Tianyin Workshop's Courtesan

Tianyin Workshop in Cangwu City.

This flower shop, ranked among the top three in Cangwu County, is located by Mingyue Lake. Its ancient courtyard exudes an aura of weathered, old-world elegance. If not for the brightly dressed women at the entrance enthusiastically hawking their wares and trying to lure in passersby, no one would ever guess that such a beautiful courtyard was actually a place of ill repute.

As night fell.

A group of youths dressed in the uniforms of the Demon Suppression Division's Demon Slayer Guards walked into Tianyin Workshop, chatting and laughing.

The group naturally consisted of Lin Baichuan, Yang Zhan, and others. Yang Zhan had not only invited Lin Baichuan but also several friends who usually kept close to them.

"Oh... isn't this Young Master Yang? It's been a while! I thought you'd left Cangwu County. I didn't expect you to join the Demon Suppression Division and become a Demon Slayer Guard. Congratulations!"

As soon as they stepped into Tianyin Workshop, a heavily made-up madam, whose face was plastered with so much powder it looked like she was plastering a wall, greeted them with a wide smile. It was clear she knew Yang Zhan well. Lin Baichuan couldn't help but glance at Yang Zhan with a playful expression, saying, "Young Master Yang, it seems you've frequented Tianyin Workshop quite a bit for drinks!"

Yang Zhan, hearing the teasing in Lin Baichuan's words, blushed and said, "Don't talk nonsense. I only come here occasionally. I'm still very self-disciplined."

Lin Baichuan scoffed and saw no point in replying.

Self-disciplined? How thick-skinned could this guy be to say such a thing? He wondered if his conscience ached.

"Sister Hua, enough with the pleasantries. Prepare a larger private room for me, and get some pretty girls to accompany us. Don't embarrass me in front of my brothers." Yang Zhan grinned. Knowing Lin Baichuan didn't believe him, he didn't dwell on it and turned to the madam.

"No problem, Young Master Yang... The 'Qiu' room on the second floor is just vacant. I'll arrange it for you right away."

Upon hearing Yang Zhan's request, the madam's smile grew even more radiant.

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

The 'Qiu' room.

Not long after the group sat down, the madam led a group of girls into the room. There were seven of them in total, Lin Baichuan and his companions, so it was exactly one girl per person.

It had to be said, the girls at Tianyin Workshop were truly exceptional in both appearance and figure. Lin Baichuan took a rough glance and felt a surge of emotion. Their beauty, if transported to his previous life, would have easily outshone countless internet celebrities and stars.

Lin Baichuan did not refuse when the girls came to accompany them for drinks.

Whether in his past life or this one, he was neither a saint nor a good person, nor did he wish to be a gentleman.

He wouldn't actively pursue women, but he wouldn't refuse them if they came onto him.

"Brother Yang, I heard the rookie mission is about to begin. I wonder what this mission will be. Do you have any information?"

After a pot of wine, everyone started to liven up.

A young man in luxurious brocade robes suddenly frowned and said in a deep voice, "Originally, I thought that after passing the assessment and becoming a formal Demon Slayer Guard, everything would be smooth sailing.

Who would have thought that the previous assessment was just an appetizer, a stepping stone?

The real assessment is the upcoming rookie mission..."

"Who's not saying that? I've heard that the death rate for rookie missions in the Demon Suppression Division is not low. Being a Demon Slayer Guard is not an easy job!"

Someone immediately chimed in, their expression solemn.

Lin Baichuan listened, a little confused, and raised an eyebrow. "What's this rookie mission all about?"

In this life, before joining the Demon Suppression Division, Lin Baichuan was just a humble refugee.

After entering the Demon Suppression Division, he spent most of his time cultivating. He barely had any friends he could truly talk to, and he had never heard of this so-called rookie mission before.

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

Everyone in the room was taken aback, looking at Lin Baichuan with surprise. They hadn't expected him to be unaware of the rookie mission.

"Baichuan is usually busy with his cultivation and rarely inquires about these matters, so it's normal that he doesn't know," Yang Zhan said, helping Lin Baichuan out of the awkward situation. He then continued to explain, "According to the tradition of the Demon Suppression Division, all Apprentice Demon Slayers, after passing the assessment and becoming formal Demon Slayer Guards, will be assigned a mission within seven days.

This mission is the so-called rookie mission. In fact... many people say that the rookie mission is the true assessment for Demon Slayer Guards.

Unlike the assessments we experienced before, failure in the rookie mission not only means losing the position of Demon Slayer Guard, but it could very well mean losing your own life. According to data analysis, the death rate for the rookie mission reaches thirty percent..."

Hiss!

As soon as Yang Zhan finished speaking, everyone in the room couldn't help but gasp.

A thirty percent death rate was already terrifying.

In other words, out of the seven people present, two of them might die in this rookie mission. This proportion was simply horrifying!

For a moment, everyone's mood turned somber, and they lost all interest in drinking and merrymaking. The thought that they might perish in a few days made their spirits sink even lower.

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

Someone asked with a grim expression, gritting their teeth.

"Heh, you're right. The higher-ups in the Demon Suppression Division will indeed agree because, in their eyes, you and I are just numbers. We don't represent living beings, but rather data sets."

Yang Zhan glanced at these people and said coldly, "This is how it is within the Demon Suppression Division. To become a Demon Slayer Guard, one must experience life and death. In fact... every senior Demon Slayer Guard we've seen has gone through countless battles.

We are actually quite fortunate. Having passed the assessment, at least we have infinite possibilities in the future. Those who fail, their lives have already reached their end."

Yang Zhan's words cast an even heavier atmosphere over the room.

Lin Baichuan also sighed. The Demon Suppression Division was not a place of ease. Being a Demon Slayer Guard was a profession where one's head was always on the chopping block, with danger and death lurking at every step.

But then again, between life and death lay great terror, but also great opportunity. A hothouse could not nurture true powerhouses. To achieve anything in martial arts, one had to experience danger and the trials of life and death.

Even with the system as a cheat by his side, he still had to kill.

Because only through killing could he earn enough Merit, and then use that abundant Merit to rapidly improve his strength.

Ding…

Suddenly, at this very moment, a zither melody drifted over, like a secluded orchid in a valley, like the sound of a clear spring flowing, coming from the first-floor lobby. It immediately captured everyone's attention.

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

Someone reacted, their eyes instantly lighting up, and said excitedly, "This Miaoyin is no ordinary person. I've heard that she's been at Tianyin Workshop for less than three months, and she's already successfully claimed the position of courtesan. Her zither music is considered top-notch in Cangwu County.

It's just a shame that Miaoyin rarely plays. Someone once offered a thousand gold pieces, but couldn't get her to play. I never expected Miaoyin to play voluntarily today. This trip has truly been a huge windfall…"

As the crowd listened to the zither music, their expressions gradually changed. The previous solemnity and tension vanished, and everyone became incredibly excited.

Ding… Dingling…

The zither music swirled, continuously emanating from the first-floor lobby, wave after wave, containing a certain profound fluctuation, as if it could stir one's mind and soul.

For a time, it entranced everyone.

Only Lin Baichuan's expression changed, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

This zither music… there was something wrong with it.