Daily life of a cultivation judge

Ming Wa turned to face Yang Qing but faltered under the weight of his profound gaze. Her figure was perfectly reflected in his emerald-green eyes, and within that reflection, it felt as though all her secrets, thoughts, and fears were laid bare. Instinctively, she looked down—a habitual reflect from her childhood.

She clenched her fists and looked up once more, this time maintaining steady eye contact with Yang Qing. Her expression was bold, but her inner turmoil betrayed her. Her racing heart and trembling legs contrasted sharply with her determined façade. Thankfully, both were concealed enough to escape notice—or so she hoped. Something deep inside told her that Yang Qing could perceive everything: the turmoil she was under and the things she was too afraid to let spill.

The thought was both unnerving and oddly comforting. It unnerved her because it felt like she was completely exposed, her every defense stripped away. But it also comforted her for the same reason. If Yang Qing truly saw through her, there was no need to exhaust herself guarding her secrets and emotions. She no longer needed to carry the weight of projecting a tough exterior.

"Do I tell him?" she wondered, her eyes still locked on his.

The trembling in her legs seemed to spread to her hands. Her left hand began to shake slightly, and she stilled it by clenching it into a fist and covering it with her right palm.

"I'm better," she answered softly, her voice trembling just enough to hint at her struggle, though it was barely noticeable due to how low she spoke.

Immediately after giving her response, Ming Wa's body, acting on reflex from its habitual routine, returned to its familiar position. Both hands reached for her wine cup, pulling it closer to her body. She placed it on her thighs, using them as a makeshift table, and lowered her head, trying desperately to pretend that Yang Qing and the two escort supervisors were not seated at the same table.

"I couldn't do it… "The thought weighed heavily on her, her spirits sinking under the burden of her hesitation and inaction.

Her eyes dropped to the reflection of her dejected face on the surface of the wine resting on her knees. "If only Hu'er were here…"

...

"Seems like she isn't ready yet," mused Yang Qing as he observed Ming Wa's reaction. He wasn't surprised that she chose to remain closed off.

Throughout their time together, he had sensed her body tensing numerous times. Her racing heart and the erratic shifts in her soul's essence betrayed her outwardly composed demeanor. Yang Qing knew from experience that people in such states often reacted in one of two ways: they either spilled everything or retreated into silence. Ming Wa had clearly chosen the latter.

Yang Qing sighed inwardly. There wasn't much he could do about it—not here, at least.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," he said gently. Ming Wa, her head still bowed, nodded slightly in response.

Yang Qing didn't press her further, letting her be, much to her evident relief. He shifted his attention back to his conversation with Duan Ting and Liu Ying. The three continued chatting until they finished their wine and side dishes. Finally, they left the Dreamscape Swallow Nest's restaurant—reluctantly so, in Yang Qing's case.

As they stepped outside, Yang Qing couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration when no one approached them for payment. Dining for free—or at a discounted rate—at such a prestigious establishment brought a sense of satisfaction he couldn't quite describe.

There was something deeply gratifying about savoring high-quality dishes and wine without worrying about the cost. In that moment, he felt like a king, basking in luxury.

And as he exited the building, all he could think about were the dishes left unsampled—already fantasizing about indulging in them the next chance he got.

"Not to worry, I'll be back," Yang Qing murmured, casting one last, reluctant glance at the restaurant. The way he gazed at it—equal parts longing and sorrow—one might have thought he was bidding farewell to a lover.

"I'll be back," he repeated, this time with firm conviction, as his hand gently brushed over his chest, where the violet membership card entrusted to him by Wei Shen was safely tucked away.

Fortunately, his three companions were too absorbed in their own thoughts to notice his antics.

...

Once they returned to the Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift Escort Agency, Ming Wa was left at the building's reception as Yang Qing was escorted to the topmost floor by Duan Ting and Liu Ying. This left the foundation establishment cultivator, Li Mei, to host Ming Wa—a task she clearly didn't relish, judging by her nervous and aggrieved expression.

Fortunately for Li Mei, Ming Wa didn't seem interested in being attended to either. Instead, she moved to stand just a few steps outside the reception doors. She would have wandered further had Yang Qing not explicitly instructed her to wait for him at the reception.

...

Fourth Floor of the Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift Escort Agency

"This is how they look," Duan Ting said as he carefully approached, two antique-looking lanterns cradled securely between his arms and chest.

He walked over to the round table where Yang Qing and Liu Ying were seated and gently placed the lanterns before them.

Yang Qing stood up, leaning slightly over the table to examine them more closely. The lanterns resembled unearthed relics, their bronze frames weathered by time. At the sides and bottom, intricate scribblings gave off an archaic aura, as if carrying fragments of ancient history.

The handles were carved from brown turtle sandalwood, engraved with the image of a swift soaring toward an endless horizon. The craftsmanship was so lifelike that Yang Qing almost felt the swift might break free of the engraving and take flight.

The glass panels were made from soft waterfall jade, creating the illusion of cascading water contained within. Gentle streams appeared to flow down the interior, exuding a refreshing coolness that subtly filled the air.

Inside each lantern, nestled at its core, was what initially appeared to be a polished white candle wrapped in a blue feather. But as Yang Qing examined them more closely, his expression shifted.

The 'candles' weren't candles at all.

Their ethereal power and the faint traces of grand dao flowing through them revealed them to be the natal bones of a spirit beast. And not just any spirit beast.

Yang Qing's sharp senses detected that the bones had belonged to one that had already reached the palace realm. Judging by the dense fluctuations of energy still lingering within, he estimated it had likely reached the middle stages of that realm—at the very least.

The quality of the dao essence within them was too dense to suggest otherwise.

Based on the residual traces of energy, Yang Qing further surmised that the spirit beast had likely specialized in the Daos of water and wind—a fitting combination for the lantern's elegant and fluid design.

Even the feathers wrapped around the natal bones carried a similar aura, albeit less dense. The resemblance between them confirmed that the feathers and bones were inextricably linked, likely originating from the same source.

A faint, imperceptible glow flashed in Yang Qing's eyes as his gaze shifted from the natal bones to the swift engraving on the lantern handles.

"Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift might not have been just a casual name..." he mused before pushing the thought aside to focus on the peculiar activity within the lanterns.

Although the natal bones were not candles, they functioned like them. The blue feathers served as wicks, their tips burning with grey flames that shrouded both the feathers and the topmost parts of the bones.

The flames flickered gently, like shadows engaged in a slow, hypnotic dance. They radiated no warmth—cold and almost lifeless—but an ethereal charm emanated from their quiet, unyielding glow.

Yang Qing placed his hands on both lanterns and infused a sliver of his spiritual essence into the flames, probing for any hidden clues they might hold.

Liu Ying's and Duan Ting's faces instantly turned solemn as they felt a gentle yet transcendent power leak from Yang Qing. It wasn't as unnerving as the pressure he had released when breaking up their fight with Ming Wa, but there was something even more terrifying about him now. It felt as though they were in the presence of something so powerful that it bordered on taboo—like peeking into heaven's secrets.

They exchanged a glance, recognizing the surprise and fear in each other's eyes. But before they could sink deeper into those emotions, the overwhelming sensation vanished as quickly as it had come.

Looking around, they found Yang Qing already seated, his brows slightly furrowed in thought, his eyes fixed intently on the two lanterns.

Duan Ting wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but he could have sworn he saw two moons flash briefly in Yang Qing's eyes, followed by an endless ocean. Just as he was about to probe further and see if it was a hallucination or not he felt a hammering blow to his soul sending his mind spiraling into chaos.

Panic surged as his soul trembled, teetering on the brink of collapse. Just when he thought it might shatter, a comforting warmth enveloped him, steadying his essence and pulling him back from the edge.

Gasping for breath, Duan Ting realized he was keeled over, clutching his chest. When he looked up, Yang Qing was already by his side, rubbing his back and channeling spiritual qi into him.

"Are you okay?" Yang Qing asked, his voice soft and soothing as his qi worked to stabilize Duan Ting's soul.

Duan Ting's breathing gradually eased, though his eyes still flickered with residual fear.

A few seconds earlier, in his probing, he had made the mistake of locking eyes with Yang Qing while he was activating the Lunar Gaze Technique. Even though it was only a remnant aftereffect, the technique's power had nearly torn his soul apart.

Had Yang Qing not reacted in time, intervening with his own energy to mend the damage, Duan Ting's soul would have shattered without question.

"I'm okay," Duan Ting said, though his voice came out slightly raspy, and his face remained pale—lingering evidence of the brush with death he'd just experienced.

Yang Qing guided him back into his seat and didn't stop channeling his universal qi until he was certain Duan Ting's condition had stabilized.

Once Duan Ting appeared steady, Liu Ying finally worked up the courage to voice the question that had been burning in both their minds—especially after witnessing Yang Qing's reaction while inspecting the lanterns.

"Did you discover anything, Judge Yang Qing?" she asked, her tone laced with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Her gaze flickered briefly toward the lanterns, as if half-expecting them to stir to life under Yang Qing's scrutiny.