The next morning, the Imperial Sect Tournament was buzzing like a nest of sword-wielding bees. Rumors of the Broom Sect's miracle victory had spread across the capital like wildfire. By breakfast, half the city was whispering Shen Liang's name. By noon, merchants were already selling cheap Heavenly Broom souvenirs that glowed when tapped.
Meanwhile, inside the private chambers of the Iron Sky Pavilion, several cultivators sat around a golden table, their faces twisted with irritation.
Unacceptable! barked Elder Mu Qing, his long beard trembling with rage. A broom defeated our Flowing River allies? Do you know how much we invested in this tournament?
Another elder sneered. The empire watches, and a janitor sect steals our attention? That will not do.
So, murmured a younger man in fine silver armor, his tone oozing arrogance, shall we end them quietly?
A scroll was unfurled.
At the top: 'Imperial Tournament Rule 89-B – Tools Unfit for Battle.'
Elder Mu's grin widened. Perfect. We'll have them disqualified. Fighting with a broom violates rule standards for recognized spiritual implements. We'll make it look clean.
They all chuckled darkly. Let the Falling Sword Sect fall again.
Across the arena, Shen Liang was lying on a pile of hay behind his sect's tent, humming softly.
Zhao Fei ran toward him, breathless and panicked. Master! The officials... they're saying we violated Rule 89-B! They said your broom isn't a 'proper weapon'!
Shen Liang yawned, eyes half-open. Hmm. Of course it isn't. It's a tool.
Then we're doomed!
He stretched lazily, brushing dust from his sleeve. Ah, Zhao Fei, my disciple… do you know why Heaven made bureaucrats?
Zhao Fei blinked. Uh… to make things fair?
Shen Liang grinned. No. To make clever people necessary.
Minutes later, Shen Liang walked into the imperial arbitration hall. Judges sat in tall chairs of jade and gold, their faces grim and self-important. Behind them hung the massive Imperial Code of Cultivation Conduct, glowing faintly with runic light.
Elder Mu Qing was already waiting, smug and composed. Ah, the janitor himself arrives, he said smoothly. Here to defend your cleaning tools?
Shen Liang smiled brightly. Oh, I don't need to defend them, Elder. I only came to clean your misunderstanding.
A few muffled chuckles rippled through the room. Elder Mu's face twitched.
The lead judge, a stern woman named Lady Xu Ling, tapped her staff. Silence. As per the complaint, the Falling Sword Sect's weapon of use—a broom—is unregistered under recognized spiritual armaments. Do you have anything to say, Shen Liang?
Shen Liang clasped his hands and bowed respectfully. Indeed, Your Honor. According to Imperial Tournament Rule 89-B, weapons must be registered spiritual implements used in combat. But…
He took out a thin scroll, his grin widening. …According to Imperial Labor Law Article 12 – Section 7, all registered sect tools used for maintenance of divine grounds are considered Heavenly Implements under labor jurisdiction.
The room fell silent.
Even Elder Mu froze. W-what nonsense is this?
Shen Liang unfurled the scroll dramatically. See? Signed three hundred years ago by Emperor Wu De himself. Apparently, the old emperor once slipped on a banana peel and decreed that no janitor shall be treated as less than a cultivator!
One of the judges stifled a laugh. Lady Xu Ling coughed, trying not to smile.
Therefore, Shen Liang continued cheerfully, my broom, being a maintenance tool of the sect's sacred courtyard, qualifies as a Heavenly Implement of Labor. By law, it outranks all mundane weapons, including those made by the Iron Sky Pavilion, if I may add.
The judges exchanged glances, murmuring among themselves.
Elder Mu's face turned crimson. Absurd! That law is outdated!
Outdated? Shen Liang tilted his head innocently. You mean the Imperial Law, written in golden ink and still active in the empire's legal codex? Should we… sweep that away too?
Laughter erupted through the hall. Even Lady Xu Ling's lips twitched upward.
Outside the court, Luo Yan watched the entire fiasco from the upper balcony, arms crossed. She sighed, shaking her head. This man... turns imperial bureaucracy into a circus.
An aide beside her whispered, Should we intervene, Lady Luo?
She hesitated. Then quietly, she dropped a sealed note toward the judge's bench below, the Imperial Envoy Seal, authorizing full verification of the law Shen Liang cited. It was genuine, and the moment Lady Xu Ling saw it, her decision was made.
The gavel struck. After review, this court finds no violation by the Falling Sword Sect. Their equipment is legally recognized as a Divine Implement under labor ordinance.
The hall exploded in noise.
Elder Mu rose furiously. You...!! This is manipulation!
Shen Liang bowed deeply, grin wide enough to fit a broom through. No, Elder Mu. This is mopping up injustice.
The audience burst into laughter.
As he turned to leave, he added softly, Next time, try bribing a janitor instead of a judge. They clean up your mess for free.
Later, back at the sect tent, Zhao Fei and the disciples surrounded Shen Liang like worshippers before a saint.
Master, you… you just outwitted the Iron Sky Pavilion with labor law! Who even memorizes labor law?!
Shen Liang chuckled. Someone who cleans up after lazy elders. Knowledge, my disciple, is the true mop of the mind.
They all groaned at the terrible joke, but couldn't help laughing.
A faint voice interrupted from behind. Luo Yan stepped out of the shadows, her elegant robes fluttering softly in the wind.
You could've been executed if your bluff failed, she said sternly.
Shen Liang smiled. Ah, but you helped ensure it didn't, didn't you, Lady Envoy?
She looked away, pretending not to hear. I don't meddle in foolish men's affairs.
Of course not, Shen Liang said lightly. Foolish men just happen to sweep destiny clean wherever they walk.
Her lips twitched...almost a smile, almost annoyance. You're insufferable.
Thank you. I cultivate that.
That evening, as the sun dipped behind the imperial spires, Shen Liang sat outside their camp, broom resting beside him.
The system chimed softly in his mind:
[Quest Completed: Labor Law Loophole]
Reward: 10,000 XP, New Title – The Legal Janitor of Heaven.
He chuckled aloud. Legal Janitor of Heaven, hmm? Not bad. Maybe I'll open a law firm next...'Sweep, Sue & Sanctify.'
Zhao Fei, overhearing, groaned. Master, please don't.
Too late, Shen Liang replied, gazing up at the starlit sky. Heaven's got too many loopholes. Someone's gotta keep it tidy.
And somewhere on the imperial balcony, Luo Yan watched him quietly... a faint smile hidden behind her fan. He walks like a fool, she whispered again, but even Heaven makes room for his madness.