I Have 10 Equipment Slots-Chapter 140 - 105: Out of the Blue

"Why are you looking at me?"

Gu Zheng glanced at the three of them and spoke calmly, "This isn’t something I can decide."

"Sigh~!"

Zhang Ning, Tao Liu, and An Xiaoxue lowered their heads and sighed in unison.

Gu Zheng couldn’t be bothered with them. He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

It was true he was a Hundred Households, a government official whose rank had reached the mid-tier.

But that was within the Demon Slayer Bureau.

Not the Fengzhou Government Office.

Relocating and resettling the common people was the job of the Fengzhou State Government Office.

But relocating hundreds of thousands of people was a massive undertaking, even before the Celestial Change.

It would consume vast amounts of manpower, resources, funds, and energy.

Let alone after the Celestial Change.

Not to mention, hundreds of thousands of people traveling together would definitely lure out every Demon Fiend roaming the mountains and forests.

It wouldn’t take much. After three to five attacks, the group’s morale would collapse.

The Demon Fiends in Wulong Mansion had been cleared out, but Sishui Prefecture and the other prefectures were still crawling with them.

If it were only a few thousand people, Gu Zheng would grit his teeth, act first and report later, and just bring them back to the State City.

But hundreds of thousands? How could he possibly manage that?

It wasn’t as if Zhang Ning, Tao Liu, and An Xiaoxue didn’t know this.

After the Demon Creation Gourd incident in Wulong Mansion, there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t terrified and desperate to leave.

The people of Xiongying County and Bamen County wanted to relocate.

Did the people of Zhongxi County and Lesheng County not want to relocate?

They did too!

But it was something they could only dream about.

However, "I can’t make the decision to relocate everyone," Gu Zheng said after a moment of thought, breaking the silence, "but I can try to increase everyone’s strength."

"Really? What’s your idea?"

Hearing this, Zhang Ning looked up, pleasantly surprised. "If we can strengthen the people here, then unless another Demon Creation Gourd appears, they’ll have enough power to protect themselves against low-level Demon Fiends."

Tao Liu was also surprised.

"That’s wonderful," An Xiaoxue said, equally excited. "Mr. Gu, you’re amazing!"

"Don’t get your hopes up just yet."

Gu Zheng raised a hand and said calmly, "The method I’ve come up with is to teach a True Skill to..."

"What? Teach a True Skill?" Zhang Ning exclaimed, cutting him off. "Mr. Gu, you can’t do that! The Demon Slayer Bureau strictly forbids True Skills from being taught to outsiders! Both the teacher and the student, if discovered..."

"I know."

Gu Zheng raised his hand to silence Zhang Ning and said coolly, "The True Skill I’m teaching is one I created myself."

"Even a self-created one isn’t allowed... huh?"

Zhang Ning’s face was filled with urgency, but he froze mid-sentence, his eyes glazing over. He stammered, "S-self-created?"

"Mr. Gu, you created a True Skill yourself?" Tao Liu was also stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What kind of True Skill is it? Can everyone learn it?"

"You’re really asking if *you* can learn it too, right?" An Xiaoxue shot him a look. Then, ignoring Tao Liu’s blushing face, she clapped her hands excitedly. "Mr. Gu, you’re incredible! You actually created a True Skill! What is it? Does cultivating it produce a Divine Wondrous?"

"Naturally, it allows one to cultivate a Divine Wondrous."

Gu Zheng replied calmly, "Fist, palm, or weapon-based True Skills are useless if taught to people who don’t have a Divine Wondrous."

"This True Skill of mine is called the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique. It’s not difficult to learn—in fact, you could even say it’s simple. Anyone with a bit of martial arts talent should be able to grasp the basics and cultivate a Divine Wondrous."

After the Celestial Change, a strange energy appeared in the world—intangible, but perceptible.

Although it was very faint at present, it did give people the opportunity to become stronger.

The mutations in the forests and the birth of Exotic Beasts were all stimulated by this strange energy.

Gu Zheng had already completely mastered the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique. Spreading it would have some impact, but it wouldn’t be a major shock.

After all, the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique didn’t allow one to break through to higher realms.

This meant it wouldn’t provoke the members of the Noble Families. They would only think Gu Zheng was a fool.

’If it means fewer people die, then let them think I’m a fool.’

Those who hadn’t personally experienced the tragedy in Wulong Mansion could never truly understand.

A large-scale relocation was unrealistic, so strengthening individual power was the only guarantee of safety.

In his heart, Gu Zheng didn’t actually think that highly of the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique.

The True Skill the Gu Family needed would have to be a new creation, one derived from the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique through Deduction—a technique that would allow for breakthroughs!

For that reason, letting the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique sit unused was a waste. He might as well pass it on and consider it a good deed.

...

"The Bibo Smoke Mist Technique? It sounds good just from the name," An Xiaoxue said excitedly. "If even a few hundred people here can cultivate a Divine Wondrous, it will be a huge help."

"By the way, Mr. Gu, should we select a group of people here to bring back to the Demon Slayer Bureau? To enter the Training Camp?"

"Time is too tight," Gu Zheng replied calmly. "Grand General Xie and Grand General Meng still haven’t replied to my messages. The situation at the State Headquarters is probably a bit tricky. I need to go back and see if I can help."

"The three of you, however, can stay behind and screen for talent."

"Well..." Zhang Ning was taken aback, then said awkwardly, "We should probably head back too. The Logistics Department should have more experience handling the follow-up here in Wulong."

"Right." Tao Liu coughed and chimed in, "We’re field agents. It’s better if we focus on field matters."

An Xiaoxue opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. She lowered her head guiltily, a flash of shame in her eyes.

It wasn’t just the common folk who were afraid.

The three of them were scared too!

If Gu Zheng really left for good, and a late-stage first-rank Demon Fiend happened to show up, they would be done for.

The Demon Creation Gourd incident had left its mark on An Xiaoxue, Zhang Ning, and Tao Liu, who were all suffering from the aftereffects to some degree.

If they stayed any longer, they would be panicking inside. How could they get any work done like that?

Gu Zheng glanced at the three of them but didn’t call them out on it.

The responsibilities of the field, Internal Affairs, and logistics departments were indeed different.