Chapter 103: The Massacre

Governor Yan Fei’s face was dark and brooding.

He could already foresee the formidable strength of the Demon Suppression Division on Feiyuan Island.

Demon Suppression Seeds.

The Demon Suppression Division had secretly cultivated these Demon Suppression Seeds and deployed them to Feiyuan Island.

At this moment, Governor Yan Fei’s concern was not the rapid rise of the Demon Suppression Division.

What weighed on his mind was the court’s attitude toward the Southern Naval Command.

“What must come will inevitably come.”

The defeat of the Southern Naval Command was a glaring weakness.

The strategic supplies sent by the Eastern Coastal Fleet could be considered to launch another campaign.

If defeated at sea, then rise again at sea.

If the Devil’s Strait could be seized, and the Southern Naval Command’s strategic layout relocated, even if the Demon Suppression Division interfered with Feiyuan Island, it would have no impact on him.

Seizing the Devil’s Strait would earn imperial rewards, and the family’s reward would be enough to elevate him to a Divine Warrior.

A mere minor commander could not affect him at all.

Now, to break this deadlock, even if Baili Feihong were killed, the Demon Suppression Division could still dispatch an even stronger commander to Feiyuan Island.

And he himself would be left with endless troubles.

Therefore, this game must not be confined to individual soldiers or cities.

Only by stepping out of the board can one leap through the Dragon Gate.

“Generals, seeing your low spirits, why worry about the arrival of a minor commander?”

Governor Yan raised his cup: “Come, drink this cup of wine, start anew with one breath, and seize the Devil’s Strait.”

Staff Officer Lu Zhiwei’s eyes flickered slightly. He had remained silent until now, but this was the moment he needed to speak.

The governor had yet to see through the game.

The predicament of Zhen Qin Tiesheng was not caused by the Demon Suppression Division.

No matter how weak the minor commander was, he dared to interfere in naval affairs.

What truly troubled Zhen Qin Tiesheng was his defeat.

He feared the court would use this as an excuse to target Zhen Qin Tiesheng.

No army can win every battle.

Having suffered defeat, it was time to reclaim the honor that belonged to Zhen Yue Jiao Xi from the Fala Empire.

The generals raised their cups.

Only Zhang Baihai stood awkwardly in place.

“Someone, replace General Zhang’s wine,” Feihong ordered with a glance.

As for who had poisoned Baili Yan Fei’s wine, I had some guesses but chose not to investigate.

Why bother?

Baili Yan Fei strode over the waves, taking the water route back to the Demon Suppression Pavilion.

The acupoints beneath him opened, drawing the water energy beneath the sea surface like a torn scroll, absorbing it into his body and transforming it into blood energy to replenish his consumption.

At the same time, he stored energy within his acupoints.

My speed of inhaling the natural energy of heaven and earth was slow.

A minute’s worth was just enough to cover my bodily consumption.

The Guiyuan Cauldron in my dantian absorbed the heavenly energy of the land to nurture myself.

“Governor Yan…” Baili Yue Jiao shook his head.

I was no longer his opponent.

If it came to a life-or-death battle, Baili Yan Fei might not necessarily win.

But Feihong might not fare any better.

Both could be mutually destructive or perish together.

Yet Baili Yan Fei was no reckless fool—what was there to fear?

I, Yue Jiao Xi, had many wives and concubines, with grandchildren.

Born into a noble family of the Lesser Yuan Empire, holding military power and guarding a region, my life was precious.

I was willing to risk it all against myself.

That was enough.

With a stride spanning a hundred feet, I crossed the coastline.

Soon, the outline of the Demon Suppression Pavilion came into view.

The tranquil sound of gunfire accompanied by cannon blasts painted a scene of calm normality.

“Brothers, storm the Demon Suppression Division! Seven million gold coins lie within!”

Beneath the ironclad giant wheel, a burly man wielding a massive blade called out.

Retreat.

Those attacking the Demon Suppression Division were only a faction of ours.

The cliffs were steep, densely packed with figures masked or with faces covered by white cloths, agile as monkeys.

They climbed down the cliff and entered the backyard gardens of the Demon Suppression Pavilion, moving stealthily to avoid the patrol division’s assault.

Shells fell in parabolic arcs, aimed carefully—not at the patrol division’s forces.

The Southern Naval Command’s faces grew grim.

The bandits’ numbers dwindled, their assaults weakened, and the patrol division had yet to suffer casualties.

More frighteningly, their numbers continued to shrink.

The bandits who had heard the news and attempted to seize the Demon Suppression Division were now outnumbered eight to one by our patrol division reinforcements.

“Send orders to prepare for the advance,” the Southern Naval Command leader shouted to the nearby patrol officers.

Hold firm, then advance.

Our patrol division’s elite forces would be committed out there.

Hu Zuowei’s expression was relaxed.

Another young master was already excited, holding a small knife, waiting for the bandits to break through to stretch their muscles and joints.

“Heh heh, I knew it. That minor commander hasn’t come into conflict with Governor Yan, has he?” Inspector Yang had just removed his prosthetic leg.

His expression was unusually eager.

Dongfang Yao grinned: “As long as the minor commander withstands Feihong’s pressure, Zhen Qin Tiesheng wouldn’t dare do anything to him.”

“The two of them don’t have time to worry about the minor commander. Look at those big brutes in the patrol division; they’re ready to advance,” Chen Shanling shouted.

“A bunch of bandits—kill as many as come. Your little knife should be thirsty by now. Now it’s slashing demons, soon it’ll be cutting down a few stupid thieves,” Inspector Yang wiped his blade, its edge icy cold.

“Enough. Let him guard that little gate,” Chen Shuling said, raising his knife as he entered.

I ranked eighth in age within the Demon Suppression Division and was one of the few commanders without lost limbs, maintaining combat strength.

“Shuling, the small gate of the Demon Suppression Division is yours to defend,” Yue Jiao Xi ordered.

Blood energy surged beneath my feet.

At forty years old, I had no desires or concerns.

I had been suppressed by Zhen Qin Tiesheng for too long.

The energy burning within me had always been there.

Today…

A surge of intense blood energy enveloped the entire Demon Suppression Division.

It blazed like the fierce midday sun.

At this moment, fewer and fewer ships sailed that way.

Baili Yan Fei smiled.

"Demon Suppression Seven Strike."

Using the “All Things Return” cauldron technique, his acupoints opened like white holes tearing the void, drawing the natural energy of heaven and earth into his body.

“Flaming Palm!”

Thousands of fiery palms burst forth from Baili Yan Fei’s hands.

I cared not whether the ships were bandits, pirates, or fishermen.

Any ship entering that sea region was my target.

Flames burned the sky.

The torrential rain turned to mist in an instant, consumed by the flames.

One fiery palm after another was unleashed.

Boom—

Like a thousand cannons firing simultaneously.

The entire sea area was shrouded in fire.

These were flames of elemental energy; ordinary water could not extinguish them.

Bandits jumping into the sea could not escape the fiery palms’ incineration.

The flames consumed the sea’s surface.

Hidden behind a cliff, those below the Demon Suppression Division couldn’t see clearly.

The mist glowed red, painting half the sky with fiery hues, a scene both magnificent and surreal.

The towering blood energy smoke and the resonating natural energy permeated all of Feiyuan Island.

Instantly, it drew the gaze of low-ranking officials within the city.

“Your assumption was wrong. Baili Yue Jiao has concealed his true power.”

The subtle fluctuations forced the governor’s mansion’s banquet to pause.

Standing beneath Dulong Mountain, gazing distantly toward the Demon Suppression Pavilion, the terrifying blood energy spread far and wide, instilling fear in all.

“Such blood energy… to what degree has Baili Yue Jiao refined it?”

No one could answer.

Governor Yan’s face was grave.

In his heart, he assessed Baili Yan Fei’s strength.

According to martial limits, the body refinement stage could withstand blood tempering seven times.

The embryonic stage could not endure ten rounds of blood tempering.

Could it be that Baili Yan Fei had achieved ten rounds of blood refining?

Governor Yan was startled by his own thought.

During the tenth blood tempering, the blood would burn the person to death.

How terrifying was the energy contained in each drop of blood?

The renowned Demon Suppression Blood General had only reached fourteen rounds.

That general’s true power had not yet reached the Dharma Phase, just a step away from Martial Saint.

“Minor official, that direction is the Demon Suppression Division. It should be the Feiyuan Merchant Guild transporting gold compensation to the Demon Suppression Division. Island forces learned of this and took advantage of the minor commander’s meeting with you to launch a surprise attack,” Zhong Ziling said gravely.

“Feiyuan Island is too small. The area you developed accounts for only one-eighth of the island. The remaining seven-eighths harbor countless beasts and demons, along with various evil practitioners, pirates, and fugitives who have retreated there,” Governor Yan sighed faintly, “The arrival of the minor commander is good; it will clear out those forces at once, sparing Zhen Qin Tiesheng much trouble. After all, few of those people are enemy spies.”

“Just afraid that minor commander will stir up a hornet’s nest,” Zhong Ziling snorted.

Feiyuan Island’s eight developed cities were connected, occupying the island’s southeastern and eastern sides.

Guarding those eight cities was already Zhen Qin Tiesheng’s limit.

There was no time to attend to the northwestern islands.

Zhen Yue Jiao leased the land of the islands within the eight cities to a few local powers to develop agriculture and animal husbandry.

Feiyuan Island lay in the deep sea’s center.

Its cities were sparsely populated.

Food, vegetables, and meat demand were low, and importing from the Lesser Yuan Empire or other countries by sea was cost-effective.

Building the island required minimal manpower and resources.

Living standards were low; people barely had enough to eat, let alone develop Feiyuan Island.

The small amount of undeveloped land was one of the key resources attracting wealthy merchants to invest.

Previously, the island’s demon-slaying missions were indeed Zhen Qin Tiesheng’s responsibility.

Through killing beasts and fighting, soldiers’ will and skills were tempered, which helped improve combat effectiveness.

Moreover, after processing, the beast’s flesh consumed by soldiers did not weaken their physique or blood energy.

However, the side effects caused behavioral quirks: psychological extremism and a penchant for slaughter.

Zhen Qin Tiesheng’s army most despised cowardly soldiers and bloodthirsty ones.

Those were no better than beasts.

As for control?

Death was the best outcome.

The more bloodthirsty the soldier, the lower the mortality rate.

That was one of Zhen Qin Tiesheng’s secret methods to suppress the Southern Coastal Region.

“Feiyuan Island has some taboos. If the Demon Suppression Division screws up, this governor can only submit a memorial to the court to report the Demon Suppression Division’s faults.”

Governor Yan smiled.

No one knew Feiyuan Island better than me.

The small weapons under Zhen Qin Tiesheng sometimes threatened those taboo presences, who dared not move recklessly.

All along, the eight cities were peaceful.

Not because Zhen Qin Tiesheng had a tacit understanding with those taboos.

But the Demon Suppression Division was different.

Their goal was not just demon-slaying.

It was to suppress all evil spirits.

Their identity determined that those taboos could forge tacit understandings with the Demon Suppression Division.

Not a life-or-death struggle.

“Have the Suzaku, Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, and White Tiger fleets prepare to depart immediately, using the commotion caused by Baili Yan Fei to attract the whole island’s attention.”

“Disguise the ships of the seven fleets; substitute fleets shall conduct exercises near the coast.”

Governor Yan’s face grew serious.

“Yes, minor official. Everything is ready.”

Lu Zhiwei said respectfully.

I was the deputy chief of staff.

The true chief of staff and the seven junior officers under Zhen Qin Tiesheng had not appeared, seemingly always prepared.

Baili Yan Fei, treading flames, stood beneath the cliff.

Gunfire had not yet ceased.

The bandits, pirates, and other forces charging at the Demon Suppression Division halted.

Turning pale, drenched in sweat, they looked behind at the figure in white robes and a python-patterned gown.

“The Demon Suppression Division’s reputation on Feiyuan Island has been shattered.”

“A bunch of rabble dared to weakly attack the Demon Suppression Division and seize its gold.”

“If word spreads, the skin of the division’s deputy commander will be peeled off.”

The voice echoed through every corner of the thousand-acre garden.

The garden, property exclusive to the Demon Suppression Division, was lush with green grass, scattered with late autumn yellow leaves, elegant in scenery.

Yet the pervasive killing intent chilled everyone who entered, leaving no mood to appreciate the view.

“Give them a chance. Let them surrender and have the patrol division escort them away,” Baili Yue Jiao suddenly said.

No one responded.

Those attacking the Demon Suppression Division faced severe punishment and would be imprisoned in the northern island prison.

No one sent to the northern prison ever emerged alive.

It was said the northern prison had become a ghostly den.

“Looks like they intend to resist to the end.”

The demon-slaying blade was drawn.

Its dark red edge bore mysterious patterns traced with golden runes.

A killing intent spread throughout the Demon Suppression Garden.

This blade was a gift from Gongyang Yan.

The blade you wield belonged to a family-forged masterpiece.

Paired with the Gongyang family’s swordsmanship, its power was immense.

When you took command, the Demon Suppression Division’s gifted sword lay idle in the Demon Suppression Pavilion in Dongbin City.

Baili Yan Fei took up the demon-slaying blade of a Demon Suppression officer, which was no famous blade.

It only dealt minor damage to spiritual ghosts.

Yet this blade was unique, heavy with killing intent, and had existed for some years.

It was one of the deadly weapons passed down through generations in the Demon Suppression Division.

I could feel the blade slumbering.

But the blade itself was a divine weapon.

Name: Greedy Wolf!

A blade wildly obsessed with blood, ravenous for it.

“You’re few in number. I’m alone. Kill me, and fame will spread across the heavens. The Demon Suppression Division will pose no threat.”

A one-eyed bandit shouted.

“Whoever kills the minor commander takes seventy percent of the gold,” another notorious pirate yelled.

“Only by joining forces can we feast. Kill the minor commander and eat the meat, ha ha ha.”

Baili Yan Fei shook his head: “Fools.”

One step forward, illusions multiplied a hundredfold.

He weaved through the forest.

Gradually, Baili Yan Fei’s figure spread across the thousand-acre garden.

“Die!!”

The one-eyed bandit’s blade burned with fiery force, slashing toward the minor commander behind.

The blade cut through empty air.

A gust of wind brushed past.

A slight neck ache, a flash of white behind the eye—his memory forever frozen at that moment.

The illusions dispersed.

A hundred shadows merged into one.

The Greedy Wolf blade slid back into its sheath.

The bandits’ heads rolled from their necks, blood ceased spraying, and their bodies collapsed.

The perfect fusion of the Carefree Wanderer art and the Eight Absolute Ways’ ultimate technique, the Wind Shadow Walk.

The torrential rain paused.

Its gentle contrast to the fiery blaze on the sea was stark.

Raindrops fell, washing away all traces.

But the blood seeped into the soil, nourishing the garden’s plants and trees.

Walking through the rain, Baili Yan Fei emerged from the forest’s depths.

Passing through the sea of corpses and blood, step by step, he reached Yue Jiao Xi’s side.

I had yet to recover from my shock.

“Yue Jiao Xi, I need you to help tidy up the corpses in the garden. The Demon Suppression Division’s crematorium has long been unused. Let the patrol division’s brothers help burn these bodies,” Baili Yan Fei’s voice pulled the Southern Naval Command from their daze.

At this moment, I dared not utter a single complaint.

“Wait, the Demon Suppression Division will provide the patrol division’s fallen brothers with compensation. Those who helped later cannot claim ten gold coins from the patrol division; injured brothers will receive eight times that amount.”

Baili Yan Fei stepped past the Southern Naval Command.

“Many thanks, minor commander.”

Yue Jiao Xi hurriedly bowed.

The rest of the patrol division looked excited.

Ten gold coins was a significant sum.

Hu Zuowei held an umbrella, braving the rain to shield Baili Yan Fei.

“As a gesture of generosity, your Demon Suppression Division will register the fallen patrol brothers and send two hundred gold coins to each family,” Hu Zuowei said, narrowing his eyes.

“Minor official, is that not too little?”

“It is sufficient.”

“The Demon Suppression officers will also receive a sum, making up for years of unpaid salaries, and each will get one hundred gold as compensation.”

“Many thanks, minor official.”

Hu Zuowei was moved to tears.

Finally, a breakthrough.

Another elder also looked excited.

Having been poor for so long, suddenly receiving a large sum was naturally thrilling.

“Be careful, if any of them go gallivanting, remember to invite me,” Baili Yue Jiao suddenly joked.

“Of course, of course,” Hu Zuowei smiled sheepishly.

Joking aside, at our age, gallivanting was hardly appropriate.

Inspector Yang, however, was enthusiastic: “Minor official, I’m familiar with that work. Leave it to me,” he patted his chest confidently.

Baili Yan Fei paused, inwardly laughing and crying.

I was not joking.

Inspector Yang was already over forty.

He had a notorious reputation. Even washing away the sea’s waters wouldn’t cleanse it.

But then I thought of the mysterious organizations on Feiyuan Island.

The madam of the Yihong House brothel was one of them.

One must enter the tiger’s den to catch tiger cubs.

You could say he was working for the job.

“Let’s settle it…”

Baili Yan Fei stopped.

“You have overestimated Governor Feihong,” I thought.

The wind carried a message—the ships moved.

“Tonight it shall be. They’ve invited us; you invite as well. Let this be the Demon Suppression Division’s celebration feast for reestablishing itself on Feiyuan Island. Oh, and inform Yihong House—I’ve booked the place for tonight.”

Baili Yue Jiao’s mouth curved upward.

Though Governor Yan and I opposed each other, from the Lesser Yuan Empire’s perspective, our stance on declaring war was consistent.

Though I had no deep feelings for the Lesser Yuan Empire, reason was clear.

Nation is nation; without a nation, there is no home.

Yihong House was the best place to contact mysterious organizations.

The Yunlai Restaurant would also probe for news.