Monarch Night

Zhao Ying'er gave a charming smile and drifted away.

Her steps seemed exceptionally light.

She even jumped slightly after turning a corner where Fang Che couldn't see her.

Her long hair peeked over the wall, joyfully fluttering like a spring breeze, gently brushing past.

Zuo Guanglie stood at the door of the Steward Hall, watching Fang Che approach from afar, enviously saying, "Steward Fang is truly blessed."

"Oh?"

Fang Che laughed heartily.

Blessed?

Ah... It's best to make things clear with Zhao Ying'er tonight, so she doesn't waste her time on me.

Went to the Merit Department to check my merit points; hmm, 19,770 points.

Did three tasks today, so it's Golden Star.

It's just that the cultivation growth is too rapid; the effect of the Water Cloud Sky Fruit still hasn't worn off. Almost reaching the fourth grade general.

The fog vortex in the dantian isn't enough yet, need to suppress it more.

Thinking about this all the way, took Tang Zheng out of the Guardian Hall.

Tang Zheng was even more spirited today, looking like a completely different person from before.

"Oh, your cultivation progressed?"

Fang Che was surprised.

"Yes, I went back yesterday and used the Elixir Pills rewarded during this period, now I'm a ninth grade Innate Great Grandmaster!" Tang Zheng was overjoyed, "Once I accumulate some more merit, I can break through to Martial General."

His eyes were filled with anticipation, saying with a grin, "Steward Fang, once I break through to Martial General, I'll work hard and strive to become a Guardian Hall's steward like you."

He was full of endless longing and emotion, saying, "I never thought I'd have the chance to become a steward in my life."

Fang Che was silent.

He couldn't help but think of Mo Gan Yun and others.

Mo Gan Yun and others solidified their foundations to the extent that they didn't take any Elixir Pills before becoming Martial Generals.

Yet, those Elixir Pills they disregarded are supreme treasures for Tang Zheng. Some people struggle a lifetime and might not even get one!

He paused, then took out a bottle of low-level Elixir Pills usable by an Innate Great Grandmaster, saying, "I have a bottle here, loot from an enemy I defeated a while back. You can have it."

Tang Zheng was stunned.

His body trembled, "Steward Fang, this... this is a Pill with medicinal patterns! It's too valuable... I, I..."

He dared not accept, yet wanted it, caught in turmoil.

"Take it. You know I can't use this grade."

Fang Che sighed, placing it in Tang Zheng's hand.

Feeling Tang Zheng's hands tremble intensely, Fang Che gave an encouraging smile, saying while walking, "Doesn't your hall master brother-in-law give you any resources?"

"Resources..."

Tang Zheng chuckled, "With my character, always appearing useless, how could I get resources? There are many talents in the family, so they come first."

"Do you resent it?"

"Why resent, they are the family's hope. The stronger they are, the better we can live. They should be given priority."

Tang Zheng genuinely stated, "Sometimes when I get good things, I also send them to them."

Fang Che was silent.

He looked at the Elixir Pills in Tang Zheng's hand, suddenly feeling a bit of regret.

He didn't regret giving Tang Zheng the pills but worried that they might harm him.

...

People from the Worldwide Escort Agency hid within the crowd.

Always keeping an eye on Steward Fang's movements.

Then they started reporting the Demon Sect demons they found.

By noon, Fang Che had taken out two!

It must be said, this tactic of driving tigers to swallow wolves is quite effective, but Fang Che also noticed that this effect was weakening.

Many of the Demon Sect demons now simply did not show themselves.

Not knowing where they were hiding.

And for the Guardian Hall, these past seven or eight days had seen no losses.

It seemed as if all had already calmed down.

Tang Zheng said, "In this morning's meeting, the Hall Master's statement was that we would likely return to the old rhythm, starting a careful investigation and collecting clues bit by bit to catch one. Some found cannot be caught immediately, needing to lie low."

Fang Che frowned, turning his head, "Is that what the Hall Master said?"

"Indeed. Moreover, similar situations have occurred many times over the years, as they mentioned."

Tang Zheng said, "Many from the Demon Sect act like tourists, doing nothing, staying in the city for a while, and then disappearing naturally when their time limit is up."

"Remember there was once a report that over two thousand came from the Southeast, prompting the Guardian Halls to be on full alert, but in the end, combining all Guardian Halls, fewer than two hundred demons were caught or killed."

Tang Zheng said, "This time, the report was over ten thousand, but dispersed among the Southeast seventeen states, a state may see a thousand or so, and this time, all states combined, have already killed over two thousand. It seems we're reaching a turning point."

"In recent days, according to reports from other states, there's been none. It's just here that there have been a few major incidents, but looking at the current situation, it seems that it's almost over."

Tang Zheng said, "Steward Fang, you might not have noticed, even those teams frequently on missions have eased up significantly these days."

Fang Che appeared contemplative, saying, "Is that so..."

He stood on the road, gazing at the bustling crowd coming and going; contemplative in his gaze.

"Something's not right."

Fang Che shook his head, "This time, it's definitely unlike any before."

"There must be something bigger behind it."

His heart felt heavy.

From the beginning, he had been pondering one question.

Did the upper echelons of Wei Wo Zheng Sect really not know that sending so many young people here to train was essentially sending most of them to die? Few would return.

At the very least, not half would make it back.

Fang Che's mind envisioned Dongfang Sansan's clear and emaciated face, with that calm gaze.

With Dongfang's scheming, even with an understanding with the other party, the number of those who can return would be minimized.

Pushing you close to an explosion but never actually exploding.

In this way, these people arriving are essentially practice exercises for the Guardian Hall.

Or rather, the training and growth of Guardians here and subsequent talent development will be several times what Wei Wo Zheng Sect can send back.

This is a form of victory.

A victory in the game belonging to the superiors.

And this outcome, the upper echelons of Wei Wo Zheng Sect are also clearly aware of.

Then why continually send people here time and again?

"Continue patrolling the streets."

"Alright."

The morning passed uneventfully. During lunch, Fang Che was still musing.

...

Zhao Ying'er had already returned home, meticulously dressing herself, even changing out of the dress she initially thought fit and looked nice.

On the bed lay thirty to forty dresses, picking one after another in front of the mirror.

Finally, she chose the one she was most satisfied with.

Putting on her Snow Beast Skin Boots that she hadn't worn since buying them.

As she was about to leave, she went back to the mirror for some careful touch-ups.

Then happily headed out to buy wine.

Visiting Ren Chang always required bringing some wine.

That old drunkard usually was too frugal to buy good wine, so this time, she brought a bit more.

At Tiexue Platform, Zhao Ying'er bought twenty jars directly.

"Mr. Ren, I'll buy more for you in a while. For now, these should suffice for you for half a year with your frugality."

The winery owner smiled with squinted eyes, took the money, and said, "Steward Zhao, something good happened at home? Congratulations."

Zhao Ying'er blushed, saying, "No, I'm visiting Senior Steward Ren Chang."

"Oh... Steward Ren is a good person."

The winery owner sighed, "What a pity... I'll give Steward Ren a jar of wine."

Then handed back the Silver for one jar of wine.

Zhao Ying'er was surprised and moved, saying, "Thank you, but it's not necessary. Selling wine every day to earn money isn't easy either."

Insisting on paying the money.

The winery owner expressed concern, "Steward Zhao, with such chaotic times now, be careful going alone."

Zhao Ying'er smiled, "I'm not going alone, I'm going with Steward Fang."

"Oh..."

The owner suddenly understood, saying, "In advance, congratulations to Steward Zhao then."

Zhao Ying'er's face went red, feeling her heart fluttering like a little deer, scolding, "Don't say such things."

Feeling her secret was seen through, Zhao Ying'er hurried to leave, thus renting a small cart for transporting wine, lightly pulling it as she walked effortlessly towards the West Mountain.

West Mountain Cemetery is the Heroic Spirit Cemetery of the Guardian Hall.

Ren Chang and all the colleagues who died in service rested there.

Zhao Ying'er wore a smile like a blooming flower, her eyes flowing with emotion but tinged with pain, girlish thoughts drifting like dreams, poetry, even illusions.

Seeing that the late shen hour was approaching.

Zhao Ying'er quickened her pace, picking up the items in one hand as she swiftly flitted forward.

Her white clothes fluttered, leaving a fragrant breeze along the way.

West Mountain Cemetery was in sight.

The path of bluestone was already before her.

Zhao Ying'er steadied herself.

Taking the wine, she gently climbed up.

Then in front of a relatively new grave, she found Ren Chang's tomb.

The inscription read: Tomb of the Baiyun State Guardian Hall's second level steward, Ren Chang, and Kong Xiang, husband and wife.

This line of words was suggested by Fang Che.

"Mr. Ren Chang, I came to see you."

Zhao Ying'er placed the offerings, lit the incense, and slowly burned the prepared paper money.

Then popped open two jars of Tiexue Platform wine, pouring it into two bowls, filling the air with its aroma.

"Thank you for taking care of me all these years... Ying'er has no way to repay you; once even joking about taking care of you in your old age... Alas."

Zhao Ying'er slowly added more paper money into the fire heap.

After a while, she stood up, slowly pouring the wine in front of the tomb.

"You know, my monthly salary isn't small, and I often seize goods too. So... drink the wine without holding back. Drink freely, and in a few days, I'll bring you more. Ensure you never run out."

"Don't be so stingy again."

Zhao Ying'er felt deeply saddened.

...

Fang Che had already reached the west city, patrolling was still uneventful.

Noticed it was already late shen hour.

Remembered he still needed to visit Ren Chang.

Said to Tang Zheng, "You head back first; I'm going to pay my respects to Ren Chang."

Tang Zheng said, "Let me join you."

Fang Che considered, then said, "Perhaps it's not convenient."