"The Demon-ying Office is different from other Yamen," Chen Mu exined as they walked, "unless there is somerge-scale demon chaos, it generally does not govern from the top down like other Yamen. On usual days, it''s rtively free, and individuals can take on tasks independently."


    Xu Hongyu was introducing the Demon-ying Office''s situation while they walked.


    Having previously hunted demons outside the city under the name of the Demon-ying Office and with her identity, Xu Hongyu naturally knew much more about the Demon-ying Office than Chen Mu, who now understood quite a bit more after her exnation.


    Firstly, outside the prefecture city, there are elite Guard Armies stationed at Yu City, and the seven counties of Yu County also each have a Guard Army stationed at their county government. Unless there is arge-scale demon chaos, the prefecture city and county governments are usually as stable as Mt. Tai.


    Therefore,


    on regr days, the personnel of the Demon-ying Office are mostly scattered across Yu County, hunting demons.


    Frankly, when there isn''t arge-scale demon chaos, the Demon-ying Office functions more like a loose organization. From the Metropolitan Commander, the Deputy Governor, all the way down to the White-Clothed and Green-Clothed Guards, everyone can independently undertake tasks rted to demon ying, exchanging demon corpses for corresponding merits.


    The various tasks of the Demon-ying Office are then based on intelligence from all around Yu County, which, after being analyzed and organized, is ced inside the Main Hall Office. They are generally divided into four levels: ck, Green, White, and Purple.


    ''ck Level'' tasks generally involve First and Second Rank demons, which pose rtively minor threats. Normally, a Martial Man with Body Refinement Perfection can kill any Second Rank demon, as long as their numbers are not toorge, typically handled by the ck-Clothed Guard.


    Then there are the ''Green Level'' tasks, which often involve a few Third Rank demons, requiring the Green-Clothed Guard of the Tendon Changing Realm to handle them. These generally have clear intelligence indicating the type and number.


    Following that are the ''White Level'' tasks, which still involve Third Rank demons, but often with unknown numbers and types, significantly increasing the danger and difficulty. Either numerous Green-Clothed Guards are dispatched, or a White-Clothed Guard leads the team.


    Finally, there are the ''Purple Level'' tasks, which involve Fourth Rank demons, necessitating the involvement of people at or above the Deputy Governor level.


    Shortly thereafter,


    Chen Mu followed Xu Hongyu into the Demon-ying Office''s Main Hall, which was very spacious and crowded, housing about a dozen officials either arranging documents or moving something else, yet it remained rather quiet. asional entry and exit by Green-Clothed and ck-Clothed Guards were hurried.


    Xu Hongyu walked all the way to the innermost part, showed her waist token, and calmly said,


    "A White Level task."


    An elderly man in charge of task distribution nced at the waist token then turned around to retrieve a document and handed it to Xu Hongyu.


    "Let''s go,"


    Xu Hongyu turned and called out to Chen Mu and others, then they headed out.


    It was all too simple and straightforward.


    Chen Mu watched this scene feeling somewhat surprised; the entire process of the Demon-ying Office was extremely streamlined. This included the assessment part, which was all very simple—just presenting the waist token, changing clothes, even task allocation was merely a matter of speaking a sentence.


    No wonder the whole atmosphere of the Demon-ying Office was so solemn. The seen Green-Clothed and ck-Clothed Guards outside all rushed by, none stopping or idling for chats.


    No need to meet with a superior, nor to manage any subordinates, just a point-to-point direct process.


    No wonder Xu Hongyu seemed much more rxed after arriving at the Demon-ying Office; perhaps such a Yamen was more suitable for her than the City Defense Division, where she had to engage in constant intrigue and strife with others.


    Xu Hongyu led Chen Mu and Xiao He out of the Demon-ying Office.


    They walked until they reached a secluded and uninhabited area, where she then took out the document, carefully read through it, before handing it over to Chen Mu. Chen Mu reached out to take it, with Xiao He leaning in to look as well.


    The content of the document was very straightforward.


    [Northwest of An Yu County, one hundred and fifty miles out, a demon has been seen. It entered a vige to feed on people, suspected to be a Wolf Demon.]


    The document contained a general direction, with no specific location and scant details on the demon, only suspecting it to be a Wolf Demon, with unknown strength and quantity.


    "This information is rather vague."


    Chen Mu said as he shook his head slightly after reading.


    Xu Hongyu, however, calmly responded, "White Level tasks are mostly like this. If the information were very clear, it would likely be a Green Level task instead, and the merit earned would be much less... We should not dy, let''s set off now."


    "Okay."


    At this moment, Chen Mu''s gaze was quite calm.


    Although in the past, the furthest he had ventured outside the city was just to the Mass Burial Mound, this time he would be going far away from the prefecture city, to the county government below. Yet, there was no turbulence in his heart.


    After all, he was no longer the small subordinate who lived ca...


    In Yu City, people from the Demon-ying Office must never be obstructed from handling emergencies; otherwise, anyone who tried would often be killed on the spot—a meaningless death.


    They swiftly moved through, quickly arriving at a territory familiar to Chen Mu.


    "Ninth District..."


    He leaped several meters off the ground, following behind Xu Hongyu and casting his gaze around. Right on their pathy his former home. From a distance, seeing the familiar streets and the dpidated rooms where he had lived for many years, a sense of nostalgia welled up in him.


    Once, he had struggled in hardship in this ce, sparing even the meat on his te. Now in just a few short years, he had gone from Head Constable to Prefecture Chief and now a Green-Clothed Guard of the Demon-ying Office, as if soaring through the clouds.


    The emotion in Chen Mu''s eyes was but a fleeting moment.


    The figures of the group quickly vanished among the streets, and many of the locals living there didn''t even notice someone had passed by, except for a man standing stupefied in an alley outside, watching the direction in which Chen Mu and the others were disappearing.


    He was dressed in the uniform of a Head Constable, significantly more mature and with a fuller beardpared to a few years ago; he was once Chen Mu''s colleague, Ren Yan, who had also ascended to the position of Head Constable after several years.


    "That person…"


    Ren Yan stared nkly in the direction Xu Hongyu and the others had gone, standing still.


    Xu Hongyu had passed too swiftly and at too great a distance for Ren Yan to see. Chen Mu and Xiao He moved even faster and appeared somewhat blurry, but he eventually caught a glimpse of a familiar profile.


    Was it Chen Mu?


    He remembered that Chen Mu had long ago been promoted to Prefecture Chief of Wutong Grove District but had left his post without a clear destination a few months ago.


    Some said Chen Mu might have lost his future prospects, but recalling the clothing he just saw.


    "A Green-Clothed Guard of the Demon-ying Office..."


    Ren Yan silently shook his head, a self-mocking expression crossing his face.


    This was a level he couldn''t even hope to touch, able to crush a person like him effortlessly. Not to mention himself, even Min Baoyi, the Prefecture Chief of Ninth District, had to act reverently in front of the Green-Clothed Guards, not being on the same level.


    Back then,


    he had actually aspired topete with such a figure for fame and profit.


    If he recalled his own rudeness from those days, just a single word might cause him irreversible destruction, but to the likes of Chen Mu today, he probably couldn''t even remember such an insignificant person.


    ...


    Chen Mu did not notice Ren Yan.


    Even if he had, he likely wouldn''t have paid much attention, nor did he have any interest in doing so.


    Only those who had followed him like Liu Song and Li Tie held some importance to him; when he left his post, he had also reassigned Liu Song and Li Tie back to Ninth District, cing them under Min Baoyi—though secretly he still controlled a group of spies in Wutong Grove District. With his former confidants, their status now was entirely different and even Min Baoyi treated them with respect.


    They soon left the city.


    Xu Hongyu took out a map, nced at it briefly, and said:


    "An Yu County is located to the southwest of Yu County, quite remote. Between it and Yu County lies the Qiulin Mountain Range. Merchants and transporters usually travel by water or take the highway, going around the Qiulin Mountains. However, our movement needs to be faster; let''s just cross the Qiulin Mountains directly."


    Chen Mu looked at the map.


    He saw a long water route connecting An Yu County with Yu City, perfectly aligning with the river that ran through Yu City, though this waterway was winding and turned back on itself due to theplex terrain.


    As for the marked highway, that went around the expansive stretch of the Qiulin Mountains, taking quite a detour. The road''s length was at least doubled, butpared to merchants, they preferred the longer route on the highway.


    After all, the highway was smooth and every segment had a posting station. Each station was guarded by army soldiers, making travel on the highway much safer with much lower chances of encountering bandits, robbers, or fierce demons.


    "Qiulin Mountain Range..."


    Chen Mu pondered over the mountain range marked on the map, his mind abuzz with information.


    During his time with the Yu Family, he read various books: not only the records of Da Xuan but also maps and detailed descriptions of Yu County, including the Qiulin Mountains. For instance, the periphery of the mountain range supported many local woodcutters and hunters and was not much dangerous.


    As for the inner area, because it wasn''t too far from Yu City, there were no particrly fierce demons, and asionally, scions from noble families in the Inner City would be led by their elders to the Qiulin Mountains for demon-ying and training.


    Even though he wasn''t familiar with this ce, given Xu Hongyu''s strength, she could easily cross through.


    Xiao He, seeing Chen Mu deep in thought, thought he had some suggestion and looked his way, and Xu Hongyu also paused, their eyes fixed on Chen Mu. It was Chen Mu''s first time leaving the city, but they both, seemingly without prior agreement, valued his opinion.


    However, Chen Mu simply shook his head and said, "I have no objections, Commander Xu, lead the way."


    Xu Hongyu, after looking closely at Chen Mu with her expressive eyes, suddenly said, "No need to be so formal. There isn''t much difference between us anymore; you can call me by my name from now on."


    Having said that,


    she led the way toward the Qiulin Mountains.