That night, Xue Yu and Shan Shu sorted through the ins and outs of the entire matter.
“So it was a sun-moon flower.” Shan Shu put down the hot tea in her hands, not speaking for a long moment. After a long time, she sighed with regret: “This flower is utterly pure and good, and carries Buddhist treasures on her body. No wonder you couldn’t sense the killing intent on her.”
Xue Yu thought of that great demon’s gentle countenance. The ink-dipped brush in her hand paused on the paper, creating a heavy black dot, and she said softly: “From the Chen family’s downfall to Chen Huainan’s fortune-borrowing technique, then to the sun-moon flower and Worldly Lamp—I always feel everything is interconnected, as if premeditated.”
Unlike her cold and stern serious appearance during the day, tonight she wore her hair loose, her features delicate. Leaning over the desk, fragrance floating around her, even her usually cold voice carried a hint of rare tenderness.
Shan Shu looked at the papers spread on the desk, seeing several rough but orderly lines connected, with rows of small characters beside them. The handwriting wasn’t as graceful as ordinary noble daughters’, but rather carried sharp angles, flowing and smooth, recording various facts they had discovered.
“I won’t hide from Miss Xue Yu that I’ve thought the same.” Shan Shu had just finished washing and changed into a light-colored long dress. She casually pulled over a long stool to sit by the desk, her entire being carrying an indescribable gentleness: “But from Chen Huainan’s birth until now, over a thousand years have passed. If someone laid such a hidden thread, then just their temperament and prophetic abilities alone would be frightening.”
“I always feel things aren’t that simple.” Xue Yu’s thoughts got stuck. She placed her brush on the brush rest, frowning: “But I can’t figure out his purpose.”
“If he targeted the Chen family and Chen Huainan for other reasons, what was the goal? Was it for the sun-moon flower’s death, or to obtain the Worldly Lamp?” The more Xue Yu spoke, the more she circled into inexplicable dead ends: “If it’s the former, without getting the demon pearl, the sun-moon flower’s death brings him no substantial benefit. If it’s the latter, how could he know that Purple Micro Cave’s sect leader would produce such a lamp with unclear effects as a pretense?”
Shan Shu continued her words: “The coincidence lies here. How could he calculate a thousand years ago that Chen Huainan could live for over a thousand years, how could he calculate that Yun Lai would fall in love with Chen Huainan and give him her demon pearl, and how could he guess that Yun Lai would lose control and use lightning to search for people?”
These cause-and-effect cycles—if any one thing went wrong, it would be total failure.
“Someone with such heaven-defying abilities couldn’t possibly be unknown in this world. Whether wanting Yun Lai’s life or wanting the Worldly Lamp, there are thousands of convenient and quick methods. Why go to such great lengths?”
“Taking a step back, if this is the case, the Heavenly Mystery Book shouldn’t have us take this mission.”
If it had to be taken, it should be those long-famous old monsters taking it. Putting it on them wouldn’t be training, but sending them to their death.
Xue Yu’s eyelashes moved. After a long moment, she said: “Then it’s a coincidence.”
“Before going to Xuzhou, I’ll first visit Purple Micro Cave to meet that sect leader.”
Shan Shu nodded readily: “That’s the best arrangement. Miss Xue Yu thinks thoroughly.”
“There’s one more thing I want to ask Miss Xue Yu.” Shan Shu looked at Xue Yu’s eyes that had slightly shed their frost, saying with considerable concern: “Yesterday, you forcibly entered the City Lord’s mansion and issued orders to strip Chen Jianxi of his City Lord position and escort him back to Yedu—this news has already spread rapidly. Not long after, I received news from my clan.”
“Fortune-borrowing is a sinister technique. He shouldn’t have had today’s achievements. The Sacred Lands have no objection to this.” Shan Shu continued: “I’m afraid the court might have different opinions.”
“The court has always been quite wary of the Sacred Lands, especially in recent years. If the Human Emperor is dissatisfied with this, might Miss Xue Yu encounter difficulties from her clan?”
Sacred Land inheritors like them had great power but had to consider many things, often unable to act according to their nature. Shan Shu asked herself—if yesterday’s events had fallen to her, she might not have been able to be as decisive as Xue Yu.
Hearing this, Xue Yu’s eyelids lifted slightly, as if remembering some unpleasant memories. With a cold, pretty face, she said, “The Human Emperor won’t interfere with this matter. He owes me a debt.”
Shan Shu suddenly understood, asking: “From that four-and-a-half-star mission?”
Xue Yu nodded.
Thanks to Lu Qin’s blessing, they had run around like fools for several months, finally letting the fish slip through the net, successfully escape, and rise to a high position. They were also forced to clean up a pile of messes.
But it had to be said, that Human Emperor was a character. A few days after the coronation ceremony, hearing that Xue Yu and Lu Qin had completed their mission and were about to return to the Sacred Lands, he specially came out of the city to see them off, interpreting the phrase “able to bend and stretch” perfectly.
Due to illness, he had a perpetually pale face, delicate as a boudoir lady, taking three steps with one gasp, five steps with one cough. When bowing to Xue Yu and Lu Qin, his face bore twelve parts weakness, his words extremely sincere: “This time deceiving Brother Lu was truly a desperate measure. I owe Brother Lu and Miss Xue a favor. In the future, if there’s anywhere you two can use the court and me, I will spare no effort.”
Xue Yu had been mentally exhausted by Lu Qin’s stupidity during that period. Looking at that Human Emperor who had risen to power through such means, she only left one ice-cold remark: “I’ve remembered this time. Human Emperor, conduct yourself well.”
Simply put, if yesterday’s matter had been someone else from the Sacred Lands, acting so rashly without consulting the court, the Human Emperor would indeed be displeased. It wasn’t about whether Chen Jianxi deserved to die, but clearly showing the Sacred Lands didn’t regard the court as important.
But it happened to be Xue Yu who did this—Xue Yu who had history and grievances with the Human Emperor, who had been deceived by him. This immediately downgraded and changed the nature of the matter.
Xue Yu was Yedu’s future definite ruler. The Human Emperor’s foundation was just stabilizing—he couldn’t possibly want to offend her twice in a row.
So Xue Yu acted without any concern.
She originally didn’t need to worry about anything anyway.
“I see.” Shan Shu remembered that incident and couldn’t help smiling: “Because of this, Lu Qin didn’t show his face for a long time. Just mentioning your name made him wave his hands—he probably won’t dare take missions with you again.”
Xue Yu paused, replying extremely seriously: “I’m the one who won’t dare take missions with him again.”
Shan Shu couldn’t help laughing twice. The atmosphere immediately relaxed. She leaned back in her chair, revealing water-like soft curves: “What about that young man you saved? Why isn’t he by your side tonight?”
Mentioning Su You, Xue Yu’s shoulders relaxed slightly: “I just reconnected his meridians. These past days, he’s been following me around everywhere, busy here and there, with no time to rest properly. With this matter concluded for now, I let him go back to rest.”
“Truly worry-free.” Shan Shu thought of the one she had saved and felt a headache: “Sometimes I really can’t figure out these young men’s thoughts. When they smile and cause trouble, it always makes me feel like I’m getting old.”
“From Miss Xue Yu’s attitude these days, are you planning to cultivate him?” Shan Shu asked.
Xue Yu didn’t avoid the topic. She lowered her eyes to think for a long moment, then nodded frankly: “His temperament is good, his talent and comprehension are both superior. He doesn’t panic when encountering situations and is clever enough.”
“I need such a helper.”
Shan Shu looked into her eyes and suddenly smiled.
She hadn’t had much contact with Xue Yu before. Neither were they personalities who enjoyed liveliness and making friends, but as fellow Sacred Land inheritors, she had indeed heard many comments about Xue Yu—mostly words like cold, serious, strange-tempered, and difficult to get along with. This time, brought together by the Worldly Lamp mission, she truly felt that hidden within Xue Yu was a kind of power.
She was born noble but not arrogant or conceited, calm and decisive in situations. Most touching was that beneath that snow-white, cold face, she indeed had a kind and soft heart.
She had twice said she wouldn’t take this mission, yet twice she remained. Once because lightning harmed people, once because of Yun Lai’s death.
She valued human and demon lives equally.
Like just now—she only mentioned Su You was clever, talented, perceptive, and capable, but never said he was a demon or ghost, never said they were born lowly, cunning, untrustworthy.
Such a person carried an almost mesmerizing charisma.
“I’ve also observed that young man—he’s indeed worth cultivating.” Shan Shu breathed out lightly, said a few more words, then rose to take her leave.
She had just lifted the pearl curtain when she saw the young man they had just discussed walking along the long corridor toward them. The moonlight stretched his shadow into a long, thin line. She smiled and stepped back toward Xue Yu: “Miss Xue Yu, your helper has arrived.”
Sure enough, before long, the young man’s clean voice flowed into Xue Yu’s ears like a clear spring: “Young lady.”
“Come in.”
Su You had just finished washing. His water-like black hair hung obediently over his shoulders. Dressed in snow-white robes, it made his figure tall and slender, naturally revealing a kind of aloof coldness, an air of ascending to immortality. Yet because of his flawless, impossible-to-ignore features, he also showed pure charm and petal-like delicacy.
There was a type of person born with good looks who carried a unique charm in whatever they wore.
Su You belonged to this category.
Xue Yu stood at the desk, first glancing at him and asking: “What’s wrong?”
Su You lowered his eyes, answering earnestly: “After returning, I organized various folk remedies and evil techniques from City Lord Chen Jianxi’s mansion—things related to fortune-borrowing and demon blood life extension that can serve as evidence for questioning Chen Jianxi.”
Xue Yu almost felt relaxed again.
These detailed matters were usually things she would handle completely, then bring back to Yedu in stacks, going through them herself before writing them into Yedu’s case summary reports.
Occasionally, Chao Nian had the heart to help her with these things, but he, Liang Yan, Qing Luo, and others weren’t mature enough yet. When they encountered things they didn’t know how to handle, they would run over in panic, asking her to make decisions. She couldn’t feel at ease and still had to take on these tasks herself.
This had been the case for over a thousand years in her previous life.
Tiring, but there was no choice.
“You’re thoughtful.” Xue Yu beckoned to him, pointing to the position beside her: “Perfect timing. I have some things here—help me look at them.”
When he stood beside her, her scallion-like long fingers lightly fell on the papers spread on the table: “These are my conjectures. After you read them, tell me what you think about this matter.”
Su You’s gaze slowly moved from her jade-white knuckles to those written words, responding composedly: “Alright.”
Xue Yu handed him the brush in her hand, pulled out another sheet of white paper, and spread it open, asking: “Can you write about the entire process from Thunder Sea’s abnormality to Chen Huainan’s death?”
“Yes.” The tall young man took the brush from her hand. It still carried faint residual warmth. When he grasped it, his knuckles stiffened unnaturally for an instant, then quickly recovered. Throughout, his expression remained natural, showing no abnormality.
Xue Yu sat down at the desk, finally freeing her hands to look through Xuzhou’s maps. One standing, one sitting, neither speaking, only the soft rustling sounds of brush strokes and page turns in the room. Each doing their work, yet unexpectedly harmonious.
At a certain moment, Xue Yu stopped her actions. She frowned as a jade talisman from her waist burned and floated before her eyes.
She looked at the name displayed on it, then at the obedient young man beside her holding a brush and writing. Her finger paused in mid-air, as if considering whether to respond. Only at the last moment did she slowly press down.
The first thing from the other end of the jade talisman was a series of barely suppressible muffled coughing. After quite a while, a man’s restrained, low laugh came through: “Miss Xue Yu.”
“Human Emperor.” Xue Yu’s voice switched naturally to coldness, adopting an official tone: “What do you want?”
“It’s like this. Yesterday I received news about Chen Jianxi being deposed, but I’ve been busy with court affairs and only had time today to ask Miss Xue Yu about the details.” Qiu Tong’s voice showed a hint of helplessness: “Chen Jianxi was, after all, a city lord personally appointed by the court. Miss Xue Yu deposed and arrested him at will—I received no advance notice.”
Xue Yu laughed mockingly and asked back: “Does the Human Emperor think his actions qualify him for great use and that he should continue in the city lord position?”
Hearing her voice, Qiu Tong almost uncontrollably recalled scenes from several years ago. During the struggle between princes for succession, the imperial city was constantly bloody. Human lives became the most worthless things in such a competition. At that time, two Sacred Land inheritors also came—one a gentle, polite, easily fooled sword cultivation young sect leader, and one a cold-as-ice little beauty.
Sacred Land inheritors were naturally pampered and particular, just like princes and princesses.
Qiu Tong quickly figured out Lu Qin’s background—just someone with a chivalrous heart, a well-behaved successor taught by orthodox sects. His brain wasn’t quite enough, but his dao heart was fairly firm. Thinking he posed no threat, a few drinks and some emotional life stories won his brotherhood.
Only Xue Yu exceeded his expectations day by day.
He stood on high city walls, feeling the cold wind and looking down. Watching her rush about like a startled butterfly, watching her bend to cover the eyes of the dying, her snow-white dress stained with blood. Watching her occasionally show compassion and sadness that shouldn’t appear on Sacred Land inheritors when facing the devastated imperial city, then watching her compose herself, put on a cold mask, and turn away.
She was very clever, extremely clever. If not for Lu Qin’s cover, he definitely would have been caught by her. Even so, he had nearly stepped into her traps several times.
Such a woman combining status, intelligence, and decisiveness was too rare, too captivating.
Like the mutual appreciation of matched opponents, yet also carrying hints of man’s interest in woman, he indeed wanted to get acquainted with her, to hear her speak cold, seemingly heartless words.
Qiu Tong’s voice carried slight laughter, his tone completely softening: “Xue Yu, you know I don’t mean that.”
While he spoke, Xue Yu was too impatient to listen, letting the spiritual talisman burn in mid-air. She turned her head and reached for the Xuzhou map she had set down earlier.
With her sudden sideways movement, her long hair swept in an arc, falling directly onto Su You’s palm that was braced against the paper. In that instant, it was like a tangled, winding flower blooming from his distinct, well-proportioned palm, swaying coquettishly before his eyes.
Su You’s descending characters thus made a heavy mark.
He stared blankly, stopping his movements, unsure whether it was because of the Human Emperor’s tender tone from the spiritual talisman or because of that cascade of flowing hair.