"I want information on all sects within my jurisdiction that have pledged allegiance to the Heaven Alliance, and information on the sects that sealed their mountains and remained secluded during the period of rampant Demon Evil activity."
Upon hearing these words, the expressions of everyone present changed slightly. They instinctively sensed a bloody, murderous intent in his words.
"What is Defender Shen planning?" Yun Venerable asked tentatively.
Shen Changqing glanced at him and said indifferently, "What I plan to do, is Defender Yun truly unaware?"
"Er..." Yun Venerable was speechless.
He sensed that Shen Changqing seed to hold so sort of grudge against him. True, my earlier fear and refusal to fight were rather disgraceful, but did every word of his have to be so barbed? Could it be? Had my intention to make a dignified retreat also been perceived by him?
He shook his head secretly.
Yun Venerable then said, "Defender Shen intends to eradicate those sects that have pledged allegiance to the Heaven Alliance, which I can understand. But if you move against other sects, I’m afraid it will drive all of them to the side of the Heaven Alliance. As a result, the power of the Heaven Alliance will surge once more. Ultimately, this doesn’t benefit us."
It wasn’t as if Shen Changqing and Shimohe hadn’t made an agreent. But even if Shimohe were defeated later, he wouldn’t just surrender and await death. The more the Heaven Alliance’s strength grew now, the more disadvantageous it beca for the Demon-Subduing Division.
The main problem was still that Yun Venerable didn’t believe Shen Changqing possessed the ability to kill Shimohe. Being able to win was one thing, but being able to kill was another entirely. If Shen Changqing truly had the confidence to kill Shimohe, he wouldn’t have agreed to a one-year pact. Ultimately, Shen Changqing still wasn’t certain. That was why he needed a year as a buffer.
The words of Yun Venerable made the others nod slightly as well. In their view, what he was saying wasn’t wrong.
Shen Changqing’s expression remained unchanged. "I naturally understand Defender Yun’s words. Different thods are used in different periods, and being too conservative is not always a good thing. If any problems truly arise, I, as the Defender Envoy of South Nether Prefecture, will bear the responsibility alone."
"Defender Shen speaks too seriously!" Yun Venerable said helplessly, and the others lowered their heads as well. The other party was now clearly planning to use his status to pressure them.
Yes, the Defender Envoy of South Nether Prefecture.
Even Yun Venerable himself had no way to refuse the decisions made by such a figure.
Subsequently, he looked towards Luo Jin.
Luo Jin understood implicitly and, cupping his fist, said, "Defender Shen, rest assured. I will compile the information into dossiers as quickly as possible and deliver them to you."
"Is three days enough?"
"No problem." Luo Jin nodded. The Heavenly Inspection Guard constantly has information on file, so three days was more than ample ti.
Afterward, Shen Changqing said, "Also, I want to construct a Demon-Subduing Prison within the South Sea City Demon-Subduing Division to imprison Demon Evils."
"Demon-Subduing Prison?" Yun Venerable was startled, then began to explain. "Defender Shen, a Demon-Subduing Prison isn’t sothing just anyone can build; it requires personnel from the Hidden Heart Pavilion. Moreover, imprisoning Demon Evils carries significant hidden dangers. If the Demon Evils confined within were to be released, the consequences would be unimaginable."
The Capital City had no choice but to construct the Demon-Subduing Prison and the Demon Sealing Tower. However, the consequences were also very clear. Consider Dongfang Zhao; since he assud power, the number of tis he has left the Capital City can be counted on one hand. Especially as the strength of the Demon-Subduing Division has declined, he hasn’t taken a single step out of the Capital City.
Why? The ultimate reason was the existence of the Demon-Subduing Prison and the Demon Sealing Tower.
If he were to leave, and Demon Evils invaded the Capital City, breaching those two locations, the Capital City would instantly beco a domain of Guiyu. Even the Nine Prefectures of Great Qin might suffer devastation.
This—was the hidden danger of imprisoning Demon Evils.
Shen Changqing said, "Defender Yun can rest assured. I will have people from the Hidden Heart Pavilion handle the matter of the Demon-Subduing Prison. As for the so-called hidden dangers, there’s no need for excessive worry. The Demon-Subduing Prison will only confine Demon Evils of the Strange Monster grade; it will not confine Demon Evils of the Demon Evil grade. If the Demon-Subduing Prison were breached, it would only unleash so Strange Monsters. Could it be that such a large branch of the Demon-Subduing Division cannot even handle a group of Strange Monster-grade Demon Evils?"
"That certainly wouldn’t be the case—" Yun Venerable said in a deep voice. The South Sea City Demon-Subduing Division still possessed that much capability.
Afterward, Shen Changqing spoke again: "Furthermore, I want South Sea City to compile dossiers on all locations rumored to have Demon Evil activity but where no trace of them could be found."
"Yes!" Luo Jin replied respectfully.
Glancing at the others present, Shen Changqing said nothing more. "I have no other matters to discuss. You may all attend to your duties. I will only remain here for three days. If anything arises during this ti, you may co find ."
Having said that, he then looked towards the Magistrate, who had been sitting at the far end, head down, without uttering a word.
"Governor Liu, I trust there will be no issue with staying in the Prefecture Yan for a few days?"
"None, none at all! It is this subordinate’s honor for Lord Shen to stay here!" Governor Liu hurriedly regained his composure and waved his hands.
「Less than half an hour later.」
Governor Liu imdiately arranged for people to prepare a room for Shen Changqing. As for Tiankui, he was left to rest in the inner hall’s garden, a place ordinary people dared not approach too closely.
Yun Venerable and the others either returned to South Sea City to oversee the general situation or remained, partly to await Shen Changqing’s instructions and partly to assist others in the city with post-war affairs.
In the room, Shen Changqing sat alone. Before him was a teacup from which faint wisps of steam still rose.
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