Heavenly Oversight Bureau

Shen Bai paused slightly with the teacup in his hand. Only after draining the tea did he ask, "Did something happen?"

Under ordinary circumstances, Zhou Qing would not have come to him to discuss such matters.

In Shen Bai's view, there had to be something important.

Zhou Qing nodded. "The Heavenly Oversight Bureau will be coming soon. The county magistrate has really lost quite a lot of hair lately."

The Heavenly Oversight Bureau?

Upon hearing those three words, Shen Bai suddenly understood.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was divided into five levels: capital, circuit, prefecture, province, and county. County towns were the lowest level, with the ranks rising from there.

The Heavenly Oversight Bureau, meanwhile, was a special department.

It had been established after the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It governed the affairs of the martial world above and strange supernatural matters below.

So long as something involved either the martial world or the strange and uncanny, the Heavenly Oversight Bureau would handle it.

And now, with the dynasty in turmoil, the Heavenly Oversight Bureau had been given another duty: annual inspections.

They would inspect all civil and military officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty, whether in capital-level cities or county-level towns.

The scope of those inspections was simple: from civil and military evaluations at the top to local governance in the surrounding areas below.

Taken together, these would produce a specific score.

That score would then be reported to the emperor in the palace, for the emperor to decide.

Whether one would be promoted or demoted, rewarded or punished.

To the many officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Heavenly Oversight Bureau's annual inspection was a matter of life and death.

What Zhou Qing had just mentioned was also one of the Heavenly Oversight Bureau's inspection methods.

They would disguise themselves as ordinary citizens and ask the local people for their genuine thoughts and the true state of affairs.

Feeling that his tea had gone cold, Shen Bai had Zhang Chaofeng refill the pot with hot water before saying, "Don't worry. Since you've found yourself a post in Ascending Cloud County, of course I understand these things."

Those who roamed the martial world did not merely deal in fighting, killing, grudges, and love affairs. They also had to understand the ways of human relations.

Shen Bai had connections in the yamen, so handling these matters properly was meant to help Zhou Qing get along better there.

It was also to give the county magistrate enough face.

Zhou Qing nodded. "Since that's the case, I'll be leaving first. There are still plenty of shops to notify. If something happens when the time comes and the county magistrate holds me accountable, I'll be dragged down with him and made to drink a whole pot of punishment."

Seeing that Zhang Chaofeng had just returned, Shen Bai leaned over and whispered a few words to him.

Before long, Zhang Chaofeng returned carrying two strips of cured meat.

"It'll go to waste if nobody eats it. Old Zhou, take it home and have it."

These two pieces of cured meat were not to be underestimated. With the dynasty in chaos, many commoners could only eat meat during special occasions, such as the New Year or other festivals.

Only because Shen Bai ran a pawnshop and business was good did his livelihood remain secure.

Zhou Qing did not stand on ceremony. Their relationship did not require it. Taking the cured meat, he left the Shen Family Pawnshop.

After Zhou Qing departed, Zhang Chaofeng had already sorted out the day's accounts.

Such was the daily life of a pawnshop: organizing the books, sitting watch at the counter, then checking the accounts again at night.

"Shopkeeper, I may need to go back tomorrow," Zhang Chaofeng said, setting the account book aside.

Shen Bai rotated the teacup in his hand. "Didn't you say there were still a few days? Has your wife's trip back to her parents' home been moved up again?"

Zhang Chaofeng had mentioned this matter some time ago, and Shen Bai had already approved his leave.

Today, Shen Bai had merely replied offhandedly.

Zhang Chaofeng said helplessly, "A woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea. They're all transformed eels—more changeable than eels themselves."

Shen Bai nodded. "Then don't come in tomorrow. There have been quite a lot of incidents in Ascending Cloud County lately, so be careful on your way there and back."

Zhang Chaofeng agreed.

Shen Bai yawned and prepared to return to grinding Blood Sword Dance.

Just then, a series of footsteps sounded outside the pawnshop.

Following the sound, Shen Bai saw Cheng Shuang walk in, dressed in yellow and taking small, quick steps.

Shen Bai pointed familiarly toward the rear courtyard, indicating that they should talk there.

Cheng Shuang did not waste words. She silently followed Shen Bai to the rear courtyard.

Rear courtyard.

Shen Bai sat on a stone stool and gestured for Cheng Shuang to sit before speaking.

After she sat down, Cheng Shuang said, "I'll be setting out for Maple Forest Province soon, to return to the Five Immortals Sect and report back."

Shen Bai nodded. "That's good. Maple Forest Province is much larger than Ascending Cloud County, after all, and it's safer too."

Cheng Shuang opened her mouth as though she wanted to say more, but stopped herself.

Shen Bai looked at Cheng Shuang strangely. "If you have something to say, just say it. I don't like people hemming and hawing."

Cheng Shuang said helplessly, "If you ever go to Maple Forest Province, come visit the Five Immortals Sect when you have time. You helped us immensely this time. The Five Immortals Sect will surely sweep the couch clean to welcome you."

Though all he had done was deal with the seemingly minor Five Hearts Sect Master, the matter was exceedingly important to the Five Immortals Sect.

At its root, it was because the Five Hearts Sect Master was a traitor of the Five Immortals Sect.

If he had continued committing evil, the Five Immortals Sect would inevitably have been affected to some degree.

Thus, Shen Bai's help in resolving this major problem brought enormous benefits to the Five Immortals Sect.

Shen Bai laughed. "If I have the time, I'll naturally pay a visit."

For now, Shen Bai had no plans to go to Maple Forest Province.

There were too many strange things in this world. Coupled with the present turmoil in the dynasty, Shen Bai felt that staying in this tiny county town was quite a fine thing.

"Then I'll be going first."

Cheng Shuang rose to her feet and left the rear courtyard.

Shen Bai watched Cheng Shuang's retreating figure until she vanished from sight, only then withdrawing his gaze.

"Time to grind."

To him, the Five Hearts Sect affair had merely been an interlude. He had only taken someone's money and rid them of disaster; it had stirred hardly any ripples in his heart.

Having lived two lives, anything capable of stirring Shen Bai's heart would surely have to be a shocking, earth-shattering event.

Before long, the sound of Shen Bai practicing his sword rang out from the rear courtyard.

A day and a night passed swiftly.

During that time, Shen Bai went out for another meal and brewed a packet of medicine to drink. Blood Sword Dance's proficiency also continued to rise bit by bit.

While grinding proficiency, Shen Bai was also considering the source of Killing Intent.

But for the moment, he could not find a steady source.

These things concerned the unlocking of his divine abilities and their qualitative transformations. Thus, aside from grinding proficiency, they were Shen Bai's foremost need.

When the next day was about to dawn, Shen Bai yawned and lay in his chair to rest for the time it took an incense stick to burn.

Only after his Essence, Qi, Spirit had recovered somewhat did he prepare to go out for breakfast.

The breakfast stall was not far from the pawnshop. Shen Bai often came here, and the surrounding residents were quite familiar with him.

"Shopkeeper Shen, the usual?"

With a cloth draped over his shoulder, the waiter wiped the table clean before asking with a smile.

Shen Bai nodded. After saying it was the usual, he waited patiently.

Before long, all the dishes were served.

As Shen Bai ate, he listened to the conversations of the surrounding townsfolk.

But just then, a figure caught Shen Bai's attention.