Night fell.
Inside the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace, golden light gleamed from jade pillars.
"Those insolent commoners—how dare they!"
In the resplendent chamber, Xu Jiawei sat before a finely carved table, reading the memorial in front of him with furrowed brows and a face dark with fury.
Bang, bang, bang!
Three crisp knocks echoed from the door.
Then a sharp voice sounded from outside.
"Your Majesty, Protector Douluo Ju Li has arrived."
Xu Jiawei's eyes flickered. Taking a slow breath, he closed the file on the table and put on a gentle smile.
"Let him in."
The door opened.
"Your Majesty!"
Cheng Gang stepped in and bowed respectfully.
"No need for such formality between ruler and subject," Xu Jiawei said warmly, pointing at the chair already set before the table. "Come, sit."
Cheng Gang's eyes narrowed slightly. He took a measured step forward and sat, asking,
"Your Majesty, summoning me to the palace this late—has something important happened?"
He had just been about to send some confidential information from within the Star Luo Empire to Zhang Peng when two eunuchs arrived suddenly, saying the emperor wished to see him.
He knew very well what his current position meant—it was like walking a tightrope over an abyss. One wrong step, and he would crash to his death.
Xu Jiawei smiled faintly.
"No rush, my loyal subject. Try this rare imperial tea first. I don't even allow myself to drink it often."
He pushed a delicate cup toward Cheng Gang.
Cheng Gang's heart eased a little as he saw no hint of suspicion on Xu Jiawei's face.
"Then I shall not refuse Your Majesty's kindness."
If Xu Jiawei had truly discovered something, he wouldn't be sitting here chatting—he'd have Crushing Star Douluo bringing troops to surround his house. After all, to purge corruption one needs evidence, but to quash a rebellion—all one needs is a location.
Cheng Gang raised the teacup, just about to sip, when Xu Jiawei suddenly said with a smile:
"Tell me, my good subject—are you familiar with an intelligence organization in Star Luo City called Pangolin?"
Cheng Gang's hand froze midair. His heart skipped a beat. Though Xu Jiawei's tone was casual, cold sweat pricked at the back of his neck.
"Could it be… he knows? Have I been exposed?"
The Pangolin organization was his creation. Of course he knew it.
"No… impossible. I've covered every track. There's no way he can know. He must be testing me. I can't panic."
Thinking fast, Cheng Gang steadied himself, took a sip of the tea, and said calmly,
"Your Majesty, this tea is indeed fragrant. But this Pangolin organization you speak of—is it new? I've been so focused on cultivation lately that I've kept away from worldly affairs."
In one smooth sentence, he distanced himself from everything suspicious.
In the Star Luo Empire, Protector Douluos like him enjoyed immense freedom. They didn't have to attend court; they acted only when the empire was truly threatened. In return, the empire rarely interfered with them—both out of respect and self-preservation.
"Ah, so you've been cultivating," Xu Jiawei said slowly, eyes narrowing as he studied Cheng Gang's face. "No wonder you've not heard of it."
Then, his tone cooled.
"This organization is despicable—and cunning. They trade in our empire's most confidential information. Even the details of our recent operation with the Body Sect to extract Jiang Jue were sold by them."
"And the report was so precise, it read as if the author had personally witnessed it."
Cheng Gang's mouth twitched slightly, though his expression didn't change.
Of course it was detailed—he was the one who had sent Lang Yanyu and Tao off that night. No one could know the details better than him.
He opened his mouth to respond, but Xu Jiawei went on, voice now cold as ice.
"What's worse, this organization sells intelligence irregularly—different places, random times. Every time I send men to raid them, they're gone. As if they were warned beforehand."
"So I suspect there's a traitor among us—someone high-ranking."
Xu Jiawei's eyes glinted sharply as he smiled faintly at Cheng Gang.
Cheng Gang forced a serious expression.
"Your Majesty, if you suspect me—"
"No! How could I ever suspect you, my most trusted subject?"
Xu Jiawei studied Cheng Gang closely, watching every twitch and blink. After a long silence, he waved his hand and smiled again.
"No, my meaning is this: I want you to investigate this Pangolin organization—and uncover the traitor behind it."
"Me?"
Cheng Gang froze, the teacup still in his hand.
I'm supposed to investigate myself?
How was that supposed to work?
"Don't underestimate yourself," Xu Jiawei said seriously. "I believe you can do it."
"This Pangolin group is a grave threat to our empire. They not only sell our secrets—they incite the people in secret."
His tone hardened; his knuckles turned white from how tightly he gripped his fist.
It wasn't a lack of self-control—it was sheer rage.
This so-called Pangolin organization had been praising the Sun and Moon Empire among Star Luo's common folk—
Spreading talk that the Sun and Moon citizens enjoyed great freedom, that even ordinary people who weren't Soul Masters received government subsidies and could pursue their dreams freely—unlike in Star Luo, where the commoners served the Soul Masters like beasts of burden.
They claimed that the Sun and Moon's soul tool technology had entered every part of daily life, while Star Luo lagged behind like primitive savages—ridiculous burrowing rodents in the forest.
And the final insult—
"They even said," Xu Jiawei spat, "that the very air of the Sun and Moon Empire smells sweeter than ours!"
It wasn't just propaganda—it was an assault on faith itself, turning his citizens against their own empire.
That was, to Xu Jiawei, digging at the roots of his rule—breeding loyal "livestock" for the enemy empire right inside his own territory.
The memorial he'd closed earlier had been about this very issue.
Cheng Gang struggled to suppress the grin that almost tugged at his lips, keeping his face solemn and voice steady.
After all, he was the one who started it all.And apparently, he had a real talent for public opinion warfare.
"When we find that traitor," Xu Jiawei growled, "I'll make sure he never sees another dawn."
Cheng Gang stood up, saluting with righteous conviction.
"Your Majesty, leave this matter to me. I will do everything in my power to destroy the Pangolin organization and expose the traitor within—restoring peace and glory to the Star Luo Empire!"
At that moment, the very picture of loyalty radiated from him.
His entire being practically screamed two words—
"Utter devotion."
(End of Chapter)