I've Got You Covered
The case of the Heaven Overturning Cult Altar in Falling Stone Village was resolved much more swiftly and efficiently than Ye An and Lin Wanyue had anticipated.
They thought it would take several days to clean up the scene and verify the results, but the day after the two returned to Yongning County, they received a message from Jiang Shuying.
The door was gently pushed open, and a Commandant in the uniform of the Demon Suppressing Guard strode in.
"Gentlemen, Commandant Jiang has sent word that she has dealt with the Deputy Altar Master the Heaven Overturning Cult in Falling Stone Village and is currently leading her men back to Cangwu Prefectural City. We need to return to our branch office in the county immediately to report back."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanyue paused in her actions and turned to look at Ye An beside her. "The matter of Falling Stone Village is completely resolved. Let's go back to Cangwu Prefectural City."
Ye An nodded slightly, his fingertips touching the warm Blood Essence Crystal in his arms. After confirming that it was safe and sound, he turned and followed Lin Wanyue out of the temporary camp.
The Demon Suppressing Guard Suppression Division branch office in Cangwu Prefectural City is a two-story old building standing on the corner of East Street.
The building is constructed from old timber, with mottled walls that exude the vicissitudes of time. It stands out from the bustling shops around it, yet it possesses its own solemn and dignified aura.
The first floor was where ordinary officials registered their official business and stored supplies and provisions. The furnishings were simple, with only a few old wooden tables and cabinets piled high with documents.
The second floor is Jiang Shuying's office, which is relatively quiet.
Jiang Shuying was sitting on a mahogany chair by the window. The setting sun shone through the window lattice and fell on her. Her cold aura was completely different from when she was not at the Demon Suppressing Guard.
Hearing the door open, Jiang Shuying slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Ye An before landing on Lin Wanyue: "Night Owl is dead?"
Lin Wanyue stepped forward, her posture upright, and replied in a calm tone, "Commandant Jiang, Night Owl has been killed. His body was left at the Altar in Falling Stone Village. The brothers from the Demon Suppressing Guard stationed there have handled it properly, and the subsequent verification documents have been prepared." She was concise, stating only the result without adding any unnecessary details.
Jiang Shuying nodded slightly, waited calmly for a moment, and seeing that Lin Wanyue did not continue to elaborate, she turned her gaze to Ye An beside her.
Ye An met Jiang Shuying's gaze and revealed the core details of the battle at the Altar.
"Besides Night Owl, another Heaven Overturning Cult deacon wielding a knife inside the Altar has also been killed. The core magic array of the Altar has been completely destroyed, with no possibility of restoration. This time, the Heaven Overturning Cult set up Blood Essence Crystal sacrifice ritual in Falling Stone Village. Night Owl attempted to use the power of the Blood Essence Crystal to break through his cultivation realm and enter the Qi Condensation Realm. Fortunately, we interrupted the ritual in time, and the Baleful Energy of the Blood Essence Crystal failed to fully form. This item is now with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye An took out a crystal the size of a pigeon egg from his pocket and gently placed it on the wooden table in front of Jiang Shuying.
Ye An felt there was no point in hiding the Blood Essence Crystal, so he should just tell it directly.
Jiang Shuying glanced down at the Blood Essence Crystal on the table, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
She quickly withdrew her gaze, and after listening to more of their experiences, her tone remained calm, yet every word carried immense weight. "In the case of Falling Stone Village, you two have made outstanding contributions, killing three deacons, destroying the Altar, and stopping the Blood Sacrifice Ritual. Your achievements have all been recorded, and the Demon Suppressing Guard will record your contributions in the future, which can be exchanged for the items needed for cultivation."
Jiang Shuying added, "Night Owl's superior, an unnamed Deputy Altar Master, is dead. I killed him myself. As for the Blood Essence Crystal, you can handle it yourselves."
Jiang Shuying paused, then looked at Ye An with a more serious tone, reminding him, "Absorbing this substance may erode your mind and soul. However, the Demon Suppressing Guard has 'Heart-Cleansing Pill' that can assist in absorption and reduce potential risks. Even so, I still don't recommend you touch it."
Having said that, she said no more, leaving the final decision entirely to Ye An.
She was well aware of the fortuitous opportunity and choices on the path of spiritual practice; others could only offer reminders, not do them for her.
Ye An didn't hesitate much. "Thank you for the reminder, Commandant Jiang. I understand."
Lin Wanyue watched quietly from the side, nodding inwardly. Ye An seemed taciturn, but he was extremely decisive in his actions.
After reporting their findings, the two bid farewell to Jiang Shuying, who then looked at the document, contemplating her next steps...
The two came down from the second floor and walked to the counter on the first floor of the branch office.
The wooden counter was worn and had several dark marks on the edges, like marks left from years of placing iron plates and documents there.
Behind the counter sat a middle-aged steward, looking down and flipping through a booklet, while a young Commandant was tidying up a stack of documents beside him.
As Lin Wanyue walked over, the young Commandant looked up, recognized her, and called out, "Lin Wanyue? How's the situation in Falling Stone Village?"
"Nailed it."
The young Commandant asked again, "Is Night Owl really dead?"
Although Night Owl was a cultivator at the Meridian Opening stage, he was notoriously slippery and often escaped, but this time he actually stumbled.
Lin Wanyue said calmly, "Not only Night Owl, but also two deacons at the peak of the Meridian Opening. We dealt with them all together."
The young Commandant was taken aback for a moment, then sincerely said, "Impressive."
Lin Wanyue didn't reply, but her gaze seemed to sweep to the side unintentionally.
Ye An was standing in front of the counter, looking down at the butler flipping through the booklet, his face expressionless, as if the deaths of the three butlers had nothing to do with him.
Lin Wanyue looked away and said nothing more.
After Ye An and the other middle-aged deacons finished flipping through the booklets in their hands, they announced their names.
The deacon looked up at him, confirmed that the merit record was correct, and then took out a small porcelain bottle from the drawer and pushed it over. The mouth of the bottle was sealed with wax.
It is the Heart-Cleansing Pill, which can assist me in refining the Blood Essence Crystal.
Ye An could sense that this Blood Essence Crystal had not fully absorbed all the energy of the ritual, so if he used it to improve his cultivation, he would not be able to directly reach the peak of the Meridian Opening stage.
Of course, this also means that its side effects are much smaller.
Lin Wanyue had finished her business as well. She carefully put away a "Origin Condensation Pill" and glanced at the porcelain bottle in Ye An's hand. "Blood Essence Crystal plus Heart-Cleansing Pill, it seems you're determined to use it."
Her tone carried a hint of pride, "Next time we meet, I'll probably be at the Qi Condensation. I'll protect you then."
Lin Wanyue remembered that Ye An had saved her, and fantasized about rescuing Ye An when he was in danger.
Ye An chuckled and said, "Then I'll have to rely on you a lot."
Ye An did not refuse, but smiled and nodded in agreement.
The two left the branch office and stood on the side of East Street.
N blew from the side, ruffling Lin Wanyue's clothes and the stray hairs at her temples.
She didn't speak, but a scene was replaying in her mind.
That night in Falling Stone Village, when Ye An grabbed her waist and pulled her away from where she had been standing, a gust of wind swept past the spot where she had just been standing. She didn't have time to think about it at the time.
But now this scene kept replaying in her mind, over and over again, as if something was stuck, constantly replaying, and she couldn't stop it.
She turned her face away, her ears burning, then turned her back to Ye An, so that he could not see her face.
Ye An didn't notice her; he was thinking about what to do after returning to his Sect. Just as he was about to take his leave, he looked up and noticed that Lin Wanyue's profile and the base of her ears were slightly flushed.
A thought flashed through Ye An's mind: Could it be that breaking through to the Qi Condensation was so exciting for her? He didn't say it aloud, but just stood there watching her, waiting for her to turn around.
When Lin Wanyue turned back, her complexion had returned to normal. She paused for a moment before speaking.
"I forgot to tell you, the Lin Lineage is one of the Two Great Families of Cangwu Prefecture. They've been in Cangwu Prefecture arms business for generations and have connections with Mortal Iron and Spirit Weapons. If you need any, you can come to me."
Ye An nodded, said "thank you," and then said "I'm leaving." Lin Wanyue stood there, watching his figure pass through the city gate and walk away along the official road, without any further thoughts.