Daily life of a cultivation judge
Chapter 1202 - 1202: I can take you there (1)

"Why do you ask?" Lei Weiyuan promptly followed up.

Already expecting the question, Yang Qing went ahead and filled Lei Weiyuan in on Bao Chen's case. The ins and outs of it. What he had dug up, some of the suspicions he held, and ultimately, how going to the Silver Crane Sect would help him meet a few of his objectives. One was fulfilling his promise to Xia Fang and the added benefits it brought to his investigation.

"Looks like you've been busy," Lei Weiyuan commented casually once Yang Qing was finished.

The remark left Yang Qing smiling awkwardly. He wasn't sure whether to take it as a compliment or a subtle jab. With the enigmatic, fiendish supervisor before him, it was always hard to tell. Lei Weiyuan was never an easy person to read.

Does he say thank you, or does he apologize? Technically, even though he'd been doing a good deed, it could still be considered slacking, given that he was supposed to be on duty, handling walk-ins.

Fortunately, he didn't have to dwell on it. Lei Weiyuan stroked his beard and spoke again.

"While I don't know anyone from the Silver Crane Sect, I know someone who does," he said.

"Who?" Yang Qing asked eagerly.

"Hou Dehui," Lei Weiyuan replied. "He should be around, let me see…" he added, pulling out his communication talisman to contact the inner court domain judge.

Oh, him, Yang Qing thought, pleasantly surprised. He found great comfort in the fact that the person in question was someone he already knew and one that he had interacted with to boot, and not too long ago at that.

After a few exchanges, Lei Weiyuan filled the inner court domain judge in on Yang Qing's request, giving a brief overview of the circumstances behind it.

Much to Yang Qing's relief, the judge not only agreed to make the introductions, but he went a step further and offered to take Yang Qing there in person.

While a simple call ahead would have been more than enough for Yang Qing, he felt far more at ease knowing Hou Dehui would be accompanying him. Not only would it cut down travel time, thanks to the speed of a domain expert, but it would also make obtaining information from the Silver Crane Sect much easier. A late-stage domain expert making the request in person carried far more weight than some early-stage palace realm cultivator doing it alone.

Not to mention, Hou Dehui's presence and the fact that he would be the one making the introductions and brokering the matter, aligned perfectly with one of Yang Qing's key intentions, which was giving face to the ancient rank two sect.

With the arrangements made, Yang Qing thanked Lei Weiyuan before quickly making his way to the reception hallway of the tower, where Hou Dehui had said he'd meet him.

Seems like he's actually putting in an effort. Hopefully it'll last, Lei Weiyuan mused as he watched Yang Qing's retreating figure. But just in case, I'll have to keep a closer eye on him. One can never be sure with him, he added, a mysterious glint flashing in his eyes as a small smile tugged at his lips.

...

"Senior," Yang Qing immediately called out soon as he reached the hallway and spotted a middle-aged man standing at its far left end, next to the black-colored mimicry chaos portal that led to the domain courts.

The man was clad in black robes, identical in design to those worn by Lei Weiyuan. He stood slightly taller than the supervisor but was just as lean. Unlike Lei Weiyuan's typically taciturn expression, however, this man carried an easygoing air, with a casual friendliness that made him seem approachable.

He had black hair tied into a neat bun and a neatly trimmed beard. In terms of looks, calling him handsome would've been an understatement. Lei Weiyuan wasn't lacking in that department either, but his stern and silent demeanor often made it easy for others to overlook. That wasn't the case with the man in the hallway.

However, just as Lei Weiyuan had his distinct, almost overwhelming stoicism, this man had something equally impressionable, that drowned out everything else the moment one looked at him. That something was his eyes.

His irises were star-shaped, each containing five pupils, and each pupil was a different color—red, blue, green, orange-gold, and purple. Four of the pupils sat at the cardinal points of the star, while the fifth occupied the center. They didn't remain still, either. The pupils shifted positions like swirling stars, dancing in a mesmerizing pattern.

It was those eyes that made him one of the most easily recognizable people in the Order. Their distinct appearance was impossible to miss or forget. That was a sentiment shared by all who encountered him, and the two spirit beasts beside Yang Qing in Haishi and Bolin were no exceptions either. Both stared wide-eyed at the middle-aged man, with Haishi looking on in amazement, and Bolin's was a mix of awe and trepidation, leaning more toward the latter.

Yang Qing walked over and cupped his fists in greeting and gratitude.

"Thank you very much for your assistance today, Senior Hou Dehui. And for last time too," he said, referring to the role Hou Dehui had played when Yang Qing was handling the case involving the scion of one of the founders of the Golden Bamboo Pavilion.

His presence during that session had been an immense help to Yang Qing, especially given the open hostility Cai Hong had shown him. Yang Qing wasn't sure how he would have handled the domain expert's hateful glares on his own.

Hou Dehui's presence had helped keep the irascible woman in check, and from what Yang Qing had observed, even the founder, Lin Guiren, seemed somewhat apprehensive around him.

"Oh, that," Hou Dehui said with a light smile. "I think I'm the one who should be grateful for getting the chance to annoy Cai Hong and Guiren," he added with a chuckle.

I wonder what his history with them is? Yang Qing mused. From the interactions he had witnessed, it was clear the two sides shared some history. But he quickly set the thought aside as Hou Dehui turned his attention to his companions, with his eyes settling especially on Haishi.

The little spirit beast instantly switched from her state of wonder and amazement to full-blown panic, freezing in place the moment she realized Hou Dehui's gaze was on her.

"This is Haishi and Bolin," Yang Qing introduced, gesturing toward the flustered and petrified duo. "My new companions and members of my team."

"Mmh... natural-born residents of the Green Fog Region," Hou Dehui murmured with interest, as his eyes lingered on them momentarily.

"You've been there?" Yang Qing asked in surprise.

"In passing," Hou Dehui replied. "During the bluster of my youth when I was eager to make a name for myself... before I quickly got humbled."

He gave a wry smile, his eyes flickering with distant memories of said experience.

"How was it?" Yang Qing asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Terrifying," Hou Dehui said simply.

Though his tone was light, laced with the same casualness as his demeanor, Yang Qing could tell those words reflected his genuine feelings about the place. Just as a dog could easily sniff out the scent of meat, so too could Yang Qing when it came to fear.

Sensing that trepidation in Hou Dehui only made him more curious about the region, especially given all the tales and rumors surrounding it. Though his own fear of the place had grown as well, in equal measure.

If he had more time, he would have loved to sit down with the inner court judge and hear all about his experiences there, vicariously living through them, given that he was far too much of a coward to dare explore the region himself, especially with his paltry cultivation realm. Even as a domain expert, he wasn't sure he'd dare set foot in there.

But alas, there were more pressing matters at hand.

"About the matter, Supervisor Lei Weiyuan mentioned..." Yang Qing began.