The courtyard gate opened wide as White Tiger led the eight cloaked figures into the hall.

The hall was brightly lit with candles, occupied by Ji Xuan and his team, along with the Fourth Rank secret agent from Sky Mechanism Palace stationed in Yong Province City.

Ji Xuan rose to greet them, clasping his hands in salute:

“Greetings, honored seniors.”

The lead Azure Dragon gave a slight “mm” in acknowledgment, nodding to Xu Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuan Huai before taking his seat. The seven cloaked figures stood silently behind him.

“Have you found that person?” Azure Dragon asked, his voice hoarse and deep as if his throat had been injured.

“You should know that even if the Palace Master came personally, it would be difficult to find that person,” the Fourth Rank secret agent said flatly…

Azure Dragon nodded, and from beneath his cloak came the hoarse, deep voice:

“What about the Dragon Qi host?”

“Still searching,” the Sky Mechanism Palace agent replied.

After a moment of silence, Azure Dragon’s tone turned icy:

“I’m very dissatisfied with your efficiency. The Buddhist faction, Sky Mechanism Palace, and all of you—after all this time, not only have you failed to find that person, but you haven’t even located a single Dragon Qi host.”

Are they referring to Xu Qian or Sun Xuan Ji? Ji Xuan and the others wondered silently.

“Yong Province City has hundreds of thousands of residents. Finding one specific person is like searching for a needle in the sea,” the Fourth Rank agent said. “The time doesn’t matter—we just need to find the Dragon Qi host before that person does.”

“Tell me your plan,” Azure Dragon said noncommittally, not dwelling on the topic.

The Sky Mechanism Palace agent spoke slowly:

“It’s simple. Find the Dragon Qi host that Young Master Ji Xuan encountered in Qing Province. He possesses one of the Nine Dragon Qi, enough to draw that person out. To move faster than our opponent, the Buddhist monks will patrol Yong Province City day and night.”

“He’ll certainly be hampered by concerns, which will slow his search. We’ll take that opportunity to find the host.”

“Currently, we know Xu Qian has Human Path Dao Leader Luo Yu Heng and Astronomical Bureau’s Sun Xuan Ji by his side.”

Azure Dragon raised his hand to interrupt:

“Does he know our combat strength?”

“The Buddhist faction has already stirred things up; he knows the number of their experts. As for you…” The agent Chen glanced at Xu Yuan Shuang and said:

“He likely has a good idea.”

Azure Dragon followed with a look at Xu Yuan Shuang but didn’t inquire further, saying:

“If that’s the case, the chances of him abandoning this Dragon Qi are higher. There are nine Dragon Qi—abandoning one that’s almost impossible to obtain and leaving Yong Province to seek the others would be the better choice.”

The Sky Mechanism Palace agent smiled:

“No hunt is guaranteed to succeed. Therefore, from now on, the Seven Azure Dragon Constellation will suspend all other tasks and lurk in the jianghu, tracking Xu Qian’s whereabouts until he’s captured.”

“If he knows better than to persist, we’ll gladly take the Dragon Qi and bring the host back to Hidden Dragon City. Preventing Great Feng from gathering the Dragon Qi is also our mission. The longer the Dragon Qi remain scattered, the more chaos Great Feng will face.”

At this point, Xu Yuan Huai called out loudly: “Azure Dragon, when hunting Xu Qian, I want you to kill him.”

Azure Dragon gave a “heh” and said in his hoarse voice:

“His life is quite precious. Does Young Master Yuan Huai have a grudge against him?”

Xu Yuan Huai gritted his teeth: “A grudge deep as the sea.”

Beside him, Xu Yuan Shuang kept her head down, elbow propped on the chair’s armrest, right hand supporting her forehead, appearing unwilling to speak.

She knew that in Xu Yuan Huai’s mind, he was convinced she had been defiled by Xu Qian, and he wouldn’t believe her explanations.

Such matters couldn’t be explained without supporting evidence—no one would believe, and attempts at explanation would only make things worse.

Xu Yuan Shuang had already given up.

Azure Dragon said indifferently: “When we capture Xu Qian, Young Master can torture him as you wish, just leave him alive.”

His tone carried ease and confidence.

Qi Hun Dan Xiang interjected:

“This man’s methods are strange, and he’s proficient in several types of poison arts—worth investigating.”

Liu Hong Mian giggled:

“With the Buddhist faction’s Second Rank Arhat, Third Rank Vajra warriors, and the Seven Azure Dragon Constellation, plus our assistance forming a siege, once Xu Qian takes the bait, he won’t escape even with wings, and no one can save him.”

Everyone naturally agreed with her words.

The main hunting force consisted of Transcendent Realm experts, but Ji Xuan’s team and the Sky Mechanism Palace agent’s Fourth Rank experts were equally formidable.

Every Fourth Rank expert was renowned in the jianghu, far from being small fry.

Ji Xuan suddenly asked: “How can we ensure the Buddhist faction won’t go back on their word and compete with us for the Dragon Qi?”

The Seven Azure Dragon Constellation’s combat power could match Third Rank, but compared to the Buddhist forces in Yong Province City, they were still far inferior.

Agent Chen replied:

“No need to worry about that.”

He did not explain.

Ji Xuan slowly swept his gaze across everyone, lowered his head, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

…

The snow fell in swirling flurries, quickly forming a thin layer on the official road outside the city.

Two cloaked figures moved through the wind and snow, their footsteps making soft “crunch” sounds.

“The city gates are closed,” said the tall and sturdy Heng Yuan, raising his head to look at the dark city walls.

Between the tightly shut gates and the dark walls were carved two characters: Yong Province!

They had followed the two Heaven Sect seniors all the way here to Yong Province.

After this period of arduous cultivation, Heng Yuan had finally mastered the Vajra Divine Technique, and his combat power had entered the Fourth Rank.

But the gravity and sorrow between his brows had been increasing daily.

Chu Yuan Zhen summoned his flying sword and said: “Let’s enter the city.”

“Wait…” Heng Yuan looked toward the city gate and said softly: “There’s someone.”

He slowly approached the gate, where two figures were huddled, one large and one small, wearing tattered clothes—an elderly person covered in wrinkles and an emaciated child.

They appeared to be grandfather and grandchild.

They held each other tightly in the cold wind and snow, but their life’s embers had already been extinguished.

“Amitabha,” Heng Yuan tried to separate them but found the pair completely frozen, like cold, lifeless sculptures.

This monk, though a warrior monk, had a strong compassionate heart. He dug a hole with his hands in the ground mixed with ice crystals and hard as iron and buried the bodies of the grandfather and grandchild.

He sat before the makeshift grave, chanting sutras for the deceased.

Chu Yuan Zhen stood beside him in silence.

Since winter began, they had encountered such scenes many times.

Every year claimed frozen dead, but this winter was particularly harsh. Those from poor households could barely survive.

The displaced, whether refugees or beggars, had virtually no chance of surviving this winter.

So how many would die this winter?

Chu Yuan Zhen didn’t know, but he knew such population reduction would bring negative consequences.

He knew even more clearly that this was just the prelude.

Winter had only just begun.

And the entire winter was still just the prelude.

“Better to return!” State Scholar Chu said softly, unclear whether he was speaking to the grandfather and grandchild in the grave or to himself.

…

In Green Apricot Garden.

Xu Qi An woke at his usual time, feeling the soft, delicate body in his arms. He instinctively embraced her waist and buried his face in the beauty’s neck.

The next moment, his eyes snapped open as he realized something was amiss.

Last night’s dual cultivation had ended in the hot spring, with the “conservative” Luo Yu Heng half-resisting, half-yielding, adding another experience to Xu Qi An’s “repertoire.”

The physical pleasure of dual cultivation in water wasn’t better than on a bed.

But the dual cultivation experience, sensory stimulation, and mental satisfaction… hehe.

After returning to the room, Luo Yu Heng in her sage mode hadn’t let him enter, so Xu Qi An had rested in the outer chamber.

So the question was, who was this woman in his arms?

It was Luo Yu Heng!

In Xu Qi’an’s vision appeared the State Preceptor’s stunning face. Today she was like a lilac in the morning mist, carrying a faint melancholy.

“Awake?” Luo Yu Heng smiled, resting her head on his shoulder, saying softly:

“Don’t move. I want to lean against you like this—it feels more secure.”

As she spoke, she closed her eyes, her long eyelashes like palm fans, trembling slightly.

Today’s State Preceptor seemed somewhat different… Xu Qi An observed the situation, his mind quickly running through the seven emotions. Fear, Anger, and Desire had passed—which of the remaining four emotions was she experiencing now?

After some time, listening to the wind and snow outside, Luo Yu Heng wrapped her arms around his neck and said softly:

“Let’s go up to the tower to watch the snow.”

…

Green Apricot Garden had many towers, the tallest being four stories high.

Each floor had an observation deck, where Gong Sun Xiang Yang would entertain guests and enjoy distant views.

In the fourth-floor wine room, on soft cushions, Luo Yu Heng nestled in Xu Qi An’s embrace, wearing a long Dao robe with her bosom half-exposed and her hair disheveled.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes alluring, still immersed in the afterglow of pleasure.

Xu Qi An held a wine cup in one hand and embraced the State Preceptor’s shoulders with the other, entering the sage mode, gazing emotionlessly at the grey sky where snow continued to fall.

Luo Yu Heng took the wine cup from his hand, drained it in one gulp, and sighed softly:

“Raising the cup to drink alone, finishing as the snow flies, another year passes in confusion.”

“Xu Qi An, do you know my age?”

Xu Qi An ventured: “Forty?”

Luo Yu Heng remained silent, the melancholy in her eyes deepening.

“What does that matter? Once you pass Heaven’s Tribulation, you’ll be a terrestrial immortal with long life and eternal youth. Even at four hundred years old, you’ll be more beautiful and charming than an eighteen-year-old maiden.”

Xu Qi An immediately offered sweet words.

Luo Yu Heng shook her head slightly, “I’m old enough to be your mother, Mu Nan Zhi was right.”

She showed a melancholic expression: “I know well I’m not a suitable match for you. If word gets out, it will invite more ridicule.”

This… Xu Qi An’s mouth twitched, unsure how to respond.

This State Preceptor was a female literati!

When talking with female literati, one careless word might touch their sensitive spots.

With other female literati, Xu Qi An wouldn’t bother engaging.

But since it was the State Preceptor… his heart stirred, and he said passionately:

“Love knows no boundaries of age or race. State Preceptor and I are kindred spirits—why should we care about others’ views?”

“Life is precious, but love is priceless.”

“State Preceptor, in my heart, you’re above life itself.”

In terms of sweet talk, Xu Free-Loader’s level wasn’t inferior to the Holy Son’s.

It’s just that the women he was involved with were all high-level, and sweet talk had little effect—only Biao Biao would be delighted.

The reason Xu Qi An said these words was to make the State Preceptor socially die.

Taking advantage of her current literati state, he wanted to encourage her to say things that would make her roll around in embarrassment when she remembered them later.

Life is precious, but love is priceless… Luo Yu Heng murmured several times, her cheeks suffusing with a strange flush, and said softly:

“It wasn’t in vain that I endured twenty years without compromising with Emperor Yuan Jing. When your jianghu journey ends, we’ll formally become Dao partners.”

Xu Qi An coaxed earnestly:

“Quick, say you love me.”

Luo Yu Heng’s face reddened as she said coyly: “You’re terrible.”

“Quick, call me Lord Xu.”

“L-Lord Xu…”

Xu Qi An shivered, breaking out in goosebumps, though internally he was extremely excited.

Haha, State Preceptor, your day has come. When dual cultivation ends and you return to normal, you’ll remember these seven days and roll around in embarrassment. Let’s see how you maintain your dignity before me then…

Luo Yu Heng was shy for a moment, but melancholy soon replaced it as she sighed:

“That day, Jin Lian told me you carried fortune and would be the best dual cultivation partner. That you could help extinguish my karmic fire. I was resistant at first.”

“Dual cultivation meant becoming Dao partners, but at that time, you were just a small Silver Gong.”

“But later you gradually showed your talent. After the Chu Province massacre case, I acknowledged you in my heart, thinking that if you grew up, being my dual cultivation Dao partner wouldn’t be bad.”

“From then on, I thought about how to deepen our relationship. But I’m old enough to be your mother, and I’m both State Preceptor and Dao Leader—I really couldn’t lower my face. I agonized over this for a long time.”

“Just giving you the sword talisman took me much deliberation. Later when you went to Chu Province, I still only sent the protective talisman through Chu Yuan Zhen. I wanted to give it to you in person.”

“Later, because you needed to investigate Yuan Jing, you had to seek my help, and my heart secretly rejoiced…”

As Xu Qi An listened, he grew increasingly uneasy. By this point, he suddenly panicked.

State Preceptor… State Preceptor, please shut up, I beg you.

I just wanted you to socially die, not die!

Luo Yu Heng had revealed her inner journey—what did this mean?

It meant that when she recovered, remembering these words, she would likely split him with one sword strike to silence him.

“What’s wrong? Your heart is racing so wildly.”

Luo Yu Heng frowned.

“No-nothing, just a bit scared.”

Xu Qi An forced a stiff smile.

That said, this confirmed that Luo Yu Heng did indeed have feelings for him, not purely using him.

The “Sorrow” personality inherited her affection for him but likely amplified it—the real Luo Yu Heng’s feelings weren’t so dramatic.

However, that was before.

After this dual cultivation, these feelings would undergo some qualitative change, more or less.

At this moment, Luo Yu Heng’s brows furrowed slightly as she looked outside: “Someone is attacking the barrier.”

She immediately wrapped her robe tightly, and tied her belt, covering the exposed spring scenery.

Xu Qi An had already risen and walked casually to the observation deck, looking down.

In the white expanse below, Li Ling Su stood on a small path, continuously attacking the barrier with his flying sword.

He seemed not to have noticed Xu Qi An on the observation deck.

Not until Luo Yu Heng removed the talismans did the Holy Son sense something and look up, calling loudly:

“Senior, the Gong Sun family sent word—they’ve found that young man you’re looking for.”