Before long, everyone in Luozhou City from commoners to the Law Enforcement Hall, had recovered from that terrifying scene. The streets and alleys were packed with people, their panicked voices converging into waves of cacophonous noise, surging one after another.

The Flying Immortal Painting suddenly enveloping half of Luozhou caused too great a disturbance. The Law Enforcement Hall almost immediately dispatched elders and hundreds of disciples, quickly arriving at where Xue Yu had defeated the enemy.

This area was first affected, with pools of blood on the ground like blooming crimson flowers, appearing particularly terrifying under flickering lamplight. Therefore, no one approached this area.

At first glance, this quietude compared to other surrounding areas was distinctly clear-cut.

The leading disciples looked around in all directions, exchanging glances with each other, then shook their heads at the elder who came later: “We’ve searched everywhere here – no one.”

That elder had graying temples, eyes habitually narrowed to slits. You could only judge his mood by his tone, not his expression. Now he raised his eyebrows high, then somewhat laboriously straightened his back, looking toward the streets and alleys on both sides.

“Elder Zhang, should we search more?” A disciple in gold-trimmed robes beside him couldn’t help but ask for instructions.

Elder Zhang suddenly sighed, his cloudy pupils moving, then waved his hand: “Forget it.”

“With that level of cultivation, if they truly wanted to hide among the populace, who could find them?” Though he said this, Elder Zhang’s tone was heavy, clearly dissatisfied with such results. He paused, then continued: “Have our people go ask around the neighborhood, ask what that woman who acted earlier looked like, preferably get it drawn.”

“Handle this matter quietly, spend plenty of silver, and avoid alerting them.”

“Make sure this is done before dawn.”

The disciple beside him cupped his hands, promising in a low voice: “Elder, rest assured. The disciples all know what’s at stake and how to proceed.”

Elder Zhang glanced at him, hummed in acknowledgment, seeming to ponder something. After a while, he flicked his sleeve: “I’m going to the west of the city. If Elder Chen asks later, tell him I went to investigate the Flying Immortal Painting’s whereabouts.”

“Stay alert.”

In a small courtyard at the foot of green mountains outside the city, Chao Nian and Shen Jingshi hit it off immediately.

Chao Nian was restless and talkative, while Shen Jingshi, judging by appearance alone, looked exactly like a dissolute young master who played through the world and walked among flowers. Plus that mouth of his – to put it plainly, he spoke human words to humans and ghost words to ghosts.

The two chatted back and forth, giving listeners headaches.

Outside the courtyard hung two not-very-bright lamps, swaying in the night wind, the wicks inside flickering unstably as if affected. Behind the courtyard was a great mountain, so from time to time, flocks of startled birds would rise, flapping their wings from one branch to another.

Xue Yu sat on a stone bench, her long skirt hem hanging at her ankles, accentuating her delicate, lustrous white skin.

She borrowed the moonlight to look up at the man standing before her.

It must be said that ten years had completely transformed that rebellious, untamed youth from the Judgment Platform.

The current Commander spoke gently, behaved elegantly, and advanced and retreated with proper measure. Especially when those upturned eyes showed a half-smiling arc, no one would doubt if you called him nobility.

Xue Yu’s slender index finger tapped the table edge once, then after a moment, tapped again, as if wanting to say something but not knowing how to begin due to this overwhelming unfamiliarity.

Such situations occurring with Xue Yu were too rare, too abnormal.

The smile hanging in Su You’s eyes couldn’t help but fade and fade again.

After a while, Xue Yu’s finger tapped a third time. She frowned, as if unable to bear it, leaned to one side, looking toward those two who were chattily conversing back and forth: “Chao Nian, you talk too much.”

Her gaze immediately fell on the other person: “Shen Jingshi, stop encouraging him.”

Chao Nian immediately shut his mouth wisely. Shen Jingshi shifted to support himself with his other foot, smiling carelessly: “Got it, Young Lady.”

Honestly, this “Young Lady” from his mouth didn’t sound respectful at all, but rather carried a particularly familiar meaning.

It was an intimacy that Su You, despite following Xue Yu closely for two months ten years ago, had never managed to voice.

When Xue Yu looked back at him, Su You seemed able to hear his voice, word by word: She called Chao Nian by name, called Shen Jingshi by name, but for him alone, six words without warmth – Palace Guard Bureau Commander.

Ten years apart, people came and went around her. In comparison, those fleeting two months truly counted for nothing.

Yet those two months were the only vivid time in his entire life.

Thinking of this, the smile resting on Su You’s peach blossom eyes, despite his utmost control, finally couldn’t be maintained.

“From entering the Flowing Current to emerging, how long did it take?” Xue Yu asked him.

“Ten years.” Su You lowered his eyes deeply, uttering two words, then adding: “Ten years and seven months.”

Xue Yu nodded her chin lightly, asking: “How do you feel?”

Those difficult times and tribulations were real, as were the rising cultivation and combat power.

The world was originally like this – to gain anything, one must pay. There was nothing worth mentioning or discussing about this.

But if truly asked about how it was…

Su You’s Adam’s apple trembled lightly. He thought to himself: She had even forgotten his name.

What else could he say?

He concealed those lapses extremely well, showing almost no flaws.

At first glance, his spine was straight, enduring like green bamboo, yet because of that sharp sword energy, he showed a dangerous edge, his entire being possessing an indescribable, unique charm.

After a moment, Su You looked at those beautiful eyes holding cool moonlight and said in a deep voice: “This subject was fortunate not to disgrace the mission. Everything is well.”

Xue Yu nodded, then beckoned to those two who had been ordered to remain silent. When Shen Jingshi approached, she said: “You speak about Luozhou’s situation.”

Shen Jingshi suddenly received an assignment, hesitating as he tilted his head, smiling as he pressed his throat: “Hm? Say what?”

That appearance, that tone – when you met his gaze, you couldn’t even get angry.

Seeing this, Xue Yu couldn’t help but close her eyes.

After five or six days together, she truly didn’t understand what Shan Shu saw in Shen Jingshi to let him laugh and joke all day, coming and going freely without any proper form.

She paused, no longer looking at Shen Jingshi, who was stroking his nose bridge, knowing he was unreliable, and said seriously: “We don’t know much about the Flying Immortal Painting. According to information Buddha Maiden discovered, this painting was still hanging in the imperial palace’s great hall ten years ago. Later, it was stolen by someone unknown. At the time, the imperial city even posted reward notices, causing quite a stir.”

“Afterward, no news appeared regarding this painting until we received the Heavenly Book mission.”

“The current situation is difficult in two aspects.” Xue Yu knew well that the two standing beside her were unreliable, so these words were essentially spoken for Su You alone. “First, this thing came from the imperial palace. When we act to capture it, we might become entangled with the imperial court.”

“Second, we don’t understand this painting – what it does, who currently holds it. The mission says the Flying Immortal Painting became human and fled, but became what kind of person, mixed into what kind of crowd – all of this is unknown.”

So the topic returned to the first problem.

Su You quickly understood her meaning. He pressed his lips low, glancing at Shen Jingshi coldly, then continued: “To know the Flying Immortal Painting’s specific details and uses, we still need to ask people from the imperial palace.”

What people could there be in the imperial palace?

Besides eunuchs and concubines, only the Human Emperor remained.

“We’re too passive.” Xue Yu looked down at the ground covered with withered leaves, pondering for a moment, then shook her head: “We know nothing about the Flying Immortal Painting. Right now, in Luozhou, it can come and go freely – we can’t defend against it. All clues can only await their next appearance, but that painting can cover half of Luozhou City. When it appears, it brings blood disaster.”

Currently, I worry that this matter originates from the imperial court. If so, not only won’t they cooperate, they’ll secretly mislead us, leading us in the wrong directions.” Xue Yu pressed her brow, speaking frankly: “So I don’t plan to reveal my identity or stay long in the city.”

With that, she looked toward Chao Nian and Shen Jingshi, asking: “What are your thoughts?”

Chao Nian felt golden stars spinning before his eyes. He’d just arrived in Luozhou, hadn’t even gotten his bearings when he witnessed that heart-stopping scene, immediately followed by so many “ifs,” “perhapses,” and “worries.” Forget having thoughts – he found it difficult just listening.

He seriously cleared his throat, then quite shamelessly bumped Shen Jingshi’s elbow: “Young Lady is asking for your thoughts.”

Seeing how he’d acted like kindred spirits one moment, then sold out his friend the next, Shen Jingshi was so angry he laughed silently. But facing Xue Yu, he ultimately didn’t dare to be too presumptuous, honestly saying: “Replying to Young Lady, I have no thoughts.”

Xue Yu seemed to have anticipated such a situation. Her expression remained completely unruffled as she turned to look at Su You.

From entering this courtyard, Su You had felt uncomfortable everywhere.

Just at this moment, watching Shen Jingshi’s casually relaxed smile, he finally knew the reason.

Xue Yu was truly indulgent toward Shen Jingshi in every way, treating him completely differently.

Words Chao Nian didn’t dare speak, Shen Jingshi dared say.

Intimate tones others didn’t dare reveal, Shen Jingshi could easily voice.

Moonlight spilled down, shining on his eyelids as Su You slowly moved his lashes up and down.

It must be said that in ten years, the hardships he’d suffered and punishments he’d endured under the “Propriety” guardian hadn’t been in vain. Even now, he could still hear his calm voice responding word by word: “Enter the city, investigate the Law Enforcement Hall.”

Two sentences, six words – Xue Yu immediately felt her shoulders relax.

Facts proved that in ten years, what the person before her had gained wasn’t just strength.

That intelligence and understanding that responded to the slightest touch from before remained perfectly intact.

Ten years ago, the Suzhou case had implicated the ghost infant and Prince Zhao’s mansion. Later Xue Yu had found “one thousand demons and ghosts” in Xue Rong’s materials. Combined with the Heavenly Book’s occasional hints, as early as a year ago when Xue Yu began accepting missions, she’d ordered Law Enforcement Halls everywhere to tighten security again, reporting any anomalies immediately.

But no one reported the mountain demon beasts’ abnormalities. The Flying Immortal Painting harming people – even now, she’d received no news.

Luozhou’s Law Enforcement Hall probably already belonged to the Qius.

“Alright.” Xue Yu covered herself with a veil, then checked the sky: “Enter the city now.”

A quarter-hour later, the group of four silently appeared at the street corner where the golden light had been strongest earlier. The sky was still dark, mist rising, wind across their cheeks already carrying hints of winter’s chill as they swiftly moved through various mansion courtyards’ alley eaves.

Soon, they saw several open gates and disciples in Law Enforcement Hall robes before the gates.

Xue Yu cast a concealment spell, and taking just a few steps closer, heard one disciple say: “Draw carefully and seriously. Whoever draws most detailed gets an extra three taels reward.”

Hearing this, men and women who’d been frightened earlier and couldn’t return to sleep, eyes narrowed to slits from exhaustion, hurriedly rubbed their eyes, striving to recall memories. One reminisced: “That woman was very beautiful, like a celestial fairy.”

After speaking, he clicked his tongue, completed the final stroke, handed it to the waiting Law Enforcement Hall disciple, then leaned over for another look, added another stroke, and confidently set down his brush: “I used to specialize in painting portraits of noble ladies in mansions. These distinctive beauties – I need only one glance to remember them. What I paint is guaranteed to be as lifelike as the person.”

Hearing this, and seeing those other households either closed or still open, Xue Yu didn’t even need to see the painting’s contents to understand.

The Law Enforcement Hall was indeed investigating her.

In all of Luozhou City, who could recognize her from a portrait?

Those disciples couldn’t, nor could the elders.

Then who else could it be?

Either Qiu Tong or Qiu Zhao.

The four returned to one side of the nearest wine shop. Under lamplight and moonlight, Xue Yu looked toward Su You, who’d been following closely at her side.

With this turn of her head, her slender shadow on the ground stretched long, overlapping with the man’s silhouette like two clusters of seaweed flowers blooming entwined in the deep sea.

Su You suddenly tensed his jaw, ear tips growing warm.

“No need to investigate further.” Xue Yu sighed softly: “Let’s return first.”

“The next few days, Luozhou City won’t have any activity.”

Su You’s long fingers gripping the sword hilt moved restlessly as he suddenly spoke: “Those portraits can be intercepted.”

“Intercepting them won’t help much. The Law Enforcement Hall might send another group to redraw several copies.” Xue Yu moved her lips, and after a while, smiled with curved mouth corners: “Fortunately, you’re also familiar with those people from ten years ago.”

“At worst, we’ll just fight them again.”

Compared to this reunion after long separation, in a spacious courtyard within Luozhou’s prefecture building, lights blazed brightly.

Guards wearing armor and gripping weapons surrounded the area, watertight. The serving attendants deliberately avoided this area, not daring to say half a word extra, even their footsteps were deliberately careful.

The Luozhou Prefect sat accompanying respectfully, his breathing slow and light. In half an hour, he’d risen countless times under the pretense of serving tea to observe the expressions of those seated above.

Equally uneasy was Elder Zhang from the Law Enforcement Hall.

Finally, Qiu Zhao set down his teacup, creating a clear, abrupt sound in the quiet room.

The Prefect and Elder Zhang exchanged glances, both hearts rising simultaneously.

Qiu Tong lifted his eyelids, unhurriedly setting down the scroll in his hands, speaking sternly: “Qiu Zhao, be patient.”

“What did I teach you? Have you forgotten so quickly?”

If ten years seemed like a white colt passing through a gap to cultivators, fleeting in an instant, then to mortals who couldn’t cultivate, time truly passed by counting on fingers.

From his twenties to thirty, that gloomy temperament of Qiu Tong had gradually dissipated. Ten years of accumulation made him the benevolent sage ruler in the imperial city residents’ mouths. Even his body seemed to have improved under medicinal nourishment, no longer sickly in appearance.

Only those truly familiar with him knew that behind his shed disguise, those gloomy eyes remained unchanged after ten years.

This included Qiu Zhao.

He quickly backed down: “Imperial Brother, this subject hasn’t forgotten.”

“But we’ve finally waited for this year’s opportunity.” Qiu Zhao couldn’t help but stand up, lowering his voice: “Imperial Brother, think about it – how many more decades can we wait?”

These words were like a short arrow, striking precisely into Qiu Tong’s heart.

He dangerously narrowed his eyes, seeming to smile as he turned his book face down on the table: “Do I not know this?”

Quite the contrary – he understood this statement’s meaning better than anyone.

At just over thirty, he’d already found new white hairs on his head. What did this represent?

With his temperament, he’d taken two deep breaths at the time.

So he knew that some things, no matter how dangerous or difficult, had to begin.

But honestly speaking, Qiu Tong had concerns and didn’t want to oppose Xue Yu.

Xue Rong was worthless mud that couldn’t support a wall – his death was expected. But that letter left Qiu Tong uncertain whether Xue Yu had discovered it.

If she had discovered it—

Qiu Tong couldn’t help sighing deeply in his heart.

Just when the atmosphere was most tense, “knock knock” sounds came from outside. The Prefect’s gaze sharpened as he called out: “Who is it?”

The response wasn’t respectful self-identification but a “bang” as the door was pushed open from outside. In an instant, four pairs of eyes looked over simultaneously.

They saw moonlight like water, night like gauze. A woman with ankle-length flowing hair had loosely arranged a celestial bun atop her head, with three to five ornate, swaying gold hairpins inserted diagonally. She wore only a thin veil, her jade arms encircled by liquid-like flowing silk and colored ribbons, both jade feet innocently bare, bringing a wave of alluring fragrance upon entering.

She was extremely beautiful – that beauty was seductive to every inch of her bones, yet her eyes were pure as forest deer. This contradiction, taken to extremes yet perfectly balanced, was a soul-stealing weapon.

Such a woman – no man present dared claim he wasn’t moved.

“Xuanji.” Qiu Tong patted the spot beside him: “Come sit.”

The others lowered their brows and eyes, withdrawing their gazes.

Xuanji slowly walked to Qiu Tong’s side, then half-knelt down. With one turn, her full head of dark hair fell across his knees.

In this position, Qiu Tong needs only to lower his head and eyes to see that charming beauty’s face.

Soon, he extended his hand, his distinctly jointed, long fingers touching her lips, drawing out a trace of blood, asking: “Injured?”

Xuanji looked up at him with confused eyes, then lightly wrote several characters on his palm.

—Sacred Land Inheritor.

Feeling the strokes gradually falling in his hand, Qiu Tong’s palm caressed that enchantingly beautiful face, saying hoarsely: “You’ve been wronged.”

Xuanji shook her head – she didn’t know what being wronged meant.

Seeing this, Qiu Tong couldn’t help stroking along her full head of dark hair to the ends. As if pleased by such smooth texture, he couldn’t help narrowing his eyes.

It must be said that Xuanji’s face and figure – even in the imperial city with the most beauties, you couldn’t find a second like her.

Qiu Tong, as Human Emperor, no matter how noble his status, was ultimately still a man. The thoughts men had, he also possessed.

But truly speaking, besides this appearance, what most satisfied Qiu Tong was Xuanji’s character, born from the Flying Immortal Painting just a few years ago, unable to distinguish right from wrong, knowing only to depend on him wholeheartedly.

Think about it – as a painting spirit, she had extraordinary combat power and alluring beauty. Nowhere in heaven or on earth could she go, yet she stumbled toward only his embrace.

How could this not move people?

Moreover, she could absorb blood essence, extremely useful to him and the Dragon Breath.

Presently, the tightly closed door was knocked again. This time, without waiting for the Luozhou Prefect to inquire, the person outside announced himself: “Your Majesty, this subject Bai Su.”

“Enter.” Qiu Tong said.

Bai Su carried fifteen or sixteen portraits inside, placing them on the desk without looking sideways.

Qiu Tong held his breath, reaching for the topmost portrait.

One glance made him frown.

For no other reason, ordinary people who could draw were few. What they produced under silver’s temptation could be described as “missing arms and legs.”

Qiu Tong flipped through four or five consecutively – if not crooked noses, then eyes, one large one small, or else fingers thick as radishes.

To put it harshly, the people in the paintings were inferior to the mansion servants who swept floors.

In short, not one was viewable.

Qiu Tong’s expression cooled. Just as he was about to scold, he saw the seventh one.

His gaze focused as he casually tossed aside that pile of incomprehensible portraits, then picked up the one on the desk to examine carefully.

Xue Yu’s appearance hadn’t changed.

Enough to recognize at one glance.

But Qiu Tong frowned and looked for a long time, from her cold brows and eyes to her straight nose bridge to her naturally red lips.

He seemed to be squinting through the paper, sizing up another person.

After a while, he tilted his head back, laughed coldly, slapped the portrait onto the table, thinking that when people were unlucky, whatever they feared most would come to pass.

Qiu Zhao couldn’t restrain himself, stepping forward for one look. Just one glance made him grit his teeth: “It’s her again.”

“Why is she everywhere?”

Then, a jade hand extended from Qiu Tong’s knees as Xuanji picked up that thin paper to look.

It must be said that artist’s skill was decent – though not comparable to those serving in the imperial palace, it was still presentable. Everything that should be drawn was included without omission.

Women all had a natural sixth sense. Though Xuanji had only been in the world a few years, she knew what men’s abnormal behavior meant.

Qiu Tong’s character and status were clear – those who displeased him or opposed him all died silently. Those with status equal to his who could threaten him either maintained good relations or minded their own business.

This was Xuanji’s first time seeing him show such an angry yet helpless expression because of a woman.

She gently set down the paper, looking up to kiss Qiu Tong’s chin.

Qiu Tong grasped her fingers in his palm, rubbing them as comfort, then pushed her away somewhat coldly.

A quarter-hour ago, he’d felt pleased by Xuanji’s innocent, unworldly character. A quarter-hour later, his thoughts had changed.

Qiu Zhao asked through gritted teeth: “Imperial Brother, what should we do next? Should we avoid them?”

“How to avoid?” Qiu Tong opened his eyes, laughing coldly with a cool tone: “Unavoidable.”

“The Dragon Breath has been nurtured for ten years – no mistakes allowed.”

“In ten days, absorb blood essence once more.”

“Before then, no one should provoke them for me.”

Autumn wind rustled as withered yellow leaves piled at the mountain foot courtyard. When Xue Yu and Su You returned, dawn light was already appearing on the horizon, with Chao Nian and Shen Jingshi making sporadic conversation behind them.

Xue Yu headed straight for the study, pausing as her steps crossed the threshold to look toward the other side.

Su You stood embracing his sword under an ancient tree, eyes slightly closed, his complexion cold and white, topknot bound high. He truly didn’t much resemble that youth who’d followed closely behind her, solving cases years ago.

For a moment, Xue Yu didn’t know how to interact with him.

Her temperament was indifferent. Even Chao Hua and Chou Li, whom she’d personally trained, only discussed business with little private interaction. As for Chao Nian’s perpetually childish personality, let him speak alone, and he could chatter until dawn, giving her splitting headaches until she sometimes wanted to avoid him entirely.

The former Song Heng had devoted himself to his common people. When looking at her, he often carried guilty eyes, occasionally appearing only when needing something. Carefully counting, they hadn’t spent much proper time together.

But Su You was different.

Different from Chao Nian, different from Shen Jingshi, even more different from Song Heng.

Ten years ago, he’d used clumsy, immature methods to draw an array for her, wanting to lure out Jiu Feng in her place. Later, he’d endured the growing pains of bones and tendons at Yunji Wine House, discovering something wrong and then obstinately breaking into Prince Zhao’s mansion. After being rescued, forcing himself to stay conscious, his first words weren’t complaints or claims of merit, but telling her the lake held secrets.

In just two months, all her case reports were written by him.

After returning to Yedu, she’d said she had great hopes for him, and he’d entered the Flowing Current without question, emerging in just ten years.

Before entering, he’d left Chao Nian that manual that pained him so, also leaving those pills from the Human Emperor, thinking to pay her Heavenly Book fines.

Admittedly, Xue Yu didn’t need any of this – she could complete missions and pay fines.

But this sentiment she’d truly never experienced before.

When this person arrived before her with stunning swordwork, his eyes still curved with peach blossom smiles. Just now returning, that was completely invisible.

Xue Yu frowned slightly, then, after a while, parted her lips: “Su You.”

Su You opened his eyes, looking at her. As if confirming something, he paused before saying: “This subject is here.”

“Follow me.”

The door closed behind them as Xue Yu pointed to the simple wooden desk, indicating he should look at the previous missions she’d organized.

Su You paced over, turning through those manuals page by page. The next moment he discovered that below the case reports he’d personally written ten years ago, three consecutive missions were completely blank, one only mentioning a single sentence.

—Cangzhou Case Report.

Not yet begun.

It was like a blank space reserved specifically for him.

So she still remembered.

Remembered the cases from ten years ago.

Remembered that case report.

Also remembered his name.

The room fell into quiet, with only occasional soft sounds of paper turning. When daylight brightened outside, Su You raised his eyes, his fingers gripping the ink brush distinctly thin.

The Flowing Current was a good place – the four great guardians taught him benevolence, loyalty, and propriety. But something restless seemed to flow naturally in his bones. Upon seeing her, he almost instinctively learned opportunistic submission and unscrupulous scheming.

For an instant, Su You felt these ten years had brought no progress whatsoever.

No matter how good the secret realm or the teachers, they couldn’t save him.

He truly was.

He truly couldn’t bear seeing more intimate men around her.