Receive the Imperial Edict

The three veteran Golden Core cultivators were so frightened by Lin Qingyan, who was only at the mid-Golden Core stage, that they did not dare to move.

In the end, it was actually Gu Chengyin, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who stepped in to smooth things over.

What kind of situation was this?

Regardless, Gu Chengyin's words gave them a way out.

The leading enshrinee coughed lightly and was about to say a few polite words when he heard Gu Chengyin speak again:

"My lord, could you let this junior take a look at the imperial decree?"

The Golden Core enshrinee was slightly taken aback.

He subconsciously looked at Lin Qingyan.

Lin Qingyan stood behind Gu Chengyin, her expression having returned to normal, cold and indifferent.

She showed no emotion, nor was she as terrifying as she had been just a moment ago.

This made the Golden Core enshrinee immediately breathe a sigh of relief.

He no longer cared about etiquette and simply raised his hand, handing the imperial decree to Gu Chengyin.

Holding the imperial decree, Gu Chengyin did not open it immediately. Instead, he cupped his hands and said politely:

"Thank you, my lord."

The Golden Core enshrinee did not speak, only nodding his head.

The eyes of the other two also fell on Gu Chengyin.

This young man...

Was not simple.

They had seen Lin Qingyan's furious state with their own eyes just now.

The golden lightning, the blazing white eyes tinged with gold, the killing intent that had almost materialized.

She had truly wanted to act, truly wanted to kill the three of them right here in the Azure Sword Sect.

But Gu Chengyin? He had merely patted her shoulder lightly and called her Auntie.

And that alone had calmed the furious Lord Jingzhe down.

What kind of trust was this?

And what kind of relationship?

The three Golden Core enshrinees all saw the profound implications in each other's eyes.

Gu Chengyin, however, paid them no further mind. He turned around and returned to Lin Qingyan's side.

Then he unrolled the imperial decree and began to read it carefully.

Bright yellow brocade, dark gold dragon patterns, vermilion seal—it was Emperor Luo's seal.

Beside it was the grand seal of the Grand Secretariat, equally genuine.

The texture, patterns, and ink of the imperial decree, every detail exuded the exquisite majesty unique to the royal family.

Gu Chengyin read it very carefully.

He read from beginning to end, and then from end to beginning, not missing a single word.

This imperial decree was real.

Absolutely genuine.

Lin Qingyan leaned in and also looked at the imperial decree. After inspecting it closely, she narrowed her eyes slightly.

"It is indeed an imperial decree."

Her voice was cold, carrying undisguised chilliness:

"Is that dog... His Majesty truly going to convict you?"

She had almost blurted out dog emperor, only managing to change her words at the very last second.

Gu Chengyin heard the abrupt shift in her words and could not help but curl the corners of his lips.

Then, he said thoughtfully:

"At least on the surface, that is the case."

Lin Qingyan did not speak. She merely stared silently at the imperial decree, her gaze complex and hard to read.

There was anger, worry, confusion, and...

A trace of killing intent.

Due to his angle, Gu Chengyin did not see it.

However, the three Golden Core enshrinees behind Gu Chengyin saw it clearly.

The three of them took another small step back, not only in sync but with great tacit understanding.

Gu Chengyin unhurriedly rolled up the imperial decree, his demeanor full of respect.

He did not show the slightest negligence just because this decree had convicted him.

Handing the imperial decree to Lin Qingyan, Gu Chengyin said with a smile:

"Since this imperial decree is for Auntie, then Auntie should accept it."

Lin Qingyan froze.

Looking at the imperial decree handed to her, and then at Gu Chengyin's face, she was momentarily at a loss for words.

Act according to the decree?

But the content of this imperial decree was for her to personally capture Gu Chengyin and bring him back to the capital!

How could Gu Chengyin still smile?

"You..."

Lin Qingyan spoke, a hint of urgency in her voice: "Do you know what is written on this?"

Gu Chengyin nodded:

"I know."

"Then you still want me to act according to the decree?"

"I can't let Auntie defy an imperial decree, can I?"

Lin Qingyan grew even more anxious. She was about to speak when she saw Gu Chengyin wave his hand.

"Don't worry, Auntie."

Gu Chengyin comforted her softly: "It's just a formality."

A formality?

Lin Qingyan blinked, a look of confusion revealing itself in her eyes.

"Isn't the final result returning to the divine capital anyway?"

Gu Chengyin continued, his voice remaining gentle:

"Since we are going back either way, why care about the formality of the process?"

Lin Qingyan paused; it sounded like that was indeed the case.

Whether returning as the leader of the inspection team or returning as an imperial criminal.

The ultimate destination was the divine capital.

Lin Qingyan thought for a moment and asked tentatively:

"Do you mean... His Majesty wants to suppress you a bit?"

Gu Chengyin did not answer the question directly, but said with hidden meaning:

"Thunder and rain are both the grace of the sovereign."

"Auntie just needs to accept the decree."

He paused, his gaze falling on Lin Qingyan's face, and said with certainty:

"As for the rest, just trust me."

Just trust me.

Upon hearing these words, the worry in Lin Qingyan's eyes dissipated in an instant.

Yes.

She trusted Gu Chengyin.

From the moment they met, she had always trusted him.

Every word he said, every thing he did, had never disappointed her.

And this time would be no exception.

Lin Qingyan reached out and took the imperial decree from Gu Chengyin's hands.

She looked at him and nodded heavily:

"Mhm!"

...

Outside the mountain gate of the Azure Sword Sect.

Dozens of carriages were neatly lined up, forming a dense mass.

The drivers were already in position, and the servants were performing their respective duties. Although the entire procession was massive, it was well-ordered.

This was the formation for the return journey.

The members of the sect inspection team boarded the carriages one after another, their expressions composed, no different from when they arrived.

They had already received notice from Chen Busha that they would not be inspecting the remaining sects, but would instead return directly to the divine capital.

The crowd was not surprised by this. After all, the nature of their sect inspection team was special to begin with.

It was normal for any situation to arise, and being able to return directly to the divine capital now was naturally for the best.

However, as they stepped onto the carriages and the procession slowly started moving, they gradually realized something was wrong.

Within the procession, there were three extra carriages.

Three carriages of the same design, with cabins slightly larger than ordinary ones.

Judging from their exterior markings, they were all carriages of the Celestial Master Mansion.

One on the left, one on the right, and one at the rear.

They faintly formed an encircling posture, escorting the core carriage in the middle.

The crowd's gazes swept over these three carriages and then followed the core they were escorting.

That was Lin Qingyan's carriage, and Gu Chengyin was also inside.

The members of the sect inspection team were all shrewd individuals.

Who among those able to join this team had not been immersed in officialdom for years, becoming accustomed to reading people's expressions?

With just one glance, they all saw the clues.

Something had happened to Gu Chengyin.

This thought surfaced in their minds, but no one voiced it.

Everyone simply withdrew their gazes, maintaining their composed expressions as if they had seen nothing.

Yet, from the corners of their eyes, they could not help but drift towards those three Celestial Master Mansion carriages.

At the same time, the hands inside their sleeves moved quietly.

Some used the pretext of adjusting their robes to slip a note into their attendants' hands.

Some took the opportunity of exchanging pleasantries with neighboring carriages to whisper a few instructions.

Some used the motion of lifting the curtain to look at the scenery to make a hand gesture in a certain direction.

One piece of news after another was transmitted out silently just like that.

They relayed the news to their patrons in the shadows and to their respective factions.

They passed it on to those who needed to hear it.

Once the messages were sent, they resumed their nonchalant facades.

They chuckled and chatted with their fellow passengers, acting as though they hadn't noticed a thing.

Yet, their subtle, lingering gazes constantly drifted back to the carriages of the Celestial Master Mansion.