Five-Zhang Divine Sense

The smell of blood had yet to fade from the Demon-Suppression Office's main hall.

Two laborers were carrying buckets of water to wash the blood from the floor, but the murderous air seemed to have seeped into the flagstones and lingered there.

Zhang Cheng sat above the assembly, his gaze sweeping over the varied expressions below. He declared sternly:

"In Wang Sanshui's case, the witness testimony and physical evidence were conclusive. The law has been upheld. This is the first stroke in restoring discipline since our two offices merged!"

"But we solved this case and saved several comrades' lives entirely because Patrol Banner Commander Chu Bai saw the finest details and struck like thunder."

At this, Zhang Cheng turned a gentle smile on Chu Bai, who stood in the front rank.

"By my order: Chu Bai has rendered meritorious service in solving this case. He not only slew a Qi Refining Mid-Stage Demon Beast, but also rid this office of a black sheep. He is hereby awarded one hundred taels of silver and one Grade-B Merit!"

A wave of hushed gasps swept through the hall.

One hundred taels of silver was no small sum, but to the cultivators present, it amounted to the price of a few bottles of Pills.

Grade-B Merit was another matter entirely.

In Great Zhou officialdom, merit was the hard currency of promotion.

An ordinary minor official could work diligently for three or five years and still fail to earn even a Grade-C Merit.

Grade-B Merit was usually awarded only for cracking a major case or slaying a demon.

With that achievement to his name, Chu Bai's future promotion would be as natural as water flowing into a channel, with countless obstacles cleared from his path.

Commander Chu really has luck on his side...

Some felt