Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Shen Qing looked at Sun Ding in front of him, showing some dissatisfaction.

Previously, under Zheng Yuanqiu's administration, there were too many people in the Guardian Martial Department who were just going through the motions, and most of them were of little use.

People like Sun Ding were not an exception.

"Now that most of the trivial matters have been handled, tomorrow I'll recruit Tian Xiaohu into the Guardian Martial Department. With Wu Sheng as a channel, given time, I'll have some foundation and won't have to rely on these useless people anymore."

Shen Qing waved his sleeve and strode away.

When night came, Shen Qing returned to the room and informed Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi of his decision.

Compared to Tian Xiaohu's excitement, Xiao Zhi seemed a bit disappointed.

Shen Qing asked, "Xiao Zhi, have you found a new chef these days?"

During this period, he was busy with government affairs, so he had left the restaurant to his uncle and aunt, elder sister, and Xiao Zhi to manage. He would only review the accounts at the end of the month to draw funds for use.

Although the restaurant was not big, its daily income was quite a lot, especially after his promotion to Vice Director, the business became incredibly good.

If he could find a good location later and open a larger restaurant, the daily revenue could multiply several times over.

Now that he needed a lot of funds to support his faster cultivation speed, this restaurant could provide it, so he couldn't abandon it.

As the head chef, Xiao Zhi naturally couldn't go to the Guardian Martial Department.

Xiao Zhi said, "I already found one last year. This person comes from a family of chefs, learning the trade since his great-grandfather's time. However, the family's fortune declined from his father's generation, and they lost the boss they served, so he's earning a living here now. I find him reliable and intend to cultivate him."

"That's good, you cultivate him first. If nothing else, you can also use my identity to deter now and then." Shen Qing advised, "This restaurant is quite important to me, and I temporarily need you to support it. Rest assured, even though you can't enter the Guardian Martial Department, you'll still receive as much as Tian Xiaohu does every month. I won't shortchange the old hands around me."

Seeing Shen Qing's serious look, Xiao Zhi's previously gloomy demeanor suddenly brightened, as if filled with motivation.

To be honest, he felt a bit unbalanced hearing that Tian Xiaohu was soon to become an officer while he remained a chef.

But Shen Qing's words eased his feelings, at least showing that Shen Qing still had him in mind.

Xiao Zhi vowed, "Boss, rest assured, I will certainly manage the restaurant well and not spoil your business."

"You handling things puts me at ease."

The next day, Shen Qing brought Tian Xiaohu to the Guardian Martial Department.

Under his arrangement, Tian Xiaohu was directly registered and donned the attire of a Guardian Martial Department officer without any obstruction.

In the back hall of the Guardian Martial Department,

Shen Qing looked at the newly transformed Tian Xiaohu and teased, "Indeed, people rely on clothes as horses rely on saddles. A new outfit has changed your demeanor."

Tian Xiaohu said nothing, just grinned foolishly.

His ancestors had been hunters in the mountains and never imagined donning an official's attire.

Thinking about it now seemed somewhat unbelievable.

"Your cultivation is still too low; it doesn't stand out in the entire Guardian Martial Department. Next, you need to find ways to enhance your cultivation as much as possible. I still have some elixirs, which I'll give you later. Train first, and try to break through to the late stage of the Skin Forging Realm before the end of the year, aiming for the Qi Cultivation Realm."

"Huh? The Qi Cultivation Realm?" Tian Xiaohu was somewhat shocked.

He knew that in Yongzhou, the Qi Cultivation Realm was nothing special, but thinking about it being achievable for him was somewhat hard to get used to.

In his concept, the Qi Cultivation Realm was already an extraordinary realm, considered prominent in Taiping County.

"You have elixir resources and cultivation techniques, no weaker than those rich family scions. To be blunt, I've paved the way for you. If you can't even achieve Skin Tempering and Qi Cultivation, then you should seriously reflect on yourself. The foundation of Zhou Country's court can't be compared with those martial halls."

"Why else do you think so many people are desperate to get into the court?" Shen Qing raised his eyelids and said.

Tian Xiaohu's expression immediately turned serious.

As Shen Qing said, if his cultivation didn't improve even with such a well-paved path, he indeed would have no face to meet Shen Qing.

Shen Qing continued, "However, compared to your cultivation, there are two more urgent matters I'd like you to handle for me; I don't trust anyone else with them."

Hearing this, Tian Xiaohu's body trembled, and he quickly folded his hands across his chest, bowing deeply and said solemnly, "I will fully commit to whatever orders you give, sir, and will not fail you."

Shen Qing glanced at Tian Xiaohu in surprise, realizing his quick wit as he almost immediately adapted to his new identity and changed his tone.

He was a smart person.

Retracting his gaze, Shen Qing said, "The first thing is that the merchants from Xinyi Square and nearby want to send their children to me. Help me screen them first; those without vision aren't needed, the unmotivated aren't needed, and those with poor bones aren't needed."

"After these three tests, recommend the suitable ones to me, as I plan to recruit more officers."

These people came from ordinary families, with family members engaged in businesses, living in good conditions, and all from respectable families.

They were just right to bolster the team.

Tian Xiaohu nodded and said, "Yes, I have noted it."

"The second matter," Shen Qing crossed his hands and placed them on the long table, his expression slightly somber, "Investigate yesterday's Huang Tian Sect traitor incident at Xin'an Square for me, I feel there's something suspicious about it."