Luo Jing said in a low voice, "Light the incense, bow three times, place the incense, then back away past the blood-gold line. You are not a believer, so you must not kneel on the prayer cushion. Once you cross the blood-gold line, do not speak."
Li Qingxian nodded. He glanced at the blood-gold line not far from the offering table, took nine foot-long incense sticks from Han Anbo, lit them in the Nine-Crane Cloud-Pattern Bronze Brazier, shook out the flames, and walked toward the nearest offering table.
Han Anbo, Yu Ping, and Hong Cheng hurried after him, holding their breath and lowering their heads in silence.
After crossing the blood-gold line, Li Qingxian's heartbeat quickened. Reaching the black prayer cushion, he held the incense with both hands, bent at the waist, and bowed three times.
He straightened, went around the prayer cushion, placed the incense in the burner, then bent slightly and slowly backed away.
Once they had retreated beyond the blood-gold line, all four let out a breath of relief.
"Come with me to the Documents Section. There are too many eyes and mouths at the Ministry of Revenue. Speak only once we reach my room."
After Luo Jing finished offering his blessings, he led the four across Ministry of Revenue Street again. They returned to the Southern Court through a side entrance and continued onward.
Whenever they encountered high-ranking officials, they stopped and waited for them to leave before continuing.
They passed through corridors and gates, crossed bridges and walked roads. After quite a while, they entered a large courtyard bearing a black wooden plaque with red characters reading "Internal Affairs Office." After winding this way and that, they arrived at the Ding Section courtyard and entered an office with white walls and black tiles.
"Duan Heng, go pour tea. Qingxian, sit." Luo Jing moved over a chair and placed it before the desk, then seated himself behind it.
Hong Cheng, who had been observing in secret, felt his heart skip a beat. What Eighth Rank official personally moved a chair for a Tenth Rank official?
Li Qingxian remained standing as he surveyed the room. The desk faced the main entrance. The side room on the left was packed with bookshelves and lined with files.
On the other side stood four narrow wooden tables, topped with the four treasures of the study and stacks upon stacks of official documents.
Li Qingxian pondered it. It was quieter than he had expected, and this was the Ding Section, fourth in order. Just as Pang Mingjing had guessed before, Luo Jing truly did not hold much real power.
Li Qingxian did not care. Smiling, he sat down.
Han Anbo and Yu Ping stood to Li Qingxian's left and right, hands resting on their Night Blades.
Hong Cheng stood by the doorway with one hand on his sword hilt, the toe of his left foot pointed outside.
"What is it? Speak." Luo Jing rested both arms on the desk.
Li Qingxian looked at Luo Jing. His round nose tip and the mole at the corner of his upturned mouth already gave him a somewhat fierce look; seated behind the desk, he appeared even more imposing.
"No rush. Let's have tea first."
Luo Jing smiled. "All right."
"Since we have nothing better to do, tell me—what major events have happened at court lately? Your information should be better than mine." Li Qingxian spoke lazily.
Luo Jing thought for a moment. "The biggest matter at present is that His Majesty intends to reinstate certain former officials. It involves a great many people, and both court and commonfolk are abuzz. Many suspect a major reshuffling is coming."
"It can't be that serious, can it?" Li Qingxian asked.
"It is not that serious. His Majesty ascended the throne in the sixty-year cycle, named the era Taining, and it has been nearly sixteen years now. Some people and some places are due for a shake-up." Luo Jing said.
"I see." Li Qingxian vaguely understood a few things, though not the crucial details. "How is the demon scourge? Today, the people from the Finance Office even wanted our Street Patrol Office to go out and eliminate demons."
Luo Jing said, "I have not heard any rumors, but it has always been customary for the Night Guard to go out and eliminate demons. Back when the demon scourge was severe, every Night Guard department had a Demon-Elimination Squad. You are young, so you do not know. During the Taikang Era, there was no Night Guard, only the Dragon Guard. There was not only the Demon-Elimination Office, but also offices for Suppressing Demons, Evil-Expelling, Puppet-Slaying, and more. It was only after the major powers entered the court that these organizations were broken apart, with most of their members joining the Night Guard."
"I know about that. A few days ago, I heard people chatting. They said the Grand Secretaries wanted to streamline the Night Guard, have it abandon its original duty of supervising all officials, and make it responsible only for cultivators. Have you heard anything?"
"It is the trend of the times," Luo Jing said.
"I see," Li Qingxian said.
"The hot water is here." At that moment, Duan Heng entered carrying a steaming kettle. He brewed the tea, poured the water, and distributed the cups.
Though he was a burly man, he handled everything with meticulous efficiency.
"This is Wingless Tea, a specialty of our Southern Star Sect. Give it a try," Luo Jing said.
"The kind from those great tea trees with Wingless Birds nesting beneath their roots?"
"That is right."
Li Qingxian took a light sip and savored it, but tasted nothing in particular. Still, he said, "Fine tea. It truly is better than ordinary tea leaves."
Luo Jing smiled and lowered his head to drink.
After finishing the tea in his cup, Li Qingxian said, "Let's discuss proper business."
Luo Jing nodded.
Li Qingxian sat up straighter. "Lord Luo, if someone enters the Ministry of Revenue, disregards the rules, and profanes the gods, what should be done?"
"For a minor offense, their money is confiscated as a fine. For a serious offense, they are thrown into the Divine Prison for interrogation."
Li Qingxian pointed at Hong Cheng. "Lord Luo, do you think there is anything about my vice-captain that falls short in observing the rules?"
"So you really are trying to harm me!" Hong Cheng cried out. He stepped over the threshold and glared furiously at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian smiled. "You misunderstand. It is not I who want to harm you. The Ministry of Revenue merely wishes to handle matters by the rules. Is that not so, Lord Luo?"
Luo Jing pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Hong Cheng. His pupils contracted and turned red. Tiny red dots darted left and right, returning to normal in the blink of an eye.
An eerie chill wind swept past.
Hong Cheng's whole body went numb. He clearly wanted to flee, yet for some reason, his legs had no strength.
He forced his neck downward and saw several red dots appear on his shadow, pinning it down like nails.
"You..." Hong Cheng stared at Luo Jing in terror.
Luo Jing rose and spoke as he walked. "Good thing Qingxian reminded me, or I would truly have been deceived by this god-profane wretch. Tell me, why did you not offer incense when entering the temple?"
Hong Cheng hurriedly said, "I came together with Captain Li. He already offered incense for me."
"Qingxian, did you offer incense for him?"
Li Qingxian looked astonished. "Han bought the incense, and I offered it. What does that have to do with you, Hong Cheng?"
"You framed me!" Hong Cheng shouted furiously.
Li Qingxian sighed. "You made a mistake, yet you still shout and cause a disturbance. That adds another degree to your crime."
Luo Jing smiled, clapped his hands twice, and said, "Men, seize this god-profane man. Throw him into the Divine Prison and interrogate him immediately!"
Hong Cheng's expression changed drastically. As a Night Guard, he knew better than anyone what interrogation in the Divine Prison meant: evil arts invading one's mind until a person was driven mad. By then, even if Wei Yong and those behind him stepped in to save him, all they would rescue would be a lunatic.
"You..." He had no choice but to lower his voice. "You cannot treat me this way. Lord Wei Yong knows about this. He will not let you off!"
At that moment, Duan Heng walked over expressionlessly and asked, "Immediate interrogation?"
"Immediate interrogation," Luo Jing said.
"Men!" Duan Heng gave the order, and a squad rushed in.
"You cannot... Mmgh..." Before Hong Cheng could finish, a Tenth Rank disciple of the Evil Sects flicked his right hand. Scarlet long needles flew out as if they had eyes, piercing through Hong Cheng's upper and lower lips and stringing them together. Blood flowed down the needles, weaving into a bloody net that sealed his mouth.
"Wait," Li Qingxian said.
Everyone turned to look at Li Qingxian. Hong Cheng's eyes burst with indescribable light, and he nodded hard, as though expressing gratitude.
Li Qingxian rose and asked as he walked, "Brother Jing, do we still need to pay today's incense money and tea money?"
A troubled look appeared on Luo Jing's face. "By the rules, you still have to pay."
"Even after I have reached Entry Rank?"
"You need to be at least Principal Ninth Rank before you are completely exempt from payment," Luo Jing said.
Li Qingxian nodded. "Duan Heng, search this man's leather pouch and give everything to Brother Jing."
Hong Cheng stared at Li Qingxian in utter disbelief.
Duan Heng removed Hong Cheng's leather pouch, took out the broken silver and copper coins, and weighed them in his hand.
Luo Jing said, "That is enough."
Li Qingxian walked up to Hong Cheng and smiled. "If you had fought me openly and honestly with cultivation arts, at most I would have made you get out of the Street Patrol Office. But of all things, you should never have bullied Brother Han."
Hong Cheng struggled desperately, making muffled whimpers as tears welled from his eyes.
"In my eyes, Li Qingxian does not tolerate a grain of sand!" After saying this, Li Qingxian turned and returned to his seat.
"Mmgh, mmgh, mmgh..."
Duan Heng and the others dragged Hong Cheng away.
Before you continue