The main hall of the Immortal Works Bureau.
Without even lifting his head, Zhong Heng asked offhandedly, "Have the verification documents been processed?"
Lu Beiwang did not dare answer.
Chen Wei stepped forward and saluted with cupped hands. "Reporting to you, Director, they have yet to be signed."
"Oh?" The immortal brush in Zhong Heng's hand stopped abruptly, and his tone cooled. "Why haven't you signed?"
Chen Wei wore a sincere expression, his tone calm and measured. "I was only recently transferred to the Immortal Works Bureau, and I have yet to familiarize myself with the files on my desk. I am groping in the dark. Under Article 372 of the Heavenly Laws and Immortal Law, for an immortal official to blindly endorse documents he does not understand constitutes grave dereliction of duty. If I signed in ignorance and a subsequent inspection found something wrong with the Cloud Road, wouldn't that undermine the laws of the Heavenly Court?"
"My rank is low and my words carry little weight. My own punishment would be a minor matter."
"But if this tarnished the Immortal Works Bureau's good name and ruined your reputation for strict governance, that would be the true offense."
"We mustn't allow that, Director!"
The damning label of disregarding heavenly law landed squarely on Zhong Heng's head.
Zhong Heng's brow twitched twice, and he leaned back.
He knew perfectly well what condition the Cloud Road was in. He had originally intended to take advantage of the knowledgeable scapegoat newly transferred from the Bright Hall to dump the mess onto someone else.
Who would have thought they had sent him a slippery loach?
Not one sentence mentioned refusing, yet every word used the Heavenly Laws to press him down.
Zhong Heng picked up the teacup on his desk and skimmed off the floating foam. "Since Official Chen has only just arrived, is unfamiliar with the situation, and cannot sign under the Heavenly Laws, Lu Beiwang, you sign."
"Director..." Lu Beiwang shot him frantic looks, his words carrying a pointed undertone. "My experience is limited. I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for me to sign!"
"What are you afraid of?"
Zhong Heng snorted coldly and set his teacup down hard on the desk. "Soldiers are maintained for a thousand days to be used in a single moment. Does the Immortal Works Bureau pay you to draw a salary for nothing? If you won't shoulder even this tiny responsibility, how am I supposed to entrust you with greater burdens in the future?"
"Immortal officials these days get worse with every passing year!"
Lu Beiwang kept his head bowed and his teeth clenched, still not daring to utter a promise to sign.
Seeing this, Zhong Heng considered briefly.
The shortfall in the Cloud Road project was too great. Making Lu Beiwang alone, an Immortal Official, take the fall would not carry enough weight to hold the situation steady.
Once those above began investigating, pulling up the radish would inevitably bring up the mud clinging to it. He needed an endorsement from someone who knew the trade and held a high-grade forging token.
"Chen Wei." Zhong Heng softened his voice, adopting the earnest tones of an official imparting wisdom. "When serving the Heavenly Court, we must work together with one heart. Rules are dead, but immortals are alive. Since everyone has difficulties, why not share the responsibility? Both of you can sign and consider it mutual oversight. That way, we neither violate the Heavenly Laws nor jeopardize the Immortal Works Bureau's assignment. What do you think?"
Forcing us into the same boat?
Chen Wei sighed inwardly.
He had finally endured two hundred years of arduous study and finally joined the ranks of immortals. He might only be a Loose Immortal, but at least he had the word immortal to his name.
Start all over again?
Absolutely not.
"A wise decision, Director!" Chen Wei offered no resistance and answered in a ringing voice. "As a member of the Immortal Works Bureau, I should naturally ease your burdens and help my colleagues out of difficulty! Since you have given the order, I will certainly sign! Absolutely!"
Zhong Heng's expression eased a little, and he was about to offer a few words of praise.
Chen Wei abruptly changed tack, his face filled with righteous resolve. "However! The Cloud Road concerns the dignity of the Southern Heavenly Gate. It is the thoroughfare by which the Jade Emperor enters and departs, and we must not treat it carelessly! Since I am to sign, I must answer to you and to the Heavenly Court!"
"What do you intend to do?" Zhong Heng frowned, vaguely sensing something amiss.
"I humbly request permission to undertake this task!" Chen Wei cupped his hands, speaking with practiced assurance. "I will personally go to the Southern Heavenly Gate and test each node of the Cloud Road, tapping them one by one and inspecting and comparing every last one! I will check the flow of spiritual energy and examine the inscribed formation patterns! Once I have confirmed that the materials are safe, I will sign immediately, without delaying our progress in the slightest!"
The beads of his abacus practically flew straight into Zhong Heng's face.
Inspect and compare?
Tap every node?
If they really conducted an inspection according to his procedures, the time it would consume was bad enough.
More importantly, could that Cloud Road withstand an inspection?
Seeing that gentle persuasion had failed, Zhong Heng's face darkened at once. "Insolence! Chen Wei! The Cloud Road must be delivered tomorrow. This is a matter of utmost urgency! You keep making excuses and setting up obstacle after obstacle. Are you trying to defy orders?"
The charge of insubordination came crashing down on his head.
Chen Wei shuddered all over. His eyes suddenly widened, and panic filled his face. "Please see the truth, Director! It is precisely to carry out your instructions resolutely that I must conduct a strict inspection! I have taken your words about working together with one heart in the Immortal Works Bureau firmly to heart. If I signed rashly without an inspection, and some flaw caused the Cloud Road to collapse, once those above laid blame, any punishment I received would be my own fault!
"But if that implicated you and subjected you to censure, damaging your prestige, even ten thousand deaths would not absolve me of my guilt!"
"Everything I am doing is to preserve your good name and consider the Immortal Works Bureau's greater interests!"
"Heaven and earth can bear witness to my sincere devotion, Director!"
His combination of deflecting blows was so tightly woven that not a breath could slip through.
Every sentence spoke of obedience, every word of the greater good. Everything was for the sake of the immortal official in charge.
Who would dare accuse him of defying orders?
He was practically more devoted than an inspecting spirit officer!
Zhong Heng opened his mouth, only to find himself at a loss for words.
The lowly Immortal Official before him had a tongue as slick as if it had been coated in divine oil. One lofty argument followed another, yet he could find not a single flaw. If he kept pressing, he would only look like a thief with a guilty conscience.
The stalemate lasted a moment.
Zhong Heng waved his sleeve as though shooing away a fly. "Enough, enough! Withdraw! Lu Beiwang! Go sign immediately! If the assignment isn't delivered tomorrow, you'll be the first one I hold accountable!"
Lu Beiwang wanted to argue, but swallowed his words beneath Zhong Heng's icy gaze.
Chen Wei lowered his eyes to his nose and his attention to his heart, secretly letting out a breath of relief. I finally dodged that calamity.
Just as he prepared to salute and withdraw, returning to his role as an invisible bystander-
Clack!
A faint sound rang out.
A jade token was tossed from the main desk and landed beside Chen Wei's feet. It was the identification token he had submitted.
Zhong Heng remained expressionless, not even lifting his eyelids as he said coldly, "The Immortal Works Bureau is too small a temple to accommodate your exalted presence, Official Chen. Please take your transfer order and return the way you came. The Bright Hall's threshold is too lofty for the likes of us. I won't see you out!"
The main hall of the Bright Hall.
Holding the returned transfer order, Hou Zong raised his brows slightly. "So, the Immortal Works Bureau sent you back?"
"Reporting to you, sir," Chen Wei said without a change in expression, "it wasn't that I lacked ability. The Heavenly Laws are simply too strict-they wouldn't allow it!"
"Enough."
Hou Zong waved a hand, refusing to take the bait. "Then tell me, what can you do?"
Something stirred in Chen Wei's heart.
Naturally, he wanted to remain at the Bright Hall. It was secure, and it carried prestige.
But he could hardly say so outright. He had to push the boat along with the current.
Chen Wei's expression turned solemn, his eyes brimming with sincerity. "My knowledge is shallow, but during my three-month temporary assignment to the Bright Hall, I have witnessed your conduct firsthand and come to admire you deeply. I seek no other posting. I only wish to remain at the Bright Hall, work diligently under your command, and serve you with the devotion of a loyal hound or horse!"
Hou Zong's expression took on a curious cast.
The Bright Hall was a vital center of confidential affairs in the Heavenly Court. Countless Loose Immortals with connections and powerful backers battered their heads bloody trying to get in to do menial work. They would willingly stay for the long term even without an immortal's salary.
Had this lowly Loose Immortal developed a taste for the place after just three months on temporary assignment?
Hou Zong's eyes shifted slightly, and he cleared his throat. "As it happens, there is a task at hand!"
Before you continue