The vermilion gate of Qingping Garden slowly closed behind Jiang Wen. He raised his head and looked at the sky. Twilight was falling, and the lanterns along the street lit up one after another, casting a dim yellow glow on the bluestone road.
“Benefactor, where are we going now?” Bai Jing tugged at Jiang Wen’s sleeve, her pair of fox ears appearing and disappearing in her hair.
Jiang Wen was about to answer when he suddenly heard a commotion ahead. A team of men in black robes came galloping towards them, the sound of their hooves shaking the ground. The leader held a black flag with a strange embroidered pattern on it.
He had seen this pattern before; it was the banner of the God-Worshipping Society.
“They’re from the God-Worshipping Society,” Jiang Wen said in a low voice, his brow furrowed slightly.
Just then, a shrill cry came from ahead. A woman holding an infant in her arms stumbled and ran, closely followed by two disciples of the God-Worshipping Society.
“Please, spare my child!” the woman cried, staggering and falling to the ground.
The two disciples grinned hideously as they stepped forward: “By the divine decree, this child is destined for our sect and shall enter the divine sect to serve!”
The surrounding people were all horrified and glared angrily, but none dared to step forward. After all, the God-Worshipping Society was now powerful, and no one dared to offend them. If they offended the God-Worshipping Society, disaster would likely befall their families.
Seeing that no one dared to stop them, the God-Worshipping Society disciples became even more arrogant. They raised their clubs and struck at the woman indiscriminately.
Jiang Wen coldly watched the scene, his fingers moving slightly in his sleeve. An invisible energy swept past, and the two disciples were immediately struck as if by lightning, staggering backward. They covered their eyes and wailed on the ground.
“What’s going on?” The crowd looked at each other in confusion. Suddenly seeing the evildoers in such a state, they were both surprised and delighted. The God-Worshipping Society disciples not far away all looked grave.
“No one is allowed to move! Who dares to touch the people of my God-Worshipping Society!” The flag bearer glared angrily, his burly body as still as a mountain. He glared around fiercely, his voice like thunder, scaring the onlookers into silence.
Jiang Wen, standing to the side, looked at Bai Jing. The fox spirit understood and subtly manipulated her sleeves. The infant suddenly turned into a wisp of green smoke and dissipated from the woman’s arms. The woman cried out in alarm, then was gently pushed into a nearby alley by a soft force.
“Presumptuous!”
The leader shouted sternly: “What kind of妖孽 dares to obstruct the divine sect’s affairs!”
Jiang Wen stood with his hands behind his back, secretly channeling his magic power. The entire street was suddenly enveloped in a layer of mist, and the God-Worshipping Society members immediately lost their bearings.
“The God-Worshipping Society? I am quite interested. Since I’ve come to this imperial capital, I’d like to meet them.” Jiang Wen’s voice echoed in the mist, “Today, I will not harm anyone, but if we meet again, it may not be the same.”
The God-Worshipping Society members looked at each other, obviously shocked by this mysterious method. But soon, the leader sneered: “Acting mysterious! My God-Worshipping Society acts on the orders of the Holy Emperor. I don’t know where this cultivator came from, daring to obstruct my God-Worshipping Society!”
As he spoke, he took out a yellow flag with the character “Heaven” embroidered on it. It moved in the wind, creating marvelous transformations.
This was the Yellow Heaven Flag of the Great Li clan’s Eight Banners. In the beginning, the Great Ancestor founded his great enterprise, and the Eight Banners swept across the world, shaking all directions. Unexpectedly, the Yellow Heaven Flag was now in the hands of the God-Worshipping Society, and Yu Shiqie’s expression was slightly displeased.
The yellow flag emitted yellow light, dispersing the clouds and mist. Divine light flickered above the imperial capital, enveloping this street.
“Since there are heretical cultivators in the imperial capital, we of the God-Worshipping Society should eliminate the disaster for the Emperor! Please activate the Boundless Immortal Execution Formation!”
The divine light was intense, as if containing a great threat. Everyone present paled, knowing what the Boundless Immortal Execution Formation was for. Li Xiangyue’s face was pale; as a member of the royal family, she naturally knew how terrifying the formations in the imperial capital were.
Just then, a clear voice came: “Who dares to cause trouble in my Supreme God Palace’s territory?”
A young cultivator in a moon-white Daoist robe walked slowly, a white jade token hanging from his waist with the words “Supreme God” engraved on it. His face was calm, his eyes like lightning, and he walked into the divine light, his gaze sweeping around.
“Su Mu?” Jiang Wen was a little surprised. He didn’t expect to meet Su Mu in the imperial capital. It had been a long time since they parted ways at Black Mountain.
Su Mu chuckled: “Didn’t I hear that Qingping Garden has a new courtesan, so I came to see her.” He turned to look at the God-Worshipping Society members, his smile suddenly fading, “What are you all doing?”
The God-Worshipping Society members’ expressions changed drastically when they saw the Supreme God Palace token. The leader gritted his teeth and said: “Since you are a cultivator from the Supreme God Palace, you should know what happens when you obstruct our God-Worshipping Society’s affairs.”
“Oh?” Su Mu’s face turned cold, “Knowing that this is the territory of my Supreme God Palace, you dare to be so arrogant. Could it be that you really want me to ask the Holy Emperor to issue an edict?”
The God-Worshipping Society members looked at each other. The leader said unwillingly: “But…”
“What?” Su Mu’s gaze turned cold, “Do you want me to ask my master to personally come and talk to you?”
The God-Worshipping Society members immediately fell silent, and retreated dejectedly.
After they had gone far away, Su Mu put away his serious expression and walked to Jiang Wen with a smile: “I didn’t expect it to be Daoist Jiang. You just arrived in the imperial capital and already caused trouble. That’s not good, is it?”
Jiang Wen shook his head helplessly: “I just happened to run into it. Besides, you also know how the God-Worshipping Society acts. I didn’t expect you to be in the imperial capital as well.”
Listening to the two’s conversation, Yu Shiqie’s dark eyes darted around, curiously sizing up Su Mu: “Daoist, who is this?”
“This is Su Mu, a direct disciple of the Supreme God Palace. We met in Taicang before.”
“We can be considered old friends.” Su Mu cupped his hands and bowed, his gaze lingering on Yu Shiqie for a long time. “And this lady is?”
“She is Bai Jing.” Jiang Wen introduced, “This is Yu Shiqie.”
Jiang Wen was thoughtful: “Thank you for the reminder. But…”
“I know Daoist’s temperament.” Su Mu interrupted him, “How about this, if you really want to know something, you can go to the 'Drunken Immortal Tavern' in the imperial capital and look for the shopkeeper, and say that I introduced you.”
Jiang Wen nodded: “Alright, I’ll look for you another day.”
“That’s settled then!” Su Mu smiled casually, “But now I have to go. My master is still waiting for me to return and report.”
“Be careful on the road.” Jiang Wen bowed. Although he had many things to ask Su Mu, he also knew that the current situation was not suitable.
Watching Su Mu leave, Jiang Wen was thoughtful. Even the Supreme God Palace was so wary, it seemed that the water behind the God-Worshipping Society was deeper than he thought.
“Benefactor, do you have some clues?” Bai Jing asked with a smile.
Jiang Wen’s expression was calm, looking at the gradually dissipating divine light: “There are some clues, but I won’t go to the Supreme God Palace first. Since I’ve already had an intersection with this God-Worshipping Society, it’s better to be careful.” He turned to Yu Shiqie, “You should have some connections in the imperial capital, right?”
Yu Shiqie understood: “I do know some noble merchants. I understand what Daoist means and will arrange for people to secretly investigate the God-Worshipping Society. However, since Daoist knows a disciple of the Supreme God Palace, it would be easier to go to the Supreme God Palace.”
“Alright, let’s go back first and discuss it at length.”
