Three punches shattered the demonic soul, young hero, I'm an honest man!

The reason why the medicine could not penetrate before was because of the obstruction of that sinister power.

Now, the power of the Supreme Immortal Chapter can dispel that force...

Pei Yun attempted to draw upon a trace of the medicinal power of the Crimson Sun Warm Jade Grass, integrating it into the circulating Qi of the Supreme Immortal Chapter.

hum!

The two blended perfectly upon contact!

The gentle medicinal power, like the finest firewood, instantly fueled the flames of the "Supreme Immortal Chapter".

The speed at which the evil forces were expelled suddenly increased several notches!

As a result, the speed of foundation repair also increased!

"An unexpected surprise."

Pei Yun's lips curled into a smile.

With the help of this Crimson Sun Warm Jade Grass, his recovery time will be greatly shortened.

It can take anywhere from seven days to half a month.

He was able to initially gather his Qi and possess the ability to protect himself!

Then, they will face the Holy Maiden of Candlelight again...

Ok.

Although it's still like an ant trying to shake a tree, at least there's a tiny, insignificant possibility now.

I pushed open the door, and the morning light was just right.

The bamboo in the courtyard is lush and green, and it seems there was a light rain last night, making the air fresh.

Pei Yun stretched, and his bones crackled softly.

Although I still don't have much strength, the feeling... is different.

Without further delay, he headed straight for the Northern Garrison Office.

……

The next day.

The rear hall of the Northern Garrison Command.

Luo Qingyi, still dressed in a qilin robe, sat upright in the main seat, handling official business.

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on her handsome profile and outlining her perfect features.

Pei Yun entered slowly.

He had changed into a clean flying fish robe today, and his face no longer showed his usual laziness, but rather a more serene expression.

"Lord Luo."

Pei Yun walked down to the hall and bowed slightly.

Luo Qingyi raised her eyes, her gaze falling on Pei Yun, and paused slightly.

With her keen eyesight, she vaguely sensed an extremely subtle change in Pei Yun's aura.

Although still faint, it was no longer pure stillness, but rather had a sense of flowing water.

"Looks like you gained something last night?"

Luo Qingyi put down the dossier in her hand, her tone inquiring.

Pei Yun walked down to the hall and bowed slightly: "Thanks to your blessing, sir, the Supreme Immortal Chapter is indeed wondrous."

He did not hide anything and briefly recounted the events of his cultivation the previous night, including the unexpected assistance he received from the Crimson Sun Warm Jade Grass.

"This technique is exactly the counter to that sinister power, and it is further aided by the warm jade grass."

"It is estimated that it will take at least seven days, or at most half a month, to condense some Qi."

"good!"

A look of relief appeared in Luo Qingyi's eyes.

That's good.

She stood up and walked to Pei Yun. With each step she took, her incredibly long legs exuded a commanding aura.

"I knew it, the Supreme Immortal Chapter wouldn't have chosen the wrong person."

Luo Qingyi looked up and saw Pei Yun's expression, a barely perceptible smile flashing in her eyes.

"So you've made up your mind?"

"I've made up my mind."

Pei Yun nodded, her tone calm yet firm.

"Investigate the matter of the Holy Maiden of Candlelight infiltrating the capital."

"I accepted it."

"very good."

Luo Qingyi nodded in satisfaction.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down."

What she admired was not just Pei Yun's talent, but also his tenacity and indomitable spirit.

Even though he has lost all his cultivation, this once-sharp blade still retains its edge.

"Thank you for your trust, sir."

Pei Yun smiled slightly, regaining some of his usual lazy demeanor.

He stretched out his hand and laid it out in front of Luo Qingyi.

"Then, sir."

"May I have a look at the intelligence and files regarding the Candle Shadow Sect and that holy woman?"

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will be able to..."

Before he could finish speaking, Luo Qingyi interrupted him.

Luo Qingyi looked at his outstretched hand, but simply shrugged it off, her posture casual.

Her red lips parted slightly, uttering two words.

"no."

Pei Yun's smile froze.

"……No?"

He repeated it with some disbelief.

Luo Qingyi nodded as if it were a matter of course, picked up the teacup on the table, and gently blew on it to cool it down.

"No, no."

"The relevant files are either top secret, and you don't have the necessary permissions."

"Either it doesn't exist at all."

"That saintess is elusive and unpredictable; our Embroidered Uniform Guard knows very little about her."

"so……"

Luo Qingyi put down her teacup and looked at Pei Yun.

His eyes held a hint of mockery, yet also seemed to hold an unquestionable trust.

"Commander Pei".

"From now on, it's all up to you."

"Go investigate; the clues are all in the capital."

The back room was so quiet that you could hear the faint rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves outside the window.

All that remained was Pei Yun's outstretched hand and the fascinating expression on his face.

What kind of situation is this?

There was no intelligence, no case file.

So, they just gave him a secret manual and then sent him, a "useless person" whose cultivation hadn't recovered, to search for a needle in a haystack, to find a demonic witch that even the pacification envoy found troublesome.

Pei Yun's lips twitched.

This long-legged boss is really something...

I trust him as always.

It should be noted that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had previously carried out a swift and decisive crackdown on the capital.

Since then, the remaining followers of the Candle Shadows have retreated even deeper, like frightened birds, hiding in the folds of shadow.

They have vanished without a trace, almost to the point of extinction.

If Luo Qingyi hadn't learned through some secret means that the Holy Maiden had infiltrated the capital...

It is likely that the entire Northern Garrison Command is still in the dark, believing that the other side has already withdrawn from the capital region.

But what good would it do to know?

Being in the capital is like a drop of water merging into a great river.

Where are they hiding? What are they after? How far have they infiltrated?

Where should we begin?

I know nothing, my eyes are blank.

Pei Yun remained silent, his eyes meeting Luo Qingyi's.

Eyes wide open.

Pei Yun took half a step back and spread his hands slightly.

"Lord Luo, you..."

He paused, seemingly considering his words.

"Are you asking me to find a needle in a haystack?"

"I'm sorry, I'm powerless to help."

Pei Yunqian bowed crisply and decisively.

"Something came up at home, so I'll have to postpone this job."

He simply abandoned the task.

Luo Qingyi wasn't angry at his expression; it seemed she had expected it.

She held the teacup, took a small sip, and slightly raised her phoenix eyes.

"I knew you'd do this."

She put down her teacup and tapped her fingertips lightly on the table.

"It is indeed a bit unreasonable to ask you to conduct this investigation."

Luo Qingyi pondered for a moment, as if weighing her options.

"Fine."

She seemed to have made up her mind.

"I have to give you some 'benefits'."

"benefit?"

Pei Yun raised an eyebrow.

His gaze unconsciously drifted over the breathtakingly long legs outlined by the Qilin robe.

The curves are straight and powerful, yet they retain a woman's suppleness.

Luo Qingyi narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, her expression carrying a hint of warning.

Pei Yun immediately looked away as if nothing had happened, as if he had just been studying the pattern of the floor tiles, secretly regretting it.

"cough."

Luo Qingyi coughed lightly, took a token from her waist, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Pei Yun.

The token was neither gold nor jade, but a piece of black iron, which felt cold and heavy to the touch.

The two characters "镇抚" (zhenfu) are engraved in seal script on the front, with sharp strokes and a sense of solemn discipline.

On the back is the simple and elegant character "Qingyi", which is Luo Qingyi's name.

"By this decree,"

Luo Qingyi looked at Pei Yun, her tone calm.

"The Northern Garrison Command can mobilize any commander of a thousand households, a hundred households, or a general... to exercise the power of a garrison commander once."

She paused, then emphasized:

"Only once."

Pei Yun picked up the token, feeling its coldness and weight at his fingertips.

A slight thought stirred within him.

This token is far more than just a tool for mobilizing troops.

The authority of the garrison commander is above that of a thousand households.

Luo Qingyi's identity is special, reaching directly to the Emperor's ears; her token carries more weight than those of other garrison commanders.

This is not just authorization, but a profound trust.

Once activated, it represents Luo Qingyi herself.

If anything goes wrong, not only Pei Yun will be held responsible, but also Luo Qingyi.

This trust weighs a thousand pounds.

Then she recalled the fragment of the "Supreme Immortal Chapters" that she had painstakingly retrieved from a dangerous and mysterious realm...

Pei Yun fell silent.

He stroked the cold, sharp edges of the token for a long time.

Finally, he solemnly put the token into his pocket and bowed again to Luo Qingyi.

This time, there was no perfunctory attitude whatsoever.

"Thank you, sir."

His voice was deep, yet carried an unprecedented seriousness.

Upon hearing this, Luo Qingyi's lips curved into a captivating smile, her eyes filled with a hint of mockery.

"Oh, it's quite rare to hear Commander Pei say 'thank you' like that."

"In the past, even when I received a great benefit, I never saw you take it this seriously."

Pei Yun, unusually, did not retort, but simply raised his head to meet Luo Qingyi's gaze.

"Your kindness is beyond measure, and I dare not be disrespectful."

The smile on Luo Qingyi's face gradually faded, and her expression became serious again.

"Jokes aside..."

"The token has been given, and so has the cultivation technique."

Her gaze was sharp, as if she could see right through people's hearts.

"Pei Yun, I hope they are worth the price."

"I don't want to hear any excuses. I just want results, and the results I want!"

"Do you understand?"

Pei Yun abandoned his usual nonchalance, stood up straight, and his eyes were clear and firm.

His back was ramrod straight, like a sharp sword about to be drawn from its sheath.

"clear."

He responded in a deep voice, each word clear and distinct.

"I will certainly live up to your expectations!"