Regarding Five Immortals Mountain, the Emperor and his ministers had discussed the matter for several days.
In the end—
There was only a long sigh.
Each harboring their own thoughts, they dispersed in haste.
Until this morning.
A carriage slowly entered Chang'an through the southern gate.
The carriage looked unremarkable, and along the way, it had drawn no notice from passersby.
Only when it reached the entrance of Demon Suppression Headquarters did it come to a stop.
The curtain was lifted.
A man and a woman stepped down from the carriage, both appearing middle-aged. Their expressions were anxious, and the moment they dismounted, they headed straight for the gates.
"May I ask... is this Demon Suppression Headquarters?"
The Demon-Suppression Guard on duty saw their strange attire and had originally intended to rebuke them.
But when he caught sight of the tally dangling from their waists, the words at his lips were swallowed back down.
"It is."
Upon receiving the affirmative answer, the man's face lit up with joy. He exchanged a glance with the woman beside him, and the two of them directly dropped to their knees.
"We are envoys of Gaoluo Kingdom. Our country has suddenly met with great calamity—demons are running rampant. We beg the Head Office to send troops to our aid!"
The moment those words fell.
The Demon-Suppression Guards on duty at the gate were stunned.
Great Tang's national strength was flourishing, its might commanding the four seas. There were indeed several small tributary states nearby, offering tribute year after year and coming to court every season.
Gaoluo was one of them.
However...
By rights, all matters concerning tributary states had to first pass through the Court of State Ceremonies, then be reported to the Secretariat, and finally receive His Majesty's vermilion approval.
Though the Demon