You've already caught the embroidered ball, and you still say it's not my husband?

On their way here, the messy hoofprints were clearly visible, which made it easy to find out that it was the female bandits from Bailian Village who had gone up Huangshi Mountain!

Looking at the foot of the mountain now, there are several male bandit corpses that have been trampled beyond recognition, and hoofprints that extend all the way to the top of the mountain... It is not hard to guess that two groups of bandits had a conflict and fought a fierce battle on the mountain!

"hehe!"

The leader, a hook-nosed demon-suppressing captain, looked up at the mountain, his small, single-eyelid eyes narrowing slightly as a sinister smile appeared on his face. "Perfect, killing two birds with one stone, wiping out both groups of thieves in one fell swoop!"

For the constables of the yamen, dealing with a gang of bandits from Huangfeng Village was already difficult enough, let alone adding Bailian Village to the mix...

To this demon-suppressing captain, it was a completely unexpected delight!

He would gain more merit for each band of bandits he wiped out, so naturally the more the better!

"Sir, why don't we wait a bit longer? Let the two bandits on the mountain fight until they're both severely injured... then we can go up and reap the benefits?"

The speaker was a man in his late twenties named Zhao Guang, who was the head constable of Qingyang County.

There is a long distance between the foot of the mountain and the summit, and it is impossible to see or hear anything from above. To be on the safe side and to minimize casualties, he suggested that we wait a little longer.

"Wait? Why should we wait!"

The hook-nosed man turned his head to look at him, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Do you think I, a captain, am a... piece of trash like you? Do I need a piece of trash like you to give me advice?"

The hook-nosed man was very disdainful of this and even cursed the head constable Zhao Guang as a piece of trash in front of everyone.

Zhao Guang was mortified and felt deeply ashamed, but he could only lower his head and say, "This humble servant... dares not."

As the saying goes, a higher rank can crush a lower one. In practical terms, the Demon-Suppressing Captain is roughly equivalent to a County Magistrate, and is significantly higher than a Head Constable! (County Magistrate > County Magistrate > Registrar > Clerk > Head Constable)

Let alone Zhao Guang, a mere constable, even his direct superior, the clerk, was two ranks lower than the Demon Suppression Captain. If he was scolded, he could only bow and apologize.

Moreover, besides their official rank, the Demon Suppression Captain's formidable combat prowess also creates a strong sense of oppression.

This Demon-Suppressing Captain is named Ling Yunting, and his cultivation has reached the fifth rank, making him one of the best even among those at the fifth rank...

Although the head constable Zhao Guang's cultivation level was not bad, at the sixth level of the Qi Refining Realm, he couldn't even beat Huang Laosan and had suffered two defeats. How could he be compared to the Demon Suppression Captain Ling Yunting in front of him?

Just like working people in the workplace, when they are scolded or humiliated by their bosses, they can only obediently endure it!

"At least they have some self-awareness."

Ling Yunting, the Demon Suppression Captain, said something indifferently, then turned around and looked up at the mountain.

His eyes gleamed with the excitement of a hunter spotting his prey.

"Zhao Guang!" he called out coldly, his back to Zhao Guang.

"Your humble servant is here!" Zhao Guang clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed to listen.

"Keep an eye on the men you brought. Don't let them be more trouble than they're worth, getting in the way of me and my brothers!"

This bandit suppression operation, to put it nicely, was a "joint effort" between the government and the Demon Suppression Division. In reality, it was just that the government was unable to handle the situation and thus sought help from the Demon Suppression Division!

The Demon Suppression Division is primary, the government office is secondary!

The people sent by the Demon Suppression Division were all extraordinary. Apart from Ling Yunting, a fifth-rank captain, the other ten Demon Suppression Guards all had at least a seventh-rank cultivation level!

As for the yamen, only the head constable Zhao Guang had some ability; the rest were practically useless and paled in comparison!

Captain Ling Yunting cursed Zhao Guang as a good-for-nothing, and the other constables were even worse than good-for-nothings. They found him an eyesore and a nuisance, and told Zhao Guang to keep him in check!

After a moment's thought, Zhao Guang addressed the constables, "As the captain has instructed, you don't need to go up the mountain. Just stay at the foot of the mountain, be alert, and don't let any escape!"

Upon receiving this arrangement, the constables were immediately invigorated, their eyes lighting up!

So what if I'm useless? Being disliked by my superiors seems to have some advantages. At least they don't have to risk going up the mountain to suppress bandits anymore. They can just sit at the foot of the mountain and do nothing!

In this way, the risk factor is reduced to the minimum, and my life should be safe. I can go home safely from get off work tonight and sleep with my wife as usual!

Excitement, joy, and happiness were all on his face!

"Ugh!"

The head constable, Zhao Guang, covered his face in exasperation; the group of men he had brought were indeed quite embarrassing.

"superior!"

At Ling Yunting's command, he and the ten Demon-Suppressing Guards beside him shot out like fierce cheetahs rushing towards the mountaintop!

Zhao Guang hesitated for a moment, then followed closely behind.

The constables obeyed the orders, spreading out to guard the various entrances and exits at the foot of the mountain...

At this moment, behind a certain rock.

Lu Xuan remained expressionless.

After descending the mountain, he quietly hid here and witnessed and overheard the entire conversation between Demon Suppression Captain Ling Yunting and Constable Zhao Guang...

Knowing that Shen Jinglian's current situation is extremely precarious!

"Master, what should we do?" Bao Bulu asked worriedly.

Shen Jinglian had just rewarded it with two silver ingots. It felt obligated to accept such a gift and was reluctant to see Shen Jinglian get into trouble.

But the thought of that hook-nosed, small-eyed demon-suppressing captain made it feel fearful and apprehensive.

"Maybe...we should just forget about it? I'm afraid the donkey might get its owner caught in the crossfire too!"

The Demon Suppression Captains are no pushovers. Not only are they incredibly strong, but their background in the Demon Suppression Division is also terrifyingly powerful. They are not people that ordinary people can afford to mess with.

If you meddle in other people's business, you might get taken down along with them, which would be a loss.

From a rational perspective, Lu Xuan and Bao Bulu should have quickly severed ties with the female bandit Shen Jinglian and fled immediately to avoid being implicated.

But if a person only seeks profit and avoids harm, then he will definitely feel guilty and violate medical ethics!

Thinking of the woman in white who had recently invited him to be her husband, Lu Xuan still couldn't shake off his unease...

"Let's go, let's follow them and see!"

"Waaah, Master...you're such a good person!"

With a tearful face, Bao Bulu forced himself to follow Lu Xuan cautiously behind the Demon Suppression Division as they re-entered Huangshi Mountain.

On the mountaintop, a yellow wind howled.

Hu~hu~

Shen Jinglian was panting heavily, her face pale, and her breathing was disordered and weak.

The sleeve of her left shoulder was ripped open by the blade, revealing a section of her snow-white arm stained with blood. There was a shocking knife wound on her left arm, down to her chest, from which blood was gushing out continuously!

Standing before her was a hook-nosed man wielding the Jingluan Blade—Ling Yunting, the Demon-Suppressing Captain!

Just now, in a single exchange, she was defeated and severely injured by Ling Yunting's sword!

"So this is the captain of the Demon Suppression Division... He's really strong, too strong..."

Shen Jinglian looked somewhat sad, a deep sense of powerlessness welling up in her heart.

The Demon Suppression Division Captain in front of her had a higher cultivation level than her, definitely at the fifth rank, and much stronger than the average fifth rank. He was likely at the peak of the fifth rank, not far from the fourth rank!

The opponent's "Nine Shadows Blade Technique" was so fast that it created seven afterimages. The afterimages overlapped with the real ones, making it impossible for Shen Jinglian to withstand even one move!

The difference in their abilities is too great!

Besides Lingyun Pavilion, there are ten Demon Suppression Guards with a minimum cultivation level of seventh rank, plus Constable Zhao Guang with a sixth rank cultivation level, and many constables guarding the foot of the mountain!

With such a disparity in strength and such an inescapable trap, how could one not feel despair?

Today, Shen Jinglian and her group of female bandits are likely doomed...

Ha ha.

The Demon-Suppressing Captain Ling Yunting smirked, looking at Shen Jinglian with great interest. "You're quite an interesting woman. A mere mountain cultivator has managed to reach the sixth rank. Even that good-for-nothing Zhao Guang is inferior to you. Tsk tsk tsk..."

His words were both teasing and a compliment.

Shen Jinglian had no background, yet she was able to cultivate to the Qi Refining Realm at a young age, so her talent and aptitude were naturally beyond question.

There was also the fierce battle between two bandits on Huangshi Mountain today. The ground was littered with the corpses of Huangfeng Village bandits, all with sword wounds on their necks. It looked like Shen Jinglian had led her men to wipe out Huangfeng Village.

Both his talent and his record are remarkable!

"It's a pity..." Ling Yunting changed the subject, "You people, of all people, choose not to be human and instead act like bandits. If you're bandits, then you must be wiped out!"

He spoke with an air of righteous indignation, as if he had become the embodiment of justice, but the cold, mocking smile on his face made him seem like a cat toying with its prey.

"You are welcome to try and see if you can escape right under my nose."

Standing aside, Constable Zhao Guang watched the female bandits, who were doomed to perish, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

As the head constable of Qingyang County and a law enforcement officer who was often on the front lines, he knew that the female bandits of Bailian Village were different from others. They were far from being vicious and had never bullied the weak or killed innocent people indiscriminately.

For example, today the two bandits fought fiercely, and the notorious Huang Laosan died under Shen Jinglian's sword, and Huangfeng Village was completely wiped out by Bailian Village!

Although the initial purpose of the fight may have been to seize territory and treasure, which is a "black-on-black" affair, if we judge by actions rather than intentions, didn't Shen Jinglian and her group actually rid the people of a great scourge?

Nevertheless... a bandit is still a bandit, and cannot be tolerated by the law.

Zhao Guang also knew that if Shen Jinglian and the others listened to Ling Yunting's words and tried to resist and escape, there would only be one result—they would be killed on the spot by the Demon Suppression Guards and become cold corpses!

Therefore, he hurriedly shouted to the female bandits, urging them to surrender, "Shen Jinglian! Stop your futile struggles, quickly lay down your weapons and surrender. You will be taken back to the yamen for trial and sentencing according to the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty!"

Surrendering might save your life, while resistance means certain death. What should you choose?

Shen Jinglian bit her lip lightly.

She was stubborn and unwilling to accept defeat, but in front of a Demon Suppression Captain whose cultivation and strength far surpassed hers, no matter how unwilling she was, it was all in vain. If she were alone, she would rather die a glorious death in battle...

But Hong'er and the others are still here!

How could we bear to let them make a foolish mistake and lose their lives in vain?

Ugh!

Finally, Shen Jinglian closed her eyes and sighed, "We... surrender!"

Clang, clang.

The female bandits' swords and knives fell to the ground, making a series of crisp sounds...