It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s stealth ability.
Hou Shen’s stealth technique was indeed half innate and half learned, differing somewhat from the invisibility techniques of true cultivators. Cultivators relied on talismans or magical artifacts to transform themselves into nothingness, making them undetectable. Hou Shen’s technique, however, was not true invisibility; rather, it involved adapting to changes in light and shadow, using darkness to conceal himself.
In the archives of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had previously committed, concluding that his stealth ability depended on shadows. Thus, after making the bet with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to purchase dozens of lanterns to illuminate the warehouse from the entrance to its depths, lighting it as brightly as daylight from every angle, leaving no shadow on the ground.
That wasn’t all. Although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had extensive connections and somehow recruited an expert from the Internal Bureau. This expert set traps throughout the warehouse—every corner, inside and out, was rigged with mechanisms. These mechanisms were quite ordinary, merely hidden spikes and catches, not even disguised, just randomly placed in every nook and cranny.
Even worse, Mei Qing ordered lines drawn across the floor every few meters, from one side to the other, using a substance called hematin. Reportedly extracted from a strange beast overseas, hematin melted easily when heated and was extremely difficult to remove once it adhered to the body. The warehouse was perpetually dark, damp, and cold, making it ideal for using hematin. The Embroidered Uniform Guards could simply step over the lines, but Hou Shen would only be able to glare helplessly at them.
Even Hou Shen’s master, Tie Sancun, would probably be at a loss if he came. The place inherently prevented the use of any magic, relying solely on mundane tricks for any hope of success. Yet the measures taken were excessively harsh. Want to hide? Without any shadows, where could you hide? Even if you had secret techniques to remain unseen, the hematin lines on the ground would stain your body upon crossing, revealing your form. Could you really leap over every line without being noticed? Moreover, even if you managed to enter, the walls and corners were all rigged with traps, plainly visible to everyone, how could you possibly disable them?
Hou Shen observed the outside of the warehouse all night but ultimately dared not risk entering. He cursed Mei Qing bitterly in his heart and left in frustration. However, he wasn’t so easily deterred by these measures. As a renowned figure known as the Divine Monkey, he certainly had some hidden skills to fall back on. Still, much preparation was needed for a successful attempt.
“Do you really think these few tricks can stop me? You’re still too naive, Mei Qing!” Hou Shen thought to himself repeatedly as he finalized his plan after much deliberation.
Before long, three days had passed.
During these three days, the Fourth Unit maintained a relaxed exterior but remained vigilant internally, each member on high alert to avoid any oversight Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito attempting to fly past would have to ask Old Zhao’s eyes for permission.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying constantly in the side room at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to open the warehouse or transport anything in or out without his explicit permission.
“Where’s Zhao Jingli?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed Zhao Dayou’s absence and asked the nearby Ya Zi.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was indeed half innate and half taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the archives of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had been involved in and deduced that his invisibility depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as day, with no shadows left on the ground from any angle.
Besides that, Zhao Dayou, though not particularly skilled, had a wide network of contacts. He managed to bring in an expert from somewhere within the organization to set up traps in every corner of the warehouse. These traps were quite common, just hidden nails and wedges, not even disguised, simply scattered haphazardly in every crevice.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered someone to draw lines across the floor every few meters using a substance called “brown bright fat,” which was said to be extracted from a monster overseas. This substance would melt upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the skin. The treasure vault, being perpetually dark and damp, was surrounded by these lines. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not just Hou Shen, even his master, Tie Sancun, would likely be at a loss. This place was inherently resistant to any form of magic, relying solely on mundane tricks for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to turn invisible? In a place with no shadows, where would you hide? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the floor was covered with lines of brown bright fat. As soon as you passed over them, you’d be stained and revealed. You couldn’t just hop over the lines without being noticed, could you? And even if you managed to get inside, the corners were filled with traps, blatantly placed in plain sight. How would you bypass them?
Hou Shen lay outside the warehouse, observing for most of the night, but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored a deep hatred for Mei Qing in his heart and had to return dejected. However, he wasn’t completely helpless because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As the renowned “Divine Monkey,” if he didn’t have some tricks up his sleeve, he wouldn’t have made it this far. But to succeed, he still needed to make many preparations.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally settling on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group had been outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, all on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito trying to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was doubly cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to open the warehouse or move items in or out without his explicit permission.
“Where has Zhao Dayou gone?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always at his side, was nowhere to be seen. He asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He rushed off to the latrine just now, probably because he ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was holding it in,” replied Zhou Chang, who was on duty today alongside Yao Dingguo. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, while Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled. “Our Zhao Dayou is truly remarkable. Even when going to the latrine, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication, haha, is truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along. “Indeed. People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group’ because of this. Zhao even got into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t exactly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people started calling you ‘Yaozi,’ which eventually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir Mei, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird. He leaped straight up a tree and grabbed a sparrow before it could escape. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, though usually quiet, carried himself with an air of superiority, clearly confident in his abilities.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bristling beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and had been ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Centurion Qian!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San, raising an eyebrow. “Centurion Qian, why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Qian San is fully recovered and has come to request permission to return to duty. Please grant your approval, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Centurion Qian, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster has already been set for these few days. You can rest assured and return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully. “If I wait any longer, I might not have a place to return to. You might just kick me out, Sir Mei!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice turning cold. “Centurion Qian, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury. How can you say such things? Who has been spreading rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger. “I dare not speak falsely. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir Mei, though you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still show some consideration for us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, though he dared not act out due to Mei Qing’s authority. Knowing Qian San to be straightforward, Mei Qing wondered if someone had been stirring up trouble.
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San insisted that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to return home was a ploy to get rid of him. However, he refused to reveal who had told him this, leading to a standoff.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou arriving with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and was displeased to see the commotion at the warehouse entrance. “This is a critical area. Why are you all making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now fully recovered and requests permission to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re recovered, then return. What’s all the fuss about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Centurion Qian was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today, making a scene and insisting that I’m trying to get rid of him, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can clarify the matter so Centurion Qian can be at ease.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “Regardless of how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. How dare you question him! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later.”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing. “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased. “They are items for the Sixth Master’s personal use. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse’s security has been heightened these past few days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and entrust this task to me. I assure you, it won’t delay any important matters.”
Lu Zeyou’s expression turned grim. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use this as a reason to block me from performing my official duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. How can you prevent me from entering? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, the warehouse keys are with the guards, and the inner vault keys are with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. I don’t have them.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I just went to relieve myself. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out from behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding his teapot, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage to write another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Our esteemed Zhao Jingli is truly remarkable; even when going to the latrine, he never parts with his teapot. This skill, hehe, is truly admirable.”
Zhou Chang laughed, “Indeed. Other units refer to Old Zhao as ‘the big teapot of the Fourth Unit.’ Because of this, Old Zhao has even gotten into arguments with others.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. “The Big Teapot” indeed wasn’t a very flattering nickname. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Ya Zi’? Did it come from people shortening your name ‘Yao Zi’ to ‘Ya Zi’?”
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had been involved in and deduced that his invisibility depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as daylight, with no shadows left on the ground.
Besides this, Zhao Dayou, though not particularly skilled, had a wide network of contacts. He managed to bring in an expert from within the organization to set up traps all over the warehouse, inside and out, in every corner. These traps were quite common, just hidden nails and wedges, not even disguised, simply filling every crevice.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered someone to draw lines across the floor every few meters using a substance called “brown bright fat,” which was said to be extracted from a mythical beast overseas. It melted upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the skin. The treasure vault, being perpetually dark, damp, and cold, had these lines drawn all around. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not just Hou Shen, even his master, Tie Sancun, would likely be at a loss. This place was inherently devoid of any magical influence, relying solely on mundane tricks for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to go invisible? Where would you hide in a place with no shadows? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the floor was covered with lines of brown bright fat; crossing them would stain and reveal you. You couldn’t just jump over the lines without being noticed, could you? And even if you could get in, the corners and walls were filled with traps, blatantly placed in plain sight. How would you bypass them?
Hou Shen lay outside the warehouse observing for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored a deep hatred for Mei Qing in his heart and had to return dejected. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As a renowned figure, if he didn’t have some tricks up his sleeve, he wouldn’t be in this line of work. But to succeed, he still needed to make many preparations.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group maintained a relaxed exterior but were internally tense, all on high alert to prevent any oversight that Hou Shen could exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito wanting to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was doubly cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was to enter or exit the warehouse without his explicit permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around, was missing and asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He rushed off to the restroom just now, probably ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was holding it in with great effort,” said Zhou Chang, who was on duty today along with Yao Dingguo. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, while Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled. “Our Zhao Dayou is indeed remarkable. Even when going to the restroom, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication, heh, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed and said, “Exactly. People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group’ because of this, and Zhao Dayou has even gotten into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile at the nickname, which wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Yaozi’? Is it because of your surname, Yao, and people started calling you Yaozi, which eventually became ‘Yaozi’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang jumped in, “Sir Mei, you might not know this, but Yaozi here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird, and he leaped up a tree, grabbing a sparrow before it could even fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, though usually quiet, carried himself with an air of superiority, clearly confident in his abilities.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and had been ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing raised an eyebrow upon seeing Qian San. “Why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching as he took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Qian San is fine now. I’ve come to request permission to return to duty. Please grant me your permission, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest and recover. The duty roster has already been set for these days. You can rest assured and return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully. “If I wait any longer, you might just kick me out, Sir Mei!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold. “Qian Baihu, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury sustained while bravely fighting the cunning thief. How can you say such things? Who has been whispering in your ear?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a deep voice, “I dare not speak nonsense. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir Mei, though you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still consider the feelings of us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, though he held back due to Mei Qing’s authority. Knowing Qian San to be straightforward, Mei Qing wondered if someone had been stirring up trouble.
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San insisted that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to rest was actually a ploy to get rid of him. However, he refused to say who had told him this, leading to a stalemate.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou walking quickly with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said displeasedly, “This is a crucial area. Why are you making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re well, then return. What’s there to argue about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to expel me from the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today making a scene, insisting that I want to kick him out, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can clarify the matter so Qian Baihu can be at ease.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “Regardless of how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. How dare you question him! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. These trivial matters can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing and said, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are needed? Please specify, and I will personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou said impatiently, “They are items for the Sixth Master’s personal use. I will retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and then smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse’s security has been heightened these past few days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and entrust this task to me. I assure you, the matter will not be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s expression turned grim. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that little thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use this as a reason to block me from attending to official business is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this area is my responsibility. How can you prevent me from entering the warehouse? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, you may not know, but the warehouse keys are with the guards, and the inner vault keys are with Zhao Dayou, who is on duty. They’re not in my possession.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Heh, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I just went to the restroom. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding his teapot, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Electricity Bureau Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet and reserved, yet he carried himself with an air of aloofness, clearly confident in his skills.
As the three were conversing, suddenly footsteps were heard. In the distance, a man came running, his eyes bulging, his thick beard bristling. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the recent fight with Hou Shen and had been ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San, raising his eyebrows. “Why have you come here if you’re supposed to be resting at home?”
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed Hou Shen’s previous major cases and deduced that his invisibility depended on shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the storeroom from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as day, with no shadows left on the ground.
Besides that, Zhao Dayou, though not particularly skilled, had a wide network of contacts. He managed to bring in an expert from the inner group who set up mechanisms throughout the storeroom, covering every corner. These mechanisms were common, like hidden nails and wedges, without any disguise, simply filling every crevice.
Moreover, Mei Qing ordered someone to draw lines every few meters from one end to the other using brown grease, which was said to be extracted from a mythical beast overseas. This grease melted upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the body. The storeroom, being dark and damp without sunlight, had these lines drawn around it. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Even if Hou Shen’s master, Tie Sancun, were here, he would likely be equally helpless. This place inherently nullified any magical techniques, relying solely on mundane tricks for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to hide? Where would you hide without any shadows? Even if you had a secret method to remain unseen, the ground was covered with grease lines that would reveal your presence as soon as you crossed them. How could you jump over them without being noticed? And even if you could enter, the mechanisms at every corner, blatantly placed, how would you bypass them?
Hou Shen observed the storeroom from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk, harboring deep resentment towards Mei Qing, and had to return in frustration. However, he wasn’t completely out of tricks. As a renowned figure, he had some hidden skills. But to succeed, he needed more preparation.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stop me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on his course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
For these three days, the members of the fourth group were outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, all on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. As Zhao Dayou put it, even a mosquito wanting to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying in the storeroom’s entrance room and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the storeroom without his permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around, was missing and asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He just rushed to the restroom, probably ate something bad this morning, looking like he was holding it in with great effort,” Zhou Chang, the guard who was on duty today, replied with a hint of humor.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Our Zhao Dayou is indeed remarkable, even carrying a teapot to the restroom. Such dedication, haha, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed, “Exactly. People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group’ because of this, and Zhao Dayou has gotten into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people called you ‘Yaozi,’ which gradually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir, you might not know, but Sparrowhawk here has the best light-footed skills. Once, he bet someone he could catch a sparrow by leaping onto a tree and grabbing it before it could fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, usually quiet, carried himself with an air of superiority, likely due to his skills.
As they were talking, they heard footsteps and saw Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home, running towards them with wide eyes and bristling beard.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing raised an eyebrow upon seeing Qian San, “Why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching, and after a long exhale, he said in a deep voice, “Qian San is fine now and has come to request to return to duty. Please grant me permission, Sir.”
Mei Qing was surprised, “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster is already set for these days. Please rest assured and return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully, “I’m afraid by then, Sir, you’ll have already kicked me out!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold, “Qian Baihu, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury sustained while bravely fighting the thief. Why are you saying such things? Who has been spreading rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger, “I dare not speak nonsense, but there’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for years, and though I may not have great achievements, I’ve worked hard. Sir, though you are trusted by the higher-ups to lead the fourth group, you should also consider the feelings of us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, restrained only by his authority. Knowing Qian San was straightforward, Mei Qing wondered if someone had been stirring up trouble.
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San insisted that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing wanted to get rid of him, though he wouldn’t say who had told him this, leading to a standoff.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and they saw Lu Zeyou hurrying over with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and displeased to see the commotion at the storeroom entrance, “What’s all this noise at the storeroom? Shouldn’t you be guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted, “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised, “If you’re better, then return. What’s the fuss about?”
“But I heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly, “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today making a scene, insisting I want to kick him out, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment to reassure Qian Baihu.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face was stern, “Regardless of how this is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. It’s not your place to question! Step aside, I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the storeroom. It’s urgent, so please open the door.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered, “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased, “They are personal items for the Sixth Master. I’ll retrieve them myself; no need to trouble you.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled, “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the storeroom’s security has been heightened these days, making it inconvenient for you to enter. Please understand and hand the task to me. I assure you, the important matter won’t be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened, “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to block me from handling official business in the storeroom is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this storeroom is my responsibility. Am I not allowed to enter? Qian San, open the storeroom door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated, “Sir Lu, the storeroom key is with the guards, and the inner storeroom key is with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty, not with me.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach was acting up, so I just went to the restroom. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the storeroom?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind them.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding a teapot, swaying as he approached.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, then it’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
Mei Qing was surprised. “Why are you in such a hurry to return to duty? Since your arm is still injured, you should rest at home. The shifts have already been arranged for these days. Baihu, rest assured, return home and recuperate until you are fully recovered, then come back to resume duty.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San let out a resentful snort. “I’m afraid you’ll just kick me out altogether then!”
Mei Qing frowned and coldly said, “Why would you say such a thing, Qian Baihu? I ordered you to rest at home because you were injured while bravely resisting the cunning thief. It was out of concern and care. How could you say such things? Have you heard some slanderous words from someone?”
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical instruments to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had been involved in and deduced that his invisibility depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior as bright as day, with lights from every angle, leaving no shadow on the ground.
Besides that, although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of acquaintances. He managed to bring in an expert from somewhere within the organization to set up mechanisms in every corner of the warehouse. These mechanisms were quite common, just hidden nails and latches, not even disguised, simply filling every crevice.
Moreover, Mei Qing had someone draw lines every few meters from one end to the other on the ground with brown grease, blocking the path. This brown grease was said to be extracted from a monster overseas, melting slightly upon contact with heat and extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the skin. The treasure vault, devoid of sunlight, was dark and damp. With the brown grease applied around, the Imperial Guards could step over it, but Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not just Hou Shen, even his master Tie Sancun would be helpless. This place was inherently devoid of any magical influence, relying solely on some tricks of the trade for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to be invisible? Where would you hide in a place with no shadows? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the ground was covered with lines of grease, and any contact would reveal your presence. You couldn’t just jump over the lines without being noticed, could you? And even if you could get in, the corners were filled with mechanisms, blatantly placed under everyone’s eyes. How would you bypass them?
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored a deep resentment towards Mei Qing and had to return in frustration. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss. As the Divine Monkey, he had some tricks up his sleeve. But to succeed, he needed to make more preparations.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too green!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
For these three days, the members of the fourth group were outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, all on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito would have to ask for his permission to fly past.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was to enter or exit the warehouse without his permission.
“Where has Zhao Dayou gone?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around, was missing and asked Yao Dingguo beside him.
“He just rushed off to the latrine, probably ate something bad this morning, looking all urgent and restrained,” said Zhou Chang, who was on duty today along with Yao Dingguo. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, while Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Our Zhao Dayou is truly remarkable, even going to the latrine with a teapot in hand. Such dedication, haha, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along, “Indeed. People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group’ because of this, and Zhao Dayou has even gotten into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t exactly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Yaozi’? Is it because of your surname Yao, and people called you Yaozi, which eventually became Yaozi?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang jumped in, “Sir Mei, you might not know, but Yaozi here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he bet someone he could catch a bird by leaping up a tree and grabbing a sparrow before it could fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet but carried an air of arrogance, clearly confident in his abilities.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home, Qian San, came running.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San, raising an eyebrow, “Qian Baihu, shouldn’t you be resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching, and let out a long breath before saying in a deep voice, “Qian San is fine now. I’ve come to request permission to return to duty, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised, “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, you should rest and recover. The duty roster for these days has already been set. You can return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully, “I’m afraid by then, Sir Mei, you’ll have already kicked me out!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold, “Qian Baihu, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury sustained while resisting the cunning thief. How can you say such things? Who has been whispering in your ear?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger, “I dare not speak nonsense. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work! Sir Mei, though you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still consider the feelings of us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, but he was restrained by Mei Qing’s authority. Mei Qing had heard that Qian San was straightforward and honest. Seeing him like this, it didn’t seem like an act. Could someone have been stirring up trouble?
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing was trying to get rid of him. However, he wouldn’t say who had told him this, and the situation remained tense.
At that moment, footsteps were heard again. Everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou approaching with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said displeasedly, “This is a critical area. Why are you making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted, “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests permission to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised, “If you’re well, then return. What’s there to argue about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly, “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why today he suddenly came here making a scene, insisting that I’m trying to get rid of him, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment so Qian Baihu can be at ease.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened, “No matter how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. It’s not your place to question! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing and said, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment, “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased, “They are personal items of the Sixth Master. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled, “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse has special security measures these days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. Please understand and entrust this task to me. I assure you, the important matter will not be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened further, “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to block me from entering the warehouse to carry out official duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this is my responsibility. Am I not allowed to enter the warehouse? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated, “Sir Lu, the warehouse key is with the guards, and the inner vault key is with Zhao Dayou, who is on duty. It’s not in my hands.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating earlier, so I just went to the latrine. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding a teapot, swaying into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, then it’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
Mei Qing saw the hidden fury in Qian San’s eyes, restrained only by his authority. Mei Qing had long heard that Qian San was a straightforward person and seeing his demeanor, it didn’t seem feigned. Could it be that someone had incited him?
Zhou Chang quickly stepped forward to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious, and that Mei Qing had sent him home with the intention of getting rid of him, though he wouldn’t reveal who had told him, leading to an awkward stalemate.
At that moment, footsteps were heard approaching. Everyone turned to see Lu Ze you coming quickly with two guards. Lu Ze you looked anxious and, seeing the group standing noisily at the warehouse entrance, said disapprovingly, “This is a place of importance. Why are you making such a commotion instead of guarding it properly?”
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. However, Hou Shen’s invisibility wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had been involved in and deduced that his invisibility depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior as bright as day, with lights from all angles, leaving no shadow on the ground.
Besides this, Zhao Dayou, though not particularly skilled, had a wide network of acquaintances. He managed to bring in an expert from somewhere within the organization to set up traps in every corner of the warehouse. These traps were quite common, just hidden nails and wedges, not even disguised, simply filling every crevice.
Moreover, Mei Qing ordered someone to draw lines every few meters across the floor with a substance called “brown bright fat,” which was said to be extracted from a monster overseas. It melted upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the body. The treasure vault, being dark and damp without sunlight, had these lines drawn around it. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not just Hou Shen, even his master, Tie Sancun, would likely be helpless. This place inherently nullified any magical abilities, relying solely on mundane tricks for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to become invisible? Where would you hide in a place with no shadows? Even if you had a secret method to remain unseen, the floor was covered with lines of brown bright fat. Once you stepped on it, your body would be stained and revealed. You couldn’t just jump over the lines without being noticed, could you? And even if you managed to get in, the corners were filled with traps, blatantly placed under everyone’s eyes. How would you dismantle them?
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored deep resentment towards Mei Qing and had to return dejected. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As the renowned “Divine Monkey,” he surely had some tricks up his sleeve. But to succeed, he needed to make more preparations.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group appeared relaxed but were actually highly vigilant, each on high alert to prevent any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito trying to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the warehouse without his permission.
“Where has Zhao Dayou gone?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around him, was missing and asked Yao Dingguo beside him.
“He hurried off to the restroom just now, probably because he ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was holding it in,” replied Zhou Chang, who was on duty today along with Yao Dingguo. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, while Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Our Zhao Dayou is indeed remarkable. Even when going to the restroom, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication, haha, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along, “Exactly. People from other groups even call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group.’ Because of this, Zhao has gotten into arguments with others.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Yaozi’ (sparrow hawk)? Is it because of your surname, Yao, and people started calling you ‘Yaozi,’ which eventually became ‘Yaozi’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir Mei, you might not know this, but Yaozi here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird, and he leaped straight up a tree, grabbing a sparrow before it could escape. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet but carried an air of arrogance, clearly confident in his own abilities.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bristling beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and had been ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San, raising his eyebrows, “Qian Baihu, why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching, and he let out a long breath before saying in a deep voice, “Qian San is already fine. I came to request permission to return to duty. Please grant me your permission, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised, “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster for these days has already been arranged. You can rest assured and return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully, “I’m afraid by then, Sir Mei, you’ll have already kicked me out!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold, “Qian Baihu, why would you say such a thing? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury. How could you interpret it as me trying to get rid of you? Who has been spreading such rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a low voice, “I dare not speak nonsense. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir Mei, though you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still show some consideration for us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, though he dared not act out due to Mei Qing’s authority. Mei Qing had heard that Qian San was straightforward and hot-tempered. Seeing him like this, it didn’t seem like an act. Could someone have been stirring up trouble?
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to rest was actually a ploy to get rid of him. However, he refused to say who had told him this, leading to a standoff.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou striding over with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said displeasedly, “This is a critical area. Why are you making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted, “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now fully recovered and requests permission to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised, “If you’re well, then return. What’s all the fuss about?”
“But I heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification from him,” Qian San said, still saluting and not rising, his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly, “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today, making a scene and insisting that I’m trying to get rid of him, yet refusing to say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment to clear up this misunderstanding.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face was stern, “No matter how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. How dare you question him! Step aside. I have urgent business, and this trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing and said, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Lord to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment, “What items are they? Please specify, and I will personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou said impatiently, “They are personal items for the Sixth Lord. I will retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and then smiled, “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse has special security measures these days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and entrust this task to me. I assure you, it will not delay any important matters.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened, “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Lord hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use this as a reason to block me from carrying out official duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. How dare you prevent me from entering! Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated, “Sir Lu, the warehouse keys are with the guards, and the inner vault keys are with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. They’re not in my possession.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating earlier, so I just went to the restroom. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding his teapot, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage to write another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
“Qian San?” Lu Ze you said in surprise, “If you’ve recovered, then come back. What’s there to argue about?”
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was indeed partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. However, Hou Shen’s invisibility wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had previously been involved in and deduced that his invisibility technique depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior as bright as day, with lights from every angle, leaving no shadow on the ground.
Besides that, although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of connections. He managed to bring in an expert from somewhere within the organization to set up traps in every corner of the warehouse. These traps were quite common, consisting of hidden nails and pegs, and they weren’t even disguised, simply filling every crevice and corner.
Even more excessive, Mei Qing ordered someone to draw lines across the floor every few meters using a substance called “brown bright fat,” which was said to be extracted from a monster overseas. This substance would melt upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the skin. The treasure vault, being perpetually sunless, dark, and damp, had these lines drawn all around. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not to mention Hou Shen, even if his master Tie Sancun came, he would likely be helpless. This place was inherently devoid of any magical influence, relying solely on some tricks of the trade for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to turn invisible? In a place with no shadows, where would you hide? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the ground was covered with lines of brown bright fat. As soon as you passed over them, you’d be stained and revealed. You couldn’t just jump over the lines without being seen, could you? Moreover, even if you could get in, the corners of the walls were filled with traps, blatantly placed in plain sight. How would you dismantle them?
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored a deep hatred for Mei Qing in his heart and had to return dejectedly. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As the mighty Divine Monkey, if he didn’t have some ace up his sleeve, he wouldn’t be in this line of work. But to succeed, he still had much preparation to do.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too green!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group maintained a relaxed exterior but were internally tense, each on high alert to prevent any oversight that Hou Shen could exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito trying to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was doubly cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the warehouse without his permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around, was missing and asked Yao Dingguo beside him.
“He just rushed to the latrine in a hurry, probably because he ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was holding it in with great effort,” replied Zhou Chang, who was on duty today along with Yao Dingguo. Yao Dingguo was usually silent, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, while Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Our Zhao Dayou is indeed impressive. Even when going to the latrine, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication, heh, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed and said, “Exactly. People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group’ because of this. Zhao even got into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people called you ‘Yaozi,’ which gradually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could speak, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir Mei, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird, and he leaped up a tree, grabbing a sparrow before it could escape. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, usually quiet and seemingly aloof, must have some skills to back up his confidence.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San, raising his eyebrows. “Qian Baihu, why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching, and let out a long breath before saying in a deep voice, “Qian San is fine now. I’ve come to request to return to duty. Please grant me permission, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster has already been set for these days. You can rest assured and return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully. “I’m afraid by then, Sir Mei, you’ll have already kicked me out!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold. “Qian Baihu, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury. How could you say such things? Who has been filling your head with these ideas?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a low voice, “I dare not speak nonsense. But there’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir Mei, though you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still show some consideration for us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, but Qian San, fearing Mei Qing’s authority, didn’t dare to lash out. Mei Qing knew Qian San was straightforward and saw that his demeanor wasn’t feigned. Could someone have been stirring up trouble?
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to rest was actually a ploy to get rid of him. However, he refused to say who had told him this, and the situation remained tense.
At that moment, footsteps were heard again. Everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou approaching quickly with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said displeasedly, “This is a critical area. Why are you making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re well, then return. What’s all the fuss about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today making a scene, insisting that I want to get rid of him, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can clarify the matter so Qian Baihu can be at ease.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face was stern. “Regardless of how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. You have no right to question him! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing and said, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased. “They are items for the Sixth Master’s personal use. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse’s security measures have been somewhat special these past few days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and entrust the task to me. I assure you, the matter won’t be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s expression darkened. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that little thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s a farce. But to use that as a reason to block me from entering the warehouse to conduct official business is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. How can you prevent me from entering? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, the warehouse key is with the guards, and the inner vault key is with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. It’s not in my hands.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Heh, my stomach wasn’t cooperating earlier, so I just went to relieve myself. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding his teapot, swaying into view.
==============
Electricity Bureau Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage to write another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical instruments to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility but rather a manipulation of light and shadow, using darkness to conceal himself.
In the Imperial Guards’ archives, experts had analyzed Hou Shen’s previous major cases and deduced that his invisibility depended on shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as day, with no shadows left anywhere.
But that wasn’t all. Although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of connections. He managed to bring in an expert from the inner group who set up traps in every corner of the warehouse. These traps were common—hidden nails and wedges—and weren’t even disguised, simply piled up in every crevice.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered lines of brown grease to be drawn every few meters across the floor. This brown grease, said to be extracted from a foreign beast, melted upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to something. The treasure vault, being perpetually dark and damp, was now surrounded by these lines. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen would be left helpless.
Even if Hou Shen’s master, Tie Sancun, were here, he would likely be equally stumped. This place was already devoid of any magical influence, relying solely on mundane tricks. But these measures were too harsh. Want to turn invisible? Where would you hide when there are no shadows? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the lines of grease would reveal your presence the moment you stepped on them. And even if you managed to get in, the traps in every corner, blatantly placed in plain sight, would be impossible to bypass.
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He cursed Mei Qing to the bone and had to retreat in frustration. However, he wasn’t completely out of options. As the “Divine Monkey,” he surely had some tricks up his sleeve. But to succeed, he needed more preparation.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stop me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plan and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
For these three days, the members of the fourth group had been outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, each on high alert to avoid any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito trying to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was also extra cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the warehouse without his permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around him, was nowhere to be seen. He asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He rushed to the restroom just now. Maybe he ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was in a hurry,” Zhou Chang, the guard on duty today, chimed in. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled. “Our Zhao Dayou is truly remarkable. Even when going to the restroom, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication, haha, I have to admire that!”
Zhou Chang laughed along. “Exactly! People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group.’ Zhao even got into arguments over that nickname.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t exactly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people started calling you ‘Yaozi,’ which eventually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang jumped in. “Sir, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he bet someone he could catch a bird by leaping up a tree and grabbing a sparrow before it could fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet but carried himself with an air of confidence, clearly holding himself in high regard and likely possessing some real skills.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and raised an eyebrow. “Why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Qian San is fully recovered. I’ve come to request permission to return to duty.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, you should rest and recover. The duty roster for these days has already been set. You can return once you’re fully healed.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully. “If I wait any longer, you might just kick me out of the group!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice turning cold. “Qian Baihu, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home because you were injured while bravely fighting the thief. It was out of concern for your well-being. Why are you saying such things? Who has been spreading rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger. “I wouldn’t dare to speak nonsense, but there’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for years, and while I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir, although you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still show some consideration for us old-timers.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, though he was holding back due to Mei Qing’s authority. Mei Qing knew Qian San was a straightforward person, and his demeanor didn’t seem fake. Could someone have been stirring up trouble?
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing was trying to force him out. However, he refused to reveal who had told him this, leading to a tense standoff.
At that moment, footsteps echoed, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou approaching with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and displeased to see the commotion at the warehouse entrance. “This is a restricted area! Why are you making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has fully recovered and requests permission to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re well, then return. What’s all this fuss about?”
“But I heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification.” Qian San remained bowed, not rising.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today, making a scene and claiming I want to expel him, but he refuses to say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can clarify this matter so Qian Baihu can be at ease.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “Regardless of how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. You have no right to question him! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be resolved later.”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing. “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Lord to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are they? Please let me know, and I’ll retrieve them myself.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased. “They are personal items for the Sixth Lord. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse has special security measures in place these days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and let me handle this. I assure you, the urgent matter won’t be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened further. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Lord hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use that as an excuse to block me from carrying out official duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. Do you mean to say I’m not allowed to enter? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, the warehouse key is with the guards, and the inner vault key is with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. It’s not in my possession.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I had to take a quick break. What’s this? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding his teapot, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might be able to post another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. However, Hou Shen’s invisibility wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the archives of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had been involved in and deduced that his invisibility technique depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior as bright as day, with lights from every angle, leaving no shadow on the ground.
Besides that, although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of connections. He managed to bring in an expert from somewhere within the organization to set up traps in every corner of the warehouse. These traps were quite common, just hidden nails and wedges, not even disguised, simply filling every crevice.
Moreover, Mei Qing ordered someone to draw lines on the ground every few meters using brown grease, which was said to be extracted from a beast overseas. This grease would melt upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the body. The treasure vault, being dark and damp all day, was surrounded by these lines. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not just Hou Shen, even his master, Tie Sancun, would probably be at a loss. This place was inherently devoid of any magical influence, relying solely on some tricks of the trade for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to become invisible? Where would you hide in a place with no shadows? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the ground was covered with lines of grease; as soon as you passed over them, you’d be stained and revealed. You couldn’t possibly jump over every line without being seen, could you? And even if you could get in, the corners were full of traps, blatantly placed under everyone’s noses. How would you bypass them?
Hou Shen lay outside the warehouse observing for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored a deep resentment towards Mei Qing and had to return dejectedly. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As the Divine Monkey, if he didn’t have some ace up his sleeve, he wouldn’t be in this game. But to succeed, he still needed to make many preparations.
Mei Qing, do you think you can stump me with just these tricks? You’re still too green!—Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group remained outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, all on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito wanting to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was doubly cautious, staying in the side room at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was to enter or exit the warehouse without his permission.
“Where has Zhao Jingli gone?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was always hovering around him, was missing and asked the hawk beside him.
“He just rushed off to the latrine, probably ate something bad this morning, looking all urgent and restrained,” replied Zhou Chang, one of the guards today, who was somewhat of a joker, unlike the usually silent Yao Dingguo.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Our Zhao Jingli is indeed remarkable, even taking his teapot to the latrine. Such dedication, haha, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along, “Indeed. People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group,’ and he’s even gotten into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile at the nickname, which wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘the hawk’? Is it because of your surname Yao, and people called you Yaozi, which gradually became ‘the hawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could speak, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir Mei, you might not know, but this guy has the best light-footed skills. Once, he bet he could catch a bird by leaping up a tree and grabbing a sparrow before it could fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, usually quiet, carried himself with a certain arrogance, clearly holding himself in high regard, with some skills to back it up.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bristly beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Centurion Qian!” Mei Qing raised an eyebrow upon seeing Qian San, “Centurion Qian, shouldn’t you be resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching, and he let out a long breath before saying in a deep voice, “Qian San is fine now and has come to request to return to duty. Please grant me permission, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised, “Centurion Qian, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest and recover. The duty roster has already been set for these days. Please rest assured and return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully, “I’m afraid by then, Sir Mei, you’ll have already kicked me out!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold, “Centurion Qian, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury sustained while bravely resisting the cunning thief. How can you say such things? Who has been whispering in your ear?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a deep voice, “I dare not speak nonsense. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have great achievements, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work! Sir Mei, though you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should also consider the feelings of us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, only held back by his own authority. Knowing Qian San to be straightforward, Mei Qing wondered if someone had been stirring the pot.
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to rest was a ploy to get rid of him, though he wouldn’t say who had told him this, leading to a standoff.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou hurrying over with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said displeasedly, “This is a crucial area. Why all this noise instead of guarding properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted, “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and has come to request to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised, “If you’re well, then return. What’s there to argue about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I’ve come to seek clarification from Sir Mei,” Qian San said, still saluting, his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly, “A few days ago, Centurion Qian was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today making a fuss, insisting I want to drive him away, yet he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment to put Centurion Qian’s mind at ease.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face was stern, “No matter how this is handled, Sir Mei has the final say. How dare you question him! Step aside. I have urgent business. This trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse urgently. Please open the warehouse door.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment, “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll personally fetch them.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased, “They are personal items of the Sixth Master. I’ll retrieve them myself; there’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled, “Sir Lu, you might not be aware, but the warehouse has special security measures these days, making it inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and leave it to me. I assure you, the important matter won’t be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened, “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that little thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s childish. But to block me from performing my official duties because of this is going too far! Besides, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. How can you stop me from entering? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated, “Sir Lu, you might not know, but the warehouse key is with the guards, and the inner vault key is with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty, not with me.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I just went to the latrine. What’s up, do you need to enter the warehouse for something?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, teapot in hand, swaying as he appeared in their view.
==============
Electricity Bureau Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators relied on talismans or magical instruments to vanish into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s method, however, wasn’t true invisibility but rather an adaptation to light and shadow, using darkness to conceal himself.
In the archives of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed Hou Shen’s past major cases and deduced that his invisibility depended on shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as day with no shadows anywhere.
But that wasn’t all. Although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of acquaintances. He managed to bring in an expert from the inner group who set up traps throughout the warehouse, filling every corner with common mechanisms like hidden nails and wedges, without even bothering to disguise them.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered lines of brown grease to be drawn across the floor every few meters. This grease, said to be extracted from a mythical beast overseas, would melt upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to someone. The treasury, being dark and damp, was the perfect place for this. While the guards could step over the lines, Hou Shen would be left helpless.
Even if Hou Shen’s master, Tie Sancun, were here, he would likely be at a loss. This place was designed to nullify any magical abilities, relying solely on mundane tricks. But these tricks were too harsh. Want to turn invisible? In a place with no shadows, where would you hide? Even if you had some secret method, the grease lines would reveal you as soon as you crossed them. And even if you managed to get in, the traps at every corner, blatantly placed in plain sight, would be impossible to bypass.
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He cursed Mei Qing to the bone and had to retreat in frustration. However, he wasn’t completely out of options. As the “Divine Monkey,” he surely had some tricks up his sleeve. But to succeed, he needed to prepare thoroughly.
“Mei Qing, do you think these tricks can stop me? You’re still too green!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plan and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group remained outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, each on high alert to prevent any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. As Zhao Dayou put it, even a mosquito would have to ask for his permission to fly past.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the warehouse without his permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around, was missing. He asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He rushed off to the latrine just now, probably because he ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was in a hurry,” Zhou Chang, the talkative guard, answered instead of the usually silent Yao Dingguo.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled. “Our Zhao Dayou is truly remarkable. Even when going to the latrine, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication is truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along. “Exactly! People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group’ because of that. Zhao even got into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t exactly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo. “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because of your surname, Yao, and people started calling you ‘Yaozi,’ which eventually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang jumped in. “Sir, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he bet someone he could catch a sparrow by leaping up a tree and grabbing it before it could fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, though usually silent, carried himself with an air of superiority, clearly confident in his abilities.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and had been ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing raised an eyebrow as he saw Qian San. “Why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching as he took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Qian San is fine now. I’ve come to request permission to return to duty.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster has already been set for these days. You can return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully. “If I wait any longer, you might just kick me out of the group!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice turning cold. “Qian Baihu, what are you talking about? I ordered you to rest at home because you were injured while fighting the cunning thief. It was out of concern for your well-being. Why are you saying such things? Who has been spreading rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a low voice, “I wouldn’t dare to speak nonsense. But there’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for years, and even if I haven’t made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir, although you have the trust of our superiors and are in charge of the fourth group, you should still consider the feelings of us old-timers.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, though it was restrained by his respect for authority. Knowing Qian San to be a straightforward man, Mei Qing wondered if someone had been stirring up trouble.
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San insisted that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to rest was just a ploy to get rid of him. However, he refused to say who had told him this, leading to a stalemate.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou, accompanied by two guards, walking quickly toward them. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and displeased to see the commotion at the warehouse entrance.
“Lu Zeyou!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests permission to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re better, then come back. What’s all this noise about?”
“But I heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to ask for clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today, making a scene and insisting that I want to kick him out, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Lu Zeyou, perhaps you can make a fair judgment so Qian Baihu will believe it.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “No matter how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the final say. You have no right to question him! Step aside. I have urgent business, and this trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing. “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are they? Please let me know, and I’ll retrieve them myself.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased. “They are personal items for the Sixth Master. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse’s security has been heightened these past few days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. Please entrust this task to me, and I’ll ensure it’s done without delay.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened further. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use this as an excuse to block me from carrying out official duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. Are you saying I’m not allowed to enter? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, the warehouse keys are with the guards, and the inner vault keys are with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. They’re not with me.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I just went to the latrine. What’s this about entering the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind them.
Everyone turned to see Zhao Dayou, teapot in hand, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed Hou Shen’s previous major cases and deduced that his invisibility depended on shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the storeroom from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as day, with no shadows left on the ground.
Besides that, Zhao Dayou, though not particularly skilled, had a wide network of contacts. He managed to bring in an expert from the inner group who set up traps all over the storeroom, inside and out, in every corner. These traps were common—hidden nails and wedges—and weren’t even disguised, simply filling every crevice.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered lines of brown grease to be drawn every few meters across the floor. This brown grease was said to be extracted from a foreign beast; it melted with slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to something. The storeroom, being dark and damp, was perfect for this. The Imperial Guards could step over the lines, but Hou Shen would be left helpless.
Even if Hou Shen’s master, Tie Sancun, were here, he would likely be at a loss. The place was devoid of any magical energy, relying solely on mundane tricks. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to turn invisible? Where would you hide without any shadows? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the lines of grease would reveal you the moment you stepped on them. And even if you could get in, the traps in every corner were blatantly obvious. How would you deal with them?
Hou Shen observed the storeroom from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He cursed Mei Qing to the bone and had to leave in frustration. However, he wasn’t completely out of options. As the “Divine Monkey,” he had some tricks up his sleeve. But to succeed, he needed more preparation.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stop me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plan.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
For these three days, the members of the fourth group had been outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, all on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito would have to ask for his permission to fly past.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying in the storeroom’s entrance room and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the storeroom without his permission.
“Where’s Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around him, was nowhere to be seen. He asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He rushed to the restroom just now. Maybe he ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was in a hurry but trying to hold it in,” Zhou Chang, the guard, chimed in. Today, the guards were Yao Dingguo and Zhou Chang. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent, but Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled. “Our Zhao Dayou is truly something. Even when he’s in the restroom, he never lets go of his teapot. That’s some skill, huh!”
Zhou Chang laughed along. “Exactly! People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group.’ He even got into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t exactly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because of your surname, Yao, and people started calling you ‘Yaozi,’ which eventually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang jumped in. “Sir, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird. He leaped up a tree and grabbed a sparrow before it could even fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet but had an air of arrogance, likely because he was quite skilled.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and had been ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Qian Baihu, shouldn’t you be resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Qian San is fine now. I’ve come to request to return to duty. Please grant me permission, Sir.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster has already been set for these days. You can return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted in resentment. “If I wait any longer, you might just kick me out, Sir!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice turning cold. “Qian Baihu, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury. How could you say such things? Who has been spreading rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger. “I wouldn’t dare to speak nonsense. But there’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for years, and even if I haven’t made great contributions, I’ve worked hard. Sir, you may have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, but you should also consider us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, but Qian San didn’t dare to act out due to Mei Qing’s authority. Mei Qing knew Qian San was straightforward, and his behavior didn’t seem fake. Could someone have been stirring up trouble?
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing wanted to kick him out. However, he refused to say who had told him this, and the situation remained tense.
At that moment, footsteps approached. Everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou, accompanied by two guards, walking quickly toward them. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and displeased to see the commotion at the storeroom entrance. “This is a critical area. Why are you all making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re well, then return. What’s all the fuss about?”
“But I heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting and keeping his head down.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today, making a scene and insisting I want to kick him out, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment so Qian Baihu will believe it.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “No matter how this is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. How dare you question him! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing and said, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the storeroom. It’s urgent. Please open the storeroom.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased. “They are personal items for the Sixth Master. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the storeroom’s security has been heightened these past few days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and entrust this task to me. I assure you it won’t delay any important matters.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened further. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s a joke. But to block me from entering the storeroom to carry out official duties is going too far! Besides, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this storeroom is my responsibility. How can you forbid me from entering? Qian San, open the storeroom. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, the keys to the storeroom are with the guards. The keys to the inner storeroom are with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty, but he’s not here now.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I just went to the restroom. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the storeroom?” A loud voice suddenly rang out from behind the group.
Everyone turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding his teapot, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might be able to finish another chapter.
If it’s late, we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
“Oh?” Mei Qing hesitated slightly and asked, “May I know what it is? Please tell me, and I will personally go into the warehouse to retrieve it.”
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. However, Hou Shen’s invisibility wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed Hou Shen’s previous major cases and deduced that his invisibility depended on shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to install dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as daylight, with no shadows anywhere.
But that wasn’t all. Although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of connections. He managed to bring in an expert from somewhere, who set up traps all over the warehouse, even in the corners. These traps were common—hidden nails and wedges—and weren’t even disguised, just casually placed in every crevice.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered that every few meters, a line of brown grease be drawn from one end of the floor to the other. This brown grease was said to be extracted from a foreign beast, melting upon slight heat and extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to something. The treasury, being dark and damp, was perfect for this. The Imperial Guards could step over it, but Hou Shen would be left helpless.
Even if Hou Shen’s master, Tie Sancun, were here, he’d be at a loss. This place was devoid of any magical energy, relying solely on mundane tricks. But these tricks were too harsh. Want to turn invisible? Where would you hide in a place with no shadows? Even if you had some secret method, the brown grease would reveal you the moment you stepped on it. And even if you could get in, the traps in every corner would be impossible to avoid.
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He cursed Mei Qing to the bone and had to retreat in frustration. However, he wasn’t completely out of options. As the legendary Monkey, he had some tricks up his sleeve. But to succeed, he needed more preparation.
“Mei Qing, do you think these tricks can stop me? You’re still too green!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plan.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
For these three days, the members of the fourth group had been outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, all on high alert to prevent any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito would have to ask for his permission to fly past.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the warehouse without his permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around, was missing. He asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He rushed to the restroom just now. Probably ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was in a hurry,” Zhou Chang, who was also on duty today, chimed in. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled. “Our Zhao Dayou is indeed something. Even when going to the restroom, he doesn’t let go of his teapot. Such dedication, haha, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along. “Exactly. People from other groups even call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group.’ Zhao once got into an argument over that nickname.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t exactly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo. “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people called you ‘Yaozi,’ which eventually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang jumped in. “Sir, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird. He leaped onto a tree and grabbed a sparrow before it could even fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet but carried himself with an air of confidence, clearly holding himself in high regard and having some skills.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bristling beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Qian Baihu, shouldn’t you be resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Qian San is fully recovered. I’ve come to request permission to return to duty, sir.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster for these days has already been set. You can return once you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted angrily. “If I wait any longer, you might just kick me out, sir!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice turning cold. “Qian Baihu, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury. Why would you say such things? Who has been feeding you these lies?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger. “I wouldn’t dare to speak nonsense. But there’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for years, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir, although you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still show some consideration for us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, though it was tempered by his respect for authority. Knowing Qian San to be a straightforward man, Mei Qing wondered if someone had been stirring up trouble.
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San insisted that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing was trying to push him out. However, he refused to say who had told him this, leading to a stalemate.
At that moment, footsteps approached. Everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou, accompanied by two guards, walking quickly toward them. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said sternly, “This is a secure area. Why are you making such a racket?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has fully recovered and requests permission to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re well, then return. What’s all the fuss about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group. I came to seek clarification from Sir Mei,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today, making a scene and insisting that I’m trying to push him out, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can clarify the matter so Qian Baihu can be at ease.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “Regardless of how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. You have no right to question him! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later.”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing. “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are they? Please let me know, and I’ll retrieve them myself.”
Lu Zeyou looked displeased. “They are personal items for the Sixth Master. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse’s security measures have been heightened recently. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. Please allow me to handle this. I assure you, the matter won’t be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened further. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more. But to use that as an excuse to block me from performing my duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. How can you prevent me from entering? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, the warehouse keys are with the guards, and the inner vault keys are with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. I don’t have them.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I had to take a quick break. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out from behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding his teapot, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might be able to post another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was indeed half innate and half taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the archives of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had been involved in and deduced that his invisibility depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to purchase dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior as bright as day, with lights from all angles leaving no shadow on the ground.
Besides this, Zhao Dayou, though not particularly skilled, had a wide network of acquaintances. He managed to recruit a master from the inner group who set up traps throughout the warehouse, covering every corner. These traps were quite common, just hidden nails and wedges, not even disguised, simply filling every crevice.
Moreover, Mei Qing ordered someone to draw lines across the floor every few meters using brown grease, which was said to be extracted from a monster overseas. This grease melted upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the body. The treasure vault, perpetually devoid of sunlight, was dark and damp. With the brown grease lines drawn around, the Imperial Guards could step over them easily, but Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not just Hou Shen, even his master Tie Sancun would likely be at a loss. This place inherently nullified any magical techniques, relying solely on mundane tricks for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to become invisible? Where would you hide in a place with no shadows? Even if you had a secret method to remain unseen, the floor was covered with grease lines, and your body would be stained and revealed upon crossing them. You couldn’t possibly jump over every line without being noticed, could you? And even if you could get in, the corners were filled with traps, blatantly placed under everyone’s noses. How would you dismantle them?
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk, harboring deep resentment towards Mei Qing, and had to return dejected. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As the Divine Monkey, if he didn’t have some ace up his sleeve, he wouldn’t be in this game. But to succeed, much preparation was still needed.
Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too green! — Hou Shen thought after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group were outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, each on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito wanting to fly past would have to ask Old Zhao’s eyes for permission.
Mei Qing himself was also extra cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: without his permission, no one was allowed to open the warehouse to retrieve or store items.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around him, was missing and asked the hawk beside him.
“He hurried off to the restroom just now, probably had a bad stomach from breakfast this morning, looking all urgent and restrained,” Today’s guards were Yao Dingguo and Zhou Chang again. Yao Dingguo was always silent and reserved, while Zhou Chang was somewhat humorous and talkative. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, and Zhou Chang eagerly spoke up.
“Oh,” Mei Qing said with a smile, “Our Zhao Dayou is indeed remarkable, even going to the restroom with a teapot in hand. Such skill, heh heh, is truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang chuckled and said, “Exactly. People from other groups refer to Old Zhao as ‘the big teapot of the fourth group,’ and because of this, Old Zhao has gotten into arguments.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but laugh; the nickname ‘big teapot’ wasn’t very flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘hawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people called you Yaozi, which gradually became ‘hawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could speak, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir Mei, you might not know, but this guy, the hawk, has the best light-footed skills. Once, he bet on catching birds and could leap up a tree, grabbing sparrows before they could escape. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet but had an air of indifference, likely holding himself in high regard with some skills up his sleeve.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From afar, a man with bulging eyes and bristling beard ran towards them. It was Qian San, who had been injured in a fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned to see Qian San and raised his eyebrows, “Qian Baihu, shouldn’t you be resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching, and he exhaled deeply before saying in a low voice, “Qian San is already fine. I came to request to return to duty. Please grant me permission, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised, “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest and recover. The duty roster for these days has already been set. Baihu, please rest assured, return home and recover fully before coming back to report.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully, “I’m afraid by then, Sir Mei, you’ll have already kicked me out!”
Mei Qing frowned and said coldly, “Qian Baihu, why would you say that? I ordered you to rest at home out of consideration and care because you were injured while resisting a cunning thief. How could you say such things? Who has been spreading rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a deep voice, “I dare not speak nonsense. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work! Sir Mei, although you have the trust of the higher-ups and lead the fourth group, you should still consider us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the hidden anger in Qian San’s eyes, only restrained by his authority. Mei Qing had heard that Qian San was straightforward, and seeing him like this, it didn’t seem like an act. Could someone have been stirring the pot?
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing wanted to send him away, yet he refused to say who had told him, leading to a standoff.
At that moment, footsteps were heard, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou approaching quickly with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said displeasedly, “This is a critical area. Why are you making such a racket instead of guarding properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted, “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now fully recovered and requests to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised, “If you’re well, then return. What’s there to argue about?”
“But I heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification from Sir Mei,” Qian San still saluted, his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly, “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why today he suddenly came here making a scene, insisting that I want to send him away, yet he won’t say who told him. Since Sir Lu is here, perhaps you can make a fair judgment to prevent Qian Baihu from distrusting me.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face was stern, “No matter how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. How dare you question him! Step aside, I have urgent business. Such trivial matters will be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing and said, “Sir Mei, I just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse urgently. Please open the warehouse door.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered and asked, “What items are they? Please specify, and I will personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou said displeasedly, “They are personal items of the Sixth Master. I will retrieve them myself and won’t trouble Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled, “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse has special security measures these days, making it inconvenient for you to enter. Please understand and hand the task to me. I assure you, the important matter won’t be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened, “Sir Mei, I know you released that thief and made some bet with him. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, even if it’s a game, I won’t say more. But to block me from entering the warehouse to handle official business because of this is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this place is my responsibility. How can you prevent me from entering the warehouse! Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San said awkwardly, “Sir Lu, you may not know, but the warehouse key is with the guards, and the inner warehouse key is with Zhao Dayou on duty, not in my hands.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou asked angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Heh heh, my stomach wasn’t cooperating just now, so I went to the restroom. What, do you need to enter the warehouse for something?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
Everyone turned to see Zhao Dayou, holding a teapot, swaying into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was indeed half innate and half taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had previously been involved in and deduced that his invisibility depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to purchase dozens of lanterns, illuminating the storeroom from the entrance to the interior, making it as bright as day, with no shadows visible from any angle.
Besides this, Zhao Dayou, though not particularly skilled, had a wide network of acquaintances. He managed to recruit an expert from somewhere within the organization to set up traps in every corner of the storeroom. These traps were quite common, consisting of hidden nails and wedges, and they weren’t even disguised, simply piled up haphazardly in every crevice.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered someone to draw lines across the floor every few meters using brown grease, which was said to be extracted from a mythical beast overseas. This grease would melt upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to something. The storeroom, being perpetually dark and damp, was now lined with this grease. While the Imperial Guards could easily step over it, Hou Shen would be left helpless.
Even if Hou Shen’s master, Tie Sancun, were here, he would likely be equally frustrated. This place was already devoid of any magical influence, relying solely on mundane tricks. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to become invisible? In a place with no shadows, where would you hide? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the floor was covered with lines of grease. Once you stepped on it, you’d be marked and revealed. You couldn’t just jump over the lines without being noticed, could you? And even if you managed to get inside, the corners were filled with traps, blatantly placed in plain sight. How would you bypass them?
Hou Shen observed the storeroom from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored deep resentment towards Mei Qing and had to return dejected. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss. As a renowned figure, if he didn’t have some tricks up his sleeve, he wouldn’t have made it this far. But to succeed, he needed to make more preparations.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group remained outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, each on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito would have to ask for his permission before flying past.
Mei Qing himself was doubly cautious, staying in the storeroom’s entrance room and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to enter or exit the storeroom without his permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always by his side, was missing and asked Yao Dingguo, who was nearby.
“He rushed to the restroom just now, probably because he ate something bad this morning. He looked like he was holding it in with great effort,” Zhou Chang, who was on duty today alongside Yao Dingguo, quickly answered. Yao Dingguo was usually silent, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled. “Our Zhao Dayou is truly remarkable. Even when going to the restroom, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication is truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along. “Indeed. People from other groups even call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group.’ Zhao got into arguments over this nickname.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people started calling you ‘Yaozi,’ which eventually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir Mei, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he bet someone he could catch a sparrow by leaping onto a tree and grabbing it before it could fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, though usually silent, carried himself with an air of superiority, clearly confident in his abilities.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing raised an eyebrow upon seeing Qian San. “Why are you here instead of resting at home?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “Qian San is fine now. I’ve come to request permission to return to duty.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest at home. The duty roster has already been set for these few days. You can return once you’ve fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully. “I’m afraid if I wait any longer, you’ll just kick me out, Sir Mei!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold. “Qian Baihu, why would you say such a thing? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury. Who has been spreading such rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger. “I dare not speak falsely. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for many years, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir Mei, though you are trusted by our superiors to lead the fourth group, you should still consider the feelings of us old-timers.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, though he held back due to Mei Qing’s authority. Mei Qing knew Qian San was straightforward and wondered if someone had been stirring up trouble.
Zhou Chang quickly stepped in to mediate, but Qian San insisted that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing intended to force him out, though he refused to reveal who had told him this. The situation remained tense.
At that moment, footsteps echoed, and Lu Zeyou arrived with two guards, looking anxious. Seeing the commotion at the storeroom entrance, he frowned. “This is a critical area. Why are you making such a racket?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re well, then return. What’s all the fuss about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting with his head bowed.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today, insisting that I want to kick him out, but he won’t say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment, so Qian Baihu will believe it.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “Regardless of how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. You have no right to question him! Step aside. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing. “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Lord to retrieve some items from the storeroom. It’s urgent. Please open the door.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment. “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll retrieve them myself.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased. “They are personal items of the Sixth Lord. I’ll retrieve them myself. There’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the storeroom’s security has been heightened these past few days. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and entrust this task to me. I assure you, the matter will not be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s expression darkened. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Lord hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use this as a reason to block me from performing official duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this storeroom is my responsibility. Am I not allowed to enter? Qian San, open the storeroom door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated. “Sir Lu, the storeroom keys are with the guards, and the inner storeroom keys are with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. They’re not in my possession.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating, so I just went to the restroom. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the storeroom?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, teapot in hand, swaying as he approached.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, then it’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was indeed partly innate and partly taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical instruments to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. However, Hou Shen’s invisibility wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using shadows to conceal himself.
In the archives of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had been involved in and deduced that his invisibility technique depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after making a bet with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to purchase dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior as bright as day, with lights from every angle, leaving no shadow on the ground.
Besides this, although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of acquaintances. He managed to bring in an expert from the inner group who set up mechanisms in every corner of the warehouse. These mechanisms were quite common, just some hidden traps and nails, not even disguised, simply filling every crevice.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered people to draw lines across the floor every few meters using a substance called “Brown Bright Fat,” which was said to be extracted from a mythical beast overseas. This substance melted upon slight heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it stuck to the skin. The treasure vault, being dark and damp without sunlight, was surrounded by these lines. While the Imperial Guards could step over them, Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not just Hou Shen, even his master Tie Sancun would likely be helpless. This place was inherently devoid of any magical influence, relying solely on mundane tricks for any hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to be invisible? Where would you hide in a place with no shadows? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the ground was covered with lines of Brown Bright Fat; passing over them would stain and reveal you. You couldn’t just jump over the lines without being noticed. Moreover, even if you could enter, the corners were filled with mechanisms, blatantly placed in plain sight. How would you bypass them?
Hou Shen observed the warehouse from outside for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk, harboring deep resentment towards Mei Qing, and had to return dejected. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As the renowned “Divine Monkey,” he had some ace up his sleeve; otherwise, he wouldn’t be in this game. But to succeed, he needed to make more preparations.
“Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too naive!” Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on his course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group were outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, all on high alert, fearing any oversight that Hou Shen might exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito wanting to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was extra cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: no one was allowed to open the warehouse or move items in or out without his explicit permission.
“Where is Zhao Dayou?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around him, was missing and asked Yao Dingguo beside him.
“He hurried off to the restroom just now, probably having eaten something bad this morning, looking like he was holding it in with great effort,” replied Zhou Chang, who was on duty today along with Yao Dingguo. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, while Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing chuckled, “Our Zhao Dayou is indeed remarkable. Even when going to the restroom, he never lets go of his teapot. Such dedication, haha, truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang laughed along, “Indeed. People from other groups call him ‘The Big Teapot of the Fourth Group’ because of this, and Zhao has even gotten into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but smile at the nickname, which wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people called you ‘Yaozi,’ which gradually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang jumped in, “Sir Mei, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here has the best light-footed skills. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird, and he leaped up a tree, grabbing a sparrow before it could even fly away. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo, usually quiet and seemingly aloof, must have some skills to back up his confidence.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bristling beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and was ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Centurion Qian!” Mei Qing raised an eyebrow upon seeing Qian San, “Centurion Qian, shouldn’t you be resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San stared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching, and let out a long breath before saying in a deep voice, “Qian San is fine now and has come to request to return to duty. Please grant me permission, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised, “Centurion Qian, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest and recover. The duty roster has already been set for these days. Please rest assured and return only when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait any longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully, “I’m afraid by then, Sir Mei, you’ll have already kicked me out!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold, “Centurion Qian, what do you mean by that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury sustained while bravely fighting the cunning thief. How can you say such things? Who has been whispering such nonsense to you?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a low voice, “I dare not speak without basis. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work! Sir Mei, though you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still consider the feelings of us old-timers.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, only held back by his respect for Mei Qing’s authority. Knowing Qian San to be straightforward, Mei Qing wondered if someone had been stirring up trouble.
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to rest was a ploy to get rid of him. However, he refused to reveal who had told him this, leading to a standoff.
At that moment, footsteps were heard again, and everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou approaching quickly with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and displeased to see the commotion at the warehouse entrance, “What’s all this noise at such an important place? Why aren’t you guarding properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted, “I am Qian San, ordered to rest but now fully recovered, here to request to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised, “If you’re well, then return. What’s all the fuss about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to kick me out of the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification,” Qian San said, still saluting and keeping his head down.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly, “A few days ago, Centurion Qian was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today making a scene, insisting I want to get rid of him, yet refusing to say who told him so. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment to reassure Centurion Qian.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face was stern, “No matter how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the authority to decide. It’s not your place to question! Step aside now. I have urgent business, and such trivial matters can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse urgently. Please open the warehouse door.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment, “What items are they? Please specify, and I will personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou was displeased, “They are personal items of the Sixth Master. I will retrieve them myself; no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled, “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse has special security measures these days, making it inconvenient for you to enter. Please understand and entrust the task to me. I assure you, the urgent matter will not be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s face darkened, “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use this as a reason to block me from performing official duties is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this place is my responsibility. Am I not allowed to enter the warehouse now? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated, “Sir Lu, the warehouse key is with the guards, and the inner vault key is with Zhao Dayou, who is on duty but not here now.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou demanded angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Hehe, my stomach wasn’t cooperating just now, so I had to take a quick break. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou, teapot in hand, swaying as he walked into view.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might manage another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Ze you angrily asked.
It turned out that the tasks Mei Qing had assigned to Zhao Dayou were precisely the ultimate countermeasures against Hou Shen’s invisibility ability.
Hou Shen’s invisibility skill was indeed half innate and half taught, differing from the true invisibility techniques of cultivators. Cultivators’ invisibility relied on talismans or magical tools to transform into nothingness, making them unseen. Hou Shen’s invisibility, however, wasn’t true invisibility; it merely adapted to changes in light and shadow, using darkness to conceal himself.
In the records of the Imperial Guards, experts had analyzed several major cases Hou Shen had previously been involved in and deduced that his invisibility depended on the use of shadows. Therefore, after betting with Hou Shen, Mei Qing ordered Zhao Dayou to purchase dozens of lanterns, illuminating the warehouse from the entrance to the interior as bright as day, with lights from every angle, leaving no shadow on the ground.
Besides that, although Zhao Dayou wasn’t particularly skilled, he had a wide network of acquaintances. He managed to bring in an expert from somewhere within the organization to set up traps in every corner of the warehouse. These traps were quite common, consisting of hidden nails and wedges, and weren’t even disguised, simply filling every crack and corner.
To make matters worse, Mei Qing also ordered people to draw lines on the ground every few meters from one end to the other using brown grease. This brown grease was said to be extracted from a monster overseas; it melted slightly with heat and was extremely difficult to remove once it touched the skin. The treasure vault, devoid of sunlight, was dark and damp. With the brown grease applied around the perimeter, the Imperial Guards could step over it, but Hou Shen could only stare in frustration.
Not to mention Hou Shen, even if his master Tie Sancun came, he would likely be left helpless. This place inherently nullified any magical techniques, relying solely on some tricks of the trade for a glimmer of hope. But the measures taken were too harsh. Want to become invisible? In a place with no shadows, where would you hide? Even if you had some secret method to remain unseen, the ground was covered with lines of grease, and your body would be stained and revealed as soon as you passed over it. You couldn’t just hop over the lines without being seen, could you? Moreover, even if you could get in, the corners of the walls were filled with traps, blatantly placed in plain sight. How would you dismantle them?
Hou Shen lay outside the warehouse observing for most of the night but ultimately didn’t dare to take the risk. He harbored a deep hatred for Mei Qing in his heart and had to return dejected. However, he wasn’t completely at a loss because of Mei Qing’s tactics. As the Divine Monkey, if he didn’t have some ace up his sleeve, he wouldn’t be in this line of work. But to succeed, he still had much preparation to do.
Mei Qing, do you think these few tricks can stump me? You’re still too green! — Hou Shen thought to himself after repeatedly calculating his plans and finally deciding on a course of action.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the third day.
Over these three days, the members of the fourth group maintained a relaxed exterior but were internally tense, each on high alert to prevent any oversight that Hou Shen could exploit. According to Zhao Dayou, even a mosquito wanting to fly past would have to ask for his permission.
Mei Qing himself was doubly cautious, staying in the guardhouse at the warehouse entrance and issuing strict orders: without his permission, no one was allowed to open the warehouse or move items in or out.
“Where has Zhao Jingli gone?” Mei Qing suddenly noticed that Zhao Dayou, who was usually always around him, was nowhere to be seen and asked Yao Dingguo beside him.
“He rushed off to the restroom in a hurry just now. Maybe he ate something bad this morning; he looked like he was holding it in,” said Zhou Chang, who was on duty today along with Yao Dingguo. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet, while Zhou Chang was more talkative and humorous. So when Mei Qing asked, Yao Dingguo remained silent as usual, while Zhou Chang eagerly answered.
“Oh,” Mei Qing said with a smile, “Our Zhao Jingli is truly remarkable. Even when going to the restroom, he doesn’t let go of his teapot. Such dedication, heh heh, is truly admirable!”
Zhou Chang chuckled and said, “Exactly. People from other groups call him ‘the big teapot of the fourth group’ because of this, and Zhao has even gotten into arguments over it.”
Mei Qing couldn’t help but laugh as well. The nickname “big teapot” wasn’t particularly flattering. Thinking of nicknames, he turned to Yao Dingguo and asked, “Yao Dingguo, how did you get the nickname ‘Sparrowhawk’? Is it because your surname is Yao, and people called you ‘Yaozi,’ which gradually became ‘Sparrowhawk’?”
Before Yao Dingguo could answer, Zhou Chang interjected, “Sir Mei, you might not know this, but Sparrowhawk here is the best at light-footed techniques. Once, he made a bet to catch a bird, and he leaped up a tree, grabbing a sparrow before it could escape. That’s how he got the nickname.”
Mei Qing nodded. Yao Dingguo was usually quiet but carried an air of aloofness, likely because he held himself in high regard and had some skills.
As the three were talking, they suddenly heard footsteps. From a distance, a man with bulging eyes and a bushy beard came running. It was Qian San, who had been injured in the fight with Hou Shen a few days ago and had been ordered by Mei Qing to rest at home.
“Qian Baihu!” Mei Qing turned and saw Qian San, raising his eyebrows. “Qian Baihu, why aren’t you resting at home? What brings you here?”
Qian San glared at Mei Qing, his lips twitching. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “Qian San is fine now. I’ve come to request to return to duty. Please grant me permission, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing was surprised. “Qian Baihu, there’s no need to rush back to duty. Since your arm is injured, it’s best to rest and recover. The duty roster for these days has already been set. You can rest assured and return when you’re fully recovered.”
“Wait longer?” Qian San snorted resentfully. “I’m afraid if I wait any longer, you’ll just kick me out, Sir Mei!”
Mei Qing frowned, his voice cold. “Qian Baihu, why would you say that? I ordered you to rest at home out of concern for your injury sustained while bravely resisting the cunning thief. How could you interpret it as me wanting to drive you away? Who has been spreading such rumors?”
Qian San’s eyes burned with anger as he said in a low voice, “I wouldn’t dare to speak nonsense. There’s no smoke without fire. I’ve been in the fourth group for some years now, and though I may not have made great contributions, I’ve certainly put in my share of hard work. Sir Mei, although you have the trust of our superiors and lead the fourth group, you should still show some consideration for us old comrades.”
Mei Qing saw the anger in Qian San’s eyes, but Qian San dared not act out due to Mei Qing’s authority. Mei Qing had heard that Qian San was straightforward and honest, and his current demeanor didn’t seem feigned. Could someone have been stirring up trouble?
Zhou Chang stepped in to mediate, but Qian San kept insisting that a friend had told him his injury wasn’t serious and that Mei Qing’s order for him to rest was actually a ploy to get rid of him. However, he refused to say who had told him this, and the situation remained tense.
At that moment, footsteps were heard again. Everyone turned to see Lu Zeyou approaching quickly with two guards. Lu Zeyou looked anxious and, seeing the commotion at the warehouse entrance, said displeasedly, “This is a critical area. Why are you making such a racket instead of guarding it properly?”
“Sir Lu!” Qian San saluted. “Subordinate Qian San, ordered to rest, has now recovered and requests to return to duty.”
“Qian San?” Lu Zeyou was surprised. “If you’re well, then return. What’s there to argue about?”
“But I’ve heard that Sir Mei intends to expel me from the fourth group, so I came to seek clarification.” Qian San remained bowed, his head lowered.
“Oh? Sir Mei, is this true?” Lu Zeyou frowned.
Mei Qing smiled slightly. “A few days ago, Qian Baihu was injured in the line of duty, so I ordered him to rest at home. I don’t know why he suddenly came here today making a scene, insisting that I want to drive him away, yet refusing to say who told him this. Since you’re here, Sir Lu, perhaps you can make a fair judgment to clear up this misunderstanding.”
“Qian San!” Lu Zeyou’s face darkened. “No matter how this matter is handled, Sir Mei has the final say. How dare you question him! Step aside now. I have urgent business to attend to. This trivial matter can be settled later!”
With that, Lu Zeyou turned to Mei Qing and said, “Sir Mei, I’ve just received orders from the Sixth Master to retrieve some items from the warehouse. It’s quite urgent. Please open the warehouse.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing pondered for a moment and asked, “What items are they? Please specify, and I’ll personally retrieve them.”
Lu Zeyou said impatiently, “They are personal items of the Sixth Master. I’ll retrieve them myself; there’s no need to trouble you, Sir Mei.”
Mei Qing thought for a moment and smiled. “Sir Lu, you may not be aware, but the warehouse’s security measures have been heightened recently. It would be inconvenient for you to enter. I hope you can understand and leave it to me. I assure you the urgent matter won’t be delayed.”
Lu Zeyou’s expression turned grim. “Sir Mei, I know about your bet with that thief. Since the Sixth Master hasn’t intervened, I won’t say more, even if it’s just a game. But to use this as a reason to block me from carrying out official duties in the warehouse is going too far! Moreover, the fourth group is under my jurisdiction, and this warehouse is my responsibility. How can you prevent me from entering? Qian San, open the warehouse door. Let’s see who dares to stop me!”
Mei Qing remained silent, but Qian San hesitated and said, “Sir Lu, the warehouse key is with the guards, and the inner vault key is with Zhao Dayou, who’s on duty. It’s not in my possession.”
“Zhao Dayou? Where is he?” Lu Zeyou asked angrily.
“Sir Lu! Sir Mei! I’m here. Heh heh, my stomach wasn’t cooperating earlier, so I had to take a quick break. What’s the matter? Do you need to enter the warehouse?” A loud voice suddenly rang out behind everyone.
They turned to see Zhao Dayou swaying into view, holding his teapot.
==============
Power Company Notice: Power outage tomorrow!
If the power comes back early tomorrow, I might be able to squeeze in another chapter.
If it’s late, then we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
Everyone turned around and saw Zhao Dayou approaching leisurely, teapot in hand, swaying as he walked.
==============
Notice from the Power Bureau: Power outage tomorrow!
If the electricity comes back early, there might be a chapter.
If it’s late, we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow.
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