Want to Hook the Fish?

Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi returned, travel-worn, to report the completion of their assignment.

Who would have thought today would bring a surprise?

Whenever they reported back in the past, Hou Zong would give them, at most, a grunt through his nose, without so much as lifting his eyelids.

Today was entirely different.

Hou Zong abruptly rose. Without even glancing at the Dust Spirit Grass in Chen Wei's hand, he took it and tossed it onto a corner of the desk.

Then.

Hou Zong pulled two white jade teacups from the tea tray and poured two steaming cups of immortal tea.

"Ah!"

"My dear brothers, you've had a hard journey! A hard journey indeed!"

His face wreathed in smiles, Hou Zong personally brought the cups to Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi. "The astral winds below are bitterly fierce. Finding that grass was no easy task. Come, have some hot tea to warm your immortal bodies."

Ma Muzhi's hand shook, nearly overturning his cup.

Dear brothers?

An immortal official calling Loose Immortals his brothers?

Ma Muzhi knew full well that when a High Immortal suddenly turned courteous, something sinister was afoot.

Chen Wei's heart tightened as well, but his expression remained composed. Accepting the cup with both hands, he said, "You honor me far too much, my lord. Carrying out your assignments is my duty. Even through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I would go without hesitation."

"Excellent! Well said-your duty!" Hou Zong clapped his hands in praise, then pulled over two chairs. "Sit, sit down and rest. Don't stand while we talk."

Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi exchanged a glance, then perched on the edges of their chairs.

Rather than returning to the seat of honor, Hou Zong sat opposite them, his gaze roaming over Chen Wei's face as though studying a rare treasure.

"Qingquan."

"When you cultivated in the mortal world, which school or sect did you study under? Do any elders in your family hold posts in the Heavenly Court? Or are you related to some immortal lady or Star Lord?"

Probing my background?

Checking my family register?

Chen Wei began to see what was going on.

They had only just returned from the Southern Heavenly Gate, yet Hou Zong's attitude had changed completely. He must have received some hint or instruction from above.

Had the guardian general at the Third Holy Mother's side acted so quickly?

All I did was recite a poem in the temple and speak a couple of plain truths, and they already sent word to the Bright Hall?

Chen Wei set down his cup, looking deeply apprehensive. "My lord, I studied diligently in the mortal world for two hundred years. It was purely through luck that I comprehended the Dao and ascended. Here in the Heavenly Court, I am completely in the dark, with neither family nor connections. If we are speaking of ties..."

"I am newly arrived, and you alone have painstakingly nurtured me, my lord."

"In my heart, you are the parent who gave me a second life, the lamp that lights my way!"

Anything could wear through-anything but flattery.

Since Hou Zong would not reveal his true background, Chen Wei might as well pledge his loyalty to the High Immortal himself.

After hearing this, Hou Zong felt no pleasure. Instead, he inwardly curled his lip.

No family or connections?

Who was he trying to fool?

Half an hour earlier, High Immortal Li Yin had personally arrived at the Bright Hall, asking for Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi by name.

Who was Li Yin?

A trusted confidant serving directly under Taibai Jinxing!

Could two Loose Immortals with no backing possibly draw a Star Lord's attention and be summoned by name?

Hou Zong was convinced that Chen Wei was concealing his capabilities and refusing to reveal his true background.

Since he would not reveal it, Hou Zong stopped pressing and simply laid his cards on the table. "Brother Qingquan, Brother Muzhi, to tell you the truth, let me congratulate you in advance. You're about to soar into the azure clouds."

Ma Muzhi looked utterly bewildered. It was an act.

"What makes you say that, my lord?" Chen Wei also put on a look of surprise.

"High Immortal Li Yin will come here personally in a moment." Hou Zong pointed outside the hall. "He'll take you to see Taibai Jinxing."

Chen Wei froze for a moment.

He had guessed that his idle move on Mount Hua would bring a response, but he had never expected one this tremendous.

Just who was that Yang Niansan?

Could a mere guardian general wield so much influence?

Whoever she was, the present situation had already exceeded Chen Wei's initial expectations.

Whether it brought fortune or disaster would depend entirely on how he handled what came next.

"Brother Qingquan, you've both received a tremendous opportunity. As your elder brother, I'm truly happy for you." Hou Zong shamelessly styled himself their elder brother. "But once you're serving in the Star Lord's presence, if you get a chance to speak, do put in a few words for your Brother Hou."

"Give your elder brother a hand up!"

"If I can leave a good impression on the Star Lord, I will never forget the kindness you two brothers showed in helping me rise!"

An immortal official asking immortal clerks to help advance his career was rather surreal.

Chen Wei immediately rose and bowed deeply. "You are too generous, my lord. If I ever make something of myself, I would never dare forget the kindness you showed in nurturing me."

His words had barely fallen.

A clear announcement rang out from outside the hall. "Where are Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi, Immortal Officials of the Bright Hall?"

Hou Zong jolted, hurriedly straightened his official robes, and strode out to welcome the visitor.

Clad in white, with an immortal's bearing and a Daoist's grace, the newcomer was none other than Li Yin.

He did not enter the hall, merely sweeping a glance over Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi. "Come with me."

Not daring to delay, Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi followed behind Li Yin and rose into the clouds.

Standing at the entrance to the side chamber, Hou Zong silently mouthed, "Give your brother a hand up!"

They traveled through clouds and mist.

Li Yin said little throughout the journey, letting slip not a single hint.

After a winding route, they arrived before a Quiet Courtyard. Spiritual energy swirled within, and the faint murmur of running water reached their ears.

Li Yin stopped and turned to Ma Muzhi. "Wait here."

Ma Muzhi hurriedly nodded and stepped aside.

Li Yin pushed open the moon gate and lifted his chin toward Chen Wei. "You. Go in."

Chen Wei cupped his hands in thanks, straightened his clothes and headwear, and stepped across the threshold.

The courtyard was simply appointed.

Pavilions and terraces surrounded a white jade fishpond roughly ten feet across.

The water was so clear that the bottom was visible, and the spiritual energy was dense enough to almost condense into tangible droplets.

Beside the pond sat an old man in a plain Daoist robe, holding a fishing rod and fishing with his eyes closed.

Every god and buddha in the heavens knew that face. He was Taibai Jinxing.

Chen Wei softened his footsteps and stopped some thirty feet from the Star Lord, standing respectfully without making a sound to disturb him. His gaze lowered toward his nose, his attention settled on his heart, and he stood like a wooden post.

Time trickled by.

Chen Wei's gaze dipped slightly toward the white jade fishpond.

A fishing line hung over the water.

There was no bait.

Even the hook was straight.

Fishing with a straight hook?

Dragon carp circled beneath it, their mouths stretched wide as they tried to bite the straight hook.

Splash!

Splash!

Water sprayed everywhere.

The dragon carp leaped higher each time, yet always fell a few inches short, unable to bite the straight hook no matter what they did. Frantic, they thrashed through the water and even bit one another, all to fight for the best position to leap.

Chen Wei's mind raced.

The High Immortal was fishing.

The fish couldn't reach the hook.

He needed to show his worth in everything and have an eye for work that needed doing, especially before a great immortal like Taibai Jinxing.

Doing nothing was the same as being utterly useless.

Chen Wei's eyes shifted. Lowering his voice, he ventured, "Star Lord, the fish."

"I can see them, naturally." Taibai Jinxing did not open his eyes, and the hand holding his rod remained perfectly still.

He could see them, but did nothing?

The fish couldn't leap high enough. The straight hook was too high.

"Star Lord, allow this humble servant to go down and help them!" Chen Wei thought he understood. Since his lord was maintaining his dignity, the dirty, tiring work naturally fell to him.

His words had barely fallen.

He lifted the hem of his blue immortal robe, rolled up his sleeves, and made to jump into the white jade fishpond.

An immortal's lofty bearing? Dignity?

Being able to hook fish for Taibai Jinxing would be an opportunity as vast as heaven itself.

"Freeze." Taibai Jinxing gave a slight tap with his fishing rod.

Chen Wei remained poised to enter the water, unable to move. The immortal power within him vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

"Want to hook the fish?" Taibai Jinxing laughed. "How can you go far if you act so recklessly?"

Chen Wei's face flushed scarlet, not because his pose was ridiculous, but because Taibai Jinxing had exposed his intentions with a single remark.

The dragon carp leaping in the pond were like the Immortal Officials and officials of the Heavenly Court, crushing their heads together in the scramble for promotion.

The straight hook was the power in Taibai Jinxing's hand.

Chen Wei's desire to jump in and hook fish for the Star Lord meant he wanted to work for him.

But.

Was Chen Wei qualified to work for Taibai Jinxing?

A mere Loose Immortal doing odd jobs in the Bright Hall, wanting to jump into Taibai Jinxing's pond and help scoop up fish—he was far too presumptuous. Left unchecked, he would sooner or later cause a great calamity and never make it far.

Taibai Jinxing did not grow angry. He merely flicked his wrist.

The fishing line drew back.

The dragon carp in the pond quieted and sank to the bottom.

The restraint on Chen Wei lifted as well. He hurriedly lowered his robe, straightened his sleeves, and took two steps back. "I was rash and made a spectacle of myself before you, Star Lord."

"Having drive is a good thing in a young man." Taibai Jinxing rested the rod beside the pond and brushed his hands together. "But you must first sound out whether the water is deep or shallow before setting foot in it. If you jump in blindly, how many lives do you have to squander?"

"Your admonition is just, Star Lord." Chen Wei bowed his head and accepted the lesson, not daring to say another word.

A long moment passed.

Taibai Jinxing picked up the rod again and cast out the straight hook. "You did very well on Mount Hua. Very good."

Chen Wei's heart tightened.

Just as I thought!

Everything had begun on Mount Hua. The piece had been placed, and at last, an answer had come.