Chapter 225 One Battle Makes Him Famous

Cheng Xiaoqing waved his hand, signaling everyone to forgo the formalities.

"All Medicinal Pills and expenses required for the treatment of the wounded will be covered by the Division. You must spare no effort in saving them. As for Li Hu, who died in battle, provide generous compensation and handle his funeral arrangements according to the specifications for a Squad Leader. His family will be properly settled by the Division."

Cheng Xiaoqing continued giving orders, then turned his gaze toward Huo Chao, his voice deepening.

"Huo Chao."

"Subordinate is here!" Huo Chao straightened his back.

"With Zhang Ye having died in the line of duty and the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams nearly wiped out, the Demon Hunting Division is in dire need of personnel. We must not let the heroic spirits rest uneasy. From today on, you will concurrently act as the General Squad Leader in place of Zhang Ye, and reorganize the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams. The morale of Team E is also wavering; you must soothe them. You must put your heart into all these matters."

Huo Chao immediately knelt on one knee, his voice ringing out clearly.

"Subordinate accepts the order. I will certainly not fail the Banner Master's trust. I will reorganize our forces to comfort the spirits of Chief Banner Officer Zhang and all our fallen brothers!"

"Get up."

Cheng Xiaoqing helped him up, then looked at Bai Junyi.

"Junyi, your team has suffered heavy casualties. Huo Chao is taking on the duties of Zhang Ye's unit, and Teams A and B have not yet returned. Since Teams C and D have complex affairs to handle, I am appointing you as the Acting Deputy General Squad Leader to assist in handling all affairs related to your original team. We will decide on the final arrangement after you have recovered from your injuries."

Bai Junyi was stunned, then solemnly cupped his fists.

"Subordinate obeys. I will certainly do my utmost!"

Cheng Xiaoqing nodded and finally spoke.

"Later, send someone with my official seal to Youxu Valley at Black Rock Mountain to collect the remains of our fallen colleagues from the Demon Suppression Division. We must ensure their souls return to their hometowns."

"Yes!" Huo Chao and Bai Junyi replied in unison.

Cheng Xiaoqing waved his hand, looking weary.

"You may all go now and get some rest. Your meritorious deeds will be recorded in the Demon Archive Division's files today."

The group then bowed and took their leave.

When they walked out of the main hall, Ling Xiaoning's legs went weak, and he nearly fell, but was caught by Feng Qing. Shen Suning's right arm was hanging limp, and fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, yet she gritted her teeth and held on.

Chen Mu walked at the back, his footsteps steady.

The bay horse in the courtyard had already been led to the stable, and a postman was brushing it down. The horse seemed to recognize Chen Mu, lifting its head to let out a neigh. Chen Mu walked over and reached out to stroke the horse's neck, and the horse gently rubbed against his palm.

Zhuifeng appeared from somewhere and trotted to Chen Mu's feet, looking up at him and whimpering. It had clearly smelled the heavy scent of blood on its master and seemed somewhat uneasy.

Chen Mu bent down and picked it up. The little guy immediately burrowed into his arms, its claws hooked into his lapel, refusing to let go.

"It's alright."

Chen Mu said in a low voice, not knowing if he was speaking to the dog or to himself.

...

Overnight, all the details of the battle at Black Rock Mountain spread like wildfire throughout the Demon Suppression Division.

The news that the three elite Tian Di Xuan Three Teams had been wiped out and Chief Banner Officer Zhang had died in the line of duty left the entire yamen in a state of panic.

In stark contrast was Team C. This unit, which had lost personnel not long ago and had only recently been replenished with recruits, had actually survived such a desperate situation and even brought back confirmation of the two Dragons being slain.

What was even more astonishing was that one of the key figures in this brutal battle was a recruit who had only been transferred to the Prefecture for less than a month: Chen Mu.

Thus, in teahouses, taverns, and training grounds, whenever three or two Demon Suppressing Soldiers gathered, the conversation would inevitably drift to the battle at Youxu Valley and to that name.

"He's only seventeen, right? A Squad Leader transferred from a small place like Yunmeng. It was only his second mission, and he ran into such a death trap..."

"That's not even the half of it. I heard that after Squad Leader Bai was injured, it was he who led the remaining people to hold off the Dragon's counterattack and even personally killed the Mother Dragon!"

"Is that true? He's a recruit. Is his Dao Entry Realm even stable?"

"Heh! That's where you're wrong. I heard from people in the Medicine Demon Division that when he came back, his injuries were terrifying. He didn't even know how many ribs he'd broken, and his internal organs were bleeding. Yet, when the Banner Master evaluated his merit, he gave him an A-grade rating! The same level as Squad Leader Bai!"

Gasps of shock rose one after another.

Seventeen years old, first major mission after joining the Division, A-grade merit.

This was no longer just a description of talent; it was simply a Prodigy.

Some were envious, some were in awe, and naturally, some felt sour.

"Who knows if he just got lucky, or... if he has someone backing him?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Didn't you see the way Chief-Lieutenant Huo looks at him now? The Banner Master clearly holds him in high regard too. Besides, Miss Shen... ahem, that person with the unusual status, seems to be close to him as well."

Admiration, suspicion, jealousy, and curiosity intertwined, making the name Chen Mu the hottest topic of conversation in the Demon Suppression Division within a single day.

Meanwhile, in the barracks of Team C, which was at the center of the storm, it was a scene of wreckage after surviving a disaster.

"Ouch... easy, easy..."

Lu Dachuan was wrapped up like a rice dumpling, lying stiffly on the communal bed, with only his head and one barely usable left hand exposed.

Medical Officer Duan from the Medicine Demon Division had used the best muscle-regenerating and bone-knitting ointment on him and wrapped him in countless layers of bandages. At this moment, the medicinal effect was taking hold, causing it to itch and ache, but he couldn't move, so he could only grimace and groan.

His voice was extremely hoarse, like a broken bellows.

"That kid Li Hu... didn't even say a word, and he's just gone... Before we left, he was bragging to me, saying his kid would be one year old next month and he was going to invite us to drink at the celebration... Damn it..."

As he spoke, his eyes turned red, and he blinked hard, trying to hold back the moisture.

Ling Xiaoning sat cross-legged on the empty bed beside him, holding Lu Dachuan's precious wine gourd, deliberately waving it in front of his eyes.

"Brother Lu, don't think about it. Brother Hu was a real man; he didn't disgrace our Team C. You just focus on recovering from your injuries now. As for this wine..."

He said, pulling out the stopper and sniffing it exaggeratedly.

"It smells so good. Unfortunately, Medical Officer Duan said that with your injuries, you are forbidden from drinking alcohol or eating meat for half a month. I'll taste this pot of Burning Blade for you first."

Having said that, he made a gesture as if to pour it into his mouth.

"You little brat! Don't you dare!"

Lu Dachuan was so anxious he wanted to sit up, but it tugged at his injuries, making him grimace in pain. He could only glare and curse.

"Wait until I can move, see if I don't beat your ass black and blue!"

Ling Xiaoning chuckled and moved the wine gourd away.

"Just kidding, Brother Lu. I wouldn't dare drink it. But with your injuries, I'm afraid you won't be able to get out of bed for a month. Shi Yong and Ji Xiang are the same. Ji Xiang lost too much blood and still hasn't fully woken up."

Feng Qing sat leaning against his own bunk, his face pale, but his spirit was better than when he first returned. Hearing this, he didn't even raise his head and said faintly.

"To be able to come back alive is already a stroke of luck."

Lu Dachuan sighed and turned his gaze to the figure sitting cross-legged by the window.

Chen Mu was regulating his breathing with his eyes closed, and Zhuifeng was curled up at his feet, its ears twitching from time to time, alert to the surroundings.

"Brother Chen Mu, this time..."

Lu Dachuan smacked his lips, his tone complex.

"It really opened my eyes. To be honest, before we set off, my heart was pounding. I was thinking about taking you two recruits along, and having just lost brothers... who knew... in the end, it was you who held the line."

Ling Xiaoning also put away his playful expression, his eyes filled with admiration and lingering fear as he looked at Chen Mu.

"Chen Mu, those few strikes of yours were too terrifying. I was stunned! That was a real Dragon, weren't you afraid?"