Linjiang Prefecture, the Demon Suppression General's residence.

Jiang Qiulan stood quietly in the courtyard. She had waited about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn when a cool breeze settled outside the gate.

She said softly, "Back already?"

Shen Yi gave a slight nod, looking faintly curious. "Don't you need to cultivate?"

Jiang Qiulan shook her head. "Just a hair's breadth left now. From here it's all patience — slow grinding work."

"..."

Shen Yi arched an eyebrow, struck by the particular irritation of being compared to someone better.

He'd spent over ten grueling days combing every corner of Linjiang Prefecture — climbing every mountain, fording every river — hunting anything from Jade Liquid realm demons down to barely-awakened ones, and had only managed to harvest a little over two thousand years of lifespan for his trouble.

These days he couldn't help but stare at any dog larger than average for a moment, half-expecting it to start talking.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: 11,823 years】

"Where's Liu Yuchuan?"

"General Shen!"

Hearing his name called, Liu Yuchuan's face turned bitter. He hurried out, and before Shen Yi could even ask, launched straight into pleading. "There's really nothing left! This subordinate has mobilized every man we have, sweeping county by county... General Shen, they're not fools. With things the way they are, not one of them would dare linger in Linjiang Prefecture, let alone show its face..."

They were demons, not radishes in a field — you couldn't just will more of them into existence.

For any creature of heaven and earth to awaken intelligence in the first place was no easy thing.

"It's fine. I was just asking."

Shen Yi sighed inwardly. Back in Baiyun County alone there had been four whole demon nests. By comparison, the counties of Linjiang Prefecture were pitifully bare — half the time he could sweep through four or five counties and not turn up a single demon worth the name.

"Then this subordinate will take his leave."

Liu Yuchuan cupped his fists in salute, clearly unwilling to stay a moment longer, and bolted.