Tianyin Workshop's Courtesan

Cangwu City, Tianyin Workshop.

This flower house, ranked among the top three in Cangwu County, stood by the shores of Brightmoon Lake. Its antique courtyard exuded an air of weathered age and ancient refinement. If not for the gaudily dressed women at the entrance calling out energetically to solicit passing customers—

No one would have imagined that such a fine courtyard was actually a den for wine, women, and song.

At nightfall.

A group of young men clad in the uniforms of the Demon Suppression Division's Demon Slayer Guards entered Tianyin Workshop amid laughter and chatter.

The arrivals were naturally Lin Baichuan, Yang Zhan, and the others. Not only had Yang Zhan invited Lin Baichuan, but he had also called over several people who were usually close to them.

"Oh... isn't this Young Master Yang? It's been quite some time since you last came! I thought Young Master Yang had left Cangwu County. Who would have thought you joined the Demon Suppression Division and became a Demon Slayer Guard? Congratulations!"

They had only just stepped into Tianyin Workshop when a smiling madam approached them. Her face was covered in thick makeup, the powder caked on like plaster on a wall. It was clear that she knew Yang Zhan well. Lin Baichuan could not help turning toward Yang Zhan with a teasing look. "Young Master Yang, seems you've come to Tianyin Workshop for drinks quite often!"

How could Yang Zhan fail to hear the mockery in Lin Baichuan's words? His old face immediately reddened as he said, "Don't talk nonsense. I only come by once in a while. This young master is very chaste and self-disciplined."

Lin Baichuan curled his lip and could not be bothered to reply.

Chaste and self-disciplined? How thick did this fellow's skin have to be to say something like that? He wondered whether his conscience hurt at all.

"Sister Hua, enough nonsense. Prepare a larger private room for me. Make sure the girls serving the wine are pretty. Don't make me lose face before my brothers." Yang Zhan grinned. Knowing Lin Baichuan did not believe him, he no longer cared and turned to the madam.

"No problem, Young Master Yang... The Autumn Room on the second floor happens to be vacant. I'll arrange it for you right away."

At Yang Zhan's words, the madam's smile grew even wider.

She immediately instructed someone to lead Lin Baichuan, Yang Zhan, and the others upstairs, while she personally went to select the girls.

The Autumn Room.

Not long after the group sat down, the madam led a group of girls through the door. There were seven of Lin Baichuan's group, exactly one girl for each man.

It had to be said that Tianyin Workshop's girls were truly beyond reproach in both looks and figures; every single one was exceptional. Lin Baichuan gave them a cursory glance and sighed inwardly. With the looks of these seven alone, back in his previous life, they would have crushed who knew how many internet celebrities and actresses.

The girls came in to serve them wine, and Lin Baichuan did not refuse.

Whether in his previous life or this one, he had never been some virtuous gentleman, nor did he wish to play the role of an upright man.

He would not take the initiative to provoke women, but if they threw themselves at him, he would not turn them away either.

"Brother Yang, I heard the newcomer mission is about to begin. I wonder what this mission will be. Have you heard anything?"

After a pot of wine had gone down, everyone began to liven up.

A young man dressed in brocade robes suddenly furrowed his brows slightly, then said in a deep voice, "Originally, I thought that once we passed the assessment and became official Demon Slayer Guards, we would have nothing to worry about.

Who would have thought that the earlier assessment was merely an appetizer, nothing more than a stepping stone.

The real assessment is actually the newcomer mission that is about to arrive..."

"Isn't that so? I heard the Demon Suppression Division's newcomer missions have no low death rate. Making a living as a Demon Slayer Guard isn't easy!"

Someone immediately took up the thread, his expression grave.

Lin Baichuan was somewhat confused. Raising his brows, he asked, "What exactly is this newcomer mission?"

Before joining the Demon Suppression Division in this life, Lin Baichuan had been nothing more than a humble refugee.

After joining the Demon Suppression Division, he had spent most of his time cultivating. He had only a handful of friends with whom he could truly talk, so before this, he had genuinely never heard of this so-called newcomer mission.

"No way! Brother Lin... you actually don't know about the newcomer mission?"

The others in the room were immediately stunned, looking at Lin Baichuan with surprise. They had not expected him to know nothing of the newcomer mission.

"Baichuan is usually occupied with cultivation and rarely asks about such matters. It's perfectly normal that he doesn't know." Yang Zhan spoke up to rescue Lin Baichuan, then continued explaining, "According to the Demon Suppression Division's traditions, once all Apprentice Demon Slayers pass the assessment and become official Demon Slayer Guards—

They will be assigned a mission within seven days.

That mission is the so-called newcomer mission. In fact... many say that the newcomer mission is the true Demon Slayer Guard assessment.

Unlike the assessment we went through before, if one fails the newcomer mission, what one loses is not merely the position of Demon Slayer Guard. One may very well lose one's life. According to the data, the death rate for newcomer missions has reached thirty percent..."

Hiss!

The moment Yang Zhan said this, everyone in the room could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

A thirty percent death rate was already terrifying.

Put another way, there were seven of them here right now, and it was very possible that two of them would die in this newcomer mission. That ratio was simply horrifying!

For a time, everyone's mood grew solemn, and they completely lost the desire to drink and make merry. Thinking that they might fall in a few days' time made them feel even worse.

"With such a high death rate, would the higher-ups of the Demon Suppression Division agree to it?"

Someone's expression twisted as he gritted his teeth and growled.

"Heh, you're right. The higher-ups of the Demon Suppression Division really would agree, because in their eyes, you and I are merely numbers. We do not represent living, breathing lives, but batches of data."

Yang Zhan swept his gaze over them and said coldly, "That is how it is within the Demon Suppression Division. If you want to become a Demon Slayer Guard, you must go through life and death. In fact... every veteran Demon Slayer Guard we have seen—who among them has not gone through layer upon layer of slaughter?

Actually, we are considered fortunate. We passed the assessment, so at least our futures hold limitless possibilities. As for those who failed, they can already see the end of their entire lives."

Yang Zhan's words made the atmosphere in the room even more oppressive.

Lin Baichuan sighed inwardly as well. The Demon Suppression Division was no peaceful haven. A Demon Slayer Guard lived with his head tucked into his belt, danger at every turn and killing intent in every step.

But then again, between life and death lay great terror, yet also Great Opportunity. A true powerhouse could not be raised in a greenhouse. If one wanted to achieve something on the martial path, one had to experience danger, life-and-death struggles, and bloody slaughter.

Even with a cheat like the system at his side, he still had to kill.

Because only through slaughter could he earn enough merit, and only then could he use vast amounts of merit to swiftly raise his strength.

Ding...

Suddenly, at that moment, the sound of a zither drifted over. Like an orchid blooming in an empty valley, like clear springs flowing over stone, it came from the first-floor hall and instantly drew everyone's attention.

"It's Tianyin Workshop's courtesan, Miaoyin, playing the zither."

Someone came to his senses, and his eyes immediately lit up. Excitedly, he said, "This Miaoyin is no ordinary woman. I heard she had been at Tianyin Workshop for less than three months when she successfully claimed the position of courtesan. Her zither music is considered unmatched throughout Cangwu County.

Unfortunately, Miaoyin rarely performs. Someone once promised a fortune in gold and still failed to get his wish. Who would have thought Miaoyin would take the initiative to play today? This trip has truly paid off beyond measure..."

As the group listened to the zither music, their expressions gradually changed. Their previous solemnity and tension were swept away, and every one of them became intensely excited.

Ding... ding-ling-ling...

The zither music lingered in the air, flowing continuously from the first-floor hall in wave after wave. It contained some profound and mysterious fluctuation, as though it could stir the mind and soul.

For a time, everyone was utterly entranced.

Only Lin Baichuan's expression changed, killing intent suddenly exposed in his eyes.

There was something wrong with this zither music.