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

Three days later, at the Guardian Martial Department Office.

At this moment, it was midday. Many of the officers and inspectors patrolling outside had already returned to the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department to rest.

When Shen Qing walked in from outside, other group inspectors who were chatting inside looked at him several times. Experience more content on empire

Recently, the news of all his subordinates being completely wiped out had spread within the Guardian Martial Department Office, and unsurprisingly, it had become a topic of conversation during tea breaks and meals among the people there.

The already weak Sixth Group was now left with a sole commander. Shen Qing had even earned the nickname "Lone Rider."

However, these colleagues from the Guardian Martial Department only discussed it privately, using the matter for idle jokes. They weren't deliberately mocking Shen Qing to his face, like what was written in novels.

After all, alongside the nickname "Lone Rider" came the story of him slaying the Wolf Demon and annihilating the entire Changqiao Zhou Family.

People knew he was ruthless.

So when they met Shen Qing, they mostly and intentionally kept a certain distance from him, unwilling to get too close, fearing future trouble.

Shen Qing gradually showed signs of being isolated by the other officers in the Guardian Martial Department.

"Inspector Shen, have some time for a cup of tea?"

Shen Qing had not taken many steps into the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department Office when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw Dong Jing sitting in a small room, raising a cup in invitation.

Without much thought, Shen Qing turned around, walked over, and sat in front of Dong Jing.

The officers of the First Group were somewhat dissatisfied to see their leader being so polite to Shen Qing.

In their view, the First Group was the most powerful, Dong Jing's cultivation was the highest, so how could a poor outsider like Shen Qing deserve to sit on equal footing with their leader?

However, Dong Jing held great authority among them, so if the leader acted this way, none of them dared to say anything.

When Dong Jing gestured, the officers wisely dispersed.

Shen Qing didn't care much, he unceremoniously picked up a bowl and poured himself a bowl of tea, drinking it in large gulps.

Amber-colored tea even dribbled from his lips.

He finished the large bowl of cool tea in one go.

"Now I patrol many markets alone, a bit parched from thirst, making a fool of myself in front of Inspector Dong," Shen Qing put the emptied bowl on the table and said with a smile.

Dong Jing didn't mind, refilling his bowl, and said, "Brought some rough tea from home. Inspector Shen, drink to your heart's content, I have plenty here."

"So that's why the tea here tastes different from the one in my room, it's Dong Inspector's private stash," Shen Qing picked up the tea bowl again, drinking a bit slower this time.

Dong Jing smiled and said, "I wonder, when you returned from Changqiao Town, how much did the Chief Officer extort from you?"

Shen Qing asked in surprise, "You all know?"

"Fatty Zheng's greedy and lecherous nature is well-known in our office. Except for Inspector Yang from the Fifth Group, whom he favors, who here hasn't been extorted by him?"

Dong Jing had a somewhat dissatisfied tone and complained, "The batch of inspectors who died in Taiping County before us suffered the same. It was only because of our family backgrounds that his demands weren't as ugly."

Shen Qing feigned modesty, "So it wasn't just me."

He paused, calculating as he spoke, "If I calculate carefully, the Chief Officer took seven hundred taels of silver notes, two Demon Cores, and three pieces of Wolf Skin from me, which is almost all my gains from Changqiao Town."

"Hiss…" Even Dong Jing couldn't help but feel the pain for Shen Qing.

A Demon Core's open price was at least close to a thousand taels, more expensive than those treasures from Baoyu Mountain.

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

Rarity increases value.

According to the current market in Yongzhou, it would only be higher than this price, not lower.

Calculating this way, Shen Qing was extorted of nearly three thousand taels by Zheng Yuanqiu in one go.

Such an amount, even from his high-ranking perspective, was considered a huge sum.

"It seems our Chief Officer bullied you for having no background, extorting a hefty amount. According to the rules, we only turn over half," Dong Jing concluded, "Your days will probably be tough from now on."

Shen Qing let out a long sigh, and after a while, said helplessly, "Such is the world, I can only take it one step at a time."

Yesterday, he had inadvertently learned that Zheng Yuanqiu had secretly sent people along with the Military Department to wrap up the Wolf Demon incident in Changqiao Town, sorting out the mess there.

Upon knowing he hadn't kept anything private, he truly managed to cover up the Zhou Family's matter.

That came as a bit of a surprise to him.

This undercover agent of the Huang Tian Sect, who managed to sit in the position of General of the Army, wasn't solely relying on luck, he had some skills.

In Yongzhou, with hidden talents, he wasn't strong enough to act rashly.

Seeing Shen Qing's deep sigh, Dong Jing didn't say much more.

The bureaucratic landscape of Great Zhou was like this; everyone wanted to climb up.

Whoever ascended and acquired the martial mechanisms of Great Zhou never worried about any spiritual elixirs or Yuan Pearl Techniques.

Beyond wealth and power, they could advance in Martial Arts Cultivation and even extend their rare lifespan.

Even the small Dragon Court in the Capital City was nearly crowded with aristocratic families.

They were all like that, not to mention the lower-level officials.

Big officials took a lot, and small officials took a little.

There was no help for it.

Dong Jing recalled something and said, "Inspector Shen, I remember the Shen Ji in Xinyi Square is your tavern, correct?"

"It's my establishment, why?"

"Coincidentally. I've heard your dishes are quite distinctive. Tonight, there's a gathering there, my friends and two colleagues from the office plan to have a table," Dong Jing took the initiative to invite, "I wonder if Inspector Shen might be free to join us for a drink this evening."

Faced with Dong Jing's invitation, Shen Qing fell into contemplative consideration.

He wasn't particularly interested in such social engagements.

In his view, it was more worthwhile to spend time advancing his cultivation rather than engaging in these ineffective social interactions.

But after thinking about it, he decided to accept.

Dong Jing was from the Dong Family of the Thirteen Lines, and his friends must be either wealthy or noble.

Such private gatherings in Yongzhou weren't opportunities everyone could participate in.

With some luck, he might hear some information or insights that were hard to come by elsewhere.

"Alright. My defense duties are quite heavy right now, I might be late when it's over."

"No problem, we also start late, after evening duty, I'll invite you then."

Shen Qing drank the remaining cool tea in one gulp, cupped his fists towards Dong Jing and said, "Thank you, Inspector Dong, for your hospitality. We'll talk later."

"Busy yourself, Inspector Shen."

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

Shen Qing's expression turned stern, he made a heavy gesture with his hands and then turned to leave.