The Unruly Immortals

"Clip-clop, clip-clop" the sound of horse hooves echoed incessantly on the streets of Yinling City. The rainy weather left the streets sparse of people, allowing the horse to pick up its pace.

The rider lifted his bamboo hat, revealing Li Huowang's determined eyes. He held the reins in one hand while pulling out a piece of paper from his chest to check it once again.

It was a pigeon message from Tuoba Danqing meant for himself. The message was short, "Record of Appearance summons, come quickly. Yinling Prison."

Li Huowang felt he already knew Tuoba Danqing well. For him to send an urgent message without eating or drinking was proof enough of the urgency of this matter.

He didn't know whether this matter would turn out to be good or bad for him; the only thing he could do was to prepare for the worst.

Fortunately, he was now a lone ranger. If anything were to happen, he would have nothing to fear.

As he dismounted and looked up at the dark and grim building made of green bricks in front of him, the jailers at the door with evil Qi in their eyes proved this was the place where Yinling City's serious offenders were locked up.

These jailers reminded him of the military's influence.

Just as Li Huowang got off his horse, he felt a slight stinging sensation at his vulnerable spots; someone unseen was aiming a hidden weapon at him.

Flashing his Astrological Bureau's waist badge, Li Huowang stepped through the prison gates guarded by two fierce stone lions.

Upon entering, he immediately saw Tuoba Danqing sitting on a long bench, waving at him to come over.

"Brother Er, here, come quickly!"

Li Huowang walked over and glanced at the person next to him. It was an acquaintance he'd met once before, the knife-peddler Hong Da.

Before Li Huowang could bow in greeting, Tuoba Danqing enthusiastically pulled him to sit beside him on the bench. "Brother Er, look, how much I think of you. The moment there's a good task, I immediately think of you."

"Oh? A good task this time?" Smelling the damp and rotting stench in his nose, and looking at the prisoners in the cells around him, who were either dead or alive, Li Huowang doubted this was a good sign.

Tuoba Danqing slapped his thigh excitedly, his expression animated as he spoke, "Of course it's a good task because, you see, this time it's dealing with the Oblivion Path!"

"Don't you have a feud with that bunch of fraudsters? I kept this task especially for you, so you can get your revenge. How's that? I treat you well, don't I?"

Upon hearing this, Li Huowang was immediately startled and quickly asked, "Please elaborate, what exactly is this task about?"

"Don't rush, wait for Record of Appearance to arrive and let him tell you. We don't know much ourselves yet," said Hong Da, holding a cup of tea and seemingly distracted.

"Senior Hong, long time no see. Thanks to you for recommending me that day, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to join the Astrological Bureau."

As Li Huowang paid his respects to Hong Da, he thought to himself, "Record of Appearance from the Capital City has also come. Is this task very dangerous?"

Regarding the so-called Mister Record of Appearance, Li Huowang, other than knowing he was Tuoba Danqing's superior, knew nothing else. But considering he held an important position within an institution like the Astrological Bureau, his strength was likely extraordinary.

"What's there to thank me for? After all, the path was of your own choosing. Just make sure that if something happens in the future, you don't blame me for pulling you into a den of thieves," Hong Da responded.

"Eh– Hong Da, I don't like the sound of that, how could you compare our Bureau to a den of thieves? Haven't you always gotten your share of the Yangshou Pills after every job? Haven't you always had your share of food, clothing, and expenses every year?"

"Didn't you get your share of mooncakes from the Bureau during the Mid-Autumn Festival this year? The Bureau even covered your expenses for the brothel visits. With the Bureau treating you so well, how could you have the nerve to badmouth the Astrological Bureau in front of this newcomer?"

"Alright, you're the loyal official, and I, the grand traitor, it is," Hong Da seemed annoyed with Tuoba Danqing's prattling, gave him a glance, then turned around, showing him the back of his head.

Seeing Tuoba Danqing's finger pointing for another long speech, Li Huowang grabbed him, "Brother Tuoba, why are we discussing matters in this prison today?"

"My dear brother, do you see that over there? Yes, the second-to-last cage right at the back. The prisoner locked up there is one of our Astrological Bureau's own, he'll be coming with us in a bit."

Li Huowang looked over in surprise; the cage was far away, and even with his excellent vision, he could only make out the blurry silhouette of a tall figure lying on the straw.

Just as Li Huowang was about to stand up to take a closer look, a shrill, duck-like voice came from behind. "Yo—Danqing, everyone's here? It seems I'm the one who's late."

"Hm? A eunuch?" Confused, Li Huowang turned around and saw a fat, elderly man in official robes with a feather in his cap.

That deathly pale face covered in white makeup, matched with the official robe and greasy smile, if it hadn't been for his ability to walk in, Li Huowang would have almost thought the creature before him was a zombie that had walked straight out of a horror film.

It was this very man, standing there holding a golden abacus, who smilingly sized them up: this was the Record of Appearance.

Li Huowang suddenly felt nervous, worried that the other party would see through his disguise. Only when he saw that there was no particular reaction did he relax a little.

Seeing this man appear, Tuoba Danqing seemed even more affectionate than if he had seen his own father. His neck shrank, and he instantly seemed an inch shorter, humbly and quickly approached him.

"Oh my, oh my, Lord Record, what are you saying? It's not that you're late; it's just that we mere underlings have come early."

As he gently cradled the eunuch's jade ring-adorned hand with both of his, ushering him to the table, a sickeningly sweet scent made the keen-nosed Li Huowang furrow his brow—it was an odd fragrance with an undertone of urine.

"Lord Record, you know Hong Da. Allow me to introduce this gentleman to you. This is Brother Er Jiu, truly an outstanding figure in the Ao Jing Sect, so skilled in Divine Skills that even a Xuan-class specter is nothing to him. He'll definitely be a great help in this mission!"

The Record of Appearance looked Li Huowang up and down again, a strange gleam in his eye that made Li uncomfortable. "I've seen Lord Record," he greeted.

"Hmm, Er Jiu, right? I remember you; Xiao Liuzi mentioned you, said you're from the Ao Jing Sect, but it seems you're rather hot-tempered. Last time you got so angry, you burned an entire nest of White Lotus Sect members being escorted to the Capital City. If it weren't for Xiao Liuzi letting it go, and moreover, you being Danqing's man, the Bureau had been inclined to demand an explanation from you."

Hearing the Record's words, Tuoba Danqing quickly tried to smooth things over. "Hehehe, my brother here loathes evil; it's normal for him to have a bit of a temper. There is no one in the entire Bureau with great talent and affability like you, Lord Record—"

The Record sported a grin so wide his eyes all but disappeared, "Ohoho—Danqing, I just love hanging out with you. The words that come out of your mouth are just so pleasing to the ear—"

As the two exchanged pleasantries, Hong Da suddenly interjected, "Record, can you explain the matter at hand before listening to this bootlicker's flattery?"

The complacent faces of the duo fell simultaneously upon hearing this. Just when Li Huowang thought the Record was about to give Hong Da a hard time, he pointed towards a distant cage with his gold-ringed hand.

"Danqing—bring over Master Xin Chi. Let's go over the details of this mission," the Record instructed.

As the newcomer, Li Huowang quietly observed everything, noting to himself that the hierarchical relationships within the Astrological Bureau weren't as strict as he had imagined.