Starting from his vigorous old age, he began to conquer Liaozhai.

"Human skin lantern~"

Cao Xiong repeated the ghost's name. This was the only ghost he had seen while collecting fragments that did not indicate its cultivation level.

"A special ghost, indeed special and malevolent."

[Fragments: 4.5-5]

Cao Xiong looked at the fragment progress displayed on the panel; he was only 0.5 fragments away from being able to select a new entry.

The fire burned until late into the night, and Cao Xiong ordered his soldiers to rest on the spot.

Apart from Li Cheng and Cao Man, of the remaining eighteen officers and soldiers, five died and three were crippled.

The next morning, Cao Xiong had Li Cheng take the wounded and the bodies of the soldiers in a horse-drawn carriage back to Guobei County.

He led Cao Man and the remaining ten soldiers, escorting the gold, silver and grain, and continued on to the county town.

Finally, at noon on the sixth day, we arrived at Qianhusuo Camp Fort.

After being informed by the guards, Cao Xiong brought the gold, silver, and grain to the barracks of the Qianhu Office and completed the handover with the clerk.

Then he led Cao Man and the others to the assigned official residence and waited for the commander to receive them.

After Cao Man broke through to the Skin Tempering Realm, his height had exceeded three and a half meters.

Wherever they went, all the officers and soldiers of the thousand-household garrisons discussed it.

Cao Man was already used to these strange looks and obediently followed behind Cao Xiong.

Cao Xiong practiced martial arts in the official residence until evening.

Not long after Cao Xiong finished his bath, Wei Qiang, who had learned that he had come to the Thousand Household Office, arrived at the official residence carrying two jars of wine and a pile of food.

"Brother Cao, have a drink."

Wei Qiang was a little fatter than when he was in Guobei County; at least he didn't look as thin.

"Looks like you've been having a pretty easy time lately," Cao Xiong couldn't help but tease.

Wei Qiang sighed, "I'm currently serving as the commander of the garrison, in charge of military discipline. How could it not be easy? I'm practically doing nothing."

"I've only suffered damage to my dantian, which has halted my progress in martial arts, but I'm not completely ruined."

"Giving me such a sinecure is not as good as letting me fight a monster to my death on the battlefield."

Cao Xiong opened the bottle and handed it to Wei Qiang, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? Take care of your health; you might be able to recover in the future."

"It's not that easy. Rare and precious materials are not something ordinary people like us can obtain."

Cao Xiong's heart stirred. The Water Vermilion Fruit he had taken back then should have been able to help Wei Qiang recover his dantian. Unfortunately, the fruit tree in the Chipingpo cave would not produce another mature Water Vermilion Fruit for at least ten years.

"Don't be discouraged. With demons and ghosts rampant now, the spiritual energy concentration in the Hundred Thousand Mountains has increased. I believe that spiritual herbs will appear soon. If I have any news in this regard, I will keep an eye out for it for you."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qiang's eyes lit up. "Yes, then I'll wait for your good news. Let's drink to that."

"Cheers!" Cao Xiong raised his porcelain bowl and clinked glasses with Wei Qiang.

"I reckon the commander will definitely ask you to help deal with some demonic troubles, so you'd better be prepared."

Halfway through their drinks, the two began discussing the recent turmoil in Linya County. Wei Qiang seemed to remember something and reminded Cao Xiong.

"That suits me perfectly." Cao Xiong laughed heartily. He was just worried about not being able to find a way to collect the fragments. In Guo Bei County, Yaksha had been keeping an eye on him.

He also had no way to venture deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains to hunt.

"You're a demon-slaying maniac. Hey, speaking of which, there's a case. Remember the mutilated corpse case in the western district of Guobei County?" Wei Qiang tossed two peanuts into his mouth.

"Hmm, Fang Zheng is practicing evil arts. How come something similar has appeared in the county town as well?"

Cao Xiong felt a chill run down his spine. Regarding Fang Zheng, he didn't necessarily think he was practicing evil arts; he was very likely connected to the Corpse King of the Ancient Tomb.

"Yes, exactly the same. I think the murderer most likely practiced the same technique as Fang Zheng." Wei Qiang said confidently.

Cao Xiong lowered his head and took a sip of wine. "If it really is the same technique that Fang Zheng practiced, then the killer's characteristics are very obvious: stiff body, pale skin, black lips, and an aura similar to that of a corpse monster."

"Oh, right!" Wei Qiang slapped his thigh suddenly, finally realizing what he meant.

Cao Xiong shook his head and chuckled. Before he got to know Wei Qiang, he only thought that the man was serious and arrogant.

Now it seems that his mind isn't very sharp.

Therefore, the reason why the commander of a thousand households demoted Wei Qiang to a sinecure was not necessarily entirely because Wei Qiang's dantian was injured. It may also be related to the fact that Wei Qiang caused serious casualties in the centurion's office.

The two chatted and drank until the early hours of the morning.

……

On his second day at the Thousand Household Office, Cao Xiong was summoned by the Thousand Household Commander Miao Yuan.

"Cao Xiong, the centurion of Guobei County, pays respects to the commander of the thousand!"

"No need for formalities, please sit down." Miao Yuan looked at Cao Xiong with a smile on his face.

Of the 100-household units involved in the suppression of bandits in Linya Commandery, only Guobei County has completed the task so far.

Therefore, Miao Yuan was quite satisfied with Cao Xiong as his subordinate.

Cao Xiong withdrew his hands and sat down on the right side below Miao Yuan.

"I heard you brought a giant." Miao Yuan suddenly thought of the rumors he had heard about Cao Man earlier today.

"Reporting to the commander, his name is Cao Man. He was originally a wild man from the Ten Thousand Mountains. By chance, he joined the Hundred-Household Office of Guobei County and is now serving as a junior officer," Cao Xiong answered truthfully.

"Haha, your subordinate is quite capable. He defeated two captains in succession yesterday afternoon." Miao Yuan said with a playful look on his face.

Cao Xiong paused, he really didn't know this. Cao Man was tall and couldn't stay in the official residence. It was only because a junior official from the Thousand Household Office temporarily took a tent from the storeroom that Cao Man could stay.

Yesterday afternoon, he was busy practicing martial arts and didn't pay attention to Cao Man. Unexpectedly, Cao Man went to spar with the chief officer of the Thousand Households.

"The commander of the thousand should atone for his sins. Cao Man had no contact with outsiders before joining the centurion's office. Once he returns to Guobei County, I will certainly discipline him strictly."

Miao Yuan waved his hand, "There aren't so many rules in the military camp. You've taken in a good prospect."

"I was just lucky," Cao Xiong said calmly, though he was genuinely afraid that Miao Yuan would try to take the man from him.

"The centurions in the thousand-household office have been busy lately. Since you're here, you can help me out." Miao Yuan took out a stack of files from the side of the table.

"He can be ordered around by the commander." Cao Xiong thought to himself that Wei Qiang was right.

"Take a look and see which ones interest you." Miao Yuan picked out several cases that had been thoroughly investigated from a stack of files and handed them to Cao Xiong.

"I've heard that there have been cases in the county town recently where people have lost limbs and organs after death. I wonder if there's any progress?" Cao Xiong took the file but didn't open it. Instead, he asked about the mutilated corpses.

"The case you mentioned does exist, and it has had a very negative impact. We don't have many leads yet." Miao Yuan knew immediately that Wei Qiang must have told Cao Xiong about it.

"My lord, the case file I handed to you when I last visited the Thousand Household Office contained records of the case of Commander Fangzheng, which is exactly the same as the case of the mutilated corpse in the county town."

Upon hearing Cao Xiong's words, Miao Yuan recalled for a moment and realized it was indeed true.

However, Miao Yuan didn't take Fang Zheng's file seriously at all after reading it.