Dawn came, the thin mist like gauze.
The Demon Suppression Bureau's offices faced south, with a pair of stone carvings before the entrance: a lion on the left, and another lion on the right.
Their mouths gaped wide, dew beading on their fangs.
Lu Guan emerged from the mist.
Despite traveling all night, he showed not a trace of fatigue. Instead, he was brimming with vigor, his steps light, Qi and Blood surging throughout his body, as though his strength would never run out.
Zhao Tielin followed close behind, his steps much heavier. After a sleepless night, his eyes were ringed with darkness and his beard was unkempt.
He passed Lu Guan and led him through a side entrance, straight to the duty room.
The side entrance was narrow, its high walls squeezing the daylight into a single line.
"Lad, don't act rashly. Your Uncle Zhao will arrange everything for you."
Zhao Tielin lowered his voice, his throat hoarse.
"All the procedures have been completed. Chief Banner Lin, who's handling this matter, is an old acquaintance of mine. We'll get your post assigned and your name entered in the register directly. Once the wood has been made into a boat, even the commandant won't have much to say."
The middle-aged man could not hide the exhaustion on his face as he cautioned Lu Guan.
He was taking an enormous risk to help this time. It was the least cautious thing he had done since joining the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Reason told him to stop, but sentiment and obligation drove him to do it nonetheless.
The man muttered inwardly, I must owe your Lu family a debt in this life.
Lu Guan's gaze swept over him, and he fell silent for a moment.
"Uncle Zhao, let me handle it myself."
"Handle it yourself? You're a brat whose hair has barely finished growing. What do you know about worldly affairs?"
Zhao Tielin bristled and glared at him, his expression plainly saying that he was still young and understood nothing.
"Don't think slaying a demon means you can suddenly stand tall. That's not how the world works."
He stopped and patted Lu Guan's shoulder, speaking earnestly. "To get by in the Demon Suppression Bureau, fists aren't enough. You need backing and connections!"
"Just watch."
With that, he held out his hand. "Give me that white bone. Uncle Zhao will get you an official post and let your Lu family's legacy carry on."
Lu Guan took out the white bone and placed it in the man's palm.
"Wait outside for your Uncle Zhao's good news."
With that, Zhao Tielin strode into the duty room with his head high and chest out, leaving Lu Guan with a rather dashing view of his retreating back.
The instant he entered, his straight back bent, and his face piled up with smiles. "Brother Lin!"
Outside the duty room, Lu Guan withdrew his gaze and surveyed his surroundings.
White walls and black tiles, simple and solemn.
After all, the Demon Suppression Bureau was an armed institution responsible for slaying demons and fiends. It would hardly do to decorate its offices in lavish splendor.
Iron chains, shackles, and weapons of every kind hung on the walls, and a faint, stale smell of blood lingered in the air.
Just then, a pale, thin young man in black robes walked in.
Lu Guan's gaze fell on him, and his brow rose.
A probationary officer.
Officers of the Demon Suppression Bureau wore black flying-fish uniforms, while probationary officers had no official posts and could only wear black robes.
At the same time, the pale, thin young man's gaze sharpened as he spotted Lu Guan outside the duty room. Though his face remained calm, towering waves had already risen in his heart.
He really didn't die?
How could that be? Even if Zhao Tielin broke the rules and intervened, he couldn't possibly have been a match for that white bone demon!
Could that white bone demon have shown its cloven hoof, letting these two notice something was wrong and flee back ahead of time?
Yes, that had to be it.
How could a probationary officer who had just entered the Qi and Blood realm, together with a turtle of an officer in the middle Qi and Blood realm, possibly be a match for a demon in the late Qi and Blood realm?
They were probably here to beg Chief Banner Lin to pardon his crime of fleeing in battle.
At that thought, the pale, thin young man quickly composed himself. A trace of disdain surfaced on his face as he spoke condescendingly.
"Lu Guan, fleeing in battle is a grave taboo. You'll have to face judicial punishment. If you know what's good for you, voluntarily give up this chance to become a full officer."
"This young master can put in a good word with my uncle and spare you physical suffering. Not only that, I can give you a sum of money."
"Well?"
Though he did not know exactly what had happened last night, Lu Guan returning alive was trouble.
Even if Lu Guan had fled in battle, he himself did not have the courage to slay demons and fiends either.
At present, he and Lu Guan were the only two probationary officers who had completed their probation and qualified for full appointments.
If Lu Guan had died, his uncle could have pulled strings to waive the assessment and have him appointed directly as the sole candidate.
It might go against the rules, but who could help it when his uncle was the commandant?
The crux of the problem, however, was that Lu Guan had not died. He still had a competitor.
In that case, forcing his appointment through would look bad.
Or rather, it would be utterly impossible.
Though the commandant headed a county's Demon Suppression Bureau, there were still the commandery and the province above him. He was far from truly being able to cover the sky with one hand.
Why couldn't you just die? If you don't die, how am I supposed to advance?!
At that thought, the pale, thin young man's expression grew somewhat savage.
Lu Guan looked at him as though he were mentally ill. "Who said I fled in battle?"
"The demon is dead. I passed the assessment."
"I'm here to apply for a full appointment."
"Bullshit!" the pale, thin young man immediately retorted.
Rather than believe this brat had slain a demon in the late Qi and Blood realm, he would sooner believe he himself was a prince the emperor of Great Li had left among the common folk!
By now, how could Lu Guan fail to understand? This pale, thin young man was precisely the commandant's nephew Zhao Tielin had mentioned-
Zhou Jie.
Lu Guan looked at him as though he were already dead. Having no desire to argue, he merely turned toward the duty room.
A moment later, Zhao Tielin came out.
His earlier high spirits were gone. His face was bitter, his back bent, like a wilted eggplant.
"Lad, let's... let's think of another way."
"There will be one. There will be a way."
Lu Guan had already expected this.
After all, with a second-generation official blocking his way, even if Uncle Zhao really did have connections...
How could his backing compare to the commandant's?
"Uncle Zhao, in the end, a man has to rely on himself."
Zhao Tielin froze and stared blankly at Lu Guan.
The youth's face was resolute, his eyes sharp, with no shortage of killing intent.
So alike... just like his father...
Wait... killing intent?
Zhao Tielin's heart jolted.
This is bad. The lad just slew a demon. His urge to kill is at its strongest.
Just then, a grating voice came from beside them.
"Well? Let me tell you the truth. This young master is determined to get that officer's post. No matter what, it won't go to you."
"Even if I can't get it, even if it sits vacant, it still won't go to you!"
Zhou Jie stood with his hands on his hips. Seeing Zhao Tielin's dejected expression as he emerged, how could he not understand what had happened?
His uncle had long since spoken to Chief Banner Lin, who handled the matter. Without instructions, who would dare give this Lu Guan the official post?
Unless he no longer wanted his own official's hat.
"Why? Isn't it good to be alive?"
Expressionless, Lu Guan rested his gaze on Zhou Jie and spoke in a low, chilling voice.
The pale, thin young man shuddered, feeling as though he had plunged into an ice cavern from head to toe.
He had never met a demon's eyes, yet the instant he met Lu Guan's gaze, he felt as though he were staring straight at a savage fiend.
He... he really wants to kill me?
I'm the commandant's nephew. Someone actually dares kill me inside the Demon Suppression Bureau?
Who gave him the nerve!
"Lu Guan, this is the Demon Suppression Bureau! You can't run wild here!" Zhou Jie's legs went weak. Forcing himself to throw out that threat, he hurried away.
He headed straight for the small hall where the commandant worked.
"Uncle Zhao, the white bone." Watching the young man's retreating back, Lu Guan held out his hand.
Zhao Tielin blinked and reflexively handed it over.
Since the matter had fallen through, the white bone naturally could not serve as proof either.
Wait, what does the lad want this white bone for? A keepsake?
Lu Guan gripped the white bone in a reverse hold, carried his saber in his left hand, and strode after Zhou Jie in the direction he had gone.
"Lad, what are you going to do?"
"Demand an explanation."