I'm Telling You to Listen to the Call

After listening to Su Yuan's explanation, Growth Heavenly King finally came to a sudden realization.

He slammed a fist against the flying vessel's cabin wall and cursed under his breath:

"Damn it! That bastard Martial Star Lord! He actually dared to scheme against me like this! And I thought he was kindly warning me! If I really found this stuff myself and handed it over, wouldn't us brothers be cutting off our own future? Becoming the laughingstock of the Heavenly Court?"

He took a deep breath and heavily patted Su Yuan on the shoulder:

"Thanks to you, Little Su! Careful-minded, sharp-eyed—you saw right through it! Otherwise, your old brother here would've taken a huge fall today! I'll remember this favor!"

A moment later, the two of them climbed out of the flying vessel one after the other.

Growth Heavenly King cleared his throat, his face once more stern and majestic. Facing the fleet and Heavenly soldiers below, who stood ready in tight formation, he gathered his breath and shouted:

"Inspection complete! Everything is in order! Let them pass—!"

He was the first to step aside. Cupping his hands in salute, he solemnly bowed toward the pacification envoy fleet as it slowly began to move.

The fleet set sail once more, passing through the Southern Heavenly Gate, where construction was still underway and scaffolding rose in thick forests, heading straight for the passage between the Three Realms bathed in countless rays of rosy light.

Wood Virtue Star Official clasped Su Yuan's hand and thanked him repeatedly.

Su Yuan did not dare act overly proud and replied with a smile.

"Star Official, you give me too much credit. The fleet's business is everyone's business; there is no distinction between what falls within one's duties and what does not. There is no need for you to take it to heart either. These inspections were merely routine procedures. The Heavenly King was simply carrying out his duty, not deliberately making things difficult for us."

Then he lowered his voice.

"It's just that... someone apparently doesn't want this pacification mission to go smoothly. They passed along word in secret and reported us behind our backs. The big figures above are wrestling with one another, while people like us below, running errands and getting things done, are the ones most likely to suffer."

Upon hearing this, Wood Virtue Star Official gnashed his teeth.

"Outrageous! When I return, I will certainly investigate thoroughly and find out which bastard dared bully us so excessively! Does he truly think this old man is made of clay, without even a trace of temper?"

Seeing Wood Virtue Star Official take such a hard stance, Su Yuan finally relaxed a little.

He had barely returned to his room and intended to rest for a moment when an urgent report from a strongman came from outside the door:

"Chief Su! Bad news! Up ahead, up ahead, someone has set up another blockade! Star Official asks you to hurry to the bow and take a look!"

Su Yuan rubbed his brow, gave a bitter smile, and resigned himself to getting up.

That was how the workplace worked. Once you did one thing well, then fine—every similarly thorny mess afterward would automatically become your job.

By the time he reached the bow, Wood Virtue Star Official had already returned to his room to rest. Clearly, knowing someone had taken over, he intended to avoid one trouble whenever he could.

Ahead of the fleet stood two exalted figures, blocking its path.

Both had resolute faces and an upright air that could not be violated. Faint lightning flickered around their bodies.

The one on the left had a face like a ripe jujube, thick brows, and tiger eyes, carrying an imposing might even without anger. The one on the right was somewhat dark-skinned, with the watchful gaze of a hawk and wolf, his eyes sharp as blades.

Su Yuan hurriedly straightened his robes, stepped forward, and saluted with cupped hands.

"This subordinate is Su Yuan. Greetings, Heavenly Lords. May I ask why you have stopped the pacification envoy fleet?"

The two men were not polite. They stood tall and straight, accepted the salute with only shallow nods, their manner arrogant.

The jujube-faced man spoke:

"I am Heavenly Lord Zhang of the Thunder Bureau. This is Heavenly Lord Tao."

"We received a real-name report that someone was using the pretext of pacifying demon immortals in the lower realm to smuggle private goods and traffic contraband from the Heavenly Court!"

Heavenly Lord Tao stepped forward as well, his tone icy:

"Pass the order! Everyone, disembark immediately! Open every cargo crate and chest for inventory and inspection!"

As he spoke, he deliberately tapped the recording stone on his chest with a finger.

"The Thunder Bureau supervises and enforces the law. Every word and deed is recorded and uploaded to the Thunder Bureau archives. You—think carefully before you try to argue!"

His gaze shot toward Su Yuan like lightning.

"Why is there only a handler here? Go call out your chief to answer!"

Su Yuan had just been about to negotiate, but upon hearing those words, he knew this matter would not end peacefully. The other side had come prepared and would not yield an inch.

Gritting his teeth, he directly took out a communication talisman, quickly dialed a number, then said to the two Heavenly Lords, "Gentlemen, it's a communication from Ink Qilin."

The two Heavenly Lords assumed Su Yuan wanted to ask for Ink Qilin's contact information so he could beg for mercy. They could not help sneering.

"Hmph, we do not know Lord Ink Qilin's communication code!"

Su Yuan handed them the talisman.

"I'm telling you to listen to Ink Qilin's communication."

The two exchanged a glance, and a flicker of uncertainty crossed their faces.

Heavenly Lord Zhang accepted the talisman skeptically. The instant he raised it to his ear, a roar burst from within. It was so loud that even Su Yuan standing beside him heard every word clearly.

"Zhang Shao! Tao Rong! Are you two bastards so full and bored that you have nothing better to do?! Huh?! Have you finished investigating all the cases piled up in your hands? Have you completed every evidence chain? Hmm?! You like investigating cases that much? I've still got more than a dozen real-name reports here accusing Supreme Lord Lao's alchemy chamber of illegally dumping pill residue! Want me to transfer them to you right now for you to investigate?! Get your asses back here at once! Stop embarrassing me outside!"

These two had been among the four generals personally subdued by Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong during the Investiture of the Gods war at Yellow Flower Mountain. To them, Ink Qilin was no different from Wen Zhong himself.

The two held the jade talisman in their hands, sweat beading at their temples as their waists unconsciously bent. One after another, they said:

"Young Grand Preceptor, please calm your anger," "Yes, yes, yes," "This subordinate was muddleheaded," "This subordinate will return at once," "We would never dare cause you trouble."

To spare the two Heavenly Lords excessive embarrassment, Su Yuan tactfully moved several steps away and pretended to admire the distant sea of clouds.

After a while, the communication ended. Heavenly Lord Tao wiped away his sweat, piled a smile onto his face, and beckoned Su Yuan over.

"Little Friend Su, misunderstanding! This was all one enormous misunderstanding! Hahaha!"

Heavenly Lord Zhang also hurriedly cupped his hands beside him and added in an exceedingly courteous tone:

"The two of us were misled by villains and failed to see through it in time, nearly committing a grave mistake! When you return, we hope Little Friend Su will put in a few good words for us before the Young Grand Preceptor!"

Heavenly Lord Tao pointed to the recording stone on his chest and lowered his voice.

"Rest assured, Little Friend Su. We have our own way of handling this recorder. We absolutely will not leave behind any record unfavorable to your side. We won't disturb you further, we won't disturb you further. May all of you have a smooth journey!"

The fleet began moving again. Heavenly Lords Zhang and Tao remained standing on either side of the cloud road, waving them off with broad smiles as they shouted:

"Safe travels! Little Friend Su! Come have tea at the Thunder Bureau when you have time!"

After thinking it over, Su Yuan decided he might as well forget about resting. He turned directly toward the main cabin where Venus Star Lord was and went to report back.

Venus Star Lord was holding a meeting with the group leaders. Su Yuan picked an inconspicuous spot and sat down.

He had barely taken his seat and had not even had a sip of tea when the strongman hurried in with another report:

"Star Official! Bad news! At the entrance to the passage between the Three Realms ahead, General Giant Spirit God has led a group of Heavenly soldiers to surround it! They say they are conducting live combat drills, that the area is sealed off, and that we must wait until tomorrow to pass!"

Wood Virtue Star Official instinctively looked past the crowd toward Su Yuan.

Su Yuan said helplessly:

"This is sheer nonsense! This subordinate will go try to mediate again."