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Li Hao and his companions galloped along the official road, occasionally passing tea stalls and small traders setting up their stalls by the road to provide resting spots for weary travelers.

On their journey, they also encountered Escort Agency Team transporting cargo, heroic adventurers from Jianghu eagerly joining forces to slay demons, as well as diligent farmers tending to their fields and small villages along the official road.

The verdant cypresses on both sides of the road stretched straight up, reaching for the blue sky and white clouds.

Coming across a tea stall, the enticing aroma of steaming dumplings made the riders pull on their reins.

“Shall we take a rest here?” Yu Wei asked attentively.

When Li Hao heard Li Yuanzhao’s stomach growl, it was clear he was also hungry, and with a smile he said, “Let’s go have something to eat first.”

“It’s getting dark; won’t it be unsafe out here?” Du Qiuyue voiced her concerns with a hint of worry.

The tea shop owner, with his keen ears and sharp eyes, upon hearing the young lady’s words, said with a smile, “Don’t worry, dear heroes. With the four Divine General Mansion guarding the Frontier Pass, there are no demons within Dayu. Even an old fool like me is not scared, so what is there for you to fear?”

The group looked at Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao, and Li Hao asked with a smile, “Old man, there are clearly five Divine General Mansion, why do you say there are four?”

“There’s another one that, I’ve heard, isn’t responsible for guarding the Frontier Pass, probably assigned to safeguard the imperial city,” the tea house owner replied with a laugh.

Du Qiuyue whispered, “It’s good that Wang Han isn’t here with us, otherwise he would be angry to death hearing this.”

Yu Wei nodded, “The Divine Travel Realm General Mansion in charge of guarding the Mo River has sacrificed countless, yet the common people are unaware. It’s like how many are also oblivious to the fact that the Li Family defends the border and slays demons. People recognize the existence of the Divine General Mansion, but can’t be bothered to discern which one exactly.”

Upon saying this, he sighed, seemingly feeling indignant for the Li Family, with a hidden compliment in his words.

Li Hao, however, wasn’t upset; instead, he merely nodded and said:

“The lives of the common folks are harsh. They spend their days counting small coins, so they don’t have the leisure to look up; it’s normal they are uninformed. After all, even if they knew, it wouldn’t make much difference to their lives. And us, the Li Family, defending the Frontier Pass isn’t for the world’s praise and gratitude. We do it simply because the Frontier Pass needs us, just as the common folks need us.”

Hearing his words, Yu Wei, who still harbored flattering intentions, was stunned, while Du Qiuyue couldn’t help but look at Li Hao with a mixture of surprise and newfound respect.

Originally thinking Li Hao was just a carefree playboy, his words shattered their previous impressions. Their reverence for the authority of the Divine General Mansion also gained an added layer of respect from the depths of their hearts.

By his side, Ren Qianqian, who carried a sword in her arms, glanced up at Li Hao, let her gaze linger on his handsome and fair cheeks for a while, and her eyes softened a bit more.

“Hao’s right.” Li Yuanzhao, who had been somewhat dissatisfied, felt a surge of excitement hearing Li Hao’s words.

Li Hao smiled and patted Yuan Zhao on the shoulder, “Let’s go in for some tea, my treat.”

“No, how can we let you do that? We are heading to Qi State to slay demons, which is practically helping out my hometown. I should be the one thanking you on behalf of the people of Qi State. I’ll cover all the expenses on the way!”

Yu Wei seized the opportunity, immediately speaking up and walking into the tea shop to call the owner, ordering tea and snacks.

“It’s almost dark, sir, are you really not afraid of demons?”

Du Qiuyue poured a cup of tea but didn’t drink it directly; instead, she took out a silver needle to test for poison. She performed the test expertly and, after confirming there was no poison, proceeded to rinse the cups for everyone.

“Maybe other places, but this road is very safe. I’ve been running my stall here for decades without ever encountering one,” replied the tea shop owner with a smile.

“You really are lucky.”

Li Hao couldn’t help but marvel.

Incidents of demon attacks within Dayu were rare, but they occurred every year. For those like them who dealt with demons, news of such events was constant.

However, the common people were cut off from such news, and with the slow spread of information, unless it was a major incident that caused widespread alarm, small-scale demon attacks went largely unnoticed.

Besides, part of the reason for this lay with the Monster Suppression Department’s efforts to intentionally suppress information about demon encounters to avoid public panic.

After all, only when the common people live and work in peace and contentment can the dynasty flourish even more.

If news of demons flies everywhere and the populace is filled with dread, who would dare to venture out to trade or transport goods? Even farming and laboring would become less efficient.

Soon, the food and drinks were served; the taste of the steamed dumplings was excellent. Li Hao also ate two baskets, singing their praises nonstop, and discussed the cooking process with the owner, leaving the others at the table dumbfounded.

Li Yuanzhao had long been accustomed to Li Hao’s unusual mannerisms, but was rather curious about Ren Qianqian next to him, and asked, “Why do you always hold your sword, even when eating? Doesn’t it get in the way?”

Du Qiuyue and Yu Wei also looked at the girl, who even when eating steamed dumplings, held a sword in one hand and chopsticks in the other.

Ren Qianqian frowned, glanced up at Li Yuanzhao as if thinking of something, remained silent for a bit, and then responded,

“The sword has become a part of my body; I don’t feel its existence.”

Du Qiuyue said enviously, “I heard that to comprehend the heart of the sword, one must always be accompanied by a weapon. I’ve tried before, but it never worked.”

“First, you have to fall in love with it,” Ren Qianqian said earnestly.

Du Qiuyue smiled wryly, “I do like it.”

Ren Qianqian looked at her and said no more.

Whether one truly loves it or not, the brain may not know, but the heart certainly does.

That’s why it’s called “taking heart.”

Soon, after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Hao, who was deeply engrossed in chatting with the tea house owner, left him somewhat befuddled.

Hearing the young hero speak so knowledgeably about things like kneading dough with warm water, fermentation, how to remove the gamey taste from the meat filling, and so on… if not for his attire, the owner would have thought him an experienced chef.

Or even an expert chef.

“Young hero, you must be full by now,” the tea house owner said with a forced smile, reluctant to reveal more, fearing that Li Hao would learn the secret recipe.

Li Hao saw the owner’s resistance and was about to excuse himself when his eyes suddenly narrowed.

He raised his hand and grasped a streak of black light.

Beneath his feet, the ground cratered several inches from the impact of the black light.

Li Hao opened his hand to find an oval, triangular scale.

His Divine Soul instantly left his body, emerging as a beam of golden light visible only to those in the Divine Travel Realm, shooting straight out from the top of his skull, roaming heaven and earth.

Quickly, Li Hao saw, fifteen miles away, a woman with a seductive face and scales on her jaw and cheeks, standing atop a tree, looking towards him with a somewhat astonished expression.

The black light was identical to the scales on her cheeks.

Coldness flashed in Li Hao’s eyes. A demon?

Atop the tree, the Black Jiao beauty was confused, gaping in astonishment.

Her driven scale, across fifteen miles, had failed to kill that Human Race youngster?

He had caught her attack so effortlessly?!

“I have something to take care of; I’ll be back soon. Wait for me here,” Li Hao said to the four at the tea table, holding the scale as he stepped out. In an instant, he vanished from their sight.

Yu Wei, who was rinsing his mouth with tea, immediately spat it out.