On the palace path, someone walked in a daze. While everyone else’s attention was drawn to the two fairy-like figures in mid-air, she alone was completely oblivious.

Behind her, a thin, faint shadow seemed to appear and disappear, but that figure was very agile and vanished in the blink of an eye.

From the distance, Jing Hengbo couldn’t clearly see who those two people were. She only felt the person in front had a strange gait – seemingly distracted yet instinctively avoiding all the guard and sentry night patrol routes. Obviously very familiar with the palace, and apparently heading in this direction. The person behind had a somewhat familiar silhouette, but she couldn’t recall who it was for the moment.

Jing Hengbo watched for a while. The other party walked into the corner of a palace building and disappeared from view.

She withdrew her gaze, clinging to Gong Yin’s shoulder. “Tonight’s ice slide was so much fun. Let me tell you a story.”

Gong Yin made an “mm” sound, seeming uninterested, yet pulled the cloak tighter around them, preparing to listen seriously.

“You must find it strange that I often say weird words that don’t exist in Dahuang. Have you ever investigated my background?”

“No,” he said. “I would never investigate you.”

She smiled. “You couldn’t find anything anyway. In the past, where I lived was the most magical place. Though Dahuang is covered with gemstones, compared to there, it’s still considered a barbaric land.”

He didn’t refute this. Though the words were unpleasant to hear, he knew it was fact. Jing Hengbo was so extraordinary, and every item she produced was unprecedented. He had studied some of her little gadgets and felt that such things were impossible to make in Dahuang or any other country. The nation where Jing Hengbo originally lived must have had national power many times stronger than all countries on this continent.

“In the past, where I lived was called a research institute – a place that studied all kinds of strange things. I’d been there since childhood, also as a research subject…”

“What’s a research subject?” he interrupted.

“You know I’m somewhat special.” She shrugged. “This ability of mine is rare anywhere. Where I came from, this was called a supernatural ability. The research institute established special projects specifically to study people like us with supernatural abilities. That is, using various methods to determine why you have supernatural abilities, whether your abilities can be used in technological production and military applications…”

“What kind of methods?”

“Drawing blood, monitoring brain waves, hypnosis was also tried,” she pointed to her head. “Some research methods I can’t explain clearly – sometimes it would give me terrible headaches. Fortunately the frequency wasn’t high – just a few times a year. The rest of the time was long-term observation. Aside from not being able to leave, everything else was tolerable.”

She spoke lightly, but his expression grew darker and darker, finally becoming almost like storm clouds. Seeing this wasn’t good, Jing Hengbo feared he might get angry and crack the ice flower with a snap, so she quickly remedied: “It’s fine! Some more extreme methods are legally prohibited, and research institutes generally don’t dare to do them openly and frequently. Besides, our right to life was protected – not like here where superiors can kill at will and common people have no life security. That’s what’s truly pitiful.”

“You will never be subjected to such treatment again,” he said indifferently.

Jing Hengbo silently sighed in her heart. How to put it? Gong Yin found these things unacceptable, but for her, if she had to choose and if Gong Yin weren’t here, she’d rather return to modern times. Not to mention the technology and living standards there – just the human rights, freedom, and simple ordinary life made her incredibly nostalgic.

Was Dahuang a place for humans to live? To become a queen, she endured endless suffering, exhausted her heart and blood, gritted her teeth and persevered under tremendous burdens. Now only halfway through the journey, even after becoming queen she’d still eat the same things, sleep in the same sized places, probably have to wake before dawn, toil over state affairs, bear various conspiracies, scheming and pressure, age prematurely and die early… How could that compare to being a carefree little lab rat waiting to die in modern times?

She wondered what those three were thinking, or perhaps they adapted better since only she was the one most tired of fighting and conspiracy.

Maybe they were doing well, maybe also celebrating Valentine’s Day… she consoled herself, thinking she’d definitely demand compensation from them later.

At this moment when she thought they were doing well and celebrating Valentine’s Day:

Jun Ke and Nalan Shu were miserably fighting wars.

Taishi Lan was miserably fighting with Dong Tang.

Wen Zhen was miserably fighting with Dong Tang’s royal family.

…

She spaced out for a while. Gong Yin didn’t rush her, silently watching. Jing Hengbo often became lost in thought with a distant, yearning expression on her face. One could see she was thinking of someone, which made him somewhat uncomfortable. Deep down, he always believed her heart should be completely filled with him, just as his heart had always been completely filled with only her.

But he also understood that someone like Jing Hengbo, with such a personality, couldn’t possibly have had no friends or people she cared about originally. He had no right to interfere with her longing caused by separation, only hoping that friend who might be missed due to being lost would hurry up and get lost. He believed longing was due to separation – once reunited, it would be just so-so. He couldn’t allow Jing Hengbo to always keep random cats and dogs in her heart.

“Well, at the research institute, I had three friends…”

“Male? Female?” He finally got the chance to ask the question he’d long been concerned about.

Jing Hengbo glanced at him sideways, drawing out her voice: “Female… but there were males too, many of them. Oh my, several even harassed me…”

“The one who sent you that pink candle thing?” His voice was calm, seemingly without any danger.

“So many…” She giggled, thinking ‘go ahead and find them one by one to settle accounts if you can.’

He said nothing more, taking her hand and saying quietly: “Tell me more about your past.”

She nestled in his embrace, eyes narrowed, chattering to him about the research institute’s group of four. She was someone who seemed outgoing but actually had quite strict principles, always very protective of personal privacy. She had no intention of deliberately hiding those modern memories and secrets, but also no desire to casually share them. Only when completely opening her heart would she be willing to share everything about herself with the most important person.

Under the blue sky, on the ice flower, her low murmurs were like wind brushing past his ear. She told him about Little Perspective’s honest shyness, about Tomboy’s fierce dominance, about Little Cake’s cunning scheming, about Yaoji’s useless bootlicking that was good for nothing but eating farts. And its incredibly cool name: Yuri Shalik Alekseyevich Berglovsky. She told him Little Perspective could see through all human diseases, Tomboy could restore anything damaged, Little Cake had great cooking skills but the most useless supernatural ability – micro-vision that could only see extremely tiny things seemed to have no use except that ability to see bacteria at any time could drive anyone with germaphobia crazy. God bless her if she went to some small country where supernatural abilities were rare.

She talked about the research institute’s stingy director, cafeteria Old Wang who loved picking his feet, the first-rate scientist and third-rate literature middle-aged Professor Yao… Those ordinary people she used to find quite annoying – now when mentioned, what surged in her heart was actually nostalgia. Perhaps what she missed wasn’t those people and events, but those carefree years…

She gradually grew drowsy, her speech becoming unclear. Before falling asleep, she suddenly remembered an important question she’d never figured out.

“Hey… you say… why was Yuri Shalik Alekseyevich Berglovsky comrade’s nickname called Yaoji? What’s the connection between the two?”

Gong Yin answered: “The homophone of the name’s first character and last character.”

“Oh! You’re still the smartest!” Jing Hengbo suddenly understood. Intellectual crushing was just this awesome – he solved a problem that had puzzled her for years after hearing it once. She couldn’t help hugging his neck and giving him a loud kiss.

He embraced her tightly, preparing to give a more passionate return kiss, but suddenly heard creaking sounds from below. Looking again, this person had actually closed her eyes and fallen asleep after the kiss, hanging softly on his neck. Her true qi had also been withdrawn, causing her weight to suddenly press down. The ice flower was about to break.

He sighed helplessly, stroking her brow. Looking up at the palace court, the crowds that had gathered due to the sudden appearance of the ice flower had dispersed. Windows on all sides had closed, lights were gradually extinguishing. Now there was no one watching this place.

Confirming no one was paying attention, he flicked his finger and an ice sword rose behind him, supporting the entire cloak.

Then he carried Jing Hengbo out from within the cloak and flashed back into the hall lightning-fast. His speed was very quick – he was certain no one had seen this scene.

Looking up from below now, the cloak still stood upright on the ice flower, as if two people were still nestled together sitting on the ice flower watching the moon and talking romance. Without looking closely, one couldn’t tell the cloak was already empty inside.

He decided to keep that cloak standing all night.

Carrying Jing Hengbo, he flicked his finger, sending out a signal.

A faint figure seemed to emerge from the wall roots, suddenly appearing before him.

“Go investigate the name Yuri Shalik Alekseyevich Berglovsky.” He repeated this tongue-twisting name with some difficulty.

“Four people?” The Spider Web guard touched his head in confusion for the first time – this name had too much style.

“One dog, nicknamed Yaoji. Might not be in Dahuang – you can search surrounding nations. Also investigate people associated with this name. Besides three girls, if you find any research institute researchers.” He said expressionlessly: “Kill without mercy.”

“Yes.”

He walked calmly toward the hall, his silhouette cool and murderous under the moonlight.

It was hard to imagine Jing Hengbo with such an enthusiastic and lively nature had once lived such a life of being researched and experimented upon. Perhaps she had forgotten, mentioning it jokingly without caring, but he was unwilling to forgive all those who had once harmed her.

He held her tighter, lowering his head to quietly listen to her even breathing, very pleased that in his embrace, she could fall asleep so readily.

Therefore he didn’t see Jing Hengbo’s slightly upturned lip corners in his arms.

She had already awakened when he carried her down earlier. Hearing him seriously planning to find Yaoji, she couldn’t help wanting to laugh. Just as she was about to remind him that Yaoji would probably be hard to find, she suddenly heard his final command.

Somewhat surprised, somewhat amused, but more moved – moved by his silent protection.

She shifted, hugging his waist tighter, feeling his snow-like cold breath, wanting to warm him with her body temperature, even if just for a moment.

The person before her was also hers – the treasure she had sought by crossing space and enduring endless hardships. Just as he silently protected her, she would definitely use all her strength to kick down and kill all obstacles between him and her.

…

Yélu Qi finished his third cup of bitter tea, gently placed the cup on the table, and stood up.

Moonlight had been covered by clouds, the sky darkening. Now at the fourth watch, it was the hour when people were most weary.

Yélu Qi changed into black tight-fitting clothes and put on a matching mask.

Suddenly there was knocking at the door. Yélu Qi paused, thought about it, removed his mask and tucked it in his sleeve, putting on the outer robe he’d just taken off to open the door.

Standing at the door was Ji Wen. Seeing her, Yélu Qi wasn’t surprised, but her attire was surprising.

Ji Wen was actually dressed entirely in night clothes, bound very efficiently.

Meeting his surprised gaze, Ji Wen smiled and said: “Dark night with high winds, time for stealth and treasure hunting. Ji Wen presumptuously visits at night, requesting to partner with you sir in thievery.”

Yélu Qi smiled: “Does Your Highness also want the Purple Vine at all costs?”

“If what you need is Purple Vine, then I want something else.” Ji Wen smiled. “One cannot return empty-handed from a treasure mountain. I need some spoils of war. The Highland Ji Kingdom also has some interesting things that should be helpful to you, sir.”

Yélu Qi thought about it, smiled, and very naturally removed his outer robe in front of her. Seeing his tight-fitting clothes, Ji Wen smiled with pursed lips.

Yélu Qi seemed intentionally or unintentionally to smile: “Please remember your promise, Your Highness – don’t touch the Purple Vine anymore. That one, I’m keeping for the Queen.”

Ji Wen’s smile stiffened slightly, then returned to calm as she nodded slightly.

The two leaped into the night, sneaking toward the direction of the King of Shang’s bedchamber.

Before leaving, Ji Wen looked at Yélu Qi’s back and finally couldn’t help saying: “The Queen’s heart belongs to another. Aren’t you afraid of making wedding clothes for others?”

Yélu Qi didn’t turn back. His voice was as soft as his black clothes, quietly dispersing in the midnight wind.

“If she can joyfully marry, I’m willing to make her wedding dress.”

…

Pei Shu was playing military chess with Meng Po Tian.

Though called military chess, it was actually just a pile of small stones arranged as generals and marshals, with troop formations and deployments, similar to sandbox exercises.

When Meng Po Tian came to find him earlier, Pei Shu, who was thoroughly disgusted, had planned to unceremoniously shut her out. Who knew Meng Po Tian wasn’t hurried or flustered, taking out a small cloth bag from her chest and saying: “Since we can’t sleep anyway, let’s play military chess.”

Pei Shu’s hand about to close the door immediately froze.

This was one of Pei Shu’s favorite games in childhood. In his youth his family was poor, he loved military books, and from small he loved playing this with his companions. Only after so many years, he himself had nearly forgotten this hobby.

Now in the courtyard, casually lying on the ground watching Meng Po Tian set up the pieces, those “chess pieces” were just ordinary polished stones. Coincidentally they looked very much like a type of light red round stone from his hometown. The feel was so familiar it seemed these stones were the very ones he’d played with years ago. Long-absent homesickness, faint melancholy, and shallow nostalgia were all involuntarily awakened. He couldn’t help engaging in back-and-forth battle with her.

When Meng Po Tian first appeared, she was so elegant and noble he dared not recognize her. Yet now lying on the ground playing with stones, casually gathering up her skirts, her posture was actually natural. In a trance she was still that Meng Po Tian, with less of her former roughness, her current openness also carrying an exquisite flavor.

After Meng Po Tian lost again and couldn’t help laughing melodiously, getting mud on her nose tip, he couldn’t help staring at her in a slight daze, feeling her charming innocence at this moment somehow overlapped with a certain shadow in his heart.

Meng Po Tian seemed to notice too, wiping the mud from her nose and glancing at him sideways: “Hmm? Very ugly?”

This glance was remarkably like another person. His heart jumped, suddenly realizing his impropriety. He abruptly stood up, threw down the stones and said: “It’s late. You should go back.”

Meng Po Tian obediently stood up, not feeling defeated. All of Pei Shu’s reactions were within the wet nurse’s expectations. According to the wet nurse, this meant the Young Marshal was already influenced but unwilling to transfer his affections, with resistance and irritation in his heart. At this time, it wasn’t suitable to be artificial or willful – just patiently wait for him to adapt.

Meng Po Tian looked at Pei Shu’s back and smiled – to gain one’s beloved, one must always wait patiently. She used to have an impatient temperament, but now she’d learned an important lesson.

Pei Shu waited a while. Not seeing Meng Po Tian leave, his heart grew more irritated. He simply stamped his feet, leaped up, and disappeared into the darkness.

Meng Po Tian very casually shrugged, turned back into the room. Pei Shu’s chamber had no fire lit – she decided to light the brazier properly before leaving.

…

Shang Yueyue walked in the moonlight.

Her clothes were thin – she hadn’t even worn a cloak. The embroidered shoes on her feet had very thin soles, only suitable for riding in warm sedan chairs within the palace. Walking outside like this for a while, her feet were already numb with cold, but she seemed completely oblivious.

Perhaps the pain in her heart was too intense, making one forget all physical torments.

As the most beloved princess of the King and Queen of Shang, she had free access to the palace prohibition, easily getting from the inner palace to the outer court. The western section of the outer court had palace chambers for lodging foreign guests.

She knew Pei Shu lived in the third chamber of that section.

She stared at that chamber blankly for a long time – unwilling to go yet unable not to go, wanting to go yet not daring to go. After pacing back and forth for a long time, just as she finally gathered courage to lift her foot, she suddenly saw a woman’s silhouette reflected in the window.

She froze, never having expected there would be a woman beside Pei Shu.

She couldn’t help touching that thing in her sleeve. Then this plan…

Delighted in her heart, she felt she had a reason to give up. But just as she turned around, she stopped again.

Going back like this, the Queen definitely wouldn’t let her off either…

Shang Yueyue was caught in a dilemma, feeling more and more pained. She couldn’t help stepping back into the wall corner shadows and holding her head.

Her shoulders shook silently, with low sobbing sounds intermittently emerging.

Under the midnight cold wind, the weeping in the wall corner shadows was silent yet heartbreaking.

Suddenly a figure quietly appeared beside her, also squatting in the wall corner, holding its head in its hands and crying softly with head lowered.

After crying for a while, Shang Yueyue suddenly felt there was noise mixed in with her crying. Looking up, she discovered someone had suddenly appeared beside her, crying in exactly the same posture.

She was startled, instinctively wanting to call out. Suddenly remembering that squatting in wall corners crying like this would cause big trouble tomorrow if discovered by calling out, she quickly held back. Looking again at the person beside her crying with shaking shoulders in complete absorption, with a small thin figure showing no intimidating power, her nervous mood immediately eased. She thought this was probably some bullied palace maid from some chamber, coming here to cry at midnight. Though she’d never seen such a thing personally, she often heard of it in the palace. Compassion immediately arose in her heart. She reached out to gently pat the person’s shoulder: “Are you also someone who’s been wronged and heartbroken?”

That person didn’t look up, hugging their shoulders and crying: “Mm.”

“What difficulties did you encounter?” Shang Yueyue asked softly, thinking if someone was more miserable than herself, it would be some comfort.

“Woo woo woo, pregnant before marriage.” That person cried, voice thin and childish, indistinguishable between male and female.

Shang Yueyue made an “ah” sound, thinking this matter was truly shameful, truly… difficult to handle. Quite pitiful.

“Then… what to do?”

“Woo woo woo, parents want to expel me from home, sisters want to kill this shameless person.” That person continued crying.

Shang Yueyue made another “ah” sound, thinking this girl’s fate was as bitter as her own.

“Woo woo woo, that man still won’t take responsibility. He has someone in his heart, gave my belly a punch, nearly causing a miscarriage, then never returned.” That person cried woo woo woo.

Shang Yueyue was about to cry too. She began to feel this girl was more miserable than herself.

“Woo woo woo, enduring the pressure, finally gave birth to that child after ten months of pregnancy, waiting for that man to return, waited many years.” That person cried woo woo woo.

Shang Yueyue was somewhat confused. Was this child currently pregnant or had already given birth? Judging by the voice, she wasn’t very old.

“Woo woo woo, after suffering so much, when that man returned he didn’t care about anything, immediately climbed into his bed. Shameless, spineless, woo woo woo.” That person cried more and more sadly.

Hearing “climbed into his bed,” Shang Yueyue’s heart jumped and her face turned red. Hearing “shameless, spineless,” she immediately felt like she was being scolded, her face flushing as she waved her hand: “How can you talk like that?”

“Woo woo woo, that child stood up for justice but was still bullied. Beaten, doused with water, deceived, knocked unconscious.” That person ignored her, focused on crying about their own troubles, crying more and more miserably.

“Who is that child?” Shang Yueyue asked in confusion. She had already forgotten her own pain and indignation. This story sounded much more miserable than her own.

People are always good at finding psychological comfort from others’ misfortunes.

“Woo woo woo, he suffered such great injustice and was stripped naked, hung from a tree, letting an entire town of people come see his little birdie – an entire town of people, including women, so many women!” That person cried more and more indignantly.

Shang Yueyue said with a red face: “That is quite excessive…”

“Woo woo woo, those people even impersonated the rightful master, slandering the rightful master’s reputation. He wanted to seek justice but couldn’t overcome the bully’s methods. Before he could even speak, he was kidnapped to be silenced. After great hardship he barely escaped…” The person cried like a ghost, flinging snot onto the ground handful by handful.

Shang Yueyue stepped back slightly to avoid the snot, saying carefully: “Then… what do you plan to do?”

“What do I plan to do?” That person didn’t look up, suddenly raising a hand holding a packet of black powder, saying fiercely, viciously, through gritted teeth: “Can’t beat them, can’t out-argue them, but I can still use my flesh and blood to denounce their evil deeds!”

“This… what is this…” Shang Yueyue smelled a sulfur odor.

“Something that can cause burning and explosions.” That fellow stopped crying, saying viciously: “I want to perish together with those bullies. I’ll die in front of them and see if they’ll take responsibility…”

Shang Yueyue was stunned.

One sentence struck like lightning through her mind. Her confused head was suddenly split open with a path of inspiration.

Besides the body being able to make people responsible, there was also death!

If she died for Pei Shu, someone with Pei Shu’s temperament would definitely take responsibility for her, would take responsibility for the queen and her brother.

Being forced to do such shameless things, she had long wished to die. She had already made up her mind – as long as Pei Shu agreed to take responsibility, she would kill herself.

Since death was inevitable either way, why not choose a way to die that could preserve her chastity and reputation?

This way she could still earn others’ final respect.

“Woo woo woo, that’s it, I’m going to die. They’ll pay the price for this…” That fellow still hadn’t looked up, squatting there holding up his hand, the black cloth bag full of gunpowder swaying back and forth.

Shang Yueyue suddenly gritted her teeth, grabbed a brick, and struck hard at the back of this person’s neck.

The person didn’t make a sound, falling immediately. Shang Yueyue grabbed the black cloth bag with trembling hands and stuffed it into her sleeve.

That person lay on the ground, curled into a ball in the shadows, arms still covering the face.

Shang Yueyue was panicked and confused. There was no time for careful observation now. She bowed to that person, saying quietly: “Don’t blame me for hurting you. Actually I’m saving you too. Better to live miserably than die well – you’ll thank me later…” Her eyes slowly reddened as she clutched the bag. “Because the one who really must die is me… I… I need to borrow this thing from you. I’m sorry, I can’t repay you in this lifetime…”

She bowed again and hurried away.

In the shadows, the person curled in a ball didn’t move.

Moonlight shone through gaps in the flower wall, illuminating half his face. Those eyes slowly opened.

“What an easily fooled girl…” he murmured. “Just one word and she understood, quite decisive in her actions.”

He slowly sat up, touching the back of his neck and pouting.

“Seeing her so distracted, she definitely has something on her mind. Coming toward Pei Shu like this, her troubles must be related to him. One bluff and it all came out. Yo ho, looks like it’s no small matter. What’s this girl planning? Burn Pei Shu to death? Self-immolate in front of Pei Shu?”

He cackled for a while, then his expression turned sinister. “Damn Pei Shu, daring to hang this prince there and let a thousand people see this prince’s little brother! If I don’t get revenge, I’m unworthy of being Yu Wuse!”

Under the moonlight, the outstanding representative of bratty kids everywhere, Jade Crown Prince Yu Wuse, stood up, staring at Pei Shu’s chamber window with a weird and malicious smile.

“Cross this prince and you’ll get what’s coming to you. Soon a woman will come to self-immolate at your place. Feel good about that, Young Marshal?”

…

Shang Yueyue quietly circled to the back of Pei Shu’s chamber, feeling the drug in her left sleeve and the gunpowder in her right sleeve, waiting quietly and patiently.

Meng Po Tian had lit a fire in Pei Shu’s room. As warmth rose, she couldn’t resist drowsiness and fell asleep lying on the table.

Two figures flashed out of the chamber where Gong Yin stayed – Jing Hengbo and Gong Yin. Their purpose for staying overnight was to get more information about Treasure Platform Mountain where Shang Kingdom stored important medicines. In the deep of night, they began to act.

Also setting out were Yélu Qi and Ji Wen, plus Pei Shu coming from another direction.

Several people all headed toward the King of Shang’s bedchamber, where secrets should normally be guarded.

But when approaching the King of Shang’s bedchamber, Ji Wen suddenly stopped, looking toward a darkly shadowed chamber to the side: “There’s something suspicious here.”

“How can you tell?” Yélu Qi asked quietly.

“I heard the squeaking sounds of mechanisms, and the faint smell of iron implements – many iron implements.”

“That indicates heavy mechanisms below, which should be exactly what we need to find.”

“No.” Ji Wen said. “This smell is too strong, but the chamber below isn’t large. If there really were heavy mechanisms set up, there would be so many that people couldn’t even stand, which doesn’t make sense. And…” She sniffed. “There’s also a faint smell of sulfur and gunpowder.”

Yélu Qi also focused on sniffing. Though he could smell some iron implement odor, the “so many that people couldn’t stand” level of iron smell Ji Wen described was truly unimaginable.

But he didn’t doubt her, immediately saying: “Then let’s go… wait, someone’s coming out.”

The two crouched down and saw someone flash out from the chamber below, looking around as if waiting for something, seeming somewhat impatient and muttering something.

From this distance they couldn’t hear or see lip movements. Ji Wen suddenly leaned close to Yélu Qi’s ear and whispered: “He said, ‘Why is there still no movement? Has our location been discovered? Should we go check over there?'”

The woman’s lips were extremely close, faint fragrance and soft hair brushing past Yélu Qi’s ear. He moved slightly away without showing emotion, looking at Ji Wen with some surprise, but didn’t ask how she knew what that person said, only making a gesture to follow.

This group staying overnight in the palace tonight was also targeting Shang Kingdom’s precious medicines. Plus Pei Shu had recently broken into the palace to steal keys, so Shang Kingdom must be prepared. Now it seemed Shang Kingdom intended to set a trap here to catch all the intruders in one net.

He hadn’t expected Ji Wen’s five senses to be so keen.

The two swept across rooftops, following that person below in the shadows of moonlight. Yélu Qi quietly asked Ji Wen: “How are your five senses so keen?”

“Our Ji Kingdom’s eastern border is very close to Dong Tang’s western border. Crossing a stretch of high mountains and swamps, you reach Dong Tang. Sometimes we disguise ourselves and go over there. Dong Tang has a special feature – there are particularly many ‘Heaven-Blessed Ones’ there. So-called Heaven-Blessed Ones means those blessed with supernatural abilities. Many people have various extraordinary skills beyond ordinary people. That country holds annual ‘Heaven-Blessed Competitions’ with Nan Qi, and has its own unique methods for cultivating acquired supernatural abilities. I went several times and accidentally learned a technique, training my five senses, so now my hearing, smell, and sight are more sensitive than ordinary people.”

Listening, Yélu Qi’s heart stirred, thinking wasn’t Jing Hengbo just such a Heaven-Blessed One?

“Speaking of which, it’s quite funny,” Ji Wen suddenly laughed. “The first time I went to Dong Tang, I met a micro-vision user. That girl was also new to Dong Tang, thinking her micro-vision was amazing. Then she turned a corner and met someone who could walk through walls, turned another corner and met someone who could continue life. She collapsed on the spot, sighing: ‘Heaven is too cruel, supernatural ability users are everywhere…'”

Yélu Qi also laughed, then paused, feeling this way of speaking sounded very much like Jing Hengbo.

Just as he was thinking of Jing Hengbo, he saw figures flashing ahead. He recognized Jing Hengbo’s silhouette, apparently heading toward that chamber with the ambush. He made a distant gesture indicating the front was dangerous, telling Jing Hengbo to follow him.

Jing Hengbo also saw and recognized Yélu Qi and Ji Wen. She trusted these two people greatly and immediately changed direction. Gong Yin looked over there and had no objections.

The four followed that person below all the way, discovering they were actually returning to the path toward the outer court chambers where they themselves stayed. They couldn’t help being somewhat surprised – could Shang Kingdom have hidden truly important things in the outer court instead?

But thinking carefully, it wasn’t impossible. The saying goes “great hiding hides in the marketplace” – hiding important things right next door to them would be most unexpected. This utilized people’s psychological blind spots.

Another figure flashed – Pei Shu running on the rooftops also spotted Jing Hengbo and immediately followed over.

The group converged from different directions, rushing back toward that original cluster of chambers, near the building where Pei Shu was staying.

…

Shang Yueyue circled outside Pei Shu’s chamber for quite a while, never finding a way in – she knew no martial arts.

Suddenly someone beside her said: “Why are you still dawdling here?”

Shang Yueyue was startled. Looking back, she saw a youth crouched beside her, face pitch black, only his eyeballs rolling around very nimbly.

She stared blankly, then gave a quiet “Ah!” cry: “Ah, you’re that person from just now…”

She stared at Yu Wuse in a daze, not expecting that the fellow who had been crouched in the wall corner crying earlier was actually not a palace maid but a youth.

Yu Wuse made a “shh” sound, grinning at her: “So you don’t know martial arts… For the sake of you listening to my sob story, I can help you out. Do you want to go in?” He jerked his mouth toward Pei Shu’s chamber.

Shang Yueyue bit her lip and nodded.

Yu Wuse smiled, picked her up and carried her on his back. Shang Yueyue let out a quiet cry, her face already red. Before she could struggle, Yu Wuse had already leaped up lightly and easily, vaulting over the courtyard wall.

Shang Yueyue only felt wind whistling and quickly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was already on a beam inside the hall.

Below the beam, curtains hung deep. Below the curtains, a brazier blazed. Meng Po Tian was lying on a couch beside the brazier, sleeping sweetly.

Yu Wuse patted Shang Yueyue, pointed at the brazier below, grinned, and made a throwing gesture.

Shang Yueyue was alarmed, then shook her head, pointing at Meng Po Tian below, indicating that if it exploded there, this girl would bear the brunt.

Yu Wuse rolled his eyes, then pointed at the bed area. Shang Yueyue shook her head again, blushing.

Yu Wuse carried her to another position, pointing at the area by the window. Shang Yueyue pointed at the flowers outside the window, meaning the explosion would destroy these beautiful flowers.

Yu Wuse lost it.

How could this woman be so fussy – couldn’t bomb people, wouldn’t bomb the bed, wouldn’t even bomb flowers!

In his anger, he shoved Shang Yueyue.

Caught off guard, Shang Yueyue’s body tilted. She quickly grabbed the beam, but her sleeve swayed, and the black cloth bag in her sleeve suddenly fell down.

Both Shang Yueyue and Yu Wuse were shocked, hurriedly reaching to catch it, but how could they be in time? They watched the bag fall straight to the ground.

The bag contained loose gunpowder that scattered in the wind, filling the chamber.

There were also thunder pellets that didn’t need open flame – they would explode on impact.

Yu Wuse was greatly alarmed, knowing something terrible was about to happen. He grabbed Shang Yueyue to flee, but Shang Yueyue broke free of his hand.

Yu Wuse turned back in panic. In the dim light of the beam, he saw Shang Yueyue’s face pale as paper, tears glistening in her eyes, but her expression firm as stone.

The girl’s gaze was steady, pointing at herself, then at her heart, then at below. Then she hugged the beam.

Yu Wuse was shaken at this moment.

He understood the meaning of this gesture.

“The trouble is mine to bear. I take responsibility. I’ll die here with everyone.”

Yu Wuse’s heart clenched, suddenly feeling sad and ashamed.

He had really only wanted to teach Pei Shu a small lesson, give him some trouble, not intending to harm this young girl’s life – otherwise he wouldn’t have followed along worriedly.

But seeing this girl’s desolate yet determined expression at this moment, he suddenly understood the price of willfulness.

The process of people repeatedly paying prices for willfulness was the process of growing up. The more painful the price, the faster the growth.

At this moment he felt the pain of being forcefully stretched upward.

“Go!” With no time to do anything else, he fiercely grabbed Shang Yueyue. He also shouted toward below: “Little…”

“BOOM!”

A tremendous explosion, like thunder striking extremely close overhead. A blast wave shot skyward with a “crack” as the beam broke. Yu Wuse and Shang Yueyue were tumbled by the blast wave, falling down intertwined.

Falling with them were the broken beam, shattered roof tiles, and crumbling wall plaster. All four walls were trembling, furniture toppling over, the ground caving in, smoke filling the air. Suddenly there was another loud “crack-bang,” followed by Meng Po Tian’s scream.

As soon as the explosion sounded, Jing Hengbo and the others had already heard it. They turned back in horror to see the building collapsing in smoke and dust. Seeing the location, Jing Hengbo had no time to think and vanished in a flash. Gong Yin and Yélu Qi immediately pursued frantically. Behind them Ji Wen followed, and with another flash, Pei Shu came from farther away, overtaking her and rushing toward the collapsing chamber.

Pei Shu’s courtyard was already covered by smoke and dust. After Jing Hengbo arrived, she couldn’t see what was happening inside at all. She called out while charging in: “Pei Shu! Po Tian!”

Bursting into the room, half the beam had already collapsed, stuck at the doorway with roof tiles still falling down. She could no longer teleport and had to crawl under the beam into the room. She vaguely heard Meng Po Tian’s shouts but couldn’t make out what she was saying.

Jing Hengbo could only grope forward. Suddenly she felt there were voices above too. Looking up, on the half of the beam that hadn’t broken yet, a human figure seemed to be hanging, coughing violently. By the voice it sounded like a young girl.

She found it strange why this person wasn’t calling for help, and how someone ended up on the beam when there was an explosion below. She quickly shouted upward: “Who is it? Is that Po Tian? How are you? I’ll save you!”

While shouting she also had to dodge bricks and tiles falling from above. But that person above didn’t answer, only coughing desperately, the voice still carrying sobs.

Just as Jing Hengbo was about to flash upward, there was another explosion behind her, and something else collapsed somewhere. Things came tumbling toward her back, so she had to dodge first. But then she discovered she was trapped by surrounding collapsed beams, bricks, tiles, furniture and other objects in a very small space, barely able to move.

Yu Wuse, that reckless brat, had both loose gunpowder and thunder pellets in his bag. After the gunpowder scattered and met open flame, it kept causing small explosions, immediately turning the entire chamber into a sieve.

Figures flashed – Gong Yin appeared beside Jing Hengbo, grabbing her arm: “Careful!”

Another figure flashed – Yélu Qi appeared on her other side: “There will be more explosions here. You go out first, we’ll handle finding people.”

Gong Yin nodded. For the first time in their lives, the two men reached consensus. But Jing Hengbo shook her head: “There’s someone above!”

All three looked up. Suddenly Ji Wen leaped in stepping on beams, standing on a beam one body-length higher than them: “Are there any casualties? This place has too much thunder and fire qi – there will be more explosions. Leave quickly!”

“Everyone out, I’ll handle this!” Another figure flashed – Pei Shu appeared at the top of the beam, one body-length higher than Ji Wen, shouting: “Meng Po Tian!”

“I’m here!” A pitch-black figure crawled out with difficulty from the ruins in the depths of the hall, reaching toward Pei Shu.

Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief. Jing Hengbo quickly stepped across the ruins to pull Meng Po Tian, who was stuck between a cabinet and bed frame, out.

Ji Wen and Gong Yin suddenly looked up. At the same time, Yélu Qi also leaped up a step, looking up: “Who’s up there!”

There was no movement above, only faint suppressed coughing sounds.

Everyone exchanged glances, their expressions all rather grim – there had only been Meng Po Tian in the chamber. The person appearing above at this time was very likely the one who had bombed the hall!

Several people looked at each other and leaped up simultaneously.

When several masters acted together, the whirlwind created by their movements made even the tilted beam tremble.

A scream came from above, followed by a “rip” as if something had torn, then there seemed to be rustling sounds in the smoke as something was poured down.

At this time everyone was directly below this thing, just at different levels. Just then Jing Hengbo also yanked hard, pulling Meng Po Tian to her side. Now all six people were crowded into this small space held up by beams and fallen objects.

Then.

Suddenly Gong Yin fell down.

Then Yélu Qi, Pei Shu, Ji Wen…

Then Jing Hengbo sniffed: “What smells so fragrant…”

Then Meng Po Tian said in surprise: “I seem to smell something strange…”

Then with several thuds, the great masters collapsed, accompanied by various debris falling and separating them. There were also Jing Hengbo’s startled cries, Meng Po Tian’s screams, and Pei Shu’s curses: “What the hell!”

“BOOM!” – another explosion as some pellet was triggered somewhere. This time with a crash, the entire roof collapsed, burying all the great masters, men and women alike, underneath.

On the roof, two people with blank expressions stared blankly at each other.

Plans couldn’t keep up with changes. This explosion had produced such results – truly unbelievable.

After a long while, Yu Wuse stammered: “You… what was that thing that fell from your sleeve just now…”

The expression on Shang Yueyue’s face was indescribable – whether crying or laughing. After a long time she tremblingly checked her sleeves.

Her right sleeve was torn, the sleeve pouch ripped.

Yu Wuse seemed to understand: “You originally had something in your sleeve pouch? It fell down?”

Shang Yueyue again showed that strange expression of either crying or breaking down, and nodded.

“What was it?” Yu Wuse could see this was bad and asked with a stiff expression: “Poison?” While thinking whether his buttocks and chastity could be preserved when he returned, and whether his mother would sell him to the wild tribes in the mountains.

Shang Yueyue shook her head.

Yu Wuse breathed a sigh of relief. If it wasn’t poison, everything was fine. That group below had great abilities – as long as things didn’t get too serious, it would be okay.

Shang Yueyue’s lips trembled: “Worse than poison…”

“What then?” Yu Wuse didn’t understand. What in this world could be worse than poison?

Shang Yueyue stared at her sleeves. One sleeve had held the gunpowder bag that fell and caused an explosion. The other had held the “invitation love drug” her mother had given her. Earlier when the great masters rushed toward the beam, their movements created air currents that made her body sway, catching her sleeve on a protruding beam and tearing it. This bottle also fell, immediately breaking and scattering powder everywhere…

Though this powder wasn’t as dramatically destructive as gunpowder, it was more frightening.

She had vaguely heard palace servants mention before that this drug was the most powerful aphrodisiac in the palace. Just a tiny bit could make people lose their minds – turning tough men into vines and fierce women into dodder flowers, falling into various uncontrollable frenzies. This was a treasure exclusively used by Shang Kingdom’s royal family, said to have other wonderful uses. It was a miraculous item that royal families of various countries secretly sought at great expense. Her mother had casually given her a small bottle – this amount would be enough for ten people…

Now below there were six people, men and women, with complex relationships, all of noble status with their own territories and forces. If problems arose from this, this this this…

Meeting Yu Wuse’s increasingly anxious gaze, she shivered in the cold wind. The more she thought about it, the more serious the situation seemed. Finally unable to bear it, she burst into tears.

“Heaven… things have gotten out of hand…”