9: You dare to block my way? Get out of here!

The Demon Suppression Division outpost was a maze of winding passages.

The walls were made of hard, black stone, looking cold and emanating a Killing Intent.

The usher who led the way gave a few instructions and then left.

Li Dong and Li Qingyan could only follow the signs themselves to find their temporary lodging.

This place was indeed much larger than Li Village, but it also felt suffocating.

There was a faint smell of blood in the air.

And an indescribable sense of tension.

It was as if everyone's nerves were tightly strung.

Li Qingyan clung tightly to her brother.

Her small hand clutched his sleeve.

She was clearly uneasy in this unfamiliar place.

Li Dong, however, showed no expression, walked steadily, and sharply scanned his surroundings.

He felt many gazes cast from the shadows.

It seemed his “direct entry slot from the countryside” was indeed eye-catching.

The siblings turned a corner in a corridor, and not far ahead was the courtyard where they would be staying.

Just then, several figures walked towards them, blocking their path.

What bad luck.

The person leading them was one of the young scions from the noble families who had been making a ruckus outside the Demon Suppression Division gate earlier.

His name was Zhou Shaoyang, a direct descendant of the Zhou family from Mu Shi County, with some influence.

He usually relied on his family's background and was quite arrogant.

He was accompanied by three or four other young men, also well-dressed and arrogant, clearly his followers.

The moment Zhou Shaoyang saw Li Dong and Li Qingyan, an undisguised sneer appeared on his Face.

“Oh,” he drawled, speaking flippantly, “Isn't this the bumpkin who crawled out of some mountain ditch?”

The others behind him snickered, their gazes towards the Li Dong siblings full of disdain.

“What's wrong, you actually managed to sneak in?” Zhou Shaoyang crossed his arms, looking askance at Li Dong, “Is a place like the Demon Suppression Division somewhere you can just barge into?”

They deliberately shifted their feet, completely blocking the already narrow corridor.

Their Faces were twisted in malicious smiles, clearly looking for trouble and wanting to teach Li Dong a lesson.

Li Qingyan had never endured such direct humiliation; her small Face instantly turned crimson.

Her chest heaved with anger, and her teeth gnashed audibly.

Her knuckles, gripping her bow, turned white; she was clearly furious and wanted to argue.

“Brother!” she whispered, her voice filled with grievance and indignation.

Li Dong gently pressed his sister's shoulder, telling her not to be impulsive.

He knew his sister was stubborn, but she was young, sensitive, and couldn't endure such insults.

However, they were currently in the Demon Suppression Division outpost, where rules were plentiful.

If they were to fight here, regardless of who was right or wrong, it could lead to trouble.

Especially Zhao Zhen, who would surely be eager to find fault with him.

Li Dong lifted his eyelids, his gaze calm, looking directly at Zhou Shaoyang, who was blocking their way.

His eyes were cold and indifferent, like looking at a roadside stone, devoid of any emotion.

“Move aside.”

His voice was not loud, but firm, carrying an unyielding force.

“I don't want to waste time here.”

His words were plain, yet they conveyed an unstated pressure, as if warning the other party not to court death.

Zhou Shaoyang was momentarily stunned by Li Dong's calm yet powerful gaze.

He hadn't expected this seemingly rustic country boy to possess such an Aura.

However, he quickly recovered.

He was Young Master Zhou, after all; who in Mu Shi County dared to disrespect him?

Besides, this was the Demon Suppression Division; he didn't believe Li Dong would dare to make a move!

Being looked down upon by a country boy made Zhou Shaoyang immediately lose Face, and a surge of anger rushed to his head.

“Heh!” He laughed in anger, his voice suddenly rising, “Kid, you're quite arrogant!”

“What? You want to fight?” Zhou Shaoyang took a step forward, his Face almost touching Li Dong's, spittle about to fly.

“Why don't you go take a piss and look at what you are! Look closely, this is the Demon Suppression Division outpost!”

He pointed to the wall beside them, then to the selection uniform he was wearing.

“Dare to act wildly here? I think you're tired of living!”

His followers also crowded forward, aggressively surrounding them, looking ready to strike at any moment.

The atmosphere in the corridor suddenly became tense.

Li Qingyan nervously clutched Li Dong's arm, her palms sweating.

Li Dong gently patted her hand, reassuring her.

He looked at the Face before him, somewhat distorted by arrogance, feeling no ripple in his heart.

There was indeed nothing to say to such an idiot.

Reason with them?

The other party clearly wouldn't listen.

Then he could only use the only method they would understand.

Li Dong's eyes slightly chilled.

The Qi and blood in his body slowly stirred, a substantial power subtly flowing within him.

He didn't want to cause trouble, but that didn't mean he feared it.

Since the other party insisted on making a fool of themselves, he didn't mind helping them.

Just as he was about to make a move and teach these ignorant fellows an unforgettable lesson, a steady and authoritative voice suddenly came from the end of the corridor.

“What's going on?”

The voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable force.

“Gathering here and making a ruckus, what kind of behavior is that!”

Everyone looked towards the sound, only to see Zhang Wu approaching with a stern Face.

His sharp gaze swept over the scene, his brows tightly furrowed.

Zhou Shaoyang's arrogant Aura, upon seeing Zhang Wu appear, instantly deflated like a flame doused with cold water.

His expression immediately stiffened, and there was obvious fear in his eyes.

The Zhou family had some influence in Mu Shi County, but compared to a Demon Suppression Division official with real power, they were far inferior.

Moreover, Zhang Wu was one of the leaders of this selection, and Zhou Shaoyang dared not offend him casually.

“Lord… Lord Zhang…” Zhou Shaoyang quickly reined in his arrogant demeanor, forcing out a stiff smile, trying to say something.

Zhang Wu gave him no chance to explain.

He walked over, his gaze sternly fixed on Zhou Shaoyang and his followers.

“Zhou Shaoyang, what are you doing here?”

Zhang Wu's tone was very serious, carrying a hint of reprimand.

“Is the Demon Suppression Division outpost a place for you to cause trouble?”

“The selection is about to begin; instead of preparing properly, you're here blocking the way and instigating trouble. What kind of talk is that!”

“Now, get out of my sight!”

Zhang Wu's voice was not loud, but his Aura made Zhou Shaoyang and the others shiver.

They sensed that Zhang Wu was genuinely angry.

Zhou Shaoyang's Face turned pale then green, feeling both angry and stifled, yet he dared not utter a single word of defiance.

He glared fiercely at Li Dong, his gaze venomous, filled with resentment and unwillingness.

But in the end, he still dared not act presumptuously in front of Zhang Wu.

“Yes, Lord Zhang's lesson is well-taken.” Zhou Shaoyang stifled his anger, replying in a low voice.

He waved his hand, leading his equally displeased followers, and sullenly made way, walking past the Li Dong siblings with great annoyance.

As he passed Li Dong, Zhou Shaoyang quietly and viciously spat out a sentence: “Kid, you just wait for me!”

Li Dong didn't even lift an eyelid, treating him as if he were air.

Just a clown.

Only after the group had walked away did Zhang Wu turn his gaze to the Li Dong siblings.

The sternness on his Face softened slightly, but his brows were still lightly furrowed.