After Shan Shu uttered the words “demon monk,” Xue Yu fell into a brief wordless silence. After a long while, her two slender eyebrows pressed downward, and she spoke: “A mortal woman, pregnant with a ghost fetus?”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing anyway.” Jiu Feng lazily raised her eyes with a languid air, saying: “The enormous energy required for a ghost fetus to grow, and the earth-shaking commotion it causes, could burst a mortal person from the strain alone.”

“If this is truly the case—” Xue Yu’s porcelain-like long fingers turned Liu Er’s face, her gaze focusing on the wound at his ear that seemed to have been made by a Buddhist staff, her tone growing increasingly grave: “It will be very troublesome.”

The reason two- and three-star missions were easy to accept wasn’t because the enemies faced were particularly weak, but because there weren’t so many intricate and complex threads buried within them.

The Celestial Records would often tell you straightforwardly that in a certain place, there were demons causing trouble. They would go there, discover it was indeed so, then directly subdue them with force, either bringing them back to the Sacred Land for punishment or killing them on the spot, and the mission would be complete.

Four-star and above missions were completely different in difficulty. They often required handling several matters. Take this Worldly Lamp mission, for instance – having progressed this far, they were told that a mortal woman was pregnant with a ghost fetus. Just this single statement, falling on Xue Yu’s ears, had only one meaning.

—There was another indescribable story behind all this.

If that woman were an ordinary person who didn’t know her child was a ghost fetus, then Xue Yu would need to solve the ghost fetus and the hidden mastermind lurking in the shadows while ensuring her safety. If that woman knew the truth and was willingly complicit, then it would be even more necessary to investigate clearly – why she was doing this, who had coerced her, what the person behind it all wanted to use the ghost fetus for, and in the end, still have to solve the ghost fetus.

Very troublesome, very tricky.

“I roughly know where the Worldly Lamp is.” Xue Yu calmly dropped this bombshell, her expression serene. Su You, standing beside her, seemed to suddenly realize something and said softly: “It’s the red lantern hanging in front of that woman’s door.”

Xue Yu nodded, her gaze moving from the wound on Liu Er’s ear, made more obvious by being frozen with frost, to Su You’s face. Then her expression shifted slightly as she asked: “What’s wrong?”

“Your complexion looks very poor.”

After coming into contact with the pus formed from Liu Er’s corpse this morning, both Xue Yu and Su You had changed their clothes. The young man, blessed with natural good looks, always dressed simply, either pure white or pure black. What he wore now was a loose black silk robe with no other patterns or decorations. Looking closely at his complexion, the weak pallor was made especially obvious by such coloring.

It was even comparable to his complexion when he had just come down from the Judgment Platform a month ago.

Su You moved his long lashes in bewilderment, like a butterfly startled into trembling, saying: “It’s nothing.”

“I was naturally born with this kind of skin tone.”

Thinking of his usual appearance – that face, those hands – indeed more delicate than pampered young ladies raised in inner chambers, Xue Yu merely nodded slightly at his chin without asking anything further.

Seeing this, Jiu Feng shifted the position of her feet, lazily leaning against Tao Zhi’s shoulder and giggling twice.

Su You looked over at the sound, seeing her phoenix eyes, now softened and filled with seductive charm, filled with meaningful teasing laughter.

He slowly lowered his gaze.

“The Worldly Lamp hangs in front of that woman’s residence, the demon who killed people is also related to that woman. Now we just need to capture that demon and interrogate who served as the middleman to buy the lamp, then we’ll know the whereabouts of that sorcerer.” Jiu Feng clapped her hands, her face showing an eager expression: “This way, your mission will be complete, and my mission will be complete too.”

“Where is that woman?”

Shan Shu patiently advised, “Miss Jiu Feng, please wait a little longer. If we capture that woman now, we’ll alert the enemy and startle those behind the scenes. It will be difficult to catch them afterward.”

Compared to Shan Shu, Xue Yu was undoubtedly more direct. She looked at Jiu Feng and said, “We don’t need you to act. We’ll handle this matter.”

She might as well have hung the six words “don’t cause trouble for me” on her face.

Jiu Feng was happy to be idle. After slowly saying “oh,” her hand couldn’t help but reach out to the side, hooking the confused Su Yun to her side and maliciously tugging at his properly tied high ponytail, saying: “Little brat, what do you humans usually like to play with? Take your sister to try something new later.”

Su Yun was tormented by her until he cried out pitifully, his face completely distorted. After escaping, he rolled and crawled to hide behind Tao Zhi. When Jiu Feng reached out those beautiful fingers again, Tao Zhi stopped her with coaxing words.

“Wait another half hour.” Xue Yu said, “I’ve sent Chao Nian and Qing Luo to investigate the history of that locust tree at the Xie family.”

“I also need a little more time.” Shan Shu explained with pursed lips: “Suzhou’s City Protection Temple is using the power of incense to trace the aura of Buddhist techniques that have appeared in the city. If successful, we can roughly pinpoint the general location where the demon monk stayed.”

“This way, even if the clues from the woman’s side are interrupted, we still have this thread to follow.”

In the southern part of the city, within the inner courtyard of Prince Zhao’s mansion, flowers and trees flourished luxuriantly, colorful butterflies danced gracefully, and pleasant floral fragrance filled every corner of the mansion.

The prince’s mansion differed from ordinary households in its grandeur. Not only had it connected and opened up four residences, but it had also quite extravagantly dug a lake in the center of the mansion. Unlike the delicate, playhouse-like digging methods of ordinary wealthy noble families, this lake was unfathomably deep. Regardless of cloudy or sunny weather, morning or evening, deep mist always shrouded the lake’s surroundings, like countless layers of gauze veiling the view, making it impossible to see the complete picture.

In the center of the lake, a simple pavilion had been hastily built. The pavilion’s roof was only shallowly covered with a layer of thatch, and four bare pillars stood on all sides without even a coat of paint. When wind and rain came together, anyone in the pavilion would instantly become a drowned rat.

This pavilion was completely at odds with the mansion’s extravagant and particular style, yet it was guarded extremely strictly. Apart from Prince Zhao Qiu Zhao, few could enter. The mansion’s guards with swords never left their posts, not missing any disturbance.

At this moment, three people rarely sat in the lakeside pavilion.

Because servant girls and maids were forbidden from entering, one person had to pour his wine. He had a long beard, his complexion was the pallor of someone who rarely saw sunlight. His fingers, like withered bamboo, held a delicate wine cup as he toasted Prince Zhao, who occupied the main seat, saying: “This subject traveled day and night from the imperial city, and upon arriving in Suzhou, immediately heard of Your Highness’s good news.”

Prince Zhao and Emperor Qiu Tong were blood brothers, their melancholy expressions preserved identically in their features. Even when smiling, they carried an unfathomable depth that made people unable to guess their thoughts. “Tell me what you’ve heard. What joy does this prince have?”

That person, as if long accustomed to his tone, laughed heartily and winked: “Miss Zhao Yue’s beauty is known by everyone in Suzhou city. Your Highness has great fortune.”

“In two or three years, when Your Highness returns to the capital, you might already have both sons and daughters. Isn’t this tremendous good news?”

Between men, when discussing matters of romance, the atmosphere immediately relaxed.

“Only your mouth can talk like this.” Prince Zhao smiled carelessly, picking at his lips: “She’s just an actress with a good figure and attractive charm. This prince couldn’t bear to see a flower fall into mud, so I took her into the mansion. When it truly comes to bearing children, only legitimate sons and daughters born from the princess consort would be proper.”

That person laughed repeatedly: “Yes, yes, yes, everyone knows Your Highness and the princess consort have a good relationship. This subject spoke out of turn.”

Prince Zhao smiled ambiguously, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the monk sitting opposite, who hadn’t made a sound from beginning to end. His long fingers tapped the small table as if in reminder: “Master Hui Jue.”

Only then did that person raise his eyes slightly, revealing a face with red lips and white teeth, handsome as a youth. He looked back at Prince Zhao and said without any emotion: “Prince Zhao.”

As if accustomed to this conversational style, Prince Zhao showed no annoyance. He leaned forward and even laughed softly, asking: “How are things with Miss Luo Cai?”

“Everything is well.” Hui Jue nodded, the copper rings on the Buddhist staff beside him chiming in the wind, creating a clear melody.

“Good that everything is well.” Prince Zhao looked at that face, which hadn’t changed at all over who knows how many years, his eyes growing increasingly somber. He continued: “This prince has already heard about Liu Er’s sudden death at Cloud Trace Restaurant. This matter, this prince believes, is inappropriate and could easily bring trouble.”

“I won’t hide it from you two – the identities of those who came to Suzhou city to investigate the Worldly Lamp’s whereabouts are quite significant. My royal brother sent word earlier saying that if it truly comes to a critical moment, we’d rather abandon the ghost infant than confront them face to face.”

Hearing this, the other person’s eyes widened immediately. He couldn’t be bothered with drinking and said in astonishment: “We’ve put so much effort into this matter, and now you say abandon it just like that? What kind of identity do these people have?”

When Prince Zhao answered, he didn’t look at him but stared at Hui Jue, saying word by word: “Sacred Land successors. Two of them.”

He emphasized “two” heavily, like some obvious warning and reminder.

That person’s eyes went completely wide, his words spinning in his mouth repeatedly. Seeming to feel defeated, he swallowed them back.

When Prince Zhao spoke, Hui Jue only stared at the water’s surface, not knowing whether he heard or how much he absorbed. Only when the world quietly fell silent did he seem to become aware and lift his head, revealing his distinct black and white eyes. The cinnabar dot on his forehead was so unnaturally red it seemed ready to drip blood.

Hui Jue said, “Without acting impulsively, how can I make them investigate me? If they don’t investigate me, how can the ghost fetus be born?”

If the ghost fetus isn’t born, how can she survive?

“This step must be taken eventually. Sooner or later makes no difference.”

As his words fell, Prince Zhao almost had the illusion of being completely seen through. He dangerously narrowed his eyes, discovering that Hui Jue’s expression remained natural, without even the slightest fluctuation in his gaze.

As if calmly facing death was, to him, merely an insignificant matter, or even something he had long anticipated.

Prince Zhao slowly rotated the dark jade thumb ring on his finger, instead gradually calmed down. After pondering for a while, he decided to speak plainly: “This prince is mortal. Master Hui Jue understands immortal sect methods better than this prince. On the day the ghost infant is born, without the master’s power, it will inevitably drain the mother’s life force as nourishment.”

“I know.” Hui Jue calmly smoothed his sleeves, then met Prince Zhao’s gaze. For the first time showing a grave expression, he spoke each word with extreme weight: “I die, she lives.”

“She knows nothing and has done nothing wrong. After I die, Prince Zhao shouldn’t think about eliminating potential threats by cutting grass and roots. I’ve left contingencies for her. If she’s harmed in any way, the ghost infant in the prince’s mansion and what’s in this lake will be revealed to the world piece by piece.”

“Compared to answering to the Sacred Land, with Your Highness’s abilities, protecting an ordinary woman is the simplest matter.”

Prince Zhao remained silent for a long time, then suddenly pushed his wine cup forward. He slowly stood up and smiled: “Master, rest assured. This prince always keeps his word.”

Hui Jue looked at him deeply twice, stood up, and picked up his Buddhist staff. Just as he was about to turn and leave, as if remembering something, he hoarsely announced: “That Sacred Land successor visited her residence before I came. She tampered with the Worldly Lamp. If the ghost infant doesn’t want to suffer severe damage, it must be born within three days.”

“I won’t interfere with the ghost infant.”

“I only want her to live.”

Half an hour later, Chao Nian rushed into the side room of the Law Enforcement Hall carrying a book. He said to Xue Yu, “Miss, we found it. That tree was indeed there before the Xie family moved in, and it’s very strange.”

Xue Yu took the book and scanned through it rapidly. When she reached the end, her eyes grew cold for a moment. Then she closed the book and said, “As expected.”

Meeting the gazes of Shan Shu and Jiu Feng, she briefly explained: “When this locust tree was planted a hundred years ago, the household had just lost a female infant. This infant didn’t die by accident – her mother, who was crazy with wanting a son, listened to a passing charlatan and drowned her alive. In the hundred years since, dozens of female children have died in this residence.”

All that resentment and yin energy gathered in that locust tree.

“A ghost fetus cannot attach to human women – they cannot withstand that kind of power. But if that woman isn’t completely human while also being pregnant, and is chosen by the ghost fetus to take over like a cuckoo in the nest, that’s another matter.”

“Not completely human.” Su You lowered his eyes, his lashes covered with fine sweat. He didn’t dare raise his head, only softly articulating: “Like Chen Huainan…”

Xue Yu nodded and decided immediately: “Go to the southern city.”

“The ghost infant will be born within three days. When it happens, it will certainly cause a great disturbance. We’ll go set up an array first to separate that area from the southern city boundaries.”

“Good.” Shan Shu gently agreed: “Wait a moment for me. I’ll prepare some suppression items.”

Chao Nian and the others also rushed off to prepare things they might need in the next three days. Only Xue Yu and Jiu Feng remained under the tree’s shade, one thinking and one watching the excitement.

“Hey.” Jiu Feng finally couldn’t hold back her words. She squatted on the ground, picking up a few leaves to play with: “Don’t blame me for not warning you.”

“That little cub you care about is in so much pain he’s nearly dying.”

Xue Yu finally looked at her.

Seeing this, Jiu Feng rolled her eyes skyward: “Whether it’s the ghost infant, that lamp, or that tree – they’re all objects of great yin energy. You take him around for a tour, you’re fine yourself, but what about him? He—”

“Get to the point.”

Jiu Feng irritably quickened her speech: “His growth period has been accelerated.”