Zhang Tianyang led Han Zheng to a deserted mountain outside South City, where a dilapidated shelter had been set up, likely for villagers who occasionally came to rest while collecting firewood.
He then took out a thumb-sized bone flute and played several strange notes that echoed through the valley.
"I know what you're worried about, not just the danger but also that you don't trust the County Government, right?"
Han Zheng didn't speak, but he had essentially agreed.
After 3,000 years since its establishment, the Great Zhou dynasty was in its twilight. The grassroots government offices were corrupt and weak, even to the point of being vulnerable.
For example, Black Stone County.
Only when Zhang Tianyang arrived did they have a master. Before his arrival, the constables of the County Government were nothing but incompetent loafers who exploited the locals, and even the County Magistrate was just a wastrel who only cared about drinking, writing poetry, and indulging in pleasures.
The entire government office of Black Stone County had only one Innate master, reportedly invited by the County Magistrate from the Prefecture City solely for his own protection, never involving himself in the affairs of the county.
Thus, for many years, the true rulers of Black Stone County had never been the County Government but rather the two families and three gangs from the Martial World.
Han Zheng couldn't trust such a government office and had no desire to get involved in this storm.
"The people at the government office are indeed useless, even I can't stand them, but I never said I was sent by the government office."
Zhang Tianyang's lips curled into an inscrutable smile, "Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Zhang Tianyang, Team Leader of the Mountain Character Camp under Chen Baxian, the Garrison Commander of the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department.
You don't trust the government office, but you can trust the Demon Cleansing Bureau, can't you?"
A hint of astonishment flashed through Han Zheng's eyes; he had never expected Zhang Tianyang to be from the Demon Cleansing Bureau.
Among the three bureaus of Great Zhou—Dragon Martial Bureau, Observatory, and Demon Cleansing Bureau:
The Dragon Martial Bureau was controlled by the Great Zhou Royal Family, comprised entirely of imperial kinsmen, tasked with guarding the Imperial Family.
The Observatory was the most low-profile, seldom seen in public; most people had heard the name but knew little of its function.
The Demon Cleansing Bureau was the most renowned, known to every Martial Artist, though seldom seen in a small county city like Black Stone County.
During the foundation of Great Zhou 3,000 years ago, Grand Ancestor Emperor rose from obscurity, leading his mighty warriors to sweep across the land, stabilizing the chaotic world.
Externally, he drove powerful demons into the Northwest Wilderness, establishing the Demon Suppression Pass to fend off these creatures.
Internally, he had the world's number one master at that time, known as 'Martial Saint Yu Jiu,' who crushed all opposition over ten thousand miles and was compared to the legendary Xuanyuan, to establish the Demon Cleansing Bureau. He eradicated all demons within the boundaries of Great Zhou and subdued the contemporary sects.
That year was known in the annals as 'Demon-Cleansing Year of the Jiazi.'
The millennia following the Jiazi Demon-Cleansing were reported as the most peaceful and prosperous period in the history of Great Zhou.
Supposedly, demons were almost unseen within the territory of Great Zhou, and if a demon did appear, it would be instantly torn to pieces by the swarming experts from the Demon Cleansing Bureau.
At the same time, the sects of the Martial World were also low-key and modest, while demonic cults were no more than rats in the gutter, only daring to lurk in the shadows.
However, due to unknown reasons later on, disasters and calamities befell, making life difficult for the people, with an increasing number of demons and cults causing chaos, and constant conflicts among Martial World Sects, gradually leading to the current state of the world.
In recent years, the Demon Cleansing Bureau also appeared somewhat exhausted, with local offices only stationed in state mansions; towns like Black Stone County had no personnel from the Demon Cleansing Bureau visiting.
Nevertheless, although the power and influence of the Demon Cleansing Bureau might not be as formidable as during the founding period of Great Zhou, it still had a formidable reputation, not something those wastrels at the government office could compare with.
Just then, a whistling sound suddenly came from another mountaintop.
A black spot rapidly descended, not revealing its human form until it was close to Han Zheng!
The other mountain was exceedingly tall, with a drop of several hundred meters from here; yet the figure had leaped down.
With a 'thud,'
Accompanied by a light sound, the figure landed in front of Han Zheng and left only two shallow footprints on the ground.
Han Zheng's gaze instantly changed.
Given such a high distance, it wouldn't have been surprising if the figure had smashed a hole in the ground.
But the individual only made a light sound and left two shallow footprints, indicating an extraordinarily frightening control over his strength.
Looking up, the figure before them was tall and burly, with a full beard, clad in Purple Gold Sky Wolf Armor, and exuding an immensely strong presence like that of a towering mountain.
The armor was unlike the bulky armor of military generals; it was more fitted and lightweight, focusing protection on the chest while the arm joints were left unprotected for flexibility.
The chest bore the image of a ferocious Purple Gold Sky Wolf, vivid and lifelike.
"Did you summon me because there is already a result regarding Black Stone County?"
The newcomer asked.
Zhang Tianyang shook his head, "Boss, I'm here all alone, how could there be a result so quickly?
I'm planning to develop some peripheral members to help stir the waters in the county. But they were still hesitant, so I called you to enhance their confidence."
After speaking, Zhang Tianyang pointed to the newcomer, "This is my direct superior, Yuan Longshan, the Demon Sweeping Colonel under Chen Baxian of the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department, a great master of the Xuan Gang Realm.
"You don't need to worry about the threat of the Smell Fragrance Sect. Even if they eventually reach Black Stone County, the boss will take action.
Black Stone County is the gateway to Jingzhou Prefecture. Although it is just a small county town, the authorities won't sit by and watch it fall into the hands of the Smell Fragrance Sect."
Yuan Longshan glanced at Zhang Tianyang, then at Han Zheng, slightly surprised.
With Zhang Tianyang's abilities, he generally looked down on ordinary people, including the new recruits in the Demon Cleansing Bureau. He even looked down on them.
Now, however, he was actually planning to recruit an external member to help him, which meant Han Zheng must possess abilities far exceeding those of ordinary martial artists.
"Met Lord Yuan."
Han Zheng quickly bowed in respect.
Above the Innate Transcendence Realm was the Xuan Gang Realm.
Physical body perfected, Inner Power transformed into True Yuan, Gang Qi externalized, achieving Great Success, the Gang Qi can stretch for several meters, its power immensely terrifying.
There is another name for the Xuan Gang Realm: the adversary of ten thousand men.
Several meters of Gang Qi deployed could render ordinary soldiers utterly helpless, even tearing through iron armor.
Thus, theoretically, a martial artist in the Xuan Gang Realm could even slaughter tens of thousands of ordinary soldiers.
Of course, this was just theoretical, as in actual battle, even ordinary soldiers without martial arts skills could deplete the enemy's inner strength with bow and crossbow fire, defending with military formations until the opponent's Inner Strength was exhausted.
After looking Han Zheng over, Yuan Longshan nodded slightly: "Not bad, your foundation is solid and profound, no worse than those disciples from major sects.
You look like you're about to enter the Innate Realm.
The Emperor doesn't starve his soldiers. Working for my Demon Cleansing Bureau, you won't be mistreated.
Take this elixir; it can help you step into the Innate Realm. Whether or not you can root out the spy in the end, it's yours."
As he finished speaking, Yuan Longshan tossed a small porcelain bottle to Han Zheng.
Han Zheng instinctively caught it, hesitated briefly, then bowed and said, "Thank you, my lord. It's an honor to serve the Demon Cleansing Bureau."
From the moment Zhang Tianyang revealed his identity with the Demon Cleansing Bureau, Han Zheng had hardly any room to refuse.
He could deal and make compromises with the Chief Constable Zhang Tianyang of Black Stone County, but he couldn't do the same with Zhang Tianyang, the Team Leader of the Demon Cleansing Bureau.
For Han Zheng at this state, the Smell Fragrance Sect was a colossal entity, as was the Demon Cleansing Bureau, and even more so.
Moreover, Yuan Longshan had given him an elixir.
Such an elixir might be trivial for Yuan Longshan, but for Han Zheng, who had just experienced the benefits of a Medicine Bath, it was a treasure, enough to enable him to step into the Innate Realm.
When offered a favor, it's decent to accept. Now aware of Zhang Tianyang's identity and mission with the Demon Cleansing Bureau, if he still refused, it would be a snub.
Zhang Tianyang shook his head gently: "Don't toss the hawk before seeing the hare; you really are pragmatic."
Han Zheng smiled and replied, "Please don't fault me, Lord Zhang. I'm just a minor figure in a county town, and I have to be cautious when involved in such major matters."
"Go back and wait for my message. I'll meddle a bit with Gao Kaiyuan to temporarily fend off some trouble for you."
Han Zheng nodded, took the elixir, and immediately descended the mountain.
Watching Han Zheng leave, Yuan Longshan said, "Can this man do it? He's just reached the culmination of Postnatal. With the elixir I gave him, he can barely reach the early stage of Innate."
Zhang Tianyang sighed and said, "He should be able to. This kid reminds me of myself when I was young, ruthless and decisive in action. When it's time to strike, he strikes.
He had a feud with one of the gangs in Black Stone County. When he found out they were investigating him, he immediately acted and silenced them, so very decisively.
Besides, there's no choice; I literally have no one else to use.
You'd think I'm at least a Team Leader, but I don't have a single subordinate, just a commander without troops. What kind of tragic Team Leader is that?
If you could give me Su Wuming, would I need to struggle to recruit external members for help?"
Yuan Longshan scoffed, "Keep dreaming. Su Wuming even has a reputation under Garrison Commander Chen. How could he be available to you?
Besides, that kid Su Wuming has a violent streak. Even if I did give him to you, would you really dare to use him?"
Ruffling his nose, Zhang Tianyang seemed to recall some rumors and chuckled awkwardly.
"True, it's risky enough just to work with him on a mission."
Yuan Longshan patted Zhang Tianyang's shoulder: "It's a troublesome time, and even the higher-ups are stretched thin.
Whenever something happens in Huainan Road, it's like losing lips for a lack of teeth; we in Southern Mountain Road can't just sit and watch. Garrison Commander Chen has already taken almost 80 percent of our forces to Huainan Road.
Black Stone County here can only rely on you now; I also need to go over to Huainan Road to back up the other brothers."
Zhang Tianyang nodded, "Don't worry, boss. I've got this covered here."
Yuan Longshan nodded, leaped up, and vanished into the forest in an instant.