With half a game of chess, I vanquish all demons!

Wearing a cloud-patterned crown and a crimson robe, that was the attire of the military officer who was receiving the guests.

Very good!

Once you meet the military officer who will guide you, you will be safe.

Looking at the man's clothes at the entrance of Shanyin Village, Zhao Yao was thrilled. He quickly ran forward, straightened his sleeves, bowed, and asked:

"But is it the official in charge of receiving you in person? This student is Zhao Yao, a student of the Zhou County School..."

The military officer who led the way was a middle-aged man with a dark and thin face.

He was holding a jade pendant, lost in thought, a smile on his face. But when he looked up and saw Zhao Yao suddenly arrive, his expression hardened, and he interrupted Zhao Yao's self-introduction:

"Are you Zhou Yan's student?"

Zhao Yao looked up at his appearance, her heart skipped a beat, and the excitement and joy that had just surged up were instantly extinguished.

He maintained his composure and responded in a deep voice:

"They are students."

"How dare you show your face here!"

The military officer leading the way pointed at Zhao Yao with his finger, his face grim and his voice stern.

Such a terrible attitude...

My respect is just for show, as if it were for the dogs.

Zhao Yao took a deep breath, decisively lowered her hands from her bow, straightened her back, looked back at him without blinking, and said:

"Why do you say such a thing, sir?"

"What, you don't accept it?

Ha~ I wonder whose master you are.

Three days! I've been waiting for you here for three days!

If you don't want to come, then don't come. I can do things on my own.

Now that I've done what I needed to do, what use are you now? Hmph~

The military officer leading the way spoke in a sarcastic tone, and at the end, he even exhaled a breath from his nostrils.

"My lord, you misunderstand. I am also waiting for you at the foot of Desolate Rock Mountain. Didn't we agree to meet there? Could the information be incorrect?"

Zhao Yao asked, puzzled.

He had read the mission scroll repeatedly; it instructed them to meet at the foot of the desolate rocky mountain.

"How dare you talk back..."

The official in charge of receiving them shook his head, as if laughing in exasperation, and said threateningly:

When your written records are submitted to the county government, my comments on you will be attached.

I should have written something nice as usual, but now it seems... well, not really... However, I'm not one to hold a grudge. As long as you behave well and follow my instructions obediently, I might turn a blind eye.

At this point, his expression and tone softened:

"What happened a couple of days ago, you missed it, so just write it down casually."

That is to say, I am kind-hearted, and seeing your recklessness and young age, I am willing to pretend not to know.

If you run into someone with a bad temper and a stubborn personality, they won't care whether you live or die.

After hearing what this person said, Zhao Yao fell silent.

Why don't we take out the mission scroll and take a look?

The military officer who was leading the way glanced at him and asked:

"Do you know what kind of mission it is?"

"I understand. One is to revise the list of centenarians, and the other is to follow you and record your work process."

Zhao Yao nodded and answered honestly.

"Wrong!"

"Wrong?"

"Yes, you're wrong. These two facts are actually one thing."

A centenarian is someone who lives to be over 100 years old.

However, as people age and their desires never diminish, they eventually turn into demons!

"The demon is the attachment to self and the loss of self, the obstacle of temptation and the temptation of incarnation, and also the inconceivable miracle born into the mortal world."

As the military officer led the way, his gaze drifted into memory, and he recited a definition of "demon" that he had obtained from who-knows-where.

He snapped out of his reverie, glanced at Zhao Yao, and continued:

"It is your task to revise the list of centenarians."

Investigating the details of the human-demon is my mission.

"Having you work with me on paperwork is combining two tasks into one, do you understand?"

"The student understands."

Zhao Yao nodded in response, and carefully noted down his definition of "demon".

The military officer who was leading the way looked at him and said in a leisurely tone:

"Whether you truly understand or not, just follow my instructions... Hmm, let me show you around Shanyin Village first."

Come with me.

"Yes, I have not yet asked for your name, sir."

"My name is Song Angran. There is no one else here, so you can still call me Lord Li."

"The student understands."

Next, following behind the guide, Song Angran, Zhao Yao listened to his explanation and walked through the entire small mountain village from top to bottom.

There are three villages on the barren mountain.

This is Shanyin Village. Further up, there is another Shanyao Village. After crossing Huangyan Mountain, on the other side of the mountain, there is another Shanyang Village.

All three villages are ancient villages of ascension!

Each of the three villages has a mysterious feature, through which cultivators from the lower realms occasionally ascend to the village, hence the name "Ascension Village".

This is also the reason why Song Angran, the "Guide Officer," was sent here to investigate the human-demon.

The village of Feisheng was originally handled by these military officers who were responsible for receiving visitors, so it was just right for them to conduct the initial investigation if anything happened.

"...The ascension site in Shanyin Village is a well, in Shanyao Village it's a pond, and in Shanyang Village it's a large rock... Look, that's the well."

In the center of the village, Song Angran raised his sleeve and pointed in front of him, indicating to Zhao Yao the magical well.

Zhao Yao looked at the moss-covered, unremarkable well and curiously took two steps forward.

"Eh~"

Song Angran reached out and stopped Zhao Yao, solemnly warning him:

"Don't get too close. If you accidentally fall in, who knows which lower realm you'll end up in? It wouldn't be surprising if you lost your life."

"I understand, thank you for the reminder, sir."

Zhao Yao immediately bowed to him and expressed his gratitude.

He then asked curiously:

"Sir, has something happened? Why are there no villagers in the village?"

"They are all in the Mountain Demon Village right now."

Why is that?

"Tsk, where do you get so many questions?"

Knowing these things won't help you, so don't ask unnecessary questions... What are you trying to do?

Song Angran looked at Zhao Yao in surprise.

Zhao Yao untied his bundle, took out a pen and a book, and pretended to be writing something down.

Faced with Song Angran's question, he looked back in surprise as well:

"Naturally, it's best to record the official's actions while the memory is still clear."

"...You are quite diligent."

Song Angran frowned, clearly displeased.

He then said in a sarcastic tone:

"Then you must take good notes and make sure you don't miss anything."

"Rest assured, Your Excellency..."

Snapped!

Song Angran slapped the blank book out of Zhao Yao's hand.

He mocked sharply:

"Did I not explain myself clearly enough, or are you brainless?"

You're three days late, and everything you write is incomplete. What are you pretending to be so important about?

Seeing his expression, Zhao Yao pursed her lips and remained silent.

He silently put away his pen and picked up the book from the ground.

"I'm heading to the Mountain Demon Village. Do you want to come along?"

As Song Angran spoke, he looked at Zhao Yao with a half-smile.

Zhao Yao calmly met his gaze and replied in a calm tone:

"That's just how it is."

Upon hearing this answer, Song Angran's smile vanished, replaced by even greater displeasure.

He said with a gloomy expression:

"Then let's follow!"

Song Angran ignored Zhao Yao and strode towards the mountain demon village along the path in the desolate rocky mountain.

Zhao Yao followed closely behind him, sighing inwardly:

"To borrow your power and ensure my safety, I'll endure it for now."

Before long, the two arrived at the mountain demon village and saw the Ascension Pool.

"Zhao Yao, go and clean out a side room. We'll stay here tonight."

Beside the pond, Song Angran raised his sleeve and pointed to a courtyard, giving his orders naturally.

Zhao Yao nodded, followed his instructions, and pushed open the courtyard gate.

As soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate, a man with a distorted face, who was tied up, suddenly appeared in front of him.

The man with the distorted face muttered incantations and shoved him in the chest.

"Mine! All of them are mine!"

bang~

Zhao Yao felt a tightness in his chest from the shove, took a few steps back, and sat down on the ground with a thud.

"Pshaw~ You idiot."

Seeing this scene, Song Angran, who had expected it, mouthed a silent mockery that Zhao Yao couldn't see.

He clearly made Zhao Yao open the door on purpose.