Here is the translation of the passage:
Lin Jing's lips twitched. Although her mind was filled with sarcastic thoughts, what she felt more was warmth.
Fang Yuan's words sounded strange, but they were genuinely thoughtful for her.
After all, she had the talent to tame beasts. A creature like the Jiao Dragon, which was born as a high-level demon, would probably be impossible for her to tame in her lifetime with her current abilities.
But if she raised it from childhood, it would be different. She could use her abilities to slowly brainwash this naive, newly born Jiao Dragon...
Of course, the prerequisite was a successful hatching.
"I understand." Lin Jing took a deep breath and nodded seriously. "I won't disappoint you."
She knew that Fang Yuan might not care much about this matter, but she did. She also wanted him to know that she cared.
"Good!" Fang Yuan tossed the Jiao Dragon egg to Lin Jing, who caught it steadily.
The other geniuses around them were green with envy. The Jiao Dragon egg—just the name alone suggested how precious it was.
If they had known the outcome would be like this, they should have formed a good relationship with Fang Yuan the moment he stepped into the Genius Camp.
"It's fine, everyone, you can continue with your tasks," Fang Yuan waved his hand again.
Shimo then approached. "Lord Fang, you really don't need to take care of everything personally. For small matters like this, you could stay inside the Mighty Hall and give us orders using the sound transmission talismans."
"Oh, you're right..." Fang Yuan slapped his forehead. It was his first time being a boss, and he really didn't have much experience delegating tasks. He ended up doing everything himself.
The sound transmission talisman was indeed a good tool, like a mobile phone, though its downside was the limited coverage, only about one or two hundred kilometers.
At that moment, Qin Grandpa came running from afar, holding a small booklet in his hands.
"Lord Fang, you're here! I've been searching for you!" he said while running.
"You could have just used the sound transmission talisman to inform me," Fang Yuan replied.
"I would've, but I thought you didn't like using sound transmission talismans..." Qin Grandpa answered.
Fang Yuan smiled. It was nice to know that the old comrade had been attentive enough to notice the new leader's preferences.
"Lord Fang, I've gathered the information you requested on the Great Demon of Jianghai Prefecture." Qin Grandpa handed the booklet to Fang Yuan.
"Thank you, Qin Grandpa," Fang Yuan thanked him, then looked up at the sky.
It was still early, and there was plenty of time before sunset, not to mention the dawn.
With that in mind, he decided to put aside his cultivation for now and focus on the main task.
Fang Yuan opened the booklet and quickly located the nearest great demon to Jianghai Prefecture:
Fenggu County, Youyu Pond, Catfish Demon.
This one would do.
Seeing Fang Yuan's reaction, Qin Grandpa immediately understood:
"Lord Fang, are you planning to hunt the demon right now?"
"Mm, such things can't be delayed." Fang Yuan replied casually.
"Then I'll prepare a carriage for you."
"Too slow." Fang Yuan said. A carriage? Wouldn't that make his Flying over the Floating Boat technique a waste?
But flying directly there felt a bit improper. After all, the soldiers of the Chongwu Guard who were stationed elsewhere still didn't know he was the new master of Jianghai Palace.
He'd need a proof of his identity. Otherwise, instead of fighting demons, he'd end up clashing with the Chongwu Guard first, and that would be troublesome.
With that thought, Fang Yuan looked at Qin Grandpa. "Qin Grandpa, would you like to come with me?"
Although he had the token representing the Chongwu Marquis, bringing along a living person would be more convincing, especially Qin Grandpa—who was only second in status to the Chongwu Marquis.
"Me?" Qin Grandpa pointed to himself, confused. "Lord Fang, it's not that I don't want to go, but... I'm afraid I can't be of much help now."
"It's fine. Just help me make my presence known."
With that, Fang Yuan grabbed Qin Grandpa, and the two soared into the sky!
The onlookers all looked up, watching Fang Yuan and Qin Grandpa disappear into the horizon.
When Fang Yuan acted, he acted quickly—his style was still as decisive and swift as ever.
"Ahem..." Shimo was the first to snap back to reality.
"Alright, Lin Jing, Bai Feng, Mo Wuhen, the three of you don't need to stay in this Genius Camp anymore."
With that, a smile appeared on his face. "From now on, we're colleagues."
Mo Wuhen and Bai Feng looked pleased, and Lin Jing hugged the Jiao Dragon egg tightly. This might be her only chance to catch up with Fang Yuan.
"I say, Brother Xiang Yang, are we still running?" In the crowd, Lu Tianrang turned to his best friend beside him, asking.
"Run my ass! Didn't you see Lord Fang's magnanimity? He's forgiven us!" Xiang Yang replied excitedly, his right hand pointing to the sky.
"Following Lord Fang, we have a bright future ahead!"
"I told you, the choice of Chongwu Marquis was absolutely correct!"
Xiang Yang, as a fan of the Chongwu Marquis, couldn't hold back his excitement. Since Fang Yuan was the chosen successor of the Chongwu Marquis, Xiang Yang vowed to follow him to the end!
...
In the largest hall of the Zhenfu Division in Yongnan Province's capital city.
A middle-aged man dressed in dark armor and with a scholarly appearance was sitting in the main seat, exuding an air of calm and authority.
Jiang Tao, the only Seven-Sword Grandmaster of Yongnan Province, held the position of General Commander.
Liu Dong was sitting across from him. The slightly chubby old eunuch was leisurely sipping tea.
Outside the hall, more than ten guards stood at the entrance, each wearing a waist sword.
Jiang Tao's gaze showed no impatience. He simply sat silently until Liu Dong set his teacup down.
"Lord Jiang, I came today to discuss something with you." Liu Dong finally spoke.
"Go ahead, Lord Liu," Jiang Tao said, assuming a listening posture.
"It's like this. Just now, I received a decree from the Emperor to visit Jianghai Prefecture and appoint Chongwu Marquis as the General of the Northern Border…"
At this, Jiang Tao, who had been calm until now, finally showed some reaction.
When the royal 'Dragon Cloud Shuttle' had passed through Yongnan Province not long ago, he had even sent people to escort it for a while.
So that's what this was about.
"What did Chongwu Marquis say?" Jiang Tao asked.
"He naturally agreed," Liu Dong replied.
Jiang Tao's mind stirred. "Then what about the Jianghai Prefecture?"
Jianghai Prefecture had originally been the largest province in Yongnan, but for nearly a hundred years, it had been given to Chongwu Marquis as a fief.
And now, Chongwu Marquis was leaving...
"Jianghai Prefecture will naturally still belong to Chongwu Marquis," Liu Dong said.
"Our court can't just send someone to guard the border and also take back his fief, can we? That would be too unreasonable."
As he spoke, a look of concern for the nation appeared on his round face, and he sighed.
"However, those reckless demons are continuously invading our Great Yan. Without the protection of Chongwu Marquis, the people of Jianghai Prefecture... might have to suffer."
Jiang Tao's expression returned to its previous solemnity, and he didn't respond.