♂,
I was in the same boat anyway. Since I held no official position now, visiting as an ordinary citizen would have little impact on the Divine Firmament Office, nor would it drag me into the factional struggle. Whether they would see me was another matter, though, and Heizi would have to come up with that excuse.
Once the decision was made, Heizi was overjoyed to have my approval. He immediately went back to prepare the excuse and gifts. Since I had just returned, I could not go running around right away, so I planned to settle down at Bai Ruqi's place first.
Heizi and Zhen Dayu returned soon enough. Since I had just come back, I naturally had to help Bai Ruqi console and meet the old comrades within her domain. When the guardians saw me, it was as if they had seen hope. Each of them gathered their strength, waiting only for me to open the gates of the Office of Personnel so they could receive work.
Bai Ruqi was always radiant with joy whenever she saw me. Her happiness infected me, temporarily blocking out the gloom in my heart. I planned to properly stabilize my cultivation.
A day passed in the blink of an eye. Early the next morning, Bai Ruqi hurried to the outer residence of the Daoist temple and knocked on my door. From outside, she said, "There are several upper gods seeking an audience at the Realm Dock. Should I invite them in?"
As expected. The six departments had finished their game and submitted their results, but until the Emperor's true decree came down, they would certainly have to sound out his intentions. The minor officials below would have to produce some real results, too. Whatever the higher-ups meant, it could never be wrong