Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 142 - 118: Golden Order Blade Catcher, Immune from Government Arrest! (Second Update)

"This matter is simple. I wonder, Young Friend Li, what would you like to exchange?"

After finishing his drink, Zhao Pingyuan asked, noticing Su Mu's contemplation, he immediately called for the constable outside the courtyard, "Someone, quickly fetch a record of merits."

Soon, the constable brought a hardcover record of merits.

"Young Friend Li, please take a look."

"Thank you, Director Zhao."

Su Mu took the record, eagerly opening the merit list from the Canghe County Demon Slayer Bureau, hesitating as he glanced at the first page.

This list only offered a few Eighth-Grade Martial Arts, which seemed similar to that of the Qingyun County Demon Slayer Bureau.

When Su Mu's eyes fell on the second page, they immediately brightened.

"Ninth-grade Demon Beast Blood..."

The second page listed low-grade demon beasts' blood, with varied exchange prices, the lowest being three shares of Second-Class Merit.

"I see, the Canghe County Demon Slayer Bureau offers demon beast blood exchange..." Su Mu's mind spun rapidly, "Then what might the Changfeng County Demon Slayer Bureau offer?"

Qingyun, Canghe, and Changfeng are just remote small counties in Qingzhou; Qingyun and Changfeng are blocked northward by vast mountains, leaving only two routes to Qingzhou Prefecture: crossing the mountains or passing through Cang River.

Traveling to Qingzhou Prefecture via Cang River offers both a government road on land and a water route, making its geography superior among the three counties.

Su Mu envisioned the geography of the three counties, yet saw no demon beast-related rewards on the notice board outside the Demon Slayer Bureau.

"The demon beast blood must be transported from outside the three counties."

While Su Mu reviewed the exchange list, Wang Zhen whispered in Zhao Pingyuan's ear, "This person may not surpass my mentor, but he's not far behind."

At these words, Zhao Pingyuan felt a surge of interest, his eyes flickering as he pondered. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Demon beast blood can be used for inscriptions on Grade-Entering Treasure Artifacts, useful for forging Great Spears... the most expensive beast blood costs seven shares of Second-Class Merit, and the merits among the three counties' Demon Slayer Bureaus are interchangeable."

Su Mu's eyes were fervent. If he was going to forge a Great Spear, it would have to be the best!

"Now that I've acquired both the Muscle Strengthening Formula and the Jade Bone Pill Formula, I can accumulate rewards for future exchanges not available in the market, like demon beast blood."

With a plan formed, Su Mu spoke up, "Director Zhao, please note this merit down for now. I will return for the exchange later."

"Certainly." Zhao Pingyuan immediately took a stack of silver notes from his wide sleeve and handed it over, "Zheng Xuan rewarded one hundred and fifty taels, Bai Yi rewarded three hundred taels, totaling four hundred fifty taels."

"Thank you, Director Zhao."

Su Mu accepted the silver notes with thoughts of leaving, as Zhao Pingyuan pondered for a moment before speaking again.

"Young Friend Li, do you know what ranks above the Silver Order Blade Catcher?"

"I do not. Please enlighten me, Director Zhao."

Su Mu shook his head, but his heart stirred as he pretended to listen intently.

"Above the Silver Order is the Gold Order. Although a Copper Order is already a registered Blade Catcher with the Demon Slayer Bureau, once outside the Three Counties, a Silver Order Blade Catcher may not be acknowledged by the Qingzhou Prefecture's Demon Slayer Bureau."

"But the Gold Order is different. A Gold Order Blade Catcher requires a recommendation to the Qingzhou Prefecture Demon Slayer Bureau, followed by an assessment. If successful, they can be promoted to Gold Order."

"May I ask, Director Zhao, what benefits does the Gold Order have?"

"Those holding a Silver Order may travel within the Three Counties, entering cities without paying entrance fees..." At this point, Zhao Pingyuan paused, "While the Gold Order allows travel across Qingzhou Prefecture's forty-two counties, treating officials with parity, akin to a scholar from the academy examination."

"If a Gold Order Blade Catcher commits an offense, the government offices cannot directly arrest them; they must be dealt with by the Demon Slayer Bureau, marking them as a true member of Great Yan's Demon Slayer Bureau."

Akin to a scholar from the academy, treating officials with parity!

Government offices cannot directly arrest them, a true member of the Great Yan Demon Slayer Bureau?!

Su Mu squinted his eyes, a gleam flashing within as he came to understand that outside the Qingyun Three Counties, a Silver Order Blade Catcher is merely an extraneous staff of the Demon Slayer Bureau, holding certain status only within the Qingyun Three Counties.

Beyond the Three Counties, only the Gold Order is recognized by the Demon Slayer Bureau, its holders nearly granted the same status as officials of Great Yan, treating officials with parity, any offenses dealt with internally by the Demon Slayer Bureau, common government offices cannot directly arrest them.

This is what truly defines a member of Great Yan's Demon Slayer Bureau, allowing them to address the Demon Slayer Director of the Three Counties as a colleague.

"I just wonder if a Gold Order Blade Catcher... gains Great Yan's Destiny?"

Upon considering this, Su Mu's heart grew even more heated, having witnessed the power of Destiny twice, observing Li Qiu, the Qingyun County Captain in Shuangbai Academy, shouting in anger; the Cyan-Faced Bat King, whose Martial Arts Cultivation far surpassed his own, needed surging Qi Blood and Power to respond.

Moreover, he experienced it closely at the top of Tongfu Restaurant during the Banquet of Hongmen, witnessing Li Zhihe in an official robe, Destiny forming into a crimson-eyed hawk, causing even someone as strong as Qingfeng Gang Leader Gu Feng to retreat.

Neither the Protector of Black Mountain Rebel Army nor Qingfeng Gang Leader Gu Feng dared easily provoke a Great Yan official adorned with Destiny. Should Su Mu become a Gold Order Blade Catcher, it would undoubtedly be greatly beneficial.

Seeing Su Mu's reaction, Zhao Pingyuan seized the moment, "Currently, I hold a recommendation quota for a Gold Order Blade Catcher, and I'm willing to recommend Young Friend Li. I wonder what your thoughts are?"

Upon hearing this, although Wang Zhen behind Zhao Pingyuan had anticipated it, he still showed a face of envy upon hearing it.

Yet Su Mu was well aware that pie doesn't fall from the sky, and there's no such thing as a free lunch.

However, the offer greatly tempted Su Mu, and now that the opportunity had arisen, he naturally wouldn't easily give up. Without hesitation, he asked, "A recommendation quota must be valuable, so I wonder what Director wants me to do?"