Chapter 234: Chapter 233: Surprisingly Good

Wu Chen naturally knew it was best not to speak in absolutes.

After all, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in and around Cold Rain City were at stake. If the enemy’s numbers were terrifyingly high, he alone would indeed be outmatched. It was better to mobilize more manpower.

Besides, every matter, regardless of scale, demanded a cautious approach to avoid any major mistakes.

So, when Wu Chen added that final, necessary remark, it wasn’t because he lacked confidence, but to make his stance clear.

"That is, of course, the more prudent approach." Sun Yuting nodded in agreement. She didn’t think Wu Chen’s words were out of line in the slightest.

After all, he had a point. If they uncovered the enemy, they could just take them down on the spot.

And with Wu Chen’s power, that was entirely possible, as long as the enemy wasn’t too numerous.

If they followed the usual procedure—investigating the situation thoroughly before requesting Demon Suppression Guards, and then those guards spent another five or six days rushing to the remote Cold Rain City... who knew what other mishaps could occur in the meantime? If the situation spiraled out of control, it would be a classic case of being penny-wise and pound-foolish.

"Captain Sun, how many people does the order for this Cold Rain City mission call for? Since it sounds so dangerous, I wonder if I might be able to go along?"

Li Youtao had gradually calmed down from his initial shock after hearing Wu Chen’s tactful remark.

But considering how serious the two of them were making it sound, the mission had to be extremely dangerous.

He had been stuck at the Linwei Garrison for long enough, after all. He wanted to take this opportunity to get out and stretch his legs, to loosen up joints that had grown stiff from sitting around.

Besides, with Zhao Deyi’s death in Hidden Wind Valley, the incident where he’d beaten the man up was now water under the bridge. He would likely be transferred out of the Linwei Garrison within two or three months anyway.

So, no one would make a fuss or pursue the matter if he took a trip to Cold Rain City for a few days.

"..."

At his words, Sun Yuting said nothing, but her gaze shifted thoughtfully toward the middle-aged man on the main seat.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and a severe look unconsciously crept into her eyes.

Wu Chen also raised an eyebrow, his own gaze filled with displeasure.

Under their combined stares, Li Youtao instantly got the message and hurriedly backpedaled.

"Ah, well, things are quite busy here at the Linwei Garrison. I still have to instruct the guards in their Martial Arts... I completely forgot I can’t get away..."

Hit by the young woman’s sharp gaze and remembering her daunting status, Li Youtao broke out in a cold sweat and quickly claimed to have been muddle-headed.

He shot an imperceptible glance at the young woman’s peerless beauty, then at the handsome young man who had already reached the Leakless Realm at such a young age.

’Isn’t it obvious what else this Golden Eagle Captain wants to accomplish on this trip to Cold Rain City, besides the mission itself?’

’The two of them will be having a fine time on the road together. What would I be doing, hopping around like a third wheel?’

’Playing cheerleader?’

"..."

Compared to Sun Yuting’s, Wu Chen’s glare, though unfriendly, was relatively simple.

There was no longing for the opposite sex in it, only an insatiable hunger for mission merits.

’So,’ he thought, ’if another person comes along, doesn’t that just mean one more person to split the reward with?’

Thus, he was rather annoyed at the sight of Li Youtao trying to join their team.

"Captain Sun, since the journey to Cold Rain City is long, why don’t we set out now?"

Wu Chen pulled his gaze away from the man on the main seat and looked at the young woman across from him, who held the mission scroll and transfer order.

He had few belongings, no preparations to make, and no family to bid farewell to.

He could leave at a moment’s notice.

"Alright. There’s no time to waste. Let’s go."

Sun Yuting nodded. Without any hesitation, she was ready to depart. After taking a couple of steps, however, she turned to look at Li Youtao, who had risen to see them off.

"Captain Li, although we just made this mission sound incredibly perilous, it’s ultimately just our own speculation. We don’t know the real situation yet."

"And since Cold Rain City has so few guards, it’s possible they’ve exaggerated the situation. We might find out it’s just a few human traffickers."

"If this mission truly requires reinforcements, I’ll be sure to send word for you to come."

Sun Yuting was well aware of Li Youtao’s strength. Among cultivators of the same realm, he was considered one of the powerful ones.

He was also reliable and had an upright, righteous character.

He had only been demoted to the Linwei Garrison because he had offended Zhao Deyi.

Now that several months had passed, it was time to turn the page on that incident, regardless of whether Zhao Deyi had died or not.

Besides, Li Youtao needed merits to be promoted to Golden Eagle Captain, and the Demon Suppression Bureau needed talents like him.

So, if there were indeed merits to be earned, Sun Yuting certainly wouldn’t be stingy about it.

"Thank you for your consideration, Captain Sun!"

Li Youtao’s expression turned solemn as he repeatedly cupped his hands in a salute.

He knew her words meant more than just a simple chance to earn merits in Cold Rain City.

He estimated that in ten days or half a month, once she returned from Cold Rain City, he would be transferred out of the Linwei Garrison.

Sun Yuting said no more and simply led Wu Chen out of the Linwei Garrison.

Under the envious gazes of all the Linwei Garrison guards, Wu Chen followed Sun Yuting out into the courtyard.

Sun Yuting then stopped, turning to the young man behind her and said softly,

"This uniform is too conspicuous for a trip to Cold Rain City. I’m going to change my clothes and alter my appearance a bit. Wait for me at the west city gate."

Wu Chen glanced at the golden eagle emblem on her shoulder and nodded. "Right."

’It’s an investigation, after all. Wearing that uniform is definitely inappropriate.’

’Not only would it alert the enemy, but going there so openly would be like shouting to the culprits in Cold Rain City: "Be careful, I’m here to get you!"’

’So, a change of clothes was the bare minimum.’

"..."

After leaving the garrison, Wu Chen went to an inn to retrieve his horse.

He then made his way to the area outside the west gate of Cangwu City and settled in to wait.

After roughly the time it took for two incense sticks to burn, Wu Chen heard the sound of approaching hoofbeats.

He looked back to see Sun Yuting, now dressed in a silver-gray, close-fitting martial outfit. The rest of her appearance was largely unchanged.

But without her majestic, standard-issue Demon Suppression Captain’s uniform, her face lost some of its imposing authority, replaced by the sharp competence of a warrior.

"This is for you."

Riding up beside him, Sun Yuting handed a delicate, silver-white, and faintly fragrant storage pouch to Wu Chen, who was still on his horse.

"This is...?"

Wu Chen accepted the pouch, puzzled. The moment it settled in his hand, its contents were revealed to his mind’s eye.

Inside was a Martial Arts manual for the Leakless Realm.

There was also a pile of familiar brown porcelain vials—Nourishing Essence Pills. By the looks of it, there were about a hundred of them.

Staring at these two items, Wu Chen’s mind went blank for a moment.

’Didn’t the Demon Suppression Bureau have a rule? Work first, reward later.’

He had no problem with that rule.

’But today, had that rule just been changed?’

’And he was the beneficiary!’

It made him feel a little...

...conflicted. No, this was great!

"Isn’t this against the rules?"

Wu Chen felt the exquisite storage pouch in his hand was almost too hot to hold.

After the mission to Hidden Wind Valley, she had already helped him secure his merits. He had already profited greatly from her help.

Now, before this mission had even begun, he was receiving a reward that was nearly on par with a Level A mission.

It made him feel a little apprehensive.

’How could he ever repay this young woman’s kindness!’

"Just think of it as an advance on your payment. It’s no big deal."

Sun Yuting said with a careless air, "Besides, with your strength, are you telling me you can’t earn back merits worth this much?"

Wu Chen nodded. She had a point.

’In fact,’ he thought, ’the only real concern should be whether the Demon Suppression Bureau has enough Level A missions for him to complete.’

Seeing him nod, clearly confident in his abilities, Sun Yuting’s tone shifted as she smiled.

"Since you joined the Demon Suppression Bureau, if I recall correctly, you’ve already obtained three Leakless Realm Martial Arts manuals and three hundred Nourishing Essence Pills."

"Three Leakless Realm Martial Arts manuals are enough to circulate your source energy throughout your entire body."

"As for the three hundred Nourishing Essence Pills, even if your body can handle taking one a day, that’s almost a year’s supply—more than enough to temper your physique into something formidable."

"With your talent and strength, you’ll probably break through to the Armor Forging Realm in a year or two!"

She blinked, her gaze roving over him.

Unexpectedly, Wu Chen shook his head.

"Oh? Don’t tell me you’re being modest now!" Sun Yuting’s red lips parted slightly, as if the very idea of him showing humility was an incredible sight.

Wu Chen paid no mind to her surprise. He didn’t say a word, simply turning his gaze inward to his status panel.

’A year or two?’

’One day!’

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