Xuanqing Guard Chapter 197: Arrangements

A few words exchanged, though seemingly inconsequential, the twenty Xuanqing Guard elites knew this journey marked a chasm. Their lives would likely be upended from now on.

Shen Hao no longer spoke, leaving ti for them to say their final farewells—to their companions and to their current identities.

The rules within Xuanqing Guard left no room for regret. Once chosen, there was only one path forward, no turning back.

Even though Shen Hao deliberately left things unsaid, the intense discipline among these military-trained elites kept their emotions in check. They rely glanced at each other knowingly, understanding this farewell might be for a lifeti. As for their future lives? They didn’t even know where they were headed, so there was no point in thinking about it.

"Sir, we’re willing to follow you first."

Zhang Lie stepped forward, hands clasped, expressionless, as hard as stone. Whether n like him could adapt to the looming upheaval, no one knew.

"Very well, you co with . Liu ng, you all stay here and eat sothing, I’ll be back shortly."

"As you wish, sir."

Leaving the side room, Shen Hao led the ten from Team A to the tavern’s back yard, then through a small alley to knock on the door of a ramshackle courtyard.

"Sir, you’re here!"

"Mm."

The door was opened by Flying Dragon; the courtyard, bought together with the tavern, served as one of their concealed bases.

Right now, Flying Dragon was alone in the courtyard. He’d received Shen Hao’s notice yesterday to co here today, but hadn’t been told why.

"Let introduce, this is Flying Dragon, the biggest broker in the Black Market under Li City and Pingshun City. He controls most of the trade movents in those markets, and is now encroaching toward Tu Kui City and Tan City." Shen Hao first introduced Flying Dragon to Zhang Lie.

Then he turned to Flying Dragon and introduced Zhang Lie: "This is Zhang Lie—those behind are his n. They’re here to assist you with the steps ahead. They know a lot—not just skilled in combat. You should take ti to get to know each other well."

Flying Dragon’s face was all smiles, repeatedly saying, "Finally, been waiting for this!" but internally, he was clear-headed. He understood Shen Hao was planting nails in his turf. Cooperation, yes, but also coercion—should he harbor any treachery, these n could end him in an instant.

Yet, on the flip side, with these ten powerful helpers, the scattered Black Market operators in Tu Kui City and Tan City would no longer be a threat. They’d fought two clandestine battles before—one win, one loss, both sides wounded. Now, they’d likely crush the opposition.

But unlike Flying Dragon’s clarity, Zhang Lie and his n’s expressions changed drastically when Shen Hao told them their new missions and identities. Even those who’d kept cool just now struggled to keep composure.

To shift from the Personal Guard of the Governor of Xuanqing Guard to Non-tiered Black Market rchants? Black thugs? That kind of fall tested anyone’s limits.

Zhang Lie clenched his mouth, his eyes flickering restlessly, True Qi surging from the emotional turbulence, taking quite a while to calm down.

"Zhang Lie, you know the rules. Once you’re involved, there’s no retreat. Your brothers will eat from the sa trough as , Shen Hao, from now on. And Flying Dragon—even if his background is humble, he’s capable, especially skilled with Black Market ways. Your job is to cooperate with him to the utmost. You must deliver."

"Sir, rest assured. From now on, we are no longer Xuanqing Guard—at least, not publicly. We will fully cooperate with Flying Dragon and strive to adapt to our new identities quickly."

Shen Hao didn’t linger. He could contact Flying Dragon or Zhang Lie directly whenever needed. So things would wait until they’d grown more familiar with each other. For now, handing Zhang Lie’s n over to Flying Dragon was enough.

Returning to the side room, only Liu ng’s group remained.

Seeing Shen Hao return—without Zhang Lie and his n who’d left with him—Liu ng and the remaining ten knew their turn had co.

Where they would be sent was still unknown.

They split into six groups, leaving the small town, heading first to Fengri City, then on to Li City, ending up in an ordinary tavern’s private room.

This ti, soone was already here waiting for Shen Hao and his group.

Zhu Shou. Dressed in coarse cloth, ticulously disguised—even his hair was ssy. He looked more like a wandering rchant, no hint of being a powerful figure in the brokerage.

"Alright, let introduce. This is Zhu Shou, Chief Steward of the Fengri City brokerage, Lord Zhu." Then, pointing at Liu ng, Shen Hao said to Zhu Shou, "This is Liu ng and his n."

"All these people?!" Zhu Shou had been notified by Shen Hao to et here, and knew ahead of ti that today, Shen Hao would plant people in various city brokerages for direct involvent in the plan. Yet he hadn’t expected so many at once.

"Yes. All these people need to be inserted into brokerages in each city. Not necessarily all at once, but it must be done quickly." Shen Hao would not slacken his demands because Zhu Shou looked troubled. The brokerage was a key part of the Black Water Plan. Zhu Shou couldn’t drag his feet or delay, and there was no way every crucial scout would be handed over to him for training. All must be under Xuanqing Guard’s control.

As for Zhu Shou... from the start, he was just a tool. If he knew his place, he’d last; if not, he wouldn’t live long. The forceful arrival of Liu ng’s n was Shen Hao’s way of warning Zhu Shou yet again.

"Hmph, arranging ten people into the system is a hassle. If I can’t raise suspicion, I’ll have to ask others for recomndations as interdiaries. It’ll take ti—at least two months to do it properly."

"One month. There’s no ti to waste—please, Lord Zhu, devote yourself to it."

As he spoke, Shen Hao pulled a stack of silver notes from his jacket, placing them on the table—fifty thousand, allocated as operating funds. "Future funds will be given to Liu ng to pass to you; sotis silver notes like these, sotis Elixirs or other valuable items."

Zhu Shou’s face twisted in constipation, suffering inside. He hadn’t ant to stall—arranging so many into the system at once was indeed difficult. Two months was a reasonable buffer. But Shen Hao cut it in half, just like haggling in a morning market. Was he serious?

Yet Zhu Shou had no right to refuse, only to endure and figure it out. Until he earned Shen Hao’s trust, he could forget about any privilege.

As for Liu ng and his group—the internal shock was significant, but compared to Zhang Lie’s n tasked with being Black Market rchants or thugs, their new identities at least were as Officials.