73: This chaotic world has lasted long enough.

The soldiers on the city wall had no intention of verifying anything.

No one would dare to forge a Demon Suppression Envoy's token.

Who would dare to engage in a business that leads to beheading?

Even if someone were audacious enough, they wouldn't go to the trouble of forging a token just to get in early when the city gates were closed, would they?

“Click, click, click—”

The city gate opened.

The soldier who had Jiang Lan’s token on the city wall also ran down, his face full of flattery, and handed the token to Jiang Lan, saying eagerly:

“Sir, your token.”

Jiang Lan took it casually, glanced at him, “Do you need to follow me back to the Division for confirmation?”

“No, no, no…” The soldier waved his hands repeatedly, “Sir, you may enter the city!”

While standing on the city wall just now, he still harbored a tiny bit of suspicion towards Jiang Lan.

But once he stood before Jiang Lan, the last shred of suspicion in his heart completely vanished.

At this moment, Jiang Lan’s tied-up long hair was still damp, his black robe was draped loosely over him, a winding, dark scar was visible on his chest, a long saber was strapped to his waist, and he carried a white cloth bundle stained with blood.

He looked, by all accounts, like someone who had just returned from slaying a demon.

Most importantly, as soon as he approached, he was almost suffocated by the Aura that Jiang Lan inadvertently exuded.

He was, for better or worse, a knowledgeable person; if he wasn't a martial artist of extreme strength, where would such a powerful Aura come from?

Moreover, this Sir was clearly not in a good mood, and he didn't want to court disaster.

“Then I’m leaving.”

As he spoke, Jiang Lan strode off towards the capital city.

Two quarters of an hour later.

Arriving at the entrance of the Demon Suppression Division, before he even entered the main gate, Jiang Lan saw Bai Yu walking towards him from the other end of the street.

He stopped, and when Bai Yu saw him, he quickened his pace a little, and soon walked up to Jiang Lan.

Seeing Jiang Lan in this state, Bai Yu was first stunned, then he was about to open his mouth to ask a question.

Before he could speak, Jiang Lan spoke first:

“Come in with me.”

“What happened? How is Zifeng doing?”

Jiang Lan did not answer, instead walking ahead on his own.

Arriving at the entrance of Lin Hong Hall, he pushed open the door, turned around, and said to Bai Yu behind him:

“Come in and talk.”

The two entered the hall together, Jiang Lan sat in the Grand Tutor’s chair, Bai Yu’s expression grew increasingly solemn as he stood before Jiang Lan.

“What exactly happened?”

Jiang Lan casually tossed the blood-stained cloth bundle onto the table in front of him; the tied-up bundle came undone, revealing the scales and two half-sections of Jiao Dragon tendons inside.

“I encountered a Jiao Demon.”

Bai Yu looked down at the bundle and roughly understood what had happened.

“You killed that Jiao Demon?”

“Yes, many people died in Qinglin County.”

“Many people died?” Bai Yu’s mind raced, and he guessed what had happened, “Zifeng said earlier that there was trouble in Qinglin County, was it this Jiao Demon?”

Jiang Lan nodded.

Bai Yu quickly said, “How is it? How many people died?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yes, I don’t know.” Jiang Lan’s voice was calm, “Too many to count.”

Bai Yu was stunned.

Too many to count.

His expression changed several times, and he no longer stood, but sat on a nearby chair, reaching out to rub his cheeks.

“Alas… this chaotic world.”

“I don’t think the world is chaotic.” Jiang Lan’s voice was still calm, “I just find it a bit absurd.”

“Absurd?”

“Yes, absurd. Isn’t it absurd that a Spirit Gathering Realm demon can slaughter an entire county? Isn’t it absurd that a flick of its tail can crush a perfectly good family? Isn’t it absurd that a mere worm can turn a perfectly good county into a living hell?”

“Alas…” Bai Yu gave a bitter smile, “Now that you put it that way, it is indeed absurd, and I also find it absurd, but what can be done? Blame it on them for being born in this chaotic era.”

“This chaotic era has been chaotic for long enough.”

“Everyone wants to live in peace, but demons are as numerous as carp crossing a river; to end this chaotic era…” Bai Yu shook his head.

“Then let’s break the river.”

Bai Yu was stunned by these words for a long time.

Shaking his head, he said:

“It’s easy for you to say. If that river were so easy to break, someone would have broken it long ago.”

Jiang Lan did not retort, but instead said, “Are there any other matters in the Division today?”

“Nothing, why do you suddenly ask?”

Jiang Lan stood up.

“I have something else to do, so I won’t be in the Division today.”

“You are already a Demon Suppression Envoy, you don’t have to report to work every day; just come and check in every few days.”

Bai Yu continued, “Don’t dwell on the matter of Qinglin County. You’ll get used to it over time. Natural disasters and man-made calamities are all the same, and the calamity of demons is no different; it’s unavoidable.”

“Hm.”

Jiang Lan did not agree with Bai Yu’s words in his heart, but he did not refute him either, and walked directly outside.

Walking out of the Demon Suppression Division, Jiang Lan stood on the street.

He didn’t know where he wanted to go, he just felt like he should go for a walk.

He walked along the street for a while; it was now the middle of the Yin hour, which is around four in the morning, and the shops on both sides of the street hadn’t opened yet, with only a few scattered vendors selling breakfast by the roadside.

He stopped again when he reached a familiar spot.

He looked up; the second-floor pavilion was empty.

However, the main door on the first floor was open.

Above the main door hung a plaque with the three large characters “Chun Quan Courtyard” inscribed on it.

This was the first time he had noticed the name of this Brothel.

It was quite elegantly named.

Without much thought, he stepped through the main door of the Chun Quan Courtyard.

The madam at the door was slightly stunned when she saw the newcomer.

Opening the door was one thing, but opening it was only for the overnight guests to leave.

The madam had seen many patrons, but she had never seen one arrive so early.

However, she was only stunned for a moment before she greeted Jiang Lan with a beaming smile.

“Oh my, Sir, you’ve arrived quite early. The girls are all still resting.”

“No need for girls, do you have wine?”

Wine?

The madam was stunned again.

To come to a Brothel for a drink so early in the morning?

She carefully sized up Jiang Lan, and her expression changed slightly.

To be a madam, if nothing else, her eyesight was absolutely top-notch.

She hadn’t noticed it before, but now that she looked closely, wasn’t this a Sir from the Demon Suppression Division?

But why was the Sir out drinking in disheveled clothes?

His sash wasn’t tied, and he was just wearing his robe.

Her mind was racing, but it didn’t stop her from speaking.

The madam’s face was full of fawning smiles.

“Yes, of course, what kind of wine would the Sir like to drink?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lan entered the room, found a table, and sat down.

The first floor of this place wasn’t much different from a restaurant; both had complete sets of tables and chairs. The only difference was that in the center of the hall, there was a rather large stage where girls would sing when the time came.

Patrons are also people, they have to eat, right?

After sitting down, Jiang Lan glanced at the madam.

“Anything, something strong.”

The madam scurried off, and a moment later, she returned carrying a wine jar, which she placed in front of Jiang Lan.

“Sir, our nü er hong (daughter's red - a type of chinese rice wine) here is famous throughout the entire capital city!”

Jiang Lan ignored the madam, broke open the mud seal, and tilted his head back, a stream of wine flowing down his throat.

He slammed the wine jar onto the table.

“Bring another jar.”