Standing outside a private chamber on the second floor of the Tianfeng Tower on Xuanwu Street in Jinling City – a three-story establishment five rooms wide and five deep – I clutched a bounty notice in my robe.

A bounty notice was exactly what it sounded like. Whenever the authorities encountered troublesome bandits, they would post a red notice outside government offices, stating the reward in silver for capturing certain criminals. The one I held bore the Jinling Prefecture’s official seal, offering 100 taels of silver for the capture of Guo Qianhong, the notorious deflowerer of maidens.

After adjusting my clothes one final time, I raised my hand and gently knocked on the chamber door.

“Enter.” Following the response, I pushed open the door and walked in.

Guo Qianhong’s folding fan froze mid-motion, as did his hand caressing the alluring woman beside him. His phoenix eyes slowly widened until they resembled two peaches.

“Guo Qianhong, we meet again.” I waved at him with a smile.

In the next moment, the wine table before him shot upright, sending dishes, cups, and bowls flying toward me. Behind the table came his exasperated voice: “The empress has tracked me here!”

My sword flashed out, splitting the table in two, the halves flying to either side.

I raised Yangliufeng to my eyes, blew across the blade, and continued smiling: “Guo Qianhong, who are you cursing at?”

Guo Qianhong shoved the alluring woman from his embrace and drew a gold-backed broadsword from behind him: “Fine! This young master didn’t want to bother with you, but since you persist in harassing me, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

My mouth twitched: “My dear young master, looking at that gold-backed broadsword of yours, don’t you think you’re the one who looks more like a bandit?”

Guo Qianhong’s face reddened with embarrassment and rage. With a great shout, he raised his sword and charged.

Sword met Blade in a sudden flash of cold light that filled the room as we exchanged several moves.

Though Guo Qianhong had defiled many maidens and earned widespread infamy, his swordsmanship was truly terrible. After exchanging more than ten moves, seeing no hope of victory, he made a feint and turned to flee downstairs.

I pursued closely, but before reaching the stairs, a sharp cry rang out from the entrance: “Lecher Guo Qianhong, where do you think you’re running?”

A green-robed maiden suddenly leaped out, her foot connecting with Guo Qianhong’s forehead: “Come with me to face justice!”

Guo Qianhong’s burly frame flew across the wide hall, crashing into the stairs and splintering them. Wood fragments scattered everywhere.

I quickly dodged aside, pointing my sword at the maiden: “Who are you?”

The maiden wore gossamer green silk, her skin snow-white, with crescent moon-like eyes clear as water. She looked me up and down: “I’m here to catch the lecher.”

I pulled out the red notice from my robe: “Look carefully, I claimed the official bounty first.”

She sized me up: “You want to compete with me for this?”

I sized her up in return: “You’re the one insisting on competing with me!”

“Miss Zhong, this young lady…” the innkeeper carefully interjected, “that guest has already… left…”

I quickly turned around – sure enough, Guo Qianhong who had been lying on the ground was nowhere to be seen. We’d been so caught up arguing that he’d slipped away!

“Ladies, about the bill for the wine, food, and damaged property…” the innkeeper continued softly.

Without hesitation, my finger pointed straight out: “She’ll pay!”

“She’ll pay!” Like an echo, the maiden’s delicate jade finger pointed right back at me.

We exchanged a glance and, with perfect synchronization, turned and ran for the exit, leaving behind the helpless innkeeper calling: “Miss Zhong, young lady…”

After running through two streets, we ducked into a small alley. Panting, I peered out – thankfully, no one had followed us.

“No one’s chasing us, right?” A similarly breathless voice spoke beside me as the maiden pressed against the alley wall next to me.

I looked back at her: “No.” Then I extended my hand, “I’m Ling Cangcang, pleased to meet you.”

She raised her hand and clapped mine: “Zhong Lin, pleased to meet you.”

I nodded, turned away, then turned back: “You’re from the Zhong family of Jinling!”

The maiden raised an eyebrow, her beautiful face taking on a proud air: “True to my name, I am Zhong Lin, the first daughter of the seventeenth generation of the Zhong family.”

The Zhong family was a renowned martial arts clan in Jinling City, known to almost everyone.

I looked at her like she was an idiot: “The innkeeper recognized you as Miss Zhong – even if you ran away… the bill will still be sent to the Zhong family.”

Zhong Lin’s bright eyes slowly widened as she muttered to herself: “That’s right… why did I run?”

She suddenly jumped up: “Oh no, when the bill arrives home, Father definitely won’t let me off…” She slapped my shoulder, “The mountains endure, the rivers flow on – good friend until we meet again.”

I was still standing there dazed when the green figure had already vanished into the depths of the alley.

Having lost track of Guo Qianhong, I could only wonder.

Several months ago, after the New Year’s celebrations, I had Father and Xiao Qianqing announce that I was in seclusion due to pregnancy and would no longer receive officials, then secretly slipped away from the capital.

I hadn’t brought much money when I left, and when funds ran low, I started claiming bounties at government offices for criminals I could handle with my martial skills. Living off the rewards, I managed to be self-sufficient.

Of course, the Gu Xing Camp still knew my whereabouts, so when court affairs weren’t too busy, Xiao Qianqing would come to find me and update me on the latest palace news.

Just like that, I’d been wandering for several months, from early spring to mid-spring, and from mid-spring to early summer, my footsteps covering nearly all lands north and south of the Great River.

After aimlessly wandering the streets for half a day without finding any trace of Guo Qianhong – I’d been chasing this lecher for three days, letting him slip away several times, and today when I finally cornered him at the restaurant, that young miss had to ruin everything – the sky was already growing dark.

Now penniless, with no money for lodging, I tried to avoid the night patrol and find a corner to spend the night.

As I walked, I suddenly saw a black shadow flash past the entrance of an alley ahead.

Curious, I quickly followed. In the moonlight, I saw a masked figure in black. I called out sharply: “Who are you? What are you doing?”

The person stood straight, made several choking sounds, and then suddenly fell backward, stiff as a board.

Startled, I waited a moment. When they didn’t move again, I carefully approached and pulled down the mask covering their face.

In the moonlight, their eyes were wide open, blood trickling from nose and mouth – already dead.

Footsteps of the night patrol approached from the alley entrance.

If they found me next to a corpse like this, it would be hard to explain.

At the end of the alley was a low wall. Without thinking, I jumped over it and crouched down.

As I landed, my hand brushed against something soft, followed by a muffled grunt.

Alert, I started to demand: “Who-“

A hand immediately covered my mouth. The night patrol’s footsteps had reached the other side of the wall. I quickly held my breath, and the somewhat heavy breathing of the person behind me also quieted.

The patrol discovered the body, created a commotion, and searched the area for a while.

As the torchlight gradually receded, sudden coughing erupted behind me. The person released their hand from my mouth and leaned against the wall, coughing violently.

In the moonlight, I studied them: wearing a moon-white robe with bloodstains on the chest, an elegant face pale as paper, body trembling with each cough.

“Wounded in the lungs?” I pulled a handkerchief from my robe and offered it.

They took the handkerchief, speaking with difficulty: “Thank you…”

I waited until their coughing subsided somewhat before asking: “Did you kill that person?”

“Mm.” They gave a soft affirmative, moving the handkerchief from their mouth but still coughing too much to speak.

“Careful now.” As I spoke, I instinctively bent down to rub their back.

The moment our bodies touched, I suddenly froze – this was clearly a complete stranger, a completely unfamiliar presence, yet why did they suddenly remind me of that person?

They seemed to pause as well. I hesitated, then gripped their shoulder and continued rubbing their back to help them breathe.

After a while, their breathing finally calmed somewhat. They gave a light laugh and continued their thanks: “Much obliged.”

I nodded: “Don’t mention it.” Seeing they could stand on their own, I let go and stepped back, “Even with enemies, subduing them is enough – there’s no need to go for the kill.”

“You…” They paused, then actually laughed lightly, “Young miss, are you trying to lecture me?”

I was taken aback, then nodded: “What, I can’t lecture you?”

They smiled: “You can… why not?” As they spoke, they suddenly grabbed my shoulders, pushing me against the wall while their palm sent out a burst of force.

A grey figure charged toward us, two bursts of palm force collided with a muffled “thump,” and that figure went flying far away.

I had just let out a breath of relief when I felt something wet and warm. The person in front of me swayed and collapsed.

Their head fell right into my arms. I frantically grabbed their shoulders and asked hurriedly: “What’s wrong-“

A slightly cold hand covered my lips, their voice very low: “Shh…”

I quickly fell silent. After a while, when the surroundings had quieted and we were sure there were no other enemies around, I whispered: “What should we do now?”

The person lay motionless against me, not answering.

I quickly turned their body over – their head fell limply forward. In the moonlight, I could see the remnants of red at the corners of their mouth and the scattered bloodstains on their moon-white robe. They had lost consciousness.

Finding an unconscious stranger next to a corpse in the middle of the night – was this good luck or bad?

For me at least, it wasn’t bad, because this person had money on them, and that money was enough to get us a room at an inn.

At least I wouldn’t have to sleep on the streets tonight.

After struggling to drag them to the bed at the inn, I sighed in relief and sat in a chair, rubbing my shoulders.

“Your shoulders hurt just from that short distance… have you even trained in martial arts?” A weak voice suddenly came from the bed, soft but carrying a hint of amusement.

I turned to glare at them: “You have some nerve! Who told you to be so heavy? You were already awake, weren’t you? Pretending to be unconscious so I’d carry you?”

“Even if I was awake… I couldn’t walk.” They answered matter-of-factly.

I was speechless. I picked up the teapot from the table and poured a cup, looking up to find them lying on their side, eyes fixed intently on the teacup in my hand.

Seeing their pale, cracked lips, I raised the teapot: “Thirsty?”

“Mm.” They nodded honestly.

I walked to the bedside and helped raise their head, slowly helping them drink, then pulled the blanket up around them.

Having drunk some water, they seemed to revive somewhat. Leaning against the pillow, they studied me thoughtfully: “You’re just a young girl… why are you wandering around in the dead of night?”

I couldn’t be bothered to engage: “You’re not that old yourself. Thanks for your concern.”

They smiled but said nothing more. I was truly tired as well, so I arranged the room’s chairs together, threw a blanket over them, and settled down to sleep.

When I awoke, daylight had already broken.

Rising, I found a note placed beside me, written in flowing calligraphy: “I am Mu Yan of Fenglai Palace. I shall properly repay your kindness for the handkerchief another day.”

Looking back at the bed, sure enough, no one was there anymore.

I went out and called the inn’s servant to ask, and he said that the guest had left early in the morning.

Really… if they truly wanted to thank me, they could have just left me some shining silver taels.

So I left the inn early in the morning, still penniless, not even having money for breakfast.

Wandering the streets, I regretted not claiming their money purse while they were unconscious.

As I walked aimlessly, I accidentally stepped into the middle of the street just as a large carriage came charging toward me from the other end. The quick-witted driver pulled the reins, and the carriage slid several zhang before managing to stop in front of me.

The driver was furious, pointing his whip at me and cursing: “Are you blind when you walk? If I couldn’t stop in time and killed you, whose fault would that be?”

Already irritated, I gave him a sidelong glance: “Don’t worry, your carriage couldn’t kill this young lady.”

The driver was so angry he turned red, momentarily speechless.

Perhaps it was my imagination, but I heard two very soft coughs suddenly come from inside the carriage. Then the hanging curtain lifted slightly, revealing a jade-white hand, and a woman’s voice, clear and melodious yet carrying an inexplicable chill: “Zhou Yu, we must hurry on our way.”

The driver answered “Yes,” still glaring at me angrily before gathering the reins to continue their journey.

I noticed the light blue curtains hanging on the carriage windows and quickly called out “Wait,” stepping in front to block the carriage: “Though you didn’t hit me just now, you should give me some silver for the shock.”

Though the carriage looked modest enough, the curtains hanging on its windows were Western silk worth fifty taels per bolt! Using such precious fabric – even the imperial storehouse didn’t have much in stock – just to cover carriage windows… the owner was extravagant to the extreme! It would be against heaven’s will if I didn’t extort some money from them.

The driver was truly angry now, his face red as he scolded: “You rushed in front of the carriage blocking the way – we’re already being lenient not charging you with a crime! Now you try to extort us?”

I glared at him: “Who’s extorting? Charging me with a crime? Such arrogance! Do you think you’re the government?”

The driver wanted to curse more but was interrupted again by that cool voice: “Zhou Yu!”

This time the curtain lifted and the owner of the voice leaned halfway out. She appeared to be eighteen or nineteen, wearing plain white clothes without any decoration. Even her jet-black hair was free of gold or jade ornaments, simply tied back with a silk ribbon that fell casually over her shoulder.

Having stopped the driver, she turned her cold, almost empty eyes to examine me, her jade-snow complexion still expressionless: “Young lady, please stop making a scene and wait a moment.”

After speaking, she lowered the curtain and turned to quietly consult someone inside. So she wasn’t even the main person in charge.

Curious, I tried to peer inside the carriage, but the dim light made it impossible to make out the figure within.

The woman quickly returned, holding a small white jade pendant: “The Palace Master says, please take this personal item of his to Fenglai Palace headquarters to claim compensation.”

I skeptically accepted it from her hand. It was a phoenix-shaped jade pendant, exquisitely carved from high-quality jade, smooth and warm to the touch, still carrying a faint body warmth and an elusive fragrance that seemed somehow familiar.

I brought the pendant to my nose and sniffed – indeed, it was agarwood incense.

The woman waited as I examined the jade quality and, rather provincially, kept sniffing it, then said flatly: “Are you satisfied now?”

Only then did I come to my senses, quickly smiling sheepishly: “Yes, that’s fine.” I stepped aside to let the carriage pass.

Never mind going to their headquarters for money – just pawning this jade pendant would fetch a hundred or more taels of silver. Might as well take advantage of rich people when you can.

The woman nodded, gave me another glance, and gestured for the driver to continue. The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage drove past me.

I stood by the roadside watching the carriage disappear in a cloud of dust, my mind blank for a moment.

Suddenly a voice of extreme surprise came from behind: “Young lady… do you know who you just robbed?”

What kind of talk is that – what robbery? I was just seeking legitimate compensation, how is that robbery?

I turned around to see a very young swordsman in white clothes, a sword strapped rather pretentiously to his back, staring at me with wide eyes in disbelief.

I glanced at him: “What? Who was in the carriage?”

The white-clothed swordsman drew in a breath: “The person in the carriage… was Palace Master Bai of Fenglai Palace!”

Fenglai Palace – come to think of it, Ice Beauty had mentioned something about claiming silver at Fenglai Palace headquarters, and that person who left a promise of thanks this morning also said they were from Fenglai Palace… wait, Fenglai Palace?

The same Fenglai Palace that had risen meteorically in the martial world these past few months, transforming from what was originally the most illustrious assassination organization into the current hegemon dominating both north and south of the Yangtze, involved in everything from trade, salt smuggling, bodyguarding, shipping, to money lending and pawn shops?

Then the person sitting in that carriage must be the current Palace Master who, after the previous master was killed, had subdued the warring factions and in just a few months expanded the once-struggling organization into today’s martial arts colossus. According to jianghu rumors, their methods were so ruthless and poisonous that even the iron-fisted former Palace Master Feng Yuanjiang couldn’t compare.

I had just tried to extort shock compensation from the Palace Master of Fenglai Palace…

The young swordsman in white was still shaking his head and sighing: “Palace Master Bai is truly kindhearted, not even minding such shameless extortion. But now he’s rushing to the Zhong family, probably in a hurry…”

I started and asked: “Did you just say the Zhong family?”

The white-clothed swordsman nodded: “Yes, last night the Zhong family of Jinling suffered a massacre – now only Miss Zhong survives.”

I was stunned – Zhong Lin? That girl with the bright smile whom I’d met yesterday? In just one night, her entire clan had been massacred.

I quickly asked: “The Palace Master is rushing there – does this have something to do with Fenglai Palace?”

The white-clothed swordsman nodded: “The surviving Miss Zhong insists it was Hall Master Mu Yan of Fenglai Palace who led people into her home. Fenglai Palace can’t escape suspicion now.”

Mu Yan? That person? My mind filled with doubts: “When did this massacre happen?”

The white-clothed swordsman shook his head: “That I don’t know – probably late at night when there were fewer patrols.”

Right – if it had been earlier in the night when there were more night watchmen on patrol, it wouldn’t have waited until dawn to be discovered. Mu Yan had been injured and unconscious after meeting me.

He couldn’t have gone to the Zhong mansion to kill people – he was being framed.

I decided to go to the Zhong mansion first to investigate, turning quickly to head toward their residence.

Before long, I arrived at the vermillion gates of the Zhong mansion, where the Palace Master’s carriage was also stopped.

A crowd had gathered at the entrance, with watchmen in black and red official uniforms holding swords to form a cordon around the main gate.

Besides the onlookers, several neat ranks of Fenglai Palace disciples in white robes with blue sashes stood on the other side of the gate, neither making noise nor moving.

I pushed through the crowd of spectators toward the Fenglai Palace disciples, saying: “Let me see your Palace Master. I have something to tell him – last night your Hall Master Mu Yan was with me, I can testify he didn’t kill anyone.”

The disciples’ faces showed some shock, and one stepped forward with clasped hands: “Thank you, young lady, for speaking up for justice. Palace Master Bai is currently inside speaking with the Deputy Magistrate. Please wait a moment while I report to the Palace Master.”

I returned his greeting: “You’re too kind, please go ahead.”

The disciple passed through the watchmen and hurried into the courtyard.

After a short while, the disciple who had gone in came back out, approached with clasped hands, and smiled slightly: “The Palace Master is occupied at the moment. Would it be convenient for the young lady to wait at Fenglai Palace headquarters?”

I quickly nodded: “That’s fine, I can do that.”

The disciple smiled again, turned, and made a gesture of invitation, leading me to the black carriage.

The driver Zhou Yu was still there and stared at me wide-eyed: “You again?”

I smiled at him: “Don’t worry, I’m not here to demand money this time.”

The disciple explained with a smile: “Palace Master Bai instructed us to escort this young lady to headquarters.”

Zhou Yu looked at me again and gave a cold snort, seemingly quite dissatisfied.

I bent to enter the carriage, which was more spacious inside than it appeared from outside, with a small table and two seats arranged. I tapped the table beside me – fine purple sandalwood, Suzhou craftsmanship, no worse than what was in the imperial palace.

The disciple sat with me, and Zhou Yu cracked his whip to start the carriage moving.

Only after sitting inside did I notice that besides the faint agarwood fragrance, there was also a subtle medicinal smell. Remembering the soft coughs I’d heard from outside, this Palace Master’s health didn’t seem very good.

Thinking this, I casually asked the disciple beside me: “May I ask your surname? Are you a Hall Master in your palace?”

The disciple smiled: “My humble surname is Qin, and I’m just an ordinary disciple. I happened to arrive early today and was temporarily assigned by the Palace Master to oversee things at the Zhong mansion gate.”

For an ordinary disciple to be so composed and courteous – it was no wonder Fenglai Palace had risen so rapidly among the many factions in the martial world.

As we spoke, we arrived at Fenglai Palace headquarters. Disciple Qin helped me from the carriage and led me through the broad front courtyard toward the rear compound.

Fenglai Palace headquarters wasn’t laid out in the usual formal style of multiple courtyards – instead, here was a decorative rock garden, there a wrapped corridor, with climbing roses and winding streams, more like a pleasure garden. It must have been converted from a noble family’s private garden.

The disciple led me along a winding path deeper into the compound, past several artificial mountains and stone bridges, through two corridors, turning so many times I felt slightly dizzy before we finally stopped at an unremarkable waterside pavilion.

In the center of the outer room stood a man-high brass incense burner with four corners, releasing wisps of pure, elegant agarwood fragrance. The inner room’s curtains were half-drawn, revealing a red wooden desk directly opposite the door.

Though the room’s furnishings were neat, the furniture and objects were much more ordinary – truly more modest than using such expensive silk for carriage curtains.

The disciple invited me to sit in the outer room, said “Please wait a moment,” and withdrew.

With nothing else to do, I sipped tea while examining the outer room: a bookshelf neatly arranged with various books and documents, a pot of lush bamboo on a plant stand, and a clean desk without a speck of dust with a round-backed chair behind it – these were all the furnishings. This was probably where the Fenglai Palace Master handled daily affairs.

After examining these, my gaze fell on a hanging scroll beside the plant stand, with two lines of elegant running script: “Not for love of light resemblance, Cold places particularly fine.”

Besides these few characters on the snow-white paper, there was neither signature nor seal.

At first glance, I somehow felt the calligraphy looked familiar, and couldn’t help staring at it for a while.

Before I could think more deeply about it, a white-robed disciple had already entered from outside, smiling at me: “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

I smiled and stood up, but as I did, everything suddenly went black before my eyes.

The disciple’s voice came: “My apologies, young lady.”