Yellow-Rank Demon Eliminator

Shen Changqing had just left the Zhao Family when he saw someone approaching him head-on.

"Lord Shen!"

"What is it?"

Seeing the newcomer, Shen Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly.

He was no stranger to the man before him. He was a clerk from Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop, and in truth, a member of the Skywatch Guard as well.

As the Skywatch Guard's base in Lin'an City, every person within Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop was a member of the Skywatch Guard.

The man replied, "The shopkeeper has invited you over. He said there has been progress on the matter Lord Shen asked us to investigate earlier."

"Oh? Lead the way."

"Please follow me, Lord Shen!"

The man walked ahead while Shen Changqing followed some distance behind, heading toward Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop.

Speaking of secrecy—

The Skywatch Guard in Lin'an City had not done a particularly good job of it. Their only cover was a pawnshop.

But in truth—

Even without the cover of Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop, the Skywatch Guard would have had no problem.

The Skywatch Guard was subordinate to the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Even if they openly hung up their signboard, it would have been perfectly acceptable. After all, the Skywatch Guard stationed in Lin'an City was merely a point for receiving information. Those truly gathering intelligence from all over were others.

Lin'an City was not large.

It only took one or two quarters of an hour to travel from the Zhao Family to Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop.

Shen Changqing was already a familiar face at Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop, so the moment he entered, he headed straight for the inner hall.

Seeing this, Situ Bei hurriedly rose to his feet.

"Lord Shen has arrived!"

"Brother Situ." Shen Changqing nodded slightly in greeting.

Having dealt with Everlasting Fortune Pawnshop many times, the two were fairly familiar with one another. Moreover, Situ Bei was older, so Shen Changqing addressed him with due courtesy.

After taking his seat—

Situ Bei handed Shen Changqing a square wooden box that had been resting on the table.

"Lord Shen, half a day ago, a Skywatch Guard delivered this item. He stated that it was brought from the Demon Suppression Bureau for Lord Shen. Please examine it."

"The Demon Suppression Bureau?"

Shen Changqing was somewhat curious. The wooden box felt rather heavy in his hands when he accepted it.

He did not avoid suspicion and opened the wooden box directly before Situ Bei.

What met his eyes—

Was a rectangular token.

Shen Changqing picked it up and saw the words "Demon Suppression Bureau" engraved on one side, while the other bore the name "Shen Changqing." In the lower right corner were five more words: "Yellow-Rank Demon Eliminator."

A Yellow-Rank Demon Eliminator's identity token!?

On the other side—

Situ Bei watched Shen Changqing open the box and examine the token. The words "Yellow-Rank Demon Eliminator" immediately caught his eye.

At once, he offered congratulations respectfully. "Congratulations, Lord Shen, on successfully advancing to Yellow-Rank Demon Eliminator. Your future is as bright as brocade, and even becoming a guardian envoy is within reach!"

"You flatter me, Brother Situ."

Shen Changqing smiled faintly and put away the token. This was his second identity token.

He still had the identity token of a probationary Demon Eliminator on him.

According to the rules—

Upon advancing to Yellow-Rank Demon Eliminator, his original identity token should have been handed in.

But since he had not returned to the Demon Suppression Bureau, many procedures had been omitted.

After putting away the token—

Shen Changqing looked at the other items in the wooden box.

Three letters.

A Pure Spirit Jade Pendant.

A book, bearing the words: Heavenly Martial Astral Qi.

"Heavenly Martial Astral Qi... It seems to be a martial art. Why would the Demon Suppression Bureau specifically send me a martial art?"

The instant he saw Heavenly Martial Astral Qi, doubts arose in Shen Changqing's heart.

Aside from that—

Only a porcelain bottle remained.

Shen Changqing first put away the Pure Spirit Jade Pendant, then opened one of the letters. It was a letter of appointment, temporarily appointing him as the magistrate of Lin'an City. A large seal had been stamped upon it.

He was not particularly familiar with that seal.

But since this letter had come from the Demon Suppression Bureau, the seal within could not have been ordinary.

"Brother Situ, do you recognize the seal on this?" Shen Changqing handed the letter of appointment to Situ Bei.

Seeing this—

Situ Bei accepted it with both hands. After giving it a brief look, his pupils contracted. "This is the seal of Great Qin. The Demon Suppression Bureau intends for Lord Shen to temporarily assume the position of magistrate of Lin'an City. Congratulations indeed!"

"So it is the seal of Great Qin."

There was little joy on Shen Changqing's face as he casually put away the appointment letter. Once it had arrived, there was no longer any possibility of him getting away from this.

Temporarily serving as magistrate—

Was clearly meant to allow him to remain in Lin'an City as its guardian with full legitimacy.

Then—

Shen Changqing opened the second letter. It contained the judgment against the Zhao Family.

Just as he had expected, the imperial court loathed anyone who colluded with demons and evil creatures to the marrow. Once the judgment was issued, the Zhao Family's last hope of survival was utterly severed.

"The Zhao Family is finished."

Shen Changqing sighed.

Although Situ Bei had not seen the contents of the letter, he could infer much from Shen Changqing's words. He merely smiled indifferently.

"Lord Shen is still too young and does not understand such matters. Zhao Fang dared to seek refuge with demons and evil creatures, so the Zhao Family deserves to die. This concerns the safety of Great Qin. If they were not punished, would not everyone dare to betray Great Qin and betray the human race in the future?

"The deaths of the Zhao Family can also serve as a warning to others.

"Those who dare collude with demons and evil creatures will meet this end!"

"Brother Situ is right." Shen Changqing nodded. He did not dwell on it further. Killing one was killing; exterminating the Zhao Family was still killing.

Only at this moment—

Did Shen Changqing suddenly realize that, at some point, he had become cold-blooded.

Perhaps it was the influence of the Demon Suppression Bureau!

Finding himself a reason, he did not think further on it.

Cold-blooded or not—

Merciful or not—

One's environment forged one's character. Once he had entered the Demon Suppression Bureau, he was destined to be unable to show a soft heart. Otherwise, the one who died might be himself.

Soon, Shen Changqing opened the final letter.

It contained some words Jiang Zuo had sent him. The general meaning was that, considering the danger of this mission, those above had decided to grant him some benefits and told him to perform well.

Once the Demon Suppression Bureau could free up manpower from elsewhere, they would come to support him at once.

Before then—

He absolutely had to ensure the safety of Lin'an City's people.

Lastly, it explained the origins of Heavenly Martial Astral Qi and what was contained in the porcelain bottle.

After putting away the letter—

Shen Changqing glanced at Heavenly Martial Astral Qi and the porcelain bottle, then tucked them into his clothes, leaving only the empty wooden box behind.

The current setting was not suitable for studying Heavenly Martial Astral Qi. As for opening his meridians, he had no intention of letting too many people know about it.

After putting away the items—

He looked at Situ Bei. "Brother Situ, did you summon me this time merely because the Demon Suppression Bureau had sent something, or is there another matter?"

"Some days ago, Lord Shen asked me to inquire whether anything strange had happened within a fifty-li radius. As it happens, I received a piece of news."