Yin Yang Soul Searcher

The armies of the First Prince and the Third Prince merged together and slowly marched towards the capital. Several hall masters of the Yin-Yang Palace followed behind the main army.

Cheng Yanbing and Luo Wuju were treating the wounded soldiers. Although Luo Wuju didn't like alchemy, he was still skilled at treating low-level wounded soldiers.

The eldest prince, with a tuft of blond hair on his forehead, lay on a cart, staring blankly at the sky. He wouldn't speak to anyone who paid him any attention; the blond-haired prince had become withdrawn.

Recalling what had just happened, the demon race had taken the auspicious beast's corpse with almost no losses. Their only loss was a group of unintelligent ferocious beasts, which had been wiped out by the enraged soldiers after Peng Li left.

Ironically, Yang Liu died at the hands of Peng Li, a price paid for obtaining the auspicious beast's corpse. Could this be considered his achievement?

And that fox actually ran away while I was confronting the Four Seasons Master! All that little bit of gain I had was gone! What a cunning fox!

She's so badly injured, she couldn't have gone far, and Peng Li has already abandoned her. When we get back to the capital, I'll have my uncle forge a magical artifact that can detect demonic energy. We'll dig three feet into the ground to find that fox spirit!

The third prince grew angrier the more he thought about it, and punched the cart beneath him, creating a fist-sized hole.

The horses pulling the carriage neighed, turned around, and snorted at the Crown Prince in a very human-like manner, as if to say: Can you lie down? If not, get down and walk by yourself!

The third prince, riding a horse and carrying a long spear, stood guard beside him with a somewhat helpless air.

He didn't know how to comfort his elder brother. He had vowed to take on the task of supporting his brother, but he arrived late and the army suffered heavy losses. He was afraid that he would be scolded by his father when he returned!

Just then, Bai Jueming, carrying the red fox in his hand, finally caught up with the army. The distance looked short, but for Bai Jueming, who was only human, it was truly exhausting.

The flag-bearing general, who had been leading the way for the army, spotted Bai Jueming. Upon recognizing the newcomer as being dressed in the attire of the Yin-Yang Palace, he lowered his flag and loudly inquired, "Who goes there?"

Bai Jueming, one hand on his knee, panting heavily, lifted the red fox in his hand: "Bai Jueming of the Yin-Yang Palace, I happened to capture an escaped demon and have come to meet the First Prince."

While you're at it, take me back to the capital. Sun Tai is injured and has forgotten about me. It's such a long way, surely I don't have to walk all the way back!

Sun Tai hadn't forgotten him, but he was now seriously injured and lying on another cart, so he didn't have the energy to go looking for him anymore.

On the other side, the eldest prince, who had been lying on the cart and listening to the commotion around him, suddenly brightened up upon hearing this. Ignoring his injuries, he sat up abruptly. "Bring him to me."

"Yes"

General Li led Bai Jueming to the cart where the eldest prince was sitting and then left.

Bai Jueming bowed and greeted the First Prince, and also bowed to the Third Prince standing to the side.

Then, he took the opportunity to sized up the eldest prince. Dressed like a great general, this was the crown prince, Qiao Shou's eldest nephew. He was indeed a handsome man, half as good-looking as himself.

The blond-haired boy waved his hand casually, then stared intently at the red fox in his hand. It was this sly fox that had run away when he wasn't looking, which infuriated him!

Bai Jueming tactfully handed the fox to the eldest prince.

Then he followed silently beside her. Luo Wuju nodded to Cheng Yanbing, who was treating the wounded, as a greeting.

The eldest prince took the terrified Jinxiu from him, and after confirming that it was Jinxiu's scent, he burst into laughter.

Jinxiu struggled wildly in the First Prince's hands, baring her teeth and claws, but fate held her firmly by the scruff of her neck. The First Prince casually flicked the blond hair on his forehead, a real killing intent flashing in his eyes!

Bai Jueming was startled when he saw this, fearing that the eldest prince might lose his temper and kill it.

This is all thanks to me! Don't you dare mess it up, you little brat!

Bai Jueming could only gently remind her, "Your Highness, this demon cultivator is involved in many cases in the capital. The South Gate case and the Minister of Works case both show signs of demonic involvement. Perhaps we should let her live a couple more days until the Yin-Yang Palace has finished searching her soul before taking her away?"

At this point, Bai Jueming made a throat-slitting gesture.

After Bai Jueming's reminder, the eldest prince naturally understood the importance of the matter. As the only prisoner he had captured, Jinxiu was the only one who could expose the evil deeds of the demon race in the capital.

"Damn fox, live a couple more days." The eldest prince sneered and slammed her heavily onto the cart.

"Once we return to the capital and complete the soul-searching process, I will personally skin you and make fur coats for the Empress Dowager!"

Jinxiu, who had been thrown onto the cart, trembled and could not stand steadily. Coupled with the Crown Prince's vicious words, she could only cautiously hide in a corner, curl up, and begin to sob softly.

Crying? Crying counts as time too.

"Your Highness, this demon cultivator's innate supernatural power can create illusions. Just to be safe, should we...?"

"You make a good point." The eldest prince nodded, then took out a rope from his pocket and tied the fox up.

"You did a good job. To capture an injured demon cultivator with only an eighth-grade cultivation level, you must have gone through many dangers." The First Prince patted Bai Jueming's shoulder heavily, his mood brightening from cloudy to sunny.

It wasn't that dangerous, but I almost lost my magic in the illusion.

Bai Jueming smiled modestly: "Your Highness is too kind. This is all I should do."

As the sun gradually dipped below the horizon, the golden clouds were tinged with twilight. Weary birds flew across the night sky and hid in the forest. A cool breeze swept by, rustling the leaves.

The army lit torches and moved slowly forward. The Third Prince had a soldier hand him a horse and asked Bai Jueming to turn it into a four-wheeled vehicle.

Then the Third Prince said with interest, "I heard from your Yin-Yang Palace Master that you guessed the demon race was going to attack my elder brother based on their various behaviors? In the end, your deduction convinced the Imperial Advisor and the Deputy Palace Master, otherwise the Imperial Advisor and the Palace Master of the Craftsmen Palace would not have sent so many people to help."

"Your Highness flatters me. I was just lucky, a tiny bit of good fortune," Bai Jueming said, clasping his hands in a humble manner.

Upon hearing this, the eldest prince immediately became interested and sat up a little straighter: "How did you guess that the demon race was going to attack me? Tell me in detail."

The eldest prince had been away from the capital for two months, so naturally he was unaware of what the demon race had been doing in the capital.

However, among all the hall masters of the Yin-Yang Hall who knew the same amount of information, only this lowly Yin-Yang Master guessed that the demon race was going to attack him. Moreover, his prediction was able to convince the deputy hall master and the national advisor, which shows that this young man's ability is extraordinary!

Seeing the eagerness in the Crown Prince's eyes, Bai Jueming couldn't refuse and could only explain his guesses in detail...

At the same time, several hall masters accompanying them couldn't help but prick up their ears to eavesdrop. When the deputy hall master gathered them together, he only said that Bai Jueming had guessed that the demon race was going to take action against Da Huangzi, but he knew nothing about the specific details or speculations. At this moment, they were full of curiosity.

Through the stolen explosives, the location where Master Shimizu went missing, and the disappearance of those ferocious beasts, I managed to deduce... I admit there was an element of gambling involved, but I won!

After hearing Bai Jueming's speculation, the eldest prince's face showed indescribable shock: "Judging from the current situation, your speculation is entirely correct."

The four hall masters shared similar expressions with the eldest prince, though they inwardly offered themselves some words of comfort. They weren't the organizers, and their information was certainly incomplete; otherwise, they might have been able to guess...

The eldest prince asked himself honestly, if he were in Bai Jueming's position and knew the same information as Bai Jueming, he would never have guessed that the demon race was going to take action against the auspicious beast's corpse! Moreover, many Yin-Yang Hall Masters had not even guessed this.

Jinxiu, who had been huddled in the corner, stopped whimpering and instead pricked up her two fox ears to eavesdrop on their conversation. She was surprised that this Yin-Yang Master was so capable that he could guess our purpose from the slightest clues.

Although Peng Li ultimately achieved his goal, without him, our demon race would not have suffered such great losses!

Peng Li was forced to kill Yang Liu and steal his demon core. He was also severely injured and captured by Yang Liu. Moreover, because he was afraid that Peng Li would harm him, he dared not return to the Great Demon Kingdom with him. It's all his fault!

Thinking of this, Jinxiu secretly gave Bai Jueming a vicious glance, then quickly curled up again...

This child must not be allowed to live!

The eldest prince then asked, "How long has Young Master Bai been a member of the Yin-Yang Palace? How come I've never seen you before?"

This is an attempt to find out Bai Jueming's background. As the crown prince, he has always been very interested in talented people. Bai Jueming's demonstrated talent for deducing cases shows that he is indeed a talented individual!

The eldest prince recalled the sixteen hall masters of the Yin-Yang Palace, plus the Yin-Yang Masters under their command, totaling sixty or seventy people—not a large number. Logically, even if one didn't recognize Bai Jueming, a single glance should leave an impression. However, Bai Jueming's face was completely unfamiliar.

The eldest prince had never met Bai Jueming before. When did the Yin Yang Palace acquire such a powerful figure?

"Young Master Bai? Even the way you address me has changed. What's going on here?" Bai Jueming was puzzled, so he clasped his hands and said truthfully, "This humble servant was not transferred from another place, but has only recently joined the Yin Yang Palace, so the Crown Prince has not met me."

The eldest prince nodded thoughtfully. He had just become an Onmyoji, no wonder he hadn't seen him before.

The eldest prince did not ask any further questions, but instead said, "Thanks to your prediction, the court was able to send many experts to help. Although the auspicious beast's corpse was eventually taken away, your contribution is undeniable."

"Is there any reward you desire? I will bestow it upon you; magical artifacts, gold and silver, elixirs—you may request any." This fully demonstrates the arrogance of someone who is both the Crown Prince and Qiao Shou's nephew!

The Third Prince, standing to the side, looked on with envy. Why didn't he have a good uncle? He could easily promise magical artifacts and elixirs.

The eldest prince is doing me a favor? Am I that important? Heh heh.

If I could, I'd want to be a useless prince, a top-tier protected good-for-nothing in the imperial court, living a life of wealth, longevity, peace, and a multitude of wives and concubines—a rather monotonous existence...

Bai Jueming couldn't help but smile at the thought, but he still politely declined with an upright expression.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. These are all my duties. Moreover, the Yin-Yang Palace will provide its own rewards, so Your Highness need not spend any more money. Besides, I did not stop the demon cultivators from taking the auspicious beast's corpse..." Bai Jueming sighed with some regret as he said this.

Just kidding, if I took anything from the Crown Prince, I'd be one of his men! I don't want to get too involved with the court officials, so joining the Yin-Yang Palace was a last resort.

Furthermore, the Second Prince is eyeing the throne covetously, as evidenced by the appearance of the Four Seasons Master. The First Prince is definitely going to be a troublemaker in the future.

The eldest prince shook his head with some regret. Who wouldn't want a reward? Bai Jueming probably didn't want to get too involved with him. The eldest prince didn't press the matter further.

The army silently made its way towards the capital.

Bai Jueming silently approached Cheng Yanbing, who was treating the wounded.

"Brother Cheng, how's that steelmaking method going? Did you succeed in making it?"

Cheng Yanbing was bandaging the wounds of a soldier lying on a cart when he heard this. A smirk appeared on his lips: "If I were to intervene, what couldn't I accomplish?"

Wow, this young man's pretty arrogant!

Cheng Yanbing casually tossed the bandage in his hand to the wounded man and bandaged himself.

The wounded soldier looked on incredulously as the two men chatted and walked away from him.

As Cheng Yanbing recalled the arduous process of his steelmaking, a hint of pain inevitably appeared on his face.

They spent an entire night figuring out the temperature and time for steelmaking!

I operated over twenty alchemy furnaces simultaneously, wasting countless materials, and almost drove myself to despair. Fortunately, I finally succeeded in refining the pills, a bittersweet reward. However, these arduous processes are best left untold to outsiders.

"Brother Cheng is indeed a genius. He was able to develop it successfully in just one night." Bai Jueming clasped his hands in a fist salute, also feeling happy for him.

It seems the methods taught in the short videos are correct, but as a modern person, I don't really need so much ancient knowledge.

In that case, I still have all sorts of odd jobs on hand: fine salt, glass, soap...

Bai Jueming stared intently at Cheng Yanbing, as if he were looking at some kind of treasure.

"Heh, heh heh. Brother Bai, you flatter me." Cheng Yanbing waved his hand, not noticing Bai Jueming's burning gaze, and then said, "The demon race stole all the magical artifacts that were made for Yunzhou a couple of days ago. My master told me to take this opportunity to refine all the magical artifacts into this material."

Cheng Yanbing rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache. Everything had to start all over again. He still had to teach that idiot and get his help. Cheng Yanbing glanced sideways at Luo Wuju, who was treating the wounded.

"Brother Cheng, what do the demons want from these things? They rely on their innate supernatural powers, so aren't they always disdainful of these magical artifacts?" Bai Jueming had long found the demons' behavior puzzling.

Cheng Yanbing was also quite puzzled by this matter. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Perhaps the demon race doesn't want a war to break out as soon as possible."

Bai Jueming couldn't understand it, and perhaps only this reason could explain it.

As night deepened and the full moon hung high in the sky, the majestic and imposing city walls of the capital came into view.

With the army at the city gates, all the city gates were already closed.

However, since the eldest prince was in the army, the group entered the city smoothly.

The army set up camp on the spot, waiting to be settled and unified the next morning.