Master of Strange Dao

Since Yu Ziqing had summoned millions of hungry ghosts in one go last time, no one doubted such claims anymore.

And it just so happened that the people in the Shadow Department were major contributors to Devil Thought.

The people here, regardless of how forthright they were or how much they loved their careers, felt as if they walked in darkness yet did righteous deeds.

Such sentiments were merely to comfort themselves. Even genuinely wicked persons, true Evil Dao practitioners, after staying here long enough, didn't need to worry too much about developing Devil Thoughts.

However, the Shadow Department could not employ purely evil people or outright antisocial elements.

Those without a bottom line couldn't handle such work, and even if one appeared occasionally, they wouldn't last long before perishing, never even seeing the day they rise.

But those with a bottom line, once here, regardless of who they were, would see that bottom line breached repeatedly.

In the past, members of the Shadow Department had a high regard for hungry ghosts, an innate fondness for Jinlan Mountain.

Especially now, when Yu Ziqing specifically came to the Dali Imperial City to deliver a batch of sweet rain.

With no recent grievances and no past enmities, these fellows, even if they didn't know Yu Ziqing, would at least not have a poor impression of him.

Indeed, some in the Shadow Department, when their Devil Thoughts secretly grew to rampant levels, went to Almsgiving Town to rid themselves of them.

Diluted sweet rain was a treasure within the Shadow Department available for merit exchange.

From top to bottom, as long as the merit was sufficient, and as long as there was sweet rain left in the Shadow Department, anyone could trade for it.

Su Li gradually made a name for himself within the Shadow Department. Besides people slowly realizing that he excelled in task execution and interpersonal skills aside from his weak strength, the sweet rain also played a significant role.

As the sweet rain outside grew scarcer, and Yu Ziqing controlled it tightly, claiming there was no production regardless of what anyone said, the bit that Su Li held became especially precious.

To curry favor, after saving two people, Su Li began to secure his position as a Shadow Envoy.

At the very least, he now had missions, not just simple ones.

He could also undertake more challenging tasks that a Shadow Envoy ought to do, for there were those who would assist him.

But now, Ye Jiuyuan had ruined everything.

Yu Ziqing targeted only the Shadow Department, not anyone else.

A few days ago, Duke Lin visited Almsgiving Town, and upon his return, he seemed to have just recovered from a severe illness but was full of spirit, his eyes shining, obviously restored.

Others also went, and none had issues.

The Shadow Department wanted to send someone to try, but the problem was, they didn't have any sweet rain left.

Duke Lin had some, but he clearly stated that the Shadow Department had no use for it, making it pointless to give it to them.

Duke Lin hadn't lost his mind; he wouldn't offend Yu Ziqing, the sole supplier, for those he rarely interacted with and didn't dare form deep relationships.

There was no friendship to speak of before, so expecting Duke Lin to be friendly to the Shadow Department was unrealistic.

On the contrary, not allowing Shadow Department members to enter, was the best course of action.

In this way, Emperor Li and all other non-Shadow Department individuals could trust him.

Otherwise, how inappropriate would it be if a Duke leading a regional army had close ties with members of the Shadow Department?

Suspicions and misunderstandings were something he had to avoid.

On the side, by opposing the Shadow Department members, it relayed some information to the outside.

He had sweet rain, and simultaneously announced that he had fully recovered and wouldn't die.

As for the Crown Prince, he had some too.

Unfortunately, just as the Crown Prince wouldn't meddle in Shadow Department affairs, the Shadow Department didn't dare approach him.

Moreover, on the day Yu Ziqing left, the Crown Prince ran to Emperor Li and ridiculed the Shadow Department in a bizarre manner from top to bottom, making Emperor Li so angry that his face turned green, yet he had nothing to retort.

Every word the Crown Prince spoke was logical.

The general idea was that the representative from Jinlan Mountain came for trade in a friendly manner.

The head of the Shadow Department arranged an assassination in broad daylight. Were they not afraid of accidentally killing the distinguished young master of Jinlan Mountain?

Moreover, since the Shadow Department's chief himself got involved, how could the father emperor claim ignorance, and wasn't this something arranged by him?

When did his subordinate dogs dare make such decisions on their own?

This action would make others laugh at them, grand Dali Divine Dynasty allegedly fearing the people from Jinlan Mountain entering the capital. Even the Crown Prince felt humiliated.

The Crown Prince phrased it diplomatically, not as bluntly, yet the mocking tone was unmistakable.

After speaking, the Crown Prince left.

That day, Emperor Li summoned the Shadow Supreme to the palace.

It was said that Emperor Li, who hadn't been angry for a long while, kicked the Shadow Supreme out of the palace city.

And today, at the Shadow Department's meeting, the primary agenda was to vent at Ye Jiuyuan, with no other solutions, because there simply were none.

After all, Qing Ziyu vanished after leaving the Dali Imperial City, clearly unwilling to see them.

And they didn't dare go to Jinlan Mountain, let alone enter Jinlan Mountain, daring to step into the Forbidden Land's range, the first thing Emperor Li would do was chop off their legs.

Ye Jiuyuan, with a shameless demeanor, sat as the spittle flew onto his face and dried, pretending not to hear.

He waited until the venting subsided, seeing a slight lull, before he responded, indifferent and measured.

"If any of you believe I am in the wrong for not letting such a dangerous figure roam freely in the Imperial City, feel free to speak up."