[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday":3,"chapter-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-129":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Imperial Hound on an Eight-Hour Shift",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2225187,4113,"Chapter 129","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-129",129,"\u003Cp>In a dilapidated mountain temple, several people were huddled before a campfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were sharpening blades, some were regulating their breathing, and some were eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a short while, one of them spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Squad Leader, how far have we escaped by now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one sharpening his blade stopped what he was doing, looked up, observed the stars through a hole in the roof, and pondered for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Roughly three or four hundred miles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What, can't take it anymore?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That person smiled bitterly and said, \"You know as well as I do the Wu Gong of those Shaolin monks. Their realm isn't higher than their peers, but their foundation is too deep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I took a punch that day and injured my right shoulder. Hiding like this every day, I'm afraid I'll be left with a hidden injury.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the one sharpening the blade sighed as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think I don't want to settle down? It's just that this matter was too big; the Embroidered Uniform Guard will definitely come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Cult Leader having us scatter and flee was a plan to make the Embroidered Uniform Guard spread themselves too thin. Whoever gets caught by them is a discarded pawn, and we must not be that pawn. What else can we do but hide?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ruined temple fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of the wind, the sharpening of blades, and the crackling of burning wood ringing out from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another while, the one sharpening the blade let out another long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I really don't know where that Li Miao popped out from.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Left Envoy Lan, Right Envoy Yun, Protector Mao, Flag Master Zhou, our own Flag Master, and the hundreds of insect soldiers the cult had saved up—all died at his hands in a single night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we hadn't received news that he had gone to the Miao border, we wouldn't have dared to attack Shaolin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I only hope the Miao people can stall him for a while longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head and opened his mouth, as if he still wanted to say something more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped, his pupils suddenly constricted, and his fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingertips touched the blade's edge, cutting a wound; a wisp of fresh blood flowed down the blade onto the ground, seeping into the soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he was completely unaware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person beside him had been listening to him speak, but when the words suddenly cut off, he looked at him strangely and reached out to pat his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Squad Leader, what's wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this ruined temple, there was only the sound of their own breathing. Even the wind had stopped for a moment. In the dead of winter, there wasn't even the sound of insects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were on the run, so how could they not be alert to their surroundings? Yet there was clearly not a single sound nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at another person and found that they were also frozen in place, their lips trembling uncontrollably, their teeth clattering to make a \"de-de-de-de\" sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were clearly looking behind him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around abruptly, drawing his weapon from his waist at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He focused his gaze behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight flowed through the holes into the ruined temple, faintly illuminating a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that corner, a person stood with arms crossed, leaning against the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moonlight illuminated the lower half of his face, which held a trace of a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finished? Do you know anything else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Li—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words were finished, a headless torso collapsed with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed from the neck, splashing into the campfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sss—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The campfire was extinguished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It plunged into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent commotion suddenly erupted in the temple; the sounds of drawing blades, shouting, and screaming rang out all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three breaths later, it went quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no sound left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahahaha, let us drink this cup to the full!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a mountain stronghold, two men sat in the main hall; one was a burly man with his chest bared, the other looked like a scholar, and they were exchanging drinks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanging in the hall was a plaque inscribed with the four large characters: \"Gathering Righteousness for Hong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, your Wu Gong is truly brilliant! If it weren't for you today, we would have barely managed to take down that group of guards! That young lady was quite succulent!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With you in my stronghold, it's like a tiger gaining wings!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly man laughed boisterously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother is too kind; it was just a stroke of luck that I obtained a good set of Wu Gong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Big Brother is interested, I will copy a version for you tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar also said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Hahahaha, then I shall not decline!\" The burly man was overjoyed, and the last shred of hesitation in his heart dissipated completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, both host and guest were happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three rounds of drinks, both were somewhat tipsy and were about to leave the table to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then they heard a series of urgent sounds from outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chief! Second Chief! It's bad!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man scrambled in from outside, his face pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone, someone is attacking—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, the man's head exploded with a boom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headless body fell to the ground, twitched a few times, and then stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person stepped into the room, crossed over the corpse, and stood still in the middle of the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over the two of them and finally landed on the scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know how to hide, joining a bandit stronghold and even becoming the Second Chief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me everything you know about Ji Tianrui.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly man stood up abruptly, reaching for his blade, and cursed, \"Where did this savage come from, daring to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headless corpse fell, knocking over the wine table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wine and food splashed onto the scholar, but he didn't dare to make the slightest move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers trembled, his face turned white, and his teeth chattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Li, Lord Li...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Miao looked at him and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You brats of the Ming Cult all recognize me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll give you the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn to tell me everything you know. If you don't finish, or don't want to talk, I'll seal your acupoints and tie you behind my saddle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The next place I'm going is fifty miles away from here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifty miles is enough to drag you into a pile of minced meat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quanzhou Prefecture, the prefectural city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a room smelling of rouge and powder, the top courtesan was holding a pipa, playing and singing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is not that I love the dusty world~ as if misled by past karma~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flowers fall and bloom in their own time, always relying on the East Wind to rule~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was melodious, like weeping and complaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the song ended, she put down the pipa, moved her lotus feet, and walked to the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached out with her slender jade fingers to lift the wine pot and filled a cup, but instead of offering it to the guest, she brought it to her own lips and lightly bit the rim of the cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smear of crimson was left on the rim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was called \"tasting the cinnabar,\" a way for courtesans to feed wine to their beloved patrons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rouge of the courtesan was mixed with honey, carrying a hint of sweetness, giving the wine a unique flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bit her lip lightly and brought the cup of wine to the man's lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master, drink this cup, and then we shall rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, dressed as a wealthy young master, smiled and took the cup, but instead of drinking, he held the crimson mark to his lips, savored it for a while, and then drank it all in one gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master... you are bad...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top courtesan blushed, her eyes filled with love as she looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, let us go and rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man said with a smile and started to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the roof broke open, and tiles fell down together!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the flying dust, the man heard someone shout: \"Rui'er! Rui'er! What has happened to you!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealthy young master stood up, coughing, waving his long sleeves to clear the smoke and dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he froze for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because at this moment, standing in the room was a heroic-looking man. And his Rui'er was being held by the throat, her face flushed, struggling incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You! Let her go!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealthy young master drew the sword at his waist and shouted angrily at the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Miao tilted his head and glanced at him, then sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fool, you've slept with a man for over half a month and actually fallen in love.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, he turned his head to look at the top courtesan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are even better at hiding, killing the top courtesan of the brothel and disguising yourself to receive guests. You have such ideas; I'm almost reluctant to kill you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak, where is Ji Tianrui?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1554,"2026-06-17T21:41:15.265Z","2026-06-18T03:13:38.468Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","94e71cf3bd9e13d2ff6b2ee9a97bd663576729f04fec1e383f77582df0d83534","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-130","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-128",647,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-imperial-hound-on-an-eight-hour-shift-cover.jpg"]