The divine manifestations began at the Gongwei Division.

"It was Captain Zhou from the Demon Slayer Division who saved them."

Chen Yuan, a constable from Dajin County, along with Xue Zhiwei, Chen Zhaowu, and Lü Zi'an, went door to door to escort the victimized women back home.

The women's families were all extremely grateful.

While Chen Zhaowu was moved, he was also secretly cursing in his heart.

Unfortunately, I didn't thank him.

Otherwise, he could have casually said, "No need to thank me, it's all within my duty."

Slaying demons and monsters is our duty!

That bastard Zhou Heng, he didn't even know how to cherish this great opportunity.

If it weren't for my principles, Chen Zhaowu, someone else might have claimed credit for it!

Chen Zhaowu turned around and seemed to see a figure on the city wall gazing at the Huanhua River outside the city.

…………

The reason why Zhou Heng did not act with the others was very simple.

The sight of the rescued women reminded him of his drop of true dragon blood, and he felt a pang of heartache.

Even when Xue Zhiwei was refining pills, he kept his distance, for fear of being reminded of the past.

Xue Zhiwei made it very clear that if a drop of true dragon blood were used on himself, it would almost certainly make him a mid-level third-grade martial artist.

If it were put up for sale, plenty of people would be willing to spend a fortune for just one drop of true dragon blood.

Zhou Heng has been in this world for so long, and he still hasn't seen what a young lady looks like.

"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda; consider it an act of merit accumulated in one's past life."

Zhou Heng sighed, spotted the direction of the Great River Gang, and strode over.

You can't keep your frustration inside; you have to let it out.

Coincidentally, this Dajin County is the perfect target for venting one's frustrations.

…………

When Zhou Heng first arrived in Dajin County, he originally intended to take the opportunity to infiltrate the Dajiang Gang to conduct a covert investigation.

In fact, he had already become a retainer of the Dajiang Gang.

However, the Lu family insisted on challenging him to a duel, and he knew that if he defeated the second master of the Lu family, his identity would definitely be exposed.

After all, it's highly suspicious that a relatively unknown wandering swordsman could suddenly defeat the strongest man in Dajin County.

So they simply had Chen Zhaowu and Xue Zhiwei launch a direct attack, unexpectedly confiscating the Lu family's property.

While this action uprooted the Lu family, it also alerted the enemy.

Finding leverage against the Dajiang Gang won't be so easy anymore.

Afterwards, Chen Zhaowu also questioned the Dajiang Gang about transporting the Xiaoyao Powder.

However, the Dajiang Gang claimed that they were only helping the Lu family transport medicinal herbs, and they didn't know what those herbs were.

Moreover, everything from the goods list to the settlement documents was crystal clear, and there was absolutely no problem with them.

Their initial intention to conduct both overt and covert investigations was to prevent collusion between officials in Dajin County and those who might conceal evidence.

In the end, we still alerted the enemy.

As Zhou Heng walked, he reviewed his actions since entering Dajin County and couldn't help but sigh.

Being too outstanding isn't good either. He had tried his best to keep a low profile, but he still exposed himself too early.

"Captain Zhou, thank you for saving my niece."

A roadside vendor stuffed a meat-filled sesame seed cake into Zhou Heng's hand, expressing his deepest gratitude.

"Captain Zhou, this is my only daughter. If it weren't for you, my wife and I wouldn't be able to survive."

A couple with their daughter knelt down in the street in front of Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng quickly helped the person up.

Amidst everyone's gratitude, he could only clasp his hands in a gesture of respect and force a gentle smile onto his face.

"You're too kind, everyone. Slaying demons and monsters is my duty."

Zhou Heng walked slowly forward, and the crowd made way for him, looking at him with admiration until he disappeared at the end of the street.

"Officer Chen is right. Captain Zhou did not expect anything in return for his kindness, but we cannot be such ungrateful people. We must build a shrine for Captain Zhou and worship him for generations to come."

The crowd remarked with emotion.

Zhou Heng rubbed his sore nose, sneezed, and a look of confusion flashed across his face.

He's a seventh-rank martial artist, how could he possibly catch a cold?

Someone must be plotting against me.

Looking up, I saw Gao Mengwei from the Dajiang Gang walking towards me.

It must be that old bastard!

"Captain Zhou!"

Gao Mengwei approached Zhou Heng, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "Lieutenant Zhou, you've kept this from me for quite a while."

I knew it! How could a dignified seventh-rank martial artist possibly become a retainer in our Great River Gang?

Our humble abode, the Great River Gang, cannot possibly accommodate a great deity like Captain Zhou.

"Who do you think I am?"

Zhou Heng said in a cold tone.

"If you, Captain Zhou, are not a great god, then no one is. Now, everyone in Dajin County knows that you, Captain Zhou, have slain demons and saved many people."

Constable Chen from the county government has already spread your portrait throughout the city.

"Lieutenant Zhou, you're now a household name in Dajin County."

Gao Mengwei flattered, "I have come here today to invite Commander Zhou to the banquet."

There might have been a slight misunderstanding between us. Please give me a chance, Captain, so I can explain things to you properly.

As he spoke, Gao Mengwei took out a gold-lettered invitation from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.

Just as Zhou Heng was about to refuse, his eyes suddenly narrowed slightly.

【12:00:00】

The danger countdown began, and a sudden burst of intense red light appeared before it started pulsating.

Twelve hours!

Unprecedented, danger level: high!

Zhou Heng looked at the invitation card that Gao Mengwei handed over with both hands.

Danger came from the invitation?

The Dajiang Gang has set a trap for themselves.

"Master Gao, besides me, who else did you invite?"

Zhou Heng asked calmly.

"And there's County Lieutenant Lu—no, it should be Colonel Chen now."

Gao Mengwei said.

Lu Zian was a secret agent, and his identity was not exposed.

Xue Zhiwei's identity as a demon-slaying captain was also not exposed.

Because Xue Zhiwei's identity as Lin Yue is genuine.

Xue Zhiwei's mother was Miss Lin, and Lin Yue was Xue Zhiwei's cousin and Chen Zhaowu's fiancée.

It was perfectly reasonable for Xue Zhiwei to appear in Dajin County using Lin Yue's identity; in fact, her presence at the Lu residence did not arouse any suspicion from the Dajiang Gang.

Have the Dajiang Gang gone mad by inviting me and Chen Zhaowu?

How dare they openly attack the Demon Slayer Captain?

If it weren't for the danger countdown, Zhou Heng would have assumed that the Dajiang Gang's invitation to the banquet was a sign of weakness and a sign of submission.

After all, he and Chen Zhaowu had already revealed their identities.

If anything were to happen to either of them in the Great River Gang, the Guardian Division would surely uproot the Great River Gang completely.

Who gave the Dajiang Gang such audacity?

"Captain Zhou, our boss has chartered the largest pleasure boat on the Huanhua River and invited several of the most beautiful courtesans from Dajin County to the boat."

Gao Mengwei continued, "Captain, rest assured, the ship is quiet and no one will bother you."

Our gang leader said that whatever questions you two have about the Great River Gang, he will answer them to the best of his ability tonight.

Zhou Heng slowly raised his hand and took the gold-lettered invitation.

Gao Mengwei couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your presence, Captain. I will send someone to the inn to pick you up at 7 PM."

Gao Mengwei cupped his hands in greeting.

Zhou Heng nodded. He had originally wanted to talk to the Dajiang Gang, and now that they had come to him, he didn't mind waiting another two hours.

The greater the risk, the greater the potential reward.

However, it's still best to do some preparation before you go.