With all the Chu Sect's affairs settled, Hou Niao did not dare linger. After several days of dogfighting with Tan Xiao, he drifted off on his journey. Nothing worth mentioning happened along the way; not a ripple stirred.
At his level, if he did not want trouble on the road, there would generally be none.
In the Jingxiu Room of the Minister of Justice Prefecture, Judge Cheng closed the Jade Slip with a smile. "Hou Niao, congratulations. A great merit to your name."
Hou Niao was a little surprised. "Was there a mistake in the reckoning? Didn't you say retrieving the Earth Spirit Pearl would count as a great merit, but merely investigating the internal discord would only earn an ordinary merit?"
Judge Cheng explained, "That was the principle, yes, but the Minister of Justice Prefecture isn't bound by rigid rules. We must judge merit and fault according to the actual circumstances. Otherwise, how do you think a prefecture this large could command everyone's respect?
"Although you failed to obtain the Earth Spirit Pearl, news from the Yaoguang Mountains has already spread across the continent. The Buddhist Sect and the Chu Sect were behind the scenes, fanning the waves and spreading the word, weren't they?
"At the time, our two prefects were rather worried. They feared that if you really struck, you would become the target of a thousand accusing fingers. But when they saw that the unlucky victim was the Ruthless Dao, while our Shanmen stood on the side upholding justice, they were very pleased. They praised your quick thinking and ability to get things done."
He pointed at him. "The Minister of War Prefecture was also very pleased, because you didn't pursue their cultivator's fault in acting without authorization. You left them some face. True Person Jiang even