Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

The south side of the Demon-suppression Bureau Office was severed from the outside world by extremely tall walls.

In this way, it made the newcomers forget the bustle of Qingzhou City, focusing all their thoughts on cultivation.

Advancing to the Initial Realm in ten years was something most Sect Disciples did not dare to dream of.

But with the abundant resources of the Demon-suppression Bureau, those Initial Realm Warriors within these walls sprang up after the rain, batch after batch, never ceasing, and many didn't even need the full ten years to emerge.

There was no one guarding the gate.

The vigor of these newcomers was drained to the utmost by the Colonels every day.

Under Chen Jinyu's guidance, Shen Yi slowly stepped onto this land suffused with the smell of sweat.

If he hadn't broken through to the Initial Realm initially, he would probably be one of them now.

The dark night pressed down heavily, dense clusters of cramped courtyards in the distance, shimmering with a faint, connected glow.

"They all have their own courtyards."

Chen Jinyu seemed quite satisfied with the environment, compared to the time in Baiyun County, the place where her brother now lived was much more spacious.

Even she, as a family member, had been arranged a separate dwelling not far from here.

"Not bad," Shen Yi nodded indifferently.

Newcomers are treated strictly, but it's not like they have to squeeze into a large dormitory. After all, they are not soldiers; in the future, they'll all be solitary figures in Cloud-Patterned Ink Robes. As long as they can accomplish some feats, add a cloud pattern to their sleeve cuffs, they'd enjoy quite excellent treatment.

Calling it a courtyard was actually just two rooms facing each other, with a small open space in the middle just wide enough for five people to stand shoulder to shoulder.

The small stove Chen Jinyu mentioned was set up on this open space, the gurgling sound echoed from the tile pot, the scent of meat wafting through the air.

Two men, noticeably more muscular, dressed in sleeveless short jackets, crouched on the ground staring eagerly at the tile pot.

Niu Da swallowed his saliva, "Thank goodness for your sister, what we eat every day is... well, it's something."

Chen Ji gently fanned the fire, laughing, "It's better than we could have ever hoped for previously."

How could the Demon-suppression Bureau mistreat them in terms of food? They're all medicinal herbs and meats; it's just that nobody bothers to put in any effort, a simple stew without even a couple of grains of salt sprinkled in, making the flavor a bit bland.

At that moment, a crisp call from behind them, "Brother!"

Niu Da instinctively blocked the pot with his body, while also lifting his arm to shield the back of his head.

Chen Ji turned to look, the movement of his fan slowly halting, seemingly quite surprised.

Then excitedly he stood up with a jump, "Officer Shen!"

Although it was less than three months since they had seen each other, arriving in the unfamiliar Qingzhou City made it seem like a long time had passed.

He closely examined the young man's ink robe, expressing his surprise, "You're already wearing the Colonel's uniform."

Although the cloud pattern was not yet on the sleeve cuff, for someone of Officer Shen's strength, it was only a matter of time.

"Make some space." Shen Yi walked to the pot and crouched down, not bothering to explain the difference between a Colonel and a Minor General to the youngster.

"Officer Shen." Niu Da quickly moved aside, still holding his arm up to protect his head, obviously a bit traumatized by that garment, but he couldn't help showing a proud, simple smile at the sight of a fellow townsman's success.

A Baiyun County arrest officer, even in Qingzhou City, was not someone to be ordered around lightly.

Chen Jinyu carefully fetched three sets of bowls and chopsticks from the house and handed them to everyone, "Shh, don't let the Colonel catch us."

"Hehe, I'll go drink it in my room," Niu Da said briskly as he portioned out the chicken soup for Shen Yi, not unlike how they had shared meals back in the courtyard of the Baiyun County Office.

Shen Yi picked up the bowl and looked at the thick layer of oil floating on the surface, trapping the heat beneath.

It didn't look like it had been stewed for long, the plump chicken leg oozing with juice.

He felt an unusual surge of appetite, uncertain whether he was craving the chicken leg or just that sense of reality in this world.

"Hey! I've caught you guys again!"

With a scolding shout, a Colonel dressed in a Cloud-Patterned Ink Robe strode towards them, brandishing a whip and said with a mix of annoyance and amusement, "I told you, family are not allowed in here. Do you want to be thrown out again?"

Niu Da slammed the door shut and hid inside, wincing as he poured the scalding chicken soup into his mouth.

Chen Ji turned around somewhat awkwardly, "Colonel Liu… just this last time…"

"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have talent," Colonel Liu rolled his eyes, not truly angry, and lectured, "You've already wasted so many years. Focus and try to break through the Initial Realm in two or three years, and get out there, can't you?"

"And you, which courtyard are you from…"

He raised the whip and pointed inside, then his whole body shuddered three times.

The fair-skinned young man was quietly squatting on the ground, holding his soup bowl, his dark eyes less stern than before, but they still instantly reminded Colonel Liu of the figure sitting outside the Vajra Gate.

"You, you, you—I, I, I…" He hid the whip behind him.

"Don't mind me," Shen Yi nodded slightly.

He had merely come to freeload a meal and didn't intend to cause trouble for others.

Colonel Liu left the courtyard with a look of lingering fear after Shen Yi spoke, hastily bidding farewell, "Please enjoy your meal."

Chen Ji was briefly startled, then he squatted down again, "…"

As he had previously told Zhang the Butcher, Officer Shen was someone who wouldn't be surprised by anything; people like him were bound to be revered by all.

And now, even the Demon-suppression Marshal was wary around him, Chen Ji thought that while he was still diligently practicing his martial skills, the other must have accomplished many significant deeds.

"Officer Shen, is it dangerous to be a Demon-suppression Marshal?" Chen Ji asked with some curiosity.

"I'm not sure, I haven't done it for long, but it's always good to be cautious," Shen Yi waited for the chicken soup to cool slightly before drinking it all down, reveling in the warmth spreading in his stomach, his previous boredom dissipating into comfort.

Apart from slaying demons and banishing evil, he genuinely preferred the ordinary lives of common people.

"Colonel Liu said I have good talent and that I'll break through the Initial Realm soon," Chen Ji excitedly shared his recent experiences.

He talked about which county's arrest officer had advanced through the "skin barrier," earning a reward from the Colonel, and which newcomer had been lazy and received several lashes for it. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Shen Yi pinched a chicken leg, chewed on the meat, and occasionally added a comment or two.

Chen Jinyu stayed quiet by their side, listening until the night was deep and the world silent; then she got up, cleaned up a room for Shen Yi, bidding them goodnight with the Fierce Wolf Cloak in her arms.

After seeing his sister out of the courtyard, Chen Ji turned back and cautioned, "I heard some Colonels chatting that Qingzhou is unstable lately. Officer Shen should also be extra careful."

"It's alright, they haven't let me go out for the past few days, so I'll just stay here with you," Shen Yi stretched languidly.

"Alright then," Chen Ji said, and began to wash the crock and dishes.

He didn't ask why Officer Shen, with a Colonel's separate quarters at his disposal, chose instead to rest in this kind of place.

Ever since Shen Yi had casually tossed him ten pieces of silver yet begrudged him the pleasure of a second glance at a roast goose leg, Chen Ji had grown accustomed to his ways.