Zhou Zixi eventually agreed to help her go to the mountain peak to check on Qing Ying’s condition.

Walking along the mountain path, he was still pondering the meaning behind Ming Li’s earlier behavior. She had never been so direct before. In the past, when he was her junior brother, he never dared to overstep boundaries and always restrained himself, except on a few occasions when he couldn’t hold back—and even then, it was only because of Ming Li’s indulgence that he dared act on impulse.

A casual glance or gesture from Ming Li could fascinate Zhou Zixi, making his heart race and his mind fill with endless speculation.

Even now, despite having not a trace of romantic feelings, he still found himself involuntarily trying to guess her intentions.

After thinking for a long while and realizing this issue, Zhou Zixi couldn’t help but smile, glancing down the mountain from the corner of his eye.

The small cottage at the mountain peak was bathed in moonlight. Clouds and mist swirled above the brightly lit Zhu Que State city in the distance. Even from outside the courtyard, Zhou Zixi could see the porcelain beauty sitting by the window, with cherry blossom branches hanging down above her, seemingly gently caressing her head in comfort.

Cui Yuanxi, injured and coughing blood, staggered to the window and fell to his knees outside, slowly handing the blood-stained Seven Star Token to the porcelain beauty.

At his gesture, the porcelain beauty extended her hand to take it.

Watching this scene, Cui Yuanxi finally smiled, though his eyes were filled with sadness and remorse. “I’m sorry… Keep the Seven Star Token with you. It should make you feel more at ease.”

Zhou Zixi watched without emotion. He walked past Cui Yuanxi into the cottage and carefully examined the porcelain beauty sitting by the window with dull gray eyes. It was indeed the Bei Dou fellow disciple he knew, Ming Li’s little junior sister Qing Ying.

The once vibrant and charming junior sister from the Shining Light Mansion, who loved to act coquettishly, had now become a puppet who sat quietly by the window, moving only at others’ commands.

Zhou Zixi smiled with mockery in his eyes.

Cui Yuanxi coughed blood with his brows tightly knit, sweat continuously dripping from his forehead, his sideburns wet against his skin. He struggled to stand up, one hand supporting himself on the windowsill, the other slowly reaching out to Qing Ying, trembling as he gently cupped her cheek with a loving gesture.

“Qing Ying…” He called the porcelain beauty’s name with a trembling voice. “Let’s start over. We won’t mention the past anymore. I’ll make you return to your original self. Everything you’ve lost, I’ll give back to you. Just stay by my side, okay?”

His voice became increasingly choked as he spoke, like a filthy, lowly slave begging forgiveness from his master, head bowed, not daring to look into her hollow eyes.

The porcelain beauty lowered her head to look at the Seven Star Token held in both hands. Her fingers were slightly curled, with several fine cracks on them. If Cui Yuanxi had not mended them in time, light and shadow would have seeped through these crevices.

Cui Yuanxi did not control Qing Ying, foolishly hoping she would respond on her own.

Watching from the side, Zhou Zixi thought the Nan Que young master was utterly shameless, disgusting, and revolting. Finding it pointless to continue watching, he had seen enough to know her condition and headed out, planning to go down the mountain to report to his senior sister.

The night wind came in gusts, making the cherry blossom branches tremble and causing another shower of falling flowers.

The porcelain beauty’s fingertips trembled slightly with the flowers drifting before the window. Cui Yuanxi’s pupils contracted, and he immediately raised his head. Zhou Zixi, who was walking to the courtyard entrance, sensed a subtle fluctuation in someone’s Spiritual Court meridian and raised an eyebrow slightly, turning to look back.

“Zixi…”

In the rising night wind, Qing Ying’s remaining Spiritual Court meridian transmitted a message to her fellow disciple whom she had finally seen:

“Kill me.”

It would take just a little stellar power to destroy that fragile porcelain body. It wouldn’t even require stellar power—just pushing her from the window would be enough to shatter her.

Cui Yuanxi, seeing the porcelain beauty’s slightly trembling fingertips, was overjoyed. He carefully held her hand and knelt again, raising his head to look at her with reverent eyes, saying, “I’m here… Qing Ying, I’m right here.”

Zhou Zixi withdrew his gaze with an indifferent expression and said as he left, “Senior Sister is still waiting below.”

The porcelain beauty’s fingertips trembled once more, and the mist in her eyes grew heavier.

*

Ming Li waited patiently at the foot of the mountain, occasionally looking up toward the peak. The warning bells of Nan Que could be heard even here, and she would hide whenever red-winged vermilion bird messengers flew by, just to be safe.

With both Well Mansion and Eight Departure Peak under attack simultaneously, and Cui Yaocen absent, it fell to Cui Yuanxi to give orders. Yet, his mind was entirely focused on the porcelain beauty atop the mountain peak, kneeling and trembling with excitement at the response given by Qing Ying.

Zhou Zixi came down quite quickly, not keeping Ming Li waiting long.

Ming Li pulled him away from the range of the red-winged vermilion birds. Zhou Zixi’s demeanor was casual, showing no urgency whatsoever.

“Did you see Qing Ying?” Ming Li asked.

Zhou Zixi: “I did.”

He lowered his eyes to look at his hand held by Ming Li, showing no intention of pulling away, allowing his body to move according to Ming Li’s lead as he told her what he had seen: “After the blood-nurturing technique, her death was certain, but because her Spiritual Court meridian was naturally so powerful, Cui Yuanxi had the opportunity to turn her into a puppet, sustaining her until now.”

Puppets and substitute spirits were similar; the techniques used to create both were called vessel arts. But substitute spirits were inanimate objects, mainly used for battle practice and spirit techniques. Puppets were living beings, and this complex puppet vessel art was often used by infatuated people, keeping someone barely alive, seeming neither alive nor dead, acting according to the puppet master’s commands.

Ming Li had previously seen many vessel arts practitioners who turned their wives or husbands into puppets when they were on the brink of death. Some did it because of mutual love, others because one party was too obsessive to let go.

She couldn’t interfere in others’ affairs and had no interest in judging right or wrong, but when she learned that Qing Ying had been turned into a puppet by Cui Yuanxi, she thought of the puppets she had seen over the years and fell into silence, stopping in her tracks.

Zhou Zixi continued: “Her Spiritual Court meridian is extremely resilient and powerful, which is why she has survived until now. Even if Cui Yuanxi neglected her, her Spiritual Court meridian would slowly repair itself. Today she regained some self-awareness, and then she said—”

He walked in front of Ming Li, cupped her face with both hands, curved his lips slightly, and waited expectantly for his senior sister’s reaction: “Kill me.”

Ming Li was only briefly stunned before responding, “I won’t kill you.”

Zhou Zixi burst out laughing: “Senior Sister, I was talking about Qing Ying…”

As he said this, he suddenly realized, meeting Ming Li’s bright black eyes and raising an eyebrow.

Ming Li said calmly, “Even if the whole world demanded that I kill you, I wouldn’t do it.”

She had already killed by mistake once and would never allow it to happen a second time.

Zhou Zixi became interested, smiling with narrowed eyes: “You wouldn’t even if Bei Dou people asked you to?”

Ming Li: “I wouldn’t.”

Zhou Zixi asked further, “What if it were your father’s request?”

Ming Li shook her head and said, “If he knew I cared for you, he wouldn’t make such a request of me.”

Zhou Zixi stared at Ming Li, his fingertips gently caressing her face, which had grown cold in the night wind: “Oh, to have such a promise from Bei Dou’s most formidable pilgrim—it makes me feel so safe.”

After saying this, he couldn’t help turning his face away to laugh, as if he had heard something particularly amusing.

Ming Li wasn’t angry, letting him laugh as he pleased. Only after Zhou Zixi had laughed enough did she ask, “What is Cui Yuanxi doing?”

If he were doing something disgraceful to Qing Ying, she wouldn’t need to consider further and would just wait for him to come down the mountain to kill him.

“Him? He’s doing disgusting things, kneeling before Qing Ying and crying with snot and tears everywhere.” Zhou Zixi recalled the scene and immediately stopped laughing, his face full of disgust.

Ming Li looked back thoughtfully at the mountain peak shrouded in the barrier. It wasn’t the right time yet; she needed to wait a little longer. At least tonight’s trip hadn’t been in vain; the intelligence she had gathered was more than she had expected.

*

With Cui Yaocen gone, Nan Que had become “lively.”

Various forbidden areas were breached by people of unknown origin, causing different degrees of damage. Well Mansion suffered the worst, with large-scale casualties during the pursuit and fighting, and the number of dead and injured still rising.

All border checkpoints of Nan Que were on high alert to prevent tonight’s intruders from escaping.

But the enemy existed within their ranks as well.

When people outside Nan Que discovered the signal, they began to take action, silently arriving at the high walls of Nan Que’s border. They moved with speed, precision, and ruthlessness. Before one could see their techniques, heads had already fallen from the high wall.

Just one person had beheaded six guards on the high wall in an instant.

He blended with the night. In his shadow cast on the ground, one could see a square object on his head.

The square-headed shadow soon greeted the arrival of that red shadow.

The red shadow swiftly reached the top of the high wall to meet his companion, muttering, “Next time you behead someone, could you kick the bodies down too? Don’t you think it’s frightening for me to see so many headless people standing on the wall?”

The square-headed shadow replied calmly, “No.”

The red shadow asked, “Did someone go to Well Mansion too?”

Square-headed shadow: “Yes.”

The red shadow tossed something to him, “A map of Nan Que and the Tidal Lands, plus a fragment of the Boundless Mirror. Although it becomes a dead mirror once it leaves Nan Que, it’s not completely useless.”

The square-headed shadow put the items away.

After catching his breath, the red shadow said lazily, “Tonight, besides us, there were three other groups. One is definitely from Bei Dou, but the other two are harder to guess.”

Square-headed shadow: “Doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, here’s something fun for you.” The red shadow tossed him another object, a white, smooth listening stone. The square-headed shadow caught it, looking at him questioningly.

The red shadow waved his hand and jumped off the high wall, disappearing into the night: “Next time, could you not wear a fried cake bag on your head? With that cake smell, you’re the one who will be exposed!”

The square-headed shadow touched the paper bag on his head and vanished on the spot.

*

The wolf-headed shadow raced toward the border checkpoint where he had arranged to meet his companion, pushing his Body Techniques meridian to the limit. Only after confirming he had shaken off all his pursuers did he emerge from the shadows, immediately spotting the Black Fox Mask waiting on the high wall.

The Black Fox Mask nodded slightly to him, and as soon as the wolf-headed shadow landed, he said, “I didn’t get it. We were discovered!”

The Black Fox Mask sighed softly: “I knew it.”

He stroked the wolf-headed shadow’s head comfortingly: “This was your first time doing something like this. Consider the failure as experience gained.”

Just as he was about to leave, the wolf-headed shadow grabbed him and said, “I haven’t finished yet!”

“Since you didn’t get the Boundless Mirror, what else is there to say?” The Black Fox Mask spread his hands and said, “Lady Li has already been suspicious that I have someone outside. If she discovers I’ve gone out in the middle of the night again, I won’t be able to pacify her even if I coax her until dawn.”

The wolf-headed shadow got to the point: “Shining Light Mansion disciple Qing Ying’s Seven Star Token is in Cui Yuanxi’s hands!”

“Oh?” The Black Fox Mask turned back, “Tell me more details.”

They didn’t have much time, so the wolf-headed shadow tried to highlight the important points, combining his observations with what he had overheard between Cui Yuanxi and Jiang Ying, reaching a terrifying conclusion: “She might not be dead… but is being held captive in Nan Que.”

The Black Fox Mask stroked his head: “Be careful here.”

After exchanging intelligence, they went their separate ways.

The Black Fox Mask returned to the quiet Zhu Que State city, glanced at his sweet home, and sighed inwardly—she was probably already awake by the time he got back.

But after receiving such information, he couldn’t delay. He immediately went to find Fu Yuan.

*

Because Cui Yuanxi did not come forward, the search for the intruders was conducted by the seven mansion leaders of Nan Que. Everyone from the seven mansions was investigated, with a focus on those who had mastered the Heavy Eyes meridian, Body Techniques meridian, and Yin meridian.

Ming Li perfectly avoided the investigation requirements, letting Nan Que bustle about all night.

Li Yansi and several other mansion leaders gathered at Well Mansion. So far, they had only captured one intruder who had breached the Taiwei Forest of Well Mansion. The person was not from Nan Que and had committed suicide before they could extract any information.

They continued this way until dawn broke without finding anyone else.

After repeated checks, Ming Li was cleared of suspicion. She ran into Cheng Jingbai, who was yawning drowsily. Cheng Jingbai asked her, “Are you hungry? Want to sneak into the dining hall and steal some food?”

Dou Lanmin warned him in an ominous tone: “If you go steal food now and cause chaos, you might be arrested as an intruder.”

Just as Cheng Jingbai was about to retort, a voice came from the sky, distant and ethereal, yet heard clearly by all:

“Young Master Cui, you can only choose one: the Seven Star Token or your fiancée.”

“Release her.”

“Cui Yuanxi! You hurt me for her sake!”

“Slap!”

These brief lines were played in a loop throughout the southern area.

Because of the night’s disturbance, no one in Nan Que had been resting; everyone was awake. Thus, everyone heard the conversation between Cui Yuanxi and Jiang Ying at the Tidal Lands, especially the final slap, which sparked people’s imaginations.

“Wow!” Dou Lanmin covered her mouth in shock. Ming Li was also surprised. Cheng Jingbai stroked his chin and said, “Lovers turning against each other—how interesting.”

The Nan Que disciples began to boil with excitement over this continuously broadcast sect gossip, discussing it animatedly.

Li Yansi and others at Well Mansion heard this with darkening expressions, immediately perceiving the scheme: “It’s a listening stone.”

“Where is it? Find it!”

“Who dares to do such a thing!” Zhang from Star Mansion, who cared greatly about Nan Que’s reputation, said with a slightly distorted face, “If Holy Cui returns and discovers this…”

“Found it. It’s in Zhu Que State, but…” The Axle Mansion leader paused, his expression equally grim as he spoke more rapidly than usual, “The range of this listening stone has been expanded to cover the entire Zhu Que State.”

The listening stone’s range had been expanded to cover the entire Zhu Que State. Setting aside what kind of person would have such power, at that moment, all of Zhu Que State’s thousands of towns and millions of people had heard it.

Jiang Ying, who had been sleeping to recover from her injuries at Eight Departure Peak, suddenly awoke and sat up, hearing her own resentful words to Cui Yuanxi. At first, she thought she was dreaming, but as the voice continued to repeat, she hastily got out of bed, all color drained from her face.

Cui Yuanxi, who had spent the entire night in the mountain cottage rambling to Qing Ying and daydreaming, had been smiling gently. He had just asked Qing Ying what kind of wedding dress she wanted when he heard the voice from the sky. As the unforgettable sound of the slap played, the smile on Cui Yuanxi’s face froze, gradually turning to embarrassment and panic.