NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: Return to Report
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The mountains were vast, draped in the twilight glow at the horizon, like a tapestry, dyeing the sky a shade of orange-red.
The setting sun was like blood, slowly sinking among the undulating hills.
A majestic horse, like black lightning, sped along the winding path, its hooves clattering sharply, breaking the silence of the mountains.
Shen Qing was dressed in a tight-fitting garment, its hem fluttering with the wind.
He held the reins tightly with one hand, a hint of rugged heroism on his dust-covered face.
At this moment, Shen Qing's expression changed. He noticed a drop of ink falling from above, gradually spreading into lines of text, popping up with a skillful reminder.
[Skill: Riding Skill (Small Success)]
[Progress: 301/300 points]
[Status: Can be upgraded]
[Note: Through continuous practice, your understanding of riding skills has further improved. After mastering the riding skill, your riding speed can increase by up to 100%, and you can master the technique of concealing oneself while stepping.]
"Huh? Riding speed increased by 100%, and the technique of concealing oneself while stepping?"
"Speed increase means I can travel farther in less time, and the technique of concealing oneself while stepping can confuse the perception of some ordinary people, not bad."
Shen Qing murmured to himself.
Seeing that the upgrade conditions were met, he lay flat on the horse's back, with no hesitation, dropping his consciousness onto the water ink panel: "Riding skill, upgrade!"
The familiar process appeared once again.
Just after Shen Qing had this thought, the information on the water ink panel immediately refreshed.
[Skill: Riding Skill (Mastery)]
[Progress: 1/400 points]
[Status: Cannot be improved]
[Note: Your riding skill has now reached the level of mastery. You can control your mount more freely, with an anticipated speed increase of up to 100%, and you have mastered the technique of concealing oneself while stepping.]
The riding skill had reached mastery.
Shen Qing skillfully gathered his thoughts, holding his breath.
As usual, a vast amount of memory flooded into his brain, causing it to become suddenly dizzy.
Shen Qing quickly took a deep breath, steadying himself.
In the newly gained memory, through day-by-day practice, he had achieved a deeper understanding of the horse's strength and further refined his mastery of riding skills.
When the discomfort in his mind had completely disappeared, Shen Qing slowly sat upright and found that riding had become even more effortless for him.
He turned back to look at Changqiao Town, which was now out of sight, and pulled a warm egg from his bulging pocket.
Sitting on horseback, he peeled the eggshell leisurely and took a bite.
He stuffed the remaining egg white into his mouth, and after eating one more, Shen Qing's face showed some satisfaction with a faint smile.
"Giddy-up!"
Shen Qing clamped his legs around the horse's abdomen, and like a black arrow, Zhuifeng shot forward.
After spending two moments, when night had fallen and everything was silent, Shen Qing finally arrived before the towering gates of Yongzhou.
At this point, it was past the entry time for Yongzhou, and the city gates were already closed.
Several lanterns hung beneath the city gate swayed in the wind, casting mottled shadows.
The guards clutching spears noticed the sound of hooves, stopped their conversation, and shouted: "Who goes there?"
Shen Qing reined in his horse to slow its pace, approaching the city gate gradually.
He took an identity token from his pocket and showed it to the guards: "Guardian Martial Department dispatch office, Shen Qing. I am on a mission to investigate the demon havoc at Changqiao Town, causing a late return. I hope you brothers will kindly open the gate."
The guards exchanged glances quickly, and one of them stepped forward swiftly, accepted the token respectfully, checked it carefully, and then gestured the others to let him pass.
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The heavy gate slowly opened with a deep creaking sound.
Surely, it was a county town; Yongzhou did not have so many complicated rules upon entry.
Shen Qing smiled slightly, nodded to the guards in thanks, then rode through and entered the city smoothly.
At this hour, many government offices in the county had already reached closing time.
However, since many demons liked to commit mischief late at night, both the Guardian Martial Department and the Military Department had people on duty even in the dead of night.
Not wanting to leave anything to chance, Shen Qing went directly to the Guardian Martial Department to report in and change the duty token for the day.
County City Guard Martial Arts Department Office.
Compared to the daytime busyness and clamor, the Guardian Martial Department appeared much quieter at night.
Only faint candlelight leaked from a duty room, indicating that there was still someone on duty in the Guardian Martial Department.
The night was ink-black and silent.
Shen Qing walked with quick steps, his footsteps echoing rhythmically as he crossed the empty courtyard.
Entering the side chambers, the weak airflow he stirred caused the candlelight inside to flicker, shifting the shadows along with it.
Inside was a minor official leaning beside the table, engrossed in reading a yellowed magazine.
Noticing someone enter, the minor official put down the book and, upon seeing Shen Qing, complained: "Shen Chasi, why are you back so late today? Chief Officer said he was waiting for your report."
Shen Qing chuckled lightly and took out his duty token, saying: "When did our Lord Chief Officer become so diligent?"
"The Lord Commander, of course." The minor official took the duty token and said, "For some reason, there seem to be more demons around Yongzhou, putting quite some pressure on the Commander, which in turn affects our Chief Officer. But it is already very late now, so reporting in tomorrow won't be an issue."
Shen Qing patted the minor official's shoulder lightly, smiled, and said: "I'll handle it myself."
Having sorted out the duty token matter, Shen Qing briskly left the side chambers and rode off with three pieces of wolf skin towards the Chief Officer's quarters.
Knowing that his superior was quite suspicious and secretly affiliated with the Huang Tian Sect, he chose to avoid unnecessary trouble unless necessary.
He simply needed to fulfill his responsibilities at the dispatch office as expected.
If he was told to report, he would report, without giving any excuse for critique.
Inside the inner hall of the Chief Officer's quarters, candles lit the place brightly.
Standing at the door and ready to knock, Shen Qing heard playful voices inside, causing him to pause and stand quietly outside.
He heard the actions inside grow bolder.
For about a stick of incense's time, with a climax in the voices, everything inside abruptly stopped.
Shen Qing frowned, feeling that their Chief Officer seemed a bit weak.
Standing outside for a while more, ensuring everything was complete, Shen Qing stepped forward and rapped softly on the elaborately carved wooden door, the crisp sound breaking the still air.
"Subordinate Shen Qing, on command to investigate the Wolf Demon at Changqiao Town, here to report to the lord."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly penetrated inside, reaching the ears of those present.
A series of subtle and hurried sounds ensued, indicating an onset of panic from the people inside upon receiving the sudden news.
After a moment, these rustling sounds gradually faded, and a low and authoritative male voice floated out from within: "Come in."
Hearing this, Shen Qing gently pushed open the wooden door.
Crossing the threshold, Shen Qing's gaze swept quickly over the room's furnishings, finally landing on Zheng Yuanqiu, the Chief Officer in a green robe, whose expression held a hint of dissatisfaction.
At that moment, Zheng Yuanqiu was sitting upright at the desk, with flickering candlelight casting his bulky figure into a long shadow on the mottled wall.
Shen Qing took a step forward, bowed, and said, "My lord, I have successfully completed the mission, and I have investigated the matter of the Wolf Demon in Changqiao Town."
Zheng Yuanqiu looked up and asked, "Tell me about it, what's the situation?"
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