A Bureaucratic Prodigy

"Captain Li, there was no need to do this for me..." Han Anbo felt as if something had lodged in his throat, leaving him unable to speak.

Li Qingxian smiled. "Brother Han, I was using what you taught me. Look, I started by speaking to him in perfect harmony. Staying silent the whole way was me compromising with him. In the end, I drew my blade with the Ministry of Revenue's rules and Brother Jing's authority."

Han Anbo's gratitude was like a castle on the beach; one wave rushed in and instantly smashed it apart. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he said, "But I didn't tell you to use it all up in one breath that very day."

Yu Ping was also dumbstruck. He muttered, "A bureaucratic prodigy!"

"What happened?" Luo Jing asked curiously.

Han Anbo explained the full story of Wei Yong mixing sand into the matter, then repeated the advice he had given Li Qingxian.

Luo Jing, also torn between laughter and tears, raised a thumb. "A bureaucratic prodigy!"

Li Qingxian smiled. "I'll take that as praise."

Luo Jing shook his head. "In any case, I can't handle this. I'll report it to Lord Zhou when we get back and let him have the headache."

"This won't cause you trouble, will it?" Li Qingxian asked.

"What trouble can a petty clerk who hasn't even reached Entry Rank cause? By the time Wei Yong's people find him, the evil art will already have entered his brain, and there'll be no saving him. Besides, do you think someone like Wei Yong would save this kind of sand?" Luo Jing said.

"Then many thanks, Brother Jing. Oh, right, business. Lend me five hundred taels of gold, plus two hundred taels of silver." Li Qingxian spoke with a straight face.

Luo Jing leaned back slightly and asked, "What do you need that much gold for? Are you sure a mere Eighth Rank official like me can produce it?"

"I owe you a life." Li Qingxian smiled.

Luo Jing's eyes widened. An indescribable delight appeared on his face as he leaned forward and asked, "You can use Fate Arts now?"

Li Qingxian nodded.

"Five thousand two hundred taels of silver for one life—worth it! No need to pay me back; consider it my purchase!" After saying that, Luo Jing's face turned awkward. He coughed lightly and asked, "You're not lying to me, are you?"

"Otherwise, why would I ask for five hundred taels of gold instead of five thousand taels of silver?" Li Qingxian countered.

Luo Jing slapped his forehead and suddenly understood. "I was muddleheaded. You're using the gold to forge a Destiny Artifact, and the two hundred taels are for other Destiny Materials."

Li Qingxian nodded.

"Are you short on funds?" Luo Jing asked.

Li Qingxian had been about to say, Isn't that obvious? But he quickly realized that these officials never said what they meant directly. So he said, "After my father passed away, the Li Family of the capital and my father's friends did send some money. Part of it was entrusted to my aunt and uncle, while another part was used to purchase farmland and estates, looked after by the Li Family elders in the capital. They were afraid I would spend recklessly, so they only gave me two taels a month as an allowance, planning to hand everything over once I came of age. However, the cash they can access does not exceed three thousand taels."

"No wonder. Then I'll give you another hundred taels for your daily expenses. Your status is different now. Two taels a month is far too little," Luo Jing said.

"Once the strong liquor goes on sale, I won't lack that bit of money," Li Qingxian said.

Luo Jing glanced at Han Anbo and Yu Ping. "There was a small snag on the Ministry of Works side. Lord Zhou didn't tell you?"

"What happened?" Li Qingxian asked.

"The Ten Yama Kings of the Netherworld are fighting over something. Puppet Cultivators are attached to the various Yama Kings' halls. When those above are fighting, naturally those below won't be peaceful. From what I heard, an official from the Craftsmen Division will come in the next few days with people from the Imperial Treasury to hear you explain everything in detail before making a decision. But think it through carefully. We don't understand this distillation or alcohol you mentioned, but those Puppet Cultivators understand it very well," Luo Jing said.

"Don't worry. The more they understand, the better. But what interests me is this: how did the Netherworld come to take an interest in human craftsmen?" Li Qingxian asked curiously.

Luo Jing smiled. "Puppet artifacts have unique structures and require many craftsmen. Besides, the Netherworld is full of skeletons. How to make better use of those skeletons also requires craftsmen. On top of that, those puppets have no brains. How can they compare to living people? So after Netherworld's Return of the Dead, the Yama Kings of each hall vigorously developed Puppet Cultivators among craftsmen. Before His Majesty ascended the throne, more than half the lower and middle-ranking officials in the Ministry of Works were Puppet Cultivators. Letting the Netherworld take over the Ministry of Works was merely following the current."

"Those craftsmen didn't object?" Li Qingxian asked with interest.

"At first, they were unwilling. Later, they discovered that cultivating as puppets while alive had little effect, and that before death, they could transform into puppet bodies with all their memories intact. It was practically the same as living several hundred more years, so their reservations disappeared. Later on, many Old Men wanted to become Puppet Cultivators, but transforming required consuming Netherworld treasures. As a result, the Netherworld strictly controlled the number of Puppet Cultivators and only recruited craftsmen with skills."

"So that was it. Then set a time, and I'll explain it all in detail to the lords of the Ministry of Works," Li Qingxian said.

"Set a time? That can't be done. If it were only the Ministry of Works, it would be easy enough, but the Imperial Treasury may send a junior director. That's someone who works for His Majesty, a truly busy man. We'll be lucky to get word half a day in advance." Luo Jing watched Li Qingxian carefully.

Li Qingxian smiled. "No matter. True gold fears no fire."

"Good, then. Oh, gold isn't like silver—I'll need a few days to prepare it. You really know how to give me difficult problems," Luo Jing said.

"I'll wait for your good news."

The two chatted until noon, ate lunch, and sampled the Ministry of Revenue's yellow chives before Li Qingxian finally left.

After walking out of Ministry of Revenue Street, Yu Ping rubbed his stomach and whispered, "Too many yellow chives are hard to digest."

"If they're hard to digest, why did you eat so much?"

"But the Ministry of Revenue makes them so delicious. They're better than those famous restaurants," Yu Ping said.

Li Qingxian thought of Trapped Pig Breaking the Pen and could not help laughing. "Other than you, no one comes to the Ministry of Revenue just to eat."

After being silent for a long while, Han Anbo said, "Captain Li, there truly was no need to do this for me. For people like us, destined never to reach Entry Rank, which month passes without us being tormented several times?"

"It wasn't entirely for you. It was also for myself. If this grain of sand isn't picked out, the next thing will be a pebble smashing down on my head, and after that White Solitary Mountain pressing down from above. It'll never end."

"I understand that too, but aren't you moving too quickly?" Han Anbo still felt that it was not quite secure.

Li Qingxian nodded. "Brother Han is right. This matter cannot be rushed; it can't be finished in a single breath."

Han Anbo sighed in relief. "You do listen to advice."

Li Qingxian continued, "That's why I need to take a second breath."

Han Anbo and Yu Ping stared with wide eyes, completely bewildered.

Li Qingxian smiled. "You taught me this: when you draw your blade, blood must be seen. They failed to harm me last time, and this time they mixed in sand again. That proves they haven't given up. There is no sense in guarding against thieves for a thousand days, so this time, I should strike first."

Han Anbo only felt a mouthful of old blood lodged in his windpipe. He could not speak. He absolutely could not speak, or he might spray it all over the sky.

Yu Ping sighed. "After reaching Entry Rank, you've become even more reckless than before."

"Don't worry, you two. This isn't recklessness. I'm fighting with my brain and Fate Arts. I want them to know the consequences of offending a Destiny Arts Master. But I need your help."

"Using Fate Arts? Tell us." Yu Ping perked up.

Li Qingxian said, "I want detailed information on Wei Yong and Tao Zhi. I'll find a suitable opportunity to deduce their Destiny Molds and Fortune, then use Fate Arts to deal with them. I originally intended to endure a few more days, but what happened with Hong Cheng taught me that if I move one step too slowly, I may get bitten one more time."

"Fine, I'll help you investigate! That's what we Night Guards do." Yu Ping grew excited.