The City God's Response

With a taut face, Yin Yunze almost lost control of his expression.

No way, is this a reward a normal person could come up with? Are you some kind of cannibal?! You're trying to bite my hand!

"Ah! Your Majesty, that's not what I meant!"

Noticing that Yin Yunze's expression was a bit off, Zhang Liuyun realized that she might not have expressed herself correctly, and quickly said, "What I meant was, Your Majesty, could you please let me lick your jade hands a couple of times?"

"Sister, even I, a man, think you're a bit perverted! Seriously, what are you thinking?! A deity appears before you, and even if you don't want healing, you'd at least want some gold, silver, and riches! You want to lick a deity's hand? That's a bit too outrageous!"

Yin Yunze never expected that she would encounter a pervert in this world, even though she had never actually seen one in the real world!

"Your Majesty, this request of mine seems a bit excessive—"

Noticing Yin Yunze's increasingly cold expression and sensing the chill emanating from him, Zhang Liuyun shrank back and said softly, "Your Majesty, just give me your orders. As for rewards, Your Majesty can give me whatever you feel is best."

With a stern face, Yin Yunze tossed her a letter. "Go to Qingling County and find your apprentice, Peng Shulan. Have him deliver this letter to Magistrate Xu Hanxian. Peng Shulan will tell you what to do next."

After hurriedly taking the letter with both hands, Zhang Liuyun discovered that Yin Yunze had disappeared.

"Honestly, Lady Qingnü is so cold-hearted! I've burned incense for you for so long!"

She muttered something under her breath, but Zhang Liuyun couldn't help licking her lips. "But I really like it! The true form of the Lady Qingnü is indeed more beautiful than that statue! However, she's a bit stingy; she won't even let me lick my fingers!"

Would she agree to lick my feet next time?

Muttering to herself, Zhang Liuyun took seemingly unsteady steps and sped towards Qingling County.

Although Zhang Liuyun could borrow mules and horses from Sun Qin to do things for Yin Yunze, how could that demonstrate her sincerity?

"Sir, you wanted to see me?"

Inside the dimly lit City God, Judge Li, looking at the City God's pale face, cautiously asked, "What happened?"

His gaze fell on Judge Li, City God said woodenly, "Judge Qian, the Two Generals of Punishment, and the spirit tablets of the Day and Night Wandering Gods have all fallen."

The idol also collapsed.

"What!"

Judge Li was greatly surprised upon hearing this news.

The overturned tablets and collapsed statues signify that the corresponding deities have been annihilated.

"Who? Has some powerful demon appeared somewhere?"

Simply asking the question, Judge Li did not volunteer for battle this time.

After all, although Judge Li was confident that he was stronger than Judge Qian, he was still an opponent who could make it impossible for Judge Qian and his group of five to escape.

Even if Judge Li were to intervene, he would likely meet a grim end.

Simply being good at fighting is never a necessary condition for survival.

"A great demon, you could call it that?"

Looking at Judge Li, the City God also felt a little regretful.

If Judge Li had been sent to lead the team this time, given their previous relationship, they probably wouldn't have been killed outright, resulting in the loss of an arm.

"The one who killed Judge Qian was a Nine-Tailed Fox."

"Nine-Tailed Fox?" Upon hearing the City God's words, Judge Li immediately realized what was happening and exclaimed, "It's Qingnü?"

"It's Qingnü! We all underestimated her!"

The City God narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice becoming somewhat muffled. "Judge Li, tell me, should I avenge Judge Qian?"

Judge Li remained unusually silent for a long time when asked about the City God.

Logically speaking, since Qingnü killed the City God's subordinates, she should absolutely have destroyed the temple and attacked the god as an example to others.

However, the fact that the one killed was Civil Judge, accompanied by four Yin General, makes things rather complicated.

This represents nearly half of the City God's elite combat force, excluding the City God himself.

Even if the City God himself did it, it would take some effort.

The fact that Qingnü could achieve this indicates that the opponent possessed the strength to threaten the City God.

If you can sweep away the old and destroy the new with ease, then naturally there won't be any problems.

But given the possibility of running into a brick wall, the City God might then feel that Judge Qian's death wasn't so important.

After a moment's thought, Judge Li felt he had guessed the City God's meaning.

It seems the City God felt it wouldn't sound good to say he wouldn't seek revenge, and wanted Judge Li to make the offer and take the blame.

"My lord, I believe this matter is still unclear and needs further investigation—"

However, although Judge Li was about to speak up, he also wanted to minimize the impact on himself. "Perhaps there's some misunderstanding! Although this matter is related to Qingnü, it's not necessarily certain that Qingnü was responsible—I think we need to investigate further—once we determine the connection, then..."

"Then this task is entrusted to you. Go and find out the truth for me!"

Hearing Judge Ji's repetitive remarks, the City God's gaze fell on Judge Li, and he interrupted, "This matter is entrusted to you for investigation. Return only when you have completed the investigation! Given Civil Judge Wen's death, the prefecture is currently short-staffed; you will handle this matter alone!"

With a jolt of realization, Judge Li understood that the City God was not satisfied with his answer.

Going to investigate is not a problem, but letting Judge Li act alone without giving him a specific timeframe is a big problem.

After this departure, Judge Li will likely be gone for three years, then another three years, and then yet another three years.

To put it more directly, this is equivalent to Judge Li being conditionally exiled indefinitely by the City God.

After all, what constitutes a thorough investigation is simply a matter of a word from the City God.

Even if Judge Li had a million words of evidence, it still wouldn't be clear enough if the City God didn't want it.

If the City God wanted Judge Li to return, then Judge Li's statement that Qingnü had nothing to do with the matter would make it clear.

Being a seasoned veteran, Judge Li quickly figured it out.

It wasn't that his answer was actually problematic, but rather that the City God felt there was something wrong with him as a person.

After all, none of the five members of Judge Qian's team returned, and their opponent was Qingnü, the infant goddess who wasn't even a year old.

Even if Qingnü has a powerful backer, the City God should at least be able to sense the aura of her attack.

Therefore, compared to Judge Qian's lack of ability or the intervention of a master, the City God is more inclined to believe that someone tipped him off.

As for who the mole was who tipped them off?

Judge Li, who has always been at odds with Judge Qian and had a good relationship with Qingnü last time, is the most suspicious person.

Understanding this, Judge Li glanced discreetly at Black and White Impermanence and Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

Sure enough, the four men looked away from Judge Li's gaze with some unease.

Clearly, the City God had already questioned these four people beforehand.

"Understood!"

The image of the Qingnü flashed through his mind, and Judge Li hardened his heart. "I will definitely investigate this thoroughly!"

Judge Li understood that it didn't matter whether he uncovered anything this time.

The important thing is that Judge Li needs to do something to prove that he is still a follower of the City God and has nothing to do with Qingnü.

Upon hearing Judge Li accept the task, the City God said calmly, "Then go and investigate!"

"Yes!"

After responding to this, Judge Li turned and left.

Seeing Judge Li's departing figure alone, the City God felt that his decision was actually quite good.

On the surface, the city god dispatched Martial Judge, making it seem as if he, City God, took this matter very seriously. But secretly, he temporarily removed Judge Li, who was suspected of being the mole, from the core decision-making circle to reduce the risk of leaks.

Most importantly, it can also balance the power of internal factions.

After all, Judge Li was right about one thing.

That is, after Judge Qian and his group of five were lost, the City God was genuinely wary of Yin Yunze.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, so sending Judge Li there is just right.

His gaze swept over the others still in the hall, City God said calmly, "I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate death of the Civil Judge. However, the work still needs to be done, so I must now select a new Civil Judge— "

Unlike ordinary people who can only live for a few decades, the gods Subordinate Deity the City God are immortal.

With seven hundred years of accumulated experience, selecting another team would not be difficult for the City God.

Of course, this new faction of Civil Judge is only a temporary measure.

It will probably take decades of accumulation to become a new opponent to challenge Martial Judge.

This is one of the reasons why the City God sent Judge Li out.

If Judge Li were still alive, the newly promoted Civil Judge might not necessarily be able to compete with Judge Li.

As a leader, the City God doesn't want his subordinates to be all smiles and harmony.

The City God has encountered situations before where Martial Judge colluded to deceive their superiors and cover up wrongdoing.

Compared to Qingnü, an external enemy who posed no immediate threat, the City God felt that cultivating the Civil Judge was more important.

After all, even if there was a conflict between the two sides, could that mere Qingnü really kill him, the City God who enjoyed a title bestowed by the imperial court?

While the City God was actually selecting a new Civil Judge, Yin Yunze left his Qingnü Temple after a long absence.

After a long absence from the village, Yin Yunze suddenly realized that it seemed like she hadn't left Clear Creek Village for a very long time.

After thinking it over carefully, Yin Yunze realized that when he was using Zhao Wan's body before, she had traveled around quite a few times. But since he got a body in this world, he hadn't left Clear Creek Village except for that City God.

Basically, everything is left to the Subordinate Deity and priestesses.

Of course, a large part of the reason is that Yin Yunze felt that those matters were not suitable for her, as a deity, to personally intervene.

But it's undeniable that Yin Yunze does indeed have some PTSD.

After all, the loss I suffered that time was too painful.

This time, Yin Yunze wasn't going out for fun; there were some things she needed to handle personally.

Entering the territory controlled by other Land God after a long absence, and suddenly losing control of the Earth Vein Power, Yin Yunze was truly not used to it.

Fortunately, the Authority over Frost and Snow was not affected.

Braving the wind and snow, Yin Yunze arrived at the village temple and whispered, "Earth God, come out and see me!"