Yin Yang Soul Searcher

"I summoned you two here today for two reasons. Firstly, Bai Jueming pleaded for my help, hoping I could answer your questions. You should thank him properly." The Grand Preceptor's voice was calm and unhurried. His purpose in saying this was to win over the hearts of the people for Bai Jueming.

Jia Qingshan was in high spirits after receiving the promise of help from the Imperial Advisor. He thanked Bai Jueming repeatedly and wondered if he should give Brother Bai some other material things, since he had nothing else to offer besides money.

Han Xueshan pursed her lips and thanked Bai Jueming with a somewhat disappointed expression.

Her feelings were exactly the opposite of Jia Qingshan's. The Imperial Preceptor hadn't mentioned his father yet, so why had he summoned her here?

Normally, Bai Jueming would have happily accepted it and then said something like, "Don't be so polite."

But Bai Jueming wasn't happy at all, because he knew that the case would most likely fall to him...

As expected, the Grand Preceptor nodded in satisfaction, and then his deep voice rang in everyone's ears: "Secondly, I want to select a suitable person from the Yin-Yang Palace to go and investigate the matter of Shangzhou and lend a helping hand to the Prince of Yu Nan."

Jia Qingshan asked somewhat impatiently, "Does the Imperial Advisor have a suitable candidate in mind?"

Jia Qingshan was somewhat expectant. The Grand Preceptor, in a fit of anger, would send a second-rank expert to the mansion to take his father and younger sister away for protection. Then, he would interrogate everyone in the mansion in a dream, find out the traitor, torture them severely, and finally follow the clues to find the bandits' lair and wipe them out in one fell swoop!

Jia Qingshan had a clear plan in mind for the Imperial Advisor!

As for why we don't just say it directly, all we can say is that those who understand will understand!

No one knew that Jia Qingshan's inner monologue was so outrageous. Just then, the deputy hall master, who was acting as a mouth double, looked at Bai Jueming with encouragement in his eyes and said, "Far away, yet right before our eyes."

Jia Qingshan followed the deputy hall master's gaze and said with some surprise, "Sending Brother Bai to Shangzhou?"

The Imperial Advisor truly values ​​Brother Bai highly, entrusting him with such a major case. However, considering Brother Bai's abilities, isn't he perhaps a bit too weak?

Bai Jueming sighed inwardly, not expecting the investigation to proceed so quickly. He should have added a comment earlier: cases outside the capital...

Being too far from Beijing means my safety is compromised! The margin for error is too low...

But did I have a choice? Without the help of the Imperial Advisor, how could I stand up to the Onmyoji who had guided me?

Relying on one's own lack of self-discipline in self-cultivation? Ridiculous.

Sometimes that's just how it is; life forces you to keep moving forward.

After composing himself, Bai Jueming clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Imperial Preceptor's retreating figure and said, "I am honored to have been chosen by the Imperial Preceptor to go to Shangzhou. I will do my utmost to investigate the truth and help Prince Yu Nan escape his predicament, so as not to tarnish the reputation of the Imperial Preceptor and the Yin Yang Palace of Great Xia!"

Sigh, I had no choice.

The deputy hall master smiled behind his mask and nodded in satisfaction.

Immediately afterward, Bai Jueming heard the Imperial Preceptor's concerned voice: "Just do your best."

Just do your best? Is it that easy? There aren't even any strict requirements?

Bai Jueming considered the difficulty of the matter and dared not be too arrogant. A wise person should first plan for an escape route.

He then cautiously probed, "If this humble servant fails to uncover the truth, thereby endangering the Prince of Yu... or if the opportunity is missed, allowing the bandits to achieve their hidden goals... then this humble servant will..."

"Then go back to where you came from." The Imperial Advisor's face showed a hint of helplessness. This kid had already started thinking about his way out.

Um, Bai Jueming was a little confused. Was this a way of expelling him from the Yin Yang Palace? If that was the case, he could accept simply returning to his old life of struggling and toiling away.

The deputy hall master smiled, as if he could see through Bai Jueming's thoughts. It wasn't that easy.

As if whispering a devil's words, it explained in Bai Jueming's ear, "You come from prison, so you should go back to prison!"

I rely on!

I thought they were expelling me from the Yin-Yang Palace, but it turns out they're going to expose me as nothing! Thinking about myself, a handsome, vigorous twenty-year-old, if I don't handle this properly, I'll spend the rest of my life in prison...

If it's a single room, that's fine, but if it's a shared dormitory...

Living with those burly men who don't discriminate between meat and vegetables is extremely difficult. It's like forcing someone to do something they don't want to do, and you're stuck with the man on both sides!

Just thinking about Bai Jue Ming Guang sends chills down my spine...

Bai Jueming's face was solemn: "This humble servant will definitely investigate the truth about Shangzhou, otherwise this humble servant will have no face to return to the capital and face the Imperial Preceptor!"

"However, I am going to Shangzhou alone, and it would be difficult for me to investigate the case thoroughly. Moreover, my cultivation level is also somewhat lacking..."

Brother Bai still has some self-awareness, which put Jia Qingshan at ease.

"That is indeed a problem," the Imperial Advisor asked with interest. "Whom would you like to accompany you?"

Bai Jueming said somewhat awkwardly, "If Lord Sun Tai could be in charge of protecting my safety, that would be best..."

"You're dreaming, kid. Sun Tai is still recovering from his injuries," the deputy hall master said irritably.

"Then how about..."

Before Bai Jueming could finish speaking, the Imperial Advisor interrupted his outrageous demands.

"I will assign two people to you. They will not only ensure your safety, but also help you investigate the case."

"That's wonderful!" Bai Jueming rubbed his hands together happily. "I wonder who the Imperial Advisor will assign to assist me in investigating the case?"

The deputy hall master, who was also the imperial advisor's mouth double, spoke again: "Don't you have two suitable candidates in front of you?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Qingshan's eyes lit up immediately. Did the Imperial Advisor mean that he could also go and no longer be under house arrest in the capital? That was wonderful!

Han Xueshan looked completely puzzled. The Imperial Advisor hadn't mentioned her since she entered, and she'd assumed he was deliberately ignoring her and didn't want to explain his father's situation. But why was he bringing her up again now?

Bai Jueming's cheerful expression froze, and he turned to look at his two bodyguards. He wasn't entirely confident in their abilities...

"Please, Imperial Advisor, don't make fun of me..."

"Do you think the Imperial Preceptor is joking?" the Vice Hall Master said calmly.

"But this..." Bai Jueming opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but ultimately gave up. He couldn't very well say in front of the two bodyguards that they weren't very strong, since either of them could easily kill him...

"Have these two assist you in going to Shangzhou, and make sure they get things done." The Grand Preceptor's tone left no room for argument, giving Bai Jueming a definitive answer.

Alas, Bai Jueming wanted to secure the protection of two powerful individuals, but the Imperial Preceptor's tone left no room for negotiation, leaving him no choice but to accept it.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The Imperial Advisor nodded in satisfaction, then called out gently, "Xiao Xue."

Han Xueshan, who was lost in thought, suddenly froze, somewhat incredulous. Was the Imperial Advisor calling her?

The deputy hall master met Han Xueshan's gaze and nodded slightly.

What's with the Imperial Advisor's tone? Why is he addressing us so gently? Is this how the descendants of the deceased are treated?

Bai Jueming felt a little envious. Someone as outstanding as herself was rejected when she wanted to become a godfather... while others stood there doing nothing and received the treatment of a biological daughter... How could the difference between people be so vast!

As the saying goes, no matter how skillful you are, it's hard to find someone with an overwhelming background! Han Xueshan's father is a close friend of the Imperial Advisor, so what is the relationship between your father, Bai Jueming, and the Imperial Advisor?

Han Xueshan bowed respectfully and said, "Imperial Preceptor." Then she looked at the Imperial Preceptor's back with anticipation in her eyes.

"Xiaoxue, I knew your master's purpose in sending you here from the very first day you arrived at the Yin-Yang Palace."

The Imperial Preceptor no longer refers to himself as "this humble one," but as "I," which is a sign of a close relationship, making Bai Jueming jealous again.

The Imperial Advisor shook his head, sighed softly, and said with a hint of guilt, "But I haven't figured out how to face you. After your father died, I tried everything I could, running around everywhere, but I couldn't find the murderer. I feel ashamed before your father's spirit in heaven, and even more so for his young child. I still haven't gotten rid of the murderer!"

Jia Qingshan looked at Han Xueshan with a hint of disbelief, and then he understood why Han Xueshan had come here. When he asked her earlier, she was unwilling to say, and it turned out that it was because of her father's situation.

What's so hard to say? I even thought she and Bai Jueming had done *that*, turns out I was just overthinking it...

What's even more unexpected is that Miss Han's father is so powerful that he could actually make the Imperial Advisor stop referring to himself as "this one"!

The Imperial Advisor knew everything all along, but he was unwilling to face the child of his deceased friend... Bai Jueming thought to himself.

Han Xueshan pursed her lips, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. So, this was the answer the Imperial Advisor had given her?

The killer has not been found.

Han Xueshan nodded somewhat absentmindedly: "Thank you for informing me, Imperial Preceptor."

The Imperial Advisor shook his head, then explained softly, "If that were all, why would I have summoned you here?"

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light appeared in Han Xueshan's eyes: "Has the Imperial Advisor already caught the murderer?"

The Imperial Advisor shook his head slightly again, saying with a hint of helplessness, "The murderer hasn't been caught yet, but I have definite leads regarding your father's matter!"

Han Xueshan felt a mixture of anticipation and disappointment, and asked, "Grand Preceptor, who killed my father?"

"There was more than one person who attacked your father! But Chen Shiyu was indeed the mastermind!" The Grand Preceptor's voice gradually turned cold: "I only realized this after Chen Shiyu sought revenge on Qiao Shou."

"In the pill case, the Craftsmen's Hall refined a soul-repairing pill for me, but Chen Shiyu switched it out. He wasn't actually targeting me; his soul was injured by your father! He desperately needs that pill. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

So this is the truth. Bai Jueming looked thoughtful. When he was investigating the pill case, he focused on who wanted to frame the Imperial Preceptor, but he did not consider that someone really needed the pill and risked framing the Imperial Preceptor.

I can't blame myself for that, given the limited knowledge I had...

The Imperial Advisor continued, "Afterwards, Qiao Shou wrote to me, telling me that this was the method of the 'Silent Compass.' At that time, I knew that Chen Shiyu had returned to the capital. However, I didn't know what he was going to do, but I always wanted to take this opportunity to confirm whether he had killed your father."

"Then, the opportunity arose. After the bombing at the South Gate, someone deliberately sabotaged the South Gate's formation. At that time, I realized that this must have been Chen Shiyu's doing—a diversionary tactic. Chen Shiyu's goal this time must be to seek revenge on Qiao Shou!"

"What happened next, that Qiao Shou's eldest disciple was sent to treat people poisoned by miasma, further proved this point."

"Chen Shiyu is about to make a move against Qiao Shou! The reason he transferred two of Qiao Shou's disciples away is partly because he doesn't want to deal with them, since they can manipulate the great formation in the Craftsmen's Hall and are not easy to deal with."

"On the other hand, which I did not expect, Chen Shiyu's other purpose in creating an opportunity for Peng Li's arrival was to steal the magical treasures of the Craftsmen's Hall..."

"What happened next was that I sent the Vice Hall Master to the Craftsmen's Hall to lend Qiao a hand..."

Bai Jueming was almost stunned after hearing this. The Imperial Advisor had managed to guess so much information without even leaving his house! Things that he himself had struggled to figure out, killing countless brain cells in the process, the Imperial Advisor had accomplished with ease. This ability was truly terrifying!

However, as I said before, my knowledge and resources were limited, so I can't blame myself...

Han Xueshan was stunned for a moment. She realized that the Imperial Advisor had never forgotten her father's matter and had been working secretly to find out the truth. It turned out that she and her master had misunderstood the Imperial Advisor.

The Imperial Preceptor, of course, was unaware of their thoughts. He simply said to the Deputy Hall Master, "You are the one to tell them about the Craftsmen's Hall."

The deputy hall master replied in a low voice, "Yes."