Chapter 207 What is there to fear in the North?

There seemed to be a note of concern in her words. Although she did not say it explicitly, Chen Mu could tell that Shen Suning was reminding him not to be overly ambitious or easily venture into dangerous places.

Just at that moment, another voice interrupted abruptly, filled with sarcasm and coldness.

"Duties? Heh, I was wondering who was meeting in private so late at night. So it turns out to be Miss Shen and the big contributor who just joined our Team C."

The two looked towards the source of the voice and saw a young man slowly walking out from the shadows at the edge of the training ground. He was also wearing the official uniform of the Demon Hunting Division, but the fabric was noticeably more refined. He appeared to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a handsome face, but the arrogant, condescending air between his brows and the sneer at the corner of his mouth ruined the overall impression.

The man stepped forward a few paces. His gaze lingered on Shen Suning's face for a moment, revealing a flash of deeply hidden fervor, before immediately fixing his attention on Chen Mu.

He curled his lip and looked him up and down, as if scrutinizing a piece of merchandise he was not quite satisfied with.

Chen Mu recognized this attire and demeanor; Lu Dachuan had mentioned it before—someone from Team A.

"Jiang Yuheng?"

When Shen Suning saw who it was, she frowned slightly, and her tone suddenly turned cold.

"What are you doing here? Team A does not seem to be on duty in this sector tonight."

"Miss Shen actually remembers my name? I am honored."

Although Jiang Yuheng claimed to be honored, his eyes remained cold. He then turned to Chen Mu, lifting his chin slightly.

"As for why I am here... naturally, I am patrolling the camps to prevent some clueless newcomers who, relying on a bit of luck to gain merit, forget the rules and cause disturbances late at night, or even... seduce their colleagues."

He said the last four words quite slowly, with a meaningful tone, his gaze darting between Chen Mu and Shen Suning, clearly implying something.

Shen Suning's expression sank immediately. She pressed her lips together and retorted.

"Jiang Yuheng, watch your language. Chen Mu is here practicing, and I was just passing by on patrol, that is all. Where do you get this talk of private meetings and seduction? Do not spout blood and slander people!"

"Practicing?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuheng laughed quite exaggeratedly, kicked the cracked bluestone on the ground with his toe, and drew out his tone.

"This commotion... does not look like ordinary practice. Besides..."

He turned his gaze to Chen Mu, the disdain in his eyes barely concealed.

"Miss Shen, you probably do not know the background of this great contributor, Chen, right? A bumpkin from Yunmeng County—how can he join the Demon Hunting Division upon his first arrival? How can he snag a Grade C merit on his very first mission? Do you really think the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division is a charity where any stray cat or dog can just waltz in with a bit of luck?"

He took a step forward, lowering his voice, yet still making it clear enough for all three people present to hear.

"Kid, do not think that just because you have climbed a high branch you can truly fly to the top. Is the connection of the Jiang Family of the North useful? Hmm?"

The Jiang Family of the North.

Chen Mu frowned; so that was it.

This person's surname was Jiang, and he was a member of the Jiang Family. Judging by his tone, he was harboring resentment about Chen Mu's entry into the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division via Jiang Xiong's recommendation.

Shen Suning was also taken aback upon hearing this; she clearly had not expected Chen Mu to have this connection. However, remembering that he had saved her life in Shi Town, she stepped forward to refute him.

"Jiang Yuheng, stop your nonsense! Chen Mu's merit was reported by Squad Leader Bai himself and verified jointly by Flag-bearer Cheng and Chief-Lieutenant Huo. Where is there any talk of pulling strings? He slew the snake demon and rescued his colleagues based on his true ability. How can you stand there making wild speculations and spewing malicious words?"

Jiang Yuheng glanced sideways at Shen Suning and shook his head, appearing deeply regretful of her lack of appreciation for the situation.

"True ability? Shen Suning, why are you in such a hurry to protect him? Oh, I understand now. Is it because our Squad Leader Chen is young and decent-looking that you have developed other thoughts?"

"I heard your Team C gained quite a lot of merit this time, and Squad Leader Chen even received an extra share—a limitless future, indeed. What, have you started placing your bets early? Your eye is not bad; you know how to cling to someone from our Jiang Family, even if he is just someone who got in through connections."

Upon hearing this, Shen Suning's face turned pale. Although her personality was not particularly fierce, she had never had her reputation slandered like this, especially with such sordid speculations. Her right hand instantly went to the soft whip at her waist, and anger surged in her eyes.

"Shameless scoundrel!"

With that, she was about to go up and fight him.

Chen Mu reached out and gently pressed down on Shen Suning. Shen Suning stiffened, then turned to look at Chen Mu. Chen Mu shook his head, took half a step forward, and looked straight at Jiang Yuheng. He began to speak slowly, his voice not loud, but every word was clear.

"First, how I joined the Demon Suppression Division is none of your business, and I have no need to explain it to you. Second, my merit and my position were earned by risking my life in battle. If you are not convinced, you can try me."

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly cold.

"Third, apologize to Miss Shen."

Jiang Yuheng was stunned, then laughed exaggeratedly as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Apologize? Make me apologize to a woman who sucks up to power? Chen Mu, who do you think you are? Do you really think you're someone of importance? You are just someone who luckily relied on the name of our Jiang Family..."

His words came to an abrupt end.

Because Chen Mu had suddenly moved.

Without warning, without gathering strength, and without even a visible starting movement, Chen Mu's figure simply blurred, and the next moment he had already appeared within two feet of Jiang Yuheng.

The distance of several zhang between them had been erased out of thin air.

Jiang Yuheng's pupils contracted sharply, and the hairs on his body stood on end; he was clearly caught off guard by this move from Chen Mu.

But he was, after all, an elite of Team A and possessed a cultivation of the Late Stage of the Dao Entry Realm. His reaction was extremely fast. With an angry shout, he unleashed a palm technique of unmatched ferocity, striking directly at Chen Mu's chest, with the implied force of a mountain.

However, Chen Mu did not dodge or evade; he simply raised his right hand to meet the palm strike. Immediately after, the seemingly domineering palm force of Jiang Yuheng dissolved rapidly the moment it made contact with Chen Mu's palm.

"Argh!"

Jiang Yuheng immediately felt a strange Protective Aura invade fiercely through his palm, rushing straight into his Meridians. He let out a miserable scream instantly; his entire right arm lost sensation, his palm technique collapsed, and he staggered backward. His face flushed red, then turned deathly pale. When he looked up at Chen Mu again, his eyes were filled with terror.

One move—merely one move—it did not even count as a formal exchange, yet his "Peak-Shifting Palm," which he had practiced for many years, was broken by the other party with such ease, and he had even suffered a secret injury.

Shen Suning was also stunned. Although she knew Chen Mu was strong, she had not expected him to be strong to this extent.

Jiang Yuheng was not a nobody in Team A; his strength was not trivial, yet in front of Chen Mu, he was so vulnerable.

Chen Mu remained standing in place, slowly lowering his hand, and looked at Jiang Yuheng with an indifferent gaze.

"Apologize now, or I will help you apologize."

The muscles on Jiang Yuheng's face twitched, but he still gritted his teeth and squeezed out a voice from between them.

"You dare to hurt me! Do you know who I am? I am a direct Disciple of the Jiang Family of the North. You, some wild rogue who doesn't even know where you picked up your connections, dare to touch me?"

He tried to use his Family name to suppress others, but in the end, he had lost some of his confidence.

Chen Mu curled his lips slightly and gave a soft, mocking laugh.

"The Jiang Family of the North, so what?"