“Commerce, under the great Empress Long, it is you who have given us…
‘I haven’t given you anything,’ the young girl said in her heart. ‘Even if I wanted to, there’s nothing I could bring.’
Otherwise, maybe next time I could ask the madam to bring some Snow Cakes from outside for everyone to try. They’re really delicious—maybe Wu Wan could even become human.
This is the Crystal Stone World, Sha Yin Square.
After the members of the Ballad Choir finished their song, they stepped down to rest, and for the time being, no one came up to take their place.
Having just been summoned here by history, Shen Feng hesitated for a moment, then remembered: after last time’s occupation of Zonghe Hall, he now had two strongholds under his command, and the two sides were on rotating shifts.
Since Li Xiang Square had finished its rest period, it was Zonghe Hall’s turn on duty now.
Had I known, I would have come a few minutes later, since she’s headed to Gu Yi’s side.
“Is anyone able to speak? I need to go to Ouyang Hall right now. Do any of you know where that is?”
As expected, people who have stayed in Sha Yin Square for a long time start to act more human. Soon, more than a dozen people stood up to form the new Royal Guard.
But before setting out, Shen Ning deliberately went under Sha Pu Hall and took a huge bag of Exiled Soul Powder, preparing to split it among the people on the other side, calling it the Gift of the Empress. If there was any left over, she could bring it back for Old Ban.
Passing through the Misty Plain took quite some time, but as the group approached the Banquet Sanctuary, they could see Zonghe Hall’s rotating guards from afar, and even faintly hear the Ballad Choir singing.
Shen Ning hurried over to tell them to stop for a moment.
“Shen Xiaopao, you’ve come,” came Du Meilong’s voice from behind her. “I was just about to send someone to check by Sha Tan. If you’re here, that’s perfect.”
Hearing this, Shen Qiang was slightly stunned. “Did something happen here?”
“Nothing much, just that we have visitors.”
There was no need for Meilong to explain, for when the girl turned around, she saw those familiar figures standing on both sides of the bridge.
“Liu Ba! Zhang Quan! Li Ji!”
Of the 27 Season Souls who once soaked beneath the mines, half had gathered here today.
A new day had dawned.
As time moved on, everyone’s hearts grew tense. Last night, even before the shift ended, the commotion on the sea’s surface had already grown very close.
Fortunately, the ones on Pearl of the Night duty hadn’t sounded the final warning, giving the Patrol Team one last peaceful day.
Dawn came, and the delivery team had arrived. With nervous hearts, they moved toward the coastline.
Over at Center City’s Shengling Academy, people were setting out as well. Mr. Cheng drove Xu Chuyao’s off-road vehicle, taking Xiao Si and Xun along the highway.
“Liesu, what’s the history of that place again?”
“Qingli County. Looks like a pretty sizable county. The only problem is that it’s a bit isolated.”
“Doesn’t matter. We’re driving there anyway.”
Just as Xiao Si said, Qingli County was quite large and well equipped—every residential community featured automatic doors and the same kind of electric blocks, giving the area a vibrant atmosphere. But the issue was that most people here were rather advanced in age, their minds wandering, with no productive work taking place.
This was a retirement place—both Mr. Cheng and Xiao Si reached this conclusion the moment they arrived.
“Back to the point, what exactly is the Management Department?” Mr. Cheng looked up from the shade. “I only know about the Security Department and the Education Department. Security handles security, and Education handles education.”
Xiao M glanced at him, originally wanting to say, ‘Teacher, how can you know so little?’ but then thought better of it, since he was still a teacher. No need to embarrass him and risk running into trouble in the Philosophy Department later.
“The Management Department is a purely administrative office. To put it simply, it handles personnel management—like transfers and promotions, keeping track of merits and mistakes, things like that. Everything has to go through them.”
“So, in other words, it’s basically just personnel management, right?” Mr. Cheng suddenly understood. “That I know—any company outside has one.”
Little M rubbed her head. “Mr. Cheng, I said it all has to go through them, but they don’t have the final say.
For example, if Xiao Zhou works three years on the front lines of the Security Department, and recently got promoted a rank, the Management Department is supposed to handle his promotion.
They open the Excel Form, check the Title Table for the positions one level above his current job, and pick a suitable one as per regulations. So, how much authority do you think the Management Department has? They just follow the rules.”
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Si recalled her own Top Supervisor, that unpredictable beauty, and continued, “As for special promotions, the Management Department is only notified, then they stamp the notice and record the promotion. Oh, and it can even print out the medal certificate.”
The two Heroic Medals in Xu Chuyao’s hand had been sent over by someone from the Management Department.
Mr. Cheng was left completely speechless, and now he had a pretty good idea about the new job for the former Grade Director: “It’s a job with a fixed salary and no real duties.”
The meaning of the Management Department’s existence was simply to provide work for the people in the department.
“Let’s go find him.”
Qingli County, Management Office.
The Director of the Qingli County Management Office—while the title ‘Director’ sounded grand, how could a small county town compare to Center City?
“Who?” Luo Kangsheng asked loudly.
He was really bored—someone only came knocking once every few days.
“Director Luo, there are two people from Center City here to see you. They say it’s very important.”
Center City?
With some suspicion, he instructed, “Let them in.”
A few minutes later, when one tall and one short person sat across from his office desk, Luo Kangsheng couldn’t help but widen his eyes. “It’s you! Mr. Cheng from fifth grade—and you are…?”
He recognized Mr. Cheng, the senior Grade Director, always present at internal staff meetings, but had never seen the young one before.
“I’m Liu Sinuo from third grade, or rather, soon to be in fourth grade,” Xiao Si said directly, “also Xu Chuyao’s classmate.”
“Xu Chuyao…”
As expected, the moment he heard that name, Luo Kangsheng fell silent.
He remembered Xu Chuyao well—always seen running around with Shen Ning a few years ago. Judging by her looks and reputation, she seemed like the ultimate campus beauty.
But after entering third grade, she suddenly dropped the act, her talents and wits dazzling everyone.
If that were all, it would be nothing. But soon after, he was transferred away, heading for the storms of Center City.
And word was, Xu Chuyao had made waves there—three rapid promotions in just half a year, from one silver star to three silver stars, and then to four golden stars. The latest promotion had just happened last week.
All the notifications had been sent here, and the stamps were all in his hand.
While Luo Kangsheng was lost in thought, Mr. Cheng had already carried out their prearranged roles and quietly closed the door. By the time Luo Kangsheng snapped back to himself, he saw Xiao Si leaning over with a serious look.
“Director Luo, we’re all insiders here. I’ll get to the point: I’m not just Xu Chuyao’s classmate, I’m also her subordinate. Normally, I help her gather intelligence.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Xiao Si’s words were clear and precise, leaving Luo Kangsheng dumbfounded. At first, he thought—what kind of intelligence could students have? But then, recalling Xu Chuyao’s current position, he composed himself.
“What do you want with me? I worked hard for years at Shengling Academy, now I’m just holding this idle post here,” he said helplessly.
On the surface, Xiao Si was expressionless and cool, like an expert. In reality, she was just repeating what Xu Chuyao had taught her, so as not to say the wrong thing.
“Director Luo, I’ve read your file, so I know what happened back then. Coincidentally, the Chief is currently investigating certain people—you might know them.”
“You’re not suspecting me, are you? I really don’t know anything…”
Ignoring him, Xiao Si continued, “We want to know about Wen Banqing, and the other person who was as famous as him back then—the one who, together with him, was called the Twin Stars.”
The unusual name made Luo Kangsheng cautious. “Wen Shengqing from Yuanshi City? Why are you digging into him? Is that even appropriate?”
“Stop pretending, Director Luo,” Xiao Si rolled her eyes. “We all know he arranged a cushy job for you for life. Now you’ve been put out to pasture in the mountains, half-retired—that was his doing, too.”
“What are you talking about…”
Luo Kangsheng’s eyes went wide.
Was my whole career doomed not because of my own actions…?
“Looks like the Chief was right. You really have no idea why your life turned out like this.” Xiao Si, following Xu Chuyao’s instructions, sighed and leaned in.
“Tell us about that person—the Twin Star of the era, who stood alongside Wen Kunqing—then you’ll be free to go.”