Qingzhou. Linjiang Prefecture.

The Demon Suppression General’s compound.

Chen Qiankun read the letter that had come from Qingzhou city. Jiang Qiulan’s handwriting. According to what it said, his Demon Suppression General should have arrived in Linjiang Prefecture a few days ago.

So — where was he?

Liu Yuchuan stood awkwardly to one side, watching the old general’s white-streaked hair. Every so often he’d take the letter out and read it again. Then, right on schedule, exhale.

“Might have been delayed by something along the way.”

Chen Qiankun put the letter away. “Young people are busy. Very normal. I genuinely don’t mind.”

By all reasoning — the young man had gone to the capital for War Temple refinements and should now be at Condensate Perfection, entering the core-nurturing stage. How could he not be eager?

The old general genuinely felt the prefecture’s accumulated faith was being wasted on him.

Over eight hundred years old, and still hadn’t broken past the third threshold, still hadn’t fully manifested a divine spirit.

If it were Shen Yi instead, that faith would accomplish so much more.

He was waiting for the young man to come and familiarize himself with Linjiang’s situation. This old wreck could stand down.

“General Chen — General Shen has arrived.”

Two Commanders came in quickly and clasped their hands.

Liu Yuchuan let out a breath. He watched the old general, who had just said he didn’t mind at all, jump to his feet and stride out of the main hall.

Ah. The old general genuinely felt his strength failing. Otherwise he wouldn’t be this eager.

Hopefully once General Shen arrived, the old man could finally rest properly.

In the front courtyard.

Chen Qiankun looked at the sharp-featured young man in black armor and felt an inexplicable satisfaction he couldn’t quite name.

And this time was different from before.

Perhaps because they’d met two or three times — the young man no longer seemed quite as distant. His eyes even carried a faint anticipation.

What he was anticipating, Chen Qiankun didn’t know. But the old general wasn’t a stingy person. Anything Linjiang could offer, he wouldn’t hold back — it was all going to be the young man’s eventually anyway.

“Shen Yi greets the old General.” A clasped bow.

“Stop presenting yourself like a subordinate. You’re also a General here now.” He shook his head.

Whatever their slight unfamiliarity — from personal attendant to Demon Suppression General, the young man’s manner toward this old man had never changed.

“Come in.”

He turned and led him inside, then said with feeling: “You’re not one to show up without reason. This is probably the first time you’ve actually come here specifically to see me.”

Liu Yuchuan stood to one side, privately amused.

It wasn’t just the first time visiting the old general — this was one of the first times General Shen had come to Linjiang at all.

Shen Yi considered for a moment, and then said quietly:

“Actually — this time there’s also something to discuss.”

“…”

Chen Qiankun’s motion paused. He exhaled. “I’ve truly never met a busier person in Qingzhou. Say it directly. What does General Shen need from this old wreck.”

“The Yangchun River flood dragon.”

Shen Yi laid out everything he’d overheard between the blue-faced lions, one point after another.

As his words settled—

Both Chen Qiankun and Liu Yuchuan’s expressions went immediately unpleasant.

“The Howling Moon Demon King wants to help the old flood dragon break through?”

The old general’s voice had gone sharper. He’d barely crossed into the second threshold of the core-nurturing stage — enough to manage the old flood dragon with some difficulty. If it broke through again, probably only You Longtao and Jiang Qiulan among all of Qingzhou’s Generals could handle it.

And You Longtao was already stretched too thin, while Jiang Qiulan had no particular advantage fighting demons in river environments.

Chen Qiankun’s mind went instinctively toward sending a message to the General.

But the years of experience showed — his thinking shifted in an instant.

“Could this be the demon king’s design — using my hand to pin down the General at the Yangchun River?”

A Martial Immortal’s divine spirit was formidable, but a river this vast wasn’t simple to manage.

If the old flood dragon refused to emerge — would the General’s divine spirit have to stand guard at the riverbank day after day?

“You—”

Liu Yuchuan opened his mouth helplessly. General Shen had already spelled it out clearly — the demons had lost a White Deer, and needed Qingzhou to give a life back in exchange. With Old General Chen aging and not among the strongest, he was the easiest target.

Someone was after your life, and you were still worrying about other things.

He couldn’t quite stop himself. “General Shen’s meaning, I think, is that the old general should avoid this danger.”

“…”

Shen Yi looked at him in silence.

When had he said anything like that.

Chen Qiankun noticed the shift in expression. “Say it plainly. I don’t mind.”

At that, Shen Yi stopped holding back. He stood.

“I’d ask the old general to take a position at the river’s edge. And if possible — be somewhat conspicuous about it.”

Both remaining people fell silent at once.

No wonder he came from the demon-hunters. The approach was deeply familiar.

“Understood — you want to establish the flood dragon’s location. Keep it from surfacing somewhere else and causing damage in a different area.”

Chen Qiankun worked hard to find the diplomatic phrasing.

He really didn’t want to describe himself as bait.

“But even if the old General draws the flood dragon out — how exactly would it be dealt with?” Liu Yuchuan asked without thinking, and saw the old General direct a cool look at him.

He fell quiet immediately, unable to identify what he’d said wrong.

Chen Qiankun steadied his breathing. He finally understood what the anticipation in the young man’s eyes had been.

He wanted this old thing’s life.

He also wanted the answer. The old general looked at the young man with genuine curiosity.

“The rest can be left to me.” Shen Yi said it calmly.

“Hss!“

Liu Yuchuan seized his own hair. The feeling was familiar — it sent him straight back to the month before, going to Baiyun County for the fox demon. The same expression. The exact same tone. And then the fox had been stripped bare.

But this wasn’t a Condensate Perfection fox demon. This was a core-nurturing old flood dragon. In the Yangchun River where it had lived for thousands of years—

“I understand.”

Chen Qiankun gave a small nod, then said with complete sincerity: “You genuinely do want my life.”

Before Shen Yi could respond, the old general laughed openly.

“As far as I know — General Shen has never disappointed anyone.”

There genuinely wasn’t a better option at this point.

He stood as well. “The only problem is I truly have no idea what counts as being conspicuous. Let me prepare a little.”

“Then I won’t disturb the old general further.”

He was no better at that kind of thing himself. No advice to give.

The old general had agreed so readily — it actually surprised Shen Yi slightly. He hadn’t expected to be this trusted.

He walked quickly out of the hall.

About a dozen steps away — a very quiet sound reached him from behind.

“Send a message to Jiang Qiulan. Tell her to come rescue me quickly.”

Shen Yi: “…”

(End of Chapter)