I Stepped on a Bug, and the System Says I Slayed a Dragon?-Chapter 124: The Hall Master Returns, Li Qinghe Resumes Work

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: The Hall Master Returns, Li Qinghe Resumes Work

「The next day.」

「Early in the morning.」

Qin Yang was up bright and early, clocking into the library ahead of schedule. He began his usual routine of slacking off, just like always.

Life inside the library was as peaceful as ever.

Aside from some people from the Star Martial Police Bureau occasionally stopping patrons to ask a few questions, the other library employees weren’t affected much.

Time trickled by quietly.

However, just as it was approaching noon...

DING!

His phone’s work group chat pinged.

Qin Yang opened his phone and saw it was a group message from the Steward.

[Attention, everyone! The Hall Master is back! Everyone at your posts, look sharp! No slacking!]

’The Hall Master is back today?’

Qin Yang stared at the message and released a bit of his Spiritual Power to sense the auras within the library. Sure enough, on the third floor, he detected a familiar Innate Qi Mechanism.

Moreover, it was powerful and stable—far beyond what it had been before.

’Hm? The Hall Master’s strength has increased. It seems his Cultivation progressed quite a bit during his business trip these past few days.’

As Qin Yang probed the familiar aura, he suddenly recalled Li Qinghe begging him to return the Ten Thousand Array Map.

’Tsk. No wonder.’

’That girl had been in such a frantic rush, suddenly coming to him begging to have the array broken...’

’It was all because her dad was coming back today.’

Thinking of this, Qin Yang glanced in the direction of the third floor.

’He’s probably checking the damages on the third floor right about now.’

...

Meanwhile, on the third floor of the library.

The Hall Master, Li Daoming, stood in the center of the room. He raised a hand and dispelled the concealment array, revealing the third floor’s true appearance.

Rows of bookshelves stood like a forest, and in the corners were display cases holding Deformed Beast Bones, Panlong Grass, Drilling Whale Horns... all sorts of rare and Exotic Treasures.

And in the very center of the third floor stood an engraved display pedestal, with the Ten Thousand Array Map resting quietly in the middle.

"Thank goodness the Ten Thousand Array Map wasn’t stolen!"

Li Daoming paced over to the display case and ran his hand over the surface of the scroll, inspecting the Array Map’s condition. Once he confirmed there were no issues, his anxious heart could finally rest.

"It seems that Demon didn’t manage to break the Soul-Catching Array either."

Li Daoming carefully placed the Ten Thousand Array Map back into the display case, recalling what the Steward had told him earlier.

’I was only away in the Imperial Capital on business for a few days, yet so much has happened at the library. Someone actually dared to try and break into the third floor to steal treasures.’

’Fortunately, there wasn’t any major damage.’

’Li Qing...’

Recalling the list of suspects the Steward had given him, the Hall Master frowned in thought.

It seemed he was beginning to get a handle on the situation.

...

「A moment later.」

「On the first floor of the library.」

Qin Yang was standing in front of a bookshelf, humming a little tune as he shelved books. He was "hard at work" when he turned his head at the sound of familiar footsteps.

He saw the Steward walk in through the doorway, holding a personnel transfer sheet.

In a few quick strides, he came to a stop directly in front of him.

"We can’t get in touch with that Li Qing kid. Section 2 is short-staffed, so we’ll have to transfer you over to cover for a few days."

The Steward looked down at the sheet, crossed out Li Qing’s name with his pen, and said slowly, "Same as last time. Double performance pay, double bonus. You okay with that?"

"About how long?" Qin Yang asked.

"Until we can hire someone new."

The Steward replied calmly, "Now that the Hall Master is back, it should only take a day or two at the minimum, half a month at most, to hire a replacement."

"Li Qing has run off this time, and who knows when he’ll be back. It’s my failure as a manager. Qin Yang, you’ll have to hold down the fort for now."

"Fine."

Hearing this, Qin Yang nodded and readily agreed.

’I’m getting double pay, after all. What happens next has nothing to do with me.’

’Double the slacking, double the money. Perfect!’

After the Steward left, Qin Yang returned to his work rhythm, continuing to lie low and slack off while leisurely comprehending his Law Fragments.

Time flowed by slowly.

The sun beat down, hot and bright. Noon passed in a flash, and soon it was late afternoon.

Just then.

Suddenly!

A commotion erupted at the entrance. A fierce argument broke out, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

’Hm?’

Qin Yang followed the noise with his senses and was taken aback to find that Li Qinghe had returned.

’That girl actually dares to come back to work?’

’I thought she’d already skipped town for good.’

’Right now, the library considers her the prime suspect. Forget coming back to work—she probably can’t even get through the front door!’

「At that moment.」

「At the entrance.」

Several members of the Star Martial Police Bureau stood guard, blocking her path. The Steward, having heard the commotion, rushed over. With hands on his hips, he pointed a finger right at her face and demanded sharply,

"You’ve got some nerve coming back here, kid!"

"Cut the crap. I want to see the Hall Master!"

Li Qinghe frowned. She glanced at the officers surrounding her and waved her hand impatiently. "All of you, get out of my way!"

"Well, well, well. I’ve never met anyone as arrogant as you!"

Hearing this, the Steward was so furious he laughed. He clapped his hands and ordered the nearby officers, "Arrest him! Take him to the Star Martial Police Bureau for questioning first. This kid is definitely up to something!"

As his voice fell.

CLACK!

The surrounding officers raised their guns and took aim. Dozens of Postnatal Realm Martial Artists began to channel their Star Force, sealing off Li Qinghe’s escape routes.

In an instant, the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife!

Just as a conflict was about to erupt.

Suddenly!

"Let her in."

The Hall Master’s voice descended from out of nowhere, echoing clearly in everyone’s ears like the toll of an ancient bell!

The scene instantly fell silent.

"Hall Master!"

The others paled in shock at the voice. They hurried to obey the command, lowering their guns. The Postnatal Realm Martial Artists also ceased their Star Force lockdown.

The next moment.

The crowd parted to either side, clearing a wide path for Li Qinghe.

"Hmph!"

Li Qinghe let out a cold snort. Without another word, she walked straight through the crowd and headed for the third floor.

The crowd watched her retreating back, trading bewildered glances. The Steward was especially shocked, a look of astonishment flashing across his face.

’To be able to meet the Hall Master in person...’

"Just who is this kid?!"

...

’A family chat, huh...’

Qin Yang took in the whole scene. He sensed Li Qinghe go all the way up to the third floor, then retracted his Spiritual Power probe.

After all, what happened next was Li Qinghe’s family business. As an outsider, there was no need for him to pry and disturb their privacy.

’Better to just keep lying low.’

With that thought, Qin Yang yawned, closed his eyes, and went back to resting.

...

...

「An hour later.」

「At the library’s staircase entrance.」

Li Qinghe slowly walked down, having finished explaining the general situation.

At the entrance, the Steward and a dozen or so Postnatal Realm masters stood shoulder to shoulder in a straight line, ready to block her path again.

Just then, a humming sound, HUMMM, suddenly echoed in the Steward’s ears, immediately followed by a clear, mellow voice.

"All of you, disperse."

"Let Li Qing remain at the library. The troublemaking Demon has nothing to do with him."

As the voice faded.

"Hall Master..."

The Steward was stunned for a moment. When he came to his senses, he quickly waved for the guards blocking the way to stand down.

Li Qinghe walked past the guards, her expression perfectly composed. From beginning to end, she didn’t spare them a single glance. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

She only lifted her gaze slightly, looking in the direction of Section 1.

’Hmph! Qin Yang, you just wait!’

’I will make Senior Sword God my master, no matter what!’