Yuhu Xuanzong.

Xie Hongchen walked out from the mountain gate. Disciples around stepped aside to the edge of the path and saluted him.

His expression was indifferent. He nodded slightly and went straight up the mountain gate.

What Huang Rang had said—because it was from such a distant time, it was already difficult to verify.

But this master of his was actually impulsive and hot-tempered, obstinate and self-willed, not someone who could hold his composure so well.

Xie Hongchen’s heart was filled with uncertainty. He knew what it meant, what he was about to do.

—He was going to test his own master. And this person had raised him with his own hands, taught him carefully, and cultivated him with great effort.

“Sect Master!” Xie Shaochong’s voice rang in his ears.

Only then did Xie Hongchen come back to his senses—he had nearly collided head-on with Xie Shaochong.

Xie Shaochong was also puzzled—Senior Brother Sect Master was very distracted today.

Xie Hongchen looked at him for a while, then said, “Last time, the court set up a platform at the Five Grains Altar, and Shi Wenyu personally bestowed an imperial plaque on Di Sanmeng.”

Xie Shaochong didn’t know why he suddenly mentioned this matter. He could only say, “That day, I was at the sect and didn’t go to the scene.”

Xie Hongchen nodded and asked, “What about Ancestor?”

Xie Shaochong was stunned. He too was a child picked up by Xie Lingbi, raised from childhood—their bond was extraordinary.

He looked toward Xie Hongchen. After a long while, he said, “I didn’t pay attention.”

Xie Hongchen said, “Follow me to check the World-Piercing Eye.”

The two followed one after another, heading all the way to Trailing Clouds Hall.

At this time, at Si Tianjian.

Di Yiqiu retrieved the case files from when Old Master Qi’s young son disappeared.

The files were extremely detailed, even Old Master Qi’s business rivals had been eliminated from suspicion one by one. It was evident the authorities had investigated the case carefully. Clearly, what the steward said about “Old Master Qi nearly exhausting his family fortune” was no exaggeration.

However, the child seemed to have vanished into thin air, without any clues.

Li Lu stood to the side. Seeing him contemplating for so long, he couldn’t help but say, “This case—the prefecture office inquired many times. Later they felt it might be someone from an immortal sect committing the crime, and even submitted it to Yuhu Xuanzong. But all without results.”

Di Yiqiu made a sound of acknowledgment, saying, “Nearby towns and cities—did they search for young children of unknown origin?”

Li Lu said, “The authorities investigated, the victim’s family also searched, and even posted high reward notices.”

“Can they ascend to heaven and descend to earth?” Jianzheng laughed coldly, his gaze profound. After a long while, he said softly, “This seat will not permit it.”

Li Lu was slightly stunned. Looking again, he saw only firm determination and severity in his eyes.

Di Yiqiu began examining large volumes of case files and visiting crime scenes. This unsolved case was already well-known. With him personally taking charge, it naturally shook the capital.

And this was only the beginning.

On this day, Baihu Division’s Shaojian Tan Qi delivered many complaints, his expression grave: “Jianzheng, the common people heard you were investigating the case of the Qi family’s young son’s disappearance. These past two days, many petitions have been submitted.”

Di Yiqiu took them and examined each one carefully.

Just in the capital alone, there were this many missing young children?

Every word on the petitions was heart-stopping.

Tan Qi also found it strange: “These children come from wealthy households as well as poor families. Their parents all regarded them as treasures in their palms, loving them in every way. But after they were lost, there was neither news nor anyone demanding money for them. Truly strange.”

The more Di Yiqiu read, the more alarmed his heart became. It was as if he had pulled on a thread, and a case of child abduction hidden among the common people slowly revealed its initial form.

Huang Rang hadn’t seen Di Yiqiu for many days now.

However, Lord Jianzheng sent someone to deliver letters every day, telling her where he had gone and what he was doing.

Having received these letters, Huang Rang no longer worried.

She was also very busy. Seeing that it was already the end of the second month, next year’s superior seeds had finally been successfully sown. All the students at the Breeding Institute were laboring heart and soul for this batch of superior seeds.

At night, Huang Rang carried half a bag of seeds. Passing by the study, she discovered Di Yiqiu had already returned.

In the study, candlelight blazed high. Di Yiqiu sat behind the spacious desk, case files piled before him.

Seeing Huang Rang, he only said, “Go to bed early.”

Huang Rang set the seeds aside and asked casually, “Have you eaten?”

Lord Jianzheng replied, “I grabbed a bite at the dining hall.”

Huang Rang touched his face, muttering, “Who knows what you’re busy with—you’ve lost a whole circle of weight.”

Di Yiqiu held her hand in return, saying, “The perpetrator of the missing children case is still at large. If we solve the case one day earlier, there will be fewer families torn apart.”

Huang Rang said casually, “Husband only cares about other people’s flesh and blood, not his own tender wife.”

Di Yiqiu laughed, saying, “Though this seat doesn’t care for his tender wife, he has a tender wife who cares for him.”

Huang Rang was delighted to be coaxed, saying, “Then your wife shall fetch water to wash husband’s feet and relieve his fatigue.”

She acted as she spoke, quickly going to the outer room to fetch hot water.

Lord Jianzheng held the case files, about to stand up, when Huang Rang said, “Read yours—I won’t disturb you.”

She carried the hot water and slipped under the desk, half-kneeling on the ground, gently removing Di Yiqiu’s shoes and socks.

Under the desk, light and shadow were dim. When Huang Rang removed his socks, she discovered many places on his feet had been rubbed raw. Water blisters stuck to the sock bottoms.

“Your feet…” Huang Rang didn’t dare pull forcefully, fearing the skin would tear into larger wounds.

Lord Jianzheng didn’t care, saying, “I just walked to too many places—it’s nothing serious.”

Huang Rang moistened the socks with water, gently separating them from the skin. After a long time, both socks were finally removed.

Jianzheng’s feet were placed in the hot water, gently kneaded by jade-like hands.

The beauty under the desk said nothing. While flipping through case files, he reached out his hand, wanting to caress the head of the beauty beneath the desk. But his fingertips touched the beauty’s nose bridge. Huang Rang lifted her head slightly, her lips lightly touching his fingertips.

Jianzheng was slightly stunned. Under the desk where light and shadow were faint, the beauty’s lips parted slightly, gently taking in his fingertip.

All around was so quiet that only the candlelight flickered. Lord Jianzheng’s spirit also swayed like this candlelight, flickering bright and dim. No matter how urgent those case files were, he still wished to seek this moment of time.

“Arang…” he called softly.

In a flash, with a soft ding, the jade belt at his waist was slowly drawn away, sliding down to the ground along the beauty’s jade hands.

Lord Jianzheng gently caressed the top of Huang Rang’s head. For a time, even his spirit and soul were drawn away. He didn’t know whether he wanted to push her away or draw her closer.

When Li Lu and Tan Qi came over, they happened upon Huang Rang emerging from the study.

“Madam!” the two said respectfully.

Huang Rang made a sound of acknowledgment and said nothing, quickly withdrawing.

In the room, Jianzheng drank a cup of cold tea, then his expression became solemn once more as he resumed discussing the case.

Yuhu Xuanzong.

Xie Hongchen and Xie Shaochong together examined the images from the day Huang Rang was attacked at the Five Grains Altar.

Xie Lingbi had indeed left Yuhu Xuanzong.

Xie Shaochong didn’t understand: “Sect Master, even if Ancestor left, so what?” He looked toward Xie Hongchen and said softly, “That still doesn’t mean he was the one who attacked Di Sanmeng.”

Xie Hongchen said, “I know.”

He pondered for a long time, then said, “The outer gate has a library pavilion with many law scrolls stored inside.”

Xie Shaochong didn’t understand why he mentioned this, saying, “Right. But there’s nothing important there. Nothing more than traveling disciple registrations, and also… annual bone structure test records. But they’re all of those who couldn’t pass the tests. Sect disciples have long been filed in Trailing Clouds Hall.”

Xie Hongchen said, “Inside is one book about the initial spiritual root testing of Zitong Prefecture, from the third month two hundred sixty years ago. Shaochong, I’ll go to Luofu Hall. You have a quarter hour to open that law scroll. Remember, erase the shadow-retention technique on the scroll—don’t leave any traces.”

Xie Shaochong was frightened: “Zitong Prefecture—isn’t that your hometown? Checking… disciples who didn’t pass the test… Sect Master, I don’t understand.”

Xie Hongchen said, “Go and look. Remember the names Xie Jing and Fei Fang.”

With that, he flew on his sword toward Luofu Hall.

Xie Shaochong chased after him a few steps, then stopped again.

What exactly was happening?

But he dared not disobey Xie Hongchen’s instructions.

He could only rush all the way to the outer gate.

The outer gate was managed by Xie Lingbi’s son, Xie Yuanshu.

How strict could it be?

Xie Shaochong easily entered. He calculated the time, estimating that Xie Hongchen had already detained Xie Lingbi, and only then hurriedly searched for that law scroll.

There were truly too many law scrolls here. Because none were important, no one paid any attention.

Xie Shaochong searched for Zitong Prefecture in the sequence, then followed the years to find the one Xie Hongchen mentioned.

—What exactly was Sect Master looking for?

Xie Shaochong steeled his heart and erased the shadow-retention technique on it.

The shadow-retention technique on law scrolls—ordinary disciples didn’t know about it.

But those with identities like Xie Hongchen and Xie Shaochong could naturally erase it. Moreover, this law scroll itself wasn’t important and had no special encryption.

Xie Shaochong hurriedly examined the scroll.

At this time, at Luofu Hall.

Xie Lingbi was not pleased by Xie Hongchen’s arrival.

He said, “That girl is still alive. What, has the court actually gained the ability to prevent Sect Master Xie from executing sect rules?”

Xie Hongchen said calmly, “Master, please calm your anger. Her Heart Sword comes from the same lineage as this disciple’s. This disciple wants to know whether her appearance has some other conspiracy behind it.”

Xie Lingbi said, “You need not make excuses. In the end, it’s nothing more than being moved by beauty, unable to bring yourself to act.”

Xie Hongchen looked at the wall—there was no image from the World-Piercing Eye.

He sighed softly, “Master knows me well.”

Xie Lingbi said, “If you can’t bear it, must you trouble this master?”

Xie Hongchen said, “Master, this disciple toward her… always has a kind of inexplicable familiarity.”

“Shut up!” Xie Lingbi was furious. “She’s already married to Di Yiqiu. Could it be that you, the dignified sect master, still linger over a married woman?”

Xie Hongchen said, “Master’s reprimand is correct.”

And precisely during their conversation, Xie Shaochong had already erased the shadow-retention technique on the law scroll.

He quickly opened the scroll and searched rapidly.

Law scrolls were more convenient than paper pages. Soon, he found this infant—Infant Xie Kang, male. Father: Xie Jing, Mother: Fei Fang. Spiritual root: None. Test result: Eliminated!

What was going on?

Xie Shaochong was stunned.

That year, Yuhu Xuanzong had actually conducted a spiritual root test on Xie Jing’s son, and the result was elimination!

How could this be possible?!

Xie Hongchen’s spiritual roots were simply heaven-chosen talent.

Even as an infant, the result absolutely could not be like this.

Unless he was not Xie Jing’s son.

But if Xie Hongchen was not Xie Jing’s son, then who was he?!

Xie Shaochong hurriedly put the law scroll back in its place. Not daring to linger, he quickly left the outer gate.

—What secret had he just learned?

His heart was uneasy.

At Luofu Hall, after Xie Hongchen chatted idly with Xie Lingbi for a while, he finally emerged with difficulty. At a glance, he saw Xie Shaochong’s expression.

Xie Shaochong said nothing, but his expression had already given Xie Hongchen the answer.

Huang Rang had not lied. His own origins were indeed in doubt.

But who was he?

Why would Ancestor Lingbi fabricate an identity for him?

Xie Shaochong forcibly suppressed his violently pounding heart, saying, “Perhaps Ancestor just made a mistake. He has no need to deceive you, right?”

Xie Hongchen said nothing.

He too hoped so, but Huang Rang’s words, word by word, lingered in his ears.

“Who exactly am I…” He had fallen into an even greater mystery.