The dark cave reeked of a foul smell.
As Wei Fan and the other two entered, they discovered the ground was littered with white bones.
From the outside, the cave didnât look big, but upon entering, it was extremely spacious. After walking for a while, the three of them spotted several large wooden chests in a corner of the cave.
Yu Hong rushed over and opened two in a row; both were filled with gold, silver, and jewelry.
His eyes sparkled; these things did not need to be handed over to the Demon Suppression Bureau. The spoils of the mission were theirs to keep, even for things like the Demon Pouch; the Demon Suppression Bureau required merits to exchange for them.
Wealth is not useless to a martial artist; martial arts elixirs and divine weapons can all be purchased with money.
If it were truly useless, Demon Fiends would not collect it.
He continued opening, finding the third also full of gold, silver, and jewelry. When he opened the fourth, it was finally not treasures, but a box full of medicinal herbs.
There were ginseng, reishi, and moreâmost of which Wei Fan couldnât even recognize.
He saw even Li Fengyi was somewhat unsettled, her gaze fixed intensely on the box.
On top of the four large chests was a small box, over half a foot in size. Wei Fan reached out, gently opened it, and inside were several secret manuals.
Seeing the secret manuals, neither Li Fengyi nor Yu Hong showed interest in the gold, silver, and jewelry, and leaned in for a look.
Demon Fiends cannot cultivate human martial arts but can use them for reference, so itâs not surprising to find secret manuals.
Wei Fan took out the secret manuals from the box and found there were three in total.
One was labeled "Breath Concealment Technique," another "Great Power Vajra Palm," and the last one "Vajra Leg."
The moment he saw the names, he noticed Yu Hong lost interest, and Li Fengyi looked equally disappointed.
Wei Fan looked to the two of them with a glance, "What? Are these all trash youâve heard of?"
Yu Hong nodded, "Theyâre all trash!"
Li Fengyi shook her head, "Donât listen to him; itâs not that these three martial arts are trash, itâs just that theyâre useless for him and me.
This Breath Concealment Technique is used to conceal oneâs aura, no wonder these Demon Fiends went unnoticed when they entered the city.
Weâve all cultivated the Breath Concealment Technique; in the Jianghu, itâs essential for hiding oneâs cultivation.
You probably havenât cultivated it yet, so it suits you well.
Both the Great Power Vajra Palm and Vajra Leg are very powerful body refining martial techniques, also quite suitable for you.
The Demon Suppression Bureau has them too, but now that youâve obtained them outside, you donât need to spend merits to exchange for them."
She knew Wei Fan fairly well, aware that although Wei Fan practiced body refining, apart from a Horizontal Training Realm Giant Bear Palm, she had never seen Wei Fan demonstrate any Body Refining Realm martial techniques.
The Great Power Vajra Palm and Vajra Leg perfectly compensated for Wei Fanâs shortcomings in this area.
"Then I wonât be polite!"
Wei Fan tucked the three secret manuals close to his body.
The group continued searching the cave for a while longer but found nothing else of value.
"Letâs go down the mountain!"
With a strength of seventy thousand catties in one arm, Wei Fan effortlessly picked up a large chest in each hand and walked out of the cave, while Li Fengyi and Yu Hong each grabbed one and followed suit.
...
At the Bamboo Sea County Yamen!
"Lord, the wound has been treated, fortunately without harming the tendons or bones. Iâve prescribed some medicine; rest for a period and youâll recover. Please be careful not to let it get wet recently."
The Physician stood up, tidying his medical kit, while a guard stepped forward to help Li Wenchang dress.
"Thank you, Doctor Wang. Go quickly and fetch the consultation fee for Doctor Wang, and see him back to his residence!"
Li Wenchang waved off the guard, dressing himself, his expression full of gratitude.
Hearing this, Doctor Wang quickly shook his head, "My lord, itâs unnecessary. You were injured while ridding Bamboo Sea County of Demon Fiends, and treating your injury is my privilege. How could I take your consultation feeâIâd be scorned by the townsfolk."
Lord Li is such a good person, those Demon Fiends almost harmed him.
Thinking about this, Doctor Wang couldnât help but get angry, "Those damn Demon Fiends! When the officials of the Demon Suppression Bureau arrive, we must have them cut to pieces. Fortunately, my lord, you are safe and sound, or else the sky above Bamboo Sea County would have collapsed."
Li Wenchang showed a look of sorrow, "If it werenât for the Captains and the Demon Suppression Bureauâs experts risking their lives to save me, I wouldnât have returned. They are the real sky of Bamboo Sea County. I will certainly submit a plea to the Demon Suppression Bureau to bring out the real experts to avenge them."
Upon hearing that it was the Captains and the Demon Suppression Bureau expertsâ efforts that saved Li Wenchang, Doctor Wang immediately felt respect.
He was about to praise the Captains and the Demon Suppression Bureau experts when suddenly he heard a mocking voice, "Your little act of self-harm should end now!"
Doctor Wang turned around to see two young men, who had appeared at some point, looking at Li Wenchang with teasing smiles.
"Who are you, daring to trespass into the County Yamen!"
The arrest officers and constables present realized and drew their weapons, pointing at Wei Fan and Yu Hong, treating them as formidable foes.
"If you donât want to die, donât act rashly. We are from the Demon Suppression Bureau; youâd better look carefully at what this is."
Yu Hong threw a badge to one of the arrest officers, who checked it and immediately relaxed, hastily saluting, "This humble one greets the lords."
Wei Fan strolled over toward Li Wenchang, whose expression had already changed.
"You...werenât you already..."
Looking at the smiling yet not-smiling Wei Fan, Li Wenchang felt a chill run through his body, instantly breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Were you trying to say we had already been eaten by the Demon Fiends? Unfortunately, their teeth werenât good enough to chew us up, and we ended up killing them all instead!"
Li Wenchang trembled all over.
Wei Fan stepped forward and kicked him off his chair, taking a seat himself.
The movement tugged at Li Wenchangâs wound, and he couldnât help but let out a miserable cry.
"Colluding with Demon Fiends, harming people of the Demon Suppression Bureau, Li Wenchang, prepare for your execution!"