No Sand in His Eyes

Luo Jing said in a low voice, "Light the incense, bow three times, insert it, then back out past the blood-gold line. You are not a believer, so you may not kneel on the prayer cushion. Once you cross the blood-gold line, you are not allowed to speak."

Li Qingxian nodded. He glanced at the blood-gold line not far from the offering table, took nine one-foot 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 breaths and lowering their heads in silence.

After crossing the blood-gold line, Li Qingxian's heart began to pound. He stopped before the black prayer cushion, held the incense in both hands, bent at the waist, and bowed three times.

He straightened, went around the prayer cushion, inserted the incense into the burner, then bent slightly and slowly backed away.

Once they had retreated beyond the blood-gold line, all four heaved a sigh of relief.

"Come with me to the Documents Section. The Ministry of Revenue has too many ears and too many mouths. Speak only after we reach my room."

After Luo Jing finished offering his blessing, he led the four across Ministry of Revenue Street once more, returned to the Southern Court through a side gate, and continued onward.

Whenever they happened upon a High Rank official, they stopped and waited for the official to leave before moving on.

They passed through corridors and gates, crossed bridges and followed roads. Only after walking for quite a while did they enter a large courtyard bearing a black wooden plaque with red letters reading "Internal Affairs Office." After twisting and turning through several paths, they reached the Ding Section courtyard and entered an office with white walls and black tiles.

"Duan Heng, go pour the tea. Qingxian, sit." Luo Jing moved a chair before the desk, then took his own seat behind it.

Hong Cheng, who had been observing in secret, felt his heart skip. Since when did an Eighth Rank official personally move 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 to the left was packed with bookshelves and lined with case files.

Four narrow wooden tables stood on the other side, furnished with the four treasures of the study and piled high with documents.

Li Qingxian pondered it. It was quieter than he had expected, and this was the Ding Section, ranked fourth. Just as Pang Mingjing had guessed, Luo Jing truly did not hold much real power.

Li Qingxian did not mind. Smiling, he sat down.

Han Anbo and Yu Ping stood to Li Qingxian's left and right, their 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 and the mole at the corner of his mouth, slightly upturned, already gave him a somewhat fierce look. Seated behind the desk, he seemed 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 matters have happened at court lately. Your information should be better than mine." Li Qingxian spoke lazily.

After thinking for a moment, Luo Jing said, "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 with discussion. Many suspect this is a major reshuffle."

"It is not that serious, is it?" Li Qingxian asked.

"It is not. His Majesty ascended the throne in the Jiazi year, adopting the era name Taining. 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 guessed a few things, though he did not understand the key details. "How are the demon troubles? Today, people from the Finance Office even wanted our Street Patrol Office to go out and eliminate demons."

"I have not heard any news, but it has always been customary for the Night Guard to go out and eliminate demons. Back when demon troubles were severe, every Night Guard office had a Demon-Elimination Squad. You were still young and would not know. There was no Night Guard in the Taikang Era, but there was the Dragon Guard. There was not only the Demon-Elimination Office, but also offices for suppressing demons, Evil-Expelling, beheading puppets, and more. It was only after the major powers entered the court that those organizations were broken apart, with most of their people 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, abandon its original duty of overseeing all officials, and have it deal only with 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 huge tea trees whose roots shelter Wingless Bird nests?"

"That's right."

Li Qingxian took a light sip and savored it, but tasted nothing in particular. Still, he said, "Fine tea. It really 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 business."

Luo Jing nodded.

Li Qingxian sat up straight. "Lord Luo, if someone enters the Ministry of Revenue, disregards the rules, and desecrates the gods, what should be done?"

"For a minor offense, their money is confiscated. 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 deputy captain that falls short in observing the rules?"

"So you really mean 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 simply has to handle matters according to the rules. Isn't that right, Lord Luo?"

Luo Jing pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Hong Cheng. His pupils contracted and turned red. Tiny red points darted rapidly from side to side, then returned to normal in the blink of an eye.

An eerie cold wind swept past.

Hong Cheng's entire body went numb. He clearly wanted to flee, yet for some reason, his legs had no strength.

With all his might, he lowered his head and saw several red dots on his shadow, like nails pinning it in place.

"You..." Hong Cheng stared at Luo Jing in terror.

Luo Jing rose and said as he walked, "It is fortunate Qingxian reminded me. Otherwise, this god-desecrating wretch would truly have deceived me. Tell me, why did you not offer incense when you entered the temple?"

Hong Cheng hurriedly said, "I came with Captain Li. He already offered incense on my behalf."

"Qingxian, did you offer incense for him?"

Li Qingxian asked in surprise, "Brother Han bought the incense, and I offered it. What does that have to do with you, Hong Cheng?"

"You framed me!" Hong Cheng shouted angrily.

Li Qingxian sighed. "You made a mistake, yet you still raise your voice. That adds another degree to your crime."

Luo Jing smiled, clapped his hands twice, and said, "Guards, seize this god-desecrating man! Throw him into the Divine Prison and interrogate him at once!"

Hong Cheng's face changed dramatically. As a Night Guard, he knew better than anyone what Divine Prison interrogation meant: evil arts invading the mind and driving a person mad. By then, even if Wei Yong and the people behind him intervened to save him, all they would rescue would be a madman.

"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 approached expressionlessly and asked, "Interrogate him immediately?"

"Immediately." Luo Jing said.

"Guards!" Duan Heng gave the order, and a squad rushed inside.

"You can't... mmph, mmph..." Before Hong Cheng could finish, a Tenth Rank disciple of the Evil Sects flicked his right hand. Scarlet needles flew out as though 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 looked toward Li Qingxian. An indescribable light burst from Hong Cheng's eyes. He nodded hard, as though expressing his 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. "According to 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 fully exempt from payment." Luo Jing said.

Li Qingxian nodded. "Duan Heng, search this man's leather bag. 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 honorably, 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 soft muffled sounds as tears welled from his eyes.

"In my eyes, Li Qingxian brooks no sand!" Li Qingxian said, then turned and returned to his seat.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph..."

Duan Heng and the others dragged Hong Cheng away.