Jiang Man thought for a moment.

’This isn’t a good thing.’

’No change would have been the best-case scenario.’

But this change was too drastic. Meng Qiewei hadn’t appeared at all.

The most likely reason was that she couldn’t come. The second was that she was plotting something.

’The chance that she’s forgotten about me or decided to let me go isn’t very high.’

’A powerhouse like her should have plenty of free time.’

If conditions allowed it, there’d be no reason for her not to come.

Jiang Man was silent for a moment before saying, "And just now, another problem has cropped up in Luoyun City. I’m starting to suspect the issue in Luoyun City isn’t Demon Beasts, but the Immortal Sect."

As he spoke, he looked at the Old Yellow Ox. "Old Huang, you didn’t leave any traces, did you?"

"As long as you don’t admit it, no one will know it was you," Old Huang said casually.

Jiang Man sighed in admiration. ’Old Huang really is amazing.’

"Old Huang, in your prime, who was stronger? You or my wife?" Jiang Man asked.

The Old Yellow Ox was silent.

Jiang Man didn’t mind.

Instead, he prepared to set off for Luoyun City.

He paused, suddenly recalling something from a long time ago. "Old Huang, I remember asking you before how I could help you recover your strength. You said we’d talk about it after I survived. Now, I’ve left the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart far behind me."

"Can you tell me now?"

"You’re too weak. Wait until you’re stronger," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man nodded. "Fair enough. It won’t be long anyway."

The Old Yellow Ox glanced at Jiang Man and said, "You’re getting too arrogant."

"It’s only arrogance if your position outweighs your virtue. My Cultivation still hasn’t caught up to my Talent. I’m still well within the bounds of humility," Jiang Man said confidently.

The Old Yellow Ox fell silent.

It lowered its head and went back to eating grass.

Jiang Man, for his part, put away his Storage Treasure and prepared to leave on his sword.

But before he could turn around, he noticed a light glowing from Old Huang.

"A message has come from the wife you’re always thinking about," Old Huang said.

"Old Huang, I have to admit one thing: my wife is just too beautiful. A few times, she deliberately dropped her icy tone to talk to me. For a young man like me, it’s definitely hard to bear." As Jiang Man spoke, he reached out and took the ball of light.

But he didn’t stop talking. "Old Huang, have you ever experienced something like this? When you were young, did an ultimate beauty like Meng Qiewei ever show you affection?"

"Did you resist?"

The Old Yellow Ox lowered its head and ate its grass.

By now, Jiang Man was listening to Meng Qiewei’s message.

"Husband, the people from the Immortal Sect are conducting a strict investigation. A powerful expert has entered the Magpie Bridge and blocked my way, so I can’t go find you. I’ve been sulking for so long. You must be very happy, right? I’m trapped here by them, unable to leave. Even seeing you once is a luxury. When you become powerful in the future, can you come and get me out?" A soft, weak voice echoed in Jiang Man’s mind.

After a pause, the ball of light transmitted another message: "Will you be defeated by the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart, Husband? If you die, I’ll be a widow. I’ll have to mourn you for the rest of my life."

"Those people outside are still speculating whether I’ve hidden you in my room. They even want to forcibly search my quarters."

"They’re all ganging up on me."

Jiang Man was silent for a moment.

’The Immortal Sect is investigating so strictly that even Meng Qiewei doesn’t dare to come out. That means a truly powerful expert has intervened.’

Jiang Man immediately told the Old Yellow Ox.

"An expert that even your wife is worried about should be able to find something, but not much," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man was impressed. ’I really underestimated Old Huang.’

"But it’s a bit strange. The Immortal Sect’s procedures should have been established for a long time. Why would someone suddenly enter the Magpie Bridge? You’d best be careful," the Old Yellow Ox warned.

Jiang Man nodded, then asked another question. "Meng Qiewei said people are bullying her. Is that credible?"

"The people of the Immortal Sect wouldn’t believe it, but whether *you* believe it is another matter," the Old Yellow Ox said.

"I don’t believe it either," Jiang Man said.

’Someone like Meng Qiewei could cause a huge problem just by walking around freely. Who would dare to bully her?’

’That old woman has a terrible temper. People are too afraid of her to even get close, let alone bully her.’

’Wouldn’t that be a death wish?’

Shaking his head, Jiang Man stopped overthinking it.

Now that he was certain Meng Qiewei wasn’t coming, he didn’t have to worry about her showing up unexpectedly.

He could set off with peace of mind.

To get to Luoyun City, he had gone out of his way to acquire a map. The distance was quite far.

The Yunqian Bureau’s assessment was in the middle of the eighth month.

He had to reach the Yunqian Bureau before then.

In addition, he had to complete his mission as quickly as possible and bring people back.

As for his eligibility for this assessment, Jiang Man just needed to speak with Mr. Yan.

It wasn’t complicated.

Senior Sister Yu was probably in a similar situation back then.

However, she came from the Inner Sect. As someone from the Outer Sect, his status was still actually quite low.

But the relevant news should have already been sent to the Yunqian Bureau.

’I just don’t know how they’ll introduce me.’

’As an Outer Disciple or an Inner Sect Disciple.’

’I’ll get a general idea when I see who’s in charge of the handover.’

’If they take it seriously enough, the official documents will probably say Inner Sect.’

’If not, then it’ll likely be Outer Sect.’

Jiang Man was only curious about this; he didn’t particularly care about the specifics.

After all, he had already asked Song Qing to help investigate.

As long as the Yunqian Bureau didn’t hold him back, he’d be fine.

The most troublesome part of this journey would be how to practice Cultivation while traveling.

He couldn’t waste so much time.

That would be far too lazy.

————

「August 3rd. Luoyun City, Yunqian Bureau.」

Song Qing had been waiting here since early in the morning, chatting with the guards at the entrance.

"Guard Song, why have you been coming here every day for the past few days?" a middle-aged gate guard asked.

Song Qing smiled. "A friend of mine said he was coming, but I’m not sure exactly when he’ll arrive, so I’ve been coming a few days early to wait for him."

The middle-aged guard was rather surprised. "Is this friend of yours that important?"

’Waiting for someone several days in advance... what kind of person gets that sort of treatment?’

Although Song Qing didn’t have any special background, he was still a Cloud Front Guard.