Transfer of Power!

"Stop... stop... stop..."

Wei Qing repeatedly waved his hands to cut them off.

"With you taking turns like a wheel battle, even the Wine Immortal couldn't hold out." He raised his cup and looked around. "Why don't we all drink this cup together?"

"Alright!"

Amid the crisp chime of wine pouring into jade cups, the distinctions between sects vanished.

Cup after cup, everyone completely let themselves go.

The next day.

Wei Qing's eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes, a parched feeling filling his mouth and throat.

He propped himself up and fumbled around for water, only to discover that he was not in his room, but in a private pavilion on the top floor of Xingyun Tower.

More than a dozen disciples from various sects lay sprawled across the floor.

Liu Yulong slept soundly while hugging Qin Shuang's Blood Drinking Saber.

One genius disciple of the Heavenly Saber Sect was actually curled beneath a table, still clutching an empty wine jar in his arms.

Even more outrageous was—

Nangong Ruyan's crystal ball floated in midair, projecting the final scene from last night: Jun Wushang standing atop the table and demonstrating the Flowing Cloud Saber Technique.

Fragments of last night's memories gradually pieced themselves together.

Jun Wushang had shouted that he wanted to challenge ten people...

Tantai Yue and the other female cultivators had collectively left the table...

To prevent anyone from cheating and refusing to admit it afterward, Nangong Ruyan's crystal ball had been left behind...

The male disciples who could not hold their liquor had staggered away...

The drinking contest had turned into a martial demonstration...

As the memories came to an end, he shook his head with a bitter smile. "I can't drink anymore in the future. It's too embarrassing."

He searched the room from end to end, yet could not find a single drop of water.

Just then.

A'Fu appeared at the entrance of the private room, carrying a kettle in his hand. "My lord, water!"

"Oh?" Wei Qing paused, then smiled. "Thanks."

"This is this subordinate's duty."

After saying that, he stood to the side and waited.

After Wei Qing gulped down an entire kettle of water and revealed a satisfied expression.

A'Fu continued, "Captain Zhu came early this morning. When he learned that my lord had not yet awakened, he has been waiting downstairs for you."

"Alright, I understand."

After making his report, A'Fu withdrew from the private room.

Wei Qing returned to his room to change into a fresh set of clothes before heading downstairs.

"My lord."

When Zhu Huan saw Wei Qing come downstairs, he hurriedly rose to his feet.

"Alright, enough with the formalities. Tell me, what happened?"

Wei Qing went straight to the point.

"The Imperial Court's newly appointed Magistrate has arrived. He wishes to invite my lord to make a trip to the yamen."

Zhu Huan placed especially heavy emphasis on the word "invite."

Du Ziteng had originally planned to come in person to pay a visit, but a civilian had come to the yamen seeking justice. Left with no choice, he sent Zhu Huan in his stead to invite Wei Qing.

By the time Wei Qing and Zhu Huan returned to the yamen, Du Ziteng had just finished handling the civilian's case and was preparing to wait for them at the entrance.

"I am Du Ziteng, the Imperial Court's newly appointed Magistrate of Qingcheng. You must be Lord Wei Qing of the Heavenly Realm Division?"

"Mm, you finally arrived. Now I can return to the capital with peace of mind." Wei Qing nodded slightly and let out a soft breath.

In the yamen's inner hall.

After the two took their seats.

Wei Qing spoke first. "The yamen's affairs have always been handled by the County Magistrate and Captain Zhu. If Lord Du has any questions, you can simply ask them directly."

"Also, I will return to the capital today to report back. Qingcheng's affairs will have to trouble Lord Du to look after from now on."

"So soon?"

Du Ziteng wore a smile, but inwardly he was greatly surprised.

He had assumed that taking up his post would meet with some obstruction, and that the other party might hold onto the Magistrate's authority for some time.

Yet before he could even speak, the other party was already preparing to leave.

The straightforwardness of it was beyond his expectations.

For a moment.

All the words he had prepared for so long were left bottled up in his stomach, rendered useless.

"I came to Qingcheng this time to complete my advancement mission. I merely happened to encounter the Magistrate's son colluding with demons, which left the Magistrate's position vacant."

"Now that Lord Du has arrived, I should naturally step down from my position as Acting Magistrate."

"Besides, I have stayed here long enough. It is time to return to the Heavenly Realm Division and report back."

Wei Qing shook his head.

He had long been hoping that the new Magistrate would arrive sooner.

After all, his second uncle's family had lived carefree in the Imperial City for long enough.

It was time for them to pay the price.

"Since that is the case, I will not stop Lord Wei. When I return to the capital someday, I will certainly pay you a visit, Brother Wei, and speak with you heart to heart through the night."

Seeing that Wei Qing was determined to leave, Du Ziteng said no more.

"Good. When the time comes, Wei will certainly sweep his couch clean to welcome you. Then I shall take my leave first."

Wei Qing cupped his hands and directly left the yamen's inner hall.

"Take care, Brother Wei!"

Watching Wei Qing's departing back, Du Ziteng did not withdraw his gaze until he had completely disappeared.

Then, he turned to the County Magistrate and Zhu Huan.

"From now on, in Qingcheng, I hope the two of you will offer much support and cooperation."

"My lord, you are too courteous!"

When Wei Qing returned to the Inn.

Jun Wushang's furious roar came through the wooden door. "Liu Yulong, if you dare spread that recording, I'll fight you to the death!"

"Haha, you think I'm afraid of you? Come on, then."

Liu Yulong laughed smugly.

"Brother Long, I was wrong."

Seeing that force would not work, Jun Wushang immediately softened his stance.

That footage from last night truly ruined his image. If Zhang Xue were to see it.

He feared that he would never be able to hold his head up before Zhang Xue again.

He could not beat him either.

In the end, he could only choose to yield first, get the footage into his hands, and settle the score afterward.

"Ah, that's more like it... Damn it, you brat, you launched a sneak attack... Ouch..."

"Wushang, that kick of yours was a little... your angle wasn't quite right. You should've moved it just a tiny bit to the right." Qin Shuang's dissatisfied voice immediately rang out.

"Yeah... it was just this tiny bit short of perfection." Song Yuanming chimed in.

"Haha, that's a good suggestion."

"You people... How could Heaven be so blind as to let me meet a bunch of sinister fellows like you?" Liu Yulong shouted helplessly.

Wei Qing smiled faintly at that and pushed open the door to the private room.

"Qingzi, where did you go? You disappeared as soon as you woke up." Jun Wushang instinctively hid the crystal ball in his hand behind his back, his expression unnatural as he spoke.

Wei Qing saw this but did not expose him. "Someone from the yamen came just now. Qingcheng's new Magistrate has arrived, so I went to complete the handover."

"So that means we can return to the capital?"

"Mm."

"Brother Wei, are you in such a hurry? Why not stay in Qingcheng and have some fun for a few more days?"

"Yeah."

Hearing that Wei Qing was leaving, Qin Shuang and the others all spoke up to urge him to stay.

After last night, everyone's relationship had grown a step closer.

They all hoped Wei Qing could stay a while longer. Once he and Jun Wushang returned to the capital, no one knew when they would meet again.

Wei Qing gently shook his head. "No. Wushang and I still need to return to the Heavenly Realm Division to report in. In the future, you can come to the capital to find us."

"Right, whenever you go out training and such, you can come stroll around the Imperial City."

To be honest, Jun Wushang was somewhat reluctant to part as well.

Aside from Wei Qing, Qin Shuang and the others were among his few friends.