If you don't bring disaster to the world, what kind of henchman are you to be?

The cold forest fell silent.

Song Qinghe was bound hand and foot to his horse, and the Imperial Guards, having successfully completed their capture mission, escorted him back to the capital.

As for the gold, silver, jewels, concubines, and beautiful women, they were all tied to the horse.

Zhu Qing walked in the middle of the group, her mind focused on the control panel in front of her.

[Realm Level: Late Skin Refining (50/100)]

Martial Arts:

Zhengyang Fierce Tiger Fist (Dacheng 50/100).

Thunder Blade Technique (Beginner 95/100)

Wild Goose Formation (Beginner Level 93/100)

[Attribute value: 7]

【Attribute value source introduction: 1. Relevant attribute values ​​can be obtained through daily training.

2. When the enemy killed is weaker than the host's cultivation level, the host gains 1-4 attribute points, collectively known as the weak level; when the cultivation level is similar, the host gains 5 attribute points, collectively known as the medium level; when the enemy's cultivation level is higher than the host's, the host gains 6-10 points, collectively known as the high level.

Note: Those without cultivation do not receive attribute values. Furthermore, the more weaker enemies killed within an hour, the fewer attribute values ​​are gained; conversely, the more high-level enemies killed, the more attribute values ​​are gained.

Looking at the long list of attribute value rules, Zhu Qing seemed to be deep in thought.

Simply put, the stronger the enemies you kill in the future, the more rewards you will receive.

Conversely, the weaker the enemy, the less the gains, and these gains decrease progressively.

"That's really meticulous; it eliminates the bug that allowed me to infinitely mow down grass and stack attribute values."

Zhu Qing was filled with emotion.

"My current cultivation level is at the late stage of Skin Refining. I only need 50 more attribute points to advance to the Flesh Refining stage."

"I gained a total of 7 points from capturing Song Qinghe. I can add them to my swordsmanship or lightness skill when I get back. I'll focus on improving one skill to enhance my strength first."

He quickly made a plan in his mind.

As for the Zhengyang Fierce Tiger Fist and its related cultivation realm, I'll wait until I've accumulated enough before breaking through.

Or you can practice regularly; accumulating knowledge little by little in the absence of enemies is also a good approach.

However, this requires money.

The original owner reached the Skin Refining Realm at the age of twenty, which can be considered a gift.

However, his ordinary family background and meager monthly salary hindered his martial arts training. He recalled many instances where he was forced to stop practicing because of money.

There's no way around it; government stipends in the Great Yu Dynasty are never plentiful. The original owner didn't steal, rob, embezzle, or take advantage of others, so it's already quite an achievement that he's managed to reach his current level.

If you have enough money, you can steadily improve your skills without having to fight for your life.

After all, fighting means risk, and risk means the risk of life.

As she pondered this, Zhu Qing unconsciously glanced at the gold and silver jewels carried on the horses beside her, and swallowed hard.

None of these were recorded.

Not only him, but several Imperial Guards around him also cast glances at him from time to time.

"Brother, the brothers are really short on funds for cultivation lately, how about we..."

The third brother, Guo Zhendong, sidled up to Zhang Sanshi and whispered something.

The latter frowned and said in a deep voice, "Have you forgotten how the second brother died?"

Guo Zhendong's eyes widened in surprise, and he had no choice but to give up in frustration.

Zhu Qing, listening from the side, was lost in memories.

The seven brothers swore brotherhood. The second brother, Li Shuisheng, had secretly hidden three hundred taels of silver during a house raid six months ago. Later, when the criminals were interrogated at Dali Temple, a loophole was discovered during the verification of their property, leading to his arrest and imprisonment.

Actually, three hundred taels of silver wouldn't warrant the death penalty.

Moreover, the Zhaoyu Prison is their own territory under the Northern Garrison Command, and everyone knows it well. Logically speaking, a minor punishment should suffice as a warning.

However, in the end, he was personally beheaded in the street by the emperor as a warning to others.

That's terrible.

Thinking of this, Zhu Qing's wicked thoughts that had just arisen instantly vanished.

"snort."

At this moment, a cold snort came from Song Qinghe, who was tied up and hanging upside down, still not forgetting to mock him.

"Commander Zhang, you really are a blockhead. Even your brother is more open-minded than you."

"Shut up."

"Okay, I'll shut you up, but I still have to remind you."

Song Qinghe said in a sinister tone, "Grand Secretary Tang is my brother-in-law. There are also a lot of people in the court who don't want me to return to the capital alive, otherwise they will be restless and unable to eat or sleep."

"If you send me back, with your mere rank of centurion, I guarantee you'll lose your head within a month."

"So your best option now is to pay me and let me go, otherwise, hmph, neither of us will live!"

"Noisy."

Zhang Sanshi's face turned ashen, and he knocked him unconscious with a single chop to the neck.

Zhu Qing listened to the whole thing, and her heart grew increasingly trembling.

He knew that Song Qinghe was not exaggerating.

The emperor secluded himself to cultivate and comprehend the Dao for many years. The Tang faction held absolute power, dominating the court and the country, with almost half of the officials being their people.

The Ministry of Works was in charge of construction, and there was a lot of money to be made there. Song Qinghe probably played the role of a god of wealth in it.

Tonight, by taking Song Qinghe, they are essentially making an enemy of the entire Tang Party.

For more than a decade, those who have opposed the Tang Party have not had a good ending, let alone these low-level lackeys.

The situation is not good.

Zhu Qing gritted her teeth, feeling increasingly uneasy the more she thought about it.

Such power struggles in the imperial court can often result in bloodshed without visible violence.

A moment later, at the foot of the city wall.

Torches stretched out in rows, and dozens of people stood ready, their figures indistinctly visible.

"Hahaha, Zhang Baihu truly lives up to his name 'Flying Thunder Blade,' capturing Song Qinghe so quickly."

"I admire you!"

The speaker was a slick-haired, fair-skinned young man dressed in a fifth-rank blue robe. He was Wang Wenzhi, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the commander of this arrest operation.

Zhang Sanshi clasped his hands in a salute: "Lord Wang is too kind. I have done my duty."

"Oh, no need for formalities."

Wang Wenzhi smiled and helped him up: "This time, it was all thanks to Zhang Baihu's brilliant strategy, otherwise Song Qinghe would have really escaped with his life."

"I have taken note of the merits of all my brothers in the Northern Garrison!"

After he finished speaking, the people from the Dali Temple behind him stepped forward to take the person and the stolen money.

However, when he passed Wang Wenzhi, he directly took out a stack of silver notes and handed them to Zhang Sanshi.

"Commander Zhang and all the brothers have worked hard; please give us some money for drinks."

"Sir, this is inappropriate."

"What's wrong with that? You've been braving wind and rain all this time..."

Wang Wenzhi put his arm around Zhang Sanshi's shoulder and lowered his voice so that Zhu Qing next to him could no longer hear him.

But you can clearly see that Zhang Sanshi's expression showed some struggle and hesitation.

In a short while.

"Hehe, I will put in a good word for you with His Highness the King of Chu."

Wang Wenzhi patted Zhang Sanshi on the shoulder, stuffed the silver note into his hand, smiled meaningfully, and then turned to leave with his men.

After everyone had left, Guo Zhendong quickly stepped forward: "Brother, what did Lord Wang just say to you?"

Zhang Sanshi shook his head slightly and handed the silver notes in his hand to Guo Zhendong: "Don't ask anymore, just distribute them to the brothers. It's really unacceptable that they haven't been paid for three months."

Having said that, he gripped the knife and strode away.

"Brother, what about you?"

"I do not want."

Seeing him leave in a hurry with a rather complicated look in his eyes, Guo Zhendong could only sigh softly and turn around to distribute the silver notes.

The total was one thousand taels, and Zhu Qing received two hundred taels.

In just a few breaths, he had eight or nine years' worth of salary in his hand, which he gripped tightly, his gaze resolute.

Since we're already caught in the vortex of court politics, we might as well be bolder.

This is not just money, but also a guarantee for my and my mother's livelihood, and the foundation for my future martial arts training!