The mountain peak was reached in the blink of an eye. To find the entrance to the so-called Camellia Prison under the camellia tree, they first had to find the camellia tree. But before the two could see any camellia tree, they saw a large hole in the ground at the mountain peak.

Actually, it wasn’t a very large hole—it was a cave slightly larger than a human body, naturally funnel-shaped, with a larger opening at the mountain peak that narrowed as it went deeper into the mountain. If someone accidentally slipped into the hole, they would certainly slide straight down into the funnel opening below and immediately slip into the mountain’s belly. Yu Furen and Tang Lici approached the cave and saw three blood-red characters “Camellia Prison” carved prominently on the moonlit side of the cave. In the middle of these three characters, a white mark ran straight down into the cave, its meaning unclear.

“Camellia Prison… this is the Camellia Prison.” Yu Furen coughed several times. “Cough cough… Without going down personally, there’s no way to know the situation below.”

Tang Lici’s gaze wandered. The surroundings were silent with not a single guard visible. The vegetation was luxuriant like wilderness, yet unusually neat, all about two feet long, but no camellias could be seen.

“What are you looking at?” Yu Furen gathered his breath, calming the chaotic true energy within his body. Having been injured by the explosion earlier, his breathing remained unsteady.

“Camellias.” Tang Lici said.

“Camellias?” Yu Furen frowned. Lin Shuangshuang and the other two would catch up in moments. Instead of going down to the prison to save someone, Tang Lici was looking for camellias?

Tang Lici’s gaze fell on freshly turned earth near the cave entrance. “There was once a camellia tree here.”

Yu Furen coughed several times. “Cough cough… So what? My father and the others will catch up soon…”

Tang Lici’s gaze moved to a large stone not far away. “There… are marks where a blade passed.”

Yu Furen looked over and indeed saw several weapon marks on the stone. “Someone fought here.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt warmth behind his heart. Tang Lici’s left hand pressed against his back, transmitting a stream of true force. This time it wasn’t to carry him jumping into the Camellia Prison, but to stimulate his true force circulation. In an instant, twelve major acupoints were broken through, and the congealed blood and energy from the shock suddenly flowed freely. He heard Tang Lici say, “There are silver fragments on the stone, and the marks go half an inch into the stone—this is from Chi Yun’s Single Ring Crossing Moon technique. The camellia tree was uprooted, and the vegetation was cut down a section. This obviously couldn’t have been caused by the Single Ring Crossing Moon alone, plus this knife mark in the cave…” He said quietly, “What does this indicate?”

Yu Furen said in a low voice, “Someone… fought with Chi Yun here. Chi Yun was defeated and forced to fall into the cave.”

Saying this made his heart heavy. What ability did “Sky Cloud” possess—who could force him to jump into the Camellia Prison? Under what circumstances would he jump into the Camellia Prison?

“It shows that when he jumped down, he hadn’t lost his power to resist and still used one blade to brace against the mountain wall, slowing his descent.” Tang Lici said slowly. “Cutting down such a large area of wild grass uniformly and uprooting the camellia tree—these don’t seem like the work of one person. I guess it was several people working together. Outside the Camellia Prison, after all, is the prison master’s domain…”

Yu Furen felt his hair stand on end. Who could gather people outside the Camellia Prison to force Chi Yun into the prison? None other than the Camellia Prison master.

“Haha, based on just a few marks, you can make such guesses—should I say Young Master Tang is extraordinarily intelligent or extremely foolish?” In the moonlit wild grass, a gray figure appeared indistinctly. “The Camellia Prison is an important place in the world. Even if I forced Chi Yun to fall, would you commit such a great transgression as breaking the top of the Camellia Prison and releasing serious martial world criminals just to save Chi Yun alone?”

The newcomer said indifferently, “Of course, if you want to fulfill your duty to friends, you could jump down yourself to keep him company. The Camellia Prison would definitely prepare three meals a day thoroughly for Young Master Tang.”

“Oh?” Tang Lici unwound the red silk wrapped around his body and put it in his robes. “From your tone, you’re confident of certain victory?”

Yu Furen stared at the newcomer, who wore a snow-white mask on his face that seemed made of porcelain but had no facial features drawn on it—like a blank face. “Who are you? What kind of figure are you in the Central Plains martial world? Claiming to be the Camellia Prison master is simply laughable.”

The porcelain-faced man walked forward with hands behind his back and broad steps. “Haha, yellow-mouthed child, at such a young age you dare speak presumptuously about Central Plains martial world figures… ridiculous and lamentable.” He pointed at Yu Furen. “You are Yu Qifeng’s son. I won’t stoop to your level—if I want to kill someone, I should let him do it personally. As for you—” He raised his other hand, index finger pointing at Tang Lici. “Young Master Tang’s cultivation and wisdom are worthy of battle. Strike! This old man will experience your Power Exchange Great Method and sonic killing techniques!”

Night wind blew, stars hung over the wilderness, and the bright moon filled the sky.

Tang Lici held his copper flute, gently pushing Yu Furen behind him with his horizontal arm. “Draw your sword.”

The night wind was cool, carrying the chill of early autumn.

While Tang Lici was infiltrating the Camellia Prison at night, Puzhu had packed simple luggage and was preparing to return to Shaolin Temple the next day. At the second watch, as usual, he sat with closed eyes in meditation, his spiritual heart witnessing Buddha. With true energy circulating, his hearing was extremely acute, seeming able to hear the slightest sounds within a hundred zhang radius. Insect chirping, wind sounds, window lattice creaking—the cyclic sounds of all things were wonderful music, Buddha sounds, and perhaps… also heart demons, depending on how the Buddha-witnessing person understood and acted.

Suddenly, from extremely far away came a soft, low singing voice. Someone was singing: “Why… who says I’ve changed so much lately? Honesty is actually simple enough to hurt people more and more. Me… a puppet worshipped on an altar in the city, so fake… that no prayers will ever be fulfilled…” The voice was gentle and melodious, somewhat melancholy and sad—it was Xifang Tao’s voice.

This was the song Tang Lici had sung that day. When Puzhu heard it that night, it entered his ears but not his heart, but hearing it suddenly tonight, he immediately remembered it. Who would have thought that after hearing it just once that night, Xifang Tao had memorized it completely. Sitting cross-legged in meditation, he heard her singing plaintively: “…I’m not the Buddha on stage who saves all beings, I’m not the demon in the underworld who enchants souls. I sit in prosperity but cannot rest, I calculate in millions daily but can never calculate past heaven’s will… Five fingers holding thousands of mysteries, heaven spinning and earth turning—how to continue…” The singer seemed filled with emotion, three parts desolate. Puzhu wanted not to listen, but every sound entered his ears clearly. He wanted to treat it as passing wind and floating clouds but couldn’t. After struggling for a while, he had to abandon his meditation and open his eyes.

“Sigh…” The song ended with a light sigh from afar, then silence. Puzhu got out of bed and walked a few steps, standing in his room looking at the bright moon. Whether to continue meditation or not—either way, he couldn’t sleep.

A figure passed by Puzhu’s window. Looking intently, Puzhu saw it was Cheng Yunpao, his usually cold brow showing worry as he walked toward Shao Yanping’s room.

What matter required Cheng Yunpao to privately meet with Shao Yanping in the dead of night? Puzhu didn’t follow, but his usually clear state of mind suddenly surged with countless stray thoughts. One doubt arose, then a second: Why did she sing that song? Was that song special? What exactly was it about? Why did she remember it after hearing it once? And why did he remember it too? Why wasn’t she sleeping? Why wasn’t Cheng Yunpao sleeping? Why wasn’t Shao Yanping sleeping? In his shock, he felt countless emotions suddenly surge into his heart. Puzhu pressed his hand to his chest as cold sweat streamed down his forehead. His heart beat rapidly, unable to be stopped. After a while, Puzhu silently recited Buddha’s name, gathering energy to calm his spirit. It took more than half an hour before he settled down and slowly exhaled. What was wrong with him?

Between the second and third watches when the night was darkest, Shao Yanping sat drinking tea with a bitter smile. He was waiting for Cheng Yunpao, had already waited two hours, drunk five or six pots of tea, and visited the chamber pot several times. If Cheng Yunpao didn’t come soon, he’d have to switch to wine.

“Knock knock.” “Come in.” Shao Yanping exhaled. “Hero Cheng invited me—what important matter is there?” This afternoon, Cheng Yunpao had suddenly said to him, “Midnight, there’s business”—just these four words, and he couldn’t sleep, sitting here waiting bitterly. But he couldn’t not listen to what Cheng Yunpao wanted to say. What could concern him must be very important.

Cheng Yunpao pushed the door open. Shao Yanping laughed dryly. “I thought you’d jump in through the window.”

Cheng Yunpao said indifferently, “I’m not a thief.”

Shao Yanping laughed. “For Hero Cheng, whether my house has doors or windows makes no difference—why worry about it? Knocking was too polite. Please sit.”

Cheng Yunpao sat down. “I’m also leaving tomorrow.”

Shao Yanping nodded. With the major business at Haoyun Mountain concluded and everyone not permanent residents, naturally they would leave. “Besides the matter of leaving, Hero Cheng seems to have something difficult to express?” If not something difficult to say, why come at midnight?

Cheng Yunpao looked at him indifferently. “I’m returning to my sect to visit my junior brother.”

Shao Yanping’s mouth fell open. This kind of thing needed to be said at midnight? He could only laugh again. “Haha… quite right. The Sword Society has delayed Hero Cheng’s schedule for a long time—truly shameful.”

Cheng Yunpao picked up his teacup and took a sip, then suddenly said, “Today—”

Shao Yanping asked, “What?”

After a pause, Cheng Yunpao said, “Today—I saw Tang Lici and Xifang Tao in the room…” He didn’t continue, but his meaning was obvious. Shao Yanping spat out his tea with a “poof.” “Cough cough… what?”

Cheng Yunpao continued indifferently, “Being intimate in the room.”

Shao Yanping took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. “This… though unexpected, is Young Master Tang’s private affair. Young Master Tang is elegant and charming, Miss Tao is beautiful as a flower—naturally…”

Cheng Yunpao said coldly, “If it were a private affair, why would I come? Xifang Tao’s background is unclear. She claims to be Yi Tao San Se from the Seven Flowers Cloud Wanderers, but Yi Tao San Se is clearly a man—there are contradictions. If she can infiltrate the Elegant Shop for years, why can’t she infiltrate the Sword Society? Tang Lici is young and romantic—if he’s seduced by this woman, how is that good for the Central Plains martial world?”

Shao Yanping regulated his breathing. “You want me to break up the lovebirds? I’m afraid I can’t do it. What kind of person is Young Master Tang? If he wants romantic affairs, how can I spoil the mood?”

Cheng Yunpao said coldly, “I leave tomorrow. This woman Xifang Tao has close relations with Puzhu and unclear entanglements with Tang Lici. She’s deeply scheming—you must be careful.”

Shao Yanping wiped his face with the handkerchief again. “I understand. This is truly a heavy responsibility. Sigh…”

Cheng Yunpao stood up and left. As soon as he stepped out the door, he vanished without a trace, his movement faster than ghosts.

Shao Yanping smiled bitterly at the teapot. Tang Lici and Xifang Tao—things were becoming more and more complex and strange. Had this young master truly fallen for Xifang Tao’s beauty? Or were there other reasons? If he really got together with Xifang Tao, what about A’Shui? He had arranged for ten female disciples from the Sword Society to escort her back to Luoyang and had Dong Hubi personally deliver a letter to the Prime Minister’s residence. Tang Lici’s open protection and secret arrangements for A’Shui were meticulous—was it really just a small romantic debt? This young master had countless schemes, controlling the changing winds and clouds of the martial world, yet still had energy for affairs everywhere—truly admirable.

Slowly pouring himself tea, Shao Yanping played with the cup as the tea swayed inside, reflecting the lamplight. Suddenly he saw a pair of eyes in the reflection—turning back abruptly, a figure flashed past the window like a ghost. Shao Yanping rushed out in pursuit, but outside the door was empty, with wind and bright moonlight—seemingly nothing there. But there had definitely been a pair of eyes peering outside, and—very likely those eyes had been there while Cheng Yunpao was talking to him! Who could lurk outside the window undetected by both of them? Who would monitor their movements in the dead of night? Who would dare eavesdrop on their conversation? If it really was a person, what kind of terrifying demon would that be? Shao Yanping’s mind raced as cold sweat covered his head. Remembering what Wanyu Yuedan’s letter had said about the Elegant Shop’s mastermind still being alive, he immediately put away his smile and hurried toward Tang Lici’s room.

After several leaps, he burst into Tang Lici’s house but found it silent and empty—Tang Lici wasn’t there! Moonlight poured in from outside, covering the ground like white frost. Suddenly a black shadow flashed. Shao Yanping turned around abruptly and saw a person in black clothes and hat with a covered face, dressed exactly like Liu Yan, standing silently at the door without a sound. Only a bone-chilling killing intent seeped out ominously, blowing toward Shao Yanping with the wind.

Terrible! Shao Yanping’s heart went cold as he stepped back. He wasn’t wearing a sword, Puzhu and Cheng Yunpao had already developed thoughts of leaving, Tang Lici was nowhere to be seen, and this person before him obviously had extremely high martial arts skills. Appearing like this, he must have killing intent.

What to do?

“Draw your sword.” Tang Lici held his flute horizontally, blocking Yu Furen behind him, saying gently.

The night wind rustled, blowing cool against their faces. The sky was exceptionally dark, the stars and moon exceptionally clear. Yu Furen wanted to help but knew his learning differed greatly from Tang Lici’s, so he could only stand quietly to the side, providing backup.

“First move.” The porcelain-faced man had a sword at his waist but didn’t draw it. His palms embraced the primordial, sweeping across his chest. His five fingers seemed to grasp yet not grasp, seemed to capture yet not capture, clasping together in empty space, turning his wrists to push gently forward. “The Great Ruler Controls the Six Directions.”

Yu Furen was still ten steps away from this person but already felt an overwhelming wind rushing toward his face, as if the entire western wind on the mountain peak had changed to eastern wind. Before the move was even half executed, it was already breathtaking. Tang Lici walked slowly forward, facing such mighty twin palms yet advancing directly, striking out with his palm to meet them. A single palm pushed out as light crackling sounds filled the air, grass blades on the ground broke, and debris flew everywhere. The porcelain-faced man’s palms turned, and in an instant three palms were meeting! Yu Furen’s face changed dramatically. With a muffled “bang,” the three palms met—not in the prolonged standoff he had imagined, but with both sides retreating one step each, evenly matched! The porcelain-faced man praised, “Good martial arts! The Power Exchange Great Method is indeed world-shocking learning. The ‘Reincarnation Manual’ is indeed an extraordinary book. Let this old man guess—the person who taught you martial arts, could it be Bai Nanzhu?”