On the video call, Wen Yan looked at Cai Qidong's sullen face, utterly confused.

"You're asking me what I was doing? I'm just a weakling, okay? I came here to try and talk some sense into King Guilong, but didn't manage to. So how was I supposed to stop him?

Later on, I took an innocent bystander to the hospital, and then I thought—what if no one here has eaten?

Can't have everyone risking their lives on an empty stomach, right?

Where's the justice in that?

I just came over to drop off some food, and then bam, I couldn't leave.

What do I know? I know nothing, okay?

Tsk, Minister, you don't actually think I could follow those gods duking it out, let alone get involved, do you?

As for the Rakshasa Bird?

I have the mental fortitude of iron; it couldn't tempt me. For me, that weakling isn't even as tough as the village guard goose.

Is there a problem with that?

Minister, I put myself on the line here, risking life and limb, for the people, for the Scorching Sun Department, for the Divine Land.

And yet the first thing you do is interrogate me?

Just wait, I've recorded the whole thing! I'll let everyone judge for themselves later!"

Cai Qidong's expression started to crack, slowly shifting to the look of someone being forced to eat shit.

He was about to say something when Wen Yan hung up with a loud smack.

"Screw your grandpa! I only asked you one damn question!"

The air of authority Cai Qidong had kept up all day was completely demolished by Wen Yan. In the command center, a few people couldn't help but snicker.

How did he know, just asking the guy what was going on over there would get Wen Yan riled up like that? He was honestly confused why Wen Yan was so pissed.

After hanging up, he thought things over and realized something was up.

Figured it out: Wen Yan must be hiding something, so he just decided not to say a word about anything.

If he wanted to know what was going on, he'd have to ask someone else.

He wanted to check in with one of the Celestial Master Mansion's Taoist priests—surely they'd know. But right now, one's critically injured and still unconscious, and the other is too busy saving people to give him the time of day.

He tried calling Tuoba Martial God, but the phone was off.

Obviously, at this point Tuoba Martial God must be busy reflecting on some big revelations and doesn't want to be disturbed by anyone.

Then he considered reaching out to Lord Zhu, but couldn't get through either. So in the end, he had to bite the bullet and call the head of Guanzhong County's Scorching Sun Department.

Said it was urgent business—the other guy didn't say much and agreed without fuss.

Yet less than two minutes into the call, the guy absolutely tore into him.

"Cai Qidong, why are you so useless now?

I finally got a chance to sleep early, and you go and wake me up. Can't you get your shit together?

Lord Zhu is out treating guests, still listening to opera at the theater.

Are you a moron or did you get water on the brain?"

Cai Qidong held the phone away from his ear. Only after the other person hung up did he sigh.

This is awkward. Seems like no one wants to deal with him or talk about it.

The site was all black clouds and heavy rain, and Tuoba Martial God was there in person. The satellites couldn't capture anything.

Oh, the only thing a special satellite could pick up was the Yang Energy over there, surging like the summer solstice sun.

And that was it.

The Yang Energy radiating off Tuoba Martial God was just too over the top. Not even phone signals could get through, let alone anything else. Even if you filmed with a Scorching Sun Department's special phone right up in his face, you'd get nothing.

Honestly, living people who've seen Tuoba Martial God's true face could be counted on one hand, but any time he shows up, nobody ever dares doubt it—because that Yang Energy is just out of this world.

Cai Qidong looked at the map—the info showed King Guilong had already brought the river back to the West River, and then—nothing.

The West River's water level was slowly rising. Downstream, with Jiang Yanyan's help, there were no big waves, just a smooth, slow rise. It all looked stable.

Cai Qidong mulled it over. Since no one wanted to talk, that must mean things were basically handled.

The only real problem left seemed to be the entrance to the Nether Soul Realm over there.

Cai Qidong ordered a lockdown at the entrance of the Nether Soul Realm, and had people keep working on the aftermath—it's tedious, but that's the Scorching Sun Department's specialty.

In the chaos, everything seemed to be returning to calm.

Dozens of li from Crouching Tiger Mountain, a man with a little mustache was stroking the photo album in his hands. It's been a whole day and he still hasn't dared to open it.

He'd already learned his lesson last time.

Ten years since the Spiritual Qi Resurgence sped up. Now, a new decade's upon them, and all sorts of crazy people are popping up. That photo album in his hand can't be used like before—he's got to be extremely cautious now.

Not being able to spectate left him with some regrets.

Especially when Tuoba Martial God himself showed up. Missing that fight? Even more of a bummer.

He put away the photo album, stretched, and picked a brand new anchor point.

From now on, he knew there was no saving Hu Yuan anymore.

In fact, he figured, even with ten or a hundred tries, Hu Yuan was still doomed.

More importantly, he didn't want to save him.

Just one interaction with Hu Yuan and he knew they would simply never see eye to eye.

He put away the album, ate his breakfast, watching the breakfast shop's TV as the morning news played.

It reported that, thanks to meteorological satellites and computer predictions, the weather department had prepared ahead of time. Before the rare downpour, they had already emptied all the upper reservoirs.

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