Sand

Everyone was stunned again, and several military officers burst into laughter.

"As expected of Mr. Gangfeng's son—you have your father's style." Yu Xianhe did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Zhou Chunfeng smiled as he watched Li Qingxian.

Most of the Divine Capital Office officials showed approval.

A Principal Fifth Rank military officer with a golden-thread elephant insignia embroidered on his chest laughed. "I like that temperament. Young people ought to have some drive."

Li Qingxian glanced at him and nodded lightly in thanks.

Tao Zhi sighed. "It seems you still resent the entire Finance Office over that one person."

There was a knife hidden in his words.

He Lei immediately took up the thread. "Bullshit. Who was the first to stir up our entire Divine Capital Office today?"

Zhou Chunfeng feigned displeasure. "Old He."

He Lei chuckled. "We martial cultivators are just this crude. Don't take offense, colleagues. Matters like this should be decided by the directors. What business does a bookkeeper have butting in blindly? Lord Wei Yong, does Lord Tao's meaning represent yours as well?"

Wei Yong seemed not to have heard the words "bookkeeper." Smiling, he gave a slanted salute toward Emperor Taining's portrait and said mildly, "Tao Zhi cares for the nation and its people. He wished to share His Majesty's burdens and merely spoke a few extra words. No harm done. Let us discuss something else."

The Divine Capital Office's people did not press their advantage. Before long, today's Directors' Assembly Hall session came to an end.

Yu Xianhe, the Right Deputy Commander, left first. The remaining officials then filed out of the Directors' Hall in strict order of rank, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.

No one directed them, yet they were more orderly than an army on the march.

Li Qingxian stood in a corner of the Directors' Hall, watching Wei Yong and Tao Zhi's retreating backs.

One was Principal Fifth Rank; the other, Subordinate Seventh Rank.

High rank, strong fate, protected by the court's Fortune.

Without knowing their Four Pillars and Eight Characters, Fate Molds, and Fate Patterns, using the Qi-Gazing Technique on them would not even reveal the Twelve Longevity Stages, much less a Fate Projection. He might even suffer a backlash.

First observe fate, then deduce, then gaze upon qi, and finally judge events. That was the proper sequence for a Fate Arts Master practicing Fate Observation and Qi Gazing.

"I'll continue cultivating these next few days. Once I master Fate Arts, I'll combine Dragon Appears with Fortune and eliminate this hidden danger!"

Having made his decision, Li Qingxian left the Directors' Hall.

Morning sunlight poured down, while the summer wind carried wisps of heat across his face.

He had barely taken two steps when someone happened to pass before him and looked over.

It was Tao Zhi, the new head bookkeeper of the Finance Office. He had a fair complexion and a sturdy build.

Tao Zhi smiled, wearing what he believed was a proper smile, and said softly, "Captain Li, the Divine Capital has had strong winds and sandstorms lately. Be careful not to get sand in your eyes."

Without waiting to hear what Li Qingxian might say, he turned and left.

Li Qingxian glanced at Tao Zhi, descended the steps, and headed toward the Street Patrol Office.

Beside Jinlin Garden, Divine Capital Office officials had gathered around Zhou Chunfeng. When they saw Li Qingxian approach, they all waved him over.

"Little Mister Li, come here." None of them addressed him by office or rank.

Li Qingxian walked over, and after He Lei introduced them, he greeted the Divine Capital Office officials one by one.

Aside from a few who remained indifferent, most wore broad smiles. Some even praised him outright.

The bold and forthright martial cultivators in particular were beaming from ear to ear.

"Those Finance Office bastards are far too sinister. They rely on their control over money to swagger around and throw their weight about. Who would have thought they'd get choked speechless by a child today?"

"As expected of Mr. Gangfeng's son. You're right up my alley!"

"I can't meddle in other matters, but if anyone from the Finance Office provokes you, I'll definitely lend you a fist!"

He Lei laughed. "Cut the bullshit. He's in my Street Patrol Office—do you think I'd let him suffer? Besides, the Finance Office holds the Night Guard's purse strings. Going too far would not be good. Qingxian is young and low-ranked, but he's the best person to deal with them."

Li Qingxian smiled. "So Lord He is treating me like a spear, sending me to stab the Finance Office." He rubbed his hand into the shape of a sword and thrust it upward at an angle.

Everyone roared with laughter.

After chatting for a while, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Li Qingxian bid Zhou Chunfeng farewell and followed He Lei toward the Street Patrol Office.

He Lei first praised Li Qingxian, then carefully explained what Li Qingxian, as a captain, ought to do. He spoke clearly and held nothing back. In some places, he explained things even more thoroughly than Han Anbo had, leaving Li Qingxian with much to gain.

When Li Qingxian said he would find a day to pay him a formal visit, He Lei waved a hand casually and said they were all Lord Zhou's soldiers, so there was no need for such politeness among their own people. Gathering at Drunken Retreat in a few days would suffice.

Upon reaching the Street Patrol Office, the two parted ways. As Li Qingxian pondered He Lei's words, he made his way toward Jia-Nine Office.

After entering the courtyard of A Division, a familiar young Night Guard from Team Jia-Six approached him and lowered his voice. "Captain Li, the new deputy captain in your team fought Brother Han. Brother Han suffered a small loss."

His eyes flickered, as though he were both uneasy and angry.

Li Qingxian frowned, then immediately drew a deep breath and suppressed his emotions.

"Thank you, brother." Li Qingxian's face was grim.

"Be careful." The Night Guard turned and left.

Li Qingxian slowed his pace, steadied his breathing, and walked toward Jia-Nine Office.

Gazes swept over from the other rooms.

Li Qingxian entered the half-open door and saw a sturdy stranger with his back to the entrance. The man was at least a foot taller than him, and the insignia on his back likewise depicted a white horse crossing a river.

The difference was that a ring of golden thread now bordered his insignia.

Principal Tenth Rank.

Li Qingxian's gaze sharpened. He had supposedly been Subordinate Tenth Rank before, yet today he had been promoted to Principal Tenth Rank.

The man said with a grin, "Brother Han, I'm really sorry. I didn't control my strength and gave you a panda eye. I'll definitely be more careful next time. You really can't blame me, though. Your moves looked pretty good when you were practicing boxing on the training ground. Who knew that once we crossed hands, I'd find they were all empty forms?"

"It was merely a sparring match. Fists and feet have no eyes. I cannot blame you." Han Anbo said.

Li Qingxian looked toward Han Anbo. A faint smile hung on his face, his hair was disheveled, his right eye socket was bruised black, and there was a hole at the elbow of his left sleeve, with dust and blood caked around it.

Behind Han Anbo, Yu Ping narrowed his eyes and stared fixedly at the man.

"You were the one who first asked to exchange moves?" Li Qingxian stood in the doorway with the sunlight behind him, his shadow falling across the room.

The man abruptly turned around. He had a sallow face and a high nose bridge. The moment he saw Li Qingxian, his face broke into a wide smile. He did not cup his hands in salute, merely let his arms hang loosely at his sides as he stared straight at the insignia on Li Qingxian's chest. Smiling, he said, "You must be Captain Li? My name is Hong Cheng."

Behind him, Han Anbo secretly signaled with his eyes.

Li Qingxian acted as though he had not seen it. He looked at Hong Cheng and smiled. "I dare not accept the title Captain Li. I am only Subordinate Tenth Rank, while Lord Hong is Principal Tenth Rank."

Hong Cheng smiled. "No, no. In the Night Guard, office comes first and rank second. Quite a few with principal rank still have to obey the officer in charge of their office."

"What happened to Han Anbo's injuries?" Li Qingxian's tone was calm.

Hong Cheng turned back to glance at Han Anbo, then laughed loudly. "You mean this? I saw Brother Han practicing boxing on the training ground and was deeply impressed. My hands itched, so I exchanged moves with him without using True Essence. One careless moment later, this was the result."

"You asked, and he agreed immediately?" Li Qingxian's gaze was cold.

Han Anbo cut in. "I agreed right away. Sparring between colleagues is commonplace. Captain Zheng even broke my nose once."

Hong Cheng smiled instead. "Brother Han, Zheng Hui has already left. Calling him Captain Zheng is no longer appropriate. Good thing I consider you one of my own. Otherwise, if I found an excuse to twist a few words to the higher-ups, you would certainly get a dressing-down."

Li Qingxian ignored Hong Cheng and looked at Yu Ping. "You tell me."

Han Anbo signaled Yu Ping with his eyes, but Yu Ping said stiffly, "Hong Cheng wanted to spar with Brother Han. How could Brother Han fight a Principal Tenth Rank? He kept refusing. Then this... this man wanted to fight me, so Brother Han had no choice but to agree."

"Is that so?" Li Qingxian looked at Hong Cheng.