Luo Sigong sat on a stone bench outside Longde Hall, watching the interior in silence.
Inside, Ji Xiang was helping the锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) whose arms were dislocated to reset their shoulders.
"Commander, are we just waiting here? Until when?"
A锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) approached Luo Sigong, his face filled with embarrassment. Ji Xiang's earlier gesture had blocked them all outside. They were fully armed, and within the Forbidden City, Longde Hall was the only place where such abilities could be displayed.
"Wait! Did you record everything he said just now?"
Luo Sigong's expression was grim. He recalled Ji Xiang pinning his sword hilt earlier, which sent shivers down his spine and filled him with dread. This handsome young man, though not old, possessed such immense strength; truly, one could not judge a cultivator by their appearance.
However, when they came earlier, they had confirmed the little Daoist's abilities in Longde Hall, believing he should only be at the Hundred Days Foundation Establishment stage. Cultivators in the first two realms had physical bodies not much different from mortals, as they were just beginning their journey.
Luo Sigong considered himself quite skilled, having been a武举人 (Wuju Ren) in his past. Yet, he was intimidated by the little Daoist's single action, which was incredibly humiliating and baffling.
"Everything he said has been recorded."
The锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) beside him reported to Luo Sigong.
Luo Sigong nodded, his expression finally improving slightly:
"Very well, we wait here. If no divine being comes to kill him, we will report truthfully tomorrow! He attacked the锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) and spoke blasphemy, claiming the palace was on fire. He will surely be apprehended and brought to the Northern Commandery Guard for punishment!"
"So what if he's from Wudang? Can't the imperial Daoist temple have a demon? Hmph! This brat is a walking demon!"
"Let him be arrogant tonight. No one has ever dared to be so audacious in front of the锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei)."
Luo Sigong spoke these words like a resentful wife. Among the surrounding锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei), some silently thought that many people were arrogant. Take the matter of the imperial decree tablet earlier; wasn't Gao Gong just as arrogant back then?
If one's bluster or pretense fails to intimidate, the embarrassment falls upon oneself.
Therefore, the锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) are not frightening, but those who arrive with an imperial decree tablet are truly bringing death.
As Luo Sigong uttered these resentful words, he also remembered a sentence Ji Xiang had spoken. Especially after the brief confrontation just now, he felt that Ji Xiang's words were the only valuable statement among all the nonsense.
The Southern Commandery Guard was, after all, composed of mortals. Even if they could restrain the Northern Commandery Guard, their methods were not very effective against these Daoists, those with true magical power. Ji Xiang hadn't even used his magic, merely his strength to overpower him. If one lacked the strength, even with means to restrain divine positions, how could one resist if the opponent, without using magic, delivered a punch?
Moreover, the Southern Commandery Guard's scope of authority was too narrow and offered little help for his future advancement.
Entering the Northern Commandery Guard was the necessary path for continued ascent.
At this moment, Luo Sigong secretly set a goal for himself: to enter the Northern Commandery Guard and become a divine official, undertaking external missions. This was what a锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) should do and the only way to reach the highest position.
After all, he didn't have a noble concubine sister to help him achieve instant promotion to the rank of second grade.
The thought of Zheng Guotai, that useless person, ordering him around made Luo Sigong increasingly angry. He, a dignified武举人 (Wuju Ren) and a锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) from a lineage of hereditary officials, was being bossed around by such a nobody, doing all the dirty and arduous work without any reward!
"Commander Luo?"
Hearing the call, Luo Sigong turned his head and saw Ji Xiang waving at him.
After Ji Xiang had reset the bones of the green and embroidered-clothed锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei), he noticed Luo Sigong still lingering in the courtyard. The latter seemed to be dwelling on some grievance, his face, that of a man in his thirties, contorted like a sculpture of the Ming King.
"Daoist Master, what is it now?"
Luo Sigong frowned. He felt uncomfortable just seeing Ji Xiang. Ji Xiang, however, asked earnestly:
"Did you send anyone out to investigate what I mentioned earlier?"
"Investigate? What are you talking about?"
"Didn't I say that the palace might experience a great flood tonight?"
"Nonsense!"
Luo Sigong was furious, believing Ji Xiang was merely toying with him. He warned:
"Daoist Master, stop speaking nonsense. We are recording everything you say. I tell you, if there is no fire tonight, you will be waiting for an imperial decree tablet from the Northern Commandery Guard tomorrow!"
"I'm not in a hurry, but I know you'll soon be entering the Imperial Prison."
Luo Sigong snorted heavily. Ji Xiang then said:
"I've said so much, and you still don't believe me. Look at this incense burner... is there anything special about it?"
Luo Sigong craned his neck and saw a corner of the incense burner. He frowned, his tone still unpleasant: "What's special about an incense burner? Are you going to say the fire came from the incense burner?"
He had spoken sarcastically, but Ji Xiang suddenly gave him a thumbs-up:
"Ah, you guessed it exactly! To tell you the truth, I just vanquished a spirit of incense this morning. It emerged from this very incense burner."
"There really is something wrong in the Forbidden City!"
Luo Sigong stood up, his eyes wide with anger: "You still say it! You're still spouting nonsense! You... you demon Daoist!"
If I could defeat you, I would have pinned you down and beaten you soundly!
If I had the imperial decree tablet, I would have gone out to gather reinforcements, calling the Northern Commandery Guard to rush into the Forbidden City overnight to deal with you!
Luo Sigong pointed at Ji Xiang, his finger trembling. Finally, his chest heaved violently with rage, and he gritted his teeth, shouting at the锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) commander beside him: "Record it! Record everything!"
"Tomorrow morning, I want him to have a terrible end! This Daoist is spreading rumors and slandering the court!"
The锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) commander beside him meticulously recorded everything Ji Xiang had said. Ji Xiang felt a bit helpless, wondering if the man was going through menopause. He searched his memory and then said to Luo Sigong:
"Commander, men in their thirties often get angry. This is caused by an inability to control the inner fire. In such situations, one's emotions can become somewhat uncontrollable..."
"If you wish to learn how to control your temper, I can teach you..."
Luo Sigong was enraged: "Daoist Master, please give me..."
Before he could utter the word "scram."
Suddenly, a thunderclap erupted from nowhere. The courtyard gate of Longde Hall burst open with a bang, and the wood ignited into a raging inferno. Luo Sigong's eyes widened as he turned his head, only to see a figure gradually emerging from the fiery gate!
The锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) all drew their weapons, and the sounds of swords unsheathing and staffs hitting the ground were incessant!
Luo Sigong was stunned. Ji Xiang, seeing the main culprit arrive so ostentatiously, looked up at the sky.
The night sky and stars remained still; the Imperial Majesty was truly blind.
"Commander Luo, the god who wants to kill me has arrived. If you want to learn how to control your temper, I'll teach you later!"
"You help me hold him off for now!"
Ji Xiang quickly entered Longde Hall to retrieve his magical artifacts, leaving Luo Sigong standing at the entrance, dumbfounded.
The fiery figure, now manifested from the flames, was slightly taken aback to see so many锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) in the courtyard of Longde Hall. He then glanced back at the gate, which had been completely charred by the raging fire.
Did I take the wrong door?
No, that can't be right. Why are there so many people inside Longde Hall?