Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

A private residence in Pomo Lane became a hideout for foreign thieves.

Ye Tingxiu carried two swords at his waist, holding the hilts down with one hand. He wore a dark gold Demon Suppression Division official uniform over a light fire-scale armor. Behind him were five trusted subordinates: Tie Chi, Fei Jian, Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, and Sheng Tuo, followed by twenty-five elite members of the Demon Suppression Division.

These officials are all at the Devouring Fiend Realm, skilled in one-on-one combat and small-team battles. Their combat strength is generally above average, especially in their expertise in slaying demons and monsters. They are thoroughly familiar with the characteristics, weaknesses, habits, and attack methods of demons and monsters.

The group of more than thirty people walked to the corner of Splash Ink Alley. Ye Tingxiu stopped and turned around to look at his subordinates.

The thirty subordinates of the Demon Suppression Division stood at attention, each with sharp eyes and a murderous aura. They showed no fear of the impending battle. Each wore an official robe over a soft armor, a demon-slaying shield, a demon-binding rope, and five sets of one-time-use demon-slaying talismans in their pouches. They also carried four kinds of explosive pills that temporarily boosted their combat power, in preparation for a desperate battle against demons and monsters.

In addition to the standard equipment of the Demon Suppression Division, each official of the Demon Suppression Division also has his own trump card and life-saving tricks. Some are proficient in close combat, some are proficient in long-range shooting, some are proficient in magic enhancement and curse killing, some are proficient in medical and poison skills, and some are proficient in formation and talisman.

If you don't have some special skills and haven't killed a few demons and monsters, you can't even call yourself a member of the Demon Suppression Division.

Ye Tingxiu pressed his sword down with one hand, paced back and forth, and scanned his subordinates: "We now know that the foreign thieves are hiding in that house. You all rush in and capture and kill them on the spot. Pay special attention, make sure to leave two alive, don't kill them all."

"Now I will assign the combat mission to prevent the thieves from panicking and fleeing, and to prevent the battle from affecting the surrounding people. Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, Tie Chi, and Fei Jian, the four of you prepare to create a barrier. Make sure that as soon as the battle begins, you can immediately cover the houses with the barrier to prevent the thieves from escaping."

"The rest of you, follow me to break down the wall and storm in, capture and kill the thieves. Does anyone have any objections? Feel free to raise them now!"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Tuo clasped his hands and said, "Lord Ye, should we inform Lord Xiao that he is coming to provide support?"

"No need. Let's call him to claim the credit after we've succeeded." Ye Tingxiu didn't want to hog the credit; rather, he wanted to prove himself to Xiao Hongyun and gain his approval. After they had wiped out the bandits, Xiao Hongyun would share the credit as well, since they were all brothers.

Ye Tingxiu wouldn't care about anyone else, but Xiao Zhou and Ye Tingxiu were different.

Ye Tingxiu hoped to gain his brothers' approval, or at least that they wouldn't treat him like an idiot and would look up to him. Although he was not as intelligent as Xiao or as resourceful as Zhou, Ye Tingxiu still had his merits and was not an incompetent good-for-nothing who needed his brothers' support.

"Yes." Sheng Tuo clasped his hands in a fist salute, took a step back, and returned to the ranks.

Zhang Long stepped forward and said, "Lord Ye, the action plan is too crude. I think we should consider it more carefully to ensure a complete success."

Zhao Hu stepped forward and clasped his hands in a salute: "Lord Ye, I think it would be best to send someone to investigate the situation inside the house first. At least we need to know if there are sixteen thieves inside, where the sentries are, and whether the leader is among them."

Iron Ruler: "Yes, Lord Ye, if we act rashly, we may suffer heavy casualties, and we might even alert the enemy."

Flying Sword: "Lord Ye, please think twice before you act. Do not act impulsively, lest you fail to achieve merit and instead be punished."

Ye Tingxiu glanced at his four trusted subordinates, nodded slightly, and said, "What you said makes sense, but the opportunity to surround and kill the bandits is fleeting. We must be decisive when necessary. Speed ​​is of the essence in war. How can we allow ourselves to be fully prepared before taking action at such a critical moment?"

"What if the thieves realize what's happening during the planning process? What if the news leaks out? What if they scatter and flee? In my opinion, the best course of action is to kill them. Take advantage of their unpreparedness and strike with lightning speed to capture the leader and kill the accomplices. That is the way to defeat the enemy."

Upon hearing this, Tie Chi, Fei Jian, Zhang Long, and Zhao Hu said no more, clasped their hands in a fist and stepped back, awaiting further instructions.

"Ye Zi, well said." At this moment, six people walked out from the corner of Splash Ink Alley, led by Xiao Hongyun and others who had followed Li Xiangsi.

Ye Tingxiu turned to look at Xiao Hongyun and said, "What are you doing here?"

Xiao Hongyun smiled and said, "Shouldn't I be the one asking that? How did you find this place?"

Ye Tingxiu snorted and turned his head away: "I have my own methods, you don't need to worry about them. Anyway, I found the foreign thieves without your help."

Xiao Hongyun joked, "Wow, Ye Zi is amazing! I admire her so much!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Tingxiu was speechless, his finger trembling as he pointed at Xiao Hongyun, feeling insulted: "You, you, you... damn it, I can't be bothered with you. Since you're here, let's work together, split the credit 50/50, and don't give me any more sarcastic remarks."

Xiao Hongyun gently waved his folding fan and smiled faintly: "It's easy, but you have to listen to me."

Ye Tingxiu glared at him: "Why should I?"

Xiao Hongyun closed his folding fan, lightly tapped Ye Tingxiu's chest, and smiled faintly: "I have more intelligence than you. Listen to me, we can not only wipe out this gang of thieves, but also find out what conspiracy they are plotting in secret, thereby expanding our gains."

Ye Tingxiu stroked his chin: "If that's the case, then it's not that we can't listen to you. Let's cooperate then."

Xiao Hongyun and Ye Tingxiu may have had some minor disagreements, but they were insignificant. When it came to serious matters that required cooperation, they would still prefer to work together. After all, even teeth can bite the tongue sometimes, and it's impossible for them to break up over a few words.

Xiao Hongyun exchanged information with Ye Tingxiu and reassured him, waiting for the best opportunity to strike. As long as they figured out what conspiracy Li Xiangsi and her gang were plotting in secret, they could take action and wipe them out in one fell swoop.

During this time, Xiao Hongyun still ordered the officials of the Demon Suppression Division on site to evacuate the residents near Splash Ink Alley and secretly set up a barrier to control the battlefield within the residential area. Otherwise, if a group of Devouring Fiend experts fought to the death without being controlled, it would be ten times more terrifying than a disaster.

Ye Tingxiu leaned against the wall, peering at the gate of a house not far away. He then turned to Xiao Hongyun, who was standing silently with his eyes closed, and asked in a low voice, "What did you overhear? Have you figured out what Li Xiangsi and her group are planning?"

Xiao Hongyun closed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "They stole the 'Distribution Map of Underground Drainage Pipes and Underground Civilian Shelter Areas in Da Biao Fang, West of Sword Tower City,' and are planning to sneak into the banquet venue silently through a complex underground passage."

"Li Xiangsi wants to have his men sprinkle some Mermaid Tear Ink into the dishes and drinks. A single drop of Mermaid Tear Ink can cause a master of the 'Eating Demon' to lose all his cultivation for six hours. They will then take the opportunity to slaughter the distinguished guests present. At that time, the Thousand-Year Dragon Ascension Banquet will surely be in chaos."

"I'm afraid everyone will think that the Sword Tower wanted to monopolize all 108 volumes of the Dragon Bone Scripture, which is why it set up this trap."

"If this accusation is really pinned on Sword Tower, then Sword Tower will be in big trouble!"