At the entrance of Lord Wang's courtyard, Chen Xuanze once again saw the gatekeeper, Old Han.

Old Han's wrinkled face greeted Chen Xuanze with a smile, his small eyes narrowing into slits.

Entering the courtyard, after Ma Baihu reported the incident with the peach blossom demon, Lord Wang pondered for a moment and then asked, "Chen Xuanze, she struck first, stealing from you, right?"

Chen Xuanze nodded.

Lord Wang then breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Ma Baihu, saying, "Ma Zhengyang, keep an eye on the gate in the morning. If that peach blossom demon called Hua Niang shows up, register her. Forget it; you don't need to go. Inform Zhao Jun later to watch at the gate. If she doesn't appear, send Zhao Jun to investigate. If he finds her, bring her back; if not, forget about it. Remind Zhao Jun to be polite. You can leave now; Chen Xuanze, stay."

Without saying a word, Ma Baihu turned and left. The rules here in Lord Wang's place were best not questioned if not explained.

Chen Xuanze, left behind, thought to himself that this peach blossom demon had some backing. Luckily, the Qingfeng Guild's expedition had yielded good results, and he resisted the urge to take action.

Sure enough, after Ma Baihu left, Lord Wang said, "You're quite capable, kid. The carp demon schemed for two months, and you wiped her out with a single arrow. Hua Niang ran a breakfast stall for three years, and she ran into you the moment she transformed. Is it their misfortune or your devilish luck?"

With a sly smile on his cold face, Lord Wang didn't wait for Chen Xuanze to explain, continuing, "Last time, you handled the mission in Qinghe County efficiently, but it was a bit rough. Now they've come knocking on the door, and I have to clean up after you. Don't rest; go back, pack your things, take your three subordinates, and wait for me at the North Gate. No need to bring horses."

Chen Xuanze didn't ask much, nodded, bowed, and left Lord Wang's courtyard to inform Chen Qianqian and the others.

Being able to go out with Lord Wang was a clear sign of Lord Wang's favor, and Chen Xuanze was well aware of that. He couldn't believe that no one was keeping an eye on him within the Supernatural Control Bureau. Why was the gatekeeper Old Han fixated on him? There were not many literate people in the Yellow Group, but it wasn't only him, Chen Xuanze. Why was he chosen to go to the Yellow Register Library?

Arriving at the North Gate with the three of them, Chen Xuanze saw Ma Baihu waiting outside the main gate.

He speculated that Ma Baihu was worried about any mishaps, so he stayed behind to watch, leaving Zhao Baihu to search for the peach blossom demon.

Ma Baihu didn't give Chen Xuanze a good look. Anyone would feel uncomfortable sitting in the sun during the scorching August days.

With a silly smile on his face, Chen Xuanze handed over a hundred taels of silver as he passed by Ma Baihu. Only then did Ma Baihu's expression improve slightly.

Of course, Ma Baihu accepted the hundred taels without a guilty conscience.

Before long, Lord Wang, wearing a red robe, appeared at the North Gate, accompanied by an old man with a long bundle in his arms.

No one spoke, and they followed behind Lord Wang, heading straight out of the East City Gate.

It wasn't until they reached the destination that Chen Xuanze learned why Lord Wang had instructed them not to bring horses—this trip would be by boat.

At the intersection of the moat and the canal outside the East City Gate, there was a small dock. They boarded a black-covered boat.

In the Supernatural Control Bureau, the rule was not to talk while traveling. Suppressing their curiosity, Chen Xuanze and his companions sat on the boat, not asking where they were going.

It wasn't until they left the canal and entered the Tian Water that Lord Wang, standing at the bow of the boat, facing the river wind, finally spoke, "No need to be silent anymore. You guys are not to worry about leaking spiritual energy while traveling. Grades eight and above don't need to be concerned."

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Chen Xuanze finally understood the reason behind the rule of silence during expeditions in the Supernatural Control Bureau. Since Lord Wang had spoken, he decided to ask, "My Lord, where are we headed?"

Lord Wang didn't maintain the usual air of aloofness rumored among the officials. He chuckled lightly and said, "You guys are not bad, able to keep your composure. This trip is to the Green Cloud Taoist Temple on Mount Dongsan."

Chen Xuanze's face was filled with astonishment. Were they returning to his hometown?

Lord Wang continued to explain, "The Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday is coming up. I'm going to get her a birthday gift and, by the way, help you guys cover your backsides. Little Taoist, you don't need to worry. Before your master ascended, I left something at the Green Cloud Taoist Temple for safekeeping. The Taoist who cheated people in Qinghe County, you'll get a share too. Prince Ning is decisive in his actions, quietly sending three thousand taels of silver. I'll arrange a share for him as well."

Chen Xuanze was a bit puzzled and asked, "My Lord, if he sends the silver, can't we just accept it? Why do we need to help him?"

Lord Wang turned around to look at Chen Xuanze with a teasing smile and said, "If we don't help, what will happen? If we don't help, people will say that our Supernatural Control Bureau doesn't handle things properly. The silver isn't just silver; it represents the reputation of the Supernatural Control Bureau. When the news spreads, will our Supernatural Control Bureau be seen as seizing wealth for personal gain? Where will we put our face? If not for you guys being too rough, would we need to make this trip?"

Chen Xuanze awkwardly remained silent. This matter was indeed deserved.

Wang Qingxuan spoke, "Lord Wang, I heard that the Empress Dowager's birthday is on the eighteenth of August, and today is only the ninth of August. The journey to Mount Dongsan is eight hundred miles. Isn't it too late?"

Lord Wang looked at the slick and worldly little Taoist, saying, "It's in time. If it's not in time, it will be made in time."

This statement seemed cryptic and was not further explained. Lord Wang turned back to face the river breeze and gazed at the river surface, as if there were extraordinary scenery in the Tian Water.

After a long while, Lord Wang's voice echoed faintly, "This trip, I'm watching your performance. Chen Xuanze, the three of them follow you. The great opportunity depends on whether you can seize it."

Chen Xuanze wasn't particularly surprised; he had guessed the general idea. The question was, how would they define a good performance?

As for the suspicion that Lord Wang was setting him up? That was impossible. The techniques he displayed, such as the Thunder Palm and Night Travel Technique, and the possibly leaked knowledge of the Soul Stealing Scripture, Demon Sealing Swordsmanship, and Divine Movement Technique, although somewhat mystical, were recorded in the Supernatural Control Bureau's records. It wasn't worth Lord Wang personally scheming for.

Thinking it over, the only thing remarkable about him was his ability to detect the presence of demonic entities.

With this in mind, he decided to ask, "Lord Wang, investigating demonic entities?"

Lord Wang didn't answer him but said, "The Supernatural Control Bureau suppresses demonic entities. How many people have died over the centuries? How much blood has been shed? Chen Xuanze, you've been to the Yellow Register Library; tell me, why is that?"

Chen Xuanze contemplated for a moment, uncertain, and replied, "To eliminate demonic entities and bring clarity to the mortal world?"

After hearing his answer, Lord Wang burst into loud laughter, the sound echoing far away.

After the laughter, he said, "That's right and also not quite right. Suppressing demonic entities is not about exterminating all demonic entities worldwide but about bringing clarity to the mortal world. All beings have the right to live and die; it's a natural law. Humans eat birds and beasts, and birds and beasts eat humans. That's the natural order. The Supernatural Control Bureau suppresses those demonic entities that cause havoc beyond the bounds of survival."

Chen Xuanze nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. However, in his heart, he felt that what Lord Wang said was both right and wrong. He had his own understanding and cognition of this matter.

"My Lord, according to what you said, isn't the Supernatural Control Bureau doing a bit too much now?" Chen Xuanze asked.

Lord Wang shook his head and said, "I just said that what you said is both right and wrong. When the Supernatural Control Bureau was first established, it only suppressed demonic entities that caused harm. Later, we found that it was useless. Trying to reason with them doesn't work; they won't follow the rules. Besides, the evildoers in this world aren't limited to demonic entities. Chen Xuanze, let me ask you, what would you do?"

Chen Xuanze didn't hesitate and said directly, "My Lord, matters of the mortal world belong to the court. As for demonic entities, as I said before, the solution is to eliminate them."

He came from a world without demonic entities, so he naturally knew what a world without demonic entities was like. There was no so-called saintly heart; he was human, viewing problems from the perspective of humanity.

Sitting beside him, Chen Qianqian subconsciously moved away a few seats, thinking of keeping a distance from this stubborn guy.

"Good! Good for wanting to eliminate all demonic entities and bring clarity to the mortal world!"

After the words fell, Lord Wang burst into laughter again, the laughter echoing far away. Lord Wang was very pleased. This stubborn guy was indeed as expected, decisive in killing! Much better than those sanctimonious sects. However, he wondered if they could grow to the point of bearing the responsibility for the mortal world.