“……” Ye Lan hadn't expected so blunt an answer.

Truth be told, she hadn't fully trusted this young man last time either. Mostly she'd figured that, fresh in the Demon-Slaying Office, he'd still be green, the kind who worked with his hands tied.

In short, he'd do as he was told.

Besides, the White Cloud Cave trip had been a joint operation by three prefectures' Demon-Slaying Offices.

Ye Lan knew demon slayers. Odds were they'd treat Shen Yi as a figurehead and wouldn't give him an ounce of respect just because he carried the title of Demon-Slaying Officer.

That was a good thing.

She'd never expected Shen Yi to make a proper Demon-Slaying Officer in the first place. What young cultivator had the realm, the strength or the judgment for that? All he had to be was an obedient pair of eyes, watching Meng Xiuwen for her.

Enough to make Meng rein himself in a little.

But things had clearly gone beyond what Ye Lan had planned for.

If Shen Yi could kick up this much trouble right under the noses of two other Demon-Slaying Officers, this was more than simple disobedience.

She seemed to have promoted a second Meng Xiuwen with her own hands. And going by the attitude he'd just shown her, this one might be even worse.

“Phew.”

Ye Lan let out a soft, clear breath, turned half away and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Because of what the Demon-Slaying Office was, there was no such thing as dismissal. The court could never let anyone who knew about it go back out into the world, let alone join the Three Teachings or go up to heaven to hold office.

But she could hardly throw Shen Yi in prison, let alone have him executed, over her own misjudgment. That would be plain insanity.

As for handing the post back to Ye Jing… she couldn't manage one Meng Xiuwen, let alone two. Pointless.

That left only one way.

Luckily, the young man was only showing the first signs. He wasn't a hardened old rogue like Meng Xiuwen yet.…