Everyone was stunned for a moment, then a few of the Military Officers burst out laughing.
"He is truly Mr. Gangfeng’s son. He has his father’s spirit," Yuu Xianhe said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Zhou Chunfeng watched Li Qingxian with a faint smile.
Most of the officials from the Divine Capital Bureau showed looks of approval.
A Senior Fifth Grade Military Officer, with a patch embroidered with a gold-threaded elephant on his chest, laughed. "I like that personality. A young man ought to have some drive."
Li Qingxian glanced at the man and gave a slight nod of thanks.
Tao Zhi sighed. "It seems you hold a grudge against the entire Finance Department because of one man."
His words were a veiled threat.
Hex Lei immediately shot back, "Bullshit! Who was it that started making trouble for our entire Divine Capital Bureau today?"
Zhou Chunfeng feigned displeasure. "Old Hex."
Hex Lei chuckled heartily. "We Martial Cultivators are just this crude. Please don’t take offense, colleagues. This kind of matter should be decided by the Disciplinary Officers. What’s a bean counter doing meddling in it? Lord Wei Yong, does Lord Tao speak for you?"
Wei Yong acted as if he hadn’t heard the term "bean counter." He smiled, gave a slight bow toward the portrait of Emperor Taining, and said amicably, "Tao Zhi is concerned for the nation and its people and wishes to ease the Emperor’s worries. He just said a few extra words, no great harm done. Let’s move on to other matters."
The members of the Divine Capital Bureau didn’t press their advantage. Before long, today’s session in the Disciplinary Assembly Hall was over.
The Right Deputy Commander, Yuu Xianhe, left first. The remaining officials, as if rehearsed, exited the Disciplinary Hall in strict order of their Grade Level.
There was no one giving orders, yet their procession was more orderly than a marching army.
Li Qingxian stood in a corner of the Disciplinary Hall, watching the backs of Wei Yong and Tao Zhi.
One was a Senior Fifth Grade, the other a Junior Seventh Grade.
’High Grade means a strong fate, protected by the Qi Fortune of the Imperial Court.’
’If I don’t know their Four Pillars, their Fate Grid, or their Life Formation, using the Qi Observation Skill on them wouldn’t even let me see their Twelve Longevity, let alone their Destiny Image. I might even suffer a backlash.’
’First, observe the fate. Second, make an Inference. Third, observe the Qi. Finally, make a judgment. This is the correct sequence for a Fate Master’s Observing Fate and Qi.’
’I’ll continue my Cultivation for the next few days. Once I master the Fate Skill, I’ll combine it with Seeing the Dragon and my Qi Fortune to eliminate this hidden threat!’
Having made his decision, Li Qingxian walked out of the Disciplinary Hall.
The morning sun shone down, and a summer breeze swept waves of heat across his face.
He had only taken two steps when a person happened to pass in front of him and looked his way.
It was the new Accountant Room Leader of the Finance Department, Tao Zhi. He had a fair complexion and a sturdy build.
Tao Zhi smiled, flashing what he believed to be a decorous grin, and said softly, "Captain Li, the winds in the Divine Capital have been rather dusty lately. Be careful not to get something in your eye."
Without waiting for Li Qingxian’s reply, he turned and left.
Li Qingxian glanced at Tao Zhi, then walked down the steps and headed toward the Street Patrol Room.
By Jingling Garden, the officials of the Divine Capital Bureau were gathered around Zhou Chunfeng. Seeing Li Qingxian approach, they waved him over.
"Mr. Xiaoli, over here." No one addressed him by his official title or Grade Level.
Li Qingxian walked over and, with Hex Lei making the introductions, greeted the officials of the Divine Capital Bureau one by one.
Aside from a few who were indifferent, most were all smiles, and some even praised him outright.
The boisterous Martial Cultivators, in particular, were grinning from ear to ear.
"That bunch from the Finance Department is too insidious. They use their financial power to throw their weight around. Who would’ve thought they’d be choked up by a kid today?"
"Truly Mr. Gangfeng’s son! He’s my kind of person!"
"I can’t meddle in your other affairs, but if anyone from the Finance Department starts trouble with you, I’ll definitely back you up!"
Hex Lei laughed. "Cut the crap. He’s in my Street Patrol Room, you think I’d let him be mistreated? Besides, the Finance Department holds the purse strings for the entire Night Guard, so going too far isn’t good. Qingxian is young and his Grade Level is low, which actually makes him the perfect person to deal with them."
Li Qingxian chuckled. "So Lord Hex is using me as a spear, aimed right at the Finance Department." Li Qingxian rubbed his hands together to form a "sword" and made an upward thrusting gesture.
Everyone roared with laughter.
After chatting for a while, the group gradually dispersed.
Li Qingxian bid farewell to Zhou Chunfeng and walked with Hex Lei toward the Street Patrol Room.
Hex Lei first praised Li Qingxian, then began to clearly explain the duties of a Squad Commander. He held nothing back, and his explanations on some points were even more thorough than Han Anbo’s, proving very insightful for Li Qingxian.
When Li Qingxian mentioned wanting to find a day to pay a formal visit, Hex Lei waved his hand dismissively. He said they were all soldiers under Lord Zhou and there was no need for such formalities among their own. A small gathering at the Drunken Country Inn in a few days would be enough.
Upon reaching the Street Patrol Room, the two parted ways. Li Qingxian mulled over Hex Lei’s words as he walked toward Room A9.
As he entered the courtyard of the Class A rooms, a young Night Guard from Team A6 with a familiar face approached him and whispered, "Captain Li, the new deputy in your squad had a match with Brother Han. Brother Han got the short end of the stick."
The man’s eyes flickered, a mixture of anxiety and anger.
Li Qingxian’s brow furrowed. He immediately took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions.
"Thanks, brother," Li Qingxian said, his face grim.
"Be careful," the Night Guard said before turning and leaving.
Li Qingxian slowed his pace, steadied his breathing, and walked toward Room A9.
Glances darted from the other rooms.
Li Qingxian pushed open the half-closed door and saw a brawny stranger with his back to the entrance. He was at least a foot taller than him, and the patch on his back was also embroidered with a white horse stepping on a river diagram.
The difference was that his patch was bordered with a circle of gold thread.
Senior Tenth Grade.
Li Qingxian’s eyes narrowed. ’I was told he was a Junior Tenth Grade, yet today he’s been promoted to Senior Tenth Grade.’
The man was saying with a snide grin, "Brother Han, I’m really sorry. I couldn’t control my strength and gave you a black eye. I’ll be more careful next time. But you can’t really blame me. When you were practicing your forms on the training grounds, you looked pretty skilled. Who knew that once we crossed hands, it would turn out to be all for show?"
"It was just a spar. Fists and feet have no eyes. It’s not your fault," Han Anbo said.
Li Qingxian looked at Han Anbo. A faint smile was on his face, but his hair was disheveled, his right eye socket was bruised black, and the elbow of his left sleeve was torn, the area around the hole smeared with dust and blood.
Behind Han Anbo, Yur Ping’s eyes were narrowed, glaring daggers at the man.
"You were the one who initiated the spar?" Li Qingxian asked from the doorway. He stood with his back to the sunlight, his shadow falling into the room.
The man whipped his head around. He had a sallow face and a high-bridged nose. Seeing Li Qingxian, his face broke into a wide smile. He didn’t bow or salute, letting his arms hang loosely at his sides. His eyes were fixed on the patch on Li Qingxian’s chest as he said with a grin, "You must be Captain Li. My name is Hong Cheng."
Behind him, Han Anbo secretly shot Li Qingxian a warning look.
Li Qingxian acted as if he hadn’t seen it. He looked at Hong Cheng and smiled. "I don’t dare call myself Captain Li. I am merely a Junior Tenth Grade, whereas Lord Hong is a Senior Tenth Grade."
Hong Cheng laughed. "No, no, no. In the Night Guard, official position comes first, Grade Level second. Plenty of Official Grade officers have to listen to their Junior Grade superiors."
"What happened to Han Anbo’s injuries?" Li Qingxian’s tone was flat.
Hong Cheng glanced back at Han Anbo and let out a loud laugh. "Oh, that. I saw Brother Han practicing on the training grounds and was deeply impressed. My hands started to itch for a match, so I suggested we spar without using True Essence. One careless moment, and, well, this happened."
"You asked, and he just agreed?" Li Qingxian’s gaze was cold.
Han Anbo cut in, "I agreed right away. It’s common for colleagues to spar. Captain Zheng once broke my nose."
But Hong Cheng laughed. "Brother Han, Zheng Hui is already gone. It’s not appropriate to call him Captain Zheng anymore. You’re lucky I consider you one of us. Otherwise, I could just find an excuse to say a few bad words about you to the higher-ups, and you’d definitely get a dressing-down."
Li Qingxian ignored Hong Cheng and looked at Yur Ping. "You tell me."
Han Anbo shot a look at Yur Ping, but Yur Ping said stiffly, "Hong Cheng wanted to spar with Brother Han. How could Brother Han fight a Senior Tenth Grade? He kept refusing. Then... then this person wanted to fight me, so Brother Han had no choice but to agree."
"Is that so?" Li Qingxian looked at Hong Cheng.