Chapter 257: Chapter 147: Qingyao’s Support

Chen Cheng introduced them.

"Yes, sir," Xi’Er and Dong’Er replied obediently before giving Shen Qingyao a graceful curtsy. "Greetings, Miss Shen."

"Your maids are so charming!"

Shen Qingyao praised, then immediately looked at Chen Cheng and said something rather puzzling. "Young Master Chen, you and Yan Jian both work under Qingshuang, yet you’re completely different.

Yan Jian is always busy currying favor with the Shen Family and managing his family’s business. If nothing had gone wrong, he would have been a great asset to Shen Qingshuang.

But you... you usually keep a low profile. I never thought you’d be so interesting!"

Chen Cheng’s expression was calm as he said, "I’ve always preferred peace and quiet. I don’t have any grand ambitions; I just want to live a quiet life."

This was exactly what Chen Cheng thought. ’If the world were peaceful, I could have Mu Xiaowan by my side in a quiet little courtyard, living a peaceful life, free and unfettered, filled with endless joy.’

"Live a quiet life, you say?" Shen Qingyao murmured, looking thoughtful.

"Miss Qingyao, would you like to go out to the terrace and enjoy the view?" Chen Cheng asked politely.

Shen Qingyao snapped out of her daze. She glanced at the terrace, but her interest suddenly waned. Shaking her head, she said, "Perhaps another day."

"Chen Cheng, sometimes I really envy you. You don’t have to bear so many responsibilities."

After another baffling remark, she turned and headed for the outer courtyard. Halfway there, she suddenly turned back, her stunningly beautiful face now holding a hint of solemnity.

"But if you want to live that quiet life, I’m afraid you’ll have to fight for it yourself!

Let’s go. To the Demon Suppression Department."

The two of them left the courtyard, but there was no carriage in sight.

Without a word, Shen Qingyao unleashed her movement technique and began running down the street at extreme speed, several times faster than a galloping horse.

Chen Cheng just shook his head slightly, then also picked up his pace, following behind her unhurriedly.

Along the way, they naturally drew the attention of many pedestrians.

Before long, they arrived at the South Gate of the Inner City. Shen Qingyao took out a token and flashed it at the guards. She then beckoned for Chen Cheng to enter the Inner City with her, and the guards didn’t dare to stop them.

Once inside the Inner City, Shen Qingyao finally slowed down and walked side-by-side with Chen Cheng.

"Chen Cheng, this is the first rule I’m teaching you. In Linji City, no one is to obstruct an agent of the Demon Suppression Department on official business."

"Understood," Chen Cheng replied with a slight nod.

Chen Cheng was, of course, already aware of this rule. Among the many government offices in Linji City, the Demon Suppression Department was a supreme entity. Even officials from the City Guard Department had to bow their heads before an agent of the Demon Suppression Department.

Agents of the Demon Suppression Department were truly a cut above other officials. At times, they could even command officials from other government offices who were above their pay grade.

Even the lowest-ranking Purple-clothed Guards of the Demon Suppression Department could command a Branch Chief Constable from an Outer City sub-department when on a mission.

That was the meaning of true authority.

Running through the streets of the Inner City, the two maintained a high speed. It wasn’t long before they reached the most central district of the Linji City Inner City.

The streets in this district were wide, and the area it covered was vast—about the size of a ward in the Outer City District. It was filled with tall, magnificent buildings. The City Lord’s Mansion, the Demon Suppression Department, the headquarters of the City Guard Department... almost all the main government offices were concentrated here.

Among these government offices, two buildings to the north were noticeably taller than the others: the City Lord’s Mansion and the Demon Suppression Department.

As the power hub of Linji Prefecture City, a metropolis with a population of over ten million, the Inner City was already heavily guarded. This district, however, was even more fortified than the rest of the Inner City District. Every street was patrolled by soldiers from the Inner City Guard Department.

The weakest of these soldiers was a Small Success in Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist, making them far more elite than the constables of the Outer City District’s City Guard Department. Furthermore, all the soldiers wore armor, and their combat strength surpassed even that of a Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist without armor.

Upon arriving in this district, Shen Qingyao slowed down even more, explaining information about the Demon Suppression Department to Chen Cheng as they walked.

Chen Cheng had already learned most of this information, but Shen Qingyao’s knowledge was more detailed.

At the very founding of the Great Yu Dynasty, the Demon Suppression Department was established. Its members were the most elite Martial Dao experts in Great Yu, responsible for dealing with the chaos caused by Demon Fiends within the dynasty’s borders.

Now, with the Great Yu Court in decline and the Great Dao Sect controlling Su State, the Demon Suppression Department remains the most central government office. Its authority surpasses all other offices, including the City Lord’s Mansion.

In Linji Prefecture, the Director of the Demon Suppression Department is appointed directly by the Great Dao Sect and is not a member of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City. He answers only to the Great Dao Sect. Even the City Lord, Jiang Botao, cannot command the Director of the Demon Suppression Department.

On the contrary, the Director of the Demon Suppression Department has the right to oversee the City Lord’s Mansion. For instance, the Director has the authority to inquire about the taxes and various resources that Linji City submits to the Great Dao Sect.

Of course, the Demon Suppression Department does not participate in the daily administration of Linji Prefecture. Instead, it specializes in handling troubles caused by the Demon Sect or Demon Beasts in Linji City and its eight subordinate counties.

When the Great Yu Court was powerful, the Demon Suppression Department was the easiest path for a Martial Artist to advance. By joining, one could participate in various demon-slaying missions to earn Merit, which could then be exchanged for all sorts of Martial Arts Resources.

The Great Dao Sect now follows these same rules. However, in Linji City, most Martial Artists are connected to the Four Great Clans of the Inner City. To enter the Demon Suppression Department, one generally needs a recommendation from one of these clans.

Aside from the Director, most of the personnel underneath him come from the Four Great Clans of the Inner City.

Below the Director are three Vice Directors and ten Chiefs. Below the Chiefs are the Golden Pattern Purple-clothed Guards and, at the lowest rank, the Purple-clothed Guards.

When joining the Demon Suppression Department, one must start as a Purple-clothed Guard. Martial Artists at Small Success in Muscle Strengthening Realm or above can become a Purple-clothed Guard after passing an assessment.

Meanwhile, Martial Artists at Small Success in Bone Forging Realm or above can become a Golden Pattern Purple-clothed Guard directly after passing their assessment.

As for Chiefs and Vice Directors, those positions can only be attained by completing missions for the Demon Suppression Department and accumulating enough Merit to be promoted.

Merit from the Demon Suppression Department can be directly exchanged for various Martial Arts Resources, such as Muscle Strengthening Pills, Bone Tempering Pills, all kinds of Martial Arts Cultivation Technique Manuals, weapons, and even a wide array of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Although there is a hierarchy in the Demon Suppression Department, there are no subordinate relationships. Merit is the only thing that matters. Any Purple-clothed Guard can individually accept a mission from the Government Office that issues them and complete it independently.

There’s no need to check in for duty at the Demon Suppression Department, either. As long as you earn a certain amount of Merit each year, you can keep your position.

Only during specific times, like when the Black Lotus Sect brigands were causing chaos in the Outer City District of Linji City, will the Demon Suppression Department assign missions. Of course, they prioritize volunteers, and only assign missions when no one accepts them.

Merit from the Demon Suppression Department is extremely scarce, so it’s rare for a mission to go unclaimed. More often, many people will accept the same mission simultaneously and compete to complete it.

Shen Qingyao had her own reasons for bringing Chen Cheng to report to the Demon Suppression Department. She wanted to look after him. After all, in her eyes, Chen Cheng was merely a Small Success in Muscle Strengthening Realm Martial Artist; it would be impossible for him to complete the department’s missions on his own.

Coincidentally, she had also just joined the Demon Suppression Department and needed a partner—or rather, an errand boy. Since she found Chen Cheng agreeable, she reluctantly decided to give him a leg up.

In truth, the Shen Family had originally wanted Shen Qingxuan to guide Chen Cheng. But after he repeatedly rejected her invitations, Shen Qingxuan had furiously declared that she wanted nothing more to do with him.

"Young Master Chen... oh, no, wait. From now on, we’ll be colleagues. And since I’m a Golden Pattern Purple-clothed Guard, one rank higher than an Ordinary Purple-clothed Guard like you, I won’t be so formal. I’ll just call you by your name, Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng, you may be Shen Qingshuang’s subordinate in the City Guard Department, but from now on, in the Demon Suppression Department, you’re my subordinate—Shen Qingyao’s. You’d better be clear about who you’re closer to and who you should listen to."

Arriving at the main gate of the Demon Suppression Department, Shen Qingyao clapped Chen Cheng on the shoulder with a smile and said in a mock-serious tone.

Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to argue with her about it. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Miss Qingyao."

"Hmph. You’re quite obedient and sensible. I like that," Shen Qingyao said gleefully. Then she frowned in thought and added, "You call Shen Qingshuang ’Senior Sister,’ but you call me ’Miss Qingyao.’ It makes it sound like I’m younger than her.

How about this? From now on, call me Sister Qingyao... Ugh, that doesn’t sound right either. It makes me sound old. You should call me Senior Sister, too.

Xiaowan calls me Senior Sister, so you should follow her lead. It’s like they say... the wife sings and the husband follows."

Shen Qingyao’s chatter was relentless, one thought after another, giving Chen Cheng a bit of a headache. He could only go along with her wishes.

"Yes, Senior Sister Qingyao."

"Good, Junior Brother Chen." Shen Qingyao’s eyes sparkled, clearly pleased. The more she looked at Chen Cheng, the more she liked him. She patted her chest and declared, "I won’t let you call me ’Senior Sister’ for nothing. From now on, you’ll follow me to slay demons and fiends, and I’ll make sure you don’t die."

"Alright." Chen Cheng nodded slightly, but inwardly he was wondering who had the greater combat strength between him and Shen Qingyao.

"And you don’t need to worry about that girl Shen Qingxuan. It’s her loss that she looks down on you. Now that you’re with me, you don’t have to bother with her anymore," Shen Qingyao added, assuming Chen Cheng was worried about Shen Qingxuan.