"When was it established?"
Yan Hongxue raised an eyebrow. "I don't know the exact date."
Hmm?
"I have no reason to lie to you."
Yan Hongxue's expression was calm as she continued, "The Demon Slayer Bureau is a government office established by the imperial court specifically to deal with Demon Fiends. Only the Cabinet and the Sovereign know when it was founded."
"Even among the five of us, the times we started our training were all different."
"Tao Liu and Wu Kun were chosen to join the Demon Slayer Bureau a year ago."
"An Xiaoxue joined a year and a half ago, and Chen Zhizhen, two years ago."
"I was the earliest. I entered the training camp three years ago."
Gu Zheng fell silent.
He was stunned. 'The imperial court has been preparing for this for so long!'
"…Chosen…"
Gu Zheng mulled over the word and asked again, "Are there requirements to join the Demon Slayer Bureau?"
"Of course."
Tao Liu rubbed his nose and answered for Yan Hongxue, "Not everyone can break their limits and coalesce a Divine Wondrous. Personal aptitude is very important. Without a Divine Wondrous, how are you supposed to kill Demon Fiends?"
"Chief Gu, the fluctuations of the Divine Wondrous on you are even stronger than mine. You're more than qualified to join the Demon Slayer Bureau. Plus, once you're in, you won't need to go to the training camp. You'll just have to familiarize yourself with the Bureau's rules and regulations, and then you can take on field missions."
"...So those who already possess a Divine Wondrous don't have to attend the training camp, but those who don't, do?" Gu Zheng pressed.
"Correct."
An Xiaoxue chimed in, "The purpose of the training is to help people awaken a Divine Wondrous. Generally speaking, if someone takes the secret medicine and still can't produce a Divine Wondrous within six months, it's almost impossible for them to ever coalesce one."
Gu Zheng asked, "Then what happens to those who attend the training but can't awaken a Divine Wondrous after six months?"
"Two choices."
An Xiaoxue said, pointing toward the door, "First, they can stay in the Demon Slayer Bureau as Warriors. They can still wear Demon-Suppressing Armor, form battle formations, and help surround and kill low-level Demon Fiends. Second, they can transfer to the local garrisons and defend a region. The latter is slightly less dangerous, but there are fewer opportunities to grow stronger. The former is more dangerous, with more opportunities to grow stronger. The choice is up to the individual."
"In fact, our trip to Qingshi County this time wasn't just to clear out Demon Fiends. We also had a secondary mission to recruit people for the Demon Slayer Bureau."
Tao Liu smiled. "The constables and government constables from the County Magistrate's Office, the soldiers from the City Defense Bureau—everyone can sign up. As long as their aptitude meets the minimum requirement and they pass the review, they can go to the training camp."
"...A review?" Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow. "Besides aptitude, what else do you review?"
"Family background and personal character, of course," Wu Kun said, amused. "Not just anyone can become one of our Demon Suppression Guards, not even a Warrior. Only those with a clean background who haven't committed any crimes are qualified to join."
"Take you, for example, Chief Gu. If your character was lacking, even if you possessed a Marvel and broke your limits to awaken a Divine Wondrous on your own, you still wouldn't be able to join the Demon Slayer Bureau. Instead..."
"That's enough."
Yan Hongxue interrupted, "Gu Zheng, what are your thoughts? Joining the Demon Slayer Bureau is voluntary. With your contributions, even if you don't want to join us, I can recommend you to the Divine Capture Bureau or the Observatory."
"...Lord Yan, when you mentioned True Skill just now, were you referring to a Cultivation Technique that can produce a Divine Wondrous?" Gu Zheng asked.
"Yes," Yan Hongxue nodded. "Only a True Skill can give birth to a Divine Wondrous, and only a True Skill can allow one to break their limits and achieve a higher realm."
"Also, there's no need to call me 'Lord.' You can just use my name."
"The chief isn't a Commander yet, but she will be soon," An Xiaoxue added with a playful laugh. "Once her rank is promoted to Commander, then you can call her 'Lord'!"
"We're all Junior Banners right now," Tao Liu chimed in with an explanation. "Official Demon Suppression Guards all start as Junior Banners, regardless of their cultivation level."
"The Divine Capture Bureau and the Observatory have True Skills as well?" Gu Zheng asked again.
"They do. But the requirements to cultivate them are extremely high. As far as I know, the only people in those two government offices who can cultivate a True Skill are those with powerful backgrounds."
Yan Hongxue said calmly, "Unless you sell yourself to the Dragon Guard Bureau. Then you can cultivate a True Skill directly."
Sell yourself?
"And joining the Demon Slayer Bureau doesn't count as selling yourself?" Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not," Yan Hongxue replied seriously. "You can quit the Demon Slayer Bureau after you join, just like you can resign from your position as chief constable. However, if you quit before you're able to take on missions, you'll have to pay back double the cost of the training and cultivation resources the Bureau provided you."
'...That's more like it.'
'Joining the Demon Slayer Bureau isn't like a normal job; it's more like being a celebrity. A company would first cultivate you into a star, and if you decided to leave, you'd have to pay back the training fees.'
'But what famous star would be short on that little bit of training money?'
"One last question."
Gu Zheng thought to himself, then looked at Yan Hongxue and asked in a low voice, "The royal Zhong Family, are they a Noble Family?"
"Gu Zheng, you know about the Noble Families too?" An Xiaoxue asked curiously.
Tao Liu also raised his eyebrows and, as if realizing something, exclaimed, "Chief Gu, have you met someone from a Noble Family? Was it on Great Dragon Mountain?"
Before Gu Zheng could respond, he continued, "Right, that would explain it! I was wondering why the Domain on Great Dragon Mountain disappeared so quickly. It must have been the work of a Noble Family. But aren't Domains a source of opportunity for them? Why would they get rid of it so fast? That doesn't make sense."
"Chief Gu, how much do you know about the disappearance of the Domain on Great Dragon Mountain?" Wu Kun asked, looking at Gu Zheng curiously.
"Was it really the work of a Noble Family?" Chen Zhizhen, who had been silent, couldn't help but ask.
Yan Hongxue listened intently.
Tong Yuanshan and Zhang Hucheng also subconsciously perked up their ears.
"I don't know."
Gu Zheng answered with a calm expression, "I went into Great Dragon Mountain and met several noble youths—Nangong Yaoyue, Dongfang He, Yuan Qianjun, and Liangqiu Changkong. They were all decent people. But as for how the Domain disappeared, I'm not very clear. I had to leave not long after I entered the mountain."
"The Nangong Family of the Divine Weapon Lineage, the Dongfang Family of the Royal Bloodline, the Yuan Family of the Half-demon Lineage... Tsk tsk, what a lineup!"
Tao Liu's face was full of excitement as he exclaimed, "Chief Gu, you met noble youths from three different lineages all at once! And you even befriended them! That's incredible! From what I know, those noble youths don't think much of people from outside the Noble Families."
"So, I want to know, is the royal Zhong Family a Noble Family?" Gu Zheng looked directly at Yan Hongxue.
"They are."
Yan Hongxue nodded and said gravely, "The royal families of all nations are part of the Noble Families. Without them, our ancestors would have been enslaved by Demon Fiends ten thousand years ago, reduced to nothing more than farmed livestock."
'The Noble Families are saviors?'
Gu Zheng couldn't agree, but he didn't say it out loud. He said seriously, "I'm willing to join the Demon Slayer Bureau."
'Whether it's for Demon Points or equippable items, I need intelligence on Demon Fiends. Take Domains, for example. They're constantly appearing in various places, but I have no idea where they'll open up. Joining the Demon Slayer Bureau is different. Countless people are out there, gathering and compiling information on Demon Fiends. Then there are True Skills. I have no way of obtaining one on my own. Only the Noble Families possess them. And the imperial court is just a special kind of Noble Family. I'm already a constable. Joining the Demon Slayer Bureau is just switching platforms. Right now, intelligence, True Skills, and Spiritual Soldiers are all things I lack. Especially a True Skill that can cultivate a Divine Wondrous. The Divine Wondrous I have now was forcibly created by adding points. Once it's depleted, it recovers very, very slowly. That's why I didn't dare use my Divine Wondrous much before and unlocked the Bronze Elephant Body instead. I just wonder if I can add points to cultivate a True Skill?'
…
"Excellent!"
Tao Liu clapped his hands.
"That's great, Chief Gu... Oh, no, from now on, it's Gu, Brother Ping'an!" An Xiaoxue also cupped her fist toward Gu Zheng, winking with a grin.
"Gu, would you like to join our small team?" Wu Kun invited. "The current leader of our group is Yan Tou."
Although Chen Zhizhen didn't speak, he also cupped his fist toward Gu Zheng.
"Ah, wonderful! I knew Gu Zheng would have a bright future, and here we are!" Tong Yuanshan's face was full of excitement as he took a satisfied bite of a cucumber with a loud CRUNCH.
"Yes, yes," Zhang Hucheng chimed in, a smile plastered on his face.
He secretly celebrated the fact that he hadn't seriously offended Gu Zheng before. 'Who would have thought that Gu Zheng, a mere county chief constable, would be personally scouted by the Demon Slayer Bureau and invited to join? He'll be made a Junior Banner right away! Even though the rank has 'Junior' in its name, it's still higher than my own position as County Captain. Their starting points are on completely different levels. Gu Zheng is just too damn lucky!'
Thinking this, Zhang Hucheng couldn't help but sneak a glance at Chen Zhizhen…