Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

A luxurious carriage carved from agarwood arrives, followed by a loud shout from a junior official, causing the residents on Ning’an Long Street outside the Zhou Mansion to show expressions of surprise and retreat to the sides of the street.

"It’s Lord County Magistrate, even Magistrate Zhao is here. Is there an important figure arriving at the Zhou Mansion today?"

"Of course."

The citizens discuss among themselves, suddenly, someone speaks, drawing the attention of the crowd.

"Stop keeping us in suspense, tell us which distinguished person it is, could it be someone from the Commandery City?"

"That’s small indeed, it’s not just Commandery City." That person scoffs lightly, "My second uncle is the steward in the Zhou Mansion, I heard that this time, it’s not someone from the Commandery City but rather a prominent figure from Qingzhou Prefecture related to Zhou Family’s Third Young Master."

"Is it Zhou Family’s Third Young Master Zhou Qing, who practiced martial arts at thirteen, entered Ninth Grade, reached Seventh Grade before the age of twenty, and killed a Sixth Grade river bandit single-handedly at the Canglan River a year ago?"

"Exactly, he is the martial arts prodigy of the Zhou Family!"

Amidst the discussions, the gilded carriage slowly stops outside Zhou Mansion, the curtain lifts, and a fifty-something Magistrate Zhao Ming, dressed in a light green official robe embroidered with mandarin duck patterns, steps down onto the brocade stool.

"Congratulations, Patriarch Zhou."

"Magistrate Zhao, you overpraise. My son has been mischievous since childhood. Fortunately, he has some talent in martial arts and now merely wishes to contribute a little to Great Yan."

"Nephew greets Lord County Magistrate." Beside Patriarch Zhou is a proud man with almond eyes and dressed in azure clothing, who bows with hands cupped.

Zhao Ming smiles warmly, unfazed. If Zhou Qing becomes a Golden Order member of the Demon Slayer Bureau, supported by connections, his future will be limitless, elevating the Zhou Family’s position in Canglan East County.

After all, the Demon Slayer Bureau is no ordinary government office but an institution established by the Grand Ancestor of Great Yan for slaying demons and overseeing local officials.

Just then, there’s commotion from the east of the street, and the crowd parts like a tide, causing Zhao Ming and Patriarch Zhou to frown, with the former sending a signal to a junior official in front of the carriage.

"Presumptuous! Who are you?"

The junior official understands and turns angrily to shout.

As soon as his voice falls, Zhao Ming and Patriarch Zhou simultaneously change their expressions, hurriedly stepping back from the threshold of Zhou Mansion to meet the incoming group.

"Step down, officer pays respect to Judge."

Woo------!

Jiang Yao pulls the reins on a black steed, his tiger-patterned black robe flutters in the wind as he looks down expressionlessly at the crowd with his thoughts elsewhere.

"Such a grand spectacle, truly imposing, far more comfortable than dealing with those noble sect disciples... No wonder everyone vies for the Golden Order assessment!"

Jiang Yao’s mouth slightly upturns, seeming to relish the grand welcome.

The Demon Slayer Bureau is no longer met with the universal reverence it saw in the Grand Ancestor of Great Yan’s era—though its status remains high, its position is now somewhat delicate. Jiang Yao acts on the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau’s orders.

This trip serves both as a Golden Order assessment and a demonstration of the Demon Slayer Bureau’s authority.

Following him is the Golden Order Blade Catcher who passed the Canglan East County assessment. The Zhou Family is the third stop on this journey, with only one of the previous two candidates passing.

"This Zhou guy seems not bad. Next stop is Qingyun County in Canglan South County... the news from there suggests the candidate has Seventh Grade Muscle Strengthening Cultivation, the assessment should be just a formality."

"Nevertheless, recruiting two persons on this trip is acceptable."

As Jiang Yao’s thoughts race, the newly appointed Golden Order Blade Catcher Shangguan Ke looks towards the proud man in azure clothing beside Patriarch Zhou; Shangguan Ke’s family already inquired long ago.

Among the three being assessed along with her, only Zhou Qing before her catches her eye.

Their gazes meet, considering each other rivals, as a tense atmosphere prevails.