Chapter 45: First Mission

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: First Mission

"We’re about to go on a mission! Are you nervous? Are you excited?" Liu Zhi asked Lu Yuan excitedly outside the Demon Suppression Bureau. His expression was thrilled, and his voice, even his body, trembled slightly with irrepressible anticipation.

Lu Yuan shot him a sideways glance. "Going on a mission means facing strong enemies and fighting life-and-death battles. It’s not exactly a good thing."

"Isn’t that why we joined the Demon Suppression Bureau?" Liu Zhi replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Lu Yuan was surprised. He wondered if a mad, bloodthirsty gene was hidden inside this guy’s frail body.

"Then if we run into danger, you can stand in front and protect me," Lu Yuan said.

Liu Zhi shot Lu Yuan a speechless look. He thought, "You’re obviously stronger than me, okay?"

"Naturally, I will fight by your side. I’ll never abandon you!" Liu Zhi declared.

"No, you go first and block for me!" Lu Yuan shook his head.

"No way, we go together!" Liu Zhi wasn’t falling for it.

"I’ll protect you from behind," Lu Yuan said with a serious expression.

Liu Zhi almost coughed up blood. How are you going to protect me from behind? Are you using me as a meat shield? Then he suddenly remembered Lu Yuan’s hidden weapons.

"Hmm, alright. I’ll go first when the time comes and create an opening for you," Liu Zhi agreed.

"That’s more like it. That’s a good brother." Lu Yuan patted Liu Zhi on the shoulder before they parted ways, heading home.

"Sigh. What kind of person did I get mixed up with?" Liu Zhi sighed. He lamented his poor choice in friends before hurrying back to change his clothes.

At the Lu Residence.

"Young Master!" Yaoyao happily greeted him. "You’re back. Dinner will still take a while."

"Mhm." Lu Yuan patted her little head. "No rush."

"You’re back a bit early today," Wei Huiling noted, standing at the kitchen door sorting vegetables.

"I won’t be eating at home later. I have a mission," Lu Yuan said.

Wei Huiling’s hands instantly paused, her smile stiffening involuntarily. "You have to go on a mission this soon? You’ve only been in the Demon Suppression Bureau for a few days, and it’s a night mission at that."

"It’s been several days, and the Demon Suppression Bureau is all about doing missions." Lu Yuan smiled, trying to comfort her. "Don’t worry, Mom. At most, us newcomers will just be handling the sidelines and clearing out the small fry. Nothing will happen. Look, Mom, I’ve mastered True Gang." As he spoke, he opened and closed his hands, summoning a Gang Qi Shield.

"What? True Gang? This fast?" Wei Huiling was astonished, her eyes wide. Her son had just broken through to the Ninth Grade a few days ago, hadn’t he? How could he...

"Your son is a genius now—a peerless genius," Lu Yuan laughed smugly.

"Bullshit!" Wei Huiling quickly swatted Lu Yuan. "Don’t get too big for your boots just because of a little achievement. You must know that there is always someone better. What does this little bit of skill count for? Any random Eighth Grade martial artist in the Jade Capital could easily defeat you. There are at least eighty thousand of them, if not a hundred thousand..."

"Mom, am I really that weak?" Lu Yuan complained, feeling wronged.

"You are exactly that weak!" Wei Huiling nodded firmly. "Remember, if you encounter a strong enemy, don’t fight them head-on. Just run! Keeping your life is the most important thing! Pride is a person’s greatest enemy! An arrogant soldier will inevitably face defeat, and a proud person will always lose! This is especially true when you’re living on the line between life and death. Even the slightest bit of carelessness could cost you your life."

"Mom, I know." Lu Yuan smiled. "I’m not one of those stubborn fools. I was just trying to reassure you."

"If you want me to be reassured, then remember my words. If you’re no match for the enemy, don’t engage in a pointless fight to the death," Wei Huiling advised. "Think more about me and think more about Siyao. We’re both waiting for you at home. As long as you keep that in mind, you’ll know what to do."

"Don’t worry, nothing will happen to me!" Lu Yuan suddenly gave a mysterious smile. "Even if I have no other skills, my ability to run away is absolutely top-notch. Have you forgotten the Lu Family’s greatest skill?"

"Right, you must remember that. Keep it firmly in mind!" Wei Huiling gripped Lu Yuan’s hand tightly, her eyes suddenly lighting up.

The Lu Family had been living in the Jade Capital for hundreds of years and was extremely familiar with the city. They had maps of all sorts of secret passages and hidden alleys. Furthermore, when the Demon Suppression Bureau went on missions, they usually prepared an adequately powerful force with many experts. Therefore, as long as he wasn’t thick-headed enough to charge blindly ahead or fight to the bitter end upon encountering an enemy, the danger would be relatively small. Add the Lu Family’s life-saving escape techniques to that, and the risk was reduced even further. So...

"Alright, hurry up and go get ready. Don’t say your mother held you up," she urged.

"Okay, I’m going to change clothes." Lu Yuan entered the house and changed into an ordinary set of casual clothes. He put on his hidden weapon belt and picked up the saber he usually used for practice.

"Mom, watch me show you a special trick," he called out.

"What is it?" Wei Huiling asked curiously.

SWISH.

Lu Yuan swept his hand across his waist and flicked his wrist.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

THWACK THWACK THWACK!

Three diamond-shaped darts struck a pillar seven or eight meters away at the same time. They were perfectly aligned, biting deeply into the wood.

"When did you learn to throw darts like that?" Wei Huiling’s eyes lit up. Knowing how to use darts and hidden weapons could help him deal with many situations and reduce a lot of danger. Even when running away, it gave him an extra trick up his sleeve.

"Hehe, I’m off." Lu Yuan strode away. As he passed the pillar, he lightly brushed his hand over it, retrieving all the darts.

"This kid... is sharper than his father," Wei Huiling chuckled. There shouldn’t be any major problems tonight.

When he reached the door, Lu Yuan glanced back at the neighboring courtyard before setting off again.

"Brother Yuan," Lin Siyao called out softly, her head popping out, her eyes shining with a crystal-clear light.

Changning Street was a cross street located outside the Third Ring.

The area outside the Third Ring was the most bustling and prosperous part of the Jade Capital because it had the largest population. Only places with many people possessed vibrant vitality and business opportunities, though they were also a mixed bag. Over eighty percent of the vicious criminals and bandits apprehended by the Demon Suppression Bureau were found outside the Third Ring.

As for Jixiang Hall, it was a dog meat restaurant.

"You’re here. A bit slow, aren’t you?" Chen Qiang glanced at Lu Yuan and couldn’t help but point it out.

Among the five of them, Lu Yuan had arrived last. Even though Mu Lingche lived in the First Ring and Jianng Hongfei in the Second Ring—both much farther away from here—both families had carriages waiting outside the Demon Suppression Bureau. The carriages had casual clothes prepared, so they only needed to hop in and change. Yu Qiuyang had family servants waiting outside, which was a similar setup. As for Liu Zhi, his family owned many shops, including clothing stores. He just popped into a random one, changed his clothes, and came out.

Lu Yuan was the only one who had honestly gone all the way home to change.

"That was my fastest. I didn’t delay at all," Lu Yuan explained.

"Captain, what’s our mission tonight?" Liu Zhi asked impatiently.

The others also looked at Chen Qiang. This was very important.

"Let’s go. We’ll eat first." Chen Qiang turned around, waving his hand, and entered Jixiang Hall.

The five of them looked at each other in dismay. Just eating? Were they being played?

"We can only get things done on a full stomach. Captain is right." Liu Zhi followed him inside.

"Yeah, let’s eat," Jianng Hongfei followed. Nothing in the world was more important than eating. Only when they were fed and hydrated would they have the strength to carry out the mission. Only then could they courageously fight...

Mu Lingche looked around, feeling somewhat repulsed. He had never set foot in such a low-class establishment in his life, let alone eaten at one. However, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow them inside.

"Heh." Yu Qiuyang sneered, shooting Lu Yuan a sideways glance before following suit.

"What are you acting so arrogant for? You still owe me money!" Lu Yuan immediately couldn’t help but point a finger at him and curse.

He was the last...