Chapter Nine of the Heavenly Tribulation of the Sun: The Path to Immortality, Purple Lightning Soars Through the Sky

After their passionate encounter, Jie Zhao was heartbroken again. Not long after Jie Ying left, Jie Zhao fell into a deep sleep.

In his dream, a gentle breeze rustled through the lush waterside reeds, blowing lightly against his face, filling him with comfort. Jie Zhao rubbed his eyes and found himself back on that familiar river islet. The white socks and black shoes on his shoulders remained the same, plump and short like lotus root segments. The old man chuckled and said, "How about it? Those tattered things I taught you still work, right?"

Jie Zhao felt as if he had met a friend in his desperate situation, and he remembered the wonders of the three swords—Candle Night, Shu Fu, and Frostfall—that he had learned during the day. He was incredibly grateful. "Thump!" He knelt down and kowtowed three times, exclaiming joyfully, "It works! It works! Thank you for your guidance, senior!" Kowtowing in a dream naturally meant no pain, and he kowtowed a few more times in a moment of excitement. Suddenly, he realized, "Wait a minute! Senior is riding on my shoulders. If I kowtow like this, wouldn't I be banging his head on the ground?" He jumped up in fright, frantically reaching for the back of his head with

both hands, "Senior... I'm so... so sorry..." "Clumsy fellow!" The old man slapped his hands away with his small palms and then slapped him twice on the back of the head, saying sullenly:

“Fortunately, the old man dislikes being bowed to the most. You kowtow a few times, and I'll return the favor a few times, so we're even,”

Jie Zhao repeatedly apologized. The old man waved his small hand near his ear, his voice tinged with impatience: “Alright! Time is short, let’s not talk about this. You're quite quick-witted, kid. I wasn’t watching, and you actually mastered the ‘Frostfall Sword’ on your own. That’s truly remarkable, truly remarkable!” As he spoke, his mood seemed to improve, and he chuckled a few times, gently patting Jie Zhao’s head.

"My 'Phantom Sword Style' has 108 moves, mimicking the exquisite movements of 108 kinds of birds, with endless variations, making it the pinnacle of sword techniques in the world; the moves are passed down separately, what I transmitted to you in the dream was the sword principle and sword intent.

This is a place I cherish dearly, secluded and quiet, inhabited by hundreds of birds. According to your comprehension, you will come here in the future in the 'Cloud Dream Body,' or you will be inspired by the natural world of birds soaring and fish moving in reality, and you will gain more understanding. The old man's time is limited, so the remaining 105 moves are left for you to discover on your own." Jie

Zhao could not hide his disappointment, but suddenly remembered the situation when he fought Chang Zaifeng during the day: "There are countless masters in the world, and those who can be tempered are as numerous as stars passing by. If I cannot develop my own style and make a name for myself, wouldn't I be letting down the senior's good intentions?" He immediately felt relieved. The old man chuckled and patted his head, saying, "You're teachable, you're teachable."

"Do you remember when I told you there were two ways to overcome the Six Yin Meridians?"

Jie Zhao nodded.

"I remember. One is to completely abandon internal energy cultivation and focus solely on techniques. When external skills reach their peak, attacks become lightning-fast and unpredictable. Even if the enemy's internal strength surpasses mine, they might not be able to handle it. Senior said this is the easier method."

Despite these words, Jie Zhao felt a nagging unease.

The Phantom Sword Style, with its first three basic forms, was enough to defeat Chang Zaifeng, who possessed a deep foundation and superb staff skills. The old man's description of it as "the pinnacle of sword and saber techniques" wasn't an exaggeration. But even so, if Chang Zaifeng adhered to their gentleman's agreement and truly fought to the death, Jie Zhao would still be doomed. The idea of "using external force to overcome internal force" was probably not so easily achieved.

The old man shifted slightly, seemingly nodding.

“You’re right. The martial arts of the world, whether physical or weapon-based, are both shallow and profound; shallow because they don’t extend beyond the limbs, profound because their variations are endless. Human wisdom is limited; how can we possibly exhaust all its secrets? Unfortunately, we have to study the more difficult one!”

The old man sighed, casually patting the boy’s head: “Young man, do you know where this ‘internal strength’ comes from?”

“From fighting?”

"Wrong!" The old man smacked him. "In ancient times, wise men sought immortality by refining elixirs and spiritual medicines, but they failed repeatedly, and those who ingested them died. Later, alchemists realized the principle that 'the highest wisdom is to let nature take its course, the next is to nourish the internal to ward off disease, and the lowest is to indulge in vain desires and cling to life.' So they abandoned the pursuit of immortality and used their own bodies as a furnace, with essence, qi, and spirit as medicine, and intention as fire, to cultivate the innate inner elixir. Through this, they transcended the limitations of the physical body and ascended to heaven in broad daylight. In the process of cultivating the inner elixir, they gradually accumulated and explored methods of guiding qi, which were sufficient to stimulate potential and multiply strength beyond the ordinary. This was later applied to martial arts, becoming internal energy cultivation."

"Therefore, internal energy cultivation can be considered a byproduct of cultivating immortality. It is merely the foundational skill of the three stages of 'refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit into emptiness.' Being able to glimpse the realm of 'refining qi into spirit' is roughly equivalent to the level of a master of the Six Absolutes, let alone refining spirit into emptiness. Ordinary people only enter the Dao through martial arts after mastering martial arts to the extreme. Since you cannot practice internal energy cultivation, let's simply give up on this level and directly cultivate the path of ascension, achieving 'entering martial arts through the Dao!'"

No matter how well-prepared one is, the old man's words always leave Jie Zhao dumbfounded.

"Cultivate...cultivate immortality?"

"That's right!" The old man waved his sleeve, his words tinged with pride: "Within the eight wastelands and six directions, within the four corners of the universe, there is not only one rigid path for all things; the only constant is this word 'change.' Internal energy cultivation is one of the methods of refining qi and cultivating truth, and of course, it can also be done in reverse. All methods are impermanent, and all paths

lead to the same destination." Jie Zhao listened in a daze, then suddenly thought: "The Phantom Sword and Cloud Dream Body that the senior taught are so profound, and he also has the ability to traverse the Dream Land. Every word he speaks is a gem, revealing what no one before has said. Could he be an unparalleled master who has attained immortality? If he says that immortality can be cultivated, then it must be true. Maybe...maybe it can really overcome my problem of the Six Yin Meridians!" Hope welled up in his heart, both surprised and delighted:

"Could it be that the senior is going to teach me the method of cultivating immortality?"

The old man chuckled, and with a flick of his apricot-yellow robe, "Bang!" a cloud of white mist exploded. Jie Zhao coughed and teared from the choking smoke. Finally managing to clear the remaining mist, he was astonished to find a large, beautifully bound book with a gold-embroidered cover. Seeing four large, gilded seal characters on the ornate cover, he blurted out, "The Great Path to Immortality?"

"Yes!" the old man smiled enigmatically. "This is the culmination of my life's cultivation of the art of ascension, a masterpiece forged through countless trials. In the entire Chenzhou… no! In the entire world today, in the path of cultivation, nothing surpasses what is contained in this Great Path to Immortality. We are truly destined to meet. Today, I will bestow it upon you. In the future, when you refine your spirit and transcend the mortal body, acquiring various supernatural powers, will you still fear a lack of internal strength?"

Jie Zhao was so moved he almost cried, wishing he could throw the old man to the ground, hug his short legs tightly, and rub against him, kissing and biting him, to express his overwhelming gratitude and excitement. "Senior's life-saving grace is something I could never repay, even if I were to be shattered to pieces or have my brains spilled on the ground!" He wrapped his arms around the old man's back, pressing his cat-like body against the back of his head, rubbing his hair against him forcefully.

"...Then go die!" The old man struggled, waving his small hands, his small feet in white socks and black shoes kicking him hard: "You brat, let go! It's disgusting... Damn it, let go of me now!"

Jie Zhao even enjoyed being beaten, filled with joy, his trembling hands opening the book "The Path to Immortality," when he suddenly paused.

"The Jiazi section, totaling one hundred and twenty-six chapters, is as follows." "The 'One Collection,' 'The True Chapter,' 'The Method of One Thought,' 'The Scripture of the Golden Elixir of One Mystery,' 'The Secret of the Beginning of One Yang,' 'The Theory of the Union of Two Qi,' 'The True Revelation of Three Yang,' 'The Technique of Wood Elixir and Golden Essence,' 'The Theory of Heavenly Sensation,' 'The Origin of the Heavenly Dao,' 'The Collection of Treatises on the Righteous Mind of Heavenly One…'" He read until his tongue was almost tied in knots, hurriedly flipping through the pages, flipping them all the way to the bottom, only to find that this thick book was full of the same things, listed from the Jiazi section all the way to the Guihai section, with thousands of entries, but not a single one mentioned any cultivation method.

"Senior… Senior! This…" Jie Zhao couldn't help but waile, "What kind of heavenly book is this?"

"Idiot! This is an index book. Do you think being an immortal is so easy? It's not like going to a brothel where you can just buy a ticket and enter."

The old man waved his robe again, and in the white mist, the green reed-covered river island vanished instantly. The two found themselves in a simple, quiet stone chamber made of blue bricks. There were no windows or doors, only tall, open shelves of purple sandalwood bookshelves against the walls. Each shelf had six drawers, piled high with yellowed ancient scrolls, numbering in the thousands. A small wooden plaque hung beside the shelves. Jie Zhao leaned closer to look and saw that the first shelf was inscribed with the characters "Jiazi" (甲子). With a slight thought, he casually pulled down an ancient book, which was indeed the "Origin of the Heavenly Dao" (天道始源) he had just read.

"Here are three thousand volumes of Daoist texts, covering topics such as cultivation, alchemy, sexual practices, and Daoist arts. I spent the first half of my life collecting and organizing them to write this 'Great Path to Ascension to Immortality' (升仙大道). The collation and verification are all meticulous, a feat unprecedented in Daoist history. If you read these three thousand Daoist texts and gain some insight, you will naturally have the opportunity to become an immortal," the old man said with a smile.

(I've been...scammed! That damn old doctor!)

Jie Zhao slumped down, his disappointment turning into a sudden rage. He threw "The Great Path to Immortality" to the ground, his face contorted with fury: "After reading three thousand books, I'll be almost seventy or eighty years old. I'll be able to stretch out my legs and ascend to immortality. What's the point of cultivating anymore! What kind of cultivation method is this? You wrote such a fraudulent piece of trash!"

"You're making a fuss over nothing! You should know that cultivation is a major sect of Taoism. From ancient times to the present, countless wise and determined individuals have devoted themselves to it! Even in today's martial arts world, we're not the only ones." The old man chuckled, "Have you ever been to Bicheng Tianjie, thirty miles south of Zhongjing? The 'Three Immortals Sect Mansion' at the summit is known as one of the three mansions of Zhongchen. Inside, there is an extremely precious 'Purple Mansion Banquet Scripture,' which teaches people how to cultivate into sword immortals."

The Fu family of the "Three Immortals Sect Mansion," which lives in seclusion at Bicheng Tianjie, is a relative of the imperial family of this dynasty. The sect leader, "Flying Sword Immortal" Fu Fengzhi, is one of the six great masters of the world, on par with Jie Zhen, Sheng Huayan, and Xuanhuang Yuwen Xiaoxiao. He is one of the top figures on the Zhongchen Prefecture's sword and saber rankings. Although he has lived in seclusion for many years, his fame still shakes the world.

Jie Zhao's spirits lifted slightly: "If the *Purple Mansion Banquet Scripture* is so powerful, has anyone in the Three Immortals Sect mastered immortal techniques?"

"Of course not."

"Nonsense!" Jie Zhao was furious, "You've been lying all this time!"

The old man sneered: "If becoming an immortal were so easy, wouldn't everyone be an immortal? To achieve great things, one must endure great suffering; only through great trials can one attain great liberation! If eating potatoes could cultivate unparalleled internal strength, what would be the point of pursuing martial arts? If a single book could make you a Buddha or an immortal, what use would Buddhas and immortals be?"

Jie Zhao was speechless, angrily sitting in the corner, still seething with resentment, yet unable to utter a single word in rebuttal. After a long pause, he clutched his head in his hands, laughing bitterly and self-deprecatingly, "It's my own stupidity! Where are the immortals in this world? I should have given up on this damned Six Yin Meridians long ago. What was the point of trying to save myself?"

The old man snorted and said coldly, "I dare not say whether there are immortals in this world, but the person who guided me to cultivate the Dao performed corpse dissection right before my eyes. His last words were: 'The only thing I have learned so far is that everything I have learned in my life was wrong.' After saying that, he turned into a wisp of smoke. There were no bones on the futon, but his robes remained, leaving only a pile of molten white sand. Now that I have reached this point, I know that what he said was true."

Jie Zhao clutched his head and remained silent. The old man paused and continued, "Man follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows Nature." Whether ascending to immortality and seeking the Dao is defying Heaven or following Heaven, you must try it yourself to know."

Jie Zhao smiled bitterly, "Senior, even if I try it as a last resort, will I become an immortal after reading these books?"

The old man chuckled, a rare hint of loneliness showing in his voice.

"I have had countless disciples throughout my life, many of whom are outstanding. They serve me wholeheartedly and flatter me, hoping to receive my true teachings. However, whenever I choose someone and teach them to read through the three thousand volumes of Daoist scriptures, they all cannot hide their disappointment, believing that I am intentionally withholding knowledge from them. Over the years, only one young boy sent from elsewhere, named Daotiansheng, has some talent and has taken these words to heart, but unfortunately, he is someone else's disciple."

Jie Zhao thought to himself, "Here we go again! Daosheng Daotiansheng is still a child? A relative, shameless doctor's tricks!" Suddenly, he remembered that the old man had the ability to read minds in his dreams, and he secretly cried out in alarm. But the old man chuckled and said, "He was only eight or nine years old when he came up the mountain with his master to pay his respects to me." "Isn't he just a little kid?" "Feathered canopy fluttering?" After Yunzi's death, the broad-mindedness passed down by the elders of General Lu ended with the "Yun" generation. Fatianxing, that kid, has a narrow-minded and petty perspective, far inferior to his master and junior brother. It's a pity that I've witnessed the prosperity of General Lu for eight generations: "Hai, Kun, Hua, Peng, Yun, Tian, Yang, Shi," but I can't bear to see it perish, just like the withering of grass and trees. "

Jie Zhao rarely hears him comment so seriously. Thinking of the deadly nature of "Fa Chun," he felt a pang of sympathy, and his resentment gradually subsided. He thought that the old man was not related to him, yet he entered his dream to impart skills and arts, which was already a great kindness. Why should he suffer the rudeness and belittling of a young junior? He felt a little guilty, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He picked up a book called "Yipiao Lu" from the shelf and flipped through it. After reading two lines, he frowned and pointed to the yellowed pages.

"Senior, this book says, 'First, use Qian and Kun as the cauldron, then cook the crow and rabbit medicine. Once the two things return to the Yellow Path, the Golden Elixir will surely be born.' What are these 'crow' and 'rabbit'? Does it mean to catch a few rabbits and crows and cook them together?"

The old man laughed.

"The secret methods of cultivation often use cryptic language. Without a master to guide you, no matter how many true scriptures and secret manuals you have, they are all celestial books, only adding to your troubles."

"The 'crow' and 'rabbit' refer to the Golden Crow and Jade Rabbit, which means the sun and moon, yang and yin, also known as 'Kan and Li,' 'lead and mercury,' 'infant and chakra,' or 'dragon and tiger.' Yang represents spirit, and yin represents essence and qi. How to make yin diminish and yang grow is a subject that the path of cultivation has been studying for thousands of years; and clarifying the names and realities is the first step into the path of ascension." He continued to explain what the "Yellow Path" and the "cauldron" meant, how to "interact with the heart and kidneys," and how to "fill the three dantian with essence," all of which were quite novel.

Jie Zhao listened with great interest. No matter how strange or outlandish the questions, the old man could answer them all, and he never gave just one answer. He might mention the Dan Ding School's perspective, or the Fu Lu School's counter-argument; the various schools of Taoism, both northern and southern, offered their own interpretations, each with its own similarities and differences.

The two flipped through the pages, Jie Zhao finding problems in every line, and the old man answering without hesitation each time. The two, one old and one young, engaged in a fierce debate, challenging each other.

After an unknown amount of time, Jie Zhao closed the book, *Zhong He Ji*, pondering the last question: "Those who cultivate greatly cannot become immortals if their Yin energy is not exhausted; ordinary people cannot die if their Yang energy is not exhausted." Reaching for the drawer, he discovered that the entire Jiazi cabinet was completely empty. One hundred and twenty-six alchemical texts lay haphazardly at his feet, all having been "discussed" by the two of them.

Jie Zhao found it utterly unbelievable.

He had never loved reading; he would fall asleep as soon as he looked at military strategy or classical texts. Only poetry and prose, with their beautiful language and rhythm, which he could recite like singing, and which he could use to win the favor of beautiful women, held any interest for him… These alchemical texts were far more difficult than classical texts and policy treatises, so how could he have finished reading so many?

He suddenly remembered why he loved reading poetry and prose.

Because Jieying loved it too. When they were reading poetry in the study, his sister would always squeeze into a chair with him, or simply sit on his lap, letting her brother hold her. With her delicate fingers, she would pick up a cherry from the crystal plate, take a couple of bites, and then turn to feed him. Her pink lips, moist with cherry juice, were even redder and more tender than the cherry itself.

Jie Zhao was momentarily captivated by her beauty. He leaned closer to her smooth neck, nuzzling it and breathing on his sister's sensitive earlobe, softly reciting with a smile, "In heaven, we wish to be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, we wish to be trees with intertwined branches." Jie Ying giggled, amused by his teasing, but refused to give in. She forcefully pushed away his groping hands, pointing to the poetry collection and reciting, "A hundred herbs and a thousand flowers along the Cold Food Festival road, whose tree is the fragrant carriage tied to?" Her expression was a mixture of laughter and reproach, relentless.

Jie Zhao knew his sister was annoyed by his frequenting brothels and his often absences, so he quickly tried to appease and coax her.

"Don't touch me!" Jie Ying slapped his hand away, lightly biting her red lips, and sat up straight, reciting, "Which is more beautiful, my love?"

"My love cannot compare to the beauty of this flower. I'll crush the flower and throw it before you, so you may sleep with me tonight!" Her almond-shaped eyes snapped open, glaring at him fiercely, a mixture of coquettishness and shrewdness.

Jie Zhao could no longer resist. He pulled her close, holding her tightly in his arms, and whispered in her ear, "In this life, there is only my dear little sister in my heart. If you want to crush it, then crush my heart!"

Jie Ying trembled slightly from his hot breath, half her body going limp, her cheeks flushed. She spat out a light spit in embarrassment, "Pah, you're lying again! I...I won't talk to you." Suddenly, she felt a rustling sound beneath her. Her brother's thighs twitched wildly, and a hot, foreign object sprang out. Its rough yet smooth tip scraped against her bare thighs, leaving a warm, slippery sheen. It turned out that Jie Zhao had secretly unfastened his trousers.

Jie Ying was startled. Remembering that there were female servants and attendants walking around outside the study, she hadn't expected her brother to dare do this. Without thinking, she tried to get up, but her small hands, resting on the desk, were firmly held down, unable to move.

Jie Zhao pushed forward, pressing her large, voluptuous breasts, hidden beneath layers of clothing, against the edge of the table. The petite Jie Ying suddenly had no room to get up, and his erect penis slid into her plump, tight... Between her closed legs, the pointed tip pressed against her vulva, yet failed to penetrate fully. It seemed Jieying's flower path was too small to accommodate such a large object in such a hasty manner, but it had already caused her flesh to tighten, almost making her groan. Jieying was

unusually dressed in a low-cut tulip skirt popular among ladies of the capital, over which she wore a pale yellow gauze blouse, and underneath, only thin silk trousers with an open crotch, allowing Jie Zhao to penetrate her unimpeded, catching her off guard. Fortunately, the tulip skirt was wide and draped down, covering both of their lower bodies. The maids serving in the courtyard only saw their mistress sitting in the Fourth Master's lap reading; the two were used to their intimacy, and the servants were accustomed to it. No one expected that the Fourth Master's penis was slowly seeking... The penis was inserted, penetrating the young lady's delicate vulva.

Jieying's fingers were intertwined, tightly gripping her brother's hand. Both of their hands were resting on the table, unable to engage in any caresses or adjust their position. Jieying bit her cherry lips, slowly, very slowly moving her small, snowy buttocks, groping to accommodate her brother's thick, long penis, trembling and breathing softly, yet experiencing a strange stimulation and pleasure. Even though the penis was only halfway in, and there was no vigorous thrusting, her vaginal fluids flowed incessantly, as if she had lost control of her bladder, meandering down her pink thighs, even soaking her silk stockings.

Jiezhao's front half was gripped so tightly it was indescribable, and suddenly a wicked thought arose, pressing his chest against his sister's. He pressed her jade-like back forward, slowly applying pressure. Xiao Jieying's soft breasts couldn't withstand the pressure; her two erect nipples rubbed against the sharp edge of the table, sending waves of pleasure crashing over her.

She arched her fragrant shoulders, lowered her pink neck, and suddenly twisted her slender waist, her narrow, shapely buttocks slightly raised. With a soft "squelch," his large penis, glistening with wet juices, plunged all the way to the root!

Both of them exhaled simultaneously. Jieying whimpered softly, her body convulsing slightly; she had already come.

Jie Zhao felt her vagina spasming violently, as if a small hand was pinching and kneading it forcefully. Their bodies were joined without any gap. He gently nibbled at her small earlobe and whispered, "Sister! Like this... we are now 'intertwined branches'!" Jieying, still recovering from her orgasm, suddenly felt intensely ashamed. She closed her captivating starry eyes, panting softly, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and softly complained, "Brother...

Brother is bad! " "

The two made love for a long time, their lower bodies slowly and heavily grinding against each other, silently and wetly. There were no passionate words or splashing sweat during their collisions, yet wave after wave of climax came; in boundless ecstasy, the feeling of being tightly entwined continued to accumulate. Outside the study, people came and went, both dangerous and reassuring, as if the whole world consisted only of the brother and sister.

Jieying was being tormented to the point of near death, having lost count of how many times she had lost her way. Even when she was having an affair with her brother in a secluded and safe place, she had never been penetrated like this for almost half an hour without interruption, yet the pleasure came in waves like tides; just as the next earth-shattering spasm was about to arrive, she gritted her teeth and looked back, her hazy and unfocused eyes filled with tenderness." She murmured softly, "Only...

only I will keep my eyes open all night long, to repay...to repay...to repay..." Suddenly, her vagina contracted, and her juices gushed out, dripping onto the floor; the sound was so loud that even the maid outside the room was startled and couldn't help but peek out.

Startled, Jie Zhao, unable to restrain himself, fiercely and brutally filled her entire vagina; the outburst was so intense that even her tightly closed vagina couldn't contain it, leaking fluid from their close union. Jie Zhao had always cherished his younger sister, and Xiao Jie Ying's tender vagina had never been exposed to male semen before. The heat caused it to convulse even more violently. Jie Ying screamed, her exhausted body trembling violently, and she collapsed onto the desk with a "thud."

The maids and ladies-in-waiting rushed into the room. Jie Zhao, quick-witted, waved his hand: "Wait! Miss...Miss is probably suffering from heatstroke. Go get some cooling soup and medicine! You, go fetch water to wipe her body!" "You, go to the young lady's courtyard and get her a change of clothes!" After a series of orders, everyone dispersed in a short while, leaving only the brother and sister, still convulsing from their tryst in the large study.

Jie Zhao reluctantly withdrew his penis, quickly fastened his trousers, and laid his sister in his arms. He tenderly brushed aside her wet hair and wiped away her sweat. "It's all my fault, brother, I've ruined you!"

Jie Ying weakly shook her head, closed her eyes, and smiled shyly: "But...it felt so good!"

Jie Zhao lifted her skirt and saw that her vulva was wet and swollen, her two delicate, crystal-clear lips slightly parted, still gushing out white fluid, which had flowed onto the chair in a puddle the size of his palm. He hadn't expected to ejaculate so much, and he felt a little panicked. He gently stroked her cheek and said, "Oh no! What if you get pregnant? That would be terrible!" "

The fourteen-year-old Princess Donghai, still breathing heavily, stroked her brother's chest, her hazy eyes revealing a seriousness: 'Then I'll have a child for you. Preferably... a girl, a girl who looks like me, would you like that, brother?' Jie Zhao's heart fluttered, and his recently softened groin hardened again.

'Brother doesn't want anything else, just you.' He teased her deliberately:

'What poem were you reciting just now? You forgot it before you finished, I didn't hear you.'

'Brother...you're so annoying!' " "

In the dim light of the flickering lamp, amidst a hazy vision, only scattered ancient scriptures could be seen, a sudden sense of desolation washing over him. Jie Zhao clutched his head, abruptly jolted out of the etched memories of the past, abruptly losing all sense of time and space; he reached up to wipe his cheek, only to find his palm covered in a damp, salty substance.

(Where...where am I? Where is my sister...?)

The thought arose, and Jie Zhao was suddenly plunged into a dizzying spin, his vision blurring and his ears blazing, as if the entire stone chamber...no! the entire space itself was about to be torn apart and crushed by a tremendous force, compressed to an extreme degree, and then exploded, leaving not a trace—the old man raised his small hand, exhaled a breath of "Heh," and a warm current flowed into Jie Zhao's crown, gathering all the shattered and tangled divine consciousness. Jie Zhao cried out, abruptly opening his eyes, only then remembering that he was in a dream."

"Your 'Dream Body' is not yet fully developed. If your thoughts are too close to reality, you will be pulled out of the dream world, and it may even damage your mind. You must not do this again next time." The old man sighed, his voice tinged with reproach:

"This skill trains the 'mind.' No matter how many elixirs you consume, or how many masters impart their skills to you, you cannot improve your 'Dream Body' by even a fraction of a fraction. Apart from your own spiritual insight, no one can help you. Conversely, the abilities developed through this training are also the purest and most refined, with unparalleled power. You need ten, or even twenty or thirty years of cultivation to reach the point where you can freely connect dreams and reality. At that time, the development of your mental potential will be a thousand times greater than that of ordinary people. Killing enemies in your dreams and spiritual perception will be nothing more than child's play."

Jie Zhao came to his senses, breaking out in a cold sweat. Suddenly feeling something strange, he blurted out: "Then everything in the dream... such as these alchemical scriptures, the egrets I saw on the river island, who let me see them?" The old man laughed and said, “

Of course it’s me. Here, try picking up a scripture from the shelf next door.”

Jie Zhao followed the instructions and picked up a copy of "Jin Jing Tu Yi" (Illustrated Supplement to the Golden Sutra). He found the entire book was blank and immediately realized, "So the contents of the previous 126 sutras were all silently shown to me by my predecessor." He picked up the "Zhong He Ji" (Collection of Harmony) that he had just read and flipped through it. He found the words to be clear and distinct, no different from what he had seen before.

The old man chuckled, “Everyone is born with the ability to remember everything they see, but as we age, the five grains and seven emotions pollute our minds, gradually eroding our clarity. The mind is like a storage room filled with bookshelves, and memories are like individual books. Everything you've seen—scenery, people, words—is placed on the shelves of this storage room. But the common mind is clouded, only able to wander outside the storage room, at most seeing the outermost rows of books. Only those like you and me, who possess the ‘Cloud Dream Body,’ can enter the storage room deep within the heart.”

“You’ve already read this book, *The Collection of Harmony*, so what you see now is a memory stored deep within your mind, not an illusion I’m sharing with you. The egrets you saw flying that day must also be a memory from your life, not something I, an old man, did.”

"This stone chamber contains all the Daoist books from ancient times to the present, except for three scriptures. Besides the *Purple Mansion Banquet Scripture* from the Three Immortal Sects and the *Supreme True Scripture* from the Taiyi Dao Sect, it also lacks the *Crimson Demon Scripture*, the supreme demonic scripture revered by the demonic sects. However, these three scriptures form their own system; obtaining them may not necessarily be beneficial. After reading the three thousand Daoist books here, you will naturally gain some understanding."

Jie Zhao's mind stirred: "So, even if I forget all of this when I wake up, once I enter a dream, I can retrieve everything I've read, without any oblivion?"

"As clear as the books in a library." The old man chuckled.

Jie Zhao stared at the *Collection of Harmony* in his hands. As he looked, the inscription on the cover suddenly began to move like tadpoles, slowly transforming into a collection of poems that Jie Ying loved most. His hands trembled as he turned the pages one by one, finally finding the lost fragment of his memory.

What hope is there in the deepest darkness?

His fate in this life is even more uncertain;

I can only keep my eyes open all night to repay the hardships you've endured for me! "...We cannot be buried together in death, nor do we know if we will meet again in the next life. I can only keep my eyes open all night to think of you, to repay the suffering you've endured for me in this life." He seemed to see his sister patiently explaining the poem to him, but he was not listening attentively, his hands fiddling with his writing. On the title page of the poetry collection, there were still Xiao Jieying's red ink annotations, the childish and lovely handwriting deeply writing: "My infatuation is the same as mine." My

infatuation is the same as mine.

(How could such a girl betray me? How could she betray me?)

"...This time, it's my turn to protect you."

Jieying's firm and resolute voice rang in his ears again. He seemed to read her disappointment and sorrow, and the burning tears that fell on his chest. It must have been some inexplicable and immense pressure that made his sister make the decision to bow down to the murderer in order to protect him. It was his weakness and incompetence that plunged his sister into a helpless and bewildered state, ultimately leading her to choose to cooperate with a horrible schemer…

—Only by keeping my eyes open all night can I repay a lifetime of unfulfilled dreams!

It was all because of his weakness.

(I…want to become stronger.)

Jie Zhao clenched his fists, biting his lip until it bled, his will transcending the protection of the dream, the pain becoming crystal clear.

“I want…to become stronger!”

◇ ◇ ◇

The first interrogation took place the following morning.

Representatives from the four families, along with martial arts notaries such as Zen Master Deyue and Fang Dongqi, arrived at the nunnery led by Yao Wuyi. The tortoise-bound servant of the Jie family shook Jie Zhao awake and released him from his restraints. Seeing that his wrists and ankles were raw and bleeding, reeking of blood, Yao Wuyi frowned. "Old Jie! What, is your son trying to escape again? If there isn't a suitable prison in Suiping Prefecture, I think it's best to lock him up in the Ministry of Justice as soon as possible." Jie

Zhen bowed and said, "What you say is very true, sir. I'm just afraid that the procedures for imprisonment are complicated and will inevitably alarm the Jingzhao Prefecture."

The Ministry of Justice is one of the six ministries of the Ministry of Personnel. Nominally, it belongs to the Southern Division system. Although the Northern Division has people planted there, it cannot control everything. Yao Wuyi snorted twice and said coldly, "Let's get this straight. If your precious son runs away, you'll have to take responsibility. Otherwise, if the Emperor blames us, we won't be able to bear the consequences." Jie Zhen said respectfully, "Thank you for your care, Eunuch."

Yao Wuyi was quite satisfied and squinted, saying, "Have someone bandage up your fourth son. Regardless of whether he's guilty or not, he shouldn't be treated like this." Jie Zhen thanked him profusely, and Jie Zhen quickly called for servants to clean the wound, apply medicine, and bandage it. Because Jie Zhao had been tied to the chair all night, he was specially ordered to have the chair removed and replaced with a futon, allowing him to sit on the ground. Jie Zhao was somewhat dazed and didn't react much, seemingly lost in thought.

In the interrogation room, Wen Qiongyu represented Jiuyou Hanting, while Chang Zaifeng and Dao Chuyang represented Jiejian Tiandu and General Lu, respectively. The notaries present were Zen Master Deyue, Fang Dongqi, and Miao Hantian. The rest of the Zhongjing comrades had been sent back to their quarters, each under the supervision of Jinwu Guards. The three members of the Jie family were all present, not because they were hosts, but because Jie Zhen was unwell and needed Jie Zhen's care. The Jie army had close ties with the Jinwu Guards, and to avoid suspicion, their actions had to be conducted in public to prevent any potential conflicts.

Yue Yingying, not being a member of the four great families, was unable to enter and clashed early with the Jinwu Guards, easily subduing over a dozen burly men. Just as "Ghost Hand of Dividing Light" Qu Fengzhao was about to intervene, Wen Qiongyu intervened to mediate.

“Don’t worry, sister. With your elder sister here, no one will wrongly accuse him. If the murderer is in the manor, we’ll need your martial arts skills to deal with him. It’s best not to clash with the Imperial Guards and give the bandits an opportunity.” Wen Qiongyu reassured Yingying with these kind words, finally persuading her to return to her room.

The interrogation immediately became a stalemate.

Miao Hantian was aggressive, but Jie Zhao was slow to react, muttering to himself from time to time, or staring blankly at the blue bricks, a stark contrast to his usual sharp tongue. After everyone took turns questioning him for more than half an hour, they still couldn’t get any answers. Yao Wuyi yawned, waved his hand impatiently, and leaned down to threaten, “Fourth brother of the Jie family! If you don’t speak properly, I’ll have Commander Qu use torture! What… what exactly happened to you?” Jie Zhao simply ignored him.

Just as the situation was getting awkward, a servant came to report from outside the door: "Reporting to Third Master, Master

Zhenqi, the steward of Huangting Temple, requests an audience." Yao Wuyi angrily said, "No, no! Can't you see we're busy right now? If you dare to cause trouble again, drag them all away and give them a beating!" The servant was so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed, hurriedly retreating. As he turned around, he almost bumped into a handsome young Taoist priest with a long sword slung across his back. His long whisk was held in the crook of his arm, and he held a rolled-up yellow banner horizontally in both hands. Who else could it be but Zhenqi?

Yao Gonggong's angry rebuke was still ringing in his ears. The servant who had come to report was terrified. He pushed him away with both hands and hurriedly said, "Master! You can't come here..." Zhenqi's face was solemn. He stepped aside, and his whisk floated up without wind. The servant cried out "Ouch!" and fell forward. The momentum continued, and he was actually thrown over twice and knocked unconscious on the spot.

Everyone in the nunnery was startled: "Such a powerful technique! The disciples of Tiancheng are truly formidable!"

Even Yao Wuyi, who did not understand martial arts, could see that the young Taoist was full of anger. He sneered twice, about to lash out, when he heard Jie Zhen whisper: "Your Excellency, please calm your wrath. That is... the 'Crane Banner' of Huangting Temple on Tiancheng Mountain!"

When the founding emperor of this dynasty established the country, he personally went to Tiancheng Mountain to consult with Huangting Ancestor on the way of governing the country and maintaining health. During the meeting, he was honored as the imperial tutor and given the title of "Protector of the Nation and Master of the Teachings, True Enlightenment Ancestor Daoist Lord". He specially bestowed upon him a yellow banner embroidered with five-colored cranes, decreeing: "If I have made a mistake, please let the True Man ride the crane to teach me; even if it is thousands of miles away, I will lead all officials to kneel and listen!" Since then, Tiancheng Mountain has sent people to the court every year with the yellow banner to "report peace". If there are urgent reports of celestial phenomena or disasters, they will notify the Zhongjing branch temple by pigeon and order the temple master to present the Crane Banner to the court.

If a messenger came from this mountain, at the various post stations along the official roads from Tiancheng Mountain to Zhongjing, a distance of over 120 li, upon seeing the banner, the gate would be opened without inspection. Horses and food would be provided without question, and the honor would be comparable to the emperor's 800-li urgent dispatch.

Yao Wuyi, reminded by him, took a closer look and indeed saw it was a "Crane-Spreading Banner." He thought, "It's not the New Year's Day now. Could it be that the old Taoist Huangting saw something unusual and sent a messenger to the capital to report it?" His expression changed, and he stood up and beckoned, "Little Taoist, come in! What urgent matter does your mountain have that requires the use of this 800-li urgent dispatch Crane-Spreading Banner?" Upon hearing the words "Crane-Spreading Banner," Zen Master Deyue and the others were all astonished and involuntarily rose from their seats in surprise.

Zhen Qi bowed his head, holding the banner, then suddenly knelt down with a thud, his knees crossed, and crawled into the temple with a mixture of sorrow and panic. Everyone noticed that he was dressed in cloud-patterned shoes and a long robe, with a moon-and-star scarf and rainbow-colored sleeves—the most solemn ceremonial attire of the Huangting sect, worn only for grand prayer ceremonies. This gave rise to a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough, Zhen Qi knelt before the altar, looked up, and choked with sobs: "Master Jie...Master Jie, I...I am ordered by the Sect Master to ask you to take the banner and set off for our mountain on a certain day. If you are late,...I'm afraid it will be too late!" He struggled to speak further, kowtowing heavily, each kowtow striking his forehead, causing blood to spurt—a testament to his grief. Having Jie Zhen carry the crane-feather banner was to ensure unimpeded passage through official post stations; the urgency of the situation was evident.

Jie Zhen sensed something, and suddenly his vision went black. He struggled to his feet, supporting himself on the stools, and bent down to help him up, saying, "Get...get up and speak! Is...Is the Ancestor unwell? What did Master Xuanhe say?" Zhen Qi wiped away tears with his sleeve, saying, "Today we received a message from the mountain, saying that the Ancestor fell into his final moments four days ago. His last words were for Master Jie to come up the mountain quickly, so that...so that you might see him one last time."

The color drained from Jie Zhen's face instantly, his knees buckled, and he collapsed backward. Jie Zhen and Jie Jun rushed to his side. Jie Zhen caught his father first, calling out in a low voice, "Father!" Jie Jun turned and roared, "Quickly, call a doctor!" The servants scrambled out of the courtyard, disappearing in moments.

The remaining people in the nunnery looked at each other, none of them able to speak, and a frightening silence fell over the scene.

The venerable Huang Ting is nearing his passing. This extraordinary figure, who has surveyed the martial arts world of Zhongchen for over 120 years, will finally depart this mortal realm. While this is undoubtedly poignant, it also signifies a cataclysmic shift in the martial arts landscape of Zhongchen.

Internally, the Tiancheng Mountain sect's dojos are spread throughout the land, boasting thousands of disciples and hundreds of thousands of followers, earning it the title of the foremost sect in the world. Although the venerable Huang Ting had passed the leadership to Xuanhe Zhenren during his lifetime, the "Xuan" generation still includes outstanding figures such as Xuanhong, Xuanling, Xuanjiu, and Xuanfeng, known as the "Five Xuans of Tiancheng." They are assigned to various regions to oversee sect affairs, entrusted with important responsibilities or granted authority, each demonstrating remarkable talent. The eldest of the five, Xuanhe, is the most accomplished in martial arts, but his achievements are not the most dazzling. He acts with restraint and humility. Whether Xuanhe can continue to hold the position after the venerable Huang Ting's passing remains uncertain.

Externally, Patriarch Huangting was the most powerful and steadfast supporter of the Jie clan of Zhaori Manor, and arguably the eldest branch of the Jie family in Zhongjing. For over a century, regardless of whether the attacks came from Yunyang, the Demonic Sect, or the other three great families, they had all been futile against this impregnable wall called Patriarch Huangting.

Without this powerful ally, given the current state of Suiping Prefecture, it was hard to guarantee that the Yunyang family wouldn't harbor rebellious intentions; even within the alliance of the four great families, "Xuanhuang" Yuwen Xiaoxiao's ambitions were obvious, General Lu Shou Fatianxing refused to submit, and the Lord of Tiandu, "Qianzai Yuqing" Sheng Huayan, was an exceptionally intelligent figure—they probably wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip by. And then there were the remnants of the Demonic Sect lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce…

—Heroes emerge from chaotic times.

Hearing this from a storyteller might stir up boundless heroic sentiments, but personally experiencing the forefront of change and truly feeling the impending chaos brings a completely different feeling.

Jie Zhen slowly awoke, closed his eyes, sighed, and called for a green handkerchief to wipe away his tears, remaining silent for a long time. Jie Zhen took the Crane Banner from his father, gently comforting Zhen Qi, and asked, "Such a major event has occurred at our mountain. Will the Zhongjing branch temple return with my father to visit?" Zhen Qi was taken aback, stammered a few words, and whispered, "The sect leader has already sent Uncle Yuan Chang back to preside over the Zhongjing branch temple. We can only set off back to the mountain after our uncle arrives in the capital."

Yuan Chang was a direct descendant of the sect leader, Xuanhe Zhenren, while Zhen Qi's master, Yuan Qing, was a disciple of the Four Mysterious Vultures. Given the importance of the Zhongjing branch temple, the subtle calculations involved in this exchange were self-evident. Jie Zhen offered a few more words of comfort, then ordered someone to escort Zhen Qi away. Suddenly, Jie Zhen shakily rose and bowed to Yao Wuyi; Jie Zhen and Jie Jun exchanged a glance and followed suit, kneeling down.

"Father-in-law!" Jie Zhen cried out hoarsely, "Tiancheng Mountain has a deep bond of gratitude for my teachings and for giving me a second chance at life. Now that the Ancestor is about to pass away, he has specially sent someone with a crane-feather banner to summon me. He is deeply grateful and cannot bear to hear your plea. I know that I have failed in my virtue and have given birth to this unfilial son. I dare not even think of leaving the capital. I only beg you, Father-in-law, to grant me leniency and allow me to send someone to Tiancheng Mountain to attend the funeral, so that I may fulfill my filial duty as a disciple. I will never forget your kindness, Father-in-law, even if I am shattered to pieces!" He kowtowed to the ground, his voice resounding, moving everyone present.

Yao Wuyi hurriedly stopped him, frowning, "My lord, please rise! You're really...you're making this old servant feel ashamed!"

He had been navigating the inner court for over a decade, relying on his quick reflexes and accurate betting. He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, smiling as he helped the Jie father and son to their feet, comforting them with his hands, "Old Jie, we've known each other for decades, why be so formal? The old Daoist is the Imperial Preceptor of this dynasty. If the Emperor finds out about this, he will definitely want you to come. I'll take care of the pearl matter. You'll come with me to see the Emperor tomorrow; if anyone has any other concerns, I'll vouch for you." Jie Zhen thanked him profusely and helped him to his feet.

Yao Wuyi chuckled, seemingly relieved of a heavy burden, and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Alright, that's enough for today. I'm tired too. We'll come back another day." Without waiting for a reply, he hurriedly left the nunnery, Qu Fengzhao following closely behind. Yao Wuyi whispered something in his ear, which Qu Fengzhao nodded repeatedly. Miao Hantian and the others were astonished, but dared not disobey Eunuch Yao's wishes, and rose to see him off. Jie Zhenming

Gui and his servants entered the hall and re-tied Jie Zhao. Suddenly, Jie Zhao spoke, "Brother Chang, you are skilled in medicine. Have you ever read the *Jin Jing Tu Yi*?"

Chang Zaifeng, about to leave his seat, paused upon hearing this and nodded, "Yes. Brother Jie, what advice do you have for me?"

Jie Zhao continued, "The *Jin Jing* says, 'Yin cannot exist without Yang, and Yang cannot exist without Yin; therefore, balance is maintained.'" "This means that Yin and Yang must be in harmony and balance to maintain the health of the five elements. If this is the principle of medicine, why does the alchemical text teach that 'Those who cultivate greatly cannot become immortals if their Yin is not exhausted; ordinary people cannot die if their Yang is not exhausted'... How can one approach the Dao by eliminating Yin and increasing Yang?"

Chang Zaifeng was stunned for a long time, then suddenly smiled. "Brother Jie's question is very interesting. Although my master taught me the *Jin Jing Tu Yi* and the *Zhong He Ji*, I have never considered this contradictory theory. I will think about it carefully, and if I gain any insights, I will discuss it with Brother Jie."

Jie Zhao seemed not to hear, muttering to himself, deep in thought; after a short while, he fell into a deep sleep, snoring loudly. Everyone shook their heads, thinking, "The Jie family's method of confinement is truly formidable; in just one night, they have driven a perfectly good, dashing young man mad." Some sighed, some felt regret, and naturally, some secretly chuckled. It was past noon

.

Under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Guards, everyone returned to their rooms. Hou Sheng, the steward of Suiping Prefecture, ordered his servants to set out a meal in the courtyard, attending to everyone with meticulous care. Since Yao Wuyi ordered the mansion sealed off yesterday, everyone had been under house arrest, their movements closely monitored. However, they were noticeably more relaxed now. Wen Qiongyu was having lunch with Shang Jiuqing in their room when they heard two light knocks at the door. It was Yue Yingying.

"Miss Wen..." Yingying hurried in and sat down, her eyebrow dagger still in her hand. She couldn't help but ask, "Jie Zhao... how is he? Did that old eunuch make things difficult for him?" Only then did she notice Shang Jiuqing standing to the side, feeling somewhat embarrassed. She wondered how she hadn't noticed anyone else there. Her pretty face flushed, and she nodded hesitantly, forcing a smile, unsure of what to say.

Wen Qiongyu chuckled softly, noticing Yue Yingying's flushed face, a few strands of hair clinging to her cheeks, her warm bosom emitting a sweet fragrance, and a fine sheen of sweat covering her soft, snow-white breasts. Her straightforwardness was tinged with a natural allure, clearly indicating she had rushed over upon hearing the news. Wen Qiongyu couldn't help but brush a strand of hair from Yue Yingying's temple, laughing, "Silly girl! It's so hot, look how fast you ran! Have some tea first."

Yue Yingying smiled shyly. Shang Jiuqing poured her a cup of tea and bowed slightly to Wen Qiongyu, saying, "Please chat slowly, I'll wait outside." Wen Qiongyu, however, took her hand and said, "Sister, sit with me." Turning to Yue Yingying, she said, "Sister Shang is family, it's alright. If it weren't for your protection, I would have been eaten long ago." She winked, looking utterly playful.

Yue Yingying laughed upon hearing this, and even Shang Jiuqing couldn't help but smile slightly, shaking her head as she let Yue Yingying sit down with her hand. Yue Yingying thought to herself, "She's such a cold person, but she's quite beautiful when she smiles." She barely sipped her tea before wanting to ask about Jie Zhao again, feeling rather restless.

Wen Qiongyu's beautiful eyes were sharp as lightning, easily seeing through her thoughts, and she smiled, "Don't worry, he's doing very well. If I'm not mistaken, his case is closed, and he'll soon be free." She briefly recounted what happened at the nunnery that morning.

Yue Yingying felt relieved, but then wondered, "Why did Miss Wen say that once Huang Ting Lao Zu passed away, the case was over? Where is the murderer? Where is the Yin Pin Pearl? How can we clear Jie Zhao's name and restore his innocence?"

Wen Qiongyu smiled calmly.

"The imperial court doesn't care about the whereabouts of the Yin-Yang Pearl. If it valued it, it wouldn't have allowed Yao Wuyi to dispose of it at will. Those who care about the Yin-Yang Pearl are just us Jianghu people. To powerful figures like Yao Wuyi, the Miwu Palace is just juicy meat in the claws of their hounds. No matter how much the master likes his hunting dogs and falcons, he wouldn't care about what they eat. What does it matter if an unknown woman from the Miwu Palace dies?"

"But Huangting Patriarch is different. He was bestowed the title of Protector of the Nation by the late Emperor. How many high-ranking officials and nobles in the court, how many imperial relatives in the palace, are all devout believers of Huangting Temple? Not to mention the pious men and women all over the world. Given the close relationship between the Jie family and the Huangting lineage, they are the perfect candidate to go to Tiancheng Mountain to offer condolences on behalf of the Emperor. With Eunuch Yao's skills, do you think he would tell the Emperor, 'The son of Jie Zhen, the Duke of Yunyang County and General of Suiping, committed murder and lost a pearl. This servant has placed his entire family under house arrest, forbidding them from leaving the capital, and is determined to get to the bottom of this'?"

Of course not.

Yue Yingying suddenly felt something was absurd and frowned, saying, "What about the envoy from Miwu Palace? Are they not going to look for the murderer?"

Wen Qiongyu looked at her with pity, gently smoothing her hair, and said casually, "I'm afraid no one cares who the murderer is, nor does anyone care about Jie Zhao's innocence. However, the three great families outside of Zhaori Manor probably won't let the Yin Female Pearl matter go so easily. If the Lord of Jie Manor doesn't give an explanation, it will be difficult to let it go peacefully."

Yue Yingying found it unbelievable.

A woman died, but no one cared; an innocent person, even if not arrested and imprisoned, would be stigmatized as a murderer for life... And these self-proclaimed righteous families only care about a Yin Female Pearl that has no meaning? Yue Yingying couldn't help but clench her fists, but unexpectedly found that the icy beauty Shang Jiuqing, who was as cold as frost, also had the same indignant expression as her—the two looked at each other, and something deep in their hearts suddenly resolved. Yue Yingying picked up the teapot and filled Shang Jiu's cup. Shang Jiu nodded slightly, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp. Her swift movements carried an indescribable air of fierceness and loneliness, like a pure, cold orchid facing a turbid world.

"I will find the murderer," Yue Yingying said, raising her cup as if speaking to herself. "I will find the beast who killed that poor woman, retrieve the Yin-Yang Pearl, and restore Jie Zhao's innocence."

Wen Qiongyu smiled, the gold chain on her forehead swaying gently.

"I support you in finding the murderer. But the Yin-Yang Pearl will appear soon..." She revealed that mischievous, playful expression again, picked up her teacup, and stared at it intently, as if a group of bizarre little fairies were dancing a Tatar dance on the cup. "To resolve the predicament of Suiping Prefecture, the Yin-Yang Pearl must appear. Look! The Jinwu Guards stationed in the prefecture have already begun their search."

Outside the window, Qu Fengzhao's Jinwu Guards were thoroughly searching every corner of the courtyard. After relaxing their surveillance of everyone in the manor, these fully armed armored guards seemed to have transferred their energy and resentment to drawers, bed boards, flowers, and trees. Their search was astonishingly thorough, almost like a house raid, even more so than yesterday.

Yue Yingying didn't think it would be of any use.

The Yin-Yang Pearl was at most the size of a longan seed; Suiping Prefecture was vast, and for them to find it was clear whoever hid it was an idiot. The three chatted for a while. Yue Yingying was very interested in the topic of "Suiping Prefecture's predicament," but she couldn't get any clues out of it. Wen Qiongyu suddenly asked, "Miss Yue, how much do you know about the manor lord?"

Yue Yingying thought for a moment and slowly said, "My master said he's very skilled in martial arts, but a very wicked person."

Wen Qiongyu laughed. “These eight characters are truly brilliant! Even if you asked Lord Jie himself, he might not be able to answer so vividly. Your master must know him very well.”

“Miss Wen, do you think Lord Jie… Lord Jie is a bad person?” Yingying

asked with some surprise. “If we say that ‘Divine Firmament Thunder Hidden’ Jie Zhen is a great villain, then looking at the entire Zhongchen Prefecture, I’m afraid we can’t find a great hero or hero.” Wen Qiongyu smiled and shook her head: “Actually, I don’t know if he’s a good person or a bad person, but he’s definitely a very powerful person. Do you know what three remarkable things Lord Jie did in his life?”

Yue Yingying shook her head. Since she could remember, she had only heard her master’s vicious curses against Jie Zhen, and she had never known what he had done that wasn’t beastly.

"The first thing is that early in his career, he defeated a very powerful master of the demonic sect. Although that person was young, his swordsmanship was unfathomable. He defeated thirty-two top masters from both the righteous and evil paths with a single sword, never suffering a defeat. If it weren't for Jie Zhen's Blazing Sun Sword narrowly winning, forcing that person to retreat from the world, there might not be a place for 'Divine Firmament Thunder Hidden' on the Six Great Masters List today." Wen Qiongyu glanced at her, stroked her hand, and said softly,

"That person is your master. The master of Taiyin Pavilion, 'Toad Shadow in the Clouds' Gu Yuhan."

Yue Yingying trembled.

Her master had never mentioned the details of the defeat to her and her fellow disciples, only saying that the Blazing Sun Sword and the Cold Moon Blade were natural enemies, and that the battle of "swords clashing, sun and moon moving in opposite directions" had lasted for eighteen generations, with the hope of victory for the nineteenth generation resting entirely on their shoulders.

She had never known that her master was a famous figure in the martial arts world, and had even been the chief candidate for the Six Great Masters of Zhongchen.

"She was also one of the most beautiful women in the martial arts world," Wen Qiongyu said with a smile.

"I saw a portrait of her when I was a child. Although it was only a profile, it was breathtakingly beautiful. My master was also a beauty, proud and arrogant. When she saw that picture, she could only sigh, 'I always thought I was exceptionally beautiful, but when I met Gu Yuhan, I could only boast about my intelligence and talent.' That was the only time in my life I ever heard my master admit defeat like that."

Yue Yingying covered her mouth and smiled, suddenly feeling a sense of relief, and her mood lightened for some reason.

"And the second thing?"

"The second thing is that with the help of 'Flying Sword Immortal' Fu Fengzhi, Zhaori Manor and the Three Immortals Sect joined forces to defeat 'Night Queen' Xiao Yupo, the number one person in the Demonic Sect at the time."

Yue Yingying had heard her master mention this martial arts case.

Twenty-five years ago, there was no such thing as the "Four Great Families". In Zhongchen Prefecture, the Taiyi Dao Mansion, the Sanxian Sect Mansion, and the Shangyuan Cave Mansion were the leading righteous sects. Their status was probably even higher than that of today's Four Great Families.

The Taiyi Daoist Temple was established three hundred years ago by the Taoist Master in hemp robes to preserve and study the Taoist classic, the *Taishang Zhenjing*. It has always been shrouded in mystery. Successive temple masters have all inherited the title "Taoist Master in hemp robes," abandoning their original names and titles, dedicating themselves to the pursuit of the supreme wisdom within the *Taishang Zhenjing*, and remaining detached from worldly strife. Occasionally, they have intervened in martial arts conflicts over the past three hundred years, but only to achieve a state of perfect balance and enlightenment in the universe. It is said that the successors to the title "Taoist Master in hemp robes" have ranged from emperors and generals, martial arts masters, to illiterate peddlers and laborers—a truly legendary figure.

In contrast to the reclusive and passive nature of the Taiyi Dao Mansion, the Sanxian Sect and Shangyuan Cave Mansion were the true leaders of the Zhongchen martial arts world. Especially the mistress of Shangyuan Cave Mansion, known as the "Night Queen," Lady Xiao Yupo, captivated countless masters with her unparalleled martial arts and stunning beauty, enjoying unparalleled influence. Even Fu Fengzhi, the "Flying Sword Immortal" of the Sanxian Sect, willingly relinquished his title as "Head of the Six Great Masters of Zhongchen" to Xiao Yupo.

Rare martial arts and beauty—this was the unchanging impression the world had of the "Night Queen" Xiao Yupo.

Until Jie Zhen stepped forward and exposed to the righteous path that Shangyuan Cave Mansion was actually the Shangyuan Sect, one of the five demonic sects, and that the "Night Queen"

Xiao Yupo was plotting to overthrow the martial arts world. In that holy war between good and evil, Jie Zhen persuaded the aloof and self-admiring "Flying Sword Immortal" Fu Fengzhi to lend a hand, and sought guidance from the contemporary Taoist Master in hemp robes. They decisively defeated Xiao Yupo's Ten Directions Mirror Trap and the Open Array, annihilating the most powerful pro-war force of the Demonic Sect in one fell swoop.

Although the Taiyin Pavilion and the Shangyuan Sect both belonged to the twelve branches of the Demonic Sect, the Taiyin Pavilion, as one of the seven branches, had always maintained its own interests and was at odds with the five pro-war factions, so it offered little criticism of the war. Gu Yuhan especially hated Xiao Yupo, occasionally referring to him as a "slutty fox," a "white-boned demon," and a "shameless scoundrel," her hatred seething through her teeth.

Yue Yingying remembered once when her second senior sister wore a new dress down the mountain; a young man, seeing her beauty, gave her a bouquet of flowers, only to be beaten half to death by their master upon his return. That day, Master was trembling with rage, beating and crying at the same time: "Who told you to learn that vile behavior of Xiao Yupo? I'll beat you to death, you scoundrel!" Second Senior Sister cried out: "I won't dare to do it again! I won't dare to do it again!"

In the end, the four of them hugged each other and cried. Yue Yingying had a deep impression of this and still remembers it vividly.

"Master Jie became famous after this battle, his reputation must be very high now?" she asked casually.

"Yes!" Wen Qiongyu smiled faintly: "When a general achieves success, his reputation naturally rises high."

After the battle, Shangyuan Cave was reduced to ashes, becoming known as the "Ghost Mansion of Shangyuan" among the righteous sects. The Shangyuan Sect, the leader of the Five Demonic Sects, disappeared from the martial world. "Night Queen" Xiao Yupo died and was removed from the list of Six Great Masters, and Jie Zhen took her place. This battle caused a reorganization of the martial world's forces. "Flying Sword Immortal" Fu Fengzhi retired from the martial world, and the Three Immortals Sect moved to the towering Bicheng Heavenly Stairs, closing its doors to guests and no longer interfering in the affairs of the martial world.

Jie Zhen, the "Hidden Thunder God of the Divine Firmament," who squeezed into the Six Great Masters List, transformed from a mere young expert into a leading figure of a powerful force. Like Sheng Huayan and Yuwen Xiaoxiao, he began to have the power to speak and lead.

His third achievement, needless to say, was the battle where the Four Great Families annihilated the Fragrant Mountain Miwu Palace.

After the battle of Fragrant Mountain, the term "Four Great Families" appeared in the martial arts world for the first time, ending the era of the Three Mansions and One Sect (the Demonic Sect). In this battle, Jie Zhen shouldered the arduous task of planning, leading, and defeating the young demon Wei Yunshan. In both strategy and martial arts, he surpassed the heads of the other three families. Zhao Ri Manor finally became the shadow leader of the righteous path in the Zhongchen martial arts world, and the Suiping Prefecture of Zhongjing once again overshadowed the Yunyang Old Residence, completely seizing the core of power.

"How strange." This was Yingying's first comment after hearing the story.

Wen Qiongyu asked with great interest, "Really? What do you find strange?"

"The three great achievements of the Lord of Jie's life were all defeating women." Yue Yingying counted on her fingers, "My master, 'Night Queen' Xiao Yupo... Although Weiyun Mountain is full of men, Xiangshan Miwu Palace is full of women. This is quite a coincidence."

Wen Qiongyu stared at Yue Yingying, a smile on her lips, but no real smile in her eyes. A rare sharp cunning and calmness shone through her, as if she wanted to see something in Yue Yingying's eyes.

"Anything else?"

"Anything else, most of the people who have cooperated with him have ended up being overpowered by him. Don't the Three Immortal Sects and the Three Great Families feel uncomfortable about that? Although there seemed to be no outside interference in my master's duel, they knew each other beforehand; I chatted with Lord Jie the other day, and I think he and my master have probably known each other for a long time, and weren't just complete strangers." Yue Yingying felt quite uncomfortable under her gaze, casually twisting the tassel of her knife, her face flushed as she said, "I've never been very clever since I was little, and I think very directly, which often makes my senior sister laugh at me. Miss Wen is an exceptionally intelligent person, please don't laugh at me."

Wen Qiongyu came to her senses, pressing her hand and laughing, "How could that be? In my opinion, Miss Yue is one of the few truly intelligent people in the world. Many people who think they're clever are actually less insightful than you."

"Is that so?" Yue Yingying tilted her head slightly, then burst out laughing.

A respectful voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Reporting to the Lord, there's movement in the front courtyard." A burly figure in black robes was reflected in the door frame; it was one of the Shang family's iron guards who had accompanied them to the capital.

"Speak," Shang Jiu replied coldly.

"The thing... the thing has been found..."

Her subordinate's rare stammering angered her. Shang Jiu frowned slightly, her voice as cold as a wound.

"Explain clearly! What was found?"

"That thing... was found." He himself was clearly incredulous, the huge shadow shaking his head:

"The brothers in the front courtyard brought a tip that the Jinwu Guards found the Yin Female Pearl!"

Shang Jiuqing and Yue Yingying turned their heads together, blurting out without thinking: "Where?"

Before the iron guard outside the door could answer, Wen Qiongyu said leisurely: "If I'm not mistaken, was it found in the Jinchun Courtyard where the corpse was found?" The burly black shadow reflected on the door paper trembled, and said in astonishment: "It's...it's in the Jinchun Courtyard!

I heard it was found under the bed, so the murderer probably didn't have time to take it away after committing the crime and hid it in the bed in a hurry. Miss...you are truly resourceful and unparalleled."

Shang Jiuqing said: "I understand, you can go now." The black shadow lowered slightly and suddenly disappeared.

Seeing the questioning looks from Shang and Yue, Wen Qiongyu smiled sweetly: "To extricate Suiping Prefecture from this predicament, the Yin Female Pearl can only be found in Jinchun Courtyard. With the stolen goods recovered, the attention of the three great families and the martial arts world of Zhongjing will shift away from the robbers; who the murderer is will naturally become less important."

Yue Yingying pondered to herself, while Shang Jiuqing frowned: "Could the pearl be fake?"

"If Eunuch Yao says it's real, how could it be fake?" Wen Qiongyu asked with a smile, resting her chin on her hand. This gesture might have seemed girlishly charming to others, but her wrist was as slender as a crane's neck, long and smooth, her jade-like fingers slightly translucent white, gently supporting her small, pointed chin, both serene and alluring, her clear black and white eyes always smiling, as if she held the pearl in her hands.

Shang Jiuqing suddenly realized, her pretty face turning cold.

"What Han Ting obtained may not be a genuine pearl, yet the world believes the Yin-Yang Pearl is already in Xuan Huang's hands!"

"Moreover, given Xuan Huang's temperament, even if he suffers a loss in silence, he would never admit that his Yin-Yang Pearl is a fake."

Wen Qiongyu smiled as she rose, gracefully walking to the dressing table. Leaning against the mirror, she sat askew, her right leg lightly crossed over her left knee. Her long yellow robe trailed on the ground beneath her sable fur coat, revealing a delicate little red embroidered shoe. This gesture, which might seem slightly impolite to others, only accentuated her slender waist, her exquisite figure, and an indescribable elegance and grace.

She opened the jewelry box and pulled out a few small beaded flowers, their styles rather ordinary. Yue Yingying then noticed that the beads she used were all simple and plain, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "These pieces of jewelry are really nothing special, probably even inferior to those in our Jade Toad Villa. How come they become so dazzling and beautiful on Miss Wen?" She couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, her eyes full of envy.

Wen Qiongyu lowered her head and picked through them for a moment, then sighed softly, "My beads are too shabby. Do you have any pearl jewelry that I can borrow, sister?" Although it was a sigh, she didn't seem to care much.

The merchant's fortress possessed many priceless treasures, but Shang Jiuqing had never liked wearing jewelry, much less bringing it all the way to Zhongjing. After a moment's thought, he suddenly stood up and said, "Please wait a moment, Miss, I'll be right back." He walked out of the room and returned shortly with a long hunting knife with a black scabbard and curved handle. A pearl the size of a lychee was inlaid at the pommel of the hilt. The pearl was soft and lustrous, yet its inclusion on the blade did not diminish its chilling aura; instead, it exuded a heavy and imposing presence.

Yue Yingying, a connoisseur of knives, couldn't help but praise, "A fine knife! It perfectly embodies both form and spirit; it is no ordinary piece!"

Shang Jiuqing nodded slightly, pried off the pearl without a second thought, and handed it to Wen Qiongyu. Yue Yingying, seeing the bare base of the pearl on the pommel, couldn't help but show a hint of regret, laughing, "What a pity for such a fine knife."

Shang Jiuqing remained expressionless, gripped the scabbard with one hand, and raised the hunting knife before Yue Yingying.

Yue Yingying took the sword with a puzzled look, gripped the hilt, and drew it. Suddenly, a pool of autumn water reflected on her fair face, and the hairs on her neck stood on end, as if something sharp had grazed her skin. Startled, she looked up abruptly, only to see Shang Jiu's eyebrows slightly raised, his cold brows exuding a heroic air: "The sharpness remains, the spirits of my ancestors remain, but where are they?"

With a clang, the precious sword slid back into its sheath, the cold light filling the room instantly fading.

"Not at all regrettable." Yue Yingying returned the sword, smiling genuinely, and nodded:

"A rare sword has nothing to do with the pearl ornaments! Losing a pearl is indeed not a pity at all."

Shang Jiu smiled slightly, his expression cold, seemingly quite appreciative of her frankness. Wen Qiongyu watched with amusement, casually toying with the pearl, and smiled sweetly, "The knife isn't a pity, but this pearl is! If we want to get back the real Yin-Yang Pearl, we'll need it."

Shang Jiuqing was used to her ingenious plans and quick thinking, so even though she didn't understand, she quietly waited for an answer. Yue Yingying couldn't help but ask, "Miss Wen, what do you mean by that?"

"Finding one Yin-Yang Pearl under the bed in Jinchun Courtyard would solve the case. But..." Wen Qiongyu smiled mysteriously, "What if we find two, three, or even more pearls?"

Yue Yingying was taken aback.

"The inability to find the bead, or the discovery of too many beads, could both undermine the illusion of a 'closed case.' Even if Yao Wuyi wanted to cover up the truth, he couldn't simply label one bead as genuine and vainly try to silence public opinion. Conversely, the bead found now could have been placed there by the Jinwu Guard under Yao Wuyi's orders, or by the Jie family, or even by the person who actually obtained the bead—the murderer. Both

Yao Wuyi and the Jie family head are eager to escape their current predicament. If the fake bead wasn't placed by them, they'd naturally have a clue. Even if they understand the murderer's ill intentions, they'd still swallow the bait, conveniently lifting the ban on the manor and passing the hot potato of the bead to Han Ting. This strategy of 'knowing it's a trap, yet the prey has no choice but to jump in' is called 'Nine Strategies Across the River.' Nine signifies the extreme number, with endless variations, not just nine."

"Nine Strategies Across the River?" “

Yes, it’s like pulling an iron chain across a river. A large ship going downstream will inevitably crash and be smashed to pieces; even so, it can’t change the direction of the water’s flow. As long as the ship stays on the river, it’s doomed sooner or later. This strategy is both domineering and terrifying: whatever the opponent relies on for survival, it takes away; even if it gives poison or sharp arrows, the opponent has no choice but to swallow it, and even strives to be the first to swallow it, for fear that it will change its mind and take it back, and never give it to them again.”

Yue Yingying felt a chill run down her spine and quietly shivered.

But, even if there really was a master strategist behind all this, how could he have foreseen even the death of the Yellow Court Ancestor?

“That’s easy.” Wen Qiongyu smiled: “I observed the celestial phenomena last night and saw Venus slanting, moving into the Southern Dipper. Venus is associated with both punishment and wisdom. Such an unusual phenomenon indicates that a long-lived wise person will pass away soon.” A series of grand prayer ceremonies were held at Tiancheng Mountain, and strange clouds and mists gathered above Huangting Temple. Combined with astronomical calculations and divination, the exact date of the patriarch's passing could be predicted with near accuracy. Sheng Huayan, the master of Jiejian Tiandu, known as "the wisest," never did anything without certainty. Yet this time, he sent his closed-door disciple, Chang Zaifeng

. Chang Zaifeng possessed unparalleled martial arts skills but no reputation, clearly determined to obtain the Yin Female Pearl. If he hadn't known beforehand that the patriarch was about to pass away and Suiping Prefecture would have lost its pillar, would he have dared to act so rashly?” Yue Yingying suddenly understood.

“Miss Wen, are you going to use this pearl to break the scheme behind the scenes?”

Wen Qiongyu played with the pearl repeatedly, smiling silently. After a moment, she said, “No, I don't intend to do that. This pearl is a precaution. If I break this scheme, Jie Zhao will have to go to the Ministry of Justice prison. Is Miss Yue willing to do that?” Yue Yingying blushed crimson, even her earlobes glowing a vibrant peach-pink, and a light sweat glistened on her snow-white neck and soft breasts.

Shang Jiuqing glanced up at Wen Qiongyu, who understood her thoughts and smiled, "The Yin-Yang Pearl is an extremely yin and filthy object, harmful to Xuanhuang's Yin-Yang cultivation. It's unfortunate to have it; it's better to let it go. This is my last token of gratitude to Xuanhuang for recognizing my talent." Shang Jiuqing trembled, her almond eyes widening, seemingly understanding the meaning behind her words, but unable—or unwilling—to believe it.

Wen Qiongyu smiled gently and said softly, "I originally came from 'Shuiyuexuan,' and after being taught by my master, I descended the mountain to seek a true master worthy of my assistance. This is the destiny of a strategist. Xiaoranhai is a place I happened to pass through on my journey, but not my final resting place; forcing myself to stay would not be good for either me or Xuanhuang." "I came to Zhongjing on behalf of Emperor Xuan to repay his kindness in three ways: First, to suppress the other three families and ensure that the Yin-Yang Pearl belongs to Han Ting; second, to prevent the real Yin-Yang Pearl from falling into Emperor Xuan's hands, thus protecting him from harm."

"And... what is the third thing?" Shang Jiuqing couldn't help but ask.

"The third is to ensure that Emperor Xuan possesses the pearl in name only, without others coveting it. Only when the plan is completed in this way can it be considered truly successful." Shang

Jiuqing was puzzled, but she had always admired the insight and wisdom of this Miss Wen. Hearing Wen Qiongyu's earnest words, she believed that she was truly thinking of Emperor Xuan. However, Emperor Xuan was narrow-minded and would not accept her abandonment, so this matter would likely not end well. Thinking that it would be difficult for the two of them to meet again in the future, Shang Jiuqing's face turned cold, and her heart sank.

Wen Qiongyu felt a little guilty, but her face remained unchanged. She brushed her hair with her orchid fingers and smiled slightly. Then Yue Yingying asked in surprise, "Miss Wen is from Shuiyue Pavilion? Could it be that you are a disciple of Lanxiu Pavilion of Xiangfeng Yandang?" Wen Qiongyu blinked and said with a smile, "Yes! My master's reputation is too great. I dare not mention it to others, lest I tarnish my master's reputation and invite ridicule for being a fraud." "After saying this, she covered her mouth and smiled, pinching her tender, red palm, which made her hands appear even more delicate and lustrous, even more so than jade .

Yue Yingying couldn't help but exchange a glance with Shang Jiuqing, speechless with surprise.

"Shuiyuexuan" is one of the Seven Leaves of the Demonic Sect, renowned for training strategists. Most of its members are women, and its status is equivalent to Jiejian Tiandu in the Demonic Sect. The current master of Shuiyuexuan, "Xiangfeng Yandang" Lanxiuxuan, is a figure on par with Sheng Huayan, the master of Tiandu. The two once had a brilliant battle of wits in Xiangshan. Although it ended in a draw, it prevented Sheng Huayan from arriving in time for the battle, almost causing the four great families to be defeated by Miwu Palace. The name of "Xiangfeng Yandang" spread throughout the world, and both the righteous and evil factions admired it.

Like Taiyin Pavilion, Shuiyue Pavilion is a moderate faction within the demonic sects, with very little involvement in evil practices. Apart from sharing the same origins with the Eastern Holy Sect, it has almost no connection with other demonic sects. Some of its strategists serve the demonic sects, while others serve the righteous path. Every five years, when Shuiyue Pavilion opens its doors, people from both the righteous and the wicked make a special trip to Xiaojing Lake in Huangliangchuan to seek guidance and solutions. However, Master Xiu is extremely strict in selecting disciples, having accepted only a handful to date, and forbids his disciples from venturing into the martial world.

Yue Yingying thought to herself, "No wonder Miss Wen is so skilled; she's a disciple of Master Xiu!" She felt a surge of kinship as the two seemed to share a common origin. A sudden realization dawned on her: "So what she meant by those words was that she doesn't intend to serve the Nine Nether Cold Court! Master Xiu's esteemed disciple will surely choose a wise lord. Could it be…?" She blurted out, "Miss Wen's decision to stay in Zhongjing—has she perhaps encountered her true master there?"

Wen Qiongyu smiled and replied, "I haven't met my true master, but I have encountered a formidable opponent."

Yue Yingying's mind raced. Remembering Wen Qiongyu's earlier eloquent discussion of the terrifying "Nine Strategies Across the River," she was startled: "Could the schemer hiding behind the scenes… be an old acquaintance of Miss Wen?"

“If I’m not mistaken,” Wen Qiongyu slowly picked up her cup, her smile lingering, but her usually refined and elegant face hardened with a rare seriousness, “all the affairs inside and outside Suiping Prefecture were arranged by my senior sister. I’ve admired the ‘Nine Strategies Across the River’ for a long time, but I wonder if my ‘Flowing River Military Strategy’ can match it?”

◇ ◇ ◇

The direct disciple of the Water Moon Pavilion Master was indeed a master strategist.

The next morning, Yao Wuyi arrived with the Emperor’s edict, summoning Jie Zhen, the Duke of Yunyang County, to the capital for an audience. Jie Zhen went with Jie Zhen and Jie Ying, but returned with only Jie Zhen that evening. He then ordered his steward, Hou Sheng, to prepare their belongings, planning to depart for Tiancheng Mountain early the day after tomorrow to convey the court’s message of condolence.

Jie Zhen, following his father’s orders, led the tortoise-bound servants to the small nunnery in the courtyard and released Jie Zhao. Jie Zhao's eyes were vacant, and he couldn't answer even a few words out of ten questions. After his limbs were freed, he remained curled up on the chair, motionless. After a while, he suddenly jumped up, as if his mind had returned, and hurriedly asked, "Where's my sister? Third Brother...where is my sister?" Before he could be answered, he lowered his head and was about to rush out of the nunnery.

Jie Zhen frowned, grabbed him, and said in a low voice, "Wake up! What are you doing, acting so dazed and confused?" Jie Zhao was startled and felt a sense of defeat. He lowered his head and shrank his shoulders. Jie Zhen grabbed his arms like an eagle snatching a chick, his face darkening, and gritted his teeth, "Don't think this matter is over! If it weren't for the sudden change at Tiancheng Mountain, how could Eunuch Yao have let us off the hook? If you continue to be restless and cause trouble, how can you face Father? How can you face the ancestors of the Jie family?"

Jie Zhao was filled with shame and kept his head down, not daring to reply. Jie Zhen softened his tone and said in a low voice, "You should stay in the manor and not cause any more trouble. I'll talk to Father about it when I have the chance, so don't worry." Jie Zhao nodded obediently. Jie

Zhen's expression softened, and he said gently, "But there's something you need to tell your third brother. What was the origin of the sword technique you used that day? Father had your courtyard searched, but there was no sword manual at all. He knows you lied again, and he's very unhappy about it. If you don't give me an explanation, I can't help you."

Jie Zhao's mind was in a daze, as if he were deeply asleep, or as if reality and dreams were intertwined. The sounds that reached his ears were just a low, whirring noise, making his head spin. Apart from Jie Ying, he couldn't think clearly about anything else. In his dazed state, he only mumbled, "It's...it's something I learned in a dream."

A flash of anger crossed Jie Zhen's handsome face, but before he could lash out, he heard Jie Zhao say incoherently, "If Third Brother wants it, I can write down the sword techniques and principles from memory. It's...not a very difficult martial art." Upon hearing this, Jie Zhen's expression immediately cleared. He patted Jie Zhao's shoulder and nodded, saying, "That's very good. Go back to your courtyard quickly; I'll come to see you later." With that, he turned and walked away.

"Third Brother!" Jie Zhao suddenly called out to him,

"Where...where is my sister? I...I want to see her."

Jie Zhen frowned and said, "My sister went to the capital today and met the Empress. They chatted happily, and the Empress granted her the privilege of staying overnight at Jingxiu Palace. I don't know when she will return. I heard from Eunuch Yao that the Empress intends to arrange a marriage for my sister with Fu Pijiang, the son of Fu Fengzhi, the young sect leader of the Three Immortals Sect. The Three Immortals Sect is a noble family, and even the Emperor has to call Fu Fengzhi 'Eighth Imperial Uncle.' They are both direct descendants of the founding emperor, and their status is extremely high. If this marriage goes through, it will greatly benefit my family."

Jie Zhao was stunned and speechless for a long time.

"For Father's sake, for Suiping Prefecture's sake, and for Sister's sake. How can we, as her brothers, not think of her?"

Before leaving, Jie Zhen clenched his fists and lowered his eyes, as if suppressing something he utterly loathed. He only hurriedly uttered, "You... don't get so close to Sister anymore."

Jie Zhao felt a pang of pain in his heart. Dragging his weary body, he walked out of the nunnery dejectedly. Suddenly, a bright red glow appeared before his eyes, and a rich, honey-like fragrance wafted towards him. Yue Yingying, who had been waiting for a long time, rushed over. Her red skirt made of sapphire wood fluttered like clouds, and although the thin white silk trousers underneath were soft and comfortable, they could not conceal her long, straight, and shapely legs.

Her face lit up with joy, and she couldn't help but grab his hand: "You're out! Did they torment you?" Seeing Jie Zhao's pale face and haggard appearance, she suddenly felt a pang of heartache. She gritted her teeth: "Those damn fools! I'm going to settle accounts with them!" Saying this, she turned to leave. Jie Zhao's mind cleared instantly. He grasped her delicate, smooth wrist, shook his head, and whispered, "I'm fine."

Yue Yingying let him hold her hand, and for some reason, her heart suddenly pounded, her full breasts heaved, and her eyes and ears burned as if she were about to faint. Her pretty face flushed a rosy red, as vibrant as her sage skirt. "Jie...Jie Zhao! Are you hungry?" Calling his name, Yingying felt a surge of inexplicable shyness. She bit her cherry lips and whispered, "I...

I'll have someone get you something to eat."

Jie Zhao stared blankly at her, making her lower her head. After a long while, he said, "I'm not hungry." He gently released her hand and walked past her with his head down. Yue Yingying was somewhat taken aback. She turned around and called out, "Jie... what's wrong?" She caught up with him in a few steps, grabbed his arm, and checked his forehead temperature. She frowned and said, "Are you feeling unwell? You don't look well. Shall I get you a doctor?"

Jie Zhao stared at her caring expression, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. Her beautiful face seemed to weigh him down, making it hard for him to breathe. He couldn't help but gently push her hand away. Yue Yingying was startled, and Jie Zhao felt as if a thousand needles were piercing his heart. Unable to bear seeing her suffer, he said softly, "I... I'll rest for a while, and then I'll come find you."

Yue Yingying saw that his face was pale and he was indeed exhausted. She immediately felt relieved and smiled brightly, "Then you should sleep a little longer. I... I'll go back to the courtyard and wait for you." As soon as she said it, she realized that her words were bold and suggestive, and she was overcome with shyness. She fled out of the cave as if running away. As her legs crossed, she realized with a start that she was already wet. A cool, slippery sensation rubbed against her inner thighs, seeping through the thin fabric. Her skirt lifted slightly, revealing the semi-transparent white silk clinging to her full breasts, revealing thick, dark hairs.

Yue Yingying felt a wetness between her legs; even the thin fabric on her inner thighs was soaked through, clinging tightly to her delicate, sensitive skin. The rubbing and slippery sensation intensified, and her juices flowed freely. She ran a few steps, her body already weak, almost unable to continue. Fortunately, Lanxiang Courtyard was nearby.

"So...so embarrassing!" she gasped, leaning against the doorframe. Her exposed breasts, a patch of glistening white flesh, heaved violently, the wetness between her legs showing through her skirt. She squeezed her legs together slightly, producing a soft "squeak," an incredibly lewd sound.

She left a trail of water, dripping all the way into the room. Her soft, weak hands closed the door, and she leaned against the table, collapsing onto the couch. Before she could catch her breath, the stone-blue brocade quilt beneath her was soaked again, and her firm, round buttocks left lotus-like marks, which, together with her crossed long legs, resembled a beautiful purple lotus flower.

"Thank goodness, he didn't come. If he had seen me..." The moment the word "he" came to mind, the image of the omen of calamity became clear. Yue Yingying felt a sudden, inexplicable thud, and a strange tingling sensation suddenly rose in the most private and shameful part of her body, as if a needle was gently scraping her skin, both painful and pleasurable. She recalled the night she lost her virginity at the Huangting Temple on Ziyun Mountain. The calamity seized her firm breasts, sucking until the tips were hard and painful. That enormous, fiery object slowly scraped at her tender, untouched flesh, stretching and filling her inch by inch, scraping out her exquisite, sticky flesh...

Yue Yingying lay prone beside the bed, her pale, weak hands clutching the quilt tightly. Sweat-dampened hair clung to her lips and temples. Before she could even begin to caress herself, her slender waist jerked violently, her whole body trembling, and she lost herself. At first, only a few drops of liquid seeped through the fabric of her skirt, but gradually, unable to absorb the abundant moisture, it gathered into a thin stream, squeezing out in an arc with a "plop," as if a small, delicate, slender-necked, pointed-spouted pot was hidden between her legs, gently pouring out a clear, sweet spring.

The evening breeze entered through the window, cooling the beautiful woman's delicate body on the bed.

The long-legged beauty, lying prone and trembling, was fully clothed, yet her pinkish flesh peeked out from beneath her soaked skirt, her jade-like bones and icy skin appearing and disappearing, making her virtually naked.

Yue Yingying's "Spring Waterfall" body was exceptionally sensitive; her orgasms were incredibly intense, and it took her a while to slowly recover. Weakly supporting her proud

, pert breasts, she looked back at her disheveled state, feeling ashamed, guilty, and angry. She didn't know what was wrong with her today. Supporting her slightly weary body, she slowly removed her boots and trousers, taking a handkerchief to wipe the dripping fluid from her crotch. Even though no one was in the room, Yue Yingying was still extremely ashamed. Her vulva was extremely sensitive; the slightest touch caused it to tremble slightly, glistening with moisture. She could only hastily wipe her crotch and lazily take a new pair of silk trousers, pulling them on. The thin, soft silk slid over her toes, ankles, and long calves, gradually concealing her breathtakingly beautiful, rounded legs.

Yue Yingying arched her back and lifted her buttocks, finally managing to put on her silk trousers. She sat up, clutching her old clothes, only to find the door ajar. Jie Zhao stood silently by the door, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her, seemingly spitting fire.

Her body stiffened, still holding the thin trousers soaked with her own fluids. A glistening droplet, like a tear, dangled from the crumpled cuff, sinking deeper and fuller until it finally fell with a soft "thud" onto the bed, clearly audible in the silent room.

(He…he saw! He…saw it!)

Yue Yingying thought she would faint from shame and anger, but somehow she remembered the first time she came here, Jie Zhao had stood by the door like this, obediently watching her comb her hair. "This is my mother's old summer residence. My brothers and sisters are not born of the same mother as me; they wouldn't come here," she remembered him saying, his calm voice carrying a pitiful loneliness and solitude.

He made her want to hold him in her arms and gently pat and comfort him.

Jie Zhao stepped across the threshold, walking towards her step by step, his eyes slightly sunken, yet radiating a captivating light.

(He...he's here! He's coming!)

Yue Yingying sat upright on the edge of the bed, listening to her heart pounding like a drum, her body trembling uncontrollably. "Don't...don't come any closer!" she tried to intimidate him, as if telling herself, only to find that what she uttered was no different from a moan, her trembling voice mixed with soft gasps, which sounded unsettling. Jie Zhao walked up to her, his hands cupping her small face, but not touching her skin, his slightly parted lips leaning closer, carrying a strong masculine scent.

Unable to look directly at his face, Yue Yingying closed her eyes, feeling the burning air between his palms. When she came to her senses, their lips were already tightly locked in a kiss. Yue Yingying's body went limp from his kisses, and her jade fingers loosened, causing her soaked silk trousers to fall to the ground with a loud, sticky sound. Jie Zhao's

kisses made her almost breathless. Suddenly, her left breast tightened, and half of her round, firm breast was grasped in his palm. The firm breast muscles resisted the wanton kneading of his fingertips, possessing a fullness and elasticity that even she herself could not have imagined. Only in his hands did she realize that her breasts were so firm and powerful. Yue Yingying moaned like a dying fawn. Jie Zhao's thick waist squeezed between her legs, pressing deeply into her groin, forcing her long, beautiful legs apart and bent, unable to close them again.

Yue Yingying felt her private parts, stretched taut by the fabric, a cool, almost unprotected expanse. The friction of his hot, hard crotch caused an immediate flood. Cool, slippery fluid gushed from her vulva and perineum, flowing down to her buttocks and anus, leaving her clothes and quilt soaked and muddy, as if she were lying in a shallow puddle.

Jie Zhao abandoned her cherry-like lips, his burning lips covering her smooth neck. The sharp, thin mustache on his lips sent shivers down her spine. Yue Yingying felt as if struck by lightning; her waist swayed, her whole body tensed, and she tilted her head, enduring the sensation with delicate moans and soft breaths. After nibbling on her neck, Jie Zhao kissed her lips, inadvertently transferring her fragrant sweat into her mouth. Yue Yingying then discovered that her sweat had a refreshing quality, even the faint saltiness tasted pleasant and smooth. She began to understand why Jie Zhao enjoyed licking her so much.

She was willing to let him savor every inch of her mouth. But…

(No…no, not so fast! Slower…slower…)

Yue Yingying clung to his neck, her moist, cherry-red lips pecking at his ears, neck, and cheeks like a chick, kissing him wetly and sweetly. Her hazy eyes were full of longing, trying to find the man who had made her heart flutter in Lanxiang Courtyard and Nanwa Lane.

But Jie Zhao ripped open her collar, broke the red silk bodice around her neck, and her pair of firm, proud breasts suddenly broke free of their restraints. Her delicate nipples swayed for a moment, then were violently pinched and squeezed again.

Yue Yingying whimpered, unable to distinguish between pain and pleasure. Her small hands weakly pushed against Jie Zhao's chest, but she couldn't muster any strength.

"Be...be gentle!" Her weak, moan-like whispers reached his ear, seemingly fueling his lust even more. Jie Zhao reached out and tore open her wooden-red skirt, pulling her thin trousers down to her knees. He covered her sweaty, full mons pubis and began to knead it, making wet, squelching sounds. Not content with that, he forcefully pulled at the glistening, wet pubic hair wrapped around his fingers. Yue Yingying cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face, "It hurts...it hurts so much! No..."

Jie Zhao ignored her. With a "rip!" he suddenly tore off the crotch cloth wrapped around her knees, ripping off the tattered trousers that were now just two legs. He casually pulled down her trousers, grabbed Yingying's knees, and forcefully spread her long, alluring legs into an inverted "E" shape. Between her snow-white thighs was a glistening, moist vulva, its tip trembling slightly.

Yue Yingying suddenly panicked.

This calamity wasn't the one genuinely coaxing her or always showing her tenderness; he was merely a lustful male animal. She weakly pounded his chest, deeply regretting her impulsiveness and rashness. Tears welled in her beautiful eyes as she cried out, "No! Let...let me go! Let me go!" hoping to evoke even a last shred of pity or affection from him.

The calamity, however, gasped, his heavy breaths like those of a wounded beast. His bloodshot eyes were wide open, reflecting only the empty image of the beautiful woman beneath him. Forgetting all tenderness and caresses, his swollen, purplish-red head rubbed haphazardly against her entrance, trying to force its way in.

Yue Yingying was shocked, pained, and heartbroken. Summoning a sudden burst of strength, she slapped the calamity hard across the face. Jie Zhao stopped abruptly, seemingly regaining some of his senses. Yue Yingying noticed the high swelling on his cheek and suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Forgetting that she was being violated, she couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke it: "I...I didn't mean to. Did...did it hurt? We..." Jie Zhao suddenly changed color, his pale face becoming incredibly ferocious. He grabbed her small hand and slammed it heavily onto the bed with a "bang!" His waist sank, and his burning hot penis was about to force its way in!

Yue Yingying screamed and raised her knee, her toe striking Jie Zhao squarely on the chin, kicking him off the bed. Her body was weak and limp; the kick, instead of subduing him, only fueled his ferocious rage. Jie Zhao rolled off the bed, knocking over a table and stool, numb to the pain. He growled and lunged at the edge of the bed, but a sharp, clear sound rang out. Yue Yingying pulled out a dagger from the bedside table; its trembling blade aimed directly at his throat, instantly subduing him.

"What do you take me for? Do you think I'm one of those courtesans or wanton women you can play with?" Yue Yingying covered her breasts with one hand, her bare legs crossed, her clothes torn to shreds, unable to conceal her violently trembling, alluring body.

"You... if you don't pity me or love me, then don't bother me!" She gritted her teeth, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, tears streaming down her cheeks. The trembling blade pierced Jie Zhao's neck, drawing blood, yet she couldn't stop trembling. Jie

Zhao didn't know what was wrong with him either. He had been wandering around the manor, trying to find Jie Ying, his heart racing with anxiety, wanting only someone to talk to; when he came to his senses, he found himself in this state.

He felt both ashamed and heartbroken. Just as he was about to speak, Yue Yingying pointed her silver knife and quietly said, "Get out."

"Yingying! I..." He hurriedly tried to explain, wishing he could tear his heart out, "I didn't..."

"Get out!" Yue Yingying, tears streaming down her face, gritted her teeth and said, "Fourth Master Jie, I am not a substitute for anyone, just to fill your emptiness and loneliness, nor am I a plaything for you to seduce and order around! Consider the past as my blindness. From now on, I never want to see you again! You...you get out!"

Jie Zhao felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Watching her tears flow uncontrollably, he couldn't think of a single word to comfort or argue. After a moment of stunned silence, he slowly stepped off the edge of the bed, his hands trembling as he put on his clothes. He silently left the room, each step feeling like a retreat from life, gradually retreating back into his own fantastical, closed world of illusion and reality.

Closing the door also sealed off the last connection between Jie Zhao and the real world. The last thing he heard in his memory was Yue Yingying's heartbroken weeping inside the door.

That

very night, Yingying left Suiping Prefecture without saying goodbye.

In his dream, Jie Zhao returned to the small stone hermitage filled with scriptures, but the old man was nowhere to be seen. No matter how much he shouted and how much chaos he created in his dream, he couldn't force the old man out. He suddenly felt abandoned by the world, and for a moment, he gave up on himself, conjuring up countless beautiful women in his dream to play with and amuse himself. He didn't know how long he indulged in this absurdity before feeling sorrow again: "My sister doesn't want me anymore, and neither does the silly girl. All the love in the world ends up being so painful. Is there any other way to escape this pain except death?"

With a wave of his hand, all the vibrant and fragrant scenes in the room disappeared, returning to the original dim light and yellowed books. He casually picked up a copy of "The Book of Subduing Fire" from the cabinet and started reading. When he got tired of it, he conjured up the little river island the old man loved most, chasing birds and practicing his swordsmanship haphazardly. When he was tired of playing, he blinked and removed all his clothes, immersing himself in the stream to cool off and bask in the sun. He could conjure up any kind of beautiful woman he wanted to play with, plump and slender, wanton and chaste, all kinds, but he could never conjure up the faces of Yingying and Jieying.

Jiezhao didn't want to wake up. But even dreams can be tiring. When he could no longer hold on and finally closed his eyes, he opened them to find it was the next morning. No matter how he spent his time in his dream, it was only one night, and he couldn't escape reality.

Since the murder at Jinchun Courtyard, the maids there had intentionally or unintentionally kept their distance from him. Perhaps no matter how much they asked, they refused to believe that the Fourth Master would kill someone, but the alluring appearance of the female corpse on the bed was very much like the Fourth Master's absurd temperament. What was most terrifying was his eyes—after being released from confinement, the Fourth Master seemed like a completely different person. His eye sockets were sunken, his eyes somewhat empty, carrying an indescribable gloom and weariness, as if he had never slept in his entire life. The lecherous, frivolous, yet lovable and kind young master of the past was nowhere to be seen.

On this day, Zhenyu, the maid responsible for serving him, took several deep breaths outside the door, and with a tragic heart, carried water into the room, only to find the brocade couch empty. Pushing open the latticed window, the cold morning wind ruffled the gauze curtains; turning around abruptly, she almost dropped the porcelain basin in fright. Jie Zhao was huddled in a round-backed chair covered with satin, the shadows obscuring his figure and appearance, leaving only his eyes gleaming like a man-eating tiger.

She cried out in surprise, but her mind returned as soon as the sound reached her throat. Not daring to be rude, she swallowed it back, took a few timid steps forward, placed the basin of water on the table, and forced a smile, "Good morning, Fourth...Fourth Master. This...this servant will help you wash and change. Master...Master is waiting!" She wrung out a handkerchief to wipe Jie Zhao's face, but her mature body trembled uncontrollably.

Jie Zhao just stared at her, but unlike before, he didn't make her blush or her heart race; he only made her feel uneasy. Although she was young, she had been with men before. Her first time was in this room, done by the Fourth Master. After the pain, she was then manipulated to the point of ecstasy. The handkerchief stained with patches of blood was still kept in Jie Zhao's paulownia wood cabinet, treasured along with his other spoils of war.

"Are you afraid of me?" Jie Zhao suddenly smiled.

Zhenyu was startled, her pretty face turning pale. She stammered, "No...nothing! Master is just talking nonsense again."

Jie Zhao had the maids wipe his face and change his clothes, his hands and feet never behaving properly. More often than not, when the mood struck, he would touch and caress, then proceed with his wanton behavior. The Fourth Master's ability to pamper women was renowned among the maids; many couldn't wait for their turn and secretly vied for his attention. To only look and not touch like today was unheard of. Zhenyu suddenly remembered the alluring death of the envoy from Miwu Palace, and her limbs went limp.

"Master wanted to see me?" Jie Zhao smiled again.

His features were obscured by the shadows, except for his gleaming eyes and a set of white teeth.

Zhenyu nodded hastily, "Yes...yes! He said there's an important announcement this morning, and guests from the three...three families will all be there."

Jie Zhao opened his eyes, speechless. His eyes, like those of a night owl, glowed strangely yet were utterly empty, a truly terrifying sight. In Zhenyu's eyes, the once dashing and charming Fourth Master had transformed into a terrifying monster, quietly crouching on the armchair, slowly and patiently toying with its prey, waiting for the moment to pounce and devour it.

But this monster never pounced to tear her delicate throat.

"You can go now. I can dress myself."

Zhenyu was stunned upon hearing this, as if granted a pardon, and fled the room like a whirlwind. Only after passing through two courtyard gates did she collapse from exhaustion, bursting into tears. Jie Zhao

, dressed neatly, slowly made his way to the main hall, finding everyone already seated; except for Yingying and Jie Ying, everyone else was the same as on the day of the sword-fighting and pearl-grabbing contest. Jie Zhen sat on the steps, giving him a cold glance, too lazy even to scold him, let alone care about the strange looks from those around him. Jie Zhao dragged himself to sit next to Jie Zhen, only to hear Jie Zhen whisper, "Don't be late next time!"

"Mm," Jie Zhao replied weakly.

Jie Zhen continued to stare at him, seemingly unwilling to look away. Jie Zhao immediately understood, and took out a bundle of handwritten slips of paper from his robes, handing it over. These were the summaries of the sword principles for the three swords, "Candle Night," "Shu Fu," and "Frostfall," which he had casually jotted down the previous night. Jie

Zhen took them without even glancing at them, casually putting them into his robes, and nodded in satisfaction.

After waiting a moment, Yao Wuyi arrived late, once again appearing with a red nose, drunken eyes, and a drowsy look, swaggering to the seat of honor.

Jie Zhen cleared his throat, rose from the table, and said loudly, "The case of the murder of Envoy Miwu and the theft of the Yinpin Pearl the other day has implicated three distinguished guests, forcing them to stay at my residence and depriving them of their freedom. This is truly my fault. Fortunately, the murderer acted hastily and did not have time to take the pearl away. Thanks to Eunuch Yao's keen observation and the tireless efforts of Commandant Qu and the brothers of the Golden Guard, the pearl was finally recovered from the crime scene and returned to the Netherworld." After speaking, he took out a brocade box and respectfully presented it to Yao Wuyi.

The box contained a pearl the size of a lychee, its surface smooth and lustrous. Even before the box was fully opened, a glimmer of light shone through the shadows—it was a priceless luminous pearl. Yao Wuyi didn't take it, but squinted at it for a moment, then waved his hand, saying, "Yes, it's definitely this pearl. You've all worked hard."

Jie Zhen repeatedly said he didn't deserve it, closed the brocade box, and personally handed it to Wen Qiongyu. "The Xuan Emperor's martial arts are unparalleled; he is a pillar of the Zhongchen Righteous Path. The return of the Yin Female Pearl to the Nine Nether Cold Court is our good fortune. Please convey my regards, Miss Wen, and thank the Xuan Emperor for his concern."

Wen Qiongyu smiled calmly, "You flatter me, Master Jie." She casually handed the brocade box to Shang Jiuqing, then gracefully returned to her seat with light, delicate steps. Suddenly, she turned back and said, "Master Jie, I've heard from elders that the Yin Female Pearl is a spiritual object. If it isn't blessed by the Demonic Sect's secret techniques within twelve hours of its birth, its spiritual energy will quickly dissipate. Since the Envoy of Miwu is dead, I fear this pearl is useless. May I ask if it was already contained in this box when it was found?"

Jie Zhen had heard... His face darkened, and he whispered to Jie Zhao, "This woman is up to her old tricks again!"

Jie Zhao didn't care at all, and smiled lazily, "Just say 'yes,' and that's it. Give her whatever she wants."

Jie Zhen shook his head without speaking, but saw Jie Zhen looking slightly surprised. He shook his head and said, "This matter needs to be discussed with Commandant Qu. I really don't know." All eyes turned to Yao Wuyi. Yao Wuyi narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly, turning his head and saying, "Qu Fengzhao, they're asking you!"

This pearl certainly couldn't have been found by the Jinwu Guard. Even if Qu Fengzhao was incredibly knowledgeable, he couldn't answer it. But whether he answered "yes" or "no," he would have to bear the responsibility. The ambitious Zhaowu Commandant, expressionless and without looking to the side, slowly nodded, "It's in the box."

Wen Qiongyu's beautiful eyes sparkled, and her brows furrowed slightly, "Did you open it to look inside?"

Qu Fengzhao wanted to deny it, but then thought, "If I didn't open the box, how would I know there was a pearl inside?" He could only nod and say:

"I opened it once or twice to look at it, but I didn't take it out."

Wen Qiongyu exclaimed softly, then covered her mouth and pretended to realize something. "That's it! The thief tampered with it, and the pearl is no longer effective."

This statement startled everyone present. Yao Wuyi's face darkened, and he said angrily, "Little girl! You'd better explain yourself properly. If you don't tell the whole story, don't blame me for not being gentle with you."

Wen Qiongyu pretended not to understand the threat in his words and said calmly, "The Yin Female Pearl is the most Yin thing in the world. It freezes in water and remains cold even under the sun. If it hadn't lost its power, how could it not be cold at all? In my opinion, it's not that the murderer left the pearl in a hurry, but that the pearl's spiritual energy was completely absorbed, leaving only an empty shell." As she spoke, she opened the box, took out the pearl, and passed it to everyone to see.

Fa Taochun was the most anxious. Ignoring her husband's attempts to stop her, she snatched the pearl away hastily, repeatedly clasping it between her hands, and exclaimed shrilly, "It's not very cold! There's definitely something wrong!" She turned and glared angrily at Jie Zhen, as if he were the one who had stolen the pearl's spiritual energy, her eyes filled

with venom. The people in the hall were filled with doubt and surprise. Wen Qiongyu then said, "The Yin-Yang Pearl is of Yin nature and is most afraid of Yang energy. If it is exposed to sunlight for even a moment, the little spiritual energy it has left will vanish. If you don't believe me, please look." She had Shang Jiuqing take it to the central courtyard for a while, and when it returned to the hall, it was indeed slightly warm to the touch, its luster was dim, and even the pearl seemed to have shrunk a bit, like a wilting flower.

"The pearl originally possessed a spirit; it is a living thing. Once it loses its spiritual energy, it is as if it is dead." Everyone present sighed in admiration.

Yao Wuyi coldly watched, then sneered, "So, you suspect that Master Jie has swallowed the pearl's spiritual energy?"

Wen Qiongyu exclaimed in surprise, "You jest, sir. Master Jie is a chivalrous and upright man; how could he do such a thing? It must have been the work of those demonic bandits who stole the pearl. Even if this pearl were returned to the Nine Netherworld Cold Court, it would be nothing more than a large pearl ornament, with no further use. It would be better to offer it to the imperial court to replenish the treasury. Last year, the northern regions suffered from both drought and flood, and it is said that starving people flocked to the vicinity of the capital! If this pearl were exchanged for rice and millet, it would be enough to..." "To provide relief to the refugees, thus demonstrating His Majesty's wisdom."

Yao Wuyi had nothing to say, and snorted, "The court has its own laws, and it's none of your business what you commoners say.

The pearl is yours to do with as you please, and no one can stop you. Will it be returned to the national treasury? Childish, absurd!" Wen Qiongyu descended the steps, curtsied slightly, and sighed, "We common folk are ignorant of worldly affairs, but thanks to your guidance, sir, we avoided making a fool of ourselves."

Yao Wuyi snorted twice, and seeing that she didn't intend to press the matter further, his expression gradually softened.

Suddenly, Fang Dongqi, the chief镖头 (head镖师) of the Huanyu Escort Agency, known as "Muye Liuxing" (牧野流星), said, "According to your suggestion, young lady, the key to solving the case lies with the person who stole

the pearl. However, all the clues have run dry here. Where should we look?" Wen Qiongyu smiled and said, "That's not difficult. Recently, if any nameless masters with Xuan Yin True Qi have risen in the martial arts world, or if someone suddenly displays extremely Yin and cold martial arts skills without any traceable lineage, they are suspects in the theft of the pearl.

The Xuan Yin Qi on the murderer is his biggest weakness." Everyone understood upon hearing this. Fang Dongqi clapped his hands and sighed, "Young lady, you have a keen eye and insight. I truly admire you!"

"Chief镖头 (head镖师) flatters me." Wen Qiongyu bowed gracefully, her posture elegant and beautiful, beyond description.

With the important matter settled, Yao Wuyi said to Jie Zhen, "Old Jie, I'm going back to the palace! You should also make preparations at your residence so we can set off for Tiancheng Mountain tomorrow." Jie Zhen bowed and said, "Thank you for your care, Eunuch. My daughter is quite unruly, and I'll have to trouble you with your care while she's in the capital."

Yao Wuyi warmly took Jie Zhen's hand and leaned closer, saying, "Why are you being so polite with me? I've watched the little princess grow up, how could I not care? I think the marriage that the Empress arranged for the princess this time will be a 19% success! The heir apparent is the eldest son of the founding emperor, a legitimate member of the imperial family, and his status is extraordinary. It's said that the young prince is also exceptionally handsome, resembling his father. He and the princess, with her celestial beauty, are a match made in heaven. After it's settled, Old Jie, don't forget about me, the matchmaker!" He laughed heartily, overjoyed, as if the thank-you wine was already within his grasp.

The "Heir Apparent" he spoke of was none other than Fu Fengzhi, the "Flying Sword Immortal," the master of the Three Immortals Sect. The young prince, Yunyun, was naturally Fu Fengzhi's son

, Fu Pijiang. Fu Fengzhi was the eighth son of the founding emperor. According to the bloodline and genealogy, he was absolutely qualified to inherit the throne. However, in his youth, he was devoted to martial arts and had no interest in court affairs, instead making a name for himself in the martial world. After the founding emperor's death, the late emperor ascended the throne and greatly admired his highly skilled but uninterested half-brother. He bestowed upon him the title of "Heir Apparent," granting him a fief of five thousand households, a Daoist treasure from the previous dynasty's treasury, the *Zifu Yanhua Jing*, and permission to establish his own princely residence.

This heir apparent, always self-proclaimed a romantic, handsome, and highly talented man, had captivated countless noble ladies in his youth, earning him the nicknames "Poet Immortal," "Wine Immortal," and "Sword Immortal." After establishing his own residence, he named it the "Three Immortals Sect," and was renowned for his "Splitting Light Sword Technique," ranking among the Six Masters. He was skilled in controlling sword energy, and praised himself, saying, "Throughout my life, I discuss swordsmanship without wielding a sword; my transcendence lies within the mortal world." Even after years of seclusion in the mountains, detached from martial arts affairs, his fame still spread far and wide, and he was respected by the martial arts world.

Since the young prince, Fu Pijiang, "resembles his father," he must also be a handsome and romantic figure. Jie Zhao felt a pang of sadness and suddenly became somewhat self-deprecating. Before the banquet was over, he rose abruptly, head bowed, and walked out of the hall. Jie Zhen, seeing this from afar, turned ashen-faced and shouted in a deep voice, "Come back! Do you have any sense of propriety left?" It was rare for him to lose his temper like this, and everyone was startled, turning their heads in surprise.

Jie Zhao had always feared his father, but the thought that it was he who was going to marry off Jie Ying suddenly gave him a sudden impulse to disregard everything. He hesitated for a moment, then continued walking with his head down without stopping. Jie Zhen was about to explode when the steward, Hou Sheng, strode in and bowed expressionlessly: "Reporting to Master, news has come from Zhengyang Gate that the Second Master has arrived! He is resting temporarily at the post station outside the city at Yangliu Bridge and will enter the city shortly."

Jie Zhen's expression changed drastically. Because the Huangting Ancestor was about to pass away, and the matter of the Yin Female Pearl had an unexpectedly perfect outcome, he was regretting sending a letter to urgently summon Jie Jinglei back to the capital. He hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly. It was said that Xiangshan was more than a hundred miles away from the capital. Even at the fastest speed, it would take at least two days and nights; plus the time it would take for the eagle to deliver the message, there was no way he could have arrived today.

Hou Sheng seemed to read his master's mind, replying in a flat, cold voice, "Second Master came directly from Guanxia Ridge. He said he intercepted a hawk while leading a hunting party and came with his men." Guanxia Ridge is less than fifty li from Zhongjing. The imperial court has a Yingbin Villa there, which is one of the most popular hunting grounds for high-ranking military officers stationed in the capital. The autumn maples are extremely beautiful, and it is considered one of the two wonders, along with the summer paulownia trees of "Bicheng Tianjie" in the south of the capital.

Yao Wuyi raised an eyebrow and squinted, saying, "Oh? Gongwei is back? What a coincidence!" "Gongwei" is Jie Jinglei's courtesy name. Jie Jinglei is four or five years younger than his elder brother, so in Yao Wuyi's eyes, he is naturally just a younger brother. Jie Zhen looked embarrassed and said respectfully, "I am leaving the capital tomorrow and specifically summoned Gongwei back to the manor to oversee the overall situation. I didn't expect him to arrive so quickly."

Yao Wuyi glanced at him intentionally or unintentionally, stroked his smooth, beardless triple chin, and chuckled, "That's quite a coincidence. It's getting late, I'll head back to the palace first. I'll come back to see you off tomorrow and have a few drinks with Gongwei.

It's been so many years since we last saw each other!" Jie Zhen repeatedly agreed and saw them off to the hall with everyone. He appeared respectful, but his mind was racing.

The Yinpin Pearl case had come to an end, and now the three families had no excuse to interrogate each other. They were about to disperse, and Jie Zhen himself was about to leave the capital for Tiancheng Mountain. If the three thousand Flying Tiger Cavalry were to march into the capital in a grand manner, it would be like inviting a wolf into the house. Jie Jinglei headed straight for Zhongjing from the hunting grounds, his entourage likely consisting of lightly armed and fast horses, and likely small in number, making them relatively safe.

Thinking of this, Jie Zhen felt much relieved. After seeing Yao Wuyi off, he sent Jie Zhen and Jie Jun out of the city to meet him. Returning, he found Jie Zhao huddled in the hall, lost in thought, not even coming out to see Eunuch Yao off. Jie Zhen, sensing his anger, quickly said, "Father, Fourth Brother, you should come with me. Second Brother's injuries haven't healed, so I'm afraid he can't ride a horse." Jie Zhen snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and went into the hall, chatting idly with Wen Qiongyu, Chang Zaifeng, and others, as if Jie Zhao were an invisible, intangible aura of corruption.

Jie Zhen dragged Jie Zhao out of the mansion on horseback, the two riding side by side in silence.

Upon arriving at Zhengyang Gate, before even requesting an audience with the gatekeeper, the guards suddenly bustled about. A welcoming gate on one side slowly opened, clearing a narrow, brick path reserved for royalty and dignitaries, to welcome two long lines of riders.

Leading the procession was a tall, imposing figure, a celestial general on horseback. The rider had a face like a red date, a swallow's chin, and a leopard's beard. He wore a purple robe and leather armor, and on his back stood a massive, thick-bladed sword wider than a hand. The hilt was cast in the lifelike shape of a tiger's head, the hilt a perfect half-tiger claw, and the five claws at the tip of the blade were outstretched. From a distance,

it appeared as if he were carrying a ferocious bronze tiger. The man rode in slowly, the hooves clattering. His upright, imposing body seemed cast in iron, creating the illusion that the city gate had suddenly become shorter. His enormous shadow filled the stone archway, as if blocking the last rays of the setting sun.

—Thunderclap. "Piercing Rainbow Purple Lightning"—a devastating thunderbolt!

If the "Divine Firmament Thunder Concealment" tribulation had never existed, this name would belong to the most resolute man in Zhongjing.

Following closely behind the thunderbolt was a young girl in an apricot-yellow dress.

She appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with delicate features and light brown skin as lustrous and smooth as molten amber, or like ripe wheat soaked in sunlight. Her figure differed from the slender, graceful ladies of the capital, and she certainly didn't have a wasp waist or long legs, but she walked with her chest out and back straight, exuding spirit. Her movements as she saddled the horse were particularly supple and coordinated, possessing a vigorous vitality akin to galloping across a vast wilderness.

She was robust and full-figured, yet her appearance was quite demure: her thick eyebrows, large eyes, and straight nose vaguely resembled the thunderbolt's, but her untamed wildness was softened by her delicate pink lips, a touch of fine hair on which further accentuated the smallness of her lips and the roundness of her chin. Her long hair was braided into a single, glossy black three-strand braid, gathered at her left chest. She wore no hair ornaments, and her attire—a Hu-style robe with a turned-down collar and a sash—was quite similar to Shang Jiuqing's, but while Shang Jiuqing was strikingly heroic, she was refined and elegant.

Jie Zhao knew who she was.

Jie Jinglei had no sons, only a beloved daughter. He had never remarried after losing his wife in his youth, and had never had any concubines or maids. He couldn't be mistaken. He just hadn't expected that a girl could change so much as she grew up. The dark-skinned girl, Jie Ping, who used to make him lift her skirt and pull her braids, and who was always crying and angry, had actually blossomed into such a refined and cultured young lady.

He steeled himself and followed his second brother, riding forward to greet them. Jie Zhen, with a shout, reined in his horse and, from his horse's back, clasped his hands in a respectful bow: "Nephew Jie Zhen, by order of Father, has come to welcome Uncle back to the manor!" Jie Jinglei raised his left hand, and the eighteen tiger riders behind him stopped in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized. Neither the riders bowed their heads nor the horses shook their manes; they stood motionless in the evening breeze, like clay sculptures or wooden statues.

Jie Jinglei nodded, his steely face revealing neither joy nor anger. Occasionally, he glanced at Jie Zhao behind him, and his gaze suddenly turned icy: "You've caused trouble again?" Jie Zhao had always been afraid of his second uncle. Jie Jinglei was the only person in Suiping Prefecture who dared to punch the seven-year-old fourth young master. That was the first time Jie Zhao had ever been beaten, and the first time he had almost lost his life.

Jie Zhao subconsciously shrank his neck, suddenly feeling an awkward embarrassment, unable to speak. However, in Jie Jinglei's eyes, his avoidance was not just a sign of guilt and cowardice, but also a strange, unspeakable glint in his eyes, like a wild beast facing its hunter, doubly arousing his instinct to attack and fight.

Seeing that the atmosphere had become tense, Jie Zhen quickly tried to smooth things over: "Uncle, please be wise. The case is now clear. The person who stole the pearl and committed the crime should be a wicked remnant of the Demonic Sect. It has nothing to do with Fourth Brother. He has been wronged." Jie Jinglei snorted and said coldly: "I know you don't have the guts to kill anyone! But there are so many people in Zhongjing, why did they choose to frame you?" Jie Zhao was speechless. He looked up and saw Jie Ping glance at him, her brows slightly furrowed, also showing considerable disapproval.

Jie Zhen smiled and nodded: "Ah Ping, it's been so long!"

Jie Ping smiled at his words, her almond-shaped eyes shining, yet she remained perfectly composed, curtsying from her horseback riding: "Greetings, Third Brother." Her manners were impeccable, her voice clear and unpretentious, truly befitting a daughter of a noble family; only in the small gesture of lightly biting her pink lips did a hint of girlish shyness and joy leak out, fleeting yet exceptionally endearing.

Jie Zhen nodded, not daring to look at her any longer, then turned to Jie Jinglei.

"Second Uncle rushed from Guanxia Ridge to the capital. In your haste, did you not have time to bring any men?"

Jie Jinglei said coldly. "There are also five hundred cavalry stationed at the post station outside the city. I will enter the capital alone with my sword, fearless! If it weren't for A-Ping's insistence, I wouldn't even want to bring the 'Eighteen Flying Tigers.' Let's see who can do anything to me!" Jie Ping frowned and said softly, "Father!" Her voice was reproachful, yet it seemed to be a reminder to her father to be careful with his words. This short call seemed to contain countless thoughts.

Jie Jinglei laughed heartily, his laughter so loud that the patrolling soldiers nearby covered their ears and ran away. Before the laughter stopped, the iron-faced "Piercing Rainbow Purple Lightning" seemed to have been reduced to his original form, becoming an old father who was both heartbroken and proud of his daughter. He was powerless against his beloved daughter's discipline. His expression softened, and he nodded, saying, "Let's not talk about this. Come on! We'll talk on the way." He spurred his horse and rode off slowly.

Jie Zhen followed on his horse, and the two rode side by side, whispering to each other. The "Eighteen Flying Tiger Riders," without giving a command, stood motionless, each with an iron-like face, eyes wide open to the wind. Both rider and horse were tall and proud, clad in bright armor and gleaming swords, exuding an extraordinary spirit that outshone even the imperial guards stationed in the city. Nearby passersby watched from afar, all full of admiration.

Jie Jinglei and Jie Zhen had traveled more than ten paces when Jie Zhao was about to catch up. Suddenly, Jie Jinglei raised his left hand, and the eighteen Flying Tiger Riders spurred their reins, two by two, and filed past Jie Zhao's horse. The first two riders nearly knocked him over

, as if he were invisible. Jie Zhao's riding skills were mediocre, and his mount was not as swift as the Western Region's swift and spirited steed, the Swift Cloud Steed. Suddenly blocked by the large group, his horse twisted and turned, hesitant to pass, spinning twice before gradually becoming disoriented. He was flustered and yelling, but the horse wouldn't obey. Suddenly, a small, narrow-sleeved hand reached out from the side, grabbed the reins, pulled on the bit to keep it still, and made a few "clunking" sounds. The horse actually calmed down.

Jie Zhao wiped the sweat from his brow, looking up to see a hint of sympathy and pity on Jie Ping's delicate face. Words of gratitude stuck in his throat; he simply nodded to her and spurred his horse to catch up.

Jie Ping sighed softly and rode alongside him. Her horsemanship was superb; not only was her posture graceful and elegant, but her control of the reins was also effortless. Jie Zhao was unknowingly guided by her, and the two of them weaved through the ranks of the Flying Tiger Eighteen Riders. The two long lines parted in response, allowing them to return to the front of their ranks—a truly beautiful sight, as if they had practiced this moment a thousand times. The people of Zhongjing had never seen such a skillful horse performance before. Thunderous applause erupted along the street.

Jie Ping skillfully tugged at Jie Zhao's reins, calming the horse and preventing it from being disturbed by the clamor of the passersby.

Jie Zhao watched all this and sighed inwardly, "I must have bullied her countless times when we were kids, it's amazing she doesn't hold a grudge." With no more resentment in his heart, he said softly, "Thank you! I'm not a very good rider."

Jie Ping hummed in response, her large eyes fixed on Jie Zhen's back, never leaving him. After a moment, she turned her head slightly, a hint of surprise in her voice, and asked, "What did you say?" Jie Zhao felt a pang of bitterness. His third brother was skilled in both literature and martial arts, a true dragon among men, but when it came to winning a girl's heart, he, the Fourth Master Jie, had always been a butterfly hunter among beauties, a champion in the land of women. He had never experienced such neglect before. Suddenly feeling a bit dejected, he said indifferently, "It's nothing, I just wanted to say hello."

Seeing his shifty gaze, Jie Ping simply smiled and changed the subject: "I heard you fought Chang Zaifeng, the seventh of the 'Seven Sons of Tiandu,' and won the Yinpin Pearl! You're really skilled." She was the same age as Jie Zhao, only two months younger. She had often been bullied by him when they were young and had never called him "Fourth Brother." They always spoke to each other politely, not because she was ignorant of manners.

Jie Zhao smiled calmly: "It was just luck. If Third Brother hadn't held back, I would have won the second round, and none of this would have happened." Jie Ping nodded: "Yes! That's what I thought too. If you could defeat Chang Zaifeng, there's no reason why Third Brother wouldn't win. He must have had other plans, maybe… he wanted you to gain fame, so Second Brother wouldn't get the upper hand." As she spoke, she craned her neck to look into the distance, her eyes filled with a misty light.

In truth, Jie Zhao's thoughts were similar, but from her words, he felt a sense of unease.

Compared to Jie Ying and Ying Ying, Jie Ping was only of average appearance; she was pretty, but by no means beautiful. Jie Zhao had no feelings for her whatsoever, yet he felt a sour taste in his mouth, as if he had spilled a jar of aged vinegar. He felt utterly miserable, and unconsciously let out a cold snort, his expression strange.

Perhaps… it was his dashing and talented third brother who reminded him of the young prince Fu Pijiang, who "had much of his father's style"? That guy who was about to take Jie Ying away from him…

Jie Zhao was heartbroken, and the thought of driving Ying Ying away again nearly drove him mad. He wished his second uncle would come and beat him again, until his teeth were broken, his face swollen and bruised, only then could he slightly quell the regret and pain in his heart. Perhaps only when he was on the verge of death, barely clinging to life, could he make Jie Ying and Ying Ying turn back for one last look? Jie Zhao laughed bitterly, a hint of self-destruction in his eyes.

Seeing his listless, haggard appearance, and utterly dejected look, Jie Ping thought to herself, "I heard he's been indulging in wine and women these past few years, behaving dissolutely. I didn't believe it at first. Now it seems it's true." Seeing his displeasure with his third brother, and recalling the rumors of how devoted his third brother had been to this good-for-nothing younger brother, she felt a chill run down her spine. She frowned and quietly loosened his reins.

◇ ◇ ◇

The main force arrived at Suiping Prefecture. Jie Jinglei rode straight in, the servants daring not to stop him. Even the guards and attendants in the mansion who tried to stop him were gestured to retreat by Jie Zhen.

Riding Jie Jinglei's steed, the Western Domain's Galloping Cloud Steed traversed steps and gates with effortless ease, galloping into the Tenglong Courtyard where Jie Zhen resided. Jie Zhen dismounted, the tiger-headed broadsword on his back striking his breastplate with a resounding "thud!"; with each step, the copper studs on his leather armor jingled, like the clash of swords. The

"Eighteen Flying Tiger Riders," without being ordered to dismount, charged in like dragons and arrows, kicking up clouds of dust.

Jie Zhen and Jie Zhao, lacking the skill for riding in the courtyard, abandoned their mounts at the gate and hastily followed using their lightness skills. Jie Ping hesitated briefly before dismounting as well, choosing to walk.

The Jie family's martial arts were too forceful, unsuitable for women to practice; therefore, like Jie Ying, Jie Ping had only learned some superficial physical training from the courtyard's martial arts instructors, their internal strength and lightness skills lacking foundation, and they were quickly left behind. Suddenly, Jie Zhen stopped abruptly, turned around, and rushed over. He took her small hand, put his right palm behind her back to support her waist, and said urgently, "Sister, please come with me!" He ran off at full speed, not even having time to look at her.

Jie Ping's round face flushed red, her heart filled with shy joy, but she knew that this was not the time to flaunt her romantic feelings. The three of them ran together into Tenglong Courtyard, where they saw eighteen riders lined up on both sides, swords in hand, exuding a murderous aura. Jie Jinglei strode to Jie Zhen's study. The door was tightly closed, and the servants who had been waiting outside had already scattered in fear. A burly man holding two large swords blocked the doorway. His muscular, bare upper body was bandaged diagonally, and his angry hair and thick eyebrows were as red as flames soaring into the sky. It was Jie Jun.

"Second Uncle!" Jie Jun's face was grim as he roared in a low voice, "How dare you be disrespectful before the Patriarch! Second Uncle, please immediately leave Tenglong Academy, remove your armor and sword, restrain your subordinates, and come to apologize to Father! If you offend again, don't blame Jie Jun for being rude!"

Jie Jinglei's strained relationship with his elder brother didn't mean he preferred the Yunyang Old Residence. He twitched his thick eyebrows, stepped forward with his hands behind his back, and the hilt of the tiger-headed sword on his shoulder suddenly leaped, its sword aura overwhelming, already difficult to defend against even before it was drawn; both were exceptionally burly and wielded massive weapons, yet Jie Jun couldn't help but sweat. Although he gritted his teeth and refused to back down, the difference in their auras was like that of a tiger and a lion cub.

"Jun'er, step back." Jie Zhen's steady but hoarse voice came from the study. Jie

Jun hesitated for a moment, lowered his sword and stepped aside, the veins on his neck and arms still bulging and throbbing slightly, clearly not yet recovered from Jie Jinglei's oppressive pressure. If the fight continued like this, Jie Jinglei could probably take his head with a single sword strike, without even needing a second move. "Divine Firmament Thunder Concealment" Jie Zhen, his eyes burning, wouldn't stand idly by.

Jie Jinglei sneered, "When did you learn to fawn over the old mansion like this?"

Jie Jun glared angrily, but heard Jie Zhen calmly say, "Second brother, I won't hold it against you. There's nothing for you to do in the capital anymore. Don't try to stir up trouble. I predict the Demonic Sect will be making moves soon. You should quickly return to Fragrant Hills and prepare accordingly. I can forgive your rudeness today." Looking through the latticed doorway, the head of Zhaori Manor seemed to be engrossed in writing, not even looking up as he spoke, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

Jie Jinglei still smiled coldly.

"I also want to return to Fragrant Hills soon, but unfortunately, there's still one thing I haven't finished."

Jie Zhen finally stopped what he was doing and slowly looked up.

"What is it?"

With a loud bang, the four doors in front of the study were shaken open, and Jie Jun was blasted into the room!

"I came here specifically..." Mingjian scattered, and Jie Jinglei stepped into the study, stepping on the broken wooden lattice windows scattered on the floor. He came to the desk with a clatter, looked down at his brother, and his iron mask-like face finally showed an expression, with a fierce resentment and arrogance: "Take over your position as head of the family!"

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Chapter Nine of the Heavenly Tribulation of the Sun: The Path to Immortality, Purple Lightning Soars Through the Sky

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