Casting the Net

Zhou Chunfeng said, "Of course there's a problem. It must have been sent by someone else... Wait, there's something more to your words."

He stared at Li Qingxian, his eyes suddenly brightening as if the wind had dispersed the clouds.

Li Qingxian laughed and said, "Uncle Zhou, take me to see the Coward King. You can't solve this problem."

Zhou Chunfeng abruptly stood up and said, "He works in the Imperial Prison Bureau Administration, so what you mean is..."

Li Qingxian nodded vigorously.

Zhou Chunfeng held a smooth, jade-like Bull Bone Fan in his right hand, gently patting his left hand as he paced back and forth in the room.

After a long while, he looked up and said, "Come, I'll take you to see the Commander of the Guards, but tell everyone I'm pleading for you."

The two, one middle school student and the other young man, exchanged a smile and left with Zhou Hen.

The three of them continued on their way, winding through the woods and passing through gates, and soon arrived at a large courtyard with a wide gate.

The guards at the gate, seeing that it was Zhou Chunfeng, did not announce his arrival but led him inside directly.

The courtyard had wide roads, and each doorway was four or five times wider than those of ordinary houses.

Upon reaching the main house, the three stopped, and a guard entered to report.

Li Qingxian looked inside.

The Coward King, as large as a mountain of flesh, sat at the very back, with a large round table in front of him, twice the size of an ordinary dining table.

The round table was laden with food, like a festive feast.

On either side of the round table, two lines of maids stood, one carrying dishes and the other carrying rice and wine, placing them like an assembly line beside the Coward King.

The Coward King wore a thick, three-layered blue apron. He ate with his hands, not chopsticks, but by grabbing food and stuffing it into his mouth.

The Coward King swallowed the entire dark red, sugar-coated pork knuckle in one gulp. Like an ordinary person pulling out a chicken leg bone, he pulled the pork knuckle bone out of his mouth, chewed and swallowed it in large bites, and then licked the sauce off his five fingers one by one.

"The braised pork knuckle with rock sugar is good today. I'll have three more for my second breakfast or lunch... no, my appetite isn't good in the summer, so I'll have two more."

Li Qingxian was exasperated. He could understand the breakfast and lunch options, but what about the second breakfast and lunch?

It turns out that the Coward King really does eat ten meals a day; I always thought it was just a joke made up by someone.

Li Qingxian swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.

The Coward King looked up, beckoned to the two men with his hand that he had just licked, grabbed a steamed yellow croaker, put it in his mouth, and then gently pulled on the tail, cleanly removing the head and bones.

Every edible part of the fish head, such as the crescent-shaped meat, the lips, and the eyes, was completely consumed.

Zhou Chunfeng said in a low voice, "Let's talk after we finish eating."

Li Qingxian followed him inside, stood by the dining table, and quietly watched the Coward King devour his food, feeling the saliva flowing from his mouth and the stomach acid churning in his abdomen.

Seeing that the Coward King had finished the last plate of pork skin jelly, the maids cleared away the plates and bones, and Li Qingxian breathed a sigh of relief.

"Prepare some fruit for them." The Coward King looked to his left, and Li Qingxian looked over as well.

Four burly men carried an identical large tabletop and placed it on the previous table.

On the table, half is covered with colorful fruits, and the other half with colorful pastries.

Pot after pot.

Li Qingxian remained silent for a long time before expressing his understanding. "What's wrong with having a small dessert after a meal?"

A short while later, four large basins of fruit were brought out and placed on a square table to the side.

Li Qingxian didn't stand on ceremony at all, sitting down at the table and slowly eating the mare's milk grapes.

As soon as Li Qingxian finished eating the first bunch of grapes, the Coward King swept away all the fruit and desserts on the table.

The Coward King wiped his hands clean, put down the towel, and with a wave of his right hand, everyone left.

Four Seventh Rank officials carrying sedan chairs lined up at the main gate and the side gate.

"What is it?" the Coward King asked with a smile.

Zhou Chunfeng said, "Li Qingxian lied in the Directors' Hall."

"Oh?"

Zhou Chunfeng looked at Li Qingxian.

Li Qingxian said, "My Fate Arts are usually not very accurate, but with your Fortune, they unexpectedly performed exceptionally well. Not only did I discover that Ge Chao is a spy infiltrating the Imperial Prison Bureau, but I also found out that just three months ago, he met with someone who appeared to be a high-ranking official. That person was wearing old official boots and had a mole on his right ring finger. That person also claimed to be a member of the Lord of the Underworld. In addition, a prison guard tipped off Ge Chao. If these two had gotten close, my Fate Arts might have detected it."

The Coward King and Zhou Chunfeng turned their heads at the same time to look at each other.

"Continue." The Coward King narrowed his eyes.

"That man had Ge Chao infiltrate the Imperial Prison Bureau, saying he was waiting for something important. Oh, and that man also gave Ge Chao 30,000 taels of silver, half for himself and half for the important matter. In order to play the long game and catch a big fish, I endured humiliation and pretended to make a mistake in the calculation in the Directors' Hall."

The Coward King gazed at the clear sky outside the door, gently tapping the armrest with two fingers of his right hand.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "How confident are you?"

"Ten percent."

The Coward King looked at Zhou Chunfeng.

Zhou Chunfeng said, "Daren, I know Li Qingxian. Although he may be muddle-headed about small matters, he is absolutely clear-headed about important ones. Moreover, Ge Chao has been silent all this time, but his sudden opposition clearly shows that he doesn't want to see Fate Arts Master appearing in the Night Guard. You know how much the Underworld Lord hates the court's Fate Arts Master. Otherwise, there's no way to explain why a Seventh Rank official would stand up and oppose him."

Li Qingxian said, "This person possesses three Fate Star simultaneously: the Sparrow Hiding in Its Nest, the Tiny Scales Hiding in the Grass Chameleon Concealment, plus the Departure Star that Outcast Harmful Horse. The Fate Star that Outcast Harmful Horse was planted by Fate Arts Master, not obtained normally."

"Outcast Harmful Horse? Can you deduce when this Fate Star was planted?" the Coward King asked.

Li Qingxian recalled carefully and used his Deduction Technique to deduce, saying, "It was probably thirteen years ago."

The Coward King and Zhou Chunfeng exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

The Coward King stared at Li Qingxian and said, "Very good! Tomorrow, I'll arrange for you to identify the jailer. As for that high-ranking official, we'll contact you to confirm after we've identified the target. You've risked your reputation for the Night Guard and the court; in a few days, your name will be restored."

"Thank you, Daren!" Li Qingxian said.

"Your talent in Fate Arts is quite unique," the Coward King said casually.

Li Qingxian had already prepared his excuse. With a touch of arrogance, he puffed out his chest and raised his head, saying, "To be honest with the Commander and Uncle Zhou, I have the ability to see Dragon Appears Spirit Eye, and I can occasionally see things that ordinary Fate Arts Master cannot."

"Dragon Appears have only been three Grand Fate Arts Master Fate Arts Master in history, all of whom were renowned throughout the land. No wonder..." The Coward King nodded. "Let's go back and take a bowl of fruit with us."

Li Qingxian smiled and said, "Thank you for your Daren reward, Commander."

Li Qingxian carried a bowl of fruit and followed behind Zhou Chunfeng.

Along the way, every Night Guard official who saw the red, water-rippled basin stopped and stood still, their faces full of envy.

Upon arriving at Chunfeng Residence, Zhou Chunfeng saw Li Qingxian following him and, as he entered the house, said, "Weren't you going to cultivate?"

Li Qingxian put down the fruit bowl and said, "Uncle Zhou, I'm thinking of starting a small business at the Imperial Prison Bureau to earn some extra money. What do you think?"

Zhou Chunfeng sat down in a chair, pondered for a moment, and said, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. I also know a little about the affairs of the Imperial Prison Bureau. Just be careful not to overdo it. This is also a good way to tarnish your reputation. You are Fate Arts Master at such a young age. If you are too self-righteous, it will be bad."

"Really?" Li Qingxian asked.

"Zhang Fugui owes me twenty-six favors and hasn't repaid them. I was just looking for an excuse. You can do whatever you want in the Imperial Prison Bureau," Zhou Chunfeng said.

"The head of the Imperial Prison Bureau, the shameless rich man?" Li Qingxian asked.

"Would someone with any sense of shame owe me twenty-six favors?"

"But you know he's shameless, so why did you let him owe you money?"

"He's so shameless, what can I do?"

Li Qingxian paused for a moment, then said, "That makes sense... He won't forget to repay the favor, will he?"

"Hmm... very likely."

"Can I still run a small business?"

"Yes, you're just as bad as Zhang Fugui anyway."

Li Qingxian:???