Chapter 142: Chapter 116: Poaching (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Sang Que and Kou Yushan talked as they walked, and within a day, Kou Yushan had gathered all the information about the Evil Suppression Bureau.

The Xuan Dynasty consists of nine provinces, and the commander of the Evil Suppression Bureau in each province is a Yin Walking General with power surpassing the Fifth Layer of the Nine Netherworld.

Under the Yin Walking General are two Colonels: the Day Travel Captain, who leads the Day Traveling Envoys, and the Night Travel Captain, who commands the Night Travelers across the province.

The Day Traveling Envoys only work during the day, responsible for initially investigating the reported deceitful cases around the regions. If they can directly resolve the issue, they handle it on the spot.

For instance, the Corpse Mud Evil encountered during the farming season in Black Mountain Village and the Wheat Evil during the harvest season were both handled by the Day Traveling Envoys.

For major cases that the Day Traveling Envoys cannot resolve, they notify the Night Travelers to take over.

Comparatively, the Night Travelers are the most elite force of the Evil Suppression Bureau, with the highest casualty rate, as they face the terrifying Evil Spirits and Ghosts at night.

Currently, there are more than two hundred Day Traveling Envoys in Wangshan City, while in other counties, the number varies based on circumstances, ranging from one to as many as twenty.

However, there are only eighteen Night Travelers in Wangshan City, less than seven full teams, and this number includes the Night Travel Captain, He Buning.

Aside from the Day Traveling Envoys and Night Travelers, the Evil Suppression Bureau has two institutes and one bureau.

The ’Inspection Institute’ is responsible for processing and overseeing deceitful cases across regions.

The ’Merit Office’ handles logistics, scheduling, documentation, and various miscellaneous tasks.

Most notably, the ’Evil Ghost Bureau’ is directly managed by the Yin Walking Generals of each province.

The Evil Ghost Bureau and Evil Suppression Bureau have always been established together since ancient times.

The Evil Suppression Bureau is tasked with eliminating Evil Spirits. If they encounter a ghost that cannot be eliminated but can be detained and sealed, it is dealt with by the Evil Ghost Bureau.

The Evil Ghost Bureau is directly responsible for the Yin Walking General of each province, who generally does not leave the bureau’s premises and suppresses the ghosts imprisoned there using the ghosts they control.

Under each institute, there are further subdivisions, which Kou Yushan briefly explained to Sang Que.

Sang Que naturally wanted to join the ’Merit Office,’ a place where one doesn’t need to go out but can access information from various sources. However, the Merit Office and Inspection Institute are not short of people and recruit from academies around the region.

Joining the Evil Suppression Bureau through open registration does not immediately qualify one to become a Day Traveling Envoy or Night Traveler. Even prisoners of the Evil Ghost Bureau have to undergo three months of trials and assessments.

Each year, the Evil Suppression Bureau recruits ordinary constables from outside, which Sang Que saw as ’cannon fodder.’

They are the ones who must be ready to follow orders from the Day Traveling Envoys and Night Travelers at any moment, helping with errands, gathering information, and charging into battle.

Even though being ’cannon fodder’ comes with perks like tax exemption and housing distribution, it’s still ’cannon fodder.’

The common people are not foolish and naturally reluctant to register. However, if someone else shows interest, they enthusiastically recommend it.

“So what happens if no one wants to register, and the Evil Suppression Bureau runs out of people?” Sang Que asked Kou Yushan.

Xia Chan, clutching Xuan Yu, tugged at Sang Que’s bag from behind, prompting Sang Que to reach in and hand Xia Chan a piece of jerky without looking.

Kou Yushan said, “I’ve looked into this as well. People in the city told me that when the Evil Suppression Bureau runs out of personnel, they would take people from various prisons in Qinzhou or those apprehended in raids against bandits, branding them with the ’Ghost Slave Seal’ and forcefully conscripting them. If they make meritorious contributions, they can earn the opportunity to redeem themselves and even gain promotion.”

“Besides, some people, like Shou’an, who have provoked deceitful cases and have no choice but to join the Evil Suppression Bureau to survive, can also join. As long as they are not physically unfit, the bureau will accept them.”

Sang Que nodded, thinking that using criminals as ’cannon fodder’ was a good idea that could effectively curb crime rates.

Those like He Shou’an, who are already targeted by Evil Spirits, see joining the Evil Suppression Bureau as a path to survival.

In reality, Sang Que felt that He Shou’an’s current predicament mirrored her own in the beginning when she first encountered Evil Spirits. It was because of how rapidly He Shou’an’s soul was sinking into the Ninth Netherworld, making him particularly susceptible to evil.

She was fortunate to have become a Yin Walker, igniting the Heart Lamp and gaining strength to counteract.

If He Shou’an lacked a means to counteract the Evil Spirits, he would have, as Yan Daozi mentioned, gone mad or died from the constant harassment of deceitful cases.

Kou Yushan continued, “Actually, climbing the ranks in the Evil Suppression Bureau is faster than in the military. Ordinary constables who endure the first three months can become official Day Traveling Envoys, receiving double monthly salaries and acquiring incense masks and special weapons used by Day Traveling Envoys daily, greatly increasing their chances of surviving deceitful cases.”

“Moreover, each year, the Evil Suppression Bureau also drafts personnel from the military directly into the ranks of Day Traveling Envoys and Night Travelers. Due to the rapid advancement and high benefits, even those without background are willing to join. Oh, and there are also Yin Walkers.”

Kou Yushan glanced around before lowering his voice.

“Whenever a Yin Walker is discovered, they must register with the Evil Suppression Bureau and accept the bureau’s control. Otherwise, they’ll be wanted by the bureau. You must be careful if you don’t want to be exposed.”

Sang Que frowned; Yin Children were Class A wanted criminals of the Evil Suppression Bureau. She absolutely couldn’t expose herself.

If the bureau acted to eliminate Yin Children without explanation and killed her in the process, it would be disastrous.

But she couldn’t enter the bureau as cannon fodder either. Since the Merit Office wasn’t recruiting, and she wanted to utilize the incense of the bureau, she needed to find a way to become a Day Traveling Envoy or Night Traveler.

Xia Chan tugged the strap of her bag again, causing Sang Que to laugh and cry. She opened the bag, letting Xia Chan find food for herself.

“By the way, what are the bureau’s regulations regarding people like Little Chan?”

Kou Yushan shook his head, saying, “Evil People are exceptionally rare and rarely live past twenty. A significant portion end up harmed by Evil Taoists. I doubt the bureau has encountered many Evil People, and no specific regulations have been heard of.”

Sang Que nodded thoughtfully.

They were already near the Evil Suppression Bureau. The blue brick courtyards on both sides of the street remained tightly shut and silent. Situated at the mountain’s foot, sunlight couldn’t reach there. The chill wind swept through, making it resemble a ghost town in stark contrast to the bustling other areas of Wangshan City.

After walking for a bit, the path ahead suddenly cleared, revealing a pure black archway standing in the middle of the road. It was carved with many grim and terrifying evil ghosts, with three large blood-red characters at its center.

Evil Suppression Bureau.

Behind the archway lay a complex of buildings embedded into the mountain, with soaring cornices, wholly black and red, exuding an air of solemnity and authority.

“What material is this?” Sang Que asked, observing the pillars of the archway. The black crystal she saw in the city wall bricks was the same as what was similar to the black mask seal in her hand.

“This is Ten Victory Stone, born in intense fire, containing the sun fire aura of the earth’s dragon vein. It can suppress ghosts.”

Sang Que blinked; the Ten Victory Stone was indeed Obsidian?

After passing through the archway, they found no guards at the entrance to the Evil Suppression Bureau. Sang Que and Kou Yushan walked directly into the courtyard inside.

If not for her eyes, which didn’t see any wandering souls or wild ghosts, she could have thought this was the underworld’s government office.

Upon entering, Xia Chan seemed to sense something, fearfully tugging at Sang Que’s arm, clutching Xuan Yu and shrinking beside her.

“Sang Mulan?”

Suddenly, someone spoke. Sang Que and Kou Yushan turned to see the small-framed Xiao Liu emerging eagerly from a side door, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

He seemed completely unfazed by being publicly kicked by Sang Que last time.

“Are you here to join the Evil Suppression Bureau? Great, great, you’ve come at the perfect time!”

Sang Que’s mind flashed with the image of a fly rubbing its hands. She could only smile wryly as she opened her bag, letting Xia Chan find her own snacks inside.

“By the way, Little Chan?”

A plump middle-aged man with a long knife at his waist hurriedly rushed out of the house, practically distraught.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep