A Good-for-Nothing

153. The Removal of the Vice-Superintendent from Office (1)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Staff members of the Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB) handled the incident with high efficiency. Shortly after all examinees underwent the examination, SMB offered them a plausible explanation.

Luo Yan had been possessed by a demon, infiltrated into SMB with the attempt to gather intelligence but eventually been struck dead by He Zheng and Chen Qianlin, and the demon had also been destroyed by Li Zong when making his escape.

He Zheng and Chen Qianlin had reacted quickly and made their move with steady hand. Their sword strikes had been excellent, and Tan Lubai the director had paid them a compliment and given each of them an extra point, adding it to the files on them.

Some other examinees envied them, but nobody was jealous, for He Zheng and Chen Qianlin had indeed done a very good job.

Also, SMB dispensed an Elementary Restorative Pill to every examinee as compensation for the alarm they’d been through.

Though these Elementary Restorative Pills were of average quality, all of them were from the Hezao Sect, and the market price for them was fairly decent. None of the examinees had expected that SMB would be so generous, and they all put their pills into their bosoms.

Wei Cheng, an exorcist from the countryside, had never seen an Elementary Restorative Pill or a Purity Pill before, and neither did he know their functions, but Tao Wujiu was a disciple of the Hezao Sect, who informed him, “It helps restore your energy and strength. Even if you’re at full strength, ingestion of it wouldn’t do you any harm.”

“Is it expensive?” asked Wei Cheng, fingering the small bottle.

Jin Qianlai, his face wreathed in smiles, lowered his voice. “Not very. Two or three grand, I think.”

Wei Cheng’s eyes brightened. “Then I’ll sell mine as well.”

Jin Qianlai giggled, “Okay. I’ll sell it for you. Just give me a commission of two hundred yuan.”

Wei Cheng didn’t mind and nodded. “That sounds fair.”

Chen Qianlin snorted, “A bunch of country bumpkins,” tossing his Elementary Restorative Pill aside.

Immediately, through the air curved a blur, which turned out to be Jin Qianlai who streaked to the front of Chen Qianlin, caught the pill with both hands and beamed, “Oh, we’re indeed genuine country bumpkins. Thank you, Childe Chen.”

Having never seen the likes of Jin Qianlai before, Chen Qianlin rolled his eyes upwards.

Qiu Luo who had been quietly standing on the side all along flicked a glance at Chen Qianlin without any change of her countenance. Did Chen Qianlin not know at all that he was actually fairly… adorable when he assumed an arrogant air?

He Zheng standing opposite Chen Qianlin was really beginning to have mixed feelings about Chen Qianlin. Did he dislike Chen Qianlin? No matter how many times people asked him this question, he would always answer in the affirmative, but earlier this day Chen Qianlin had come to his rescue.

“Yo.”

Chen Qianlin testily raised his eyes to look at him.

“Than–”

“I didn’t mean to save you. Don’t flatter yourself.” Chen Qianlin haughtily walked away with his chin lifted.

Lin Zhuo standing beside He Zheng saw the whole thing, horrified. With a crisp sound, He Zheng crushed the Elementary Restorative Pill in his hand. Jin Qianlai let out a dry wail. “Waste of money shortens life expectancy!”

He Zheng clenched his teeth. Lin Zhuo hurriedly clapped him on the back. “Easy, easy, He Zheng. Take it easy.”

“Don’t try to stop me! I swear to God I’ll hack this cocky bastard to death today!!!”

Lin Zhuo hung onto He Zheng’s waist with all his might, the latter trying to free himself and rush forward, the Shadow Sword in his hand. “Calm down!!!” Lin Zhuo yelled.

Others who were totally in the dark about what was going on hastened over with the intention to talk He Zheng out of it. Jin Qianlai was still wailing about the crushed pill. The whole place was in confusion. Chen Qianlin, however, left the scene importantly, very pleased with He Zheng’s reaction.

Currently he was still unaware of the meaning of what people say, ‘Spare others some embarrassment when you can, for your paths may cross again.’

In the conference room.

The conference room of the United Front Work Department had never been used as frequently as it was on this day.

When Li Zong and Tun Shanhai entered, people inside had finished the first round of discussion.

“… Zhang Jingqiu sent a message back from the south-west. They went deep into Mount Wushan. Although no traces of the Demonic Seed were found, they located the Demon King’s former den.”

“The Holy Land of Demons.” Li Zong’s voice was very calm.

“Yeah.”

Zhao Yidi furrowed her brows. The Demonic Seed was in the south-west, and she had personally gone there and confirmed this. Afterwards, what with a lot of other matters, she had returned ahead of schedule, leaving the rest of the investigation to Zhang Jingqiu and his group.

“In that year we fought the Demon King near the Taihang Mountain and sealed him, the Demonic Seed gone. How come it showed up in the Holy Land?”

“It’s easy to understand. That was the Demon King’s den after all, and everybody prefers to keep important things in places they deem safe.”

Zhen Daoyuan answered Zhang Jingqiu’s video call, and the latter’s face appeared on the screen. It had been only a few days since they’d last seen him, but Zhang Jingqiu was now a quite sorry sight, his whole body covered with dirt. He was briefly astonished at the sight of so many people and then hurriedly greeted them. “Director Zhen, Mrs. Zhao, Mrs. Tan.”

“We can dispense with the formalities. Tell us what you got,” said Zhen Daoyuan.

Zu Zhichong the knowing card projected the images of the video call onto a big screen.

“Okay.” Zhang Jingqiu turned the camera on his cellphone to a giant altar on the opposite side. “We searched this area several times and finally found the former den of the Demon King in the depths of Mount Wushan. In that battle twenty years ago, the Demon King went all-out, and those Demon’s Attendants left this place. Now it’s totally deserted. Afterwards some small local sects near this area came here to eliminate surviving demons. Eventually the Holy Land of Demons was reduced to rubble.”

“What about the Demonic Seed?”

“Still no trace of it.” Zhang Jingqiu’s voice was very calm. “The only part that could be regarded as good news is that it’s definitely not in the Demon King’s hands.”

“Your work is much appreciated. Now that the search is unfruitful, you should bring your men back first. We’ll follow it up later.”

Li Zong spoke for the first time since his entry. “No.”

All others’ eyes flashed towards Li Zong. On the other end of the video call, Zhang Jingqiu was stunned. All of them felt that Li Zong was giving him a hard nut to crack.