Merit Points

On the stone platform, nothing remained but a large, charred, and foul-smelling residue.

Yue Shan staggered back two steps, leaning on his blade for support. His chest heaved violently, and his face was drained of all color.

Inside the room, the Soul-Stitching Crone had already breathed her last, a backlash from the Divine Child being completely incinerated.

Wu Tong leaned against the wall, severely wounded, while Chen Mo stood at the doorway, his face pale.

Outside, the butcher had been slain, and Li Tie and Zhou Ling remained on guard.

"Clear the scene, tally the casualties, and burn all... remnants of the filth."

Yue Shan's voice was hoarse as he issued the order, his tone carrying a rare weariness. "Chen Mo, Wu Tong, you both did well."

On the street opposite Rat Alley, several figures in black stood silently in the shadows beneath the eaves, as if they had merged with the night.

They watched the soldiers standing guard with rifles around the perimeter of the dyehouse, then looked toward the flames rising into the sky from the inner courtyard. Their eyes were calm and rippleless, as if they were watching something that had nothing to do with them.

"The Soul-Stitching Crone's group has likely met with misfortune," the figure in the lead said in a low voice, his tone steady, devoid of anger or sorrow.

"Master Liu, we were scheduled to deliver the Red Moon blood before midnight. Now..." a shorter figure in black beside him hesitated.

"Plans cannot keep up with changes."

Master Liu waved a hand, cutting his subordinate off. "The Anomaly Suppression Bureau acted with decisive speed this time. It seems Yue Changkong has made up his mind to purge this area. The Crone and her lot didn't keep a low profile and lacked the means; they have no one else to blame."

He paused, his gaze still locked on the blazing dyehouse. "The aura of the Divine Child has vanished completely... A pity. I had hoped to see what sort of thing they could have raised."

"Then... the Red Moon blood?" the subordinate asked again.

"Take it back and sell it to those lunatics at the Heavenly King Temple. With Yue Changkong personally presiding over the county, it is not wise to make further moves." Master Liu's tone was indifferent. "The Crone is finished, but our preparations for the Holy Moon Ritual cannot stop."

"Understood!" the black-clad figures replied in low voices.

Master Liu took one last look at the dyehouse, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "Let's go. There are only two days left; we cannot afford any mistakes."

Several black shadows merged into the deeper darkness, silent as ghosts.

The next day, at six in the morning, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

By the time Chen Mo stepped across the slippery stone path to reach the assembly tent, the rain had intensified. Bean-sized droplets drummed rhythmically against the oilcloth roof, creating a dense, percussive sound.

Electric lights were already on inside the tent, though the glow remained dim and yellow.

All three of the others were present; Wu Tong was absent, clearly still recuperating at the medical station.

Yue Shan had changed into a clean uniform. Faint traces of bandages were visible beneath his clothes, but his back was straight, and he had regained his usual cold, imposing demeanor.

Seeing Chen Mo enter, the three of them looked over.

Zhou Ling smiled at him, Zhao Tie nodded slightly, and Yue Shan gestured to an empty stool beside him. "Sit."

The atmosphere in the tent was more relaxed than the day before.

"Wu Tong's condition is stable, but he needs to rest for a few days and cannot return to duty for now." Yue Shan got straight to the point. "I have already submitted the report on last night's operation. The Bureau is satisfied with the results, and the merit points have been credited to your accounts."

He looked at Chen Mo. "You are a newcomer, so you may not yet understand the utility of merit points. I will explain briefly."

The latter immediately sat up straight; who joined the Anomaly Suppression Bureau if not for the benefits?

"Merit points are the universal currency for merit and exchange within the Inspection Bureau and the Anomaly Suppression Bureau."

"Completing missions assigned by the Bureau, handing over valuable loot or intelligence, or making special contributions—all are evaluated based on difficulty and results, rewarding you with corresponding merit points."

"For missions completed independently by individuals or squads, the points belong to them. For joint operations like last night's, which involved military support, points are distributed based on individual performance and contribution, assessed by the team leader and approved by the Bureau."

"Merit points have many uses, primarily in three areas." Yue Shan held up three fingers.

"First, exchanging for cultivation resources, including manuals, secret techniques, pills, talismans, and special materials."

"Second, exchanging for weapons, equipment, and artifacts. Standard-issue gear is provided for free, but weapons and artifacts with special effects require merit points."

"Of course, some high-end items require not only merit points but also a corresponding clearance level."

"Third, promotion and benefits. Accumulating enough merit points is a key basis for promotion in rank and increasing your clearance level."

"At the same time, merit points can be exchanged for living benefits, such as better accommodation, or even time in a cultivation chamber and guidance from experts within the Bureau."

Yue Shan looked at Chen Mo. "The merit point systems of the Inspection Bureau and the Anomaly Suppression Bureau are interconnected. The points you accumulate in the Inspection Bureau can be transferred if you are ever reassigned to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau."

"For last night's mission, based on your performance—disrupting the formation, the critical destruction of the Divine Child, and your final coordination—you have been awarded 120 merit points."

"For a newcomer's first mission, this is not a small amount."

120 points?

Chen Mo calculated silently, wondering about the purchasing power of these 120 points.

Seeming to notice his confusion, Zhou Ling interjected, "Don't be greedy, rookie. A mid-grade mortal cultivation manual that isn't widely circulated on the market usually costs between 50 and 100 points."

"A bottle of Flesh-Regenerating Powder, a decent healing medicine, costs about 10 points. As for good artifacts, those are expensive; thousands or tens of thousands of points is normal."

Chen Mo understood. It seemed 120 points wasn't much after all.

"Captain, what about Senior Wu Tong..." Chen Mo asked.

"As our primary frontline combatant, Wu Tong bore the brunt of the damage while pinning down Butcher Liu. His merit points have been assessed at 150."

"Zhou Ling provided long-range sniping against Butcher Liu and critical support; she is assessed at 130 points."

"Zhao Tie set up the formations to trap the enemy and provided early warning monitoring, assessed at 100 points. As the commander and secondary lead attacker, I have a separate assessment." Yue Shan briefly explained the distribution. "These are preliminary assessments. The final figures are subject to the Bureau's approval, but there usually isn't much discrepancy."

"The merit points will be recorded on your identity tokens and in the Bureau's archives. You can check them or redeem them at any time at the camp's merit office, or at the Archive Pavilion once we return to the city."

Zhao Tie opened his eyes at this moment and added, "Before you redeem anything, it is best to learn more. Some items look good but might not suit your current stage. Be especially cautious when exchanging for cultivation techniques; it is best to consult your seniors or those with experience."

"Many thanks for the reminder, Senior Zhao." Chen Mo nodded, taking note of this.

These were all invaluable pieces of experience.

Yue Shan continued, "In addition to merit points, the heretical manuals and items seized from the Soul-Stitching Crone last night will be evaluated by the Bureau. If they are deemed to have research value without posing a direct threat, they may be converted into merit points or awarded directly to the relevant team members, though that will take time."

"I understand." Chen Mo had no objections to this.

"Alright, that is enough about merit points."

Yue Shan shifted his tone, his expression turning serious once more. "After the Soul-Stitching Crone's group was wiped out, the others seem to have caught wind of it and fled Linhe County overnight."

"All missions for the next two days are canceled. Get some good rest. Gather here tomorrow evening; we must withdraw from Linhe County before nightfall..."