Benjamin Foster woke up with a few muffled sounds and mumbled, “No more, very good, you did well.”

“Your subordinate takes his leave.” Evelyn Smith stood up and left. Rather than making small talk with his superior here, he much preferred to be at home.

“Wait.” Benjamin Foster called out to Evelyn Smith, frowned and thought for a moment. “Did I mention the Xichang?”

“Xichang?” This was the first time Evelyn Smith had heard the term.

“Yes, Xichang. It was just established yesterday. It’s similar to the Dongchang, but… on the west side.”

Evelyn Smith nodded to show he understood, assuming this was yet another result of the eunuchs in the palace vying for power. There was already a Dongchang, and now a Xichang. Would there be a Beichang and Nanchang in the future?

“What does my lord want me to do?” Evelyn Smith didn’t care much. He had always been a free spirit among the Jinyiwei, taking orders from no one but Benjamin Foster.

Benjamin Foster raised his hand and tapped his forehead lightly, as if feeling a headache. After a while, he said, “You’ve been seconded to the Xichang.”

“What?” Evelyn Smith was finally shocked. By convention, the Dongchang was overseen by eunuchs, with captains seconded from the Jinyiwei. Evelyn Smith had never been involved before, and now with the establishment of the Xichang, it was his turn to serve the eunuchs. “My lord…”

Benjamin Foster waved his hand weakly. “No need to refuse. It’s only for a few days. Just explain the matter of Logan Thompson and the demon fox, and I’ll have you back soon. Go today. The Xichang is near Lingji Palace… where exactly, you’ll have to find out yourself.”

Benjamin Foster closed his eyes, seemingly falling asleep again. He was over seventy, able to “do as he pleased.” Evelyn Smith, who had only just “understood his destiny,” could not compare.

Evelyn Smith had no choice. He left the back hall, called for his four adopted sons, and went to report to the Xichang.

Along the way, Evelyn Smith was taciturn, while the four adopted sons were quite curious about the Xichang, speculating which palace eunuch had received such favor to be able to establish a new bureau outside of the Dongchang.

Lingji Palace was located in the western city, not far from the Jinyiwei headquarters. Evelyn Smith had quite a history with this place. When he was young, he had killed someone at Lingji Palace, narrowly escaping disaster. After being transferred to the Jinyiwei, he had arrested several fraudulent Taoists from Lingji Palace, creating a deep enmity between them. They had not interacted for over twenty years.

Evelyn Smith sent one of his adopted sons to gather information, trying to avoid meeting the Taoists of Lingji Palace.

The adopted son soon returned with news: the newly established Xichang was located opposite Lingji Palace, and there was no need for an introduction from the Taoists.

The Xichang was originally an abandoned old factory. The courtyard was untidy, the buildings dilapidated, and the signboard had not yet been hung. Dozens of laborers were busy cleaning everywhere.

Evelyn Smith stood outside the gate and sent another adopted son in to announce their arrival. Soon, an old eunuch came out, smiling as he invited Evelyn Smith inside. “Please wait a moment, Lord Baihu. The director is still in the palace and hasn’t come out yet.”

The old eunuch’s name was Diana Young, one of the many powerful figures Evelyn Smith had offended.

As the saying goes, when you owe many debts, you stop worrying. Evelyn Smith was long past caring. The old eunuch smiled, so he smiled too, cupping his hands and asking, “May I ask who the director is?”

“Eunuch Wang,” Diana Young replied casually.

Evelyn Smith couldn’t recall any powerful eunuch surnamed Wang in the palace, but didn’t ask further. He entered the main hall and sat down. At a glance, the furnishings were shabby. He wondered whether this Eunuch Wang was truly frugal or simply hadn’t had time to decorate.

Diana Young ordered tea to be served, exchanged a few pleasantries, and sighed, “It’s been more than ten years, hasn’t it? I’ve grown old, and Lord Smith looks older too.”

“Mm.” Evelyn Smith thought of his superior Benjamin Foster, so he lowered his head, half-closed his eyes, and appeared drowsy and exhausted.

Diana Young continued talking to himself, “Back then, there was a bit of a misunderstanding between us. Thinking about it now, it’s really laughable. We both serve His Majesty—what was there to fight over?”

“Ridiculous,” Evelyn Smith replied vaguely.

“Well, now it’s good. We have a chance to work together again.”

Evelyn Smith raised his head. “I’m not up to it anymore. My body is weak, not like Officer Young. I’m just here to hand things over to the Xichang, then I need to go home and recover.”

“Heh, Lord Smith just recently captured the demon Logan Thompson alive—how can you say you’re weak?”

“All show and no substance. If you don’t believe me, Officer Young, go ask the maid in my room.”

Diana Young’s smile stiffened. “The matters His Majesty entrusted to us—no matter how ill you are, you’ll have to do your best. Lord Smith, it’s not enough to have caught Logan Thompson; you must also find the demon fox. This task will inevitably fall to you.”

Evelyn Smith shook his head. “It wasn’t the demon fox who hurt people, and it has nothing to do with Logan Thompson.”

“Logan Thompson’s confession says otherwise. Lord Smith, just focus on catching demons. The rest is not your concern.”

“I can only catch demons if there are demons. If there aren’t any, what am I supposed to catch?”

Diana Young’s smile vanished completely. “Evelyn Smith, I told you long ago: when His Majesty becomes interested in the art of immortality, that will be the time you lose favor. That time has come.”

Evelyn Smith grunted from his throat. As early as the eighth year of Chenghua, he had realized the winds had changed, so he wasn’t surprised at all.

“I’ve always been a mere Baihu, never had any real power. How could I ‘lose favor’? I’ll take my leave now. Please inform the director that I’ll come visit again tomorrow.”

Without waiting for Diana Young’s permission, Evelyn Smith got up and left.