Chapter 270 Tavern Secrets

He stared blankly at Qi Huan, the smile on his face frozen at the corners of his mouth, unable to snap back to reality for a long while.

Qi Huan... was going to give his own spot to Chen Mu?

The spot of a Banner Master in the Demon Search Division, given to a Demon Hunting Soldier?

What kind of damned luck did this Chen Mu have?

How does he have influential people helping him everywhere he goes?

Jiang Yuheng's expression darkened.

Although the Jiang Family of the North was powerful, it never sought favors or opened back doors for its Family members; he had spent years in the division, desperately accumulating merit, wanting to vie for a spot in the Marrow Cleansing Pool, but every year he couldn't compete with the veterans, and every year he failed.

He had thought he finally had a chance this year, but even if the spots were all taken, now Qi Huan was actually going to give his own spot to Chen Mu!

Giving it to a newcomer who had only joined the division two months ago!

Why?

Jiang Yuheng felt like he was going crazy with jealousy inside, yet on the surface, he had to desperately maintain a shred of dignity, his mouth twitching, wanting to smile but unable to, leaving only a stiff and complicated expression on his face.

Chen Mu didn't look at him, only frowned slightly, wanting to decline again, but Qi Huan pressed his hand onto his shoulder.

"Alright, don't be polite with me. When you saved me back in Yunmeng, I wasn't polite with you either. Just remember this favor; if there comes a day when I need your help, I will naturally speak up."

Since things had reached this point, if Chen Mu were to decline again, it would only seem pretentious.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Since that is the case, Chen Mu will not decline. Thank you, Chief Qi."

Qi Huan laughed heartily and patted his shoulder.

"That's more like it."

Zhao Jin watched from the side, clicking his tongue in wonder; he had been in the Demon Archive Division for decades and had seen people giving gifts and pulling strings, but he had never seen anyone give away a Marrow Cleansing Pool spot; just how deep was the friendship between this Qi Huan and Chen Mu?

He shook his head and didn't ask further, taking out a vermilion talisman paper from his drawer, picking up a brush to write down Chen Mu's name, division, and merit record, finally stamping it with the Demon Archive Division's vermilion seal before handing the certificate to Chen Mu.

Chen Mu took the talisman paper, feeling it warm to the touch, with faint golden patterns flowing across its surface—it was an out-and-out talisman artifact.

"Thank you, Elder Zhao."

After finishing the business, Qi Huan threw an arm around Chen Mu's shoulder.

"Alright, the business is done, let's find a place to drink and catch up properly."

The two walked towards the door as they spoke, and from beginning to end, Chen Mu did not spare Jiang Yuheng another glance.

Jiang Yuheng stood on the spot, watching their retreating figures as they chatted and laughed, his face flashing with a kaleidoscope of emotions.

Jealousy, unwillingness, resentment, and the humiliation of being completely ignored.

In the years he had been at the Demon Suppression Division, he considered his skills and background to be not bad, yet in front of this Chen Mu, he always felt like a clown, not even qualified to be looked at directly by him.

Why? Just because he was lucky enough to cozy up to Qi Huan?

Jiang Yuheng clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his flesh, making him frown in pain, but he refused to let go, as if this was the only way to vent the stifled anger in his heart.

After a long while, he finally released his grip, took a deep breath, and strode away, his face so gloomy it seemed capable of dripping water.

...

When the two emerged from the Demon Archive Division, the sky had completely darkened.

The night in the Prefecture was vastly different from Yunmeng; in Yunmeng, once night fell, it was dead silent, with every household's doors and windows tightly shut, and the occasional dog bark appearing exceptionally abrupt.

But here, there were still pedestrians coming and going on the street, and the lanterns of the shops on both sides were all lit up.

Qi Huan led Chen Mu through several twists and turns, finally stopping in front of a fairly large tavern.

The tavern had no signboard, only a dim yellow lantern hanging under the eaves, with wafts of wine and braised food aromas drifting out from inside.

"Chen Mu, don't let this place's unassuming appearance fool you; the wine here is the most authentic in the entire Prefecture."

Qi Huan lifted the curtain; inside were a few low tables with sparse groups of customers sitting at them. Seeing someone enter, they only looked up for a glance before continuing to drink their own wine.

The two sat down in a corner, and the waiter deftly served a pot of wine, two dishes of side dishes, and cut a plate of braised beef. Qi Huan filled Chen Mu's cup, poured one for himself, and raised it.

"Come, let's have a drink first. It's fate that we two brothers could reunite here in the Prefecture."

The two clinked glasses, and after a few drinks, Qi Huan's chatterbox was completely opened.

"Chen Mu, you've been in the Prefecture for a while now; have you figured out the ins and outs of the Demon Suppression Division yet?"

Chen Mu shook his head and picked up his wine cup, taking a sip.

"I've only heard some things from the brothers, fragmented and unsystematic."

Qi Huan nodded, picked up a chopstick of food, and spoke while chewing.

"That's true, you haven't been in the division long, and you've been going on missions back-to-back, so you haven't had time to ask around. Let me explain it to you properly today, so you don't end up blind later and fall into a pit without even knowing it."

He put down his chopsticks and cleared his throat.

"In our Jingzhou Prefecture Demon Suppression Division, the biggest person on the surface is naturally Thousand-Household Liao Huaizhong. You've heard of him; his martial arts cultivation is unfathomable. Under his command are the five divisions: the Demon Hunting Division, Demon Search Division, Demon Archive Division, Medicine Demon Division, and General Affairs Division, each performing its own duties. His strength is also top-tier in the Prefecture."

"But he has one flaw, which is that he values relationships too much. Those Disciples of his were all brought up by him personally, and he is very deeply attached to them."

Qi Huan lowered his voice when he reached this point.

"Thousand-Household Liao has taken four Disciples in his life, and two of them are renowned figures in the Jade Bell Guard in the capital."

Chen Mu's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Jade Bell Guard?"

He remembered that graceful figure in Youxu Valley, Chu Jiangli, who had already been granted a jade bell for three years at the age of eighteen.

Qi Huan nodded.

"Yes, the Jade Bell Guard. Thousand-Household Liao also served in the Bell Guards when he was young before transferring to the Prefecture. His two Disciples... the eldest, Zhou Zhiyuan, was also a renowned figure back then. Unfortunately, heaven envies talent; three years ago, while tracking a group of Corpse Kings, he fell into an ambush and died fighting; his remains were never recovered."

Qi Huan shook his head as he spoke, his tone full of regret.

"There is another one, his third Disciple, Chu Jiangli. This girl is young but extremely formidable, even more glorious than Zhou Zhiyuan was back then. Whenever Thousand-Household Liao mentions this Disciple, his face always beams with pride."

Chen Mu listened quietly without interrupting.

Qi Huan continued.

"Right, his second Disciple is Qin Zheng from your Demon Hunting Division's Team A. You should have met him. He isn't very old, but his martial arts talent is extremely high. Thousand-Household Liao has high hopes for him and has been grooming him all these years, wanting him to take over his position in the future."

"However..."

Qi Huan paused, a flicker of complexity flashing in his eyes.

"Qin Zheng definitely has the ability, but he also has high aspirations. Although he is Thousand-Household Liao's Disciple, he never relies on that identity to act in the division; all his merit was earned through real combat with cold steel. All the elites in Team A respect him."

"But it is precisely because of this high spirit that he has been holding a breath all these years, wanting to outdo Chu Jiangli. But she is a Jade Bell Guard, a rare top-tier expert; no matter how hard he tries, he can't catch up to her on this path."