He still had to return to the Prison Department to continue comprehending.
When he returned and passed by the ninth floor of the Prison Department, Xu Qing had just appeared on the steps when he heard the Palace Master's stern voice from afar.
"Don't think that you're extraordinary just because others call you a great heaven's chosen. In my eyes, you, Kong Xianglong, are a new, immature Sword Holder."
Xu Qing stopped in his tracks and looked over. He noticed that Kong Xianglong was standing at the intersection with his head lowered.
The Palace Master, who was opposite him, had a dignified expression as he reprimanded coldly.
"Even though you look stunning in the eyes of others, you don't abide by the rules of the Sword Holder and have missed work many times for personal reasons. Sooner or later, you'll cause a calamity. Do you understand this?"
The Palace Master's voice contained some anger.
"The Sword Holding Palace isn't a place to raise flowers, and there's no need for people who don't abide by the rules. If you think you can rely on your petty tricks to cause trouble here…"
When Xu Qing saw this scene, he understood that Kong Xianglong must have been discovered to have done something private when he was sent over to hand over the prisoners, causing the Palace Master to reprimand him. He would probably be locked up again.
'Why is the Palace Master always keeping an eye on Brother Kong?'
Xu Qing was a little surprised but he knew that the other party was in a fit of anger. Hence, he immediately lowered his head and walked toward the tenth floor.
However, before he could walk down the steps, Kong Xianglong actually refuted.
"I didn't do anything wrong. I've completed the mission and obtained the mission item. It's just that I returned two days late. Those victims' lives were in danger. Do I need to leave them in the lurch?!"
"Impudent!" The Palace Master let out a cold snort. This voice was like heavenly lightning rumbling in all directions, causing the Pawns in the surroundings to be shocked. Xu Qing also took a deep breath and turned his head to look.
Kong Xianglong lifted his head with an unconvinced expression. As for the Palace Master, his anger clearly intensified and his eyes emitted a cold glint.
"You're capable now, aren't you? You've learned how to talk back. If you want to be like this, you might as well scram from the county capital and find a small place to enjoy the vanity of your hero."
Kong Xianglong's body trembled. After a long time, he lowered his head.
"Do you remember the first thing I said to you when you became a Sword Holder?" The Palace Master looked at Kong Xianglong.
"As Sword Holders, every one of us is a sharp sword of the human race. We have to be prepared to die for the human race at all times," Kong Xianglong said loudly.
Xu Qing was familiar with this sentence. Back then, on the 89th floor, when he first saw the Palace Master, the other party's first sentence was the same. It was exactly the same.
At that moment, the Palace Master's words were filled with sternness.
"I hope that you will die on the battlefield in the future and not in some despicable scheme!"
"With your personality, it won't be difficult to plot against you. Men, lock him up for two months. No one is allowed to visit him during this period!"
The Palace Master flicked his sleeve and turned to leave. When he passed by Xu Qing, he glared.
"What are you looking at? Have you discovered D132's secret? Have you finished comprehending Area C? Hurry up and go!"
"Yes!" Xu Qing lowered his head and left quickly.
Before he left, he glanced at Kong Xianglong and discovered that the other party was also looking at him. The two of them looked at each other helplessly.
Xu Qing retracted his gaze and quickly rushed toward the 90th floor. While he sighed with emotion at the Palace Master's strictness, a contemplative look appeared in his eyes.
"Does the Palace Master know that I'm comprehending?"
Xu Qing understood that it wasn't difficult for the Palace Master who controlled the entire Prison Department to find whatever he wanted to know.
However, with so many things going on in the Prison Department, the Palace Master still knew about his movements. This meant that the Palace Master was paying attention to him.
Xu Qing arrived at the 90th floor lost in thought. Upon entering, he immediately spotted Ghost Hand sitting there drinking. Ghost Hand smiled when he saw Xu Qing.
"You must have been reprimanded by the Palace Master. I could hear the shout even here."
Xu Qing nodded and felt a little depressed. Being reprimanded this time around could be considered an undeserved calamity.
"The Palace Master's personality is like this. He's strict with everyone, especially himself." Ghost Hand threw a flask of wine and smiled.
"The more he scolds you, the more he cares about you."
Xu Qing recalled his previous guess.
"The Palace Master doesn't have any disciples and his descendants have died in battle, so he pays a lot of attention to talented Sword Holders. It's the same for you and Kong Xianglong."
Ghost Hand sighed with emotion and took a sip of wine.
"His descendants died in battle?" Xu Qing looked at Ghost Hand.
"That's right. Newbies don't know about this, but most of the old people do. The Palace Master had two sons who were both Sword Holders with astonishing aptitude."
"However, one died on a mission to infiltrate the Holy Wave Race; he committed suicide in order not to be captured alive. The other died because someone schemed against him."
Ghost Hand sighed and didn't say anything else.
Xu Qing fell silent. He lifted his head and glanced at the 89th floor above. After a long time, he bowed to Ghost Hand and walked toward the mural, stepping into the small world.
The four criminals who met the requirements in the East 13 area had already been executed. However, three days ago, Xu Qing had made a deal with the other Pawns from Area C, exchanged the criminals in his area for a few people who met the requirements.
At that moment, he was sitting cross-legged on a volcano and looking at the sky. As the world rumbled, the heavenly saber appeared again.
Xu Qing's expression was calm. Right now, he was no longer as anxious as he was at the start. Instead, he was at peace. He silently watched and comprehended, quietly imprinting it in his mind.
Saber shadows formed again and again in his mind.
However, they collapsed and dissipated time and time again.
Even so, Xu Qing still persisted.
