159: Siege of the Demon Suppression Division

On the main street leading to the Demon Suppression Division, over a thousand people, led by Wu Mingjian, galloped away. Pedestrians on the road, seeing this scene, were filled with shock and panic. Even from a distance, they could feel the chilling aura emanating from this contingent.

They encountered no obstacles on the way. In just a short quarter of an hour, the group arrived in front of the Tianshi City Demon Suppression Division.

Pant, pant!

Clerk Zhao, who had led the way, had run with all his might to save his own life. He was breathing heavily, his plump face covered in drops of sweat, almost to the point of rolling his eyes from exhaustion.

At this moment, no one paid attention to the nearly exhausted Clerk. Upon arrival, the contingent quickly sprang into action at Xing Zhentian's command.

"Hurry, surround this entire area and prevent anyone from entering or exiting without authorization."

Seeing such a display, the surrounding pedestrians sensed something was amiss. After all, who would dare to surround the Demon Suppression Division in broad daylight? Those with discerning eyes noticed the attire of the besiegers and became even more bewildered, not knowing what was happening or why the Demon Suppression Division's own forces were surrounding their own territory.

Lu Ming watched this scene with a cold expression. The commotion outside was not small, and naturally, people within the vast Tianshi City Demon Suppression Division quickly noticed it.

"What are you doing? What exactly do you want to do!"

The gate opened, and dozens of Demon Slayer Guards walked out. They initially tried to reprimand them sharply, but upon seeing the situation outside, they became flustered.

Under the cold, murderous stares of the people outside, no one could remain calm.

"Sirs, may I ask why you have surrounded this place? We haven't committed any major offense, have we? Could you enlighten us?" A Centurion with a short beard, who looked like he had been in the Demon Suppression Division for some years, asked cautiously.

One should know that even he, who had been in the Demon Suppression Division for over twenty years, had never seen such a formation. He had heard of rebellions in certain places leading to purges, but that would involve surrounding government offices. What was the meaning of surrounding their Demon Suppression Division?

Facing the Centurion's question, no one responded. Instead, Xing Zhentian stepped forward and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Tell your Chieftain to get out here! Everyone in the Division, gather at the gate! Don't give me any excuses!"

Hearing this, the Centurion immediately recoiled in fear, not daring to disobey in the slightest, and scurried back in a panic.

A moment later, a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance and a scar on his face quickly walked out of the gate.

Behind him followed a contingent of about two hundred people from the Tianshi City Demon Suppression Division.

However, it was clear that the members of the Tianshi City Demon Suppression Division appeared apprehensive in this situation, unsure what this encirclement meant.

"Your subordinate, Thousand Household Cheng Liwen, greets you, Sirs. Your subordinate was handling affairs within the Division and only just learned of your arrival in the city, so I was unable to greet you. But surely this doesn't warrant such an aggressive inquiry?" Thousand Household Cheng Liwen knelt on the ground, speaking neither servilely nor arrogantly.

Wu Mingjian, on horseback, looked at the composed Thousand Household Cheng Liwen, his gaze cold, lost in thought.

Similarly, Lu Ming, who was at his side, seemed to keenly sense something, a look of solemnity appearing in his eyes.

"Indeed, it's just as I expected," Lu Ming sighed inwardly. He knew they had arrived too late after all.

However, it seemed that apart from the unusual glint in their eyes, no one else noticed anything amiss.

"Is this all the manpower in the Division?" Xing Zhentian questioned, scanning the group of just over two hundred people behind Thousand Household Cheng Liwen with some surprise.

"Heaven and Earth bear witness, a plague is rampant around Tianshi City, and demons are running wild. Our Division's manpower is stretched thin, and even I haven't rested for months," Thousand Household Cheng Liwen responded.

Suddenly, he showed a look of indignation and looked at Wu Mingjian, who was at the forefront.

"Sir, even if your subordinate is incompetent, there's no need to make such a grand display, is there? I accept my fault, but my subordinates have all been diligent these past days. I hope you will see clearly, Sir!"

Upon hearing this, many Demon Slayer Guards, who were also kneeling opposite them, were filled with indignation. They glared at their colleagues who had surrounded them. They had tirelessly worked to slay demons, only to be met with such treatment.

"Could it be that we truly misunderstood something?" Xing Zhentian felt surprised in his heart, he thought to himself.

Not to mention Xing Zhentian, even Zhong Gu and Zhao Shouyuan on the side were somewhat unsure, especially the latter, who looked at Lu Ming with schadenfreude.

Perhaps the Golden Lotus Sect in the city did have problems, but this Demon Suppression Division did not seem to be affected. If it came down to it, this should be a case of the other party's intelligence being wrong.

"Chieftain Lu, such a loyal official has been misunderstood by you. Do you know how much damage this does to Lord Wu's reputation?" Zhao Shouyuan didn't miss this opportunity, which he saw as a good chance to sow discord between the two parties, and questioned him aloud.

"Loyal official?" Lu Ming showed a look of confusion, his gaze as if looking at an idiot.

Being stared at by Lu Ming with such an expression, Zhao Shouyuan immediately felt an inexplicable surge of anger, raised an eyebrow, and was about to retort!

Just then, Wu Mingjian on the side spoke indifferently, "Lu Ming, it's up to you."

Lu Ming nodded slightly, ignoring Zhao Shouyuan, who was full of resentment, dismounted directly, and strode over to Xing Zhentian's side.

"Lu Ming, this fellow doesn't seem to have any problems," Xing Zhentian reminded him in a low voice.

Lu Ming was unmoved. He said softly, "Leave it to me."

With that, he came before the other party.

"Speak. Tell me everything you know. About your collusion with the demons of the Golden Lotus Sect and your plans in the city. Tell me now, and perhaps I can leave you a complete corpse," Lu Ming drew the long saber from his waist and spoke coldly.

"What collusion with demons? Do as you please, kill or flay me, but if you want to pin such a huge label on my Tianshi City Demon Suppression Division, I will not accept it." Thousand Household Cheng Liwen's gaze was firm, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

The group of Demon Slayer Guards behind him also glared angrily at Lu Ming, and some of the more radical ones even gripped their long sabers at their waists, ready to fight at any moment.

After all, who would admit to such groundless accusations?

"Hmph, you weren't around when we were working ourselves to death slaying demons inside and outside the city, but now you come to accuse us? Does this mean all our brothers died in vain?"

"That's right, so what if you are powerful? At worst, we'll fight. If things get out of hand, I'd like to see how you'll clean up this mess."

"Brothers, don't be afraid of him. We can't let the Chieftain suffer injustice for us."

In an instant, emotions ran high, and shouts erupted from the mouths of the kneeling Tianshi City Demon Slayer Guards behind them.