Before the words finished.
Jiang Yuechu paused, her gaze sweeping past Cui Yuan and landing on his side.
An old man in a gray cloth robe stood there.
It was precisely the one who had been in the Martial Temple earlier.
Jiang Yuechu composed herself, not daring to be presumptuous, and cupped her hands in a salute.
"Senior?"
The old man didn't respond, merely narrowing his eyes slightly, his gaze lingering on her for a long time.
After a long while.
He waved his hand and said, "Since the seal has entered your body and the matter is done, there's no need to stay here any longer."
"Yes, Junior bids farewell."
Jiang Yuechu was not one to overstay her welcome. Since she had been asked to leave, she would go.
Cui Yuan, who was beside her, felt as if he had been granted a great pardon, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly stepping aside to lead the way.
"Commander Jiang, this way please, this way please!"
His demeanor was even more urgent than when they had arrived.
The two hurried out of the Imperial City along the path they had taken.
Along the way, there were red walls and yellow tiles, and palace willows draped in gold.
The patrolling Imperial Guards, usually ubiquitous, were now largely absent. The few teams they occasionally encountered were also rushing, looking flustered, as if something significant had happened.
Jiang Yuechu kept her eyes straight ahead, moving swiftly.
However... she could clearly feel that Lord Cui's gaze beside her was somewhat off.
Ever since they exited the Martial Temple, Cui Yuan's gaze had not left her.
Finally.
In the corridor leading to the Imperial City's side gate, Jiang Yuechu stopped.
She turned her head and looked at Cui Yuan expressionlessly.
"Lord Cui."
"Ah? Hey! Present!"
Cui Yuan jumped in fright, his body stiffening abruptly, instinctively retreating half a step.
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly, feeling somewhat bewildered.
"Lord, you've been staring at This subordinate the whole way. Is there something on my face? Or... is there something amiss?"
Cui Yuan swallowed, looked left and right, and only dared to speak when he saw no one around: "Commander Jiang, regarding today's matter at the Martial Temple... do not spread it."
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow: "Naturally, This subordinate is not a gossip."
"No, you don't understand what I mean."
Cui Yuan leaned forward a step, "Regarding today's events, in this world, only you, I, and that Imperial Great Ancestor know."
"Imperial Great Ancestor?"
Cui Yuan's expression was solemn, "Precisely that Senior from earlier. He has long since retired from worldly affairs for many years. Only a crucial place like the Martial Temple requires his personal presence."
Jiang Yuechu was slightly startled.
So that old man in gray had such a significant background?
But she still didn't understand the other party's intention.
She entered the Ink Dot Realm at seventeen or eighteen, which was astonishing, but there was no need to be so cautious, right?
Seeing that Jiang Yuechu still didn't understand, Cui Yuan also reacted.
"Indeed, you were in seclusion inside seeking the seal, so how would you know that the outside world has been turned upside down?"
He sighed, and slowly said: "About half an hour after you went in, a white Dragon broke through the clouds above Chang'an, a fierce tiger shattered the Void Realm, and there was even a thousand-foot-tall Black Bear right above this Imperial City..."
"That kind of power... tsk tsk."
Cui Yuan shook his head, his face full of lingering fear.
"Now, I'm afraid the entire city of Chang'an is in chaos..."
Jiang Yuechu stood stunned.
Although she knew the hundred demons compendium caused quite a stir, she hadn't expected it to be this big.
So, while she was making a Breakthrough inside, there was such a huge commotion outside?
"This..."
Jiang Yuechu opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Since the Imperial Great Ancestor didn't keep you, and didn't even ask a single question, it means he doesn't want this matter to come to light."
At this point, Cui Yuan's expression became serious, even carrying a hint of warning.
"Commander Jiang, I am a few years older than you and have been in The Department for some years. It's only because you are someone valued by General Bureau; I would never speak out if it were anyone else."
"You, at such a young age, have entered the Ink Dot Realm. This is originally a good thing, but today's commotion was too great. A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be destroyed by the wind. If the outside world knows that this unusual phenomenon was caused by you..."
Jiang Yuechu was silent for a moment.
She understood this principle.
No matter where, a Genius is always envied.
Especially a monster that can break the balance.
"Lord Cui means for me to play dumb?"
"There's no need to play dumb. After you go back, just do what you normally do, as if you simply sought a Spiritual Seal and stepped into the Ink Dot Realm."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, but her brows did not relax.
"Lord Cui, this matter... I'm afraid it's not that easy, is it?"
"Only I entered the Martial Temple today."
"Right after I went in, an unusual phenomenon appeared in the sky."
"As long as they're not fools, after a little thought, who wouldn't guess there's something strange about me?"
Cui Yuan, hearing this, smiled instead.
"Commander Jiang, you are excellent at slaying demons and devils, but when it comes to the ways of officialdom... you are still a bit naive."
He clasped his hands in his sleeves and slowly walked outside.
"Who told you that only you entered the Martial Temple today?"
Jiang Yuechu was startled, quickly following him, "Are there others?"
"If General Bureau says there are, if the Great Ancestor says there are, then there are."
Cui Yuan said calmly, "At the Martial Temple, the dossiers for seeking seals pile up like mountains every day. It's incredibly easy to add a few strokes or change a few strokes in them."
"Besides..."
"What are all these people the imperial court supports for?"
"Tomorrow morning, what's circulating in the streets and alleys will probably be about some reclusive old immortal passing through Chang'an, or His Majesty's boundless good fortune attracting auspicious omens to descend."
Jiang Yuechu pondered.
This was the so-called... official debunking?
No matter the truth, as long as the higher-ups insisted it was an auspicious omen, the common people below could only believe it was an auspicious omen.
As for those true bigwigs... with the Imperial Great Ancestor, that great Buddha, holding things down, who would dare to seek verification at the Martial Temple?
Understanding this point, Jiang Yuechu's heart settled.
"This subordinate understands."
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Cui."
"Oh, no need to thank me for guidance."
Cui Yuan waved his hand, "We all work for the Demon Suppression Division. Perhaps in the future, we'll have to rely on people like you to support it..."
"Come, come, come. We've been busy all morning without even a sip of water. It's dinnertime now. I know a shop nearby..."
...Daming Palace.
The young emperor frowned deeply.
"How are the investigations proceeding?"
Below the steps, the Old Eunuch bowed, "Reporting... Reporting to Your Majesty."
"My subordinates have searched all over Chang'an City. Except for a few areas, all other places... are without abnormality."
"Without abnormality?"
The emperor scoffed, "Such a huge commotion, and you tell Ithere's no abnormality?"
"This..."
The Old Eunuch trembled and knelt on the ground with a thud.
"This servant is incompetent! This servant will immediately send people to investigate again! Even if we have to turn Chang'an City upside down, we must find the source!"
"No need."
An old, indifferent voice suddenly echoed in the hall.
"Who?!"
The Old Eunuch was greatly alarmed, instinctively about to shriek for guards.
"Silence!"
The emperor suddenly stood up, quickly rose, and bowed to the old man.
"Grandson greets Imperial Great Ancestor."