I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 271 A messenger from the imperial court!

Zhang Shuibo and Song Qingfeng frowned upon hearing Xie An's words, greatly surprised.

They had not read the contents of the letter left by Bai Yujing, so they did not think that the Yunzhou Taoist Academy was in any danger. Naturally, they thought such a rash move was unnecessary.

Xie An noticed the doubt in their hearts and said seriously, "Master has given us instructions not to be careless."

He didn't explain the reason, lest Song Qingfeng and Zhang Shuibo become emotionally unstable. Besides, Xie An didn't have much trust in these two people, so it was best not to mention it unless absolutely necessary.

Bringing up Bai Yujing's name should be enough.

As expected, Song Qingfeng and Zhang Shuibo did not voice any objections when they heard that it was Bai Yujing's idea.

Zhang Shuibo said, "In that case, let's do as Brother Xie says. Qingfeng, go and ring the academy's bell right now to gather all the disciples and head to Black Mountain Town immediately."

Xie An breathed a sigh of relief. "To be on the safe side, all disciples must complete their departure in secret. Also, disciples with families may bring them along, but they must not announce it. Otherwise, it could easily cause chaos throughout the city."

Zhang Shuibo said, "Brother Xie, rest assured, I know what's important. Qingfeng, you take charge of this matter and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Song Qingfeng nodded in agreement and then hurriedly left.

Not long after, the bronze bell of the Taoist temple rang.

Countless disciples gathered at the Taoist academy, and the entire academy became brightly lit.

Zhang Shuibo then discussed the upcoming retreat with Xie An and Su Yuqing.

The evacuation of the entire Taoist temple was by no means a simple matter.

It should be noted that the Yunzhou Taoist Academy has as many as 20,000 disciples, and with their families, the total number is as high as 60,000 to 70,000.

Leaving Yunzhou City smoothly is no easy task.

After all, the Demon Suppression Division and the local government were keeping a close eye on the Taoist temple's every move.

There are problems in every aspect.

However, Zhang Shuibo, being the former abbot, quickly came up with a solution: "Give the academy a three-day holiday, and let the disciples take their families and leave the academy separately to gather in Heishan Town outside the city. Once they reach Heishan Town, it won't matter."

Xie An felt that this method was feasible.

With the mass evacuation imminent, complete secrecy is clearly no longer an option.

Soldiers are valuable and quick.

As long as we're fast enough, we can evacuate outside the city.

Xie An readily agreed, "Then let's do it this way. I'll trouble Brother Zhang to make the arrangements. We'll go to the Demon Suppression Division and stop them from taking any obstructive actions."

Zhang Shuibo cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Xie. But be careful, the Demon Suppression Division has recently replaced many high-ranking officials and brought in many experts. They are monitoring my academy very closely."

"I know. You need to act quickly," Xie An instructed, before he and Su Yuqing hurriedly left.

Su Yuqing is still the eldest princess, and her status and authority are undeniable. A trip to the Demon Suppression Division shouldn't be a problem.

After her initial disappointment, Su Yuqing's emotions have gradually stabilized.

The two of them went to the Demon Suppression Division overnight. Su Yuqing consulted with her two trusted confidants and was greatly surprised afterward.

Not long ago, the imperial court sent a couple known as the Black and White Duo to take over the Demon Suppression Division.

Moreover, the Black and White Duo were extremely powerful. Upon taking up their posts in the Demon Suppression Division, they immediately began to restore order and eliminate dissidents. With their extraordinary strength, they actually overpowered all other rivals.

Now, the entire Demon Suppression Division has been brought under complete control.

When asked about the specific strength of the Black and White Duo, the confidant gave a bold guess: Martial Saint.

Because the several second-rank Grandmasters that Ye Nantian had previously left in the Demon Suppression Division had all been eliminated by the Black and White Duo.

Now, the Black and White Demons have deployed a large force to monitor the Yunzhou Taoist Academy's every move.

After obtaining sufficient information, Su Yuqing and Xie An discussed it briefly and, after finding out where the Black and White Duo lived, decided to go and take a look.

……

In a secluded courtyard right next to the Demon Suppression Division in Yunzhou City.

This secluded courtyard is located in a remote area. Two magnificent stone lions stand at the entrance, along with two ancient locust trees that are hundreds of years old, exuding an ancient and weathered atmosphere.

There was no one at the entrance, but inside there was a large courtyard that had been cleared out and turned into a martial arts training ground.

More than a dozen martial arts masters practiced martial arts late at night, their sweat pouring down their faces.

On the steps in front of the martial arts arena stood a man and a woman. The man was dressed in black, close-fitting clothes, while the woman wore a white silk dress, looking extremely alluring and beautiful.

The two instructed everyone in practicing their skills.

The man in black said, "Everyone, practice your teamwork techniques carefully. This is specifically designed to counter Zhang Shuibo and Song Qingfeng. There may be unforeseen events at the Yunzhou Taoist Academy, so we must stop them and buy time for His Majesty."

The woman in white said, "Bai Yujing and Ye Nantian are both dead. The only remaining threat is the Yunzhou Dao Academy. If we can delay His Majesty until he arrives, we will have rendered a great service. Wealth, power, status, and immortal techniques will all be yours."

Inspired by the Black and White Duo, more than a dozen grandmasters were extremely excited and clamored to perform great deeds for His Majesty.

Just then, a young man in black hurried over, approached the Black and White Duo, and whispered, "I just received news that the Yunzhou Dao Academy has rung its bronze bell. All disciples have assembled."

The man in black said, "Understood. Continue to investigate."

After dismissing the servants, the man in black said, "Everyone, get ready. The Yunzhou Daoist Academy can't sit still any longer. The day to prove our merits is in the next two days."

Just then, another subordinate came to report: "Someone requests an audience."

(End of this chapter)