Daily life of a cultivation judge

Yang Qing nodded in appreciation of their understanding before getting straight to the point. He requested the details he needed for the investigation—specifically, the travel route they had originally planned, the exact path Jiang Hao ended up taking during the mission, and all information regarding the clients and cargo involved. This included details about where the goods were being delivered and what and who had gone missing along with Jiang Hao.

This was precisely why Yang Qing had warned them earlier that if they wanted his help, they'd have to be prepared for him to ask for information they might not feel comfortable sharing.

For an escort agency—much like an information broker—discretion was paramount. Breaching client confidentiality would not only damage their reputation but could also violate the very foundation of trust their business relied upon.

If it could be helped, Yang Qing wouldn't have put them in such a position. However, from where he stood, the situation left him no choice.

While the Order had the resources to unearth that information independently, doing so would require time—time that they simply didn't have. In missing person cases, every second mattered, and delays could prove disastrous.

Thus, to minimize wasted time, Yang Qing was willing to place them in this uncomfortable predicament, even if it meant asking them to compromise their agreements of discretion with their clients.

Even after obtaining the information, Yang Qing had no intention of taking it at face value. He fully intended to cross-check the details with sources from the Order. After all, his suspicions about Duan Ting and Liu Ying hadn't been laid to rest. If they were involved, feeding him false intel would be one of the easiest ways to mislead his investigation. That, and making a quick getaway at the first opportunity—something Yang Qing had already preempted by suggesting they remain in Gold Eagle Town.

He framed it as a precaution, in case more people like Ming Wa came forward with complaints. To ease their concerns, Yang Qing even offered to mediate if such situations arose. The offer seemed to lighten their mood considerably, as both supervisors let out visible sighs of relief and even managed a few smiles.

Duan Ting, who appeared to have the information prepared in advance, wasted no time handing over two jade slips. One contained details about their clients and the commissions taken, while the other outlined the planned travel route.

Yang Qing started with the slip containing the travel route, quickly scanning its contents. As he reviewed the details, he mentally compared them to the sparse information he already had about the areas Jiang Hao had passed through. Though his own knowledge wasn't as current or detailed as the escort agency's, it wouldn't take long to fill in the gaps once he returned to the Order.

"Were there any deviations between this route and the one Jiang Hao actually used during the commission?" Yang Qing asked as he set the slip aside.

Liu Ying shook her head. "No, there weren't."

"Thanks," Yang Qing replied before turning his attention to the second jade slip—the one detailing the clients and their commissions.

He gave the jade slip a quick once-over, planning to scrutinize it more thoroughly once he returned to the Order and had access to its resources. However, some information could be verified right here in Gold Eagle Town, particularly surface-level details about the clients listed in the slip.

Gold Eagle Town functioned like most other towns in this regard—visitors were required to register their details with the silver guards at the gate. The information collected was minimal: their name, affiliation (if any), and the purpose of their visit.

Of these three, it was almost expected that visitors might lie about two—name and affiliation. The Order wasn't overly concerned with those details and rarely enforced any significant consequences for falsehoods. However, when it came to the purpose of their visit, there was no room for dishonesty.

Visitors were required to provide truthful information regarding their intent, and this would either be verified on the spot or enforced later. Furthermore, the person or organization the visitor sought to meet would be held accountable for their actions while they remained in the town.

So those organizations, even if it was just a street-side stall owner would be held as a guarantor and party to the actions of that visitor. They were responsible for them, and should that visitor be involved in something nefarious they would be implicated.

"It's your customer, so it's your responsibility for what they do here."

This was the guiding principle the Order used to manage Gold Eagle Town. It was a clever system that not only distributed responsibility among the town's occupants but also fostered a sense of community.

With the risk of being implicated by their clients' actions, business owners were naturally motivated to be vigilant about the 'outsiders' they allowed into their 'town.' Despite belonging to different factions or having competing interests, these businesses had to set aside their rivalries and work together to protect their operations and their standing in Gold Eagle Town.

And that was exactly what the Order was aiming for. By introducing shared risk, they weakened divisions between organizations, encouraging a sense of collective ownership over the town. This, in turn, made those groups just as invested as the Order in maintaining stability.

It was an ingenious plan—hitting two birds with one stone. It kept the town secure without requiring the Order to exhaust too many resources, relying instead on the self-interest of those within its walls.

A classic move, really. Efficient, effective, exploitative, and thrifty—just the kind of strategy the Order loved to use- if Yang Qing was asked.

As for the organizations established in the town, they were fully aware of the Order's intentions. Yet, they willingly played along. The reason was simple: Gold Eagle Town was as valuable as land owned by the Holy Lands.

In terms of quality and reputation, it was no different. A lesser dragon spirit vein ran through the town—one that was edging closer to becoming a mature dragon vein. Combined with the prestige of the Order's brand, the town naturally became a highly sought-after place for organizations eager to conduct business.

The chance to operate in such prime territory, under the indirect protection of the Order, was an opportunity few could resist. If the cost was acting as the Order's eyes, ears, and guards, all without compensation and at great collateral risk, none of them hesitated. To be part of Gold Eagle Town's ecosystem was worth any price.

..

Yang Qing's brow furrowed deeply as his gaze swept over the list of goods.

At first, he thought he might have misread it. But a closer inspection left no room for doubt.

"What's this doing here?" he muttered, his eyes lingering on the entry that had caught his attention: Heart Quenching Mulberry Dew.