"No, I'm not interested in other people's secrets, nor am I someone who would seize another person's opportunities. I just think the two of them have tremendous potential, and I want to recruit them before they soar to great heights and put them to work for me!"
"After hearing your explanation, I think they're pretty good too."
"They're currently in the Ghost Unit of the Yu Unit (Camp). It's a bit of a waste. I hope I can persuade them to join our team."
The Ghost Unit of the Dragon Guard's Yu Unit (Camp) was responsible for security in Chaoge City. Its main duties were patrolling the streets, upholding the law, and maintaining order.
After finding out which streets Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were patrolling today in the Ghost Unit, Qin Shuang did not immediately go looking for them.
"Brother Shuang, where are we going?" Little Fish asked when he saw Qin Shuang continuing to circle around inside the Dragon Guard Yamen.
"Are you still unfamiliar with this road?" Qin Shuang asked with a sly smile.
"Uh, are we going to find Sister Cheng?" Little Fish suddenly realized where they were when they reached the Moon Unit of the Cosmos Unit (Camp).
"Why are you being so formal? She's the one who saved your and Xiao Gao's lives!"
"Ahem, Brother Shuang, don't make fun of me!" Little Fish rarely looked so embarrassed.
As they spoke, the two arrived outside a small building with a courtyard. The garden plots were filled with all kinds of spirit herbs, while the building was surrounded by a medicinal fragrance as light as mist, making it seem like an immortal realm.
Qin Shuang knocked properly on the door and patiently waited.
Before long, a young woman came out. She wore a clean and tidy cloth dress with a simple hairpin, and she was as fresh and elegant as a new lotus after the rain. Her eyes were clear and sparkling, as if they could see straight through a person's heart.
She was none other than Cheng Lingsu, the Poison Hand Medicine King's last disciple. She was proficient in the classics of medicine, medicinal herbs, and poison, and was the foremost young expert in the Moon Unit of the Dragon Guard's Cosmos Unit (Camp) when it came to using and neutralizing poison.
When Cheng Lingsu saw who had come, a smile spread across her normally cool face, like a crabapple blossom opening. "Brother Shuang, Little Fish!"
"Ling Su."
"Sister Cheng."
"Brother Shuang, Little Fish, what brings you here today? Did you run into another opponent who uses poison?" Cheng Lingsu asked as she stepped aside to invite them in.
"We didn't run into any opponent, but we really did come here to ask you for a favor." Qin Shuang deliberately kept her in suspense.
"It wasn't because you encountered an opponent?" Cheng Lingsu's thoughts turned, and she asked with a smile, "Could it be that Brother Shuang passed the promotion assessment and plans to set up his own unit?"
"Ah, nothing gets past you. Ling Su, with how clever you are, it would be a waste not to come to the Divine Unit of our Yu Unit (Camp)!" Qin Shuang exaggeratedly blinked.
"Really?"
"Of course. I came to invite you. Don't stay cooped up in the yamen all day. Come investigate cases and solve them with us!"
"The yamen is quite nice too. I grow herbs, make medicine, and neutralize poisons. It's very relaxing." Cheng Lingsu explained calmly.
"You're only seventeen. Don't be so gloomy! Investigating, solving cases, making arrests, and interrogating people are all interesting. Come experience it with me."
"I'm telling you, the fun of matching wits and courage with others is something you won't be able to stop once you've tried it!"
"You know how none of us is afraid of anyone when it comes to courage, but we're always a little lacking when it comes to wits. We especially need your support!"
"At worst, I promise that if you meet the man of your dreams in the future and he can't bear to let you run around outside, I'll let you come back without any conditions!"
Qin Shuang talked on and on, trying to persuade Cheng Lingsu.
"Brother Shuang, if you keep fooling around like this, I won't go!" Cheng Lingsu's pretty face flushed slightly as she heard Qin Shuang become more and more outrageous.
"Uh? So you're saying you agree?" Qin Shuang asked in delighted surprise.
"Mm, but you'll have to wait a few days. I have a lot of things to hand over."
"No problem. You can arrange the details of your work yourself, and I'll handle the transfer procedures." Qin Shuang thought for a moment before adding, "Oh, right, I should tell you in advance. You'll be coming over as a Squad Leader, so it won't be as easy as it is for you now. You'll have to lead teams on missions, and you'll be rather busy. Be mentally prepared, and no complaining!"
"Ah, Brother Shuang, you... I... If you want me to lead a team, then I'm not coming..." Cheng Lingsu suddenly became coy.
"It's fine, don't be afraid. You can train into it!" Qin Shuang thought of Cheng Lingsu's usual socially anxious manner, realized what was going on, and quickly comforted her.
Cheng Lingsu shook her head like a rattle drum.
"All right, all right. We'll do as you say. You won't be a Squad Leader!" Qin Shuang had no choice but to give in.
Up to this point, the recruitment had gone smoothly. After leaving Cheng Lingsu's courtyard, Qin Shuang's excitement was written all over his face. He turned to look at Little Fish beside him. "How come you didn't say a word just now? That's not like you at all."
"Uh, didn't you say everything already...?" Little Fish shot Qin Shuang a look, then immediately changed the subject. "There's me, Xiao Ding, Xiao Gao, Sister Cheng, Guo Jing, and Yang Kang. If we count Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, only three spots remain. Do you have any targets?"
"Not for now. Let's find Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling first. You can help me think of someone else suitable too. They can't be too old, since I don't have much seniority myself."
"All right."
As they spoke, Qin Shuang and Little Fish arrived at the street where Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were patrolling that day. They looked around and soon spotted the two men in black sitting inside a teahouse.
The public security agencies in the imperial capital consisted of the Imperial Guards, the Imperial Guards, the Dragon Guard, the Commandery Office, the Street Commissioners, and other departments. Among them, the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Guards were responsible for protecting the imperial palace, government offices, and officials' residences.
The Imperial Guards, together with the Dragon Guard and the Commandery Office, maintained public order and ensured the people could live and work in peace by stationing soldiers, conducting patrols and inspections, and strengthening city patrols. As for street patrols, the Commandery Office was in charge during the day, the Dragon Guard at night, while the Imperial Guards handled both day and night.
The Street Commissioners had relatively broad authority, including managing municipal affairs, maintaining public order, cleaning, and disaster prevention and relief. They maintained the imperial capital's security and development by formulating various regulations and rewards and punishments.
It was daytime, and it was not yet time for the Dragon Guard's street patrols. Thus, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had found a teahouse to pass the time and, incidentally, listen to the bits of gossip circulating among the common folk.
"Kou Zhong, Ziling!" Qin Shuang and Little Fish entered the teahouse, greeting them as they sat down.
"Huh? Brother Shuang, Brother Yu, what brings you here for tea?" Kou Zhong looked up and was surprised to see Qin Shuang and Little Fish.
"Brother Shuang, Brother Yu." Xu Ziling also greeted them politely.
"Long time no see!" Qin Shuang accepted the tea Kou Zhong passed him, took a sip, and glanced at the teahouse patrons coming and going.
Before you continue