Sunshine Boy Li Qingxian

He pointed a finger above the disk. A foot-long Light-Shadow Brass Pillar, as thick as a thumb, grew upward from the disk.

Then, the Light-Shadow Brass Pillar sprayed brass threads in every direction. The threads rapidly wove themselves into three tiers of Light-Shadow Brass Disks, each larger than the one below it.

Beneath each light-shadow disk hung a ring of Red-Curse Yellow Talismans, more than ten per ring, each about the size of two fingers held together.

The translucent yellow talismans slowly revolved. A moment later, one talisman solidified.

Zhou Chunfeng opened his mouth and transmitted his voice.

After he spoke, the yellow talisman ignited, transformed into a Scarlet Bird, flew into the sky, and vanished.

Ministry of Revenue Street.

After chatting with Duan Heng for a long while, Li Qingxian checked the time and saw that Luo Jing was still deep in thought. He gave a cold snort inwardly.

"Lord Luo, it's getting late. If you're unwilling to cooperate with us Night Guards, I'll find someone else." As he spoke, Li Qingxian patted the kraft-paper bag in front of him.

Luo Jing looked up at Li Qingxian, then turned his gaze elsewhere without saying a word.

Duan Heng, standing nearby, grew anxious. "Lord Divine Son, you can't let such a good opportunity slip away! This is Mr. Gangfeng's son. Every word he says is as solid as a nail hammered into wood. If he says it can make money, it will definitely make money. If he says you have hope of reaching the Middle Three Ranks, then you'll definitely enter the Middle Three Ranks!"

Luo Jing remained unmoved.

Li Qingxian smiled and started toward the Ministry of Revenue. "It was my good fortune to meet you both today. Even if we cannot cooperate, friendship remains. If there's a chance someday, let's drink together—my treat. Farewell!"

Before Li Qingxian could take a third step, Duan Heng grabbed his sleeve and turned to glare at Luo Jing. "Brother Jing, haven't you been going on and on about reaching the Middle Three Ranks? The opportunity is right in front of you—how can you just let it walk away for nothing? That makes no sense at all!"

Luo Jing did not know whether to laugh or cry. "You really have sold me out completely... Fine. Li Qingxian, is this truly Lord Zhou Chunfeng's intention?"

"Go ask around the Outer District's North Twelfth Ward. When has Sunshine Boy Li Qingxian ever told a lie?" Li Qingxian said solemnly.

Suspicious, Luo Jing pointed at the Deer-and-Crane Jade Pendant at Li Qingxian's waist. "Where did that come from?"

"My mother's family heirloom. She said it could ward off evil." Li Qingxian said.

"What else?"

Li Qingxian lowered his head and thought for a moment, then slowly said, "My maternal grandfather left it to my mother. He was a Fate Arts Master. This jade pendant is probably connected to Fate Arts Masters."

"Correct. It resembles something from the Fate Measuring Sect. It is nothing unusual among Fate Arts Masters, but among ordinary folk, it is still a treasure."

"I do have a rough grasp of Fate Arts." Li Qingxian said.

"Anyone can study Fate Arts, but it is easy to learn and hard to master; the threshold is extremely high." Luo Jing glanced toward the black carriage and continued, "I have admired Lord Zhou for a long time. So long as Lord Zhou speaks, I will certainly make this cooperation happen."

Li Qingxian pondered for a moment. "Uncle Zhou wants to temper me, so he intends to let me take full responsibility for this matter. But I didn't expect Pang Mingjing to set his sights on me the moment I left home. He belongs to the Finance Office, and his relationship with our Divine Capital Office is poor. It looks like he intends to use me to embarrass Uncle Zhou. So long as you safely escort me to the Night Guard Yamen and I meet Uncle Zhou, we can formally discuss things."

Duan Heng said in a low voice, "He calls him Uncle Zhou, so their relationship can't be wrong. Lord Li and Lord Zhou both have good reputations as officials; the two must be on good terms."

Luo Jing shot Duan Heng a cold glance. Duan Heng's expression stiffened, and he took half a step back and lowered his head.

"Pang Mingjing is Principal Seventh Rank, while I am merely Principal Eighth Rank. I fear I may be unequal to the task." Luo Jing stared into Li Qingxian's eyes.

Li Qingxian sighed. "I have more than just a method for making strong liquor. I also have other methods of doing business. Since even a path to the Middle Three Ranks, or perhaps even the Upper Three Ranks, lying before you cannot interest Lord Luo, there is nothing I can do. I can only seek someone else in the Ministry of Revenue. Of the Ministry's five great Evil Sects, someone is bound to be interested in this deal. Farewell!"

Having said that, Li Qingxian raised his foot to leave.

Luo Jing stood motionless.

Duan Heng stepped forward and kept giving him meaningful looks, but he did not dare say anything else.

The two moved farther and farther away, while Li Qingxian headed straight for the Ministry of Revenue's side gate.

"Stop!" Luo Jing said.

Li Qingxian turned a deaf ear and kept walking.

Luo Jing drew a deep breath. "I agree. I'll safely escort you back to the Night Guard Yamen. Duan Heng, go inside and find Old Hu and the others. Bring the Divine Tablet as well."

"Brother Jing, you're the man!" Duan Heng raised a thumb, then dashed into the Ministry of Revenue's Southern Court.

Upon hearing the words "Divine Tablet," Li Qingxian stopped walking and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Once the Divine Tablet emerged, one need not bow even before the sovereign. Beneath the gods, all believers were equal.

"How is that for sincerity?" Luo Jing asked with a smile.

"Passable, I suppose." Li Qingxian said.

Luo Jing gave a cold snort and was about to speak, but then casually swept a glance at the black carriage. "Once everyone is here, we'll head to the Night Guard Yamen."

"Lord Luo's righteousness runs through gold and stone, and you lend aid in times of peril. I am deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart. One day, I will surely repay you handsomely." Li Qingxian said.

Luo Jing was both annoyed and amused. "What use is your flattery to me, a Night Guard not even at Entry Rank? Others will only laugh at me. If your honored father were still alive, one word of 'good' from him would surpass ten thousand words from you."

"Perhaps years from now, these words will surpass my father's praise in the annals of history." Li Qingxian said.

Luo Jing studied Li Qingxian seriously for a moment, then smiled. "Ambitious. It wasn't for nothing that I saw your extraordinary bearing and, on a whim, asked you a few questions."

Li Qingxian drew a deep breath but could not hold back. "Stop talking nonsense. You only spoke to me after seeing the Deer-and-Crane Jade Pendant. Do you think I couldn't tell?"

"Don't slander me. I, Luo Jing, am also a dignified sunshi... upright young man in the Ministry of Revenue." In the end, he could not bring himself to say it.

"I believe Lord Luo is an upright young man." Li Qingxian said.

"And I believe you are a Sunshine Boy." Luo Jing said.

The two nodded at each other with grave expressions.

"Are there nine one-foot incense sticks in that paper bag?" Luo Jing suddenly tipped his chin lightly toward the bag, then touched the mole at the corner of his mouth.

Li Qingxian understood in an instant. He turned toward the black carriage and cursed furiously in his heart.

No wonder Han Anbo said etiquette came first. How could one meet a god without bowing at the temple? And how could one bow at the temple without burning incense?

This Ministry of Revenue belonged to the court—but it also belonged to the five great Evil Sects.

Though he had never entered the Ministry of Revenue before, Li Qingxian had vaguely heard the saying: bring incense into the Ministry of Revenue, bow to gods but not to men.

If one entered the Ministry without incense to offer worship, at best the Ministry's believers would force one to buy nine one-foot incense sticks at an exorbitant price; at worst, they would invoke desecration of the gods and leave one's household shattered and ruined.

"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Luo." Li Qingxian sighed inwardly. These Ministry of Revenue officials were all seasoned hands. Luo Jing first showed sincerity, then did him a great favor. No matter what, Li Qingxian would have to remember this debt of gratitude.

"It's nothing. Such little tricks are only used to make things difficult for outsiders, never for our own people." Luo Jing said.

"By the way, have you also studied Fate Arts? I've accomplished neither in letters nor martial skill, but I do have a little understanding of Fate Arts." Li Qingxian said.

In Great Qi, Fate Arts Masters held a unique status.

The Veritable Records of Great Qi's founding ancestor clearly recorded that the ancestor had been able to raise troops and establish the dynasty because he received the support of Heaven's Mandate Sect, the foremost sect of Fate Arts.

To this day, the Great Qi imperial family attended only one sect: Heaven's Mandate Sect.