But now there is a plan, I must give it a try.

If we don’t even try, this plan will remain just a plan, never turning into a result.

Thinking of this, Qin An nodded and said, "I understand, sir, I will try to do my best."

The General sighed and said, "Being in my position is quite delicate, and I cannot offer much help to you."

"I personally admire you greatly, but if this admiration turns into unbalanced assistance, it would disappoint the Unity Realm experts from other cities coming to the Evil Extermination Bureau."

"After all, throughout history, the Evil Extermination Bureau has always been about fair dealings."

With that said, everything was made clear.

In essence, he was telling Qin An that his assistance would end here.

The road ahead would be long, and Qin An would need to walk it on his own.

Qin An did not say much, nodded in agreement, and clasped his hands, saying, "Since it’s like this, I will take my leave first and ponder over how I should proceed."

The General waved his hand and said, "Go on."

Qin An did not linger, turned, and headed downstairs.

...

After leaving the nine-story building, he returned to his dwelling.

At this moment, Yu Feng was patiently waiting in the room.

From his grip on the teacup, it was evident that Yu Feng was somewhat worried about Qin An’s situation.

They had come together, having exchanged insights along the journey.

Yu Feng knew well Qin An’s character and strength, but he also knew that this trip to the capital city, no matter how Qin An handled it, would be extremely challenging.

Today, the General suddenly summoned Qin An, which was by no means an easy matter.

As soon as Qin An returned, Yu Feng immediately came back to his senses.

He set down the teacup and hurriedly asked, "How did it go? What’s the situation?"

Qin An shook his head and explained everything the General had told him.

This wasn’t a secret, so it could certainly be shared.

After hearing Qin An’s account, Yu Feng was dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning, standing in place, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

When he finally reacted, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"These three paths are like climbing to heaven; Mr. Qin, perhaps it’s better not to get involved in these matters. After seeing the Emperor, come back to Celestial Cloud Path with me and become a Forbidden Land Golden Envoy."

Yu Feng’s temperament wasn’t one to easily yield, but Qin An’s current situation made yielding seem quite reasonable.

It could indeed spare Qin An many troubles and dangers.

Qin An gently shook his head and said, "Since I’m already here, and there are ways to resolve this, I’ll give it a try. I’ll first visit the Prime Minister’s residence."

The General had given him three paths, so he would start with the first, to see what kind of person the one beneath the Emperor and above all others in the Daqian Kingdom truly was, and what attitude he had toward him.

Yu Feng understood Qin An’s character, cold as ice on the surface, yet deeply persistent inside.

It was precisely this persistence that allowed Qin An to solidly reach Celestial Cloud Path.

Therefore, when Qin An said he would go to the Prime Minister’s residence, Yu Feng did not object and asked, "Do you need me to accompany you?"

Qin An shook his head, saying, "We don’t really understand the Prime Minister’s character; going alone is more convenient. Even if I encounter difficulties, being alone makes it easier to extricate myself."

Yu Feng thought about it and indeed agreed.

Since Qin An had already made up his mind, there was no need to force his company, lest he irritate Qin An.

Without further ado, Qin An drank his cup of tea, his gaze suddenly becoming firm.

He turned and left the house, disappearing at the end of the path.

...

The Prime Minister’s residence, located in the southeast of Xuanjing City, Daqian Kingdom, was not on a bustling street but in a somewhat worn alley, and it was not luxurious.

From the outside, it might just seem like a slightly larger house.

More surprisingly, the residence of the one below the Emperor, above thousands, didn’t even have two gatekeepers.

Even better-off families had them, yet this place appeared so ordinary.

But those who knew about the Prime Minister understood that this was quite normal for his residence.

Originally, the Prime Minister was just a common scholar, essentially powerless.

During the time the Daqian Kingdom’s Emperor fought for the world, the Prime Minister became one of the first followers.

Throughout this long period, the Prime Minister steadily rose from a mere scholar to his current status without altering his disposition.

The Prime Minister consistently advocated for a simple lifestyle, especially as a scholar, believing this simplicity greatly benefited scholars.

This led many scholars in Xuanjing City to emulate him.

A silhouette appeared outside the Prime Minister’s residence.

Qin An looked at the desolate state of the Prime Minister’s residence and shook his head slightly.

Though desolate, no one dared to cause trouble here, knowing who lived within, even breathing too loudly would be cautious.

Qin An always acted cautiously, approached the door, and knocked gently.

Even without guards, he knew who he sought.

In the absence of knowledge of the other’s personality, maintaining enough etiquette was the first step to gaining favor.

No one likes dealing with someone who doesn’t follow the rules.

The sound of knocking echoed through the empty and deserted street.

After a few breaths, the door cracked open, and an elderly man, stooped over, scrutinized Qin An.

The moment this elder appeared, Qin An felt immense pressure.

This pressure he had experienced with the General, yet the elder’s presence felt even more terrifying.

"You are Qin An?" the elder continued, showing a hint of interest.

Qin An asked, "May I boldly inquire about your identity?"

The elder didn’t mind, slowly replying, "I’m merely an old steward of this residence; the Prime Minister foresaw your visit, being more aware of the General’s intentions than anyone else."

Qin An wasn’t too surprised by this statement, knowing that at their level, insights were clearer than most.

Meeting the Prime Minister would provide some clarity.

With this in mind, Qin An clasped his hands and said, "Could I meet the Prime Minister?"

Without showing Qin An any difficulty, the elder opened the door: "The Prime Minister said, should you come, don’t keep you waiting; he is quite curious about you."

Qin An did not waste words, saying, "Thank you."

The elder said nothing, turning to lead the way, while Qin An silently followed.

Upon entering the courtyard, Qin An found it notably impressive:

Though still quite simple, even the maids carried a strong aura.

The Prime Minister’s residence was not as straightforward as it appeared; its defenses, both overt and covert, were terrifyingly strict.

With the elder leading him, it wasn’t long before Qin An moved from the front to the back courtyard.

The back courtyard’s arrangement was slightly better, but compared to those of grand families, it remained extremely modest.

At the center was a pavilion.

An elderly man in simple attire sat within.

In front of him lay a chessboard, with black and white pieces.

The elder playing black, with no one playing white.

The guide quietly vanished without a word, even Qin An hadn’t noticed how he left.

After a brief contemplation, Qin An approached the pavilion.

As he stepped into the pavilion, the elderly man playing chess set down the black piece and looked up.

Qin An clasped his hands in greeting, "Your humble servant Qin An greets the Prime Minister."

The Prime Minister smiled gently, gesturing towards the chessboard, "I’ve heard of your name and know your identity. Can Qin join me in playing white?"

With these words, the scenery around them suddenly shifted.

```