Li Qingxian just smiled and said, "Speaking of what’s hidden, sometimes the intangible things weigh more than the tangible."
"For example?"
"For example, what forced Captain Cao out wasn’t the old man who died."
"That makes sense..." Han Anbo murmured, lost in thought.
"Now that you’ve reminded me, I think I have a lead on this. Come on, let’s buy some things and go visit Captain Zheng," Li Qingxian said with a smile.
"You’re still willing to call him Captain Zheng?" Han Anbo chuckled.
"Why not? If it makes him happy, I’d call him Elder Zheng," Li Qingxian said.
Han Anbo burst out laughing. "You’d better stick with Captain Zheng. If you actually called him Elder Zheng, he’d probably choke."
Yur Ping said, "I know what Captain Zheng likes to eat."
"We have to get some Flower Sea Brew!" Li Qingxian declared.
"Alright!"
"Oh, right. Should we get some lamb soup? It seems Captain Zheng can never bring himself to buy it," Li Qingxian said.
Han Anbo and Yur Ping exchanged a glance. Han Anbo chuckled, "Who brings soup as a gift? Wouldn’t a leg of lamb be better?"
"A leg of lamb it is, then. I have my Qiankun Bracelet, so I can carry plenty. Let’s go!"
They hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Hex Lei, the Room Leader of the Street Patrol Room, came in. He first congratulated Li Qingxian, then said, "You’ve only been gone two days, but your uncle came looking for you. He said your sixteenth birthday is coming up, and he wants to throw a party and needed to discuss it with you. I chatted with Brother Chen for a bit, and since he has trouble getting around, I arranged a carriage to take him home. If you have time in the next day or two, you should go see him. And as for your sixteenth birthday banquet, don’t you worry. We here at the Street Patrol Room will take care of it."
"I was planning to head home right after visiting Captain Zheng. As for the banquet, a simple meal with my family is all I need."
"Absolutely not! You’re a Fate Master who came from our very own Street Patrol Room. If your birthday celebration is a lackluster affair, the other Night Guard brothers will be cursing me behind my back. Don’t worry, I won’t make it a huge spectacle, but I have to make sure it gives you face. I know the right balance."
"Then you should listen to Room Leader Hex," Han Anbo said, then looked at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian knew his status had changed, so he nodded with a smile. "Alright, I’ll do as Brother Hex says. I’ll be counting on you, then."
"We’re all brothers here. No need to be so formal!"
After a few more words, Hex Lei left.
Li Qingxian and the other two left the Night Guard Office, hired a carriage, and went on a shopping spree.
Once their shopping was done, the carriage left the Inner East District, where the Night Guard Office was located, and entered the Outer East District.
The houses here were low-slung and the roads were rough. A faint, unpleasant odor lingered in the air.
The carriage snaked through the streets and finally arrived at Old Qian Alley. The three of them disembarked, and Han Anbo led them to the gate of a small, private courtyard.
Faded spring festival couplets were pasted by the gate, with two discolored lanterns hanging above. The door itself was a fist’s breadth in thickness—light-colored birch with a bronze ring handle—far more solid and grand than the neighbors’ thin, old, and ordinary wooden doors.
The main gate was ajar. Han Anbo, not standing on ceremony, simply pushed it open and walked in.
Directly opposite them was a spirit screen depicting the South Pole Immortal Elder riding a crane and holding a peach of longevity. Han Anbo turned left, moving around the screen as he shouted, "Captain Zheng! Take a look at who’s come to visit! I guarantee you won’t believe your eyes!"
"Old Han?" a voice, both familiar and strange, called out from the courtyard.
It was Zheng Hui’s voice, but it was feeble and weak, as if his lungs were full of holes.
The three entered the courtyard empty-handed and saw Zheng Hui standing there. Most of his hair had gone white, his complexion was ashen, and his back was slightly hunched. He squinted his bleary eyes, staring at Li Qingxian in his green official robes.
"A black wolf patch embroidered with gold thread? You... You can’t just wear that!" Zheng Hui looked terrified. He glanced toward the gate before urging, "Hurry, take it off! Don’t let anyone see."
The three of them froze.
The Zheng Hui they remembered had been so full of vigor. Now, he couldn’t even believe that Li Qingxian had been promoted to Senior Ninth Grade.
The Squad Commander with lustrous black hair, sun-darkened skin, a ramrod-straight posture, and eyes as wide as bronze bells seemed to have had the very soul sucked out of him.
Han Anbo sighed. "Captain Zheng, Li Qingxian has entered the ranks. He’s become a true Fate Master, has even learned a Daoist Skill, and on top of that, he performed a great service. He received a special promotion to Senior Ninth Grade, an appointment made by the Guard Commander himself. No matter how audacious we Night Guards are, we would never dare to wear an official uniform we aren’t entitled to."
"Really?"
"It’s true! You don’t trust me, Old Han? When have I ever done something so irresponsible?"
Li Qingxian suddenly grinned, walked over, and draped an arm over the captain’s shoulders. "Captain Zheng, can’t you hope for the best for me? And I brought Flower Sea Brew, for nothing!"
As he spoke, a black wine jar tied with a red silk ribbon materialized in his left hand, and he gently set it on the ground.
Zheng Hui’s eyes widened as he stared at the Qiankun Bracelet on Li Qingxian’s wrist.
"A Qi Fortune treasure?"
"The Qiankun Bracelet! And there’s more! Believe me now?" From the bracelet, Li Qingxian pulled out a feast: Mrs. Wang’s braised meat, the Liu Family’s stewed pig trotters, roast chicken from Zhou’s... In one smooth motion, he covered the stone table in the courtyard with food.
Zheng Hui looked Li Qingxian up and down, then slapped his thigh and burst into laughter. "Excellent! Wife! Gao Jue! Come and see our distinguished guest! Qingxian has made it big! He’s really made it! Mr. Gangfeng’s spirit in the heavens must be overjoyed! A Senior Ninth Grade Fate Master is as good as a Seventh-Grade Official! You kid... you really are cut from a different cloth than us!"
As he spoke, Zheng Hui slowly straightened his back. His voice was sonorous now, booming over the courtyard walls.
A tall, powerfully built young man with a light tan emerged from the house. He bore a strong resemblance to Zheng Hui, with the same thick eyebrows and large eyes. He had to duck his head as he came through the doorway, nearly smacking it on the frame.
Following him was a woman in a simple blue robe, her hair completely silver and her face a web of wrinkles.
The strapping young man stared at Li Qingxian, his eyes fixed on the uniform. He jumped in surprise and whispered, "Is that really sickly Xiaoli?"
The color drained from Zheng Hui’s face, and he shot a nervous glance at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian just laughed, puffing out his chest. "That’s right, it’s that sickly Xiaoli. But I’m a lot stronger now."
Zheng Hui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He swung his hand and smacked Zheng Gaojue on the back of the head, making the young man see stars. "You little brat!" he cursed. "Qingxian is a Senior Ninth Grade Fate Master now. You will address him as Lord Li."
Zheng Gaojue flinched and ducked his head, quickly saying, "This humble citizen, Zheng Gaojue, pays his respects to Lord Li."
"We’re all family here, there’s no need for all that ’Lord’ and ’humble citizen’ business. This is half a stewed pig’s head. Yur Ping remembered you love it, so we brought it specially for you. Consider it thanks for that roast rabbit you gave us before..." As he spoke, Li Qingxian handed over the large piece of meat, tied with straw rope. Zheng Gaojue hastily accepted it.
Seeing that Li Qingxian had even brought a gift specifically for his son, Zheng Hui’s face flushed with pride.
"Aunt Zheng, I bought this cloth from Xiangfu Textiles for you. It’s very sturdy and will last a long time," Li Qingxian said, taking out an entire bolt of blue cloth and handing it to her.
Aunt Zheng hastily wiped her hands on her clothes a couple of times before hurriedly taking the bolt. "This is too much, far too much..." she said.
Zheng Hui was grinning from ear to ear. It was as if the healthy, dark luster had returned to his face.
Han Anbo said, "Ma’am, if you could help us slice up the meat and prepare the dishes, we’ll just chat and drink out here in the courtyard."
"Alright!"
"I’ll lend a hand," Li Qingxian said with a smile.
Zheng Hui grabbed Li Qingxian’s arm. "Lend a hand? You’re our guest!" Then he turned to his son. "Gao Jue, go help your mother. And be quick about it! Don’t be your usual clumsy self!"
"Alright!" Zheng Gaojue chuckled, then carried the pile of food inside.