Perhaps not everyone in the Imperial Preceptor's residence knows about this.
Chu Cheng quickly understood the key point. He nodded and asked no more questions.
Nine steps lead up from the training ground to the Demon-Slaying Hall.
The name was magnificent and the decorations were equally impressive, almost comparable to the royal court.
The spacious hall was empty except for one person standing with his hands behind his back at the bottom of the steps, seemingly waiting for their arrival.
"Senior Brother Lu, Senior Brother Chu has arrived."
The disciple leading the way respectfully reported to the person in the hall.
The man turned around. His ordinary appearance made him seem honest and simple, but when he was silent, he gave off a feeling as heavy as a mountain rock, like a sword with its edge hidden.
He nodded to the disciple who was leading the way, and the disciple tactfully withdrew.
"Chu Cheng, you're finally back."
Senior Brother Lu's calm tone revealed no emotion, and he didn't even show any other feelings towards the other people his junior brother brought, as if he already knew.
"Senior Brother Lu."
Chu Cheng bowed respectfully and said that this senior brother's seating order was even higher than his.
"Why are none of my senior uncles and masters in the hall today?"
Normally, the Demon Slaying Hall would be bustling with activity, with rotating elders from the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion present, making it as lively as a market. The fact that it was so empty today truly surprised Chu Cheng.
"Some time ago, the Imperial Preceptor suffered a relapse of an old ailment from the Demon-Sealing War a hundred years ago, and his condition was very poor. All the elders went to protect him in seclusion, so his personal disciple was temporarily put in charge of all matters in the mansion."
Senior Brother Lu rubbed his temples, clearly indicating that the affairs of the manor were not so easy to manage, and this sudden situation had left him exhausted.
Upon hearing that the Imperial Preceptor's old illness had relapsed, Gu Zhong raised his lowered eyes to look at this Senior Brother Lu, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of his words.
"Such a major event has occurred in the manor? Why wasn't I informed?"
Chu Cheng's worry was palpable, and his questions were full of reproach.
"It's not like I didn't send you a message telling you to come home early. Is this something you can just gossip about?"
Senior Brother Lu turned the tables and questioned him, only then turning his gaze to the Ling family and others.
"You came to the capital only after receiving the king's summons, didn't you?"
This question was directed at Lingyan and Lingying.
"Yes, it is quite strange that noble families have not entered the capital for a hundred years."
Lingyan was even more curious about what kind of major event had caused the royal family to break with their usual practices.
"The Queen is seriously ill, and the King is desperate and will try anything."
Senior Brother Lu sighed and explained.
"The Queen is seriously ill, what does that have to do with the noble families?"
Ling Ying looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Two months ago, the Queen suddenly fell ill and fell into a coma. At first, it was just thought to be an illness, and the imperial physicians treated her for a long time but there was no improvement. Until last month, when the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion went to the palace to perform rituals as usual, they found that black mist was swirling above the rear hall, and there were strange phenomena of demons."
Senior Brother Lu said somewhat numbly, as if he had said it many times before.
"Demons causing trouble? That's impossible! The capital has array formations that make it difficult for ordinary demons to enter, let alone the palace, which has the array formations set up by King Wei and the Grand Preceptor back then. How could demons be causing trouble?"
As a disciple of the Imperial Advisor, Chu Cheng, who knew even better how safe the royal city and palace were, immediately jumped up, his face filled with disbelief.
"Everyone thought it was impossible, but it really happened."
Senior Brother Lu took a deep breath and patiently continued.
"When the elders were not present, the fellow disciples were initially skeptical and sent a few clever disciples to investigate. But they never returned."
Immediately afterwards, we sent even more people, including Qi Xuan, but he didn't return either.
Senior Brother Lu's expression was extremely solemn, and the information revealed in his words left Chu Cheng dumbfounded.
Since its inception, the Imperial Preceptor's Office has never suffered such a huge loss.
Qi Xuan was a rare genius of their generation, and like Chu Cheng, he was personally taught by the Imperial Preceptor, yet he also perished in the royal palace.
The demons entrenched in the rear hall were far beyond the capabilities of these young disciples.
"We can understand that the king summoned all the noble families to the capital to deal with the demons in the palace, but why only summon the young noble families?"
Lingyan was even more puzzled by this summons. She knew that only a powerful being could deal with these demons, yet they insisted on sending some inexperienced newcomers who had not experienced many fierce battles.
It always felt like deliberately feeding a demon.
"...We are unaware of Your Majesty's considerations."
Senior Brother Lu remained silent for a long time before shaking his head.
"Yesterday we checked into the inn and heard that there were many more people in the capital, presumably all from prominent families."
"That's right. After I told them the truth, they can decide what to do. After all, none of those who went into the palace to investigate the inner palace have returned. There's no need to make unnecessary sacrifices in a situation where there's no chance of survival."
Similarly, the Ling family is the same.
Senior Brother Lu did not force anything, but if one actually cowered and refused to comply with his words, it would make one appear weak and cowardly. Some young and ambitious prodigies could not bear such treatment, as if it were a disrespect to them, and would go to their deaths without saying anything more.
This reverse psychology tactic really hit the nail on the head when it came to exploiting the weaknesses in these talented young people's personalities.
"Demons roamed the rear palace, and none of those who vanquished them survived. What about the royal palace? What about the palace servants?"
Gu Zhong asked a series of questions, and considering that the king could still issue decrees, it was clear that the demon had not caused chaos in the palace.
"It's strange, the demon was only in the back palace, and the other palaces were unaffected. In fact, apart from the queen being unconscious, the palace servants in the back palace were still fine. Only the exorcists who entered the palace disappeared one after another at night."
For this reason, the matter has not been publicized or blown up to this day, and apart from us and the King, no one else knows the truth.
"It seems as if it was done on purpose."
Lingyan pondered for a moment and whispered.
"This demon seems to possess sentience."
Chu Cheng muttered something to himself, then realized what he had said and looked up at his senior brother in fear.
Senior Brother Lu's deep eyes met his, filled with endless worry.
If demons possess intelligence and can use cunning, no longer acting solely on instinct, then would humanity's current situation revert to that hellish era? This is a possibility no one dares to contemplate.
"To the palace?"
Uncharacteristically, Ling Ying didn't interrupt. After sorting out all the clues, she turned to Ling Yan and asked her a question.
"···Enter."
After a moment of silence, Lingyan made the difficult decision.
Although this demon has only targeted the Queen so far and shows no signs of expansion, it is impossible to predict what it will do or what damage it will cause once it has grown stronger.
Moreover, exorcists take it upon themselves to exorcise demons; how could they possibly just let demons go unchecked?
They couldn't possibly wait for the elders of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion to emerge from seclusion, or for their family elders to come and help. Avoiding battle once would lead to avoiding battle every time, and this would become a lifelong obsession for them.
Now that they know everything and are in this predicament, the only way out is to enter the palace.
"Thank you for the kindness of the two young masters of the Ling family."
Senior Brother Lu took a step back, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply, performing a grand salute—the highest form of respect for people in this era, as if he genuinely admired their choices.
"Then tonight I will send someone to escort the two of you to the palace."
He automatically ignored Chu Cheng and Gu Zhong beside him, focusing only on the two members of the Ling family.
"Senior Brother Lu, I'm going too!"
Chu Cheng blinked, glanced at Ling Yan, and immediately volunteered.
"...There are still matters in the manor that require your attention."
Senior Brother Lu politely declined.
"I believe Senior Brother Lu can handle it. Besides, the palace is so dangerous, how can just two people be enough?"
Chu Cheng refused to comply and argued his case based on reason.
"...The other disciples in the manor will accompany them."
"They are not as good as me."
"···what ever."
After a heated exchange, Senior Brother Lu rubbed his throbbing temples and gave up arguing with Chu Cheng.
"I have another favor to ask. I was entrusted by the head of the Ling family to look after the two young masters. I can't just stand by and watch them be in danger. Mr. Lu, shouldn't you include me in this request?"
Seeing that Chu Cheng had already secured the opportunity to go together, Gu Zhong raised an eyebrow, stared intently at Senior Brother Lu with a piercing gaze, and scrutinized him with an air of authority.
"Elder Gu, you should naturally go along."
Senior Brother Lu glanced at the two members of the Ling family, then chuckled and replied.
As the sun set, another carriage entered the majestic palace. The ornately carved beams and painted rafters grew cold in the deepening twilight, like a ferocious beast waiting to devour its prey.
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Author's Note:
This one seems to have a slower pace.
Chapter 123 Swordsman and Exorcist (Part 9)
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The gloomy night gradually spread from the horizon, slowly engulfing the royal city.
The carriage traveled along the neat and wide palace road. Lifting the curtains used to block out the light, one could occasionally see maids dressed in palace attire, bowing their heads and walking quickly and quietly to greet the carriage. After the carriage stopped to pay their respects, they would continue on their way with indifferent and numb expressions.
As darkness slowly blurred vision, the palace lights came on one by one, and the patrolling soldiers also lit their candles. Although the firelight was warm, it did little to warm the cold palace.
"My lords, we have arrived."