Magical Artifact in Hand, Cultivation Technique Advanced

More than a month later, in an office at the Anping Demon-Suppression Office.

Sandalwood Incense curled through the air. County Commandant Zhang Cheng sat upright in a broad carved chair, his fingertips lightly brushing a report whose ink had yet to dry. His deep gaze rested on Chu Bai, who stood below with his head bowed.

"Very good."

Zhang Cheng set down the report. A rare smile softened his stern face. "Over the past half year, the number of demon and evil-spirit cases in Anping County has fallen by nearly forty percent. The Demon-Slaying Squad under your command has truly given the whole district a new face."

Zhang Cheng was genuinely pleased with Chu Bai, the Demon-Slaying Token holder he had promoted with his own hand.

Back then, he had pushed through opposition to overhaul the office, disbanding its three disorganized teams and reorganizing them into two elite forces, Demon-Slaying and Demon Suppression. The move had cut into the interests of quite a few local powers and conservatives.

At the time, the County Magistrate had remained noncommittal, while the powerful households behind the scenes had stirred restlessly, waiting for the farce to end.

But Chu Bai had silenced them all with one bloodstained achievement after another.

Getting things done was the hardest argument to refute in Great Zhou's bureaucracy, where strength and accomplishments were what counted.

"Ever since you cut out the malignant tumor that was the Lu Household with your own hands, the air in the city really has cleared."

Zhang Cheng leaned forward slightly as he spoke. "Those lineages that used to enjoy scheming in the shadows now take a detour whenever they see the iron badge of our Demon-Suppression Office. The newly established Demon Slaying Office has finally carved out a fearsome name for itself across Anping."