Welcoming a Newcomer

"Xiao Mei, today we'll be training in blade techniques. Do you know how blade techniques should be practiced?"

The blazing sun scorched the ground until it was hot to the touch. Wind swept dust across the training ground as Captain Jiang first explained the rules of Wei Wushuang's personal guard unit to Mei Ye.

Then he began practicing blade techniques with Mei Ye.

When it came to blade training, Mei Ye was quite familiar with it. It had been a mandatory exam subject in school.

"To practice blade techniques, first you need to practice with a blade!"

Mei Ye answered firmly and confidently.

Captain Jiang nodded in satisfaction. "That's right. The secret to practicing blade techniques is to practice with a blade."

"My blade is four feet and three inches long, weighs eight jin, and was forged from refined steel. Though it isn't a divine weapon, it can still be considered a fine weapon within the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

Captain Jiang proudly raised his blade. Its surface reflected a cold gleam beneath the sunlight, its edge razor-sharp.

"You've just arrived here, so I imagine you haven't learned any new blade techniques yet?"

Captain Jiang drew his treasured blade. With a crisp clang, the blade left its sheath and brought a chill gust with it.

He intended to teach Mei Ye a lesson and let him witness the strength of a senior!

"This blade technique is the Qi Gathering Chapter of our Demon Suppression Bureau's Righteous Qi Saber Art. I'll demonstrate it for you. Watch carefully."

As Captain Jiang spoke, he swung his blade. Silver arcs of light flashed one after another as the wind howled, sweeping the dust aside in clouds of black smoke.

The surrounding team members all stopped what they were doing, their gazes turning in unison toward the center of the field. They nodded and cheered from time to time, giving him plenty of emotional validation.

Mei Ye watched Captain Jiang's blade technique curiously.

The Righteous Qi Saber Art was the most renowned blade technique in this world, originating from the Righteous Hero.

The imperial court had spread this practical blade technique throughout the land.

It was especially effective against demons and monsters and could suppress evil creatures.

"Did you understand it?"

Captain Jiang sheathed his blade and smiled amid the team's cheers.

[Recorded Vast Blade Art!]

[Vast Blade Art: Not Initiated]

A line of text appeared on the pale blue panel.

Mei Ye looked again at the Merit Points in the lower-left corner.

[Current Merit Points: 1852]

With a thought, Mei Ye infused 100 Merit Points into the Righteous Qi Saber Art.

[Righteous Qi Saber Art: Initiated!]

As the Merit Points changed, an animation of Captain Jiang's earlier blade demonstration appeared in Mei Ye's mind.

However, compared to Captain Jiang's actual performance, the animation was extraordinarily standardized and clear, unforgettable at a glance.

"I've learned all of it, Captain."

"Oh?"

Captain Jiang froze and looked Mei Ye up and down.

I know you're a genius, kid, but isn't this laying it on a bit thick?

"Had you learned it in advance?"

"No."

Captain Jiang frowned as he studied him, then finally decided to have Mei Ye demonstrate it once.

"Then show me."

Mei Ye lightly nodded at those words.

He suddenly clenched the hilt. With a clang, his blade left the sheath, revealing a cyan blade light that carried a biting chill, lowering the temperature of the surrounding air.

He slashed forward, and the blade light cleaved down in a straight line. The fierce wind sent dust flying from the ground.

He immediately swept the blade sideways, then slashed backhandedly. The three moves flowed together in one breath, without a single unnecessary flourish.

Captain Jiang cried out in surprise at the sight.

"Could he really be a genius?"

Captain Jiang was completely out of ways to deal with Mei Ye.

He had originally regarded the kid as a parachuted nepotism hire and planned to put him in his place on the first day.

But Mei Ye's martial skills were formidable, and he had withstood Captain Jiang's moves.

Then, when things proceeded according to plan, the kid had learned the Demon Suppression Bureau's blade technique at a glance.

This kid really has some skill. No wonder the Commandant thinks so highly of him. With his talent, he'll probably become my superior in just a few years. I can't afford to get on his bad side.

Captain Jiang pondered this, smoothly forcing out a smile as he patted Mei Ye on the shoulder.

"Truly, heroes emerge from the young!" Captain Jiang loudly praised Mei Ye. "Xiao Mei, with you joining our team, our humble unit is honored!

Come on, I'm treating today. Tonight, we drink until we drop!"

"Captain, you're truly generous." The other teammates approached with grins. "Could you let us join in for a drink too?"

"Why are you being so polite with me?"

Captain Jiang replied irritably. Pointing at a colleague, he ordered, "Same old place. Go tell Boss Wu to prepare food and drinks for nine people."

"Captain Jiang is really too enthusiastic, isn't he?"

Mei Ye smiled faintly.

"We're all brothers here. Why be polite?"

Captain Jiang smiled. "This is a team activity. Don't you dare skip it."

"Then I won't refuse your kindness."

Mei Ye smiled. It was only a meal, nothing serious.

As long as they didn't drag him off to visit prostitutes.

The setting sun cast long shadows, and sweat soaked through the backs of their uniforms.

Mei Ye arrived on the third floor of the Demon Suppression Bureau. At the task handover desk, the corridor was paved with hardwood flooring, which gave off soft sounds beneath his footsteps.

He reported the matter involving the Dog Demon and the gang.

Once the relevant personnel learned of his achievements, their attitude toward him became exceptionally warm. The clerk wore a broad smile, and even the registration pen moved a little faster.

According to the memories of Mei Ye's original body, this had never happened before.

As he descended the stairs, he even ran into Commandant Wei Wushuang, who had just returned from a meeting.

Wei Wushuang pulled him over and asked with a smile how he found the new environment.

Mei Ye replied that it was quite good, as comfortable as coming home.

Wei Wushuang nodded approvingly and told him that his commendation and promotion would be approved soon.

Mei Ye understood and said a few flattering words. After all, Wei Wushuang was the one paying his salary, so he could not exactly keep a straight face.

After leaving the third floor, a group of members from Team Two surrounded him and headed outside.

Captain Jiang was driving a black MPV. He rolled down the window and generously called for everyone to get in.

Captain Jiang was a skilled driver. Even though he sped recklessly along the road, no one felt carsick.

Several dozen minutes later, the group of grown men stood before a restaurant. The streetlights had just come on, their warm yellow glow falling over the restaurant's wooden door, while the scent of food drifted through the cracks.

Mei Ye caught the fragrance of Jiangnan cuisine, and his appetite immediately stirred.

"Let me tell you, Xiao Mei, this owner's an old friend of Captain Jiang's." One teammate leaned against Mei Ye's shoulder and smiled. "Business isn't especially good, but the ingredients and craftsmanship are first-rate. Captain Jiang and the rest of us love coming here to support Boss Wu."

"Then I'll have to savor it properly."

Mei Ye smiled.

"Old Jiang, I've been waiting for you forever!"

The door hinge creaked as a cloud of white steam billowed out, mixed with the aromas of hot oil and sauce. A pot-bellied chef pushed open the restaurant door and laughed loudly.

Captain Jiang hurried over, clasped his hand, and exchanged pleasantries with him.

"You brought so many people today. If I hadn't prepared in advance, you might've eaten me into bankruptcy."

"It's fine. Otherwise, I can help out too. Back when I was a transport captain, I could haul a whole truckload of vegetables. I still can."

Captain Jiang laughed heartily.

"Come in, everyone!"

Boss Wu cheerfully ushered them inside.

"Is this a new team member?"

When he caught sight of Mei Ye, Boss Wu was startled and looked toward Captain Jiang.

"This is Xiao Mei." Captain Jiang immediately smiled. "Commandant Wei Wushuang thinks highly of him. Yesterday, he caught some cultists and rendered great merit. The Commandant saw his potential and promoted him to an official Demon-Suppressing Guard, assigning him to our team."

"Oh my, his future is boundless."

Boss Wu understood at once. Wiping his hands on his apron, he hurriedly shook Mei Ye's hand and exchanged pleasantries with him.

"Hello."

Mei Ye gave a formal smile.

"Let's go. Let us sample the culinary skills of Chef Wu."

Captain Jiang led the team into the restaurant.

Steam curled through the air, and rich aromas filled their noses.

More than ten people split between two tables while several young men brought out dishes.

The tables were soon covered with all kinds of food.

Mei Ye sat beside Captain Jiang and listened as everyone chatted nonsense.

"What a load of bullshit!"

One teammate slammed the table and shouted, "In East Sea Province, who can't we deal with? That bastard called Gold Rat keeps provoking us everywhere. Does he think we can't catch him?"

"And that Pirate King who's crowned himself to make himself look important." A man with protruding ears said in dissatisfaction, "Isn't he just a cripple? Without the Sea Folk backing him up at sea, what the hell is he?"

"If he comes ashore, I don't believe that guy can keep acting so arrogant."

One teammate said, his face red as he swirled his wineglass.

"Bandits rise everywhere, and the land is covered in dust!"

A teammate concerned for the people sighed.

As they spoke of what they had seen and heard across the land, Mei Ye's horizons widened considerably.

So this was what the world beyond Jiangbei City was like.

Martial artists relied on their high skills to cause trouble everywhere, constantly making major headlines.

Then the Demon Suppression Bureau cleaned up their messes, hunting down these lawbreakers in every corner of the land.

After three rounds of drinks, Mei Ye was somewhat drunk as well. His cheeks felt faintly warm, and the noisy chatter around him gradually became muffled.

The restaurant before his eyes gradually blurred.

Yet he could still distinguish the people inside and hear what they were saying.

"Your name is Lan Liuyan, right?"

"Who are you?" The woman put down her bowl and chopsticks, asking in a somewhat despondent voice.

The newcomer was a man in black wearing sunglasses, followed by several black-clad underlings who looked like elite thugs.

He did not answer. Instead, he leaned forward, his shadow covering the entire table as he said in a low voice, "Well, well. Do you really think you're some peerless beauty? Our young master spent so much money on you, yet you don't know gratitude. You even cyberbullied our young master."

The woman's face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling. She had already guessed who these people were.

"Our young master spent that money on me willingly. I never forced him!"

"You gold-digging bitch, you're really not afraid of dying if you dare say that."

The man in sunglasses spat in disgust. Honestly, he had no interest in dealing with this kind of mess caused by someone's lower half.

But his strength could not keep pace with the group's growth, and this was the only sort of work his family would let him handle.

"Come with me."

"I'm not going! I'm not going!"

The woman trembled like a leaf, her back pressed against the wall as she desperately tried to avoid the man.

Anyone with half a brain knew that if she went with them, nothing good would come of it.

She kept resisting, grabbing wine, drinks, and dishes with her delicate hands. Plates shattered, grease splashed onto the men's black suits, and even a member of the Demon Suppression Bureau at the neighboring table was drenched.

Yet the man in sunglasses merely stood impatiently among the crowd. He had clearly noticed the group at the next table being disturbed, but he did nothing.

A capable-looking man in black rushed forward, his five fingers digging into the flesh of her shoulder. The young woman's shoulder jolted, her face instantly turned pale, and she collapsed to the floor.

"You don't get to choose. In Jiangbei, we make the rules."

The man in sunglasses arrogantly pronounced the verdict!

Two burly men accompanying him hauled up the limp young woman and strode toward the door.