The divine manifestations began at the Gongwei Division.

A constable dressed in black robes rushed out, covering his mouth and nose, and ran to a corner to vomit profusely.

On the open ground nearby, a group of men and women in various clothes stood there, all pale-faced.

They had already vomited.

The bloody scene in the inn's lobby is something that anyone who has seen it will likely find hard to forget.

Shen Chong walked out of the main hall as if nothing had happened, directing the experienced constables to clean up the dog demon's corpse.

After a while, he finally found Zhou Heng, who was staying with the other guests at Ningyang Post Station.

"Junior brother, did you kill those dog demons all by yourself?"

Shen Chong asked seriously, "I heard your swordsmanship is not yet complete—"

Junior brother, don't misunderstand, this is just a routine inquiry.

This is such a big deal, I must record it clearly and report it to my superiors.

"Hmph, you'd better explain yourself clearly. How could Han Jun be a county magistrate if so many demons were hiding in Ningyang Post Station?!"

A middle-aged man next to him scolded him, showing no respect whatsoever to Shen Chong.

Those who could stay at Ningyang Post Station were all officials. Although he did not know the other party's rank, Shen Chong did not dare to be negligent and cupped his hands, saying, "It was all my negligence and has nothing to do with the magistrate."

Once this case is closed, Shen will voluntarily request punishment.

Now, I ask for your cooperation, as I need to know what exactly happened last night.

"What do you mean? Are you doubting us?"

The middle-aged man roared in anger.

"Shen did not say that."

Shen Chong placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his face expressionless.

Zhou Heng had long heard that his senior was an incorruptible workaholic who was over thirty and still unmarried, devoting himself entirely to his work.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a county constable in his thirties.

"I'll go first."

Zhou Heng supported his senior brother's work and raised his hand, saying, "After searching Ningyang Post Station yesterday, I felt something was wrong, so I went back to Ningyang Post Station last night."

When I arrived, the dog demons had already harmed several guests and were drinking and feasting.

I took advantage of their drunkenness and killed them all.

"My swordsmanship wasn't good enough yet. I was afraid I wouldn't kill him with one strike, so I made a few more, and that's how it ended up—"

The crowd looked at each other, worried that if they didn't kill them with one blow, they would end up dismembering those dog demons instead.

That's a bit too brutal.

"You mean you took advantage of their drunkenness and ambushed them, killing them all? Is that right?"

Shen Chong asked.

"almost."

Zhou Heng said.

"Young man, those dog demons are all fat and strong. Even if they were drunk, it's still impressive that you could cut them to pieces. You're really strong."

The middle-aged man who had scolded Shen Chong stroked his beard and looked at Zhou Heng with a smile, saying, "Young brother, you're a martial artist, aren't you?"

To be honest, I am Chen Yongcheng, the newly appointed Supervisor of Mount Tai, who has been ordered to manage all the Taoist temples and monasteries within the Mount Tai area and collect incense taxes.

Mount Tai, located near Ningyang County, is a famous mountain with dozens of Taoist temples of all sizes, where incense is always burning brightly.

Every year, countless people flock to the mountain to offer incense, and these Taoist temples receive countless amounts of money from incense and lamp oil each year. Therefore, the imperial court specially dispatched people to collect incense tax silver.

The Taishan Supervisor was the official in charge of this task, and his rank was even higher than that of a county magistrate.

"I was originally serving in the capital, but I was hastily appointed and had no suitable guards by my side, which is why I almost died at the hands of demons."

Young man, would you be interested in accompanying me to my new post?

Chen Yongcheng continued, "I can give you a monthly salary of five taels of silver. If the opportunity arises in the future, it's not impossible for me to help you obtain an official position."

Zhou Heng then realized that the other party wanted to recruit him as a bodyguard.

"Sorry, not interested."

Zhou Heng shook his head and said.

"Young man, do you think the price is too low? This price is quite high for a ninth-rank strongman. Are you perhaps an eighth-rank assassin? In that case, we can discuss it further."

Chen Yongcheng.

Assassin is a nickname for an eighth-rank martial artist.

"Lord Chen, it's not about the money."

Shen Chong interjected, "My master and disciple are following in their father's footsteps and will soon be serving in the Imperial Guard. Naturally, they cannot be your bodyguard, Lord Chen."

If Lord Chen wishes to use the Imperial Guard as bodyguards, he will likely need to obtain an imperial decree.

"The Imperial Guard?"

A look of surprise flashed across Chen Yongcheng's face. "So that's how it is. No wonder he has such skills at such a young age. He must come from a prestigious family."

It was my carelessness.

Young man, I will personally write a letter back to the capital, informing the officials there in detail about what happened at Ningyang Post Station, and pleading for your reward.

Young brother, since you are an eighth-rank assassin, how about I recommend you for direct promotion to Demon-Slaying Captain?

"Junior brother, are you an eighth-rank assassin?"

Shen Chong turned to look at Zhou Heng and asked.

"no."

Zhou Heng shook his head and said, "I'm not even a ninth-rank strongman yet. I'm just naturally strong."

"Lord Chen, can you really recommend me for the position of Demon-Slaying Captain?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Chen Yongcheng's face. He was just being polite; why did they take it so seriously?

The Imperial Guard Command is a place that values ​​military merit and strength; he was just bragging.

If Zhou Heng is indeed an eighth-rank assassin, and has made such a great contribution this time, it is possible that he will be promoted to Demon-Slaying Captain. Writing a letter of commendation for him would be the icing on the cake.

However, he really didn't have the face to promote someone who wasn't even a ninth-rank strongman to a demon-slaying captain based on just one letter.

"Junior brother, please don't make things difficult for Lord Chen. The Imperial Guard values ​​merit and strength. Although you have made contributions this time, your cultivation is still lacking."

Shen Chong said, "But you're still young, you'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

Chen Yongcheng glanced at Shen Chong gratefully, his opinion of Shen Chong changing drastically.

"Officer Shen is right, you are still young."

Chen Yongcheng said, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Lord Chen, you wish to hire guards. I, Shen, presume to offer my recommendation, but what do you say?"

Shen Chong said.

"How does his skill level compare to Brother Zhou's?"

Chen Yongcheng was not very interested, but considering that Shen Chong had just helped him out of a predicament, he didn't want to embarrass him directly, so he deliberately said something.

Shen Chong seemed not to understand Chen Yongcheng's refusal and said, "I don't know how he compares to my junior brother, but he has superhuman strength. Although he has not entered the Dao, he can still fight monsters comparable to the ninth rank on his own."

If Lord Chen is still worried, I can have him compete in strength with my junior brother.

Before he finished speaking, Shen Chong called out and summoned a constable over.

"Junior brother, lend your senior brother a hand."

Shen Chong grabbed Zhou Heng's arm and whispered.

Then he raised his voice, "Lord Chen, this is Han Zhuangzhuang."

Han Zhuangzhuang is over 1.9 meters tall, with a body full of lumps of flesh, looking like a small mountain.

Zhou Heng wasn't short, but he looked as thin as a child next to Han Zhuangzhuang.

"What a burly man!"

Chen Yongcheng couldn't help but praise it as well.

"How about this: if you can defeat Brother Zhou Heng in wrestling, I will hire you as my bodyguard?"

Zhou Heng was originally unwilling, but since his senior brother had begged him, he naturally had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

The two assumed an arm-wrestling stance.

Han Zhuangzhuang exerted his strength suddenly, and the muscles on his arms bulged, almost as thick as Zhou Heng's thigh.

Zhou Heng deliberately made a strained expression on his face, tilted his forearm down a little, and then slowly straightened it up again.

This was repeated time and time again.

Han Zhuangzhuang kept exerting his strength, and although Zhou Heng seemed to be at his limit, he was still unable to suppress him.

Similarly, Zhou Heng couldn't beat him either.

"well."

Chen Yongcheng laughed loudly, "Both of you are heroes, so let's call it a draw."

"Han, you possess such superhuman strength and have served as a constable. From now on, I will rely on you in my service at Mount Tai."

"This humble servant will certainly serve to the death."

Han Zhuangzhuang said loudly.

"Junior brother, you have such great strength and you actually kept it from your elder brother."

Shen Chong walked to Zhou Heng's side and whispered, "Tell your senior brother the truth, what realm are you at now?"

"I really didn't hide it from you, senior brother. I'm just a little too strong."

Zhou Heng said with an innocent look on his face.

"You call that a bit too strong? Zhuangzhuang's strength is no less than that of a ninth-rank strongman, yet you can hold your own against him!"

What, are you hiding this from your senior brother too?

Shen Chong said, "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. With your strength, your senior brother can rest assured when you join the Imperial Guard in the future."

Zhou Heng shrugged; he didn't know how to explain it either.

Is it his fault that he's strong?

Who can blame them when the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill is so effective?

He is indeed still at the peak of mortal life, and has not yet entered the Dao.

Just then.

A piercing scream suddenly came from inside the post station.