Wang Fatty forced a smile and didn't join Gu Qingfeng in his complaining, knowing that his position was too low to speak up in matters between two Dark-rank Demon Eliminators.
"Lord Gu, when do you think we should set off?"
"Set off? Set off your ass! Let him wait. I'm going back to sleep." Gu Qingfeng flopped onto the bed without any intention of getting up.
Wang Fatty looked troubled. "Lord Gu, this..."
"This what? Get lost too! Don't disturb my sleep. If there's anything, let that old geezer come find me himself."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng already closing his eyes and resting, Wang Fatty could only sigh and turn to leave.
---
One day later.
Warm sunlight filtered through the cracks of the window, casting tiny, fragmented light spots onto Gu Qingfeng's handsome face.
Gu Qingfeng felt an itch in his nose, sneezed, and slowly woke up from his slumber.
"Ah... what a great sleep. Fully revived!"
With a nimble leap like a carp, he sprang up from the bed. His previously pale face now glowed with healthy color.
His rapid recovery was due to two factors: the strength of his Invincible Golden Body and the effects of the medicinal pills he had acquired with his million merit points.
Back when he bought those pills, Gu Qingfeng had amassed such a comprehensive and vast collection that it could rival the reserves of some small sects in the martial world. He had pills for every situation imaginable, making him a walking human pharmacy. If anyone could kill him for his treasures, they'd surely strike it rich overnight.
Gu Qingfeng was about to open the door for some fresh air when a knock sounded again. Without even needing to look, he knew who was outside.
"Wang Fatty, what the hell are you doing here so early in the morning!" Gu Qingfeng said with an unfriendly tone.
Wang Fatty hurriedly pushed the door open, looking frantic. "Lord Gu, something terrible has happened! Lord He... Lord He reported you to the Enforcement Hall for being absent without leave for so long."
"Enforcement Hall?" Gu Qingfeng was momentarily stunned, then exploded in anger. "Damn it! That old bastard! At his age, he's still playing tattle-tale?"
Though angry, Gu Qingfeng wasn't overly worried. He knew Li Qianren had designs on him, and before the Jade Dragon Secret Realm affair was settled, Li Qianren would protect him. So, the Enforcement Hall definitely wouldn't dare to act impartially.
"What did the Enforcement Hall say? Did they send someone to arrest me?"
Wang Fatty cautiously glanced at Gu Qingfeng, seeming a bit scared. "No... no one came, but..."
"But what? Stop stuttering!" Gu Qingfeng glared at Wang Fatty.
Wang Fatty shuddered and quickly replied, "They just fined you a month's salary."
"WHAT!!!" Gu Qingfeng's face turned livid, his hair seemingly standing on end in rage.
"A month's salary?! There are twelve months in a year, and you're telling me I just lost one-twelfth of my income in one go? You old dog, He Fenghua, I swear I'll make you pay! Come on, Wang Fatty! Let's head to Yin Mountain County!" Gu Qingfeng sprang off the bed, dressed quickly, and dragged Wang Fatty out the door.
Watching the furious Gu Qingfeng, Wang Fatty thought to himself: I knew it. You can't mention money to Lord Gu. Back at Black Water Village, the Seven Demon Generals were wiped out over two copper coins. And that time at Heavenly Fragrance Tower, Lord Gu didn't spend a single cent, and even killed a clone of one of the Seven Demon Generals. This time, losing a month's salary over Lord He... poor Lord He, I wonder how badly he'll suffer.
Gu Qingfeng, along with Wang Fatty, and also called Xu Daizi, galloped towards Yin Mountain County at full speed.
---
Yin Mountain County.
When Gu Qingfeng arrived at the local branch of the Demon Suppression Bureau, he walked in to find He Fenghua sitting on the main seat in the grand hall. On either side of him sat Wang Shu, Cui Zimo, and two other Yellow-rank Demon Eliminators, clearly in the middle of a meeting.
Gu Qingfeng, who had been seething with anger, instantly changed his expression upon entering the hall, switching to a playful and relaxed demeanor.
Anyone who's been to Zuan (a place known for its toxic online culture) knows one thing: never get angry. Anger means you've lost your composure. Even if you're cursing in your heart, you have to smile on the surface.
Gu Qingfeng, along with Wang Fatty and Xu Daizi, strode confidently into the hall.
He Fenghua and the others, all being martial practitioners, had already noticed Gu Qingfeng's arrival.
The four Yellow-rank Demon Eliminators looked at Gu Qingfeng with complex expressions. They couldn't believe that the lowest-ranked among them had risen to become a Dark-rank Demon Eliminator in just a few days, making him their superior. Their eyes were filled with jealousy, envy, and other mixed emotions.
He Fenghua remained silent, his gaze fixed on Gu Qingfeng, trying to intimidate him with his imposing aura.
But Gu Qingfeng, unfazed by the various intentions of the people around him, spoke the first words that almost made He Fenghua lose his composure.
"Oh, old man He, having a meeting?" Gu Qingfeng smiled, greeting him as if they were old friends.
"Old man He?!"
The words stunned everyone present, and the Yellow-rank Demon Eliminators couldn't help but glance at He Fenghua, whose face had turned as black as coal.
He Fenghua, hearing himself addressed as "old man He," felt his blood surge in anger.
"How dare you! Disrespecting your superiors! You should call me Lord He!"
"Lord what? He what?"
Gu Qingfeng nonchalantly dug at his ear and blew on it.
"Since we're equals, if I call you Lord He, then you'd have to call me Lord Gu, wouldn't you?"
"You!" He Fenghua almost cursed, but with so many subordinates watching, he held back.
Instead, he suppressed his anger and said, "I am the commander of the Demon Suppression Bureau in Yin Mountain County, and you are merely my deputy. It is only right that you address me as such."
Hearing He Fenghua use his position to pressure him, Gu Qingfeng disdainfully curled his lip. "Oh, please. You only became a Dark-rank Demon Eliminator at over forty, while I'm not even twenty and already on the same level as you. In a few years, I might even reach Earth-rank or Heaven-rank. By then, even if you called me 'Lord,' I might not even deign to respond. Wouldn't that be the case, old man He? Today, you don't treat me with respect, but tomorrow, you'll be begging to be in my presence."
"You! You...!" He Fenghua was left speechless, his face turning red. Though he wanted to retort, he couldn't, because what Gu Qingfeng said was the truth. He had indeed become a Dark-rank Demon Eliminator at over forty, while Gu Qingfeng was not even twenty...
Seeing He Fenghua at a loss for words, Gu Qingfeng became even more emboldened. After all, he was such a kind-hearted person. Holding the moral high ground and not letting go was a virtue he had to uphold.
"What's with the stammering? Let me tell you, old man He, at your age, you still have the nerve to tattle behind people's backs? You got the Enforcement Hall to fine me a month's salary? Do you really think I care about that little bit of silver?
To be honest, I did care about it, but guess what? A few days ago, I got lucky and found over twenty thousand taels of silver just lying around. With that much money, who cares about a measly month's salary? Oh, by the way, old man He, do you know who the idiot is that lost so much silver?"
Hearing about the twenty thousand taels of silver, He Fenghua's mind exploded! He completely lost his composure! That was his biggest life crisis, one he had barely overcome, only to have Gu Qingfeng bring it up again.
Ahhh! That was my silver! All mine!
He screamed internally, but he didn't dare say it out loud in front of everyone. He knew Gu Qingfeng's nature. If he said anything, Gu Qingfeng would expose his embezzlement of credit.
Poor He Fenghua. The painful memory he had just managed to forget was once again ripped open by Gu Qingfeng.
That was his entire fortune! After becoming a Dark-rank Demon Eliminator, many people had given him gifts to curry favor, and some of it was bribes he had collected in Yin Mountain County. It hadn't even warmed in his hands before Gu Qingfeng took it all.
Without warning, the familiar feeling returned, and He Fenghua felt his vision darken, a sweet taste rising in his throat.