Chapter 56: The Case of the Missing Miracle
Ne Job woke up to a curious sound — a soft plop followed by a giggle. He blinked. The Divine Dormitory was quiet, save for the rustling of scrolls and the occasional snore from Ao Bing's bunk.
But something was missing.
He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and gasped. "Oh crumbs! My miracle's gone!"
It wasn't just any miracle. It was the one he'd been assigned to polish — a tiny, glowing orb that granted minor blessings like finding lost socks or making tea taste just right. Lord Xian had called it "Miracle #742-B," but Ne Job had named it Twinkle.
He dashed to the Bureau of Minor Blessings, his slippers slapping against the marble floor.
Taiyi Zhenren was already there, sipping divine espresso. "Lost your miracle, have you?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
Ne Job nodded. "It vanished in the night! I think someone's playing tricks."
Just then, Ao Bing burst in, holding a scroll with bite marks. "Look what I found near the fountain! And there's glitter everywhere!"
The trio followed the trail — glitter, scroll crumbs, and tiny footprints — all the way to the Celestial Garden. There, under a mushroom shaped like a filing cabinet, sat a giggling sprite.
"I borrowed Twinkle," she said, "to fix my hiccups. It worked splendidly!"
Ne Job sighed with relief. "You mustn't take miracles without asking. They're very shy, you know."
The sprite apologized, and Twinkle floated back to Ne Job's palm, humming softly.
Lord Xian appeared, arms crossed. "Well? Solved the case?"
Ne Job nodded. "It was a hiccup emergency, sir."
Lord Xian blinked. "Very well. But next time, log the incident in triplicate."
Ne Job grinned. "Already done!"
And so, the day ended with tea, laughter, and Twinkle safely tucked in its scroll pouch — ready for the next tiny miracle.