Long after he had left his abode far behind, Yang Qing could still hear the Celestial Nesting Weaver’s greedy remarks replaying over and over in his mind.
"Asking for fifty percent," Yang Qing muttered in angry disbelief.
Seventy percent of his earnings already went to the nest. To this day, he did not know why he continued to give so much, especially with the Celestial Nesting Weaver’s thankless and hateful comnts every ti he did.
"This is not even enough to cover the cost of a single blade of grass," the Celestial Nesting Weaver would disdainfully say without fail, regardless of what Yang Qing brought, and then mock him endlessly for it.
That was why Yang Qing never handed over anything he earned from his side ventures or the rit points he accumulated outside his judicial duties.
"I will need to pass by the formation hall to get an estimate," Yang Qing muttered to himself. He willfully pushed all matters related to that nasty bird into the dark corner of his mind where all other blood vomit-inducing mories were kept, choosing instead to focus on more pressing concerns, like improving the defenses of his abode.
The trip proved rather short. Yang Qing did not realize he had already reached the Black dallion Tower until he found himself standing absentmindedly in front of Fan i’s office. Most of his focus during the journey had been on how much it would cost to upgrade his formation array to a middle-tier blue-grade one, and whether he should bribe the folks at the Beast Tar Hall to hasten Weiling’s training, cutting down the ti she needed to break through to the palace realm.
He needed the natural yin array cicada more than ever. His abode’s safety and his own hinged on it.
Quickly pushing his panic-driven thoughts aside for now, Yang Qing took a soft, calming breath and straightened his robes out of habit before knocking on Fan i’s door. He let himself in when she told him to enter.
Inside, he saw two visitors. Both looked old. In terms of appearance, they reminded him of his grandfather, though he had no doubt the two people before him were old enough to be his grandfather’s grandparents.
"I hope I have not kept you waiting long," Yang Qing said warmly to the two figures seated to his left—a man and a woman.
They both had silver hair. The man’s hair was tied in a half topknot, and he wore a well-maintained beard that reached his chest. The woman’s hair was in a neat bun. The man wore a slightly stern expression, while the woman’s face held a gentle, grandmotherly quality. Their plain white robes were light and identical in style.
The most distinguishable difference between them, aside from gender, was the color of their eyes. Unlike their aged bodies, their eyes looked lively and spirited. The elderly man’s eyes were deep amber, while the old woman’s were a brackish green.
"As Branch Manager Li Gang might have told you, my na is Yang Qing, a judge of the Order. Thank you for making the trip," Yang Qing said, cupping his fists toward the two elderly figures.
"It is no problem at all," the elderly woman replied, flashing a grandmotherly smile as she waved her hands. "It is no problem at all," she repeated.
"And as for making the trip, I feel we are the ones who owe you. rchants would gladly travel even to the deepest parts of the abyss for a worthy deal, which this most definitely is," she added.
"Thank you for your patronage," she said, and both she and the elderly man beside her cupped their fists respectfully toward Yang Qing. After that, the man, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"My na is Han Bai," the elderly man calmly said. "Thank you for taking care of Gang’er," he added with the sa placid deanor, though Yang Qing sensed the words were laden with heavy emotion despite the stoicism. He felt this was more than a simple thanks for doing business with Li Gang.
Han Bai’s gaze suggested a deeper gratitude.
"Branch Chief Li Gang has been of great help to ," Yang Qing said with a smile.
"He has?" the elderly lady asked softly, raising an eyebrow in interest. "Where are my manners?" she suddenly said with a chuckle. "Pardon my rudeness. As you grow older, you find yourself rembering less but savoring more," she added, her tone and deanor being light and playful.
"My na is ng Song. You can call Grandma ng... Most people do," she said, smiling at Yang Qing and ignoring the impassive, slightly admonishing look Han Bai gave her.
"What? It is the truth," she playfully protested, nudging her shoulder harmlessly into Han Bai. He sighed helplessly and looked apologetically at Yang Qing, his eyes seeming to say, Forgive her. She is always like this.
"You said little Li Gang has been of great help to you? Care to humor an old lady as to exactly how?" ng Song asked, wearing the tone and look of soone eager for gossip.
"ng’er," Han Bai said sternly. "You are being improper. rchants ought to observe and respect the sanctity and privacy of all deals done under their banner. Li Gang’s affairs and Daoist Yang Qing’s affairs are between the two of them. We must keep a clear line between curiosity and propriety.
"You cannot use your age to act out of turn. A deal, once struck, belongs to those involved. Unless you wish to upend everything we have built," he added, looking firmly at her.
"Fine. I am sorry," ng Song relented, her playful look vanishing. "I am sorry," she softly repeated, clasping Han Bai’s hands. He stiffened slightly, looking as if he wanted to pull away, but halted imdiately when his gaze fell on the harmless smile ng Song gave him. She held his hands for a few seconds before letting go and turning to face Yang Qing.
"I am sorry, Judge Yang Qing, for my question," she said, cupping her fists toward him.
"It is no trouble," Yang Qing said, lightly waving his hand as he observed the two elders.
"But may I ask, how is he?" ng Song inquired after her apology. Just as he had sensed with Han Bai earlier, Yang Qing felt a heavy intent buried beneath her question.
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