Chapter 209 Strange Movements in Black Rock

Seeing his calm expression, devoid of suppression or panic, Shen Suning felt a sense of relief, while inwardly marveling at his extraordinary composure.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke slowly.

"Very few people within the Division know my true identity. Thousand-Household Liao and Flag-bearer Cheng might have an inkling, but they have never explicitly stated it. I have my own reasons for joining the Demon Suppression Division; it is certainly not to enjoy privileges or to treat the world as a playground. Being forced to reveal myself tonight was truly not my intention."

She looked at Chen Mu again, her gaze exceptionally earnest.

"Chen Mu, could you please keep this a secret for me? Do not mention it to anyone else. I still wish to remain here as an ordinary Demon Suppressing Soldier."

Chen Mu did not hesitate in the slightest and nodded.

"Agreed."

A single word, crisp and decisive, with no questioning and no superfluous promises. A weight finally lifted from Shen Suning's heart, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly upward, though it quickly vanished.

"Thank you. However, Jiang Yuheng is narrow-minded and vengeful. Although he yielded on the surface tonight, he must hold a grudge in his heart. He comes from the Jiang Family of the North and has cultivated some connections within the Division, especially with Qin Zheng of Team A. You must be careful in the future; open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against."

Chen Mu responded with a sound, indicating he understood.

He did not take Jiang Yuheng's resentment to heart. If the other party truly dared to come and provoke him, he wouldn't mind letting him truly experience the disparity in their strength.

After all, in the face of absolute power, so-called schemes and backgrounds are often vulnerable. He was more concerned with stabilizing his cultivation after his Breakthrough and how to acquire more Lifespan as quickly as possible.

The shadow of the Burning Heaven Demon King was like a sword hanging over his head, urging him to keep getting stronger.

Seeing his demeanor, Shen Suning knew he had his own plans, so she said no more. She looked up at the sky; the moon had shifted westward, and the night had grown deeper.

"It is getting late. There may be arrangements tomorrow, so get some rest early."

With that, she picked up her lantern, gave a slight nod, and turned to leave.

Returning to the barracks, Lu Dachuan was sprawled out asleep, Feng Qing was breathing evenly, and Ling Xiaoning was muttering something in his sleep. Zhuifeng was guarding the doorway; it lifted its head alertly, but seeing it was Chen Mu, it lay back down at ease.

Everything was the same as when he had left. No one knew of the intense conflict that had just occurred in the corner of the training ground, nor of Shen Suning's astonishing identity.

Although the exposure of Shen Suning's identity was somewhat surprising, it did not cause much of a stir. Whether she was a member of the royal family or the daughter of the Chief Councilor, in this world where demons ran rampant and martial power was supreme, one ultimately relied on one's own strength. He noted her desire to protect him, but that was all.

...

The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, the sound of rapid footsteps and the friction of armor came from the training ground, accompanied by the sharp tolling of a bell for assembly.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Lu Dachuan jolted up from his bunk. Seeing the time, he couldn't help but curse.

"Damn it, what time is it? The sky isn't even bright yet!"

Feng Qing had already risen nimbly and quickly strapped on his iron bow and quiver. Ling Xiaoning rubbed his sleepy eyes, put on his clothes in a daze, and ran out with the others. Chen Mu was the fastest; he was already standing outside the door, his gaze fixed on the training ground.

The training ground was brightly lit, with dozens of torches casting an orange glow through the morning mist.

Shadows flickered, and the atmosphere was grim. Two squads had already assembled, totaling about twenty people. Each one possessed a composed aura and moved with agility. They were dressed in uniform official attire, covered by simple leather armor, clearly prepared and ready to depart.

The leader was a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a cold expression. He wore neat official attire, with a slender curved saber hanging at his waist. He stood in front of the group with his hands behind his back, scanning the other Demon Hunting Soldiers rushing out of their barracks, his gaze finally resting on the members of Team C who had hurried over.

"It's Chief Banner Officer Zhang. Making such a fuss early in the morning, I'm afraid something has happened."

Lu Dachuan lowered his voice and muttered. Chen Mu's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

Zhang Ye, another General Squad Leader of the Demon Hunting Division, was of the same rank as Huo Chao, but their styles were vastly different.

Huo Chao was bold and rough, and the soldiers he trained were mostly brave and straightforward. Zhang Ye, on the other hand, was steady and cold. The squads under his command were known for their strict discipline and tacit cooperation. He commanded four squads named "Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow," and the Heaven and Earth squads were almost equal in strength to Huo Chao's Team A and Team B.

Ling Xiaoning looked at that grim and orderly group, then looked at himself and his companions who had just crawled out of their beds with their clothes still slightly disheveled, and couldn't help but shrink his neck.

Huo Chao also walked over quickly from the other side of the barracks. Although his face was slightly pale, his eyes had returned to their usual sharpness, clearly awakened by the bell. He nodded slightly at Zhang Ye, then stepped forward and shouted in a low voice.

"Fall in! Silence!"

The men quickly stood in line. Zhang Ye stepped forward, his voice not loud, yet it suppressed all the noise.

"By the urgent order of Flag-bearer Cheng, a golden bell alarm has been sounded deep in Black Rock Mountain to the southwest. The situation is critical. My unit is ordered to dispatch elites to depart immediately, investigate the details of the golden bell alert, and provide support if necessary."

"A golden bell?!"

As soon as this word was uttered, a wave of exclamations erupted on the training ground. Even old soldiers like Lu Dachuan had their expressions turn instantly grave, while Ling Xiaoning looked blankly at Huo Chao and Lu Dachuan, clearly knowing nothing about it.

Zhang Ye said no more, his gaze immediately shifting to the two squads under his command, his voice suddenly rising.

"Heaven and Earth squads!"

"Present!"

More than twenty people responded in unison, their voices shaking the training ground.

"A golden bell alert is no ordinary matter. This trip will be dangerous, but it is also a time for us to achieve merit and slay demons. Remember, you represent the face of the Jingzhou Prefecture Demon Hunting Division, and even more, the majesty of the Great Wu Dynasty court. Investigate the situation, provide full support, and if you encounter demons, kill without mercy!"

The crowd roared, "We obey your command!"

"Depart!"

Zhang Ye waved his hand, and the twenty-plus people immediately turned, their steps uniform and synchronized. They quickly swarmed out of the training ground, mounted their mountain horses, and with the clatter of hooves, they gradually rode into the distance.

Huo Chao watched the direction in which Zhang Ye and the others had departed, his brows furrowed. After a long while, he turned to the squads under his command.

"All other squads, increase your vigilance immediately. Strengthen patrols within the city and its surroundings. No one is to leave their post without orders. Dismissed!"

The order was given, crisp and decisive. Everyone dispersed, but their steps were much heavier.

Returning to the Team C barracks, Ling Xiaoning couldn't help but lean over to Lu Dachuan and ask in a low voice.

"Brother Lu, what exactly is that golden bell? I saw everyone's expression change when they heard those two words."

Lu Dachuan plopped down on his bunk, picked up his wine gourd, and took a swig, but he lacked his usual ease as he sighed and said.

"Kid, it's normal that you haven't heard of it. This golden bell isn't something from our Demon Hunting Division."

Hearing this, Chen Mu looked over as well. Lu Dachuan lowered his voice, his expression carrying a hint of reverence and wariness.

"They are a group of ruthless people who snatch food from the mouth of the King of Hell. They call themselves the Bell Guards. They are not under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, receive no salary, and have no fixed territory. They chase demons across the world, relying on hunting demons and extracting their demon cores to exchange for resources to Cultivate and survive."

Upon hearing this, Feng Qing coldly added a sentence.

"If the Demon Hunting Division is the dog guarding the territory, then the Bell Guards are the wolves on the hunt!"