Chapter Fourteen: The Demon’s Trail
Imperial Capital Time, 10:00 AM.
Warm sunlight bathed the exquisite garden outside the Imperial Study, casting a golden glow over the vibrant greenery.
Inside the Imperial Study, Bai Yujing was engrossed in throwing darts.
Over the long, numbing stretch of time, he had cultivated many interests.
These ranged from refined pursuits like music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and fishing in serene landscapes, to more common pastimes such as cockfighting, dog racing, and street gambling.
Darts was just one of his many diversions.
Whoosh.
The last dart flew from his hand, piercing the target with precision, joining the others to form a sharp character meaning “kill.”
A faint smile curled at Bai Yujing’s lips as he was about to call Nan Gong Lin to admire his “masterpiece.”
Ding dong~
The study’s doorbell chimed softly, followed by the respectful voice of Gao Jinzhong outside: “Your Majesty, Second Legion Commander Li Qingwan requests an audience.”
Bai Yujing turned slightly and strode back to the crescent-shaped expansive desk, pressing a green button with his fingertip.
The heavy door of the study opened silently.
Li Qingwan entered with firm, resolute steps.
Approaching the desk, she clenched her right fist and struck her modest chest with force, bowing her head to report loudly, “Your Majesty, the task you entrusted has been completed.
As you expected, Zhao Yinglong’s downfall conceals a conspiracy.
Bona and his associates intend to use Zhao Yinglong’s identity to pressure Your Majesty into concessions on corruption charges.”
She paused briefly, her voice tinged with the thrill of uncovering prey: “While leading my troops on reconnaissance, we unexpectedly captured traces of a suspected demon.”
From the single armchair, Nan Gong Lin lifted her eyes from the book in hand, her cold gaze fixed on the petite figure before the crescent desk.
Li Qingwan wore a sharp, golden army uniform. Though the medals on her left chest were not as densely shining as Edmond’s, they were clear proofs of her illustrious military achievements. The three golden dragons on her shoulder epaulets gleamed brilliantly.
“According to the information extracted from the memory of Bona, president of the Rio Club.”
Li Qingwan continued her report, “He recently encountered a mysterious man who claimed to be an immortal.
This man was cloaked entirely in black robes and, right before Bona, drained the life force from a servant with a mere gesture.
The servant was reduced to a weathered, millennia-old skeleton, with only a thin layer of skin clinging to the bones.
Even more bizarrely, the man displayed tremendous regenerative powers.
Bona’s guards managed to hack him to pieces, yet he restored himself the very next moment.
His purpose in contacting Bona was to infiltrate and influence the upper echelons of District 21’s society.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Yujing’s eyes.
He had asked Nan Gong Lin to deduce the mastermind behind Zhao Yinglong’s case, aiming for anti-corruption.
He hadn’t expected such an extraordinary discovery.
His gaze shifted to Nan Gong Lin.
“That sounds like a demon.”
Nan Gong Lin’s exquisite face remained unmoved. “The first time I detected the presence of an otherworldly demon was during the power struggle between the Left and Right Chancellors of the Great Han Dynasty.
The Right Chancellor was ousted by the Left, and during the seizure of his household, it was found he was involved with a mysterious sect called the Immortal Cult.”
She pondered briefly, then said, “From my speculation, for the otherworldly demons to descend upon Blue Star, certain conditions must be met.
For example, gathering immense faith power or manipulating key nodes to trigger world-altering events.”
Bai Yujing tapped his polished desk lightly with his index finger, considering: “Have you tracked the demon’s whereabouts?”
“No,” Li Qingwan replied. “But according to Bona’s memory, that man agreed to revisit the manor on the night of the 22nd, where he will demonstrate his immortality to the upper-class guests summoned by Bona.”
“Your arrest operation was conducted in secret, correct?”
“Yes!” Li Qingwan bowed in affirmation.
A sharp gleam flashed in Bai Yujing’s eyes as he decisively commanded, “Immediately seal off the information. Select an elite team to disguise themselves as Bona and other key arrested personnel. Maintain their usual activities within District 21 without raising suspicion.
On the night of the 22nd, arrange an ambush inside the manor and capture the demon in one strike!”
“Your Majesty can rest assured; I will not fail in this mission!” Li Qingwan responded solemnly.
As the current head of the Li family among the “Fourteen Kings,” Li Qingwan’s loyalty to the Sovereign was unquestioned.
Especially after the great upheaval in the Li family a century ago, when the previous head was consumed by passion and betrayed the Sovereign, tarnishing their ancestral honor.
Everyone thought the Li family would fall, yet the Sovereign overlooked past grievances, defied opposition, and appointed her as Second Legion Commander.
Such overwhelming grace was a debt Li Qingwan could never repay, even with a thousand lives.
“I trust you, now go,” Bai Yujing said.
“Yes!” Li Qingwan bowed again, maintaining her respectful demeanor, then slowly retreated, turning only after exiting the study.
...
The heavy door of the study closed silently.
Nan Gong Lin’s soft voice floated like a spring breeze: “The descent of the otherworldly demon is inevitable. Rather than wasting effort on defenses now, it’s wiser to prepare means to escape Blue Star.”
Hearing this, Bai Yujing couldn’t help but smile wryly: “You wish to retreat when the battle is lost; I won’t stop you.
But if you want my help to find a way to the next world, you must change from fleeing alone to building an ark large enough to carry thousands of souls with you.”
Nan Gong Lin gazed at him quietly, whispering, “You’re not running?”
The smile on Bai Yujing’s face remained. “A Great Han Sovereign dies in battle, never flees the land.
As for my people…
If a day truly comes when mountains crumble and nothing can save us, then if one can escape, so be it—one more life preserved!
Of course,” his tone shifted, emanating supreme confidence, “I have never believed that day will come.”
Snap.
Nan Gong Lin’s heart jolted violently, and reflexively she slammed the open book shut with a crisp sound.
To fight to the death oneself while paving an escape route for the people...
“Is this your love for all living beings?”
“I am merely fulfilling the Sovereign’s duty.”
“I see…”
The fleeting ripple in Nan Gong Lin’s eyes quickly subsided, returning to her usual aloofness. “You are merely a person burdened with responsibility.”
She readily accepted this explanation.
For she believed the filthy world harbored no pure love.
From childhood until now, she had witnessed countless tragedies where kin turned against kin and spouses became enemies over petty gains.
Fathers killed daughters, wives murdered husbands; moral codes shattered before naked desire.
Such was the Divine Continent; Blue Star was no different.
If humanity sought genuine “love,” the world must be remade, imprinting “love” as law upon newborn souls.
Her grand aspiration would have to wait for the next world to fulfill.
More than believing this Great Han Emperor could truly stand against the descending otherworldly demons, Nan Gong Lin was certain that preparing an escape route from Blue Star was the wisest course.
“I promise I will try to increase the number of escapees, but if it proves impossible…” her voice remained gentle, “You still cannot stop me.”
“That is natural. But can you manage so many things at once?”
“My avatars can’t fight but possess my wisdom and experience, sufficient to assist me in handling multiple tasks simultaneously.”
Nan Gong Lin answered truthfully.
Bai Yujing relaxed, stretching leisurely where he stood. “Very well, split into two, help me read the memorials, and serve me some fruit.”
Nan Gong Lin’s fingers moved slightly.
Two of her avatars appeared in the study, stepping forward to “attend” to the Sovereign.