#69 - Is it time for Xu Xuenuo to test his sword?

The next morning, Xu Ming and the other four gathered at the First Military Camp. Each of them carried a package and began running towards Jiangnan Prefecture without stopping.

After all, even riding a horse wasn't as fast as Xu Ming and the others running.

Those precious horses with mixed blood of exotic beasts were definitely not for rookies like Xu Ming and his group to ride.

Three days later,

"My lords, you've finally arrived!"

"Lord Liu, you are too kind."

"This isn't just politeness; we've truly been looking forward to your arrival. Please, take a seat."

At the Xinping County Yamen in Wu Kingdom, Xu Ming and his group of five, who had traveled from Wudu, received a warm welcome from the Xinping County Magistrate.

In Xu Ming's team, the youngest was Xu Ming at eleven years old, and the oldest was Li Han at fifteen.

The magistrate of Xinping County wasn't surprised at all by such a young "Monster Beast Extermination Team."

After all, the Blood Floating Pagoda often sent "children" on missions, and everyone in the Wu Kingdom was used to it.

"Lord Liu, please tell us the detailed situation," Li Han, as the team leader, asked with a smile.

Lord Liu stroked his beard: "It's like this, recently, it's spring, which is also the mating season for monster beasts, so their activity will be more frequent, which is normal.

In the past, we could defend against it, after all, there weren't any powerful monster beasts nearby.

But strangely, I don't know what happened, but a Thunderstorm Bear suddenly became a fourth-order monster beast, becoming the beast king of the nearby monster beasts.

This damned monster beast is leading the nearby monster beasts in various acts of destruction.

Several villages near our Xinping County have suffered severe attacks, almost being slaughtered, and now over a thousand people have died!

Our Xinping County is just a small county. The constables and county soldiers in the county combined are only five hundred people, and the highest realm is only a Martial Artist at the peak of the Second Stage.

So we were wondering if you could kill that beast king.

If that's the case, those monster beasts should be able to disperse."

Li Han nodded, patting his chest: "That's naturally not a problem, but does Lord Liu know the hiding place of that beast king?"

"I know, I know." Lord Liu nodded, "That Thunderstorm Bear is in Shunan Mountain. Tomorrow, this official will call all the county soldiers to go with the five of you."

Xu Ming thought for a moment and said, "Lord Liu, that won't be necessary. Just give us the map of Shunan Mountain. Once a monster beast enters the fourth order, it already has a certain amount of intelligence. If there are too many people, it may be exposed. At that time, we will be besieged, which will only cause more unnecessary losses.

It's better for the five of us to sneak over and exterminate it."

Li Han nodded, agreeing: "That makes sense."

"Alright then, this subordinate will wait for the triumphant return of you lords. The wine and dishes have already been prepared. This subordinate will first host a banquet for you lords to wash away the dust of your journey!"

Lord Liu warmly invited Xu Ming and the others to eat.

After three days and three nights of frantic running, Xu Ming and the other four were indeed starving. Except for Wu Yanhan, who held a small bowl and ate small mouthfuls, Xu Ming and the other three were all holding rice buckets.

After recuperating and getting a good night's sleep, Xu Ming and the other four took the map and headed to Shunan Mountain.

"I... I feel something is a little strange..." Guang Yin said on the way.

"Hmm?" Li Han looked at Guang Yin, "Little Yinzi, what do you mean?"

Although Guang Yin had a bird, he was too timid, so Li Han gave Guang Yin a nickname called Little Yinzi.

Guang Yin expressed his doubts: "Logically speaking, as a dynasty official, the county magistrate is blessed by the dynasty's luck and can use dynasty techniques. I heard that the Ling Shui County Magistrate, with just a warrant, exterminated the local River God. Can't the county magistrate deal with a fourth-order monster beast?

But this is just my thought, it may not be right...

I'm just saying."

"Little Yinzi, you can't say that."

Xiong Haizhi explained.

"Normally speaking, the official seal and dynasty techniques mastered by the county magistrate can indeed exterminate a fourth-order monster beast, but the problem is that, as far as I know, this Lord Liu has only been in office for two months, and a new official needs four months to be in harmony with the official seal, so it's normal to ask us for help."

"Oh, oh..." Guang Yin nodded quickly, "So that's how it is."

"But Xiong Haizhi, you've made a mistake."

Wu Yanhan, who had been silent all along, said coldly from the side.

"You know that a new official needs four months to be in harmony with the official seal, but do you know that, in order to address this vacuum period, a new law has recently appeared in the imperial court that whenever an official takes office, a Heroic Soul Realm Martial Artist will go to help guard the area.

It's just that that Heroic Soul Realm Martial Artist seems to have taken half a month's leave because his wife committed adultery with someone else, damaging his martial heart.

Who knew that Xinping County would have an accident during these half a month.

It just so happened that our Blood Floating Pagoda's selection ended, and the rookies had to participate in the trial, so they let us fill in for a while."

"..." Xu Ming frowned, "Isn't this a bit too coincidental?"

"It's alright, doesn't a saying go, 'No coincidence, no story?'"

Li Han put his arm around Xu Ming's shoulder.

"Alright, everyone, don't think so much, anyway, if we kill that Thunderstorm Bear, we'll complete the mission, right? Who cares about the rest?"

Xu Ming understood that Li Han wanted everyone not to overthink, or their punches wouldn't be clean when the time came.

Xu Ming didn't say much, but still retained a suspicion.

He always felt that this monster beast extermination wouldn't be that simple.

Wudu Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

Emperor Wu was, as always, reviewing memorials.

Eunuch Wei walked in with small steps, kneeling in grand salute: "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Wu raised his eyes, glanced at Wei Xun, and then continued to review the memorials: "Get up. How is it? Did Xu Ming and the others arrive at Jiangnan Prefecture?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Xun said respectfully, "It's just that, Your Majesty, Xinping County in Jiangnan Prefecture is a bit strange. This time, Xu Ming and the others' mission is a bit ominous."

"Strange?" Emperor Wu raised his head.

"Your Majesty, this is a secret report from the Listening Wind Pavilion." Wei Xun stepped forward and presented the secret report.

Emperor Wu took the secret report, and as he read it, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Your Majesty, should we let General Mo go?" Wei Xun asked, "With General Mo's speed, he would arrive in less than an hour."

"No need." Emperor Wu shook his head, "How can a Martial Artist of My Peak Realm be dispatched so casually? Which sect is closest to Jiangnan Prefecture?"

Wei Xun thought for a moment: "Ten Thousand Swords Sect."

Emperor Wu smiled: "Xu Xuenuo's natal flying sword has been sharpened. Isn't it time to test the sword?"

Wei Xun was stunned: "Your Majesty means?"

Emperor Wu put down the secret report: "Send a flying sword message to Ten Thousand Swords Sect. Sect Leader Jiang should be happy to let his disciple go."