Chapter 43: I don

Xu hour.

Shen Qing took several scholars and returned to Luo River City first.

White Cherry Mountain Villa was no longer an issue; two of its three leaders had been killed by Shen Qing, one was still in prison, and the underlings—nearly two hundred Japanese pirates—had been slain by Shen Qing.

There might still be a few Japanese pirates returning later, but that's no problem either.

By then they would face a siege by over a hundred Embroidered Uniform Guard.

That was also quite a desperate situation.

Shen Qing stuffed the diary and the Chief Constable's token into the scholars' bosom.

"Take the diary to the Pacification Office."

"Tell them everything, then return to the Chief Constable's Office; I'll take you out for a meal."

After a day of running back and forth, Shen Qing was so hungry his chest stuck to his back.

But right now, Shen Qing urgently needed to return to the Chief Constable's Office to wash off; he was covered in blood from this battle.

Although autumn had begun, Yongning Prefecture, being the southern territory of the Wu Dynasty, was still sweltering, especially after a light rain just fell.

Shen Qing felt he was about to stink all over.

Upon returning to the Chief Constable's Office, Shen Qing didn't go to see the prisoners or check the interrogation results; he directly ordered water heated and took a nice hot bath.

After strenuous exercise, soaking in a bath is always so relaxing, as if all fatigue had been dispelled.

Footsteps sounded outside the door; a colonel lightly knocked.

"Sir, are you resting?"

"Speak."

"The Minister of Agriculture from the Divine Agriculture Institute, Sir Zhang, has come to see you."

"Alright, I got it. First have Minister Zhang wait in the main hall; I'll be there shortly."

"Did I just return to the Chief Constable's Office in the time it takes to finish a cup of tea? How did I get the news so quickly?"

"It seems these Ministers of Agriculture truly care for the people; after I left, Zhang Shoutian must have been standing guard outside the Chief Constable's Office, waiting for my return."

Shen Qing quickly washed up, changed into his clothes, and headed to the main hall.

As soon as he entered, Zhang Shoutian hurried over to Shen Qing, grabbed his arm, eyes full of hope.

"Chief Constable Sir, the original seeds! Have the original seeds been found?"

Shen Qing nodded: "Rest assured, I've burned all the original seeds, and together with the two hundred Japanese pirates guarding them, I've slaughtered them; the Japanese pirates won't harm the populace for a short time."

Zhang Shoutian let out a breath of relief: "That's good, that's good."

Jiao Yu rushed forward, supporting Zhang Shoutian: "Master, look, I told you—Sir Shen will definitely find the original seeds."

"Doing this is quite impolite."

Shen Qing waved his hand, took out a cloth bundle from his bosom: "No problem. By the way, when I burned the original seeds I also grabbed a handful; you can see if it's useful—if not, I'll burn it together."

Zhang Shoutian, who had just sat down, stood up again, staring fixedly at the bundle; Shen Qing reached out, and Zhang Shoutian immediately snatched the bundle and strode out of the Chief Constable's Office without a greeting, still muttering.

"We need to quickly decipher this batch of original seeds..."

Jiao Yu also hurriedly said: "Sir Shen, please don't blame me; the original seeds have caused great trouble—if we can decipher this batch, we can also uncover the method the Japanese pirates used to cultivate these seeds."

"It's fine, Jiao Yu; I still have something to order you."

"Please speak, Sir."

"Although the Japanese pirates have been exterminated and the original seeds destroyed, I fear some seeds may still slip into the populace; you need to work out some identification methods and then send people to inspect places like Luo River City."

"Do you have enough manpower?"

Jiao Yu nodded silently—no wonder as the Chief Constable of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his considerations are thorough.

"Reporting, Sir: the Divine Agriculture Institute's Ningzhou detachment, plus me and my master, totals twelve people."

Shen Qing shook his head: "Not enough; whether twelve people can finish checking Luo River City in a few days is a question, and after the autumn harvest festival farmers will be sowing."

"Following procedure would take too long; take my Chief Constable's token, go directly to the local offices and have them cooperate—if anyone refuses or does shoddy work, you just cut them down; if you can't, come find me and I'll do it."

Jiao Yu wiped sweat from his forehead, thinking, "Isn't this too brutal? As a farmer, I've never seen such a scene."

"Sir, those clerks have no basic knowledge at all; how could they tell?" Jiao Yu pondered and said.

"Or let my junior nephew's sect help; their sect has the largest medicinal garden in Ningzhou, and many disciples know pharmacology."

"Hey, junior nephew, why are you standing so far away? Come over quickly."

Only then did Shen Qing notice Su Jiudie of the Red Cloud Sect standing far away in the corner of the room.

Su Jiudie saw Shen Qing looking over, hurriedly bowed and said: "I, Su Jiudie, pay my respects to my benefactor."

Shen Qing frowned, "Red Cloud Sect? Having passed the Two Villages of Six Sword Mountain Villa and White Cherry Mountain Villa, two rebel sects, Shen Qing distrusts sects intensely."

His innate six senses activated, beginning to probe Su Jiudie.

But soon, Shen Qing's furrowed brow relaxed, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He felt not even a trace of malice from Su Jiudie, only pure, fervent gratitude and admiration.

Su Jiudie lifted her head, her cheeks flushed.

Jiao Yu looked at Su Jiudie with some puzzlement, "Why is your face as red as a teapot?"

Shen Qing looked at Jiao Yu: "Your junior nephew?"

Jiao Yu nodded: "Yes, Su Jiudie's father is also a disciple of my master; by seniority, she counts as my junior nephew."

Shen Qing waved his hand: "Alright, I'll leave this to you."

At that moment, the scholar ran in from outside, whispering to Shen Qing: "Boss, the diary has been delivered to the Pacification Office; they've already sent pigeon post to notify everywhere."

"Also, just now I met the shopkeeper of the Luo River Treasure Pavilion on the road; he said the Mysterious Jade Blue Lotus has been found and will be delivered to the Chief Constable's Office within two days."

The Mysterious Jade Blue Lotus is a treasure that can accelerate cultivation to the fifth layer of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill; it seems my strength will increase again.

Shen Qing nodded, rubbed his stomach: "Well done. Let's change clothes and go eat."

Got it!

Shen Qing turned their head, looking at Jiao Yu and Su Jiu Die: "What about you? Want to come together?"

Jiao Yu clasped their hands: "I, the humble one, won't go; the soybean matter is important."

Su Jiu Die looked at Shen Qing, then at Jiao Yu.

"I'll go with my martial uncle."

Shen Qing didn't say more; anyway, we've only met once or twice, at most we just get along okay, not yet friends, so Shen Qing was just being polite—if you come, add a pair of chopsticks; if not, no problem.

"Benefactor, wait a moment." Su Jiu Die ran toward Shen Qing.

"Benefactor, a few days ago you saved my life and that of my senior martial brother; I've always wanted to visit to thank you, but I couldn't think of what gift to prepare—giving money is too cliché, giving precious medicines, the precious medicines I can find are hardly worthy of your discernment."

"After thinking it over, I've decided to give this to you, sir."

Su Jiu Die took out a red token engraved with cloud patterns from her bosom.

"This is the sect leader's token of our Red Cloud Sect; holding this token allows one to command the disciples of the Red Cloud Sect!"

Shen Qing took the token and glanced at it twice.

"This is a sect leader's token; its meaning is completely different."

Shen Qing smiled: "Are you sure?"

Su Jiu Die's face flushed as she nodded: "Yes! Please, benefactor, definitely accept it!"

Shen Qing put the token away: "Alright, I've taken it."

Having said that, Shen Qing walked out of the courtyard.

Jiao Tian then stepped forward: "Martial nephew, your move is quite bold; have you thought it through?"

Su Jiu Die watched Shen Qing's receding back disappear, the flush on her face slowly fading: "I've thought it through."

"In recent years, some sects in the jianghu have been too lawless."

"Like the Black Water Gang, such cancers are increasing; now even the White Cherry Mountain Manor incident has occurred, I always feel the court is about to act against the jianghu."

"Rather than wait for death, it's better to surrender early; moreover, there's such a good opportunity."

"Especially since Lord Shen is still so kind."

"That last sentence is probably what you really think," Jiao Tian muttered to themselves, then smiled and looked at Su Jiu Die.

"It's good that you've thought it through; I thought you were acting on emotion."

Su Jiu Die turned back: "Martial Uncle Jiao, what do you mean by 'acting on emotion'?"

Jiao Tian gave a half-smile: "I see you, you've taken a liking to Lord Shen, your heart is fluttering, right?"

Su Jiu Die's face instantly turned red; this time it was especially intense, and she lightly stomped her foot.

"Oh dear, I don't, I don't, I don't."

"Hmph, no, no."