Chapter 282: Gleaming Blades and Swords

Chapter 282: Blade and Sword Shadows

"Old Ghost, we did work together in Quan Shan Cheng after all—surely you can give me a little face?"

"It's not that I won't give you face, it's just that your subordinates are too arrogant. You know their petty tricks of taking bribes to shield those Japanese companies, and we Imperial Guards have turned a blind eye too. After all, the smuggled goods are trivial contraband, at most squeezing a few lustful men and women—it's not a big deal. But do you know what the Wasteland Group smuggled this time?!"

"Is it really firearms in the end, or just a matter of your word?"

"You overestimate me, Ghost King Da. I'm just a low-ranking officer in the Hutuo Office, not some high-ranking official in the Beizhen Prefecture. If my words carried that much weight, I wouldn't have been stuck in this godforsaken place for so long. Besides, to be honest, the Three Judicial Offices are watching us now—I can't afford to make mistakes at this time."

"Today is the last day of the eleventh year of Jiaqi. When the sun rises, I must return to the imperial homeland to report my duties. Who knows when we'll meet again after this parting—I really don't want to leave Xiao Qin behind at this time."

"It's precisely because the court gave you a chance to retire gracefully that I advise you not to act foolishly. I've already given your Consolation Office enough face—otherwise, do you think you could leave so peacefully?"

"Truly impartial and incorruptible?"

"With good intentions but limited power."

"You only caught a small branch this time—this evidence won't topple the entire Wasteland Group. Old Ghost, you're a veteran of the bureaucracy; surely you know what it means to move one thread and shake the whole body!"

"I'm no veteran, just a rough man who wields guns and sticks, best at doing foolish things like Yu Gong moving mountains. If I can't destroy the Wasteland Group this time, I'll save my strength for the next opportunity. Little by little, it'll accumulate—water will eventually wear away the stone."

"What benefit would you gain from this? Meritorious service points from the Military Commission? Or your meager salary?"

"Why must there be a benefit? Since the day I put on the flying fish robes, I've walked on thin ice, just to have the confidence to speak without ceremony, judging only right from wrong."

"This world isn't black or white, Ghost King Da. If you want to be a lone wolf, you'll never reach the end on this frozen lake stretching for thousands of miles!"

"Then let's take it one step at a time."

"Ghost King Da, do you think you can be a hero?"

"Of course not—I'm just an ordinary Imperial Guard."

"Don't think that being a red-clad favorite of the Three Judicial Offices gives you the right to act so arrogantly! I'm telling you, the blood of those legal codes is cold! Once Yanba Huang's death sinks into silence, they'll move to seize that portion of judicial authority from Li Jun. Then your Quan Shan Cheng Imperial Guard Hutuo Office will be implicated too!"

"Trying to turn against me? Daring to scare me? Here, this is the confession and signature from your subordinate Qin Du Shi. Shall we take this to the Punishment Realm and settle it in court? If you dare say a single 'yes,' I'll switch links immediately!"

"You're ruthless!"

Pffft.

Black neural fiber bundles detached from Gui Wang Da's skull, retracting back into the impermanence ledger ring on his hand.

"Giving face but not accepting it—if it weren't for the fact that you've never stabbed me in the back, I would have long since arranged for your meritorious service points. A corrupt official getting the better of the deal and acting smug—I spit on that!"

Gui Wang Da spat fiercely, then grabbed the wine in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned his throat, flushing his face crimson.

Dressed in ordinary bright clothes, Gui Wang Da looked utterly relaxed, exhaling a refreshing breath of wine.

This was a legitimate tavern filled with the warmth of everyday life, the air thick with the rich aroma of wine and the scent of food roasted over charcoal.

In the corner, a man with white hair tied at the nape of his neck, Xie Bi An, gently plucked his lute and sang a ballad from his homeland in Liaodong. His voice was magnetic and deep, his handsome face bearing a faint melancholy, his eyes filled with an inexplicable, melancholic charm.

"The plum blossoms in the third ninth month have dyed the entire mountain red, the withered branches casting shadows under the moon's reflection as people sleep. The young man drives his carriage, gripping a long whip, his face flushed red by the river wind."

The lingering single boss lady knelt before him, though she hadn't drunk a drop of wine, she was already drunk and unaware of her surroundings. Her eyes, fixed on Xie Bi An, were filled with tender affection, her body wrapped in strands of emotion like silk being unraveled.

"The sound of gongs and drums fills the first month, firecrackers burst and scatter red petals on the ground. Every household lights lanterns, and it's another year of good harvest."

Just as the song reached its climax, the emotions Xie Bi An had been holding back in his performance were about to burst forth, engulfing the exotic and fruitful boss lady.

At this critical moment, an out-of-place hoarse voice rang out.

"Little Bai, what are you brooding about on such a joyous day? How about a cheerful song?!"

Xie Bi An couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Old Ghost, you don't understand—this is romance!"

He hated coming to the tavern with Gui Wang Da and Fan Wujiu.

One was completely devoid of romance, the other only knew how to beat it down.

They didn't know that the most beautiful thing in this world was that moment before something began, when it was neither full nor empty, when words were too shy to speak and the atmosphere was charged with unspoken tension.

"Romantic? You're spreading it everywhere—don't you fear making me sick?"

Xie Bi An said irritably, "I didn't even invite you—you insisted on following along!"

Gui Wang Da grumbled, "What's the big deal? Finally someone to keep an eye on me, and I can't even relax a little?"

"Exactly, exactly, exactly—only your little Li is reliable. As for me and Fan Wujiu, we know we're just causing you trouble."

"Gentlemen, don't be so sour. Think carefully about the boss lady's chest—if it weren't for Li Jun, would you dare let Fan Wujiu go out alone while you stay here peacefully drinking?"

Xie Bi An was stunned for a moment. "That's true."

"That's settled then—our good days have finally come."

Xie Bi An looked at Gui Wang Da, unable to recall when he had last seen him smile so happily.

"Shall we sing an old song?"

Gui Wang Da's eyes sparkled. "The one from my hometown?"

"Of course!"

Xie Bi An grinned, ignoring the regretful gaze of the boss lady, and with a flick of his fingers, the clear, ringing notes of the lute suddenly filled the air.

"In the Japanese district, we bask and play under the sun! The Imperial Guards control the area! Prosthetic chips and brain machines are all dominant, the ultimate realm of the Tuo Di!"

"In terms of background, I'm the strongest, in terms of friends, I never back down!"

Gui Wang Da leaped up from his seat, wrapping his arms around Xie Bi An's shoulders.

The two sang in unison, their voices like wailing ghosts and howling wolves.

"Blade and sword shadows, let me show my prowess as a Hutuo. With a single heart devoted to my family's honor, even if I die, I won't be afraid!"

West suburbs of Quan Shan Cheng, Imperial Guard Hutuo Office.

It was a three-story low building, with towering courtyard walls, no signs at the entrance, and no visible posts or sentries.

However, among those in Quan Shan Cheng who had some reputation, a saying circulated: "Tonight's summons to the west suburbs, tomorrow morning the corpse floats in the river."

First floor of the Hutuo Office.

Fan Wujiu handed a box he was carrying to his subordinate, then took a handkerchief from the front desk clerk, wiping the rain from his face as he spoke to Li Jun, "Brother Jun, how do we divide the meritorious service points this time?"

"Meritorious service points? What's that?"

"You don't know? Brother Jun, you're an old Imperial Guard too—how could you not know about this?"

Fan Wujiu looked at Li Jun's puzzled face, his heart aching with pity. "Back home, the Hutuo Office handles things so improperly that even the subordinates don't know what meritorious service points are."

Slap.

At that moment, Ma Wang Ye, who had followed him in, slapped Fan Wujiu on the back. "You little tiger, didn't you check your Brother Jun's resume in the document room?"

Fan Wujiu glanced at Li Jun, whose expression was slightly embarrassed, scratched his head, and resorted to his ultimate trick.

"I can't read."