At dawn, thousands of golden rays pierced through layers of clouds like a hand lifting a curtain, and heaven and earth suddenly became bright and clear.

The villagers of Yanling Village had suffered this calamity with the bodies of their loved ones barely cold. There were still corpses to collect and burials to arrange, and funerals to conduct. Even after being told that more people would likely intrude into the mountains, the villagers still did not leave with them.

As Ye Qi had predicted, most of the soldiers outside had retreated when they left the mountain. Those who remained were guards cleaning up the aftermath. Bypassing these people was as easy as turning one’s hand. Before noon, Ye Qi had led Changling and Jiagu out of Yanling Town and came face to face with the He Family troops that Tao Feng had brought to wait for them.

Only when Changling saw the valley full of black-armored soldiers outside the town did she realize that Young Marquis He had made arrangements early on—if Jing Wuwei had truly gone on a killing spree at that time, they only needed to see someone release a signal flare from the mountain, and these He Family troops would have gone to the rescue.

Just from looking at the physique of these armored soldiers, one could tell that each was an elite capable of taking on ten opponents. Even the “mantis stalking the cicada” sent by the court had failed to discover their existence, which showed the brilliance of the He Family troops.

Tao Feng recounted in detail how Fu Yangui had killed Jing Wuwei, then said, “After General Jing died, we thought Prime Minister Fu would harm the young master, but unexpectedly he left Yanling Town in a great hurry. We don’t know where he went.”

Ye Qi made an “mm” sound. “Although Jing Wuwei is dead, Jing Can is still alive. If we don’t quickly consolidate the Jing clan’s troops stationed outside, it’s hard to guarantee the border regions won’t be unstable…”

Jiagu seemed accustomed to his disciple’s demonic intelligence. Having been trapped in Yanling Village for most of the year, he naturally had matters on his mind. Seeing that the major trouble had temporarily come to an end, he didn’t stand on ceremony with Ye Qi. Taking a bag of silver pieces and dry rations, he prepared to part ways.

Changling asked in surprise, “Why doesn’t Uncle-Master travel with us?”

“I’ve been missing for so long, my junior martial brothers must all be worried sick. Shouldn’t I let them know?” Jiagu said. “Don’t you miss your master? Perhaps they’ve even found out about senior martial brother’s whereabouts. I’ll go investigate the situation and meet up with you all later.”

Upon hearing this, Changling didn’t even nod her head, but waved her hand hastily. “Oh, then you’d better go quickly.”

Jiagu: “…”

Ye Qi laughed. After Jiagu had walked far away, he ran forward and said, “Master, you must come to the martial arts gathering three months from now.”

Jiagu understood and patted his shoulder, saying in a low voice, “I’ll keep your martial nephew’s matter in my heart. You must hold on yourself, and Master will think of other methods for you as well.”

Changling saw them standing far away muttering something she couldn’t hear. Just as she was about to go forward, she saw Jiagu wave his hand and leave with long strides. Ye Qi circled back, moved his shoulder, and said to her, “We shouldn’t delay either. Let’s get to Chuyang early, or someone else might beat us to it.”

In this short day’s time, messages had arrived one after another. First Jing Wuwei was killed by Fu Yangui, then Fu Yangui was very likely Fu Liujing. The Wu Run folding fan they had obtained with such difficulty was still waiting to be paired, and if Ye Qi hadn’t mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten about the so-called evidence hidden in Anxi Town.

If this matter were true, once news of Jing Wuwei’s death spread, the situation would inevitably change. If they missed the opportunity, opposing Shen Yao would be less certain of success. However, before coming here, Ji Beilan had clearly said that Ye Qi’s life would not last long. Originally, after leaving the mountain, they should have hurried back immediately to confirm whether the ice snake gallbladder had been successfully obtained. But now that Jing Wuwei had been eliminated under the name of rebellion, could she, this “daughter of the Jing Family,” still return to Jinling City?

Changling’s mind was in chaos for a moment, not knowing which should be done first and which second would be appropriate. Ye Qi watched her standing there in a daze with a worried expression, and couldn’t help but inexplicably poke her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Perhaps you should return to Jinling first to contact Seventh Uncle and the others. As for Anxi Town… I can go by myself.”

Ye Qi said, “It’s on the way anyway. Wouldn’t it be better if we go to Anxi Town first, then return to Jinling together?”

Changling pondered for a moment and said, “Dividing our forces into two routes might save more time.”

“You’re worried that because your identity is unclear, returning to Jinling will cause trouble, right?” Ye Qi smiled faintly. “Actually, Shen Yao may not necessarily really pin the crime of treason on Jing Wuwei. First, many in the court and military follow Jing Wuwei openly and secretly. Given the current situation, he doesn’t yet have the confidence to purge the factions. Second, Jing Wuwei holds leverage over Shen Yao. Provoking the Jing clan would bring him no benefit… Since this is the case, it would be better to attribute Jing Wuwei’s death to an accident—for instance, accidentally drowning in the dam. This way, consolidating the Jing clan’s military power into his own hands would cause fewer problems, wouldn’t it?”

This scapegoating routine sounded incredibly familiar. Changling thought carefully—wasn’t this the very trick Shen Yao used against the Yue clan back then?

“As long as your true identity hasn’t been exposed, Shen Yao might even want to use you to gain the Jing clan’s goodwill… The better he treats Jing Wuwei’s daughter, doesn’t that prove this matter has nothing to do with him?” Ye Qi said this while signaling to Tao Feng in the distance to bring the horses. “However, we can’t be completely without concerns about this matter. I’ll have Tao Feng rush back first to investigate the situation in Jinling City… We’ll travel more slowly, which will also be more prudent.”

Changling didn’t hide anything and said bluntly, “But if we go too slowly, I’m worried you’ll suddenly…”

Ye Qi froze, understanding her meaning. He was stunned for a moment, then reached out to smooth her hair. Changling raised her hand to block him, muttering, “Having come this far, you should at least care a bit about yourself… This little brat still dares to show off before me…”

The three words “little brat” struck Young Marquis Ye’s weak spot hard. He gave her a sidelong glance, and his other hand also grabbed her head, his mouth showing no weakness as he said, “This young master is four years older than you. Why must you, a girl who looks not even eighteen, pretend to be so deep and worldly?”

This was probably the most brazenly Ye Qi had ever talked back to her. Changling wasn’t quite used to it for a moment, then her palm heavily struck his wrist. “When Sister was traveling the martial world, you didn’t even know where you were nursing.”

Ye Qi dodged nimbly, then as if tired of living, lightly pinched her earlobe. “Heh, during those eleven years you slept, you gained neither flesh nor experience. I’ve shot up higher than you in both body and spirit. The fact that I haven’t made you call me Big Brother Ye is already giving you a lot of face.”

Changling: “…”

Who gave this fellow such audacity to repeatedly engage in verbal sparring with her? The Wanhua Manual?

A moment later, Tao Feng, leading the horses over, saw his own marquis being chased and beaten by a peerless beauty, and for a moment didn’t know whether he should step forward to mediate.

After traveling on horseback for most of the day, they finally turned into the town’s marketplace before dark.

Perhaps because there was no curse from Evil Spirit Mountain, although Anxi Town wasn’t far from Yanling Town, the whole small town had quite a strong atmosphere of human life. After nightfall, though it wasn’t as brightly lit as Jinling City, one could still see people coming and going on the roads. Some rather atmospheric wine houses and teahouses weren’t idle either. Ye Qi and Changling disguised themselves plainly and checked into an inn in the bustling district without attracting anyone’s attention.

While filling their stomachs, they made some inquiries and quickly learned the locations of several estates with the surname “Qian.” In such a small town, it didn’t take much effort to circle around looking for an old residence. An hour later, the two groped their way to a secluded residence in the midst of bustle. Looking up at the dusty plaque on the gate, two large characters were painted: Qian Residence.

This mansion should have previously been the residence of a local gentry. Judging from the courtyard’s furnishings, the place wasn’t large but the taste was refined. Stone carvings on the corridor bridge bore the characters “Gracefully Sleepless,” quite conveying a sense of dwelling in desolate separation.

The two unhurriedly crossed the weed-covered stone path, vigilant for any sign of human presence. Changling looked at the exterior walls covered everywhere with dark green moss, so damp it really didn’t seem like anyone lived here, and couldn’t help but say in a low voice, “Do you think this is the place?”

“Hard to say.” Ye Qi stopped in front of the hall door and casually felt the door frame, getting a handful of dust. “Logically speaking, even if no one lives in a place where things are hidden, someone should be sent to clean periodically to prevent mold. But this place…”

Before he finished speaking, Changling strode boldly inside. Ye Qi said “Hey” but failed to stop her. In a panic, he followed and pulled her. “I haven’t checked whether there are traps here yet…”

For Changling, a habitual offender at trespassing in private residences in the middle of the night, her keen hearing and sharp eyes had reached the highest level. With such an old residence, she could tell at a glance whether there was any trickery. Given her experience of nearly being blown up in the top pavilion of Dazhao Temple in the past, she wasn’t reckless about lighting fire. First, she asked Ye Qi, “Don’t you have a dog’s nose? Is there any lamp oil or similar stuff sprinkled here?”

Ye Qi touched several places on the floor and walls. “No.”

With a “whoosh,” Changling opened the fire starter, illuminating the inner hall all at once. Just at this moment, a pitch-black shadow suddenly darted in from the side door.

Ye Qi was close to the door and without thinking blocked in front of Changling. The long whip in his hand had somehow already been swung out. Taking a closer look, it was a disheveled woman. Her hands were bound at the waist by the whip rope, and she tried to break free with force. But how could she easily escape this whip rope woven from thousands of golden cicada threads? Ye Qi pulled with his hand, tightening the whip rope, and said, “Who are you?”

The woman’s pitch-black pupils turned toward him, and she suddenly laughed “heh heh heh” a few times. Her body twisted and swayed, and she actually drilled out from the tightened rope as if she had practiced bone-shrinking technique. Ye Qi’s heart jumped in alarm. Before he could retract the rope, the woman grabbed the rope’s end.

With strength comparable to several oxen, even though Ye Qi had steadied his lower body beforehand, he was still pulled over by her. He made a backward leap to dodge her flying kick. Seeing the opponent show her skills, Young Marquis didn’t waste words. His toe touched the beam, and with a reverse hand, he swept a wave of attacks with the whip.

Changling held the fire and stood to the side watching the battle. She thought that now that Ye Qi had learned the Wanhua Manual, he should be able to defeat the opponent in two or three moves. But she had forgotten that his divine skill was only at the first level. Without water’s enhancement, he was still that young marquis with depleted internal energy. This woman also seemed to know how to use a whip. Grabbing it without letting go, she could dodge several layers of attacks from the Infinite Whip. Ye Qi simply abandoned the long whip and struck with a Heartless Palm. The woman cried “aiya,” and her left hand suddenly pulled out a short blade from behind, slashing toward Ye Qi’s shoulder.

This sudden slash caught him off guard, but it made Changling suddenly stop the Nanhua Needle she was about to flick out—wait… Grandfather’s family heirloom skill, Iron Brush Silver Hook?

Ye Qi’s form slipped like a swimming fish, narrowly avoiding the blade. He countered with an elbow, clearly hitting her back, yet it seemed to sink in without hitting anything solid. The woman forcefully stomped two footprints into the green bricks. The long blade gracefully and freely executed a move called “Silkworm Head and Swallow Tail” in the air. Without taking a step, the blade’s edge had already rushed toward Ye Qi’s face.

He leaned back to dodge sideways, his instep kicking up to block above her blade handle. Seeing the long blade about to sink toward his chest, he hastily said, “How much longer are you going to watch? I can’t hold on much longer.”

These words were naturally directed at Changling. The next moment, Changling flashed forward in an instant. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of them. Using her palm as a blade, she struck toward the woman’s wrist position with a move called “Spirited and Dashing.”

This move’s timing and gap were grasped without the slightest error. If the blade-wielder didn’t withdraw her force, her wrist bones would definitely not be spared. The woman exclaimed “eh,” immediately withdrew her blade and stepped back. Only then did she turn her gaze to Changling. “Who are you? Where did you learn the Yue Family blade technique?”

Sure enough, it was the Yue Family’s “Iron Brush Silver Hook.”

In the underground cave at Yanling Village, Ye Qi had only glanced at it twice, so he hadn’t immediately recognized it. When fighting, seeing Changling seemed to be observing the moves, a sudden flash of inspiration reminded him of some outline. Now hearing “Yue Family blade technique,” he knew he hadn’t guessed wrong.

Changling now sized up the woman before her eyes. Her black hair was mixed with several streaks of white. Her face was only palm-sized, pale as a ghost, but her slightly drooping single-fold eyelids were delicate. If not for the protruding cheekbones from advancing age, she must have been a distinctive beauty when young.

“I’m asking you a question. Are you mute?” The woman saw Changling not answering. “That move just now—where did you learn it?”

Changling’s eyes flickered slightly. “Iron Brush Silver Hook—to raise the pen is to write calligraphy, to raise the blade is to break swords. To learn the blade, one must first practice calligraphy. I can’t even write well, so how could I learn the blade?”

The woman’s whole body shook, thinking she had heard wrong. “What did you say?”

“When I was small, I wanted to learn the blade, but my aunt wouldn’t let me. She always forced me to practice calligraphy, saying something about how if one cannot master the calligraphy of a hundred schools, one cannot learn the blade… But even now I haven’t written well, so naturally I don’t dare practice ‘Iron Brush Silver Hook.'”

By this point, the woman’s eyes were already brimming with tears. “You are… Ting’er? You, you didn’t die?”

“Aunt.” Changling’s voice choked slightly. “You didn’t die either.”

Yue Rugou had one son and one daughter. Yue Qingyi was the elder sister. Because Yue Rugou and his wife died early, Yue Chengfeng had been raised by his elder sister since childhood.

In Changling’s childhood memories, besides her virtuous mother and gentle older brother, the deepest impression was left by this domineering and unreasonable aunt. Back then, little Changting was just a delicate little child who couldn’t bear to step on even an ant. When bullied by other children, she would only look pitifully tearful. After Yue Qingyi helped her vent her anger, she would pull her to practice with the great blade for her to see, then force her to study the Four Books and Five Classics, saying that the Yue Family blade would be passed to her in the future.

Actually, Yue Qingyi wasn’t a good candidate for practicing the blade. By the time Iron Brush Silver Hook was passed to her hands, it was already difficult to return to the glory of the scholarly warrior. When Changling was four years old, Yue Qingyi’s beloved husband died in battle. Yue Chengfeng worried his sister would be unable to recover, so he used the excuse of “wife and daughter having no one to care for them” to have Yue Qingyi come take care of Changling. She practiced with the blade in the courtyard every day. Watching her nephew and niece lively and adorable, constantly circling around her, gradually she finally emerged from the pain of losing her husband.

However, good times didn’t last long. In the year Changting turned six, while the two were playing in the courtyard using tree branches as blades, they were suddenly attacked by a black-clothed person who appeared out of nowhere. Each received a palm strike. When she awoke, her niece was already on the verge of death and was ultimately sent far away to Tianzhu by Yue Chengfeng, her fate unknown.

Yue Qingyi blamed herself for failing to protect Changting. Later, Changting’s mother died of illness from worrying about her daughter. Not long after, Yue Qingyi suddenly left without saying goodbye and disappeared without a trace. Yue Chengfeng sent many people to search but couldn’t find her.

By the time Changting became Changling and returned to the Central Plains, when she inquired about this aunt, all she received were heavy sighs from her father and brother.

“Father always thought Aunt had also been harmed by someone. I never imagined you were still alive.”

Having thought there were no more relatives in the world, yet now suddenly reuniting with her closest aunt—how could her heart not surge with emotion?

Ye Qi considerately took the fire starter and lit the candles in the hall, letting the two have a proper reunion while he circled to other rooms in the back hall to patrol.

After the light brightened, Yue Qingyi cupped Changling’s face, tears flowing uncontrollably. “You’re still the same as when you were small, still so adorable… Aunt, Aunt has grown old… You must despise me now…”

Changling’s eyes grew hot, and she gently shook her head. “I no longer have a mother. From now on, Aunt will be my mother. What reason is there in the world to despise one’s own mother?”

Yue Qingyi forced herself to calm down. “I heard you died over ten years ago. I always thought you had died… As long as you’re alive, as long as you’re alive… all the suffering Aunt has endured these years wasn’t in vain…”

“These years, where has Aunt been?” Changling asked strangely. “Back then, why did you leave without saying goodbye?”

The oil lamp flickered. A trace of hatred crossed Yue Qingyi’s shadowy face. “I didn’t leave without saying goodbye… It’s just that one day, I inadvertently found the murderer who struck you down. I secretly followed him, and in the dead of night, I gave him a blade strike… Unfortunately, Heaven was blind. That blade didn’t kill him, and instead his guards trapped me. Later, when he woke up, he recognized me too, but he didn’t kill me. He just locked me up. One lock lasted eighteen years…”

Changling’s heart suddenly jumped. How many eighteen years are there in a person’s life, let alone a woman’s? For a moment, mixed feelings welled up, and irrepressible anger overflowed. “Who was that person? Aunt, tell me, and I’ll go kill him right now.”

“That person… has also been dead for over ten years…” Yue Qingyi gripped Changling’s hand. “We haven’t seen each other for so many years. Let’s not talk about these unpleasant things first… Quickly tell Aunt how you survived.”

Ye Qi searched the entire mansion and found that several cabinets that had been locked to store important items were all empty. He crouched down to look at the pried-open locks—the lock marks were new, and the furniture that had been moved inside also showed signs of dust being wiped away.

He secretly punched the wall and returned to the outer hall, hearing Changling ask Yue Qingyi, “That’s roughly how things were… What about Aunt? When did you get out?”

“I only recently found an opportunity to escape…” Hearing Ye Qi’s footsteps, Yue Qingyi wiped her eyes and didn’t continue being sentimental. “By the way, you haven’t introduced who this young hero is…”

Without waiting for Changling to speak, Ye Qi stepped forward and cupped his fists. “This junior’s surname is Ye, given name Qi. I’ve met Aunt.”

Yue Qingyi made an “mm” sound and glanced at him with the kind of scrutinizing look one gives a “son-in-law.” “You look passable, but I see your martial arts seem inferior to our Ting’er’s.”

Ye Qi smiled sheepishly. Changling remembered the main business and asked, “How was it? Did you find anything?”

“Everything’s been cleared out.” Ye Qi shook his head. “Should have been recently.”

Changling’s brow furrowed slightly. Yue Qingyi asked, “What was cleared out?”

“We received information that evidence of Shen Yao colluding with Yan Kingdom might be hidden here, but it seems we’re a step too late.” Ye Qi remembered something and asked, “By the way, Senior Yue, may I ask when you arrived here and why you appeared in this place?”

“I… someone told me that the enemy who imprisoned me for so many years would appear in this place…” Yue Qingyi said. “I only just arrived two days ago and didn’t notice anyone coming here to search for things…”

“It seems someone beat us to it and took everything away. The mastermind should be not far from us…” Ye Qi slowly paced two steps, then turned back. “Now we should first contact Seventh Uncle and the others, then send He Family’s informants to investigate the news. This place isn’t suitable for a long stay… How about…”

“He Family?” Yue Qingyi’s face suddenly darkened. “What He Family?”

Changling feared Yue Qingyi wouldn’t be willing to leave with them and hastily explained, “Aunt, actually this Young Master Ye’s real name is He Yu. He’s the head of the He Family. The situation is currently unstable, and people could come looking at any time. Why don’t you leave with us first?”

“He… Yu?”

Yue Qingyi coldly finished pronouncing these two characters. Suddenly, she struck a palm toward Ye Qi’s chest!