Chapter Seventy-Eight: Visiting the Local Tyrant

A Journey of a Hundred Miles.

Baili Feihong finally arrived at Nanshan County.

Beyond the high walls, the remnants of war still lingered, the air thick with its aftermath.

The soil beneath had congealed into blackened clumps, reeking with the stench of blood.

Grasslands, shrubs, and the official road bore the scars of battle—trampled, scorched, slashed—each mark a testament to the fighting that had taken place.

Heaps of ash remained, residue from the burning of corpses.

“The fog of malevolent energy—has Nanshan County truly fallen to such a state?”

Ordinary people could not perceive the presence of such evil. They only felt a heaviness, a chill, an oppressive gloom, mistaking it for common fog.

But within Baili Feihong’s spiritual perception, the entire city of Nanshan County was shrouded in a field of negative energy.

Here, the malice gathered thickly, a magnet for the formation of demons and ghosts.

The city gates were tightly sealed.

Soldiers stood guard atop the walls.

“Who goes there?”

A line of archers drew their bows, cold arrowheads aimed straight at Baili Feihong.

He gave a cold snort. “Demon Suppression Bureau—are you all blind?”

The sergeant atop the wall hesitated visibly.

Baili Feihong produced his token and tossed it up to the wall.

“So it’s the Demon Suppression Envoy from the prefecture. Forgive my lack of discernment, honored sir.”

The sergeant hurriedly cupped his hands in salute.

“Open the gate. Send someone to escort me to the local Demon Suppression Branch.”

The sergeant guarding the city gates immediately ordered them opened and dispatched two soldiers on horseback to lead Baili Feihong to the branch.

Nanshan County was one of the stronger counties under Dongbin City’s domain, and likewise lay by the sea.

It was situated on the southern flank of the Hengduan Mountains, thus named for its position by the southern mountains.

“You came alone to reinforce us?”

The Guardian of the Nanshan County Demon Suppression Branch was Hao Donglai, formerly the Left Guardian of Dongbin City.

He had been laterally transferred to serve as the county’s guardian.

But as a branch-level office, its resources and treatment could not compare to the prefecture’s; it survived only on scant local subsidies.

When the Wokou invaders struck, what had been a comfortable post became a volcano’s mouth.

Thus, when Hao Donglai saw Baili Feihong arrive alone—a Demon Suppression Envoy he did not recognize—he could only surmise that this was a new appointee promoted by Gongyang Yan after his own departure from Dongbin City.

So young, barely sixteen or seventeen—a mere youth. How much capability could he possibly have?

“Lord Gongyang sent me to lead reinforcements to Nanshan County. Unfortunately, the other envoys of the Demon Suppression Bureau were unwilling to follow me, so yes, I came alone.”

Baili Feihong could clearly read Hao Donglai’s mind.

He knew Hao Donglai well—a once-important figure in Dongbin City, even once someone he had admired.

Nanshan County was respectable, but ultimately just a county-level post, a far cry from the prefecture.

“This…”

Looking at the young envoy before him, dressed in a one-clawed python robe, Hao Donglai’s face flushed with anger, murderous intent rising within.

Many of Dongbin City’s Demon Suppression Envoys had been personally promoted by him. In his view, when he called for help, if even half his former subordinates responded, the talent crisis in Nanshan County could be resolved.

Yet only one low-ranked envoy had come.

All twenty-eight envoys of the local branch had assembled to welcome reinforcements, only to find a solitary figure.

The chief had said that at least twenty envoys from Dongbin City would be sent. And yet—this was all?

Did the prefectural bureau truly care nothing for their fate?

If Nanshan County fell, Dongbin City would not escape unscathed.

Baili Feihong stood quietly.

He observed the branch’s attitude, and at the same time, assessed the strength of the Nanshan Branch.

There was one Grade A Envoy, who had cultivated nine meridian points; two Grade B Envoys, thirteen Grade C Envoys, and the rest were Grade D Envoys who had practiced the Blood Vitality Technique.

Including Hao Donglai, there were twenty-nine in total.

This was a formidable force.

Baili Feihong’s purpose in coming to Nanshan County was clear: to obtain more skill points.

To bring the second path of the Six Paths of Demon Suppression to perfection required thirty thousand skill points.

His foundation was solid, but nurturing the Primordial Embryo consumed vast amounts of vital energy.

“The prefecture’s willingness to send you is itself a sign of their support. Since you are here, accompany Grade A Envoy Ding Sheng and follow his arrangements.”

Hao Donglai finally managed to compose himself. Though his words were measured, his face was ashen.

“Guardian Hao, my apologies.”

Baili Feihong did not look at Ding Sheng, but rather at Hao Donglai, who was about to turn away.

“Perhaps I cannot comply with your request. The branch has no authority over me.”

He shrugged.

Hao Donglai whirled around, fixing the youth with a frosty stare. “What did you say? Young man, do not forget that you stand before the Guardian. Even as a prefectural envoy, you are required by bureau regulations to follow my orders.”

The twenty-eight envoys wore expressions of amusement—a show was unfolding.

According to bureau regulations, outside their own jurisdiction, the highest-ranked officer commands; all must obey. Violators face severe punishment.

“Guardian Hao, you misunderstand. I am Baili Feihong, Grade A Envoy from Dongbin City. My mission here is to act independently, not to participate in your daily operations.”

Baili Feihong smiled, gentle as a spring breeze, yet his gaze was unyielding.

As a Grade A prefectural envoy, by bureau custom, the higher-level office outranks the local branch.

In other words, Hao Donglai had no authority over him.

Just as four provincial guardians from the capital would naturally outrank locals, so too did Gongyang Yan, who held the post of Guardian General in the bureau, stand above the rest.

Hao Donglai stared at Baili Feihong in disbelief.

“My purpose here is merely to greet you all, so that there will be no conflicts or unnecessary misunderstandings when I carry out my duties.”

Baili Feihong cupped his hands in salute, turned, and led his horse away.

“Are all the prefectural envoys so arrogant?”

Ding Sheng’s face darkened.

Baili Feihong’s attitude clearly looked down on the Nanshan Branch.

Hao Donglai finally recovered himself.

“You all heard—the Grade A prefectural envoy from the city is to be avoided. Should you cross paths with him, avoid conflict. The prefectural envoys have enforcement authority here, superior even to us. Such is the structure of our bureau as part of Dongbin City.”

He sneered.

He had set aside his pride for Gongyang Yan, only to be met with this… Was this envoy sent to vex him?

“Understood, sir. We will keep our eyes wide open and steer clear should we meet such a distinguished guest from the prefecture,” Ding Sheng replied sarcastically, his eyes flashing coldly.

The other envoys were likewise infuriated.

Baili Feihong smiled—his keen hearing caught every word.

It seemed his purpose was already achieved.

This pond in Nanshan County, all the fish within belonged to him now.

What others feared and avoided was precisely the prize he had come for.