"Creak!"

The door of the bamboo house was slowly pushed open, and in the next moment, a woman dressed in plain grey clothes emerged from the room.

"???

In an instant, Wang Junze was utterly stunned, the Director of the Judgment Department is a woman?!

"Greetings, Lord Chief!"

Yin Guangling respectfully saluted, not daring to lift his head for even a moment throughout the process.

"You may leave."

A cool female voice slowly sounded, and in the next moment, Yin Guangling was seen bowing and retreating from the bamboo grove.

This Director of the Judgment Department seemed to pay no mind to Wang Junze, strolling over to the bamboo grove, breaking off a piece of bamboo, and then returning to the table outside and sitting down.

Only at that moment did Wang Junze seem to realize with a sudden jolt, hurriedly bowing and saluting, "Junior Wang Junze greets Lord Chief."

"Junior? Why not subordinate?"

With a smile, the Director of the Judgment Department turned to Wang Junze and asked in return.

"..."

This question truly left Wang Junze feeling at a loss for words, why? He had no idea why, it seemed he had blurted it out without thinking.

Just like when he first discovered the Chief was a woman, Wang Junze felt the same shock.

No, something's off!

As thoughts spun through his mind, Wang Junze seemed to realize something, and when he raised his head again, a trace of unease was uncontainable in his eyes.

"Seems you're not foolish."

Smiling again, the Chief leisurely replied, "No one can lie in front of me, any subconscious answer will directly expose your true thoughts, so... you never considered yourself a person of the Judgment Department, did you?"

"..."

"Alright, tell me, what is it you specifically came to see me for?"

With a simple question, Wang Junze felt a chill run down his spine, after a brief silence, he once again saluted the Chief and said, "Master Qu is trapped in the Nether Sea, I've come to the Capital to seek a Divine-Inviting Incense from you."

"Divine-Inviting Incense? Inverted Mountain, so all these years, he's been hiding in the Inverted Mountain."

With just one sentence, the Chief guessed the truth and continued to ask, "Since he hasn't come out directly, it means he's severely injured, just one Divine-Inviting Incense won't be enough... rare treasures from heaven and earth are needed as well."

"Master Qu said he needs a Creation Golden Lotus! I already went to see Eldest Princess Ning Yu today."

As if the words bypassed his brain, Wang Junze quickly explained.

But as soon as he spoke, Wang Junze's mind went blank with a hum, cold sweat running down in an instant.

This is terrifying!

The other party didn't reveal even the slightest hint of aura, yet he himself rushed to reveal everything, truly incapable of telling a lie before this person.

"Where did you meet Ning Yu?"

Slightly frowning, the Chief asked again.

"Lingyin Temple!"

Wang Junze hurriedly explained.

Upon hearing this, the Chief couldn't help but reveal a playful smirk and said leisurely, "You've really picked a good place, trying to avoid prying eyes yet inviting even bigger trouble."

"???

This completely puzzled Wang Junze, and at this point, he couldn't help but ask for guidance, "What greater trouble does the Chief refer to?"

"Quite simple, you're already exposed, think carefully, have you leaked the information that Qu Lishang is in the Inverted Mountain?"

"No... I only said Master Qu is trapped in an Ancient Ruins, wait, what does the Chief mean by I'm exposed?" Wang Junze first answered, then couldn't help but ask.

"Because the Divine Monk Benyin from Xuankong Temple is right in Lingyin Temple."

The Chief calmly answered, "Just like you can't lie in front of me, as long as you're in Lingyin Temple, no matter what you've said or done, it's impossible to hide it from Benyin."

"..."

With his scalp tingling, Wang Junze suddenly didn't know how to respond.

"I can give you the Divine-Inviting Incense, but getting it into the Nether Sea is your matter."

The Chief added, "You can rest assured about Ning Yu, in the Capital, no one would dare to touch her, Benyin wouldn't dare to cause trouble in the Capital, however... once you leave the Capital, it's hard to say."

"Lord Chief... could you perhaps help me block Divine Monk Benyin?"

After thinking it through, Wang Junze couldn't help but tentatively ask.

"You really dare to ask."

Upon hearing this, the Chief couldn't help but chuckle, "I can certainly block Benyin, even venture into the Nether Sea to help you rescue Qu Lishang... but why should I?"

"..."

"Everything comes with a price!"

"You're able to see me because you killed Dugu Feng and performed merits for the Department, only thus could you meet me."

"I agreed to give you the Divine-Inviting Incense because Qu Lishang and I happen to have some acquaintance."

"But for me to block Benyin or even rescue him... why? What equivalent value can you offer me?"

A string of questions left Wang Junze somewhat ashamed.

In the eyes of outsiders, he is the Sword Path Genius, yet... before this Lord Chief, his talent and strength mean nothing.

For a moment, Wang Junze couldn't help but think of Su Yuwei again.

Back then, Su Yuwei wanted to refuse a marriage contract and attempted to negotiate with the Judgment Department, hoping to exchange accomplishments in the Northern Domain for the Chief's help in escaping the engagement.

Unfortunately, the attempt failed at the last moment.

Facing Su Yuwei, this Lord Chief showed no partiality, and now, towards him, there was even less chance of sympathy.

Moreover, as Qu Lishang mentioned, the Judgment Department ultimately stands with the Court, having different positions from the Four Great Celestial Sects, it's impossible for them to personally rescue Qu Lishang to empower the Four Great Celestial Sects.

Wait a moment!

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed Wang Junze's mind.

"Is the Chief suggesting I negotiate with Divine Monk Benyin?"

"The matters of your Four Great Celestial Sects, what does it have to do with me?" Smiling, the Chief casually pulled out a stick of Divine-Inviting Incense, placed it on the table, and then turned to walk towards the bamboo house.

As the Chief returned to the small house, it signified that this meeting had come to an end.

Wang Junze didn't dare linger, quietly stepping forward to take the Divine-Inviting Incense, and turned towards the bamboo grove's exit.

As he exited the bamboo grove, Wang Junze suddenly felt as if he had forgotten something.

"What does the Chief look like?"

Wang Junze distinctly remembered his conversation with the Chief, yet he couldn't recall what the Chief looked like, not even remembering if they were male or female.

So powerful!

At that moment, Wang Junze finally had a clear understanding of the might of this Lord Chief, a power he couldn't comprehend, far surpassing anyone else he had ever encountered.

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