Accompanied by the rolling heat waves outside, clear sunlight poured into the hall as two figures walked in one after another, their hierarchy distinct.
The man in the black hooded robe stood directly before the desk, while Zhou Chen stood half a pace back to his left rear.
Leaning back in the desk chair, Xu Yuan let his gaze, along with his extended spiritual vision, wander back and forth across the hooded man.
Silence lingered for a time.
Earlier, when Zhou Chen accused this man of slacking off, Xu Yuan had not taken it to heart at all.
Given the situation in Xize Province, the Prime Minister's Manor had little influence here, and the Black Scale Guards lacked the cover of imperial decrees and parallel organizations like the Tian'an Chamber of Commerce. Doing more would only make it easier to make mistakes.
You might be a smart man, but others were no fools either.
A mighty dragon could hardly suppress a local snake, let alone the fact that the Black Scale Guards in Xize Province were merely a sparrow.
Overextending themselves might well get them uprooted by the local factions one day.
Xu Yuan had summoned him simply to gauge Division Chief Mu's strength.
Within Great Yan's fourteen provinces were the fourteen divisions of the Black Scale Guards, each corresponding to a province, and their division chiefs were all cultivators of the Transcendent Realm.
Cultivators possessed high offensive power but fragile defense; in the current situation, if this Mu Qing was strong enough, he might prove useful.
And now the verdict was in: he could indeed prove useful.
Could someone who survived the hands of Mu Xingyi's family of demented Saints with mere Transcendent cultivation be anything less than formidable?
The problem was, if what Mu Xingchen said was true, this fellow had to be a mole. Otherwise, there was no explaining the ghostly willow's yin origin lingering on Mu Qing.
Still, Xu Yuan did not jump to conclusions immediately. This matter involved a major regional figure like a Black Scale division chief; rash conclusions could not be drawn lightly.
Of course, the main reason was that Xu Yuan didn't entirely trust Mu Xingchen, who claimed to be "pleading for the people."
Regarding the ambush against the Insect Saint, who knew if this was a ploy devised by the other side to sow discord?
Even so, this seemed to present an opportunity to verify Mu Xingchen's intelligence.
These thoughts flashed through his mind, and Xu Yuan withdrew his spiritual vision with a light chuckle.
Right then, the man in the black hooded robe standing before the desk spoke up at just the right moment:
"Are you finished looking, sir? Did you uncover anything from inspecting Mu?"
His voice was crisp and smiled slightly, yet tinged with a faint, subtle displeasure.
Evidently, Mu Qing had noticed Xu Yuan's spiritual vision and was expressing displeasure at this rude behavior.
Xu Yuan wasn't surprised in the least.
Though spiritual vision was extremely concealed, it was virtually useless against a powerhouse of the Transcendent Realm.
With a quiet chuckle, Xu Yuan smiled and replied, "No clues, but I did notice that you seem to have been injured on your recent trip out, sir?"
Mu Qing's slanted eyes flickered with a hint of surprise as he gazed at Xu Yuan.
Surprised that the other party had seen through his disguise.
Under the influence of his Dao charm, almost no one of the same realm could see through his concealment.
Subtly sweeping his intent soul across the brocade-robed man opposite him, he found that the man's presence beneath his intent soul was as transparent as thin air.
*A Semi-Saint...?*
A thoughtful look showed in his eyes. Though Mu Qing appeared middle-aged, his murmured words held an unfettered air:
"It seems Chief Lou has new moves planned for the desert."
With that, he raised his arms level, clasped his hands in salute, and solemnly performed the etiquette of a retained elder toward Xu Yuan:
"Mu Qing greets you, sir. I am willing to offer my humble service for Chief Lou's grand design."
"..."
Roughly guessing what Mu Qing was thinking, Xu Yuan made no move to deny it. He sat back and comfortably assumed the identity of a powerhouse from the Prime Minister's Manor, gently tapping the desk:
"We both serve the Chancellor. In terms of status, I merely hold the post of an imperial commissioner, and in terms of contribution, I cannot compare to you, Mr. Mu, a pillar of the Black Scale Guards."
Though polite in his words, Xu Yuan made no gesture to stand. Instead, his eyes swept continuously over Mu Qing's chest, which radiated the aura of the ghostly willow, as he said with a smile, "Speaking of service, however, that injury of yours seems rather severe, doesn't it?"
A trace of helplessness touched the corner of Mu Qing's mouth as he murmured, "You have sharp eyes, sir. Though my injury is heavy, if I employ secret techniques, I can still be of assistance to you."
Hearing this, amusement flickered in Xu Yuan's heart.
Why were these intelligence operatives all so thick-skinned?
Even with things laid out this plainly, not only did he not volunteer the reason for his injury, he actually wanted to probe Xu Yuan's schemes in the Western Desert in turn.
The fingertips gently tapping the desk paused slightly, and the hall instantly grew so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.
After a few breaths, Xu Yuan smiled, his eyes curving as he asked in an unhurried manner:
"I have been in this Western Desert for several months. Turbulent as the local situation may be, those capable of injuring you, Mr. Mu, are only a few. I wonder which one of them you encountered during your excursion earlier?"
His words fell, followed by a momentary silence.
Mu Qing realized that this visitor did not come with good intentions.
Meanwhile, Zhou Chen, listening to their conversation from the side, wished he could bury his head in the ground.
Even an outsider like him could hear the Third Young Master's thick distrust toward his immediate superior.
What was going on here?
Could his superior's inaction be because he had defected?
Zhou Chen was already starting to break into a cold sweat.
Before he could think further, however, Mu Qing let out a soft sigh and explained:
"My overt identity in Xize Province is a retained elder of Zhenxi Manor. Currently, the Marquis of Zhenxi is confronting the Dachao people at the Monan Protectorate. Some time ago, I was invited to support the line, and on the battlefield, accidents are inevitable."
"So things have grown chaotic over here as well..."
Frowning, Xu Yuan murmured quietly at this explanation.
Due to the information gap between the two sides, Mu Qing had already thoroughly outed himself as an iron-clad wolf.
Still, the reason the man had fabricated was quite clever.
He was certain that Xu Yuan, as an "outside powerhouse," wouldn't dare wander near a military array. After all, once a military array of over a hundred thousand formed, the commanding general could lock onto you from eighty to a hundred li away. And even if Xu Yuan tried to verify it with Zhenxi Manor afterward, the Mu Clan Chamber of Commerce would cover for Mu Qing.
After some thought, Xu Yuan decided to keep this mole around for now.
Although it was unclear why Mu Qing had betrayed the Chancellor's Manor, once a mole was exposed, he lost his greatest threat.
On the contrary, if utilized properly, he might even serve a tremendous purpose in reverse.
Amid his thoughts, Xu Yuan raised his eyes to meet Mu Qing's gaze, which was concealed beneath the hood:
"Mr. Mu, the desert is in turmoil right now, so I will cut straight to the chase. The Chancellor dispatched me here with two objectives."
As he spoke, Xu Yuan slowly raised two fingers, then curled down his middle finger:
"First, to deal with the spies within your Xize Province Black Scale Guards."
At those words, Mu Qing's eyes narrowed slightly. Just as he was about to respond, Xu Yuan waved a hand dismissively, suddenly shifting the topic:
"However, after my investigations over the past few months, there no longer seems to be any need for that."
Mu Qing could not gauge how much the young man in brocade robes knew, but he understood that saying more only invited more mistakes. He merely asked in a low voice:
"What do you mean, sir...?"
"Directly abandon the entire Xize Province."
"..." Mu Qing.
"..." Zhou Chen.
Although the fourteen divisions of the Black Scale Guards were directly under Lou Ji's jurisdiction, Lou Ji's word did not carry enough weight to disband one of the divisions—it required the Lord Chancellor's personal order.
Weighing his words carefully, Mu Qing frowned and said:
"I am afraid I cannot obey this order. Either you produce concrete evidence proving the necessity of abandoning Xize Province, sir, or you produce the Chancellor's personal order..."
*Clang!*
Without a word, Xu Yuan tossed another medallion onto the desk.
The medallion was greenish-black, adorned with a vivid coiled dragon encircling the character "He."
The Chancellor's personal token; seeing the token was like seeing the man himself.
Mu Qing glanced at the medallion in Zhou Chen's hand, then at the medallion on the desk, and swallowed hard.
*Fuck.*
*Just how high is this man's status?*
*I never saw him back in Di'an...*
Xu Yuan stared calmly at Mu Qing, speaking in a measured voice:
"The sects have been plotting for a long time. Given the objective limitations on your Xize Province Black Scale Guards, you were unable to detect their movements. I can overlook your responsibility for this, but I hope you will not question the decisions I make, Mr. Mu.
"Over the past few months, I have discovered traces of three Saints moving about. The sects have already built overwhelming momentum here. All valuable intelligence and personnel must be evacuated as soon as possible."
A hint of shame appeared on Mu Qing's face as he bowed with clasped hands:
"Mu will go down at once to prepare the evacuation."
"You are to return directly to Di'an."
"..."
Mu Qing's heart sank. Hesitating, he said slowly, "But if I leave, the Black Scale Guards' affairs in Xize Province..."
"Leave all the clean-up to me."
"Yet you are not familiar with the overt and covert networks in Xize Province, sir—"
"Do you know the list of people who need to be purged within the Xize Black Scale branch?"
"I do not..."
"Since you do not, if you take the traitors along, wouldn't our evacuation be doomed to fail?"
Xu Yuan slowly rose to his feet, rubbing his neck with one hand, and said in a low voice, "You only need to inform me of the storage location of the archives and dossiers. I will handle the rest personally."
His head bowed low and eyes hidden in the shadow of his hood, Mu Qing replied softly:
"Due to security requirements, the confidential dossiers of Xize Province are stored separately. Organizing them will take time. Furthermore, they are all written in cipher, so you, sir..."
"..."
Hearing this, a flicker of contemplation showed unbidden in Xu Yuan's eyes.
"Zhou Chen will assist me with the cipher. How long will you need to compile the confidential dossiers?"
"Decades of accumulated dossiers form a mountain. Three days at the shortest, five days at the longest."
"Make it quick. You may leave."
"Understood."
"Wait, Zhou Chen, what are you standing there like a statue for?"
"..." Zhou Chen.
With the closing of the doors, only Xu Yuan and Tianye remained in the hall once more.
Watching the direction in which Mu Qing and Zhou Chen had departed, Xu Yuan murmured softly:
"It seems the Black Scale Guards' communication crystal was likely tampered with and probably can't be used. I'll have to look for one from the Secret Investigation Bureau.
"Back then, I felt the purge during the Spring Festival went a bit too far, but now, it seems it was entirely out of sheer necessity."
As he spoke, Xu Yuan turned his head slightly to glance at the young girl standing behind him to his side:
"Tianye, what do you think of that Mu Qing just now?"
"You've been sitting so long; it's my turn."
At his question, Tianye strolled over to Xu Yuan, yanked him up from the chair like lifting a chick, and sat down herself before asking with a giggle:
"What else is there to think? He's a traitor to your Prime Minister's Manor, obviously."
"You know that's not what I meant."
Forcibly yanked up, Xu Yuan curled his lip in slight displeasure and gave her a sidelong glance:
"If you don't want to talk, switch out and let Tianyan take over."
Tianye let out a soft huff. Shifting sideways on the seat, she crossed one shapely leg over the other, rested her delicate cheek on her palm, and said rather boredly:
"Haven't you already figured it out yourself?"
"I just wanted to verify it."
Leaning against the desk, Xu Yuan ran his palm across the patterns along the edge and murmured:
"Still, hearing you say that means you likely share my thoughts."
With that, he glanced toward the spot where Mu Qing had just stood:
"I gave him such a clear warning not to defy my decisions, yet this Mu Qing still wants to stay in Zhenxi Manor. Most likely, his master behind the scenes gave him some orders."
Tianye followed Xu Yuan's train of thought with a beaming smile:
"Indeed. And the timing happens to coincide precisely with the day Mu Xingchen mentioned for the raid on the city. The orders he received must be related to that city defense array, wouldn't you say?
"Do you want to summon your maternal uncle over directly to slaughter this Mu Qing?
"If their plot succeeds, this blame will be pinned squarely on your Chancellor's Manor."
Clenching his fist, Xu Yuan rapped his knuckles against the desk and chuckled:
"There's no need to beat the grass and startle the snake. The clues and lines of connection across the entire Western Desert are already clear. Now that I know of this, how could I possibly let him have his way?"
Saying this, Xu Yuan glanced toward the southwest and narrowed his eyes:
"Looking at it now, that Mu Xingchen truly is a man pleading for the people..."
"..."
Tianye mumbled twice noncommittally, then softly reminded him:
"With you exposing your identity like this, Mu Qing will definitely turn around and notify the Saints waiting outside the city. It's probably impossible for you to leave now."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled and said:
"I never intended to leave. From the standpoint of strength, we aren't without the power to put up a fight."
"Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about Saints?"
Hearing that, Tianye rolled her exquisitely flawless golden eyes and began counting on her fingers for Xu Yuan:
"The enemy is coming in full force: the White Emperor, the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion Master, the Mu couple, that ominous ghost infant, and the Qin family's Saint—that's already six confirmed hostile Saints. And what about you? You aren't really planning to have your maternal uncle take on all six by himself, are you?"
Xu Yuan chuckled and said, "Don't I still have you?"
Tianye curled her lips and tilted her fine head:
"I don't mind either way. It just depends on whether you have the heart to let little sister Tianyan burn her life away."
With that, a trace of excitement crept into Tianye's eyes:
"If a fight really breaks out, I can take charge of thrashing this generation's Overseeing Heaven Pavilion Master for you. When disciple and master tear into each other, little sister Tianyan is going to suffer so much, won't she~?"
*Thump.*
Frowning, Xu Yuan subconsciously chopped the side of his hand onto Tianye's head.
Tianye didn't dodge either. Taking the blow obediently, she clutched her head with both hands, looking utterly pitiful.
Xu Yuan snorted coldly and said in a low voice:
"I have my reasons for saying that. While our combat power might not be completely equal, we at least have a fighting chance.
"However,
"the prerequisite for all of this is that Li Junwu and the Great Desert Divine Maiden must be inside Zhenxi Manor."
Tianye asked curiously, "What if neither of them is here? Or what if they're hiding and refuse to come out?"
"Then you take me and run for our lives."
***
As the desert sun sank toward the west, the scorching daytime air cooled rapidly. The majestic, imposing Zhenxi Manor was gilded in a rim of gold. Amid this sunset, before the curfew fell, the clamor of merchants, travelers, and varied voices reached its zenith.
And amidst all of it,
rhythmic, somewhat crazed shouts echoed through the streets and alleys:
"Bosom brother, I've come to see your legs~!"
Chapter 618