"What's so strange about that? Ni Pusa is someone His Majesty personally named. Bringing him back safely was already a great achievement worthy of a promotion. On top of that, you captured spies from Northern Yuan and Western Xia and wiped out so many martial artists in Tai and Qing Prefectures who refused to submit to the court. Just a Garrison General—it's what you deserve!"
"Uncle Yang, you only have ten Garrison Generals under you. I wonder whose position I took? I feel rather embarrassed." Qin Shuang chuckled and asked.
Seeing the sly grin on Qin Shuang's face, Yang Yuncong could not resist teasing him. "Then you have no need to feel embarrassed. All ten of them are still here. You're only a Garrison General in name!"
"Huh? What do you mean? What does 'in name' mean?" Qin Shuang leaped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Did you do so many things that you forgot about killing the Imperial Guards?" Yang Yuncong explained. "The Dragon Guard and the Imperial Guards may have been at odds with each other in private, but we're both still institutions of the court. You killed one sixth-rank Hundredhouse Commander and four sixth-rank Probationary Hundredhouse Commanders just like that. We have to give them some explanation, don't we?"
"So?" Qin Shuang asked in confusion.
"So your position has to be suspended. But don't worry—this is only for show. At most six months, and I'll reinstate you!" Yang Yuncong continued reassuring him.
"I haven't even gotten my position as Garrison General, and it's already flown away?"
"No, no, how can you say it flew away? I'm only holding it for you temporarily. You can recruit your personnel first, then have two Squad Leaders lead them for the time being. You'll still receive missions and get credit for the achievements. There isn't a more comfortable post anywhere in the Dragon Guard." Yang Yuncong smiled at Qin Shuang.
At that moment, Qin Shuang was like an eggplant beaten by frost, entirely bereft of his earlier energy.
After leaving the Yu Unit's Divine Section Office, Qin Shuang saw Jiang Xiaoyu, Cheng Lingsu, and Mu Wan Qing gathered together. They were clearly waiting for him.
"What's with the three of you?" Qin Shuang asked, pretending not to know.
"Hmph, we were worried you'd be punished, of course!" Mu Wan Qing's skin was smooth and delicate, as translucent as cold jade, making her cool, limpid eyes all the more captivating. She was like the pure radiance of a new moon, like snow piled upon flowering trees.
"Brother Shuang, did Old Boss Yang make things difficult for you?" Jiang Xiaoyu asked with concern.
"It's fine. Our achievements outweighed our mistakes in this mission. Just wait for the rewards from above!" Qin Shuang said lightly. He took out the Jade Spirit Pill Ling Weifeng had given him earlier and said to Cheng Lingsu, "Ling Su, this is the Tianshan Sect's Jade Spirit Pill. Give one each to Brother Hu, Section Leader Wang, and Section Leader Li. Keep the rest for yourself. You can study them later."
"Oh." Cheng Lingsu accepted the porcelain bottle without asking further. Whatever Qin Shuang asked her to do, she did.
Qin Shuang then instructed Jiang Xiaoyu, "Little Fish, notify everyone in your first unit to come to my house for a meeting!"
"No problem!" Jiang Xiaoyu answered and immediately got to work.
"Sister, stop looking so cold and come back to see Mother with me!" Qin Shuang said with a grin as he reached for Mu Wan Qing's arm. She knocked his hand away, but he did not mind and continued walking ahead on his own.
Mu Wan Qing thought for a moment, then followed him after all.
That evening, Qin Shuang had the best restaurant in Yongxing Ward send over a tableful of food and wine to entertain everyone.
After the meal, Mu Wan Qing, Ding Ning, Jiang Xiaoyu, Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, Huai Mie, Huai Kong, Guo Jing, Yang Kang, Cheng Lingsu, Gao Jian Fei, Heng Feijing, and Qin Shuang himself—thirteen people in all—each received a Lesser Restoration Pill.
After taking the Lesser Restoration Pills, all thirteen felt refreshed and brimming with inner strength. They praised them as expected of sacred medicine capable of strengthening one's foundations, nourishing one's vitality, and improving one's cultivation. The pills laid a solid foundation for them to break through to the next realm of the Martial Way.
This mission had not only made Qin Shuang realize the importance of martial arts; everyone else had also discovered the shortcomings of their low Martial Way realms. Thus, regarding Qin Shuang's gift of the Lesser Restoration Pills, they all secretly swore not to disappoint his goodwill—and even less to squander the effects of such miraculous medicine.
The group continued discussing matters. In the end, Qin Shuang decided that the two Squad Leader positions would be held by Shen Hu Chan and Ding Ning. Of the three vacant Section Leader positions, two would go to Jiang Xiaoyu and Yang Kang. Shen Hu Chan would arrange the remaining position himself.
As for recruitment, the newly appointed Section Leaders would have to find a way on their own.
Over the following days, Shen Hu Chan brought the first pleasant surprise.
Not only had he persuaded "Bone Crushing Ash" He Zezhong, "Eighteen-Foot Spear" Luo Wuxia, and "Pitch Black Face" Cai Zhuimao to fill the vacancies left by the deaths of Chen Bu Ding and Feng Bu Ba, he had also invited Lu Fang, Han Zhang, Xu Qing, Jiang Ping, and Bai Yutang—the Five Rats of Trapped Sky Island—to join Qin Shuang.
Besides recruiting several younger members and friends from the Guo and Yang families, as well as Mu Nianci, Yang Kang had also poached three young talents from other units: Yuan Nianzu, Gong Feiyun, and Meng Xiaohua.
With the personnel Yang Yuncong arranged for the four units arriving one after another, Qin Shuang's first unit was more or less fully established.
Each unit of the Dragon Guard was divided into two squads. Under Qin Shuang, the first squad was led by Squad Leader Ding Ning and divided into five sections.
The first section was led by Section Leader Jiang Xiaoyu, with Squad Leader Kou Zhong and members Xu Ziling, Huai Mie, and Huai Kong; Squad Leader Heng Feijing, with members Cheng Lingsu, Gao Jian Fei, Destroy Ghost God, and Nian Cangsheng. It was currently short one member.
The second section was led by Section Leader Mu Wan Qing, with Squad Leader Li Wenxiu and members Zhong Ling, Mei Jiangxue, Chen Xuanshuang, and Fang Zhaonan; Squad Leader Mo Wen, with members Jing Lei, Cheng Feng, Beitang Zilong, and Situ Shuiling. It was fully staffed.
The third section was led by Section Leader Wang Dong, with Squad Leader Guo Dalu and members Yan Qi, Nangong Chou, Mei Ruji, and Mei Runan; Squad Leader Lin Taiping, with member Feng Qiwu. It was currently short three members.
The fourth section was led by Section Leader Li Sheng Nan, with Squad Leader Xiang Hong and members Wu Meng, Ge Zhong, and Li Fu Sheng; Squad Leader Lu Fang, with members Han Zhang, Xu Qing, Jiang Ping, and Bai Yutang. It was currently short one member.
The fifth section was led by Section Leader Yang Kang, with Squad Leader Yang Guo and members Mu Nianci, Yuan Nianzu, Gong Feiyun, and Meng Xiaohua; Squad Leader Guo Jing, with members Guo Fu, Guo Xiang, and Guo Polu. It was currently short one member.
The second squad was led by Squad Leader Shen Hu Chan and divided into five sections.
The first section was led by Section Leader Fang Henshao, with Squad Leader Tang Bao Niu and members Zhang Tan, Liang Aniu, He Xiaohe, and Zhu Xiaoyao; Squad Leader Cai Shuize, with members Tang Qimei, He Zezhong, Luo Wuxia, and Cai Zhuimao. It was fully staffed.
The second section was led by Section Leader Miao Changfeng, with Squad Leader Guan Kunwu and members Wu Dingfang, Zhao Wenqi, Zhang Xiaoyao, and Li Tongchuan; Squad Leader Mou Yihang, with members Bu Tiandiao, Duan Shichou, Dan Qiusheng, and Mou Lizhu. It was fully staffed.
The third section was led by Section Leader Leng Tieqiao, with Squad Leader Yuchi Jiong and members Qi Shengyin, Chen Detai, Ye Muhua, and Geng Xiufeng; Squad Leader Meng Yuanchao, with members Lin Wushuang, Shao Henian, Shao Ziwei, and Xiao Yuexian. It was fully staffed.
The fourth section was led by Section Leader Xiao Zhiyuan, with Squad Leader Song Tengxiao and members Lu Sihao, Lu Smei, Qin Yuanhao, and Feng Miaochang; Squad Leader Zhu Shangfu, with members Zhu Qinghua, Li Wencheng, Luo Qiwan, and Li Guangfu. It was fully staffed.
The fifth section was led by Section Leader Yang Mu, with Squad Leader Yun Ziluo and members Fang Liang, Fan Kui, Song Pengju, and Hu Liankui; Squad Leader Qi Jianye, with members Qi Shaobei, Yang Lian, Min Chenglong, and Yue Hao. It was fully staffed.
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