Chapter Seventy: Advising You to Know Your Place

“Boss Zhang, you’ve raised a fine son—he actually knows a Demon Suppressor from the Demon Suppression Bureau.” Lu Jingxian slapped the patriarch of the Zhang family on the shoulder. “Master Baili Feihong made quite a stir for your family, causing trouble at the Constabulary and pressuring the Prefect’s office. When you leave, be sure to properly thank your son’s fellow disciple.”

“Yes, yes.” The patriarch of the Zhang family spoke with trembling excitement. His least accomplished son had, unexpectedly, saved their entire clan.

“The Zhang family’s restaurant will be returned. As for the money, some of it has already been surrendered, and it will take a little time to have it all sent back. Clan Master Zhang, if some courtesies are lacking, I hope you’ll be forgiving.”

Lu Jingxian whispered to Zhang Boxian’s ear.

“Thank you, Master Lu. Our Zhang family wouldn’t dare…”

“No, you must accept it.” Lu Jingxian shook his head. His own benefactor had already pledged himself to Master Baili Feihong, who counted Zhang Qianshan, his sixth senior brother, as his closest confidant.

The Constabulary’s investigation had established that Zhang Qianshan had recruited students on behalf of his master, guiding Baili Feihong onto the path of martial arts. With his extraordinary talent, Baili Feihong soared after joining the Demon Suppression Bureau, solving numerous cases and earning great merit.

No wonder the Guardian valued him so highly.

After all, Master Baili Feihong was personally discovered and nurtured by Master Gongyang Yan.

Compared to this, Master Zheng Yishan was a local. He’d once been on the list for purging.

How could he compare to Baili Feihong?

Zhang Boxian sighed. Only when disaster struck did he realize that the business he’d built over half a lifetime was worth less than another’s casual word.

After this ordeal, the greatest gain was being branded with the Demon Suppression Bureau’s Demon Suppressor label.

From now on, whoever wished to harm him would have to think twice.

“Once we’re home, I must have Shan’er properly thank him.” Zhang Boxian vowed in his heart.

The Zhang family wept with joy. They had finally escaped their torment. A few more days, and heads might have rolled.

“Useless fools!” Zheng Yishan thundered in rage.

He was the first to hear the news of the Zhang family’s release. Stroking his severed right arm, hatred burned in his eyes.

Had Baili Feihong not given the roster to the Guardian, he wouldn’t have been assigned this mission, nor lost his right arm to Yang Shichen.

“Zhang Jingzhong—is that wretch courting death?” Zheng Yishan’s gaze turned icy.

“He’s not courting death. He’s simply wise enough to read the tides.” In the rear courtyard of the Zheng residence, a youth clad in dark robes with a python motif stood among the flowers.

“Baili Feihong—it’s you!” Zheng Yishan forcibly quelled his resentment, staring coldly at the young man before him.

“Do you truly believe you can protect Zhang Jingzhong?”

“No, not believe—know.” Baili Feihong replied with certainty.

“A mere rank-D Demon Suppressor dares to upend the world? Hmph, you overestimate yourself. If I were to kill you now, claim you attacked a superior, or even frame you for colluding with demons, do you think the Bureau would stand up for you?”

As Zheng Yishan finished, icy energy wrapped around him.

Frostfinger—his signature martial art. With this skill, he ranked among the finest Demon Suppressors in the Bureau.

Baili Feihong plucked a petal, flicking it toward Zheng Yishan with the Flower-Flicker technique.

Swish!

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Zheng Yishan’s brow. His scalp felt suddenly bare; a sliver of skin had been sliced away, hair included.

Such terror!

He hadn’t even been able to react to the move. Had the attack been aimed elsewhere, and with lethal intent, he would already be dead.

“I’ve always believed you to be a wise man, Master Zheng—one who knows when to advance and retreat. Consider your earlier words unheard. But in future, refrain from such talk; my ears dislike it. Next time my hand slips, it won’t just be a lock of hair.”

Baili Feihong smiled brightly.

Zheng Yishan’s lips trembled; his whole body felt as if plunged into an icy abyss.

This youth before him truly would kill him—silently, without leaving a trace.

As a Demon Suppressor, he understood well the nature of this world: Might makes right, and the strongest rule.

“This courtyard is elegant, a hidden haven for beauties—a dream for many young men. Master Zheng, you’ve worked hard for this family for so long. If it were me, I wouldn’t act foolishly again. After all, if you die, the house becomes another’s, your daughter another’s child, your wife another’s woman—even your amassed wealth belongs to someone else.”

“To labor so, only for others to enjoy it—how infuriating.”

“So, Master Zheng, please, don’t die.”

With a step, Baili Feihong rose into the air, soaring off with the wind and moon, not sparing Zheng Yishan another glance.

To kill Zheng Yishan would be easy, but it would ruin his prospects in the Bureau.

After all, Zheng Yishan was a colleague.

Slaying a fellow Demon Suppressor was a grave taboo—no one would approve.

Baili Feihong still wished to rely on the Bureau to ascend to greater heights in martial arts.

The Bureau’s role was more than that; it was backed by the imperial court, still one of the most powerful forces in the realm.

Within the Bureau, he held the badge of authority.

“Ah…” Zheng Yishan sighed deeply.

“Am I truly getting old?”

He also felt terror at Baili Feihong’s formidable strength.

How could one grow so powerful in such a short time?

Among sects, noble families, or imperial martial prodigies, he would stand out as much as any.

It was easy to foresee that, in three years—or perhaps just one—he might succeed Gongyang Yan as Guardian.

Zheng Yishan understood well: for someone like Gongyang Yan, scion of a great family, the post of East Bin City Guardian was merely a stepping stone.

She would surely become one of the empire’s pillars.

When she left, who would take her place?

The answer was clear: Baili Feihong.

To be Guardian, one must have at least Divine Refinement in martial arts—a powerful Divine Refinement, at that.

Zheng Yishan had been stuck at Divine Refinement for years, unable to grasp martial insight, and could only rely on luck to break through.

If fortune smiled, perhaps he would advance overnight. If not, he might linger at the Aperture Refinement stage for ten or twenty years.

Dragging his desolate body back to his study, he realized Baili Feihong’s meaning: if he continued to oppose him, only death awaited.

He’d spent decades amassing wealth, had children, wives, and concubines, yet had not enjoyed enough of his prosperity.

He was unwilling to die.

Baili Feihong was right—he must adapt and know when to retreat.

The Demon Suppression Bureau of East Bin City was no longer what it once was.

His status as a rank-A Demon Suppressor was diminishing.

But that mattered little.

Now, with a severed arm, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Dangerous missions would no longer be assigned to him; he now had an excuse to refuse them.