-Is everything alright?
Irine asked as Paul appeared right next to the ladies, 50 kilometers away from the capital.
-There was an official and a few imperial soldiers calling for me to wait, but it was already too late, since the spell was activated.
Paul said, while trying to figure out a reason for such people to look for him.
As far as he knew, he didn't commit any crimes, nor did he have anything to do with the imperial nobility.
As for the emperor, if he wanted something from him, then he would most likely tell him about it during their audience.
-Do you want to go back and see what's going on?
Anna asked, not thrilled about the idea, but this was not something they could simply ignore.
-I think that I should, this might be important, and besides, if I don't, then my uncle might have some trouble.
Paul said, not any happier about this than his ladies.
-Should we go back with you?
Irine asked.
They all had a few transport spells in their spatial devices just in case.
Paul insisted on it after what happened with Fei Fei.
-No, don't waste the spells.
Go back first, and I'll catch up with you later.
They agreed to wait for him near a stream a few kilometers away from their current position.
Paul promised to catch up to them that evening, before activating another spell and going back.
Seeing the man reappear a few minutes after he left, the official and the soldiers who were still waiting sighed in relief.
-What do you want?
Paul asked the moment he approached them.
His voice was as neutral as he could make it, but it was evident that he was not happy to come back.
-The Prime Minister Long wishes to see you as soon as possible.
The official answered, not even surprised at the young man's anger.
Transport spells were not easy to make, which meant that they were also not cheap, and he had just wasted one to come back.
-What does the prime minister want with me?
Paul asked, surprised after hearing the man's words.
-That I was not told.
We were ordered to find you before you leave the capital and bring you to the prime minister's mansion.
The official said, hoping that this young man would not make things difficult for them.
-Lead the way, I have little time, so the faster the better.
Paul said after a moment of thought.
He decided to deal with whatever the prime minister wanted from him as soon as possible and rejoin his ladies.
The four soldiers and the official were happy with that, as they would have had a hard time forcing Paul to do anything he didn't want to do, especially since only the officer was at the same cultivation stage as him.
It took them nearly half an hour to reach the prime minister's mansion, which was bigger than even Xiao Han's mansion in the Storm Wave City.
-Please wait here, I'll announce you to the prime minister.
The official said, leaving Paul with the soldiers.
This whole situation was a bit baffling for the young man, as he didn't know the prime minister and only saw him once in the throne room that morning.
It took a few minutes before the official returned with a maid in tow.
-The prime minister will see you now.
She will guide you to the garden where he awaits you.
The man said, nodding at the maid.
-You can return to your duties.
He said to the soldiers who quickly made themselves scarce, happy that they managed to accomplish their task.
-Please follow me.
The maid said, bowing slightly before Paul.
He only nodded before following her.
Soon they arrived at a beautiful garden.
-Master, I have brought Paul Marshal to see you.
The maid said as they approached the pavilion in the center of the garden.
Sitting at the table under the roof were a middle-aged man, Paul had seen in the palace earlier that day, and a young woman he had never seen before, but she looked somewhat familiar to him.
-You can leave.
A man said, waving his hand at the maid.
-Take a seat, young man.
The minister said when the maid left.
-Thank you, minister, but could you tell me why you have invited me here?
Paul asked, ignoring the invitation.
-I heard that you are a patient man, but it seems that's not entirely true.
The man chuckled.
-It's true when I have the time, but a few ladies are waiting for me, so I'd appreciate it if you told me why you summoned me here.
-Actually, it was I who asked the minister to summon you.
The woman sitting across from the prime minister said.
-I don't think that we have met before, so why would you want to see me?
Paul asked, hoping that she would not beat around the bush.
-My name is Mio Yuki, as for the reason you were summoned here.
I heard that you have a white jade flute in your possession. I'd like to see it.
Hearing her name and request, Paul could not help but have a bad feeling about this situation.
Also, with her name and request, he finally knew why she looked familiar.
He took out the instrument from his spatial device, not wanting to prolong this meeting any more than necessary.
-So it's true, my sister and cousin are dead.
The woman said, seeing the flute in his hands.
-If you mean the previous owner of this flute, then yes.
Paul confirmed.
-How did they die, and why do you have my sister's flute?
The woman asked, with anger in her voice.
-They were killed by a dead-breeder along with a man from the Ishi clan and a dozen mercenaries.
I got this flute thanks to the custom of mercy and burial, invoked by one of the mercenaries who was barely alive when I arrived at the scene.
Paul answered calmly.
-Then how are you still alive?
The woman almost shouted, with tears in her eyes.
-Because I arrived at the scene a few hours later, and the spider was not around by then.
-I want all the belongings of my sister and cousin to be returned to me this instant.
She demanded.
-That's impossible.
Paul shook his head.
-And why is it impossible?
The woman asked angrily.
-First of all, I did complete the custom, which means that these things belong to me.
Another matter altogether is that I gifted the remaining items to the two ladies who were with me at that time, and they are no longer in the mortal realm.
-I don't care about the custom, you will either give these things back to me now, or my family will hunt you and these two bitches who were with you down and take them by force.
Hearing her words, Paul's calm demeanor vanished, replaced by coldness and killing intent.
-What did you just call my women?
He asked, in a voice so cold that the prime minister shivered as the temperature around them fell.
Mio Yuki took his tone as a challenge, ignoring the danger her instincts warned her about.
She had a hard time believing that some stage three cultivator would have the courage to glare at her and even challenge her and her family.
-Are you deaf?
I called them bitches. What are you going to do about it?
She asked, smugly, seeing as the man was boiling inside.
Then, just before her eye's he broke the jade flute into pieces.
He could tolerate her arrogance, but he would not tolerate disrespect towards his ladies, even if they were not there.
-What have you done?
She screamed, seeing the shards of the flute fall to the ground.
-If you have anything to say about it, then meet me at the edge of the eastern forest outside the city.
He said coldly, while looking at her with disgust, which only fueled her anger.
-Prime Minister, I shall take my leave now.
Paul bowed slightly to the shocked man.
This was the first time the minister saw a person openly challenging someone from the Yuki clan.
Not waiting for an answer, Paul activated the shadow jump, and a moment later, he was gone, despite the angry protests of the young woman.