Chapter 411: Supervisor

Chapter 411: Director of the Office of Inspection

“You may go back,” came an aged voice, full of authority, from within the room.

“Yes,” Nan Gong subtly gave Li Huo Wang a wary glance before turning and leaving.

Looking at the wooden door slightly ajar before him, Li Huo Wang took a deep breath and pushed it open to enter.

The interior was not large; it appeared to be a typical scholar’s study. On the left bookshelf were various scrolls and books, and on the walls, as in Zhuge Yuan’s bamboo pavilion, were calligraphy and paintings.

If this place hadn’t been hidden deep within the Bureau of Celestial Observation, Li Huo Wang might have thought it was just some reader’s private library.

“Ear Ji greets the Director of Inspection!” Li Huo Wang bowed his head and addressed the man with a respectful gesture.

“You are Ear Ji? Raise your head.”

When the other man clearly saw the face devoid of flesh and blood, Li Huo Wang also finally recognized the appearance of this Director of Inspection.

A lean middle-aged man with a goat beard, that was his first impression. His face was deeply lined with furrows, almost dividing his countenance into thirds.

In terms of attire, the Director of Inspection wore nothing particularly striking—a simple purple robe with a jade pendant at the waist.

At that moment, he stood behind his desk, holding a red brush dipped in cinnabar, reviewing something. Beside him, a small brazier bubbled with tea, making the room far warmer than outside.

Recalling Nan Gong's words earlier, Li Huo Wang’s heart tightened. He turned and lowered his head again. “Report to the Director of Inspection—All members of the Forgetful Dao are currently—”

“Earlier this morning, you entered the city with the storyteller, didn’t you?” The Director’s casual remark abruptly cut off Li Huo Wang’s speech and train of thought.

With deliberate slowness, the Director placed the cinnabar brush onto the jade inkstand, then picked up a seal about the size of a fist and gently pressed it onto a corner of the paper.

Li Huo Wang trembled inwardly, but his mouth did not stop. He recounted everything he knew about the conflict between the Forgetful Dao and Zhuge Yuan, and how he had learned that all members of the Forgetful Dao had come to the capital.

Everything Li Huo Wang said was true—no falsehoods—but he omitted certain details that the Bureau of Celestial Observation need not know.

“Oh, I see,” the Director replied calmly, much more composed than Li Huo Wang had expected upon hearing that the entire Forgetful Dao had arrived in the capital.

“Sir! That’s the Forgetful Dao! They—”

“Do you think I need you to teach me how to act? Why so anxious? Are you trying to use the Bureau of Celestial Observation for personal revenge?” The Director’s gaze instantly turned cold, and a pressure of long-standing authority pressed down upon Li Huo Wang.

“I dare not,” Li Huo Wang clenched his jaw tightly and stepped back half a pace.

“Hmph, no manners,” the Director ignored him and continued with his own work.

After a candle’s worth of silence, the Director poured himself a cup of Da Hong Pao tea from the brazier and sipped it slowly before looking back at Li Huo Wang.

“Don’t worry about the Forgetful Dao for now. Someone else is handling this matter. There’s another task for you to complete within the Bureau—it’s more important than the Forgetful Dao. You’d better pay attention.”

Though the Director didn’t follow his usual pattern, Li Huo Wang understood that panic would only expose his weakness. “Yes, sir, please give orders.”

“I don’t care how you met Zhuge Yuan or how you left him. Return to him the way you did before. When the time is right, I’ll send someone to assist you in seizing the Six Stars Almanac from his hands.”

“The Six Stars Almanac? What is that? Wait—book?” A single phrase flashed through Li Huo Wang’s mind—the only book-like thing associated with Zhuge Yuan. “This Director wants to steal Zhuge Yuan’s old almanac!”

Just as Li Huo Wang was stunned, the Director continued, “This matter is of great importance. I will personally oversee it. Do well, and naturally, if you can kill Zhuge Yuan in the process, that would be even better. But don’t force it.”

Seeing Li Huo Wang standing motionless, the Director frowned slightly. “What? Did you not hear what I said?”

Li Huo Wang’s trembling hands clenched tightly. “Yes, subordinate obeys!”

Still, the Director wasn’t done. He painted a big pie for Li Huo Wang. “If you do well, past matters can be forgiven by the Bureau. Not only that—you may rise in rank and bring honor to your ancestors. You may choose three treasures from the Bureau’s arsenal.”

“I know your situation too. The Forgetful Dao destroyed your family. It’s only natural that you hate them. Here’s what I’ll do: if you perform well, you’ll be included in the operation against the Forgetful Dao, and you may deal with their captured members as you wish.”

Seeing Li Huo Wang nod once more, the Director finally smiled and used his missing finger to grab a stack of papers from beside him, placing them before Li Huo Wang.

“All right, take these to the third door on the left and store them. Then return.”

Li Huo Wang approached, took the stack of papers carefully with both hands, and left the Director’s office.

Once outside, Li Huo Wang’s expression darkened drastically. “What now?” The question echoed endlessly in his mind.

His plan to let wolves and tigers devour each other while he reaped the benefits had failed. He never imagined the Bureau of Celestial Observation would react this way when told that the entire Forgetful Dao had come to the capital.

Without their help, he couldn’t possibly stand against the Forgetful Dao. He needed another strategy.

“Are you kidding me—really going to help the Bureau of Celestial Observation fight Zhuge Yuan?”

Although Zhuge Yuan was mad and talkative, he had already taken a place among his friends in Li Huo Wang’s heart.

As Li Huo Wang struggled with his thoughts, the third door on the left appeared before him. He glanced down at the papers in his arms and prepared to deliver them.

But just as he raised his foot, a line from the paper caught his attention.

“Feng Er Niu?” Li Huo Wang remembered that name—the eunuch who had served as the former minister had indeed been named Feng Er Niu.

He quickly read further down the page: “Former Minister Feng Er Niu, married to his wife, has exceeded... the body remains to be confirmed by forensic expert Huan Ming…”

The Minister was dead? After serving the Bureau for so long, he died so casually?

Li Huo Wang recalled the plump, white-faced eunuch and felt a chill. The large red circle drawn in cinnabar on the paper seemed blindingly bright in his eyes.

Li Huo Wang looked toward the Director’s office from afar. He realized the Director couldn’t have made such a careless mistake—he must have known Li Huo Wang knew the Minister. This wasn’t a random placement. It was a warning.

Taking a deep breath, Li Huo Wang’s wavering resolve solidified. He stepped forward toward the door.