Chapter 235 Emergency Reinforcements

Chen Mu took the command talisman and the dossier. The talisman felt slightly heavy in his hand; it was a black iron token specially crafted by the Demon Hunting Division, engraved with the pattern of a Suanni.

The three people behind him all wore grave expressions. Ling Xiaoning even subconsciously touched the short sword at his waist, his throat moving as he wanted to say something but dared not.

Missing young girls, black shadows, wing-shaped silhouettes...

This case reeked of evil; it was definitely not the work of ordinary bandits. And they... there were only four of them, not even enough to set up the most basic Five Elements formation.

Chen Mu tucked the token and dossier into his tunic and cupped his hands in a salute.

"Rest assured, Deputy General Bai, we will certainly get to the bottom of this."

Bai Junyi nodded and wanted to give a few more instructions, but his gaze suddenly went past Chen Mu and froze abruptly.

"Chongshan? Why are you..."

Everyone followed his gaze and saw a man rushing in through the courtyard gate. He looked to be in his early thirties, his face weathered by the elements, his tiger-like eyes red, and dried tear stains still visible at the corners of his eyes.

He was wearing the uniform of a Demon Hunting Division Squad Leader, but on his chest was the emblem of Captain Ding. His clothes were now wrinkled and covered in dust, the sleeve of his left arm torn, revealing the bandages underneath.

He stumbled forward, rushed in front of Bai Junyi, and without a word, fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing heavily.

"Junyi... no, Deputy General Bai! I beg you, let me go! Let me go with them!"

Bai Junyi's expression changed, and he hurriedly stepped forward to help him up.

"Chongshan, what are you doing? Get up quickly!"

This man was named Wan Chongshan, a Squad Leader of Captain Ding. Three days ago, Captain Ding and Team E joined forces to hunt down a group of corpse ghosts that had fled to the border of the Prefecture, but they were ambushed and suffered heavy casualties. Wan Chongshan had sustained three knife wounds and fought desperately to lead the remnants out of the encirclement; he should have been resting at the Demon Hunting Division at this moment.

But Wan Chongshan remained kneeling stubbornly, lifting his head with eyes full of pleading, his voice hoarse and trembling.

"My younger sister... among the four girls who went missing in Kaoshan Village, one of them... is my own sister. She is only sixteen!"

His throat choked up, and his eye sockets turned red.

"My parents died early, and she is my only kin; I raised her with my own hands... Deputy General Bai, I beg you, let me go. I must go. If she is alive, I want to see her; if she is dead... I must bring her body back!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the courtyard was shocked.

Chen Mu's gaze fell upon Wan Chongshan's face. That face, originally resolute, was now twisted, a mixture of grief, anger, and a near-maniacal obsession.

Bai Junyi's expression grew even uglier. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice.

"Chongshan, I understand how you feel, but Captain Ding has suffered heavy casualties, and you are currently injured. Flag-bearer Cheng has specifically granted you leave to rest and replenish. I have already ordered Team C for this mission..."

"I know! I know the mission was given to Team C!"

Wan Chongshan interrupted him abruptly, his hands gripping Bai Junyi's arms tightly.

"I am not fighting for credit, and I don't want command! Deputy General Bai, I, Wan Chongshan, will go as a regular Demon Hunting Soldier. I only ask... I only ask to go and find my sister!"

His voice choked, but he forcibly suppressed it, his forehead slamming heavily against the bluestone ground.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, blood immediately appeared on his forehead.

"I am willing to swear an oath: on this trip, all actions will follow the lead of Brother Chen Mu. If I disobey even slightly, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

"I beg you... if I cannot go, being here... is worse than death!"

He lifted his head, blood and tears sliding down his face together.

The courtyard was deathly silent, with only the sound of Wan Chongshan's heavy breathing, faintly accompanied by the suppressed sighs of Lu Dachuan in the room.

Bai Junyi looked at the colleague kneeling before him, then at the token he had just handed out, his brows knitting into a knot.

He had worked with Wan Chongshan for many years, and Team C and Captain Ding had often cooperated. Naturally, he knew the man to be upright and brave, skilled at leading troops, and possessing high prestige within Captain Ding. With Captain Ding having suffered such a great disaster, and Wan Chongshan being heavily injured yet still worrying about his young sister, such a situation was truly unbearable to witness.

But rules were rules, and besides...

Bai Junyi's gaze swept over Chen Mu, who looked calm and was simply watching Wan Chongshan quietly.

Bai Junyi spoke slowly, his tone softening a little.

"Chongshan, get up first. I cannot make this decision on my own. The mission has been assigned to Team C, and Chen Mu is the one leading the team. Besides, you are injured..."

"My injuries are of no concern!"

Wan Chongshan said urgently, struggling to stand up, but he aggravated his wounds, his face turning pale as he stumbled again.

Chen Mu suddenly stepped forward and reached out to support Wan Chongshan's arm; where he touched, the muscles were as tense as iron.

"Deputy General Bai, if Squad Leader Wan's injuries are not an issue and he is willing to follow orders, having one more person adds one more bit of strength."

Bai Junyi looked at Chen Mu, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

He had assumed Chen Mu would have reservations due to seniority issues; after all, Wan Chongshan was a veteran Squad Leader. Although he spoke earnestly now, whether he would be genuinely willing to obey the command of a newcomer on the battlefield remained an unknown.

But Chen Mu seemed not to see Bai Junyi's concerns and continued.

"Among the missing is his own sister, so Squad Leader Wan will surely be extra attentive to this case, and he is also more familiar with the local situation. Both publicly and privately, this is beneficial."

He paused, then looked at Wan Chongshan.

"However, on the battlefield, orders must be strictly followed, as it concerns life and death. Can Squad Leader Wan do that?"

Wan Chongshan straightened his back abruptly, broke free from Chen Mu's support, and cupped his hands in a heavy salute.

"I swear here that on this trip, I will follow all orders from Brother Chen. If I disobey, there is no need for lightning to strike me; Brother Chen can execute me on the spot, and I will have no complaints!"

Since things had reached this point, Bai Junyi knew that stopping him further would be unreasonable. After pondering for a moment, he finally nodded.

"In that case... you all proceed with packing your gear according to the original plan. I will immediately go to report to Flag-bearer Cheng. If the Flag-bearer approves, Chongshan will be incorporated into this mission squad as a Demon Hunting Soldier, under the command of Chen Mu."

"Thank you, Deputy General Bai! Thank you, Brother Chen!"

Wan Chongshan was about to kneel again, but was held up by Chen Mu.

"Hurry and pack."

Chen Mu let go and turned to walk toward his own barracks. Wan Chongshan nodded heavily, wiped his face, and also stumbled toward the direction of Captain Ding's barracks.

Half an hour is neither long nor short.

Chen Mu returned to his room and moved efficiently, carefully wiping down his soul-slaying blade and checking the Medicinal Pills he carried with him. Zhuifeng circled around his feet, seemingly sensing that its master was about to leave again, and let out a whimpering whine.

Chen Mu bent down to stroke its head and stuffed a piece of dried meat into its mouth.

"Watch the house for now. When you grow a bit bigger, I'll take you out."

Zhuifeng held the dried meat in its mouth but didn't eat it immediately; it looked up at Chen Mu, its pupils filled with reluctance.

In the courtyard, Shen Suning had already changed her clothes. The splint on her right arm had been removed, and she could move it slightly. She was currently stuffing several packets of medicinal powder and bandages into her backpack. Feng Qing was silently checking his quiver, while Ling Xiaoning appeared somewhat flustered, stuffing one thing in and then taking another out, muttering to himself.

Lu Dachuan, leaning on his single leg, hopped to the door frame and watched everyone busy at work. His large face was full of frustration and resentment, but his chest was still wrapped in thick bandages, and the slightest movement made him wince in pain, so he could only watch helplessly.

"Damn it..."

Lu Dachuan cursed under his breath, his gaze sweeping over the others before finally landing on Chen Mu, and he suddenly raised his voice.

"Brother Chen!"