The hall doors were heavy.
The corridor was deep.
Standing before the doors, Song Zhong felt chilled to the bone. He wanted to rub his hands like a sieve shaking, but he held himself back.
He could not hold back the surging rage.
Everyone said the old man was a demon, a demon god, who wished to sacrifice all living things between heaven and earth and had thus been sealed away.
Song Zhong had remained doubtful.
After hearing the old man's words, he had thought that although the old man could not be said to have cared for all living beings, he had indeed distinguished good from evil, allowing the righteous path beneath heaven to grow ever more prosperous amid life's vicissitudes.
But now?
He stood at the entrance to the government office's inner hall.
Witnessing the monstrous evil of someone impersonating him.
Brazenly taking away his essay.
He had a mouth, yet could not speak.
He had hands, yet could not move.
Only when he heard the words, "The man has been brought," were the many invisible shackles upon him removed.
"Invite him in." The authoritative words carried not the slightest hint of invitation.
Song Zhong mechanically took a step forward and walked into the darkness.
Whoosh.
The candlelight flared to life.
As though daylight had suddenly blazed forth.
A middle-aged man in official robes sat in the seat of honor. Upon seeing Song Zhong, he calmly extended a hand. "Sit."
Song Zhong sat down in silence.
"Tea."
A beautiful maidservant presented steaming tea.
A scholarly-looking advisor seated opposite him said with a smile, "This is the magistrate of Wancheng County, a Principal Seventh Rank official and a peak Golden Core cultivator. Perhaps Mr. Song has no concept of what that means. To put it bluntly, the underworld constable