Chapter 190 Newcomer in the State Capital

After a while, Duan Yanzhi put down the roster, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began to record.

"Chen Mu, formerly a Squad Leader of the Yunmeng Demon Suppression Division, now transferred to the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division... According to custom, newcomers must first undergo training in the Demon Hunting Division. Do you have any objections?"

Chen Mu shook his head. "I have no objections."

He remembered Qi Huan mentioning that the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division had several subordinate divisions. Among them, the Demon Search Division specialized in intelligence, while the Demon Hunting Division focused on difficult missions. It was the fastest place to earn merit while facing demons directly, which was exactly what he wanted.

Duan Yanzhi seemed somewhat surprised by his decisiveness, but his brush did not pause in the slightest.

"Since that is the case, I will assign you to the Demon Hunting Division."

"The Demon Hunting Division is organized into General Squad Leaders and Squad Leaders. Newcomers are usually assigned to a squad under a Squad Leader and serve as Demon Hunting Soldiers. You were a Squad Leader, so logically, you could be given preferential treatment. However, the Prefecture has its own rules. Everything must start from the grassroots level, and promotions will be granted after you have performed meritorious service. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

Duan Yanzhi nodded, satisfied with Chen Mu's good sense. He immediately took a black waist token from the drawer and engraved the characters "Chen Mu" and the number "Bing-Ten" on the back.

"This is your waist token for the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division. You must keep it safe. If lost, you must report it immediately. Replacing it takes three months, during which you cannot perform any official duties."

As he spoke, he pushed the waist token and several stamped documents toward Chen Mu.

"One is your induction certificate, one is the requisition slip for supplies, and one is your lodging arrangement. Go to the warehouse to collect your clothing and weapon according to the requisition slip, then take the induction certificate and report to Flag-bearer Cheng at the Demon Hunting Division. He will arrange your specific assignment."

Chen Mu took them one by one and weighed the waist token in his hand. It was slightly heavier than the one from Yunmeng, though made of the same material, with a relief of a Suanni on the front. He couldn't help but recall how Qi Huan had once tracked his location through his waist token back in Yunmeng; presumably, this token had similar functionality.

He nodded, offered his thanks, and rose to leave.

"Wait."

Duan Yanzhi suddenly called out to him, rubbed his temples, and added.

"Seeing that you are young and just transferred up from a county, let me offer a few words of advice. The Prefecture is not like Yunmeng; the waters are very murky here. The Demon Hunting Division, in particular, is a place where one licks blood from the blade. The people inside... are a complex mix."

"Speak less, do more. Keep your eyes sharp and your ears alert. Don't ask about things you shouldn't, and don't meddle in affairs that aren't your business. Preserving your life and earning merit—that is what truly matters."

Although his words carried a hint of bureaucratic perfunctoriness, they were, in a way, well-intentioned.

Hearing this, Chen Mu nodded slightly.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Leaving the General Affairs Division, Chen Mu first went to the warehouse in the backyard. The warehouse keeper was a thin, withered old official. After receiving the requisition slip and the waist token, he slowly fetched a set of brand-new black official robes, a pair of thin-soled swift boots, a standard-issue Dao, and a small cloth bag containing some wound medicine.

"Change into the clothes and boots yourself. The blade is forged from hundred-refined steel and should be decent enough to handle. If you run into a tough opponent, figure it out yourself. Use the medicine sparingly; this is all you get each month."

The old official said listlessly, his eyelids drooping.

Chen Mu changed his clothes and temporarily settled his old clothes and Zhuifeng in an empty corner near the warehouse. He instructed the little one to hide well, then fastened his waist token, picked up the Dao, and followed the signposts toward the Demon Hunting Division.

The Demon Hunting Division had its own separate courtyard. One could faintly hear the sounds of shouting and drilling. At the entrance, two Demon Hunting Soldiers stood sternly with their hands on their blades; their aura was significantly sharper than the guards at the main gate.

Chen Mu showed the induction certificate issued by Duan Yanzhi.

"Go on in. Flag-bearer Cheng is inside."

A guard glanced at the certificate and stepped aside.

The main hall was sparsely furnished, exuding a rough Killing Intent. A huge map of the Prefecture hung on the wall, with regions marked in different colors. A tiger-skin chair in the center was empty, and several officials stood beside it, whispering about something.

Chen Mu's gaze fell upon a middle-aged man by the window on the left. The man was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a burly build and a dark complexion. A scar ran diagonally from the corner of his left eyebrow across his face, adding a touch of ferocity.

He was not wearing official robes, but a neat, agile outfit. Yet, as he stood there, he possessed an undeniable aura. This was none other than Flag-bearer Cheng, the Banner Master of the Demon Hunting Division.

Cheng Xiaoqing also noticed Chen Mu. Seeing that he was a stranger holding an induction certificate, he knew he was a newcomer. He waved to an official beside him, and the official immediately trotted over.

"Banner Master, this is the newly transferred Chen Mu, arranged by the General Affairs Division."

The official took Chen Mu's certificate and handed it to Cheng Xiaoqing. Cheng Xiaoqing quickly scanned it, then looked Chen Mu over, his brow furrowing slightly.

He was too young, and a Squad Leader from a county at that. Upon arriving at the Prefecture Demon Hunting Division, he could only start from the very bottom as a Demon Hunting Soldier.

He had seen many such people—arrogant and lacking practical ability—who often died the fastest.

"Since he was arranged by the General Affairs Division, we will follow the rules."

Cheng Xiaoqing's voice was loud and carried a natural air of authority.

"Chief-Lieutenant Huo is short on men lately. Assign him to Chief-Lieutenant Huo's command. Didn't that squad under Squad Leader Bai Junyi just lose two men? Have him fill the spot."

"Yes."

The official acknowledged the order and turned to Chen Mu.

"Follow me. I'll take you to see Chief-Lieutenant Huo and Squad Leader Bai."

Chen Mu cupped his hands in a salute to Cheng Xiaoqing and followed the official out of the main hall. Cheng Xiaoqing watched his back, shook his head, and ignored him further, continuing to handle his affairs.

On the way, Chen Mu asked the official leading the way.

"Brother, might I ask if Officer Qi Huan is currently in the division?"

The official stopped in his tracks and looked back at Chen Mu with some surprise.

"You know Flag-bearer Qi?"

"We met a few times while in Yunmeng."

The official realized, and his tone carried a bit more respect.

"Officer Qi is the head of the Demon Search Division; he is not on duty here. The Demon Search Division is in the courtyard next door. Why? Are you looking for him?"

Chen Mu shook his head, realizing that Qi Huan had not returned to the Prefecture.

"I'm just new here and remembered an old acquaintance, so I asked out of curiosity."

He did not immediately take out Jiang Xiong's letter of recommendation. Having just arrived at the Prefecture and not knowing the situation, he planned to observe first.

The official gave an "Oh" and didn't press further, introducing the situation to Chen Mu as they walked.

"In our Prefecture Demon Suppression Division, the top leadership consists of Thousand-Household Liao, Deputy Thousand-Household Wu, and Prefectural Inspector Jiang. Below them are the various divisions: the Demon Search Division, Medicine Demon Division, Demon Trial Division, and Demon Archive Division, each with their own areas of responsibility. You will learn about these gradually in the future."

"As for our Demon Hunting Division, we are specifically responsible for clearing out medium and high-Rank demonic infestations within the Prefecture. We are the ones who handle the tough jobs, and Flag-bearer Cheng is the head of our Demon Hunting Division."

"Under Flag-bearer Cheng, there are two General Squad Leaders: Chief-Lieutenant Zhang and Chief-Lieutenant Huo, each leading a team of soldiers. Under each General Squad Leader, there are five Squad Leaders, each leading a detachment of about ten men. The Squad Leader you are going to meet, Bai Junyi, is one of Chief-Lieutenant Huo's men."

As they spoke, the two arrived at a training ground nearby. On the training ground, dozens of Demon Hunting Soldiers were drilling, with blades flashing and shouts ringing out. The two walked around the training ground and came to a row of barracks at the back.

The door to one of the barracks was open, and noisy voices came from inside.

"Chief-Lieutenant Huo, Squad Leader Bai, the newcomer has arrived."

The official called out at the door. The voices inside quieted down, and then two men walked out.

The first man was tall and built even more robustly than Cheng Xiaoqing. He had a square face, a wide mouth, a full beard, and fierce eyes. It was none other than the General Squad Leader, Huo Chao.

Following behind him was a somewhat leaner young man, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with an ordinary face but exceptionally sharp eyes. There was a fresh scar on the back of his hand. It was Squad Leader Bai Junyi.