Merit Points

Only a large pile of charred, foul-smelling remains was left on the stone platform.

Yue Shan staggered back two steps, leaning on his blade for support. His chest heaved violently, and his face was deathly pale.

Inside the room, the Soul-Stitching Crone had already died from the backlash when the Divine Child was completely incinerated.

Wu Tong was badly wounded and leaning against the wall, while Chen Mo stood at the doorway, pale-faced.

Outside, the Butcher had been slain, and Li Tie and Zhou Ling were still on guard.

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

Yue Shan gave the order in a hoarse voice, a rare weariness in his words. "Chen Mo, Wu Tong, you did well."

On the street opposite Rat Alley, several black-clad figures stood silently beneath the eaves, shadows blending into the night.

They watched the soldiers standing guard with guns around the nearby dye house, then looked toward the flames soaring from its inner courtyard. Their expressions were placid, as though they were merely watching something that had nothing to do with them.

"The Soul-Stitching Crone and her lot probably met with disaster," said the black-clad figure at the front in a low, even voice, betraying no emotion.

"Master Liu, we were supposed to deliver the Red Moon's blood before midnight. Now..." A shorter black-clad figure beside him hesitated.

"Plans never keep pace with change."

Master Liu waved a hand, cutting off his subordinate. "The Anomaly Suppression Bureau moved decisively and swiftly this time. Looks like Yue Changkong is determined to clean house around here. The Soul-Stitching Crone and her women did a poor job of hiding themselves and lacked the means to protect themselves. They have no one else to blame."

He paused, his gaze still fixed on the dye house engulfed in flames. "The Divine Child's aura has vanished completely... What a pity. I'd wanted to see what kind of thing they could raise."

"Then... what about the Red Moon's blood?" his subordinate asked again.

"Take it back and sell it to those lunatics at the Heavenly King Temple. Yue Changkong is personally stationed in the county seat, so it would be unwise to make another move." Master Liu's tone was indifferent. "The Soul-Stitching Crone is finished, but preparations for the Holy Moon Ritual must continue."

"Yes!" several black-clad figures answered in low voices.

Master Liu took one last look toward the dye house, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "Let's go. There are only two days left. We mustn't let anything go wrong."

The shadows slipped away like ghosts, soundlessly melting into the deeper darkness.

The next day, it had just turned six in the morning when a drizzle began to fall from the sky.

By the time Chen Mo walked along the slick stone path to the tent where they were meeting, the rain had grown heavier. Raindrops as big as beans pelted the oilcloth roof, drumming out a dense clatter.

The electric lights were already on inside the tent, though the illumination remained dim and yellow.

Yue Shan and the other two were there. Wu Tong hadn't come, apparently still recuperating at the medical station.

Yue Shan had changed into a clean uniform. Bandages were faintly visible beneath it, but his back was straight, and his usual stern authority had returned.

When Chen Mo entered, all three looked over.

Zhou Ling smiled at him, Zhao Tie gave a slight nod, and Yue Shan pointed to an empty stool nearby. "Sit."

The mood in the tent was more relaxed than it had been yesterday.

"Wu Tong's injuries are stable, but he needs several days of rest and can't return to the team yet." Yue Shan got straight to the point. "I've submitted last night's mission report. The bureau has approved the outcome, and the merit points have been credited to everyone's accounts."

He looked at Chen Mo. "You're new, so you may not know what merit points are for. I'll explain briefly."

Chen Mo immediately sat up straight. Wasn't everyone joining the Anomaly Suppression Bureau for its benefits?

"Merit points are a common measure of merit and means of exchange used by the Inspection Bureau and the Anomaly Suppression Bureau."

"Completing missions assigned by the bureau, turning in valuable spoils or intelligence, making special contributions, and so on will earn merit points based on the difficulty and results."

"For missions completed independently by an individual or a small team, the merit points go to that individual or team to distribute. For joint operations with the military, like last night's, the points are allocated according to each person's specific performance and contribution. The commanding officer assesses and submits the results, and the bureau reviews them."

"Merit points have many uses, but there are three main ones." Yue Shan held up three fingers.

"First, you can exchange them for cultivation resources, including cultivation manuals, pills, talismans, and special materials."

"Second, you can exchange them for weapons, equipment, and magical artifacts. Standard-issue equipment is provided free of charge, but weapons and artifacts with special functions require merit points."

"Of course, some high-end items require both merit points and the appropriate clearance level."

"Third, promotion and benefits. Accumulating enough merit points is an important factor in advancing in rank and gaining access."

"Merit points can also be exchanged for certain living benefits, such as better accommodations, guidance from experts in the bureau, or time in a cultivation chamber."

Yue Shan looked at Chen Mo. "The Inspection Bureau and the Anomaly Suppression Bureau share the same merit-point system. If you transfer to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau in the future, the points you've earned at the Inspection Bureau can be transferred with you."

"Based on your performance in last night's mission—disrupting the formation, destroying the Divine Child at a critical moment, and coordinating during the final phase—you've earned 120 merit points."

"For your first mission as a new recruit, that's not a small amount."

120 points?

Chen Mo silently calculated. He had no idea how much purchasing power 120 points had.

Perhaps sensing his uncertainty, Zhou Ling chimed in. "You're new, so don't complain that it's too little. A mid-grade mortal cultivation manual that isn't widely available on the market costs around 50 to 100 points."

"One Flesh-Regenerating Powder, a pretty effective healing pill, costs around 10 points. Good magical artifacts are expensive, though. A few thousand or even tens of thousands of points is normal."

Chen Mo understood. It seemed 120 points wouldn't go very far.

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

"As the main close-combat fighter, Wu Tong held off Butcher Liu and suffered the worst injuries. He's been awarded 150 merit points."

"Zhou Ling sniped Butcher Liu from a distance and provided crucial support. She's been awarded 130 points."

"Zhao Tie laid the formation to trap the enemy and monitored for danger. He's been awarded 100 points. As the commander and main attacker, I received a separate assessment." Yue Shan briefly explained the allocation. "This is the preliminary assessment. The final decision rests with the bureau, though there's usually not much difference."

"Your merit points will be recorded on your identity tokens and in the bureau's files. You can check and redeem them at the camp's merit office at any time, or visit the Archive Pavilion after returning to the city."

Zhao Tie opened his eyes and added, "Before exchanging your points, it's best to learn more about what you're getting. Some things look good but may not suit your current stage. Be especially cautious when exchanging for a cultivation manual. It's best to consult a senior or someone with experience."

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Zhao." Chen Mo nodded, committing it to memory.

This was all valuable experience.

Yue Shan continued, "Besides merit points, the bureau is assessing the heretical manuals and items seized from the Soul-Stitching Crone last night. If they're judged to have research value but pose no direct threat, they may be converted into merit points or directly awarded to the relevant team members. That will take time, though."

"I understand." Chen Mo had no objection.

"All right, that's enough about merit points."

Yue Shan's expression turned serious again as he changed the subject. "After the Soul-Stitching Crone and her lot were wiped out, the people at several other locations seem to have gotten wind of it. They withdrew from Linhe County overnight."

"All missions are canceled for the next two days. Get some good rest. Come here tomorrow evening. We must leave Linhe County before nightfall..."