After resting, the three traveled through the night, destroying the carriage before leaving to prevent the Jiang Clan from tracking their route.

Following the river to the main channel of Black Water River, Qian Li held up a torch to examine the shore, then said without turning back: “We need to go underwater.”

Fang Hui confirmed again: “Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?”

Qian Li guaranteed once more: “If I’m wrong, you can twist my head off.”

Fang Hui: “Let’s be clear, whose head?”

Qian Li puffed his cheeks in irritation: “Mine! Mine, all right?”

Ming Li gazed at the vast river, feeling as though she and this Black Water River were destined to cross paths again and again.

All three used the spirit technique Fish Swimming to enter the water, which would increase their speed and allow them to hold their breath longer underwater. The Black Water River’s current was fierce, and at night visibility underwater was limited with numerous obstacles, requiring them to enhance their visual range using the Heavy Eyes meridian.

Fang Hui’s Circulating Qi meridian was unstable, and even a low-level spirit technique like Fish Swimming became increasingly difficult to maintain over time. Just as he was about to signal to Qian Li that he couldn’t hold on much longer, Qian Li suddenly grabbed him and pulled him forward, and both were swept into a vortex by the current.

After feeling their heads emerge from the water, Qian Li, while grasping Fang Hui, called out: “Zhou Li! Genius!”

“Hmm?” Ming Li, already standing on the shore, turned to look back.

Qian Li: “…”

My apologies.

How did she reach the shore before me? It must be Fang Hui limiting my performance.

Qian Li dragged the dizzy and weakened Fang Hui ashore.

Ming Li was examining the dark passage before them. It appeared naturally formed, yet showed signs of artificial carving—difficult to determine its origin.

The height was sufficient for adults to pass through, wide enough for two people to walk side by side, quite spacious. They could even hear the rushing sound of the river, seemingly coming from afar, intermittently.

Qian Li shook the water droplets from his face, felt around in a dark corner for a moment, then retrieved a lantern, lit it and handed it to Ming Li. When the corner was illuminated, they discovered many small items—lighting fixtures, weapons for self-defense, and so forth.

“My mother left these here when she passed through ten years ago,” Qian Li said quietly.

They were meant to be useful when he eventually left Ji Dan.

Ming Li raised the lantern to illuminate the path ahead. If there were no obstacles, they could use the Swift Wind technique to travel through this underground passage.

Fang Hui leaned against the shore, coughing up water, severely dizzy. Qian Li lit another lantern and handed it to him, criticizing: “You weakling, it’ll be tough for you to enter the Nan Que Qi Zong.”

“Not as difficult as for a young master being hunted by the Jiang Clan,” Fang Hui replied curtly.

Qian Li helped him stand: “I’m being hunted, you’re physically weak—looks like among us, only our genius is guaranteed to pass the Southern Seven Sects’ mountain challenge.”

As he finished speaking, he looked up to find that Ming Li had already gone ahead, leaving them far behind. If they delayed any longer, they wouldn’t even see her silhouette. He quickly chased after her, calling: “Genius, wait for us! Hey! Zhou Li!”

Ming Li stood ahead, waiting for them. Seeing Fang Hui’s pale complexion, she raised her eyebrow and asked: “Are you all right?”

Fang Hui shook his head and brushed off Qian Li’s assistance to stand on his own.

As the three walked forward, Qian Li asked: “Genius, what are your plans after reaching Zhu Que State? I noticed earlier you seemed interested in the bell that Jiang Wuyue dropped.”

Ming Li said, “I want to know how she obtained that silver bracelet.”

“Given that young lady’s temperament, we might need to capture her again and threaten her with a knife before she’ll talk,” Qian Li sighed. “Once we reach Zhu Que State, we’ll need to disguise ourselves to avoid detection.”

Ming Li remained silent. She estimated that in the south, only pilgrims of the Nan Que Qi Zong had seen her face. As long as she wasn’t unlucky enough to encounter such a person, she wouldn’t need to worry.

“We should reach Zhu Que State around the tenth day, right at high tide. Jiang Wuyue will be brought back to Zhu Que State before us. We can first visit the Jiang Clan… I still have my examination certificate, right? We shouldn’t miss the timing for the Nan Que mountain challenge.” Qian Li rummaged through his pockets.

As Ming Li walked past him, she glanced at him and asked: “The royal Jiang Clan of Zhu Que State is on good terms with the Nan Que Qi Zong. Why are you so determined to join the Nan Que Qi Zong?”

Without hesitation, Qian Li replied: “Because it’s the most powerful sect in the south!”

Ming Li: “You could go to the north.”

“Bei Dou isn’t doing well now. Though it’s regained some strength in the past two years, it can’t compare to today’s Nan Que,” Qian Li shook his head. “Even Dong Yang, which also lost its pilgrim, is doing better than Bei Dou. Tai Yi would be worth considering, but it’s too far away.”

Fang Hui suddenly asked Ming Li, “Are you a Bei Dou disciple?”

Ming Li answered composedly: “I grew up in the north.”

“No wonder, no wonder. Growing up in the north, of course, you’d prefer Bei Dou,” Qian Li laughed awkwardly.

Ming Li turned to look at Fang Hui: “Why are you going to Nan Que?”

Fang Hui pursed his lips and answered: “To cultivate.”

Ming Li nodded: “A worthy pursuit.”

Qian Li said nonchalantly, “I’m also going to cultivate. The four super sects each have their characteristics and things worth learning. Receiving guidance and instruction from the teachers of the seven academies is completely different from practicing and pondering on your own. Although I just said Bei Dou isn’t doing well, if I had the opportunity to go to Bei Dou, I certainly wouldn’t refuse. That’s the appeal of super sects.”

“Besides… Nan Que Qi Zong is different from the Jiang Clan. I’m betting Nan Que won’t hand me over to the Jiang Clan.”

*

The three spent seven or eight days in the underground passage.

The passage was long and spacious. Ming Li and Qian Li would use the Swift Wind technique to scout ahead, then switch places at designated times, never involving Fang Hui. Rushing along in this manner, they finally reached the end of the passage just before high tide.

Their food and water ran out on the fifth day, and they relied on star power to maintain their energy for the remaining days. If they had to walk another day without reaching the exit, they wouldn’t die of hunger, but would drown from the rising tide waters.

Qian Li tapped the ceiling cover with his knuckles, then pushed upward, but couldn’t open it. He was puzzled.

Fang Hui said, “Don’t tell me it’s been sealed.”

Qian Li turned to glare at him: “Don’t jinx us!”

Ming Li asked: “What’s above?”

Qian Li continued pushing the cover: “The exit is inside the Zhao family’s old mansion, in a small courtyard with just flowers and plants. It shouldn’t be impossible to push open.”

Fang Hui said expressionlessly, “You’ve been away from Zhu Que State for ten years. Most of your family’s properties have probably been taken over by the Jiang Clan. When we open this, we might find ourselves surrounded by Jiang family people.”

“Will you shut up!” Qian Li strained, his face contorted with effort. Finally, with no alternative, he channeled star power into a powerful punch.

The cover made a dull sound but only trembled slightly, dropping some dust.

Qian Li: “…”

Fang Hui wiped the dust from his face.

Ming Li shook her head, blinked, and said: “Perhaps the Jiang Clan renovated your family’s mansion.”

Qian Li was on the verge of tears: “How could you join in too?”

He fell silent, listening for movement above, then gritted his teeth: “I’ll try again!”

Qian Li raised his Body Technique meridian’s power to its limit, concentrated star power in his fist, took a deep breath, and punched out. The cover developed cracks, and the star power spread, causing the entire passage ceiling to tremble momentarily, dropping more stone fragments and dust.

Yet it still wouldn’t open.

In the brief silence that followed, Fang Hui, wiping his face, stated confidently: “Something’s weighing it down from above.”

Qian Li clutched his hand and crouched in the corner, banging his head against the wall: “How could this happen?”

Ming Li said to Fang Hui, “Make a custom formation and blow it open.”

A custom formation was one where parts of the formation’s power were modified according to range and need.

Ming Li glanced back at the way they came and said: “We need to hurry. If high tide comes at night, we’ll be too late.”

Fang Hui was forced to start manipulating star lines and asked: “What formation should I use?”

Ming Li: “I’ll use Word Binding with Sound. Its explosive power is already quite strong.”

Fang Hui followed her instructions, arranging the formation and selecting character rune combinations. Qian Li watched attentively, sighing as he heard them discuss spirit techniques and abilities: “Your Spiritual Court meridian isn’t even at full boundary, yet you can already modify and create Eight Meridian formations. Truly a genius.”

With Ming Li’s guidance, Fang Hui completed the formation much faster.

Qian Li and Ming Li stepped back from the cover. After confirming everything was correct, Fang Hui activated the formation, placing his five fingers on the ground to hold the formation characters. The previously dim star lines suddenly flashed with light as the formation enhanced the power of the Word Circulation technique, amplifying it fivefold.

With the sound-binding explosion, the cover completely shattered and fell to the ground. Something seemed to collapse above, and a faint beam of light shone into the underground space.

Qian Li waved away the dust, stepped into the rubble, and climbed up. Turning his head to Fang Hui behind him, he said, “You overdid the explosion. Can this passage still be used? If someone discovers it, should we kill them to silence them?”

Fang Hui: “Sure, you do the killing.”

After climbing up, Qian Li reached down to pull him up, grumbling: “If I’m killing to silence witnesses, you should at least help dispose of the bodies!”

Outside, it was dusk.

The old mansion was already in a remote suburban area. Perhaps due to years of neglect, the surroundings had become desolate. The dilapidated house had collapsed into ruins from the sound-binding explosion, crushing a blooming flower tree beside it.

After emerging, Ming Li stood on the rubble looking into the distance. The dazzling sunlight was sinking, and the city towers in the distance were already lit with lanterns, extending as far as the eye could see.

The center of Zhu Que State, the most prosperous area, bordered the Nan Que Qi Zong at its edge.

The old mansion had finally succumbed to the explosion and collapsed. Qian Li busied himself clearing the rubble and resealing the passage entrance. Still not satisfied, he had Fang Hui leave a formation. They worked until darkness had completely fallen.

Ming Li relit the lantern and stood on the path, looking back at the two men clearing the rubble.

“Let’s go,” Qian Li said, rubbing his stomach. “We haven’t had a decent meal in days. This time in the city, I’ll treat you both to something good!”

*

Returning to his homeland after many years, the young man felt both strange and familiar, controlling his curiosity as he walked through the bustling market, yet his eyes couldn’t help darting left and right.

Seated in a small tavern waiting for their food, Qian Li grabbed Fang Hui, pointing at the scenery outside while babbling excitedly. Fang Hui tried several times to shake him off, but seeing the light reflected in Qian Li’s eyes, he restrained himself, lowered his head to read his book, and responded perfunctorily.

When the food arrived, Qian Li was still pestering Fang Hui about how much Zhu Que State had changed. Fang Hui finally snapped: “Eat first!”

“Oh, right,” Qian Li finally turned his attention back to the table.

He froze when he saw Ming Li, who had been silent.

Fang Hui also just noticed Ming Li’s eating habits.

Ming Li ate very elegantly, neither hurried nor slow, quiet and undisturbing to others, and also unaffected by others.

However, her bowl of food was drenched in spicy sauce, and the bowl beside her was filled with vinegar. This wasn’t an imperial feast—the most expensive dish was the roast chicken in the center, accompanied by steamed buns, meat pies, and pickled vegetables.

They watched as Ming Li dipped her steamed bun into the vinegar and spicy sauce, eating with contentment and satisfaction.

After a moment, Qian Li and Fang Hui silently pushed their bowls of spicy sauce and vinegar toward her.

Forget it, let the child eat what she enjoys.

*

Ming Li had an elder brother and a father; her mother’s identity was unknown.

But she and her brother initially had a rift and misunderstanding. At Bei Dou, one lived in Yao Guang Academy while the other lived in Tian Shu Academy, the farthest from Yao Guang.

Her father was a busy man, so Ming Li was raised by Senior Brother Chen Zhou.

Back then, she didn’t have her current temperament and personality, often causing Chen Zhou headaches to the point where he wanted to hang her up and beat her.

Chen Zhou was also responsible for her three daily meals, which directly led to her later becoming a pilgrim. Even after Chen Zhou became the Senior Brother of Yao Guang Academy and both became busy with their affairs, he would still find time to eat with Ming Li.

However, Chen Zhou found Ming Li’s eating habits too bizarre and tried various methods to correct them, causing Ming Li to feel aggrieved about food during that period.

Until one day, her junior brother came to her covered in injuries but with smiling eyes, bringing the spicy sauce and vinegar she loved.

Ming Li was startled and asked him, “Who beat you?”

“I challenged Senior Brother at this year’s Star Pointing Assembly,” Zhou Zixi said as he sat down at the table.

Ming Li’s anger subsided a bit: “Then he must have been angry.”

Zhou Zixi rested his chin on one hand, watching her: “I told Senior Brother that if I won, he would let you eat as you pleased, without trying to correct your eating habits.”

Though he was severely beaten by Senior Brother, he had won, so he was very happy.

—

Ming Li still couldn’t forget the happy expression of her little junior brother that day.

It was satisfaction and joy emanating from the depths of his heart, as if being able to do something for her was his lifelong honor.