When they returned to the village, dawn was neither fully here nor gone. The clouds were covered with a thick layer of dark blue-gray. The torches held by villagers became lanterns scattered across the hills, swaying before their eyes, while the sea behind returned to its silent appearance.
The old village chief held Su Yun, alternately hitting and scolding him. His face, wrinkled with age, still showed unrecovered shock, his voice trembling with the aftermath of disaster: “What were you doing?! Running around alone like that?”
Su Yun howled twice. His clothes were soaked by sea waves and stained with mud from hiding in the forest. Recalling the earth-shaking commotion when the two fought earlier, concealment was impossible.
He simply closed his eyes and made up a story: “I couldn’t sleep at night, worried about my wall of winter jasmine. I wanted to sneak up and look, but just as I reached the flower stand, I fainted. When I woke up, I was by the sea and saw this young lady from the Sacred Lands fighting a—” He made an exaggerated gesture: “That big of a demon. Finally, she defeated the monster and came back.”
With his words, all the villagers’ gazes converged on Xue Yu.
The old village chief composed himself, wiped the moisture from his eyes, stepped forward, and bowed formally to Xue Yu: “Thank you, Young Immortal, for saving him. Our family only has Little Six left as our sole heir. If something happened to him, I truly—” He couldn’t continue.
Xue Yu was experiencing this kind of high praise for the first time. She avoided the old village chief’s bow: “It’s my duty, as it should be.”
When the group returned to the village, day had fully broken. A group of women clustered at the village entrance, looking left and right. The one in the center had eyes swollen like walnuts, almost unable to breathe. Seeing her, the old village chief angrily tugged Su Yun’s ear: “Hurry and see your mother!”
Su Yun rushed to the woman, explaining with words and gestures.
“Miss.” In the chaos, Chao Nian nearly rolled and crawled over, examining Xue Yu from top to bottom. Seeing no signs of injury, he said: “You fought Nine Phoenix?”
Nine Phoenix’s aura had almost judicial suppression over demons like Liang Yan and Qing Luo. Liang Yan was better off, but Qing Luo’s ears were still standing upright, pressed low under her hat brim. Hearing this, they all looked at her.
Xue Yu said: “Mm.”
Chao Nian immediately gasped, muttering quietly: “So she is here. Maybe we shouldn’t bother with this mission. We can’t complete it anyway with such leadership. We risk danger traveling back and forth, while they obstruct us one by one without a single truth.”
“Miss.” Chao Nian lowered his voice to remind her: “You still have injuries.”
Su You’s row of thick lashes trembled, looking toward Xue Yu.
“It’s nothing.” Xue Yu said dismissively: “I have some leads.”
“Chao Nian, walk around the village more these two days. Watch the village chief and several managers. Don’t make decisions on your own about any discoveries—notify me promptly.” She looked toward Qing Luo and Liang Yan, pointing to a small town not far away: “You two go guard at the inn where we met that day. Don’t do anything else—just drink tea daily and ask the elderly guests and innkeepers what wealthy young masters might have come to this village ten years ago, and what strange incidents occurred.”
All three responded in unison.
“Su You.” Xue Yu glanced at the slender youth: “Come with me.”
In Xue Yu’s stone house, she stood before the half-open window, watching the old village chief who had just experienced great joy and sorrow. Before entering his house, he suspiciously examined the wall of winter jasmine, then, after a moment, called several people to uproot all the vines.
During this, Su Yun stood on one foot by the wall, arms crossed, watching with an expression wanting to jump up and stop them, yet ultimately hesitating.
Only after Su Yun snorted coldly and strode back into the house did this farce end.
Xue Yu withdrew her gaze, casually pulled over a chair to sit. Her shoulders gradually relaxed, and the fatigue hidden beneath her cold exterior began to show. She told Su You the answers obtained from Nine Phoenix, then asked: “What do you think of this matter?”
Su You looked at her crystal-like long fingers resting on the chair’s edge, contemplated briefly, then said: “The answer is mostly hidden with Chen Huainan.”
“The problem now is we can’t contact Chen Huainan.” Xue Yu’s glazed, clear water-like eyes fell on his flawless face, asking seriously: “If it were you, what would you do?”
If she had asked this question ten days ago, Su You would certainly have put on a completely innocent, righteous face, saying words he scorned to please her and handle her probing.
He was very clever and knew how to use that cleverness.
But she now sat before him, frost and snow still on her face. After ten-plus days of travel, for these people who didn’t value their own lives, she’d not only been refused entry several times but also fought Nine Phoenix.
He didn’t care whether this mission could pass, nor whether those profit-obsessed people could survive.
But Chao Nian said she still had injuries.
That hand that pulled him from the array was cold as ice.
After a long while, just when Xue Yu thought he wouldn’t answer, he suddenly raised his eyes, speaking softly and slowly: “If it were me.”
“I would force my way in.”
Xue Yu raised her chin with some surprise, as if not expecting such an answer. After a moment, she slowly stood: “First, let’s ask Su Yun.”
Su Yun had caused great trouble and was currently under house arrest by the old village chief. When he heard that Xue Yu and Su You wanted to enter and ask questions, he hesitated. Only after Su You casually spoke a few nonsense words about great demons targeting Su Yun did the old village chief hurriedly invite them in.
As if expecting Xue Yu and others would come, Su Yun wasn’t surprised. He sat by the window, propping his cheek, facing the empty wooden frame on that wall, sighing wistfully: “Good thing I sent it away in time.”
“Since you like these things, why can’t your grandfather tolerate them?” Xue Yu followed his gaze and asked.
“He has a psychological illness—can’t stand any demons or monsters.” Su Yun felt nothing needed avoiding, shrugging and adding a lengthy explanation: “Don’t you also know my father died early? Our family only has me as the sole heir. My father was killed by a demon.”
“Right in front of my grandfather, swallowed whole by a black panther demon. Since then, he’s been traumatized—can’t hear about such things, can’t see such things.”
Xue Yu carefully observed his expression, finding his face completely frank, her expression involuntarily stirring: “You also know about this, yet why dare you contact great demons like Nine Phoenix?”
“I’m an ordinary person. I don’t know if Nine Phoenix is a great demon or what kind of demon she is, but the demons I’ve contacted have all been good to me.” Su Yun seemed to fall into some memory: “My mother isn’t healthy and needs constant medicine. Grandfather is elderly—fishing at sea doesn’t earn much money. Most of my mother’s medicine I gather from mountains and forests.”
“Once I went to the eastern hills for medicine. It had just rained that day—the path was slippery. I wasn’t careful and fell, hitting my head on a rock. When I woke up, I was leaning against a peach blossom tree with a smiling man sitting on it.”
“Seeing me awake, the man gave me the peach blossom lantern in his hand, telling me to follow the lantern’s direction, and I could get home.” Su Yun smiled with curved eyes, showing some youthful spirited air: “Actually, I knew he was a demon then.”
“I often went to find him afterward, gathering many things as thank-you gifts. He never appeared again. Later, probably annoyed by my pestering, after we became familiar, he’d say a few words and take me to meet his other friends.” Su Yun rotated his wrist: “Very strange—I truly wasn’t afraid at all, just found it novel.”
“I heard your grandfather say this sea was formerly called Nine Phoenix Sea. Has Nine Phoenix dwelt here for over ten years?” After quietly listening, Xue Yu asked about her concerns.
Su Yun shook his head: “Not exactly. But Nine Phoenix did come here over ten years ago. This sea got its name because of some ancestor of hers. She often comes to look around. This time she came half a year ago.”
Looking into his eyes, Xue Yu asked again: “Do you know that great demon making deals with Nine Phoenix?”
“Don’t know it, but I’ve heard of it.” This straightforward youth rarely hesitated before scratching his head: “If you want to know, I can tell you, but we must agree beforehand—I only heard about it, don’t know if it’s true.”
“No matter. Speak.”
“Such things often happen in the village, making everyone panic. I’ve asked Tao Zhi more than once. He only said that the demon has no bad intentions and won’t harm innocent people. The reason for this behavior is that someone owes a debt that must be repaid.”
When Xue Yu looked again, Su Yun had already raised his hands in surrender, howling wildly: “I truly don’t know anything else, not a bit more.”
“I want to ask one last question.” Xue Yu looked at the empty winter jasmine frame, slowly speaking: “Since your grandfather so fears and detests demons, why would he rather endure years of torment and continue living in the village? You could live in the city.”
For the old village chief who had experienced the pain of losing a son, what could be more important than human life?
As Xue Yu’s words fell, the playful laughter in Su Yun’s pupils receded like tide. He pulled at his mouth corner, spreading his palms: “Who knows?”
“Maybe because my mother needs constant medicine, and I need to save money to join major sects as a disciple.”
Xue Yu looked at him deeply, then left the stone house with Su You.
She glanced at the sun directly overhead, just about to speak, when the jade talisman at her waist ignited. Shan Shu’s gentle, soft voice reached her ears: “A Yu, are you free now? I have some discoveries here, about Chen Jianxi.”
“Free. Coming immediately.”
Xue Yu and her companion once again flew brazenly over Wudao City’s airspace. The disciples responsible for recording looked at their handbook’s row of “Chi Shui Violation” entries after the two left, exchanging puzzled glances. One said to the other: “Has Chi Shui recently struck it rich?”
“Don’t know. Sacred Lands have always been wealthy and generous. But Chi Shui was usually the most rule-abiding. Recently, I don’t know what’s gotten into them—completely out of character.”
At Golden Light Temple, Shan Shu’s residence.
When Xue Yu arrived, a table and stools were already set under the ancient tree, with hot tea poured, fragrant steam rising. Not far away, the wind rustled through bamboo groves, breathtakingly beautiful.
After Xue Yu was seated, Shan Shu dismissed attendants and pushed a bamboo scroll beside her toward Xue Yu: “Miss A Yu, please look at this first.”
Xue Yu took the bamboo scroll, reading carefully word by word, line by line. Finally, she closed it with a snap and handed it to the stunningly beautiful youth beside her: “Take a look.”
“After you left, I had my subordinates investigate Chen Jianxi. As Abbot Wu Neng said, he took over Wudao City, is gentle, and has a good reputation and standing among the people—nothing abnormal is visible.”
Shan Shu arranged her sleeves, speaking leisurely: “So I began investigating his life history, having people visit his former sect brothers and examine his childhood and past. Finally, I discovered what’s written above.”
“This person is suspicious everywhere.” Xue Yu frowned, briefly describing last night’s events, then said: “We can keep these things in mind, but Chen Jianxi could easily refute them, instead making us alert our prey.”
“True, so I don’t dare act rashly either.” Shan Shu nodded in agreement, suddenly sighing: “If what’s written above is true, then this Chen Jianxi is truly no ordinary person.”
Xue Yu leaned back slightly until resting against the chair, then closed her eyes.
“But if we don’t strike this snake, we can’t see Chen Huainan at all.” Shan Shu also became worried: “Without this person appearing, everything we say is empty.”
“Chen Huainan is ten years younger than Chen Jianxi. When Chen Huainan was born, he had already been rejected five times by locally famous sects, told his bones were poor, comprehension insufficient, and unlikely to achieve success. Even when their parents spent large sums, they couldn’t bribe sect instructors.” Xue Yu said calmly: “But after Chen Huainan was born, when he went to the same sect again, he could simultaneously catch elders’ eyes, be fought over, and finally alarm the sect master.”
“Why?” Xue Yu unconsciously frowned. She didn’t entirely deny a person’s efforts. If Chen Jianxi had succeeded through gritted-teeth perseverance or persistence, she had nothing to say. But sect selection of new disciples usually examined a person’s innate potential. If bones were initially poor, could they transform completely in just two days, discarding old for new?
This was impossible.
“Also.” Shan Shu smiled bitterly: “Chen Jianxi’s parents were originally local wealthy merchants, but that year encountered a drought. The family business plummeted, almost to bankruptcy. These problems were also resolved after Chen Huainan’s birth.”
“Most coincidentally, when Chen Jianxi competed for Wudao City’s mayoral position ten years ago, he encountered many difficulties. Originally, this position couldn’t have fallen to him. But just when several competitors were fighting fiercest, he suddenly said his younger brother was critically ill. A few days later, he brought Chen Huainan to Wudao City, arranging for him to recuperate in a small village.”
“Shortly after Chen Huainan arrived, the Sacred Lands and imperial court jointly issued decrees, announcing Chen Jianxi’s appointment as Wudao City’s mayor.”
“This Chen Huainan—even being a reincarnated lucky star wouldn’t be this extreme.”
At this moment, Su You finished reading the bamboo scroll, quietly stacking it on the table.
He leaned forward slightly, those rippling peach blossom eyes revealing a shallow crease when lowered. His jawline was like some effortless blank space. When Xue Yu met his gaze, she seemed to hear him asking softly: “Force our way in?”
Xue Yu sat quietly for a moment, then suddenly pushed the bamboo scroll back to Shan Shu, asking: “Is Master Wu Neng at the temple?”
“Yes.” Shan Shu replied: “With the Buddha treasure missing, he must guard the temple daily.”
“However, if Miss A Yu needs him for something, I can substitute for him temporarily.”
“Then, please trouble the Buddha Maiden to guard Golden Light Temple first.” Xue Yu straightened her back, rising slowly: “Notify Abbot Wu Neng—now come with me to the mayor’s mansion.”
Shan Shu understood. As Sacred Land inheritors, they usually didn’t reveal their identities when out—partly for self-tempering, partly to avoid complications.
Therefore, since accepting this task, they’d been courteous everywhere, to Wu Neng and Chen Jianxi alike. For this, Xue Yu had even been refused entry several times.
But if she truly revealed her identity, regardless of age and status, both Chen Jianxi and Wu Neng could only yield the main seat and address her as a subordinate.
Xue Yu was done being patient—prepared to force her way into the mayor’s mansion.
Half an hour later, the smiling Wu Neng accompanied Xue Yu to the mayor’s mansion once again.
Chen Jianxi’s expression was extremely ugly. Seeing the kind-faced Wu Neng at a glance, he looked at Xue Yu rather impatiently: “Miss Xue Yu, I’ve already made it very clear—if you want to find the lamp, properly find your lamp. At your young age, you should know propriety. Don’t interfere where you shouldn’t.”
Wu Neng made a sound, rubbing his smooth head: “Chen Jianxi, these two young ladies aren’t having an easy time solving cases. You should reveal some information. Otherwise, if we can’t handle these matters, how can they solve them?”
“Wu Neng, you don’t need to speak for her.” Chen Jianxi stood, releasing momentum like mountains and seas, applying it inch by inch to Xue Yu and Su You: “Today, I won’t give anyone face.”
“Regarding Huainan’s matter, no one is permitted to ask a single word.”
Even though Xue Yu was an outstanding figure among the younger generation, her age and cultivation were what they were. Chen Jianxi’s pressure applied to her was like mountain peaks. Su You needn’t be mentioned—his spine was rigid as a rod, blood tears again drawn at his eye corners, yet he didn’t make a sound.
“Chen Jianxi, talking is one thing, but acting is going too far.” Seeing the situation was wrong, Wu Neng stepped forward, patting Xue Yu and Su You, crushing that pressure.
“Children who don’t listen should learn lessons.” Chen Jianxi was unconcerned.
At this moment, Xue Yu stepped forward two paces, her clear, cold eyes falling on Chen Jianxi’s face, asking word by word: “What if I say that today, I absolutely must enter this mayor’s mansion?”
Chen Jianxi seemed to hear a joke. He laughed coldly twice, then suddenly darkened his face: “I know most from Sacred Lands are arrogant, but what makes you think the Sacred Lands would question a city’s mayor for an insignificant disciple?”
“Simply overestimating yourself.”
Speaking thus, he spread both hands, about to grab them from a distance. But the moment his hand touched within several feet of Xue Yu, it was struck back by a deep, dark black light beam.
This move not only caught Chen Jianxi off guard but also left Wu Neng, who was anxiously moving to protect them, stunned in place.
“Yedu Lord’s protective talisman.” After a long while, Wu Neng looked at Xue Yu, speaking word by word as if wanting to voice his inner shock.
This couldn’t be the treatment an ordinary disciple could receive.
The next moment, Xue Yu held up the identity token symbolizing her status from Yedu: “Sacred Land investigation. Anyone obstructing will be detained and taken to Yedu for trial.”
When people looked up at that token, it was like looking at flowers through fog, but the moment Wu Neng and Chen Jianxi’s eyes fell on it, they violently contracted.
People from the mayor’s mansion sparsely knelt on the ground.
Wu Neng rushed forward several steps. Seeing Chen Jianxi’s gloomy expression, still disbelieving, he couldn’t think carefully and pressed his head down, forcing him to kneel.
“This subordinate follows Your Highness’s decree.”