Monk Baoyin ultimately couldn't hold back any longer. He used the Great Compassion Palm to slap the Hundred Refinements Officer, who was lying there like a dead pig, awake.
Over the course of this journey, he had accumulated far too much pressure. He had to find somewhere to vent it.
Don't be fooled by how gaunt this old monk Baoyin was—the strength in his hands was unexpectedly considerable. The Hundred Refinements Officer, who had been unconscious just moments earlier, was slapped dizzy and disoriented.
After confirming that the other man was awake, Monk Baoyin stopped paying attention to him and looked at Zhou Ye again.
"Captain Zhou, about our Nandu Kingdom's request for assistance..."
"Don't worry. The Emperor made arrangements for this matter long ago. Come with me."
With that, Zhou Ye led Monk Baoyin outside at an unhurried pace.
They had only just left the grand audience hall when they ran into a figure dressed in a Black Military Uniform.
In that brief encounter, a storm of shock immediately surged through Monk Baoyin's heart.
An Saint Realm Mage?
Before he could think any further, Zhou Ye's voice rang out.
"Vice Commander Gilt, long time no see."
"Long time no see, Captain."
At that moment, Gilt's appearance hadn't been deliberately arranged.
As Zhou Xu's student, he would enter the palace every so often to seek Zhou Xu's guidance on cultivation. Their encounter was purely accidental.
Both men had matters to attend to, so they didn't talk much. They essentially just exchanged greetings, and they even brushed past each other without slowing their steps.
That could also be considered one of Great Zhou's distinctive traits: maintaining basic courtesy without engaging in excessive formalities.
But Monk Baoyin, who was following behind Zhou Ye, was completely unable to remain calm.
He could basically