"Your Majesty, I just inspected the library. General Su's deduction is likely correct," Elder Xu emerged from the library, aligning with Su Miaozhen's view.
"Excellent, truly excellent!" The Zhou Emperor clapped in approval.
Su Miaozhen and others looked at the emperor in confusion. Why rejoice when a library guardian was assassinated and the library nearly robbed?
"Don't you see? This means the National Protector is in the imperial city, watching over us. The Great Zhou can rest easy!" The emperor wore a proud smile. Compared to a Myriad Manifestations expert, what were two dead royal guardians?
He looked down at Su Miaozhen. "Spread the word: the library was ambushed by demon cultivators, Guard Ding fell in battle, and the National Protector saved the day by slaying the demons."
"Your Majesty! The Demon Prison... something's happened at the Demon Prison!" The imperial guard commander rushed over.
Everyone felt a jolt, wondering what crisis had struck the prison. What a troublesome night.
"Your Majesty, all demon cultivators in the Demon Prison have vanished, but outer guards saw no escape!" The commander knelt, delivering the explosive news.
"What? All demons gone? If they escaped, chaos will follow!" The chief minister paled. Starved demon cultivators would wreak havoc.
Elder Xu said gravely, "We must investigate how they evaded the guards." Demons couldn't vanish without a trace—if killed, bodies should remain.
"Your Majesty, could the National Protector be responsible?" Su Miaozhen interjected, drawing attention. "His Buddhist light purifies demons. Perhaps after handling the library, he purified the prison too."
"This makes sense—otherwise, how would guards have missed the escape?" Elder Xu nodded.
"Agreed. Chief Minister, spread word that the National Protector emptied the Demon Prison. Envoys from the Han Dynasty arrive soon—let this send them a message." The emperor accepted Su Miaozhen's reasoning.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
...
As the Great Zhou's National Protector gained fame, the true culprit remained unaware. Back in the hostage manor, Lin Yu called the Cauldron Lord in his mind.
"Cauldron Lord, any new gains from devouring that Void Formation sword technique?"
"Heh! You got lucky—stumbled upon an ancient Void Formation scroll called Demon-Slaying. After I merged it with other Myriad Manifestations arts, its power soared. Master this, and you can fight Myriad Manifestations Grade Nine!" The Cauldron Lord preened.
"Which technique is it?" Lin Yu's eyes lit up—his swordsmanship's lack of killing power had troubled him.
"Called Great Sun Demon-Slaying Sword. Temper fire intent into a great sun; one strike incinerates demons. Its true might reveals when you reach Void Formation."
Golden characters flooded Lin Yu's mind, forming the cultivation method. His Saint Emperor Sword Body hungrily absorbed the technique's essence, mastering it swiftly—such was the body's power with sword arts.
For days, Lin Yu practiced in seclusion, oblivious to the outside rumors. One day, as he感悟 (comprehended) the sword technique, Su Miaozhen's footsteps approached. He stored the Wind Controlling Sword and waited.
Su Miaozhen entered, eyes filled with resignation. "Third Prince, please come with me. Han envoys are here to see you."
"Han envoys?" Lin Yu frowned but accepted—meeting domestic envoys was expected as a hostage. Why did Su Miaozhen look resigned?
"Envoy Sun Linpu, vice minister of the Han Ministry of Personnel. He's loyal to the First Prince, and you..." Su Miaozhen trailed off. At the border, she'd sensed tension between Lin Yu and the prince. The envoy demanding Lin Yu's presence reeked of humiliation.
Lin Yu saw this too but smiled. "Then I'll go with General Su. Thank you for escorting me."
Riding side by side to the post station, Su Miaozhen said, "I'll wait outside. If anyone disrespects you, tell me. In Zhou, I'll protect you."
"Even Han envoys?"
"None shall pass."
Lin Yu looked at her deeply, dismounted, and entered. The envoy's courtyard door was shut, guarded by eight armored Xiantian Grade One warriors, glaring aggressively.
"Tell Sun Linpu I'm here. Have him come out." Lin Yu smiled—humiliation via closed doors was a mistake.