At dawn on the second day, the sky was just beginning to brighten when the flying spirit treasure that had been racing through the night finally slowed down and stopped at the foot of a beautiful green mountain.

Soon, a man dressed in Yedu official robes arrived with more than a dozen disciples. The leader frowned as he caught the faint demonic aura emanating from within the spirit treasure and sternly declared: “Yedu is a restricted area – unauthorized persons are forbidden entry. Please come out immediately for inspection.”

Chao Nian was the first to step out. Seeing this overwhelming formation, he couldn’t help but say: “Lord Wang, why is it that every time the young lady returns, you must rush over here making such a commotion?”

“No one is more eager than you.”

Upon seeing Chao Nian’s face, the man called “Lord Wang” had no time for bewilderment and immediately bowed deeply toward the miniaturized palace, speaking with utmost respect: “This subject respectfully requests Your Highness’s well-being.”

Xue Yu stepped out of the palace doors, followed by Su You, Liang Yan, Qing Luo, and the ghost infant bound tightly with only its resentful eyes visible. The demonic and ghostly auras immediately became unavoidable.

“Rise.” Xue Yu looked at the thoroughly terrified Wang Xiu, then raised her eyes to the mountaintop. She saw rings of morning sunlight expanding like ripples, then contracting in the next instant. The light circles flickered on and off like great breathing mouths. She asked: “The Sun-Moon Wheel is acting abnormally again, and so many people are still guarding at the mountain’s base. What has happened in the city?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, it is the Second Young Master who borrowed the powerful sunlight at the entrance atop the mountain to comprehend the Dao, but something went wrong. The Second Young Master was injured by backlash, and the Sun-Moon Wheel has also shown abnormalities.”

Xue Yu asked: “What abnormalities?”

“At noon, when the sun is strongest, it spews fire and lava outward. At midnight, when the moon is brightest, it rains down ice, frost, and sword-like projectiles. The Master was afraid of accidentally injuring people, so he dispatched us to guard day and night.”

“Where is he now?”

Wang Xiu lowered his head even further, paused for a moment, then said: “Recuperating at Jinyu Tower.”

Xue Yu frowned, strode forward with large steps, lightly tapped off the ground, and swiftly swept toward the mountaintop. Chao Nian and the others immediately followed.

During this time, Qing Luo couldn’t help but ask Chao Nian: “Don’t outsiders all say that the Lord of Yedu has only the young lady as his heir? How is there also a Second Young Master?”

After two months of seeing great demons like Jiu Feng and experiencing many events, Qing Luo’s originally needle-tip-sized courage had gradually grown. At least when encountering situations, she would actively ask, look, and observe, rather than waiting for Xue Yu’s instructions before acting.

“This Second Young Master is the youngest son of the late Prince Su, and the young lady’s cousin.” When Chao Nian mentioned this Second Young Master, his expression also soured. He cautioned left and right: “The Second Young Master has a strange temperament and loves to do rebellious things. He shows no mercy to people or matters, but with the deceased Prince Su and the current Master as his backing, few dare to provoke him. He’s a major tyrant within Yedu City.”

“That Lord Wang at the mountain’s base just now was formerly of Prince Su’s lineage, considered half a confidant of that Second Young Master.”

Xue Yu was first to land before the Sun-Moon Wheel. It was like a massive archway, shrouded in sun and moonlight, often radiating beautiful seven-colored rays – one of Yedu City’s representative landmarks.

“It will take at least three months to recover.” Xue Yu pressed her palm against it, the fine needlework at her sleeve edge sliding with the movement, revealing half a section of skin as tender as lychee flesh, blindingly white.

Seeing this, Chao Nian stepped forward and asked: “Your Highness, shall we go to Jinyu Tower?”

Xue Yu withdrew her hand, first passed through the Sun-Moon Wheel that emanated glazed luster, stepped into Yedu territory, then slowly replied: “No, I’ll go see the Master first.”

Upon hearing this extremely distant term “Master,” Chao Nian knew something bad was about to happen.

His heart sank with a thud. Before he could speak, he heard Xue Yu instruct: “Go to the Palace Guard Bureau to find your sister. Investigate this matter thoroughly from beginning to end, then take my search warrant to Jinyu Tower. Arrest whoever needs arresting, imprison whoever needs imprisoning.”

Chao Nian drew in a sharp breath of cold air. He wanted to say something more, but seeing Xue Yu’s expression, he dared not act rashly and sullenly agreed.

Xue Yu continued: “Liang Yan, you take the ghost infant and go with Chao Nian to the Palace Guard Bureau. Bring Qing Luo along – it’s her first time entering Yedu, so you all explain Yedu’s rules to her.”

After the three left, only Xue Yu and Su You remained.

“Look.” Xue Yu extended her fingertip and pointed at the swirling clouds and mist at their feet, saying: “In the future, this will be the place where you live.”

Having emerged from the Sun-Moon Wheel, they seemed to have moved from one mountaintop to another. The difference was that the one beneath their feet was exceptionally towering and steep. Looking out, it rose like a solitary peak, standing out from the crowd. Through just one layer of thick fog, they could take in the scenery of half of Yedu City.

Looking down, it wasn’t different from the mortal world. Wine shops lined the streets, residences were scattered about, both sides of the roads bustled with activity, and crowds surged – if anything, it was even livelier than some major cities outside.

The difference was that many people on the streets weren’t people.

They had fluffy, furry ears on their heads, and if they weren’t careful, half a tail would show, which they’d quickly grab and change back. Some were too lazy to maintain appearances and just let their tails trail behind them, sweeping the ground. Others sprouted two mouths – one chomping on a steamed bun while the other bit into a flower roll, frantically busy.

That certainly wasn’t what Su You had imagined a sacred land should or would look like.

He had seen Xihe – solemn and stern everywhere, with only lofty sacred land residents coming and going. There, social strata were clearly defined, without a trace of lively, worldly atmosphere.

“Today is the sixth day of the fourth month.” Xue Yu looked into his eyes and said, “Yedu is divided into two parts: Ye City and Baizhong Mountain. Ye City houses the original residents, while Baizhong Mountain houses demons and ghosts who committed offenses and have received punishment.”

“Every year on the sixth day of the fourth month, demons and ghosts from Baizhong Mountain who have behaved well and show low aggression can come up to Ye City to walk around and exchange for some things to take back. They don’t need much of anything, but they’re uniquely fond of mortal world delicacies. Every time they come out, it’s this kind of scene – they can sweep clean an entire street’s worth of food.”

“When you emerge from the Flowing Current, you’ll be managing affairs of Baizhong Mountain.”

Xue Yu’s words were rarely gentle, without the cold indifference heard when capturing demons and monsters, so the atmosphere also became more relaxed.

“Su You.” She said, “I place great hopes in you.”

For just an instant – truly just an instant – the hesitation, wavering, and reluctance in Su You’s heart that had arisen from certain vague emotions at his age, like a tangle of chaotic thorns meeting a harvesting blade, was cut clean away in one stroke, leaving nothing behind.

She said she placed great hopes in him.

Then he would go forward without hesitation.

Ready to die ten thousand deaths without regret.

The two flew horizontally for half an hour before reaching Yedu’s royal palace. From the moment they entered the palace gates, people were bowing in courtesy all along the way. Xue Yu kept her eyes straight ahead, her steps finally stopping at the entrance to Wanxiang Hall.

“Your Highness.” The internal attendant guarding outside the hall cupped his hands toward her and said: “His Majesty is already waiting inside.”

Xue Yu nodded and looked toward Su You: “Wait for me outside.”

After speaking, as if still uneasy, she turned back to look at the internal attendant and instructed: “When Chao Hua comes later, have her take Su You around the area and tell him about matters concerning the Flowing Current.”

Upon hearing the words “Flowing Current,” the internal attendant immediately showed a different expression. After a moment of stunned silence, he quickly reacted and said, “Yes, this subject will relay the message to Lord Chao Hua faithfully.”

Xue Yu stepped into Wanxiang Hall.

The hall’s interior was very tastefully arranged, but it wasn’t opulent luxury with carved beams and painted pillars. Instead, books were placed everywhere and paintings hung throughout – paintings with mountains, water, and people. Walking past the screen deeper inside, the tip of one’s nose was surrounded by a subtle, elegant ink fragrance.

The Lord of Yedu, Xue Lu, sat at the desk behind the screen. Hearing movement, he carefully set down the scroll he was holding and glanced up to see his daughter’s thoroughly displeased face.

When their four eyes met, before either could speak, he awkwardly pressed his throat and coughed once.

“Ah Yu.” Xue Lu pointed to the chair in front of him and said, “Sit.”

Xue Yu sat as instructed and spoke: “This subject had just returned to Yedu when I heard about Xue Rong’s matter. The Master has once again shown great magnanimity and let it pass lightly.”

At the mention of “Xue Rong,” the already stiff atmosphere in the hall immediately fell into deathly silence as if frozen over.

“Little Rong just has a bit of a fiery temperament. Going to the Sun-Moon Wheel to practice was also to improve his cultivation, so he could help you and me in the future.” Xue Lu paused for a long while, then continued: “I recognize his sincere devotion, so I punished him with confinement to Jinlu Tower – a light punishment for a major offense, as a lesson.”

Sincere devotion.

“Master.” Xue Yu raised her eyes as if finding it unbearable and said word by word: “What if I said that Xue Rong harbors disloyal intentions?”

Xue Lu tapped his index finger on the table edge, remained silent for a long time, then let out a long sigh and said, “Where does this accusation come from?”

Look at that.

With such a reaction, if Xue Lu claimed to be completely unaware of this, even he wouldn’t believe it. Yet even so, he still wanted to pamper a worthless person, allowing him to act recklessly and do as he pleased.

Because he felt guilty toward his deceased elder brother, he constantly remembered what he had promised while holding his brother’s hand.

The Xue Yu of a thousand years ago could still tolerate this matter somewhat. She understood that even in high positions, blood relations were often bonds that couldn’t be severed. Even someone as shrewd as the Human Emperor had repeatedly endured and lightly punished Qiu Zhao’s repeated blunders.

If it were truly as Xue Lu said – that her cousin was sincerely devoted but just not very bright and somewhat hot-tempered – then it would be fine. Whether it was any sacred land or an imperial palace, they all kept countless dissolute sons who indulged in pleasure and were arrogantly unrestrained.

Not every family’s sons could be young and accomplished figures.

In fact, in her previous life, Xue Yu had also considered Xue Lu’s feelings. Every time Xue Rong caused trouble or committed crimes, it was her people who handled things – apologizing, appeasing, or making amends.

But in the end…

When Song Heng’s great army pressed against the city, Xue Rong had the opportunity and time to notify Xue Lu in advance and inform Xue Yu, but he didn’t. He even actively opened the Sun-Moon Wheel, allowing Song Heng’s heavenly soldiers to drive straight in without obstruction, striking at the heart.

Indulgence doesn’t cultivate a person’s true loyalty – it only breeds greater ambition.

Xue Yu didn’t even need to think carefully to know what Xue Rong was thinking at that moment.

Xue Lu had sealed himself to support the barrier, and as for Xue Yu – she had brought the wolf into the house and failed to judge people correctly, bringing such great disaster to Yedu. She was unfit to hold power any longer.

So Yedu’s throne had only one remaining candidate.

A person could have ambition and desire for power, but if the means to rise involved betraying one’s homeland and nation, Xue Yu could not tolerate it.

She had abruptly returned to a thousand years ago, and was gradually forgetting things from those thousand years that had nothing to do with her, no connections to her. These changes, one by one, were all unsettling. She couldn’t even guarantee that she wouldn’t forget everything from a thousand years later, when the sun rose the next day, completely integrating with this current world.

Some hidden dangers she had to eliminate early.

In her previous life, she had returned late. When she came back, the Sun-Moon Wheel had already been repaired by Xue Lu’s intervention, and this matter was hidden tightly, never reaching her ears at all.

So when she heard about this incident this time, she immediately decided to have Chao Hua arrest people, both to remind Xue Lu and to warn the late Prince Su’s lineage.

Just then, the internal attendant outside announced shrilly: “Your Majesty, the Palace Guard Commander and the Second Young Master have arrived.”

Xue Lu’s brow furrowed: “Bring them in.”

Soon, a man and a woman entered the hall.

The man was tall and imposing. Just looking at his appearance, he was quite handsome with an elegant bearing. Especially when he cupped his hands and bowed down, those downcast eyes and that voice offering greetings were extremely reminiscent of his father: “This subject greets Your Majesty and Your Highness.”

In comparison, Chao Hua was petite with a cute face, both cheeks carrying some baby fat with a rosy flush. At first glance, she looked like an underage little girl, and even her voice was crisp and sweet, completely incompatible with the various evil reputations circulating outside.

“Reporting to Your Majesty and Your Highness, this subject has investigated the Sun-Moon Wheel damage incident. The evidence is conclusive – according to law, one hundred rod strikes should be administered.”

Xue Yu looked toward the Lord of Yedu on the main seat.

Under the gaze of three pairs of eyes, Xue Rong swept his robe aside and knelt, his voice indescribably dejected: “This subject… acknowledges guilt and submits to whatever punishment Your Majesty decides.”

Such humility and terror naturally made one think that if Prince Su were still alive, how could he have fallen to this state?

Perhaps who would be sitting in that position today was anyone’s guess.

This move of Xue Rong’s worked every time without fail.

Anyone who could sit in that position had no soft heart or true benevolence – the Human Emperor was like this, and the Lord of Yedu was too.

Beneath power and honor lay nothing but piles of white bones.

But the Lord of Yedu had one fatal weakness – Xue Yu’s uncle.

Sure enough, the Lord of Yedu’s expression alternated between dark and bright. The words to drag Xue Rong out for punishment, after much consideration and hesitation, simply wouldn’t come out.

After a long while, he waved his sleeve and gestured with his hand, saying: “Enough, you two may withdraw first.”

Seeing this, Xue Yu knew this would end in nothing again.

She raised her eyes and rolled up a corner of her sleeve, revealing her slender, pale wrist bone marked with a faint star-shaped scar. “A hundred years ago, when this subject was still young, I once caused a spell formation to reverse due to my error, injuring innocent women and children. I was punished under the gaze of three thousand pairs of eyes.”

The Lord of Yedu’s pupils contracted slightly.

He naturally remembered that incident from years past.

At that time, she was still young. Studying ancient formations was inherently dangerous – no one knew that formation would have such great power, able to shatter the protective barrier and injure a woman who had brought her child to visit her husband under the gaze of three thousand disciples on the morning practice platform.

Xue Yu was also covered in blood then – such a small thing, pressing her lips together as she ran over to handle the aftermath, then voluntarily accepted punishment, enduring two spiritual lashes forcibly.

She was a Spirit Array Master – even after a hundred years, physical injuries still left traces.

The Lord of Yedu waved his hand and said, “Punish as Chao Hua suggested.”

Xue Yu withdrew from the inner hall. Chao Hua and Su You silently followed behind her. When they reached a corner of the palace wall, she gazed into the distance and spoke softly: “Assign people to watch Xue Rong.”

Upon hearing this, Chao Hua cupped her small face and smiled like a flower, saying eagerly: “Your Highness, are we going to move against Prince Su’s old faction?”

“Don’t concern yourself with them for now.” Xue Yu rubbed the scar on her wrist and said, “Arrange an accident. When Xue Rong leaves Yedu, intercept and kill him.”

Chao Hua was stunned for a moment, then suddenly her eyes grew cold, her voice actually becoming softer: “He has provoked Your Highness?”

Su You also looked up. Admittedly, Xue Yu wasn’t someone who abused power. Most of the time, she even treated herself as just an ordinary mortal – she could be turned away at doors and could accept being swept out. If her bottom line hadn’t been touched, she wouldn’t easily speak of taking someone’s life.

Xue Yu was silent for a long while. When they thought she wouldn’t speak, she said: “Those who betray deserve no forgiveness.”

“And have no chance to reform.”

Because of this nod and these two seemingly random statements, both people left behind were clearly in poor spirits.

Chao Hua stared at Su You’s face that made it impossible to look away for a long while, then said: “I heard Chao Nian mention you in a spirit talisman message – the first person Your Highness ever saved from the Judgment Platform.”

“Seeing you before entering the hall, I thought Your Highness had taken a fancy to your face.”

Su You raised his eyes, the corners slightly hooked, his eyelids creating a fold neither deep nor shallow – everything about his appearance was gentle, except for those deep pupils that were filled with the word ‘indifference.’

Completely different from how he’d been before the Highness just moments ago.

Chao Hua’s dark brown pupils moved closer to him as she said, “Since you were saved by Her Highness, you should think properly about serving Her Highness faithfully and sharing Her Highness’s burdens. You saw it too – affairs of Yedu, matters of the Heavenly Book, everywhere there are piles of messes weighing on her shoulders.”

“If you have any promise, emerge from the Flowing Current early and take a position in the Palace Guard Bureau.”

Su You seemed struck by a certain word. He moved his lips and asked: “Early?”

“Normally speaking, there’s no such possibility. Of the ten people who enter the Flowing Current, eight and a half still fail to defeat the guardians even after two hundred years.”

“Disgraceful.”

Chao Hua swept her gaze over him and clapped her hands, saying: “Naturally, nothing is absolute – two people have emerged early before.”

Su You quietly looked toward her.

Chao Hua curved her lips in a smile, her aggressive aura retreating to become girlishly charming and innocent again: “One took thirty-five years, the other only ten years.”

As if knowing what he was thinking, she tossed several yellow-covered books at him, saying: “Yedu power distribution, Palace Guard Bureau responsibilities, and some general information about Baizhong Mountain. Read them when you go in – don’t come out still like a headless fly understanding nothing.”

“I don’t have the patience to teach people.”

Chao Hua’s final words came leisurely: “The one who took thirty-five years was me.”

“The other one…”

“Was Her Highness.”