「Wuyang County Yamen.」
Ruan Xiangling sat at a desk with a complex expression, a folded report clutched in her hand. "Brother, this doesn’t make sense. Could a Great Demon have arrived?"
Ever since Senior Brother Lin had personally acted to disperse the demon cloud, there hadn’t been a single demonic incident in Wuyang or the other fifteen county seats under its purview.
The fame of the Mountain Master Disciple had already spread far and wide.
As for Immortal Yu Sheng, the Vice Mountain Master, his standing in the hearts of the common people had even surpassed that of the Demon-slaying Bureau.
Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction.
Recently, however, things had taken a strange turn.
First, over ten county seats were successively provoked by Demons, as if they wanted to reclaim the dignity they had lost to the Mountain Master Disciple, Lin Shu.
The Ruan siblings had originally planned to ignore it, choosing to keep the matter quiet for the time being and wait until they could report it to Senior Brother Lin.
After all, Immortal Yu Sheng had only just arrived and his position wasn’t yet secure. Their own group of Vice Generals was being marginalized by Lei Shouren, leaving them isolated and weak. It was already a struggle just to protect the county seat, making it nearly impossible to dispatch forces into the mountains to slay Demons.
But that was where things got strange.
With the capabilities of this group of Vice Generals and Captains, it was baffling that they couldn’t suppress the rumors. As time went on, talk of demonic incidents only intensified throughout the counties.
It even got to the point where rumors claimed that Senior Brother Lin’s previous actions had provoked a certain Great Demon. Knowing retaliation was imminent, he had supposedly become timid, abandoned the sixteen county seats, and fled back to Anren Prefecture City.
"It couldn’t be that Demon Monarch Bi Hai has come in person, could it?" Ruan Xiangling frowned.
"If she were here, why would she bother with these petty tricks to force Senior Brother Lin to show himself? Wouldn’t it be more direct to just storm our gates? No matter how strong a Mountain Master Disciple is, he can’t possibly take on a Mid-stage Golden Core Demon Monarch while he’s only in the Core Formation Realm."
Ruan Changfeng, sitting in his chair, tapped his index finger lightly on the armrest. He pondered for a moment, a cold glint in his eyes. "I, on the other hand, find these methods familiar. I doubt they’re the work of Demons. In fact, they bear a striking resemblance to the infighting schemes of those Immortal Families."
"Someone wants to ruin the reputation of this master and disciple?"
Ruan Xiangling clenched the report tightly, grinding her teeth in anger. "Is it the Qi Family again? Or that Vice Mountain Master Mingxuan?"
"I’m afraid they want to do more than just ruin their reputation... After all, we’ve already seen what happened with Liu Wentao, haven’t we?"
Ruan Changfeng took a deep breath. After serving in the Demon-slaying Bureau for so many years, he knew all too well how ruthlessly these so-called Immortal Families treated Cultivators.
Since they already suffered a silent setback last time, they must be absolutely confident to be making a comeback now.
After a moment, he made his decision. "Don’t tell Senior Brother Lin for now. We need to keep him from being provoked by these villains. Send a message directly to Immortal Yu Sheng. With his abilities, he can definitely handle this matter properly."
"Cough, cough."
The hall was silent for a few moments before Ruan Xiangling coughed lightly, nudging her brother with winks and glances.
Startled, Ruan Changfeng looked toward the door.
There stood the handsome young man in the Flowing Cloud Sword Robe. He had returned without a sound, and had clearly overheard their entire conversation.
"Senior Brother Lin, that’s not what I meant."
The tough man looked utterly embarrassed as he scrambled to his feet to explain. "It’s just, you’ve only just arrived in Anren Prefecture. You don’t know how vicious those Immortal Families can be. You absolutely must not fall for their traps."
"Watch your words. Don’t be disrespectful toward the Immortal Families."
Lin Shu reminded him casually.
Perhaps it was due to his anxiety, but this normally composed Vice General had started to speak as bluntly as his sister.
If anyone else had overheard that sentence, he would likely have been transferred to the most dangerous front to die.
"Let me have a look."
With that, Lin Shu gave a slight beckon, and the report flew from Ruan Xiangling’s hand into his own.
He glanced over it, a strange flicker in his eyes.
’I was already planning to go back and just swung by for a look. Who knew there’d be an unexpected windfall?’
"Alright, I understand."
He folded the report, put it away, and turned to walk out the door.
"Please wait a moment, Senior Brother Lin! I’ll assemble the Mountain Search Captains at once!"
A look of resigned helplessness washed over Ruan Changfeng’s face. ’Just as I thought.’ A young and vigorous Mountain Master Disciple like him would never tolerate being provoked by others.
’Whether it’s Demons or not, it’s always right to bring more men.’
’Even if some Immortal Family is scheming in the shadows, they wouldn’t dare be too brazen when faced with a group of constables from the Demon-slaying Bureau. With so many eyes and ears around, they might even be forced to retreat for the time being.’
"It’s nothing. I’ll go take a look and be right back."
The young man’s figure blurred, and he vanished from the County Yamen.
"Take a look and be right back..."
Ruan Xiangling gave a bitter smile. To hear Senior Brother Lin talk, entering the Demon Mountain sounded as casual as a trip home.
The man had indeed revealed astonishing abilities and resources, but it was for that very reason that both Immortals and Demons knew of the Mountain Master Disciple’s reputation. If anyone were to make a move against him, they would naturally give him the appropriate "respect."
"Get the horses ready! We’re going back to Qiankun Academy!" Ruan Changfeng said, gritting his teeth.
...
Lin Shu was eager to earn his keep, but he wasn’t arrogant.
As his figure streaked out of the county seat, five of his split souls fanned out, sweeping toward the mountains.
However, his split souls had only just entered the mountains when they noticed numerous Demon Generals and Demon Soldiers standing guard.
"So you’re the ones who left the message?"
Lin Shu materialized beside them.
The sudden voice obviously gave them a start.
"Greetings... Senior."
The Gray Crow Demon General subconsciously took a few steps back with the other Demons, a wary look on his face.
He hesitated, ultimately swapping out "Lord Demon Monarch" for the more nuanced "Senior."
The Group of Demons had only seen him once, just outside Wuyang County.
Although the Gray Crow Demon General had been warned once before, he had not personally witnessed the incident at Seven Stars Mountain. Thus, he still harbored some reservations about this Cultivator in the Flowing Cloud Sword Robe.

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