First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!

......

A few of them walked together.

They arrived at Elder Shui's Bamboo Courtyard.

It was located within the Director-General's compound, just in a more secluded rear area.

The moment they stepped into the courtyard.

Lu Ding and Bai Hemen saw Elder Deng, wearing an apron, manually plucking chicken feathers in the yard.

Seeing that they had arrived.

Elder Deng wiped his hands: "Xiao Lu, Xiao Bai, you're here?"

Elder Deng's current condition was indescribably good.

His face was radiant with health.

His cultivation realm had skyrocketed as well.

Elder Deng's cultivation foundation had always been solid, and after arriving up here, he occasionally received pointers from Elder Shui.

It was truly like a fish in water.

Moreover, he didn't have to work or go on missions anymore. Every day, he stayed in this small courtyard, tinkering, growing flowers, raising chickens, drinking some wine with Elder Shui, tending the vegetable garden, and chatting about the old days.

Life was simple and comfortable.

Just like when Elder Deng was handling logistics back in the Third Circle.

Bai Hemen wanted to step in and help.

Elder Deng quickly said: "Let me handle it, let me handle it. You young folks won't get it right. Go sit in the courtyard. I never really got to let you properly taste my cooking before."

"The tea leaves are in the second compartment of the cabinet in the living room. Help yourselves."

Hearing this, Lu Ding finally felt completely at ease.

He had been a little worried that Elder Deng and Elder Shui wouldn't get along.

But now, knowing where the tea leaves were, it seemed the two of them had genuinely bonded.

These kinds of little details best revealed people's hearts.

Elder Shui said: "Eating together is what makes it lively. You're doing all the work alone, while we all eat together? That just doesn't sound right. Xiao Qiu, go brew the tea."

"Bai Hemen... I'll call you Xiao Bai too. Xiao Bai, go fetch some firewood. Xiao Lu, wash the rice. I'll tend the fire. Xiao Deng, handle the chicken. Today, we're cooking in the yard with a big pot. No small pots and small stoves in the kitchen for us. Food cooked over a wood fire tastes the best."

Of course, in truth, the flavor wasn't all that different.

It's just that a wood fire takes more time, letting Lu Ding and the others stay here a little longer.

With Elder Shui's arrangement, everyone got busy.

Each person had their own task, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Finally, when everything was done, they all gathered in front of the stove.

They pulled over small stools and sat down.

Elder Shui was tending the fire, while Secretary Qiu brought over the tea.

As he distributed it to everyone, he said to Lu Ding: "Regarding your matter, we've already sent people to open up channels over in the Demon Continent. The exact timeline is uncertain, but it shouldn't be long before we get some leads."

Lu Ding took a sip of the tea. It was still the classic floral tea, and he spat out a petal.

This stuff was what really hit the spot when drinking.

"No rush. If possible, I could even go handle it myself."

Elder Shui picked up the fire tongs, reached into the stove, and pulled out two charred black baked potatoes, handing them to Bai Hemen and Lu Ding.

"It's dangerous over there. You've still got the new city to manage, so it's not suitable for you to go. Just wait for news patiently, and watch out, it's hot."

Although for Lu Ding and Bai Hemen, this temperature was nothing.

But habits formed over a long time, along with the elder generation's loving concern, always made them forget basic logic.

Lu Ding and Bai Hemen ate heartily, their mouths turning black.

Baked potatoes, when fully cooked, tended to stick to the lips. A wipe across the mouth, and well... they looked like messy-faced cats.

Neither of them cared about appearances. Everyone present was familiar, so why bother putting on airs?

Secretary Qiu continued: "There's also the matter of Baoji Kingdom. The information you provided this time was a major achievement. Moreover, you've torn open a breach at Overcast Mountain and Raise Phoenix Mountain."

"Once the Great Han steps in, they should be able to push inward from Raise Phoenix Mountain, charging straight through."

"Although the 749 Bureau no longer follows the army on campaigns these days, Old Ming of the border army suggested that, roughly speaking, he wanted you to go and get a piece of the action."

"After all, you previously shared some of the benefits from Raise Phoenix Mountain with the border army. Consider it tit for tat. Everyone helps each other and develops together."

"However, you've got a lot on your plate with the new city. What are your thoughts? If you want to go, I'll send word back, and you can head straight there. Whether you bring people, and how many, is up to you. If you don't want to go... my recommendation is that you do."

Baoji Kingdom is teeming with demons. Now that the Great Han is pursuing the Hundred-Year Ten Thousand Immortals Plan, there are plenty of legitimate and lucrative profits to be made.

It would be a waste not to take advantage.

Lu Ding thought it over. Although there was indeed a lot going on with the new city, it wasn't at the point where he absolutely had to stay in the new city's western region.

Besides, he had [Celestial Shift] and [Shadow Army Formation]. When couldn't he come back?

"I'll go. But I need to return first and take care of Xiao Bai's matter before heading out."

Elder Shui's expertise didn't match up with the God of Two Poles, so Xiao Bai would have to suffer a bit and go find Wang Qingge.

Although, for now, the God of Two Poles didn't seem to be causing any trouble.

But this thing was a ticking time bomb. It just hadn't gone off yet. You couldn't just wait for it to activate, with the ticking countdown starting, before trying to figure something out.

By then, the fire would be licking your eyebrows, and it would be too late!

Secretary Qiu said: "Then arrange the time yourself. Don't make it too late. At most two days, and they might start the advance over there."

"But before you go, I have to advise you. If possible, I mean, if it's possible, you could bring that powerhouse from Ji Continent along."

"That would help in taking down the Empress of Baoji. As long as you can capture her alive and bring her back to the Great Han for trial, although she herself won't bring direct benefits to the Great Han, capturing her alive and bringing her to trial can enhance the Great Han's international status and prestige."

"Plus, you'd earn a huge pile of contribution points."

Lu Ding was curious: "Can't the Great Han send other powerhouses to catch her too?"

Secretary Qiu shot back with a question: "How do you know they haven't? It's not just us. Although I don't know for certain, I'm sure all the surrounding countries have sent powerhouses hoping to capture her alive. I'm telling you this because you have a powerhouse by your side who can change the situation."

"Borrowing her strength can help you earn an enormous amount of contribution points. I'm talking about astronomical numbers. If it weren't for her being by your side, I wouldn't have even mentioned this. For you personally, it would be too risky. But with her, it's different. We need to fully utilize all the power at our disposal."

Lu Ding understood. He had fallen into a cognitive trap.

After all, in novels, didn't it often go like this? When describing a very powerful nation, aside from the protagonist, it seemed like no one else could get things done, and everything had to be left to the main character.

He hadn't immediately realized that the Great Han sending people, and Secretary Qiu giving him this information, weren't mutually exclusive.

Ultimately, the Empress of Baoji was in Baoji Kingdom. Whoever caught her would get her, and whoever brought her back to the country would claim the contribution points.

Lu Ding said: "Alright. I'll go back and discuss it with her."

Secretary Qiu wasn't done yet.

He pulled out a stack of documents: "This is the exchange list for the demons you transported from Raise Phoenix Mountain and Overcast Mountain last time. The total contribution points are on the last page."

"I don't know how you plan to split them, so I didn't divide them. They're all lumped together."

"But the amount is substantial."

"My suggestion is, considering your terrifyingly fast cultivation speed, you could first exchange for rare natural treasures, break through a few more realms, and then go. With two days' time, that should be enough for you, right?"