Chapter 23: Early Review

The story of the demon’s escape that Chu Chen told was truly captivating, and the crowd watching couldn’t stop praising it.

“This kid has such a clever mind.”

“Everyone understands the principle of thriving in the face of death, but when it actually happens to you, how many can really pull it off?”

“So young, yet so brave.”

Many of the senior officers at the Demon Suppression Bureau exchanged remarks among themselves, casting admiring glances at Chu Chen.

*Clap, clap, clap!*

Director Xu applauded and approached Chu Chen.

“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!”

“This tale of escaping the demon’s mouth will surely become a celebrated story.”

“There’s a new story brewing at the county’s teahouse—I’ve even thought of a title.”

“Let’s call it: ‘Chu Chen’s Demon Escape: Exposing the Betrayer Who Sold Out His Comrades.’”

As Xu said this, he glanced sideways at Cao Meng.

“Indeed, a great story!” someone from the crowd shouted.

Turning to look, it was General Huang Yuan.

At this moment, his praise was essentially an endorsement of Chu Chen himself.

Within the Jin Nan Demon Suppression Bureau, it was well known that Bai Ning was the strongest in combat by a significant margin but was temperamental and lacked social tact.

When you thought about it, the feud with her was over trivial matters.

Previously, we distanced ourselves from her mainly to comply with Cao Meng’s wishes.

But nobody knew why, ever since Chu Chen’s cultivation broke through to the Minor Cycle, he had been opposing Bai Ning at every turn.

This forced the three peak-level generals to side with Cao Meng.

Even if Bai Ning had some social savvy, she wouldn’t be left without allies.

Strength and pragmatism are shortcuts on the path of cultivation.

But the situation had changed: Bai Ning had taken in such an outstanding disciple.

His cultivation was naturally gifted, his emotional intelligence intact, and he understood social nuances. His future was promising.

Most importantly, Bai Ning was willing to slay all demons for the sake of this disciple.

This alone showed how important Chu Chen was in her eyes.

In other words, Huang Yuan’s decision to switch sides was a bet on Chu Chen’s future.

Offering help in times of need is far more valuable than adding to someone’s glory.

“General Bai Ning has truly found a worthy disciple.”

After saying this, Huang Yuan stepped up to Chu Chen and, like a kindly elder, patted his shoulder.

“Well done—calm under pressure, escaping a corpse-guarding demon while still at the Qi Refining stage. You’re the first in the history of the Demon Suppression Bureau.”

He squeezed Chu Chen’s shoulder as he spoke.

“The younger generation is indeed formidable, truly formidable!”

After a moment, he glanced at Director Xu with a slight nod.

“Director Xu, this young man must be nurtured well. Give him more opportunities to interact with higher-ups; his future achievements might even surpass yours.”

Director Xu smiled broadly.

“That will require much support from General Huang.”

Two old men: one declaring his stance, the other gladly accepting it.

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Chu Chen, however, could not bring himself to feel happy. From Director Xu’s words, it seemed that Xu Xiaoyao really had gone to hire a storyteller.

Now, the teahouses in Jin Nan County were already buzzing with tales about him.

Damn you, Xu Xiaoyao, actually following through on your word.

Chu Chen sighed inwardly, hoping these fabricated stories would remain confined to Jin Nan County and not spread beyond.

His traveling companion through the crossing, Meng Ran, was a cunning man.

The police force had been tangled with the crime syndicate he led for over a decade before finally uncovering his criminal deeds.

Three officers had died under mysterious circumstances during the pursuit.

Meng Ran exercised an hour every day, kept a regular schedule, smoked but never drank.

At home, he was a loving husband and caring father.

At work, he was a refined supervisor who never raised his voice and showed great respect to his superiors.

Many female colleagues secretly admired him.

But in reality, he was the largest drug lord in all of North China.

He carefully maintained his image, yet had ruined countless families, leaving them broken and shattered.

During the arrest, Meng Ran displayed physical prowess rivaling that of armed police.

He scaled a three-meter-high wall with ease in just a few movements.

Chu Chen had been on perimeter guard duty at a crossroads.

Suddenly, someone bolted out, and without hesitation, Chu Chen gave chase.

From Earth to the Tianyuan Continent, the pursuit stretched across worlds.

Since they had crossed simultaneously, their spatial difference shouldn’t be great.

If they were both in the Danning Dynasty, and if Meng Ran learned there was a newcomer in the Jin Nan County Demon Suppression Bureau who had reached the peak of Qi Refinement in a day, slain demons beyond his rank, and escaped a corpse-guarding demon’s mouth, he would definitely suspect that Chu Chen was the police backup chasing him.

From what Chu Chen knew of him, Meng Ran would never reveal himself easily.

Everyone here possessed the illustrated rewards; Meng Ran would first probe his details before making a move.

Just the thought of potentially exposing himself prematurely made Chu Chen anxious.

The police force couldn’t catch him; now it was just him alone—it felt incredibly difficult.

He needed to advance his cultivation quickly and gain more resources.

“Chu Chen, what are you thinking about?” Director Xu’s voice pulled him back to reality.

“Oh, nothing.”

Director Xu continued, “Since you managed to escape the corpse-guarding demon through calm thinking, let’s proceed.”

“Alright.”

Director Xu resumed the previous topic: Zhao Xiaoshi’s betrayal of comrades.

“Zhao Xiaoshi, after hearing Chu Chen’s account, do you have anything to say?”

Betraying comrades was the gravest sin at the Demon Suppression Bureau; Zhao Xiaoshi could never admit it.

If she died, it would be better, but if exiled to the Endless Great Wall, it would be worse than death.

The Tianyuan Continent was divided into nine provinces; the Danning Dynasty was established in Yun Province, one of the hundred states within Yun Province.

Yun Province was rich in mountains and seas but harsh in environment.

Humans densely populated only the arable lands.

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Most of the province was uninhabitable territory.

These harsh regions became the habitat for the demon clans.

Every hundred-plus years, a beast tide would erupt in Yun Province.

To resist the beast tides, the great royal courts of the province sent criminals to construct the Endless Great Wall.

Once sent there, these criminals were condemned to eternal labor.

Zhao Xiaoshi did not want to be sent to the Endless Great Wall and vigorously defended herself.

“Chu Chen’s successful escape only proves he did not cause the death of the three comrades.”

“It doesn’t mean that they died because of me.”

“I am as close to Fang Lingling and Cheng Meimei as sisters; I would never betray them.”

“After encountering the demons, we fled separately.”

“What happened afterward, I do not know.”

Director Xu patiently listened and repeated her last statement.

“You don’t know?”

Zhao Xiaoshi put on an expression of righteous indignation, as if she truly was unaware.

“Yes, I don’t know.”

“Then why, upon returning to the Demon Suppression Bureau, did you immediately report to the mission hall that Chu Chen and the others were all dead in battle?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaoshi visibly panicked.

“I…I guessed.”

Director Xu snorted coldly and looked up at Cao Meng.

“General Cao, did you hear that clearly?”

“Why stir up such a fuss over a disciple’s baseless guess?”

“Gathering all the disciples—is it for watching the spectacle, or is there another purpose?”

With Huang Yuan’s support, Director Xu’s confidence was clearly greater than before.

He did not wait for Cao Meng’s reply but calmly said:

“Betraying comrades is the greatest taboo at the Demon Suppression Bureau. As the county director, I will investigate thoroughly. If necessary, I will request the Imperial Capital’s Demon Suppression Bureau to authorize the use of the Soul Extraction Chair.”

Hearing this, Zhao Xiaoshi collapsed to the ground.

The Soul Extraction Chair, also called the Truth Chair, extracts one’s soul and spirit, turning the occupant into a fool who can only speak the truth.

Its use was irreversible; a wrong judgment could lead to irreversible consequences.

The Demon Suppression Bureau was always very cautious in employing it.

“Ah! The Jin Nan County Demon Suppression Bureau sure is lively!”

Everyone turned toward the voice, seeing a middle-aged man in a purple robe with a tall crown, accompanied by several guards, approaching slowly.

“Is this a welcome for me, sir?”

Director Xu was startled. The visitor was Pei Hu from the Ministry of Personnel.

His arrival marked the five-yearly inspection by the Ministry.

Previous inspections had always been held at year’s end, so why come in mid-September?

“Help! Save me!” Zhao Xiaoshi screamed, crawling on her knees to Pei Hu’s feet, pitiful as a sapling battered by a sudden storm.