Time flew like a shuttle.
An hour later, the apprentice assessment had come to a complete end. Of the hundred people in Lin Baichuan's group, only forty-three had ultimately passed—less than half. This showed just how terrifyingly high the assessment's elimination rate was.
At the prison entrance, the hundred people had split into two groups.
The forty-three who had passed gathered together, their faces brimming with excitement as they talked animatedly and imagined their futures. The fifty-seven who had been eliminated, meanwhile, looked utterly miserable, their faces ashen. Quite a few had even collapsed on the ground and begun to wail bitterly.
"Alas! Demons aren't so easy to kill."
Yang Zhan, standing beside Lin Baichuan, glanced at those weeping their hearts out and could not help sighing.
Lin Baichuan nodded slightly as well, feeling a pang of emotion.
Although the demons they had been required to kill in this assessment were merely the lowest-level Soldier-Tier First-Rank Demons, their strength was no weaker than that of human martial artists at the Body Refinement Ninth Stage.
As for these Apprentice Demon Slayers, though every one of them had entered the ranks of martial arts, they were all greenhorns who had never seen blood. Coupled with their instinctive fear of demons, many had started trembling all over the instant they saw one, unable to wield even a tenth of their strength, let alone kill an enemy.
Simply surviving had already been a stroke of great fortune.
Perhaps failing is actually a good thing for them, Lin Baichuan sighed inwardly.
Demon Slayer Guards faced either demons or heretical cultivators every day. They practically lived with their heads tucked into their belts, poised between life and death at every moment. Not everyone could adapt to such a life.
Perhaps those who had failed the assessment could instead live out their lives in peace. Was that not a good thing as well?
"The forty-three who passed, follow me. I'll arrange your accommodations..."
Just then, a low voice rang out.
It belonged to an Intermediate Demon Slayer, a gaunt man whose eyes swept over everyone like a vulture's before he turned and headed out of the Demon Suppression Division Prison. Lin Baichuan and the others immediately stopped talking and followed him.
More than ten minutes later.
Led by that Intermediate Demon Slayer, the group arrived at a residential district. Quite a few people had already gathered at its entrance; they were Apprentice Demon Slayers from the other groups who had passed their assessments.
Now that they had assembled, their residences would be assigned together.
Without drawing attention, Lin Baichuan swept his gaze across the crowd. Including their forty-three, there were fewer than three hundred people altogether. The elimination rate had reached a staggering sixty percent or more. Clearly, his group's pass rate had been comparatively high; some groups likely had not even reached twenty percent.
"Alright, everyone is here. We'll now assign your residences. Our Demon Suppression Division treats official Demon Slayer Guards quite well. Every official Demon Slayer Guard will receive an independent courtyard."
A man dressed in the uniform of a Senior Demon Slayer stepped forward. His gaze swept over everyone like a blade before he continued, "Do you see the residential district before you? This is Residential District No. 19. It contains a thousand courtyards, each with its own corresponding number.
"In a moment, line up to collect your number plaques, then find the courtyard corresponding to your plaque.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Fu Gang, and I am the steward of Residential District No. 19. If you have any matters in the future, you may come find me. Of course, official matters only. Alright, line up and collect your number plaques."
Immediately!
Everyone promptly formed lines and began collecting their number plaques. Since Lin Baichuan and Yang Zhan had arrived rather late, they were near the back. However, there were fewer than three hundred people in total, and the plaques were handed out quickly. In less than ten minutes, Lin Baichuan received his own plaque.
"Number 579. What's yours?" After glancing at the number on his plaque, Yang Zhan looked toward Lin Baichuan.
"Number 799. Looks like the plaques were assigned at random." Lin Baichuan smiled faintly. "Let's find our courtyards first!"
"No problem. Let's find our courtyards first, then meet back here later. No matter what, we passed the assessment today and officially became Demon Slayer Guards. That's worth celebrating. I heard Tianyin Workshop recently got a new kind of wine that's supposedly excellent. How about we go take a look tonight..." Yang Zhan chuckled.
"Tianyin Workshop?"
Lin Baichuan immediately laughed. "Is the wine good, or are the people good?"
Tianyin Workshop was one of the top three pleasure houses in Cangwu County City. Rumor had it that the women inside were more delicate and lovely than the last. If Yang Zhan claimed he was going to Tianyin Workshop just for the wine, Lin Baichuan would not believe him even if beaten to death.
"Hehe, the wine is good, and the people are even better... Anyway, I'm treating tonight. You have to come!" Yang Zhan chuckled.
"When it comes to eating a rich man dry, how could I possibly be left out?"
Lin Baichuan laughed softly.
If Lin Baichuan had to pay for chasing flowers and willows or listening to tunes in the pleasure quarters himself, he absolutely would not go. With that time, he would rather stay home and cultivate properly.
Of course, he would never admit that his pockets were empty and he did not have a single coin to his name.
As an outstanding young man of the present age with limitless aspirations toward martial arts, how could he linger over beauty? Women would only affect the speed at which he drew his blade.
But if Yang Zhan was treating, that was another matter entirely. Yang Zhan was a genuine rich young master. Eating his food and drinking his wine was like striking down the tyrant and dividing up the landlord's estate. Naturally, Lin Baichuan could not miss it.
"Hahaha... You brat, you only know how to take advantage of me. But I'm happy today, so I'll let you have your way this once."
Yang Zhan burst into laughter, then entered Residential District No. 19 with his plaque to search for his courtyard. Lin Baichuan naturally did not linger either, striding toward the outermost edge of the courtyards.
His plaque was number 799. It definitely would not be located in the central area.
It was either deepest inside or right at the edge.
Sure enough!
After walking across nearly half the residential district, Lin Baichuan finally found a relatively remote, isolated courtyard at the eastern edge. The courtyard was concealed behind a massive osmanthus tree. Unless one walked close, it was difficult to spot at all. On top of that, it stood at the very edge of the residential district.
As a result, it looked somewhat remote and desolate, but it suited Lin Baichuan perfectly. Though secluded, it was also much quieter and less likely to be disturbed.
Pushing open the gate, he found that the courtyard was not large. It had only a main hall, two bedrooms, and a utility room. The yard itself, however, was quite spacious, with a large open area of at least several hundred square meters. It was clearly intended to allow its resident to practice martial arts.
Judging by its condition, though, no one had lived here for a long time. Weeds grew thickly throughout the yard, making it appear rather desolate.
Lin Baichuan looked up at the sky and, without another word, immediately began cleaning the courtyard.
It was still early, and he did not know what else to do for the moment. He might as well clean the place up first. After all, he would likely live here for quite some time in the future, so he could not leave it in such a messy, neglected state.
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