Chapter 15: A Fleeting Bloom

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Headquarters of the Demon Suppression Division, Jinnan County.
Director Xu stood solemnly before his daughter’s door, his expression as dark as still water.
“Knock, knock, knock…”
“Xiao Yao, open the door.”
Since returning from Huangling, Xu Xiaoyao had faithfully kept her promise to Chu Chen.
Not only did she report the mission details, crediting all the achievements to Chu Chen,
but she also actually invited the storyteller to compose a tale about Chu Chen’s demon slaying.
With the refinement of a professional, the story of Chu Chen, the heroic youth of Jinnan County, was born—burdened by a blood feud, his entire family annihilated by demons.
From the age of five, he practiced swordsmanship ten thousand times a day, eventually chosen by the Demon Suppression Division.
Gifted beyond measure, he became a disciple of General Bai Ning,
a warrior who could slay tenth-rank demons with a single palm strike.
Overnight, Bai Ning imparted all his secret techniques to Chu Chen, who mastered them in one night—
a prodigy among men, a phoenix among dragons.
On the second day after joining the division, Chu Chen embarked on a mission to exterminate demons.
Facing these fiends, the young hero showed no fear; his fists, like mountains, struck with crushing force, driving the demons to beg for mercy.
Then, the youth bellowed loudly:
“Fool! You demons and monsters, when you preyed on humans, did you ever imagine this day?”
“If I let you go, who will avenge the blood debt of those you have killed?”
As his words fell, Chu Chen’s fist crushed the demon’s head…
“Smash!” The storyteller struck the wooden clapper sharply, punctuating the tale.
“Shatter!”
A woman, as beautiful as a goddess, tossed aside her sunflower seeds and led the applause with pride.
At this moment, the most popular story in Jinnan County’s teahouses was none other than the Chronicles of Chu Chen the Demon Slayer.
All thanks to Xu Xiaoyao’s tireless efforts over two days, she finally managed to catch a short nap.
But not long after lying down, a knock at the door roused her.
“Dad, what is it?”
“Come out!” Director Xu snapped irritably.
Hearing the tone, Xu Xiaoyao immediately sprang from bed and cracked the door open slightly.
“Dad, who upset you?”
“In this world, besides you, Xiaoyao, who else could make me angry?”
Since returning, she had only exchanged brief greetings with her father before attending to other matters.
She was convinced she had done nothing wrong.
“I didn’t anger you.”
Director Xu’s face was stern as he said,
“The people you went on that mission with have returned.”
“So they’re back, that’s all.”
Though her words were casual, a trace of fear lingered in her heart.

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After all, what she had done wasn’t agreed upon by the others.
Xu Xiaoyao forced a smile and cautiously asked,
“Chu Chen came looking for you?”
“You’re the first back from the mission. The second was Zhao Xiaoshi, disciple of Cao Meng.”
“All the others… died in battle!”
Xu Xiaoyao froze, then flung open the door.
“Impossible!”
She quickly added,
“Chu Chen has indeed reached the pinnacle of Qi Refinement; I’ve seen his skills.”
“As long as the carriage stays on the official road, lower-rank demons can’t stop him.”
Before her words faded, Director Xu interjected.
“Zhao Xiaoshi returned to report that their carriage encountered a corpse-guarding demon.”
At the mention of the corpse-guarding demon, Xu Xiaoyao’s expression tightened instantly.
Had misfortune truly befallen Chu Chen and the others?
It had been many years since Jinnan County had encountered such a demon.
For one to appear now…
“That… that’s just bad luck. No one else is to blame.”
“Coward!” Director Xu shouted, pointing at her face.
“Why did you come back early on impulse?”
“If you had returned with them, this would never have happened.”
Xu Xiaoyao was at a loss for words; her father was right.
If she hadn’t acted on a whim and returned early, even facing the corpse-guarding demon, joining forces with Chu Chen would have greatly increased their chances of survival.
This world holds no ‘what ifs,’ only what has come to pass.
“Dad… I admit my mistake and accept the punishment.”
“Sigh…” Director Xu sighed heavily.
These days, Bai Ning had been frequenting the teahouses throughout Jinnan County.
Different storytellers at different teahouses told varied versions of the tale; the grand narrative remained, but each had its own flavor.
Some focused on vivid, detailed descriptions of combat moves, as if the battle unfolded before one’s eyes.
Others emphasized sweeping patriotism and the bitter feud between humans and demons.
Still others infused humor and lightheartedness, leaving listeners laughing heartily after each retelling.
Among the people of Jinnan County, some craved raw, fierce combat; others, deep national sentiment; still others, light humor.
The two-hundred-year-old maiden Bai Ning adored every version.
Like a devoted fan, she raced from teahouse to teahouse daily,
ordering a pot of red tea, a dish of sunflower seeds, a plate of dried fruits, and settling in for hours.
Director Xu observed all these changes closely. Bai Ning, usually solitary and reclusive except for difficult missions, rarely ventured beyond her quarters.
Yet Chu Chen’s mere two days among them had sparked in her an unexpected interest in life.

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How could he break the news of Chu Chen’s death to Bai Ning?
How could he bear to tell her?
He had no idea how she would react.
Would she maintain her usual indifferent demeanor,
or, in a fit of rage, summon all the demons of Jinnan County to join Chu Chen in death?
The very thought gave Director Xu a pounding headache.
The Demon Suppression Division’s task was to eliminate rogue demons, not to commit wholesale extermination.
Once a demon beast reaches the eighth rank, it gains the ability to take human form.
Just like the diverse crowds on the streets, they are indistinguishable from ordinary people.
If Bai Ning were to act recklessly and commit such total annihilation,
the demon beasts’ retaliation would be a disaster for all the people of Jinnan County.
This secret could not be kept; the thought made Director Xu’s head throb.
Why had he clawed his way up, even compromising human decency, to become director of the Jinnan Demon Suppression Division, the top official in the county?
For one reason only—to do everything possible to protect his lifesaver, Bai Ning.
Bai Ning was reckless and unreasonable, acting without regard for consequences.
Her brilliance highlighted the foolishness of others,
and her inability to hide her talents bred jealousy and envy all around.
Her current safety rested on the fact that no one in Jinnan County could defeat her.
But what after?
Was the Small Celestial Cycle truly the pinnacle of cultivation?
She had no idea how many enemies she had made.
Cao Meng was one such enemy; he had already reached the Small Celestial Cycle.
Who could guarantee he wouldn’t surpass Bai Ning in the future?
And after surpassing her, what would he do?
Then there was Wu Kun, the youngest general of Ningbei County,
whom Bai Ning had insulted repeatedly in the past.
In anger, Wu Kun left Jinnan County for Ningbei County.
Over the years, Director Xu had sent people to track Wu Kun’s progress.
A few days ago, news arrived that the young man had broken through to the Small Celestial Cycle.
He urgently needed someone to become Bai Ning’s disciple and future support.
Director Xu knew his remaining days were few.
The Daning Demon Suppression Division was inspected by the Ministry of Personnel every five years; if certain things were uncovered, death would be his only outcome.
He closed his daughter’s door behind him; no one was better suited to deliver news of Chu Chen’s death to Bai Ning than himself.
“Chu Chen, oh Chu Chen, why were you but a fleeting blossom!”