In truth, Daoist Xue and Zhong Xingwen were still reeling from what Old Man Yu had said earlier about Dragonkind.
But when Old Man Yu suddenly asked another question, they could not help suppressing their shock and shifting their attention.
Daoist Xue did not probe the oddities in Old Mr. Yu's words. He merely gave the question itself some serious thought.
"Why do you ask whether I want to become State Preceptor, Old Mr. Yu? Though I possess a few skills, and the emperor might have some respect for them, the position of State Preceptor is rather beyond me."
Before Old Man Yu could answer Daoist Xue's question, Zhong Xingwen spoke up from beside him.
"I've heard that His Majesty has spent these past few years obsessed with the immortals' arts of prolonging life and tales of ascending amid rosy clouds. He also takes a keen interest in ghosts and gods."
As he spoke, Zhong Xingwen tapped the plate before him with his chopsticks, making it ring.
"Heh, judging by that, Your Majesty must have been deeply impressed by your magic, Daoist Priest!"
Old Man Yu's smile remained unchanged. He picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and placed it before Hui Mian, then took a meatball for himself.
"As Chief Constable Zhong says. Still, what will actually happen remains unknown. Affairs of the world are difficult to predict, after all. As for this Heavenly Prison, perhaps you'll be released before long. But while Chief Constable Zhong may leave, I fear you won't be able to get away just yet, Daoist Priest."
Daoist Xue looked at Old Man Yu, then at Zhong Xingwen beside him. The former ate leisurely, while the latter looked thoughtful. He, too, had begun to sense what was coming.
"It seems that no sooner