Chapter 75 - 75 75 Run Away with the Bucket

75: Chapter 75: Run Away with the Bucket 75: Chapter 75: Run Away with the Bucket I was an accountant. What a profound self-introduction, who knows how many bitter tears it conceals. With just this sentence, An Jing fully understood why Huo Qing was being tormented like this. He said knowingly, “Tell me, was it a fire dragon burning the warehouse or missing cash? Or was it signing off on non-existent intangible assets?” “Actually, it’s all of the above.” Hearing this, Huo Qing felt even more embarrassed: “Moreover, I also doubled as Big Spear Uncle…” His glance shifted towards the burly man lying at An Jing’s feet: “Their side’s finance and warehouse manager.” “Then you really are impressive.” An Jing grew extremely respectful: “So, what exactly happened?” It’s actually quite simple. In the gang world… not taking advantage of the gang makes you a dumbass. In the Day Tiger Gang, any member with a bit of power in the mid to high ranks was making money through the gang. It was the same on Big Spear’s side. This group was in charge of managing several Day Tiger Gang armories, selling off a good amount of gang materials, and Huo Qing had always been smoothing their accounts. Big Spear was one of those uncles who had taken care of Huo Qing after his parents died, and he was also the one who pulled Huo Qing into the Day Tiger Gang. Out of gratitude, Huo Qing was also willing to help Big Spear resolve these issues. After the embezzlement, they’d record a lower inventory, exaggerate expenses during operations and, over time, the books would even out. Caught in this whirlwind, Huo Qing wasn’t an idiot; he knew he was completely tied to Big Spear and his associates, so even when neighbors urged him to stop messing with the gangs, he could only smile bitterly and shake his head. But this time… “If it was just an account missing one or two thousand Good Deeds, it’d still be fixable, fabricate a car accident, claiming it was intercepted by a rival gang during transport, and to prevent the goods from falling into enemy hands, they were destroyed—although this would incur the boss’s rebuke for incompetence, it wouldn’t be a big problem.” seaʀᴄh thё Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Supporting the unconscious Master Liu into the shed to one side, Huo Qing laid everything out for An Jing: “But this time, Big Spear and the others got too greedy, misappropriating thousands, nearly tens of thousands of Good Deeds worth of materials.” “If it were any other time, they’d just have to burn the warehouse and set fire to the dormitory and operational bases nearby and blame it on the Flame Claw Gang.” “Though more likely than not, I’d be found incompetent afterward, at least it would save my life.” “But this time… without any warning, all the gangs suddenly went to war. People from above will definitely come to inspect the war preparations.” At this point, Huo Qing forced a smile: “I was still thinking about how to solve the problem… Now it seems, there’s no chance left. The people from above must have already checked the warehouse supplies.” “While I was still pondering how to balance the accounts… Big Spear Uncle already had a plan.” “That was to kill you.” An Jing nodded slightly: “Then let you take the fall for everything.” Huo Qing did not respond; he had also realized that someone like him, a mere scribe, being sent to the front line was very strange in itself, and even who had wounded him was highly suspect. But none of that mattered anymore, because Big Spear and his men were coming over not to look for Huo Qing, who was supposed to be dead by now, but probably to ‘discover’ some ledgers in Huo Qing’s house. “I can no longer stay in the Day Tiger Gang.” At this moment, Huo Qing felt utterly despondent: “Even if I bring down Big Spear Uncle, I indeed helped them cook the books in the past, the boss will definitely want to kill me.” This was indeed a problem. No matter what, Huo Qing had helped Big Spear and others embezzle gang assets. Although this was common practice and even the boss of Day Tiger Gang was probably exploiting the gang to siphon aid from the combined companies, in a sense what he did was not much different from what Big Spear and others were doing. But such things, even when understood, must not be spoken of; once they escalate, consequences come swift and severe, and even a pig cage won’t save you. Especially since Big Spear and the others just happened to encounter a gang war—accusing Gao Li of enriching himself during a time of war and harming the interests of the gang and the collective would mean being hung on the pillar of shame to bleed out. The worst part for Huo Qing was, even if he managed to take out Big Spear, it would be of no use. At most, he would carry less blame and live a little longer than Big Spear. Even the fact that the Day Tiger Gang boss didn’t take out Big Spear and the others immediately was probably because he wanted to use these people to take the blame again—Huo Qing and Big Spear were still tangled up about a few thousand Good Deeds, who knows if the Day Tiger Gang boss was planning to saddle them with a debt of a hundred thousand Good Deeds? From the beginning, they were doomed. “If you can’t stay, then don’t,” An Jing replied, somewhat baffled, “Just pick up your bucket and run, what’s there to fret about?” “An, you’re from the Wilderness; you wouldn’t understand,” Huo Qing’s expression grew even gloomier: “The Day Tiger Gang’s backers are spread throughout the Seventeen Towns, and they even have people in Xuanye City… Run, but where to? The only option would be to head into the Wilderness.” “But entering the Wilderness almost means abandoning civilized society. Sure, some people manage to start a new life with a new identity, but for someone like me, how long could I survive in the Wilderness?” Huo Qing’s current predicament stemmed entirely from his personality. The reason he helped Big Spear and others do things that were illegal and betrayed the gang was purely out of gratitude. Don’t be fooled by how Big Spear just now, in a fit of desperation, wanted to kill him. In truth, without Big Spear’s care, Huo Qing would have starved to death on the streets long ago. Out of gratitude for that, Huo Qing was even willing to do things that violated his morals and endangered his life. Before, Huo Qing had thought that if things really went south, he would just give his life to Big Spear. But before he could even dwell on it after being saved by An Jing, Big Spear was taken down, leaving him no chance to act. It was this character trait that made Huo Qing willing to pass on the family’s Cultivation Method to An Jing as a token of gratitude. —This person probably lacks love too much. An Jing thought to himself. Just being a bit kind to him, and he would trust you wholeheartedly. “Don’t you have other uncles and aunts?” With this in mind, An Jing found it hard to watch and suggested, “The situation is urgent now; let’s get out of here and hide for a couple of days—quick, let’s take Big Spear with us, the City Guard is coming!” At this moment, he had already heard the orderly footsteps nearby. This level of training was clearly that of the patroling City Guard Army. “Yes!” Hearing this, even Huo Qing was startled awake. He hurriedly searched Big Spear and the others for valuables again, then quickly left the scene with An Jing, who was carrying Big Spear’s body. “I do have a few trustworthy uncles…” As he ran, he gasped for air and hastily said to An Jing, “One of them was the one I wanted to recommend to you, An, the owner of the recovery hut!” “But he is not in the town; he is located at the outskirts of Xuanye City…” “The dump!” To this, An Jing didn’t waste words: “Let’s leave town first, then you’ll guide the way!” An Jing and Huo Qing quickly fled the scene. Seconds later, the tidy squad of City Guard Army also arrived in front of Master Liu’s breakfast shop.