After paying for the lamb soup, Li Qingxian said, "Let’s go, we’re off to the next place. This time, let’s have something light—rice noodle rolls. They’re smooth and slippery, not greasy at all."
Jiangg Youfei rose with Li Qingxian.
At noon, Xile Street was teeming with people. No one came near Li Qingxian’s side, but a constant stream of people passed by Jiangg Youfei.
A burly man, not watching where he was going, pushed straight forward. Just as Jiangg Youfei was about to step aside, Li Qingxian grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him.
"It’s crowded here, with people coming and going. Bumping into each other is bound to happen. It’s perfectly normal," Li Qingxian said.
"Oh."
Jiangg Youfei glanced down at her wrist. Li Qingxian’s scalding-hot hand was clasped around it.
She looked up to say something, only to see Li Qingxian enthusiastically pointing ahead with his other hand. "That’s the place, we’re almost there."
Jiangg Youfei felt a strange sensation. After a moment’s hesitation, she twisted her wrist and broke free. Li Qingxian readily let go.
She glanced at Li Qingxian again and found him still beaming as he looked forward, his expression vibrant and unchanged. She quietly sighed in relief.
Li Qingxian took Jiangg Youfei to one eatery after another.
After they had finished at the tenth place, Jiangg Youfei finally said, "I’ve eaten too much today. That’s enough."
"What? Full? You can just use your Magical Power to dissolve it."
"I can’t. It’s just too much," Jiangg Youfei said with a serious expression.
Li Qingxian paused for a moment, glanced at Jiangg Youfei’s completely flat stomach, and had a sudden realization. "You’re right. We’ll try other things next time. What was your favorite dish from today?"
"The rice noodle rolls," Jiangg Youfei answered almost instantly.
Li Qingxian let out a laugh. "It seems you still prefer lighter flavors. Come on, let’s head back to the Night Guard Office."
They took a few steps, and then Jiangg Youfei suddenly stopped.
"Hm?" Li Qingxian turned to look at Fairy Qingcheng.
Jiangg Youfei raised her slender hand and pointed to a stall. "What is that?"
Li Qingxian followed her finger and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "That’s called ’mao dan,’ and the thing next to it is ’huo zhu zi.’ They’re an... acquired taste. I haven’t tried them either. I won’t tell you exactly what they are. Once you’ve eaten more things and built up some resistance, I’ll explain."
Jiangg Youfei nodded.
They left Xile Street, walking out of the alley and leaving the bustling mortal world behind them.
"What did you think?" Li Qingxian asked, rubbing his belly comfortably as he strolled lazily forward.
"I can’t quite describe it. It was very interesting," Jiangg Youfei answered earnestly.
"I’ll bring you here to eat again sometime."
"Okay!" A faint, almost imperceptible flicker of joy was in the girl’s voice.
"By the way, I’ll likely be participating in the Six Ministries’ campaign in a few days. I’ve accumulated a lot of Thunder Talismans, but I’m short on Thunder Fire Talismans and Fire Talismans. Would it be possible to trade some with our Celestial Cloud Sect?"
"We’ll trade for as many as you have," said Jiangg Youfei.
"Hm?"
"Your Thunder Talismans are different. They’re more valuable. They can even help people comprehend the true essence of the Divine Sky Technique."
"I see. In that case, let’s discuss a ratio..."
The two agreed on an exchange ratio and returned to Room A9 to trade a portion of the talismans. Afterward, the senior sister taught her junior brother some Daoist Skills.
News that Fairy Qingcheng was in Room A9 caused a commotion throughout the entire Night Guard Office.
A gang of shameless Night Guards slowly gathered under the large scholar tree. They pretended to chat idly, but their eyes kept darting toward the small courtyard where Room A9 was located.
The even more shameless ones tried to enter the courtyard, only to be blocked at the entrance by the tall and burly Yur Ping and Zheng Gaojue, leaving them to gaze on helplessly.
As evening approached, Li Qingxian and Jiangg Youfei walked out of the small courtyard and into the main courtyard where the large scholar tree stood.
A great, dense mass of Night Guards silently turned to look at them.
Jiangg Youfei merely glanced at them, completely unfazed, but Li Qingxian was startled. He shot the crowd a fierce glare and led Jiangg Youfei away.
The moment the two of them left the main courtyard gate, wild whistles and shouts ripped through the air, punctuated by an endless stream of voice-cracking shouts of "Awesome!"
Jiangg Youfei tilted her head to look at Li Qingxian, her delicate face glowing like jade, her eyes showing a hint of confusion.
"It’s nothing. This pack of animals goes crazy often. You get used to it."
"Oh."
"I’ve arranged to visit Uncle Songg, Songg Yunjing, today. Do you want to come?"
"I don’t know him."
"He’s a good friend of Uncle Zhou."
With an expression that clearly said ’what does that have to do with me,’ Jiangg Youfei walked forward silently.
Her white summer dress fluttered in the evening breeze, teasing at legs as fair as lotus roots.
"We can take the Night Guard carriage together. It’ll be a good chance to talk about Thunder Skills on the way. You can leave once we get to Uncle Songg’s place."
Jiangg Youfei saw that it was still early and nodded.
The two boarded the Night Guard carriage and discussed Thunder Skills the entire way. They stopped once to buy two pots of flowers, which he had Jiangg Youfei pick out.
The carriage rolled through the light of dusk, crushing it from a deep yellow into a pale black.
The carriage stopped. Just as Li Qingxian was about to get out, a sharp voice came from outside.
"Lord Songg, now that you’ve had a sudden promotion, are you really going to dismiss this one like a common servant?"
Li Qingxian lifted the window curtain and looked out.
At the corner of the road ahead, a pale-faced, middle-aged man in a red Fourth Grade Eunuch’s Uniform stood at the doorway, blocking Songg Yunjing.
Songg Yunjing, now dressed in a Third Grade Embroidered Peacock Patchwork Robe, had a square face and a broad forehead. His features were refined, his gaze gentle, and he carried himself with far more grace than he had in Beichen City.
"Eunuch Mao, you jest. I am but a humble Capital Governor. I only handle cases according to national law and know nothing of other matters," Songg Yunjing said with a smile.
"Lord Songg, it is not I who is speaking, but the former Duke of the Western Depot, Lord Jing!"
"Then please convey my apologies to Eunuch Jing. First of all, the person in question has not been delivered to the Divine Capital Prefecture. And even if they were, the matter would still have to be handled according to national law," Songg Yunjing replied, his face calm.
Li Qingxian hadn’t expected the man to have such a powerful backer. A few months ago, the Duke of the Western Depot held such immense prestige that a single cough from him could make half of the Divine Capital tremble.
But after the Eastern and Western Depots were disbanded, those who were once the most imposing now found it hardest to maintain their standing.
Just a few days ago, he had been chatting with Jingg Guan and mentioned that very same Duke of the Western Depot. A magnificent Senior Third Grade Grand Eunuch was now reduced to serving as a director in the Towel Hat Bureau. Any lower, and he’d be sent to the Laundry Bureau to live out his days.
"Lord Songg, are you trying to make an enemy of the Inner Court?" Eunuch Mao asked.
Songg Yunjing stared silently at Eunuch Mao, saying nothing.
Li Qingxian frowned slightly. ’This Eunuch Mao is clearly used to being arrogant. Although a Fourth Grade can’t compare to an Upper Three Grades Grand Eunuch, he’s still qualified to serve as a Supervisor in some of the lesser directorates.’
’Eunuch Mao is obviously bullying Songg Yunjing because he’s new to his position and his standing is still unstable. Plus, he’s counting on Songg Yunjing’s refined and easygoing nature, assuming he won’t take things to the extreme.’
’If this drags on, it won’t be good for Songg Yunjing, no matter the outcome.’
Li Qingxian looked at Eunuch Mao and felt that something was off with the man’s Qi Fortune. So, he decided to Observe his Qi.
An Official Seal, split in two.
An official’s chair, shattered into splinters.
Behind them, dilapidated swords and dry bones appeared.
Li Qingxian was stunned for a moment. ’A distinguished Fourth Grade official, and I can see right through his Qi Fortune? This is a sign of its impending collapse.’
’This isn’t an ordinary person trying to ruin his fate.’
Li Qingxian entered the man’s Life Mansion. Looking up, he saw the familiar, star-filled sky pressing down upon it. The great stars were exceptionally clear, almost crushing down on his head.
’The Royal Family’s Great Trend Formation.’
Li Qingxian hastily withdrew from the man’s Life Mansion, afraid of being tainted by the bad luck.
"What, Lord Songg? Are you going to keep dragging this out, just so everyone in the Divine Capital can see how you discipline a slave like me?"
The moment Li Qingxian heard this, he knew things were about to go south. ’If Eunuch Mao really starts throwing a tantrum and playing dirty, by tomorrow, every civil and military official in the imperial court will be laughing at Songg Yunjing’s expense.’