"You’re amazing, Senior Sister!" Li Qingxian said.
Jiang Youfei said as they walked, "Since you’re going out on a Demon Hunt, and your Techniques aren’t polished yet, you’re bound to be overwhelmed in a real fight. Tomorrow, I’ll teach you a Thunder Talisman from the *Five Thunders True Method Collection and Annotation* that can be activated instantly. Once you’re back from the hunt, you can get back to your proper Cultivation."
"Thank you, Senior Sister," Li Qingxian said.
"Stop calling me Senior Sister," Jiang Youfei said.
"Okay, Youfei."
"..." Jiang Youfei took a deep breath and ignored Li Qingxian.
Upon arriving at Chunfeng Inn, the two entered a side room where Jiang Youfei took out a brush and paper and began to methodically teach him the Thunder Skill.
She covered everything from the fundamental Divine Spirits of the Thunder Skill to using a Thunder Seal to summon lightning, from Techniques and incantations to Finger Technique and Stepping Gang, from Daoist Ceremony to actual combat...
When Zhou Chunfeng returned, he merely glanced at the two of them before resuming his work.
Only when night fell and Li Qingxian’s head was swimming with information did Jiang Youfei finally stop and bid farewell to Zhou Chunfeng.
Li Qingxian walked her out.
They walked shoulder to shoulder, with Li Qingxian asking about the parts of the Daoist Skill he didn’t understand.
Jiang Youfei patiently explained in a low voice.
The two of them passed through the round archway, leaving the courtyard of the Divine Capital Bureau.
Not far away, a figure appeared, staring blankly at their retreating backs.
Ye Han stood there stunned for a long moment, then let out a long sigh.
’At least, even without Jiang Youfei, I still have Song Yanxue’s admiration.’
Just then, a Seventh-Grade Official from the Demon Hunting Bureau hurried toward Xuezhai. Seeing Ye Han spacing out, he said, "Ye Han, what are you doing? Lord Songg will be back any minute, so get to Xuezhai. Things were rough today, so I’m afraid her temper won’t be good. You’d better be careful."
Ye Han hurried to follow him. He entered a small, private courtyard beside the Demon Hunting Bureau’s main hall and saw a plaque above the door inside. It bore the single word "Xuezhai," written with forceful brushstrokes that evoked the fury of battle, as if carved by a sword.
Ye Han marveled internally, ’Lord Songg truly is a heroine. Her calligraphy has more character than that of many men.’
Unlike the study-like atmosphere of Chunfeng Inn, Xuezhai opened into a large hall. A table stood in the center, flanked by rows of chairs. One wall was lined with bookshelves packed with books, while another displayed various polearms: Fangtian Halberds, long spears, lances, staves, and more.
Ye Han took the last seat, closest to the door. Recalling how he had felt in the Disciplinary Hall that morning, his gratitude toward Song Yanxue swelled.
’In the Disciplinary Hall, I was just an insignificant nobody, forced to stand by and watch as Li Qingxian sat comfortably.’
’But here in the Demon Hunting Bureau, Song Yanxue had the eye of a master talent scout, making an exception to allow me into the Xuezhai meetings and granting me unprecedented respect.’
’Now, even the Middle-Grade Officials of the Demon Hunting Bureau are courteous to me, and it’s all thanks to Song Yanxue.’
’Ten thousand Zhou Chunfengs aren’t worth a single Song Yanxue,’ Ye Han sighed to himself.
Before long, several more officials from the Demon Hunting Bureau had taken their seats in Xuezhai.
As Song Yanxue had not yet arrived, they made small talk about the day’s events.
The five strange sounds that had echoed through the Divine Capital and Ge Dynasty’s public arrest became the main topics of conversation.
The more experienced officials mostly kept quiet, knowing full well how deep the waters of this affair ran.
The younger Military Officers, however, said whatever was on their minds.
"I think Li Qingxian was out of line. Ge Dynasty just questioned him, and he immediately had Lord Zhou send the Internal Factory to arrest the man."
"The matter isn’t settled yet. Don’t speak carelessly."
"Let’s take a step back. Even if Ge Dynasty really was guilty, Pang Mingjing was innocent. Li Qingxian retaliated against him right there in the hall. You can’t argue with that, can you?"
"Li Qingxian is too much. He just became a Fate Master and already bought the lives of seven people. Does he think we’re all idiots?"
"I think what Ye Han did was right. As Martial Artists, we must be filled with righteous integrity!"
"I was merely filled with righteous indignation and said what needed to be said," Ye Han said.
"Don’t be so modest. Young people should have your kind of drive. If everyone started scheming and sucking up like that Li Qingxian, the Night Guard would have been ruined long ago."
"That’s right. I still think Ye Han is the more respectable one."
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside, mingled with the clatter of armor and weapons.
Everyone rose to their feet in a single motion, their eyes fixed on the entrance.
Song Yanxue strode in, dressed for battle. She was followed by five Middle-Grade Military Officers whose clothes were torn in multiple places and stained with blood.
Song Yanxue’s face was like ice. Her left sleeve was shredded, and many strands of her hair had been severed.
Song Yanxue took a deep breath to suppress her emotions. She scanned the room, gave a slight nod, and said as she walked to the head seat, "Sit. I was just outside. I heard you all praising Ye Han. Did he perform some great service again?"
Ye Han quickly stood up. "Not at all. In the Disciplinary Hall, I only said what any proper member of the Night Guard should say."
"Oh? What happened in the Disciplinary Hall? I just returned from the field, so I’m unaware of today’s events at the Night Guard Office." Song Yanxue sat in the head seat. Her posture was neither as coarse as a man’s nor overly delicate; she possessed a unique and heroic air.
Ye Han proceeded to recount the events in the Disciplinary Hall from start to finish, vividly portraying Zhou Chunfeng’s biased protectionism, Li Qingxian’s domineering arrogance, Ge Dynasty’s righteousness, and Pang Mingjing’s pitiable state.
The Military Officers who had returned with Song Yanxue looked as if they wanted to speak several times, but after glancing at her increasingly cold expression, they kept their mouths shut.
When Ye Han finished, he looked at Song Yanxue and saw her face was frozen solid. He rejoiced inwardly. ’Song Yanxue has praised Li Qingxian many times before. This time, she must be utterly disgusted with him.’
"Ye Han, what is your opinion of Li Qingxian?" Song Yanxue asked, gazing quietly at him, her beautiful eyes glittering in the dark.
Ye Han’s heart leaped. After a moment’s thought, he decided to deliver the final blow. "I originally thought well of Li Qingxian, but the events of these past few days have made me change my opinion. He may have talent, but his character is base and he is vengeful over the smallest of slights. To put it bluntly, he lacks basic human decency."
The gazes from the Military Officers who had returned with Song Yanxue grew even more peculiar.
Song Yanxue nodded and let out a soft sigh.
Everyone could sense the weariness in her sigh.
Song Yanxue gazed out at the pitch-black night sky, her heart filled with a sense of futility.
’Today, I coordinated with the Internal Factory to arrest the Netherworld Lord’s followers. We suffered heavy casualties. A Sixth-Grade officer was severely wounded, and seven members of the Lower Three Grades were killed.’
’Only after the operation, when I met with the Guard Commander, did I learn that the one who uncovered this major case was none other than Li Qingxian.’
’I also learned that on that day, to avoid tipping off the enemy, Li Qingxian had deliberately pretended to misread Ge Dynasty’s Fate Grid, allowing himself to be slandered in the process.’
’They are both rising stars of the Night Guard.’
’One endures humiliation to serve the Imperial Court, defying a High-Grade superior for the sake of innocent civilians.’
’The other colludes with the traitor Ge Dynasty to slander a former friend.’
Song Yanxue suddenly felt that if a Fate Master like Li Qingxian had been present, her subordinates might not have died.
"Ye Han, you have a Demon Hunt approaching. You should spend more time on your Cultivation, so you will no longer be needed at Xuezhai. If you have questions in the future, please consult Room Leader Sun," Song Yanxue said slowly.
The officials were stunned.
Ye Han stood frozen to the spot, feeling as if the sky had fallen and the earth had cracked open beneath him.
Song Yanxue’s words were like a series of lances piercing through his chest.
"You may go," Song Yanxue said.
"This subordinate takes his leave." Head bowed, Ye Han dragged his stiff body out of Xuezhai, one step at a time.
All the while, a roar filled Ye Han’s mind.
As he stepped over the courtyard threshold, he glanced back at the large word "Xuezhai" on the plaque. Suddenly, he found the calligraphy incredibly ugly, not even as good as Zhou Chunfeng’s.