In such times, those who lived far from towns tried their best to avoid attracting too much attention.

Only the carriages of the Demon-suppression Bureau had the confidence to travel the roads with empty carriages.

As time passed, many merchants banded together to follow behind, with some even sending their guards forward on horseback to offer dry food and meat.

"This reputation is much better than that of us lowly errand runners,"

Chen Ji, his arms full of food, had an excited look on his youthful face.

They had been traveling non-stop for nearly two days without rest.

The carriage slowly stopped under the towering city walls, where the arched gates bore the bold, iron characters "Qingzhou," exuding an imposing air.

Li Xinhan tossed his waist tag to the city guard and then dismounted to lead his horse by the reins.

Seeing this, Old Liu tried to suppress a laugh and said, "Seems like those few lashes last time provided a lasting lesson."

Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, he explained, "According to the rules of the Demon-suppression Bureau, anyone who rides horses carelessly through the city will receive three lashes and lose two months' salary."

It was now dusk, at which time in Baiyun County, the streets would have been nearly empty.

However, the brick road wide enough for eight carriages to travel side by side was bustling and filled with noisy chaos.

Shen Yi stepped down from the carriage, feeling almost as if he had stepped back into a past life.

It was even busier than any high-rise building landscape except that there weren't any tall buildings here.

The group slowly followed Li Xinhan.

They stopped at a rather peculiar spot within the city.

A wall two zhang tall ran continuously, extending as far as the eye could see, as if enclosing a smaller city within the city.

"Two thousand eight hundred acres were personally approved by the governor to establish the Demon-suppression Bureau Office."

"Follow me,"

The beggar led away his family and six newcomers.

Meanwhile, Li Xinhan entered through a side gate.

"There are many rules inside, but most of them are irrelevant to us in the outer camp. You only need to remember where to eat, where to sleep, and where to collect your salary,"

Old Liu guided Shen Yi while introducing various facilities inside.

First, they registered with the Internal Affairs Office.

Li Xinhan personally intervened, and shortly afterward, he brought out a set of uniforms and a medicine bottle with an inky black waist tag on top.

Handing the items to Shen Yi, he said, "I see that the blade on your waist is extraordinary, so I didn't get you a sword. If you have any other needs, just ask here. If there's anything unclear, go directly to Xiujie."

Liu Xiujie smacked his lips, "Where does he live?"

Li Xinhan hesitated for a moment, then turned and said, "Do as Lord Lin wishes."

Hearing this, Liu Xiujie's expression changed slightly, "Why look for trouble for others?"

Shen Yi silently watched the two, not quite understanding what was being said.

Afterward, Liu Xiujie sighed and led him deeper inside.

"Ordinarily, colonels of the outer camp live in the West Compound..."

About the time it takes to burn one stick of incense later, Liu Xiujie stopped in front of a quiet courtyard and said with a wry smile, "Be careful on your own."

"What is this place?"

Shen Yi furrowed his brows and looked around.

"This is where the General and his five disciples live, among them two generals of the Demon-suppression Bureau, one lieutenant, one demon catcher, and one who's just been a disciple for five months... also a Third-Rank Tribune," explained Liu Xiujie.

"Hiss, you might not be too familiar with the Demon-suppression Bureau, so guess why there are no guards here?"

Taking a deep breath, Liu Xiujie rubbed his temples and said again, "Let me put it another way, aside from the General, the other rooms belong to two who are in the Condensation Elixir Realm, two who have reached Jade Liquid Perfection, and one in the Jade Liquid Middle Stage."

"And you, with nothing but a letter of recommendation, are now to live among them."

"I'm not sure if this is a good thing, as the saying goes, 'Tall trees catch much wind'."

Liu Xiujie frowned, unable to comprehend what Lord Lin was thinking.

He understood the minds of the other ordinary colonels better than the former."

"Enough, follow me."

Liu Xiujie plunged headfirst into the interior, as though he was entering a dragon's den.

Hearing the other party's words, combined with what Zhang the Butcher had mentioned before,

Shen Yi's original guess about Lin Baiwei's identity was now completely confirmed.

He just couldn't understand what the other party intended to do.

Stepping into the courtyard, he saw a pagoda tree and an ancient well.

A shirtless, muscular young man sat on a stone stool, his body looking as if cast from fine steel, muscles clearly defined.

He carefully shelled the beans in his hands, while opposite him, a silver-haired old woman was pinching vegetable sprouts with her fingertips.

It looked very peaceful and harmonious.

"Liu Xiujie of the outer camp, at your service, Lord Fang."

Old Liu squeezed out a smile and pulled Shen Yi along, "Lord Fang, this is..."

"I know, I received the letter from my senior sister."

Fang Heng continued to shell beans without glancing up, while the old woman curiously looked at Shen Yi.

"That's good, that's good."

Liu Xiujie smiled ingratiatingly, quite unlike his relaxed demeanor around Li Xinhan, and signaled with his eyes to the side, "Haven't you greeted your senior brother Fang Heng yet?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng said indifferently, "There's no need for 'senior brother,' just call me by my name."

With these words, Liu Xiujie felt a bit awkward but heaved a sigh of relief inwardly.

Indeed, one letter wasn't enough to grasp such a great opportunity.

"You, young man, could you at least look at people when you talk?" The old woman slapped the young man on the head.

As if used to it, Fang Heng raised his head and pointed to the smallest side courtyard, "You can stay there for now. What my sister owes you, I'll repay."

Now it was Liu Xiujie who didn't understand.

Shen Yi quietly breathed a sigh of relief, so that's how it was.

To say he had no expectations at all would be impossible.

But having such a big pie fall from the sky, he was truly afraid to catch it.

Now that he finally understood the reason, he felt much more at ease.

Lin Baiwei had promised him two manuals of Jade Liquid Realm Martial Arts back then; the Four Harmonies True Gang accounted for one, and he had thought that the other would be just some random Demon-suppression Bureau Martial Arts to fulfill the trade after the trouble was over.

To his surprise, the other party took it quite seriously.

Since the person before him was also a General's disciple and treated the matter with such formality, the martial arts passed down would likely not be weaker than the Four Harmonies True Gang.

"Ahem."

Seeing that he had no more involvement, Liu Xiujie courteously exited, leaving Shen Yi a sympathetic glance.

Although he had warned him beforehand, being so bluntly rejected by Fang Heng must have come as a significant blow.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced at him and turned to walk into the small room.

The brand-new clothes were made of silk fabric, smooth to the touch; even the belt of an ordinary colonel was inlaid with Precious Jade—it's no wonder Zhang the Butcher would be envious of the Demon-suppression Bureau's opulence.

He tried on the clothes briefly; they fit reasonably well.

It was a pity there was no mirror.

Having adjusted his sleeves, Shen Yi reached out to pick up the small bottle of medicine.

Liu Xiujie had left without explaining clearly.

Was this supposed to be the Precious Medicine?

Hanging the identity plaque on his belt, Shen Yi picked up the Black Blade, ready to step outside.

But then he heard the old woman's voice from outside, "Young man, come out and eat."