Volume 1, Chapter 48 – Exposed

Huangfu Yun beckoned to the Demon-Suppressing Army soldiers standing quietly in the training ground. That line of soldiers walked over at a measured pace, the faint rustle of armor rubbing together drawing steadily closer.

The leading Demon-Suppressing Army soldier held a long case in his hands. A complicated look flashed through Huangfu Yun’s eyes as he took the case, then lifted the lid.

Inside, laid out in order, were eighteen translucent jade tokens, half a palm long and three fingers wide, faintly tinged with blood-red. On the front of each token were the two characters “Suppress Demons.”

“These are Demon-Suppressing Tokens. Drip your blood onto them, and your names will be entered into the rolls of the Imperial Court’s Demon-Suppressing Army. After that, every demonic beast you slay will have its battle merit recorded upon the token… and if you die in battle… your names will be carved upon the Human Race’s Heroes’ Monument, never to be forgotten through the ages!”

Huangfu Yun waved his hand. The Demon-Suppressing Army soldier took the long case and walked past the line of martial artists so each could take one.

The token felt warm and smooth in the hand, carved from fine warm jade.

Jiang Li and Yan Shan, once they received their tokens, didn’t hesitate for even a moment. They immediately cut their fingers and let a drop of fresh blood fall.

Shi Lan held her token, hesitating slightly. She understood that once she let her blood fall, there would truly be no turning back.

There were quite a few others who reacted the same way as Shi Lan. They too were caught in hesitation.

“I hope you can think a bit more about your families and loved ones,” Huangfu Yun reminded them mildly.

At those words, the martial artists who had been wavering made up their minds one after another and dripped their blood into the Demon-Suppressing Tokens.

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Shi Lan stared at the token in her hand for a long time before finally cutting her own finger.

In this world, no one is born owing anything to anyone. She owed Shi Feng far too many favors; this time, she would simply repay them. Du Yue’er’s aptitude was a one-in-ten-thousand red. That was enough for her to bring Du Baisheng onto the Cloudsoar Treasure Ship. There was no need for Shi Lan to worry about them.

Thinking it through carefully, Shi Lan realized she was already free of attachments and couldn’t help but shake her head with a faint, amused smile.

Her blood quickly seeped into the Demon-Suppressing Token, and Shi Lan felt a strange connection form between herself and it.

She focused her mind on sensing it, and a stream of information flowed into her consciousness—the first thing being a string of names, the previous holders of this jade token through the generations. Clearly, they had all long since passed on.

Once that string of names faded, there was a blank space. With a slight movement of her thoughts, the two characters “Shi Lan” appeared on that blank patch. Below the name, there was only “zero” for battle merit.

Aside from that, Shi Lan faintly sensed that through this jade token, some special subordinate link had formed between her and Huangfu Yun. Even without using her eyes, she could vaguely feel where Huangfu Yun was.

The instant her blood fell, Huangfu Yun’s expression grew faintly odd, but it quickly returned to its usual impassive look.

All eighteen had now dripped their blood, each staying for the sake of those two slots on the Cloudsoar Treasure Ship.

Once they had finished, Huangfu Yun grew solemn. He clasped his fists and bowed deeply. “Fiends have no mercy. As the sages of old said: when fiends are swept away, the world will know peace! Now that you have joined my Demon-Suppressing Army, shedding your blood for the human race, the annals of humanity will forever remember your righteousness!”

Each word rang out firm and clear.

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It was as if the martial artists’ blood had been ignited. The faint resentment and dissatisfaction that had lingered before vanished without a trace.

“If possible, I hope your names will never appear on the Human Race’s Heroes’ Monument. Those chronicles are for comrades who have already fallen in battle and have nothing to do with the likes of us.”

With that, Huangfu Yun straightened, the solemn look disappearing completely as he grinned. “Your armor will be delivered to you shortly. For now, you may go and spend time with your families and loved ones… cherish these two days.”

The martial artists quickly dispersed. Shi Lan was about to leave the training ground when Huangfu Yun called out to stop her.

Huangfu Yun dismissed the line of Demon-Suppressing Army soldiers from the training ground as well. Now only he and Shi Lan remained.

“You’re a woman?”

Huangfu Yun’s first words stunned Shi Lan.

Seeing the look on her face, Huangfu Yun took a green Demon-Suppressing Token from his breast and said, “The token you dripped blood on is subordinate to this one in my hand. I can see your basic information.”

For a moment, Shi Lan felt at a loss. She had no idea how to handle this situation.

“You don’t need to worry. There’s no shortage of women in the Demon-Suppressing Army. Even among high-ranking officers, women aren’t rare. I won’t take back your two Cloudsoar Treasure Ship slots either,” Huangfu Yun said, thinking she was worried about losing her quota and offering comfort.

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As for why Shi Lan was disguised as a man, Huangfu Yun could more or less guess. In times this chaotic, traveling outside as a man really was much more convenient. That was also why he hadn’t exposed her on the spot earlier.

“Thank you, Sir Centurion.” Shi Lan let out a breath and bowed.

“Shi Lan, there’s something I need to make clear to you. On the battlefield, there is no distinction between men and women, and I won’t give you any special treatment just because you’re a woman.”

“In the army, orders are absolute. Military commands are like a mountain. If you cower in fear and shrink back from the enemy in battle, the sword in my hand will not recognize anyone.”

Shi Lan didn’t speak, but she felt much more at ease inside. Huangfu Yun’s words, if anything, put her more at peace.

“That’s all I wanted to say. You can go back now,” Huangfu Yun said with a wave.

Shi Lan bowed once more, then turned and left the training ground, heading toward the room where Shi Feng was staying.

As she walked, doubts began to stir in her heart again. Her being a woman wouldn’t stay hidden for long.

Thinking of this, her expression turned a little dazed. In her current situation, who was there left for her to hide it from?

After a long pause, Shi Lan shook her head, finding it somewhat laughable. She didn’t even know how long she could live; dwelling on such pointless things was just a waste of time.

Halfway along the path, someone suddenly stepped in to block her way.

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“Brother Shi, I have a favor to ask. Would you have time to talk in detail?”

Shi Lan looked at Jiang Li standing before her. After weighing it for a while, she nodded.

Jiang Li let out a breath of relief and followed Shi Lan all the way to Shi Feng’s room. After asking the two maids to step outside, Shi Lan went straight to the point. “What business brings you to me, sir?”

Jiang Li was silent for a moment. “I heard that Brother Shi only brought one injured man into the City Lord’s Residence. Is that true?”

“Yes,” Shi Lan nodded.

“Aside from that injured man, does Brother Shi have any other family or friends who need to board the Cloudsoar Treasure Ship?”

Shi Lan shook her head.

Joy flashed across Jiang Li’s face. “In that case, would Brother Shi be willing to let me have your other slot? Of course, I’ll offer a price you’ll be satisfied with.”

“The slot can be transferred?” Shi Lan was a bit surprised.

“Of course it can. I just went to ask Lord Nie,” Jiang Li confirmed with a nod.