41: My Lord is a Martial Arts Prodigy (Seeking monthly ticket)

The spring chill was biting.

Early morning.

Qingshan County.

A street corner alley.

A somewhat stooped Old Wu set up his wine stall.

He placed the stools, lit the stove, and warmed the wine pot.

Then, he wiped his sash at his waist.

Standing outside the stall, he craned his neck, looking at the long alley in the distance, where a thin mist lingered.

He was waiting for someone.

Prefect Li had not been heard from for two days.

Old Man Wu went to Chen Yuan's residence, but no one answered the door when he knocked.

This made him a little worried.

In the past, when Prefect Li returned from his patrol, he would always arrive at this time. Old Man Wu would warm the wine in advance, waiting for Prefect Li to return and wash away the cold.

After waiting for half an incense stick, Old Man Wu did not see Chen Yuan.

His worry deepened.

He sighed and turned back.

As he turned, he saw a broad-shouldered Hunter in a black brocade robe with thick eyebrows and a full beard, sitting sideways at the table.

Old Man Wu was startled.

Before he could speak,

The bearded Hunter spoke.

“What, Old Wu, don't you recognize me?”

As he spoke, the Hunter turned his head, a half-smile on his face.

Old Man Wu saw his full face, felt a moment of daze, then reacted and was about to bow.

“Your subordinate greets Patrol Officer Qin!”

The bearded Hunter waved his hand, and a gust of wind blew the old man.

“After a few years, you've aged even more. You joined the Prefectural Office earlier than me, and you should have had a bright future. What a pity.”

The burly bearded Hunter saw Old Man Wu's almost stooped figure, his eyes flashed, and he sighed with some emotion.

The old man felt a bit sad at the words, then chuckled and shook his head.

“Those are old stories. I, a small old man, am like a floating duckweed; I've seen much and have come to terms with it. Many people are also no longer here.”

As he spoke, his tone became a little tense:

“Prefect Qin, coming to this remote place, is certainly not for reminiscing. May I ask what official business brings you here?”

He knew that Patrol Officer Qin, who had been stationed at the Prefectural Office for many years, usually did not come out, and if he did, it must be for an important matter.

Moreover, no one from the Prefectural Office had come to this place for a long time.

He couldn't help but feel nervous, wondering if something had happened to young Chen Yuan.

The bearded Hunter heard him, and his expression became serious.

“Old Wu, you seemed to be waiting for someone just now?”

“Was it that Chen Yuan?”

“I came for him!”

Old Wu's heart tightened upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but lean forward, quickly asking.

“Prefect Qin, what do you need with my Prefect Li?”

The bearded Hunter was named Qin Hu, a Patrol Officer stationed in Jiazi Ward, one of the eight wards of Baidi City, the Fu City.

Qin Hu saw Old Wu's nervousness and asked in return:

“You call him Prefect Li. It seems the news from Yunlu County was correct. What happened?”

“It was said that Qingshan County had a new Patrolling Mountain Commandant named Chen Yuan, who also helped Yunlu County quell the demon disaster. But this person is not registered in the Prefectural Office's Patrolling Mountain Commandant records.”

“The Prefectural Office checked the archives for a long time and found that this person was only an apprentice Demon Subduing Envoy, personally recruited by the late Prefect Li, who died in the line of duty half a year ago, with only a Body Profound Major Achievement cultivation.”

“Where exactly did this go wrong?!”

Qin Hu also had many questions.

The Prefectural Office received news from Yunlu County two days ago. That hot-tempered Miss Lian explained the situation in Yunlu County and Chen Yuan's matter in her letter.

So the Prefectural Office sent him to Qingshan County to verify the situation!

Upon hearing this, Old Man Wu sighed and recounted the situation at that time.

“Half a year ago, the previous Prefect Li went out on patrol. When he returned late at night, he was severely wounded and dying. At that time, all his Demon Subduing Envoys were dead or injured. Before he died, he called me and Prefect Li, who was then still an apprentice Demon Subduing Envoy, over, gave his last instructions, and passed the Tiger Seal to young Chen Yuan.”

“Later, young Chen Yuan took on the burden of Qingshan County, working day and night. One time, I saw young Prefect Li shed tears…”

“Alas!”

Old Man Wu spoke of the past, unable to help but sigh with emotion.

When Prefect Li first took over the Tiger Seal, he was often in a sorry state, and once he even shed tears.

Later, even when Prefect Li was in a sorry state, he always smiled.

It was as if he had become a different person!

As Qin Hu listened to this, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Old Wu had not gotten to the point.

He shook his head, his voice becoming solemn.

“That's not what I want to ask. The strangest thing here is that Chen Yuan's martial Dao cultivation registered in the archives is only Body Profound Major Achievement, but do you know that he used a Divine Ability during the demon disaster in Yunlu County?”

“This indicates his true cultivation is at the Body Profound realm!”

Old Wu completely ignored the doubt in Qin Hu's eyes and smiled.

“What's wrong with that? It just shows that Prefect Li's martial Dao talent is exceptionally high, and he advanced rapidly from Body Profound all the way to Body Profound.”

Qin Hu glared at the old man and said irritably:

“From Body Profound to Body Profound in half a year, even a martial Dao Prodigy would be shocked.”

“This Commandant has been cultivating martial Dao for over twenty years and is only at Body Profound Perfection.”

“Old Wu, didn't you have any suspicions?”

Upon hearing this, Old Man Wu's smile faded, and his eyes became incredibly serious. He stared at Prefect Qin and slowly said:

“Prefect Qin, does that matter?”

“This old man only needs to know that Prefect Li is protecting the people of Qingshan County, ensuring the safety of this area, and then praying for my Prefect Li's safety and well-being. That's enough!”

At these words, Qin Hu fell silent.

After a long pause, he nodded.

“You are right!”

“This young Chen Yuan, to earn your devoted protection, must be a good person!”

“Let's go. Take me to see him!”

...

Meanwhile, on the other side,

Chen Yuan was dashing through the mountain forest.

His figure was like the wind.

His roars echoed through the mountains.

Despite his fierce appearance, he felt a profound sense of exhilaration!

In the battle at Tiger Roar Valley, during the final close-quarters combat with the Mountain Lord, he applied all the Luck points gained from slaying ten minor demons to himself.

Intense pain surged through him, making him ferocious!

At the same time, his Qi surged.

Then, he furiously hammered the Mountain Lord to death.

After the great battle, Chen Yuan felt completely invigorated.

This time, he had slain a total of seventeen demons, including the Mountain Lord.

Sixteen were second-realm minor demons.

As for the Mountain Lord, it was at Body Profound Perfection.

And his Danshan Eight Pillars, the tail and chest two pillars were unblocked, and the hand pillar was also over forty percent unblocked.

In total, seventeen of the thirty-six Profound Apertures were lit up.

And he still had a full thirty-four Luck points remaining.

Just slaying the Mountain Lord alone contributed a full twenty points.

These Luck points should allow him to unblock a few more pillars.

Moreover, he still had a full bag of spiritual materials and precious medicines on his back.

Things like thousand-year-old ganoderma and spiritual fish were all gifts from those minor demons to the Mountain Lord, including those from the Mountain Lord's Immortal Cave. He had plundered them all, and they all benefited him.

It was, truly, a great harvest.

Thinking of this, Chen Yuan was eager to return home.

After a while, as dawn was breaking.

Chen Yuan traveled three hundred li and finally returned to Qingshan County!

He arrived at Jiazi Ward.

He reached his small courtyard!

However, he quickly sensed an unusual aura in the small courtyard.

He frowned, and with a creak, pushed open the door.

Upon entering, he saw a burly, bearded Hunter, squatting and teasing the white fox.

And Old Wu was waiting nearby.

Hearing the movement, the bearded Hunter turned his head.

He saw Chen Yuan's fierce appearance.

His pupils slightly constricted!

Such strong Evil Qi!

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