An Unbeatable Opening

Shen Qing sat on the bed, repeatedly rubbing his temples.

He looked around.

Carved redwood doors and windows, antique blue-brick flooring, and a silk screen embroidered with emerald waters and verdant mountains.

Mottled sunlight filtered through the carved window and fell across Shen Qing's face.

The stabbing pain in his temples gradually subsided as two sets of memories slowly intertwined and fused.

Shen Qing vaguely remembered disguising himself as a speed bump in front of a cement truck. Then he had ended up here.

"Did I transmigrate?"

Great Wu Dynasty, Zhengwu Era, Year 196.

The original owner was also named Shen Qing. He was a Lieutenant Official at the Imperial Guards' General's Office in Baiyun County, Yongning Commandery.

But unlike his previous life, this world had martial artists and vicious beasts. He had some cultivation himself, at the Body Tempering Fifth Level.

The noise outside rose again.

"What are you coming in for? I already told you, our boss is resting."

Another, rather overbearing voice rang out.

"Resting? Resting in broad daylight?"

"Don't you know what you did? And you're still resting?"

Shen Qing frowned inside the room as some unpleasant memories surged into his mind.

Yesterday, several carts of silver had been sent over from the General's Office. They were said to have come from raiding a Lineage in the south, and the order was for Shen Qing's squad to escort them to Kaiyuan City.

Shen Qing had deliberately waited until nightfall before leaving the county, but less than half an hour after leaving the city, they were ambushed by a band of fully equipped mountain bandits.

The silver was stolen, and Shen Qing's group had only escaped after leaving behind two dead men.

When they returned, a black pot had been dumped over their heads.

Based on Shen Qing's experience of often being saddled with black pots by his superiors in his previous life, there was no need to think too hard about the current situation.

He had most likely been set up and made to take the blame for someone else.

Whoever had laid the trap had better pray Shen Qing never found out.

The county magistrate? The General Banner Officer? Other Lieutenant Officials? Or was there someone else? Or had all of them taken part?

They had better not let me catch them.

Shen Qing raised his head again and slowly opened his eyes.

"Set me up? Then let me see whether your teeth are good enough."

Just now, Shen Qing had recalled something. That was why he had the confidence to act this way.

Nothing more than a bit of backing.

The Great Wu Dynasty had stood for a thousand years, and the Shen Family had been among its founding meritorious officials.

Even those in the imperial palace had to call the Shen Family a pillar of Great Wu. Over the past thousand years, not a single emperor had been on bad terms with the Shen Family.

In other words, the Shen Family was the second imperial family of the Wu Dynasty.

If I had no backing and got bullied, fine. But now that I have backing, if I still let people bully me, wouldn't that backing be for nothing?

Shen Qing snorted and rose to his feet. Sun Jin? The General Banner Officer? Let me see what this is about.

At that instant, a mechanical, emotionless voice rang out in his mind.

[Detected that the host possesses an exceptionally Clear Mind. The Strongest Trait System has activated.]

[When you kill, or your subordinates kill, there is a chance to plunder traits. You may obtain one trait upgrade opportunity per day.]

[Ding! Novice gift pack opened.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained the unique trait: Clear Mind (Red).]

[Congratulations, you have obtained three trait upgrade opportunities.]

[Clear Mind (Red): With a Clear Mind, you will permanently remain in a state of lucid Dao heart, with heaven-defying comprehension.]

Shen Qing felt a pure energy wash through his entire body, as if his whole being had become crystal clear.

[Current cultivation: Body Tempering Fifth Level.]

[Current cultivation art: Overbearing Body Forging Art (Minor Mastery).]

[Current martial art: Roughening Wind Saber Technique (Minor Mastery).]

[Current traits.]

[Clear Mind (Red).]

[Current trait upgrade opportunities: 4.]

Was this real?

Looking at the translucent blue screen before him, a crazed expression gradually spread across his face.

Backing or a cheat—having either one would already be a heavenly opening hand.

Having both at once was a king bomb!

Shen Qing kicked the door open. Everyone arguing outside immediately fell silent.

Several of his subordinates promptly saluted. "Greetings, my lord."

Only the constable from the General's Office stood with his back ramrod straight.

"Lieutenant Shen, Lord Sun requests your presence. Why don't you come with me?"

Shen Qing said nothing, his face expressionless as he walked toward the constable step by step.

This constable was named Sun Jin. He was the nephew of General Banner Officer Sun Yan, accustomed to throwing his weight around, and he had taken no small amount of benefits from Shen Qing.

The next moment, Shen Qing swung his right arm wide and struck with his palm, kicking up a fierce gust. The constable drew a perfect arc through the air before flying straight sideways.

Everyone in the courtyard was dumbfounded.

Shen Qing barked, "What are you standing around for? Haul him up for me."

The people in the courtyard exchanged looks. This was someone from the General's Office.

Only three constables exchanged glances before stepping out of the crowd and hauling up the thoroughly disoriented Sun Jin.

Shen Qing glanced at the three constables. One had dark skin and everyone called him Black Dog. Another was lean and everyone called him Scholar. As for the last one, who looked like an honest man, everyone called him Old Li.

One side of Sun Jin's face had swollen up. Saliva and blood dripped nonstop from the corner of his mouth as he glared fixedly at Shen Qing, his words slurred.

"You... you dare hit me?"

Shen Qing slapped Sun Jin across the face, knocking three large teeth flying.

"So what? I hit you. What are you going to do about it?"

"You're only a constable. Who gave you the nerve to speak to me like that?"

That slap made the other side of his face swell as well. At least it was symmetrical now.

Sun Jin immediately submitted, a feeble sound escaping his mouth.

"I... was wrong... Lord Shen..."

"I submit... I won't dare again."

Shen Qing slapped him again.

"Did you leave your vocal cords at home? Can't you speak louder?"

After three slaps, the arrogance in Sun Jin's eyes had vanished completely, leaving only terror. He hurriedly shouted at the top of his lungs.

"I... was wrong!"

Shen Qing grabbed Sun Jin's mouth and squeezed hard, crushing all of Sun Jin's remaining teeth.

"Go back and tell that Sun fellow."

"The moment I left the city, the bandits came right after."

"What? Did those bandits have heavenly eyes?"

"If he has the guts, report this matter upward. Then let's see whose head hits the ground in the end!"

"Do you understand?"

Sun Jin's eyes were filled with terror. He did not dare argue at all.

"Under... stood."

Shen Qing released him.

"Throw him out."

At his words, Black Dog grabbed Sun Jin by the nape like he was carrying a dead dog and tossed him out.

Scholar stepped closer, worry on his face.

"My lord, won't this cause us some trouble?"

Shen Qing looked at Scholar, Old Li, and Black Dog, who was carrying Sun Jin away. For now, Shen Qing was very satisfied with these three underlings.

Sun Jin was General Banner Officer Sun Yan's nephew. He had long been used to acting arrogantly in the General's Office and did not even regard Lieutenant Officials as worthy of notice.

When Shen Qing had attacked Sun Jin, the three of them had stepped forward to help restrain him without the slightest hesitation. They had backbone.

Shen Qing smiled. "Don't worry. Sun Yan will cause us trouble, but we won't be in much trouble."

"On the contrary, I'll cause him trouble—and it'll be a lot of trouble."