“So, this was a plan to lure the snake out of its hole?” Jin Sanniang asked, her eyes narrowed slightly. Even those unfamiliar with her could sense her anger.

Having a plan and needing someone to act as bait was not a problem.

As a constable of the Six Doors, she was prepared for that.

But being kept in the dark and assigned a task without knowing what was going on was what infuriated Jin Sanniang.

Zhao Si Bai said, “I won’t deny my personal motives, but the plan was indeed formulated by Lord Jin Buyi. I am merely the executor, acting under his orders!”

Zhao Si Bai’s words sounded like a defense and an attempt to appease Jin Sanniang.

But both seemed weak and pale.

“The Liu residence should already be under control, right?” Jin Sanniang asked again.

Zhao Si Bai said, “Lord Jin Buyi personally took action. There won’t be any mistakes. A swift and thorough sweep, no demons or evil spirits will be able to escape.”

In just a few words, there were quite a few hidden meanings.

Ye Chuxiao stood aside without interjecting.

He had no interest in interfering or participating in the internal machinations of the Six Doors.

If one were to dig deeper, wouldn't one be able to discern the competition between the two divine constables?

“The bloody incident on the pleasure boat on the Han River, was that also the Liu family’s doing?” Jin Sanniang asked.

Zhao Si Bai shook his head and said, “That was an event outside of the plan, but as long as we catch the manipulator behind the Liu family, we can find out the truth.”

“The manipulator behind the Liu family?”

“This person is none other than Liu Suifeng’s wife, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Night Sect. However, she has another identity. According to Liu Qiantiao, she is the Immaculate Celestial Maiden chosen by the Original Teachings. Only a true Immaculate Celestial Maiden has the opportunity to integrate the Original Teachings of the various worlds and restore the Original Teachings to its former glory.”

“It was also after learning this news that Lord Jin Buyi took advantage of this opportunity to formulate this plan.”

“Immaculate Celestial Maiden… Humph!”

Jin Sanniang no longer paid attention to the battlefield that was still being cleaned up.

She had no interest in getting involved in the battle at the Liu residence in Dingchun City.

“Xiao Ye! Prepare to return to the capital!”

“Since the trans界者 (kuajie zhe, cross-world travelers) we were looking for was already in our grasp, this trip can be considered a waste,” Jin Sanniang said.

Zhao Si Bai quickly stood up, accompanying her with a smile.

Ye Chuxiao also followed.

Now the situation was clear. Because Jin Sanniang had blood relations with Jin Buyi and belonged to the Hedong Jin family, she was chosen as ‘bait’. When the Liu family and the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Night Sect decided to attack Jin Sanniang, they had already fallen into a trap.

Liu Qiantiao, as a ‘trans界者 (kuajie zhe, cross-world traveler)’, was actually already familiar with Zhao Si Bai. His special identity made it difficult for him to arouse Liu Suifeng’s suspicion, allowing him to gather information about the Liu family’s movements.

Of course, behind this, there might also be suspicion of the Mo family, and tests for local officials, and other details.

There is no need to elaborate further.

On the road back to the capital, Jin Sanniang remained silent all the way. Zhao Si Bai followed closely, trying to repair the rift.

Ye Chuxiao and Qiao Wuqi rode together.

As for Cui Yu, she was still in Xichuan and did not return with them.

“Did you know all along?” Ye Chuxiao asked Qiao Wuqi as they galloped along.

Qiao Wuqi said, “Not early. After separating from you, I followed Zhao Si Bai all the way according to Big Sister Jin’s instructions, and then I met Lord Jin Buyi.”

“Lord Jin Buyi told me the whole plan.”

Ye Chuxiao nodded slightly to show his understanding.

Spurring their horses, the four returned to the divine capital within a day.

The divine capital was still prosperous. The major case that occurred in Hedong had no impact on the liveliness and noise of the divine capital.

The so-called major case and tragedy were not even considered a temporary topic in the vast divine capital.

In comparison, perhaps the debut of a courtesan in a brothel in Pingliang Ward would have a greater sensational effect.

Ye Chuxiao returned the official badge and then returned to the Ministry of Justice prison.

This trip out of the capital made Ye Chuxiao realize many of his shortcomings.

Under the constraints of the rules, he performed far less freely than in other worlds.

Therefore, he needed to ‘study’ with those elites in the prison.

Having multiple skills is always useful.

Especially those convicted officials. Although they were all losers in power struggles, a temporary failure did not mean eternal failure.

Ye Chuxiao used to look down on these things, but now he felt that he might as well learn some dark arts from the convicted officials.

Even if he didn't use it, it could be used to defend himself.

The mistake he made this time was clearly being blinded by the fog in front of him, thus ignoring the political game behind it.

If he could have jumped out of it earlier, he would have handled it better and could have sought more benefits for himself.

Although Ye Chuxiao and Jin Sanniang seemed to have contributed the most to this trip, in reality, when it came to calculating merit, Zhao Si Bai, Jin Sanniang, and even Qiao Wuqi’s contributions would be ranked ahead of Ye Chuxiao.

At most, Ye Chuxiao was only slightly better than Cui Yu, who was assigned to Xichuan.

Putting in a lot of effort, but not at the key points, was just wasted effort.

Merit that is difficult to quantify is no merit.

Qiao Wuqi even got the credit for finishing off Liu Suifeng!

Although the Six Doors were now very poor and could not issue money, pills, or equipment as rewards, the secret manuals stored in the Six Doors were very tempting to Ye Chuxiao.

The day after returning to the capital, the fifth level of the Ministry of Justice dungeon welcomed another important prisoner.

Ye Chuxiao, as the chief warden, was responsible for the receiving work.

From afar, he saw a prison wagon made entirely of black iron being carried by several strong men.

The cage was covered with sealing runes that emitted a strong spiritual light. Two iron-cast pythons coiled around the cage, constantly moving and staring at the prisoner inside. If she made the slightest extra movement, she would be bitten in the throat by these two pythons.

Looking closely, the prisoner in the cage was actually a woman of peerless beauty, but her face was particularly pale at the moment, making people feel pity for her.

Blood stains remained on her black gauze skirt. Her limbs were wrapped in blood-colored vine-like ‘plants’ that seemed to be constantly absorbing her essence, qi, and spirit.

Not only that, but her eyes were covered with a yellow cloth painted with runes, and there was a blood mark on her forehead that occasionally flickered with a scorching, lava-like color, causing her to groan in pain.

Ye Chuxiao recognized at a glance that this woman was the one he saw in the past when he traced Liu Suifeng's past, the one whom Liu Suifeng feared immensely.

Presumably, she was Liu Suifeng's nominal wife, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Night Sect, and the Immaculate Celestial Maiden of the Original Teachings.

“Speaking of which, what does Immaculate Celestial Maiden mean?”

“When Cui Yu returns to the capital, I have to ask,” Ye Chuxiao thought.

Then he was about to follow the regulations, take over the person, and then press her into the fifth level of the dungeon.

As long as she entered the dungeon, with the suppression of the divine artifact, even a dragon had to coil obediently.

“Demonic women can bewitch people’s hearts, Ye Yinzhang! Remember not to let anyone get close, and don’t talk to her,” the Jinzhang constable responsible for escorting her instructed.

Ye Chuxiao nodded, and then personally pushed the prison wagon into the dungeon with a group of jailers, sending the woman directly to the fifth level underground.