Xuanqing Guard
Chapter 109: Face-to-Face Conversation
There are two Trial Hundred Households in the Li City Guard Station, each managing the six General Flag units below them. Wang Cheng is one of them, overseeing the Ding, Wu, and Ji General Banner Battalions, making him a true power holder in Li City.
However, since Shen Hao is the Black Banner Camp Commander and answers directly to Hundred Households Tang Qingyuan, he isn’t familiar with Wang Cheng, and they’ve barely interacted at all.
Returning from the dungeon, Shen Hao saw three people standing outside his Public Office from afar. Leading the group was Wang Cheng, the Trial Hundred Households of the Li City Guard Station. Behind Wang Cheng stood a man and a woman. The man was Wen Shiliu, whom Shen Hao had met before—the same one who’d stopped him earlier with an invitation to dinner.
As for the woman, she wasn’t tall, had fair skin, average but above-average looks, but an unusual presence. It was neither seductive nor frivolous; her aura was calm and imposing, making people wary just by her standing there.
In addition, a Black Banner Battalion Guard blocked the entrance, making it clear Wang Cheng had intended to barge in with his group, only to be stopped.
Shen Hao’s expression instantly soured.
"Well, Shen Zongqi, entering your Public Office is more difficult than getting into the Document Library!" Wang Cheng looked at Shen Hao with a faint, mocking smile, launching a jab at him right from the start.
"Heh, my Public Office is a classified area, unauthorized persons are not allowed in or out. Or does Hundred Households Wang let just anyone into your own Public Office?"
"Heh, Shen Zongqi, you dare talk to me this way?"
"Is there anything wrong with that? The General Flag role I hold isn’t under your jurisdiction, and our ranks are both Junior Sixth Grade. Are you going to teach me how to speak?"
"You—!"
"Enough, Hundred Households Wang, do you need something from me? If not, please leave. I’m busy and have no time for idle chatter." Shen Hao’s principle was: if you respect me a foot, I’ll give you a yard. The reverse also holds: if you barge into my Public Office without respect and talk with veiled sarcasm, how could I possibly treat you with kid gloves? Dream on.
Wang Cheng’s face turned livid with anger. He hadn’t expected Shen Hao to dare contradict him in public. Although their ranks were the same and there was no direct reporting line, Wang Cheng had seniority in Li City Guard Station. This punk Shen Hao had barely just been promoted—no respect for his elders at all, utterly insolent!
But before Wang Cheng could say more, the woman behind him spoke up.
"Shen Zongqi, is it?"
"Shen Hao greets Madam Wen." Shen Hao’s face showed no emotion as he cupped his hands toward the woman. Even Wen Shiliu, a Wen Family servant, respectfully stood behind her. Her status was clear—who else could she be but Qin Yurou, the Wen Family matron?
"Shen Zongqi is a man of great stature—just to meet you is nearly impossible. We had no choice but to ask Hundred Households Wang to lead us in and block your way. I hope Shen Zongqi won’t mind."
"Heh, well, since you’re here, won’t you come inside for a while?"
"Please."
"Please."
Shen Hao pushed the door and entered the Public Office, Qin Yurou following behind. As for Wang Cheng, Shen Hao simply ignored him.
Inside, there were two chairs; Shen Hao took one, Qin Yurou the other, while Wang Cheng’s lips twitched with irritation, cursing inwardly.
In the end, it was Qin Yurou who gave Wang Cheng an out: "Many thanks to Hundred Households Wang for bringing me in. Now I’d like to speak with Shen Zongqi alone, if you’d kindly excuse us."
"Heh, Madam Wen is too polite. I’ll leave you two to talk, and I’ll return later to escort you to the banquet."
"Many thanks, Hundred Households Wang."
Wang Cheng took the opportunity to withdraw, shooting Shen Hao a spiteful glare as he left—completely ignored by Shen Hao. In Shen Hao’s eyes, Wang Cheng was just a clueless fool trying to connect the Wen Family with the higher-ups; why bother with him?
Wen Shiliu didn’t come in either, while two Black Banner Battalion Guards outside kept a close watch on him.
Inside, only Shen Hao and Qin Yurou sat across the table from each other.
Shen Hao picked up the tea on the table—cold as it was, he still took a sip, but didn’t order any for Qin Yurou.
"Madam Wen, have you come for Wen Renhai?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"Heh, Shen Zongqi’s straightforwardness certainly lives up to the rumors. Yes, I am here for my son. I’m wondering if you could kindly release him?"
"Wen Renhai abducted someone in broad daylight, possessed contraband pills, and violently resisted a lawful arrest by the Xuanqing Guard. He’s been imprisoned in accordance with the law. Once the facts are clear, justice will naturally be served. We Xuanqing Guard are but pitiful men bound by law—your understanding is appreciated, Madam Wen."
"Shen Zongqi, let’s not beat around the bush. My son offended you because he was blind to your abilities, and I’m sure he’s suffered enough in your Black Banner Battalion’s dungeon over the last few days. Shouldn’t your anger be appeased by now? If you have any lingering grievances, just name them. The Wen Family will do our utmost to compensate you—be it Top-Grade Treasure Armor, Treasure Pills, or even Earth-level Cultivation Techniques, we can provide them."
Top-Grade Treasure Armor, Treasure Pills?!
Earth-level Cultivation Techniques?!
Though Shen Hao’s face didn’t change, his toes curled under the table. His heart pounded as if struck by a sledgehammer.
The bribe offered earlier by Chen Tianwen had only included a Middle-Grade Magical Artifact, Great Nourishing Pill, and Profound Level Technique. This was a tenfold increase if not more!
Is the Wen Family truly so wealthy? Honestly, Shen Hao was thoroughly shocked.
"Tsk tsk, Madam Wen, I come from humble beginnings. I couldn’t handle something like Top-Grade Treasure Armor even if you gave it to me. I can only accept your kindness in spirit. I’ll say it again—please do understand our position, and wait patiently. Once the case is sorted out, Wen Renhai will naturally receive fair treatment."
Qin Yurou fixed Shen Hao with her beautiful eyes, the intensity of her gaze like knives aiming for his heart.
Silence hung between them for a long time.
"Shen Zongqi, are you really not going to give my son a way out? There are hundreds in the Wen Family, with over a hundred cultivators. Even so, you won’t grant us this favor?"
"Xuanqing Guard holds the law as its guiding principle. Where duty lies, we favor neither power nor profit. The Wen Family’s favor is too heavy for me to bear. Please return to await the outcome, Madam Wen."
"Shen Zongqi... you’re so bold only because you’re riding the gust set off by Pang Ban. But wind always passes, while the Wen Family is like a tree—large, deeply rooted, unfazed by the storm. When the wind fades, the tree will remain. Will you not consider your own fate then? Don’t be like the dust that dirties the leaves for a moment, only to fall back into the dirt in the end."
"Heh, Madam Wen, my fate isn’t yours to decide. But as for Wen Renhai’s fate, I do keep my word. By the way, Wen Renhai hasn’t been eating lately—any idea why?"
"You!"
"Please leave, Madam Wen!"
"Fine! Fine! Fine!" Qin Yurou took a deep breath, her face full of evil qi, and turned to leave Shen Hao’s Public Office.
Once Qin Yurou left, Shen Hao asked for a new pot of hot tea, sat down, and frowned in deep thought: By rights, Qin Yurou shouldn’t have come rushing to Li City Guard Station in such a hurry. He’d already declined the Wen Family’s invitation and Chen Tianwen’s message—his meaning was clear enough. Qin Yurou’s visit seemed entirely unnecessary.
Or perhaps, Shen Hao felt that Qin Yurou seemed quite anxious—so anxious she was starting to lose her composure. What had made her so desperate?