Xuanqing Guard

Since June, the soldiers at Tanshi and Hai Xia had already gotten used to the Xuanqing Guard Inspector’s constant harassment; sometimes people even saw these inspector lunatics running around arresting folks in the middle of the night.

It wasn’t quite a state of panic yet, but everyone felt uneasy. Who took these invisible people seriously before? Calling them "Black Skin" left and right, some bold ones even shouted it to their faces. But nowadays? If you don’t want trouble, you avoid the Xuanqing Guard.

So when a bunch of Xuanqing Guards gathered at the garrison’s central parade ground at night, the patrolling soldiers didn’t bother stomping their feet, just stopped by to ask a couple of questions and left.

"Mission? What kind of bullshit mission in the middle of the night!"

The patrolling soldiers muttered curses under their breath as they walked off. They had no idea that while they thought the Xuanqing Guard Inspectors were nuts for gathering so late, those Inspectors were just as confused themselves. They’d just been informed at the last minute to cooperate with a secret assignment.

What secret mission? Not a single detail—those secret agents only brought an order and told them to wait at the parade ground at midnight, without any explanation.

Speaking of those secret agents, the Inspectors were quite impressed. Some of them had worked in Tanshi and Hai Xia for five or six years, yet had no clue that there were hidden agents amongst the Xuanqing Guard stationed here. Now these agents had come forward—something big was probably coming.

"They’re coming!"

At mid-3 a.m., the sound of footsteps appeared in the distance, moving closer. The Inspectors, who’d waited so long on the parade ground, perked up and looked out, quickly seeing a group approach—most dressed in black robes, headed by a Flag Officer.

Besides the Xuanqing Guard, oddly enough, there was also a garrison Captain and a Captain. The Captain was someone many recognized: Xie Kai, a pretty influential figure at Tanshi. Was he involved in the mission too?

"Are you Hundred Households Zhang in person?" Chen Tianwen called out from afar, cupping his hands in greeting to his colleague across the parade ground, in a friendly manner. He’d already known a colleague would be waiting here.

"Yes, I am Tanshi Inspector Hundred Households Zhang Ye. And you are?"

"Here’s my waist token and the authorization document from the Commander’s Office, Hundred Households Zhang, please take a look." Chen Tianwen smiled as he handed over his credentials, chatting a bit with Xie Kai beside him.

The mood on their way over was pretty good; though Xie Kai still didn’t know why the Xuanqing Guard needed him, with their attitude it didn’t seem like anything life-threatening. Look, even Chen Hao was here for the same thing.

If it were something serious, would the Xuanqing Guard be cracking jokes with you?

So even though Xie Kai was nervous, he wasn’t terrified. He figured it was probably about investigating military supplies, just like the Inspector’s recent internal clean-up campaign.

Xie Kai thought if it really was about military supplies, he didn’t need to worry too much. At worst, he was just a small fish—the actual embezzling was done by those above him. He just grabbed some soup as an accessory; the crime wouldn’t be too big. And he’d already pocketed enough—if things blew up, he’d pull strings to get himself out of the military, and if that didn’t work, go home and be a wealthy landowner. He was sick of these bland, meatless days anyway.

Now seeing the Xuanqing Guard Black Banner Battalion show up at the parade ground to meet with Inspectors, Xie Kai was even more convinced of his guess.

After checking Chen Tianwen’s credentials, this Hundred Households Zhang was still puzzled, since the document clearly stated this was a top-secret mission, but the specifics only said: Follow orders. What the hell?

Puzzled but keeping a straight face, after all, "top-secret" was no joke. After inspecting, he quickly returned the document.

"General Flag Chen, is there anything you need us to assist with?"

"Haha, yes, yes, I’ll trouble you all to prepare an interrogation room—just the regular ones Xuanqing Guard sets up for questioning, you have those here, right?"

Hearing Chen Tianwen’s request, Zhang Ye was momentarily surprised, then laughed, "Of course, General Flag Chen, please follow me."

"Good, then let’s hurry. This is urgent, and once I’m done here, Captain Xie can head back. Sorry for the disturbance so late."

He said this without hiding it from Xie Kai, who just smiled and said no problem.

The atmosphere was amicable. Even Chen Hao, who’d been called over, relaxed completely. From what he could see, the Xuanqing Guard had been polite throughout; didn’t look like anything major. But deep down, Chen Hao still felt odd—if it were just a trivial matter, why use a top-secret transmission?

The whole group followed Zhang Ye, leaving the parade ground, turning a corner, and finally arriving at a cluster of residential compounds.

"General Flag Chen, this is the Inspector’s residence at Tanshi. That row of five rooms over there are all interrogation rooms—regular Xuanqing Guard setups. What do you think?"

"Good. Now we’re here, let’s get to work." Chen Tianwen’s expression didn’t show much; he seemed to be smiling and chatting with Zhang Ye, but what he said left Zhang Ye completely bewildered.

"What?"

"Bang!"

"What are you doing?!"

Just as Chen Tianwen finished speaking, the Black Banner Battalion soldiers who came in together immediately understood their General Flag’s orders. Without warning, a Soul-Calming Talisman, a Spirit-Dispersing Talisman, and a Body Lock Talisman smashed toward Xie Kai from multiple angles.

Not done yet. Xie Kai had just started to shout in terror when he was gagged with iron walnuts, then locked all over by a Small Banner Officer who pulled out a board lock from his storage bag.

The situation flipped so fast—in the blink of an eye, the air of camaraderie shifted to ruthless betrayal.

Chen Tianwen glanced at Xie Kai, whose eyes looked like they might burst into flame, then turned to the still-dazed Zhang Ye and smiled, "Lord Zhang, don’t take offense. There are too many spies in the military ranks; we had to play nice outside. Now that we’re on our own turf, the formalities can be skipped. Also, Lord Zhang, please continue to cooperate with our mission."

"Ah? Understood! Please instruct me, Lord Chen." Even though the other’s rank was lower, Zhang Ye was still rattled by Chen Tianwen’s smiling predator act.

"My men need a fully equipped interrogation room, and a controlled environment with no outsiders interfering. Also, Hundred Households Zhang, I need tight security. During our mission, unless you see this order from the Commander’s Office signed by Lord Pang Ban, you must not let anyone in to disrupt our work, and you must not disclose our actions to anyone outside.

If your leaks cause any problems for our mission, your heads will not be spared. Lord Zhang, I hope you do not take this lightly."