Chapter 622: Chapter 622: Preparing to Set Sail

The National Master’s words negated Ji Youzhi’s proposal, but Ji Youzhi paid him no mind, looking instead to the Emperor.

The Emperor forcefully snapped shut the folding fan in his hand and chuckled lightly. "If I am truly the Son of Heaven, the heavens will surely understand my determination to serve the country and its people. They will not make things difficult for me. I am confident I will return safely."

This meant he was determined to go.

The National Master sighed in resignation. "In that case, let’s head towards Yunhang County!"

"Towards Yunhang County?" the Emperor asked in surprise. "Didn’t we just say we couldn’t go back to Yunhang County? Why are we heading in that direction now?"

The National Master nodded. "Indeed. The pier on the Yunhang Sea is located twenty miles south of Yunhang County’s west gate. To set sail, we must first go to the pier. Moreover, the situation within Yunhang County is unclear. Not all of us can go to sea; we need to leave two people behind in Yunhang County to investigate discreetly and determine what the County Magistrate truly is."

"What the National Master says is reasonable," the Emperor mused. "But among us, who would be best to stay behind?"

The National Master glanced at the Emperor. "Naturally, it would be Your Majesty!"

The Emperor quickly shook his head. "I cannot stay behind! I must set sail with my precious daughter!" Before they had left, his precious daughter had told him that only his personal presence could permanently resolve the matter of Yunhang’s disaster victims.

"Then, we can only trouble Ji Divine Hunter to stay at the Yunhang County Yamen."

The moment the National Master spoke, the Emperor immediately objected, "Youzhi cannot stay either! Youzhi must accompany me to Yunzhou Island; he will be needed there!"

Needed on Yunzhou Island?

Xie Pan’Er grew a little nervous, afraid the National Master would ask her to stay. She quickly said, "I am the Princess’s personal attendant. Wherever the Princess goes, I must go!"

The National Master sighed. "It seems I will have to take on this task myself."

Ji Youzhi, however, poured cold water on the National Master’s idea. "You cannot stay in Yunhang County either. Your white hair is far too conspicuous. If you were to stay, it would undoubtedly alert the County Magistrate!"

The National Master agreed with Ji Youzhi’s assessment and decided they would all set sail together.

「At Yunhang Pier」

The Yunhang Pier was bustling with people coming and going. A few officials, holding several portraits, were making inquiries. The National Master and his group spotted them from a distance.

"Those officials... they seem to be looking for us!" Xie Pan’Er, her eyes sharp, noticed that one of the portraits an official held was of the white-haired National Master. "Look, doesn’t the portrait in that man’s hand resemble the National Master?"

Ji Youzhi interjected, "What do you mean ’resemble’? That clearly *is* the National Master, isn’t it?"

The group quickly found a secluded corner to hide.

"Those officials are making such a commotion searching for us. They must be acting under the orders of the Yunhang County Magistrate!" Ji Youzhi declared.

Xie Pan’Er added, "Isn’t it obvious? Even before this, those same officials were trying to capture us! Who would believe they aren’t acting on the County Magistrate’s orders?"

The Emperor’s expression darkened.

"What should we do now?" Xiaosuisui asked dazedly. "Are we not renting a boat anymore?"

"I refuse to believe there is no law left in this land!" The Emperor, undeterred, emerged boldly, holding his beloved daughter in his arms.

Ji Youzhi tried to stop him but failed. The National Master reached out a hand, then slowly retracted it. Finally, with a sigh, he followed.

"Have you seen this person?" Patrol Leader Zhou asked, showing portraits of the Emperor and the National Master to a Li Ba. "And this one, with the white hair, have you seen him?"

The Li Ba looked at the portraits in Zhou’s hand, then glanced behind him.

"Well, have you seen them or not?" Zhou pressed. "What are you looking over my shoulder for? Expecting flowers to bloom back there?"

The Li Ba said nothing, merely pointing behind Patrol Leader Zhou, his expression indescribable.

"What are you pointing at?" Zhou snapped. "Point again, and I’ll chop off your hand, believe it or not!"

"Whose hand are you planning to chop off?" a cold voice suddenly interjected. It was the Emperor.

This gave Patrol Leader Zhou quite a fright. "Who is it?"

Patrol Leader Zhou whirled around. Seeing all the people from the portraits standing before him, a wave of elation washed over him, as swift and overwhelming as a tornado. "Aha! Villains, you’ve walked right into the net!" he roared, drawing his saber.

The blade was pointed at the Emperor’s chest. "Who are you, and what business do you have in Yunhang County? State your names, quickly!"

The Emperor, accustomed to his supreme authority, had never suffered such humiliation or threats. His folding fan struck Patrol Leader Zhou’s saber, sending the man staggering back several steps.

"Treason! Rebellion! You are traitors! Men, seize them!" Patrol Leader Zhou bellowed, his shouts attracting the other constables who were searching the pier with him.

Soon, four or five constables rushed over to reinforce him.

"Well, well! Look at this bunch of scoundrels, delivering yourselves to us so completely," one of the constables sneered as they surrounded the Emperor’s party, triumphant grins on their faces.

However, their elation was short-lived. The Emperor, holding his child in one arm and fighting with the other, swiftly dispatched a few Luo Luo, who collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.

Witnessing the ferocity of these newcomers, the onlookers on the pier grew alarmed for their own safety and quickly scattered, giving them a wide berth.

"Youzhi, go and rent a boat," the Emperor commanded.

Ji Youzhi nodded and departed.

Xie Pan’Er asked, "What should we do with these men?"

The Emperor pondered for a moment but couldn’t think of a solution.

Xiaosuisui waved her hand. "Tie them up, toss them onto the boat, and let them come to sea with us."

Everyone stared at her.

"Why so?" the Emperor asked.

Xiaosuisui pointed to one of the constables. "He’s thinking: Damn it, they’re going out to sea! They must have discovered some secret out there. If they find any evidence, we’re all dead men!"

The Emperor’s fury intensified. The National Master was dumbstruck. Her mind-reading ability is truly formidable, an incredible asset for solving cases!

"What secret of yours is at sea? Speak!" the Emperor demanded, so agitated he could barely maintain his imperial composure.

Seeing the murderous glint in the Emperor’s eyes, the few officials scrambled up from the ground and tried to flee. But who were they dealing with? Even with the renowned Ji Divine Hunter absent, the National Master was no pushover.

Indeed, when it came to martial prowess, the National Master was undoubtedly several tiers above Ji Divine Hunter. The National Master waved his sleeves, and several silver threads materialized in his hands. These threads shot out, entwining the feet of the fleeing officials. With a light pull, he dragged them all back, and they instantly returned to their original spot.

When Xiaosuisui saw the silver threads in the National Master’s hands, her eyes widened immediately. "Such amazing silver threads! I want them too!"

A tremor ran through the National Master’s hand, and his heart skipped a beat. An idea sprang to mind: These silver threads... I must give them to the Princess!