The Imperial Guards, like Yama, slaughtered until the Empress cried out for help.

Beiyun Town, Fusi.

In the courtroom.

The scholar stood beside Shen Qing, holding several files, and reported.

"So, boss, this is the situation in Beiyun City. It originally had a population of one million, but in recent years, due to the invasion of Japanese pirates and the frequent occurrence of violent killings by them, the population has now dropped to less than six hundred thousand."

"Of course, this doesn't include the refugees at the city gate."

Shen Qing took the dossier handed to him by the scholar and glanced at it. In just one month, there had been five incidents of Japanese pirates causing trouble and killing people in Beiyun City.

Several other murders are suspected to be the work of Japanese pirates.

Over the course of several years, there have been hundreds of such incidents.

However, very few cases were solved, and very few Japanese pirates were captured.

Shen Qing looked at Xu Dashan and the group of centurions.

"So this is how you do your work?"

A centurion, seemingly dissatisfied, stepped forward and said, "Commander Shen, there's a reason for this. For years, Lin Ru and Liu Wei have been in charge of maintaining order in Beiyun City. If we were to take over..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Qing interrupted him.

Shen Qing chuckled and threw the dossier in front of them.

"I can see that, so what do you think? Should we give you an award?"

"Send two Japanese pirate spies to capture the Japanese pirates?"

Even if you don't know they are traitors.

"So, they haven't caught many Japanese pirates in the past few years, and you haven't even had a hint of suspicion?"

The several centurions all lowered their heads after being spoken to.

Shen Qing turned to the scholar and said, "Scholar, pass on the order to Pan Ruyuan and the others later."

"Have three hundred men disguised and hidden throughout Beiyun City to search for suspicious individuals."

"Remember not to rush into action when you discover any traces of the Japanese pirates. Make a record first. They have been spoiled too much by Lin Ru and Liu Wei in recent years, so their daily disguises are definitely not that careful."

"In that case, let's catch the big one and take their lives in one fell swoop."

The scholar nodded: "Yes!"

Then Shen Qing looked at Xu Dashan and the others: "As for you, take off your clothes and come with me."

"We'll come back when we've captured three Japanese pirates. If we can't, then we don't need to come back."

"Any objections?"

Xu Dashan and the others exchanged glances, their faces full of bitterness, but none of them could say anything. They simply cupped their hands in greeting.

"We dare not."

Just then, Zhang Shan walked into the courtroom.

"Reporting to the Garrison Commander! Those two spies have confessed, and they've also confessed how they evaded the test of conscience."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room strained to hear it.

Zhang Shan then took out a ring inlaid with black jade from his pocket.

"They said that's how they passed the psychological test."

Shen Qing extended a stream of true energy and directly drew the ring into his hand.

The ring was made entirely of silver, and Shen Qing did not sense anything unusual, so the problem must lie in the black jade.

Shen Qing took a light sniff, and a faint fragrance wafted over, instantly making her feel more refreshed.

The Control Yuan uses special techniques for questioning people's hearts. It sounds mysterious, but it's actually just a special cultivation method that has a confusing effect. In the words of my past life, it's hypnosis.

Then gradually guide the question to elicit the desired answer.

However, if this kind of jade can prevent people from falling into a hypnotic state, then they can avoid the external psychological test.

Shen Qing turned to the scholar and asked, "Scholar, how did Wei Jiong of the White Dragon Sect manage to evade the test of conscience last time?"

The scholar pondered for a moment: "I've read the case file. Wei Jiong has cultivated a special technique. As long as the people from the Censorate aren't too much stronger than him, he can remain conscious."

Shen Qing chuckled: "These Japanese pirates are not as clever as the White Dragon Cult."

He then slipped the ring into the scholar's hand: "Write a letter to Qingzhou later and tell them about this."

"Yes."

Zhang Shan seemed to have thought of something and spoke up again: "By the way, Commander, Xu Han has also confessed, but he keeps clamoring to see you."

Shen Qing raised an eyebrow: "Bring him here."

Before long, Xu Han, whose collarbone was locked, was brought up in a disheveled state.

Shen Qing looked down at Xu Han: "You've been clamoring to see me? What do you have to say?"

Xu Han raised his head and stared straight at Shen Qing.

"Shen Qing, do you know why I want to kill you?"

"I hate it! I've been in the position of Garrison Commander for a hundred years, and I've worked diligently ever since. I may not have achieved anything great, but I've certainly put in a lot of hard work. Yet, in the end, I'm not even as good as you, a mere twenty-year-old, in the eyes of the imperial court..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Qing appeared before Xu Han in a phantom form, her voice icy cold.

"I don't want to know about your past. If you've come here just to talk about this, then you can shut up."

"As for merits and hard work? In three years, the Japanese pirates committed hundreds of atrocities, and how many of them did you actually capture?"

"Furthermore, I saw in the case file that you personally promoted both the spies Lin Ru and Liu Wei, right?"

The scholar then added a sentence.

"Old man, how dare you compare yourself to our boss?"

"You've lived for three hundred years, and you haven't been able to catch the Japanese pirates, but you're the one who promoted the spies!"

"Our boss caught two spies as soon as he arrived, and even arrested you, the traitorous commander. Have you ever performed such a great feat?"

The two exchanged barbs, their eyes blazing with rage.

This is indeed a great achievement, but it was earned with Xu Han's life.

Xu Han gritted his teeth: "Shen Qing! Don't you really have any dignity left for me?"

Shen Qing laughed heartily, as if he had heard a joke.

Are you kidding me?

"Please, it was you who hired the Japanese pirates to kill me! Now you expect me to show you some respect?"

Shen Qing then looked at Zhang Shan: "Commander Zhang, has Xu Han signed and affixed his fingerprint to his testimony?"

"Reporting to the Garrison Commander! The testimony has been signed and sealed."

As soon as he finished speaking, a domineering surge of true energy erupted.

Xu Han seemed to realize something and roared wildly.

"You can't kill me!!! I'm a commander of the Imperial Guard!!! I should be sent to the capital for trial!!! You can't!!! This is against the rules!!! You can't..."

The shouts stopped abruptly as Shen Qing's domineering true energy directly shattered Xu Han's head.

[Congratulations on defeating a Grandmaster-level martial artist. You have obtained the attribute: Weak Spirit (White)]

Weak spirit: The spirit is stronger than that of an ordinary warrior, but the strength is limited.

Shen Qing put her hand away and walked back to her seat: "Finally, it's quiet."

All the surrounding Beiyun City centurions swallowed hard.

They had all heard of Shen Qing's high efficiency, but wasn't this a bit too efficient?

If a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard commits a crime, he will indeed be sent back to the capital for trial.

According to this rule, killing Xu Han like this is indeed not in accordance with regulations.

But if you try to reason with Shen Qing about the rules in this matter, Shen Qing will just shrug and give you a nod.

"I apologize, but the third young master of the Shen family has sentenced and executed the commander of the Zhenfu Division who colluded with the enemy."

"Reasonable! Legal! And compliant!"

Shen Qing looked at the group of silent centurions below and reprimanded them.

"Wasn't what I just said clear enough? Change your clothes and go find some Japanese pirates!"

Upon hearing this, all the officers rushed out of the courtroom, afraid of being too slow.

Shen Qing handed the scholar a slip of paper.

"Scholar, I have something to trouble you with. You'll need to spend more time in Beiyun City these next few days."

"Please buy me some medicinal herbs."

"While you're at it, see if they sell either the Diamond Fruit or the Lapis Lazuli Flower, those two precious medicines."

Shen Qing sensed that his Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique could be improved again, and since he hadn't yet cultivated the Vajra Glazed Body he obtained last time, he could cultivate it all at once.

In this Great Wu, where villains roam freely.

Only by continuously improving his strength could Shen Qing feel even a little bit of security.