Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

"What happened here?" he asked.

At that moment, Zhu Ting spoke with a cold voice, "I should be asking you that. How do you train your subordinates? It's one thing to obstruct my Mingjing Department's investigation, but to dare to openly attack and injure people in public, Jing Tian Department has become increasingly domineering over the years!"

"Did I ask you?" Chen Yu turned around, his gaze turning frosty.

"You!"

Hearing this, Zhu Ting instantly flew into a rage. In the entire Mingjing Department, no one had dared to rebuke him in such a manner. He stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with malice.

Ignoring him, Chen Yu treated Zhu Ting as if he were thin air. Turning his head, he said to Song Yu, "Speak, what happened."

Then, Song Yu recounted the events from beginning to end, one by one.

"Well done."

This remark was directed at Gu Chen. Afterward, Chen Yu turned around and set his gaze on the trembling Yan Hua and Cheng Song.

"Master Chen, we..." The two of them panicked and subconsciously began to explain.

"Pfft!"

But at that moment, without any visible action from Chen Yu, just a cold snort, Yan Hua and Cheng Song were struck as if by lightning. Their bodies shuddered uncontrollably, spewing out mouthfuls of fresh blood, their expressions rapidly withering.

"No one can just attack my people with impunity. This is the consequence," Chen Yu said indifferently.

"Insolent brat!"

Zhu Ting could clearly hear that Chen Yu's words were meant for him, and he flew into an even greater rage, no longer able to contain the surging qi within him.

Chen Yu's expression remained cold and unmoving, standing his ground against Zhu Ting. The two powerful auras collided, the air crackled as if with thunder, and the entire hall began to shake.

"Enough!"

At this moment, Zhou Qing, sitting on one side with a grim expression, uttered a cold shout, "Are you two trying to tear this place down?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ting let out a cold snort and sat back down.

He truly had not expected that Gu Chen and the others were Chen Yu's subordinates. Chen Yu, this shameless individual, was much younger than him but had an even more explosive temper, daring to confront even the head enforcer of the Jing Tian Department, let alone him.

Zhu Ting could only consider himself unlucky for having encountered Chen Yu because, should it come to blows, he was not necessarily Chen Yu's match.

Seeing Zhou Qing speak up, even the ill-tempered Chen Yu retracted his aura, giving Zhou Qing some respect.

After all, in the vast Mingjing Department, Zhou Qing was one of the few whom Chen Yu deemed worthy of his respect.

Chen Yu, his gaze indifferent, glanced at the listless Yan Hua and Cheng Song lying on the ground and said, "Today's punishment was just a warning. If you dare to go behind my back and pull any stunts, bear the consequences yourself!"

Having said that, Chen Yu, with Gu Chen and his group in tow, left without giving Zhu Ting any face.

Zhu Ting watched as Chen Yu departed so arrogantly, his face ashen, yet he found himself without any means to deal with him.

After all, Chen Yu was the apple of the Jing Tian Department head enforcer's eye, a likely candidate for the head enforcer in the future. Even Zhu Ting wouldn't ordinarily have any way to do something against Chen Yu, much less beat him in a fight.

It could be said he had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill in silence.

Zhou Qing, sitting there, spoke indifferently, "Old Zhu, you're well aware of the nature of your subordinates. I've told you before to keep them in line. We are officials of Da Xia, not bandits or outlaws."

Zhu Ting angrily retorted, "Why didn't you take action just now? It was clear that it was their Jing Tian Department who started the altercation. Not only have they benefited from their wrongdoing, but now it's become our fault!"

Zhou Qing remained silent and instead fixed his gaze on Yan Hua and Cheng Song, who had not gotten up and said, "I'll give you two one last chance to recount the matter, in its entirety, once more."

Yan Hua and Cheng Song gritted their teeth, standing by their previous assertions, and repeated the same story to Zhou Qing.

"You heard them, it's clearly the Jing Tian Department that's being overly domineering!" Zhu Ting said with a dark face.

Zhou Qing replied, "Alright, I've already sent someone to Beiyuan County to investigate the matter. We should have a result in no more than two days. At that time, if there are discrepancies with your account, you know what the consequences will be."

Boom!

Zhou Qing's words were like a bolt from the blue, crashing down upon Yan Hua and Cheng Song's hearts. Their bodies shook, their lips trembled, wanting to say something, but they found themselves at a loss for words.

Seeing their reaction, Zhou Qing knew the outcome already. He said, "I've given you your chance, Old Zhu, deal with these two as you see fit."

Having said this, Zhou Qing stood up and left, leaving Zhu Ting sitting there with a gloomy expression.

"Useless!"

Zhu Ting roared at Yan Hua and Cheng Song, "Don't let me see you two again, get out!"

Hearing this, Yan Hua and Cheng Song fled from the place like dogs that had lost their home.

...

After leaving the Mingjing Department, Song Yu began to heap praise on Chen Yu.

"Boss, you were truly majestic just now. Zhu Ting was so dark-faced, hahaha…"

Wang Yan also nodded in agreement, feeling that this is how a real man should act, with an expression full of yearning.

At that moment, Chen Yu exuded a gentle temperament, looking entirely different from just before. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "Since that's the case, you should cultivate diligently and strive to complete missions, so you can become commanders one day and stand alongside me."

Song Yu and Wang Yan nodded vigorously.

Then, Chen Yu turned to look at Gu Chen and asked, "How about you? Are you injured?"

"Master, rest assured, I am unharmed," Gu Chen replied.

Chen Yu nodded without minding the formality of Gu Chen's address; he was, after all, a carefree and casual person.

At that time, Gu Chen asked with some confusion, "Master, how did you know we were here?"

Chen Yu smiled slightly and said, "It was your second uncle. He's very clever; he knew to go to the Jing Tian Department and seek help from me."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen suddenly understood.

Just then, Chen Yu spoke again: "You should also thank Zhou Qing properly. If he hadn't arrived on time, you all would have inevitably suffered some physical torment."

Gu Chen nodded. He indeed felt grateful to Zhou Qing. Initially, he thought that after the incident with Liu Tong, there would be no further interaction between them. Unexpectedly, Zhou Qing had helped him once again.

"You all should hurry back and heal. In three days, come to the Jing Tian Department in the outer city, I have a mission for you," said Chen Yu. After finishing his words, his figure flashed, and he disappeared right before the eyes of Gu Chen and the others.

"Is this the power of a Gang Qi Stage martial artist?" Song Yu said with a face full of longing.

Gu Chen had a deep understanding of this. When he first saw Zhou Qing, although he had experienced it, Zhou Qing was not like Zhu Ting today; he was just testing Gu Chen and did not target him specifically.

It was only after witnessing Chen Yu and Zhu Ting today that Gu Chen gained a basic understanding of martial artists at the Gang Qi Stage, the seventh stage of the martial path.

Afterward, Gu Chen bid farewell to Song Yu and Wang Yan and returned to the outer city.

Back at Gu Mansion, the Gu Chengfeng family was anxiously waiting. Seeing Gu Chen returning safe and sound, the family breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to exhale the breath they had been holding.

After briefly explaining the situation to his family, Gu Chengfeng advised Gu Chen not to be so recklessly forthcoming in the future.

Gu Chen smiled and nodded as if to agree, but if he had to do it over, he would still take action.

Because Gu Chen was a man with his own principles and bottom line. In his view, a person without principles and bottom line did not deserve to be called human.

Showing off one's strength and power wasn't necessarily wrong, but it depended on who it was directed at. A martial artist who bullied ordinary people and behaved arrogantly and oppressively to both men and women was the kind of person Gu Chen despised.

In his previous life, he was powerless, so that was that. But in this life, now that he had the ability, if he couldn't enjoy taking revenge and showing kindness, then what was the point?

After having dinner with the family of three at Gu Mansion, Gu Chen went to Zhou Mansion in the inner city early the next morning.

Zhou Qing was reading at the time and, seeing Gu Chen approaching, said without raising his head, "What is it?"

Gu Chen bowed and said formally, "Yesterday, I am grateful for Lord Zhou's assistance."

Zhou Qing shook his head and replied, "I didn't do much. You should thank Chen Yu instead."

Gu Chen said, "If Lord Zhou hadn't arrived on time, I might not have been able to hold out until Master Chen came."

Zhou Qing was noncommittal, he looked up at Gu Chen and said, "Ranked eighth on the List of Stars, that's quite the reputation. You really have guts."

The first time Zhou Qing met Gu Chen, he was just a small martial artist who had stepped into the Tong Mai Stage. After some time apart, Gu Chen had astonishingly become the eighth on the List of Stars, with considerable reputation in Jianghu—something Zhou Qing truly did not expect.

Of course, more importantly, Gu Chen's upright and unyielding character was what he appreciated.

Gu Chen, hearing this, just smiled and kept silent. He wasn't surprised that Zhou Qing knew this news.

After all, though Zhou Qing resided in Tiandu, his status was such that neither Song Yu nor Wang Yan, much less Yan Hua or Cheng Song, could compare. Even if he didn't pay much attention to matters of Jianghu, if he wished to inquire, he could easily acquire all the information about Gu Chen.

"Would you like to join my ranks?" Zhou Qing suddenly asked.

Gu Chen was slightly startled, seemingly not expecting Zhou Qing to make such an offer. After a moment, he politely declined, "Thank you, Lord Zhou, for your high regard, but I currently have no such intention, especially since Master Chen has also been kind to me."

This was just one reason; more importantly, while the Mingjing Department was alluring, it did not suit Gu Chen because he needed to slay demons and ghosts to acquire merit points.

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, not feeling regret, and said, "Don't worry about yesterday's incident. After all, you saved my father's life. What happened last time was an internal affair of the Mingjing Department and should not be counted. If you need anything, you can come to me anytime."

"Thank you, Lord Zhou." Gu Chen bowed in gratitude.

Zhou Qing nodded in acknowledgement and said no more. Seeing this, Gu Chen tactfully left.

Two days later, he came to the Jing Tian Department in the outer city with Song Yu and Wang Yan at the appointed time and met with Chen Yu.