Li Qingxian smiled. "Okay, I’ll come home often when I have the time."
"When you become a high-ranking official, will you move away?" Chen Xiang asked, her eyes losing some of their light as she looked at him.
"Huh? I haven’t thought about that. If we do move, the whole family will move together."
"But our family members haven’t Entered Grade, so we can’t live in the Inner City. Otherwise, your father wouldn’t have bought two houses here."
Li Qingxian paused, taken aback. "Two houses?"
"Your father didn’t tell you?"
"No," Li Qingxian said. "He’s so tight-lipped."
"Back then, your father felt the world outside was unstable, so he decided to settle the family in the Divine Capital. But your mother was frail and often ill and needed someone to look after her. So he went ahead and bought two houses—one for his family to live in, and the other he gave to my parents. Our family isn’t suited to live in the Inner City, so he picked this place in Xuanqing Square, on the border between the inner and outer areas."
Li Qingxian was a bit confused. In his memory, Li Gangfeng was a man who completely neglected his family for the sake of the Imperial Court and its people. Li Qingxian had barely seen him a few times growing up.
’I never would have thought he could be so considerate, taking care of both our families.’
"Cousin, don’t worry about it. I’ll be able to arrange things properly."
Chen Xiang nodded lightly, her gaze as gentle as still water.
"Food’s ready!" Zhangg Fang’s voice called out.
The two of them walked to the dining table. Zhangg Fang yelled toward the main gate, "What are you standing there for? Get in here and eat!"
A moment later, Chen Yuanpeng came in with his head hanging, sniffling.
"Wash your hands first!" Zhangg Fang ordered.
Chen Yuanpeng pouted but washed his hands and sat at the table.
"Uncle Xiaozhou, let’s head back together after we eat," Li Qingxian said.
Zhou Henn came out from the east-wing room, and they all ate together.
After breakfast, his aunt held Li Qingxian’s hand and fussed over him endlessly, making such a scene you’d think they were parting for life.
Leaving his aunt’s house, the two of them returned to the Night Guard Office.
Li Qingxian found Hex Lei, the Room Leader of the Street Patrol Room, to discuss sending out invitations for his birthday banquet. Afterward, he took out the invitation covers, lifted a brush, dipped it in ink... and handed everything to Han Anbo.
Han Anbo’s small-character calligraphy was exceptionally neat and tidy.
After they were all written, Li Qingxian double-checked them and found someone was missing.
Ye Han.
It wasn’t strictly necessary, but on second thought, Ye Han had already sent him a birthday gift. It would be awkward to run into him later without having extended an invitation. Besides, he might not even come. So, he added one more invitation to the list.
By the time they finished, it was already evening.
The three of them were sitting in Room A9. Li Qingxian gazed at the night sky beyond the door. "Brother Han, it’s been over ten days. Tang Enxuan still hasn’t made a move. You don’t think something unexpected happened, do you?"
"On the contrary," Han Anbo said. "The longer he waits, the more it proves that when he finally does strike, it will be as swift as lightning. A friend of mine told me that someone is investigating the Street Patrol Room—and that includes you and me."
"Good. He’s not disappointing me. My birthday is in a few days. It’ll be tough on you two, but once it’s over..."
Li Qingxian suddenly trailed off. His eyes met Han Anbo’s, and a spark of realization flashed between them.
Yur Ping chimed in, "Room Leader Hex said you hired a master chef for your birthday and the food’s going to be amazing. I might not be able to pay attention to anything else."
Li Qingxian ignored Yur Ping. "No wonder he’s been so quiet. He already had the date picked out."
"It’s highly likely."
Li Qingxian smiled. "Excellent! Now I can begin my own preparations."
"Don’t underestimate them," Han Anbo warned. "The forces they can mobilize are far beyond what we can handle."
Li Qingxian nodded. "I’ll buy another batch of Destiny Stars tomorrow. Are our people ready?"
"Ready whenever," Han Anbo replied.
"Let’s get some sleep."
"I’m going to make a few more Thunder Talismans," Li Qingxian said.
"Ever since we left Deceit Village, you’ve spent all your Magical Power making Thunder Talismans every single night before bed. Don’t wear yourself out," Han Anbo said.
"Exhaustion is just one kind of pain," Li Qingxian said. "Regret is a much more bitter kind."
Han Anbo sighed softly and said to Yur Ping, "Look at Qingxian. He’s truly grown up."
"But I’ve never had any regrets," Yur Ping said, looking confused. "And besides, some bitter things are delicious."
Han Anbo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Once Li Qingxian finished making the Thunder Talismans, the three of them went to sleep.
Li Qingxian focused his mind, guarding his Spirit Platform.
Within his Spirit Platform, four Child figures circled, and the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal spewed forth Magical Power. But it was different from when he was at the Tenth Grade. Now, two Thunder Dragons were coiled atop the Great Seal.
He entered his Life Mansion and gazed at the Life Pool.
He counted them—fifteen Qi Fortune Fish swam about like brilliant koi.
He had left Deceit Village in the early hours of May third. One Qi Fortune Fish had been added each day since, and he had left them untouched. Today was May seventeenth.
His birthday was on the twenty-third of the fifth lunar month.
’Six more days...’
Li Qingxian closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
「Starlight bathed the Divine Capital.」
BANG BANG BANG...
BOOM!
"Who is it!"
Li Qingxian jolted awake, his right hand snatching a Thunder Talisman from under his pillow as he stared at the door that had just been kicked open.
Han Anbo was also on his feet, gripping his Night Guard Saber tightly.
Yur Ping was still sound asleep, snoring away.
A figure appeared in the doorway, silhouetted by the night—a Seventh-Grade Military Officer clad in a Tiger Head Iron Chest Armor Battle Suit. He raised a black Iron Order Token in his right hand and boomed, "By urgent joint order of the Five Armies Commander’s Mansion and the Night Guard! Night Guard Li Qingxian is commanded to accompany the unit to Huaimu County to escort an express military order! You are to depart immediately. Any delay will be met with on-the-spot execution!"
Huaimu County, which bordered the Great River, was one of the River Guard Army’s major strongholds.
Li Qingxian and Han Anbo exchanged a look. They hadn’t expected Tang Enxuan to make his move ahead of schedule.
Han Anbo suddenly spoke. "For an express order, they’ll have to use Demon Blood Horses. A round trip between the Divine Capital and Huaimu County takes about six days and six nights."
Six days from now would be the twenty-third of the fifth month—Li Qingxian’s birthday.
"Enough nonsense! You will accompany the unit immediately, or be charged with defying a military order!" the man barked impatiently.
Han Anbo started to reach for the silver in his pouch but stopped himself. Instead, he cupped his fist in a salute to the Seventh-Grade Official. "Sir, Li Qingxian is a Senior Ninth Grade Fate Master, and we are merely Night Guards on street patrol. We are not versed in military affairs. Could you perhaps give us some time to prepare?"
"Not you. Only Li Qingxian. Now stop dithering. Get dressed and come with me. All necessary supplies have already been prepared." The man’s tone had softened slightly.
Li Qingxian and Han Anbo glanced at each other. ’Just one of them, not all three.’
Han Anbo grabbed a whistle and blew with all his might.
The shrill sound of the whistle pierced the night, echoing throughout the Divine Capital Bureau.
The Seventh-Grade Military Officer froze, asking in bewilderment, "Why are you blowing a whistle?"
Han Anbo cupped his fist again. "Sir, we cannot be sure if this military order is genuine. We must have our superior verify it before we can depart. After all, Li Qingxian is the only Fate Master to come from the ranks of the Night Guard. Should anything happen to him, I’m not certain that you, sir, could bear the responsibility."
The Military Officer froze for a second, then a flicker of understanding crossed his face. He muttered a curse in some obscure dialect nobody could understand, then nodded. "I have the right to give the order. You have the right to verify it."
"Fuck! Who dares cause trouble at the Night Guard Office!"
"Who is it?!"
"What’s happening?"
"Blowing a whistle in the Night Guard Office in the middle of the night? Who’s got balls that big?"
A rowdy crowd of Night Guards swarmed outside Room A9, cursing and grumbling.
The Seventh-Grade Military Officer and the junior Night Guard with him looked grim. "The Front Army Governor’s Mansion is on official business!" he announced coldly. "Silence!"
As soon as the Night Guards heard "Front Army Governor’s Mansion," they deflated. Any of the Governor’s Mansions oversaw multiple Capital Camps and the forces of several provinces. They were full of powerful, hidden experts, far stronger than the Night Guard. The Left Governor of a Governor’s Mansion was a First-Grade official, while their own Guard Commander was only Second Grade.
Only then did Yur Ping groggily wake up. Han Anbo moved to Li Qingxian’s side and whispered, "I’m going to find Lord Zhou Henn. You wait here. They’re trying to transfer you away so they can investigate all of us. By the time you get back, they’ll have the evidence to convict you. Do not leave this place before I return."
With that, Han Anbo started to walk out. The Seventh-Grade Military Officer blocked his path with an arm. "Where do you think you’re going?"
"Since you’re only looking for Li Qingxian, you have no authority over me!" Han Anbo said, walking straight into the officer’s arm. The officer had no choice but to retract it.
Han Anbo rushed out the door and headed straight for Zhou Henn’s quarters. On the way, he saw Room Leader Hex Lei running toward him, carrying a massive bronze hammer. "Lord Hex!" Han Anbo shouted. "I’m going to find Lord Zhou Henn! Please stall them! We can’t let anything happen to Li Qingxian!"
The moment he heard this, Hex Lei stomped his foot on the ground. BANG! With a tremendous sound, dust and debris flew into the air as he leaped onto a wall. He then ran in great strides across the rooftops, landing directly in front of Room A9.
"Who dares lay a hand on the Night Guard’s Fate Master!"
"Old Hex, it’s me..." the Seventh-Grade Military Officer said, his face a mask of resignation.
"Lü Biaozi?" Hex Lei lowered his great hammer.