"Hmm hmm hmm~"
A little red-clay stove warmed two glowing coals, while clear water in the earthen pot bubbled gently.
Shen Zhongliang hummed a little tune as he picked up a ceramic jar. From it, he selected soaked, salt-preserved Lycoris Radiata, pinched out one stem for a taste, and nodded in satisfaction at its rich salty freshness. He then took out the Lycoris Radiata and cut it into lengths like scallion segments.
"Old Song, you'd better work those beads properly. This year's autumn tax for the Heavenly Fire Sect cannot be wrong in the slightest. Though abacus beads are small, they're bigger than the head on my shoulders—Shen Zhongliang, Elder of the Finance Department. Remember: what you're moving in your hands is my head."
"Please rest assured, Elder Shen." The Finance Department accountant, his beard completely white, worked the abacus as he carefully calculated the Blood Treasures. "I followed you back when we were in the Xuanming Sect. I've been handling Blood Treasures for thirty years; I've long since learned to calculate meticulously."
Shen Zhongliang's face darkened. "Xuanming Sect, Xuanming Sect—what Xuanming Sect? There is only the River God Sect now! What does the Xuanming Sect have to do with you?"
"Nothing, nothing at all!"
"Good. Be careful in all things, and nothing will go wrong."
"Understood, understood."
Shen Zhongliang added the chopped Lycoris Radiata to the earthen pot. The boiling water quieted at the chill, then after waiting a while, it came to a boil again, its fragrance drifting outward.
"Pickles with boiling Blood Treasures—this old man's better than the Sect Master~"
Before Shen Zhongliang could stuff the Lycoris Radiata mixed with Blood Treasure into his mouth—
The abacus fell silent.
"What is it?"
"Elder, the accounts are wrong." The accountant trembled with fear.
Shen Zhongliang frowned and slapped