Night Voyage Ship, Lingxi City, the private courtyard of the acting City Lord.
Chen Ping'an dozed off. He had no idea how much time had passed, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself already inside the room, seated in a chair.
Pei Qian beside him said softly, "Master can sleep a little longer."
The old scholar seated opposite stroked his beard and smiled. "Just rest. It's no matter. Steal a moment of leisure amid busyness; the sky won't come crashing down."
The Temple of Literature and the School of Military Ancestral Court were already in an uproar, both demanding that he return to preside over the situation. The old scholar simply pretended not to hear, pretending not to know.
Ning Yao said, "Wu Shuang Jiang has already returned to Azure Sky World. He left the Two Inch Objects with Cui Dongshan, and all the compensation he could offer is inside. He said that for those things he did not have on him, after Xiao Mo sends forth a sword, he can immediately make a trip to Azure Sky World. First, go to Daoist Temple of Bright Moon Haocai, then have Senior Bixiao accompany Xiao Mo to Sui Chu Palace. That way, it will be an aboveboard sightseeing trip, and White Jade Capital will not dare say much. Mr. Zheng is still in the courtyard outside, chatting with Bai Jing for a few moments."
Chen Ping'an nodded. Directly opposite him sat Jiang She, broad and imposing. Chen Ping'an tucked both hands into his sleeves, shifted slightly sideways, and rested an arm atop the chair armrest. For a time, he did not know how to speak to Pei Qian beside him.
In the courtyard beyond the door, Zheng Juzhong returned the two flying swords, "Upstream" and "Downstream," to Bai Jing