A Summons from the Ministry
Lin Feng's peaceful afternoon was disrupted by the arrival of an officious-looking messenger clad in drab robes, clutching a scroll bearing the seal of the Imperial Ministry of Order.
"Master Lin Feng," the messenger intoned, "you are hereby summoned to the capital to address discrepancies in your official records."
Lin Feng exchanged a bemused glance with Xian Mei. "Discrepancies? This promises to be an adventure of a different sort."
The Journey to the Capital
The duo set off toward the capital, their path winding through bustling markets and serene countryside. Along the way, they encountered Simon, the amateur sorcerer, attempting to levitate a cart of cabbages with mixed success.
"Care to join us on a bureaucratic quest?" Lin Feng inquired.
Simon shrugged, causing the cabbages to float momentarily before plummeting. "Why not? I've always wanted to see the Ministry's famed red tape."
The Ministry of Order
Upon reaching the capital, they were ushered into the imposing edifice of the Ministry. The interior was a maze of corridors, each lined with shelves overflowing with scrolls and ledgers.
A scribe with ink-stained fingers greeted them. "Name and purpose?"
"Lin Feng, here to address some discrepancies," he replied.
The scribe consulted a tome thicker than a dragon's hide. "Ah, yes. You'll need Form 37-B, signed in triplicate, and stamped by the Department of Redundancy Department."
The Quest for Form 37-B
Their first task was to locate Form 37-B. This led them to the Office of Forms, where a clerk informed them that Form 37-B could only be obtained by submitting Request Form 42-A.
"And where might we find that?" Xian Mei asked, her patience waning.
"In the Annex of Requisitions, sub-basement level three," the clerk replied without looking up.
Navigating the Labyrinth
The trio descended into the bowels of the Ministry, encountering a series of increasingly absurd obstacles:
A room filled with filing cabinets that rearranged themselves every few minutes.
A corridor where gravity intermittently inverted.
A chamber guarded by a Cerberus-like creature that demanded correct paperwork for passage.
Simon attempted to charm the beast with a spell, but instead turned its fur a vibrant shade of pink.
"Well, at least it's fashionable now," Lin Feng quipped.
The Department of Redundancy Department
After hours of navigating the bureaucratic labyrinth, they reached the Department of Redundancy Department. There, they encountered a clerk who insisted they fill out Form 37-B to request Form 37-B.
"But that's the form we're trying to obtain!" Xian Mei exclaimed.
The clerk adjusted his spectacles. "Precisely. And without it, I cannot issue it."
A Creative Solution
Realizing conventional methods were futile, Lin Feng hatched a plan. He proposed they draft their own Form 37-B, complete with ornate calligraphy and an impressive-looking seal.
Simon conjured a minor illusion to make the seal appear official, and they presented the form to the clerk.
The clerk examined it, nodded approvingly, and stamped it. "Everything seems to be in order. Discrepancy resolved."
Epilogue: The Return Home
With their bureaucratic ordeal behind them, the trio returned to their village. Lin Feng couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the experience.
"Who knew that navigating the Ministry could be more perilous than facing a dragon?" he mused.
Xian Mei smiled. "Perhaps next time, we should bring a lawyer instead of a sorcerer."
Simon shrugged. "I can always study contract law. How hard could it be?"
As they shared a hearty laugh, Lin Feng felt a renewed appreciation for the unpredictable adventures life had to offer, whether battling mythical beasts or untangling red tape.
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*To be continued...*