Chapter 109: The Neijian Office Sends Someone

“Are you going out of the city or not?” Su Hanlin finally asked impatiently.

“Of course I’m going out.”

“I’m not going out for myself—I’m planning to take Su Jin to practice magic.” Su Jian said.

Su Hanlin suddenly gasped, eyes widening.

“You’re taking Xue Chi Luo out of the city?”

“How do you know that?” Su Jian exclaimed.

“How could I not know? If you take Su Jin out, Xue Chi Luo will follow. You can’t stop it—it’ll go anyway.” Su Hanlin said flatly.

Protecting their master is the lifelong duty of every Xue Chi Luo.

“Since you know, then tell me what to do? I need a team I can absolutely trust, so I can safely bring Su Jin and Xue Chi Luo out.” Su Jian said.

“Who else but me?” Su Hanlin said.

Su Jian: “...You?”

“I’ll invite An Qian, plus you and Su Jin—we’ll form a team of four. With me and An Qian, plus you, our mutual support will be enough.”

“Su Jin just needs to focus on practicing her magic.”

“I feel like your motives aren’t pure,” Su Jian hurriedly said.

“Just say whether you’re coming or not,” Su Hanlin shot him a sidelong glance.

“I’m coming,” Su Jian said immediately.

Among others, Su Hanlin was the one he trusted most. “Is An Qian really trustworthy?”

“She’s an orphan—if she’s truly a problem, we’ll just kill her outright,” Su Hanlin said, calm and rational.

Su Jian: “...”

“Then it’s settled,” Su Hanlin declared.

On the day Su Jin had off, early in the morning, Su Jian set out with Su Jin, who carried a small bamboo basket on her back.

The sky was dim, the streets filled with hurried pedestrians.

Xue Chi Luo peered out from inside the basket, scanning everywhere.

As Su Jian and his sister approached the eastern city gate, dozens of flying horses descended from the sky, carrying a group of cultivators who landed directly before Xiancheng’s eastern gate.

The sound of hooves striking the ground was perfectly synchronized, as if moved by one will.

Clearly, they were highly trained.

The lead cultivator showed his token; the gate guards didn’t even check—immediately pushing aside the barricades to let them pass.

The group of mounted cultivators, led by their captain, were about to ride off.

Then the lead cultivator suddenly glanced at Su Jin... and the small basket on her back.

Then he smiled faintly at Su Jin.

Su Jin felt uneasy—had he discovered her Xue Chi Luo?

She quickly hid behind her brother, clutching the basket.

The cultivator saw this, smirked slightly, then led his mounted team away.

As soon as the flying horses crossed the city gate tower, they resumed low-altitude flight, sweeping across the sky of Xiancheng, soon heading toward the territory of the Xiancheng Police Inspectorate.

One of the blue-robed female cultivators beside the lead cultivator asked curiously: “Master Zhan, why did you pay special attention to that child just now? What’s special about her?”

The lead flying-horse cultivator, appearing to be in his thirties, had a refined, scholarly air, like a common-world teacher.

He glanced at his trusted subordinate and smiled.

The blue-robed woman gasped: “Could it be the Xue Chi Luo that found the Qiao Chong?”

“Likely it. The little one looks lively.”

“That child?” the woman realized. “So she’s the bondmaster? So young and already bonded to a Xue Chi Luo?”

“That child is interesting too.” The lead cultivator in white robes leapt with his flying horses, stepping directly into the territory of the Xiancheng Police Inspectorate.

“Bao Junyi, come out and greet your senior brother!”

The Chief of the Xiancheng Police Inspectorate had just finished breakfast when he heard his senior brother’s loud voice.

He hurried out to find fifty-six flying-horse cultivators landing one by one, then leading their mounts through the gate.

All wore white magical robes adorned with luxurious silver-threaded patterns, shimmering under the sunlight. Only those from the Neijian Office typically wore such robes within the sect.

The leader was his senior brother, Zhan Xiongying.

“Senior brother? What brings you here? What divine wind blew you to me?” Bao Junyi said, smiling wryly.

“Divine wind? I’d say it’s demonic wind! I heard you’ve been here less than three years and nearly got eaten by Qiao Chong—I couldn’t help but come check on you,” Zhan Xiongying said.

Bao Junyi: You think I believe you?

You old rascal didn’t come for me.

You’re surely the one in charge of this Neijian mission.

“Fine, thanks for coming to see me. Let’s talk inside. Someone, take care of our new brothers—give them rest and breakfast.”

No sooner had he spoken than attendants led the flying-horse cultivators off to rest and eat.

As the two brothers entered Bao Junyi’s chamber, Zhan Xiongying pulled out a golden token engraved with a tiny Qilin on its front.

Bao Junyi saw the token and immediately knelt: “I bow before the Qilin Token Master. Your servant Bao Junyi awaits your orders.”

“Brother Bao, rise,” Zhan Xiongying said, helping him up and returning the token. “Brother Bao, let’s discuss our mission here.”

“This time, the surveillance mission is carried out by our Neijian Office personnel.”

“So you’re lucky.”

Bao Junyi smiled helplessly.

He’d done nothing wrong—whether the inspection came from any office, it made no difference.

“Also, the Neijian Commandant overseeing internal surveillance is very pleased with your clearance efforts here. He says you’ve done well.”

“After such a major incident—the sect was shaken, Qiao Chong and Chongren appeared—and yet you managed to kill Qiao Chong and thousands of Chongren while limiting damage to the minimum.”

“He said everyone worked hard, and he’ll recommend rewards for all of you.”

“He also encourages you to press on and crush the entire Star Insect Clan’s conspiracy.”

“He says the Star Insect Clan could never have sent down just one Qiao Chong.”

“That doesn’t fit their style of grandiose ambition.”

“So our first task: assist you in continuing to clear out the insect clan and their sect traitors—no matter who, no matter rank, no matter how long their family has served the sect—if evidence is solid, show no mercy.”

“Our second task: uncover the truth behind Sima Xuan’s death. Who killed him?”

Bao Junyi frowned: “Sima Xuan died over ten years ago. Why investigate now? What could you possibly find?”

“Others have come before to investigate and found no killer. To be honest, including our sect, four teams have been sent down to find his murderer,” Zhan Xiongying said, sighing.

“What?” Bao Junyi was stunned. “After all this time, no one’s found out who killed him?”