Chapter Sixty-Seven: Lee Gun’s Evaluation

Last time you tried to rope me in, and now you’re at it again—are you some kind of recruiter? I may be somewhat handsome, but I’m not so easily swayed by good looks. Besides, I’m from the Plain Faction, and you’re far too prominent for me.

Fang Mu clasped his hands behind his back, striking a pose of lonely resignation.

Qing Ruowu sighed with regret. “What a pity. If you just put in some effort, I believe the Five Trials would pose no difficulty for you.”

“Are you sure?” Iron Calculator couldn’t hold back, blurting out the question. This guy passing the Five Trials? He probably couldn’t even make it through the ‘Virtue’ trial.

Qing Ruowu didn’t linger on the topic, instead steering the conversation elsewhere. “By the way, what are your plans from here on out?”

Now that everything was settled and the mastermind punished, Qing Ruowu was curious about Fang Mu’s next move.

Plans? That was indeed a question.

Fang Mu stroked his chin and asked, “Do you know where strange happenings are most frequent?”

Qing Ruowu was momentarily stunned. “Why would you ask that?”

“If I said I wanted to exorcise evil and safeguard the way, bringing peace to the world, would you believe me?” Fang Mu declared with righteous indignation, “Exorcising evil and upholding the way is the duty of us cultivators.”

“I don’t believe it,” Qing Ruowu replied bluntly. “That’s just not believable.”

Fang Mu sighed, gazing up at the sky. “Why is it that when I tell the truth, no one believes me?”

He was, in fact, telling the truth. It really was about eliminating the uncanny, with the added benefit of searching corpses and maybe finding something for Ah Bai to eat. That could be considered a form of exorcism, too.

Qing Ruowu rubbed her forehead, clearly pained. “There are plenty of strange happenings, but they’re not so easy to find. There’s no fixed place where they cluster.”

Fang Mu shrugged. “Then I’ll just stay here in Jinglong County. I still have my job as a coroner, after all.”

With recent events behind him, Fang Mu felt he needed to get his bearings. He’d hoped Qing Ruowu might point him to a hotspot of the uncanny, but the answer was inconclusive. Rather than wandering aimlessly, it seemed better to stay in Jinglong County for now.

“That’s fine,” Qing Ruowu replied with a hint of resignation. “I’ll be off, then. There’s still a report I need to file on this incident.”

“Mm.” Fang Mu made a sound of acknowledgment.

Qing Ruowu departed, and tranquility returned to the lakeside, leaving only Fang Mu and Iron Calculator.

“Let’s go,” Fang Mu called out.

Iron Calculator hesitated. “About that… Fang, my friend, I’ll be off as well. The Ghost Market Master’s commission is finished, so it’s time for me to report back.”

With everyone else gone, Iron Calculator saw no reason to linger. Fang Mu nodded, and the two clasped fists in farewell before each departing from the lakeside.

…

Jinglong County Office.

Li Gun, with a long spear strapped to his back, sat in the main hall leafing through a ledger two fingers thick.

Qing Ruowu entered, bowing formally. “Sir.”

“You’re here?” Li Gun set the ledger aside with a sigh and handed it to Qing Ruowu. “Take a look.”

Qing Ruowu accepted the book and began reading carefully. The more she read, the deeper her frown became, the teardrop-shaped mole at her eye coming in and out of view as her brow furrowed.

“Well?” Li Gun produced another report and, picking up a brush, hesitated before writing. “I found this ledger in Yu Youde’s room.”

Qing Ruowu closed the ledger and, hands at her sides, replied solemnly, “The entries record Yu Youde’s conduct since his appointment as county magistrate. He was indeed upright and competent. However…”

“However what?” Li Gun put the brush down, as if waiting for Qing Ruowu to finish.

Qing Ruowu thought for a moment, then placed the ledger on the desk. “However, compared to the mistakes he made, his merits are insignificant.”

With that, she stood quietly aside, saying no more. Though dogged when it came to eliminating evil, she was no fool. Her superior had specifically waited for her and asked such a strange question—it clearly had a deeper meaning.

“Very good.” Li Gun chuckled. “Do you know why I asked you that?”

Qing Ruowu shook her head.

“Not long ago, the Director called a meeting,” Li Gun said. “The participants were mainly Chief Supervisors and Inspectors, who would then relay the message down. I was fortunate enough to attend.”

At the words “fortunate enough,” Li Gun’s expression turned slightly awkward.

“The meeting was simple in content,” he continued, regaining his composure. “It boiled down to a single principle.”

Qing Ruowu looked up. “May I ask, sir, what was the message?”

Since it was meant to be passed down, she felt no need to shy away from the question.

Li Gun raised a hand and spoke slowly, “These are extraordinary times. Merits will be rewarded, faults punished. But… merit does not outweigh fault.”

“Merit does not outweigh fault…” Qing Ruowu murmured, and fell silent.

Li Gun picked up his brush and, after writing at length across the report, handed it to Qing Ruowu. “Take this to the communications office.”

“Yes.” Qing Ruowu accepted the document and turned to leave, but was stopped by Li Gun.

“Your answer to my earlier question was quite good, but…” Li Gun shifted tone. “Your character is admirable, but sometimes it must change. Even the Director is adapting, as that meeting showed.”

Qing Ruowu nodded. “Thank you for your guidance, Inspector.”

“What are Fang Mu’s intentions?” Li Gun asked.

Fang Mu? Qing Ruowu replied, “He plans to remain in Jinglong County. Sir, if I may speak frankly—”

“Go ahead,” Li Gun waved a hand. “No need for formalities.”

Qing Ruowu hesitated, then gritted her teeth. “Fang Mu may be eccentric and cunning, but when it comes to matters of right and wrong, he is clear-headed. He is not a bad person, so…”

“That’s enough,” Li Gun interrupted, intrigued. “I’m surprised to hear you speak for him. Would you like to know my opinion?”

Qing Ruowu nodded.

Li Gun smiled. “He is both righteous and unorthodox—a true talent. He far surpasses the so-called young prodigies. I admire him greatly. It’s a shame he won’t join the Skysight Bureau.”

Hearing this, Qing Ruowu breathed a sigh of relief.

“All right, off you go,” Li Gun said, waving her away. “Things are urgent—get that report to the communications office, quickly.”

“Yes!”

Qing Ruowu said no more, taking the report and leaving the county office.

Once she was gone, Li Gun tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought.

“A coroner, is it…” he muttered. “A pity. The rules set jointly by the Directors cannot be defied. Otherwise, even at the cost of my reputation, I would have recruited him.”

“But this relationship… I must maintain it. A man who walks both light and shadow—he must not come to hold any grudge against the Skysight Bureau…”