[This is all fictional, with no references to reality. It's all just for fun!]
[Returning readers, check in! Claim your immortal destiny!]
[Setting sail again! You know Green Tea's style and update volume. Just read and enjoy!]
A side chamber of the Bright Hall.
Chen Wei finished copying the last set of "Recommendations for Rectifying the Illegally Constructed Thunder Pool on Accumulating Thunder Mountain in the Lower Realm" and relaxed his tightly focused divine sense.
Two hundred years of diligent study by a cold window in the mortal realm, together with the foundation in clerical work he had honed copying scriptures at a Daoist temple.
At last, they had allowed him to enter the Dao through scholarship and ascend in broad daylight.
According to the usual process, once he survived the lightning tribulation and broke through the void, the seas and skies would open before him. He would become an immortal patriarch, free and unfettered.
That was what Chen Wei had thought, too.
Unfortunately.
He had become a Loose Immortal.
And Loose Immortals were the one thing the Heavenly Court never lacked.
Among all the gods and buddhas filling the heavens, the stellar deities and divine generals, which immortal didn't have eighty or a hundred Loose Immortals running errands under them?
Keep your tail tucked between your legs, even as an immortal-that was the first heavenly rule Chen Wei had grasped.
Seconded to the Bright Hall for three months, he reported at the beginning of the Rabbit Hour every day and finished work at the end of the Pig Hour. He handled all the chamber's case-file copying and Jade Slip archiving.
He claimed no credit and shirked no blame.
He always bowed when he saw a superior and was the first to take the teapot when a colleague poured tea. He worked conscientiously, never once slacking off.
What was he after?
Nothing more than stability.
To put Chen Wei's current rank nicely, he was an Immortal Official. If he occasionally went down to the lower realm on the Bright Hall's behalf to deliver a verbal decree or carry out an official errand, the demon immortals and lesser immortals below would respectfully address him as "High Immortal."
But once he crossed the Southern Heavenly Gate, he was an Immortal Official at the very bottom of the ladder.
Today happened to mark the end of his three-month secondment.
Inside the main hall.
Hou Zong, the supervising immortal official, reclined in a cloud-patterned chair, examining Chen Wei's identification jade slip.
An entire incense stick's worth of time passed without him speaking.
Chen Wei perched on half his chair, his back straight, his hands resting flat on his knees, his gaze level.
This so-called interview was nothing more than a formality in the Heavenly Court's performance review.
Hou Zong would ask a couple of routine questions, go through the motions, write an assessment, and Chen Wei would head to the next office to continue serving as an Immortal Official.
The offices stood firm as iron; Loose Immortals flowed through like water. It had always been that way.
"Chen Wei, courtesy name Qingquan." Hou Zong swept his divine sense over the slip, drawing out the last syllable.
"Present, sir." Chen Wei cupped his hands, his expression utterly respectful.
"Ascended to the Heavenly Court one year and two months ago." Hou Zong nodded, a hint of approval in his voice. "Mm, not bad."
Chen Wei remained composed, smiling as he listened.
One year and two months amounted to four hundred and twenty-five years in mortal time.
As the saying went, one day in heaven was one year on earth.
The days in the Heavenly Court were long, but living through them felt much the same as in the lower realm. Here in the immortals' domain, however, everyone had long since stopped caring about the passage of time.
By now, Chen Wei thoroughly understood the art of serving in office: keeping quiet was the right move.
Whatever a superior said was correct.
Even if Hou Zong said he had ascended three days ago, he would have to smile and agree.
Correcting a superior to his face was the sort of foolishness that ruined a career.
Hou Zong set down the jade slip, picked up his teacup, and skimmed the froth aside, preparing to dismiss Chen Wei as usual.
Suddenly.
His movement stopped. He set down the cup, picked up the jade slip again, and examined it closely.
After a long moment.
Hou Zong's eyes suddenly lit up, and he even sat a little straighter. "Oh? You actually have an Advanced Forging Token certified by the Immortal Works Bureau?"
"High Immortal," Chen Wei replied with a slight bow, "I dared not slack off after ascending. I used my free time after work to take the Immortal Works Bureau's examination and earn a credential."
"Excellent, excellent!"
Hou Zong clapped his hands and laughed heartily, pointing at Chen Wei with appreciation written all over his face. "Young man, extra skills never weigh you down! What a coincidence-there's just the assignment for you! The Immortal Works Bureau has been busy lately. Take this transfer order and report there immediately."
Something stirred in Chen Wei's heart.
Assignments in the Heavenly Court had always fallen into two categories: grueling ones and lucrative ones.
Any posting that could make a supervising immortal official change his mind on the spot was anything but ordinary.
"I shall follow your instructions, Your Excellency." With lowered eyes and a deferential expression, Chen Wei took the transfer order and headed out.
Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate.
Astral Winds howled, and the Cloud Sea churned.
A cloud road, only just over half laid, stretched across the void. Its surroundings were deserted. The heavenly soldiers guarding the gate were all stationed at the checkpoint dozens of li away, leaving only swirling clouds and mist here.
Lu Beiwang, an Immortal Official of the Immortal Works Bureau, handed Chen Wei a jade slip. "Lord Chen, if there are no issues, just sign it. The higher-ups are pressing us. We need to hand over this section of cloud road urgently."
Chen Wei lowered his head to examine the densely packed materials list and construction formation diagrams on the jade slip, feeling somewhat hesitant.
He had only just arrived at the Immortal Works Bureau with his transfer order. He hadn't even warmed the wooden chair at his desk, and already he had landed the wonderful opportunity to sign and seal something?
The Heavenly Court's regulations were strict.
An Immortal Official's everyday duties amounted to drafting documents, running errands, and doing odd jobs.
Signing off and making decisions?
That was the privilege and responsibility of immortal officials. Clerks merely wrote the documents, which officials checked and reviewed level by level before an official finally stamped and signed them.
And now, a newly arrived Immortal Official was actually being asked to sign off on a cloud road's reinspection and verification?
When things strayed from the norm, there was bound to be a demon lurking behind them.
Had they filled the cloud road's foundation with scraps?
Or had they cut corners on its stabilizing formations?
Once he signed his name and left his divine-sense imprint, if the cloud road collapsed later and responsibility was assigned, he, Chen Wei, would be the one taking a trip to the Immortal-Slaying Platform.
So this was where that Advanced Forging Token had been lying in wait for him.
As someone who knew the trade, his signature would carry more weight. If anything went wrong, he wouldn't be able to evade responsibility by claiming he was an outsider who couldn't understand it.
"Brother Lu." Rather than use the other man's official title, Chen Wei tried a more familiar approach and pushed the jade slip back toward him. "Qingquan has only just arrived and doesn't understand the Immortal Works Bureau's rules. Under the Heavenly Laws, the supervising immortal official should sign off on the cloud road verification. How could a newly transferred Immortal Official like me dare overstep his authority?"
Lu Beiwang didn't take the jade slip. With both hands tucked into his sleeves, he wore something not quite a smile. "Lord Chen, rules are dead, but immortals are alive. The supervising official has gone to the Hall of Lingxiao to await orders, and there's no telling when he'll return. But the schedule can't wait. You came from the Bright Hall and hold an Advanced Forging Token. Having you sign on his behalf is perfectly reasonable and proper."
Chen Wei grumbled inwardly.
Reasonable and proper?
Reasonable for making me carry the black pot of blame, and proper for finding a scapegoat.
"But..." Chen Wei maintained his anxious demeanor, holding the jade slip like a scalding yam, caught between advancing and retreating.
Lu Beiwang glanced around at the empty surroundings, where only clouds billowed.
Without a sound, a small, exquisite Storage Bag drifted smoothly into the depths of Chen Wei's sleeve.
"Lord Chen!"
"Just sign it!"
"We're all miserable little Immortal Officials. Would we really harm you?"
"Of course not!" Chen Wei took out the storage pouch and stuffed it back into Lu Beiwang's sleeve. "Brother Lu, this isn't within the rules. Our offices may be humble, but we must keep heaven's laws and regulations firmly in mind."
Lu Beiwang froze for a moment. Was this fellow some reckless greenhorn?
The Storage Bag was already tucked into his sleeve, and he had actually taken it back out? Now that was a novelty.
"Lord Chen..."
"Ah! Sir Lu!" Chen Wei waved his hand, tossed out a few words, and turned to fly away. "It wouldn't be appropriate for me to imprint my divine sense on this jade slip. How about this-we'll go back and report to our chief first, then see what he decides. Ah, as your colleague, I really do want to help you, but we can't rush things!"
[This newly composed tale has only just begun. I had feared it would invite ridicule and fail to catch your eye, yet you have shown me such generous affection, overlooking my clumsy pen and supporting me with such wholehearted effort. Since I have found kindred spirits, I can no longer spare this frail body of mine. Even if I must burn the midnight oil night after night and wring my heart's blood dry through the very end of this month, I shall put my life into producing more words (a flood of updates). Only then can I repay the affection of those who truly understand me.]
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