The time returns to one hour earlier.

Chi Xue and Zhao San followed the tracks all the way. Zhao San was skilled at tracking and followed silently without stirring up any dust. Halfway through, those people abandoned their carriage and continued on foot over a low mountain. When passing the foot of the mountain, someone suddenly burst out from the grass and snatched the child away.

The person carrying the child was greatly alarmed and about to cry out. His companions also rushed forward, but the child-snatcher waved his sleeve, and those people fell silently to the ground.

The person who had struck looked at his own hand somewhat surprised, laughed heartily, picked up the child, and darted into the grass.

Chi Xue and Zhao San followed from afar. The two exchanged glances—Zhao San continued following the person with the child, leaving marks along the way. Chi Xue stayed behind to examine the fallen people one by one. Most had already died from poisoning, but one person who had stood farthest away, having inhaled less poison powder, still had a breath left.

Chi Xue understood poison techniques, but she couldn’t cure the poison before her eyes. However, she had some means to delay and alleviate it, so she took out a pill and fed it to that person. Seeing that the poison could cause the throat to swell and block the airway, leading to suffocation, she made a cut in the person’s throat to prevent him from dying of asphyxiation.

After this treatment, the person finally awakened. Chi Xue’s small knife was at his throat, her gaze averted to avoid looking at the blood as she said in a low voice, “If you want to live, do as I say!”

The person nodded repeatedly.

After a moment, Chi Xue bound the person and stuffed him in a nearby cave, then got up to pursue Zhao San.

Although she had almost no martial arts skills, she had practiced decent lightness skills, so at least she wouldn’t drag the Crown Princess down when escaping.

Soon she saw the marks Zhao San had left. Ahead was a crude thatched hut. The two hid behind trees, watching the movements over there.

Zhao San gestured to Chi Xue, indicating that the child-snatcher had entered the house, and there was another person inside—an old man.

The door suddenly opened. The child-snatcher, wearing black hemp robes that covered his head and face, came out to fetch water from a small stream beside the hut.

As that person walked, you could see he was somewhat limping.

Someone pulled the door open—that hand was thin, dark, and claw-like.

The black-robed person said, “Master, do you need my help?”

A strange voice replied hoarsely through the door, “No need.”

The black-robed person sat on the veranda. After a while, he said, “Master, how did you know someone would be transporting a child past here at this time?”

The person inside laughed and said, “Of course I know. I also know they’re going to the imperial capital, and I know how often they transport children… because when they originally developed this technique, they were following my guidance.”

The black-robed person made a sound of surprise.

The old man’s voice became even more smug: “Everyone wants longevity. The higher their official position and wealth, the more reluctant they are to abandon this stinking skin bag. The Xiao family helps me introduce clients, and I receive their offerings, so I showed them this path. Under the Emperor’s feet in the imperial capital, they must act with many concerns. Those officials don’t dare do this young bone furnace business, so they can only entrust it to the Xiao family to practice here in Dongming, then send the results to the capital.”

The black-robed person said, “Master, you were severely injured by those two little thieves. Can this young bone furnace really restore you to normal?”

“Naturally. These furnaces require different types and durations for each person. I calculated that recently one furnace should be ready and due to be sent to the capital. Sure enough, today I had you wait for it.”

The black-robed person said, “Since you have connections with the Xiao family, why not directly seek their protection instead of wandering in this wilderness?”

“What good thing is the Xiao family? When I, as the Poison Maniac, looked down upon the world, they fawned over and respected me. Now that I’ve fallen and been severely injured, and knowing such important secrets of their family, if I really went to seek them out, wouldn’t that be like a sheep entering a tiger’s mouth?” The old monster’s voice hissed like a snake. “Naturally I must wait until I recover before going to find them, having them help me locate those two little thieves. If I don’t get revenge, I won’t be human!”

“Master, how is this young bone furnace refined? Last time you told me that with the aid of our secret medicine, anyone can become a furnace with various achievements. Your disciple is very envious.”

“After I use this furnace today and recover, I’ll teach you. After I use this furnace, there will be a period of weakness. Good disciple, help me guard the dharma.”

“Master, rest assured. Even if I die, I won’t let you suffer the slightest harm!”

“Good child.” The old monster’s unpleasant voice softened somewhat, actually generating some warmth. “Thanks to you during this period. Don’t worry—when Master recovers, I definitely won’t treat you poorly. Then you’ll know what honor it is to be the Poison Maniac’s disciple!”

The black-robed person respectfully and longingly said, “Disciple can already imagine such a grand scene. Thank you for Master’s deep affection.”

The old monster laughed heartily and with a whoosh, pulled the door shut.

Behind the tree, Zhao San and Chi Xue looked at each other.

Both knew about their master’s previous encounter with the Poison Maniac. Those two little thieves clearly referred to their own master. They couldn’t help but worry.

If a figure like the Poison Maniac recovered and joined forces with the Xiao family…

Chi Xue gestured to Zhao San.

Zhao San hesitated.

This girl didn’t know martial arts. Could he alone handle those two people?

If this alerted the enemy…

Seeing his hesitation, Chi Xue said nothing but reached into her sleeve to take out some components, quickly assembling a small crossbow and attaching it to her arm.

The crossbow bolts were tiny and thin. Chi Xue pulled the hairpin from her head, opened a switch, and dripped several drops of blue liquid onto the arrowhead.

Zhao San: “…”

A bit scary.

While trembling slightly, he pointed at the black-robed person guarding the door, indicating for Chi Xue to handle him.

He could see this person had no martial arts foundation.

He straightened up and quietly circled to the back of the house, wanting to strike while the old monster was practicing and save that baby.

The two moved quietly in their respective directions. Zhao San circled to the back of the house and suddenly felt his foot sink.

A mist erupted from beneath his feet, and his mind grew dizzy.

The black-robed person suddenly stood up and shouted, “Who!”

Neither Zhao San nor Chi Xue moved. Chi Xue’s crossbow bolt wasn’t within firing range yet, so she could only hold her breath.

For a moment, only the soft sound of fine rain on wet leaves filled the forest.

Suddenly a sharp baby’s cry came from inside the house.

At the same time came a soft “puff” sound, blood spattering the paper window, with some blood drops even splashing onto Zhao San’s face.

Zhao San, who had been feeling somewhat dizzy, immediately sobered up considerably. He looked down at the bloodstains in front of his feet, his face turning pale.

The black robe flashed as the black-clothed person, ignoring the warning outside, rushed into the house.

Chi Xue stood up from the grass and gestured to Zhao San from afar.

The surprise attack had failed, the child couldn’t be rescued, and the other party had discovered them. Once they freed their hands, they would come after them.

Normally they should leave now, but both were reluctant.

The old monster would be briefly weakened after succeeding in his practice. If they didn’t take this opportunity to act, should they wait for him to recover and come after their master?

The two looked at each other, and Zhao San nodded.

Chi Xue was somewhat surprised. She had always thought this guy was indecisive in character, cowardly and long-winded. She hadn’t expected that at crucial moments, he never retreated a step.

The two reunited this time, carefully watching their footing and changing direction to approach the thatched hut from behind.

The thatched hut kept making sounds—sometimes like soft-bodied creatures sliding their belly scales across the ground, sometimes like venomous snakes flicking their tongues, sometimes like vigorously stirring a mass of sticky rotten meat… Just hearing these sounds made both want to vomit.

Chi Xue looked at Zhao San’s complexion and handed him a detoxification pill. Zhao San took it without hesitation and swallowed it. The Poison Maniac’s poisons were always formidable, but this time for some reason he wasn’t deeply poisoned—perhaps it was because of that child’s blood, but thinking of this made Zhao San’s face even uglier.

Those babies in the foundling home who bathed daily and whose milk contained medicine were all longevity furnaces for those high officials and nobles in the imperial capital!

To curry favor with ministers and gain leverage over them, the Xiao family didn’t hesitate to act as that old poison creature’s broker, luring those ministers and nobles who wanted wealth and longevity forever into their snare, using these young bone furnaces to weave a network of influence that covered the entire court.

Beautiful mature children were sent to local strongmen to control everything with one hand.

Beneath righteous appearances lay insanely heinous acts.

Those who sought fame everywhere usually hid filth and corruption within.

For such unconscionable deeds, even if it cost their lives today, they had to expose this blood-stained foundation!

The two patiently waited for the old monster to succeed, not planning to strike while he was practicing, since the Poison Maniac would definitely have poisonous qi flowing throughout his body at this moment and couldn’t be approached.

The night gradually deepened.

Suddenly came a muffled “bang,” like something suddenly expanding, accompanied by the old monster’s violent coughing and a “poof” sound. The black-robed man’s voice said, “Done! Master has succeeded!”

Chi Xue and Zhao San simultaneously swept to beneath the thatched hut’s window. Chi Xue raised her arm while Zhao San’s gaze was piercing.

The old monster’s somewhat tired voice arose: “Good, Master will now regulate breathing and absorb qi. You must guard me—”

“Hiss.”

A soft sound accompanied by a scream.

Chi Xue and Zhao San peeked in to see the black-robed person’s five fingers had already penetrated the old monster’s skull.

At the same time, the couch the old monster was sitting on shattered, and both fell into a pit below. The black-robed person only showed his topknot, and Chi Xue’s arrow could no longer aim.

As the black-robed person fell, he swept his sleeve and knocked over a jar. Immediately poisonous insects poured out like black fog, rushing straight at the two.

Chi Xue and Zhao San could only retreat, watching helplessly as the black-robed person pressed his fingers on the old monster’s head. Vaguely, black qi emanated while the old monster writhed and struggled under his palm like a wriggling large worm.

The two watched in alarm, never expecting events to develop this way. For a moment they couldn’t get closer, only seeing the black-robed person’s sleeves rise, billowing with waves of black wind.

After a moment, he released his hand. In the pit came a “plop” as something went soft.

The black-robed person still stood there, looking down into the pit and laughing coldly.

“Being the Poison Maniac’s disciple might be glorious, but it’s not as glorious as being the Poison Maniac yourself. Don’t you think so?”

There was no sound from the pit. The black-robed person disgustedly kicked with his foot. “Disgusting old man… poisoning me to near death, poisoning me until I had no choice but to serve you, be your dog, hiding everything and not teaching me, still hoping I’d be your dog for life! How about that? My secretly learned Furnace Stealing Great Method isn’t bad, is it? A lifetime of using people as furnaces to practice poison, only to become a human furnace yourself in the end. The cycle of divine justice and karmic retribution is unfailing, isn’t it?”

He stepped on the puddle of soft mud beneath his feet and slowly emerged from the pit, walking toward Chi Xue and Zhao San while laughing: “But don’t worry—we were master and disciple after all. I’ll help you get revenge.”

…

Hearing that voice, Tie Ci paused briefly, then walked forward without hesitation.

There was no path ahead, but the soil was loose. Feiyu took out a short knife from behind and began digging. Watching the falling sand, pebbles, and some bamboo netting, Tie Ci’s heart sank.

She had already guessed where this was.

After a moment, light appeared ahead. Feiyu kicked out, and with a crash of falling earth and stones, a large hole appeared, with vague human voices coming through.

Feiyu was about to go forward, but Tie Ci stopped her and crawled out first herself.

As soon as she emerged, she heard a startled cry: “People are coming out of the embankment!”

She saw the great river surging ahead and people all around, all holding iron spades and shovels, looking at the two with alarmed faces.

Tie Ci looked back to see her position was beside the original sand embankment, with her feet standing on the embankment’s slope.

So that tunnel actually led to the great embankment, extending all the way to the embankment’s side, then digging into the embankment for just a short section before finally having them dig through the embankment body themselves to get out.

Obviously this tunnel served no purpose and was even just temporary, only waiting for them to emerge from here. Under everyone’s gaze, she and Feiyu had become the ones who breached the embankment.

Fourth Master Xiao’s shocked and angry voice came from afar: “What are you two doing, digging the embankment in the middle of the night!”

But Tie Ci’s gaze fell on the person behind him—there, Gu Xiaoxiao was being guarded by several people, twisting uncomfortably with a face full of distress.

Not far away, someone exclaimed, “This one’s no good either!”

The common people still working on the embankment rushed over. Someone immediately started cursing. With heads crowded together blocking the view, Tie Ci didn’t know what happened over there, but vaguely heard someone shout: “This one’s no good either! Only half the stone materials are good!”

Then the people roared and all turned to look at the River Works Office officials. The River Works Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner looked stunned, pointing at Gu Xiaoxiao: “This batch of stone materials and earthworks were all handled by this person. We don’t know anything!”

The people then rushed toward Gu Xiaoxiao, who said in panic, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong? This batch of stone materials is fine… I checked them all! You… don’t come over!”

Tie Ci sighed inwardly.

Sure enough, someone immediately sneered, “You’ve confessed!”

A commoner shouted loudly, “Still playing deaf and dumb! If it weren’t for brothers quarreling today and swinging a shovel that chipped off a piece of stone skin, we still wouldn’t know most of the stones inside are fake!”

Someone jumped onto the new embankment and, in front of everyone, struck hard. The stone immediately crumbled into pieces, extremely thin and brittle in quality.

The River Works Commissioner’s face changed as he hurriedly said, “Quick, go check how that pile of stored stone materials is.”

There were two piles of stone materials on shore—one from wealthy merchants contacted by Gu Xiaoxiao as donations, one later transported by the Xiao family, clearly distinct. People went to move the first pile of stones. The outermost layer was all construction bluestone, relatively hard, but after moving that layer, the stones inside were obviously the wrong color. At first glance they seemed to be neat blocks, but when tapped they broke, and when someone splashed water on them and pressed with fingernails, they could even leave marks.

A stonemason immediately said, “Sir, these can’t be used. This is phyllite, extremely prone to deformation and weathering.”

Someone else tapped the rocks nearby and said, “This is mudstone, also can’t be used for embankment construction. Except for that outer layer of bluestone, all the stones inside are these two types.”

The people became clamorous. Gu Xiaoxiao struggled to say a few words, all drowned in various angry voices. He seemed angered too and suddenly shouted, “What nonsense! These were donations! Everyone knew when they were donated. Since they’re donations, naturally they’re meant to benefit the locality. Why would anyone move stones to smash their own feet?”

“Not necessarily.” The River Works Deputy Commissioner said coldly, “Maybe some people want to fish for fame but don’t want to spend money? Maybe some people have private transactions with others?”

“What do you mean by that!”

The River Works Deputy Commissioner shook his head, and a person was brought forward. That person had a pale face with two mouse whiskers, looking like a steward or accountant. Upon arrival, he immediately smiled obsequiously at Gu Xiaoxiao: “Young Master Gu, our master sent stone materials according to your instructions. The imperial procurement you promised for next year…”

The River Works Commissioner said, “What stone materials did you send! All inferior goods passed off as quality!”

That person showed a panicked expression and hurriedly said, “This can’t be blamed on our master. Young Master Gu needed them urgently and in large quantities. My master is just a traveling merchant from outside—where could he gather so many stone materials at once? So he… made do with some. My master hinted at this matter, and this young master didn’t object. He said he was the Minister of Revenue’s son, and if we helped him get stone materials to accomplish this beneficial deed that would add to his father’s official reputation, he would let our master pick the best from the imperial procurement contracts. If we refused, the imperial share our master worked so hard to get this year couldn’t be guaranteed. You see, this is…”

Gu Xiaoxiao: “You’re slandering us!”

The River Works Commissioner: “Good! The dignified son of the Minister of Revenue, for fishing for fame, actually threatens merchants and harms the people!”

Another person came forward and said, “Commissioner, we checked recent accounts and found discrepancies in food, tools, and materials in many places, suspected of being embezzled!”

The Commissioner took it, flipped through the account book, raised his eyebrows, threw the account book in front of Gu Xiaoxiao, and angrily said, “How do you explain substituting black flour for white flour? How do you explain missing tool purchases yet still submitting receipts? How do you explain that the daily night meals scheduled weren’t arranged! The Xiao family allocated all this money. Out of trust, we handed all these miscellaneous items to you to manage, yet you manipulated things behind the scenes!”

When the crowd heard this, they immediately made a commotion. This time, because of personal interests, the trouble was even worse. Some people quietly said, “White flour buns and night meals—we never had those in previous river dredging…”

Someone beside them immediately said, “Never mind about before. Now the River Works Commissioner says there were, so there were. Since someone embezzled them, they’ll have to compensate, and then won’t we benefit!”

Hearing this reasoning, everyone immediately rushed ashore toward Gu Xiaoxiao.

Tie Ci stood above the sand embankment with the vast river water at her feet. Wave after wave surged upward, with sand and stones constantly falling from beneath her feet. She stood there steadily, her mind flashing like lightning.

Both her and Gu Xiaoxiao’s identities had been exposed.

The Xiao family got the news and quietly arranged a trap to deal with them.

They bribed that donating merchant, mixed waste materials into the stone supplies, then framed Gu Xiaoxiao, incidentally dragging down Minister Gu.

No, it wasn’t mainly to deal with Minister Gu. Targeting Gu Xiaoxiao was actually still to deal with her.

The River Works Deputy Commissioner strode forward, pointing at Tie Ci from afar and sternly saying, “This person used inferior materials and embezzled funds. And what were you trying to do? You and he came to the River Works Office one after the other, obviously having colluded beforehand. Today you first infiltrated the River Works Office accounts room, and finding nothing, you dug into the river embankment. Are you trying to destroy the embankment?”

Behind him, Gu Xiaoxiao said indignantly, “What nonsense are you talking! A few days ago the sand embankment was nearly breached by your Xiao family, and it was she who led people to fight all night to seal it. Why would she come dig this embankment!”

Suddenly someone slowly walked over with someone following behind holding an umbrella. His unhurried voice came from under the umbrella: “Everyone, regarding the previous embankment breach, I re-questioned my nephew when I returned. My nephew said someone enticed and persuaded him, having him secretly dig the embankment at night to release water, claiming it would preserve our Xiao family’s good farmland and let him gain face and merit before the clan. Shamefully, my nephew isn’t very bright and was actually moved by her words to do that foolish thing. My nephew certainly wronged you all, but the person scheming behind the scenes is even more detestable, isn’t that right?”

Fourth Master Xiao smiled at Tie Ci from under his umbrella. Tie Ci said calmly, “Fourth Master truly has a silver tongue, twisting and turning to tell a hundred variations of one story. Then may I ask who this person was who instigated your nephew behind the scenes?”

“Whoever benefits from it is naturally the one responsible.” Fourth Master Xiao looked at her with a sigh. “Minister Gu and our Xiao family have never gotten along well. You and this Young Master Gu split up to come to Dongming—you incited my nephew to dig the embankment, provoking public anger, ruining our Xiao family’s reputation, and taking the opportunity to infiltrate our Xiao family with malicious intent; Young Master Gu came to the River Works Office, running around making connections, single-handedly organizing the new stone embankment construction to build momentum for Minister Gu. Today you infiltrated the River Works Office accounts room, probably still wanting to create false accounts to frame our Xiao family and officials for colluding to harm people’s livelihood. Thus, Minister Gu and his faction could impeach our Xiao family, while the Dongming people, deceived by you, would be grateful and naturally testify for you… Young in age but deep in scheming, only you didn’t expect that evildoers will face divine retribution, ultimately stumbling over these stone materials. This too is the cycle of heavenly justice and unfailing retribution.”

Looking at this person with his kindly appearance and mouth full of retribution, Tie Ci also smiled and said, “Quite a believable story. But I’m just curious—is your nephew blind or mute? Since I supposedly incited him to dig the embankment, and I was at the scene then, why didn’t he identify me but instead kept saying it was your Xiao family’s orders?”

Fourth Master said calmly, “That’s naturally because you didn’t appear in person but sent someone to persuade him.”

“Your nephew is arrogant and proud, looking down on people from his nostrils—everyone in Dongming knows Eighth Master Xiao’s haughty style. Such a wealthy young master, who doesn’t even respect imperial relatives, would obey the words of some completely unfamiliar capital young master’s servant…” Tie Ci smiled. “Are you treating us like we’re uneducated?”

Fourth Master Xiao’s expression remained unchanged. “How could others know the ins and outs of your schemes?” He turned to address the people warmly: “Everyone has been deceived by villains, and your daily meals have been embezzled. That Young Master Gu, to ruin our Xiao family’s reputation, stopped at nothing. But fellow villagers, rest assured—what was embezzled, our Xiao family will compensate you afterward. Just please, all you folks, bear witness for our Xiao family so we don’t suffer undeserved injustice.” He bowed all around.

With these words, the people were delighted and voiced their agreement.

Tie Ci wasn’t surprised.

Common people struggled to survive like grass following the wind. They didn’t care who was right or wrong, only who could provide shelter and benefits.

This was the cunning of grassroots self-interest, human nature. Even though she had led people to close the breach and spent these days going through wind and rain, rolling in mud and water, working and eating together, they still wouldn’t abandon the temptation of silver to uphold justice.

Moreover, the Xiao family was skilled at surface appearances, and the people had long been under their spell.

Gu Xiaoxiao had obviously understood this trap too, standing there somewhat dazed with a blank face, not even caring about the person pressing tightly against his back.

Behind Tie Ci, Feiyu said softly, “Don’t argue over words—saving people is urgent.”

Tie Ci understood in her heart that teleporting was now the only chance to unexpectedly rescue Gu Xiaoxiao, but she couldn’t teleport.

The Xiao family already knew her identity but hadn’t revealed it because they didn’t want to deal with the Crown Princess in full public view and invite gossip.

The Xiao family must now harbor suspicions about her teleportation ability. If she demonstrated it in front of Fourth Master Xiao now, it would be equivalent to confirming that the Crown Princess already possessed divine talents.

The Xiao family would become more frenzied, and the entire court would be reshuffled.

Someone suddenly shouted loudly, grabbed a stone from the ground and threw it at Gu Xiaoxiao: “Corrupt official who devours the people’s fat and blood!”

Like a signal, people grabbed stones and threw them: “Officials fighting for power—why use us common people as tools!”

Gu Xiaoxiao raised his hands to block. Most people had little strength, and those mud stones hit his robe hem and feet, splashing muddy water all over him. He raised his arm to protect his forehead, his half-visible eye full of bloodshot veins. Someone’s stone hit his topknot, and muddy water slowly slid down from his eye corner like a gray tear.

Tie Ci suddenly frowned.

A faint whistling sound, mixed among those flying stones but sharp and fierce, was heading straight for Gu Xiaoxiao’s temple.

Author’s Note: There’s a meet-and-greet in Suzhou on July 11th. The reason I, who have been very lazy these years, didn’t refuse is because I miss my old friends.

I wonder if my old friends miss me too, or if they’ve already forgotten Gui Yuhe from Jinshan Lake.