Qiu Bai smiled at Yoimiya and the others.
"Yes!"
"I'll go prepare right away, and be back soon!"
After saying this, Yoimiya ran into the fireworks shop, searching for something.
"So improper."
"I've noticed you've become accustomed to deceiving people."
Paimon crossed her arms and criticized Qiu Bai.
"Hahaha, this isn't deception."
"In a certain sense, what I said wasn't wrong."
Qiu Bai smiled and explained to Paimon.
"I'm ready!"
"Can we leave now?"
Yoimiya ran back out and asked Qiu Bai and the others with a smile.
"Yes, we're all prepared."
"Everyone hold onto me, and I'll take you there now."
Qiu Bai nodded with a smile at Yoimiya.
Then Yoimiya, Lumine, and Paimon all grabbed onto the hem of Qiu Bai clothes.
In an instant, they vanished from where they stood, and when they reappeared, they were already in a secret passage of the city jail.
This hidden prison was located beneath the city administration. They had teleported to a spot outside a room, behind the door.
"You really can transport us here instantly."
"Mr. Qiu Bai, you're amazing."
Yoimiya, though surprised, kept her voice low as she spoke.
"It's nothing."
"Just a technique passed down from my ancestors."
Qiu Bai smiled and explained to Yoimiya.
"Shh... hide quickly."
"Look over there..."
Paimon gestured to Qiu Bai and Yoimiya to keep quiet.
Then she pointed toward a room not far away.
The secret passage of the city jail was surrounded by prison cells made of vertical and horizontal iron bars.
Torches burned on both sides, and in the distant room, several jail guards were looking down at an old man.
Above them hung a large samurai mask.
"That should be..."
"Master Masakatsu, right?"
Paimon looked at the old man in the room and turned to ask quietly.
"Hmph... you think those little tricks of yours could fool us?"
A guard holding a spear looked down at the old man and mocked him.
"Hehe, don't think we're just going to lock you up and be done with it!"
Another guard looked down at the old man and said angrily.
"Damn it... these Tenryou Commission bastards."
"They're actually using torture..."
Yoimiya gritted her teeth, looking at the guards with anger.
Even Qiu Bai frowned as he watched the guards.
With a flick of his finger, a beam of black light, invisible to ordinary people, floated above the heads of the two guards.
Another beam of white light was injected into the old man's body.
"Hehe, don't you understand respect for the elderly?"
"Using torture on an old man—looks like you need to be taught a lesson."
Qiu Bai smiled slightly and discreetly withdrew his finger.
"Ahh, I can't watch this anymore."
"If something happens to Master Masakatsu, our coming here will be meaningless."
Yoimiya bit her lip, unable to contain herself any longer.
Just as she was about to rush forward, a cold female voice rang out.
"What are you all doing?!"
A stern-faced woman with a cool demeanor strode in on her snow-white legs.
Her purple hair hung down like a willow, and her golden pupils conveyed authority.
A red Tengu mask was tied to one side of her head, a white robe draped over her back, and black cloth wrapped around her front.
On her yellow waistband hung an Electro Vision. The woman looked at the two guards with a serious expression and asked.
"Lady Kujou... Sara!"
"We were just giving him a little, just a little lesson."
The two guards quickly explained as they saw Kujou Sara approach.
"Eh, who is that person?"
Paimon curiously asked, looking at the stern-faced woman in the distance.
"That's Kujou Sara, the face of the Tenryou Commission Kujou Clan."
"She's also a general of the Shogunate army. I'm surprised she'd come to a place like this."
Yoimiya explained in a whisper, stroking her chin as she looked at the woman.
"I heard Kazuha mention her."
"She's also an enforcer of the Vision Hunt Decree."
Lumine nodded and said to Yoimiya beside her.
"Stand aside!"
"Let me see him."
Kujou Sara sternly commanded the two guards.
Then she knelt down to check on Masakatsu's condition.
"Torture is something that Her Excellency the Shogun has explicitly forbidden, isn't it?"
"Do you understand that?"
Kujou Sara stood up slowly, her back to the two guards, and asked with authority.
"Y-yes, we do."
The two guards lowered their heads upon hearing her words.
"If you do not feel ashamed of what you have done, then you are not worthy to serve under the Tenryou Commission!"
Kujou Sara turned around and angrily addressed the two guards.
"We acknowledge our crime, Lady Sara."
The guards quickly nodded.
"What an imposing person..."
Paimon commented on Kujou Sara after witnessing this scene.
"While their attention is focused on Master Masakatsu, perhaps now is a good opportunity..."
Just as Yoimiya finished speaking and was about to step forward, a creaking sound came from the wooden floor beneath her foot.
"Oh no."
Yoimiya looked down, her pupils contracting.
"Wait, who's over there?!"
"Go check it out!"
Kujou Sara looked in the direction of Qiu Bai and the others, frowning.
"Yes, ma'am!"
The two guards nodded and started walking toward Qiu Bai's group.
"They're coming."
"Quick, hide."
Paimon turned to look at Qiu Bai and the others, urging them.
"It's fine, let them come."
Qiu Bai smiled slightly as he watched the approaching guards.
Then with a wave of his hand, Yoimiya, Lumine, Paimon, and himself were surrounded by an ink-white energy, becoming transparent and entering an invisible state.
"Mr. Qiu Bai."
"You can even do this trick!"
Yoimiya looked at her transparent hands in amazement, keeping her voice low.
"It's nothing."
"Also passed down from my ancestors."
Qiu Bai smiled and waved his hand dismissively at the surprised Yoimiya.
"They're coming!"
"Don't make a sound!"
Paimon pressed a finger to her lips, quickly warning everyone.
"Mmm..."
Hearing this, Yoimiya quickly covered her mouth.
"Strange."
"There's nothing here."
The two guards looked at the empty space before them, waving their hands in confusion.
"Let's look over there."
"We'll split up."
One guard nodded to his companion, and they headed in opposite directions.
"The fireworks I prepared earlier, I didn't even have time to set them up before we instantly arrived here."
"Whew, thanks to Mr. Qiu Bai."
After they had walked away, Yoimiya finally exhaled deeply.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)