Yue Liangze carried Ling Luo on his back to the entrance of Tai Chu Mountain.

When they reached the mountain gate, Ling Luo said: “This is far enough. If others see us entering the mountain gate together, they’ll start gossiping.”

Yue Liangze then set her down.

“You’re investigating the forbidden drugs case. Do you want my help?” Ling Luo looked at him with a smile. “With my help, we might solve it by tonight.”

“Focus on your competition,” Yue Liangze shook his head. “My Senior Brother and I will handle this investigation.”

Oh.

You just declined a great opportunity.

After hearing this, Ling Luo turned without hesitation and walked toward the Tai Chu mountain gate.

Song Yuan Yuan, upon hearing about Xu Shen’s injury, left Tai Chu for West Sea City to see him after finishing her competition.

Chang Fei had sent them a message explaining the earlier situation.

When he found Fang Can, Fang Can was with another person transacting with a masked medicine peddler. The buyer hesitated midway and changed his mind about the purchase, which led to a conflict with Fang Can, and then Chang Fei arrived.

Fang Can exclaimed in frustration: “You called someone else!”

The other person hadn’t had time to explain before being run through the heart with a sword by the masked figure.

Chang Fei said: “Fang Can initially bought drugs through someone else’s introduction. Later, when he needed money, he helped sell them too.”

He finally criticized: “He must be insane to risk his life for such business!”

Xu Shen had noticed something odd about Fang Can and, following him discovered the forbidden drug matter. The person transacting with Fang Can that day was another medicine peddler.

“That stupid boy, not even discussing such a major matter with us before taking action!” Song Yuan Yuan cursed through the jade communicator. “If Little Father hadn’t arrived in time, he would have been finished!”

Xu Shen wasn’t to blame. At that moment, he had almost been exposed due to the jade communicator’s alert, which was why he turned it off. He had only planned to follow the person to their hideout, remember the location, and return, but he was still discovered.

Ling Luo returned to the west courtyard and leaned against the window, playing with the jade communicator.

She was still thinking about the sudden appearance of the Death Mist Gate.

The Twenty-Six Demons represented cultivators who had fallen and turned demonic.

Ordinary demons were different from the Twenty-Six Demons. The distinction lay in the ability to instantly transport through the Death Mist Gate, which only the Twenty-Six Demons possessed.

Ling Luo knew that a demon was hiding in Tai Chu, and she knew it was one of the Twenty-Six Demons, but she hadn’t expected this demon would open the Death Mist Gate to rescue the masked figure.

In her previous life, when she came to West Sea Tai Chu, she had only participated in the competition and hadn’t been involved in other matters. She had only heard about the truth after everything was revealed.

Ling Luo whistled, and a black valley bird flew to the window, examining her.

She formed a hand seal and used the Life-Sharing Spirit technique. The black valley bird spread its wings and flew toward Tai Chu’s inner courtyard.

The son of Tai Chu’s Sect Master, Qi Xiang, had been blessed with a daughter, and the Hundred Days Celebration was approaching. Various immortal sects would send representatives to attend the banquet and offer gifts.

Qi Xiang’s wife was from the Northern Pavilion Moon Palace, the youngest sister of the former Palace Master, named Qin Yue.

The Northern Pavilion Moon Palace had therefore arrived at Tai Chu ahead of time.

The black valley bird flew to Qin Yue’s residence in the inner courtyard and discovered that Jiang Miao was also there. Ling Luo decided to pause and observe for now.

Qin Yue sat in the shade of the courtyard cradling her child, with flowers swaying behind her. Seated nearby were Jiang Miao and Mu Xu Jing.

This was truly a bizarre yet somehow exciting combination.

Ling Luo watched with great interest.

Qin Yue kept talking to Mu Xu Jing, ignoring Jiang Miao beside her, not even giving her a glance from the corner of her eye.

Mu Xu Jing’s expression was gloomy, and he didn’t respond.

Qin Yue said: “If my brother were still alive, he certainly wouldn’t let you suffer like this.”

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she wiped them with a handkerchief.

Mu Xu Jing still did not answer.

Only then did Qin Yue turn to Jiang Miao with displeasure and say: “With you here, he doesn’t even dare to speak to me!”

Jiang Miao rose and left, unhurried and composed, not forgetting to bow respectfully before departing.

But as soon as she left, Mu Xu Jing also stood and followed her.

Qin Yue said: “Xu Jing, let her go!”

Mu Xu Jing didn’t stop.

Jiang Miao turned back and used sign language to communicate with Mu Xu Jing.

Mu Xu Jing said: “I don’t understand.”

Jiang Miao pressed her lips together and said softly: “Go back.”

Her voice was clear and pure, like heavenly music.

Mu Xu Jing raised his eyelids slightly to look at her: “I don’t need to take orders from you.”

Jiang Miao said no more and turned to leave.

Mu Xu Jing followed behind her.

Meanwhile, Qin Yue was furious, prompting her maidservants to try to comfort her.

The black valley bird also followed the two people from the Northern Pavilion Moon Palace.

Ling Luo had always thought Mu Xu Jing was a strange one.

With a face that naturally looked villainous and skin so pale it gave him a hint of childishness, yet his daily gloomy and expressionless attitude made people afraid to approach him, afraid to speak to him, and unable to guess what he was thinking.

Brought from the countryside to the magnificent Northern Pavilion Moon Palace, in others’ eyes, he was either a phoenix flying out of a grass nest or a wild chicken entering a phoenix’s nest.

Whether phoenix or wild chicken, he didn’t get along well with his stepmother.

The two were similar in age. When they went out together, uninformed people would never guess their relationship.

Jiang Miao returned to her quarters. A man who had been waiting at the door frowned slightly. As Jiang Miao entered the house without a sideways glance, he said to Mu Xu Jing: “Keep watch outside.”

So Mu Xu Jing stayed outside.

The sound of the black valley bird’s wings reached his ears. He looked up, and a sword light flew from his fingertips, shooting down the black valley bird from the sky.

Ling Luo: “…”

This weirdo!

His vigilance was so intense that he wouldn’t even let a bird in!

What kind of conversation requires such strict vigilance?

Ling Luo pinched the bridge of her nose, attempting to recover from the sudden dizziness caused by the bird’s death.

Not to be deterred, she summoned another black valley bird.

The black valley bird circled the inner courtyard and found Zhan Rong, who was following behind Hall Master Feng. The two were walking toward the disciples’ lodgings.

Hall Master Feng’s expression was quite grim.

Zhan Rong said: “This is already the sixth incident.”

Hall Master Feng asked in a deep voice: “Is it still the Qian Transfer Dan?”

Zhan Rong nodded and continued: “The Sect Master has already contained the news, but all these disciples who died from being consumed by demonic energy after taking Qian Transfer Dan participated in this year’s Golden Luan Pool Banquet.”

“Disgraceful!” Hall Master Feng raged. “Instead of cultivating properly, they tried to win by using unorthodox methods!”

“Please calm your anger, Hall Master. Compared to those within our sect, there are sixteen disciples from other immortal sects in West Sea City who have died from forbidden drugs,” Zhan Rong said. “The number may still be increasing.”

They would need to explain the other immortal sects.

Hall Master Feng said: “We’re still thoroughly investigating the source of the forbidden drugs. We can’t control those with weak resolve who compromise for their desires and take forbidden drugs. First, record all their names, and then hand them over to their respective immortal sects for handling.”

Zhan Rong nodded in agreement, though his furrowed brows remained unrelaxed. “Hall Master, there’s one more matter…”

“Speak.”

“Last night, the cherry blossom bell that detects demonic presence rang again,” Zhan Rong said. “The Second Sect Master said it’s in the inner courtyard, and today someone reported that there was a foul smell from the well at the refectory. After I checked, I found traces of demonic remnants.”

“The well?” Hall Master Feng suddenly turned to look at him. “What does this damned thing want to do!”

Zhan Rong lowered his head and said: “We’ve already sent people from the Medicine Hall to investigate and clean it, and they’re constantly guarding it.”

Hall Master Feng’s face was filled with anger and disgust toward this demon.

The news of the successive deaths of immortal sect disciples couldn’t be concealed. With multiple deaths occurring suddenly today, rumors spread throughout West Sea City.

Ling Luo ended the Life-Sharing Spirit technique because Chu Yi had returned.

Chu Yi entered the courtyard and said: “Xu Shen isn’t seriously injured. Tai Chu and the Sacred Sword Sect are investigating the forbidden drug matter, so we shouldn’t interfere.”

Ling Luo nodded slightly, pinching the bridge of her nose. Hearing this, she turned her head and said: “Aren’t you going to help Zhan Rong? I see he’s been worried about this matter all along.”

“Zhan Rong hasn’t asked for my help. He’s very protective of Tai Chu and doesn’t want me to know about such disgraceful matters,” Chu Yi said. As he entered the room, he paused, stepped back, and looked at Ling Luo by the window with narrowed eyes. “On my way back, I heard disciples from various immortal sects discussing something.”

“What?” Ling Luo asked curiously.

Chu Yi said: “I don’t know which madman spread the rumor that last night the Immortal-Subduing Jade showed unusual movement, with sword energy sweeping across the inner courtyard, responding to its master. They say someone in this competition will successfully draw the sword.”

Ling Luo slowly raised her hand: “I didn’t spread this.”

“You may be arrogant but you still have a brain. Unfortunately, more people without brains believed it and are heatedly discussing who might successfully draw the sword,” Chu Yi mocked.

“Who has the highest support?” Ling Luo asked.

“Not Cong Xiu—everyone knows he’s tried many times,” Chu Yi said, then glanced at her. “And not you either.”

Ling Luo widened her eyes: “Why not?!”

Although she truly couldn’t draw it out, she was unwilling to accept that she wasn’t even considered in the speculation!

Chu Yi: “Because the Immortal-Subduing Jade is too heavy, and you look too thin to lift it.”

Ling Luo: “…”

She coldly laughed: “These people who discriminate against girls should all die.”

“So only Feng Tian Yao and Mu Xu Jing remain,” Chu Yi said.

Ling Luo said with disdain: “No taste.”

Chu Yi asked: “What else do you know about the Immortal-Subduing Jade?”

Ling Luo: “Nothing more.”

Chu Yi paused, dubiously asking: “Did he draw out the Immortal-Subduing Jade?”

“Let’s not talk about the Immortal-Subduing Jade. Senior Brother, let’s discuss the Palace Mistress of the Northern Pavilion Moon Palace,” Ling Luo sat down, leaning on the window to look at him. “Today I saw her walking with Mu Xu Jing, and the atmosphere between them wasn’t good.”

Chu Yi raised an eyebrow and said disinterestedly: “How are other people’s family matters any of my business?”

Ling Luo laughed upon hearing this.

As Chu Yi entered the room, he said: “By the way, Master will arrive at Tai Chu on the final day of the competition. If you want long sleeves, you’d better tell Yu Xiu now.”

“I don’t want them.”

Chu Yi came out with a money pouch, “Then do you want to go out for meat?”

“Yes!”

These master and disciple truly didn’t care about anything else, going out to West Sea City to feast and enjoy themselves freely.

Ling Luo sat by the window of the restaurant, looking down at the brightly lit and bustling streets below.

As she bit her chopsticks, she spotted Yue Liangze patrolling with Song Yuan Yuan among the crowd, and her eyes curved into a smile.

Ling Luo sent a message to Song Yuan Yuan: Senior Brother is treating us to meat at An Fang Restaurant, come quickly.

Song Yuan Yuan’s jade communicator rang. He took it out to look, and his eyes immediately lit up. He quickly located An Fang Restaurant, and soon spotted Ling Luo waving at him.

“Little Father! Continue investigating on your own. I’ll come help you soon!”

Song Yuan Yuan unhesitatingly rushed toward the restaurant.

Yue Liangze: “…”

This cheap son was indeed not worth keeping.

In the bustling street crowd, he looked up at Ling Luo on the upper floor, his features relaxed.

Apart from Chu Yi, neither of the other two had any intention of inviting Yue Liangze to join them.

Ling Luo and Song Yuan Yuan knew well that if they called him over, he would just sit there without eating.

Through two lifetimes, Ling Luo had always been curious about how Yue Liangze acquired this strange habit.

In her previous life, she had once held a knife to Yue Liangze’s throat to make him eat a roasted bun she had bought.

In those days, her demonic nature was intense, and she often lost control, her heart full of murderous intent. Yue Liangze was always stopping her, and occasionally when she became furious, she would take out her anger on him.

“Acting so high and mighty, as if everyone else is like mud that you refuse to touch. Who do you think you are?” Ling Luo smashed the plate of food on the table in the pavilion of South River City, picking up a roasted bun and saying, “Today you’re going to eat it whether you want to or not!”

They began to fight. At first, Yue Liangze handled it with ease, but when Ling Luo’s demonic nature erupted, if Yue Liangze didn’t stop and yield to her wishes, their battle would affect others.

The long sword in Ling Luo’s hand was snow-white, slender, and beautiful. Anyone who saw it would notice not its sword energy but would be amazed by its beauty—from the hilt to the tip, the gleam and curve of the blade were stunning.

The most beautiful divine sword in the world, neutral to good and evil.

It would only use all its power to fulfill its master’s demands and desires.

The more Ling Luo lost control of her power, the stronger the destructive force of the sword in her hand became.

Yue Liangze knew that continuing the fight would be bad for everyone, so he had to compromise. He was knocked back by Ling Luo’s sword and fell to the ground, with the cold long sword across his throat, cutting into his skin.

Ling Luo brought the roasted bun to his lips and said coldly: “Will you eat it or not?”

Yue Liangze gritted his teeth, his eyes as dark as the thick night, and with apparent great difficulty, took a bite of the roasted bun.

Ling Luo: “What exactly are you looking down on? What does it matter if you didn’t make it yourself? Are things made by others somehow beneath you?”

She made Yue Liangze finish it.

One bite after another.

With each bite Yue Liangze took, the mockery in her eyes increased.

When he finally finished the palm-sized roasted bun, Ling Luo released him. She had just begun her taunting words when Yue Liangze seemingly could no longer endure. He turned away and uncontrollably vomited everything.

He couldn’t eat it.

He both loathed and feared it.

At that moment, even the moonlight hid behind the clouds.

Yue Liangze straightened his back and wiped the corner of his mouth. Even with the moonlight hidden, one could sense his pale face and trembling pupils.

He was wretched.

Ling Luo noticed that even the hand holding his sword was shaking.

His eyes were lowered, not daring to look at her.

But Ling Luo saw that his usually calm and beautiful eyes were also trembling, showing signs of fear.

Incomprehensible.

Unfathomable.

Yet it instantly sobered the out-of-control Ling Luo.

Ling Luo experienced the taste of regret after a long time.

She didn’t regret becoming demonic or killing people, yet she regretted forcing Yue Liangze to eat.

As Yue Liangze turned to leave, Ling Luo said harshly: “If you leave now, don’t ever appear before me again!”

Yue Liangze halted, remaining silent and still.

Ling Luo looked at his back, momentarily at a loss, like someone who knew they had done wrong but didn’t know how to make amends.

The two stood in the courtyard for a long time, until finally Yue Liangze spoke first. With a hoarse voice, he said: “The night is deep and the mist heavy. You should go to sleep.”

Ling Luo frowned, her hand gripping the sword tightening and loosening repeatedly.

“You—”

She had just begun when Yue Liangze turned around.

He had composed himself, and although his face was still pale, his eyes were calm.

“Ling Luo, let it go,” Yue Liangze sighed almost inaudibly. “Go rest.”

Ling Luo didn’t move.

Yue Liangze left first. He returned to Ling Luo’s pavilion instead of leaving completely.

Ling Luo cursed herself as useless in her heart.

Having turned demonic, why did she still feel regret?

But the next day, she went and bought most of the food ingredients from the market to store them, then said to Yue Liangze: “Do whatever you want.”

After that incident, Ling Luo never lost control again.