CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82 JINCHENG

The streets were busy with carriages and horses. On the second floor of a tavern, many people were sitting and drinking with one another.

Near a window, a young man in a green shirt sat alone. On his table were a small pot of wine, three small dishes of food, and a saber. The youth gazed at the scene outside, drinking by himself.

The scenery in Jincheng is very different from Guangyuan Prefecture and the Capital City, Shen Changqing remarked to himself.

He observed the hustle and bustle outside, noting that everyone’s attire differed somewhat from what he had seen before. Moreover, the Great Wilderness Prefecture had a dry and hot climate, which made the skin of its inhabitants dry and sallow, unlike the delicate and fair complexions of people from other places.

This was his first day in Jincheng.

After receiving his mission, Shen Changqing had packed simply and then set off for the Great Wilderness Prefecture.

If Guangyuan Prefecture was close to the Capital City, then the Great Wilderness Prefecture bordered Guangyuan Prefecture. To enter the Great Wilderness Prefecture, one had to cross Guangyuan Prefecture. For this reason, he had spent quite some time on the road.

It took him over half a month to finally arrive in Jincheng.

Turning his gaze from the window, Shen Changqing’s eyes faintly lingered on another table not far away.

At that table sat two men and two women. The men could be considered somewhat handsome, but not exceptionally so, while the two women were graceful and particularly eye-catching. The four of them appeared young, and from their skin, it was evident they were not locals of the Great Wilderness Prefecture.

Of course, as a major prefecture, the Great Wilderness Prefecture often saw people from other lands. It was not an odd occurrence.

Xu Yi, male, joined the Demon-Subduing Division in June of the 382nd year of Great Qin! Tian Feibai, male, joined the Demon-Subduing Division in June of the 382nd year of Great Qin! Jiang Yu, female, joined the Demon-Subduing Division in June of the 382nd year of Great Qin! Xiao Wen, female, joined the Demon-Subduing Division in June of the 382nd year of Great Qin!

Shen Changqing recalled the information he had obtained.

The information I have is sparse. After all, I’m only temporarily taking on the role of a mentor, and too much detail is unnecessary. It’s now June of the 383rd year of Great Qin. Obviously, all of them are undertaking this mission as their one-year terms are up, rather than starting earlier. Unknowingly, I’ve been in this world for two years now. A wave of nostalgia suddenly washed over him.

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. In that time, I was either on a mission or dedicated to arduous cultivation, doing nothing extra, so my concept of the passage of time is murky. It wasn’t until I reviewed their information that I realized I’ve already spent two years in this world. Two years. The changes have been indeed significant. I’ve gone from being a person with no cultivation to now, standing at the Innate Peak.

Looking again at Xu Yi and the others, Shen Changqing felt another surge of emotion. When I was undertaking my assessment mission, no one played the role of mentor for me, and now, I’m acting as one for them. However, such missions are, after all, a minority. Most of the time, Demon Hunters’ assessment missions are completed alone. I suspect that my assignment in Lin’an City was likely very much related to my early achievement of Pulse Condensation. The main reason was that, at that time, the Demon-Subduing Division was indeed short-staffed. Although Demon Evils are still rampant, the situation has improved considerably over the previous year, and the Demon-Subduing Division isn’t so stretched that it can’t cover both ends. The fact that a single mission could be tasked to four Demon Hunters together makes it apparent. Apart from the intelligence indicating the formidable strength of the Demon Evil, it also proves that the Demon-Subduing Division has received a substantial infusion of new blood.

After a brief glance, to avoid arousing suspicion, Shen Changqing shifted his gaze away.

On the other side, the few Demon Hunters were whispering quietly among themselves.

"You all have received the details of the mission, right? It’s said that this time there’s been a series of deaths in a prominent family in Jincheng. They reported it to the authorities, and the Heavenly Inspection Guard was notified. Based on the situation, the Demon Evil present there is estimated to be in the early or middle stages of the Pulse Condensation Realm," Xu Yi said to the others. As the slightly older one in the group, he was temporarily serving as the team leader.

At that, Jiang Yu’s pretty face showed a hint of fear when she heard the words ’Demon Evil’.

"Brother Xu, given our abilities, can we really deal with that Demon Evil?" she asked.

"It shouldn’t be a problem," Xu Yi glanced at her and offered some reassurance. "Tian Feibai, Xiao Wen, and I have all broken through to the Pulse Condensation Realm. Although you haven’t, you’re close to stepping into it. With the four of us working together, even if we face a mid-stage Pulse Condensation Demon Evil, defeating it shouldn’t be difficult."

Three at the early stage of Pulse Condensation, plus one on the verge of it—together, they could certainly handle a mid-stage Pulse Condensation Demon Evil if they were cautious.

At that, Jiang Yu felt her nervousness subside considerably.

Tian Feibai spoke up, "So, do we head straight to the mansion now, or what?"

"Let’s gather some more information first." Xu Yi pondered for a moment and shook his head.

Then, he looked at Tian Feibai. "Brother Feibai, you go to the Yamen and see if you can get some information from the County Magistrate."

"No problem," Tian Feibai nodded.

Afterward, Xu Yi looked towards Jiang Yu and Xiao Wen. "You two go to the Zhou Family and ask about the specific situation. It would be best if you could get some characteristics of those Demon Evils."

Jiang Yu and Xiao Wen exchanged a glance and both nodded. "Okay."

"I will make a trip to the Heavenly Inspection Guard and also seek some information. Let’s meet back at the inn tonight at the beginning of the fifth watch," Xu Yi said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, the rest had no objections.

Quickly, the group whispered among themselves for a moment more, then settled the bill and left.

Although their voices were quiet, I heard everything clearly.

Xu Yi does have some Jianghu experience. His actions, although not perfect, avoid many potential mistakes. It’s just that the others are a bit naive, Shen Changqing mused, slightly shaking his head. From their conversation, it’s clear that Xu Yi’s position as team leader isn’t solely because of his older age. His abundant Jianghu experience is also an important factor. As for the others, they obviously lack experience. But this is normal. Not every Demon Hunter of the Demon-Subduing Division has abundant Jianghu experience. Just like my predecessor, who, in fact, didn’t have much either. However—if they underestimate Demon Evils because of this, then they are destined to suffer a great loss.

Shen Changqing picked up his cup and took a sip. It’s worth mentioning that compared to the alcohol from my previous life, this drink is less spicy but more mellow. If I were to compare, both have their merits. Without truly confronting Demon Evils, one can never understand how difficult they are to deal with, especially their sudden and unpredictable attacks, which are incredibly hard to defend against. Normally speaking, three early-stage Pulse Condensation Warriors, plus one half-step Pulse Condensation Warrior, can handle a mid-stage Pulse Condensation Martial Artist from Jianghu. But—if they want to confront a mid-stage Pulse Condensation Demon Evil, a single moment of carelessness could lead to heavy losses.

Watching the group depart, Shen Changqing finished his last cup of wine and then called out loudly, "Waiter!"

"What can I do for you, sir?" The waiter hurried over, his face bearing a forced smile.

"Check, please."

"Right away!" The waiter counted the bill with a smile and then bowed. "Sir, your total is 123 wen."

One pot of wine and three dishes of snacks. The cost of a little over 120 wen was not too expensive, but for the average commoner, it also wasn’t cheap. That’s why in Great Qin, ordinary folks seldom eat at taverns.

Shen Changqing took out two small pieces of broken silver and placed them on the table.

The waiter picked up the silver, carefully examined it, and collected it with a beaming smile. "Please wait a moment, sir, I will get your change."

"Mhm!" Shen Changqing nodded.

Seeing this, the waiter looked somewhat disappointed but said nothing more and left with the silver. It wasn’t long before he returned.

"Sir, here is your change, seventy-seven wen. Please take it." The waiter handed over a simple coin pouch.

Shen Changqing weighed the pouch for a moment before tucking it into his robes. "Thank you."

With these words, he stood up and strode away. Throughout the entire time, he never gave the waiter an extra look, let alone take out a few wen from the pouch for a tip.

Only after Shen Changqing had completely left did the waiter spit quietly on the floor. "He looks well-dressed, but I didn’t expect him to be so stingy—" he complained. With a helpless shake of his head, he turned to greet other customers. Working in the tavern wasn’t highly paid; the tips from some generous customers supplemented their income, helping them get by. Customers like the one who just left were unwelcome anywhere.

At this time, Shen Changqing had already left the tavern and was walking on the main street.

I’m well aware of the waiter’s thoughts, but from beginning to end, I had no intention of tipping. After all, earning money isn’t easy. Even with silver notes worth over twenty thousand Silver Taels on me, I still have to live frugally. Alas, it’s hard to make money anywhere. Once this silver runs out, I’ll have to think of ways to get more. More than twenty thousand Silver Taels seems like a lot, but it doesn’t last long when you’re spending. One can’t always be as lucky as I was last time in Lin’an City, with the opportunity to scrape together thirty thousand Silver Taels. Therefore, I treasure every Silver Tael I have. Except for necessary expenses, I aim to save as much as I can. So-called tipping is out of the question.

Walking on the main street, Shen Changqing reflected on the information in his mind and then stopped a passerby, asking politely, "Excuse me, where is Tianyi Tower?"

The person, who originally did not want to reply, saw the saber at Shen Changqing’s waist. Combined with Shen Changqing’s gentle yet imposing demeanor that exuded an unspoken pressure, the person dared not refuse.

"Tianyi Tower is on West Street. Head straight in this direction for two intersections, then turn right, and you’ll be there," the person explained.

"Thank you very much!" Shen Changqing said.