Ming Li and Chen Zhou arrived at the imperial capital just as dawn was breaking. Horse carriages were already waiting at the city gate.

Liang Junxia had separated from them, focusing on finding Chu Xiao.

Lu Yi, the captain of the Imperial Guards serving Emperor Wenxiu, was there to welcome them personally.

Imperial Guard Captain Lu Yi was about forty-three years old and had already reached the Life and Death Realm.

In this world, those who were just one step away from becoming Sacred Pilgrims were neither too many nor too few. At least in the imperial capital, they were certainly not rare.

But that final step might take a lifetime, perhaps impossible to cross even until death.

Lu Yi had a naturally fierce face, tall and imposing. He looked like someone not to be trifled with. Now, setting aside his intimidating presence as the Imperial Guard Captain, he bowed his head to the guests invited by Emperor Wenxiu: “I am Imperial Guard Captain Lu Yi, here on His Majesty’s orders to receive the Holy Sage.”

Ming Li raised an eyebrow upon hearing this title.

She had not yet broken through to her previous realm, yet the Emperor was still addressing her according to her former status.

In Emperor Wenxiu’s view, Ming Li’s breakthrough was only a matter of time.

Ming Li looked at the carriage before her with some emotion. Just a few months ago, she had needed identity papers to cross the southern border and help others in martial arts academy competitions. Now she needed nothing; people came to escort her personally.

“I haven’t seen the splendor of the imperial capital in a long time. I don’t want to ride in the carriage,” Ming Li walked past Lu Yi. “If His Majesty isn’t in a hurry, I’d prefer to walk.”

Lu Yi replied, “Everything according to your wishes.”

Only at times like this did Chen Zhou realize that his junior sister was an important figure outside their sect, not just the girl who tinkered with the Eight Meridian Formation in Bei Dou, who often lay on bamboo mats in the courtyard sleeping all day, or who enjoyed splashing in water at the seaside.

Lu Yi allowed the master-disciple pair to enter the imperial capital and withdrew with the welcoming carriage procession to wait at the imperial palace gate.

The continuous snowfall of the past few days had temporarily ceased. The sky was hazy, and early morning food stalls and alley eateries had lit their lamps and opened their doors.

One by one, dim yellow lights illuminated the cold, misty streets. Early risers began setting up stalls or opening shops, moving tables and chairs, occasionally rubbing their hands and breathing warm air into them, quickly warming up with their busy activities.

As the two walked forward, they gradually smelled the aroma of food.

“Let’s eat something first,” Chen Zhou said, walking toward a breakfast stall. Ming Li followed and went straight to a seat.

This breakfast stall had seating both inside and out. Ming Li sat outside, tilting her head to watch the passersby.

The imperial capital was divided into three circles: the outer ring, the middle belt, and the imperial city. Each circle was further divided into east, south, west, and north quarters. The area was so vast that one couldn’t explore it all in just a day or two.

The martial academies were mostly located in the middle belt. Now in the outer ring, Ming Li saw many students in martial academy uniforms hurrying out early, passing by the breakfast stalls to grab something to eat, rushing toward their academies, or leisurely eating while walking.

The scene was similar to what she had witnessed in Seven Star City.

Ming Li rested her head on her hand, watching the passersby. Several young men who had bought food from the stall and were walking together looked in her direction. Their gazes were dazzled, bold, and passionate. They whispered among themselves, debating who should go over and ask which martial academy this young woman belonged to. However, they had barely looked when they saw Chen Zhou return to sit at Ming Li’s table, and they hurriedly ducked their heads and ran away.

Oh no, her guardian is here too!

One of them, slow and dazed, realized his companions had all fled. He cursed as he chased after them, bringing life to the previously quiet street.

Chen Zhou glanced at the fleeing young men and narrowed his eyes, remembering that similar things had happened before.

But those memories were better left buried, because he had been the one cursing and chasing after being left behind.

Ming Li turned her head and asked him, “What are you eating?”

Chen Zhou: “Noodles.”

Ming Li said, “I want vinegar on mine.”

Chen Zhou looked at her silently for a moment: “You died once and still haven’t changed your taste?”

Ming Li smiled, “Some things never change, no matter how many times you die.”

Chen Zhou: “I hope that’s not referring to your love for spicy food and vinegar.”

Ming Li: “It is.”

Chen Zhou got up to fetch vinegar for her.

The table seated four, and there were other customers, but they all chose empty tables rather than sitting with others.

Chen Zhou sat to Ming Li’s left. As they ate, Ming Li suddenly looked up and noticed Zhou Zixi sitting across from her, just as Chen Zhou asked, “Since people from the Thirty-Three Tribes are in the imperial capital, the Wandering Ghosts must be here too. They already know you’ve been resurrected. What do you think the Wandering Ghosts will do?”

Zhou Zixi tilted his head to look at passersby, not looking at either of them.

Ming Li casually answered, “Those Wandering Ghosts are either dead or severely injured. They won’t make any major moves for at least a few years. But for them to infiltrate the Four Directions Central Lands, there are only two possibilities.”

“Either the Northern Border guardians have been bribed.”

“Or the Wandering Ghosts have found a way to bypass the Northern Border defenses and enter the inner lands.”

Chen Zhou thought for a moment; both scenarios seemed likely.

He said, “It’s not wise for the Wandering Ghosts to come to the imperial capital.”

This place was guarded by the Scripture Sage. If northern border foreigners were discovered, they would face certain death.

Ming Li said, “That depends on how much information His Majesty can provide.”

Zhou Zixi finally turned his head slowly to look at them. Ming Li met his gaze and blinked, telling Chen Zhou, “Zixi is sitting across from us.”

Chen Zhou: “Across where?”

Ming Li: “The seat across from us.”

Chen Zhou looked up and saw nothing but space.

Zhou Zixi asked, “Senior Sister, am I disturbing you two?”

Ming Li said, “Of course not.”

Chen Zhou: “?”

Zhou Zixi continued, “Then why did you specifically tell him I’m here?”

Ming Li thought this was a simple matter, and was about to answer when Zhou Zixi said, “Are you telling Senior Brother I’m here so he won’t say things I shouldn’t hear?”

“…” Ming Li told Chen Zhou, “He’s gone now.”

Chen Zhou: “?”

Zhou Zixi sat up straight, slightly raising his chin as he looked at the two. As he spoke, a group of martial academy students ran past on the street. Glancing at them, he said, “It’s not just the Northern Border tribes in the imperial capital.”

Ming Li spotted a familiar face among the passing martial academy students.

Qiu Hong.

He hadn’t noticed the customers at the roadside stall, being in a hurry.

Chen Zhou noticed Ming Li’s gaze and asked, “Someone you know?”

“Someone I met in Nan Que,” Ming Li said. “A southern earth ghost named Qiu Hong.”

“If Qiu Hong is here, then Sui Qiusan is likely in the imperial capital too.”

In the past, Chen Zhou would have been surprised and thoughtful about the appearance of an earth ghost, but after his experience in the Abyss, his view of earth ghosts had completely changed.

Earth ghosts weren’t rare; they were everywhere.

Chen Zhou asked, “What are southern earth ghosts doing in the imperial capital?”

“Hard to say,” Ming Li pondered. “Sui Qiusan is a dangerous person. He was after the Boundless Mirror in Nan Que, just like you. Are you two working together?”

Zhou Zixi tilted his head toward the street: “Senior Sister, you just said I was gone.”

Ming Li: “…”

Chen Zhou put down his chopsticks, folded his arms, and looked at her with an inscrutable expression.

Ming Li blinked, finally looking at Zhou Zixi and saying, “Why don’t you let Senior Brother see you too?”

Zhou Zixi chuckled and simply disappeared.

Ming Li told Chen Zhou, “This time is gone.”

Chen Zhou gave a cold laugh: “He’s quite temperamental.”

“Zixi is indeed bolder than before,” Ming Li explained. “But he’s probably embarrassed to meet you because of his earth ghost identity.”

“Oh,” Chen Zhou raised an eyelid to look at her. “I knew he was an earth ghost before you did.”

Ming Li: “…”

“You knew?”

Chen Zhou said, “That was…”

Ming Li: “And you didn’t tell me?”

Chen Zhou: “…”

Ming Li looked at him with disbelief: “Senior Brother, you…”

“Boss!” Chen Zhou stood up to pay the bill, wisely choosing to end the conversation about their junior brother.

*

Lu Yi had been waiting at the imperial city gate for a long time. Ming Li’s movements were being monitored, and it was known that the master-disciple pair were simply wandering around the imperial capital, apparently having not visited for a long time and wanting to explore for a while.

Ming Li had only come to the imperial capital after breaking through to become a Sacred Pilgrim.

Her first visit had been to the Rain Pavilion of the Martial Supervision Alliance, where she met other Sacred Pilgrims and the young Princess Chang Xi.

The princess had stood beside the Scripture Sage then, as delicate and beautiful as a porcelain doll, sweet. But Princess Chang Xi hadn’t stayed long before being taken away by her maids, leaving only the Sacred Pilgrims.

Lu Yi had waited from daybreak until nearly nightfall before finally seeing the two appear in his sight, leisurely walking toward the imperial city gate.

But Lu Yi showed no complaints, stepping aside respectfully and saying, “His Majesty is waiting in the council hall.”

Ming Li had only toured one route, timing her arrival perfectly. In her plan, she had intended to meet Emperor Wenxiu before nightfall.

In winter, the sky was gloomy all day long, with short days and long nights. By now, lights had been lit throughout the palace.

Snow began to fall again in the night sky.

A black-robed elderly man stood at the front door of the council hall, hunched with a stooped back, wearing spiked rings on his hands. This was A’Nu, who served the Crown Prince.

Lu Yi said to Chen Zhou, “Please wait outside, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Zhou watched as Ming Li entered alone. Lu Yi stepped forward to close the door, and Chen Zhou glanced at A’Nu standing to the side.

Three Life and Death Realm practitioners are waiting outside.

*

It was much warmer inside than outside, comfortable enough to wear only a single layer of clothing.

Light smoke from incense burners filled the air. Behind a screen was a wall of candles, with white candles burning quietly. This fire wall was to Emperor Wenxiu’s left as he knelt on the fire kang, watching the falling snow outside the window, still with his back to Ming Li as she approached.

Zhou Zixi leaned against the door, glancing behind it. Chen Zhou couldn’t enter from outside, which made the corners of his lips curl slightly upward before he raised his eyes to look at Ming Li walking inward.

In the room, besides Emperor Wenxiu, the Crown Prince sat quietly behind a desk.

He knelt on a cushion, imitating Emperor Wenxiu’s posture, silently and earnestly gazing out the window. His clear eyes reflected the red plum blossoms covered in snow, as if truly observing the scenery of heaven and earth.

From childhood, the Crown Prince had been taught how to appear normal in front of others, which meant speaking little and focusing on expressions and presence.

As long as he didn’t speak, his cold and stern brows and eyes commanded respect without anger, making people instinctively control their emotions and become proper, even afraid to raise their heads and directly meet his imposing gaze.

If forced to speak, he could only say one or two words, with a commanding tone, lowering his voice to sound more authoritative.

After more than twenty years of practicing his demeanor and tone, the Crown Prince had become quite proficient.

Those unfamiliar with him, who had never seen his childlike side, would truly be intimidated at their first meeting.

When Ming Li entered, the Crown Prince didn’t even glance at her. Without Emperor Wenxiu’s command, he wouldn’t react.

Because he was the Crown Prince, second only to one person and above all others. Except for Emperor Wenxiu, he didn’t need to take the initiative with anyone.

Ming Li stopped in the middle of the room without moving further, her expression calm, as she heard Emperor Wenxiu say, “Crown Prince, this is the guest I’ve invited, the Holy Sage of Bei Dou.”

The Crown Prince, who had been intently watching the snow outside, finally reacted, turning his head to look at Ming Li and slightly bowing his head in acknowledgment.

Emperor Wenxiu: “There’s no need to put on airs in front of her.”

The seemingly gentle words made the Crown Prince nervous, and his turning movement became somewhat stiff.

Emperor Wenxiu said to Ming Li, “You must know about the condition of my child.”

Ming Li looked at the person by the window and said, “I do.”

Emperor Wenxiu seemed to find it difficult to continue after her answer. After a moment, he chuckled softly and sighed, “I have many children.”

“The Crown Prince lacks intelligence, the Second Prince died young, the Third Prince is blind, the Fourth Princess is a dwarf, and the Sixth Princess, who is being raised by the Scripture Sage, is the best-looking.”

Ming Li listened quietly, not asking why he had skipped the fifth child, and she seemed to have forgotten whether the fifth was a prince or princess.

Zhou Zixi, who walked past her toward the Crown Prince’s desk to sit down, said, “His fifth son also looks quite good, with no defects.”

“My time is limited. Before I go, I wish to leave a way out for these poor children. With the Scripture Sage in Great Qin, I am at ease. But I still want to see my children each find their place before I depart.”

Emperor Wenxiu spoke as if chatting casually with an old friend, naturally and sincerely: “What the Empress couldn’t see, I want to see for her. Then I can tell her when we meet, so she can be at peace too.”

Ming Li glanced at the Crown Prince from the corner of her eye: “I’m afraid I cannot help with Your Majesty’s wish.”

Emperor Wenxiu smiled, “Rest assured, I’m not asking you to participate in selecting a consort for the Crown Prince.”

Zhou Zixi stared at the Crown Prince before him. The Crown Prince couldn’t see him; his gaze passed through the earth ghost’s shadow to the window outside, his eyes reflecting the swirling snow.

“I’ll give you the whereabouts of the Northern Border tribes if you help this poor child in the future,” Emperor Wenxiu sighed.

Ming Li calmly said, “I don’t seem to have indicated that I must cooperate with Your Majesty.”

Emperor Wenxiu said, “You must be very curious about why you came back to life. Speaking with the Northern Border tribes here will help you understand many things.”

Ming Li asked, “Does Your Majesty know as well?”

Emperor Wenxiu smiled, “A dying person perhaps knows a little of everything.”

“The Northern Border tribes will kill everyone in the inner lands,” Ming Li said to the back by the window. “Why has Your Majesty allowed them to come to the imperial capital?”

Emperor Wenxiu answered, “Because the imperial capital has the Scripture Sage.”

Ming Li asked again, “Then why not let the Scripture Sage protect the Crown Prince?”

Emperor Wenxiu seemed willing to answer all her questions: “After I die, with the Scripture Sage, there will be no Crown Prince.”

Ming Li looked toward the Crown Prince, who had remained silent throughout, maintaining his “Crown Prince” demeanor, earnestly and attentively watching the snow.

He had heard all of this conversation but could not understand it. One person’s fate, or perhaps the fate of many, was being determined in tonight’s conversation.

*

Chen Zhou waited outside for some time. Compared to the other two, he, as a Life and Death Realm practitioner, was much younger.

The gloomy elder A’Nu remained silent, but Lu Yi was willing to chat with him, addressing him as “Mr. Chen” and informing him that Emperor Wenxiu had arranged accommodations for them in the palace. If they needed anything while in the imperial capital, they could simply ask.

As Chen Zhou was listening to Lu Yi, he suddenly spotted someone wearing a white mask approaching through the snowy night. The three at the door all instinctively stood straight, their gazes falling on the newcomer.

Lu Yi respectfully said, “Scripture Sage.”

The Scripture Sage had come alone.

He seemed to glance at Chen Zhou, but Chen Zhou only looked at him without speaking.

The Scripture Sage said gently, “Is the Crown Prince also here?”

Suddenly, the door opened from inside.

The Scripture Sage saw Ming Li and the Crown Prince standing at the doorway. In the snowy night, the two parties stood at a neither distant nor close distance, meeting again after a long separation.

Ming Li remained calm as if nothing had happened, showing no surprise at the Scripture Sage’s appearance. The Crown Prince beside her said, “Scripture Sage.”

“Crown Prince,” the Scripture Sage responded gently. The two seemed to exchange friendly greetings. He looked at Ming Li and said, “You’re here too.”

Ming Li walked out: “I won’t disturb your conversation with His Majesty.”

She left with Chen Zhou into the snowy night, with Lu Yi following them.

________________________________________

The Crown Prince and A’Nu departed in the opposite direction.

Only the Scripture Sage remained at the door, watching the two groups disappear into the snowy night.

*

Emperor Wenxiu had already instructed Lu Yi. After Ming Li came out, without waiting for her to ask, he led the way, saying, “We’ve captured someone from the Northern Border tribes who knows the whereabouts of the others.”

This person was imprisoned in the Sinking Prison.

Ming Li walked through the snow but looked back, not seeing Zhou Zixi. She wasn’t sure if he had disappeared or remained with Emperor Wenxiu.

Inside the Sinking Prison, lamps were lit. The light drove away some of the darkness, but couldn’t dispel the dampness and chill.

Lu Yi led the way to the very last cell: “It’s him.”

Chen Zhou smiled as he looked at Gu Qi, who lay on the ground covered in wounds. He stepped forward and kicked the prison bars, making a noise that caused the person inside to tremble, and said lazily, “Gu Qi Nu, get up.”

Gu Qi froze upon hearing this voice, his eyes trembling.

*

Not long after nightfall, the snow began to fall heavily.

The Martial Supervision Alliance had recently undergone many personnel changes. To help new and old members become familiar with each other quickly, they had reserved the Drunken Flower Pavilion for a gathering tonight.

At the dinner tables, dozens of people created a lively atmosphere, with different new members at each table, chatting and drinking together.

The newly arrived supervisors gathered at the last table, which had the most people and the most alcohol. They competed in drinking capacity as onlookers cheered, creating a high-spirited atmosphere.

One of the supervisors waved his hand, laughing and saying he couldn’t drink any more and needed to relieve himself, causing the crowd to laugh. They let him leave the table.

The new supervisor left the warm room and walked along the snowy path. No one was around; the silent path was illuminated only by stone lamps.

The Drunken Flower Pavilion was elaborately decorated, with flower trees planted along the path to the lavatory.

The supervisor’s steps on the path were steady, unlike someone drunk. Even his previously frivolous expression had been replaced by something more serious. A falling flower landed on his shoulder.

He covered it with his hand, using a spirit technique to disguise a communication talisman as a fallen flower.

The supervisor stopped to look at the message in his hand:

Not in the Sinking Prison.