The divine manifestations began at the Gongwei Division.

Zhou Heng carefully wiped the Dragon Sparrow Blade.

In the distance, Niu Jingui and a group of constables were busy cutting up the snake demon's corpse and loading it onto a truck.

Chen Yongcheng, his head wrapped in bandages, was gesturing wildly as he spoke to the county constable who had rushed over.

Zhou Heng's attention was entirely focused on the Dragon Sparrow Blade.

He used to think that the reward for the danger countdown was just various martial arts skills.

I never expected the reward to include a physical item.

A precious sword that can cut through iron like mud.

I wonder what other rewards might be available in the future.

Zhou Heng is now even somewhat looking forward to the danger.

"Officer, everything is packed. We can head back to the city now."

Niu Jingui ran over and looked at Zhou Heng with admiration in his eyes.

That huge snake demon was taken down by the acting constable all by himself. He truly deserves to be a reserve member of the Imperial Guard.

Zhou Heng raised his head.

Chen Yongcheng also came up to him and bowed with his hands clasped.

"Young Master Zhou, you've saved my life again."

Chen Yongcheng felt a headache coming on. He only remembered Zhou Heng cutting the vine that was dangling him with a very cool stroke.

When he woke up again, the snake demon had already been killed by Zhou Heng.

The wound on his head must have been caused by that snake demon.

"You're too kind, Lord Chen. It's my duty."

Zhou Heng's eyelids twitched involuntarily.

The force of the throw was not well controlled.

"The people of Ningyang County are all useless. They have no idea that so many demons are hiding in the county!"

"If it weren't for you, young brother Zhou, I would be dead this time."

Chen Yongcheng said, "Don't worry, young brother, I will definitely write a letter back to the capital and inform the officials of the Imperial Guard of your merits."

"Thank you, Lord Chen. But you can't blame the officials of Ningyang County for this. The demons are just too good at hiding."

Zhou Heng said.

The county constable beside him cast a grateful glance at him.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they returned to Ningyang County together in the car.

Zhou Heng politely declined the county magistrate's invitation to the banquet and went straight back to his cell.

He had no residence in Ningyang County, but fortunately the guardhouse in the yamen was spacious enough for him to sleep in.

"Officer Dai, here's the snakeskin you requested."

Not long after, Niu Jingui came to Zhou Heng with a piece of snakeskin in his hands.

"Find me a craftsman to make a scabbard."

Zhou Heng said.

The Dragon Sparrow Blade, a reward for the danger countdown, only contains the blade and has no sheath.

"Leave it to me."

Niu Jingui said, "My uncle is the best blacksmith in Ningyang County. I will definitely have him make the best scabbard for me."

"The amount of silver needed should be paid through the government's official account."

Zhou Heng said bluntly.

He doesn't even receive a salary as the acting head constable, so spending this little bit of money isn't excessive.

As they were talking.

Suddenly a commotion arose outside.

Zhou Heng got up and walked outside.

He had just stepped out the door when he saw someone bump into him from the bottom of the steps.

Zhou Heng raised his right arm, and the back of the Dragon Sparrow Blade blocked the person. With a slight jolt, the person staggered back several steps and sat down on the ground.

At this moment, several constables rushed over and grabbed the man.

"Please forgive me, Officer Dai, but he insisted on barging in, and we were unable to stop him."

The constables looked embarrassed and said awkwardly.

The person captured by the constables was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in a faded blue robe, who looked like a scholar.

"Why are you arresting me? I have important information to report!"

The scholar's face turned bright red as he shouted.

"Lu Xiucai, how dare you!"

Niu Jingui shouted, "You've trespassed on the yamen! If you disturb the head constable, do you know what your punishment will be?!"

"Alright."

Zhou Heng waved his hand and said calmly, "Let him go."

Niu Jingui and the others then withdrew.

The scholar straightened his clothes and muttered under his breath, "This is an insult to scholarship!"

"Who are you? What information do you have?"

Zhou Heng sized up the other person and asked.

This scholar, Lü, was thin and pale, with a malnourished look on his face. He didn't seem to be living a very good life.

"Student Lü Zi'an from Ningyang County."

The scholar bowed to Zhou Heng with his hands clasped and said, "Are you the acting constable Zhou Heng, who single-handedly slew the dog demon and captured the snake demon?"

"Your information network is quite impressive."

Zhou Heng said with some surprise, "That's right, it's me."

"Ningyang County is a small place; there are no secrets that can be kept."

Lu Zian said, "The commotion caused by the dog demon and snake demon's corpses being transported into the city is something I, a student, am not blind or deaf to, so of course I know."

He looked around and remained silent.

Zhou Heng understood and waved his hand.

"You all go ahead and get busy. Lü Zi'an, come in with me."

He dismissed the constables and led Lü Zi'an into the room.

After closing the doors and windows, Lü Zian still checked them one last time, not entirely without reassurance.

Zhou Heng looked at the other person with great interest until the other person stood in front of him again before speaking.

"There's no one else here, so speak."

"Lord Zhou, I heard you're from the Imperial Guard?"

Lu Zian didn't speak directly, but looked at Zhou Heng and asked with a serious expression.

Zhou Heng became increasingly curious. What was the other party worried about in this way?

"You could say that. My father was a centurion in the Imperial Guard. After his death, according to the rules, I could inherit his position and serve in the Imperial Guard."

Zhou Heng said.

Lu Zian breathed a sigh of relief and said with a serious expression, "I was wondering why Lord Zhou was able to kill so many demons."

"Lord Zhou, there are people in the Ningyang County government office colluding with demons to persecute the people. Will you do anything about it?"

"Um?"

Zhou Heng frowned slightly.

The duty of the Guardian Bureau is to protect the world, slay demons and monsters. The Guardian Bureau has the right to intervene in any matter related to demons and monsters.

The problem is that he is only a probationary member of the Guardian Division and has not yet officially started working.

Demons can be slain easily, but when it comes to people, especially officials, things become much more complicated.

"Who is colluding with demons?"

Zhou Heng pondered for a moment and said.

Could it be that the snake demon's accomplices are hiding inside the county government office?

I don't know exactly who it is.

Lu Zian said, "However, I'm certain that the other party is someone from the county government."

How can you be so sure?

Zhou Heng pressed for an answer.

"A few months ago, I went to a village outside the city to perform a religious ceremony for people—"

Lü Zian said.

"etc."

Zhou Heng interrupted him, "Perform a ritual? Aren't you a scholar?"

"To support my family."

Lu Zian scratched his head sheepishly, "I am well-versed in Taoist scriptures, and I also take on some ritual work in my spare time."

"Okay, you can continue."

"That day, after I finished the ritual, I drank too much and couldn't hold on any longer on the way back to the city, so I fell asleep in a dilapidated temple."

Lu Zian continued, "When I woke up, it was already midnight."

Just as I was about to continue my journey, a group of people broke into the dilapidated temple.

Lord Zhou, as you know, in the dead of night, in a desolate ancient temple, who knows who might come?

So I hid under the offering table.

Guess who came in?

"Enough with the nonsense."

Zhou Heng said irritably.

"It's a transvestite! A human and a transvestite!"

Lu Zian lowered his voice, "One person, and a group of dog demons."

I could only see their feet; the man was wearing official boots.

They divided the stolen money in the temple and then left.

I hid until dawn, and after returning to the city, I heard that the Hu family's house outside the city had been robbed by bandits, and all dozens of family members had been killed.

A file flashed through Zhou Heng's mind; he had indeed seen the file on the massacre of the Hu family.

The case report from Ningyang County stated that the perpetrator was a notorious bandit who happened to be passing by.

"There are many people in the county government office, and you haven't seen the other person's face, so it's very difficult to find out who they are."

Zhou Heng said slowly.

"That's why I never dared to report it. If it weren't for you, Lord Zhou, I would have kept it to myself and never said a word."

Lu Zian said, "Master Hu has taken care of my business. He was a good man and shouldn't have died so mysteriously."

Lord Zhou, please seek justice for the deceased and give them the recognition they deserve!

Lu Zian bowed deeply and refused to get up.