A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

Zhu Cheng led the way, while Ji Zuodao held Qi Qi's hand, and they stepped into the golden light.

How should I put it? It felt like stepping headfirst into an air-conditioned room on a hot summer day—a jolt ran through my body, and all my pores opened up.

The scene before me exploded like fireworks, then slowly settled, becoming a clear picture—

Beneath my feet was a straight imperial road, paved with white marble, wide enough for eight horses to run side by side.

The stone was as white as freshly ground tofu, gleaming with a warm luster in the sunlight. It felt hard and solid underfoot.

On both sides of the imperial road are layers upon layers of palaces and pavilions, with golden glazed tiles spread out overhead, one after another.

It was as if someone had poured a bucket of golden water from the sky, which flowed all over the mountains and fields.

The golden light was so dazzling that it made one's eyes water, yet one couldn't help but want to look at it a few more times.

In the distance, the outlines of the three main halls stand majestically, with layer upon layer of white marble bases supporting the magnificent palaces, as if supporting a palace in the sky.

With its upturned eaves and carved beams, every line exudes a solemn and dignified air.

A faint sandalwood scent filled the air, mixed with the aroma of morning dew and earth, bringing a sense of peace.

Qiqi was looking up at the majestic palace in the distance, her eyes filled with an indescribable expression.

It wasn't curiosity, it wasn't surprise, but rather a kind of...familiarity.

It was as if she had seen this place before.

It's as if she once lived here.

It was as if she had finally returned to a home she had been away from for a long time.

She gripped Ji Zuodao's hand, her little head turning back and forth, her eyes almost unable to take it all in.

She opened her small mouth, unable to close it for a long time, and finally managed to squeeze out, "Brother...it's so big."

Before Ji Zuodao could reply, a loud shout came from ahead—

"Princess Yongning has arrived!"

The sound trailed off, like an old record, rising layer by layer, passing through the palace gates and carrying far, far away.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, everyone in the entire passageway started moving.

Two eunuchs who were sweeping dropped their brooms with a clatter to the ground. They knelt down, their foreheads pressed against the blue bricks, not daring to breathe.

An old official in a blue robe was walking briskly with his head down when he heard the shouts. He suddenly stopped, lifted his robe, and knelt down with a thud. His movements were so swift and precise, even more orderly than military training.

Several palace maids carrying lacquer trays hurriedly placed the trays on the ground and knelt down, their foreheads pressed against the backs of their hands, their bodies trembling slightly.

From the palace gate to the main hall, all I could see along the way was a sea of ​​kneeling people. Not one of them raised their head, not one uttered a sound; the silence was so profound that even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

"Welcome back to the palace, Your Highness!"

The sounds rose and fell, like waves, surging over and over to Qiqi's feet.

Qi Qi had never seen anything like this before. She froze, gripping Ji Zuodao's hand even tighter until her knuckles turned white. She hid half of her body behind him, only revealing half an eye as she timidly observed everything.

Ji Zuodao looked down at her cowardly appearance and couldn't help but laugh. He bent down, leaned close to her ear, and whispered:

"Don't be afraid, they're all after you. You're a princess now, so you need to behave yourself. Chin up, chest out."

After hearing this, Qiqi hesitated for a moment, and then actually tried to lift her chin.

But after lifting it for less than three seconds, it shrank back, still feeling safer hiding behind its brother.

Zhu Cheng walked half a step ahead, his pace neither hurried nor slow, his back ramrod straight.

He didn't turn around, but the smile on his lips was impossible to hide.

Ji Zuodao followed behind, looking around as he walked.

He discovered a very interesting phenomenon—

When these people knelt and worshipped, their voices were so devout and heartfelt as they called out "Your Highness," as if they had seen a true Buddha.

And what about Zhu Cheng?

Although some people did call him "Your Highness," their tone was noticeably lower, as if it were just a side effect.

Ji Zuodao stroked his chin, seemingly understanding the meaning, then quickly took two steps closer to Zhu Cheng and nudged him with his elbow:

"Hey, Lao Zhu, I've noticed that the people here seem much more respectful to Qi Qi than to you. Have you been stingy with their money and haven't been paying her?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cheng didn't stop walking. He merely glanced at him sideways, then let out a hearty laugh. The laughter echoed through the empty passageway, carrying a sense of ease and composure.

"Mr. Ji has a good eye. This man-made secret realm is, after all, related to the supernatural, so it also inherits some of the characteristics of the supernatural—it has rules."

"What rules?"

"The purer the bloodline of the Ming Dynasty royal family, the higher the loyalty of the people in the secret realm to you."

Zhu Cheng spoke calmly, as if stating an objective fact.

"Now in the Great Han, the only ones who still possess the bloodline of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family are me and Qiqi. As for me, I am merely a descendant of the Prince of Jingjiang. By my generation, the bloodline has long been diluted to the point of being as bland as plain water."

"Qiqi is different—she is a legitimate princess of Emperor Chongzhen, born to Empress Xiaojielie, with pure blood and impeccable lineage. It is only natural that these people treat her with respect."

"I see—"

Ji Zuodao drawled out the last syllable, his tone one of sudden realization, and nodded in agreement, his expression utterly sincere and convinced.

But his eyes narrowed slightly.

Zhu Cheng's expression was sincere, his tone was relaxed, and his words were impeccable.

But Ji Zuodao just felt something was wrong.

He grew up in the mountains under the tutelage of three masters, learning skills such as swindling, bluffing, and shooting from behind.

He has an almost intuitive sensitivity to whether someone is lying.

That was an instinct honed through years of being tricked and outwitted by Master San since childhood.

When someone is lying, their eyes will drift to the upper left corner;

When someone lies, they unconsciously touch their nose;

Everyone has different habits, but Ji Zuodao can always catch those subtle signals.

Just now, when Zhu Cheng said, "The purer the bloodline, the higher the loyalty," his eyes glanced to the lower left for a fleeting moment.

It was very subtle, fleeting, and would have gone unnoticed if Ji Zuodao hadn't been staring intently into his eyes.

But Ji Zuodao noticed it.

Therefore, he knew that Zhu Cheng was lying.

At least, it's not entirely the truth.

Ji Zuodao didn't make a sound, but simply glanced at Dog Master who was standing at his feet.

The dog was wagging its tail and walking slowly, looking no different from an ordinary old black dog.

But Ji Zuodao knew that the old dog's ears were always perked up.

He secretly transmitted his voice: "Dog Master, did you hear that?"

Dog-Grandpa flicked his tail, and after a while, the voice rang in his mind, tinged with a hint of helplessness:

"This kid is protected by dragon energy. He can't hear it with his telepathic abilities, and he can only see it vaguely with his clairvoyance, as if he were looking through a layer of frosted glass, unable to see it clearly."

Ji Zuodao clicked his tongue: "Dog Master, even your Buddhist supernatural powers aren't working, you've let us down at the crucial moment."

"Do you really think the six supernatural powers of Buddhism are a panacea? That can be used anywhere?" Doggy rolled his eyes.

"Only the Buddhist community treats that thing as a treasure; in the eyes of other forces, it's just a rare commodity at best."

"To be able to read the thoughts of those protected by dragon energy, what kind of ability would that take? If I really had that ability, would I still be here serving as your dog? I would have gone to Longhu Mountain to be an ancestor long ago."

Ji Zuodao didn't reply. The doubt in his heart, like a seed, quietly took root.