A palm-sized seal was placed on top of the desk, giving off a faint yellow glow.
The magistrate stood behind the desk with his hands clasped behind his back, looking outside the window.
When Gu Qing Shan came in, she saw this.
Patrol Master Liu reported: "Sir, Patrol Master Gu is here"
"Greetings sir" Gu Qing Shan also clasped her fist.
The magistrate didn't turn around, only asked: "Patrol Master Gu, what are you best at?"
"Bow and arrow, sir" Gu Qing Shan answered.
The magistrate was a bit interested: "I still don't know how good your archery is, come, shoot a few arrows for me to see"
He pointed his finger at a certain place outside the window.
A few hundred meters away, there was a large tree, the tree was full of chirping sparrows.
Patrol Master Liu took a look, then joked: "Sir likes to eat wild game — — whether or not we can have a large plate of fried sparrows for lunch will depend on you, brother Gu"
Gu Qing Shan understood, walked forward, stood in front of the window and carefully observed.
The sparrows were playing on the tree branches, sometimes landing, sometimes chasing each other, very lively.
At this point, he remembered a lot of things, so naturally he remembered his archery skills, so he took out his bow and pulled the string.
The magistrate and Patrol Master Liu both held their breaths as they watched.
The longbow was easily pulled into the shape of a full moon. Then, the arrow flew out like a flowing shadow.
Bam!
Almost instantaneously, the big tree exploded with a trembling sound. The whole tree shook violently a few times, and it even made people mistakenly think that it was going to be knocked away.
Under the sunlight, the tree leaves were falling.
As the sparrows were scared, they already left the forest, disappearing without a trace.
Patrol Master Liu couldn't help but click his tongue.
Such a powerful arrow, if it were to hit a person …
Gu Qing Shan put the bow away and smiled: "My arrows are specifically used to kill wild beasts, they can also kill people, but I'm not so sure about killing small animals"
Patrol Master Liu regained his senses and praised: "With such archery skills, no wonder you were able to kill 9 bandits in a row"
At this point, a faint cry came from the tree.
The magistrate didn't say anything, only turned around to take another bow from the wall and put an arrow on the bowstring.
Sha — —
The arrow flew out and went into the depths of the tree.
The screams immediately disappeared.
Patrol Master Liu immediately praised loudly: "Good archery! This nest of nestlings was hidden in the depths. Even Brother Gu did not discover it, but Milord killed it with one arrow! "
The magistrate shook his head and said, "If all of you had the ability to take care of Patrol Officer Gu, I wouldn't have to worry about the safety of the county town."
Patrol Master Liu was a little embarrassed. He chuckled and didn't say anything else.
The county magistrate walked back to the table and pointed to the seal, saying, "Old Liu, today you take him to familiarize himself with his colleagues, and then go out of the city to settle the matter. That matter has been delayed for half a month, we have to hurry up."
"Yes, sir." Patrol Master Liu replied.
"Milord, I'll take my leave." Gu Qing Shan bowed and said.
"Alright, go ahead. Do your job well."
The county magistrate said.
After the two of them left, he waited for a while before someone came to report.
"How is it?" the county magistrate asked.
The subordinate replied, "Sir, we've already investigated him thoroughly. He is indeed the village chief of the most remote mountain village. He has been conscientious and conscientious all these years, but there's something strange about him."
"What's so strange about him?" the county magistrate cautiously asked.
"He doesn't often come into contact with the villagers. He lives on the mountain by himself, only occasionally going into the village to check on the situation" the subordinate replied.
Hearing that, the county magistrate calmed down and said: "Hmph, what's so strange about that? If it was me, I wouldn't want to stay with those peasants either"
"Then it makes sense … he's been preparing to come to the county town to make a living …"
…
Gu Qing Shan was riding a horse, leaving the city together with Patrol Master Liu.
"Ahaha, what do you think, brother Gu?" Patrol Master Liu asked.
"You're too kind, this Gu doesn't deserve it" Gu Qing Shan replied.
Before this, he went to meet his colleagues.
Some of them patted their chests and booked the entire banquet for the night; some even booked the entire banquet for the next day; some even said that they would call a few girls over to make sure he'd be satisfied; some even said that they'd become sworn brothers.
Everyone agreed to arrive an hour before the banquet, just to have a good gamble.
There were so many of them, although it was a bit chaotic, Gu Qing Shan could still feel everyone's enthusiasm.
— — perhaps because the news of that arrow had already spread, the colleagues were all very enthusiastic.
"Big bro Liu, is our patrol chief's salary very high?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
"Why do you ask?" Patrol Master Liu asked in return.
"The restaurant we booked is right in the middle of the county town, I just passed by and saw that it's going to cost quite a bit — — - wouldn't that be too much trouble for everyone?" Gu Qing Shan said.
"Ahaha, it's fine, which restaurant in the entire county town would dare to ask for money from us?" Patrol Master Liu didn't mind.
Gu Qing Shan nodded, then said: "If it's gambling — — - this is my first time here, so I don't have much money on me, I'm afraid I can only watch from the sidelines"
Patrol Master Liu didn't mind at all: "When the time comes, someone will give you money, you just have to enjoy yourself"
Gu Qing Shan was surprised: "Someone will give you money?"
"That's right, just call a few big merchants, they'll prepare the money in advance, you don't have to worry about it" Patrol Master Liu answered.
"Why is that?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
Patrol Master Liu patted his chest: "The safety of this town depends on us, it's not a big deal for them to give us some money"
Gu Qing Shan replied: "That's true, I don't have any issues with gambling and eating, but a colleague with the surname Li said that he'll have to call a few girls — — -"
"Ahaha, don't worry, he'll call a few decent families, one word for it — — safe!" Patrol Master Liu said.
"Decent families?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
"Brother Gu, this entire town belongs to our county magistrate, we're only following orders to protect this town — — - those poor peasants who don't have any money, they either have to give us money or do their best to serve us, only then will we have the strength to protect them, isn't that right?" Patrol Master Liu said.
"What if they don't obey?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
"If they want to live, they'll have to follow the rules" Patrol Master Liu casually answered.
Gu Qing Shan smiled: "So that's how it is, I understand"
The two of them quickly rode their horses, quickly leaving the town and arriving at a ferry crossing.
This place wasn't too far from the county town, only a few dozen miles away, with a few boats waiting to cross the river.
The two of them got off their horses and walked towards the river bank.
"In a bit, throw that seal into the river, we'll be done" Patrol Master Liu told them.
"That simple?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
"Some water monsters might be alerted, if there really is one, it'll be up to you" Patrol Master Liu answered.
He gave the seal to Gu Qing Shan, then stepped back a bit.
Gu Qing Shan received it, only to see two youngsters carved on it:
"Jiu Ping"
Jiu Ping — — -
That seems to be the name of a nearby town.
Gu Qing Shan looked at Patrol Master Liu and asked him.
Patrol Master Liu called out from afar: "What is it?"
Gu Qing Shan also called out: "There are two words on it!"
Patrol Master Liu called out: "What does it say?"
As Gu Qing Shan was about to answer, she noticed something.
This seal was kept by Patrol Master Liu on the way here, so when he took it out just now, the two words on the seal were facing him. Did he not see it?
Or — —
Gu Qing Shan quickly ran back and gave the seal to Patrol Master Liu: "Look, there are two words on it"
Patrol Master Liu squinted his eyes: "There really are two words, my eyesight isn't good, what does it say?"
Gu Qing Shan felt something and immediately said: "I'm sorry, big bro, I grew up in a mountain village, I've never learned how to read"
Patrol Master Liu seemed to be relieved and also said: "It's fine, I don't really know how to read either"
— — -this is awkward.
The two of them went silent, exchanged glances, then burst out laughing.
Patrol Master Liu's expression became a bit more friendly.
Gu Qing Shan was also a bit more friendly.
But — — -
A patrol master represents the military strength of the government, at the same time, he also has to run various errands, but he doesn't know how to read.
Countless thoughts flashed through Gu Qing Shan's mind, then she continued: "I've seen someone read the first word before, I think it's 9, but I don't know the second word"
Patrol Master Liu slapped his thigh in realization: "Then I understand, if the first word is 9, then the second word must be Ping"
"Why is it Ping?"
"Because there's only a town called Jiu Ping under our county, none of the other towns have the word 9"
He then urged Gu Qing Shan: "Alright, do what you need to do first, then I'll tell you"
Gu Qing Shan couldn't do anything but take the seal to the riverbank, turning around to look at Patrol Master Liu.
— — -from the looks of it, he's ready to run away at any moment.
Gu Qing Shan muttered to herself, then threw the seal into the river.
Splash!
The seal sank into the water and quickly disappeared without a trace.
The river began to boil like boiling water.
A black fish with six eyes floated up from the water, quickly heading towards Gu Qing Shan.
The bow let out a thunderous sound.
In a split second, the arrow had hit the black fish, knocking it into the air.
Gu Qing Shan swung the bow, his hands blurred as he shot out dozens of arrows in rapid succession.
The arrows drew sharp arcs in the air, piercing the black fish's six eyes, then the rest of its body.
Splash — — -
The black fish fell into the river, sank down, then floated up with its belly facing up, no longer moving.
The fish's corpse slowly drifted away with the river.
Gu Qing Shan stood by the riverbank, regaining his senses.
Killing this fish made him remember a lot more things.
This time, the speed at which he recovered his memories was a little faster.
— — -so aside from being a swindler, I'm also a killer?
He thought for a bit, put the bow away, and walked towards Patrol Master Liu.
"Old brother Liu, what's with the seal just now?" he asked.
Patrol Master Liu looked at his calm expression, then at the quiver on his back.
— — -the quiver was empty.
In a single breath's worth of time, he had shot out all 42 arrows in the quiver.
Patrol Master Liu sighed in admiration: "That's quite the skill, old brother — — that seal was given by the royal court, it would be sent to the county every once in a while, mainly used to protect the various Elements"
"The seal was engraved with 'Jiu Ping', was it supposed to be sent to Jiu Ping town?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
"That's right, as long as the seal is in place, the chance of the town being attacked by monsters would decrease a bit" Patrol Master Liu replied.
"Then why did you tell me to throw the seal into the river?"
"Because Jiu Ping town no longer exists"
"… Why?"
Patrol Master Liu sighed and said: "The night before last, that town was attacked by monsters, only a small portion of the population survived"
"Then why did you throw the seal into the river?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
"Although the town no longer exists, the seal still has the effect of comforting the Elements, so it could protect the river in the direction of the county, ensuring the safety of the county" Patrol Master Liu answered.
"If there are still survivors, why didn't you send the seal to protect them?" Gu Qing Shan asked.
"Of course, the safety of the county is more important, old brother" Patrol Master Liu answered as if that was the case.
Gu Qing Shan nodded and said nothing else.
The two of them quickly returned to the county.
Patrol Master Liu first went to report the entire process, then Gu Qing Shan was called in again.
"Patrol Master Gu, what did you get from this trip?" the county magistrate smiled and asked.
"This is very simple, from now on, I can go alone for such matters, I guarantee there won't be any issues" Gu Qing Shan answered.
"Good!" The county magistrate praised her, then said: "Patrol Master Gu, from now on, every 5 days, you will go out of the county to release the seal — — if you do this well, the entire county will be safe, I'll give you some benefits"
"Yes, sir" Gu Qing Shan replied.
…
Gu Qing Shan returned to his own courtyard.
He brewed a pot of tea for himself, sat under a tree, and drank it while thinking.
At this point, most of his memories had returned, but he couldn't remember what happened during the last period of time.
What did I go through after defeating the Soul Shrieker?
Gu Qing Shan was thinking hard.
One hour later.
The tea had already cooled, but he still couldn't remember what happened after that.
There's no other way.
— — seems like I'll have to do things I'm familiar with in order to recover my memories.
But should I kill them all, or deceive them all?
That's the question.
Gu Qing Shan suddenly recalled Patrol Master Liu's words and couldn't help but sigh.
He took out the black orchid.
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