Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

Chapter 148 Count to Three (Thanks to the Alliance Leader, Brother Happy Tyrannosaurus)_1

Qingzhou, Linjiang Prefecture.

Endless streams of hawkers and porters bustled through the long streets, seemingly no different from usual.

In the teahouse, the storyteller faced a crowd far larger than before, exerting himself to earn a few more copper coins. Unfortunately, with more listeners came fewer willing to pay.

The common folk didn't understand the situation and could only glean bits and pieces about the struggles between Qingzhou's experts and demonic beasts from exaggerated rumors.

But their keen sense of danger was an instinct they relied on to survive.

They sighed seeing the constables patrolling the streets or spotting a few unfamiliar, grim-faced martial heroes in town.

They would replace the coarse rice in their pots with bran and the two pieces of fatty scraps in their bowls with dark, salty vegetables. Then they would save and hide away the spare copper coins as stockpiled food in some inconspicuous corner of their homes.

A carriage slowly traveled down the main street and stopped in front of the slightly weathered Demon Suppressing General's Mansion, which looked like it hadn't been repaired in many years.

At the gate was an old man whose hands trembled slightly as he diligently swept up fallen leaves with a broom.

His hearing seemed to be failing, and it wasn't until the coachman grasped the reins to stop the demon horse and shouted three times that the old man, bewildered, looked up and asked, "Whom are you looking for?"

The next moment, the figure that emerged from the carriage made him drop his broom instinctively, and he tried to stand straighter, pulling at his throat to shout, "Huang Jian greets Personal Adjutant General!"

The young man's hair was bound by a hollowed black-gold crown. He wore a Fierce Wolf Devouring Moon Cloak with a Yin Yang Fish pattern embroidered on the collar, a belt adorned with Precious Jade, and a Three-foot Ink Blade slung over his shoulder.

All this signified that the other party was none other than their own Officer Shen, the one who garrisoned Linjiang Prefecture.

However, Huang Jian regretted his inability to remember the young, fair-faced man's name despite racking his brain, cursing his age for this failing!

The young man nodded slightly, speaking in a gentle tone, "Shen Yi must report something to General Chen Qiankun. Could you please let them know?"

"Yes, yes, please wait a moment, Officer Shen. I'll go immediately, I'll go now..." Huang Jian seemed somewhat overwhelmed by the honor, excitedly turning around before slapping his forehead with force.

He looked back and said, "Officer Shen, General Chen is not in the mansion."

It seemed that Huang Jian's loud calling attracted attention, and soon several young Colonels rushed out. Upon seeing Shen Yi's attire, they were initially stunned but then one of them seemed to remember something, "You are from Qingfeng Mountain... Officer Shen, please come in quickly!"

The young Colonel swiftly recalled the order of silence. The affair of slaying the Jiao was top secret; even he had only overheard a half-sentence while two Personal Adjutant Generals were chatting, after which he got a severe lashing and was ordered to roll out of the tent.

"I can't believe that General Chen has even asked you to return."

The men, showing warm hospitality, invited Shen Yi into the mansion, "Officer Shen, you must be heading to Shuiyun Village, right?"

"What happened?" Shen Yi stopped in his tracks.

The Colonels exchanged glances and sighed, "The Yangchun River Aquatic Race has gone mad for some reason. The three Jiao Jun Lords suddenly left the river, lashing out at people. Most demon hunters have already arrived to pursue them, and General Chen is keeping an eye on that old Jiaolong..."

"The Yangchun River is over four thousand li long, with both ends even beyond the borders of Qingzhou. It's hardly a simple task to guard such an expanse."

"Better go quickly," they added.

Without speaking plainly, the Colonels didn't dare to say that the Yangchun River Jiao Clan was clearly trying to exhaust the old General. Without wearing General Chen down to the point of exhaustion, it was impossible for the old Jiaolong to show itself.

Other Personal Adjutant Generals were rushing along the riverbanks, collaborating with demon hunters to track and capture the three Jiao Jun Lords as quickly as possible.

"I'm not going just yet." Shen Yi shook his head.

The journey hadn't been rushed; both the Green and Red Dual Blades and the Sky Dome Sunslayer Bow had been restored to their full strength.

Yet the Fiendish External Elixir remained empty. He hadn't utilized the demon core of the White Deer, as the fifth molting had nearly taken three thousand five hundred years, and the lifespan of current demons was still a bit too short.

"Then what are you planning to do?" The Colonels were a bit puzzled.

"Earning some extra on the side," Shen Yi said as he took out a silver bell and sent a message.

Soon, the nearby demon hunters pointed him in a general direction.

Under the gaze of all, the young man's eyes sparkled with piercing light, like a divine eagle surveying from afar. Suddenly, he soared into the air and instantly turned into a breeze that swept across the sky.

The Colonels were astonished as they had never seen the Personal Adjutant General display such a feat, and they stood rooted to the spot.

...

Linjiang Prefecture, Qiping County.

During these turbulent times, the local gentry had financed the construction of a new temple.

It was said the River God of Yangchun River could ensure favorable weather, facilitate marriage and childbirth, and deter demons.

Whether true or not was unknown.

But Qiping County was a significant county, not some remote place like Shuiyun Village.

Building a rustic shrine by the river was entirely different from constructing one in the county. Strangely enough, the Demon-suppression Bureau said little, only sending two Colonels to take a quick look before leaving it be.

It was probably because they realized that the common folk were overly anxious and in desperate need of something to put their faith in.

As a result, the newly constructed temple had an extremely thriving incense offering, with the people lining up in a long queue to offer their prayers.

Inside the temple, the deity's statue sat solemnly, both palms resting on its knees, its luxurious flowing cloud shawl draped down. A straight precious jade sword hung at its waist, and the sculpture was entirely in ink hue, exuding a solemn yet faintly murderous aura.

Worshippers knelt on the meditation cushions one after another. As tales of deaths spread wildly, their prayers had shifted from wishing for a healthy baby boy to yearning for their family's safety.

In this scene, two things stood out as extremely odd.

First was the long line outside the mountainside temple, composed of dozens of jianghu individuals in various attires, occasionally reaching for the bells hidden in their belts.

Then there was the tall figure inside the temple, who neither offered incense nor prayed.

"River God of Yangchun River?"

The middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, noticing that the deity's statue was overlooking him with indifference. A smile spread across his face, growing more intense.

The corners of his lips turned up more and more outrageously.

Until he couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Heh... Haha!"

"In front of me, you claim to be the god of Yangchun River?!"

Jiao Jun, the fifth prince, laughed unabashedly, causing the worshippers' brows to furrow in displeasure as they cast their glances in his direction. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

In that instant, he suddenly glared back at them.

A pair of bloodshot, murderous eyes shocked all the worshippers, and those with fainter hearts were already wetting themselves on the spot.

"What? Am I not worthy to comment on your wild god?"

"How about this then."

Jiao Jun, the fifth prince, seemed to enjoy this appetizer of a game. He put away his ferocious demeanor and gave a faint smile, "Now, I plan to devour you all. I will count to three and let's see if your River God will..."

Before he could even raise a finger, Jiao Jun suddenly realized that all the worshippers around him had their eyes wide open.

The next moment, a spluttering sound rang by his ear.

Looking closely, he discovered a pale hand stained with blood streaks protruding from his own throat.

As that hand withdrew, he staggered and turned to look back, only to see a figure in a slightly fluttering dark robe.

The young man stood sideways, one hand on the hilt of his sword, watching him with an indifferent gaze.