276: Accounting office included

Jun Xiaoyao lightly tapped the armrest of his obsidian chair, his gaze fixed on Jiang Jing, who was manipulating an abacus in the water mirror.

Jiang Jing's fingers flew, the abacus beads clattering crisply and efficiently. In less than half a cup of tea's time,

he had clearly sorted out The Net's income and expenditure details for the previous month, even meticulously accounting for three arrows and half a barrel of lamp oil consumed by The Unruly's encampment.

"Young Lord," Jiang Jing pushed the ledger towards the water mirror, his handwriting as neat as print. "The Net had a surplus of three hundred taels of gold last month. Seventy percent came from black market assassinations,

and thirty percent was 'protection money' from merchants. But expenses were also high; just forging a new spearhead for the Marshal of the Unruly cost fifty taels, and then there was Meng Lie's 'hush money'..."

Jun Xiaoyao casually glanced over the ledger. "No need for the details. Tell me about the movements of the merchants in Qingzhou."

Jiang Jing's fingertip pointed to a page in the ledger. "The largest silk shop, grain store, and ironworks in Qingzhou have all sent in their letters of submission, willing to pay thirty percent of their monthly profits in exchange for Beyond Heaven's protection. However, there's one condition—they want their children to join The Net as assassins."

The water mirror suddenly switched to a scene of The Net's training ground: a dozen teenagers in brocade robes were being drilled by the Marshal of the Unruly. The tallest one swung a saber at a wooden stake, his movements flashy but lacking power, earning him a rap on the back from the Marshal of the Unruly's spear shaft, making him grimace in pain.

[Panel pops up new character card: Young Master Lin Sanlang of Qingzhou Silk Shop. Realm: Peak Acquired Realm. Martial Skill: Family heirloom xiu chun saber (beginner). From: Qingzhou Lin Family. Loyalty: 60%]

[Young Master Zhou Xiaopang of Qingzhou Grain Store. Realm: Middle Stage Acquired Realm. Martial Skill: None (only knows how to throw punches). From: Qingzhou Zhou Family. Loyalty: 50%]

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. "Merchant children? That saves us the trouble of recruiting."

Jiang Jing's abacus clattered. "Young Lord intends to incorporate them? But their Foundation is too shallow; it would take at least three years of training before they could go on missions..."

"No need for missions," Jun Xiaoyao tapped his finger on the armrest. "Have them keep an eye on the remaining forces of Haoran Academy. Those old scholars value 'face' the most. Being watched by these well-dressed youngsters will make them more uncomfortable than being targeted by assassins."

Jiang Jing's eyes lit up. "Brilliant! These young masters are familiar with the area. Standing at the academy gate, watching like they're drinking tea and reading the newspaper, no one can find fault. He immediately picked up a brush and added to the ledger: "Record: The Net has a new 'Face-Saving Surveillance Team,' monthly expenditure of twenty taels of silver."

The water mirror suddenly shook, and the Marshal of the Unruly's figure burst in, his Tiger Head Golden Spear still stained with blood. "Young Lord, those old stubborn scholars from Haoran Academy are gathered in the Scripture Pavilion, holding a 'denunciation meeting,' saying they want to jointly petition the imperial court to abolish Beyond Heaven!"

The scene cut to the Scripture Pavilion: a dozen white-bearded old men surrounded a table, led by the Headmaster of the Academy, Kong Xiu. He slammed a proclamation on the table, his voice trembling like a candle in the wind. "How can we scholars sit idly by while this demon, Jun Xiaoyao, keeps assassins, colludes with barbarians, and plunders merchants!"

[Panel pops up Kong Xiu's profile card: Realm: Early Stage Grandmaster Realm. Martial Skill: Six Arts of the Gentleman (Rites, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, Mathematics). From: Haoran Academy. Loyalty: -30% (mortal enemy)]

The old scholar next to him echoed, "The Headmaster is right! Let's jointly write to the Jingzhao Yin and invite Longhu Mountain Daoists to expel the evil!"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the agitated old men in the water mirror and suddenly smiled. "Longhu Mountain?"

Jiang Jing immediately pulled out another ledger. "The current Senior Brother of the Longhu Mountain Sect Leader, Zhang Xuansu, Realm: Early Stage Grandmaster Realm. It is said that he and Kong Xiu were jinshi in the same year, and their relationship is not shallow." He paused. "Moreover... The Net intercepted his Medicinal Pill merchant caravan last year, so we have a grudge."

In the water mirror, Kong Xiu was writing a joint letter, his brush dipped in cinnabar, writing with 'righteous indignation.' Suddenly, the window of the Scripture Pavilion was blown open by the wind, and several paper scrolls flew in, landing on the table—they were copies of Yan Hui's ledger of transactions with the barbarians, and Meng Lie's signed confession.

"Who?!" Kong Xiu stood up in surprise, only to see a few figures of young men in brocade robes flash past the window. Lin Sanlang was looking inside with a telescope, and Zhou Xiaopang was holding up a sign that read, "Look here~"

The Marshal of the Unruly's voice came from afar, "Headmaster, keep writing! Our Young Lord says if you run out of ink, The Net will send some!"

Kong Xiu trembled with rage, grabbing the inkstone and throwing it out the window, but Lin Sanlang deftly dodged it, even making a face at him. Seeing this, the other old scholars either slammed the table or clutched their chests, and the Scripture Pavilion immediately became a chaotic mess.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the water mirror and said to Jiang Jing, "Note it down: the 'Face-Saving Surveillance Team' achieved its first victory; reward them five taels of silver."

Jiang Jing had just finished moving the abacus beads when the water mirror displayed another scene: a team of Daoist children came from the direction of Longhu Mountain, carrying banners that read "Expelling Evil and Eliminating Misfortune." The leader was Zhang Xuansu, riding a green ox, his whisk flicking. "When Haoran Academy is in trouble, how can this humble Daoist stand idly by?"

[Zhang Xuansu's profile card updated: Carries Magical Artifact: Soul Suppressing Bell. Martial Skill: Five Thunder Method, Heart Clearing Incantation. Double damage against evil spirits.]

The Marshal of the Unruly gripped his golden spear and waved to The Net's assassins. "Grab your weapons! The old Daoist is here; don't lose face for the Young Lord!"

Jun Xiaoyao said into the message talisman, "Have Lin Sanlang and the others retreat." He looked at Jiang Jing. "Calculate Longhu Mountain's Medicinal Pill accounts. That batch of spirit condensing pills we intercepted last year will come in handy."

Jiang Jing's fingers flew. "There are still seventeen bottles of spirit condensing pills, enough for the Marshal of the Unruly and his men to last three hours... Young Lord, do you mean to?"

"Zhang Xuansu treasures his Pill Furnace the most," Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled slightly. "Have The Net 'borrow' it for a bit of fun."

In the water mirror, the Marshal of the Unruly had already led the assassins into the woods. Lin Sanlang and the other teenagers retreated to the street corner, not forgetting to wave handkerchiefs at the Scripture Pavilion.

Zhang Xuansu's green ox had just stepped into the courtyard gate when The Net's black shadows swept across the rooftops, their target directly the Pill Furnace on the Daoist child's back—

[Panel refreshes in real-time: The Net's Operation: 'Borrowing' the Pill Furnace, Progress 10%...]

Jiang Jing's abacus clicked rapidly. "If it succeeds, it will not only dampen Zhang Xuansu's spirit, but the Pill Furnace can also be sold for a good price... Oh no, it's a 'rental' fee, which could bring in at least a hundred taels of gold."

Jun Xiaoyao didn't respond, his gaze falling on the corner of the water mirror—there, Zhou Xiaopang was secretly stuffing pastries into his mouth.

After being slapped on the back of the head by Lin Sanlang, the two teenagers' playful banter, mixed with the curses from the Scripture Pavilion and the Daoist children's scolding, intertwined into a cacophony in the water mirror.