Chapter 810: So What Am I Bringing All These People Here For?

Chu Yuan glanced at the lone three‑story building and asked, "Does An Bei Taichin usually practice here?"

"Yes," a Yin‑Yang Assistant replied, "Master An Bei, whether cultivating or casting spells, is always in the quiet chamber on the third floor."

Chu Yuan nodded. "Lead the way; this humble Daoist will take a look."

The Yin‑Yang Assistant glanced at Yichang Jianliang.

Yichang Jianliang bowed his head and lowered his hands beside him, standing perfectly upright.

Even a Yichang elder is so respectful; he would not dare be lax: "Please, please follow me."

The group followed him into the building and reached the third floor.

The Yin‑Yang Assistant pointed to a room. "The corpse—yes, the corpse is right here."

Xiao Er stepped forward. "National Preceptor, please hold back; I will go in first."

Chu Yuan nodded. "Very well, be careful."

"Understood," Xiao Er led the soldiers into the room.

The room was small; the tatami was covered with dark‑green grass mats.

Inside there was no bed or chair, only a low table, several floor cushions, and a plain wooden cabinet.

A woman dressed in Zhongyuan attire lay on the table, motionless.

Xiao Er stepped lightly forward, placed a sword sheath under the woman's shoulder, and lifted gently.

The woman lay on her back on the tatami, a strange smile at her lips, her face a patch of darkness.

Xiao Er stared and after a moment recognized, "Liu Guiyan?"

He knew Liu Guiyan's poison arts were masterful and immediately ordered the soldiers, "Touch nothing! Beware of poison!"

The soldiers felt a chill; two who had just tried to open the cabinet hurriedly withdrew their hands.

Xiao Er held his hand suspended before Liu Guiyan's nose, waiting a moment.

He withdrew his hand. "Everyone out; seal this room."

"Understood!"

The group streamed out one after another.

Xiao Er bowed to Chu Yuan and said, "National Preceptor, the dead old lady inside is the wife of the revered Underworld Sovereign Cheng Jing, Liu Guiyan."

Chu Yuan showed surprise: "No wonder we couldn't find her in Jingcheng; she actually crossed the sea to the East Sea."

Xiao Er nodded. "She excels at poison; this humble officer has already ordered the room sealed."

"After we locate lime and such, clean the area thoroughly, then carry her corpse out."

"Very well," Chu Yuan praised, "The handling is very prudent."

He turned to the Yin‑Yang Assistant, "How long has Liu Guiyan been here?"

"We do not know this lady donor's full name," the Yin‑Yang Assistant replied, "We only heard Master An Bei call her Lady Cheng."

"Lady Cheng was brought by Lord Teng Yuan to assist the master; she arrived only a few days ago."

Chu Yuan nodded and pointed to a side room, "Is this the quiet chamber where An Bei Taichin performed his rites?"

"Yes."

"Open the door."

The Yin‑Yang Assistant pulled open the paper door of the quiet chamber, and Chu Yuan said, "I'll go in alone; you wait here first."

"Understood," Xiao Er said, "National Preceptor, please be careful."

"Mm," Chu Yuan responded, lifted his leg and stepped inside.

After a while, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he walked out of the room at a leisurely pace.

Xiao Er hurriedly asked, "National Preceptor, does the room contain any spells?"

Chu Yuan shook his head. "When An Bei Taichin left in haste, he left no barriers or formations."

Xiao Er was stunned; without any spells, how could the National Preceptor have been inside so long? His forehead was already sweating.

Chu Yuan spread his palm, revealing a string of prayer beads.

Made of rosewood, there were eighteen beads.

Each bead was the size of a fingertip, densely engraved with tiny Sanskrit characters.

Every six beads a coral bead was set as a separator, its color like coagulated blood.

Xiao Er glanced, "What is this?"

Chu Yuan smiled, "I searched inside and out for a long time before finding this under the table."

"Later I'll give it to Tuan Tuan; she loves picking up things, doesn't she?"

Xiao Er: "……"

All that fuss, and it turns out you were just looking for junk for the miss!

The party continued forward, traversed the entire Yin‑Yang Office, and returned to the courtyard.

Yichang Jianliang said, "National Preceptor, the general ordered that these elite Yin‑Yang Assistants may be dealt with at will."

The Yin‑Yang Assistants felt a heavy weight in their hearts.

Chu Yuan scanned them. "An Bei Taichin is dead; from now on, this humble Daoist will temporarily take charge of the Yin‑Yang Office. I will not hold you accountable for your past deeds."

"Those willing to stay and serve may continue in their posts; those unwilling should hand over all magical implements and talismans and may leave on their own."

He paused, "But from now on none may employ any Yin‑Yang arts; should anyone violate this, I will hand them over to Prince Ning for punishment."

The Yin‑Yang Assistants exchanged glances.

About half of them stepped forward, drew talismans and other items from their pockets, placed them on the ground, and bowed, "I wish to return to reunite with my family and no longer practice as a Yin‑Yang master."

The others bowed and said, "We are willing to stay."

Chu Yuan nodded, "Very well, those staying shall resume their original duties."

"If you want to leave, follow this humble Taoist out."

When the group stepped out of the Yin‑Yang Hall, night had already fallen, and the torches at the entrance were already lit.

Xiao Er reported what had just happened to Xiao Yuanhang.

Chu Yuan also recounted the Yin‑Yang Master's stay or departure.

He took out a string of prayer beads and handed them to Tuan Tuan: "Look what Master has picked up for you?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up as she took them, unable to put them down: "What beautiful beads! Thank you, Master!"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled: "The National Preceptor has worked hard."

Tuan Tuan rubbed her belly: "Father, Master, I'm hungry."

Both of them laughed at the sound: "Let's go! Inside! We'll have a proper meal!"

The others entered the Yin‑Yang Hall and settled down.

After a hearty meal, everyone gathered in Xiao Yuanhang's room.

Tuan Tuan rolled onto the tatami twice: "Father, you can lie on the floor here! It's bigger than a bed!"

Xiao Feifei was clearly delighted as well, rolling twice with her and then sprawling beside her.

Everyone looked at the human and the fox, and smiles appeared on their faces.

Xiao Ningchen asked: "Father, what should we do next?"

Xiao Yuanhang instructed: "Bring the Four Treasures of the Study."

A moment later, the Four Treasures of the Study were brought over, and Xiao Ningxun went to the low table to grind ink for his father.

Xiao Yuanhang grasped his brush and wrote swiftly.

A moment later, he finished, sealed it, and handed it to Xiao Ran: "Ninth Prince, you and Chen Hao should take this battle report, along with Yuan Guangyi's surrender document and golden seal, and return to Jingcheng quickly to present them to His Majesty."

"Alright," Xiao Ran took it, "And then?"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled: "What happens next depends on how His Majesty arranges it."

Tuan Tuan scrambled to her feet: "Brother Ninth and Chen Hao are going back to Jingcheng?"

Xiao Ningxun laughed: "Don't worry, Tuan Tuan, they won't be gone long; they must bring back the Emperor's imperial decree."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan walked up to Xiao Ran: "Brother Ninth, could you come back a bit earlier?"

Xiao Ran was delighted: "Little one, Brother Ninth isn't here; are you especially missing me?"

"Mm‑mm," Tuan Tuan nodded, hugging him tightly, and earnestly said, "If you come earlier, Father can finish the matters here sooner."

"Then I can return home earlier to see Mother!"

Xiao Ran: "…"

Everyone in the room couldn't help but laugh.

"Hmph," Xiao Ran wrapped around Tuan Tuan, so soft—how can the little one be so cute!

"What are you laughing at? The little one said they'd miss me, and I'm happy—does that not work?"

"Alright, alright." Feng Zhou laughed, "Of course it's fine!"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled and, picking up his brush, wrote another letter.

He handed it to Zhang Wu'an: "Take this letter, along with Yuan Guangyi's confession, and Fujiwara Yoshinobu, and escort them to Kyoto to deliver to the Japanese Emperor."

"Yes!" Zhang Wu'an asked, "How many troops should I lead?"

Xiao Yuanhang thought for a moment: "Twenty thousand is enough. Remember, do not besiege the city, nor enter it; just set up camp outside the city gate."

"No siege? So, no attack?" Zhang Wu'an scratched the back of his head, "Then what am I bringing so many people for?"