Pope Palace's side hall.
The window was half-open, sunlight slanting in over the stacks of dossiers piled on the desk.
Di Yao sat behind the desk.
Three piles of documents lay before him.
The first contained records from the Worship Hall concerning sun, light, and avian Spirit types.
The second contained information on the Clear Sky Sect Remnants.
The third contained historical records of the Angel Statue reacting to unusual Spirits.
Hu Liena stood beside the desk, holding an hourglass.
She watched the grains of sand fall one by one.
Her expression was icy.
Di Yao opened the first dossier. He had read for less than half an incense stick's time when Hu Liena reached out and pressed down on the page.
Di Yao looked up at her.
"The time isn't up."
Hu Liena did not even blink. "I know it isn't."
Di Yao said, "Then why are you holding it down?"
Hu Liena looked down at him, her tone specific and thoroughly impolite. "You read eight pages just now, breathed heavily three times, and pressed your right hand against your chest twice. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
Di Yao fell silent for a breath.
Hu Liena continued, "Teacher said four hours a day. What I agreed to was four hours a day, not letting you force yourself through four hours while coughing up blood."
Di Yao looked at her.
"I didn't cough up blood."
Hu Liena sneered. "So you're proud of that?"
Di Yao did not answer.
He moved the documents aside.
"Then what do you want?"
Hu Liena set the hourglass on the desk, suppressing the anger in her voice. "Drink your medicine first."
Di Yao glanced at the bowl of black medicine at the corner of the desk.
Its medicinal odor was pungent.
It contained herbs