The furnishings inside the room were even simpler than those in her small courtyard.
A desk, a chair, and a long sword hanging on the wall—nothing else.
Xu Changfeng was sitting behind the desk, engrossed in a scroll he held, not even lifting his head.
Jiang Yuechu followed the custom, cupping her fist and bowing.
"This subordinate, Jiang Yuechu, greets Lord Xu."
Xu Changfeng did not immediately respond, continuing to flip through his book.
Jiang Yuechu remained bowed, completely still.
She was not anxious.
The other party was giving her a show of force.
It was a common old routine in officialdom, merely trying to put this newcomer in her place and let her know who was boss.
Sure enough.
After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the sound of turning pages finally stopped.
"Raise your head."
Jiang Yuechu complied, slowly straightening up and looking over.
Xu Changfeng set down the scroll in his hand, his eyes, clear as an ancient well, fixed upon her.
That gaze was neither scrutinizing nor curious; it was simply calm and indifferent.
Yet, this indifferent gaze made the hairs on Jiang Yuechu's neck stand up.
This guy... is very strong.
Even though she had now entered the Bone Resonance realm, if she didn't use special methods, she feared she wouldn't even last one move against him.
"Jiang Yuechu."
Xu Changfeng slowly spoke, "Do you know why this General wanted to see you?"
That was absolutely nonsense.
But she absolutely could not try to be clever when dealing with a leader's nonsense.
Jiang Yuechu lowered her eyes. "This subordinate does not know."
"Heh."
Xu Changfeng suddenly let out a soft laugh, and a trace of playful amusement appeared on his handsome face.
"Logically speaking, my Xuan Battalion should not recruit women."
"You are the first."
Jiang Yuechu's heart tightened, but she remained outwardly composed.
"Wei He values you. Presumably, you have exceptional qualities."
"In Jincheng County, you killed a Pig Demon with one punch."
"By the Black River, you cut down a Water Monster with one strike."
"Both times you acted, they were against Ming Gu Great Demons, and each time was cleaner and more decisive than the last."
Xu Changfeng stood up and slowly walked in front of her.
He was more than a head taller than Jiang Yuechu, looking down at her.
"I am truly curious, where did your abilities come from?"
"..."
Jiang Yuechu sighed inwardly.
Her background was not much of a secret, and even if Wei He was too lazy to investigate, it didn't mean others would be.
To others, it was sheer fantasy that a capital city Young Miss suddenly transformed and gained such abilities.
She raised her head, meeting Xu Changfeng's gaze, neither subservient nor arrogant.
"Family inheritance."
"Family inheritance?" Xu Changfeng raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, your father, Jiang Xun, comes from a civil official background and is incapable of even tying up a chicken. Where did this powerful and overbearing blade technique of yours come from?"
"Passed down by my mother."
Jiang Yuechu lied without changing her expression.
Anyway, in her memory, her cheap mother had died long ago, leaving no proof.
"Oh?"
A meaningful curve appeared at the corner of Xu Changfeng's mouth. "Then who was your mother's master?"
"This subordinate does not know."
"You don't know?"
"My mother died young, and many things were never discussed with This subordinate."
"..."
The room fell silent once again.
Xu Changfeng just watched her, saying nothing.
The young woman stubbornly held her head high.
After a long time.
Xu Changfeng suddenly turned around and walked back behind the desk.
"Forget it."
He sat down again, picked up a document on the table, glanced at it, and tossed it over.
"This is your commission. You are an eighth-rank squad leader, with a monthly salary of ten taels, five stone of rice, twenty catties of meat, and an independent courtyard within the City."
Jiang Yuechu took the document, looked at the bright red official seal on it, and the stone hanging in her heart finally dropped.
Ten taels monthly salary!
It doubled!
She struck it rich!
She suppressed the ecstasy in her heart and put the document away.
"Thank you, sir."
"No need to thank me." Xu Changfeng waved his hand, his tone returning to its previous coldness. "This is what you earned."
"The Demon Suppression Division doesn't keep idlers, nor does it keep trash."
"Your abilities are worthy of this position."
He paused, seeming to recall something, and added a sentence.
"Oh, right. Currently, the Longyou Demon Suppression Division is short on manpower. The people under you are newly recruited Jianghu troublemakers. Whether you can make them submit depends on your own capability."
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow.
Troublemakers?
She loved dealing with troublemakers the most.
Unwilling to submit?
Beat them until they submit.
"This subordinate understands."
"Mhm." Xu Changfeng nodded, seemingly unwilling to say more. "You may leave. Go to the accounting office to collect this month's salary, and then go find the people in your squad."
"Yes."
Jiang Yuechu bowed in salute, turned, and exited the room.
Only after the door was closed again did Xu Changfeng slowly raise his head, looking at the empty doorway, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
"The Jiang Family..."
He muttered to himself, then shook his head again, picking up the scroll once more... Jiang Yuechu walked out of the courtyard and immediately saw Liu Chen waiting under the veranda.
Seeing her emerge, Liu Chen quickly came forward, his face showing some concern.
"How was it? Lord Xu didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
Jiang Yuechu shook her head. "It was fine."
"That's good, that's good." Liu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. "Lord Xu is just a bit cold in temperament, but he's a decent person."
Jiang Yuechu neither confirmed nor denied.
She flashed the commission document in her hand. "Captain Liu, I probably can't call you Squad Leader anymore."
Liu Chen was stunned, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"We are the same rank now. From now on, let's address each other by name."
He looked at Jiang Yuechu, his expression complex.
How many days had it been?
The other party had already transformed from a newcomer into a colleague of equal standing.
No.
Perhaps before long, he would have to call her "Lord."
"Let's go, I'll take you to the accounting office."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu gave him a surprised look.
"How did you know I was going to the accounting office?"
Speaking of this, she was somewhat puzzled.
Logically, the Demon Suppression Division issued salaries on the fifteenth of every month.
Today was only the tenth. She couldn't possibly be getting an advance on her salary just because she was a new official, could she?
"You wouldn't know about this."
Seeing her puzzled expression, Liu Chen smiled and began to explain.
"This is also a rule of The Department, considered a reward for the brethren. Anyone who gets promoted can go to the accounting office that day and withdraw a sum of money equal to the monthly salary of their new position."
"The Department calls this 'Promotion Money.' It's not counted in the monthly salary; it's purely a bonus for the brethren."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu's eyes instantly lit up.
Ho!
There's such a good thing?
Isn't this just a bonus!
Sure enough, whatever else you say about the Demon Suppression Division...
This treatment is definitely the best among the three hundred and sixty professions in Great Tang.
Having figured this out, a rare smile appeared on her face, and she nodded at Liu Chen.
"I see. Thank you for your trouble then."
"It's no trouble at all."
The two walked side-by-side, passing through the corridor.
Perhaps because their ranks were the same and the constraints of superior/subordinate were gone, Liu Chen spoke more freely.
"Lord Xu is just like that normally. Don't take it to heart. Although he seems cold, he has always been fair in rewards and punishments. As long as you have the ability, he is never stingy with rewards."
"As for the squad under you... I have heard people mention..."
Liu Chen paused, a strange look appearing on his face.