Xuanqing Guard

"You can’t even recognize the new Summoning Talisman?! This..." Shen Hao didn’t even know what to say. Should he call this guy incompetent or just hopeless?

"But you don’t need to be too angry. Even though the person’s dead, and the head’s burned so we can’t track them by appearance, the body’s still there. We found two crossing scars on this guy’s chest—looks like two separate chops. One’s really old, probably from ten years ago, and one’s a bit newer, left three years ago. If we put some effort into this clue, we might be able to find who he was."

Tang Qingyuan’s explanation didn’t make Shen Hao look any happier. He shook his head and said, "Scars are so common. Outsiders might not remember clearly, and official records are never this thorough. If you’re lucky, you get notes for serious injuries, but that’s it.

And starting from clues like this would be way too slow, not to mention it makes it more likely the other side will catch on. In my opinion, we should just let it go. This is as far as the case will go."

"But..."

Shen Hao waved his hand and interrupted, "What did Lord Kuang say?"

"Lord Kuang said to suppress it for now, and wait for a reply from the Governor’s Office above." When talking about Kuang Shengyuan, Tang Qingyuan couldn’t hide his displeasure. What was supposed to be a big merit now wouldn’t even be considered half a win, and if they managed not to get blamed, that’d be lucky. Just thinking about it made his heart ache.

"Lord Tang, my advice is that you stop taking any action and wait for news. If something really bad happens, you can worry about it then. Don’t you think?"

"Alright, you’re always right about these things. But I’ll still keep an eye on it, and if I hear anything, you’ll be the first to know."

"Mm."

They chatted a few more minutes. Mostly it was Tang Qingyuan half-jokingly complaining about Kuang Shengyuan’s bad command, and Shen Hao just nodding occasionally.

After Tang Qingyuan left, Shen Hao couldn’t help but sigh—time really is a knife, always carving people into something else.

The old Tang Qingyuan from Li City and the Tang Qingyuan now—it’s like they’re two different people. One was dignified and forceful, decisive. The other is hesitant and has lost his pride, only able to vent with sarcastic comments.

This kind of change in spirit—who can really say why?

But speaking of the case, a dead man, even if they’ve got scars to trace, can they actually find out the truth? Shen Hao had doubts. Before, when they had a face, maybe there was a chance. Now, the chances are next to zero. After all, this guy’s obviously a Death Warrior, which means little outside contact, no known appearance. Just relying on scars on the body... Shen Hao could only shake his head in private.

Still, Tang Qingyuan coming to deliver news was another wake-up call for him. First, there was Prince Shou Yang Lin, then Prince Ling Yang Shu, and now there’s a royal in the shadows trying to take his life. Looks like even a little Small Hundred Households like him has gotten mixed up in this muddy water.

After Tang Qingyuan left, Shen Hao didn’t stay in the Public Office. He told Doorman Liu a word and left the Garrison to take a carriage home.

Maybe it had been a long time since he got back so early. His family wasn’t prepared, and greeting him wasn’t the usual Hu Tian but rather Xiaoma.

"Where’s Old Hu?"

"Housekeeper Hu is over at the accounting room talking business. Master Shen, you got back early today—I’ll go call Xia Nu and the others to come serve you." Xiaoma had gotten a lot chubbier these days; when he laughed, his eyes turned into two slits.

"No rush. You said Hu Tian is talking business in the accounting room? With whom?"

"The guards. Oh, right, so yesterday Wang Xiaoqi helped find three cultivators and gave Housekeeper Hu a heads up. They came over today."

"Three? They’re in the accounting room?"

"Yes, Master Shen. Do you want to go take a look?"

"Let’s go take a look. Oh, right—you don’t need to follow. Go tell Li Erfu to prepare something good for dinner." Shen Hao walked a few steps and then told Xiaoma to handle dinner. He headed toward the accounting room with his hands behind his back.

He’d just arrived at the door when it opened from inside, and out came Hu Tian with two men and a woman.

"Master Shen, you’re back?" Hu Tian greeted him with a smile, then stood beside him to introduce, "Master Shen, these three are guards introduced by Wang Xiaoqi. He said they’re tough hands. I just discussed their terms with them—they seem decent. Want to take a look?"

Shen Hao didn’t care about the money, and he trusted Hu Tian to manage things well. Besides, he figured Wang Jian must have checked their backgrounds—there shouldn’t be any problems. The only thing he really cared about was their cultivation.

He released his Perception as soon as the three walked out. As expected, their cultivation levels weren’t high.

The two men were only Qi Refining Realm Third Layer, and the woman was at Qi Refining Realm Second Layer—bottom-of-the-barrel even among loose cultivators. But that’s reality. Who’s willing to lower themselves to guard duty at a mere Hundred Households Official’s Mansion? He’d been to Tang Qingyuan’s place—his best guard was only Qi Refining Realm Fourth Layer.

While Shen Hao looked the three over, the three were checking Shen Hao out as well. Compared to Shen Hao’s scrutiny, the three of them felt nervous as hell. After all, right before them stood the famous "Evil Star" of Fengri City—a big shot who killed without blinking. And now, at close range, they could feel how high his cultivation was, with a pressure so strong their legs nearly gave out.

After giving their names, the three briefly told Shen Hao about their backgrounds and pledged loyalty. Off to the side, Hu Tian also shared the pay and terms they’d agreed upon.

"Alright, then. Head home and prepare today. You’ll start your duties tomorrow—no problem, right?"

Even if there were problems, none dared say otherwise, all bowing and agreeing quickly.

The two male guards would be doing errands with Hu Tian and the others—more hands made things easier. The remaining female guard was meant for Xia Nu and her group. Wang Jian always handled things as thoroughly as possible.

Leaving the accounting room and returning to the backyard, Shen Hao saw Xia Nu leading two young girls carrying water and towels, ready to serve him.

"Master, you’re home!"

"Mm." Shen Hao, out of habit, walked over, raised his hands, and Xia Nu leaned in to help him untie his belt and remove his outer clothes, while the two young girls took the ornaments and Yanji Saber from him.

Whenever they got close, Shen Hao always liked to nibble Xia Nu’s pointy ears—it was his wicked little habit now, always making Xia Nu blush bright red.

After changing clothes and washing his face, he felt much refreshed.

"The house guards will arrive tomorrow. One of them’s specifically for you all. If you go out in the future, take her with you."

"Huh? I don’t need a guard, I..." Xia Nu stammered, as she always did when turning down Shen Hao’s requests.

Shen Hao tweaked Xia Nu’s ear and laughed, "A female guard."

"It’s a woman too? Then it’s fine." Smiling again, Xia Nu didn’t mind her ear being pinched at all—it didn’t really hurt anyway.

Shen Hao thought to himself: Even a silly slave isn’t silly all the time. Knows to avoid suspicion, huh. Tsk tsk.