"Forget it, I just caused quite a stir in Starlight City, and now that I’ve arrived at Lingxiao City, I should focus on stability as I start my new post."
Gu Jinlai dismissed any inappropriate thoughts he had.
Though breaking the rules and being unrestrained felt exhilarating, deep down, he was still a law-abiding citizen.
Judging by deeds, not intentions, no one is perfect in intent.
Karma, that sort of thing...
Consider it a product of idealism.
It’s enough to take it as a reference.
Thinking this, Gu Jinlai clasped his hands together and said, "For the coming period, I’ll need your assistance. The three counties west of Lingxiao City also require your careful attention, so please prevent any significant disturbances from local forces."
"Certainly, certainly, we will unite around Lord Guardian and contribute our strength to the prosperity and stability of Lingxiao City and its subordinate counties,"
Wang Dongyu responded with a smile.
Gu Jinlai smiled and nodded, "Then let’s begin by integrating the forces in the west of the city and the three western counties, registering them. That way, should there be any friction among local forces, we can intervene promptly."
"Currently, the order in Lingxiao City is relatively peaceful compared to other cities in Star State. Over the past month, there have been no killings in the city, and any conflicts were quickly resolved; hence, there isn’t a need to mobilize and investigate."
"It’s just registration, not an investigation."
Gu Jinlai waved his hand, "As one of the Lingxiao Town Guardians, I should at least be clear about the structure of forces within my jurisdiction, right?"
"Yes, yes, of course,"
Wang Dongyu immediately said, "But such trivial matters can be handled by our subordinates. The Ancient Town Guardian has traveled from afar, you should rest for a while."
"No worries, I’ve brought a few people with me, intending to have them join the Meteor Star Guard."
Gu Jinlai remarked, "Did you bring the ledger for the Meteor Star Guard in the western branch of the city? Hand it over to me, I need to process their employment. Besides, expenses, account books..."
Every institution has its corruption and embezzlement; no need to guess to know that.
The old expenses, account books...
Let’s just turn the page.
Pondering, he was about to speak again.
But at that moment, Wang Dongyu clasped his hands and said, "Lord Guardian, what you do not know is that to ensure we can always be aware of the developments in the Cultivation World, our Meteor Star Guard ledgers are kept both openly and secretly. The public ledger is fine, but to peruse the secret ledger, we need the approval of a Governor from the Fang family."
He added, "As for the expenses and account books, they were lost in the haste of the previous garrison commander’s departure, so we cannot hand them over."
Gu Jinlai was stunned.
It’s fine if the expenses and account books cannot be produced.
But no ledgers at all?
Without the Meteor Star Guard ledger, he didn’t even know who his subordinates were—how could he call himself a garrison commander?
"Is it because I am too easy to talk to?"
Gu Jinlai was somewhat baffled.
Wang Dongyu said with a smile, "We are considering this for the Lord Guardian’s sake."
"You are making this difficult for me,"
He had been in the courtyard for so long, and nobody had even offered him a place to sit.
Didn’t anyone have the decency to move a chair for him?
A garrison commander, even a deputy one, still holds an official title.
"If the Ancient Town Guardian finds this troublesome, you might as well leave all matters large and small to us to handle. We assure you we will take care of everything properly, so there’s no need for you to bother with trivial matters,"
As Gu Jinlai watched the bright red Karma radiating from Wang Dongyu’s body, he felt more and more amiable towards him.
"You are indeed a considerate subordinate."
He reflected inwardly.
He wasn’t some demon who committed murder without reason.
A sense of guilt arose.
Now, Wang Dongyu had even prepared the grounds for him to act.
"So I will ask again, the ledger, account books, and expense books cannot be handed over, is that right?"
At that moment, a bustle arose outside.
Subsequently, two elders leading a powerful team of over twenty from the Qi Refinement and Gang Condensation groups came striding in.
More than twenty individuals, the two leaders in the Hugging Pill Realm, their demeanor fierce, seemed too large even for the hall of the Meteor Star Guards to contain.
Seeing these people arrive, Wang Dongyu breathed a sigh of relief.
Even the high-level Meteor Guards of the Gang Condensation Realm seemed more confident.
"It’s not that we don’t want to hand it over, but we truly can’t manage it. Please, Lord Guardian of Ancient Town, understand our predicament and grant us more time,"
Wang Dongyu said, smiling.
"So, no one can hand it over?"
Gu Jinlai’s gaze turned towards several other high-level Meteor Guards.
One by one, they stayed silent, each minding their own business.
However, Zhao Fan from the Hugging Pill Realm spoke up, "Lord Guardian, you’ve just arrived in Lingxiao City and are unaware of its conditions. In such a short time, it is indeed difficult to comply."
The problems were too numerous on the books.
"Yes, Lord Guardian, if you do not believe it, you can have someone by your side thoroughly investigate the situation. With hundreds of Meteor Guards often cooperating with local forces, the accounts and expenses can’t be reorganized in less than a year or a year and a half; it’s simply not possible,"
another high-level Meteor Guard of the Gang Condensation Realm added.
Gu Jinlai glanced at the newly arrived group of more than twenty individuals and nodded understandingly, "Feeling confident now."
"Alright, Lord Guardian of Ancient Town, if there’s nothing else, we will take our leave first, as we have many matters to attend to,"
Wang Dongyu said, intending to leave.
As he moved, several high-level Meteor Guards, along with the middle-level and low-level guards, also began to move, creating an almost empty situation in the western division of the town.
Gu Jinlai did not speak, but simply stretched out his hand, flicking his fingers towards the direction of Su Nanxing.
Su Nanxing immediately turned back, channeling his True Qi, and took a two-meter-long giant sword from the carriage.
A few days ago, the battle at the Heavenly Grass Pavilion left Gu Jinlai’s War Armor damaged and yet to be repaired, but the Treasure Sword was still in perfect condition.
Su Nanxing, carrying the thousand-pound battle sword, quickly delivered it to Gu Jinlai’s hands.
Gu Jinlai lifted the War Sword with one hand and directly scraped it on the ground.
A heavy sound resonated.
Accompanied by the splatter of shattered stone shards.
"What do you mean by this, Lord Guardian? Surely you don’t intend to apply the same methods you used in the Purgatory Demon Sect on us Meteor Star Guards? The Meteor Star Guards have their own rules; even if you are dissatisfied with me, you could just wait to impeach me through Fang’s Governor or even complain to the Star Master. Intimidation? That won’t work!"
Wang Dongyu watched Gu Jinlai, scoffing as he spoke.
Was this all? Couldn’t restrain himself?
Indeed, these sect-mingled individuals simply did not understand the ways of the officialdom.
As long as he made a mistake, it would be much easier to bring him down.
"Without even presenting the roster or accounts, I fully have the right to suspect that Meteor Star Guard Wang Dongyu is incompetent, disobeys the commands from above in secret, and now, being arrested immediately. I will soon notify the Supervision Department to come and investigate,"
Gu Jinlai looked at the dozens of Qi Refinement and Gang Condensation Realm Meteor Star Guards and Wang Family’s Young Masters, a bright red mass, nearly unable to restrain his hand on the sword. He gave Su Nanxing a look, "Take him away."
Su Nanxing replied in a deep voice.
Wang Dongyu scorned, "Come on, Gu Jinlai, if you want to play tricks, at least be cleverer."
As he spoke, he waved his hand at the approaching Su Nanxing: "Forget it, I don’t have that much time to waste effort on you..."
Before he could finish, Su Nanxing was knocked flying backwards.
"Ah, such powerful Gang Qi! I’m injured!"
Su Nanxing cried out in pain.
In midair, he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood and forcefully smashed through a wall.
Wang Dongyu’s hand waving action stiffened slightly.
Almost simultaneously, Gu Jinlai’s aura surged, and he vehemently shouted, "Wang Dongyu, you have been inefficient, are corrupt, and disobey commands; facing an investigation, you still dare to resist with violence, causing severe injury to a colleague. Now, the evidence is conclusive, the crimes unforgivable. Surrender immediately to await judgment, or else, death on the spot!"