Da Xuan Martial Saint

...

An Yu County Government.

When Chen Mu, Xu Hongyu, and Little Lotus returned, the county government was also bustling with activity. County Magistrate Yu Rong was not in the county government, and the one who came out to welcome them was the county deputy, who led Chen Mu and the others to the courtyard at the back of the county government.

Many people from the Demon-Slaying Office had already arrived in the county government's courtyard. Most of them were executing tasks near An Yu County, and upon detecting the celestial sign of a severe drought, they immediately rushed to An Yu County's county government to convene, waiting for further instructions from the Demon-Slaying Office.

"An Yu is your Yu Family's territory. Aren't your family supposed to take charge of the demon-slaying matters here?"

Chen Mu asked as they walked.

"Yes."

Xu Hongyu nodded and said, "At least one Deputy Governor from the Demon-Slaying Office will come to command and oversee the operations. It will either be my third uncle or my grandfather on my mother's side of the family."

Little Lotus, with a hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle, leaned close to Chen Mu and whispered so quietly:

"Actually, I think it would be very good for you to take charge."

The Yu Family had two deputy governors in the Demon-Slaying Office, one at Major Achievement of Bone Tempering, and the other at Bone Tempering Perfection. However, the one at Bone Tempering Perfection was Xu Hongyu's grandfather, who was already over sixty.

His Qi-Blood was declining, and his strength was about the same as that of someone with Major Achievement, and neither of them had comprehended Artistic Conception. In Little Lotus's opinion, their abilities were certainly not as good as Chen Mu's.

Chen Mu tapped Little Lotus on the head and reminded her that he was just a Green-Clothed Guard whose only task was to hunt more demons. Besides, this girl had been increasingly audacious lately; it was time for a proper lesson.

In the courtyard.

Some Black-Clothed and Green-Clothed Guards from the Demon-Slaying Office were gathered here, mostly people from the Yu Family. When they saw Xu Hongyu come in, they all greeted her respectfully as "Lord Xu."

Even though some among them were from the Yu Family's branches that were one generation older than Xu Hongyu, they were from distant and non-direct lines and their relationship was far-removed. Moreover, their own strength and status were far inferior to Xu Hongyu's, so they usually addressed each other by official titles.

"Did you come from the Demon-Slaying Office, or...?"

Xu Hongyu asked.

"We were hunting demons nearby An Yu County. After noticing the abnormal celestial phenomena, we rushed over to gather here."

Someone responded to Xu Hongyu.

The Demon-Slaying Office had many operatives who were usually spread out across Yu County. There were various family forces hunting demons in An Yu County, but apart from people from the Yu Family, operatives from other families certainly wouldn't gather in An Yu County.

This was the Yu Family's territory and under their control; coming here meant one might disappear without even knowing how it happened.

Also, because of the conflicts between the four major families of the Inner City, each time there was a demon outbreak, apart from the large area directly governed by the prefecture city, the Demon-Slaying Office would assign one particular family's forces to handle each county separately.

"This time the celestial signs started early, there were signs a day before. The Demon-Slaying Office will probably respond quickly; everyone should be on their way. By the time the drought completely settles in, they should have arrived."

Someone said to Xu Hongyu.

Xu Hongyu nodded, then turned to look at Chen Mu with an inquiring gaze in her eyes.

Chen Mu merely nodded slightly back at her, signaling that she could make the decisions.

"Then let's all rest for a moment, and wait for the superiors to arrive."

Xu Hongyu said to everyone before she, Chen Mu, and Little Lotus headed towards the inner rooms of the back courtyard.

Upon entering the room.

Xu Hongyu took out a map of the vicinity of An Yu County and said, "An Yu County is located in the southwest of Yu County, bordering Jinyu County to the north. Jinyu County is the most populous and flourishing in Yu County and is under the Xue Family's jurisdiction. To the east is Huaiyu County, which is governed by the He Family and will surely be under their responsibility this time."

Chen Mu was quite familiar with the map of Yu County and didn't need to look at it, but Xu Hongyu's map was more detailed, marking many places such as mountains, hills, and dangerous areas with red ink, which were usually surrounded by miasma and wasteland with no human inhabitants, inhabited by fierce demons.

Those few dangerous areas were all far from where people lived.

Chen Mu carefully examined the map and pondered, "During the drought, demons will penetrate the county government. The elder or uncle from your family who will come will surely be stationed at the county government. Therefore, the ten townships under the county government's jurisdiction should at least be managed by a White-Clothed Guard like you.

When the time comes, I'll accompany you to one of them. With me there, we can reduce the manpower needed."

Chen Mu spoke with firm assurance. Although in terms of personal strength, even the Deputy Governor of the Demon-Slaying Office was no match for him, the large-scale demon chaos required more manpower, with people spreading out to different areas to hunt demons. After all, the scope was too vast to handle alone, only suitable for his intervention if a large number of demons gathered.

Xu Hongyu quietly glanced at Chen Mu.

At the end of last year, during the great demon chaos of the bitter cold, she had also come to An Yu County. That time, a clan uncle had been in charge. Now, with Chen Mu present, she felt an immediate sense of ease, allowing herself to relax a little instead of being constantly tense.

At this thought, an unusual glimmer emerged in Xu Hongyu's eyes. When she first started cultivating Chen Mu, she only hoped for a capable subordinate to help her establish a foothold in the South City District, at the very least to secure a larger territory. However, things had developed completely differently from what she expected.

Now, Chen Mu had become someone who could hold down an entire area, even protect her.

"An Yu, Huaiyu... Donghong Township, Xiaxia Township, Shuanggou Township..."

Chen Mu pondered as he looked at the map.

And Xu Hongyu watched him in a daze, while Xiao He remained silent, glancing at the map, then at Chen Mu, and finally at Xu Hongyu, lightly covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, though making no noise.

Just like that.

Time passed.

Suddenly, there was a disturbance outside.

"Deputy Governor!"

"Greetings, Deputy Governor."

A chorus of footsteps could be heard from the courtyard, accompanied by numerous respectful voices.

Xu Hongyu abruptly snapped back to reality, only to find Chen Mu no longer looking at the map, but at her. Seeing that she had regained her composure, he gently smiled and said, "All right, it's time to go outside, Lady Xu."

This slightly amused address of 'Lady Xu' caused Xu Hongyu's heart to skip a beat, yet her face still maintained its serene expression as she nodded subtly and rose to leave.

Chen Mu watched Xu Hongyu exit the room and turned to look at Xiao He beside him, giving her a wink.

Xiao He covered her mouth to conceal a giggle, winked back, and they both rose to head outside.

"Uncle Three."

Xu Hongyu entered the courtyard, looking towards the middle-aged man dressed in the official garb of the Deputy Governor of the Demon-Slaying Office, who carried an air of authority. She bowed slightly and called out.

Yu Jun nodded slightly towards Xu Hongyu and said, "I'm already briefed on the general situation. The manpower I've brought this time is roughly the same as last time. I think we should follow the previous arrangement. What do you think, Hongyu?"

Now completely composed, Xu Hongyu pondered briefly and replied, "I have reached Tendon Changing Perfection, so I can also oversee a township. Let me take charge of Donghong Township."

"I had forgotten you're now a White-Clothed Guard capable of operating independently..."

Yu Jun let out a chuckle; of course, he hadn't forgotten, but he didn't mind if Xu Hongyu wanted to follow the troops like before to hunt demons. The Yu Family had enough manpower for that. However, if Xu Hongyu wanted to take charge on her own, that was also good. Although she had only recently reached Tendon Changing Perfection, martial artists need to be honed to become effective.

If she could gain some further experience and benefit from this demon hunt, advancing to the Bone Tempering Realm wouldn't be far off. Then, after understanding three types of Sword Momentum, she would start trying to comprehend the Kan Water Diagram from the family. She might even become someone who could carry the weight of the Yu Family in the future.

"Good."

Yu Jun smiled and said, "Then Donghong Township is yours to handle. As for manpower, you can pick them yourself."

"Thank you, Uncle Three."

Xu Hongyu nodded slightly and walked outside to view the troops Yu Jun brought.

The people brought by Yu Jun were not all from the Demon-Slaying Office; only a small part comprised its officials, with many more being the Yu Family's forces, even including hundreds of Yu Family swordsmen.

Xu Hongyu quickly selected a group of troops, reported to Yu Jun, and then set off with Chen Mu.