Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

Recalling his trip to the Northwest, where Chen Shuo had taken such good care of him, like an elder brother, he felt a pang of pain in his heart and blurted out, "Lord Ye, I want to go to the Northwest to search for the mission's whereabouts."

"no."

Ye Hongyu flatly refused, "The matter of the mission has already been communicated to the Left Demon Suppressor, who is in full charge. Your going will be of no use."

Seeing Li Yuan's disappointed expression, she softened her tone: "Besides, His Majesty has already spoken, ordering you to return to the capital immediately to report on your duties. If you have any thoughts, you can tell His Majesty yourself when the time comes."

Li Yuan was slightly taken aback. The emperor wanted to see him? He felt a little uneasy, but he didn't ask any further questions and could only nod: "Yes, I understand."

Ye Hongyu stood up: "Alright, it's getting late, everyone go back and rest. We have to travel tomorrow."

Ji Fanghua and the other person hurriedly bowed to see them off.

The next few days went smoothly, with Ye Hongyu overseeing things, and the journey was uneventful.

On this day, they finally saw the majestic city walls of Chang'an in the distance.

On the official road, a eunuch in blue robes, accompanied by his men, was waiting on horseback by the roadside. Upon seeing them approaching, he immediately dismounted and quickly stepped forward to block their path.

"Vice Envoy Li, convey His Majesty's oral decree."

The eunuch had a fair complexion and a respectful attitude. He bowed to Li Yuan and spoke in a high-pitched voice.

"Eunuch He."

Ye Hongyu nodded to him, waved for the others to step back, and Li Yuan dismounted and knelt down to listen to the imperial edict.

"His Majesty has decreed that Vice Envoy Li should accompany me on this journey."

Li Yuan suddenly looked up: "Your Majesty wishes to see me?"

"His Majesty is waiting in the western courtyard of the city. Please, Vice Envoy Li, accompany me there without delay."

Eunuch He spoke in a stern tone.

Ye Hongyu had indeed said before that His Majesty would summon her, but she didn't expect it to happen so quickly, before she even entered the city gate.

Li Yuan quickly turned to look at Ye Hongyu, unsure if someone was so audacious as to falsely convey an imperial edict.

Ye Hongyu remained calm and nodded slightly to Li Yuan, indicating that he should accept the order.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch He. Please."

Without further hesitation, Li Yuan mounted his horse and followed Eunuch He towards the west of the city.

Li Yuan followed him through the bustling streets of Chang'an, turned into a quiet alley, and entered an inconspicuous house.

Li Yuan glanced around; the gray walls and black tiles, the ordinary doorway, were no different from the surrounding residences.

But hidden in the shadows were countless obscure auras, some of which were clearly above him, indicating they were Grandmasters at the Dao Realm.

The eunuch pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped aside to make way for him: "Vice Envoy Li, His Majesty is waiting for you inside."

Li Yuan nodded and stepped across the threshold.

In the pavilion in the backyard, Li Yan, dressed in a light blue casual robe, leaned casually against the railing, engrossed in reading a book.

Li Yuan strode forward and knelt on one knee: "Your subject Li Yuan greets Your Majesty."

Get up.

Li Yan put down the book in his hand, his gaze fell on Li Yuan, and he looked him up and down before revealing a gentle smile: "This is not the palace, so there's no need for so many formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Yuan stood up and stood with his hands at his sides.

Li Yan pointed to the stone bench opposite him: "Sit down and talk."

Li Yuan obediently sat down as instructed. Eunuch Wang personally brought tea over, and Li Yuan, not daring to be presumptuous, stood up and accepted it with both hands.

"Thank you for your trouble, Grandpa Wang."

Li Yan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and asked with a smile, "Is your injury any better?"

Li Yuan had been preparing for the emperor's interrogation, but he didn't expect the emperor to open his mouth with concern. He hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I'm almost fully recovered."

"That's good." Li Yan nodded, his eyes filled with concern. "I heard you were attacked in the Three Gorges and I was quite worried about you for a while. I'm glad you're alright."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Li Yuan stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and looked extremely apprehensive.

Li Yan gestured for him to sit down, took a leisurely sip of tea, and then changed the subject: "Li Yuan, what do you think of the capital?"

Li Yuan was taken aback, wondering why the emperor had suddenly asked this question. He carefully considered his words before answering, "The capital is prosperous and thriving, teeming with talented people, and is the central hub of the Tang Dynasty."

"Prosperous and thriving, teeming with talent..." Li Yan repeated these words, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. "So, in this capital city teeming with talent, where do you think you rank?"

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat. This question was difficult to answer. If he said too much, he would seem arrogant; if he said too little, he would seem hypocritical.

"I dare not belittle myself, but I know that there are many hidden talents in the capital, and there are many people who are better than me."

"Haha, you're too modest."

Li Yan pointed at him with a smile, "At seventeen, you are at the Condensation Realm, unparalleled in the world. You single-handedly killed three demon kings in Xuefeng Mountain, and now you have killed the Golden Scale Lizard King in the Three Gorges and withstood a celestial treasure. No one in the entire Tang Dynasty can match your achievements."

Li Yuan hurriedly cupped his hands, feeling extremely apprehensive: "Your Majesty flatters me. I was merely lucky."

He had a feeling that the emperor's words were not right, and that there might be a bigger trap ahead, so he needed to be extremely careful.

"Alright, I didn't misjudge you."

Li Yan smiled, not continuing the topic. He put down his teacup, crossed his hands on his knees, and adopted a more casual posture, as if he were just having a casual chat with a friend.

"Li Yuan, someone like you is truly wasted in the Demon Suppression Division. I intend to transfer you to serve in the Imperial Court."

"The Dragon Scale Guard still has a vacancy for a Deputy Commander. How about you fill that position?"

Li Yuan's heart sank.

The Dragon Scale Guards were the emperor's personal guards, responsible for the emperor's close safety. Anyone who could enter the Dragon Scale Guards was one of the emperor's most trusted confidants.

Transferring him to the Dragon Scale Guard as a deputy commander is tantamount to separating him from the Demon Suppression Division and making him the emperor's personal subordinate.

Once this appointment is accepted, one openly sides with the emperor, becoming a pawn in the emperor's court.

Admittedly, this move would gain the emperor's protection, but it also meant that he would be completely embroiled in court struggles and become a thorn in the side of countless people.

This was not what he wanted.

He only wanted to cultivate, only wanted to become stronger, only wanted to find an opportunity to travel back to the 21st century, and did not want to become anyone's pawn, even if that person was the supreme emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

He raised his head, his gaze resolute: "Your Majesty's favor is deeply appreciated by me. Please forgive me... for being unworthy of this responsibility."

Li Yan's face instantly darkened, and he raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Why?"

"I am of a rough and uncouth nature and do not understand the rules of the palace."

Under Li Yan's gloomy gaze, Li Yuan rose and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, I am only good at wielding swords and spears and charging into battle. I am not suitable to serve in the imperial court. Moreover, I am devoted to the Dao and am not good at worldly affairs, nor do I know how to command troops. I beg Your Majesty to choose another virtuous and capable person."

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head, waiting for the emperor's wrath.

As expected, Li Yan just stared at him coldly without saying a word, and the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became heavy, as if the air itself had frozen.

Feeling the emperor's gaze fall on him like a knife, scrutinizing him, Li Yuan's back instantly broke out in a cold sweat, but he still kept his head down and did not change his words.

"Good, very good."

Just when Li Yuan thought he was about to face a storm of anger from the emperor, Li Yan suddenly smiled.

Li Yuan looked up in surprise, only to see Li Yan reach out and gently help him up: "Get up."

"You, Li Yuan, I promoted you, and now you're complaining."

He said in a light tone, "However, I like young people like you who are pure of heart, who do not covet fame or fortune, nor are they greedy for power, and who are single-minded in their cultivation. This is the true nature of a cultivator."