From Jin Xi to Xihe, they had to pass through several human cities. Even though the carriages they traveled in were inscribed with acceleration formations, to avoid frightening mortals, they always maintained neither a fast nor a slow speed. Only at night would they race like wind, streaking like lightning past suburban hills and groves.
After three to five days like this, their carriages finally stopped before the checkpoint entering Shanhai City.
At this time, there were still four days before the Judgment Platform opened.
After entering the city, the masked brocade-robed messenger approached Xue Yu’s carriage and said in a low voice: “My lady, we’ve arrived at Shanhai City.”
Shanhai City was a large metropolis, not under the jurisdiction of any earthly emperor. Half of its residents were ordinary people, while the other half were cultivators. To the east was the somewhat famous cultivation site Purple Star Cave Mansion, while behind lay Xihe Sacred Land, first among the Six Sacred Lands. Because of this, the city teemed with people coming and going endlessly, yet still maintained perfect order with rarely any troublemaking incidents.
Xue Yu hummed acknowledgment from within the carriage and asked: “Have the people sent by Father arrived?”
The brocade-robed messenger, sensing the examining gazes around them, pressed down on the perfectly fitted mask on his face and replied: “They arrived yesterday.”
Xue Yu nodded, her voice like clear jade: “Go to West Tower.”
“Have them come see me later tonight.”
The carriage quickly changed direction, heading toward Shanhai City’s most prosperous central district.
Xihe held the primary position among the Sacred Lands and had always been mysterious. Many people have only heard its name but have found it difficult to glimpse its true face. The other five Sacred Lands had extremely vast territories that ordinary people could enter if they wished, but Xihe alone maintained strict vigilance with numerous rules. Not only common people who came out of admiration, but even those from the five Sacred Lands who came by invitation had to carry identity tokens and undergo strict verification before they could enter through the back door of West Tower.
West Tower was the foremost among Shanhai City’s forty-seven towers. During the day, fine wine and delicious food flowed continuously. Once night fell, countless beauties would emerge from small rooms to either accompany guests in drinking or be carried upstairs to the third floor amid charming laughter. It was a pleasure den that officials and nobles understood by tacit agreement.
Outsiders would never imagine that the solemn and dignified Xihe Sacred Land was hidden behind this West Tower filled with deafening revelry.
Because of this, the major Sacred Lands that frequently interacted with each other all maintained separate residences in West Tower. As soon as Xue Yu’s waist token was presented, she was immediately led upstairs by a child servant dressed in brocade.
“My lady has traveled far to arrive here. Our master has already received word and wishes to host a banquet to welcome and cleanse the dust from my lady’s journey.” The guide was a child of about seven or eight years old, plump in stature, wearing a thick red little jacket. Even when speaking seriously, he couldn’t help but reveal a kind of innocent and charming manner.
At this time, the sky was on the verge of darkness, but not yet dark, yet the tower was already becoming lively. Xue Yu looked at the various fancy lanterns lighting up throughout the building, her eyes slightly lowered, her voice neither hurried nor slow, as if speaking casually: “Your master is thoughtful. Have people from other Sacred Lands arrived?”
The two young servants glanced at each other, and one quickly spoke up: “The lord from Tai Hua lives nearby and arrived two days ago. The other lords have not yet arrived.”
This meant Lu Chengze hadn’t come yet.
Fearing that Xue Yu might be disturbed by the pleasure-seeking, ill-mannered libertines in the building, the two young servants led them along a winding path. Before long, they stopped in front of a small courtyard. “If my lady has any needs, West Tower’s female attendants are all waiting outside the courtyard, ready to follow my lady’s instructions at any time.” The young servant understood propriety well and slowly withdrew after bowing to Xue Yu.
In such places devoted to sensual pleasures and romantic dalliances, nights were often much livelier than days. Xue Yu leaned against the lacquered red railing on the second floor, her eyes slightly lowered, revealing half of her exquisite and delicate face. At a glance, she gave people a sense of aloof and condescending detachment, yet she watched extremely intently, not blinking for long periods.
When Liang Yan led the people from Yedu over, she happened to witness this scene. She was momentarily stunned, thinking that this Princess of Yedu was swift and decisive in official matters, yet sometimes seemed like a child curious about everything, quietly observing the mortal world.
“Greetings to my lady.” Over ten people behind Liang Yan neatly cupped their hands toward Xue Yu. They wore dark robes and all donned masks similar to the brocade-robed messengers, with light-colored patterns pressed around the mask edges, appearing quite mysterious.
The imposing black mass indicated the entourage of some ancient noble family.
Xue Yu withdrew her gaze, her eyes sweeping over them in a circle. After a moment, she spoke: “The Sacred Land maintains strict security. We are guests and must prioritize courtesy and yielding in all matters. Do not seek trouble or cause incidents.”
Her enunciation was like jade, her voice not heavy in tone, and her age was not great. Logically, she shouldn’t have much presence, yet she could somehow intimidate people.
Xue Yu didn’t often speak such admonishing words. Most of those around her were tamed demon races, bound by life-and-death chains and extremely well-behaved. The people before her who would accompany her into Xihe were temporarily transferred from her father’s side and didn’t know the rules around her.
In this world, living beings of all races were divided into different classes. Noble families, imperial surnames, and cultivation sects each occupied their share, while demons and ghosts ranked at the bottom. Beyond these, there were several very special existences, with Sacred Lands prominently among them.
There were six Sacred Lands, each with their own duties, wandering the world and eliminating evil spirits. This had been so for generations, thus they possessed extremely high prestige and status in people’s hearts.
Native residents born in Sacred Lands were called ancient immortals. They were uniquely gifted in cultivation and were sought after wherever they went. Over time, they naturally developed a pride different from ordinary people. Over the years, this had caused several major disturbances. Each Sacred Land learned from these lessons, repeatedly instructing and strictly disciplining their people. Reminders when going out had almost become habitual.
The leader clasped his fists first and solemnly acknowledged Xue Yu’s words: “We will follow my lady’s instructions in everything.”
Xue Yu nodded. Seeing this, Liang Yan stepped forward to add a few gentle supplementary words, then led them to withdraw to the side rooms outside the small courtyard.
The sky gradually darkened. The two plump young servants from before led a woman through the corridor, walking directly toward Xue Yu. The woman was about thirty or forty years old, with a voluptuous figure, wearing a pomegranate-red moon-flower dress that reached her ankles. The hem was adorned with a circle of round, lustrous pearls that swayed left and right with her walking movements, creating the sound of jingling ornaments.
“Greetings to my lady.” The woman raised her fan and curtsied to Xue Yu, smiling: “I didn’t expect my lady to arrive today. Liu Niang’s hospitality has been lacking, so I’ve come to apologize to my lady.”
When Xue Yu heard the two words “Liu Niang,” she slightly raised her eyes. She wasn’t unfamiliar with this behind-the-scenes boss who had managed West Tower so successfully, but this was indeed her first time meeting her.
“West Tower’s hospitality has always been thorough.” Xue Yu’s lips moved slightly as she said, “Madam is too polite.”
Liu Niang laughed while fanning herself, her pair of alluring phoenix eyes inconspicuously examining the young woman standing before her. To be able to manage West Tower to this day, she was naturally no ordinary person. Setting aside other things, reading expressions and judging people had become an unconscious habit.
This legitimate eldest daughter of Yedu wasn’t dressed luxuriously, wearing a simple cross-collar rabbit fur jacket on top with a matching jacket-skirt below. She didn’t display the fresh liveliness typical of girls her age, yet she possessed an extremely exquisite and delicate face. When she raised her eyes to look at her now, those beautiful eyes reflected the countless bright lamps throughout the building, with flowing light and flashing brilliance, inexplicably revealing a warm, fireside atmosphere that didn’t match her temperament.
Having stayed in this building for so long, Liu Niang never lacked for flower-like young women before her eyes. Even so, seeing this face and figure now, she couldn’t help but feel admiration. What was most eye-catching was the resilient spirit she emanated, growing upward like grass.
This was an heir cultivated by a Sacred Land, shouldering the burden of eliminating pollution and corruption, setting things right, naturally different from the delicate and fragile girls in this building.
Liu Niang smiled and withdrew her gaze, her golden-threaded fan gently tilting toward Xue Yu’s front: “The girls in the building have prepared wine and dishes. Please come this way, my lady.”
After all, this was someone else’s territory. Even though Xue Yu had no interest in the upcoming toasting and drinking, she still nodded and politely said: “Thank you for the trouble, madam.”
Just as the two were about to move, they saw the two plump young servants from earlier running over with urgent expressions, their little legs moving like wind. Liu Niang didn’t scold them when she saw this. After the bean-sized figures reached them and stood steady, she smiled: “So rash and careless. In just a few days, have you forgotten all the rules the teacher taught?”
Though she said this, there was no harsh scolding in her tone. After speaking, Liu Niang naturally bent down with an attentive listening posture.
The child on the left appeared slightly older and more methodical in his actions. Seeing this, he stepped forward half a pace, leaned close to Liu Niang’s ear, and whispered a long string of words.
With a cultivator’s hearing, even without deliberately focusing, Xue Yu still caught the latter half: “…the lords from Chi Shui have arrived, both the Holy Son and Holy Daughter have come.”
Xue Yu raised her head and slowly clenched her palm.
Liu Niang was also somewhat surprised. She straightened up, her expression unchanged, and while leading Xue Yu toward the left path, knowing she couldn’t hide what had just been said, she spoke directly: “Guests from Chi Shui have arrived.”
“Chi Shui is far from Shanhai City. Usually, they arrive precisely when the Sacred Land opens and don’t stay long in our building.” Liu Niang paused, remembering that the person beside her had also arrived precisely on time, and couldn’t help but smile: “It’s good to arrive two days early. The day after tomorrow, Shanhai City has a Wind Prayer Festival that the city residents take very seriously. The girls of West Tower have also arranged performances. When the time comes, I’ll have the building’s servants guide my lady there—consider it watching the excitement.”
Xue Yu’s mind was never on entertainment. She stopped before entering the corner, as if suddenly thinking of something, her two slender eyebrows knitting together: “Please trouble madam to send someone to invite the Chi Shui Holy Son. I have matters to discuss with him.”
The Six Sacred Lands had countless entanglements between them and thus frequently communicated. Liu Niang didn’t ask many questions and readily agreed.
This was exactly what Xue Yu had counted on. She had originally wanted to contact Lu Chengze privately, but in this building near Xihe, their movements couldn’t escape the countless watching eyes in the shadows.
Since this was the case, it was better to meet openly and honestly.
Such an upright and forthright attitude would prevent those with ulterior motives from overthinking.
Moments later, Xue Yu sat in a side room separated by soundproof stone, her gaze falling across a table of fine wine and delicious food onto Lu Chengze’s face, unchanged over a thousand years and seemingly always pleased with life.
“Racing non-stop on the road, just arrived, and already heard that the Princess of Yedu wants to see me.” Lu Chengze turned the teacup beside his hand half a circle and asked with a carefree smile: “What’s this about?”
If this were a thousand years ago, it would be perfectly reasonable for Lu Chengze to speak to her this way.
Xue Yu had a cold temperament and wasn’t close to anyone. Besides Yedu, she usually followed missions issued by the Heavenly Mechanism Book. She was accustomed to going alone, and even with Lu Chengze, who was also a Sacred Land heir, she had little to say—the kind of relationship where they would merely nod to each other when meeting.
Under such circumstances, her sudden invitation would indeed warrant this reaction from Lu Chengze.
But Xue Yu didn’t believe in such a coincidence. That silver whirlwind that day had covered all three people present—why should she alone encounter such a thing?
Taking another step back, if it were like this, then even better.
Song Heng would die without a doubt this time.
Before that, Xue Yu needed to confirm whether Lu Chengze, before her, had not experienced those thousand years, who hadn’t become life-and-death friends with Song Heng.
Time seemed to turn into viscous water, dropping down finger by finger. Xue Yu didn’t miss any subtle expression on Lu Chengze’s face, but people like them had expression control as an instinct melded into their skin—what expression to show when was something few understood better than them.
“It’s not a major matter.” Xue Yu’s face showed complete business-like indifference: “The ten Red Thread demons that Chi Shui captured last month—when will they be transferred to Yedu?”
This was truly the smallest of small matters, so much so that Lu Chengze was momentarily stunned after hearing it, not remembering such a thing at all.
The six lands each had their duties in guarding the world. Chi Shui was responsible for establishing criminal law and conducting summons and interrogations, while Yedu was responsible for detaining demons, ghosts, and evil spirits. Thus, there were frequent official exchanges between the two lands.
Seeing Xue Yu’s cold face with an extremely serious expression, Lu Chengze also became more attentive. After pondering for a moment, he said: “I’ll urge them when I return. But you know, all the proper procedures must be followed—there’s no way to rush it.”
After speaking, the side room returned to quiet. In the subtle atmosphere, neither touched their chopsticks.
Lu Chengze was always talkative and meddlesome, but faced with a cold beauty like Xue Yu, who was so distant, even if he wanted to find topics to discuss, he didn’t know where to start chatting. He could only pick up the glass wine cup beside him, but just as the wine reached his lips, he heard Xue Yu across from him speak.
“Regarding this opening of the Judgment Platform, what thoughts does the Holy Son have?”
These words were almost uncompromisingly direct. As long as Lu Chengze was that Lu Chengze, he would understand upon hearing them.
The wine that had reached Lu Chengze’s lips suddenly left him in a position where drinking it was wrong, and not drinking it was also wrong.
“For such matters, what conclusions can be drawn now?” Lu Chengze tried his utmost to appear calm as he set down the wine cup. He smiled slightly: “The Judgment Platform hasn’t even opened yet.”
“Chi Shui has always advocated strict legal punishment and has proposed more than once to abolish the Judgment Platform, to eliminate those villains quickly. The Holy Son inherits the Sacred Land’s will—would he also have times when he wants to bring people down from above?” Xue Yu placed one palm on her knee, snow-white in color, and her voice carried a cool tone as well.
Lu Chengze knew he couldn’t hide it from her, but he hadn’t expected it to be this quick.
From when he entered until now, the words they had spoken could be counted on fingers.
Yet she had already cornered him in a dead end with just a few words.