No taboos

Chapter 35: Demon Extermination Unit
When the Korean Province was newly established, the East Factory disliked the remote and cold place and assigned it to the Embroidered Uniform Guard as a tough job.

The Jinyiwei and the Dongchang thus drew a line between their respective responsibilities: the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty were called "Inner Provinces" and were under the jurisdiction of the Dongchang.

From now on, the newly developed territories will be collectively referred to as "outer states" and will be under the jurisdiction of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Jinyiwei have been suppressed by the Dongchang for hundreds of years and want to take this opportunity to break free from the cage.

The East Factory didn't take it seriously at the time, but it didn't expect that in the next two hundred years, the Ming Dynasty would continue to expand its territory... Before the establishment of Jiaozhi Province, the East Factory had actually regretted it.

People call the "Thousand Households Exterminating Unit" the Demon Exterminating Army.

As their strength continued to grow, they were no longer satisfied with "pacifying the local areas after the war" and personally took part in expanding the territory for the Ming Dynasty. Their reputation surpassed that of the Jinyiwei.

When conquering Jiaozhi, the demon-killing army was the vanguard. It is said that there were 40,000 soldiers, organized into the "Demon-killing Camp."

When Xu Yuan's second uncle was in his teens, he joined the demon-hunting army, and it often took three to five years for him to send back any news.

When Xu Yuan's father died, he asked someone to send a message to the demon-hunting army. I guess his second uncle didn't receive it, because he didn't come back until the burial.

Over the past few decades, Jiaozhi has been completely assimilated. It is said that the vanguard of the demon-hunting army has reached Zhenla and fought several battles with the red-haired barbarians. The battle reports submitted to the court were all "great victories", but it is said that the situation was not as optimistic as it seems.

Uncle Rong Kui arrived at the inn later than Xu Yuan, and it was obvious that he came for Xu Yuan.

And he never revealed his identity, just staring at me in secret!

Did my second uncle commit a crime and implicate his family?
Uncle Rong Kui felt the knife on his neck about to cut into his flesh, and he screamed in fear: "Listen to me, listen to me, it's not what you think. Your second uncle, your second uncle has made great contributions and has been promoted to the commander-in-chief, a real official!"

Xu Yuan was even more confused: "How dare you spy on me even though he's been promoted?"

Uncle Rong Kui said with a sad face: "It was your second uncle who ordered me to do this..."

Xu Yuan always guessed that his father and his second uncle were not on good terms, otherwise why would his second uncle leave for decades and never come back to visit?

"Your second uncle has made great contributions. Not only has he been promoted, but he is also highly regarded by a noble. The noble intends to cultivate him. Unfortunately, your second uncle is only surrounded by us, a group of old brothers who have been through life and death together. There is no one else he can use. That's why he asked me to come back and secretly observe you..."

Rong Kui spoke quickly, finally explaining the situation in general. Then he looked at Xu Yuan cautiously, thinking, "Boss Xu, your nephew is really capable!"
"My badge is in my pocket. I'll show it to you. There's also a handwritten letter from your second uncle."

Xu Yuan let go of the knife, and Uncle Rong Kui breathed a sigh of relief, cursing inwardly that he almost pissed his pants with fright. No wonder this kid could become one of the long list of members of the Pingtian Society.

Uncle Rong Kui took out the badge and the letter.

Xu Yuan only glanced at the badge briefly; he couldn't tell if it was real or fake. The key was his second uncle's handwritten letter.

Second uncle used to send messages home occasionally, and Xu Yuan recognized the notes.

In the letter, the second uncle said that Zheng Rongqiu was his good brother who had shared life and death with him, and asked Xu Yuan to follow his arrangements in everything, and so on.

Xu Yuan frowned: "Why didn't you mention my father's death?"

Uncle Rong Kui sighed: "When I came out, I hadn't received the news of your father's death."

Then he looked at the sky and said, "Don't stand on the street anymore. It's getting dark. Let's go to where I'm staying first."

"Where are you staying?"

"Widow Yang's house."

Xu Yuan turned and left: "Go to my place."

Xu Yuan took over Zhao Ji Fur Shop without any hesitation.

After Uncle Rong Kui came in, Xu Yuan took him straight to the back kitchen. There were a lot of cured animal meat hanging on the beams.

There are not many hunters who are brave enough to enter Ghost Witch Mountain, so the wild beasts in the mountain are all fat and strong, and the ground under the beams is covered with traces of dripping fat.

Xu Yuan pointed at the bacon and the rice jar: "Cook, eat first."

Xu Yuan hadn't eaten all day and was already hungry. Uncle Rong Kui touched his nose and said, "Okay, I'm also a cook at Yifangting Inn anyway."

Uncle Rong Kui didn't know why, but although he didn't seem convinced on the surface, he showed off his cooking skills and used limited ingredients to prepare a small meal with six dishes, one soup, and fragrant steamed rice.

A bottle of good wine was also found in Zhao Yong's room.

Xu Yuan pointed at the table and said, "Take a bite."

Uncle Rong Kui glared: "I am your elder after all...Okay, I'll try it."

Xu Yuan put the knife back into his sleeve.

Uncle Rong Kui ate everything. Xu Yuan waited for an incense stick of time and found that there was no problem. Then he took Uncle Rong Kui's chopsticks, washed them and used them himself.

"You..." Uncle Rong Kui was speechless. This kid is too cautious. Who taught him to be so cautious?
Xu Yuan devoured the food in no time and was full. Uncle Rong Kui's cooking skills were indeed excellent, comparable to his stepmother's in this respect.

Uncle Rong Kui ate slowly and drank some wine.

Xu Yuan was full, so he put down his chopsticks and looked at him straight.

Uncle Rong Kui was enjoying his drink: "Don't worry, I'll tell you in detail after I finish drinking... You're such a boring person, always showing a knife, just like your damn uncle!"

Uncle Rong Kui put down his wine glass and did not dare to scold Xu Yuan who was holding a knife. Instead, he scolded his former brother and current new boss who was thousands of miles away.

Xu Yuan was relieved, on the contrary. According to what was written in the letter, Uncle Rong Kui and Second Uncle had been together in the demon-hunting army for more than ten years... That must be what it felt like.

Uncle Rong Kui explained his second uncle's arrangements in detail.

"...I'm not trying to spy on you. Well, I can't really say I'm spying on you, I'm just observing you. Your uncle said if it's inappropriate, then don't mention it to you.

The demon-killing army is too dangerous. If you don't have the ability, don't make his eldest brother childless."

Xu Yuan asked coldly: "Why didn't you help me when I was in danger?"

Uncle Rong Kui glared and asked, "Why didn't you help? Didn't I deliberately give you the chance when you wanted to run away?"

Xu Yuan thought about it and realized that Uncle Rong Kui had sent him to fetch water that morning on purpose to give him a chance.

"What's behind?"

"Behind...it's not that I don't want to help, it's that I can't. You all rushed into Ghost Witch Mountain. I'm an outsider. Do I dare to go in?"

Xu Yuan could barely understand.

Uncle Rong Kui’s strength has just been tested, and he is only eighth-rate at best.

If you face Pingtian head-on, you will definitely die and there will be no way to escape.

Asking him to go into Guiwu Mountain to help deal with the Pingtian Society... he doesn't have the ability or the courage.

Moreover, Xu Yuan also understood that he was just a nephew. If he was his biological son, Uncle Rong Kui might still grit his teeth and fight for his life.

"My second uncle..." Xu Yuan glanced at Uncle Rong Kui and said, "Why did you send such a loser back?"

Uncle Rong Kui's fat face flushed crimson, and he moved his lips several times, trying to defend himself, but ended up losing his temper. "Forget it, you're really capable of being a member of Master Qiao and the Pingtian Society. I can't compare to you."

Xu Yuan did not deny it and knocked on the table: "You continue eating, I'm going upstairs to sleep and will return to the city tomorrow."

　Please give me another monthly ticket.

　　The data of the new book period is very important, dear readers, please support us.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)