https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-630-Breaking-Through-the-Eighth-Rank/12947032/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-632-Together-to-the-Yellow-Springs/12947034/
Chapter 631: The Unpredictable Demon Slayer Bureau
Chapter 631: The Unpredictable Demon Slayer Bureau
"Fellow Immortal Shen, I still need to retrieve those golden books, so I won't stay long."
Outside the door, Zhi Kong, the monk, came to bid farewell.
The people of the Divine Dynasty were well-traveled and knowledgeable. Without real benefits, they wouldn't easily believe in a demonic being.
In addition to the warm and soothing spiritual light that could cure hidden ailments, the rat demon had also distributed many golden books.
Gold was precious, but what was even more valuable were the sutras engraved within.
Although only a small portion was recorded, it was indeed the Three-Stage Lotus Platform Technique that Shen Yi used to protect his divine soul during tribulations and facilitate his understanding of the heavens.
Now, he had to retrieve them all, not because Zhi Kong was stingy.
This kind of cultivation method, even experienced cultivators, could easily fall into delusion with a single misstep, let alone ordinary mortals. With only a fragment, if they couldn't control their greed while reciting the sutra and took a sneaky peek, the consequences were unimaginable.
Besides that...
Zhi Kong, the monk, slightly raised his gaze, looking through the roof at the imperial aura filling the sky.
A hint of unease crept into his heart.
Recently, the theft of cultivation methods within the Bodhimanda Sect had become more frequent, as if the monks guarding the sutras had all fallen asleep.
He was just an ordinary wanderer, unaware of the reasons for the frequent mishaps. He only hoped that this matter wouldn't disrupt the peace of the world.
"Farewell, Master."
Shen Yi returned the farewell gesture, but even without the Earth God's reminder, he wouldn't get too close to Zhi Kong at this time.
After all, he had just killed a Bodhimanda Sect wanderer. Whether he wanted to join the sect or seek something else from them, he would have to wait for some time until the matter was completely settled.
This was also one of the reasons why Shen Yi joined the Demon Slayer Bureau without asking about the benefits.
If these monks came knocking on his door, most other forces, except for the Demon Slayer Bureau, which was established with the intention of countering the Three Teachings, would likely hand him over without hesitation.
"Hmm."
After seeing Zhi Kong off from the inn, Shen Yi turned and re-entered the room.
As he reached out to close the door, his body tensed, and in his mind, he heard the sharp reminder from the spiritual light mouse.
"Be careful, Master!"
Shen Yi's gaze deepened as he turned around.
On his bed, an unfamiliar tall figure had appeared, wearing a dark green long skirt, with two fair and slender legs casually crossed.
The woman had a beautiful and delicate face, and she was curiously examining Shen Yi. At her feet, a white-robed man was bound with an immortal rope and his lips sealed with talismans, his body trembling, drenched in sweat, and emitting continuous whimpers as if pleading for mercy.
"Are you the demon slayer recommended by the Earth God?"
Before Shen Yi could respond, the woman threw him a sword with extraordinary energy and introduced herself, "Ye Jing, the Demon Slayer Official of Juyang Prefecture. If you can cut him down with one sword, I'll take you in."
Upon hearing this, the white-robed man frantically struggled on the ground, making the floorboards rattle, and his whimpers grew louder.
After waiting for three days, the so-called Demon Slayer Bureau finally arrived.
However, Shen Yi merely glanced at the sword in his hand and asked, "Who is he?"
"Does it matter to you?"
Ye Jing propped herself up on the bed, sitting up slightly, her tone even colder than before, "The Earth God said you were born with killing intent. Killing a cultivator shouldn't be difficult for you."
"Who is he?"
Shen Yi acted as if he hadn't heard and repeated the question.
Ye Jing was taken aback but eventually stood up and circled the youth, "He's a disciple of the Tri-Immortal Sect, and this is his application to join the Demon Slayer Bureau."
No matter how you looked at him, he was just a Dao Realm cultivator.
In other places, he might be considered an accomplished cultivator, but to be a demon slayer in the Divine Dynasty, he lacked the necessary skills.
However, since he had received the recommendation from the Earth God of Juyang Prefecture, he must have some extraordinary qualities. If not in strength, at least in courage?
Shen Yi held the sword at a slant and walked over to the man.
Feeling the cold sword energy, the man looked up in fear, his pupils trembling as he stared at the handsome, fair-skinned face. He couldn't detect any trace of kindness in the youth's expression; on the contrary, the youth's indifference towards killing was undoubtedly genuine.
However, he didn't feel the sharp pain of his neck being cut by the blade. Instead, he heard a clear voice in his ear.
"What did he do?" Shen Yi slightly raised the tip of the sword, aiming at the man's glabella.
"Why so many questions?" Ye Jing raised her eyebrows impatiently, adding a hint of coldness to her beautiful features, "As a demon slayer, you should follow your superior's orders. If they tell you to kill someone, you kill them. His cultivation is sealed, making this an easy task. There's no need to make such a fuss."
"Or perhaps you're afraid of offending the Three Teachings?"
She lowered her voice, her tone filled with disdain, waiting for his explanation.
The next moment, Ye Jing's face changed slightly.
The youth casually waved his hand, and the sword transformed into a streak of light and flew into her sword sheath.
"You, what do you mean?" Ye Jing tightened her grip on the hilt.
Shen Yi remained silent, patted his sleeves, and then raised his palm, making a gesture of seeing off a guest.
"Have you thought this through? You only get one chance..." Ye Jing wanted to say something more, but she heard the young man sigh softly and grab the man on the ground, throwing him out the door.
"No need to see you out."
Shen Yi did indeed need a job, and he didn't mind doing some dirty work.
However, the prerequisite was that he still had a favorable impression of the Divine Dynasty, and the so-called dirty work was something that couldn't be discovered by the Immortal Court, but its purpose was to eradicate the heretic cultivators causing trouble in the region.
It wasn't truly "dirty work" in the literal sense.
Not even having a brain, being used as a tool.
To put it bluntly, the Demon Slayer Bureau didn't even allow its subordinates to have a brain, nor did it allow them to ask questions. They expected people to take the blame when something went wrong, and they were just disposable scapegoats.
Shen Yi needed a reliable support, not to become a buried corpse, nourishing the growth of a tree.
If he started down this path, he would truly lose his freedom.
Of course, there was another reason... This woman's act was too fake, whether it was her feigned arrogance or her later provocation, it all seemed so deliberate. If he let himself be led by her, he would feel like his intelligence was being insulted.
Facing this situation, Ye Jing was visibly flustered and after a moment of silence, she hummed lightly, "It's not that big of a deal."
"Enough."
The white-robed man suddenly changed his expression, spat out the talisman on his tongue, and with a few casual struggles, he freed himself from the Immortal Rope. He then stood up and brushed off the non-existent dust from his clothes, "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm the Demon Slayer Official of Yan River Prefecture, call me Team Leader Meng. There are two Demon Slayer positions under a Demon Slayer Official, and she's like a half-senior to you."
"Is that so?"
Ye Jing retracted her unpleasant expressions and looked at the man, appearing somewhat dazed.
"Go back and practice more." Team Leader Meng glanced at her disdainfully, "With this kind of performance, how can I trust you with missions in the future, Boss?"
"Oh."
Ye Jing nodded. For today's matter, she had already practiced in front of the brass mirror for two days.
From Team Leader Meng's words, it seemed like she had been seen through.
But that didn't make sense. If this young man had truly seen through the situation, then it was all just a game. Why not play along and join the Demon Slayer Bureau?
"Your character is not bad, I like it."
Only then did Team Leader Meng turn to look at Shen Yi, nodding with a smile in his eyes.
But a trace of imperceptible helplessness flashed in his gaze.
No matter how Shen Yi responded, this young man was destined to join the Demon Slayer Bureau today. After all, according to the Earth God's intentions, it wasn't about finding a job for him, but rather wanting someone to keep an eye on him.
Since someone was going to be watching over him, what was there to pass or fail?
The true meaning of the assessment was for Team Leader Meng to understand how he should treat this person in the future.
If he had truly killed without hesitation and submitted this application without questioning, it would show that he had great courage and ambition, and he didn't have a moral bottom line. He was an excellent blade... but only a blade.
If he saw through this setup and spoke out, it would demonstrate his wisdom and experience. Even when facing the Divine Dynasty, he could remain calm and collected, keeping his thoughts in order. He was a promising talent.
But precisely because he saw through it, yet didn't speak up, he instead rejected the Demon Slayer Bureau's recruitment.
It could only prove that this person was difficult to control, had strong principles, and harbored a proud heart.
But the biggest problem was that although the Earth God said he wasn't afraid of offending the Three Teachings, offending and killing were two different concepts.
Today, it seemed that until the end, he didn't show the courage to take action against the people of the Three Teachings. This was the most challenging and fundamental threshold for the Demon Slayer Bureau.
Sigh, he would keep an eye on him for now.
"Please have this."
Ye Jing walked in front of Shen Yi and handed him a bag of fresh flower cakes. Obviously, this was her way of apologizing for her previous provocations.
She swallowed her saliva, "These are the best fresh flower cakes in all of Yan River Prefecture."
"..."
Shen Yi stared at the bag of cakes. He could understand that an organization like the Demon Slayer Bureau would need to thoroughly examine newcomers, and he was just unwilling to compromise.
This minor issue wasn't enough to make him dissatisfied.
However, looking at these two people, they seemed so incompatible, making Shen Yi feel less secure about embarking on this path.
"Move aside."
Team Leader Meng pulled Ye Jing to the side and casually sat down next to Shen Yi, "Rest assured, I won't let you work for nothing. We have high treatment here, so work hard."
At this point, he lowered his voice, "The Demon Slayer Bureau doesn't reward with silver or money, but with..." He trailed off, staring intently at Shen Yi, wanting to see his reaction.
But the result disappointed him once again. This young man seemed like an ascetic monk with no desires, no, even ascetic monks knew the importance of Imperial Aura, yet he didn't show the slightest reaction.
Regarding this matter, Shen Yi had long anticipated it.
To have someone risk their life for the Divine Dynasty and challenge the Three Teachings, after much thought, the only valuable thing the Human Emperor could offer was the Imperial Aura of the Divine Land. This object's effect on cultivators was even more significant than that of rare divine treasures and life-extending immortal elixirs.
However, for Shen Yi, it was truly no different from a useless chicken rib.
Clearly, crossing the Physical Tribulation was the most efficient way, so why take the risk of crossing the Heart Tribulation?
He simply wanted to have someone to take the blame after taking action, a powerful force to bear the risk.
"What do you want me to do?" Shen Yi looked at this Demon Slayer official.
Meng Xiwen remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "Just follow me for now. You don't need to do anything; just consider it as getting to know our line of work."
After saying this, he stood up and walked towards the door, stretching lazily, "There happens to be a task at hand, and it's been a while since I've exercised my muscles."
He didn't know where this young man was from, but he was hard to read. However, as long as he kept him by his side, he could gradually understand more while keeping an eye on him.
"Here."
Ye Jing followed behind and handed the bag of exquisite small cakes to Shen Yi, suppressing her craving, and there was some stubbornness in her eyes.
"..."
Shen Yi casually took it.
Seeing this, Ye Jing finally heaved a sigh of relief, as in her eyes, this was her new colleague accepting her apology.
...
Outside Juyang Prefecture.
A dilapidated, bloodstained carriage traveled along a small path.
With his previous experience with the short horse, Shen Yi had become accustomed to this mode of travel, although it was not as fast as using the Teleportation Technique, it was still comfortable and wouldn't attract attention.
Ye Jing sat in the corner of the carriage, holding a brass mirror, trying hard to look pitiful, and muttering incomprehensible words.
"Do you want to practice as well?"
Meng Xiwen looked at Shen Yi, his expression serious, and reminded him, "Although you don't need to take action, don't let it slip."
After saying this, he briefly introduced, "Jade Dragon Ridge has not seen rain for six months, and the Divine Dynasty has not received any jade tokens related to the Immortal Court. We suspect that this is related to a nearby immortal sect, so we plan to investigate."
"Does the matter of rain also fall under the jurisdiction of the Demon Slayer Bureau?" Shen Yi glanced sideways.
Upon hearing this, Meng Xiwen was taken aback, then turned to look out the window, and smiled faintly, "Do you know why our nine bureaus were established?"
His gaze looked far into the north, and he said to himself, "Many years ago, a large prefecture in the Northern Province offended an immortal official, and there was no rain for six hundred years. From a prosperous land, it became a place of starved corpses everywhere, and then it turned into desolation, until even its name was forgotten."
"Of course, for you, six hundred years is just a snap of the fingers, and even if there were natural disasters or man-made calamities, you could fly on clouds to escape."
"But not everyone can have your cultivation."
"Ever since then, the court established a new department, and that's how we came to enjoy the salary of the Divine Dynasty."
After Meng Xiwen finished speaking, he turned back, "It was originally set up because of rain, so naturally, we have to manage it when encountering similar situations."
"Of course, you don't need to be afraid."
Seeing Shen Yi's silence, he smiled and teased, "If it really is the Immortal Court's intention, it wouldn't be our turn to investigate. It's probably just a few mischievous thieves causing trouble."
"The Jade Dragon Ancestor once listened to the teachings of a senior from the Tri-Immortal Sect, and he was a True Immortal many years ago. This immortal sect can trace its lineage back to that senior, so if it's not necessary, don't make a fuss. Just change your identity and conduct a secret investigation."
"She and I are immortal prodigies who fled due to sectal strife. As for you... just pretend to be a servant who takes care of our horses."
"Don't worry, it won't be difficult. Just observe and keep practicing, and don't let anyone see through you."
Meng Xiwen felt that he had been very considerate towards this young man. As long as the other party put in a little effort, such a simple matter shouldn't be a problem.
After saying this, he handed over a brass mirror.
"Thank you... no need."
However, Shen Yi's gaze became complicated as he glanced at the brass mirror and shook his head, closing his eyes to feign sleep.
If Zhi Kong were here, he would have noticed that Shen Yi's gaze was the same as when he looked at himself and the others a few days ago.
"Tsk!"
Meng Xiwen finally couldn't help but roll his eyes. He really couldn't understand what kind of thing the Earth God had pushed onto him.
Born to kill? Ambitious? Appreciated by the Bodhimanda Sect wanderer? Has Min Zhiyan been staying in the Earth God Temple for too long, and his eyesight has deteriorated?
He was a bit clever, but whether it was his cultivation, his temperament, or his indifference towards the Imperial Aura, where did he fit in as a Demon Slayer?
"Forget it, do as you please."
Meng Xiwen rubbed his nose bridge. If necessary, he could add the setting of a mute for this attendant boy later to muddle through.
(End of Chapter)
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