They were leaving already?

Father and son of the Lin family both lost their usual composure.

A Sect Master of the Implement Sect, and a powerhouse of outstanding ability in the War Temple's Yi section — either of them a person of standing and reputation anywhere in Great Qian.

And yet right now, both stood with mouths open, unable to find a word to say.

What had this Inspector actually come here to do?

If the aim was to determine what Perfected Master Hu was actually scheming, then using the Implement Sect's formation to immobilize it first, then waiting for Lizhou's General to arrive, was about as close to foolproof as any plan could get.

If the fox denied everything to the bitter end, this was still the opportunity to drive it out of Great Qian.

Fully justified, and without needlessly offending Qingqiu either.

But what was Commander Shen doing right now? He was following this fox demon out of Great Qian, off his own territory, toward some unknown gods-knew-where destination?

If the fox had pre-arranged a group of demon kings waiting outside to ambush and kill the Inspector—

Who was the War Temple going to come looking to for answers afterward?

Did Great Qian still have the strength to apply pressure on a major outside faction beyond its borders?

And in the end, would this black pot of blame land on the Implement Sect's back?

"Commander Shen."

Madam Lin called out with a grave expression — even if there was a personal grudge, there was no need to settle it on someone else's home ground.

But Shen Yi only gave a casual wave, and followed the two fox demons riding their clouds off across the sky.

"Aiyah!"

Lin Qingyang watched the three figures vanish, and finally couldn't hold back, his fist coming down into his palm. "We should have said something to one of the other rotating Custodians before all this!"

He and the others were simply too junior in standing — no one could talk a Custodian and Inspector out of anything.

"Your feet are too slow —…