Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Fishing on the River

Regarding his own suspicions, Shen Hao, although anxious, still felt better than he had at first when he feared the worst possible outcome.

If the Red-eyed Wolf Race had taken the initiative to tear off their own disguise in order to "borrow power," it meant that the Barbarian Race still had some way to go before being fully prepared. On the Jingjiu Dynasty’s side, they weren’t trailing too far behind yet.

In truth, when it came to starting the war, the Jingjiu Dynasty would undoubtedly respond faster—even the difference between the two would be like cloud and mud. The Barbarian Race was biding its time, rising from the ruins in secret, while the Jingjiu Dynasty had never relaxed for forty years. Even now, the area around Beach Stone was strictly controlled by the military, with the Southern Border Army always ready and on guard.

The "falling behind" Shen Hao referred to wasn’t about war potential, but about war awareness.

The earlier the preparations, the more room there would be to respond—especially now, when the Ministry of War still posed a tremendous risk, making Shen Hao feel even more urgency.

Early in the morning, after handling the daily affairs Wang Yiming had delivered in the Public Office, Shen Hao got up and left the Thousand Households Station—without bringing any guards, and even leaving through the back door.

He quickly changed his clothes in an alley by the back door, put on the standard black gauze conical hat, and then headed for the Teleportation Array.

"Where to?"

"Yu City."

"Pay on that side, then take your token and wait. When it’s time, they’ll call the number on your token."

The Teleportation Array was as crowded as ever, with long lines at every entrance and exit. Shen Hao usually took the special route, and rarely queued among ordinary people as he did now.

The Teleportation Array’s cost wasn’t cheap, but for the distance it covered, the value was still quite high. Even ordinary people could grit their teeth and manage it. Of course, if the distance wasn’t too far, most people still chose carriages.

Each time Shen Hao entered the Teleportation Array, he would curiously examine it in detail. Beyond marveling at the Array’s magic, he always admired the power of Array Masters. They could actually create such a gigantic, long-range teleportation thing. This was practically the Jingjiu Dynasty’s core bond connecting such vast territory.

However, Shen Hao had once asked many Array Masters in the garrison about the city’s Teleportation Array, such as how it worked, how energy consumption was balanced, and so on. Oddly, he had never received a definite answer—mostly vague replies, or simply, "The Teleportation Array’s structure and principles are classified secrets, above our clearance."

Shen Hao understood that the Teleportation Array was classified, but the Array Masters in the Thousand Households Station were all capable people—they couldn’t possibly be unable to explain even the basic principles, right?

Either those Array Masters were brushing him off, or they really knew nothing about the Teleportation Array.

After waiting for about half an hour, it was finally Shen Hao’s turn with his token. Then, together with a dozen others headed for Yu City, he entered the teleportation channel. After a burst of dazzling, swirling colors, they emerged—already within the boundaries of Yu City.

He found a carriage and horse shop, rented a horse, led it out of the city, then rode southwest along a small shortcut. After close to another half hour, he saw the Bai River. The air was thick with water vapor and river wind.

Shen Hao left the shortcut on horseback and continued through the wild fields toward the riverbank. Upon nearing the bank, he trotted along it, and before long, saw a small black-canopied boat moored by the shore. A little apricot-yellow xiaoqi flag stuck up from it.

Upon seeing the boat, Shen Hao swung off his horse, tied the reins to a tree by the river, pushed off with his foot, leapt onto the water, tapped the surface lightly, and jumped onto the boat.

"Hehe, Lord Shen, you’re here quickly enough."

As soon as he boarded, a man walked out from the boat’s cabin. A square face, looking over forty, with a burn scar on his cheek, small eyes but a bright, piercing gaze.

"Deputy General Wu, it’s been a long time. How have you been?"

"Hahaha, thanks for your concern, Lord Shen. All’s well—in fact, you seem to be getting more and more impressive these days."

The man who stepped out of the cabin was none other than Wu Kai, the Deputy General stationed at Hai Xia, Southern Border Army.

Wu Kai exchanged courtesies with Shen Hao as he walked to the boat’s edge, picked up the long pole, thrust it hard into the river, and at once pushed the boat out toward midstream. With just a few strokes, they were far from shore. He then set down the pole, retrieved two small stools and two fishing kits from the cabin.

"Fishing?"

"Sure."

Actually, Shen Hao didn’t much like fishing—mainly because he couldn’t quiet his mind. If he sat too long, he would either unconsciously start meditating with his eyes closed or simply fall asleep.

But this time, fishing was just a way to kill time. Meeting Wu Kai was the real purpose.

Previously, Shen Hao had planned to send Zhang Qian and Gan Lin as his spokesmen to introduce him to Wu Kai, and then bring Wu Kai into his scheme. But later, Jiang Cheng volunteered to handle it, saying he would sound out Wu Kai in advance. This saved Shen Hao a lot of trouble.

Now, meeting with Wu Kai in Yu City made their intentions clear, and they could speak frankly.

Still, Shen Hao kept Jiang Cheng’s appraisal of Wu Kai in mind—while secretly wary, he also considered how to get a hold over the man.

He baited the hook, then cast the line into the water. The two sat in the stern of the boat.

In winter, the river wind was big and cold. Fortunately, both of them had strong cultivation, so they didn’t end up chilled to the bone.

"The other day when Lord Jiang came to question me, I was really startled. He’s my old superior, and to be honest, back when he was in the military I was scared of him. Hahaha, really—Lord Jiang was famous for his strictness back then. If anything was wrong, there’d be a caning, and I took one myself—spent three days prone in bed before I could walk again. Zhang Qian and Gan Lin were beaten the most. I hear you’re all pretty close?"

"Yes, Brother Zhang Qian and Brother Gan Lin have always taken good care of me. We’re on very good terms."

"Haha, Lord Shen, you do know how to speak. But it’s true Zhang Qian and Gan Lin helped you a lot. Last time, when they came to me to ask about the whereabouts of three strangers, that was on your behalf, right? Honestly, I wasn’t originally thinking about you, but when Lord Jiang later inquired, I connected the dots.

Speaking of which, the Xuanqing Guard’s reach really is long."

Shen Hao’s smile didn’t change, his eyes still fixed on the river’s bobbing float. But in his heart, he felt the heavy posture in Wu Kai’s words—a stance of wanting to seize the initiative in conversation.

"The Xuanqing Guard are His Majesty’s personal guard, tasked to oversee the whole world. From corrupt spirits and evil cultivators down to murders and bribery, the Xuanqing Guard have authority to intervene. Aren’t there Xuanqing Guard Inspectors in the military as well?"

"Xuanqing Guard Inspectors in the military? They’re just nominal, don’t touch any real military matters. Compared to the Military Supervisors, they’re way off. Otherwise Lord Shen wouldn’t come to me now, would he?"

Shen Hao smiled and nodded. "Deputy General Wu is right. I have a case involving the military. Starting from the outside wasn’t feasible, so I had to look internally. When Brother Zhang Qian and Brother Gan Lin reached out for help, it was for this case as well. I wonder if Deputy General Wu would be interested in lending a hand?"

"I can help—but what’s in it for me?"