"True. We still have to interrogate the remaining 433. More might die in the process," Fu Huai said helplessly.
Xuan Yuan Cheng shook his head slightly. "Not only that. I heard the Throne has new methods to see through disguises. The Throne also said there are likely hidden spies among us."
Xuan Yuan Cheng rarely admired anyone. She respected her brother, Xuan Yuan Zheng, the current head of the Xuan Yuan family. Now, she added Zhu Yanyi to that list.
"Guard Fu, Guard Xuan Yuan. The Throne requests your presence for a discussion," a soldier called out.
"Understood." Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng exchanged a glance and hurried to see Zhu Yanyi.
"Throne, you summoned us?" Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng entered Zhu Yanyi’s practice chamber. Seeing her still working, they asked.
Zhu Yanyi pointed to the seats nearby. "Sit down first. Let me finish reviewing this document."
"Okay." The two men sat quietly without further comment.
Only after finishing the document did Zhu Yanyi face them. "Your unit serves as the Emperor’s guard, yet you have no official name?"
"We are just the Guard," Fu Huai said, looking at Zhu Yanyi curiously. "Do we need a name?"
Zhu Yanyi glanced at Fu Huai. "Without a name, you are just 'the Guard.' Does that sound impressive? Other nations have Imperial Guards or Feathered Guards. You are just 'the Guard'."
Indeed, the Great Yu Dynasty needed many reforms.
She took a plan from her drawer and handed it to Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng. "This is my plan. You belong to the Emperor of Great Yu. After integration, your unit will have two main tasks: protecting the Emperor, and eliminating anyone who breaks rules and laws. These people could be commoners, royal relatives, or high officials. Your direct leader will always be the Emperor."
Fu Huai blurted out, "What about you, Throne?" From her description, it was clear Zhu Yanyi would not stay long.
"I am merely a transition," Zhu Yanyi said openly. "I appeared because of the turmoil in Great Yu. Once all chaos is settled, this world will be built by you. It will have nothing to do with me."
Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng were confused.
Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "What? Are you attracted by my indifference to fame and profit?"
"Throne…" Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng looked at her speechlessly.
Zhu Yanyi laughed again. "Just a joke. But one thing is true: I will leave. This world does not belong to me. My appearance was accidental; my departure is inevitable. Do not think about keeping me. Besides, I am a cultivator. Cultivators only intervene in extreme cases. If things were fine here, I would not have acted."
She continued, "The most important thing now is to train your current guard. The name 'Guard' makes me speechless. So, I have named this unit 'The Dagger'."
"It is a steel blade planted in the hearts of criminals, corrupt officials, and villains. You are the elite of law enforcement. You must dare to act where others fear to. You will not participate in succession struggles. You take orders directly from the Emperor, serving him until he passes command to the next Emperor, and then you serve the next."
Xuan Yuan Cheng and Fu Huai understood. This meant their existence represented the legitimate succession of the throne. Only the legitimate heir could truly command them.
"However, this power is great. So, you must first learn to judge and select people. Otherwise, if your team becomes as leaky as a sieve again, it will be fatal," Zhu Yanyi said helplessly.
Hearing this, Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng lowered their heads in embarrassment.
Seeing their ashamed expressions, Zhu Yanyi said, "Of course, you cannot be blamed entirely. The world is unjust, and human hearts are not pure. So, my first task is to set things right. Tell me, what do you think of the State Preceptor?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng realized Zhu Yanyi’s next target was definitely the State Preceptor.
Fu Huai and Xuan Yuan Cheng exchanged a look. Xuan Yuan Cheng spoke first. "As you know, I come from the Xuan Yuan family. Our family interacts with the State Preceptor. He is strange. When he talks to people, he seems to see through their hearts, making them follow his thoughts."
"See through hearts and make people follow her thoughts?" Zhu Yanyi asked curiously.
"Yes," Xuan Yuan Cheng said seriously. "When I was young, my brother was also young. We followed our father. Our father talked with the State Preceptor. Later, our father told my brother and me that this ability to see through people might be one of his powers. He advised us to empty our minds when meeting him, so he could not control us."
"So, she has mysterious means to control people’s thoughts," Zhu Yanyi stated directly.
"Yes," Xuan Yuan Cheng nodded seriously.
Fu Huai added, "If that is true, it is possible. I remember a heinous criminal who refused to confess. When the State Preceptor arrived, he used this method during a public trial, gaining many believers."
"A clumsy method, but effective," Zhu Yanyi smiled faintly.
Sometimes a method does not need to be clever; effectiveness is best. Zhu Yanyi could now confirm that the State Preceptor valued power of faith greatly. She sought ways to gain it. For example, forcing a stubborn criminal to confess publicly would generate a wave of power of faith. Combined with her ability to summon rain, this State Preceptor was clearly no ordinary person.
Zhu Yanyi understood clearly and decided to meet the State Preceptor the day after tomorrow.
"I heard the State Preceptor will preach scriptures the day after tomorrow. I plan to attend," Zhu Yanyi said openly.
Xuan Yuan Cheng asked, "Do you want us to accompany you?"
"No need," Zhu Yanyi waved her hand. "You may watch if you wish, but I will not go with you. You should go with the Emperor of Great Yu. This State Preceptor feels strange. I prefer to observe secretly."