Sage of Humanity

"Rest today, depart tomorrow." Lu Ye waved the mission jade slip in his hand.

"Yes!" Lin Yinxiu cheerfully accepted the order and returned to her room to rest and recuperate.

Xiao Xinghe saw her childlike demeanor and couldn't help but laugh, "Where did you find this girl, Junior Brother? She seems so inexperienced."

Lu Ye looked around to ensure no one was present, then whispered in Xiao Xinghe's ear.

Xiao Xinghe was utterly astonished, "Really?"

Doesn't seem like it.

Lu Ye nodded solemnly, "If it weren't the case, how could someone I have never met before become a member of my squad?"

Though he was initially displeased when Qian Wudang placed Lin Yinxiu in his team, he had slowly grown accustomed to her over time.

Lin Yinxiu's gentle and obedient nature makes her a favorable team member for any leader, even though her background is somewhat sensitive. By discussing it with the third senior brother, it could prevent any inappropriate incidents in the future.

Xiao Xinghe usually couldn't care less about such trivial matters, so he didn't inquire further, "I'm heading to the Heaven's Augury treasure vault."

This obviously meant he was going to exchange spirit fortune sticks for cultivation.

Typically, cultivators use whatever battle merit they have to exchange for spirit fortune sticks for cultivation, leaving very little saved up.

After all, for a cultivator, converting what they earn into cultivation is the best form of practice.

Only Lu Ye seemed to always have a stockpile of battle merit at hand.

After Xiao Xinghe headed to the Heaven's Augury treasure vault, Lu Ye returned to his room, immersing himself in the Origin of Soaring Dragon World.

Perhaps due to advancements in his cultivation, the time required to imprint the Origin of Soaring Dragon World was growing increasingly shorter.

The next morning, a spirit ark rose into the air from the small courtyard, and the three members of the squad set off once again.

In the main hall of the Justice Department, Qian Wudang was working at his desk. Across from him, a chubby old man lounged in a chair with his legs propped up, humming a tune nonchalantly.

Qian Wudang's forehead veins gradually bulged. Unable to bear it any longer, he slapped the table and said, "Old man, why aren't you working at the Hunting Pavilion? Why are you here? And in such a manner, if anyone sees, where does my authority stand?"

The chubby old man chuckled dismissively, "Mind your own business, enjoying my life has nothing to do with your authority."

Frustrated but helpless, Qian Wudang massaged his temples, "What do you want?"

The chubby old man sat up straight, "I'm just curious. You seem to have a lot of faith in that kid from the Righteous Blood Sect, putting that Yinxiu girl beside him."

A touchy subject for Qian Wudang, his heart twinged at its mention. The old man, who was childless, didn't understand his worries. No matter how optimistic he was about someone, this was not something he would do lightly. The reason Yinxiu was by Lu Yiye's side was entirely because of her own insistence.

Moreover, he knew he couldn't shield her forever; she needed to gain experience eventually, so this was like going with the flow.

"But one thing's for sure, that kid is really lucky. The last mission was completed in five days; who knows how long this one will take."

Qian Wudang remarked, "How long do you think it will take?"

"Who can say? Last time, the target was last seen ten days prior, which was traceable. This time is different; the last sighting was two months ago. Even a Divine Sea Realm would be gambling. With good luck, it might take a month or two; with bad luck, years could pass without results."

Qian Wudang laughed, "That's not bad."

"Why do you seem so pleased?" The old man was puzzled.

"What would you understand!" Qian Wudang was reluctant to explain further.

If the task is completed too quickly, that Yinxiu girl would gain a sense of accomplishment, which would keep her attached to Lu Yiye.

As it stands, it's quite perfect. With any luck, they'll be out for months with no success, and Yinxiu might tire of the assignment. With a little persuasion from me, she might reconsider her course.

With that thought, Qian Wudang felt his mood brighten considerably.

Time flew by, and four days later.

While dealing with official business, Qian Wudang sensed an incoming message and was utterly shocked upon checking it, "Mission... completed?"

How could it be completed so quickly?

It defied all logic.

The last mission's rapid completion could be attributed to luck, as the target had remained in the last observed location. But this time was different. The target's previous activity was logged two months ago. In that time, who knew where they could have gone?

It was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

This is precisely why such tasks linger in the Hunting Pavilion without takers.

Ordinarily, no squad would take on such a task unless they were undertaking other missions and decided to study these cases, recording details about the targets so as to capture them during more lucrative missions, if lucky.

Once they have the person, it counts as task completion with full battle merit rewards.

What is Lu Yiye's deal? How is he easily accomplishing these tasks that even the Divine Sea Realm might struggle with?

Once might be luck, but twice suggests something more.

As a Divine Sea Realm himself, Qian Wudang's thoughts quickly turned to the exotic treasure—tracking disc.

But he quickly dismissed this idea.

Firstly, tracking discs are extremely rare, and even if Lu Yiye had one, it's unlikely he had a second.

Moreover, they're quite valuable, so using a tracking disc for such a task would hardly be worth it.

For a moment, he couldn't figure out what method Lu Ye used to complete the task so swiftly and efficiently, but he did capture the target and had already delivered them to the Penology Department.

Meanwhile, in the Hunting Pavilion.

The chubby old man was equally astonished, staring at Lu Ye who had come to return the task jade slip.

A few days ago, he'd told Qian Wudang that if lucky, one could finish this task in a month or two; if unlucky, it could take years. Who would have thought it would be completed in just a few days?

"Kid, how did you do it?" The chubby old man couldn't contain his curiosity.

"Heaven's Augury's blessing," Lu Ye said offhandedly.

The old man wasn't going to believe his nonsense.

"Senior, taking just one task at a time is rather inefficient. Can I take on several tasks at once?"

For him, capturing someone is the simplest of tasks, the only issue is the time spent traveling back and forth. If he could take on several tasks at once, his efficiency would significantly improve.

"Normally... that's not allowed. It's mainly to prevent biting off more than you can chew, and it wouldn't be fair to others if you took all the tasks. What if someone else wanted them too? That's why the Hunting Pavilion's rule is one task at a time," the chubby old man explained slowly.

"Nobody else seems to be taking these tasks either."

"Rules are rules, without them, there's chaos."

"Do you have any guidance, Senior?" Lu Ye asked tentatively.

The chubby old man chuckled, "You're silly. All the task jade slips are here. Just memorize the targets' traits in your mind. You don't have to officially take on the task to capture them. Once you bring them back, you can complete the task procedures, and you'll get all the rewards just the same."

Lu Ye suddenly understood, "Thank you for the advice."

"But kid, be honest, how do you think you can definitely complete these tasks? These people are hard to find; they're masters at hiding."

"Doesn't Senior know there's something called a tracking disc?"

"You're not being honest," the chubby old man fumed, "I've taught you a shortcut, and you're making up stories with me. That's not being straightforward."

Moments later, Lu Ye walked out of the Hunting Pavilion, puzzled.

Being honest, how was that deceiving people?

But he did use the tracking disc to find them...

The next day, the spirit ark ascended again as the trio set out once more.

In front of the Hunting Pavilion, Qian Wudang watched the spirit ark depart before turning and going inside.

The chubby old man was delighted, "A rare visitor, what brings Lord Department Chief to my place? Come, come, have a seat."

Qian Wudang's eye twitched, "Old Chief, can you take it easy and not tease the juniors?"

The chubby old man smiled warmly, "What Old Chief, there's only you as the Department Chief in the Justice Department."

"Did I want to be this Department Chief? Wasn't it you who elevated me?" Speaking of this, Qian Wudang felt a bellyful of frustration. Outsiders might see the Justice Department Chief as infinitely glorious, but being the head of a department is no easy task, filled with endless duties and little leisure time. Even his time with Yinxiu was greatly reduced.

Had it not been for this old man's trickery back then, he would never have agreed to take the position of Justice Department Chief.

As a result, soon after he took office, the old man, who was supposed to be dead, appeared lively in front of him and took charge of the Hunting Pavilion.

It's truly galling to have him under his nose like that.

"Why bring up the past," the chubby old man chuckled, "So, what instructions do you have for me, Lord Department Chief?"

Qian Wudang asked, "Did Lu Yiye take on that kind of task again?"

"Yes," the chubby old man nodded.

"Did you ask him how he finds people so quickly?"

"I did. He said he used a tracking disc, which is just a way to dodge the question. Tracking discs are items bestowed by Heaven's Augury and aren't something anyone can easily make. Who would be foolish enough to use them for the Hunting Pavilion's tasks?"

Qian Wudang frowned, "Isn't it possible that he really did use a tracking disc?"

The chubby old man looked at him speechlessly, "Is he foolish or are you?"

Qian Wudang resolutely refused to admit foolishness, so he said, "So you think his completion of those two tasks was just good luck?"

The chubby old man's expression turned solemn, "If someone's luck is that good, then it's nothing ordinary."

Qian Wudang felt a chill in his heart, clearly realizing something.

In the Nine Provinces, there is something called Heaven's Augury's favor!