Changwen Prefecture City, capital of Mozhou Road.

This was Wang Ping’s second time in the city. The last time he was here, it had been a picture of prosperity. Many merchants from the Northwest Region would stop here before heading south to Hu Mountain Country.

The city was still as magnificent as ever, but the streets held far fewer pedestrians. There were no merchant caravans in sight. The two markets he passed were completely deserted, and the inns, restaurants, and brothels along the road were all shuttered.

Yet, looking toward the distant city walls, he saw a sea of people. Tens of thousands of conscripted laborers swarmed the ramparts, repairing the fortifications. The roads were also full of patrolling soldiers. Outside some of the larger manors, sword-wielding guards warily watched every passerby.

As he walked toward the Inner City and neared the Daoist Scripture Hall’s station, the crowds of people grew. There were even some vendors with stalls along the road. They sold vegetables, which were scarce inside the city, and salt and cloth, which were scarce outside of it.

"I smell shrimp!"

Yu Lian, who had been sleeping, woke up instantly at the smell of fresh shrimp. Wang Ping had no choice but to go over and buy some, feeding her as he continued toward the Daoist Scripture Hall.

It wasn’t until he reached the main gate of the Daoist Scripture Hall that Wang Ping realized the Government Office had closed all other city gates. Only the West City Gate remained open for passage. As a result, the street stretching from the Daoist Scripture Hall to the West City Gate was packed with people, though one could occasionally spot a caravan weaving through the crowd.

After observing for a moment, Wang Ping approached the main gate of the Daoist Scripture Hall. A Gatekeeper Daoist stopped him. Wang Ping presented his identity token for inspection. Upon seeing it, the gatekeeper’s expression immediately changed to a wide smile, and he respectfully ushered Wang Ping through the gate.

The Daoist Scripture Hall’s station in the Prefecture City was unlike those in smaller towns. Just inside the main gate was a vast, open hall bustling with people. ’With all the trouble from the Rebel Army in Mozhou Road lately, missions must be piling up,’ Wang Ping thought. ’That’s probably why so many Qi Cultivators from the south are gathered here, hoping to earn Taoist Collection Points.’

After Wang Ping announced his identity, a Qi Cultivator promptly came to guide him. He was led across the spacious hall, around a wide and elegant Inner Court, and toward a row of quaint, traditional buildings. It was obvious at a glance that this was where the upper echelons of the Daoist Scripture Hall conducted their business.

"It’s so oppressive here."

Yu Lian hid inside Wang Ping’s sleeve, communicating with him through their Spirit Seas.

Wang Ping followed the guiding Daoist at a steady pace, a hint of True Essence glimmering in his eyes. He could sense that this place was being suppressed by some immense power. The Spiritual Qi was rich and dense, yet it was also constrained by all sorts of restrictions.

"Daoist Changqing, this way please..."

The guiding Qi Cultivator stopped outside a small office courtyard. As he spoke, the Daoist guarding the courtyard gate stepped forward. This man was about fifty years old and wore a clean blue Daoist robe. He first gave Wang Ping a questioning look, then bowed politely and said, "Fellow Daoist, please present your identity token."

Wang Ping quickly returned the bow and took out his identity token.

After checking the token, the man bowed respectfully once more. "Ah, it is Daoist Changqing. Daoist Wen Yang has been expecting you for some time. Please, follow me."

After speaking, he instinctively straightened his sleeves and collar before walking with a steady gait toward the main building in the center of the courtyard. Just before the door, he held up a hand to halt Wang Ping. He then approached with utmost reverence and knocked rhythmically.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"What is it?" An aged voice came from inside. Wang Ping was certain it wasn’t Wen Yang’s voice.

"Daoist Xuanhe, it’s Daoist Changqing, who accepted the mission..."

"Let him in."

It was still the aged voice speaking.

Hearing this, the Daoist leading the way slowly pushed the door open. He moved with extreme caution, as if there were a ferocious beast on the other side, and he didn’t dare to even breathe too loudly.

Once the door was open, the Daoist immediately gestured for Wang Ping to enter, while he himself remained standing at the threshold.

’I should perform a divination,’ Wang Ping thought, but the situation didn’t allow for it. He had no choice but to step into the room with Yu Lian huddled in his sleeve. The moment he crossed the threshold, a wave of heat washed over him. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He then saw an old man in a gray Daoist robe. His salt-and-pepper hair was fastened in a topknot with a single wooden hairpin. The man sat upright in a Grandmaster’s Chair directly ahead, engrossed in a bamboo scroll he held in his hands.

"Have a seat!" the old Daoist said, pointing to a chair on the right for Wang Ping.

"Thank you, Sen—"

"Don’t call me Senior. My Daoist name is Xuanhe. Just call me Daoist Xuanhe, like everyone else."

"Yes, Daoist Xuanhe!"

"Sit!"

"Thank you, Daoist Xuanhe..."

The old Xuanhe Daoist seemed to have an aversion to excessive formalities, but he didn’t stop Wang Ping. Once Wang Ping was seated, he asked, "You’re Changqing from Qianmu Temple?"

"That is I."

"Good!"

Xuanhe didn’t check Wang Ping’s identity token. Instead, he walked to the side room on the left. It was only then that Wang Ping discovered that Wen Yang was sitting in the left side room. He immediately stood up and greeted him with a simple cupped-fist salute.

Wen Yang gave him an indifferent glance, then continued to busy himself with the task at hand.

’One of the rules of the gathering was that members who had never interacted before were to treat each other as strangers. It was better for both sides.’

Xuanhe Daoist and Wen Yang exchanged a few words in hushed tones. Wang Ping couldn’t hear a single word of their conversation; even the movements of their lips appeared blurry to him.

After a short while, Xuanhe Daoist, having finished his conversation, walked over with a case file and handed it to Wang Ping, saying:

"This is the case file. It’s only two pages, so give it a look. It just contains the testimony of the Daoist who was guarding the Earth Cave Prison. I visited the scene after the incident. The residual aura they left behind was incredibly well-hidden—so hidden that even I couldn’t trace it. That’s why we’ve raised the difficulty of this investigation to the fifth tier."

Wang Ping stood up and took the case file from Xuanhe Daoist. Meanwhile, Xuanhe Daoist shouted at the door, "Ah Jiu, come in for a moment." As his voice fell, a series of footsteps could be heard, quickly approaching the door.

Following the sound, Wang Ping saw a young man in off-white martial attire. A long saber hung at his waist, and a headband marked with the emblem of the Daoist Scripture Hall held back his long hair. He had southern features and a small mustache.

Xuanhe stared at Wang Ping as he gave his instructions. "If you run into any trouble with the local Prefecture Magistrate’s Office during your investigation, tell Ah Jiu. He’ll help you resolve it." His tone then shifted. "That’s all there is to say. Now, go investigate."

"Yes!"

Wang Ping first bowed to Xuanhe Daoist, then gave a cupped-fist salute to Wen Yang.

After leaving the room, he looked at Ah Jiu, who had been waiting for him. Just as Wang Ping was about to speak, Ah Jiu beat him to it. "Daoist, are we heading to the Earth Cave Prison first?"

"Alright!"

As the two walked briskly out of the courtyard, one in front of the other, Wang Ping scanned the case file with his Spiritual Qi. Only after confirming that there were no strange mental imprints embedded within it did he begin to read.

Ah Jiu noticed Wang Ping’s actions and chuckled. "Reading that file is a waste of time. It’s nothing but a bunch of nonsense from the prison guards trying to make excuses for themselves."

"I’ll just take a quick look." Wang Ping gave a polite smile. Although his eyes were on the case file, his walking pace did not slow.