Reporting to the Heavenly Court

Just as the three were chatting, the white-bearded Heavenly Official from the Thunder Department who had interviewed them appeared and interrupted their conversation.

"Enough chatting. Follow me. It's time to report to the Thunder Department."

With that, he headed straight toward the Thunder Department.

Wen Ning and the other two stopped chatting and followed the old Heavenly Official toward the Thunder Department.

The three followed him all the way to Wen Zhong's office.

Wen Zhong was still sitting in that broad grandmaster chair. Wen Ning and Bai Lu dutifully placed the bags they were carrying on his desk.

Seeing their actions, Wen Zhong turned his gaze straight to Lu Ming.

Standing between Bai Lu and Wen Ning, Lu Ming had no idea what to do with his hands.

His antlers drooped, and his bell gave a faint, mournful jingle.

"Heavenly Venerable, I actually prepared a gift too."

His voice carried a faint plea for survival.

"Oh? What did you prepare?"

"Two thousand-year-old lingzhi mushrooms from Mount Tai. My ancestor picked them himself. Each one was as big as my head."

"And then?"

"And then I hadn't eaten enough at lunch that day. The mushrooms looked pretty tasty, so I took a bite. Then I couldn't help myself and finished them in two bites."

Lu Ming blurted out the whole story in one go.

"Heavenly Venerable, I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. I shouldn't have let my cravings get the better of me. I shouldn't have been so greedy."

Beside him, Wen Ning was trying so hard not to laugh that the corners of his mouth were nearly cramping.

Bai Lu remained expressionless, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her amusement. She was enjoying the show too.

"All right."

Wen Zhong tapped the desk, his tone returning to brisk official business.

"Next, your assignments. Bai Lu, Lu Ming, the Thunder Department has accumulated too much paperwork this year. Bai Lu will organize and archive it. Lu Ming will handle copying and proofreading."

He pulled two scrolls from the pile of documents and handed them to the pair, then turned his gaze to Wen Ning.

"Wen Ning, you have a mortal body, so traveling to and from the Heavenly Court every day would be inconvenient. The Thunder Department needs a permanent office in the mortal world, and your agency is in a good location. Starting today, it will officially be requisitioned as the Thunder Department's mortal-world office. You'll work there."

As he spoke, he handed Wen Ning a scroll as well. Wen Ning unrolled it and took a look: his salary was five thousand merit points a month.

His shabby little ten-square-meter agency in an urban village had suddenly become the Heavenly Court's office in the mortal world. Not a bad deal.

"All right. Go collect your office supplies. You officially start work tomorrow."

Wen Zhong waved a hand.

"Wen Ning, stay behind."

As if granted a pardon, Lu Ming headed for the door with his scroll. Bai Lu bowed to Wen Zhong and calmly turned to leave.

The two had just reached the door when Wen Zhong spoke again.

"Oh, one more thing."

Lu Ming and Bai Lu stopped at the same time and turned around.

"Meng Po from the Underworld has also sent someone over this year. Her official post remains with the Underworld, but she's being seconded to the Thunder Department."

As Wen Zhong spoke, he glanced toward the door.

"She should be here by now."

No sooner had he finished than soft footsteps sounded outside. Wen Ning looked toward the sound and saw a girl with two little braids standing in the office doorway.

Wen Ning had seen her during the interviews. Lu Ming had introduced her to him as Meng Po's niece.

She stood in the doorway and gave Wen Zhong a proper bow, her movements unhurried, carrying a composure beyond her years.

"Meng Jiang greets the Heavenly Venerable. My aunt said the Thunder Department was short-staffed this year and sent me over to help."

She placed a food carrier at the edge of the desk and lifted the lid. Inside was a bowl of still-steaming soup, its broth clear and without any detectable scent. "My aunt also asked me to bring you a bowl of soup, Heavenly Venerable. She said it's a new recipe for this year, with only half a leaf of forget-worry grass. It refreshes the mind without harming your memory."

Wen Zhong looked at the bowl of soup with an indescribable expression.

"That was thoughtful of Meng Po. Thank her on my behalf."

Lu Ming gently nudged Wen Ning.

"Meng Po's soup is famous throughout the Three Realms. Famously awful, that is."

Meng Jiang suddenly turned to look at Lu Ming, who was whispering.

She first looked at Wen Ning, smiling and nodding politely, then fixed her eyes on Lu Ming.

Meng Jiang took two steps forward, her large, round, bright eyes full of pure curiosity.

Her gaze lingered on Lu Ming's face, then swept from his empty hands to the cigarettes and liquor by Wen Ning's corner of the desk, then to Bai Lu's little celadon jar, before returning to Lu Ming's face.

Clearly, she had already worked out exactly what was going on.

"Lu Ming."

Her voice was sweet as honey.

"Don't tell me you didn't bring a gift?"

Lu Ming's bell gave a violent shake.

"My aunt said you should bring a gift when meeting your superior on your first day."

Meng Jiang smiled at him, her tone as innocent as could be. "You didn't come empty-handed, did you? You got in by taking the proper exam, yet you don't even understand this basic social etiquette? I'm only a little over a hundred this year, and even I knew to bring a gift. You're over two hundred. Don't tell me you got in through connections?"

"I had a gift."

Lu Ming flushed red and defended himself in a small voice.

"I just forgot to bring it."

Meng Jiang blinked, then put on an expression that said she had seen through everything.

That expression was more devastating than any words: a smile that said, I've seen right through you, but I won't call you out.

Paired with her innocent, doll-like face, the effect was lethal.

Lu Ming tried to change the subject, but his voice clearly lacked confidence.

"Meng Jiang, isn't your official post in the Underworld? Why are you reporting to the Thunder Department too?"

"My aunt said the Thunder Department needed people, so she sent me over to coordinate things. I'm being seconded here for a while."

Meng Jiang tilted her head at him, her two little braids swaying again. An unreadable glint suddenly flashed through her large eyes.

"Lu Ming, my aunt said I'll be working in the Thunder Department from now on, in the same department as you. You'll have to take good care of me."

Lu Ming was so frightened that even his antlers changed color, and his bell jingled wildly.

He instinctively edged half a step behind Bai Lu, his voice sounding uncertain.

"Bai Lu works in the Thunder Department too. Go to her."

Without a change in expression, Bai Lu stepped aside, exposing Lu Ming to Meng Jiang's gaze once more.

Meng Jiang took a small step forward. Lu Ming took a large step back.

She took another small step forward, and he retreated again.

Advancing and retreating like this, the two reached the doorframe. Lu Ming's back hit it, and his bell gave a crisp, mournful chime.

"Lu Ming, don't run away."

Meng Jiang looked up at him, her smile as radiant as peach blossoms in March, but deep within those large eyes swirled a message only Lu Ming could understand.

"My aunt said the Underworld still needs someone to sweep the Bridge of Helplessness. You could consider it."

The color visibly drained from Lu Ming's face, turning it from rosy to deathly pale.

Seeing that she had teased Lu Ming enough, Meng Jiang dropped her playful expression and addressed Wen Ning and Bai Lu.

"Wen Ning, Bai Lu, I look forward to working with you too."

Watching the scene, Wen Ning thought, Things are going to be lively from now on.