Princess Yicheng dusted off her palms, finding faint black ash on them—traces left behind from casting the fog concealment technique.

She was now riding on the back of a black-clothed person, rushing through the darkness. In the distance where the fog had dissipated, another person was leading the Great King of Yi Kingdom forward.

With Princess Yicheng’s limited abilities, she could at most know the mechanisms within the old royal palace, deliberately triggering them to lure the Great King into pursuit. But she absolutely couldn’t keep him chasing all the way out of the Phantom Capital—this naturally required someone’s help.

She didn’t know where these people had come from either. After she led Yi Yiyi out of the royal palace, she was already exhausted and about to give up when someone suddenly rushed over, saying “We’ll provide support, keep moving forward” while having her release the fog concealment so another person could continue leading the Great King away.

The others carried her as they traveled together. She only used the fog concealment technique when necessary, appearing briefly to leave confusing clues that kept Yi Yiyi from giving up the chase. Most of the time, it was that person with exceptional lightness skills who led Yi Yiyi forward.

Princess Yicheng discovered that this group shared common traits with the Great King’s secret guards—silence, caution, perfect coordination, organization and discipline, their own methods of information transmission, and seamless cooperation with each other. But they were even more excellent than the Great King’s secret guards. These people had exceptional lightness skills, elusive movements, and were extremely skilled in tracking, anti-tracking, various deceptions, traps, and diversions.

From her royal perspective, these people also belonged to some high-ranking person’s private guards.

The caliber of secret guards depended on the ruler’s status. Private forces superior to the Great King of Yi Kingdom’s secret guards…

She suddenly shivered, looking down at the wrist of the person carrying her.

There were sleeves covering the wrist, but during movement, occasionally the skin was exposed, bearing faint markings that looked like a web.

She glanced at another black-clothed person nearby. That person wore a complete mask and face covering, with what seemed like an earring, but upon closer inspection it wasn’t an earring but a small thorn, and even more careful observation revealed the thorn wasn’t real either—it was painted on.

She figured these were probably the markings of two different types of secret guards.

Looking back, she could vaguely see a large group of people behind them. A faint smile bloomed at the corners of her lips.

Though this was dangerous work, though she was being forced, having chased this far, she actually felt a few moments of satisfaction.

Satisfaction that Yi Yiyi also had a day when he would be led around like a dog, chasing after her.

For many years before this, it had been she and her sisters who chased after him like dogs, merely seeking a chance to survive under her only brother’s cruel and vicious blade.

When her only blood brother was also targeted, she had no choice but to personally go up and add another stab, stepping on his corpse to tell Yi Yiyi that her brother had raped her when she was ten years old, that he was the person she hated most, and she thanked the Great King for helping her get revenge.

The Great King believed her and instead felt she was ruthless and formidable, gaining a higher opinion of her. She was also the only half-sister he had spared. All other sisters who didn’t share his mother faced the same fate of assassination.

Actually…

She raised her hand, wiping away tears that had somehow appeared at the corners of her eyes.

That only blood brother had been the only one in her life who had ever given her warmth.

…

Yi Yiyi was rushing across the wilderness, Princess Yicheng was reminiscing during the chase, and someone else was sighing in those memories.

“After all these years, I’ve finally contacted you,” said a slightly hoarse voice.

After a moment of silence, someone replied: “You contacted me regardless of everything, forcing me to leave Dige. What exactly do you want to do?”

This voice was somewhat thin, hard to distinguish as male or female, sounding strange, like someone who had been imitating voices for years and gradually forgotten their original tone.

“What I want to do—do I need to ask?” The hoarse voice laughed coldly. “Of course it’s revenge and seizing the kingdom.”

Another period of silence, then that androgynous voice slowly said: “I’ve grown accustomed to peaceful days and don’t want to get involved in your affairs anymore.”

“You can’t avoid getting involved even if you want to,” the first person said. “Yi Yiyi is looking for you everywhere.”

“Wasn’t that because you spread the word?” The thin voice laughed coldly. “You deliberately spread news that royal family members were still alive, and news about the jade seal, all pointing to me. How can Yi Yiyi sleep peacefully? How can I remain stable?”

“Have you really been sleeping peacefully and staying stable all these years?” the hoarse voice mocked. “If you were truly stable, would you need to seek shelter under the State Preceptor’s wing, not even daring to live as a man?”

A faint sigh, then the thin voice said: “I can’t afford to get involved in your affairs. That time I got involved, I directly became a criminal exiled for failed rebellion, living under others’ roofs for so many years. Another round, and where will my life be?”

“Will Yi Yiyi spare you?” the hoarse voice laughed. “You helped him coordinate from within and without, pretending to rebel to net all the royal descendants with treasonous hearts in one sweep. How did he treat you afterward? If you hadn’t escaped quickly, wouldn’t you have nearly been assassinated by his secret guards? He had long secured power but never rescinded your wanted status, never clarified the truth to vindicate you, letting you live as a criminal under others’ protection, unable to live a normal life. Think carefully about which of you two has deep feelings and loyalty, and which is heartless and ungrateful. Don’t keep dwelling on those childhood bonds and obligations. I tell you, before supreme power, all feelings and obligations are bullshit!”

A long silence, then finally a sigh, light and ethereal, dissipating like mist.

After a while, it was still the hoarse voice speaking: “How were you able to leave the State Preceptor’s side so quietly in Dige? Weren’t you afraid of being discovered?”

“If I’m not mistaken, the State Preceptor is in Yi Kingdom,” the thin voice said. “He’s always hidden his movements, but just recently, all the Spider Web and Bee Sting operatives under his command lurking in Yi Kingdom were activated. There must be some action planned.”

“Ashan, you’ve been by the State Preceptor’s side for years and should understand his temperament well,” the hoarse voice said slowly. “What do you think the State Preceptor intends in Yi Kingdom? What does he intend by activating Spider Web and Bee Sting?”

“I can’t fathom the State Preceptor’s thoughts, and I advise you not to try either. Even alone in foreign territory, the State Preceptor isn’t someone you or I can touch. Dige’s treacherous politics have nothing to do with us—your target should only be Yi Kingdom,” the first voice said. “I only know that Spider Web and Bee Sting are the State Preceptor’s most important secret guards, scattered across nations to gather intelligence and serve as personnel reserves for extraordinary times. Because they’re secretive, the less they appear the better. Especially Spider Web and Bee Sting outside Dige—once they act, they’re easily traced by local authorities, potentially destroying years of cultivation and effort. So unless it’s extremely important, they might never be activated in a lifetime. I believe what could make the State Preceptor deploy Yi Kingdom’s Spider Web and Bee Sting is very likely related to Yi Yiyi. In this Yi Kingdom, currently only Yi Yiyi as the local power is worthy of being the State Preceptor’s serious opponent.”

“Excellent!” the hoarse voice said happily. “Now I can tell you—Yi Yiyi has already left the Phantom Capital, heading all the way to the border!”

“You want to…” the thin voice showed a trace of shock.

“Turn the tables and use borrowed force to strike!” the hoarse voice laughed. “How he surrounded and killed us before—now let us repay him with his own methods!”

…

Storm clouds gathered in the northern Dahuang region, with royal winds blowing from Yi Kingdom all the way to Daimao.

Atop Shangyuan City’s walls, the scent of gunpowder lingered, and the soldiers huddled against the walls, dozing fitfully.

The war had been continuous. Under Pei Shu’s fierce assault, Shangyuan had been gasping for breath, but the Great King was lucky—he suddenly gained a talented advisor. Under her counsel, the fierce Pei Shu, who had been like tigers and wolves, suffered his first small setback and withdrew his troops from beneath the city.

Shangyuan City finally caught its breath. The whole city rejoiced, and with the long-suppressed atmosphere lifting, the Great King was in good spirits. Finally remembering that this year’s royal banquet hadn’t been granted to his ministers, he ordered a feast in the golden hall, making up for the New Year’s Eve dinner they hadn’t had time to properly enjoy, and also to celebrate and welcome the talented advisor.

That night, palace lanterns hung high, brocades filled the hall, delicacies were arrayed, fragrant flowers cast shadows, and amid the ministers’ congratulations, Ming Yan’an raised his golden cup with a hearty laugh: “Three cups of wine. The first cup celebrates Shangyuan’s stability and the eternal consolidation of our royal foundation; the second cup wishes for clear seas and peaceful rivers, with all under heaven submitting to our rule. The third cup thanks the phoenix for first descending, blessing our Shangyuan.”

He raised his cup toward Yu Cai, who sat beside him under the alias “Wangchen,” displaying what he considered his most dashing smile.

The ministers, hearing the word “phoenix,” understood perfectly—they all knew the Great King was smitten with this talented and beautiful woman. The ruler was the dragon, so what he sought to match with could only be the heavenly phoenix.

The ministers all raised their cups: “Thanks to the phoenix for first descending, blessing our Shangyuan.”

Yu Cai sat in the place of honor, smiling elegantly and appropriately, her eyes like the rippling wine, reflecting past events like a previous life.

…

Jing Hengbo paced restlessly back and forth in her room.

Why wasn’t Gong Yin taking her away quickly? What was he doing behind closed doors with someone’s consort at this time?

She wanted to go look, but there were always two damned eunuchs by her side, watching her without blinking. To just “whoosh” and disappear under their noses would be too attention-grabbing, wouldn’t it?

She finally waited until the two had separate opportunities to turn around. She manipulated a vase to knock out one, and when the other heard the commotion and turned around, before he could see clearly, the back of his head also received a blow.

Jing Hengbo chuckled, dragged both men to a corner, and vanished with a flash.

The next instant she was inside the palace chamber, with layers of curtains, multiple screens, no lamps lit, and the sky dark, so all scenery was submerged in hazy, dreamlike light. From deep within the hall came murmuring voices.

She faintly heard a woman’s voice, coquettish: “Oh my, not there…”

“Ah, don’t use so much force…”

“Oh oh oh… here, here… mm… right…”

“Ah… you can’t do it like this…”

She could also faintly hear Gong Yin’s nasal responses, those “mm-hmm” acknowledgments that were Jing Hengbo’s favorite to hear—the kind that made her feel flushed and want to pounce on him just from hearing them.

Jing Hengbo immediately felt flushed.

What were these two doing? Hm?

Everything in Yi Kingdom was illusions and deceptions—had Gong Yin also fallen for something?

She grabbed a vase and held it high, then “whooshed” right through.

“What are you two doing…”

Her voice stopped.

The two people crouched behind the screen beside the throne looked up at her in surprise.

Jing Hengbo took a look—clothes neat, expressions startled, appropriate distance, proper boundaries. The two seemed to be looking for something.

“What are you here for?” Gong Yin frowned, still speaking in the tone of Yi Kingdom’s Great King.

Hearing this, Jing Hengbo immediately knew he was still acting, with some purpose in mind. Thinking “Oh no, I’ve ruined it,” she rolled her eyes and immediately put on a beaming smile.

“Your Majesty…” She walked over with swaying lotus steps, gracefully leaning against Gong Yin’s shoulder, her orchid finger lifting toward his chin as a practiced seductive glance flew over: “Your concubine has some… important matters… to report to Your Majesty…”

She drew out “important matters” lightly and flirtatiously, combined with that seductive look, enough to make any man’s soul fly away.

Consort Yu crouched there, staring at Jing Hengbo’s posture, unconsciously adjusting her shoulders and neck, learning her alluring manner.

Gong Yin smoothly caught her hand, staring at her for a moment. Being much taller than her, his downward gaze was quite powerful. Jing Hengbo thought “so manly, so manly” while hating that face of Yi Kingdom’s Great King, giggling as she reached to touch his neck.

Gong Yin suddenly flicked his hand, and Jing Hengbo cried “Oh my!” as she leaned backward, passing through the curtains and landing with a plop on the bed behind.

Gong Yin slapped again, and Consort Yu, who had been looking jealous, rolled her eyes and collapsed. Gong Yin casually kicked her aside, lifted the curtains, and before he could lean down, a pair of arms had already wrapped around his neck. Someone was panting in his ear: “Bad person… rogue… cold emperor… snake spirit… what exactly do you want to do…”

“What exactly do you want to do?” Gong Yin maintained his half-bent position, supporting Jing Hengbo’s shoulders.

“Want to… want to…” Jing Hengbo giggled as she nibbled his earlobe, watching it turn from white to pale red, translucent like a coral pearl. His body shuddered and immediately went soft. Jing Hengbo chuckled, suddenly hooked her legs around his waist, flipped over, and with a “thwap” that shook the bed, she pressed him down.

“Want to… spank you!” Jing Hengbo bit his ear and shouted into it. “You actually didn’t recognize me! You actually stepped on my butt to fly up to the sky! Fly, fly, fly—fly your sister! If I don’t get revenge for this, I’m not human!” She said this while trying to strip his pants.

Gong Yin raised a hand to stop hers. Jing Hengbo, sitting on top of him, started crying: “Wuu wuu wuu you actually didn’t recognize me, wuu wuu wuu you actually stepped on my butt and flew away, wuu wuu wuu is this still true love? Wuu wuu wuu I’m so pitiful, I took medicine that made me fat then thin, my skin even developed wrinkles, my flesh is sagging, I’ve gotten ugly, and now you’re disgusted with me, won’t even let me take off your pants, what grudge do I have with you…”

Gong Yin rubbed his forehead with a headache—what was the connection between her getting old and ugly, and taking off his pants? If taking off his pants could restore her beauty, he wouldn’t mind being stripped a few more times, but the key was, if he stripped, what about her?

The person on top was still softly whimpering. Listening to her, he felt several parts more heartache. Jing Hengbo wasn’t someone who made unreasonable trouble regardless of the big picture. Her fussing was mostly because she felt insecure, afraid her appearance was truly damaged, with nowhere to vent her frustration.

He sighed, grasped her hand, and patted his outer thigh twice, saying helplessly: “Alright, I let you pat me. Satisfied now?”

“Not satisfied!” Jing Hengbo replied loudly, but she didn’t insist on stripping his pants anymore. Instead, she resentfully pinched his waist, feeling the smooth, elastic texture under her fingers. Thinking of her own skin with fine lines, not knowing if the pill formula she obtained would actually work, she felt resentful again and sighed repeatedly.

Suddenly the world spun and she was under Gong Yin, the man supporting himself on his elbows as he asked: “What are you sighing about?”

“I’ve gotten ugly,” she said sorrowfully. “Let’s break up. I can see I’m no longer good enough for you…”

He stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly produced a knife and without a word began moving it toward his own face.

Jing Hengbo jumped up in fright, knocking his elbow aside. The knife scraped past his cheek, creating a brilliant arc.

Jing Hengbo broke out in cold sweat—what the hell! This was the rhythm of a melodramatic soap opera! Wasn’t this supposed to be the female lead’s scene? Why was he stealing the role!

She wasn’t actually this melodramatic. She was just venting her frustration, or maybe trying to trick Gong Yin into revealing some things he wouldn’t tell her. Who knew this guy seemed to see through her thoughts and beat her to the melodrama, completely blocking all her potential dramatics.

Getting angrier the more she thought about it, she cursed: “Gong Yin, someday you’re going to be the death of me.”

Warm lips blocked her curses, and the next moment her lips and tongue were submerged in muffled sounds. Then she couldn’t curse anymore, her body went soft, her eyes grew tender, her resentment disappeared, and all the negative energy in her body was dissolved by his spring-water-like lips and tongue, becoming flowing water that merged between them. Her throat began to produce soft pants, unconscious teasing and responses, their bodies trembling slightly in waves. Even through clothing she could feel the delicacy and elasticity of skin, and that wildfire-like heat.

His hand suddenly gently moved up, and she was slightly surprised, remembering that this guy originally couldn’t even find the right place to kiss, then gradually became skilled at kissing, but his overall posture was still somewhat stiff. Now he knew how to use his hands? Thinking this made her somewhat nervous, her body stiffening a bit, but his fingertips brushed over her like spring breeze, first caressing her face respectfully. She heard him mumble: “Very good…”

His hand moved down, also caressing her neck where fine lines had appeared, murmuring: “Very good…”

His hand moved down again. She was afraid he would touch her chest to test if there was any sagging, so she quickly blocked with her arm. He seemed to hum softly, bypassed that important area, and caressed her waist, saying: “Very good…”

She suddenly understood his meaning—however the wrinkles were, however old and ugly, everything about you is very good in my eyes.

She sighed softly, thinking about this man who was cold yet warm, stiff yet gentle, aloof yet delicate… always so contradictory, and she just happened to love these contradictions, love everything about him that was different from ordinary people.

Young bodies pressed and rubbed against each other, gradually generating electricity, heat, and uncontrollable hidden fire. She couldn’t help humming and whimpering. He looked down at her—misty eyes, flushed cheeks, legs unconsciously pressed together, creating tempting curves. He vaguely felt heat in his lower abdomen, but his heart suddenly ached. His face paled, though fortunately he was wearing disguise so she wouldn’t notice. His heart quickly turned cold, and afraid Jing Hengbo would discover this, he quickly pulled over a blanket to cover her. With those exquisite curves densely concealed and skin no longer in intimate contact, the hidden fire in both their bodies diminished considerably.

She whooshed the blanket down, pouting: “Why cover me with a blanket and even cover my head? Are you trying to smother me?”

He didn’t answer, hugging the blanket tight. Jing Hengbo couldn’t help laughing again: “Covered by blanket for pure chatting, separated by blanket for pure sleeping. Alright, old accounts settled. Now let’s figure out what you plan to do next.”

He held the blanket, slowly saying: “Although I think you look better a bit ugly, if someone really made you ugly, that’s still unforgivable.”

“So…” Jing Hengbo’s eyes lit up. “You’re not leaving, just to mess with Yi Kingdom’s Great King? Aren’t you afraid he’ll suddenly return and catch you head-on?”

“He probably can’t return for now. Everyone has what they consider most important in their heart,” Gong Yin said indifferently.

“By the way,” she suddenly remembered something important and asked him, “What’s this about the fiancée?”

“The general story is correct, but different people. The one who took advantage of someone’s crisis to extort the pouch was your good sister.”

Jing Hengbo had an “aha” moment, murmuring: “Why did Inquru stage such a scene?”

Gong Yin said: “Just to lure the tiger away from the mountain.” Then he held tight to her… blanket, asking: “Do you like Yelu Inquru very much?”

Jing Hengbo shrugged. “Her personality really suits my taste.”

Gong Yin fell silent, then after a while said: “Unfortunately, I don’t have such a sister for you to like.”

Jing Hengbo “pfft” with laughter, thinking this guy was even jealous of a sister!

She couldn’t help caressing his face, saying: “Having you yourself is enough.”

Gong Yin grasped her fingers, warming them in his palm. Her fingers gradually warmed, but somewhere deep in his heart remained cool.

“So what were you doing with that Consort Yu just now?” Jing Hengbo didn’t notice her tone sounded a bit like a jealous little wife.

But he noticed, and in a quite good mood pressed her nose. She wrinkled her nose to dodge, saying: “Don’t make intimate gestures at me with that face!”

He smiled, then answered: “I was playing a guessing game with her, having her guess how many masks are hidden in this great hall. There’s a reward if she guesses correctly.”

“Why? Could a consort who rarely sees the Great King know secrets about the Great King’s bedchamber?”

“Yi Kingdom is different from other places. They’ve monopolized all the face-changing, beauty maintenance, appearance alteration, and disguise supplies across the Dahuang region. Almost all the great families of Yi Kingdom made their fortunes this way, each with their own specialties. These palace consorts mostly come from such families and must all have considerable skills in disguise and appearance alteration. Only experts understand experts. These consorts have been lonely for years with nothing to do, so they definitely study these things. So how Yi Kingdom’s Great King uses masks, hides masks, and all his related habits—they definitely understand better than others.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Find Yi Yiyi’s most representative item that can make people feel he is the Great King.”

This sentence from Gong Yin was quite convoluted, but Jing Hengbo still understood: “You want to impersonate Yi Yiyi at court?”

Her eyes lit up—this was truly a bold idea! The most vicious revenge. Impersonating Yi Yiyi at court, toying with his ministers, modifying his national policies, even issuing false edicts to eliminate the real one…

“Ah ah, playing conspiracies with you is really too thrilling! Let’s keep playing like this, shall we? Play with all the other kingdoms and tribes, shall we?” The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, couldn’t help but give him a quick peck. “Hahaha, it’s decided then, okay?”

He didn’t answer. She stopped smiling and looked at him, but couldn’t see clearly through the blanket. She reached out to paw at his face, but his face had already turned toward her. He reached out to catch her hand, kissed her palm, and said softly: “Okay.”

…

Jing Hengbo listened to Gong Yin’s bold plan under the covers and was completely on board, feeling great—having a boyfriend who stands up for you really feels nice.

Since he needed to attend court, they had to stay the night. Gong Yin simply took Jing Hengbo out of the Great King’s bedchamber to Princess Yicheng’s quarters, wanting to find that legendary jar of mud. To see what was so mysterious about that jar of mud that could make Yelu Tan stay behind.

Princess Yicheng wasn’t there, and her chambers had been closed early. The two climbed over the wall to enter, but before they could land, Gong Yin suddenly frowned and grabbed Jing Hengbo.

Jing Hengbo hadn’t yet steadied herself when suddenly a gust of wind swept over, whooshing fiercely. Jing Hengbo was nearly blown off the wall, but fortunately Gong Yin was quick and grabbed her, taking her to dodge that wind as he called sternly: “Master Ziwei?”

The wind stopped, revealing Master Ziwei’s form. Seeing it was him, Jing Hengbo was both shocked and angry, cursing: “Old immortal, what are you doing here? And why did you attack for no reason… huh?”

She suddenly stopped, noticing Master Ziwei’s strange expression—pale face, large dark patches on his clothes, and a faint smell of blood.

“What’s wrong? Who’s injured?” she asked in alarm, her heart pounding.

“Girl!” Master Ziwei grabbed her, speaking incoherently: “She’s not going to make it… she’s dying… go see her… it’s all my fault… all my fault…”

“Who? Who?” Jing Hengbo, annoyed by his incoherence, pushed him away and rushed inside. Along the way were unconscious palace maids scattered about, with spots of blood—it looked like Master Ziwei had brought someone here and knocked out all the palace servants.

Jing Hengbo’s heart sank deeper and deeper. When she burst into the chamber and saw Yelu Inquru lying on the bed barely breathing, she was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.

“Sister…”

On the bed, Yelu Inquru’s face was pale almost to transparency. She weakly beckoned to her: “You came… quite quickly… Bobo… I’m not going to make it… come quickly, I have mistakes to confess to you…”

Jing Hengbo stood dazed for a moment, then suddenly turned and grabbed Master Ziwei: “What did you do! How did chasing someone end up like this? What’s wrong with her? Was she harmed by Yelu Tan?”

Without waiting for Master Ziwei to answer, she irritably let go, saying: “Stop talking nonsense, we can discuss things later. Saving people is urgent. Old guy, aren’t you very skilled in medicine? Go save her quickly!”

Master Ziwei said nothing, slowly raising his sleeve to cover his face, showing only his sharp, snow-white chin, lips pressed tightly into a line.

Seeing this gesture, Jing Hengbo’s heart went cold.

The old immortal was skilled in medicine. If even he was helpless, Yelu Inquru truly had no hope.

Inquru’s body was already riddled with holes—how could it withstand any slightly serious injury?

On the bed, Yelu Inquru was still in good spirits. Seeing Jing Hengbo grabbing Master Ziwei, she was still gloating and laughing, laughing while gasping: “Hehehe, well scolded, serves him right for playing around… But Bobo, after scolding just let it go, don’t get serious. You know I wasn’t going to live long anyway. Being able to spend these recent days in high spirits, I think it was worth it…”

Jing Hengbo turned her back to her, ignoring her, staring blankly at Master Ziwei, asking quietly: “…Why didn’t you protect her well?”

Master Ziwei hung his head like a child who had made a mistake, his long hair hanging down, stained with Inquru’s blood.

“I don’t believe you don’t know Inquru’s feelings for you,” Jing Hengbo said quietly. “I don’t believe you don’t know what she’s been doing for you all along. You play with people’s lives, you laugh and act wantonly—actually, the more you play and act wantonly, the more it shows you can’t let go. If you can’t let go and want to play, that’s fine, but could Inquru handle such games? You were driven half-mad by some damn fox song and nobody could control you, but for a woman whose life is already short, who’s using her limited life to love you, couldn’t you be more reliable?”

Master Ziwei’s face was deathly pale. He suddenly turned around to face the wall and didn’t move.

His long hair and long sleeves hung down as he faced the wall motionlessly—at first glance he looked like a ghost from a horror movie.

Jing Hengbo glared at his back, feeling blood stuck in her throat with complete helplessness, and could only turn to Gong Yin for help.

Gong Yin had remained silent throughout. He had no good feelings toward Yelu Inquru, but couldn’t bear to see Jing Hengbo sad, so he’d been frowning in thought. At this moment he suddenly lifted his chin toward the palace gate.

Jing Hengbo looked in that direction and saw someone had suddenly appeared at the doorway.

At first glance she thought it was another Gong Yin, then realized it was that fake Gong Yin.

He appeared at the palace entrance, emanating a faint chill, and his aura really did have some of Gong Yin’s flavor.

Seeing him made Jing Hengbo furious—without asking, she knew Yelu Inquru had been taken by him, and her injuries must also be related to him. She was about to rush over when Yelu Inquru behind her started coughing, calling repeatedly: “Come quickly and hear my last words…”

Jing Hengbo had no choice but to turn back, glaring at her: “You’re still protecting him! When did you become such a saint!”

“Already dying… why bother with worldly concerns…” Yelu Inquru said lazily. “The person who did wrong feels worse than the one who suffered the wrong. If you kill him, are you punishing him or freeing him…”

Jing Hengbo snorted resentfully, watching the man across from them slowly approach. He wiped off his disguise, and she suddenly understood: “Third Young Master!”

She had seen him once at the Yelu family’s golden tribe mansion and left a deep impression. Now she immediately understood why Inquru would protect this man—clearly these two had a past relationship.

Yelu Tan said nothing, glanced at Yelu Inquru, then suddenly went into the inner room. Gong Yin didn’t stop him. After a while, Yelu Tan came out with a jar. Only then did Gong Yin’s expression change.

Jing Hengbo also said: “Could this be…”

She stopped, suddenly thinking of a problem. Gong Yin said he wanted to find this jar of mud, but hadn’t clearly explained to her why he wanted to find it. She had originally assumed it was some important treasure or something, but now she could smell the scent from the jar—it was clearly those strange muds from the swamp in Yi Mountain’s belly.

Now the problem was: Yelu Tan knew about these muds, Gong Yin was looking for these muds, these muds were in Yi Mountain’s belly, transforming a group of things that looked like scientific monsters. What was the connection between all this?

As she was pondering this, Yelu Tan had already taken the jar and said: “I have a method we can try.”