Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Hard Life

Though called the Hall of the National Preceptor, the building was even grander than the palace’s main hall.

Clearly, Liu An was enjoying his job as State Preceptor.

“Cultivators shouldn’t care about luxury,” Luo Ming Yue said with a frown. “First, settle these people. Then tell us in detail what has happened these past few years.”

Liu An agreed at once.

He had Ye Qing Er and the rest taken away to be cared for, then personally poured tea for the group.

He tried to recall the last few years and spoke through them one by one.

But all he talked about was how easy his State Preceptor days were and how respectful the Emperor was to him, nothing else.

As he spoke, even he began to feel guilty.

When he first arrived, he remembered his duty and worked hard.

But the Mortal Realm’s life is dazzling.

Everyone treated him with respect. Even the Emperor bowed to him with a disciple’s salute and never slighted him.

Five years ago, the Late Emperor died and the Third Prince took the throne.

Liu An wondered whether the New Emperor would be less respectful. He even thought about showing a bit of force to cow the New Emperor.

The result?

The New Emperor treated him with even more respect than the Late Emperor had.

This Hall of the National Preceptor was built for him by the New Emperor. Fine wine and beauties, gold and jewels, came without end.

He sank into that life and naturally slacked off.

Of course, he didn’t dare skip his duties entirely. He still did the checks the sect required. But there is a big difference between doing a task with care and without it.

When he finished, Li Shuang suddenly asked: “So after the Third Prince took the throne, your treatment rose again? This Hall of the National Preceptor is certainly splendid. Lord State Preceptor, I suppose you have hardly left this hall for a long time, right?”

The hall had everything, all of it the finest in the world. Liu An truly could have spent a lifetime inside.

His legs softened and he dropped to his knees, flustered: “Please forgive me, Senior Brother, Senior Sister. These years I have been lazy. But the Devil Path hid itself so well that even if I checked carefully, I might not have found it.”

Luo Ming Yue snorted: “Your dereliction will be reported to the sect. Someone will come to settle that account.”

“The Devil Path’s mastermind is still in the shadows,” Liu Jun Cheng added. “If you can help us find any clues, it will count as merit. When we report back, it can offset your fault.”

Liu An’s eyes lit up. He said quickly: “If the Devil Path is truly hiding near the capital, I can help. Give me some time, and I will find the person.”

Li Shuang said: “You showed up quickly when something happened at the outskirts today.”

Liu An gave a sheepish look: “To be honest, I wasn’t so sharp. The Emperor came in person to tell me there was great commotion near the capital, so I hurried over. The Emperor respects cultivators. Besides me, he has gathered many rogue cultivators under him. I imagine they sensed something. But rogues are rogues. They aren’t much use. When something really needs doing, it still has to be me.”

As he spoke, a bit of pride slipped back in.

Li Shuang gave him a quiet look and said: “That’s all for now. You may go.”

Liu An answered and hurried out.

“Liu An is State Preceptor,” Liu Jun Cheng said. “With a nation’s power behind him, he should be able to find some leads. We’ve worked hard removing demons. Let’s rest here for a few days.”

No one objected, so they stayed for the time being.

On the surface, Li Shuang and the others seemed to be passively waiting for Liu An to find results.

In private, the Emotionless Peak group met in secret.

Sui Jin said in a low voice: “The person stirred the Child Gu to keep us here. Liu An’s appearance was also a bit too coincidental.”

“You mean Liu An is a traitor?” Luo Ming Yue asked, surprised.

“Not necessarily a traitor, but certainly foolish,” Liu Jun Cheng said without expression. “The person deliberately kept us in place but hasn’t shown himself. Clearly he has a scheme that needs time to set up.”

“To break it, we have to lock onto a target fast. The faster we move, the less prepared he’ll be, and the better our chances.”

“Master already sent word,” Luo Ming Yue said. “She has left the sect. Knowing her speed, she should arrive in at most five days.”

“But Ye Qing Er and the others have at most three days to live,” Li Shuang said with a frown. “They may not last until Master arrives.”

Ye Qing Er and the others were only a pretext to make them stay.

Their lives were not in the mastermind’s plans.

He didn’t even intend to use the hostages to threaten them.

In his view, they and these rogues were strangers with no real bond. The rogues’ lives meant nothing to him and, by his thinking, should mean nothing to Li Shuang’s group either.

But Li Shuang knew this: [If there is even a slim chance, I want to fight for Ye Qing Er and the others to live.]

“That’s true,” Sui Jin said. “Also, the Heavenly Sovereign Dao uses true blood to refine the body. If we delay even one day, who knows how many innocents will die. We must end this quickly.”

“At the very least, we should first confirm the demon’s identity,” Liu Jun Cheng said. “When Master arrives, we will have a clear target.”

They quickly reached agreement on finding the mastermind as fast as possible.

Next came the reasoning.

“If Liu An’s appearance wasn’t a coincidence, who could influence him without him noticing?” Li Shuang said. “He lives a life of indulgence in this Hall of the National Preceptor. If the Emperor hadn’t sent for him, he wouldn’t have gone out.”

“And the Emperor has gathered many rogue cultivators. That behavior is odd.”

“These years, he has also used various means to keep Liu An willingly tied to this hall.”

They compared notes, and every doubt seemed to point to one person.

The current Emperor.

If the Devil Cultivator behind it all was the ruler of a nation, many things suddenly made sense.

“Then we test it tonight,” Luo Ming Yue said, narrowing her eyes. “I’ll slip into the palace after dark to see if anything is strange.”

“Count me in,” Li Shuang said.

“Good. You and I will split up,” Luo Ming Yue nodded.

Liu Jun Cheng glanced at Sui Jin: “You handle Ye Zhao Zhao. Also, try the handsome-man tactic. See if you can probe whether the palace has any trace of the Devil Path.”

Sui Jin’s smile froze: “[???]”

Luo Ming Yue couldn’t help laughing: “Yes, that matters too. Third Junior Brother, sorry to trouble you.”

Li Shuang winked: “Third Senior Brother, good luck.”

Sui Jin fell silent.

[His life is really hard.]