Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Chapter 214 40: Big officials embezzle much, small officials embezzle less

Three days later at the Guardian Martial Department Office.

At this time, it was noon, and many officers who had gone out for patrol had already returned to the Guardian Martial Department courtyard to rest.

When Shen Qing walked in from outside, the other group officers lounging in their rooms glanced at him repeatedly.

Recently, the news that all of his subordinates had been wiped out had spread throughout the Guardian Martial Department Office, unsurprisingly becoming a topic of gossip during meals among the department.

The already weak Sixth Group was left with only a commanding officer, and Shen Qing had even earned the nickname "Lone Rider."

However, these colleagues from the Guardian Martial Department merely discussed it in private, making jokes during idle time, without deliberately mocking or jeering at Shen Qing as novels might depict.

After all, along with the nickname "Lone Rider," the news of him slaying the Wolf Demon and exterminating the whole Changqiao Zhou Family had also spread.

They knew he was a ruthless and decisive character.

Therefore, when they met with Shen Qing, they generally kept a certain distance from him, not wanting to get too close and bring trouble upon themselves in the future.

Shen Qing was gradually becoming isolated by other officers of the Guardian Martial Department.

"Officer Shen, are you free? Come over for a cup of tea?"

Shen Qing hadn't walked far into the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department Office when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Dong Jing sitting in a small room, raising a cup to invite him.

Without much thought, Shen Qing turned around, walked over, and sat down facing Dong Jing.

The officers of Group One felt somewhat dissatisfied as they saw their leader being so courteous to Shen Qing.

In their view, Group One was the strongest, Dong Jing's cultivation was the highest, so what merit did Shen Qing, a poor outsider, bring to be able to sit on equal footing with their leader?

But Dong Jing held considerable authority among them, and since their boss behaved this way, they had no complaints.

Once Dong Jing waved his hand, these officers sensibly dispersed.

Shen Qing did not mind and unabashedly picked up a bowl, poured himself a bowl of tea, and drank in large gulps.

The amber-colored tea overflowed from the corners of his mouth.

Within a single breath, he emptied the big bowl of cool tea.

"Now that I patrol so many squares alone, I'm a bit parched," Shen Qing said with a laugh, placing the empty bowl on the table. "I hope Officer Dong won't mind."

Unconcerned, Dong Jing refilled his bowl and said, "This is tea from home. Officer Shen, drink as much as you like, there's plenty here."

"I was wondering why the tea over here tasted different from the one in my room. It turns out Officer Dong brought his own stash," Shen Qing said, lifting the bowl again, drinking a bit more slowly this time.

Dong Jing chuckled and said, "Was the Chief Officer extorting you heavily when you came back from Changqiao Town?"

Shen Qing was surprised: "You all know?"

"Fatty Zheng's greed and lechery are well known in our office. Except for Officer Yang from the Fifth Group, whom he favors, who among us hasn't been extorted by him?"

With a hint of displeasure in his voice, Dong Jing complained, "The group of officers who died in Taiping County before us went through the same thing. He just had to give us some face due to our family backgrounds, so it wasn't as outrageous."

Shen Qing feigned ignorance: "I thought it was just me."

Then, he pondered for a moment and said while calculating, "If I count it carefully, the Chief Officer took seven hundred taels of silver notes, two Demon Cores, and three pieces of Wolf Skin from me. That amounts to nearly all my spoils from Changqiao Town."

"Hiss..." Even Dong Jing couldn't help but wince on behalf of Shen Qing.

A single Demon Core had a starting price of nearly one thousand taels, which was even more expensive than those treasures from Baoyu Mountain.

And while treasures from Baoyu Mountain were common, Demon Cores were not.

Rarity drives up the price.

Judging by the market in Yongzhou now, the price could only be higher, not lower.

Calculating it this way, Fatty Zheng extorted nearly three thousand taels from Shen Qing in a single swoop.

Such an amount, even in the eyes of someone from a high-ranking background like him, was a large fortune.

"It seems our Chief Officer took advantage of your lack of backing to extort you heavily. According to the rules, we're supposed to turn over half," Dong Jing concluded. "Your future days might be tough."

Shen Qing let out a long sigh and said with a tone of resignation, "That's the way of the world, there's nothing I can do about it. I'll just have to take it one step at a time."

Yesterday, he accidentally learned that Zheng Yuanqiu had secretly sent people along with the Military Department to wrap up the matter with the Wolf Demon in Changqiao Town, sorting everything out thoroughly.

Upon knowing that Shen Qing hadn't kept anything for himself, Zheng indeed handled the Zhou Family affair personally.

It was somewhat unexpected for Shen Qing.

This hidden agent from the Huang Tian Sect had managed to rise to the position of General of the Army, not purely by luck—he was somewhat capable.

Yongzhou contained hidden talents, and Shen Qing, lacking strength, dared not act rashly for now.

Seeing Shen Qing's sentiment, Dong Jing said nothing more.

The state of affairs in Great Zhou was such that everyone aspired to climb higher.

Once someone ascended and gained control over Great Zhou's Martial Mechanism, they wouldn't have to worry about any spiritual elixirs or the Yuan Pearl Technique.

Besides wealth and glory, their Martial Arts Cultivation would improve, and they'd gain rare longevity.

Even the small Dragon Court of the Capital City was almost filled with aristocratic families.

If they were like that, what more of the lower-level officials?

High-ranking officials took much, and lower-ranking ones took little.

There wasn't much choice.

Dong Jing remembered something and said, "Officer Shen, I remember the tavern in Xinyi Square, Shen Ji, is your business, right?"

"That's my property, what's up?"

"It's just a coincidence. I heard your dishes are quite unique. Tonight there's a gathering, and my friends and two colleagues from the office plan to host a table there." Dong Jing offered, "I wonder if Officer Shen could join us for a drink?"

Facing Dong Jing's invitation, Shen Qing sank into contemplation.

His desire for such social engagements wasn't strong.

In his view, spending too much time on these ineffective social interactions was less worthwhile than spending effort to improve his cultivation.

However, after thinking it over, he decided to accept.

Dong Jing was from the Dong Family of the Thirteen Lines, and his friends were certainly either rich or noble.

Such private gatherings weren't open to just anyone in Yongzhou.

With a bit of luck, he might overhear some information and intelligence that was otherwise difficult to learn about from outside.

"Sure. I have heavy duties now, so I might finish late at night, and I could be a bit late when I come."

"No worries. We're starting late too. After the night shift, I'll meet you, and we'll go together."

Shen Qing finished the remaining cool tea in one gulp, cupped his hands at Dong Jing and said, "Thank you for the hospitality, Officer Dong. We'll talk later."

"Busy yourself, Officer Shen."

"By the way, the matter at Baihua Building has been taken care of already. No one will trace it back," Dong Jing added.

Shen Qing's expression turned serious; he cupped his hands solemnly in thanks and then turned to leave.