Hard to Balance the Books

Water poured down in torrents, churning up layer upon layer of froth.

The salamanders' slick brown skin reflected the sky light. They Wagged their Tails and moved toward each other, then came ashore and tread on the ground, pressing out a neat circle of earth.

The cold wind howled bleakly.

Every high-ranking official in Pingyang Prefecture had arrived, including those from the Three Laws Department and the Demon Subduing Division.

After quite some time.

One salamander turned around, slid back into the water, wagged its tail, and vanished.

The waves gradually calmed.

Xu Yuelong could not make sense of it. He stepped half a pace aside, leaned back, and beckoned.

Liang Qu understood at once and moved forward.

"Where are the Sea Merchants? Why are there only two salamanders? One goes ashore to stamp out a circle, then one goes back?"

"Mm, we'll have to wait a while. By custom, Sea Merchants send scouts ahead first, then allow time for everyone to arrive. The Frog Clan does the same. As for stamping out that circle... it should be some kind of marker."

"How long?"

"Half an hour?"

"Half an hour?"

Jian Zhongyi, Wei Lin, Xu Yuelong, Sui Hongyan, and the others all turned around.

Ke Wenbin punched Liang Qu in the back. "We haven't even eaten breakfast, and you didn't tell us earlier? You dragged us out here to freeze in the cold wind for nothing?"

"I forgot..."

The tense atmosphere on the dock collapsed in an instant.

Half an hour.

Neither long nor short.

The Record Keeper from the River Conservancy Office waved for the river clerks to carry chairs outside. The officials took their seats one after another, drinking tea and chatting idly.

"Zhong Shi, when will King of Yue arrive?"

"A reply came at Zi Hour yesterday.