Chapter Ninety-Eight: Shadows of the Black Sky [Please Subscribe]

No wonder Baili Feihong’s temper exploded. What on earth was going on? At his age—seventy or eighty—did he dare send these old-timers charging onto the front lines of demon suppression? It seemed that from now on, he alone would bear the burden of slaying demons under the Demon Suppression Division. Could he really support them all on the merits he earned by himself?

One must understand that as the Guardian Commander, even if he personally vanquished demons, a significant portion of his achievements came from his subordinates. The more formidable his underlings were, the greater his rewards. Yet Baili Feihong maintained a calm expression, not disturbing these elder demon suppressors in their excitement.

“Finally home,” he murmured.

“I still remember, sixty years ago, stepping into the Demon Suppression Headquarters, taking on my first mission—waiting by the seaside for ten days and nights, patiently hunting that fish demon until I finally caught it.”

“This place, the front desk—I still recall Miss Lisi’s appearance. Back then, she was the dream girl of every one of us, her voice so gentle.”

“Miss Lisi! That beast from the Southern Naval Fleet is dead now. Hmph, otherwise, even if I had only one leg left, I’d fight that bastard to the death.”

“Enough. You’re eighty this year. If not for the Spirit Origin Flower that extended your life when you were young, you wouldn’t be limping now. You’d be nothing but bones and dust after being bullied.”

“What did you say, one-armed old man? Believe it or not, I could crush your head with my one leg.”

These venerable veterans were quite hot-tempered, unlike Hu Zuowei, who was timid and compliant. Comparatively, Baili Feihong found Hu Zuowei far more agreeable.

As the full martial arts contest was about to begin, the elders suddenly stopped their bickering and looked toward the road leading into the Demon Suppression Headquarters. A carriage galloped toward them.

“That’s General Zhong Ziling of the Southern Naval Fleet,” Hu Zuowei whispered.

“Zhong Ziling?” Baili Feihong heard the name for the first time.

General Zhong Ziling drove the carriage swiftly, pulling up steadily in front of the Demon Suppression Division building.

“General Zhong, we meet again. Though this second meeting, your gift seems rather bloody,” Baili Feihong sneered.

The scent of blood wafting from the carriage was unmistakable.

“The heads of the entire Feiyuan Commerce Association family are inside, waiting to apologize to Guardian Commander Baili,” Zhong Ziling said with a smile as she stepped down. Seeing the eight elderly men behind Baili Feihong, she felt a secret satisfaction.

“The venerable elders of the Demon Suppression Division are all heroes who once stood on the front lines of demon slaying. With their help, I’m sure the division will soon regain its strength. The Demon Suppression Division has been neglected too long; demons run rampant on Feiyuan Island, forcing our Southern Naval Fleet to intervene and shoulder some of the division's hard work. Now that Lord Baili is so capable, and with these respected elders at his side, handling Feiyuan Island’s demons should be no problem.”

With just a few words, she transformed the Southern Naval Fleet’s rough overreach into a reluctant burden-bearing ox.

The Southern Naval Fleet indeed had plenty of talent.

Looking back at the venerable elders behind him, Baili Feihong felt helpless. Even if he wanted to dismiss these old men, he now had to consider the reputation of the Demon Suppression Division.

“Thank you for your hard work over the years, brothers of the Southern Naval Fleet. I ask Chief Chen Qing of the Southern Naval Fleet to list the demons slain on behalf of the division. I, as Guardian Commander, will surely report to the Demon Suppression Headquarters and commend the Southern Naval Fleet accordingly,” Baili Feihong said courteously, clasping his hands.

Zhong Ziling’s expression changed slightly. The Southern Naval Fleet was part of the military; what did it mean to report to the Demon Suppression Headquarters? Even if rewards came from there, her fleet wouldn’t dare accept them.

“Merits are merits, but we all serve the Court, guarding the empire’s borders and protecting peace. There’s no need for rewards,” Zhong Ziling gently declined.

“To serve is to bear responsibility. Since General Zhong has this awareness, I won’t insist further. Then, the Southern Naval Fleet’s rent for the Demon Suppression Headquarters building shall be waived by my division,” Baili Feihong declared with a grand gesture.

“What rent?” Zhong Ziling was momentarily stunned, her expression darkening. “Lord Baili, are you mistaken? The rent has already been converted into the salaries of the elders. Since the rent is already paid, how can it be waived?”

Baili Feihong frowned. “That can’t be right. Are the eight elders’ salaries really that high? The rent for the Guardian’s residence is ten thousand gold per day; based on size, the Demon Suppression building should cost at least one hundred thousand gold daily. Even if the Southern Naval Fleet and the division were close, and rent was discounted by ninety percent, the elders’ salaries still wouldn’t cover the interest on that rent.”

“Enough, enough. Since you say it’s waived, let’s not argue over it,” Zhong Ziling said, clenching her fists. Had she not feared Baili Feihong’s strength, she would have slapped his face hard.

“Thank you for your generosity, Lord Baili.”

“By the way, General Zhong, why did you kill the entire Feiyuan Commerce Association family?” Baili Feihong asked suddenly, tilting his head as his ears twitched—there were experts spying on the area.

“Usurpers must be exterminated along with their nine clans,” Zhong Ziling replied coldly.

“Since the rent was to be paid and the Feiyuan Commerce Association agreed, and I approved it, we wouldn’t have pursued such extreme measures. I heard the Feiyuan heir is also the son of Governor Yan; I’m quite touched. As for the meeting with Governor Yan, I will definitely report the facts on your behalf, General Zhong,” Baili Feihong said, patting his chest firmly, making his allegiance clear.

Zhong Ziling gritted her teeth, her expression grim.

“Why did you slash through the Feiyuan Commerce Association building?”

She herself could do it, but perhaps not so effortlessly.

“A misunderstanding—a few negligent guards tried to harm me. In panic and loss of control, I accidentally slashed through the building. I regret it deeply, but I had no money to compensate the Feiyuan Commerce Association. The division is poor, so I only collected rent from them, without any late fees or interest. That should compensate them since I damaged their building. We must be fair,” Baili Feihong explained, embarrassed.

Shameless!

Zhong Ziling turned and left.

“Wait,” Baili Feihong called after her. “Lord Baili, is there anything else?”

“You should take the things in that carriage with you. The dead deserve to be returned whole to the Han family,” Baili Feihong said, pointing to the blood-soaked carriage.

“Wise advice, Lord Baili,” Zhong Ziling sneered and drove away.

“The crematorium at the Demon Suppression Division has been inactive for so long, yet the headquarters hasn’t dismantled it. Those heads are left here—wouldn’t I have to spend money on coal to restart the furnace?” Baili Feihong muttered softly, smiling as he entered the building.

At that moment, Hu Zuowei saw the Guardian Commander’s face darken.

“Divine awareness scans heaven and earth,” Baili Feihong murmured. The few spying on the Demon Suppression building must be at the stage of perfected embryonic core, nurturing supernatural powers. Only at such a level can someone extend their divine perception to spy from such a distance.

“Divine perception is closely linked with martial will.”

“My Blood Refining is tenfold and has broken limits.”

“Bone Refining Six Transformations has also reached its limit.”

“Marrow and blood refining are connected. My six internal organs are perfected.”

“Meridian refining has opened the full cycle of meridian points.”

“Only Spirit Refining, which involves the soul’s layers, lacks a true comparison and seems mysterious.”

“Though I know my soul is strong.”

“But strength is relative.”

“Where the limit lies, I do not know.”

“The Spirit Refining stage relates to supernatural powers, manifestations, and unification.”

“Well then, I’ll spend the next few days inside the Demon Suppression building, mastering various martial arts and integrating them to derive a stronger ultimate technique.”

“Seizing the opportunity to reach the peak of embryonic core.”

Suddenly, he felt uncertain about having over eighty thousand skill points. Better to restore the Demon Suppression Division to its proper path quickly.

Looking at the eight elders, Baili Feihong no longer felt bothered. From another perspective, since he was now solely responsible for demon slaying, wouldn’t that earn him many skill points?

“They’re all cheating,” he cursed inwardly. “Why bother training anymore? Do I not know my own limits?”

His steps grew lighter. The mission to Feiyuan Island was not about power struggles; it was about accumulating skill points and strengthening himself. No need to fight.

...

“How shall we proceed?”

“I think killing him is the safest option,” said a group of influential figures in a brothel box on Feiyuan Island, drinking and chatting. Outsiders would see nothing unusual. The courtesans entering the room were all their own people.

“Killing him? Have you considered the reaction of the Guliang royal family? Or the Demon Suppression Division?” the young scholar sitting at the head of the table smiled coldly as he spoke.

“But Baili Feihong’s martial prowess is not that of an ordinary Guardian Commander. He somewhat matches the legendary Demon Suppression Seed of the division.”

Beside the scholar sat Chen, the owner of a rice shop, a plump man with a round face and perpetually squinting, friendly eyes.

“Boss Chen, you jest. The Demon Suppression Seed is the division’s treasure—how could they send it to Feiyuan Island to die?”

“Enough nonsense. Kill or not kill?” asked the famous sword school’s headmaster on Feiyuan Island, dressed in a kimono, setting down his cup with murderous intent.

“Yan Fei is not easy to deal with. The Great Yuan warship he commands wields terrible weapons. Even we might not escape,” Chen shook his head. He never endorsed violence as a solution.

“Scholar, you are the Apostle; we will follow your lead.”

The brothel madam, over forty yet still elegant, pouring drinks, reminded the others with a single word.

The scholar in blue paused, then smiled, “If we move, we will surely attract Governor Yan’s attention. Yan Fei is skilled in warfare; as a direct descendant of the Yan family, at his age, though he hasn’t yet glimpsed supernatural power, he still firmly holds his position in the Southern Naval Fleet. He is formidable.”

“The Demon Suppression Division has been dormant too long.”

“This time Baili Feihong’s arrival on Feiyuan Island does not concern me.”

“What worries me is if he digs into the Great Smoke Eucalyptus incident in Dongbin City and connects it to our Black Heaven Cult. That would jeopardize our plan to weaken the Yuan Empire’s fortunes in uncontrollable ways.”

“If news of the Dongbin City incident leaks to the Holy Sect, it would provoke the Central Plains sects’ investigation.”

“That is the top priority.”

“Baili Feihong must die—but not by our hands.”

The scholar’s words sealed the tone.

“Feiyuan Island is too far from Dongbin City; Baili Feihong won’t suspect clues related to the Great Smoke Eucalyptus here.”

Chen shook his head.

“Do you truly believe Baili Feihong’s slash through the Feiyuan Commerce Association building was just a loss of control? I haven’t figured out the deeper meaning yet, but regardless, he must die.”

The madam supported the scholar’s stance.

“Han Feiyuan’s death is a regret. Through him, we could have monitored Governor Yan and the Southern Naval Fleet. Our second step was to kill his father and let him take over.”

“But at the critical moment, Yan Fei killed his entire family. I remember last night, Yan Fei even hosted Chairman Han and invited Han Feiyuan, hoping to strengthen ties by marrying one of his daughters to Han Feiyuan.”

“If Yan Fei cared for old ties, the Han family would have been safe.”

“But they died—at the hands of Zhong Ziling.”

The scholar sighed deeply.

They had invested much in developing the Feiyuan heir as a cultist. Through Han Feiyuan, they could control Feiyuan Island. Once the Holy Sect reemerged, they could turn the Southern Naval Fleet into their vanguard against the Yuan Empire.

“Apostle, how shall we kill Baili Feihong?” asked the rice shop owner with a smile.

He did not want to hear the Apostle’s lamentations—dead was dead. When a piece is useless, one must discard it.

No fear of eavesdroppers? Nonsense.

Such talk could only be thought, not spoken aloud. The Apostle was present.

“The day after tomorrow, our Guardian Commander will meet with Governor Yan. If Governor Yan does not act, we will consider another approach.”

“What approach?”

“This island is so close to the Demon Sea. We’ll light sacred incense to attract the sea’s monsters to the island.”

The scholar smiled.

“The Demon Suppression Division’s duty is to slay demons and protect the land from their invasion. Apostle’s idea is brilliant.”

The madam was excited.

The other three owners held back—such a taste was a bit extreme. Did the Apostle prefer the madam over the beauties beside him?

“The Southern Naval Fleet is at odds with the Guardian Commander and has already returned the Demon Suppression building. If demons invade, the fleet will definitely stay out. They’d rather see Baili Feihong die by demons than help him. The division is now just eight old men half-buried in the earth—they’re more a burden than help.”

“Baili Feihong’s fate will be grim.”

“Either he dies exhausted slaying demons.”

“Or he fails to defend Feiyuan Island and is removed from his post, returning to Dongbin City.”

The scholar spoke slowly, full of verbosity worthy of his title.

Everyone present had thought of these options. Yet once the Demon Sea’s monsters are unleashed on Feiyuan Island, they themselves would suffer greatly—and risk exposure.

But with the Apostle present, the three dared not resist.

“Apostle, your plan is excellent. I support it,” Chen, the rice shop owner, broke his usual stance and gave his backing first.

“No objections here. I just hope to personally kill Baili Feihong. Since you want to kill him with borrowed knives, I won’t insist,” the sword school headmaster said grimly.

“Good idea.”