A Woman Three Thousand Years Older, a Place Among the Immortals

In the rear gardens of Bright Hall.

Taibai Jinxing looked perfectly at ease, seemingly resting with his eyes closed, though he was actually taking in everything around him.

Chen Wei stood three paces behind the Star Lord and delivered his report at an unhurried pace. "Reporting to you, Star Lord, I have concluded the Western Liang case. The Mother-Child River's waterways have been reconnected, and no resentment remains. It was all thanks to your masterful planning. I merely ran an errand, and thankfully did not disgrace Bright Hall."

A thousand things might fail to get through, but flattery always found a way.

Claiming the credit for himself would be courting death.

Attributing every scrap of credit to a High Immortal's wise guidance was the iron law of lasting survival in the Heavenly Court.

A trace of surprise flashed in Taibai Jinxing's eyes.

He had originally tossed the case to the newly established Discipline Inspection Bureau as a stopgap measure, treating a dead horse as though it might still be saved.

Who would have thought?

This Chen Wei handled matters with such competence and polish. With his methods and his thick skin, he was born to make his living among immortals.

"Qingquan," Taibai Jinxing called softly, lifting a hand slightly. "You handled the case beautifully. The younger generation is truly formidable."

When the Chief Official offered praise, a subordinate naturally had to respond with trepidation.

Chen Wei was just about to bow and express his gratitude when he heard jade pendants clinking beside him.

Holding a jade slip, Li Yin strode over from the other end of the corridor.

He had heard Taibai Jinxing praising Chen Wei and felt nothing but contempt. This fellow was merely a shameless wretch who had won favor through bootlicking, fawning, and scheming.

In seniority or background, how could he possibly compare with him?

Did such a filthy character actually imagine he could gain a place within Bright Hall?

He had to find a pretext to knock him down a peg.

"Star Lord!" Li Yin hurried forward two steps, beating Chen Wei to his expression of thanks. He raised the jade slip high in both hands, seeking credit under the guise of reporting official business. "I worked through the night and finished drafting the arrangements for Bright Hall's immortal officials' competition. All Four Great Celestial Masters have added their comments and seals. It only awaits your review and decision!"

His voice rang out loud and clear.

As though he feared the immortal officials nearby might not hear about his arduous overtime.

Taibai Jinxing did not take the jade slip. Instead, he turned to Chen Wei with a smile. "Qingquan, have you registered for this competition within the hall?"

"I have only just taken charge of the Censorate, and countless matters at the office still await attention." Chen Wei looked ashamed and shook his head repeatedly. "The case files are piled high as mountains. I have devoted myself entirely to official duties, not daring to rest even briefly, day or night. I truly have no spare time to participate."

On the surface, he was apologizing. Beneath it, he had planted his image as a diligent public servant as firmly as Mount Tai.

He had also slipped Li Yin a knife in passing-I'm busy doing real work. Where would I find time for those flashy competitions held for appearances?

After hearing this, Taibai Jinxing said earnestly, "Qingquan, you are mistaken. Service in Bright Hall calls for a proper balance between work and leisure. We immortals enjoy endless life. If you bury yourself in paperwork around the clock, and word gets out to the other offices, they might think this Star Lord is a Chief Official who mistreats his subordinates and does nothing but squeeze them dry!"

With that, he had laid out the steps for Chen Wei to descend gracefully.

Chen Wei immediately bowed low to the ground, looking deeply apprehensive. "I have been foolish! I failed to appreciate your thoughtful intentions, Star Lord! I recognize my mistake. Once I return to the office, I will register at once!"

"Excellent."

Taibai Jinxing nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Li Yin beside him. "Liang Ping, you heard him. Since Qingquan wishes to participate, add his name to the roster."

"Star Lord..."

Forcing down the anger simmering in his chest, Li Yin steeled himself and invoked procedure to block the move. "The competition roster has already been sealed, and all Four Great Celestial Masters have stamped it for the records. If we add another entry now, might that be procedurally improper...?"

He had painstakingly devised the rules for Bright Hall's competition to showcase his own authority.

Now, with one casually spoken sentence, the Star Lord was forcing a favored insider into it, treating the rules he had established as though they did not exist.

Taibai Jinxing's expression did not change. He merely said, "No matter. Just add him."

His tone was mild.

It allowed no dispute.

However unwilling and resentful Li Yin might be, he could only respond respectfully, take out a cinnabar brush, and add Chen Wei's name at the very bottom of the roster.

Watching their exchange, Chen Wei understood everything perfectly.

The so-called Bright Hall immortal officials' competition was, at heart, merely a bit of amusement that offices at every level used to distribute merit and foster harmony.

Every event was tailor-made.

The Four Great Celestial Masters loved conversing over a board, for instance, so there was a Go event.

Taibai Jinxing was obsessed with fishing, so there was a spirit-fish angling event.

High Immortals dictated the events. How would the junior immortals dare actually try to win?

They were simply keeping the High Immortals entertained, with flattery as the main attraction. So long as they participated, they could win a participation prize even if all they fished up was a rotten plank.

They sought no first-place finish, only to become a familiar face.

Leaving the Clear Pool, Chen Wei rode a cloud straight back to the office.

Inside the out-of-the-way office.

Ma Muzhi had prepared fragrant tea well in advance. Seeing the Chief Official return, he hurried forward to greet him, delight written all over his face.

"Sir!"

"The paperwork from Bright Hall has arrived! For the West Liang Kingdom case, the higher-ups approved a full five thousand years of merit!"

Five thousand years of merit.

In an ordinary immortal residence, that would not amount to much.

But in the Folk Customs Censorate, it was no small sum. This was the great advantage of a small office. Though its authority lay on the fringes, once it resolved a major case, there were few immortals to share the rewards.

Everyone could receive a satisfying portion of merit. Everyone had a bright future.

"Good!" Chen Wei lifted his teacup and took a sip, then made the decision on the spot. "Old Ma, distribute it according to the rules."

In just a few words, he laid out the distribution clearly.

Under the rules, Chen Wei, as the official in charge, received two thousand years, while the two Deputy Officials, Ma Muzhi and Yang Niansan, each received one thousand.

As for the newcomer Xiao Yan, he received five hundred years.

The remaining five hundred years of merit would be kept for public expenses, such as maintaining the office's appearance and entertaining visiting immortal officials.

Xiao Yan, a Loose Immortal who had only recently joined the office, trembled all over with excitement.

Five hundred years of merit!

After years of bitter cultivation deep in the mountains of the lower realm, he had not even managed to save fifty years of merit.

Now, having only just secured an iron rice bowl within the Heavenly Court's bureaucracy, he had been hit with a windfall before he had even learned the ropes!

"Thank you, my three superiors, for nurturing me!" Xiao Yan's eyes reddened, his gratitude spilling openly across his face. "I will grind my bones to dust in your service and redouble my efforts! From now on, leave all the hardest, most exhausting work in the office to me!"

Chen Wei nodded in satisfaction.

No matter how many cakes one painted in the air, none worked as well as real merit.

Compared with Xiao Yan's tearful gratitude, Yang Niansan was much calmer. She did not even glance at her thousand years of merit.

Was she short of it?

Not at all!

But a certain little Heavenly Immortal was desperately short of merit.

"Lord Chen." Yang Niansan arched an eyebrow, her tone matter-of-fact. "The thousand years of merit you lent me last time is repaid in full today. We're square now."

"When did I ever lend..." Chen Wei froze.

"Oh! Have you forgotten, Lord Chen?" Yang Niansan snapped open her folding fan, cutting him off and speaking at lightning speed. "Bright Hall has always been the place that most respects the Heavenly Court's rules. The Heavenly Laws expressly stipulate that private loans between immortal friends must be repaid on time, without delay! As a High Immortal, you should lead by example. How could you take the lead in breaking the rules?"

Her barrage of brazen nonsense left him no room whatsoever to argue.

With that, Yang Niansan tossed the merit in front of Chen Wei, turned, and left.

Once he recovered, Chen Wei picked up the merit and chased after her, calling as he ran, "Official Yang! Wait! I can't accept this!"

Inside the main hall.

Ma Muzhi blew aside the tea leaves in his cup and let out a leisurely sigh. "Tsk. A woman three thousand years older, a place among the immortals!"