"Gather some books about Artisans and bring them to the third floor."

「Half an Hour later.」

The head of the first floor, along with two clerks, carried over twenty bamboo slips and more than ten books up to the third floor. With heads bowed, they placed the items next to Wang Ping’s meditation cushion at his signal.

Wang Ping stepped forward and picked up the rightmost bamboo slip. Just as he was about to read it, a Puppet Bird flew in through the window, landed on the round table in the middle of the room, cocked its head at Wang Ping with life-like intelligence, and hopped about nimbly.

"It’s one of Xiaozhu’s puppets," Yu Lian said, obviously trying to hurry Wang Ping along.

Wang Ping extended his left hand and gave a light tap. The Puppet Bird’s abdomen immediately spat out a small bamboo slip. Yu Lian instantly coiled her tail around the slip to read it.

"Xiaozhu is about to undergo Foundation Establishment. We need to go back and see her."

Yu Lian passed the bamboo slip she had finished reading to Wang Ping.

Wang Ping took the bamboo slip, absorbing its entire contents with a single glance. Then, he focused his Primordial Spirit Consciousness on the main entrance of the pavilion.

At the main entrance, Hu Qianqian was leading Niu Qi and Wang Ben, waiting respectfully to be summoned.

Next to Wang Ben stood the old Sheep Demon. It was bound with a special red rope, and its mouth was sealed by a spiked, black metal frame. The surface of the metal bore unusual Demon Technique runes, stained bright red by blood seeping from the demon’s mouth.

"Come up."

Wang Ping’s words were directed at the surrounding guards as well as Hu Qianqian and the other two demons.

Upon hearing this, Hu Qianqian exchanged a look with the two demons beside her, then lifted the Sheep Demon and landed on the Celestial Platform outside the pavilion.

"Master..."

"Greetings, Daoist Changqing!"

Hu Qianqian performed a cupped fist salute, while the other two demons dropped directly into a full kowtow.

"Come in!"

Yu Lian called to Hu Qianqian. Hu Qianqian’s tense expression eased somewhat. Her fluffy ears twitched, and she cautiously walked to Wang Ping’s side to bow once more.

"Master, I..."

"It’s nothing, just a small matter. Let this also serve as a lesson to you: don’t underestimate the people of this world."

"Yes!"

Hu Qianqian wore an expression of someone who had learned her lesson. Beneath her Daoist Robe, her tail swayed gently twice. In the past century or so under Wang Ping’s protection, she had indeed grown somewhat complacent and prone to underestimating others.

"You were the ones who found Wulang?"

Wang Ping’s gaze fell upon Niu Qi and Wang Ben. As he asked the question, Yu Lian tilted her head, studying them intently for a moment before communicating with Wang Ping in their Spirit Sea: ’Their spirit consciousnesses are upright, but unlike Little Qianqian, their wild nature hasn’t been completely suppressed.’

’That Sheep Demon... Huh. He’s actually even more upright than these two members of the Demon Race. And he doesn’t have a trace of their wild nature. Not only that, but he also possesses a kind of obsessive goodwill!’

’A shadow of the First Day?’

’Similar, but not exactly. He must have been influenced by some of the First Day’s doctrines.’

As they communicated, it was the Tiger Demon King Ben who spoke up. "To answer Daoist Changqing’s question..."

He remained in a kowtow, his face pressed to the floor, his steel-needle-like whiskers trembling slightly. "I have a small business on Changning Road. By chance, I discovered that Fellow Daoist Hu’s people were investigating this Old Yang, so I lent a hand..."

"Oh? Tell me the details!"

"Yes!"

It turned out that after Wang Ben and Niu Qi met Hu Qianqian at the ceremony where Wang Ping was appointed Pacification Envoy, they had wanted to pledge their allegiance to him. Thus, following the traditions of the Demon Race, they decided to prepare a grand gift to present to Wang Ping. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

After a few inquiries, they learned of the grudge between Wang Ping and Wulang. The two demons followed this lead and soon discovered Hu Qianqian’s subordinates monitoring Old Sheep Mountain Scenery, so they decided to provide support from the shadows.

Before long, their own subordinates found an opportunity in Yangjiang County. At that time, Old Sheep Mountain Scenery furtively shook off the pursuit of Hu Qianqian’s people and, by way of a turbulent river, entered a stronghold of ’First Day.’

This stronghold happened to be within the scope of their fur trading business. Soon, they noticed Wulang in a mountain village to the north of the stronghold, disguised as a hunter.

Wang Ping listened quietly until the end, then looked at Hu Qianqian and said, "It seems your people need to be more discreet. Don’t be nervous; I’m not blaming you."

With that, he looked toward the Celestial Platform, his expression softening as he said, "You may rise."

"Thank you, Daoist Changqing."

After thanking him, Niu Qi and Wang Ben rose to their feet in a very proper manner.

Meanwhile, Wang Ping’s gaze had already settled on Old Sheep Mountain Scenery. He said aloud, "Wake him up. He should be a demon who understands how to weigh his options."