"Dividing the Spoils" (Please Keep Reading)

Yang Wenqing straightened his uniform and pushed open the door to Deputy Director Gao's office.

The office was thick with smoke. Deputy Director Gao reclined against the back of his chair, puffing away, while Wang Jianchao and Liu Xin sat on the sofas to either side.

"You're here?" Deputy Director Gao lifted his eyelids slightly and casually tossed an unopened pack of cigarettes onto an empty corner of the desk. "Help yourself."

Wang Jianchao lazily pointed at the empty seat beside him. "Why are you standing at the door? Waiting for me to salute you?"

Although Liu Xin said nothing, she shifted aside as well, making more room for him.

Yang Wenqing immediately understood. He stepped forward, naturally picked up the pack of cigarettes, opened it, and handed one to Deputy Director Gao first, then one each to Wang Jianchao and Liu Xin, before finally lighting one for himself.

The harsh smoke entered his lungs, and he coughed softly twice. That unpracticed reaction instead eased the atmosphere in the office.

Deputy Director Gao blew out a smoke ring. "Let's take a look at what we gained today."

His gaze fell on Yang Wenqing.

Yang Wenqing immediately took out three storage bags.

Deputy Director Gao rose and walked to his desk, picked up several wooden boxes he had prepared beforehand, each carved with preservation arrays. Returning to his seat, he took the storage bags and removed the spirit herbs and the glass bottles containing Spirit Liquid, placing them on the table.

"The remaining demon beast flesh, blood, and bones in the storage bags are worth roughly a hundred thousand or so. Let's count it as one hundred and fifty thousand." As he spoke, Deputy Director Gao arranged the spoils on the table.

"Then we'll follow the old rules. Director, you take fifty percent, and the three of us split the rest equally," Wang Jianchao said smoothly.

"I'll transfer the money to you tomorrow." Deputy Director Gao glanced at Wang Jianchao and put away the storage bags.

Yang Wenqing's gaze merely swept over those storage bags. He had always thought that someone in Deputy Director Gao's position probably would not need to worry about cultivation materials, but judging from his current behavior, Deputy Director Gao seemed even more concerned about such materials than he was.

But on second thought, the further one advanced in cultivation, the larger their Qi Sea and Spirit Veins would become, and the materials they needed would increase exponentially. At the same time, they had to contend with lifespan. They had no choice but to invest more and strive to break through before their lives came to an end.

"All the spirit herbs are Soul-returning Herbs. It seems to be related to the attribute of this spiritual energy. This herb can strengthen Divine Sense and becomes extremely useful after the Sixth Qi Refinement. However, because it can be cultivated artificially nowadays, it is worth fifteen thousand per plant. Wild ones are more expensive, around thirty thousand each. There are six plants here in total. Do you want cash, or something else?"

As he spoke, Deputy Director Gao placed the six Soul-returning Herbs into the wooden boxes he had taken out earlier.

Wang Jianchao immediately replied, "Same old rules. Director, you take fifty percent, and the three of us get one each." As he spoke, he looked at Yang Wenqing. "I happen to have a good-quality, twenty-year Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Grass. It's worth about the same. How about exchanging it for your Soul-returning Herb?"

Yang Wenqing froze for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Alright!"

The Soul-returning Herb was useless in his hands for now, but a twenty-year Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Grass was different. Its medicinal potency was several times that of the ordinary Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Grass in the City Defense Bureau's warehouse. Its value was not fixed, but it would not be below thirty thousand. It was just that few people bought it, because it was rather impractical.

Yet Yang Wenqing was currently at a critical point in the First Refinement and needed a Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Grass with potent medicinal effects. Perhaps after absorbing its medicinal power, he could break through in one go.

Seeing Yang Wenqing agree, Wang Jianchao immediately took a square wooden box from his storage bag and handed it to him. Yang Wenqing did not stand on ceremony. He accepted it, quickly opened the preservation array, took a glance, and swiftly put it away.

Deputy Director Gao continued, "Next is this Spirit Liquid. I've examined it with Divine Sense. There is approximately one kilogram, so we'll calculate it as one kilogram. Its current value is one hundred per gram, making it one hundred thousand."

He paused and looked at the three of them. "I need it badly, but the branch office's annual allocation is too small. How about I purchase your share of the Spirit Liquid at one hundred and fifty per gram?"

What could Wang Jianchao, Liu Xin, and Yang Wenqing say? They could only nod in agreement.

Yang Wenqing silently calculated it. This time, he could earn fifty thousand in cash. That money could be used to prepare for the upcoming Second Refinement.

"I'll transfer the money into your accounts before noon tomorrow." Deputy Director Gao made the promise again. The three of their bank accounts were listed in their files.

The three of them all responded with polite words.

Then Deputy Director Gao's gaze settled on Yang Wenqing. "I have you to thank for what happened at the center of the forest. I don't have much to show for it. With your current cultivation, you're about to break through the First Refinement, and Achao has traded you the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Grass." As he spoke, he took out a glass bottle. "Inside are five hundred grams of hundred-year Stone Marrow Liquid. It can help with your Second Refinement cultivation."

Yang Wenqing instinctively wanted to refuse, but Deputy Director Gao cut him off in an unquestionable tone. "Take it. Some things need to be made clear. We may encounter even more dangerous battles in the future."

"Yes!"

Yang Wenqing could no longer refuse. Stone Marrow Liquid was an ordinary spiritual item, but the hundred-year kind was exceptionally rare. It was worth fifty per gram, more expensive than silver. Like Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Grass, it was an auxiliary spiritual item used for Second Refinement cultivation during the Qi Refining Stage.

As he accepted the glass bottle, Wang Jianchao took out a brand-new storage bag and said to Yang Wenqing, "This is from Liu Xin and me, as thanks."

Yang Wenqing paused, then said, "Thank you!"

Liu Xin smiled. "We should be the ones thanking you. Do you know? During the later casualty count, a Qi Refinement Practitioner from South City Public Security Station actually died."

Yang Wenqing frowned slightly. "This..."

Wang Jianchao explained, "South City Public Security Station was too close to the central area. They thought there was something good there and wanted to rush in ahead of everyone else to seize it."

"Let's not talk about that..."

Deputy Director Gao interrupted the three of them. Looking at Wang Jianchao, he said, "The director of Small Bridge Town Public Security Station is nearing the end of his lifespan and has been unable to break through for a long time. He will likely retire this year. Your opportunity has come. This year, don't hold back. Pass the exam directly, and you'll most likely be assigned to Small Bridge Town."

Wang Jianchao looked delighted, but he immediately glanced at Liu Xin and asked worriedly, "After I leave, the director will probably take the chance to place someone here again. Can Liu Xin smoothly take over as deputy squad leader?"

Deputy Director Gao smiled. "He wants to transfer that useless director from West City Public Security Station over here and give him a deputy squad leader position with elevated rank. If he doesn't mind the embarrassment, I can agree." He laughed. "But the deputy squad leader may not necessarily also serve as First Squad leader. When the time comes, I'll clear out the storeroom opposite my office and make it his office. I happen to have no secretary, and he'll be able to handle some of the squad's miscellaneous affairs."

Wang Jianchao pondered for two seconds, then asked, "Will Liu Xin take over First Squad?"

Deputy Director Gao nodded. "Yes. Then Wenqing will take over Second Squad. As for Third Squad..." He met Wang Jianchao's eyes. "I'll arrange for a veteran sergeant. If the director has objections, then we'll settle it the traditional way in the arena."