The next day, the sky cleared up.
The Temple Guardian was sweeping the courtyard early in the morning, while Lin Ling stayed in bed until the sun was high in the sky.
With no breakfast to eat, she was kicked out the door by the Temple Guardian.
Lin Ling sat on the ground, grimacing as she rubbed her sore backside.
When she arrived at the Inspectorate, it was just as she expected.
Bai Yunyun and the others were still fast asleep.
Thus, Lin Ling, who had already reached the peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm, imitated the Temple Guardian and gave each of the three a kick to wake them up.
Lin Ling took several pieces of paper and wrote: “I think you all are being a bit too lax!”
(Little Fox changing paper)
“So, starting today, everyone get to work!”
“Huh? No way,” Bai Yunyun cried out in pain.
Lin Ling raised a talisman for the Immobilization Charm and brandished it in front of Bai Yunyun.
Bai Yunyun immediately became obedient: “Whatever the Big Boss says!”
(Little Fox changing paper again)
“First, tidy up the Inspectorate. Remember to change the door plaque! Otherwise, people will think this place is some kind of illegal structure.”
Watching the tiny Lin Ling exert her official authority, the three women found it somewhat amusing.
Unable to help herself, Bai Yunyun ran forward to rub Lin Ling’s two big, fluffy ears.
Then, she was rewarded with another Immobilization Charm.
After briefly arranging their tasks, Lin Ling took out a pile of buns, steamed bread, soy milk, and a pot of hot tea from her Universe Bag.
The three women were incredibly moved.
Zhao Yuyu hugged Lin Ling tightly, nuzzling her repeatedly: “Boss~ I’ve been at the Inspectorate for so long, but I’ve never enjoyed any benefits. This is the first time someone brought us breakfast.”
Then, she was also rewarded with an Immobilization Charm, standing off to the side with Bai Yunyun like two door gods on the left and right.
Lin Ling took out a small copper mirror.
Seeing her white hair ruffled into a mess by them, she felt a bit annoyed and stepped forward to kick Bai Yunyun’s backside.
Bai Yunyun wanted to cry but had no tears.
Gu Xiao shrunk back into a corner, not daring to make a sound.
After releasing the Immobilization Charms and letting them get to work, Lin Ling strolled over to where Xiu Jiming was resting.
As soon as she opened the room door, a wave of alcohol fumes rushed out.
Lin Ling frowned, pinching her small nose with her hand as she walked inside.
She wasn’t sure if it was because her current body had a better sense of smell, but even though she used to enjoy drinking, the scent now felt extremely pungent.
Xiu Jiming was lying on the bed, breathing steadily.
Lin Ling stepped forward and pulled his blanket straight off, revealing Xiu Jiming wearing only his undergarments.
Xiu Jiming was startled awake from his dream.
Seeing that Lin Ling had seen him so clearly—while Lin Ling herself hadn’t reacted much—he was the one who blushed slightly: “Lin… Ling’er, why are you here?”
Lin Ling remained expressionless and wrote on the paper: “Get up!”
Then she quickly added: “Don’t call me that!”
Xiu Jiming acted as if he didn’t see the second sentence.
He stretched, quickly dressed, and got out of bed.
Lin Ling walked up to him and reached out her hand, palm up.
The paper in her other hand had large characters written on it: “Give me money.”
Looking at her self-righteous little expression, Xiu Jiming found it a bit funny: “It’s not time for the salary payout yet. Why do you suddenly want money?”
Lin Ling quickly wrote: “Reparing the Inspectorate costs money.”
Xiu Jiming said helplessly: “It’s fine as it is. Why bother fixing it?”
Lin Ling immediately swapped to a new piece of paper, which featured an ugly drawing of a falling door plaque with the words written next to it: “Does this look right?”
The disdain in the little fox’s eyes was almost tangible.
Xiu Jiming rubbed his nose, admitting defeat. He took out a piece of Spirit Jade and handed it over, instructing: “I don’t have any mundane currency on me right now; I haven’t gone to the Yunzhou General Headquarters to collect it yet. Take this to exchange for money first. Remember to go to a reputable pawnshop.”
“Not afraid I’ll be cheated?”
Lin Ling raised an eyebrow and added on the paper.
“Don’t worry. As long as you go to a legitimate pawnshop, no one will dare cheat you once you show this jade. Besides, if you do get cheated, we’ll just go find them.”
Xiu Jiming reached out and flicked Lin Ling’s forehead.
“We are a government institution, after all.”
That was true.
Holding the jade, she scurried away like a little mouse that had stolen some oil, humming an out-of-tune melody triumphantly.
“This girl?”
Xiu Jiming was puzzled.
He focused his gaze and saw that the spiritual energy within Lin Ling’s body was abundant, clearly completely different from a day ago.
What on earth happened to make this girl reach the peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm in a single day?
Xiu Jiming fell silent, but without overthinking it, he immediately got up.
He had plenty of things to do today as well.
For instance, making sure that fellow Shen Zaixin hurried back to the Capital.
He shouldn’t linger in Yunzhou; if something happened, it would be a massive headache.
However, just as he stepped out of the room, a familiar aura caused his brows to lock tightly together.
At the entrance of the Inspectorate, Lin Ling was holding the jade pendant, exchanging words with Shen Zaixin.
A few minutes ago, Lin Ling had been fiddling with the jade pendant in her hand.
Little Ling had some knowledge of such things and could tell at a glance that it was definitely no ordinary item.
Even holding it made her perception of the surrounding worldly spiritual energy much sharper.
This was definitely top-tier stuff.
She’d find a chance to ask Student Xiao Ming for another one.
(A name she gave him herself; since Xiu Jiming called her Ling’er, she would privately call him Student Xiao Ming. Only then did she feel balanced.)
As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw another grand display.
The member of the Linxiu Guards named Shen Zaixin stepped down from a carriage, still wearing that smug expression and his signature squinted eyes.
Lin Ling instinctively tucked the precious jade away and squinted back at Shen Zaixin.
Every time she met this guy, she felt like nothing good would happen.
Shen Zaixin smiled and said, “Miss Ling’er, where are you planning to go? I was quite offensive yesterday, so I’ve come specifically to apologize today.”
Lin Ling frowned.
However, ignoring him entirely wouldn’t be good; he appeared to be a high-ranking official.
Taking out the jade pendant, Lin Ling said stiffly, “Sell… stone. For… money.”
After speaking, she gestured with the jade.
Hearing Lin Ling’s voice for the first time, Shen Zaixin was stunned.
He had always thought Lin Ling was a mute.
He hadn’t expected the young girl’s voice to be so pleasant.
Shen Zaixin sized Lin Ling up, adding in his mind that she was a rare beauty as well.
Shen Zaixin was no longer calm; he was certain he had developed some special feelings for this little fox.
Forcing down his desire, his gaze toward Lin Ling unconsciously softened.
Shen Zaixin’s eyes fell on the jade, and his gaze narrowed slightly.
He knew his trade; this jade was not only top-grade Spirit Jade but also bore faint traces of being nurtured by pure spiritual energy and sword intent over a long period.
It was by no means an ordinary treasure.
Thus, he smiled and said, “Ling’er, why don’t you let me take a closer look at that?”
[Good heavens, what is wrong with these people? Are they all so naturally familiar? Can you stop calling me Ling’er? It’s really skin-crawling!!!]
Lin Ling wanted to cry but had no tears. She decided in her heart that she would give Shen Zaixin a nickname too!
Seeing that Lin Ling didn’t react, Shen Zaixin spoke again: “Don’t worry, Ling’er. If you want to sell it, the price I offer will definitely be higher than the market rate.
Is this a treasure of your Fox Clan?”
And this was the scene Big Boss Xiu Jiming saw when he stepped out.