Gu Sanqiu let out a big yawn. "They might have the time for this, but I don't. I just want to go back and get a good night's sleep."
"Uh... your wisdom is truly unmatched," the secretary decided it was best to distance himself from whatever was in Gu Sanqiu's hand.
Even though he didn't know exactly what ingredients Gu Sanqiu had mixed into those orbs, just the Jueyun Chili and dried high-acidity raspberries alone were enough to make any regular person suffer.
"Oh, by the way, is the cafeteria still open? Go tell them to prepare me a bowl of noodles. And don't forget to prepare some snacks for the Millelith on night duty."
Gu Sanqiu handed over a silver note. "I've watched you work all day, and I've figured out a bit about you. Young man, don't act like the stiff, mechanical bureaucrats at Yuehai Pavilion. Be more flexible and lively, got it?"
"And for the Millelith on duty tonight, here's fifty thousand Mora as a bonus. You can think of it as overtime pay if you want. Just distribute it according to your regulations."
The secretary, filled with excitement, accepted the silver note. Though fifty thousand Mora was no small amount, what really stirred him was Gu Sanqiu's advice.
After a day of working together, he realized that this Xiangjun, despite his odd quirks, was actually easy to get along with. He didn't abuse his power or dump work on others.
The secretary also began to feel that perhaps the people of Liyue Harbor had some misconceptions about Gu Sanqiu and the Gu family.
"Wait a minute."
The secretary blinked. "Xiangjun, what did you just say? This is their overtime pay?"
"Fifty thousand Mora?!"
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow, looking at him strangely. "Did the door just slam on your head or something? Did I say anything wrong?"
"No, no, that's not it," the secretary said, full of hope. "Xiangjun, does your Gu family need a part-time gatekeeper? I feel like I'm more than qualified for the job."
"...What are you talking about?"
"Yuehai Pavilion's overtime pay isn't nearly this generous! In fact, I've barely seen any overtime pay at all."
The secretary sighed. "Now that I'm at an age where I need to settle down, I've got to think about how to earn more. Sure, the salary at Yuehai Pavilion isn't bad, but the housing prices at Feiyun Slope and Chihu Rock keep rising, while wages stay the same."
"My fiancée and I have already decided that even if we get a smaller place, we want to buy a house in Feiyun Slope. That way, our future children will be in a better environment, and we won't have to worry about the troublemakers from Chihu Rock."
Seeing the secretary's blissful, lovestruck expression, Gu Sanqiu had the sudden urge to pinch the bridge of his nose and light a cigarette.
"Alright, enough. Stop flaunting your love life in front of me, or I swear I'll twist your head off and kick it like a ball."
Gu Sanqiu's expression turned strange. "As for why you rarely see overtime pay at Yuehai Pavilion, well, I know a bit about that."
What a role model for this era... Ganyu, you are something else!
"Report!"
A Millelith soldier saluted. "Xiangjun, we've captured the suspects!"
"Good. Interrogate them right here. Tell the men to put on their scariest faces."
Gu Sanqiu pointed to the silver note in the secretary's hand. "That fifty thousand Mora is for your overtime pay tonight. Make sure the suspects are scared out of their wits—I'll take responsibility if any of them die from fright!"
Scared to death? As the current head of the Xiangjun, once the head of the Celestial Sect, I have reason to believe that if they die, it will be a staged death to escape and take over an innocent person's body!
And if they don't return, no problem! I'll arrange a full-service package, including corpse beating, spirit summoning, and cursing, just to ensure they're utterly destroyed.
"Thank you for your generosity, Xiangjun, but the Millelith has strict regulations. We can't accept such gifts. It would be considered bribery by the military discipline office."
"And that's why I gave the silver note to him," Gu Sanqiu rolled his eyes. "Relax. With someone from Yuehai Pavilion involved, the discipline office won't say anything."
"Besides, I'm being considerate of you all. Otherwise, I would've just handed out cash right here, and the Millelith regulations don't apply to us Xiangjun."
The Millelith soldier, seeing the secretary nodding with a smile, couldn't help but feel elated.
Getting overtime pay with official approval? How could this be anything but a good thing?
Half an hour later, eight suspects were brought in. Sitting at the head of the table, Gu Sanqiu surveyed the Millelith soldiers lined up on both sides, exuding a palpable killing intent. He nodded in satisfaction.
These soldiers had just returned from missions, meaning they still carried the aura from their battles with Treasure Hoarders, monsters, and other evils.
For these vermin, this was basically a god-tier configuration.
"Where are the children you kidnapped, and what was your objective? Speak up now, and you might avoid some pain."
"We're all over sixty years old. According to Liyue's laws, we request that a third-party institution be involved, and we demand proper treatment."
The old man, still trembling after his encounter with the giant eagle, stammered, "For example, we need these things on us cleaned off."
"Oh? Over sixty, huh? So, you're saying you're all elderly?"
"That's right. Even if we're judged, it should be done according to Liyue's laws."
"Oh, then let me ask you this: Do you admit to being cultivators?"
"This... yes."
"Did everyone hear that?"
"Heard it loud and clear!"
The killing intent in the air made the elderly suspects tremble in fear, worried that they would be impaled by weapons at any moment.
Smack!
As the old man pondered the meaning of Gu Sanqiu's words, the latter suddenly appeared in front of him and slapped him hard, sending him flying several meters!
Gu Sanqiu sneered at the remaining seven suspects. "So, you admit you're cultivators. Let me introduce myself. My name is Gu Sanqiu, the current Xiangjun."
"Since you are cultivators, we'll handle this according to the rules of the Celestial Sect."
"Anyone who defies human decency and tramples on the common folk deserves death at the hands of cultivators worldwide!"
"Beat them! Even if they die, I have ways to make their souls speak!"
The Millelith soldiers, in perfect sync, flipped their spears and began beating the suspects with the spear handles.
Gu Sanqiu sat back, sipping tea calmly. While the cultivators weren't as resilient as those with Visions, they were still quite tough. He wasn't worried they couldn't handle a few hits.
After a few minutes, Gu Sanqiu raised his hand. The Millelith soldiers immediately stopped, resuming their upright stances with perfect discipline, as if nothing had happened.
Gu Sanqiu nodded in approval. Yes, what people need these days is thick skin, and these Millelith soldiers certainly had that quality.
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