Chapter 9: Little Brother, Do You Wish to Become a Demon Hunter?

"Brother, why do you say that?" Liu Man looked at the other with a gentle smile. He neither admitted nor denied anything, but suspicion flickered in his heart.

They wore neither the Azure Sky Guard's uniform nor any of its insignia—how, then, did the other recognize their identity? Could it be a sudden guess? On second thought, that made no sense; even the wildest speculations could not possibly pinpoint who they truly were.

Having determined these men were no threat, the young man turned to gather up the corpses of the serpent demons. "Though you have not exposed your identities," he said as he worked, "I have seen Hua Manlou before. It was but a fleeting glimpse, yet his features remain vividly etched in my memory."

Two years ago, while hunting demons, he had by chance caught sight of Hua Manlou. Though it was only an instant, the man's striking appearance left a deep impression. Now, even dressed as an ordinary person, his face was unmistakable: this was the elegant, dashing regular of the pleasure quarters, Hua Manlou himself.

At the time, Hua Manlou had been clad in the Azure Sky Guard's attire...

Noticing Liu Man's gaze, Hua Manlou offered a sheepish, embarrassed smile and inwardly sighed. He truly had no memory of this man, nor any idea when he might have been seen.

With a flick of his wrist, the young man stored the three serpent demon corpses in his spatial ring, then hurried to the riverbank to wash the blood from his body. A pleasant smile appeared on his face. "Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Tian Hui, a Heaven-ranked demon hunter."

A hush fell, followed by a collective gasp.

"Heaven-ranked demon hunter!"

All eyes turned to Tian Hui, wide with astonishment—except for Qin Lang, who looked utterly bewildered. Yet, on reflection, it made sense; only a Heaven-ranked demon hunter could have stood against three serpent demons at once. What truly surprised them was encountering someone of this caliber in such a place.

Still in the dark, Qin Lang turned to Hua Manlou, confusion written all over his face. "Brother Hua, are there ranks among demon hunters? What level is ‘Heaven’?"

Suppressing his own amazement, Hua Manlou replied mildly, "Demon hunters are ranked Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, and Human—Human being the lowest, Heaven the highest. The stronger a demon hunter is, and the more demons he slays, the higher his rank becomes."

"There are countless Human-ranked demon hunters, but Heaven-ranked ones are rare. To meet one is a matter of extraordinary luck."

Qin Lang's eyes sparkled at this explanation, his curiosity further piqued. He was eager to learn more about this profession called ‘demon hunter.’

Of course, it was only a passing thought; he had no real desire to become one, for it was an exceedingly perilous occupation—one misstep, and you could easily lose your life.

Tian Hui's gaze rested on Qin Lang, his brow furrowing. "This brother seems unfamiliar, and is but a mortal. May I ask why you would bring a mere mortal along with you?"

"Heh." Liu Man let out a dry chuckle, his expression growing a touch cold. "Aren't you asking a few too many questions?"

With a self-deprecating smile, Tian Hui slapped his own mouth. "Enough! My apologies, gentlemen. I have a tendency to talk too much—I hope you’ll forgive me."

As for the Azure Sky Guard, it was best not to inquire too closely; even the title of demon hunter would offer no protection if he overstepped.

Seeing that Tian Hui did not pursue the matter, Liu Man said nothing more. So long as their affairs were not hindered, it was none of his concern.

Suddenly recalling his own business, Tian Hui turned to them with a polite smile. "Gentlemen, I have matters to attend to and cannot linger. If fate allows, I hope we might someday share drinks together."

He had already slain the three demons; now he must report back and exchange their corpses for the rewards he needed.

Drawing his greatsword, Tian Hui mounted it and flew off.

Liu Man and his companions did not linger either. Each took out a magic sword, and together they soared skyward.

Above the bright clouds, the four of them rode their swords in flight, with Qin Lang sharing Liu Man’s sword.

He could have flown with Hua Manlou, but considering Hua's sword was a bit small, he feared an unsteady footing might send him plummeting to his doom.

After careful thought, he decided it was safer to remain with Liu Man. Even if they were keeping secrets from him... well.

Glancing at Hua Manlou, Qin Lang asked, "Brother Hua, could you tell me more about this profession? Do demon hunters answer to the imperial court?"

"In ancient times," Hua Manlou explained, "the demon clans brought chaos to the mortal world. The cultivators, enraged by their actions, rose up to hunt them. Thus, those who specialized in hunting demons gradually came to be known as demon hunters."

"Over time, they banded together and became a force dreaded by all demons—the Demon Hunter Order. They make a living by slaying demons, their achievements measured by the number of fiends they dispatch..."

"The Demon Hunter Order is independent from the imperial court and all other factions. Yet they may accept tasks from any major power, specializing in eliminating demon threats wherever they arise."

"Additionally, though they call themselves demon hunters, they also exterminate evil cultivators and renegades. For various reasons, however, they have always kept the title ‘demon hunter.’"

Listening to Hua Manlou’s explanation, Qin Lang gained a general understanding: demon hunting was a freelance profession—one fraught with mortal danger.

To become a demon hunter, one had to register with the Demon Hunter Order. Of course, the prerequisite was to be a cultivator; mere mortals need not apply.

Even after registration, one was not immediately recognized as a true demon hunter. Only by slaying one hundred demons could one earn that title.

Despite the risks—walking eternally at the edge of a precipice—it was a lucrative profession, tempting many to try their hand at it.

Clinging tightly to Liu Man’s sleeve, Qin Lang fell into a pensive silence, murmuring inwardly, "Should I try to become a demon hunter myself?"

Noticing Qin Lang’s thoughtful expression, Hua Manlou looked puzzled. "Brother Qin, you’re not seriously thinking of becoming a demon hunter, are you?"

Qin Lang met his gaze, somewhat perplexed. "Why not?"

"It’s not that you can’t," Hua Manlou replied with a helpless shake of his head, "but rather that you simply couldn’t. You’re a mortal, after all—how could a mere mortal hope to become a demon hunter?"

A mortal demon hunter was utter nonsense.

Even if the Demon Hunter Order allowed him to join, could he possibly defeat a demon? He’d be lucky not to wet himself just walking past one, let alone fighting it.

Seeing Qin Lang’s skeptical look, Hua Manlou guessed he was only being contrary, not truly interested in the profession.

Of course, it was all just idle fancy; in truth, he had no desire to pursue that path.

Compared to being a demon hunter, he much preferred his current post as executioner in the Heavenly Prison—killing every now and then, dancing a bit, and even getting a share of the loot. What could be more enjoyable?

Noting the look on Qin Lang’s face, Hua Manlou was certain the man was simply putting on an act; never for a moment had he truly wished to be a demon hunter.