River-Patrol Water Officer, Water Earl Assassinated

Several days later, at the riverside Watching-the-Waves Tavern in Anping County, Han Xingmo hosted a banquet to celebrate his promotion to Subordinate Eighth Rank River-Patrol Water Officer.

Compared with Chu Bai's city-shaking victory banquet days earlier, this gathering was smaller. But its guests were all figures who held real power in their offices, lending it a more intimate air.

Chu Bai arrived as promised and presented the generous gift he had prepared: a piece of Spirit-Rhinoceros Ink Jade that could nurture water-aligned spiritual energy, a great boon to cultivators of the Water Method.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Han. You've crossed the threshold from Principal Ninth Rank to Subordinate Eighth Rank. From now on, the scheduling of traffic along the Three-Bath River is in your hands." Chu Bai raised his cup, his words sincere.

Han Xingmo had changed into the dark teal uniform of a water officer, which made him look strikingly valiant.

He hurried to his feet to accept the gift, his face glowing. "I owe it all to that decisive blow you struck at the Three-Bath River. Without it, how could I have earned this promotion? I'll remember what you did for me for the rest of my life."

Seated across from each other, they traded toasts.

Chu Bai took the opportunity to tell Han Xingmo of his plans to gradually step back from the Demon-Suppression Office's affairs and devote himself to preparing for the Heavenly Examination.

"The Demon-Slaying Squad is running smoothly now. If I keep handling everything myself, I'll only hold my subordinates back."

Chu Bai took a measured sip of spirit wine, his expression relaxed.

Han Xingmo nodded in deep agreement.

He knew that, at Chu Bai's current cultivation level, slaying demons was a task he could accomplish with a wave of his hand. His real test