After the rain passed and the skies cleared, the temperature rose swiftly. On the streets and by the roadsides, people’s attire grew lighter and more revealing.
The customs of the Great Zhou Kingdom hovered somewhere between conservative and open.
For prestigious noble families and high-ranking officials, conservatism was essential, a symbol of the history and status passed down through their lineages.
Yet for merchants and outsiders, things were far more relaxed. They didn’t cling so rigidly to outdated conventions.
This clash of new and old winds made the Great Zhou Kingdom especially alluring in the summer.
“No way, no way! It’s so hot—why wear all this?”
“Listen to me and put it on her! We’re heading to Luo City. Dressing too provocatively will just invite unnecessary trouble!”
“No matter how much she wears, that figure of hers can’t be hidden.” “She’s got a body that naturally draws men’s eyes. Nothing to be done about it.”
On the deck, four young women bantered back and forth, drawing occasional glances from passersby.
Little Snake wanted something cooler, but Ren Tan—ever the worrywart—disapproved. The two little imps watched the show from the sidelines, chiming in with comments now and then…
The sweltering heat was the signal to set off.
After months of preparation, it was finally time to head for the Great Zhou Kingdom—and perhaps the most captivating city in all the Eastern Wastelands… Luo City!
The journey to the Royal Capital would take time, and there were arrangements to make once they arrived. Departing now was the perfect moment.
Unfortunately, they’d barely set sail on the ship when Little Snake started acting up.
“I’ve always dressed like this,” Yin Luan argued reasonably. “And I’ve never run into any trouble, have I?”
“The people you met before wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you,” Ren Tan retorted, her eye twitching. “But Luo City is crawling with the kingdom’s top elites and spoiled young lords—you couldn’t count them if you tried. Sure, you could beat them in a fight, but what happens after that?”
“You’re way too conservative. Youth is for letting loose…”
Yin Luan’s beauty made anyone who saw her steal extra glances.
Most people’s first impression was “seductive,” but spend even a little time with her, and you’d discover a charming innocence that didn’t match her looks at all. It stirred a protective pity, like “Ah, this poor girl will get tricked into some scoundrel’s bed one day.”
Of course, whether seductive or innocent, her allure was undeniable.
With a trip to Luo City ahead, keeping a low profile was wise. Drawing too much attention was a bad idea.
“Fine, fine! I’ll wear it!”
Grumbling, Little Snake snatched up an outfit and stomped to the other side of the deck.
“…Am I really in the wrong here?” Ren Tan wondered, pointing at herself.
“Don’t worry, she’s sharp as a tack,” Xiao Luo said. “She only gets bold because someone’s looking out for her. Drop her in the middle of nowhere, and watch how obedient she becomes.”
The Long River was swollen from the seasonal floods, teeming with ships coming and going.
They followed a well-established route: wide, deep waters with supply stops all along the way, leading straight to the outskirts of Luo City.
The Eldest Young Lady had bought the entire ship, crewed by trustworthy hands. The three demons aboard lived without a care in the world.
Until they were stopped at a harbor.
“What’s going on?” Ren Tan asked. “Why aren’t we allowed to pass?”
“Eldest Young Lady,” one of her subordinates reported quietly, “it’s the Demon Subduing Division… They’re searching every ship.”
The Demon Subduing Division?
The Eldest Young Lady was caught off guard.
Weren’t inspections only routine at ports near Luo City? This spot was still some distance from the Royal Capital.
“The Demon Subduing Division?” Yin Luan’s eyes lit up. “Come on, let’s go take a look!”
Xiao Luo and Lily had been told to stay in their cabin.
Even ordinary members of the Demon Subduing Division posed no threat to them, but it was best not to take chances by wandering about.
As for Snake, not even Senior Sister Zou Lian could detect her true nature—regular inspectors stood no chance.
At the shore, Yin Luan and Ren Tan happened upon a Demon Subduing Division squad reassembling after checking a cargo vessel.
They were all strapping men, built like oxen.
Ages ranging from twenty to thirty-five, tall and broad-shouldered, with stern faces that brooked no nonsense. Even from several dozen feet away, one could feel the robust “yang qi” radiating from their powerful physiques.
Unlike Du Xuan and Zou Lian’s group from the Secret Investigation Hall, these men belonged to one of the Demon Subduing Division’s three halls: the Evil-Exorcism Hall. They were the type to act first and speak not at all—ruthless operators through and through.
The Secret Investigation Hall’s main duty was probing reports of Evil Spirits across the Great Zhou Kingdom and verifying their authenticity.
If a threat proved too dangerous for them to handle alone, they’d request backup from the Evil-Exorcism Hall.
Members of the two halls trained in different directions as well.
The Secret Investigation Hall emphasized versatility: talismans, formations, fists, feet, Innate Techniques—they dabbled in it all to ensure they could complete their missions.
The Demon Subduing Hall only needed to cultivate skills for slaying and butchering demons. They were nothing more than pure executioners.
“At most fifteen years, and they’ll have to retire from their posts,” Eldest Young Lady Ren Tan whispered softly. “It’s said that even among the Innate Experts, they’re an extremely special bunch.”
The outside world had no idea how the Demon Subduing Division trained these Innate Experts, nor why they were only “used” for a dozen or so years before being forcibly retired.
The two of them didn’t dare get too close and simply watched from afar.
In fact, no one in the entire harbor dared approach them. Wherever the Evil-Exorcism Hall went, unrelated people fled as far as they could.
Lined up in formation, this group of expressionless Innate Experts marched past Yin Luan with uniform steps, heading toward the next ship awaiting inspection.
During this, only the leader turned his head and gave her a glance.
A chill instantly rose in the Little Snake Demon’s heart.
This wasn’t the chill of her identity being exposed. It was an instinctive reaction to his gaze—one that seemed to utterly disregard life and treat death with indifference.
Seeing that look in his eyes, no one would doubt that whatever lay ahead, as long as it had anything to do with evil spirits, they would swing their blades without the slightest hesitation.
“Demon Subduing Division. Please cooperate with the inspection.”
Even before boarding the ship, they still followed the rules and asked politely.
“C-Co-Co-Cooperate…”
The captain’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, stammering out his response.
“To be honest,” Eldest Young Lady Ren Tan pondered for a moment before commenting, “I don’t know whether the evil spirits we encountered in Snake Valley were more terrifying, or if these people are even scarier…”
Malicious ghosts were frightening, but as long as one knew the right method, they could be eliminated.
But these people… were they really human at all?
The Demon Subduing Division’s search was quiet and orderly, with no destruction caused. Though the people at the harbor were afraid deep down, they all cooperated.
However, it wasn’t long before another group arrived at the harbor.
They rode sturdy warhorses, clad in armor, wielding polearms and spears, with long sabers slung across their backs. Black masks covered their faces, revealing only their eyes. In terms of sheer burliness, they surpassed even the men from the Evil-Exorcism Hall.
The captain at their lead leaped down from his horse and bellowed in a resounding voice.
“Forbidden Martial Army is here! All personnel at the harbor, do not move about freely. Submit to investigation!”
No one in the harbor had been moving to begin with.
The only ones bold enough were the Demon Subduing Division.
“Another group?” the Little Snake Demon said with satisfaction. “Not bad, not bad. Finally, something interesting is happening…”
