Volume 1, Chapter 42 – Demon-Suppressing Army

After listening to Shi Lan roughly describe the demon race’s invasion, Du Baisheng seemed to remember something. He stood up, pacing back and forth in the hall, unable to keep still, his expression grave.

Du Yue’er stood to the side, listening in a daze, utterly lost.

“These matters… the Demon-Suppressing Army didn’t inform you of any of this?”

Du Baisheng shook his head. “If you hadn’t told me today, this old man wouldn’t even know these people were that so-called Demon-Suppressing Army.”

Shi Lan was taken aback.

“These black-armored soldiers suddenly came to Twin Moon City half a month ago. According to the City Lord, they’re his private army. Things have been unsettled nearby recently, so he brought them in to maintain peace within his domain.”

As he spoke, Du Baisheng frowned. No wonder there had been rumors a few days ago about wild beasts in the city eating people, which had quickly died down again. It seemed someone had pressed the matter down.

“What about the martial artists here? None of them went out to investigate the situation nearby?” Shi Lan still found it hard to believe. This wasn’t some minor issue; it shouldn’t be something that could be completely concealed.

Innate Realm martial artists could travel thousands of miles in a day, soaring through the skies. News should have spread long ago.

Du Baisheng shook his head. “Training in the martial path is bitter and exhausting. You need to eat large amounts of meat and supplement with top-grade medicinal herbs. How could ordinary families possibly afford that? Nearly all the martial artists in Twin Moon City have joined the City Lord’s residence. The rest at best just know a bit of fists and kicks; they can’t really be called proper martial artists.”

Shi Lan was momentarily at a loss for words. She hadn’t expected the City Lord’s residence in Twin Moon City to wield such overwhelming power.

This was completely different from Tenglong City. In Tenglong City, the City Lord’s residence was practically for show; every word and action had to depend on Shi Tianlu’s mood.

And on top of that, aside from the City Lord’s residence, there were basically no other martial artists in Twin Moon City. This was even more beyond Shi Lan’s expectations. Though the Shi Clan monopolized Tenglong City, there were still quite a few martial artists among the other powers; it was just that there were fewer martial artists above the Innate Realm.

Reaⅾ oո KatRеaԁіngСаfe

“For major events happening outside, Twin Moon City mainly relies on the announcements posted by the City Lord’s residence. News is really blocked off…” Du Baisheng let out a long sigh and waved his hand. “Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s getting late. Yue’er, go prepare dinner.”

Du Yue’er answered and left. After a short while, she had laid out a full table of dishes.

Shi Lan declined Du Baisheng’s invitation. Though she was a little hungry, ordinary food was already of little use to her current self.

After dinner, Shi Lan helped Du Yue’er drag out a simple wooden bed from the back room. Then Du Yue’er brought out two quilts and laid them on the bed.

“The conditions in the clinic are simple. I hope you don’t mind.”

“You’re joking, Miss Yue’er.” Shi Lan shook her head.

After a day of work, Du Baisheng was old and his spirit was flagging. After chatting for a bit, he washed up and went to sleep, and Du Yue’er soon went to rest as well.

Shi Lan lay on the wooden bed with her eyes closed. Her body was exhausted, but she couldn’t fall asleep.

The worries in her heart left her in no mood for sleep. Twin Moon City was not truly safe either. She and Shi Feng had run into a Demon King that had taken human form right around here; it was entirely possible there was another Demon King active nearby.

But now Shi Feng was gravely injured and unconscious, and she herself was only at the seventh stage of the Body Tempering Realm. Leaving Twin Moon City to wander about blindly was far too risky.

As she thought about it, Shi Lan once again turned her thoughts to the System.

However, the System seemed to know exactly what she was thinking and seized the initiative. “Shi Lan, I have to remind you first: my energy is limited. I can save you for a time, but not for a lifetime. My intervention earlier already consumed a lot of my energy. If I act a few more times, it might even become difficult to maintain the System’s normal operation.”

Blocked like that, Shi Lan let out a helpless sigh.

Reαԁ oո KαtReαⅾіոɡСαfe

【Side quest triggered: Uncover the truth behind the Demon-Suppressing Army’s concealment of information.】

【Quest reward upon completion: one basic lottery draw. Quest failure: no penalty.】

【Accept?】

Hearing the voice in her mind, Shi Lan was momentarily stunned. Why was the System being so gentle this time…?

Not only was there no penalty for failing the quest, she could even choose not to accept it?

“Accept.”

Shi Lan agreed without the slightest hesitation. There was no downside either way.

……

At dawn, Shi Lan got up and washed her face.

Once Du Baisheng was up and had checked over Shi Feng to confirm there was nothing abnormal, Shi Lan was just about to head out to gather some information when two black-armored soldiers stepped into the clinic. One of them was holding a wooden box in his hands.

Du Baisheng’s expression shifted slightly. After steadying his emotions, he walked up with a smile. “Gentlemen, what brings you here?”

The black-armored soldier holding the box asked, “Do you have a granddaughter who’s around thirteen or fourteen?”

“This… yes. What business do you have with her? She’s still just a child. If there’s anything, you can…”

Rеαd оո KаtRеaԁіոɡCаfe

“No need for all that talk. Bring your granddaughter out.” The other soldier raised a hand to cut Du Baisheng off, his tone hard and cold.

Shi Lan frowned slightly and stepped up to stand at Du Baisheng’s side.

A faint sheen of sweat appeared on Du Baisheng’s forehead. Just as he was about to speak, Du Yue’er lifted the curtain and came out from the back room.

Seeing this, Du Baisheng’s expression changed slightly.

Spotting the two black-armored soldiers standing in the hall, Du Yue’er looked at Du Baisheng in confusion. “Grandfather, this is…?”

The two black-armored soldiers walked toward Du Yue’er. One of them set the wooden box on a wooden table and opened it, carefully taking out a stone slab and a thick register.

The other carefully received the stone slab, holding it in both hands as he extended it toward Du Yue’er. “Place your hand on it.”

Du Baisheng took two steps forward, forcing a smile. “What exactly does this mean? Gentlemen, could you explain it to this old man?”

“Do as you’re told.” The black-armored soldier holding the stone slab was terse.

Du Yue’er looked at the expression on Du Baisheng’s face, then glanced at the two black-armored soldiers. She stepped forward and placed her hand on the stone slab.

“Yue’er!” Du Baisheng called out anxiously in a low voice.

As soon as Du Yue’er’s hand touched the stone slab, a faint red light spread across its surface.

The two black-armored soldiers exchanged a look. The one holding the register opened the thick book in his hands, pen at the ready, and asked, “What is your name?” His tone had grown much gentler.

Rеαd οn КatRеаԁіոɡСafe

“Du Yue’er.” Du Yue’er glanced nervously at Du Baisheng beside her and answered softly.

“How old are you this year?”

“Thirteen… and nine months.”

“Do you have any other family?”

“My grandfather, and my parents.”

“Are all three of them in Twin Moon City?”

“Yue’er’s parents aren’t in Twin Moon City. It’s just this old man looking after her.” Du Baisheng, at the side, took over the thread of the conversation with a smile.

The man with the pen noted everything down one by one, then exchanged a nod with the other soldier.

After carefully putting the stone slab and the register back into the wooden box, one of them picked up the box and reminded them, “Don’t leave the city in the near future. It’s very unsafe.”

Then the two black-armored soldiers left the clinic.

Watching their departing backs, Shi Lan thought it over for a moment. After saying a few words to Du Baisheng, she followed after them at a distance.