Master of Strange Dao

Yu Ziqing glanced into the distance. He had sensed someone entering earlier, but since their power was weak and posed no threat, he paid it no mind.

When he hurried back, the corpses of the twenty-four Blade Dao experts had all disappeared. Some traces remained, indicating that several people had arrived.

"Can we track them?"

"Yes." Lou Huai replied.

Yu Ziqing exited the Abyssal Rift, guided by Lou Huai, and found those individuals in a small city on the border of Kuihou Country.

Lou Huai silently disappeared, reappearing a moment later.

"Brother, they are from the Jinyi Wei."

"Jinyi Wei, huh..."

Yu Ziqing closed his eyes, entered the Seventh Floor, and summoned Song Chengyue.

Moments later, Song Chengyue ascended the stairs.

"Let me ask you something, southwest of Dali there's an Abyssal Rift. Did your people enter there?"

"Hold on a moment."

Old Song left immediately, returning moments later.

"Yes, three of them, all mine."

"Oh, then there's no problem. By the way, I have some news for you. A Ninth Tier eunuch tried to kill our people from Jinlan Mountain. We've already taken care of him."

Song Chengyue's face darkened as he sifted through the intelligence in his mind.

In the Daqian Palace, no Ninth Tier eunuchs had left the palace. But he was certain that the eunuch was indeed from Daqian.

The relationship between Dali's Eastern Palace and Jinlan Mountain was decent—not overly friendly, but certainly not hostile.

Given Dali's current situation, Emperor Li wouldn't openly antagonize Jinlan Mountain, creating a pit for the Dali Crown Prince. Especially now, when the enigmatic Jinlan Mountain was becoming ever more unfathomable. He doubted it even more.

"Thank you." Song Chengyue cupped his hands in gratitude.

"You're welcome."

Leaving the Seventh Floor, Yu Ziqing gestured to Lou Huai.

"Let's go. No need to bother with them."

He had supported Old Song wherever he could. If Song couldn't survive with this help, then there was truly nothing more to be done.

He had leaked the necessary intelligence and made the needed statements. It was enough for now.

The experiment was also conducted, though he regretted not leaving a live capture as a pendant.

...

Song Chengyue, prompted, immediately took action in person.

He went to meet those spies he had deployed.

When he made contact, seeing how those corpses were dressed, something he'd never seen before, his face immediately darkened.

Daqian, indeed, harbored powers he was unaware of.

Removing the armor from one of the corpses, he looked down to see that it was, in fact, a eunuch.

"Sir, there is a survivor."

"Save him and bring them all back."

Upon returning to the Jinyi Wei government office, Song Chengyue personally documented the incident in the Jinyi Wei archives at once.

He then interrogated the survivor, who clearly appeared to have been left alive on purpose, gathering some information before heading directly to the palace city.

Inside the side hall, with a face like still water, Song Chengyue slightly bowed and spoke continuously for a full two-hour stretch.

"Your Majesty, that's the situation. I pursued the Evil Dao previously appearing in Daqian and forced them out, inadvertently uncovering these matters.

This time, I further discovered that Dali dispatched a Ninth Tier and twenty-four experts skilled in Battle Array and Blade Dao to surround and kill Qing Ziyu from Jinlan Mountain.

However, that Ninth Tier was slain by a Jinlan Mountain powerhouse, and among the twenty-four experts, one survived by chance during the powerhouse's fight.

I have already interrogated overnight."

Behind the curtain, Emperor Qian faced away, examining the documents before him.

He slowly turned around, a servant unveiling the curtain. Emperor Qian looked at Song Chengyue, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

He hadn't anticipated Song Chengyue uncovering so many details.

Moreover, his actions were swift; even before Emperor Qian could know, Song Chengyue was already aware.

He scrutinized this old minister, the greatest minion within Daqian.

At times, he realized he indeed underestimated Song Chengyue.

After pondering for a long while, Emperor Qian spoke to Song Chengyue.

"Come with me."

Emperor Qian led Song Chengyue deep into the palace city.

They entered a grand hall, where a Big Array had already been prepared. At the center of the array was a soul lamp that had been extinguished.

When Emperor Qian arrived, someone immediately began preparing the ritual.

With the power of Daqian, the ritual's might greatly exceeded the norm.

The extinguished soul lamp suddenly reignited.

Within the firelight, several blurred and incomplete images appeared.

Yu Ziqing drew out the rusty sword, and at the moment of unsheathing, his aura soared, one slash transforming into a Sword Qi River.

Yu Ziqing tossed a Big Seal into a pit.

Yu Ziqing held a Big Seal, took out an identical replica, and smiled, saying, "I did it on purpose," in one of the images.

Emperor Qian observed the fragmented images with an expressionless face. Comparing them with the information Song Chengyue reported, he roughly understood what had taken place.

Song Chengyue's eyes flashed with shock at the right moment, then he quickly lowered his head.

Moments later, an Old Eunuch hurried in, collapsing with a thump onto his knees three feet away.

"Your Majesty, forgive me. I failed to manage my subordinates strictly, causing them to act rashly and nearly ruin everything. Please, Your Majesty, impose punishment."

Emperor Qian didn't even glance at the Old Eunuch. Suddenly, the old eunuch's arm detached from his body, disintegrating into dust.

The Old Eunuch remained kneeling on the ground, not even furrowing his brows, continuously kowtowing.

"Old slave thanks Your Majesty for the punishment."

Emperor Qian ignored him, turning on his heel and leaving, taking Song Chengyue for a walk around the palace city.

It's always about comparison in everything.

He hadn't used Song Chengyue, thinking he had personal agendas. However, employing eunuchs in recent years, while the simple tasks were well done, each significant affair ended disastrously.

In just a few short years, heavy losses were incurred.

He wasn't concerned about losses but the lack of crucial progress in important matters.

And this time, they acted autonomously and messed up again.

In the past, he believed these eunuchs had no personal agenda and absolute loyalty to the Imperial Family. But now it seemed, left outside for too long, they might not be so.

Comparatively, Song Chengyue seemed better.

Emperor Qian handed out a Jade Scroll.

"Take a look first, then give your opinion."

Song Chengyue, with a solemn expression, received the Jade Scroll with both hands, studying it three times carefully.

There were pieces of intelligence inside that he didn't even know.

However, fortunately, he could connect many things piece by piece.

Especially relating to recent matters involving Jinlan Mountain, he could match them all.

At this moment, Song Chengyue fully understood what escape route number seven had given him. The kindness owed was massive, probably innumerable pieces of intelligence wouldn't repay it...

It was good to owe.

After reading, Song Chengyue slightly bowed.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my boldness, but I believe collaboration with Jinlan Mountain's people is possible."

"Oh? Please elaborate."

"I think major matters are a priority, minor details less so."

Song Chengyue set the tone fundamentally, then, without changing his expression, slipped in some personal interests.

"I believe, personal grudges should not influence major strategic decisions. Such is not my duty.

For personal grievances, life and death hold no grudge.

More importantly, conspiring with the Evil Dao behind Your Majesty's back is to defame Your Majesty's divine wisdom and tarnish my Daqian's reputation.

Such acts of disloyalty deserve no sympathy."

Song Chengyue maintained a grave demeanor. No matter how Emperor Qian looked at him, he appeared a loyal and patriotic subject.

Capability is one thing, but when others could be used around Emperor Qian, with functions conflicting, he, as the Jinyiwei Commander, had to bite twice.

But aimed at places where the opponent's disloyalty was apparent to bite.

Being the minion best aligning with His Majesty's wishes, Song Chengyue understood no one in Daqian could surpass his comprehension.

Emperor Qian remained silent, only continuing to walk with Song Chengyue around the palace city.

By the end of today, everyone would know about this matter.

Emperor Qian stayed wakeful throughout the night, wandering the palace city with Song Chengyue.

After a complete circuit, when they reached the sleeping quarters, Emperor Qian entered, as Song Chengyue bowed deeply outside to see him off.

Taking two steps, Emperor Qian turned back, gazing at Song Chengyue as he bowed in farewell.

"Chengyue, you've been this Commander for eight hundred years, right?"

"To answer Your Majesty, eight hundred forty-seven years, three months, and five days."

"Well, keep at it for another eight hundred years and I'll confer you a title."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your graciousness. I shall certainly serve diligently unto death." Song Chengyue dropped to his knees with a thud, bowing his head deeply.

Emperor Qian smiled slightly, heading inside, as his voice slowly drifted over.

"For that matter, handle it as per your suggestion."