Assessment Mission

"Fuck!"

Jun Wushang froze as if struck by lightning, then punched Wei Qing on the shoulder. "You finally got your head out of your ass!"

"I've been saying it for years—aside from Uncle Wei Yuan, everyone in the Wei family is a wolf that eats people without spitting out bones!"

The white mourning banners in the hall stirred without wind, reflecting Wei Qing's cold smile. "Knowing it now... isn't too late."

Jun Wushang's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Wait..." His Adam's apple bobbed violently as he stared at Wei Qing like a monster. "You... broke through to Eighth-Rank?"

Wei Qing's fingertips brushed his scabbard, his smile ambiguous. "Your reaction speed makes me wonder if the Heavenly Realm Division's assessment..."

"Was watered down?"

"Bullshit!" Jun Wushang puffed out his chest with pride. "I passed on pure skill, alright?"

"Oh, right. That venomous woman Liu Ru has already reported your death to the Heavenly Realm Division." His voice carried a bone-chilling coldness. "I know exactly what she's playing at—she wants Wei Lin to take your place as Intern Warden."

Wei Qing curled his lips into a cold smirk. "But she's in for a disappointment."

Just as the two were about to head back to the Heavenly Realm Division, a clatter of footsteps approached from afar.

Chen Dong, the Head of Guards, hurried over with a few servants. The moment he saw Wei Qing, he froze as if struck by lightning.

"B-Big Young Master? You... you're alive?"

"What? Head Chen seems surprised to see this young master alive?"

"N-No... I wouldn't dare..."

Chen Dong lowered his head in panic, fine beads of sweat forming at his temples.

"I wouldn't dare..."

Before he could finish, a sharp crack rang out!

Chen Dong didn't even see Wei Qing move. He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the brick wall ten meters away.

Bricks shattered as he spat out a mouthful of blood, sliding to the ground like a pile of mud.

Chen Dong's pupils shrank as he stared at Wei Qing in disbelief.

He clearly saw Qi Force swirling around Wei Qing, forming a faint vortex.

"Eighth-Rank Martial Artist." Chen Dong gasped in shock.

The other guards trembled in their boots, fear plain on their faces.

Wei Qing stood where Chen Dong had been, slowly shaking his hand as if he'd touched something filthy.

"If my father hadn't taken you in back then, you'd have starved to death on the street." His voice was calm, but every word cut like a blade. "The entire Wei estate wouldn't have let a mere Ninth-Rank Martial Artist like you serve as Head of Guards."

"Is this how you repay him?"

Chen Dong's eyes flickered with struggle and guilt. He lowered his head. "I've failed the Master... Whatever punishment the Young Master decrees, I'll accept."

"Good." Wei Qing said coldly. "Everything my father gave you, I take back today on his behalf."

"From now on, we owe each other nothing."

"Young Master!" Chen Dong's head shot up as he finally realized what Wei Qing intended to do. He screamed in terror, "No—"

But before the words left his mouth—

Boom!

A heavy fist slammed into his Dantian. Qi Force exploded with a sharp hiss.

Chen Dong's whole body convulsed. The Internal Energy he'd cultivated for years poured out like a burst dam, dissipating in an instant.

"No... don't... my cultivation..."

Wei Qing turned to the others. "Kneel here."

"Anyone who dares to rise before I return—dies."

The guards' faces went pale as paper. Their knees hit the ground in a series of thuds, forming a straight line.

Heavenly Realm Division.

"Madam Liu, for Wei Yuan's sake, this is the only time. Don't let it happen again." Zhou Cang's eyes flickered with displeasure.

"Thank you, Lord Zhou."

Seeing him relent on the arrangement of Wei Qing's body, Liu Ru's hanging heart finally settled.

"About my son's appointment to the Heavenly Realm Division?"

"His cultivation meets the requirements. According to Heavenly Realm Division rules, he also satisfies the inheritance conditions."

Hearing this, Wei Lin, standing to the side, could barely suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

The Heavenly Realm Division's supplementary recruitment had two methods.

First, the Inheritance System: whenever a Warden died, their offspring could inherit their spot in the Heavenly Realm Division. If there were no direct descendants, one could be chosen from the clan.

Second, the Recruitment System: every year, the Heavenly Realm Division held examinations in the various prefectures of Great Zhou, taking in those who passed.

A smile crept into Liu Ru's eyes as she gave a light cough.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhou."

Wei Lin hurried forward to bow.

But Zhou Cang raised a hand to stop him, the Earth-rank Warden's face stern as he tapped his knuckles on the table. "Within the Heavenly Realm Division, address me by title."

"Someone come."

"Here."

Wei Qing, who had just arrived outside the door, quickly stopped the warden on duty and stepped one foot onto the threshold.

Zhou Cang's body stiffened abruptly, the official document in his hand slapping to the floor. He slowly lifted his gaze, his hawk-like eyes locking onto the figure at the door.

Crack—

The teacup in Liu Ru's hand shattered on the ground, shards and tea splashing onto her skirt.

Wei Lin collapsed on the spot, a pale yellow stain spreading beneath his pant leg as his trembling finger pointed at Wei Qing. "Ghost... it's a ghost..."

"If you're not dead, get in here!"

Zhou Cang's tone was as harsh as ever, but a trace of barely perceptible relief flickered in his eyes.

"The threshold of the Heavenly Realm Division isn't yours to step on."

Wei Qing froze at the words, as if transported back to his past life—

The Dragon Team Chief Instructor had been just the same.

Always with a stern face and the harshest words, yet quietly watching over every team member's safety behind the scenes.

Seeing this, Liu Ru quickly composed herself, her eyes reddening as she hurried to Wei Qing with tears brimming. "Oh my, Qing'er, it's so good you're safe. If your elder brother knew..."

"Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo—look at this mouth of mine, Second Aunt shouldn't have said that."

Liu Ru raised her hand as if to slap herself, but her hand stopped mid-air as she turned and called out, "Xiao Lin... oh, what's wrong with this child?"

"Look at you, so spineless!"

"Qing'er, your aunt is taking him back now. Let your second uncle teach him a proper lesson. You get on with your work."

Liu Ru hurried forward to help Wei Lin up, and mother and son fled out of the inner hall.

Jun Wushang frowned slightly. "Just letting them off like that?"

"Letting them off?" Wei Qing let out a low laugh, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Don't you think... killing them with one strike would be far too merciful for that family?"

Jun Wushang's eyes lit up sharply. "Heh, when the time comes, don't forget to call me."

Zhou Cang watched Wei Qing quietly, a flicker of approval in his gaze.

The Wei Qing before him now felt like a completely reborn man.

From Jun Wushang's scattered words, he had already pieced together what had happened.

—For Wei Qing, this was actually a good thing!

On the path of a martial artist, pointless mercy only becomes a fatal weakness.

Now that Wei Qing could cut away that indecisiveness, his future path would surely stretch much further.

"As for news of your father, no need to worry. Lord Tantai went personally, so word should come before long."

"For now, go complete your Promotion Assessment."

Zhou Cang reached out, pulled a black scroll from the stack of documents beside him, and tossed it to Wei Qing. "This one."

Wei Qing's cultivation naturally hadn't escaped his notice, so he had immediately arranged an assessment mission for him.

"Yes."

Wei Qing caught the scroll with his right hand.

"According to intelligence, a demon has appeared near Fuyun Town in Qingcheng. Comprehensive strength assessment: Eighth-rank initial stage."

"Your assessment mission is to go to Fuyun Town and slay it."