It was 9 p.m. sharp. The sky outside had grown dark, and a commotion could be heard from across the street. A woman’s beautiful singing drifted in through the window from ti to ti.
Zi Luan had already departed, leaving after they finished their second ga of chess.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
A knock sounded at the door.
Liu Zixiu entered. Seeing Wang Ping standing by the window, he smiled. "What’s this? In the mood for so music?"
Without turning around, Wang Ping replied, "This music may be a part of the mortal world’s sea of suffering, but it is quite enchanting."
"You may see it as suffering, but many see it as pleasure."
"I see it as pleasure, too."
With that, Wang Ping stepped back into the room and sat on the stool Zi Luan had just occupied. He stared at the empty spot for several monts before saying to Liu Zixiu, "You should have your disciples open a school in the Prefecture City."
"An excellent suggestion. I’ll arrange it as soon as I return."
Liu Zixiu then walked out the door and said to the Inner Sect Disciples in the hall, "Arrange for so food to be brought up. One can’t co all this way without having a little wine." With that, he left and closed the door. Of course, the food would not be brought here. Liu Zixiu’s path was one of worldly engagent, while Wang Ping’s was one of detachnt.
Seated before the chessboard, Wang Ping replayed his two gas against Daoist Zi Luan in his mind. He began to set the pieces back on the board, recreating the match as if unsatisfied with the result.
「The next morning.」
Wang Ping walked to his office courtyard in the Daoist Scripture Hall. He had just sat down when he saw Wenhai rushing toward him.
"I have a task for you."
"I’ll see it done!"
Wenhai was the absolute best person for the task at hand.
...
Wenhai arrived travel-worn and departed just as dusty. After he was gone, Wang Ping summoned the Qi Cultivator on gate duty into the main hall for questioning.
"What is your na?"
"I was just about to tell you, Daoist. This humble one is nad Yang Qin."
"I am going to ask you sothing, and you will answer truthfully. Do you understand?" Wang Ping’s stare bored into the Qi Cultivator, making his very soul tremble.
"This humble one would not dare to hide a thing."
"Is soone in the Daoist Scripture Hall using fake Secret Techniques to defraud people of their money?"
"Daoist, you see things so clearly..."
Yang Qin lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the floor. "When exchanging for Secret Techniques in the Daoist Scripture Hall, the handover process sotis has exploitable loopholes in its review. So people take advantage of this, trading incomplete Cultivation Techniques for money. They then use the buyer’s exchange points to obtain the real Secret Technique, which they can sell for a large sum on the black market. In truth, it’s easy to tell the real from the fake. Genuine ones are usually made into single-use Talismans."
Wang Ping fell silent for a long ti after hearing this. Finally, he asked, "Does Daoist Zi Luan know about this?"
"I’m not sure. But from what I know... Daoist Zi Luan wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters. And it’s impossible to report it up the chain. They’re very careful. The people who could submit a report are basically all on the take."
Yang Qin spoke very slowly, as if each word drained his energy. "I’ve also heard that no one who tries to break into the next realm using their Secret Techniques survives. Everyone just assus the attempt failed."
Wang Ping’s gaze shifted. "Prepare a cup of tea," he said softly.
Yang Qin was visibly stunned for a mont but quickly composed himself. He walked out as fast as he could, went to a side room, and used pre-boiled water to brew a cup of light tea.
Wang Ping lifted the teacup and removed the lid, observing the tea leaves standing upright in the water. An enchanting, clean fragrance filled his senses. He took a sip, and it felt as though it could cleanse the impurities from his body. His mood improved imperceptibly. After another sip, Wang Ping set the cup down gently on the table.
"How long has this been going on?" he asked quietly.
"I don’t know exactly when it started, but it’s been happening ever since I ca here. They give a fixed one hundred taels of silver every month. Steward Zhu gets so as well, just ten taels. But he most likely has no idea what the money is for."
THUD.
The Scholar processing docunts in the adjacent room scrambled to his knees. "My lord, I beg your understanding!" he explained. "I thought the money was just a customary bonus!"
"I haven’t spent a single coin of it. I can return it imdiately," Yang Qin said, also kneeling.
"I... I... can also return it," Steward Zhu managed to say through clenched teeth. He had likely spent the money already.
"You don’t need to return the money. Spend it as you wish." Wang Ping rose to his feet but did not permit the two n to stand. He walked to the doorway and added, "Stay here. You are not to go anywhere for the ti being." With a flick of his finger, a soldier of grass and wood materialized in the doorway.
As he stepped out of the courtyard, Wang Ping ca face-to-face with Dan Chen, who was approaching at a brisk pace.
"Fellow Daoist... has sothing happened? Your spiritual essence is fluctuating rather frequently," Dan Chen said, offering Wang Ping a formal salute.
Seeing Dan Chen, an idea sparked in Wang Ping’s mind. ’Yes, sothing has co up...’
He recounted the story of Zhao Qing’s failed breakthrough and what Yang Qin had told him. Before Wang Ping could even finish, Dan Chen’s face darkened, and he interrupted. "This has gone too far. An explanation is required. Let’s go. We’ll find Fellow Daoist Zi Luan together."
...
As Wang Ping gave his report to Zi Luan, he carefully observed the other man’s expression. He saw a fleeting mont of surprise, but it was quickly replaced by calm.
After listening calmly to Wang Ping’s report, Zi Luan broke into his characteristic smile. He gestured for the two Qi Cultivators from the courtyard to enter. "You heard Daoist Changqing’s words clearly, did you not?" he said, still smiling. "Don’t bother denying it. Isn’t your favorite pasti eavesdropping on the conversations in this room? Since you heard everything so clearly, tell : how much money do you get each month?"
"Two hundred taels of silver," the two answered in unison. They then dropped to their knees, frozen in fear.
"Heh heh..." Zi Luan ignored the two Qi Cultivators. He looked up at Wang Ping, and the smile on his face seed... overjoyed.
"Write up a report on this matter. I will imdiately open a formal case file. I will personally oversee the investigation and get justice for your junior brother."
Wang Ping instantly understood why Zi Luan was so pleased. In Zi Luan’s hands, this incident was a weapon—a weapon he could use to extend his influence into Mozhou Road and Hai Zhou Road.
At that mont, Wang Ping was certain of it. ’Zi Luan knew about this all along. He was just waiting for the right pretext!’
’It made sense when he thought about it...’
’How could a Third Realm Cultivator, and a Wood Cultivator at that, not know what was happening right under his own nose?’
"Indulging your morbid sense of humor again?" Dan Chen asked with a frown.
"It’s all very interesting, isn’t it?"
"Just don’t take it too far."
"Relax. I never involve the innocent. You should know that about ." Zi Luan then turned to Wang Ping with a chuckle. "If we handle this alongside the matter we discussed yesterday, the effect will be even better."
"I understand..."
Wang Ping knew what Zi Luan was thinking. He intended to link these culprits to the "madn" from their earlier plan. This would give his rivals an excuse from which they could never recover.
If he calculated the timing, the transport team from the Daoist Scripture Hall would reach Nanlin Road in seven days at most. A proper investigation of this case wouldn’t take more than three.
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