Looking at the two cold-faced paper soldiers, Zhao Huoyan finally felt at ease. Master Song had filled her house with Spirit-Gathering Fortune Dolls. With guards this powerful, he doubted these were the only paper soldiers she had.
With those paper soldiers present, unless someone dropped a bomb to flatten the entire courtyard, it was unlikely anyone could actually harm Master Song.
Everyone already knew that Master Song had backing from the Underworld. Most people just wanted Spirit-Gathering Dolls from her, not her life. Even those with grudges wouldn't want to kill her outright. Killing her wouldn't be revenge—it would just send her straight to enjoy her fortune in the afterlife.
Her life was not in danger. It was her physical safety that was harder to guarantee right now.
But these paper soldiers—honestly, they were enough to make any enemy lose all hope.
"Alright. I'll have them withdraw. If you need anything later, just contact me anytime," Zhao Huoyan said.
As Master Song had pointed out, the men he brought weren't going to be of any real use here. Better to let them go.
Song Miaozhu finally relaxed. "I still mean what I said about the dolls. Have them leave an address, and I'll send the Spirit-Nurturing Jade Beads through the spirit paper kite."
"Much appreciated," Zhao Huoyan replied.
He patted the dust off his clothes and left the courtyard.
"Captain, what were those women exactly?" Zhang Leyong asked, clearly curious.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask," Zhao Huoyan said curtly.
Right now, Master Song could be in serious danger. If she had trump cards, they were better left hidden. If they could catch all the people working behind the scenes this time, that would be the end of it.
"Come on. We're heading back," Zhao Huoyan ordered.
"Huh? We're not staying to guard Master Song?"
"Yeah, what if someone causes trouble again?"
Zhao Huoyan thought about the paper soldier who obeyed orders without question, then looked at his own team. He sighed. "That's an order. Master Song doesn't need us for protection. Also, once we get back, extra training."
Clearly, they were still too weak.
"Huh?"
"Old Zhang, compile the dorm addresses of everyone on duty today and send them to me. I'll forward them to Master Song. Lucky you all—she agreed to privately sell each of you a Spirit-Gathering Fortune Doll. If your contribution points are short, go borrow some."
Then he turned and walked back to his car.
A cheer erupted behind him as the group shouted toward the courtyard, "Thank you, Master Song!"
"Don't disturb her cultivation. Let's go," Zhao Huoyan said.
The group left in high spirits.
At the bottom of Xiaozhu Mountain, the crowd that had gathered saw them coming and quickly scattered, afraid of being hauled into the SEIU and having bad marks added to their records.
Meanwhile, Song Miaozhu returned to the basement.
First, she reassembled the Japanese-style ghost paper doll. Then, she retrieved the punishment list previously issued by the Fengdu Magistrate's Office from the ghost workshop's warehouse. She reviewed the names and committed them to memory.
When Zhao Huoyan later sent her the addresses of everyone who came today, Song Miaozhu sent him something in return—the list of individuals recorded with Level 18 major offenses and Level 12 intermediate offenses.
[Miaow Zhu]:Captain Zhao, could you help me confirm the real identities of these people? I need them.
[Zhao Huoyan]:Got it.
He recognized the list immediately. It contained the names of key planners and major participants in the Underworld Project. He didn't ask questions. He simply agreed.
After all, if Master Song ever tried to harm someone without cause, her Xiezhi Spiritual Contract would react immediately. Since it hadn't, it meant everything she was doing was within the law.
After she sent out the Spirit-Gathering Dolls she'd promised, Zhao Huoyan responded with a full report of the real identities tied to the list she gave him.
The intel came from the police and was highly reliable.
Song Miaozhu immediately cut out a group of little paper servants and wrote those individuals' personal details on them, turning them into curse paper dolls. Because the information was accurate and detailed, every curse paper doll was successfully created.
She stored them together in a sealed container.
It still wasn't confirmed whether these people were actually preparing to move against her. But that didn't stop her from preparing ahead of time.
If she confirmed later that they really were involved, she could pull out the relevant curse paper doll and stab it with a needle soaked in rooster blood. With her current cultivation level, one curse would be all it took. As long as she had the dolls ready, her paper curse technique could be used mid-battle if needed.
Meanwhile, the video of the confrontation outside her courtyard, including the kneeling, was eventually uploaded online.
Public opinion was already strongly biased. That video only fanned the flames. The argument intensified. The insults grew nastier. Even the SEIU's real-name-verified forum wasn't spared.
Their official account hadn't responded to the controversy, which only made the online mob feel more justified.
But Song Miaozhu, having gotten a quiet heads-up from Zhao Huoyan earlier, knew the SEIU wasn't planning to stay silent forever. So she remained calm.
For the next few days, she chose to avoid all social media entirely.
Three days later, Zhao Huoyan called her. "The Central SEIU has stepped in."
Only then did Song Miaozhu open the platforms to take a look.
The SEIU's official accounts across every major platform had just posted a punishment list and a warning notice.
Everyone involved in leaking confidential SEIU information, stirring public sentiment, or unintentionally causing serious disruptions was included—along with those who came to harass her at Xiaozhu Mountain.
Each person was listed, along with penalties based on the severity of their actions and the impact they had. The list was so long it took several pages to scroll through.
It was even harsher than the punishment list from the Underworld.
The warning notice declared the SEIU's firm stance on protecting all Elite Masters. It warned the public not to interfere with any Elite Master's cultivation under any circumstances. It also explained the criteria for becoming an Elite Master and the rights that came with the title. Cultivators who had nurtured spiritual items were advised to register them with the local SEIU. If the item was deemed a key-level artifact, they could gain Elite Master status and the benefits that came with it.
Once the punishment list and warning notice were posted, all prior negative posts were wiped from the platforms without a trace.
No one dared question anything again.
The SEIU app went silent. So did every other social platform.
No one dared to bring up the Spirit-Gathering Fortune Dolls anymore. No one dared to attack Song Miaozhu or criticize the SEIU.
People finally understood something very clearly—real-name platforms or anonymous forums, every action online left a trace.
The government had just been lenient before. At most, they'd suspend accounts or delete posts. Unless someone filed a legal complaint, it rarely went further.
But now, the SEIU had made it clear. They were officially committed to protecting their Elite Masters.