Three days after the "Mountain Poetry Incident," Li Ming received a letter.
Not just any letter — a Heavenly Grade Performance Evaluation Scroll.
It descended from the clouds in the shape of a glowing pigeon that looked both divine and underpaid.
The pigeon landed on his shoulder and sighed. "Delivery complete. Please rate my service out of five stars."
Li Ming blinked. "You talk?"
"Union regulations," it said flatly. "Now please, I have fourteen more divine errands before lunch."
He gave it five stars. The pigeon nodded approvingly and disintegrated into celestial paperwork.
Yin Qing, who'd been standing beside him, asked cautiously, "What did Heaven send this time? Another poetic mountain? Or is it a talking volcano now?"
Li Ming unrolled the scroll.
"'Dear Temporary Representative Li Ming,'" he read aloud, "'your recent administrative interventions have produced… unforeseen side effects.'"
He paused. "They underlined unforeseen three times."
