"Who’s there?" Yan Zhengya shouted.
"I’m with the Taoist Alliance, here to collect this month’s demons." The person at the door was a woman, her voice as clear and pleasant as a mountain spring.
Yan Zhengya suddenly remembered it was the end of the month, and indeed the Taoist Alliance should be sending someone to collect the subdued demons.
The Taoist Alliance was the world’s only demon-exterminating organization, supported by the court. In the past, demons ran rampant, wreaking havoc on the world, which led many Demon Exterminators to join forces. With the court’s backing, they established the Taoist Alliance to combat the demons. After paying a heavy price, the world’s major demons were either destroyed or sealed. The remaining ones were no longer a threat.
However, the number of minor demons was still substantial and continued to disturb the populace. Therefore, to maintain world stability, the court and Taoist Alliance required all Demon Exterminators to register themselves and receive salaries based on the quantity of demons subdued each month. The minimum salary requires at least one demon submitted monthly.
"There’s someone here. Coming, coming." Yan Zhengya responded, turning to Yuanyuan, "You hide inside first." Most people from the Taoist Alliance shouted to slay demons on sight. He didn’t want to lose this talented little demon chef.
After speaking, Yan Zhengya hugged the little piglet and went to the door, where he found three people standing. He was dumbfounded. Why were there suddenly three people so good-looking? Could there really be people this handsome in the Taoist Alliance? He’d visited the headquarters with his master as a child and remembered the Demon Exterminators were either fierce or flamboyant, or seemingly weak but actually tough men. Yet, he’d never seen such exceptionally attractive individuals.
"Hello, hello," Yan Zhengya addressed the three, noting their glamorous attire but also the Jade Pendant at their waists, which confirmed they were from the Taoist Alliance.
"Hello, Daoist Yan." The leading woman smiled slightly.
Squeal, squeal, it’s sister!
The little piglet struggled to get down.
"Calm down, calm down," Yan Zhengya thought the piglet wanted to play and bent down to let it down. Instead, it dashed to the woman’s feet and bounced around. The woman smiled, bent down, and picked the piglet up, holding it in her arms while scratching its chin.
The piglet closed its eyes comfortably, stretching out fully, its tail pointing upwards.
Squeal, more, sister, more pets.
Tianmiao smiled gently, continuing to scratch its chin, and stroked its little head.
Yan Zhengya stared, wide-eyed. Although the piglet was usually silly and loved food, it rarely allowed anyone to touch it. Even Yuanyuan, with exceptional cooking skills, couldn’t touch it initially. It enjoyed his meals but refused his touch—a typical scoundrel pig. Yet, who was this woman? Why was the piglet so close to her?
"Won’t you invite us in for a cup of tea?" Tianmiao looked up at the bewildered Yan Zhengya, asking warmly.
"Huh? Please come in, oh wait, no, you can’t. I mean, I mean..." Yan Zhengya instinctively invited them but then remembered there was a rabbit demon at home.
"Are you worried about the rabbit demon? He’s done nothing wrong; we won’t harm him." Tianmiao pinched the piglet’s little hoof.
Yan Zhengya was startled, staring wide-eyed at Tianmiao.
These visitors from the Taoist Alliance seemed...quite extraordinary?