Daily life of a cultivation judge

Both Duan Ting's and Liu Ying's expressions instinctively stiffened at Yang Qing's question, with the latter even edging closer to the two lanterns as if to guard them.

"You mean one of... them?" Duan Ting asked, his tone laced with hesitation and uncertainty as he gestured toward the two lanterns belonging to their Boss and Jiang Hao.

"Yes," Yang Qing replied softly, though inwardly, he was smiling wryly at their reactions.

The way they were looking at him, anyone would think he had just asked them to hand over their child.

"I promise to return it as soon as I've confirmed a few things. It shouldn't take more than two days," Yang Qing added, his voice gentle as he tried to coax them.

His words seemed to do the trick, as the tension in their expressions eased—if only slightly. Even so, Liu Ying still clung tightly to the lanterns, her worry and uncertainty plain to see. In the end, she turned to Duan Ting, silently deferring to his judgment.

Duan Ting couldn't help but smile bitterly at her actions. Things were already difficult enough for him without her tossing that particular hot potato his way.

But what could he do? In terms of seniority, he was the oldest both in terms of age and also as the one who had been here longest between them, and he also had the highest cultivation realm. So of course it went without saying, without Bai Chen and Jiang Hao present, it now fell on him when it came to making uncomfortable decisions.

Eventually, he sighed, a sound of reluctant surrender.

"It's okay. You can take one of them or both... if you need to," Duan Ting said, though his voice carried a hint of reluctance.

"You're sure they can help?" he asked again, his gaze shifting between the two soul lanterns and Yang Qing.

"It might provide some answers or clues," Yang Qing replied. "I can't say for certain, but it's a good place to start since they offer something."

He nodded gratefully as Liu Ying slowly slid the two soul lanterns toward him, her movements hesitant yet tinged with hope.

"I hope you won't take offense to my earlier actions," she said, offering a small, apologetic smile.

They needed Yang Qing's help, yet her reaction to his request had been as if she were guarding against a thief. The moment he made the request, her body had moved instinctively—an action she immediately regretted. But it had happened too fast to take back. Even now, as she handed over the lanterns, it felt as though she was wrestling against herself.

She knew her fears were irrational, but she couldn't shake them. After enduring so much torment under the mounting uncertainty about the fates of her boss and Jiang Hao, a part of her simply couldn't handle more instability.

To her, despite knowing it was misguided, handing over the two soul lanterns—even to someone from the Order—felt like adding another unpredictable element to an already fragile situation.

In the back of her mind, Liu Ying couldn't help but feel that handing the soul lanterns over to Yang Qing meant exposing Bai Chen and Jiang Hao to even more risks.

But Duan Ting was right. Keeping the lanterns with them wouldn't change anything. They'd had those lanterns for close to five weeks now, and in all that time, they hadn't done anything to alter Bai Chen's and Jiang Hao's circumstances. All they'd managed was to drive themselves mad with despair, staring endlessly at the dull grey flames, hoping—praying—that they'd suddenly transform back into their original gold-orange hues.

And if she was being honest with herself, the desperation had made her even more irrational. A small, deluded part of her half-expected to hear Bai Chen's and Jiang Hao's voices coming through the lanterns, even though they didn't have such capabilities.

The more Liu Ying analyzed her thoughts, the more she recognized how unreasonable they were. And the more she called them out, the lighter she felt, making it easier to let go of the soul lanterns—though a flicker of apprehension still lingered.

"I just need one. You can keep the other to monitor it in case something changes," Yang Qing said as he reached for the soul lantern whose blue feather had briefly flickered with an almost imperceptible turquoise-green light.

The moment he extended his hand, he didn't miss the sharp, instinctive gasps of apprehension from both escort supervisors.

"Why that one?" Liu Ying blurted out before she could stop herself, her expression betraying just how much she'd wished Yang Qing had picked the other lantern instead.

Her eyes widened in alarm as soon as the words left her mouth, and she quickly bowed her head.

"Sorry for my rudeness," she said hastily.

Yang Qing waved a hand dismissively.

"No, it's okay," he said casually, brushing aside her apology without a second thought.

"But to answer your question on why this one…" Yang Qing continued. "It's because it has the densest form of that Yin energy I mentioned earlier. With how concentrated it is, it might offer more insights."

It was a lie—one Yang Qing felt was necessary at the moment. Both Liu Ying and Duan Ting, despite the latter's composed appearance, were barely holding it together. One simply masked it better than the other.

Thanks to his Yin-Yang Jade Physique—combined with his attunement to the Vitality Dao—Yang Qing possessed an unnaturally deep understanding of the states of living beings.

Even without activating his physique's innate abilities or casting spells, he could sense the conditions of Duan Ting and Liu Ying with unsettling clarity. And the picture wasn't good.

Their souls rippled like the restless tides of an unsettled ocean, and the qi flowing within their bodies was erratic at best. Every muscle fiber in their frames was wound tight—like a bowstring stretched far beyond its limit and poised to snap at any moment.

With how fragile they both were, Yang Qing saw no reason to add more weight to their already heavy burdens—especially by mentioning the uncertain element he'd observed.

The faint turquoise-green flash he'd noticed on the feather tied to the lantern could mean a number of things. And none of them were comforting.

If he revealed what he'd seen, it might lead to one of two outcomes: either it would give them false hope that their boss might be alive, or it would fuel even greater anxiety—particularly since a green flash in a soul lantern's feather often indicated severe qi depletion or stamina exhaustion.

Right now, with more questions than answers, Yang Qing wasn't ready to open that can of worms. He'd keep his findings—and his suspicions—to himself… for now.

Though he may have lied about the density of Yin energy, he hadn't lied about what he needed it for. Thanks to his physique, Yang Qing possessed a unique sensitivity to Yin and Yang energies.

The Yin energy contained within those soul lanterns was unfamiliar, yet his _Yin-Yang Peerless Jade Physique_ gave him an innate grasp of its intricacies—enough to recognize its qualities. Even so, there were still gaps in his understanding that required confirmation from the Order.

He had a working knowledge of some of its properties, and if required, he could likely mimic its form with ease. His physique made such feats second nature. But that didn't mean he knew all there was to know about it.

His situation was akin to that of a spirit beast that had lived in a particular region for thousands of years. Such a creature might possess an almost instinctive knowledge of the spiritual herbs and plants growing in its territory—an understanding that far surpassed even that of alchemists when it came to that particular area

Yet, despite its deep familiarity, it wouldn't necessarily recognize the broader potential of those plants and herbs—especially when combined with herbs outside its territory. Where the spirit beast saw individual properties, an alchemist might see formulas and possibilities—potions or pills that could only be created through a series of combinations and preparations. A recipe.

Yang Qing was no different.

He could sense and analyze the essence of the Yin energy within the lanterns with precision—enough to recreate parts of it if needed. Given more time, his understanding would only deepen further and his range of mimicry and manipulation would increase along with it, but that alone wouldn't help him interpret what it meant for Bai Chen and Jiang Hao.

He needed context. He needed a recipe that could take his insights and refine them—turning his raw comprehension into something actionable.

And that recipe, for now, could only be found at the Order.

Yang Qing still didn't know what type of Yin Qi it was. All he understood were its intrinsic properties—what he could feel in the moment. But without identifying it, there wasn't much he could do.

With a name, however, all manner of doors could open.

He carefully stowed away Bai Chen's lantern. How did he know it belonged to Bai Chen and not Jiang Hao? The reactions of Duan Ting and Liu Ying when he selected that particular lantern had more or less confirmed it.

No matter how much respect they had for Jiang Hao or the bond they shared, Bai Chen was their true anchor. Only an anchor like that could provoke such intense responses from the pair.

After thanking them—and repeatedly reassuring them that nothing would happen to Bai Chen's soul lantern—Yang Qing left the Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift Escort Agency, Ming Wa trailing reluctantly behind him.

She didn't seem keen on following him, but Yang Qing hadn't given her a choice on the matter. Using the disturbance she caused in Gold Eagle Town as leverage, he'd forced her hand.

Once they returned to the Order, he planned to leave her at one of the inns and let her stew until she was ready to talk. Given how tense and unsettled she looked—even more so than Duan Ting and Liu Ying—he doubted it would take long for her to seek him out.

All she needed was time—and the mounting pressure of whatever had rattled her so badly to overwhelm her into spilling the beans.

After leaving the escort agency, Yang Qing, with Ming Wa still trailing behind, headed straight for the administration building of Gold Eagle Town.

There, he explained the circumstances surrounding the Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift Escort Agency to one of its administrators, his involvement in the matter, and the assistance he required—specifically, information on the clients listed in the jade slips Duan Ting had provided.

The jade slips contained details about their travel route and the commissions the agency had accepted—details that could prove crucial in untangling the mystery surrounding Bai Chen and Jiang Hao's disappearance..

The Silver Guards were bound to have recorded some details about those clients—especially their strengths. It was also likely that Ming Wa's information, along with whoever she had lost, would be in those records as well.

In addition to that, Yang Qing needed to gather information on the Bluefin Spine-tailed Swift Escort Agency itself.

The Order might not have detailed information on the guests who passed through the doors of its town, but it sure as Dao was going to have detailed information on those it allowed to settle in its grounds.

No organization was exempt from this scrutiny. Whether it was a simple roadside stall or towering monoliths like the Gold Earth Bank or the Dreamscape Swallow's Nest, they all underwent the same rigorous vetting process before earning a place in Gold Eagle Town.

The screening didn't stop at organizations; it extended to the individuals they sent to represent them.

All this information was carefully stored in the administrative building Yang Qing was now visiting, with additional copies held by the Shadow Hawks and the Order's Main Administration Hall.

Yang Qing planned to retrieve detailed profiles on Bai Chen, Jiang Hao, Liu Ying, and Duan Ting. Understanding their backgrounds and connections might give him insights into the case—and perhaps even help him rule out Liu Ying and Duan Ting as suspects… or confirm them as ones if something seemed off.