to acting alone—hunting demons alone, living alone. Only Steward Xu would occasionally find time to chat and share a drink with her.

Finally, an opportunity arose to thoroughly dampen Bai Ning’s pride. A mere beginner in Qi Refinement was regarded as the favored prodigy in their eyes? Among their disciples, there were plenty of such ‘prodigies.’ Forming a team entirely of prodigies would be a breeze.

The gathered crowd started whispering.

“What are these generals thinking? Why gather all the weakest disciples into one task force?”

Bai Ning watched the five-person squad swell to six and immediately asked the task hall steward, “With an extra member, can we switch to a more difficult mission?”

“No!” Steward Xu bellowed, pushing through the crowd to the front. “The Demon Suppression Division isn’t a marketplace—you can’t just exchange what you bought. Once a mission is assigned, there are only two outcomes: victory or defeat. No refunds. That’s the rule!”

Chu Chen felt like dropping to his knees to thank Steward Xu, clutching his ankles and kissing them fervently before uttering, “May good fortune follow you all your life.”

Xu knew Bai Ning couldn’t be allowed to linger here. Her low emotional intelligence made her prone to losing her temper easily.

“The mission has been assigned. Hurry and carry it out. What are you all still doing here? Every moment you linger, the demon has another chance to cause harm. Move quickly!”

After a few urgings from Xu, the “Meat Bun” squad, led by Xu Xiaoyao, left the task hall and the Demon Suppression Division. They boarded a carriage bound for the mission location, Xiao County.

The cramped carriage fell silent for a long while.

Chu Chen didn’t speak because he wasn’t familiar with the others, and nobody initiated conversation. Xu Xiaoyao remained quiet, knowing this mission could only be accomplished through her own efforts. She was grateful enough if those at the first layer of Qi Refinement didn’t cause trouble.

The others kept silent, fully aware that this mission was a gamble by their master, staking his own life out of spite. Everyone in the Jinnan Town Demon Suppression Division knew Bai Ning was a harbinger of misfortune. Their lives were merely sacrifices to accompany this cursed disciple.

A mission with a near-certain death sentence became a fifty-fifty chance because of one unexpected addition.

“Thank you, Sister Xiaoyao, for stepping in. Otherwise, someone here would have gotten us killed,” Zhao Xiaoshi spoke first, smiling at Xu Xiaoyao.

“Don’t say that. We’re a team now with a common goal. Let’s not lose harmony,” Xu Xiaoyao replied. Though a woman, she inherited a broad perspective from her father. Even if she held grudges against Chu Chen, she knew to choose the right place and time.

“Hmph, some people really should thank Sister Xiaoyao. Keeping silent, what good is that?” Zhao Xiaoshi continued.

Chu Chen recognized the ‘some people’ referred to him but remained silent. Once he took the brute force pill, no one would know who was dragging the team down.

“It’s rotten leadership all the way down, causing harm everywhere,” Fang Lingling joined the verbal assault.

“Truly shameless. Sister Xiaoyao helped us, and not even a word of thanks?” Chu Chen slowly closed his eyes. Without naming him directly, why should he respond?

“Deliberately harmful and shameless about it. How can one sleep soundly?”

“All right, all right, let’s all get some rest,” Xu Xiaoyao interrupted, her large eyes turning toward the resting Chu Chen.

“Sigh... didn’t Father say he brought back a very brave young man?”

“Why does he not look like Father described?”

“Father, if you like Aunt Bai Ning, just tell her yourself. Don’t drag me into it every time.”

The jolting carriage suddenly came to a halt. Xu Xiaoyao lifted the curtain slightly to peer outside.

“We’re entering the city.”

Hearing that, the others were no longer sleepy, eagerly jumping down to explore the city streets.

Before Xu Xiaoyao climbed down, she asked the resting Chu Chen, “Coming with us?”

“No.”

Without further words, Xu Xiaoyao closed the curtain after stepping down. Chu Chen remained alone inside, slowly passing through the city streets.

Occasional snatches of conversation drifted into the carriage.

“Sister Xiaoyao, look at this beautiful hairpin. I want to buy it for you.”

“No need, no need.”

“It’s nothing, just a few silver coins.”

“Sister Xiaoyao, there’s a sesame cake shop ahead with a long line. It must be delicious. I’ll go queue up.”

Xu Xiaoyao had become the lifeline of this team. Everyone hoped to gain her support when in peril.

Before reaching the mission site, they spared no effort to curry favor.

Chu Chen, alone, found the quiet rather peaceful.

He was experimenting with something: to escape the cold, he sent his consciousness into the Illustration Gallery. He wondered if the Xuan Thunder Sword Manual from the novice gift pack could also be practiced within the gallery.

His consciousness sank into the gallery, and a long sword appeared in his hand. Following the manual’s instructions, he began circulating and accumulating a day’s worth of spiritual energy.

The energy slowly flowing through his meridians was activated by the sword manual, accelerating its flow.

The speed increased until the energy burst from his palm and wrapped around the sword.

“Snap! Snap!” Two crisp sounds echoed as two arcs of electricity formed on the sword.

The intensity was slight, akin to the electronic lighter Chu Chen had used before his transmigration.

The hardest part was always the first step—from zero to one.

With these two arcs, the might of the thunderstorm would follow.

He needed a vast amount of spiritual energy to advance his cultivation.

“Sister Xiaoyao, you go ahead first.”

After leaving the city, the young team members returned to the carriage.

Xu Xiaoyao was first to jump aboard, followed by Zhao Xiaoshi.

Once everyone was inside, the carriage resumed its journey.

The sky darkened gradually, the surroundings shrouded in gloom.

By moonlight, the carriage rolled along the canal banks.

The swaying carriage was like a hypnotic charm, lulling everyone into drowsiness.

Suddenly, Xu Xiaoyao’s eyes snapped open, sensing something amiss.

Monsters in the wild at this hour were normal.

As long as they didn’t disturb them, Xu Xiaoyao had no intention to strike first.

The more anxious you were, the more likely trouble would come.

They had intended to keep to themselves, but an explosive crash suddenly rang out before the carriage.

“A monster!”

The coachman shouted, leaping down to hide beneath the carriage.

“Seeking death!” Xu Xiaoyao snarled fiercely and leapt from the carriage.

Chu Chen followed closely, the second to jump down.