"I don’t understand all that pretentious literary stuff, but the simpler the words, the more they come from the heart."
"The first step is to study the words and deeds of the current Emperor."
"I happen to have a piece of the Emperor’s calligraphy in my possession, which reads, ’A young Fate Master, a First-Grade Poetry Master.’ Although the Emperor dashed this off casually, it embodies his earnest teachings."
"Why ’young’ before ’First Grade’? It’s because the Emperor is reminding me that a young person must take one step at a time, studying diligently, to slowly advance and become a pillar of the state, a First-Grade Official..."
"Why ’Fate Master’ before ’Poetry Master’? It’s because the Emperor knows my main focus is the Fate Skill, and he is reminding me what is primary and what is secondary, what is important and what is trivial. By extension, the Emperor is teaching me that in life, one must distinguish between primary and secondary, important and trivial. As I write this, cold sweat breaks out on my back. I sigh, realizing how muddled I’ve been all these years. Then, my chest swells with passion. The Emperor is truly a wise and sagacious ruler! He has enlightened me with a single phrase..."
"I am filled with regret! When I first saw this calligraphy, I was only shocked and failed to grasp its deeper meaning. Only after calming down to interpret it carefully did I understand just how sagacious the Emperor is! The Emperor has deeply ingrained habits like distinguishing priorities and acting with diligence into his very being. That is why even a casually written phrase contains a profound philosophy for how one should live."
"After studying these two lines from the Emperor, I am enlightened. From now on, I must understand what is most important: loyalty to the Emperor and the country, my identity as a Fate Master, and how to conduct myself as a person..."
"I kowtow in thanks for this Celestial Grace!"
After he finished writing, Li Qingxian rose respectfully, bowed ninety degrees, and made three deep bows in succession.
Unlike in previous dynasties, it was not customary in Daqi Country to kneel before the sovereign.
Han Anbo and Yu Ping, who were in the same room, jumped in fright.
"Is there... someone in front of you?" Han Anbo asked.
Li Qingxian carefully put away the *Humble Listening to the Holy Explanation Notes* and said, "These are my notes from studying the Emperor’s words and deeds. Whatever you do, don’t touch them!"
Smiling, Li Qingxian placed the notebook in his wardrobe, then took out some scriptures of the various saints from his Qiankun Bracelet and arranged them next to it.
’What bad intentions could a sixteen-year-old kid like me possibly have?’ Li Qingxian patted the books, satisfied.
Just as Han Anbo and Yu Ping were feeling curious, someone burst in through the door.
"Captain Li, we can’t delay any longer! If we keep putting it off, my mom is going to kill me!" the person who had burst into the room shouted.
Li Qingxian saw it was Instructor Dong Ying. They had previously agreed that Li Qingxian would attend a thank-you banquet once her mother had recovered from her illness.
But afterward, one thing after another had come up, and it was delayed again and again. More than a month had passed, and he still hadn’t been able to go.
"I’ve just been too busy lately," Li Qingxian said helplessly.
Dong Ying, with her straightforward Martial Artist’s temperament, grabbed Li Qingxian’s sleeve. "Captain Li, let’s make it a deal: tonight at the Drunken Country Inn! If you don’t go, I’ll follow you all day long, wherever you go. I refuse to believe you’re busier than the Cabinet Elders, that you don’t even have time for a meal in the evening."
Li Qingxian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Han Anbo laughed. "Captain Li, Dong Ying is completely sincere. I say just go today. Besides, Team A9 is on a break for the next few days, and you’ve already postponed the birthday banquet with your neighbors."
Li Qingxian thought about it. First, he’d gone through the Deceit Village incident, then he’d been forced to go to Beichen City, and just last night after returning he’d been through another ordeal. He hadn’t had a moment’s rest; he really should take a break.
"Alright! As long as nothing unexpected comes up, I’ll go with you tonight."
"It’s less than two hours until nightfall. I’ll have someone book a private room right now. I’ll wait for you under the pagoda tree in the main courtyard!" Dong Ying said before leaving.
Shaking his head helplessly, Li Qingxian opened Xu Yuanhai’s notebook on Fate Skills and began to read it seriously.
Xu Yuanhai was a renowned Great Fate Master, as famous as the Celestial Fate Sect Leader of his time.
Li Qingxian used the deep-reading method Jiang Youfei had taught him. Whenever he came across an important concept, he would ponder it repeatedly until he understood it completely. He tackled each point one by one, refusing to just skim the surface.
If he encountered a section he still didn’t understand after reading it several times, he would go back and start again from the first sentence of the first page. If he still didn’t get it, he would flip back to the beginning and start over, repeating the process.
After a full half-hour, Li Qingxian had only read two pages. His head was spinning. He got a peach pastry from Yu Ping and ate it, then took a stroll around the Night Guard Office to get his blood flowing. He chatted for a bit with the Night Guards he met before returning to his room to continue studying.
After another half-hour of reading, Li Qingxian found he was reluctant to close the book. But Dong Ying was already outside, urging him to hurry, so he rose to his feet, unwilling to part with it.
Li Qingxian was curious. ’I didn’t expect to actually get into it.’ After making some real progress, he felt invigorated, as if he’d been injected with chicken blood. He was tired, yes, but it was a satisfying kind of exhaustion.
’People really are forged under pressure...’
Li Qingxian briefly checked his attire. Even the casual wear of Entering Grade officials had rank patches, which sometimes felt too ostentatious. Many officials preferred to wear ordinary brocade robes or even the rustic clothing of farmers and hermits when going out privately.
Li Qingxian changed into a plain silver brocade robe, similar to what he wore when he went home, and walked out.
Han Anbo and Yu Ping had not yet reached Entering Grade, so they wore blue robes and brocade clothes wherever they went.
The group walked out of the courtyard. Just as they were about to leave the main gate, they saw Wang Buku walking toward them, carrying a red-lacquered food box.
Li Qingxian and Wang Buku gave each other a slight nod as they passed.
Wang Buku went through the gate and took a detour into the Demon Hunting Bureau. He walked to the entrance of Ye Han’s courtyard, greeted the guards at the door, and stepped inside.
"Brother Ye, I brought you some food and wine from Xinghua Building. It’s all your favorites. I’ve been really busy lately, so I’m a bit late."
After leaving the Black Lamp Department recently, Wang Buku had run into a series of troubles and could barely look after himself.
Before Wang Buku could even enter the main house, a soft sigh came from within.
"But you had time to give Li Qingxian a birthday gift?" Ye Han slowly walked to the doorway. Standing just inside the threshold, he looked down at Wang Buku on the steps below.
Wang Buku froze, still holding the food box, and stared blankly at Ye Han, who was framed by the doorway.
The wooden door blocked the sunlight, casting a shadow that cut across Ye Han’s chest and abdomen.
"I, Ye Han, may be down on my luck, but my hearing is still sharp. The Black Lamp Department certainly has its share of gossiping Daoists," Ye Han said, looking at Wang Buku expressionlessly.
Wang Buku sighed softly. He knew Ye Han was bitter inside. He set down the food box and said, "I’ll come see you again when I have time."
"Brother Wang, I appreciate the kind gesture, but Lord Songg has ordered me to rest and cultivate my character. It’s not convenient for me to receive outside guests. Lord Wang should not visit again in the future," Ye Han said.
Wang Buku was silent for a few breaths. He clasped his fist to Ye Han in a farewell gesture and turned to leave.
About a dozen steps after leaving the main gate, he heard a LOUD CRASH from the courtyard, the sound of shattering plates.
Wang Buku understood that Ye Han was only lashing out at someone familiar because he was exceptionally frustrated. He wasn’t angry, and he continued to walk away slowly.
After leaving the Night Guard Office, Li Qingxian first went with Dong Ying to meet her mother and accept her thanks. Then, he, He Lei, and a few other friends from the Street Patrol Room entered the Drunken Country Inn.
Inside the Mingxuan Private Room, a grand, crimson-red round table sat imposingly in the center, surrounded by Purple Sandalwood Master Chairs. The walls were adorned with paintings and calligraphy, and green plants added a touch of life.
Outside the window, the night illuminated the canal, its waters stirring gently.
Unable to refuse, Li Qingxian took the host’s seat, with He Lei to his left and Dong Ying to his right. The eight of them each ordered a dish and began to chat about everything under the sun.
He Lei picked up a slice of crystal pork knuckle with his chopsticks, placed it on his plate, and said, "What do you all think? Is this rumor about dissolving the Street Patrol Room true or false?"
The table fell silent.
"Brother Han, you’re always well-informed. Have you heard anything new?" He Lei asked.
Han Anbo laughed. "If you’re asking about street gossip and back-alley rumors, I know it all like the back of my hand. But when it comes to official court matters, I’m truly in the dark."
"Sigh. My heart is in my throat right now," He Lei said.