Chapter Seventy-Four: Advancement

Gongyang Yan issued the promotion order, officially elevating Bai Li Feihong to the rank of First-Class Demon Suppressor, making him one of the six Demon Suppressors of Dongbin City—a meteoric rise. Yet Bai Li Feihong was not content; what he sought was the position of Deputy Commander. Restricted by the emperor, Gongyang Yan could remain only in Dongbin City. With the title of Deputy Commander, Bai Li Feihong would have the freedom to accomplish far more.

Leaving the Commander's office, he returned to his own desk. Soon, the head of the Central Office of the Dongbin City Demon Suppression Bureau came to see him. The Central Office was the department in charge of internal affairs.

“Demon Suppressor Bai Li, your independent office has been arranged. Also, your new uniform is being expedited and will be ready by tomorrow.”

The head of the Central Office was Yang Qingyuan, a Second-Class Commander—an unassuming yet highly capable Demon Suppressor, the steward of the bureau.

“This is your new token. I notice you lack a suitable weapon; please use this Demon-Slaying Sabre for now. If you require a specially made weapon, do let me know.”

Yang Qingyuan spoke with respect, a hint of awe in his demeanor. He would not have shown such deference to the other five First-Class Demon Suppressors; Bai Li Feihong’s strength had earned his respect.

“Thank you, Director Yang.” Bai Li Feihong tidied his desk, gathered his books, and followed Yang Qingyuan to his new office on the third floor. From this day forward, he too had an office of his own.

“Demon Suppressor Bai Li, is there anything else you require?”

“I do need a blade that suits my hand. Fetch ten catties of Blood Crow Meteorite and deliver it to the Qin family’s forge.”

Bai Li Feihong gave his instructions simply.

“Understood.” Yang Qingyuan did not question further. As long as the bureau possessed the resources, he could mobilize them.

“Also, bring me the case files on the Opium Affair. I need to review them.”

Bai Li Feihong pondered. The Opium Affair was vast, involving far more than just the Canal Gang and the petty figures of Dongbin City. The true power behind the scenes was so great that even with his current strength, he dared not pursue it further. Yet he needed to grasp all available information, for even if he did not investigate now, he would inevitably become involved in the future.

“This...” The Opium Affair had already been taken over by the Provincial Commander, putting Yang Qingyuan in a difficult position.

“Don’t overthink it. If the Provincial Bureau has questions, let them come to me.” Bai Li Feihong’s tone was firm.

“Very well, Demon Suppressor Bai Li. I shall have a copy brought to you.”

“Thank you.”

At that moment, the Demon Suppression Building was abuzz, especially among those who had joined the bureau the same year as Bai Li Feihong. They had already risen from apprentices to Fourth-Class Demon Suppressors and had thought themselves on par with Bai Li Feihong, only to find that he had already become a First-Class Demon Suppressor. Of the original cohort, only thirteen remained, including Bai Li Feihong. Many were sons of wealthy merchants, and those involved in the Opium Affair had been arrested. Others had perished because of it.

Luo Jinglin listened quietly to the others discuss Bai Li Feihong, envy seething in his heart.

“I’ve had my share of fortuitous encounters. Before joining the bureau, I inherited a divine sword. Once inside, I was chosen by the Yin-Yang Celestial Sect and became Master Jiang Dongliu’s disciple. But now, even though my Blood Essence Technique has reached mastery, and my vitality is at its peak, the Commander still favors him, pouring all the bureau’s resources into his hands. I did not choose wrongly in joining the Yin-Yang Celestial Sect,” Luo Jinglin assured himself.

“After I break through the Blood Refining realm, with the sect’s resources, I’ll become a First-Class Demon Suppressor within a year.”

He brimmed with confidence.

“Today’s information must reach Master as soon as possible. With Lin Zhiyuan defeated and Bai Li Feihong’s martial arts advancing so rapidly in such a short time, there must be a great secret behind him. Master will certainly be interested. This intelligence should at least be worth several Blood Essence Pills.”

The thought made Luo Jinglin’s heart burn with excitement. The more value he demonstrated, the more resources Master Jiang Dongliu would invest in him.

“Lin Zhiyuan has fallen. The remaining three Commanders will not let this go easily. As the Provincial Commander assigned to Dongbin City to investigate the Opium Affair, Lin Zhiyuan’s defeat is a slap in the face to the Provincial Bureau and the other three Commanders.”

Luo Jinglin did not believe Bai Li Feihong could contend with all three at once.

Bai Li Feihong stood before the mission board in the main hall, studying the posted assignments. Most were Fourth- or Third-Class missions, beyond his current eligibility. Still, he knew that to grow stronger quickly, skill points were essential. Gaining experience through cultivation was far too slow.

Having grown accustomed to improving his martial arts through skill points, Bai Li Feihong’s patience had worn thin.

“To amass a large number of skill points, simply slaying demons is too slow. There aren’t enough demons in Dongbin City for me to kill. Only war—by killing enemies in battle—might grant me a surge of skill points.”

The Wokou and the pirates!

These two forces surfaced in his mind. On the Eastern Sea, they were the most active. The Wokou frequently raided the Grand Yuan’s coastal towns, plundering wealth and slaughtering innocents—a persistent scourge. The pirates were an even greater menace. Dongbin City boasted the empire’s largest port, and the Eastern Sea was among the busiest trade routes, attracting countless pirates who preyed on merchant ships, gravely impacting the Grand Yuan’s maritime commerce.

Though the navy hunted pirates relentlessly, in recent years, the overseas nations had rapidly advanced their shipbuilding and firearms technology, leaving the pirates sometimes better equipped than the navy itself. Even when the navy located them, it was not always able to give chase. Worse yet, nations led by the Farra Empire had issued letters of marque, openly targeting the Grand Yuan’s maritime trade—many pirates were, in truth, their own naval forces in disguise.

“The Whale Demon—perhaps that will be my excuse to leave Dongbin City.” A plan formed in Bai Li Feihong’s mind. Thus, the Whale Demon must remain alive for now; if he slew it, he would have no reason to go to sea.

Night had fallen. At last, Yan Ruyu arrived.

“Demon Suppressor Bai Li, these ten martial arts manuals are the finest I could find in the library.”

She laid the books on his desk.

“Thank you, Miss Yan.”

“Be careful—the other three Commanders will not let you off so easily.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll meet force with force and adapt as needed.”

“I hope nothing happens to you. If anything seems amiss, activate your token immediately—Lord Gongyang will come at once.” Yan Ruyu lowered her voice.

“If they intend to strike at me, it won’t be within the city,” Bai Li Feihong replied, shaking his head. “They’ll wait until I leave Dongbin City on assignment before making their move.”