Rear hall.
The lights were still on.
A personal guard stood at the door. Seeing her, he bowed and said, "Commander Jiang, Lord Wei and Lord Xu are waiting for you inside."
Xu Changfeng was here too?
Jiang Yuechu was a little surprised.
The personal guard seemed to notice her confusion and explained in a low voice, "He arrived in the evening and has been here ever since."
Jiang Yuechu sighed softly, nodded, and stepped inside.
Walking to the door, she immediately saw two people.
Wei He sat in the main seat, holding a cup of hot tea, sipping it slowly.
Xu Changfeng sat beside him, his handsome face filled with solemnity.
Seeing her enter, Xu Changfeng's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately he couldn't speak.
Wei He raised his eyelids, smiled, and said, "You're here? Sit."
Jiang Yuechu was not polite and sat down next to Xu Changfeng as instructed.
"It's done."
She was concise.
Wei He nodded, as if he had known all along, "Mm, you've worked hard."
He put down his teacup and turned to look at Xu Changfeng, smiling ambiguously.
"Changfeng, see? Didn't I tell you?"
A bitter curve appeared at the corner of Xu Changfeng's mouth. He cupped his hands to Jiang Yuechu.
"Commander Jiang, impressive methods."
It was unclear if these words were praise or sarcasm.
"It's just..."
Xu Changfeng took a deep breath, finally unable to hold back, "Lord Wei, with Forgetting Dust dead, Baosha Temple will never let this go! By then, I fear the entire Jianghu of the Longyou Circuit will be in an uproar!"
Wei He chuckled, "Then let it be in an uproar! This world has long needed to be turned upside down!"
"Forgetting Dust, Chief of the Discipline hospital of Baosha Temple, colluded with the gentry of Region, attempting to harm a Sixth-Rank Langjiang of my Demon Suppression Division. After his plot failed, he resisted stubbornly and publicly assaulted an imperial official."
"Jiang Yuechu, Brigade Commander of my Demon Suppression Division's Heaven Character Camp, was forced to kill him on the spot."
He turned to Jiang Yuechu, "Are you satisfied with this explanation?"
Jiang Yuechu pursed her lips and said, "It's acceptable."
Xu Changfeng on the side was stunned.
No... so you two are working in concert, and I'm just an outsider?
Wei He's gaze returned to Xu Changfeng, the smile on his face fading.
"Changfeng, go now and draft an official document, clearly detailing tonight's events. Have someone send it urgently, eight hundred li, to the capital."
"Additionally, issue my command: starting tomorrow, the Longyou Demon Suppression Division will thoroughly investigate all temples within the territory. Any found to be colluding with demons will be executed first and reported later!"
"This..."
Xu Changfeng instantly understood his meaning.
Is he going to completely break ties with Baosha Temple?
"Lord, isn't this approach a bit too hasty?"
It wasn't that he was a coward.
Since he entered the martial Dao, the demons and evil spirits that died by his hand were no less than eighty, if not a hundred. He had even killed many desperate Jianghu outlaws.
It was just completely unnecessary.
In his opinion, this matter could have been handled better.
Few people knew about Jiang Yuechu killing Forgetting Dust today.
If they controlled those who knew, by the time the news reached Baosha Temple, who knew how long it would be.
At that time, even if the other party found out, the Demon Suppression Division could simply deny it. Although it would still create animosity, it would be far from the current situation, where the conflict was directly brought into the open.
To kill someone so openly and then write an official document to declare it to the world.
How was this merely killing someone?
This was clearly pointing at Baosha Temple's nose and telling them—I killed your person, if you have the guts, come bite me?
"Changfeng."
Wei He's voice pulled Xu Changfeng back from his thoughts.
He looked up to see Wei He's calm expression.
"Do you think killing one Forgetting Dust is difficult?"
Xu Changfeng was startled and subconsciously glanced at the drowsy girl beside him.
Difficult?
Not to mention Wei He making a move, even this girl in front of him could do it.
"Not difficult."
He answered honestly.
"Then what is difficult?" Wei He asked again.
Xu Changfeng frowned in thought for a moment, then slowly said, "What's difficult is how to deal with Baosha Temple's desperate retaliation after killing someone, and... the Buddhist believers behind them."
"Well said."
Wei He nodded, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, "But have you ever thought, why should my Demon Suppression Division fear Baosha Temple's wrath? Why should we, imperial officials, appease a group of ignorant commoners deluded by bald monks?"
He stood up and walked in front of Jiang Yuechu, reaching out to gently pat the lifelike golden lion on her shoulder.
"I never thought she did anything wrong, nor did I think there was anything wrong with how things have developed to this point."
Before Xu Changfeng could speak, he sighed and continued, "Changfeng, I know your concerns, and I know you're thinking for The Department. Ultimately, it's because my Longyou Dusi currently has no Commander in charge."
Xu Changfeng remained silent.
"With the position of Commander vacant, my Longyou Dusi, though seemingly sharp-clawed, is actually without a leader. Those people are precisely taking advantage of this to repeatedly test the limits of my Demon Suppression Division."
"Aristocratic families feign compliance, sects are unruly, and even the merchants throughout the city dare to criticize us behind our backs..."
"But this situation... it has to end."
Xu Changfeng's face was full of bitterness.
End?
How could it end?
"Lord, Longyou is ultimately a remote area. The imperial court has always focused on the Central Plains, and then on affluent areas like Jiangnan."
He sighed, his voice full of powerlessness, "Currently, not only is my Longyou Demon Suppression Division understaffed, but the entire Great Tang is also in the same situation."
"The appointment of the next Commander will likely take forever."
Wei He, however, laughed.
"No need to worry so much. Since I dare to do this, I naturally have my reasons."
He looked at the deep night outside the window and said faintly, "I can guarantee that in not much time, this situation will cease to exist."
Hm?
Upon hearing this, not only was Xu Changfeng stunned, but even Jiang Yuechu, who had been listening drowsily as if it had nothing to do with her, slightly opened her eyes, a hint of doubt flashing in them.
Although she was sleepy, she was still listening carefully.
Indeed, her current strength was quite good.
But she wouldn't be so foolish as to think that she alone could suppress the entire Region.
In the current situation, without a Commander in charge, how could they suppress the myriad of evil forces in the Longyou Circuit?
She glanced sideways, only to see Wei He staring intently at her.
...
Her heart skipped a beat.
She had a bad feeling.
Xu Changfeng also noticed Wei He's action. Following his gaze, he subconsciously looked at Jiang Yuechu beside him.
Instantly, he understood something.
An absurd thought appeared in his mind.
"Lord... are you saying... her?"
Jiang Yuechu was also bewildered.
Huh?
Me?