"What did she complain about me?" Jian Xi asked.
"She said you aided the female ghost in harming her life and acted as an accomplice to the oppressor," Xie BiAn truthfully told her.
Wang Jian'an and the others took a deep breath. If it was proven that she had allowed a ghost to harm someone, she would be punished.
They all knew that Jian Xi was aware of this, but she didn't seem to care about this punishment, as it would just mean a temporary loss of her cultivation. She could regain it in a few days of practice!
When she initially released the female ghost from the seal, she had anticipated this possibility because Feng Old Lady was only a few days away from the end of her life span.
In fact, the Underworld did have rules for Metaphysics Masters. After all, without rules, nothing can be accomplished properly. Regardless of what misdeeds a person committed in the mortal realm, they would all face judgment in the Underworld and receive appropriate punishment. If every Metaphysics Master were to interfere with people's life spans, it would cause chaos.
Of course, not all Metaphysics Masters could easily alter someone's fate like Jian Xi could. Moreover, the Underworld's punishment was not just for show. As long as a complaint was filed and proven true, the offender would face a reduction in their cultivation level.
Cultivation was no easy feat, and who would be foolish enough to risk their hard-earned cultivation for a temporary indulgence? Losing even one-tenth of one's cultivation would take at least a year or two to regain!
Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Xie BiAn was infuriated and couldn't help but reach out and tap her forehead forcefully twice. "Look at you! The Old Lady only had four days left in her life span. She would have met King Yama without your intervention. Did you do this just to let that female ghost vent her anger? What can I say about you? The people in your sect have all been led astray by your master. After I punish you, I'll go and have a word with your master!"
What? Confront her master? Where could he find her? Wasn't her master reincarnated?
Realizing he had let something slip, Xie BiAn quickly shut his mouth and averted his gaze.
Jian Xi's eyes followed his, and his gaze couldn't escape hers!
Helpless against her, Xie BiAn eventually stopped evading. "Alright, I give up. Your master is now the commander-in-chief of all the Underworld soldiers, a general in the Underworld."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jian'an and the others were stunned. This formidable figure's master was the true heavyweight, a general in the Underworld commanding hundreds of thousands of Underworld soldiers. With such authority, if Jian Xi ever encountered someone she couldn't defeat in the mortal realm, she could simply ask her master for a couple of Underworld soldiers, and the problem would be resolved in no time!
Tang Xingyou tremblingly handed Xie BiAn a cup of freshly brewed West Lake Longjing tea and mustered her courage to say, "White Envoy of the Underworld, please have some tea to soothe your throat. Jian Xi was just being impulsive at the time. Please don't hold it against her!"
Jian Xi felt a sense of familiarity with these words, as if she had said the same thing many times before to plead for her master or second senior brother when they had offended an Underworld Messenger.
Realizing that Tang Xingyou would become her sister-in-law in the future, she felt relieved, knowing that she would have He Qingchen's protection, and her second senior brother would have Tang Xingyou to speak on his behalf.
Xie BiAn glanced at Tang Xingyou, accepted the tea, and said, "Thank you." Then, turning to Jian Xi, he added, "Jian Xi, your master has only recently taken up the position of general, so he hasn't had the time to handle the aftermath of your actions. This time, you cannot escape punishment. Next time, remember not to act so childishly."
"Oh," Jian Xi responded, unsurprised by her master's new role as a general in the Underworld. As long as the old man was happy, that was all that mattered.
After taking a couple of sips of tea, Xie BiAn put down the cup, stood up, and walked towards Jian Xi. "Come on, Jian Xi, hold out your hand."
A ruler appeared in Xie BiAn's hand.
Jian Xi's brow twitched. Getting hit with that ruler would hurt!
Wang Jian'an and the others instinctively wanted to shield Jian Xi, but they couldn't move at all.
Whack, whack, whack! Three strikes with the ruler, and Jian Xi could clearly feel that her cultivation had dropped by three-tenths.
However, her attention wasn't on the loss of her cultivation but rather on her reddened palms. It hurt so much!
Xie BiAn was aware of Jian Xi's terrifying talent in metaphysics, and she could regain the lost three-tenths of her cultivation within two months. Hence, he had used a bit more force than usual. Otherwise, she would have simply shrugged it off, as she tended to forget punishments easily.
Well, even if he had used more force, it probably wouldn't have made much difference to her.
Xie BiAn put away the ruler, lifted the restriction on the others, and then vanished from their sight.
Once she could move, Tang Xingyou hurried over to check on Jian Xi's hand. "Does it hurt? How do you feel?" After all, she had received three strikes!
Seeing the concern in everyone's eyes, Jian Xi shook her head. "It doesn't hurt. I'm fine, don't worry."
Seeing Jian Xi's casual demeanor, they felt reassured. Wang finally remembered the main reason for calling her over. He had rewards to give her, though he had already set aside the cash prize. Still, he had to present her with the certificate and trophy for her individual honor and their collective honor as an advanced unit.
"The higher-ups have sent down these rewards. We've been collectively honored as an advanced unit this year, and you've also been individually awarded a personal honor. I've combined your cash prize with your salary, and in a few days, it will all be transferred to He Qingchen's account."
"Wonderful, thank you, Director Wang," Jian Xi smiled, delighted to have more money coming in. At this rate, the Taoist Temple could be rebuilt within two years.
With this thought, the pain in her hand suddenly didn't seem to bother her anymore!
"By the way, why did Brother Xie come today? Wasn't the handover already completed?" Jian Xi asked.
Lin Xi Wen explained to her, "A Ghost King recently escaped from the Underworld, and according to its last traceable aura, it's in B City. That's why the White Envoy of the Underworld, Xie BiAn, came to inform us. He wants us to be on the lookout and immediately open the Ghost Gate if we find it."
Jian Xi nodded. A Ghost King-level entity would be quite formidable. Even she couldn't defeat it.
The last time she had encountered a Ghost King-level entity was when she was nine or ten years old. She had been beaten and forced to hide everywhere. Unable to accept this humiliation, she had gone back to her sect and summoned her second senior brother to join forces with her.
Back then, the two of them had fought the Ghost King for two days before she finally used a little trick to send it through the Ghost Gate!
However, she had grown up and become much stronger in her cultivation now. She wondered if she could defeat a Ghost King-level entity alone this time.
As she contemplated this, she couldn't help but feel a sense of eager anticipation.
At noon, Director Wang treated everyone to a meal. Jian Xi informed Zhao Sister-in-law that she wouldn't be returning for lunch and also sent a message to He Qingchen, asking him to pick her up from the driving school after work.
She had already passed the Test Phase 1, and the Test Phase 2 was coming up in half a month. She hadn't had much practice yet, so with only a week left, she needed to seize the opportunity to practice driving.
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