However, before An Nan Chan could figure things out, Fang Jixue had already turned and walked past her without a word, leaving the Hall of Law Enforcement.
He didn’t want to hear anything else.
Knowing she had been inside was enough.
Seeing that there was nothing more of interest to watch, Wen Shubai also stood up. As he passed by the Law Enforcement Elder, he stuffed the freshly peeled lychee skin into the elder’s hand.
“Were the testimonies of Zhuang Yanxin recorded just now? Make sure nothing is mistaken.”
The Law Enforcement Elder, holding the lychee skin, dared not be negligent and replied, “Reporting to the Sword Sovereign, according to protocol, everything has been recorded on the white jade slip. No one can alter it.”
“In that case, it’s best to report it to the Sect Leader as soon as possible to avoid complications.”
“But…” The Law Enforcement Elder glanced at Chu Weiliang.
Wasn’t there still one person left to interrogate?
Wen Shubai said, “If the Law Enforcement Elder has nothing better to do, why not accompany me back to Brahma Heaven Palace tomorrow and offer some guidance on punishment matters?”
The Law Enforcement Elder shuddered inwardly. Fine, fine. It was clear Wen Shubai was determined to protect his disciple today.
In any case, submitting the testimonies on the white jade slip first was the right move. Everything else could be dealt with later.
“No, no, thank you for your kind offer, Sword Sovereign. Unfortunately, I am burdened with mundane affairs. I will surely visit another time.”
“Really, you won’t go?”
“Truly, I won’t. I won’t.”
“Hmm, fine.” Wen Shubai made no move to leave, waiting for him to send out the jade slip.
Under his watchful gaze, the Law Enforcement Elder had no choice but to order a disciple to summon the white-headed bird used exclusively for delivering messages to the Sect Leader.
A white jade slip, densely inscribed with floating golden characters, was fastened to a golden ring on the bird’s ankle. With two flaps of its wings, the bird flew away.
“Hey…!” An Nan Chan tried to stop it but was held back by the Jade Succession Queen, who gripped her wrist.
She gave her a meaningful look, signaling her to know when to stop and not cause any more trouble now.
An Nan Chan unhappily shook off her hand.
She would not endure this false accusation so easily.
After all, a few words from a dead person couldn’t do much to her.
Moreover, even if the jade slip truly made it across mountains and rivers to the Sect Leader, whether it would ever be seen by anyone was still uncertain.
Out of the corner of her eye, she happened to see Chu Weiliang smiling at her.
[What are you smiling at? You came back to life for nothing and went through all this trouble, but what can you actually do to me?]
An Nan Chan gritted her teeth, using the Thousand Machines Sect’s voice transmission channel.
Chu Weiliang leisurely tilted her head and replied:
[Just for the sake of being wicked. As long as you’re unhappy, I’m happy. As long as you’re displeased, I’m pleased.]
An Nan Chan: [How foolish! Do you think it was only my idea to coax you onto the Sin Cleansing Platform back then?]
Chu Weiliang’s eyes sharpened, her voice suddenly turning cold: [So? Who else was involved?]
An Nan Chan sneered triumphantly, [If you amuse me, perhaps I might let slip a word or two. But if I’m unhappy or happen to die accidentally, you’ll have spent this second lifetime targeting the wrong enemy.]
[Do you think I have no way to deal with you?]
[Try me?]
[Disgusting!]
[Asking for death!]
Their silent exchange of verbal daggers and clashing gazes did not escape An JinXiao’s notice.
He joined in with interest: [What are you two women secretly discussing?]
Chu Weiliang and An Nan Chan in unison: [None of your business!]
An JinXiao awkwardly rubbed his nose and withdrew from the transmission channel.
The Queen of Yucheng was not a disciple of the Thousand Machines Sect and stood to the side, unable to hear anything. Her heavily made-up lashes fluttered as she feigned ignorance, though inwardly displeased.
Wen Shubai couldn’t hear either, but he was not one to tolerate such exclusion. Suddenly, he raised his hand, tracing a path along a meridian near Chu Weiliang’s waist with his sword-finger, then swiftly tapped the acupoints behind her ears.
Chu Weiliang: ??? What are you doing?
[Your master felt like opening a voice transmission channel to Brahma Heaven Palace for you.] Wen Shubai’s voice was both lazy and displeased. Secretly chatting with others without including him? Unacceptable!
Chu Weiliang: ……
……
As soon as the Hall of Law Enforcement adjourned, An Nanchan immediately glared at An Jinxiao. “I asked you to rescue me, and this is how you do it?”
An Jinxiao, wearing a gold ring inlaid with green jade, took his elder sister’s hand. “Alright, alright, why get so angry? What matters is that you’re safe now, isn’t that right?”
An Nanchan, fuming, shook off his hand. “No! That white jade slip cannot be sent to Shaking Heaven City. Otherwise, Fang Jixue might use it as an excuse to annul the engagement with the sect leader.”
An Jinxiao snapped his fingers at the Moon Shadow Guards behind him. “Didn’t you hear what my elder sister said? Go, shoot down that white-headed bird for me.”
“Acknowledged,” the Moon Shadow Guard replied, setting off in pursuit.
An Jinxiao: “Well? Are you satisfied now, elder sister?”
His younger brother had always been straightforward and brutal in his methods, yet utterly obedient to her—a trait An Nanchan quite appreciated.
“Brat! That’s more like it.”
An Jinxiao was used to being scolded and didn’t take offense.
The Queen of Yucheng waited until the siblings had finished their bickering before remarking leisurely, “I’m afraid this matter won’t be so easily resolved. Fang Jixue has no intention of marrying our elder sister, and Wen Shubai has thrown a wrench into the works.”
An Jinxiao’s smile instantly faded. Indeed, it wouldn’t be that simple.
……
Meanwhile, as soon as Wen Shubai and his group returned to their lodgings, Chu Weiliang announced she was going out to retrieve that fish, Chi Qianqiu.
Suspecting Chi Qianqiu might be connected to the Demonic Glass Soul, Wen Shubai also wanted him found quickly and allowed her to go. “Be careful. Call for me if anything happens.”
“Got it, Shifu”
“……” How nauseating!
Chu Weiliang was quite pleased. She had expected this new sect to be strict and full of prohibitions, but Wen Shubai indulged her in everything. Without hesitation, she nimbly scaled the wall and left.
“Use…the door…” Wen Shubai’s words were spoken to empty air. He stood there and sighed. She wasn’t like this before. How had she become like this?
Qin Buji, standing nearby, was puzzled. “Grandmaster, I thought you instructed Little Martial Aunt to be cautious, so she chose to climb the wall to avoid being spotted by the Thousand Machines Sect.”
Thwack!
He received a slap on the head.
“Think you know everything? Everyone, disperse.”
Wen Shubai dismissed the others and returned to his room alone. With a surge of energy, all the doors and windows slammed shut tightly.
“Long Wu,” he called.
A black magical array swirled in the center of the room, churning with demonic aura before coalescing into a masked warrior in black, twin blades at his waist, shrouded in rising dark energy. He knelt on one knee, awaiting orders.
“Escort the white jade slip to Shaking Heaven City. Do not fail.”
Without a word, Long Wu transformed into black smoke, shot through the window like an arrow, pierced the Thousand Machines Sect’s protective barrier, and raced after the message-carrying white-headed bird.
It was merely to fulfill a little disciple’s wish, yet they directly mobilized the Silent Riders who had vanished for a thousand years.
The commotion caused by Longwu’s coming and going was so immense that everyone in the Thousand Machines Sect was startled.
What kind of Monsters dared to roam freely within and outside the Thousand Machines Sect—a sect dedicated to subduing and eliminating demons—in broad daylight???
In the Elder Hall, panic spread among the crowd.
“Quickly, report to the Sect Leader!”
“The Sect Leader just stepped out.”
“What should we do?”
Boom—!
Amid the chaos, the entire ground shook violently.
The Elder of Transmission was the first to realize the danger:
“Disaster! The Demon Realm Gate has loosened again!!!”