Eradicate Bandits and Eliminate Thieves

Hearing this, Chen Busha blinked.

He wasn't surprised by the order to increase the reimbursement limit; it was obviously a move to win people's hearts.

Moreover, Gu Chengyin had even blocked the Censorate, so when this order was passed down...

Everyone in the Sect Inspection Team would sing his praises and become even more fiercely loyal.

Because those who could join this team already enjoyed high ranks and excellent treatment.

Multiplying an already high base by two hundred times, and allowing them to use it however they wanted...

They could travel on official business while having all expenses fully reimbursed.

Was there anything more satisfying in the world?

So what Chen Busha really cared about was Gu Chengyin telling him to go rest as well.

After all, his duty was to protect Gu Chengyin. With Lin Qingyan not yet recovered, how could he leave at a time like this?

But just as Chen Busha opened his mouth, before the words could come out, he saw Gu Chengyin's gaze shift to the side.

Looking at Elder Qiu under the corridor.

"You don't need to worry about my safety."

"Wouldn't you agree, Elder Qiu?"

Gu Chengyin's gaze fell on Elder Qiu, carrying an ambiguous smile.

Elder Qiu raised his eyes and looked at him.

His expression was completely indifferent, showing no emotional fluctuations, and then he nodded slightly, saying:

"Junior Preceptor Gu holds a noble status, and this trip carries the heavy responsibility of the imperial court."

"The Luodu Celestial Master Mansion is naturally duty-bound."

As his words fell, a moment of silence enveloped the area in front of the tower.

The morning light fell between the two of them, casting their shadows on the ground.

One long, one short, one far, one near, like some kind of silent confrontation.

Seeing this scene, Chen Busha understood in his heart.

Junior Preceptor Gu and this Elder Qiu had some business to discuss.

As for what it was, he didn't know, nor should he know.

He only knew that since Gu Chengyin had said so, he should...

Disappear.

Chen Busha immediately cupped his hands, his movements clean and crisp:

"Junior Preceptor Gu, this subordinate will take his leave."

Gu Chengyin glanced at him and nodded slightly.

After receiving permission, Chen Busha did not hesitate, turned around, and left.

He didn't ask a single extra question, nor did he look back even once.

This was Chen Busha.

The Deputy General of the Golden Feather Guard, Deputy Leader of the Inspection Team, and one of the people Gu Chengyin trusted.

He had many virtues, but his greatest one...

Was his tact.

Exceptional tact.

He knew when to show loyalty and when to disappear.

When he could act like a brother with Gu Chengyin, and when he needed to defend Gu Chengyin's absolute authority.

That was why he had survived until now.

That was why he could stand in his current position.

That was why...

Gu Chengyin trusted him.

Even though Chen Busha was Luo Zhao's man, Gu Chengyin still trusted him.

This had nothing to do with any calculation of interests, but rather a mutual appreciation between men.

When Chen Busha's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, the area in front of the tower became completely quiet.

Only Gu Chengyin and Elder Qiu, who was ten zhang away, remained.

Faint sounds of the marketplace drifted over from the distance; it was the sound of Luodu City beginning to awaken.

Yet in front of this Meditation Tower, it was as quiet as another world.

Gu Chengyin stood in place, his gaze falling on Elder Qiu.

Elder Qiu also looked at him.

Neither of them spoke.

Suddenly, Gu Chengyin stepped forward and walked towards Elder Qiu.

His steps were unhurried, walking from the front of the tower to the corridor, from the sunlight into the shadows, and then from the shadows back into the sunlight, light and shadow alternating on his body.

Elder Qiu watched him approach and slightly turned his body to make way.

This was a tacit agreement.

And an invitation.

The two walked side by side, proceeding unhurriedly along the corridor.

The early morning in the Celestial Master Mansion was very quiet, with only the occasional chirping of birds and the sound of their own footsteps echoing softly on the floorboards.

The corridor zigzagged, passing through several courtyards.

Along the way, cultivators who had gotten up early to sweep the grounds bowed respectfully upon seeing Elder Qiu.

When they saw Gu Chengyin, a flash of curiosity crossed their eyes, but they tactfully refrained from staring.

After walking for a while, Gu Chengyin suddenly spoke.

"Elder Qiu."

"As the person in charge of the Luodu Celestial Master Mansion, such a major incident occurred last night."

Gu Chengyin paused and glanced sideways at Elder Qiu.

"Aren't you going to show some kind of gesture?"

This question was asked directly, so directly that he didn't seem like someone from the officialdom.

But Elder Qiu's expression didn't change in the slightest.

He continued walking calmly, his gaze fixed straight ahead, as if what Gu Chengyin had asked was just an ordinary question.

"Of course," his voice was aged and steady, like the bell in an ancient temple.

"Commandery Governor Xiao is currently meeting with Special Envoy Jiang. If nothing unexpected happens,"

"They will soon jointly memorialize His Majesty to launch a special campaign to eradicate bandits and thieves."

Elder Qiu paused, glanced sideways at Gu Chengyin, and then continued:

"We will strive to give Junior Preceptor Gu a fair and just outcome."

"And also return a clear and bright sky to the people of Luodu."

After his words fell, the two walked for another stretch.

At the end of the corridor was a small garden. Inside the garden were rockeries and a pond. The pond water was clear, and a few koi fish swam leisurely.

The morning light fell on the water's surface, shattering into pieces of golden scales.

Listening to Elder Qiu's words, a faint smile curled at the corner of Gu Chengyin's mouth.

No wonder he hadn't seen Jiang Jianli; she had gone to see Xiao Yuliang.

But it wasn't surprising. After all, in the current situation, the Azure Sword Sect was the most suitable sect representative.

Eradicating bandits and thieves.

This title was truly interesting.

Last night's kidnapping involved three Golden Core cultivators and countless men in black.

Was such a lineup the work of bandits and thieves?

Who were they trying to fool?

But Elder Qiu deliberately framed it this way.

Because this was defining the nature of last night's kidnapping.

It wasn't a kidnapping plotted by cultivation sects against Gu Chengyin.

Instead, it was an attack by bandits and thieves against a high-ranking court official.

The nature of it was indeed very serious.

A dignified court official being attacked within Luodu City.

If this got out, all officials in Luodu, big and small, would be implicated and punished.

So it had to be strictly investigated.

It had to be strictly handled.

An explanation had to be given to the court and the public.

But how to investigate? How to provide an explanation?

Root out the true identities of those three Golden Core cultivators? Go question the sects behind them?

Go break the fragile balance between the Great Luo and the cultivation world?

No.

Not right now.

At least not before the Emperor of Luo issued a clear decree.

If the Great Luo and the cultivation world fell out over this, the blame would undoubtedly fall on the Luodu Celestial Master Mansion.

So they were bandits.

They were thieves.

They were desperate outlaws committing crimes on the run, entirely unrelated to any cultivation sect.

It's just that if that were the case, the bandits and thieves around Luodu would be in for some terrible luck in the coming period.

Because the Luodu Celestial Master Mansion would personally take the field to exterminate them.

As for those cultivation sects, they would remain safe and sound.

The balance between the Great Luo and the cultivation world would still be maintained.

Because the ones who attacked Gu Chengyin were bandits and thieves, having nothing to do with the cultivation world.

Gu Chengyin withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

He wasn't surprised by this result, nor was he dissatisfied.

Personal interests were not worth mentioning in the face of overall stability.

Those who truly stood at the top never looked at the gains and losses of a single city or place, nor the right and wrong of a single person or event.

But rather the big picture.

The higher one's status, the better they understood this principle.

So Gu Chengyin understood Elder Qiu's method of handling things.

He even highly approved of it, because if he were in that position, he would do the same.

But this didn't mean Gu Chengyin would just let it go.

After all, he was the one in the right.

The Luodu Celestial Master Mansion wanted to suppress this matter?

Fine.

But they would have to pay a price.