I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 45 - 43 Mr. Lu’s Small Courtyard, Meeting the General Flag Envoy! [Ask for Monthly Pass!]

Chapter 45: Chapter 43 Mr. Lu’s Small Courtyard, Meeting the General Flag Envoy! [Ask for Monthly Pass!]

He stepped outside the Linjiang Station.

Lin Yan silently stowed the Linjiang banner away and took a deep breath, "Last night’s incident turned out to be more complex than I had anticipated."

He thought this and looked back once more.

Regarding these three subordinates, for now, they all seem quite competent.

Having Chief Clerk Yang openly discuss the Worshiping Evil Method was a way for him to personally observe how these three junior flag bearers would react.

If they had been cowed by the "Worshiping Evil Method", then they would be of little use in major matters; even if they agreed to stay on, they could not be entrusted with significant responsibilities.

But now, it appeared that these three were much more stable and reliable than he had imagined.

"Indeed, if they had chosen to follow Liang Hu last night, they might have had a chance to live, but by choosing to stay, they were prepared to face death,"

Lin Yan thought to himself, "To make such a decision in the face of life and death, they might not be wise, but this temperament deserves a second look."

With these thoughts, he walked toward the distance and passed through an alley.

Sensing no prying eyes nearby, he promptly turned his clothes inside out and changed his attire.

He hid his matching knife and concealed his crossbow, then took something to cover his shoes.

By the time he emerged from the other end of the alley, he casually removed the disguise on his face, becoming Lin Yan once again.

——

Inside Linjiang Station.

The three junior flag bearers were responsible for assisting Chief Clerk Yang with today’s various matters.

"Congratulations to the three of you for returning to the Linjiang Station," Chief Clerk Yang said with a smile.

"We also have to thank Chief Clerk Yang for speaking on our behalf in front of Master," the middle-aged man with a missing ear said, extending his greeting.

"It’s because the three of you value loyalty so highly that you caught Master’s eye," said Chief Clerk Yang, continuing, "However, the appearance of the Worshiping Evil Method is far from normal, and it was really unexpected that all three of you chose to stay."

"Apart from wielding a knife, I have no other skills to provide for my family," Zou Jin, the man with a missing ear, said with a laugh, touching his half ear.

"I could sell some labor," said Zheng Liu, grasping the junior flag in his hand and smiling, "But working at the Linjiang Station pays more silver taels, enough to get treatment for my ailing mother."

"I thought it was Master’s domineering presence that won your hearts and made you so loyal that you were willing to follow him to death," Chief Clerk Yang laughed, saying, "Turns out it’s all for the sake of these silver taels."

"Chief Clerk Yang underestimates them,"

Little Hui sat to the side, methodically cleaning his knife and slowly said, "Their willingness to stay is more about witnessing Master’s determination to protect Linjiang Square!"

"Moreover, protecting Linjiang Square is essentially protecting their own homes."

"Of course, the silver taels are also important."

"Working at the station allows them not only to protect their homes but also to earn silver taels, and if they die, there’s a pension," Little Hui finished. "Nowadays, in High Willow City, there aren’t many better jobs than this one."

After finishing his words, he sheathed the knife back in its scabbard.

"They all stay because they have no better options," Chief Clerk Yang said with a smile. "What about you, Little Hui? You’re all alone without a family to support; with your skills, you could go anywhere. Why choose to stay?"

"One who seeks martial arts achievement cannot go without medicinal baths, and I have my mind set on those blood-fortifying body tempering baths."

Little Hui stood up, waved his hands, picked up the Night Lamp with willow branches, and walked out.

"Where are you going?"

"The Flag Commander instructed me to leave the city after dawn to deliver a letter to Venerate," he answered.

"..."

Watching his receding figure, Chief Clerk Yang chuckled and shook his head.

It was then that Zou Jin finally moved his hand away from his half ear and said seriously, "That kid seems to have no family or connections, but in his heart, half of Linjiang Square is his home, all his concerns."

Subsequently, Zou Jin, looking at his knife, said with a smile, "When I got home last night, I found that a demon nearly made it to my doorstep... and then a crossbow arrow nailed it to the ground."

"Crossbow arrow?" Zheng Liu asked in surprise.

"A specially made crossbow arrow from the Observatory," Zou Jin slowly exhaled and said, "You all saw it, the Flag Commander carries one at his right waist."

"Understood."

Chief Clerk Yang spread his hands and walked out.

There was a moment of silence in the room.

Then Zheng Liu exhaled and continued, "So, you wanted to use Chief Clerk Yang’s mouth to tell the Flag Commander that we are truly committed?"

"After all, given our previous following of Liang Hu, there were some unpleasant moments with our Master, and it seemed right to show him our true feelings," replied Zou Jin, touching his missing half ear and smiling, "I suppose you wouldn’t want to serve Master and yet not be trusted, would you?"

——

The sky was gradually brightening.

Within Linjiang Square, Mr. Lu’s courtyard.

Anticipating that Mr. Lu would already be awake by now, Lin Yan went to visit him.

But unexpectedly, there was another person in the courtyard.

The General Flag Envoy of the Outer South Bureau, Han Zheng.

"Breakfast?"

Upon hearing the movement, Han Commander turned his head, revealing a smile.

The scars on his face, under the dim light of dawn, were faintly visible, giving him a slightly ferocious appearance.

"Without that scar, the Commander would actually look quite refined."

Lin Yan thought to himself but moved to the side.

Mr. Lu was in the moment carrying out a pot of steaming hot porridge.

The seemingly simple and honest middle-aged man was bowing his head, adding wood to the stove.

"You’re here?"

No sooner had Mr. Lu spoken than the pot of porridge was lightened, already taken by Lin Yan.

The elder was first startled, then a smile appeared on his face.

However, his gaze swept over and caught sight of Han Commander, and he couldn’t help but scold, "Look at you! Don’t you have any sense of respect for the elderly and care for the young? Coming here to mooch off me, sitting idle, utterly detestable, pah!"

"..."

Caught off-guard by the scolding, Han Commander’s face was a picture of bewilderment.

He opened his mouth, but for a moment, he couldn’t speak.

Then, turning to Lin Yan, his expression grew complicated.

"How come you never showed such courtesy when you dealt with me before?"

"As Commander Han is in the prime of life, accomplishing feats in martial arts, such small tasks are beneath your notice," Lin Yan replied calmly as he set the porridge on the table. "Mr. Lu is elderly and frail, and doing these trivial tasks takes but a moment for me, saving him some energy is only right..."

As he spoke, Lin Yan also pulled out a chair, inviting Mr. Lu to sit.

Mr. Lu sat down slowly, his face still wearing a smile.

All of a sudden Han Commander’s brows raised in a smirk that was not quite a smile, "You normally don’t visit without a reason, and now you’re going out of your way to be helpful without cause—there must be an ulterior motive!"

"Nonsense!"

Mr. Lu slammed the table, annoyed, "The two of us are old friends who have forgotten the years, if friends visit, is it your place to interject?"

After speaking, Mr. Lu patted the wooden chair beside him, signaling Lin Yan to sit.

Then, he watched as Lin Yan sat down and began to ladle porridge into a bowl.

Han Commander laughed softly, about to speak.

But then he saw Lin Yan already lowering his head to start eating porridge.

So he retracted his words and silently picked up his own bowl.

The atmosphere suddenly grew more silent.

The sky was bright, the sunlight fell, and the morning was surreal.

The simple and honest middle-aged man had also brought out the side dishes.

But he was frowning deeply, standing by the table, looking at the three men who were silently eating porridge, wordless.

"Can you three speak plainly, if you have something to say?"

This simple and honest middle-aged man felt an itch all over, a sense of restlessness enveloped him, and he couldn’t help but say angrily, "How can each of you be more patient than the other?"

"If you have hidden words, my heart feels like it’s being tickled."

"We all know what’s going on, so why play hide and seek?"

"Who are you trying to outlast? "

"Playing at being deep and mysterious, are we?"