How come I'm the one being conquered?

I don't know what this kid is trying to achieve by collecting so many swords. They'll cry if they're stuck in display cases all day, you idiot!

Every time Bai Jun saw Yan Qing put his swords into a packed display cabinet, a certain young woman, completely different from him, would come to mind. He couldn't help but sigh, thinking how interesting those two were.

Hearing Bai Jun say that, Jing Yuan nodded as if he suddenly understood. "No wonder. I was wondering why Yan Qing wasn't asking me for money like he used to. So he found a new creditor."

"But it doesn't matter. If you're short on cash, Qing Yan, come to me. The General's daily expenses are covered by Shence Mansion anyway, so salary is irrelevant to me."

Bai Jun shook his head. If he were really short on money, he could just go to Tingyun. He was sure that rich fox, who owned dozens of properties and four or five shops, would be more than happy to let him run a tab. Borrowing a mere one or two million Credits wouldn't be a problem.

But if he did that...

Imagining the scene of her threatening him with the IOU in the future, Bai Jun's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively shrank his neck. "A thousand gold pieces are easily lost, but favors are hard to repay. Let's forget it."

"Is that so? I don't think our friendship is that shallow." Jing Yuan didn't seem to care, but he chose to respect Bai Jun's wishes.

As the two were talking, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the training grounds, sounding like high heels on the loess.

Before Bai Jun could get a clear look at the newcomer, an angry, slightly weary female voice boomed, "Jing Yuan, why did you sneak out to train again! Why don't you listen to the doctor's orders? What if you develop a lingering illness!"

A female Vidyadhara strode over, her beautiful face with faint dark circles filled with anger. She held a stack of unfinished documents in her left hand and gently cradled a small bundle, the little sparrow, in her right, her gaze fixed solely on the white-haired General holding the Formation Blade.

As for why she dared to call the General by his name? Jing Yuan actually disliked being addressed by his title, and over time, she started calling him by his name. But she still respected Jing Yuan deeply; it just didn't apply at the moment.

"It's fine if you don't finish your case work and hand it over to me, and it's okay if you don't take care of the little one and leave it to me, but who are the doctors telling you to rest for? If you ruin your health, it affects all the citizens of Luofu!"

"I was wrong, I was wrong. For Qing Yan's sake, please forgive me this time."

A practiced apology drifted from behind. Bai Jun turned his head, and sure enough, Jing Yuan was already cowering behind him with a sheepish grin, shamelessly pushing Bai Jun forward to take the brunt of the scolding.

Bai Jun's face darkened. He blindly elbowed Jing Yuan behind him, making him grunt and stagger back.

After pushing Jing Yuan's hands off his shoulders, Bai Jun awkwardly scratched his cheek and waved to Qing Que. "Good morning, Sister Qing Que."

Qing Que blinked slightly, only then noticing Bai Jun standing in front of Jing Yuan. She instinctively tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded, also a bit awkwardly. "Bai Jun, I thought it was someone else."

"Chirp chirp!" The little bundle in Qing Que's hand suddenly flew to Bai Jun's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek intimately with its beak.

Bai Jun smiled and gently scratched the little guy's soft belly feathers with his finger, causing the adorable little sparrow to squint contentedly.

"This little one really likes you. It doesn't seek me out much anymore," Jing Yuan said, rubbing his sore chest, his words filled with emotion.

"It's less that it doesn't seek you out, and more that you're too busy with work to take care of it," Bai Jun disagreed. Most little animals are like this; they're affectionate to whoever is kind to them. But in this regard, it was better than many people.

"Speaking of which, did Qing Que say you were sick?"

"Heh, it's just a bit of a chill... cough cough." Jing Yuan feigned nonchalance, dusting off his clothes. But his composure lasted less than a moment before being shattered by an ill-timed cough.

Qing Que playfully punched Jing Yuan's shoulder and sighed. "Jing Yuan always talks nonsense. He was injured on his expedition. The doctor said last night he needed to rest for a while, but he snuck out to the training grounds early this morning to show off. He doesn't take care of himself at all."

Jing Yuan's face suddenly flushed red, but he felt he still had a point. "The doctor also said I should do moderate exercise to loosen my muscles and blood. Besides, I've been fine for so many years. How can I be so delicate?"

He then followed up with incomprehensible phrases like "A floating life is like a single leek, fighting over right and wrong in a snail's shell" and "Can the General's actions be called showing off?"

"Sigh, forget it. I can't manage you. Bai Jun will manage you. I have other things to do." Qing Que knew she couldn't persuade the General. She helplessly patted his back with the case file, nodded to Bai Jun, and left.

"Take care of yourself. You've made her angry enough to leave."

Bai Jun continued to play with the little bundle in his palm. He knew that telling the person who governed the entire Luofu to "please rest" was irresponsible. But as a friend, he naturally didn't want Jing Yuan to treat his body this way.

"Alright, alright, I get it. Since it's still early, why don't we finish the unfinished game from last time!"

In the end, whether Jing Yuan actually listened or not was unknown. He stubbornly dragged Bai Jun to the main hall to play Star Array Chess.

Star Array Chess originated from the ancient history and culture of the Xianzhou Alliance. It features a square board and round pieces, symbolizing the ancient struggle of various states to conquer and unify the land. In Bai Jun's eyes, Star Array Chess was no different from Chinese Chess, at most with slightly different piece names.

Bai Jun wasn't exactly uninterested, but Jing Yuan was quite obsessed with this game, which closely resembled Chinese Chess. He even projected a massive Star Array Chess board in the main hall using quantum virtual particles, for him to ponder new strategies in his free time.

"You still remember the endgame from three months ago? Are you that competitive... Wait a minute, whose turn was it to make this move last time?" Bai Jun sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, staring blankly at the unfinished endgame.

"The game itself may be uninteresting, but the players must eventually determine a winner. Come on, I'm determined to win a game against you this time."

Jing Yuan chuckled and shook his head. While Bai Jun was distracted, he had already made his move.

"Such a grown man, acting like a child." Bai Jun's lips twitched. He thought to himself, It doesn't matter, I'll just humor Jing Yuan.

"Speaking of which, how have you been feeling recently? Are you adjusting well to the work at the Department of Earthly Rulings?"

As the chess pieces clashed, the players didn't idle. Jing Yuan lightly twirled a star chess piece and casually asked about Bai Jun's recent situation.

"You've asked me that many times. I'm fine. Whether it's the Department of Earthly Rulings, the Alchemy Commission, or even the Ten Lords Bureau, it doesn't matter to me. It's just a change in lifestyle. How about you? Was your expedition on The Hunt all right?"

"Same as usual. Just sank a few Winged Cloud-Piercing Ships and shot down a few vanguard warships of the Huiyin. Boring, but no major incidents. Besides, compared to the endless, tedious work on official documents, an expedition on The Hunt is more like a rare vacation for me."

Jing Yuan calmly recounted his recent experiences. To him, it was truly insignificant. However, Bai Jun stroked his lips, looking thoughtful.

Bai Jun wasn't pondering Jing Yuan's words. Instead, he noticed something amiss with the Star Array Chess board. The Cloud Cannon had clearly moved four spaces forward to the third rank, placing it on Jing Yuan's back line. But now...

How did such a large Cloud Cannon disappear!?

Realizing his chess piece had been stolen again, Bai Jun let out an annoyed "tsk" and reached out to Jing Yuan. "You cheated again! Give it back."

"Haha, chess pieces are like people; they have their own minds. We made our moves without regret, so why should we take them back? Qing Yan, you're not going to renege on this, are you?" Jing Yuan proudly wiggled his finger, showing no intention of returning the piece.

Hearing the old cheat's twisted logic, Bai Jun's forced smile began to crack. Veins bulged on his fair face, and his clenched fists made cracking sounds. Yet, his tone remained completely devoid of anger. Taking a deep breath, he silently moved a Cloud Soldier one square on the board.

Perhaps feeling guilty, or perhaps simply wanting to distract Bai Jun, Jing Yuan pushed the fruit plate that Qing Que had brought over a bit closer to him, seemingly trying to tempt him with sweets.

Bai Jun didn't eat. He pushed the chess piece forward again. "Cloud Chariot moves three spaces left to the fourth rank. Checkmate. You lose."

The settled cloud chariot and the main general had already cornered Jing Yuan's command, rendering any further struggle futile.

"Wait, wait! Why didn't I see that move? Go back, go back and start over." A flicker of panic crossed Jing Yuan's eyes, and he instinctively reached to push Bai Jun's cloud chariot back.

"Chess pieces are like people; they have their own minds. We made our moves without regret, so what reason is there to start over? General, you're not going to try and cheat, are you?" Bai Jun, of course, couldn't allow it. He retorted Jing Yuan's earlier words of protest, and the historical boomerang finally landed precisely on the back of Jing Yuan's head.

"Oh dear, it's already this late. The Department of Earthly Rulings has urgent matters to attend to. General, please excuse me." Pretending to look at the clock in the hallway, but in reality giving Jing Yuan no chance to react, Bai Jun stood up and strode away, not forgetting to grab a handful of candies from his pocket as he left.

"No, no! I refuse to accept this! Qing Yan, quickly, let's play another game!" Jing Yuan, only now realizing what had happened, quickly reached out to stop him, his voice filled with sorrow and a hint of unwillingness.

But when he looked up again, Bai Jun had already vanished without a trace. The vast main hall echoed only with Jing Yuan's mournful cries of discontent. Fortunately, the Cloud Cavalry Guards on duty hadn't arrived yet. Otherwise, given how much people gossiped, Jing Yuan's reputation would likely have been thrown all the way to the Star Raft Sea.

"Phew, thankfully I'm more skilled. Otherwise, Jing Yuan would have really cheated his way to victory."

As soon as Bai Jun left Shence Mansion, he produced two small objects from his pocket. Upon closer inspection, they were indeed the star chess pieces from Jing Yuan's formation just moments ago.

"Alas, Jing Yuan, Jing Yuan, you're still too careless. How can you offer a fruit plate to your opponent mid-game and expose your weaknesses?" Bai Jun revealed a sly smile, tossing the star chess pieces high into the air. They flew to a peak before rapidly descending, only to be caught steadily and stylishly by him.

This couldn't be called cheating. Jing Yuan made the first move, so it should be called taking back what's yours...

"Ding—"

[Noble Morality Commendation +5]

[30/100]

Oh, no, now it should be called executing justice!

PS: 7k words, please vote!

Chapter 10: Come Out and Play Cards!

Changle Heaven, as the most populous abode on the Luofu Xianzhou, was as lively as ever today. On the opposite street, a bustling crowd surged into a newly opened restaurant called "Dingzhen Pavilion." Perhaps they were drawn by the promise of novel dishes that were said to be no less exquisite than those at "Meizhan Pavilion," but most people were actually there for the 30% opening discount.

Compared to its phenomenal foot traffic, the Public Office of the Department of Earthly Rulings, located in a corner of Changle Heaven, appeared much quieter. Only occasionally would a sparse pair of newlywed couples, arguing about getting a divorce, or transgressing foreign guests being repatriated from the Tianbo Division, wander in. Besides them, there were only people looking for lost cats and dogs.

This tranquility might be a disaster for businesses that relied on customer flow to make money, but for the usually busy civil servants, it was undoubtedly paid leave, making them happier than construction workers on a rainy day.

This couldn't be said to be them slacking off, which would be contrary to the reputation of the Six Bureaus.

As the saying goes:

"If only people in the world were free from illness, why worry about medicine gathering dust on the shelves?" Doctors hope for a world without illness, even if all the medicine on the shelves gathers dust. Haven't the civil servants of the Department of Earthly Rulings felt the same way? Doesn't a reduction in their workload simply signify that the populace is living in peace and prosperity, and society is in a state of harmony?

One couldn't expect the civil servants to go out of their way to find trouble, could they? That would be absurd!

So, whether it's slacking off, sleeping, or finding some amusement, it's all acceptable. They just need to enjoy this peace and quiet. Coincidentally, there was something amusing to watch today, so the civil servants gathered in twos and threes, like the old folks chatting at the street corners, forming an intelligence network within the Public Office.

First, there was the Pure Ink Steward, Jing Yan, leisurely arranging flowers at her desk. Adding a floral arrangement to her empty desk wasn't a big deal, but this display of leisure and elegance in the most unlikely of places made everyone in the Public Office realize that she was actually quite young. It was just that her usual worried frown made people subconsciously overlook this fact.

Unfortunately, Da Hao had rushed off to a meeting at the General Affairs Department of the Star Raft Sea early in the morning, so he couldn't delve into what exactly happened last night. But it was likely quite intense!

Speaking of Jing Yan, one couldn't help but mention the Pine Smoke Steward, Song Yan, who was often used as a negative example in contrast to her. He was usually lazy and unmotivated, even making everyone suspect he was a nepotism hire. However, as time passed, everyone realized he actually had some skills and was easy to get along with. But it was hard for them to feel the same level of respect for him as they did for Jing Yan and Da Hao.

When he arrived this morning, he immediately drew surprised glances from everyone. It wasn't for any particular reason, but mainly because his left cheek was severely swollen, and his right eye socket looked ridiculously comical.

Noticing the stares from his colleagues, Song Yan immediately began to make excuses for his appearance. The civil servants of the Department of Earthly Rulings knew Song Yan's character well, so they watched him with amusement while sipping their tea. Some even teased him, saying, "Song Yan, did you go for advanced training to become Kung Fu Panda?"

Someone else shouted, "Song Yan! You definitely got beaten up!"

Song Yan tried to glare with his swollen eyes and said, "You scoundrel, how can you slander my reputation with your words!"

"What reputation? You clearly got beaten up!"

Song Yan's face turned red, the veins on his forehead bulging. He argued even more forcefully, "This, this is from falling down drunk last night! Besides, is what a scholar does considered getting beaten up?"

This was followed by obscure and difficult-to-understand phrases mixed with Xianzhou vernacular, which made everyone burst into laughter. The Public Office was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Since two stewards and one bureau chief had been mentioned, it was only natural to bring up the esteemed Mr. Bai Qing Yan. But to everyone's surprise, he, who was usually enthusiastic about slacking off, sat up straight today. His hand holding the brush propped up his cheek as he meticulously examined the documents on his desk, a look of worry on his face. He furrowed his brow, subtly revealing a hint of annoyance, which was a stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere around him.

Everyone present was aware of Bai Jun's work capability. No matter how tricky the problem, he handled it with ease and completed it on time. It was no wonder they said he slacked off with good reason; otherwise, anyone else would have been kicked out long ago.

It was truly a rare sight to see him in such a focused and serious state. Even Jing Yan, who was arranging flowers, kept glancing at Bai Jun, a look of surprise and relief on her face, like a parent watching their mischievous child finally pack their schoolbag and go to school on their own.

The civil servants in the Public Office didn't disturb Bai Jun. Even when passing by, they consciously lowered their voices, deliberately leaving him a quiet space to concentrate on his work.

Bai Jun was not one to put on a show. He was indeed caught in some unspeakable vicious cycle, but it wasn't related to work. It was a matter of his own survival, even a question concerning the mystery of human existence.

—What should I eat for lunch today?

How simple and unpretentious, how direct and heartfelt! In today's materialistic and money-worshipping society, how thought-provoking it was! A simple sentence contained emotions like a surging, overflowing river, or like steep, continuous mountains...

Alright, alright, no more jokes. The truth is, he simply hadn't collected his debts, and his financial situation was becoming urgent. He only had enough money left for one meal, and now he had to decide whether to use the remaining money for lunch or dinner.

No, no, calm down. Why must I consider which meal to eat? If I convert the remaining money into steamed buns, I might be able to last for another day or two. If I'm even more frugal, perhaps I could survive for a week, but that would be the absolute limit. The day Yan Qing returns is still far away, and payday for the Department of Earthly Rulings is still more than half a month away. After that, I can only rely on fate...

Bai Jun bit his thumb, his pen tip meticulously calculating on the document, weighing how many steamed buns he could eat to sustain himself. However, to others, his furrowed brow and worried expression appeared to be a sign of diligence.

"No matter what, eating only one or half a steamed bun a day is still quite terrifying for me."

Looking at the astonishing data on the paper, it could be described as a meal to maintain vital signs, but even so, it would only last for a week.

Bai Jun couldn't help but smack his lips, suddenly feeling a bit empty in his mouth. He subconsciously remembered the handful of candies he had put in his pocket when he left Shence Mansion, and now they came in handy.

Peeling off the foil wrapper, a crystal-clear red candy lay quietly in its paper casing, appearing to be strawberry-flavored.

"So sweet..."

As the candy entered his mouth, Bai Jun's furrowed expression instantly melted away in the fruity sweetness, and he closed his eyes happily.

I don't know how to describe it, but I can only say that these candies from Shence Mansion are top-notch in both flavor and sweetness. In short, they're delicious. Then, Bai Jun popped another one into his mouth.

"Whatever, when the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten out. There's no point in thinking too much now. I might as well slack off a bit."

Seemingly forgetting his troubles for a moment under the sweetness of the candy, Bai Jun leaned back in his chair, lost in the moment. He completely disregarded the worries about meals, crossing his long legs casually. His gaze lazily drifted to the street scene outside the window. Passersby hurried along, each driven by their own purpose, never pausing for anything else... Wait, someone actually stopped.

Bai Jun, still in a sugar-induced daze, suddenly noticed a tea-haired girl in a grey-green dress standing on tiptoe outside the public office, looking at him through the glass. Her delicate, exquisite little face wore a cute smile, her twin arched eyebrows slightly raised, framing a pair of eyes sparkling like clear water.

Their eyes met. Bai Jun recognized her. Likewise, Qing Que immediately spotted Bai Jun.

She raised her small hand and knocked on the glass a few times. Although Bai Jun couldn't hear her words through the glass, he could vaguely guess what she wanted to say from the way her cherry lips moved and the enthusiasm in her eyes:

"Come out and play cards!"

Chapter 11: Even if the Sky Falls, Sister Que Will Bear It (Seeking Recommendations and Monthly Votes!)

"Come out and play cards!"

Even though Little Qing Que hadn't spoken, somehow this sentence popped into Bai Jun's mind. It was probably because the two of them often secretly slacked off together to play Imperial Jade Card Game.

Bai Jun touched his empty wallet. His first instinct was to refuse, but Qing Que was plastered against the window, looking at him expectantly. The overwhelming enthusiasm in her gaze was simply too much for him to handle.

With a soft sigh, Bai Jun grabbed a blank piece of paper and a pen. He walked to Jing Yan's desk with a serious expression and pointed to the blank paper, presenting his "report": "There's an error in these data. I need to go to the site for an on-site survey..."

He was clearly lying through his teeth, but Jing Yan was in a good mood, and it was genuinely quiet at the public office anyway. So, she agreed without even looking. "Mm, you've worked hard this morning. Have a good trip."

Bai Jun wondered how slacking off all morning could be considered hard work. But since Jing Yan said so, he accepted the praise with a clear conscience. After all, no one would fault themselves.

As soon as he stepped out of the public office, Qing Que eagerly swarmed him, happily tugging at Bai Jun's sleeve and shaking it back and forth. "Let's go, let's go! Let's play a couple of rounds of Imperial Jade Card Game to warm up!"

"I don't think so. I probably can't play Imperial Jade Card Game recently."

Hearing Bai Jun's hesitant murmur, Qing Que's heart tightened, and she asked with some concern, "What's wrong? Are you troubled by anything lately?"

"Not exactly. It's mainly that I can't even afford to eat, let alone play Imperial Jade Card Game..."