Master of Strange Dao

Although Song Chengyue didn't directly listen to the words of the desk monster, he still remained cautious.

He had known the desk monster for a long time, and this creature had existed for a long time. As far as he knew, the desk monster had seen off at least three or four Jinyiwei Commanders.

That "at least" was just what he could confirm; the more distant ones, the desk monster hadn't mentioned.

Now even the desk monster was somewhat panicked and wanted to leave Daqian but didn't dare to say it; the problem must be very serious.

Song Chengyue pondered, pondering that in his life, he really had no regrets left.

His children were grown, he even had grandchildren, and he himself held high positions, serving as an elder across two reigns.

To die in the position of Jinyiwei Commander, that would be considered a normal outcome.

He really wasn't that worried about whether he was going to die again.

Asking him to defect was also impossible; there was no reason to leave a traitor's name after surviving through the most difficult days.

However, the desk monster had indeed helped him a lot; if it said there was danger, there was definitely great danger.

After thinking it through, Song Chengyue sighed silently.

Forget it, if he was really going to die, sneaking the desk monster out before his death wouldn't be a waste of knowing him for so many years; after all, it helped him a lot.

The only place to send it would be Jinlan Mountain.

There were already many strange things in Jinlan Mountain. Qing Ziyu was able to befriend even a notorious Jinyiwei Commander like him, so taking in a desk monster that wasn't a big threat shouldn't be much of a problem.

Once the decision was made in his heart, Song Chengyue continued to deal with the rumors that the new emperor mentioned.

As for what the desk monster said about some of his Jinyiwei being turned by Dadui, he didn't want to investigate.

Briefly recalling those who hadn't returned and considering their backgrounds, Song Chengyue thought it would be better to pretend not to know. He might not have much time left to live and would just protect these people one last time.

After coming out, he even instructed his subordinates to remember to send condolences to the families of those who didn't return, ensuring they didn't lack anything they were supposed to receive.

Song Chengyue wandered away, and in the room, the desk monster listened as Song Chengyue's voice faded into the distance, looking somewhat complex.

There was a time when it was willing to speak up to remind Song Chengyue, not letting him die inexplicably.

In truth, it was simply because it had been in contact with him for too long and understood Song Chengyue well.

Song Chengyue had one advantage that previous Commanders didn't have; at least he wouldn't harm his own people. Sometimes, even at a disadvantage to himself, he would protect his own people.

Of course, this was also a disadvantage; back in the day, Song Chengyue was nearly targeted for this very trait.

This was also why the desk monster was willing to trust Song Chengyue.

At the very least, Song Chengyue certainly wouldn't harm it.

Now, seeing Song Chengyue's behavior, pretending not to hear or see or investigate, the desk monster knew that even if Song Chengyue didn't know the deeper truth, he had eighty percent prepared for his demise, accepting it calmly.

Moreover, to be so relaxed, he must have already thought of a way to arrange for it.

And it was definitely not to destroy it but to find a better way to handle it, likely by sending it somewhere absolutely safe and without worries.

Jinlan Mountain's Forbidden Land?

The desk monster's eyes showed a complex expression; it knew all too well Song Chengyue's little habits and reactions to things.

But the more it was like this, the harder it was for it to resist.

What a ghostly place Daqian is! A ghostly place!

What kind of emperors are these!

An old emperor so deeply hidden that it barely understood much about him; even the few known things made it feel that playing dead here was the best.

With the new emperor's ascension, it thought it would be similar to when he was Crown Prince, but this one was hidden even deeper.

He was simply a madman, rational to the extreme, yet insanely crazy.

Nothing the new emperor did would surprise it too much.

To be honest, compared to ruthless people, it feared madmen more because the latter were completely unpredictable.

Plus, recently, there had been a great deal of information about the old emperor and some extremely sensitive information about the two emperors that it inadvertently learned of, genuinely scaring the desk monster.

For the first time in its life, it feared knowing too much.

The desk monster thought for a long time, gritting its teeth and making a decision.

When it risked everything under the heavens to persuade Song Chengyue to defect, there was already no turning back.

When Song Chengyue returned, the desk monster's presence was still there. When Song Chengyue sat down, it began breathing, consistently absorbing Spiritual Energy around it.

This ordinarily unremarkable desk started to emit a faint spirit light, revealing a glimpse of extraordinary.

Song Chengyue glanced over.

"What are you doing?"

"Borrowing your identity, otherwise someone will notice I'm absorbing Spiritual Energy, I need to make a little preparation."

"You can still absorb Spiritual Energy for cultivation? Didn't you never need it before?"

"It wasn't necessary before; it was to stay low-key."

The desk monster mumbled and focused entirely on cultivation. After all, with Song Chengyue there, no one would suspect it.

As the desk monster began to absorb Spiritual Energy, an invisible giant net that ordinary people couldn't perceive started to spread from there toward the distance.

This dense net expanded all over Daqian without stopping, continuing to spread further out, though its density sharply decreased once it was outside Daqian.

It was like a spider that had woven its web, quietly resting on it, patiently waiting.