The three of them fell into a brief silence as they looked at the white bones that had appeared in the formation.

Zhou Zixi’s cold face showed no trace of emotional fluctuation. He merely said, “The reason the formation is still running is because the person died at the moment of transmission, so the transfer couldn’t be completed. It could only wait in place, which means the person who set up the formation hasn’t had a chance to check it yet.”

“Now that the formation has been broken, they should know.”

Chen Zhou crouched down to carefully examine the white bones before him, while Ming Li looked outside the dilapidated building, where quite a few people were rushing over due to the Star Force fluctuations from breaking the formation.

Inspectors from the Martial Supervision Alliance wearing black and gold uniforms with three-leaf flower insignias on their waists came rushing from all directions. In the winter night amid thousands of lanterns, black shadows landed at various places around the building, accompanied by the sound of swords being unsheathed.

The Chief Inspector shouted sternly, “Who dares to trespass into the forbidden area of the Martial Supervision Alliance?”

Forbidden area of the Martial Supervision Alliance?

So this place was being guarded.

Ming Li tossed out the token given by Emperor Wenxiu, letting it hover in the air. The Chief Inspector’s expression changed slightly upon seeing it.

The Chief Inspector’s face softened somewhat, gesturing for the others to sheathe their weapons. He bowed respectfully to Ming Li and said, “May I ask why the Ming Saint has come here?”

“What kind of forbidden area is this?” Ming Li asked.

The Chief Inspector said, “A criminal once entered the palace to assassinate His Majesty and disappeared after fleeing to this place. We suspected he transferred through a formation, so we’ve kept this area under guard.”

This seemed quite clever.

But as for the charge of attempting to assassinate Emperor Wenxiu… Ming Li glanced at the white bones behind him. Before he could speak, the Chief Inspector tentatively asked, “May I ask if those white bones behind the Ming Saint were discovered from the formation in this building?”

Everyone had sensed the Star Force fluctuations when the formation was broken.

Ming Li asked, “What was the name of the criminal who tried to assassinate His Majesty?”

The Chief Inspector replied, “We don’t know his name.”

*

The white bones from the formation in the dilapidated building were taken back to the Martial Supervision Alliance headquarters. Hearing that something major had happened, many inspectors came out to see the commotion.

The Chief Inspector led Ming Li and Chen Zhou into the central courtyard, with people carrying the white bones following behind.

Liu Zhuo and Hong Xiu blended in among the curious inspectors.

“So they’re from Bei Dou,” Hong Xiu remarked thoughtfully upon seeing Chen Zhou beside Ming Li. Liu Zhuo asked her, “Have you seen him before?”

“I told you earlier, the Heart Meridian Spiritual Glow realm cultivator I saw on the roadside during the day is him,” Hong Xiu indicated Chen Zhou with her gaze.

Liu Zhuo looked at the white bones being carried: “Can you tell who that person was?”

Hong Xiu, using Liu Zhuo as cover, secretly activated her Heart Meridian Shadow to look at the white bones.

From the bones, she could see dense death energy, but there was also something familiar that would never change from birth to death.

Hong Xiu froze, her gaze following the bones, seemingly somewhat in disbelief.

Ming Li suddenly turned his head, his gaze precisely targeting the person using the Heart Meridian. Hong Xiu came to her senses and turned her face away to avoid eye contact.

At this moment, tears were faintly visible in her eyes.

Liu Zhuo discreetly shielded her behind him, using the people in front as cover to block Ming Li’s scrutiny.

“What is it?” Chen Zhou asked softly.

Ming Li shook his head slightly without elaborating and continued walking forward.

________________________________________

After they walked past, Liu Zhuo turned to look at Hong Xiu and found her lowering her head and saying softly, “Those white bones… belong to Ping Shan.”

Liu Zhuo’s expression froze.

He didn’t doubt the authenticity of Hong Xiu’s Shadow spiritual technique, but found it difficult to accept this news for the moment.

Liu Zhuo and Hong Xiu walked away from the crowd, listening to the discussions around them, and said in a low voice, “Let’s first find out where they found Ping Shan.”

*

Tonight was the Crown Prince’s bride selection banquet.

The selected maidens from the portrait albums entered the palace in their finest attire to meet His Highness the Crown Prince.

At the banquet, the Crown Prince sat behind a screen, only a vague silhouette visible. Below, the maidens kept their heads lowered respectfully, coming forward to bow according to the names called from the register.

Zhou Cai’cai had already gone through one round and was now sitting in her seat below, intently watching the beauties coming up.

The attendant announced, “The youngest daughter of the Duan family, Duan Miao.”

Zhou Cai’cai was drinking tea from her cup, thinking to herself: someone from the Duan family, relatives of the Fifth Prince, competitors from the opposing side hadn’t been eliminated in the first round?

She curiously looked up and saw only a graceful back. Duan Miao had her back to her as she bowed to the Crown Prince behind the screen, her sweet voice sounding gentle and pleasing.

His Highness the Crown Prince merely responded with a faint “Mm,” sounding dignified and cold.

He had been like this to every maiden tonight, making the maidens wonder if the Crown Prince’s reaction was somewhat different from the “fool” they had expected him to be.

Zhou Cai’cai was about to lower her head when she saw Duan Miao turn around. Those familiar features made her freeze, even forgetting the teacup at her lips.

Unfortunately, “Duan Miao” also saw her, and her expression showed slight surprise.

—Zhou Cai’cai.

—Chu Xiao.

—Why is she here?

Both were startled, and the moment she saw Zhou Cai’cai, memories rushed back, causing Chu Xiao to clench her hand.

Zhou Cai’cai had met her before and knew her identity. When Dong Yeyun first encountered Chu Xiao, it was at a slave market in the west.

During the time Dong Yeyun was nursing her back to health, many precious medicines were provided by Zhou Cai’cai.

Chu Xiao lowered her head to avoid eye contact, turned, and walked back to her seat, frowning in thought. Why would Zhou Cai’cai be here? Was she also participating in the Crown Prince’s bride selection?

Or had she come to the capital to look for Dong Yun?

Zhou Cai’cai held her teacup, finding it utterly bizarre that Chu Xiao was also here, impersonating someone from the Duan family as a maiden. Her mind instantly connected various possibilities.

Chu Xiao coming under the Duan family name meant she was borrowing the influence of Fifth Prince Chang Hanhe, which suggested her intentions were not benign.

Was she working for Chang Hanhe?

Setting aside the safety concerns for the Crown Prince’s side, if Chu Xiao were active in the capital, wouldn’t she know the whereabouts of Dong Yun, who had come to the capital?

The banquet seemed interminably long for both Chu Xiao and Zhou Cai’cai. Finally, when it ended, all the maidens at the banquet were kept in the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince, perhaps upset that Zhou Cai’cai couldn’t accompany him in folding paper tonight, was in a bad mood. As he left with A’Nu, he couldn’t help but look back.

He discovered that Zhou Cai’cai wasn’t even looking at him but was leaving with the maidens, which made the Crown Prince even more displeased.

Outside, snow was falling heavily. The maidens walking in the snow were all holding umbrellas. Zhou Cai’cai followed the path and called out to the person ahead, “Duan Miao!”

The other person continued walking without stopping.

Zhou Cai’cai called again, “Chu Xiao!”

Chu Xiao pressed her eyebrows together with some annoyance. The maid beside her looked at her in surprise and said softly, “Miss, should we…?”

Zhou Cai’cai stood in place, narrowing her eyes as she watched Chu Xiao slowly turn around.

Chu Xiao asked, “What do you want?”

Zhou Cai’cai smiled and said, “You changed your name, but why didn’t you change your face? Are you certain there’s no one left in the capital who recognizes you?”

Chu Xiao replied with a cool expression, “Indeed, those in the capital who knew me are mostly dead by now.”

Zhou Cai’cai detected a hint of displeasure in her words. It seemed that exposing her identity had annoyed Chu Xiao.

But Zhou Cai’cai found it strange and asked her, “How can you be so righteously indignant?”

How could she be so righteously angry toward her?

If it hadn’t been for the medicines Zhou Cai’cai provided, Chu Xiao would have died from illness long ago. Facing someone who had once helped her, why would she display this kind of angry, impatient attitude?

Chu Xiao was silent for a moment, then suppressed her emotions and said softly, “I just don’t like people calling me by my former name.”

“I also didn’t expect to see you here. Seeing you always reminds me of Dong Yun, who disappeared several years ago,” Zhou Cai’cai smiled and said, “I heard he came to the capital. Have you seen him?”

Chu Xiao said, “No.”

“No?” Zhou Cai’cai stared at her.

Chu Xiao’s eyelashes trembled as she looked back at her: “Do you think he would still come looking for me on his own?”

Zhou Cai’cai thought that, given Dong Yun’s personality, he indeed wouldn’t actively seek out Chu Xiao again. Once he realized what had happened, he would probably wish for no contact whatsoever and would pray that everyone around him would forget the whole thing after a good night’s sleep.

Chu Xiao said in a light tone, “Although he never came to find me, I know where he’s being held.”

Zhou Cai’cai looked at her in surprise, and Chu Xiao asked, “Did you come to the capital for the Crown Prince’s bride selection, or to save Dong Yun?”

“You know where he’s being held?” Zhou Cai’cai questioned back. “How would you know?”

Chu Xiao said, “I’ve been in the capital longer than you. It’s not strange that I know some secrets unknown to others.”

Zhou Cai’cai looked at the person standing before her. On both sides of the path were flower beds covered with snow, and plum trees were a little distance away, yet sent forth waves of cold fragrance.

The woman before her was different from the frail state of a few years ago. Back then, she was a weakling who needed the protection of others, but now she could face danger calmly, having shed her vulnerable side.

“You know, yet you’ve taken no action,” Zhou Cai’cai said softly. “You’re just letting him be imprisoned and suffer?”

“What do you think I could do?” Chu Xiao countered. “I can’t show myself openly in the capital and must be cautious at all times. Unlike you, I don’t have a powerful family background, nor am I a Star Meridian cultivator. How do you think I could rescue him?”

Zhou Cai’cai suppressed her anger, unwilling to argue further, and only asked, “Where is Dong Yun?”

“Outside the western wall of the imperial palace, in the black well in the snow,” Chu Xiao said. “I can’t save him, but hopefully you can. You’d better hurry, though.”

“I’d better hurry?” Zhou Cai’cai found this amusing and said, “Is that all you have to say about someone who once protected you through life and death and spared you from suffering? If I hadn’t recognized you today and asked about Dong Yun’s whereabouts, would you have pretended not to see or know, letting him slowly die?”

Chu Xiao remained unmoved and said, “As I said before, what do you think I could do?”

Zhou Cai’cai took a deep breath, resisting the urge to curse as she pointed at her: “You’re coming with me.”

Chu Xiao didn’t refuse. Even if Zhou Cai’cai hadn’t suggested it, she would have proposed it herself.

According to the location Chu Xiao provided, outside the western wall of the imperial palace was in the direction of the Sinking Prison, which should be behind the Sinking Prison, separated by a high and thick palace wall.

Zhou Cai’cai was anxious to save him because she had seen those vague scenes in the memory map and knew Dong Yun wasn’t faring well. So, despite the night and heavy snow, she had Chu Xiao lead the way.

At least she needed to know where he was being held.

On the way, Zhou Cai’cai asked, “Why is it there?”

Chu Xiao glanced at the Crown Prince’s token that Zhou Cai’cai had put away. She could freely enter and exit the Eastern Palace, which suggested that she was the woman Fifth Prince Chang Hanhe had warned her to be wary of.

“That black well is called the Earth Star Death Prison. Cultivators at the Life and Death realm and above can’t be contained in the Sinking Prison, so they’re sent to the Earth Star Death Prison,” Chu Xiao explained. “The restrictions are in the underground world within the well, so from the outside, it looks like just an ordinary well. Even if someone passes by, they wouldn’t notice anything unusual.”

Zhou Cai’cai frowned: “Who imprisoned him?”

“Don’t you even know what he did in the capital?” Chu Xiao glanced at her. “Dong Yun saved an assassin who had tried to kill His Majesty, and then concealed the assassin’s whereabouts. That’s why he was arrested for questioning. As long as he doesn’t talk, he’ll have to stay down there.”

“As for who imprisoned him… It’s already obvious.”

Chu Xiao indeed knew more than she did, but every word left Zhou Cai’cai feeling incredulous, though upon careful thought, everything seemed to match up.

She and Hong Xiu and the others were not only looking for Dong Yun but also for Liang Pingshan. Liang Pingshan, who had returned to the capital, had killed many people there. If he were the one who had tried to assassinate Emperor Wenxiu, then Dong Yun would not reveal Liang Pingshan’s whereabouts.

This made Zhou Cai’cai believe Chu Xiao’s words even more.

Chu Xiao had come alone, without her maid, while Zhou Cai’cai’s maid Xue Yin had followed along, indicating that she still harbored some wariness toward Chu Xiao.

Throughout the journey, Chu Xiao had been forthcoming, revealing information that Zhou Cai’cai could find no fault with, even giving her moments of sudden clarity.

Xue Yin and Chu Xiao both carried night lanterns to light the way. They had now arrived outside the palace wall and could see the lonely black well in the snow-covered wasteland.

The black well looked ordinary with nothing special about it. Chu Xiao walked up to it first and said to Zhou Cai’cai, “You can come and see for yourself. Even with your Heavy Eyes Meridian activated, you probably won’t be able to see the bottom.”

Zhou Cai’cai followed her, leaving footprints in the snow.

Chu Xiao reached the black well before her and turned to look at Zhou Cai’cai. The night wind lifted her temple hair, her almond eyes slightly curved in what seemed like a smile.

Just as Zhou Cai’cai was about to reach out and take the night lantern she offered, completely unaware, an extremely powerful Circulating Qi incantation pierced through her chest like a sharp sword from behind.

A second one, a third one—

Zhou Cai’cai clutched her chest and stumbled. Under her clothes, she was already covered in blood, which dripped onto the snow and spread. She didn’t even have the strength to turn around, only widening her eyes slightly as she looked at Chu Xiao.

As she went limp and fell, Chu Xiao reached out to support her, saying softly, “I told you, everyone in the capital who knows me will die.”

Zhou Cai’cai frowned, her throat full of sweetness and blood. She grabbed Chu Xiao’s hand with great force, as if using all her remaining strength, Star Force flowing at her fingertips.

Miracle Ability: Float Life Exchange.

Chu Xiao noticed the Star Force at her fingertips and met Zhou Cai’cai’s surprised gaze, smiling as she said, “So you do have a Miracle Ability… but unfortunately, you’ve encountered me.”

The secret of the Chu family bloodline was that while their cultivation aptitude was generally low, preventing them from becoming powerful cultivators, they had the ability, as weaklings, to be immune to all Miracle Abilities in the world.

An incantation pierced through Zhou Cai’cai, and the light in her eyes dimmed. Chu Xiao grabbed her hand and pushed this powerless body into the black well, watching her fall into the darkness.

Chu Xiao raised her hand to wipe away the blood that had splattered onto her face, lowered her eyes to look at the black well, and after a moment, took a deep breath and turned to leave.

From the instant Zhou Cai’cai called out her name, Chu Xiao had already decided to kill her.