The Lin Family's World, Bats at the Door

The next day.

The old locust tree in the Ye Residence's back courtyard still glistened with dew in the faint morning light.

Bare-chested, Qin Geng stood before the Iron Pearwood posts, now somewhat warped.

Crack!

A sharp report rang out.

The Black Gold and Cold Iron chains on his body did not give their usual dull clang. Instead, as Qin Geng's back shuddered, they rattled like a great spear being shaken.

The force traveled through the iron links. It no longer struck with dead weight, but flowed like Mercury spilling across the ground, with a touch of life to it.

He drew back and exhaled.

Qin Geng wiped the hot sweat from his brow without so much as glancing at the post whose core he had shaken to splinters. He removed the chains and changed into his faded blue cloth robe, then threw on a mandarin jacket. He left his official uniform behind to keep a lower profile.

He had serious business today.

Leaving the Ye Residence, Qin Geng strode briskly toward the Geomancy Office in the inner city.

His seventh senior brother, Lu Xingmin, had pointed him in this direction yesterday. If he wanted to get a quick foothold in the Feng Shui trade, he needed the shelter of a great tree like Third Master Cao.

The Geomancy Office was less imposing than the Wave-Quelling Bureau, with an air of books and incense about it.

No armed guards stood at the gate. Only two young attendants in gray robes swept the ground.

Qin Geng presented his waist token and entered the second courtyard.

The courtyard was a mess. Clerks carrying compasses and drawings hurried in and out, each looking as if he had lost his soul.

"Fifth Brother? What brings you here?"

A somewhat surprised voice came from a