NOVPUBIt should be quite easy to distinguish.
Yet... as the Heavenly Punishment Department, inheriting the will of the Eye of Heaven, has never heard of one whose destiny is unpredictable?
It's very strange.
Could it be that the higher-ups are intentionally hiding it?
That was the only suspicion Lin Yue could entertain.
"Anyone who wants to enter Great Yong from Eternal Night must pass through the eight Heroic Passes."
Han Yuan looked toward the Imperial Master and said, "Imperial Master should understand, the border gates only fully open when the Dawn Platform expeditionary force moves in and out of Eternal Night, right?"
The Imperial Master indifferently replied, "So the Chief Punishment Officer thinks it was my Dawn Platform that brought the Demon Clan into Great Yong?"
"I don't want to suspect the Dawn Platform, but is there any other possibility?"
Han Yuan stated, "The Punishment Department believes in the integrity of the Dawn Platform, but within every group there are outliers, and those who unknowingly adulterate the truth with falsehood, are there not?"
The Imperial Master gave him a glance and said quietly, "Merely on the basis of a few words, you wish to investigate my Dawn Platform? Leave quickly, for my Dawn Platform is an extension of the Human Clan's Holy Land, Firewood Tower. Without an Imperial Decree, the Punishment Department should not think to search at will."
"Imperial Decree?"
Han Yuan slightly shook his head and said, "At the next court session, the Head will naturally request an Imperial Decree, but... must Imperial Master make things so complicated? We are all doing this for Great Yong, so why the necessity?"
"For Great Yong?" The Imperial Master scoffed slightly, smiling mockingly. 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
She said no more and turned away.
Leaving only a cold statement behind:
"See the guest out."
Han Yuan shook his head with a hint of helplessness, then turned to Lin Yue and said, "Would Seventeenth Prince care to grant me the honor of a discussion?"
Lin Yue glanced at him and calmly replied, "Pick a location."
...
"The tea at Biyue Pavilion is indeed exceptional, Your Highness please."
In the peaceful and elegant tea room, Lin Yue sat in the principal seat, while Han Yuan and his spouse, Mu Tianyan, were seated below him, with steamy, fragrant tea on the table before them.
"Speak plainly."
Lin Yue set down his teacup and said, "I don't have much time for idle tea drinking."
"Your Highness managed to capture so many from the Demon Clan; you must possess unique abilities." Han Yuan stated, "This officer wishes to request Your Highness's assistance with this case. Whatever reward you require, feel free to state it."
"Reward?" Lin Yue laughed and said, "For someone with a lesser official rank like you, Chief Punishment Officer, you do speak boldly. Is this perhaps instructed by the Head of the Punishment Department, Sikong Jing?"
Han Yuan pondered for a moment, then replied, "Not to deceive Your Highness, the Head indeed didn't mention it, but why not state your demands? This officer can relay them to the Punishment Department and perhaps it could be arranged?"
"Oh?" Lin Yue slightly raised an eyebrow and said, "You have such confidence in me? Could it be there's no one else to turn to?"
Han Yuan shook his head and replied, "Aside from Seventeenth Prince, I indeed haven't heard of anyone else capable of capturing so many from the Demon Clan. The Demon Clan must have already seen Your Highness as a major threat, yet your residence seems too clean, to the point where the Demon Clan has so far been unable to act against you, which is remarkable enough."
He sighed with resignation, "Regarding this case, to tell the truth, this officer also finds it somewhat peculiar. The earlier deduction at the Dawn Platform was merely plausible, and there remain inexplicable doubts."
Lin Yue pondered for a moment, then said, "Since the Punishment Department did not instruct you to seek my help, why did you take the initiative to come yourself?"
It couldn't possibly be for merit.
For a Chief Punishment Officer, more merit is useless; only Harmonization and a breakthrough in Cultivation could possibly advance him.
Thus, there must be another reason.
"Why?" Han Yuan was slightly startled, then said with a hint of puzzlement and certainty, "Of course for Great Yong, what else could it be?"
Lin Yue glanced at him and shook his head slightly.
This Chief Punishment Officer, Han Yuan, indeed was as reputed: a man overly devoted to integrity.
On his journey to this point, he consistently grew more distinguished, and despite his excellent talents, many Great Powers, knowing well his capabilities, still refused to accept him as a disciple. Consequently, after becoming a Great Cultivator, his path was set and he could no longer seek a mentor.
The reason was his personality—plainly speaking, he was overly devoted to integrity, so much so that it appeared foolish, alienating many people.
Had he not married the daughter of the Head of the Punishment Department, Han Yuan likely wouldn't have even become the Chief Punishment Officer.
Good people... receive no good rewards.
In this world, good officials meet even worse ends.
Lin Yue broke the silence and stated, "You wish for my help? Very well, I require either the Boundaryless Flower or Original Divine Blood from the Eternal Night Twelve Holy Grade. If you can procure one, I shall assist you. How about it?"
