My Anti-Demon System

Chapter 16: "A Token of Appreciation"

After the explosion that destroyed Elder White Bone, Ryujin stood there, basking in the power of the Bone Evil Fire. The guard who was inside the temple and Si Wei, who was peeking through the door, were blown away by the heavy wind from the explosion.

The bold guard, Xing Xu, who was standing at the trunk of the tree, was sent flying by the wind and impact of the explosion. He twisted in the air like a mannequin before landing on the floor with a thud.

"Brother Xing!" the guard exclaimed.

"Uncle Xing!" Si Wei exclaimed simultaneously, her voice filled with concern.

Ryujin looked at the Bone Evil Fire, a satisfied smile on his face. "Almost done," he said to himself, his eyes gleaming with a sense of accomplishment.

After gazing at the fire for a while, Ryujin sucked in a deep breath, inhaling as much of the Bone Evil Fire as he could. The flames were drawn back into his body, causing another massive gust of wind that sent Xing Xu flying again.

Si Wei shouted, "Brother Xing, brother Xing!" as Xing Xu landed on the floor, twisting like a mannequin in the air.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Xing Xu said, getting up from the ground, dusting himself off. He looked a bit shaken but otherwise unharmed.

Ryujin turned to look at them, a puzzled expression on his face. Si Wei ran over to him, saying, "Young master, young master Ryujin."

Ryujin looked at Si Wei and asked, "Miss Si Wei, are you okay?" His eyes scanned her body, ensuring she was unharmed.

Si Wei replied, "I'm fine. Elder White Bone has turned to ash." Her voice was calm, but her eyes betrayed a hint of sadness.

Ryujin exclaimed, "No way to loot the corpse!" A peak-level expert in the Spirit Gathering Realm must have countless treasures in their storage ring.

Ryujin thought to himself, feeling the great loss of burning Elder White Bone to ashes. He imagined the spiritual weapons, elixirs, secret manuals, and gold and silver that could have been his.

As he stood there, Ryujin's gaze drifted to Si Wei's chest, and he stared at her "watermelons" for a moment, his eyes widening slightly in appreciation. Si Wei, noticing his gaze, felt a flush rise to her cheeks and quickly turned away, trying to compose herself.

Ryujin said, "I'm fine... I'm fine," trying to reassure Si Wei, but his eyes still lingered on her for a moment.

Si Wei took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and asked, "Young master Ryujin, are you okay?" Her voice was soft and gentle, but Ryujin could sense a hint of concern behind it.

Ryujin tried to smile and said, "I'm fine, Miss Si Wei. Thank you for your concern." His eyes met hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

The two other guards present thought to themselves, "His miss is starting to fall for him. Which woman can resist such a handsome and powerful human?" They exchanged a knowing glance, smiles spreading across their faces.

Ryujin chuckled and said, "Well, let's continue eating. The barbecue earlier was delicious, don't waste it." He attempted to lighten the atmosphere, his eyes sparkling with warmth as he gazed at Si Wei.

The guard who created the barrier spoke up, his voice tinged with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You just killed a peak-level expert in the Spirit Gathering Realm, and you're still thinking about eating barbecue?" The other guard gave him a peculiar look from behind, his eyebrows raised in amusement.

Ryujin continued, his tone nonchalant. "The universe is vast, but the biggest thing is eating." He looked noble and mighty, like a true professional, as he uttered those words. "Uncle Xing, take your time." His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, his expression warm and inviting.

Si Wei instructed the two guards, and they all returned to the temple. The guard who created the barrier carried Uncle Xing on his shoulder, his movements gentle as he navigated the temple's entrance. They made their way to the center of the temple and started another campfire, the flames crackling to life as they settled in for the night.

The bold guard, Xing Xu, felt a deep sense of remorse for disrespecting Ryujin earlier. He knelt down, his head bowed in respect, and put his hands together. "Thank you, senior, for saving our lives. I was ignorant and disrespectful to the grand master earlier. Please forgive me, senior." His voice was laced with sincerity, his words heartfelt as he apologized.

Ryujin replied, his tone gracious. "Whether I'm a senior or not, I'm just a demon hunter from the Demon Dispel Bureau. As for saving you, it's my duty. Besides, Miss Si Wei's barbecue is indeed delicious." He smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement, as he glanced at Si Wei.

Si Wei turned to look at Ryujin, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. Xing Xu, still kneeling, continued to express his gratitude. "It was my politeness, so thank you, young master." His voice was filled with respect, his words sincere as he thanked Ryujin.

Xing Xu stood up, his movements fluid as he rose to his feet. "To be honest, I am the steward of Lord Qingyun, the newly appointed Magistrate of Wutong County." He bowed slightly, his eyes gleaming with respect. "And this is my young lady," he said, gesturing to Si Wei with a gentle smile.

The bold guard, Xing Xu, continued, his eyes shining with sincerity as he dipped his hand into his pocket. "That's right," he said, taking out a token that gleamed in the flickering light of the campfire. The token was exquisitely crafted, with intricate patterns and symbols etched into its surface. Xing Xu held out the token, saying, "Please, young master, accept this token."

Ryujin's eyes widened as he took the token from Xing Xu. The token bore an inscription that read "Magistrate of Wutong" in bold, majestic letters. Ryujin's fingers closed around the token, feeling its weight and significance.

"In the future, if there are any trivial matters in Wutong County, young master, you can present this token," Xing Xu explained, his voice filled with respect. "These people will still give you some face, out of respect for my lord, the Magistrate of Wutong."

Ryujin's smile grew wider as he held the token in his hand, feeling a sense of pride and gratitude. "Then I will respectfully comply," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. He stood up, the token still clutched in his hand, and smiled at Xing Xu, who stood next to Si Wei, his eyes shining with warmth and respect.

The air was filled with a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect as the group stood there, the token a symbol of the bond that had formed between them. The campfire crackled and spat, casting flickering shadows on the walls of the temple as they stood there, savoring the moment.

A loud commotion echoed within the temple as a guard, who had previously set up the barrier seal that protected them from the zombies, fell to his knees. His hands were clasped together in a pleading gesture as he declared, "I was disrespectful to the young master! I've been rude to the young master, but he didn't hold a grudge and saved our lives!" The guard's voice trembled with remorse as he continued, "I feel extremely ashamed and request that the young master punish me!" He knocked his head against the floor, his movements fervent as he begged for forgiveness.

Ryujin's gaze settled on the guard, his expression unreadable. The flickering flames of the campfire danced across his face, casting shadows that made his features seem even more enigmatic. "You should indeed be punished," he said finally, his voice firm but measured. The sound of his voice was like a gentle breeze on a summer's day, yet it carried a weight that commanded respect.

Si Wei turned to look at Ryujin, her eyes widening in surprise. Her long, silky hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her slender fingers were clasped together in a gesture of concern. "Young master, before—" she began, but Xing Xu, the bold guard, intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Miss, you mustn't," Xing Xu said, his voice low and cautionary. His eyes, like two glittering stars, shone with a deep understanding of the world and its ways. "Such formidable individuals in this world cannot be offended by ordinary people." Si Wei's lips parted, but Xing Xu continued, "It's not worth offending a powerhouse for a guard." His words were like a gentle rain, soothing and calming, yet they carried a weight that was impossible to ignore.

Ryujin smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement, as he gazed at the guard still kneeling on the floor. The smile was like a ray of sunshine, warm and inviting, yet it hinted at a depth of power and wisdom that was awe-inspiring. "Let's punish you with a fine of fifty-four taels," Ryujin said, his voice dripping with mock severity. He held out the token, his smile growing wider as he watched the guard's reaction.