Mound-Sealing Celestial Official, Ascending to Transforming Force

In a side hall of the Dragon-Guard Office, the smell of old ink mingled with a faint mustiness.

Qin Geng casually tucked the twenty silver dollars into his robe. Two coins struck each other with a crisp clink.

Compared with the thousand silver dollars he had just taken from the Lin Family, this was one hair from nine oxen—not even enough to give a beggar without feeling stingy.

The clerk behind the desk was a middle-aged man with a thin mustache. His surname was Wang, and he oversaw criminal cases and routine affairs.

He held the document Qin Geng had just signed and sealed, lifted his eyes, and glanced over the three Thousand Gate swindlers bound in chains like rice dumplings before settling his gaze on Qin Geng.

"Fifth Master, the office has taken the men, and you've collected the money."

Steward Wang raised his tea bowl and skimmed off the foam with its lid. "But I must offer you a word of warning.

"Please, Lord Wang."

Qin Geng cupped his hands, his expression calm.

"These three are only Thousand Gate foot soldiers. At most, they're one Fire General and two Rumor Generals."

Steward Wang set down his tea and leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Do you know who stands behind them?"

Qin Geng shook his head. "I'd like to hear it."

"The Lingnan Thousand Gate."

Wariness entered Steward Wang's expression as he spoke the name. "They're no ordinary wandering outlaws. They're locusts that have eaten their way north from the south. They've mastered every trick of the Bee, Hemp, Swallow, and Sparrow branches. Their eight generals—Direct, Lure, Reverse, Escape, Wind,

"Fire, Eliminate, and Rumor—each have their own duties. It's an enormous, tightly run outfit, organized as strictly as any gang."

"Today, you brought down their scouts and handed them