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It didn’t happen often that Mobei Jun had time he did not know how to fill. But when he would lurk around the shadows and check upon his stuff. Making sure they would do as they were supposed to.
He was powerful but he could not trust that anyone would be loyal to him just because of that. And for sure he had encountered something he really had not been expected to see.
Mobei Jun was aware that the north worked better since the human had taken over the logistics and management. He knew that Shang Qinghua was teaching the demon servants the human ways but he had not expected to see these kinds of expressions in his face.
Whenever Mobei Jun was around the human would act pathetic and small, would shiver and hide, would flinch at every small sound. But now he was standing tall, his face stern, letting the servants feel uneasy around him. So the human had confidence and power. He just did not show it around Mobei Jun.
Immediately he had to remember what it was that Shang Qinghua had told to Luo Binghe on how to make someone understand a person was romantically interested. Back then he had already noted that it was very close to the way Shang Qinghua acted around him, but this. This was the proof. This little human was courting the King of the northern desert. He sure was way more than one could see at the first glance.
So yes. Mobei Jun would make sure he would have a bit of free time around the staff meetings to join through the shadows. And watch his little human.
“These are the cash reports for the westside treasure, right?” Shang Qinghua asked, his voice showing that he already knew the answer and that he was not satisfied with it.
An ice demoness perked up. “Yes Lord Shang! I wrote them myself.” She held pride in her voice.
“Huh… And you did it exactly like I teached you?”
“Yes, Lord Shang.”
“Bullshit.” He threw the papers onto the table. “It’s impossible that you did that and I don’t even have to take one look into the treasure.”
“My Lord -”
“Stop it. I don’t want to hear excuses.” He turned towards another demon that was shrinking into himself a little, but trying to stand firm. He was a demon after all. One that towered a whole head over the cultivator and was two times as broad. “You. Look at this and tell me is there anything off?”
“Yes, Lord Shang.” His voice trembled a little. Mobei Jun was not amused to see them being this afraid of a mere human. Of only words.
The demon took over the paper and studied them, sweat forming on his brow. He hastily looked at them over and over and over again. Then he said with a trembling voice. “I don’t see anything wrong. They are accurate.”
“All of you look at them. Anyone who sees something off says it.”
The demons shuffled around the papers, looking them over and talking in hushed voices, seemingly reciting rules they had to follow as to, cross out so that it was readable what was written, write clearly, write chronically, they even seemed to check the numbers, counting on their fingers. But they came up with no answer.
“How can you all be so stupid? Fine. Back to you!” He spoke to the first demoness. “Did you check the amount of money before writing the report?
“Yes!”
“And you accounted for everything like I said?”
“Yes My Lord.”
“So If I now go to the treasure and count again I will find this exact amount listed on the report.”
She shuddered, not sure what to respond. But she still said “Yes, my Lord.”
Shang Qinghua hit the table with his fist. “I am so disappointed in you all. But fine. Let’s do this for dummies.”
He pulled out a little box. “This is the western treasure now. Or represents it. These” He took some of the brushes from a table and put them inside the box. “is the money.”
He showed it around. “Anyone can tell me how many brushes are inside?”
“Five!” The demoness said.
“Right!” He pulled them out and counted them like he was teaching little kids. The demons did not dare to say something about it. “Five!”
He looked at every demon one by one. “So let’s say we buy ingredients for the kitchen. It costs us two brushes.” He took two brushes out of the box and set them aside. “How much brushes remain?”
“Three!” The answer came immediately.
Shang Qinghua nodded.
“You.” He pointed at the first demon to say there was nothing wrong with the reports. “You just sold me very luxurious fur to provide new garments for Lord Mobei Jun. Your price is four brushes. And I agree. Now come and collect your price.”
Finally it dawned at Mobei Jun what this was all about.
The man came over and took out three brushes. His face uncertain.
Shang Qinghua nudged the box closer “come on take out four brushes.”
“There only had been three” The demon said helplessly. I can’t take out another brush.”
“Oh really?” Shang Qinghua said bitterly, not surprised at all. “But you all wanted to make me believe there is nothing wrong with taking out more money then should be inside, why can’t you show me how it is done?”
The demon shuddered and all other demons took a step back. Mumbling something.
“Exactly. You can’t take out money that does not exist. So either there was more money in than you counted, there was money coming in that was not noted down or some of these expenses aren’t real. Care to explain?”
The demoness who made the report was stepping forward. “B-but what is the problem if there is too much money? I-I mean isn’t that good?”
Shang Qinghua looked at her, his eyes piercing. Never had Mobei Jun thought of him as this level of attractive before. Damn he was looking forward to today's beating.
“Why do we do these reports?”
“Because you want us to.”
“Wow, mr. smartypants. Really good. But can you may imagine why the fuck I would want to have these reports done? Do you think I am bored? Do you think I have fun checking these?”
“ehm…”
“Yeah. Shut your mouth if your brain is not connected properly. Fine. I’ll explain. Again! I need these reports because I need to know what happens with the money. What really happens. So that I can make sure that everything is like it should to plan the budgets. But this. This is useless. It only shows me that there are things happening that are out of my supervision. And that could mean anything. It could mean you actually don’t supply us with enough food. Or that you take the money from elsewhere. Or that maybe the things are not as expansive as the receipts make us believe and actually are too stupid to take all the excess money. Who knows. Maybe you are just making up the numbers and never look into that damn treasure in the first place. Do you follow?”
“Yes Lord Shang.” Said all demons in one voice.
“And since I can’t trust what happened. I will now have to take my time and check on all treasures and make the reports for a while until I find out what really is in there. And what do you think Lord Mobei will think if he hears that I can’t give my full attention to the tasks I usually should do because you didn’t work decently.”
A shudder went through the crowd. Mobei Jun was very pleased that his name still insisted more fear into his servants than the raging accountant.
“And alas, since you all did not see the mistake I will have to check up on all your reports too and see if it fits. And then I will start teaching you all over again. Let’s see if it sticks this time!”
He sighs and rubs his temples. “Really. I always thought demons were capable but you really make me doubt it. Even the dumbest of my An Ding disciples would have caught up on it by now. No, I even go this far and say even the dumbest of the Bai Zhan disciples would have got it by now. You are a shame for your whole race!”
Shang Qinghua looked at the demons which all seemed to have shrunk in front of him. “And now out of my face. Help out somewhere where you can’t do any harm until I call up on you again.”
The demons cleared out hastily while Shang Qinghua fell down on the chair holding his head and sighing. “Well done airplane. Of course it would bite you in your ass to make the IQ this low. Well bye bye self care night. Let’s make this treasure make sense. I really hope it was just stupidity. Good servants are so hard to come by. And since I lose some daily… yeah. Come on airplane what are you whining about, just work harder. You don’t need, sleep, food or sex. You exist to serve.”
He took the box that had served as the treasure and threw it from his desk. “Fuck this shit!”
Mobei Jun slipped out of the room, unnoticed giving the human time to deal with his temper himself. It seemed he did not provide good enough for the human on the sensual level. Maybe he had not hit hard enough. Shang Qinghua seemed dissatisfied with his performance.