Chapter 224 Special Honors for Newcomers

Bai Junyi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to steady his mind. With Chen Mu's support, he slowly slid off the horse's back. His feet touched the solid ground, yet it felt as if he were stepping on cotton.

Just as things were in a chaotic state, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from within the courtyard.

"What is going on?"

Huo Chao's voice was heard before he was seen. Clearly alarmed by the commotion at the entrance, he strode out. When he saw the members of Team C, swaying and covered in blood and wounds, his burly frame shuddered violently. He could no longer maintain his usual fierce demeanor, and his face was filled with shock.

"Junyi! Chen Mu! You..."

Huo Chao rushed forward and grabbed the swaying Bai Junyi to steady him. His gaze quickly swept over the group, and his pupils constricted sharply, especially when he saw the tragic state of Lu Dachuan and the other two.

Bai Junyi gripped Huo Chao's hand tightly, his voice hoarse, making every word he spoke agonizingly difficult.

"The Tian Di Xuan Three Teams... Chief Banner Officer Zhang... are all... gone. Youxu Valley... was a trap... Two dragons... one male, one female..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a fit of violent coughing.

Huo Chao's face instantly turned ashen, veins bulged on his forehead, and his hands supporting Bai Junyi trembled slightly.

He had worked with Zhang Ye for many years. Although their personalities were vastly different and they often argued, they were comrades who had licked blood from the edges of their blades and could entrust their backs to each other. The Tian Di Xuan Three Teams were the elite among the elite of the Demon Hunting Division; he never expected them to be wiped out in a single day...

"Stop talking for now!"

Huo Chao forced down his emotions and roared hoarsely.

"Someone come here! Carry the severely wounded to the Medicine Demon Division! Quickly! Go and invite Medical Officer Duan!"

He glanced again at Chen Mu, Shen Suning, and Feng Qing, who were barely standing, as well as Ling Xiaoning, who was still slumped on the horse's back, dizzy and disoriented.

"You few, can you still walk? Come with me to see Flag-bearer Cheng!"

Chen Mu nodded, and Shen Suning and Feng Qing also managed to respond. Ling Xiaoning shook his head and tried to stand up straight.

"Let's go!"

Huo Chao said no more, signaled for those still able to move to follow, and sternly ordered the guards remaining behind.

"Guard this place well. Report any situation immediately!"

...

The main hall of the Demon Hunting Division.

Cheng Xiaoqing sat upright on a tiger-skin chair, holding a file in his hand with his brows slightly furrowed. Huo Chao stepped in first, not even having time to salute before stepping aside.

Chen Mu, Bai Junyi, Shen Suning, Feng Qing, and Ling Xiaoning stumbled in, supporting each other. The smell of blood instantly filled the entire main hall.

Cheng Xiaoqing's gaze was like a knife, sweeping over every wound on the five of them, finally landing on Bai Junyi's paper-pale face.

"Flag-bearer!"

Bai Junyi broke free from Shen Suning's support and stepped forward, intending to kneel on one knee, but he aggravated his injuries. His body tilted, and Huo Chao caught him.

"No need, speak."

Cheng Xiaoqing's voice betrayed no emotion, yet it carried an oppressive weight like a storm about to break.

Bai Junyi took a deep breath, enduring the intense pain throughout his body and the bloody taste in his throat. He recounted everything in detail, from the moment they entered Black Rock Mountain, to discovering the remains of the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams, the Mother Dragon giving birth and being slain, and the entire process of Chen Mu and Jade Bell Guard Chu Jiangli joining forces to kill the Male Dragon.

His narration was not impassioned; because of his injuries and exhaustion, it was even intermittent at times. Yet, every word reeked of blood and the extremely tragic slaughter in Youxu Valley.

When he spoke of Chief Banner Officer Zhang's martyrdom and the total annihilation of the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams, Cheng Xiaoqing's fingers tightened on the file, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged, but his face remained expressionless.

Meanwhile, Huo Chao stood to the side, his fists already clenched so tightly they creaked, his teeth gritted, and his eyes bloodshot.

That was anger, heartache, and the sorrow of a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.

Bai Junyi finally finished speaking, his chest heaving violently, barely able to stand. The hall fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, Cheng Xiaoqing slowly put down the file in his hand. It made a soft sound, breaking the suffocating silence.

"Was Chief Banner Officer Zhang's zhan yue blade brought back?"

"It was brought back."

Bai Junyi struggled and presented with both hands the long blade wrapped in cloth strips that he had been holding tightly in his arms.

Huo Chao stepped forward to take it. The cloth strips came undone, revealing the blade covered in blood and grime, with several notches along its edge.

This precious blade, which had once followed Zhang Ye in slaying countless demons, was now dull and lusterless. Only the black jade at the end of the hilt still reflected a faint light under the lamp, like the unresigned heroic soul of its former owner.

Huo Chao stroked the cold blade, tears finally shimmering in his red eyes. He suddenly knelt on one knee, holding the zhan yue blade high above his head, his voice choked with sobs.

"Flag-bearer! Chief Banner Officer Zhang and the brothers of the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams... have died for the country!"

Cheng Xiaoqing closed his eyes, and after a long moment, opened them again. He stood up, walked to Huo Chao, and took the zhan yue blade with both hands.

"General Squad Leader Zhang Ye and the fallen colleagues of the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams were loyal and heroic; their spirits are immortal!"

Cheng Xiaoqing said each word clearly, as if speaking to everyone present, and as if speaking to the heroic spirits in the netherworld.

"The Demon Suppression Division and Jingzhou Prefecture will remember them."

As he spoke, he placed the zhan yue blade on the desk and turned to look at the people below the hall.

"Team C's mission this time uncovered the root of the demon infestation in Youxu Valley. It was caused by a pair of Python-Dragons about to transform into dragons. The Mother Dragon needed blood food to nourish herself after giving birth, so she drove the snake swarm to wreak havoc in Shi Town. She also used the swallowed golden bell of a golden bell Guard as bait to set a trap, luring our division's elites into the valley, resulting in the total annihilation of the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams and the martyrdom of General Squad Leader Zhang Ye."

Cheng Xiaoqing's voice returned to its usual steady tone as he began the official assessment and merit evaluation.

"Team C was ordered to investigate and provide support. In Youxu Valley, they encountered the birthing Mother Dragon. They did not fear danger, formed a formation, and fought to the death, injuring the Demon King and slaying its young. Later, when the Male Dragon came to its aid and the situation became critical, they were fortunate to have Jade Bell Guard Chu Jiangli pass by and intervene. Together, they slew both dragons and quelled this great disaster."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group.

"In this battle, Team C fought against a stronger opponent. Facing a Demon King far exceeding their own strength, they fought to the death without retreating, successfully pinning down the demon and creating an opportunity for the Jade Bell Guard, ultimately eliminating the great threat. Their contribution is undeniable."

"Shi Yong, Lu Dachuan, and Ji Xiang fought hard despite severe injuries; record a Grade B-minus merit."

"Feng Qing and Shen Suning assisted in defense and offense, both making contributions; record a Grade B merit each."

Finally, he turned his gaze to Bai Junyi and Chen Mu.

"Chen Mu, a new recruit, participated in such a vicious battle for the first time. He showed extraordinary courage, insight into the demon's weakness at the front line, offered strategies to break the deadlock, personally slew the Mother Dragon, found an opening in the desperate situation to injure the Male Dragon, disrupted its actions, and created the winning opportunity for the Jade Bell Guard. His performance was exceptionally outstanding; record a Grade B-plus merit."

"Grade B-plus!"

Ling Xiaoning suddenly looked up at Chen Mu, his eyes filled with shock.

A Grade B-plus merit was already an extremely high evaluation within the Demon Suppression Division. Chen Mu, a newcomer, was actually able to equal Bai Junyi and receive such a distinguished honor!

Feng Qing and Shen Suning also looked at Chen Mu. They had personally experienced that battle and knew the dangers involved and the role Chen Mu played. They had no objections to this merit assessment, only a myriad of emotions in their hearts.

Chen Mu remained calm, only bowing slightly and following the others in cupping his hands in a salute.

"Thank you, Flag-bearer!"