Wait a minute, where is my master?

Hearing the knocking, Little White proactively ran to open the door.

After looking outside, he shouted, "Oh no, temple master, the kidnappers are here again!"

"Hmm?"

The Taoist glanced towards the door.

Through the slender frame of the husky, he vaguely saw many people outside, the two at the front dressed in armor and dark official robes.

Jin Xu stood up and walked to the door, while Yu Yaoer also jumped down from the bed to the floor.

"No need to shout. May I ask what brings you here?"

The Taoist's first statement was directed at Little White, the latter to the people outside the door as he approached it.

However, observing the clothing of these visitors, he felt slightly puzzled.

The two leading cultivators outside the door were a woman entirely clad in armor and a man dressed in the garb of a night watchman.

Behind them followed more cultivators in similar attire.

"It's broad daylight, clear skies, surely these can't be another bunch of swindlers?" thought the Taoist.

The armored female cultivator spoke up.

With a serious expression, she said, "We are ordered to capture the perpetrator who damaged the city's No-fly Array today. The inn's waiter reported that it was your doing."

Upon hearing this, Jin Xu frowned and then spotted the waiter trying to hide among the crowd.

Realizing he had been noticed, the waiter hesitantly came forward and sheepishly said to the Taoist, "Taoist, as you know, we run a small business, the commoners don't fight with officials..."

Jin Xu ignored him and just silently said to himself,

"Your Spirit Stone is gone."

The cultivator dressed as a night watchman then spoke, but not to the Taoist, rather to the armored cultivator.

"All cases involving Cultivators should be handled by us night watchmen. What are your military folks doing here today?"

The armored female cultivator retorted sharply, "The No-fly Array of Shangjing City was constructed by our military's Array Masters. Since someone has broken it, it falls to us to capture them. If you night watchmen have the energy, better you go chase down the remnants of the Demon Sect in the city."

"You really don't need to worry about this, just mind your city gates," replied the leader of the night watchmen, not willing to back down.

After a few arguments, they suddenly turned to Jin Xu, and in unison asked, "So, was it really you who broke the city's No-fly Array?"

"..."

Watching the two flirt-fight, the Taoist secretly nodded.

Seeing Jin Xu admit it, the two cultivators suddenly moved to grasp his arms on either side, trying to subdue him.

Judging by their actions, it turned out they were both into Body Cultivation.

Seeing this scene, Yu Yaoer and Little White were about to intervene,

But Jin Xu stopped them.

"Both of you, I indeed broke the No-fly Array, and I can go back with you. However, you must prove your identities to me first," calmly stated the Taoist to the pair.

The male and female cultivators were taken aback upon hearing this. Having served in the Great Xia Empire for so many years, it was the first time they encountered a criminal asking them to prove their identities.

After exchanging a glance, they communicated silently.

"Did you use force?" asked the armored female cultivator.

"I did!" replied the night watchman.

Female cultivator: "Then why can't I move this Taoist at all?"

Male cultivator: "Neither can I! Maybe... we should just show him some identification?"

Female cultivator: "...Alright."

They both realized that while this Taoist seemed frail, his physical strength was extraordinarily formidable.

Neither of the two could even budge him with their combined effort.

So, if there was no need for a brawl, better avoid it.

"...This is my night watchman's identity token."

"This is my army colonel's badge."

The subordinates of the two cultivators stared blankly at the absurd scene unfolding before them. What were their superiors doing? They were actually proving their identity to this Taoist.

Damn, have we been hanging out in brothels too much recently, seeing hallucinations now?

The Taoist examined the badges they displayed, pondered for a moment, then gently shook his head.

"I've never seen these tokens before, naturally, I wouldn't know if they're real or not."

Male and female cultivators: "..."

————————

Eventually, Jin Xu still went with them.

Not because of the badges, but because during the stalemate, Xu Qian unexpectedly squeezed in from the crowd.

He confirmed that the two really were active officials of the Great Xia Empire.

Oh, but wait.

Xu Qian only confirmed the identity of the night watchman, so the Taoist went with the night watchman.

The armored female cultivator, infuriated, stomped on the spot, but since she was wary of Jin Xu's physical strength, she couldn't do much.

She could only huff back and report to her superiors that the criminal was taken by the night watchman.

....

In the prison of Shangjing City's night watchmen,

Jin Xu and his three companions sat around a square table laden with simple dishes and wine. They ate and drank while listening to Xu Qian recount his experiences over the past couple of days.

Because the Taoist priest was worried that Yu Yaoer and Little White might encounter danger again while staying at the inn on their own, he also brought them to the prison. Originally, the night watchman, a male Cultivator, disagreed. The laws of Great Xia stipulated that only those who committed crimes should be imprisoned, and innocent people should not be arrested.

Moreover, what was he thinking by bringing his own demonic servant into prison with him?

But, after Xu Qian quietly told him about the deep relationship between the Seventh Princess and this Taoist priest, the male Cultivator reluctantly agreed.

Cough, as long as they didn't cause any trouble, it would be fine.

After all, Jin Xu hadn't killed anyone or set anything on fire; he had only broken a No-fly Array. This matter could be big or small, and if he was willing to compensate with enough Spirit Stones, he could be released from prison after three to five days.

"Little Taoist, you didn't know, but I saw Zhang leading a team to Yanyu Building, saying they were going to catch the person who broke the No-fly Array. I had a premonition right then that it was definitely you. And sure enough, when I got to Yanyu Building, hey, my intuition was spot on!"

Xu Qian picked up his cup of wine and spoke as he drank.

The Taoist priest: "..."

Yu Yaoer: "..."

Little White, heads down, focusing on eating.

Seeing that Jin Xu's expression did not look good, Xu Qian hurriedly changed the subject.

Meanwhile, he thought to himself, "Hiss, two days without 'performing', my power seems to have regressed. When I return to Gusu City, I must go and learn properly from Fatty Zhao."

He wasn't aware yet that Zhao Dabao had already left Gusu, traveling far to Qing State to study under a master.

"Little Taoist, let me tell you..."

Xu Qian began telling the three of them about his experiences over the past few days.

He had said goodbye to the Taoist priest and the others that day and gone to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Upon reaching the doorstep, Xu Qian was completely dumbfounded.

In front of the mansion's gate, a very long queue had formed.

Upon inquiring, he found out that all these people were there to meet Prime Minister Qin.

In Shangjing City, amidst internal strife and external threats, those with even a hint of ambition were busy rallying allies. With the right Prime Minister having betrayed Great Xia and died, the remaining left Prime Minister had become a highly sought-after figure.

The rumors that Xia Xuanmin, the founding monarch of Great Xia, was about to die spread far and wide, and he also hadn't appeared in public for many days. Hence, various factions openly sent people with gifts to visit.

However, Prime Minister Qin didn't meet with any of them.

It wasn't clear whether he was holding out for a better offer or had already made a covert choice.

After learning of this situation, Xu Qian felt quite aggrieved. Not seeing anyone meant that he couldn't gain entry either. He had just bid farewell to Taoist Jin Xu; he surely couldn't go back to Yanyu Building.

Therefore, this Seventh-Grade night watchman of Great Xia played a little trick, and unexpectedly, he really got to meet Prime Minister Qin.

After explaining his purpose, the left Prime Minister didn't rush to send him back to Gusu City but instead had him first join the night watchman institution of Shangjing City, following under one of the Zhang family's Fourth-Grade subordinates.

"By the way, Little Taoist, I've been promoted to Sixth-Grade!"

Xu Qian said with a happy face.

"Congratulations."

Jin Xu congratulated softly.

Yu Yaoer copied the young master and congratulated as well.

Little White was still diligently eating.

"But... Mr. Li hasn't arrived in Shangjing yet."

Xu Qian, now a Sixth-Grade night watchman of Great Xia, spoke with slight concern.

He had been worried he would be later than the other party a few days ago, and now that the other party hadn't arrived, he was concerned something might have happened to him.

The Taoist priest casually offered some words of comfort.

Then, he fell into thought — the matter concerning his master had already concluded.

He had intended to bid farewell to Xia Yunzhao and then take the two women back to Gusu City, but then the kidnapping incident in the royal mansion occurred.

"Tsk, why hasn't the Seventh Princess responded to my jade token message yet?"

...

Outside the Taiji Palace in the capital of Great Xia.

With a serious expression and holding a jade token, Xia Yunzhao walked out.

Xia Xuanmin had clearly explained his vision and reasons for founding Great Xia to his granddaughter, along with the situation that her father would likely be unable to maintain the throne after his death, and the issues and relationships she would have to face upon succession.

What he didn't tell her were the things he had foreseen in the river of time.

After understanding everything, she chose to accept.

Not for anything else but because Grandpa had agreed to her grandma's request to establish a dynasty where mortals and Cultivators were completely equal, which was profoundly moving!

The Seventh Princess was touched by this tragic yet beautiful love story at the time!

Xia Xuanmin, upon hearing that his granddaughter agreed to succeed the throne for this reason, also chuckled silently.

But he didn't say much more, only added a few pointers about government affairs and cultivation. He also made an arrangement for her to come and learn every day until her accession, setting aside half the day for studies.

As for dealing with Xia Yunzhao's father, Xia Xuanmin would pick a time to call both father and daughter to him to explain the matter. In essence, the environment inside Taiji Palace was very harmonious and warm.

So why did Xia Yunzhao look so serious when she came out?

It was, of course, because the Seventh Princess had seen the message from Jin Xu!

First, the little Taoist priest was taken to prison. Second, Yu Yaoer and Little White were kidnapped, suspecting involvement from one of the royal uncles. Third, "I am your uncle."

The first two messages weren't important, but what was this last one about?!

Cough, when Jin Xu sent the message, he also mentioned this family relationship.

Xia Yunzhao stood in front of the Taiji Palace door with a serious expression, torn between whether to first return to the back palace to see her mother or go to the prison to rescue the Taoist priest.

...

Meanwhile, at the gate of Shangjing City.

The dusty Fourth-Grade night watchman, Li Mi, displayed his waist badge and successfully entered Shangjing City, heading straight for the Great Xia royal palace.

He should have arrived earlier, but because he took a detour to inspect the four cities attacked by the Demon Sect, his arrival had been delayed by a few days.