To Lin Fan, the conversation between Lord Wang and the constable was purely something he could treat as a storytime session.
Occasionally, to match the mood, he'd throw in a couple of "hmm hmm" responses.
To show that everything they said made perfect sense.
Clapping internally, he admired their clear train of thought, honestly bowing down in defeat. Truly, he couldn't help but concede.
"My Lord, your subordinate will take his leave," Lin Fan said, not wanting any part in this business. Besides, it had nothing to do with him. Playing it safe was his style. If he had an Undying Body, he'd be the first to volunteer to head out and investigate the situation.
But for now, he was just a weakling with eleven years of cultivation.
Not qualified to join the high-stakes game.
"Wait." Wang Zhou stopped Lin Fan.
To Lin Fan, that "wait" sounded like a bolt from the blue. It felt like the sky itself was collapsing. Oh no. Based on this opening line, it was definitely not going to lead to anything good.
And sure enough.
What Wang Zhou said next was the phrase Lin Fan feared most.
"You've only recently become a constable, lacking experience. You need proper tempering. Take your men and go with Chief Zhao to investigate the situation on-site."
"Any issues with that?"
He hoped Lin Fan would grow quickly.
It wasn't required of him to slay demons, but at least be able to distinguish between a crime scene caused by humans and one caused by demons.
"Thank you for nurturing me, my Lord. Your subordinate has no issues whatsoever," Lin Fan replied with a resolute gaze, without showing the slightest hint of fear.
Are you kidding?
Even if he had a problem, he couldn't admit it.
If he was going to act spineless, he shouldn't have acted so brave earlier.
Wang Zhou again nodded with satisfaction, patting Lin Fan on the shoulder. "Work hard, I have high hopes for you."
Lin Fan was on the verge of tears.
He dreaded hearing people say, "I have high hopes for you." It made him panic. In dramas, characters who receive such praise typically end up dead, crippled, or possessed, spiraling into madness.
"Your subordinate will not let you down," Lin Fan replied with determination. Internally, he was furiously ranting— a normal reflex— but his outward response had to be proper and reliable.
"I'll assemble my men at the city gate and await Chief Zhao," he said before he left.
Internally, he felt like crying. He cursed himself for running his mouth, dragging Wang Zhou into conversation, and hitting the metaphorical gun barrel head-on. He could've chatted any other day, but no, it had to be today.
At the city gate.
Lin Fan saw Chief Zhao approaching from afar, waving his hand before going forward to converse and then leading the group toward the city outskirts.
Leaving the city for the first time, he felt a bit nervous.
"Boss, do you think we'll run into demons?" Wang Baoliu's head was filled with thoughts of demons. Even though he was a constable, he still had an innate fear of them.
"Shut your crow's mouth. If we do run into demons, you'll be the first one I throw at them as bait," Lin Fan glared at him. Damn it. First trip out, and you can't say something positive? Why bring up demons?
Wang Baoliu shrank his head and retreated into the crowd, looking aggrieved. The other constables whispered among themselves, telling him that he'd brought the trouble on himself.
"Chief Zhao, how come you didn't bring your own team along for this operation?" Lin Fan asked curiously. After all, Zhao Desheng was the head constable, and it made sense he'd have his own team. But now, his subordinates weren't coming out— only he did. Something felt off.
Honestly, Lin Fan did feel a bit uneasy.
After all, here, besides Chief Zhao being a skilled fighter, the rest of them were small fries. If real danger showed up, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"You know how long I've been a constable?" Chief Zhao's expression was blank as he continued walking ahead.
"I don't know," Lin Fan admitted. He had no way of knowing Zhao had been a constable for so many years. But he had to admit, being able to survive in a demon-filled world, while working such a dangerous job, was no small accomplishment.
"Thirteen years. I've been a constable for thirteen years. By the second year, I became Chief, leading twenty-three brothers to guard Jiangdu City. We've handled 138 demon-related cases and slain 246 demons," Zhao Desheng said flatly, as if recounting something trivial. But the results, undeniably, were astonishing.
Lin Fan listened, dumbfounded, as did the rest of the group, including Wang Baoliu, your average folks.
Chief Zhao just seemed too incredible.
"Did they all get promoted?" Lin Fan guessed that was the only possibility. Considering how fierce Zhao Desheng's group used to be, Lin Fan couldn't help comparing Zhao's team to his own group. The difference was worlds apart.
"Promoted? I'd rather they be promoted and leave Jiangdu City than see them die right before my eyes," Zhao Desheng said, his expression briefly shifting before reverting to calm.
"As their leader, they're your brothers. You have a responsibility to protect their safety. Remember, sometimes demons aren't what's most terrifying. The scariest thing is still humans."
Lin Fan had a sneaking suspicion that Chief Zhao was hinting at something.
"Such as?"
He wanted to know exactly what kind of situation could lead to death not caused by demons but humans instead.
Chief Zhao smirked, looking at Lin Fan. "Don't ask too many questions. You've only been a constable for a short time but already made Chief. That shows you've got talent for this work. Plus, Lord Wang holds you in high regard and wants to train you. Don't let him down."
Alexander-level pressure.
Being held in high regard was seriously stressful.
Perhaps this was the kind of trouble that came with being an outstanding person.
The group moved along the main road, then onto a smaller path, eventually venturing into the forest. The surrounding trees were tall and lush.
During the journey, Lin Fan took the initiative to chat with Chief Zhao and quickly extracted useful information.
Chief Zhao's full name was Zhao Desheng. He was single— not even a wife, so forget any talk of children.
He was one of Jiangdu City's veteran constables. Despite being Chief, he didn't have a team. According to him, "I'm not a qualified Chief. I don't deserve comrades who would live and die alongside me."
"This is a weathered old-timer with a story to tell," Lin Fan thought.
Who doesn't have a story? But Zhao's tale seemed especially tragic. Though Lin Fan didn't know all the details, losing all twenty-three of his comrades was undoubtedly a heavy blow.
After some time.
They arrived at Ten Li Ground.
This was a place name, not a distance from Jiangdu City.
Three carriages stopped there, loaded with goods, though the horses were nowhere to be seen. Whether they'd been eaten, or simply couldn't endure the loneliness of being left untended, they apparently went in search of someone to whip them again.
"Be careful," Zhao Desheng warned, scanning the area. Out in the wild, the chance of danger was high. If luck was bad, they could even encounter demons.
Demons were indeed real.
Although there weren't many near Jiangdu City, carelessness wasn't an option.
"Pair up and keep watch on all sides. Report any unusual movements immediately," Lin Fan instructed, signaling for everyone to spread out and monitor the surroundings.
"Boss, should we check the area for clues? Who knows, maybe there are some traces left behind," one of the constables suggested.
"Do you have a death wish? If you wander off from our sight and actually run into demons, what are you going to fight them with?" Lin Fan retorted, exasperated. What was wrong with this group? Didn't they have basic common sense? When investigating in remote areas, the most taboo thing was to go searching for clues alone.
In a typical scenario:
When you find a clue and rush back excitedly to share it with everyone, a thing that shouldn't exist sneaks up behind you.
And then… nothing. Game over.
Snuffed out.
Luckily for you, I'm your leader. Count your blessings.
PS: I've got this nagging feeling someone's trying to mess with me. What do I do?