Cangwu City, Tianyin Workshop.
This flower house, ranked among the top three in Cangwu Prefecture, is located by Mingyue Lake. Its antique courtyard exudes a sense of weathered and ancient elegance. If not for the flamboyant women standing at the entrance, diligently hawking and soliciting passing customers, no one would have thought that such a beautiful courtyard was actually a place for seeking pleasure.
Nightfall.
A group of youths dressed in Demon Suppression Division Demon Slayer Guard uniforms walked into the Tianyin Workshop, chatting and laughing.
The arrivals were naturally Lin Baichuan and Yang Zhan, among others. Yang Zhan, that fellow, not only called Lin Baichuan but also invited a few others who were close to them to come along.
“Oh… isn’t this Young Master Yang? It’s been a while since you’ve been here! I thought Young Master Yang had left Cangwu Prefecture, but I didn’t expect him to join the Demon Suppression Division and become a Demon Slayer Guard. Congratulations!”
As soon as they stepped into the Tianyin Workshop, a heavily made-up madam, whose face powder was as thick as wall plaster, greeted them with a wide smile. It was clear that she was very familiar with Yang Zhan. Lin Baichuan couldn't help but turn his head to look at Yang Zhan, his face full of teasing as he said, “Young Master Yang, it seems you’ve often come to Tianyin Workshop for drinks!”
Yang Zhan, unable to miss the teasing in Lin Baichuan’s words, immediately blushed and said, “Don’t talk nonsense, I only come occasionally. This young master is still very self-respecting.”
Lin Baichuan immediately curled his lip, not bothering to respond.
Self-respecting? How thick must that guy’s skin be to say something like that? He wondered if his conscience would hurt.
“Sister Hua, stop the nonsense. Prepare a larger private room for this young master, and make sure the accompanying girls are pretty. Don’t let me lose face in front of my brothers.” Yang Zhan grinned, knowing Lin Baichuan didn’t believe him, and no longer cared. He turned to the madam and said.
“No problem, Young Master Yang… The Autumn-character room on the second floor is free. I’ll arrange it for you right away.”
Upon hearing Yang Zhan, the madam’s smile immediately grew even wider.
Then, she immediately instructed someone to lead Lin Baichuan and Yang Zhan upstairs, while she personally went to select the girls.
Autumn-character room.
Not long after the group sat down, the madam led a group of girls into the room. There were seven people in total, including Lin Baichuan, so there was one girl for each of them.
It had to be said that the girls at Tianyin Workshop were truly impeccable in their looks and figures; each one was excellent. Lin Baichuan quickly scanned them, and a sigh of regret immediately rose in his heart. The beauty of these seven girls, if placed in his previous life, would easily surpass countless internet celebrities and stars.
When the girls came in to accompany them for drinks, Lin Baichuan did not refuse.
Whether in his previous life or this one, he was not a benevolent person, nor did he wish to be a true gentleman.
He wouldn't actively provoke women, but if they came to him, he wouldn't refuse either.
“Brother Yang, I heard the Newbie Mission is about to begin. I truly wonder what this mission will be. Do you have any news?”
After a pot of wine, everyone started to liven up.
A young man dressed in brocade robes suddenly frowned slightly, then said in a deep voice, “Originally, I thought that after passing the assessment and becoming a formal Demon Slayer Guard, everything would be smooth sailing.
Who would have thought that the previous assessment was just an appetizer, merely a stepping stone.
The real assessment is actually the upcoming Newbie Mission…”
“Who says it isn’t? I heard that the Demon Suppression Division’s Newbie Mission has a rather high death rate. This Demon Slayer Guard job isn’t easy to do!”
Someone immediately chimed in, their expression solemn.
Lin Baichuan was a bit confused, raising his eyebrows, and asked, “What’s this Newbie Mission all about?”
In this life, before Lin Baichuan joined the Demon Suppression Division, he was merely a humble refugee.
After entering the Demon Suppression Division, most of his time was spent on cultivation. He had very few friends he could truly talk to on a daily basis, and he had never heard of this so-called Newbie Mission before.
“No way! Brother Lin… you actually don’t know about the Newbie Mission?”
Inside the room, the others were stunned, looking at Lin Baichuan with surprised expressions. They hadn't expected Lin Baichuan to be unaware of the Newbie Mission.
“Lin Baichuan is usually busy with cultivation and rarely inquires about these matters, so it’s normal for him not to know.” Yang Zhan spoke up to help Lin Baichuan out, then continued to explain, “According to the tradition of the Demon Suppression Division, all Trainee Demon Slayer Guards, after passing the assessment and becoming formal Demon Slayer Guards, will be assigned a mission within seven days.
This mission is what’s called the Newbie Mission. In fact… many people say that the Newbie Mission is the real Demon Slayer Guard assessment.
Unlike the assessments we experienced before, if the Newbie Mission fails, it’s not just the Demon Slayer Guard position that’s lost, but quite possibly one’s own life. According to data, the death rate for Newbie Missions reaches 30%…”
Hiss!
As soon as Yang Zhan spoke, everyone in the room couldn’t help but gasp.
A 30% death rate was already terrifying.
In other words, out of the seven of them present, it was highly possible that two would die in this Newbie Mission. This ratio was simply appalling!
Immediately, everyone’s mood became somber, and they completely lost their interest in drinking and revelry. The thought that they might perish in a few days made everyone’s mood even worse.
“With such a high death rate, would the higher-ups of the Demon Suppression Division agree?”
Someone’s face was grim, as he gnashed his teeth and growled.
“Heh heh, you’re right, the higher-ups of the Demon Suppression Division would indeed agree, because in their eyes, you and I are actually just numbers, not living beings, but sets of data.”
Yang Zhan swept his gaze over these people and said coldly, “That’s how it is within the Demon Suppression Division. To become a Demon Slayer Guard, one must experience life and death. In fact… every elder Demon Slayer Guard we’ve seen, which one hasn’t gone through countless slaughters?
Actually, we are still lucky. We passed the assessment, at least we have infinite possibilities in the future. Those who failed, their lives have already reached their end.”
Yang Zhan’s words immediately made the atmosphere in the room even more solemn.
Lin Baichuan also sighed repeatedly. The Demon Suppression Division was not a place of ease. Being a Demon Slayer Guard was a profession where one lived with their head on their belt; danger accompanied them, and every step was filled with peril.
But then again, there is great terror between life and death, but also great Opportunity. True powerhouses cannot be nurtured in a greenhouse; to achieve something in the Dao of Martial Arts, one must experience danger, experience life and death slaughter.
Even with a System like his as an external aid, he still needed to kill.
Because only through killing could he earn enough Karma, and then use a large amount of Karma to quickly improve his strength.
Ding…
Suddenly, at this moment, a zither sound suddenly came, like a secluded orchid in an empty valley, like the flowing sound of a clear spring, emanating from the first-floor hall, immediately attracting everyone’s attention.
“It’s Miaoyin, the courtesan queen of Tianyin Workshop, playing the zither.”
Someone reacted, their eyes immediately lit up, and they said excitedly, “This Miaoyin is not simple. I heard she successfully claimed the courtesan queen position in less than three months after arriving at Tianyin Workshop. Her zither music can be considered a masterpiece in Cangwu Prefecture.
It’s just a pity that Miaoyin rarely plays. Someone once promised a thousand gold, but couldn’t get her to play. I didn’t expect Miaoyin to actually play the zither on her own today. This trip was truly a huge gain…”
As the group listened to the zither music, their expressions gradually changed. The previous solemnity and tension were swept away, and each of them became excited.
Ding… Ding-ling-ling…
The zither music reverberated, continuously coming from the first-floor hall, wave after wave, containing a certain profound fluctuation, as if it could stir people’s minds and Souls.
For a moment, everyone was enchanted.
Only Lin Baichuan’s expression changed, and killing intent immediately appeared in his eyes.
This zither music, there’s something wrong with it.