“Then,” hearing Luo Xingzhou’s plan, Qin Wanwan pondered, “how do we sign up to be this replacement juggling troupe?”

“That’s simple,” Luo Xingzhou pulled out a program list. “I bribed the Liu estate steward in charge of this matter. I told him I was the juggling troupe boss and wanted to get this job, that I’d give him some private red envelopes. He told me that as long as we can complete these predetermined programs, we can go on stage. I was still worrying about where to organize a troupe, and you all just happened to come.”

Listening, Qin Wanwan took the program list. Jian Xingzhi and the others crowded over to look, discovering the program list was filled with a pile of acts.

Things like:

“Wu Song Fights the Tiger” dramatic performance

“Crushing Boulder on Chest”

“High-Speed Fire Hoops”

“Sword Box Insertion”

“Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers”

…

“What are all these things?”

Jian Xingzhi frowned. Luo Xingzhou explained in detail: “These are all common performance acts, but the Liu Family has higher requirements. For example, ‘Wu Song Fights the Tiger’ must be fought intensely and spectacularly. ‘High-Speed Fire Hoops’ means jumping through over thirty fire hoops in an instant, and it must be beautiful and watchable. ‘Sword Box Insertion’ means putting a person in a box and inserting a hundred swords. ‘Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers’ is a viewing program—a beauty needs to scatter flowers while passing through the sky.”

Speaking, Luo Xingzhou pulled out a map and pointed it out to Jian Xingzhi: “The core of our infiltration into the estate is actually this ‘Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers,’ because it has a zipline that will carry the celestial maiden from this point to this point.” As Luo Xingzhou spoke, he pointed on the map. “Then from this landing spot, walk forward past a moon gate, and you reach Feishuang’s small courtyard. But how to mix in…”

Luo Xingzhou frowned. Qin Wanwan continued: “I can take Cuilu in together.”

“Hm?”

Luo Xingzhou looked over: “How so?”

“Cuilu can transform into a bird and stand on my shoulder. I’ll wear a mask and complete this program with her. After landing from the sky, we’ll find an opportunity—Cuilu transforms into a person, I transform into a nearby maid, and we walk straight over. At first I’ll wear a mask, and after Cuilu lands, she’ll also wear a mask. People won’t be able to tell us apart.”

Qin Wanwan explained.

Luo Xingzhou frowned: “But disguise techniques are easily seen through. If you transform into a maid and go over, I’m afraid you’ll be discovered.”

“Cuilu’s original body is a bird. Her transformation probably won’t be detected. As for disguise techniques—” As Qin Wanwan spoke, she waved her hand before Luo Xingzhou, and her face instantly changed. At the same time, her soul light also changed. Luo Xingzhou froze. Qin Wanwan changed to another face, and her soul light changed along with it. Finally, Qin Wanwan changed back to her own appearance and smiled: “I have a magical treasure on me that can change at will.”

“Then good.” Luo Xingzhou became pleased. “Then I’ll be the juggling troupe boss. You’ll perform ‘Celestial Maiden with Pipa Under the Moon.’ Daojun Jian and Nanfeng will perform Wu Song Fights the Tiger, Fire Hoops, and Striking Iron Flowers.”

“What about me?”

Xie Gutang was curious. Luo Xingzhou forced a smile: “Senior Brother, the Liu Family Head often used to visit Heavenly Sword Sect as a guest. You and I are recognized by many people. We can’t go on stage.”

“If we’re talking about recognition,” Xie Gutang frowned, “Liu Zhong has seen all of us.”

“I can transform into a bird.” Cuilu immediately answered.

“I can transform into an ant.” Nanfeng also answered.

“I can transform into anything.” Jian Xingzhi spoke.

This pile of people blocked the conversation. Xie Gutang held it in for a long while, finally only able to say: “Then I’ll wait outside the estate for your news. If there are any problems, I’ll come over to help.”

Everyone decided. Luo Xingzhou remembered: “What about that fortune teller on the side?”

“Don’t worry about him.” Jian Xingzhi decisively told Luo Xingzhou. “Tomorrow I’ll leave quietly and let him stay by himself.”

“Good,” Luo Xingzhou nodded, then instructed, “Also, you all must remember—we’re just an ordinary juggling troupe, without spiritual power. Absolutely don’t expose that you have cultivation.”

“Understood.”

Everyone nodded.

The group returned to rest. The next day, Luo Xingzhou came to find them, distributed tools to them, roughly explained the process, then led them preparing to leave. Looking left and right, he finally discovered a problem.

“Where’s Nanfeng?”

Luo Xingzhou was puzzled. Only then did everyone discover Nanfeng had been absent all along. Qin Wanwan sensed for a moment and discovered Nanfeng was still in the bedroom. She led people rushing to Nanfeng’s room. After searching a circle without finding him, she only heard snoring sounds. The snoring came from the bed. Qin Wanwan pulled back the covers, and everyone looked carefully for a while before discovering a tiny ant leaning against the pillow’s edge.

“Nanfeng.”

Qin Wanwan leaned over and plucked a strand of hair to poke him. Nanfeng rolled over. His snoring shook the heavens.

“Nanfeng!”

Qin Wanwan pushed him with her fingertip. Nanfeng still ignored her. She looked back at everyone: “What’s going on?”

“Yesterday’s wine…” Luo Xingzhou hesitated. “Was too strong?”

“His alcohol tolerance shouldn’t be that bad, should it?!”

Jian Xingzhi was shocked. Qin Wanwan quickly calmed down: “What do we do now? Can we be short one person?”

“Well, Wu Song Fights the Tiger is a two-person act.”

Luo Xingzhou was anxious: “You and Cuilu definitely can’t be separated. I can’t show my face. We’re short a tiger.”

Everyone fell silent for a while. Qin Wanwan spoke: “Bring Mei Suihan along. Don’t tell him what it is. Cuilu and I will go find Liu Feishuang. You all just perform the acts.”

“Right, right, right,” Luo Xingzhou nodded. “You all just need to make some big commotion when Miss Wanwan lands to draw everyone’s attention. Adding him won’t be a problem.”

“Jian Xingzhi,” Qin Wanwan looked toward Jian Xingzhi. “What do you think?”

“What else can we do?” Jian Xingzhi spoke coldly. “Add him. I’ll watch him.”

Everyone settled it. Qin Wanwan quickly went to find Mei Suihan.

Mei Suihan was sitting at the table drinking tea and reading. Qin Wanwan knocked on his door: “Young Master Mei.”

“Looking for me about something?”

Mei Suihan reclined sideways on his chair, smiling at Qin Wanwan. Qin Wanwan spoke calmly: “I wonder if Young Master could help us with something—accompany us to the Liu estate to perform some acts?”

“Sure.” Mei Suihan smiled. “Miss invites me—how could I refuse? But I wonder what act I’ll perform?”

“Wu Song Fights the Tiger,” Jian Xingzhi’s voice came from behind. He walked to Qin Wanwan’s back and said calmly, “I’m Wu Song, you’re the tiger. Just wear a pelt. No difficulty.”

“No way,” Mei Suihan decisively refused. “I’m Wu Song, you’re the tiger.”

“Liu Zhong has seen you. You can’t appear on stage with your own face,” Jian Xingzhi calmly gave reasons. “Wear a tiger pelt.”

“I’m a law cultivator,” as Mei Suihan spoke, his facial features changed, and his soul light changed along with it. “In terms of transformation arts, you probably don’t compare to me.”

“Why won’t you be the tiger?” Jian Xingzhi frowned.

Mei Suihan calmly answered: “Afraid you’ll take the opportunity to beat me to death.”

The two stared at each other in a stalemate. Qin Wanwan didn’t dare speak. After confronting for a long while, Jian Xingzhi sneered: “As you wish.”

With that, he turned and left. Qin Wanwan quickly took her leave and caught up with Jian Xingzhi, quietly coaxing him: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I know you’ve given a lot. Tomorrow I’ll accompany you to the night market and buy you yuanxiao.”

Listening to Qin Wanwan’s words, for a moment, being a tiger didn’t make Jian Xingzhi that angry anymore.

He turned and lightly flicked her forehead, pressing down the corners of his mouth as he praised: “Sensible.”

After appeasing Jian Xingzhi, everyone waited downstairs for Mei Suihan. Before long, Mei Suihan finished preparing and came downstairs.

To disguise as a juggling troupe, everyone changed into coarse cloth and hemp clothing. Luo Xingzhou stuck a mole on his face and wore a hat, making him look very mercenary.

Cuilu transformed into a bird standing on Qin Wanwan’s shoulder. Qin Wanwan wore a veil and held a pipa in her hands. Just looking at her eyes, she was an absolute beauty.

Jian Xingzhi and Mei Suihan transformed into two large men following behind Qin Wanwan. Everyone followed Luo Xingzhou and infiltrated the Liu estate.

The Liu estate’s inspection was extremely strict. After checking everything, everyone was locked in the firewood room, waiting for the evening performance.

Taking this opportunity, everyone began cramming to learn the performance—mainly Mei Suihan, who began learning Wu Song’s lines.

Jian Xingzhi sat beside Qin Wanwan cracking melon seeds, watching Mei Suihan memorize those idiotic lines, feeling fortunate: “Good thing I’m not Wu Song.”

As the tiger, he just had to jump around and create excitement.

Everyone prepared for an afternoon. Finally, the performance time arrived. The group went backstage. Luo Xingzhou watched the front stage announcing acts, then came back in a flurry, lowering his voice to instruct everyone: “Remember, absolutely do not use spiritual power. We’re just an ordinary juggling troupe.”

“Got it.”

Everyone nodded. Luo Xingzhou turned to look at the stage. Then clanging sounds rang out from the stage. Luo Xingzhou waved at Jian Xingzhi and Mei Suihan: “Your turn is coming soon. When you hear your names called, go up. Miss Wanwan, follow me.”

Qin Wanwan responded and, taking Cuilu, followed Luo Xingzhou upstairs to go above the zipline.

Mei Suihan and Jian Xingzhi stood behind the stage. Jian Xingzhi said nonchalantly: “It’s agreed—one act each. I’ll swing the hammer, you do crushing boulder on chest.”

“You be the hostage, I’ll shoot darts blindfolded.” Mei Suihan immediately followed.

“I’ll jump through fire hoops.” Jian Xingzhi claimed another act.

“I’ll enter the sword box.” Mei Suihan spoke coldly.

“Is your body alright? My technique isn’t very good.” Jian Xingzhi glanced at him.

“What a coincidence,” Mei Suihan smiled and looked back. “My technique isn’t great either.”

With that, the announcement rang out: “Next, the ‘My Fate Is Mine, Not Heaven’s’ juggling troupe will bring us a spectacular medley of performances!”

Applause rang out below. The gongs and drums beat extremely lively.

Mei Suihan and Jian Xingzhi exchanged a glance, took their tools, and walked up. The announcement explained: “First act—Crushing Boulder on Cheeeeest!”

After the announcement finished, several cultivators brought iron benches and carried five enormous stones onto the stage.

Seeing the stones, Mei Suihan’s expression changed slightly. He feigned composure as he lay on the bench. The five stones were lifted and suddenly piled onto his chest. He immediately became short of breath.

Jian Xingzhi warmed up his body and grabbed an iron hammer from the side.

“Don’t you think that if you hadn’t gotten involved in this matter, you wouldn’t have to suffer this indignity?”

Jian Xingzhi spoke pointedly. Mei Suihan maintained his grace: “Where heaven’s mandate points, I cannot refuse.”

Hearing about heaven’s mandate irritated Jian Xingzhi. He grabbed the iron hammer and suddenly smashed it down!

The stones instantly turned to dust. Mei Suihan spat out a mouthful of blood.

The audience below froze for a moment, then applause thundered.

“Thrilling!” Someone excitedly spoke from below. “I’ve never seen crushing boulder on chest with such great strength!”

“A law cultivator,” Jian Xingzhi tossed away the iron hammer and sneered. “Just this much ability.”

Mei Suihan said nothing. He covered his blood-spitting mouth and supported himself to stand up, watching people lift up a spinning wheel as he excitedly went to find darts.

“Next—Blindfolded Dart Shooting on Spinning Wheel!”

The announcement rang out again. Jian Xingzhi was bound to the spinning wheel, looking at Mei Suihan indifferently.

Mei Suihan wiped the blood from his mouth and said coldly: “Spin. Spin it faster for me!”

The people beside him froze. The announcer immediately said: “It seems this warrior’s skills are superb! Come, let’s spin the wheel at maximum speed!”

The darts hadn’t been shot yet, but applause came first. Everyone was attracted by this thrilling scene.

Qin Wanwan and Luo Xingzhou stood at the high point. Qin Wanwan and Cuilu had both changed into identical clothing. This clothing originated from Western Realm women—it looked quite Dunhuang-flavored. Moon-white colored long skirt, the upper body exposing arms and slender waist, high hair bun with golden hairpin, barefoot with dangling bells, two silk ribbons wrapped around her hands, looking ethereal as a celestial being.

She wore a silver-white mask. Hearing the applause, she followed Luo Xingzhou to look toward the stage and discovered Jian Xingzhi’s wheel being spun with great force. She couldn’t help feeling alarmed.

“Is… is everything okay…”

She stammered: “Why are they making it so intense?”

“The more intense the better,” Luo Xingzhou became pleased. “This way the crowd won’t notice you.”

“Will something happen…” Qin Wanwan was uneasy.

Cuilu laughed lightly: “What could happen? Don’t worry.”

Everyone’s eyes were on the stage. The spinning wheel spun so fast you couldn’t see the person. Mei Suihan blindfolded himself, raised his hand, and shot darts at Jian Xingzhi!

Seeing the darts coming, Jian Xingzhi twisted his body into an angle difficult for ordinary people to achieve, dodging back and forth on the wheel, using the wind force created by his body’s twisting to change the darts’ trajectories. After hundreds of darts were shot, the wheel stopped. Everyone saw Jian Xingzhi’s entire body twisted into a strange angle, darts inserted densely all around him, especially the lower half of his body where daggers squeezed against daggers—a mountain and sea of blades.

Jian Xingzhi still had a dart in his mouth. He turned his eyes toward Mei Suihan and revealed a contemptuous smile.

Applause below was like waves. Qin Wanwan and the others sat high up, unable to help applauding along with those below.

“Master of human body outlining!” The announcer excitedly shouted. “The program is getting more and more spectacular!”

“Your turn.” Jian Xingzhi jumped down from the ladder, gritting his teeth.

Mei Suihan remained expressionless, watching people push over a large box.

“Lie down in it,” Jian Xingzhi picked up a long sword from the side, turned and smiled. “I’ll definitely let you experience what true precision means.”

From Jian Xingzhi’s eyes, Mei Suihan saw retaliation. He impassively crawled into the box and began seeking survival between blade gaps.

The two went back and forth in peak confrontation. Jian Xingzhi inserted over a hundred blades into him, and he turned around to gift Jian Xingzhi a thousand fire hoops.

Qin Wanwan watched Jian Xingzhi nimbly bouncing through the fire hoops. Her heart rose and fell, just worried that Jian Xingzhi’s hair might accidentally get burned off.

Without hair, would Jian Xingzhi still be handsome?

The fighting on stage was too intense. The program quickly progressed to “Wu Song Fights the Tiger.” Jian Xingzhi wore a tiger pelt with a tiger head, chasing and fighting with Mei Suihan on stage.

Mei Suihan chased him and beat him. He bounced around everywhere on stage.

Everyone watched with rapt attention. Qin Wanwan and Luo Xingzhou watched with fascination.

The Liu Family steward in charge of the program below rushed up the high tower and berated Qin Wanwan and Luo Xingzhou’s group: “What are you standing around watching? Fly!”

Qin Wanwan suddenly reacted and quickly stood on the high tower. Raising her hand, she strummed the pipa once and gracefully descended from the zipline holding her pipa.

According to their plan, with Jian Xingzhi and Mei Suihan attracting attention below, she only needed to slide along the zipline all the way to the courtyard, exchange identities with Cuilu, then go directly to find Liu Feishuang.

However, just as her pipa sounded and she slowly descended from the sky, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted: “Celestial maiden!”

Everyone instantly turned their heads to see a woman descending from heaven under the moon. Her upper face was covered with a silver mask, her eyes bright and moving, her posture graceful and elegant.

Soft, flowing long ribbons floated in the wind. The full moon hung high above her. In her hair was inserted a gorgeously blooming wild rose—showy and eye-catching.

Jian Xingzhi turned his head back and froze in place.

He felt this moment was like a grand and beautiful dream, with the woman in the dream floating toward him.

Qin Wanwan hadn’t expected everyone would stop watching the acts and just stare at her, but she quickly calmed down.

She glanced at Jian Xingzhi. Seeing him staring at her in a daze, she couldn’t help raising a smile. The light gauze fell down, brushing across Jian Xingzhi’s face. Jian Xingzhi’s gaze followed her all the way. He saw her spin in the air, raise her hand and scatter—then thousands upon thousands of flower petals tumbled down. Then she raised her hand and threw the wild rose toward the crowd. Everyone burst into commotion, leaping toward midair to catch the flower.

Jian Xingzhi and Mei Suihan moved fastest. The two touched their toes and leaped into midair, simultaneously raising the flower upward. The flower was thrown higher. The two raised their hands and exchanged over a dozen moves. The flower fell down again. Many young people present joined the flower-snatching battle. Someone shouted loudly: “The tiger is beating Wu Song!”

The scene instantly became chaotic. Mei Suihan grabbed the flower. Jian Xingzhi caught his wrist, twisted, and the flower fell into his own hand. In urgency, Mei Suihan raised his empty hand and struck toward Jian Xingzhi. Golden talismans flew from his hand. Jian Xingzhi met him with a palm strike. The instant the flower fell into his hand, spiritual power exploded thunderously. The two rapidly retreated.

The instant spiritual power exploded, the people beside them all froze. Luo Xingzhou anxiously spoke: “This is bad.”

“This tiger and Wu Song…”

Someone murmured: “Pretty impressive.”

“Someone come!”

Liu Zhong immediately reacted: “Chase them!”

With that, many people chased after the two.

Seeing people coming, Jian Xingzhi didn’t hesitate to turn and run in the opposite direction from Qin Wanwan. Mei Suihan also touched his toes and flew up high, fleeing everywhere in the courtyard.

Luo Xingzhou thought about it—since chaos had already broken out, he simply ran wildly all the way toward Liu Feishuang’s room.

Qin Wanwan didn’t know the situation in the courtyard. She only heard commotion from the outer courtyard. In midair, she glanced at the appearance of a sweeping woman in Liu Feishuang’s courtyard. The instant she landed, she said to the Liu Family servant receiving her: “I just dropped a pendant. Could you please help me find it?”

“Pendant?” The servant froze, then quickly turned to search. Cuilu took the opportunity to transform into human form. Qin Wanwan transformed into the sweeping woman’s appearance and silently left.

A moment later, Cuilu spoke: “I found it.”

The servant turned back. Cuilu smiled: “Let’s go.”

The servant stood up, relieved: “Good that you found it. Miss, follow us out.”

Cuilu led people away. Qin Wanwan walked into Liu Feishuang’s courtyard, then immediately transformed into the appearance of the servant who had just led Cuilu away. She urgently rushed to Liu Feishuang’s door and said to the guards at the entrance: “Something happened in the outer courtyard. The master says to quickly move the young miss to a safe place.”

Hearing the commotion from the outer courtyard, the guards didn’t doubt anything and immediately said: “Let’s go.”

With that, the guard opened the door and quickly entered: “Miss, let’s go.”

“I’m not going!”

Liu Feishuang’s voice carried a sob: “I’m going to die anyway. What’s the point of hiding?”

“Miss,” Qin Wanwan rushed into the room, gripped Liu Feishuang’s hand, and urged: “Hurry and leave. If we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late.”

“I…”

Before she finished speaking, Qin Wanwan forcefully pinched Liu Feishuang’s hand once and only said: “Doesn’t Miss remember the danger that night outside the city? Why aren’t you leaving quickly?”

Liu Feishuang reacted and stood up half-believing. Supported by Qin Wanwan, she went to another place together with the guard.

The two had just left the room when Qin Wanwan sensed something was wrong. The ground shook—it seemed something was rapidly running underground.

The surrounding yin energy grew heavier and heavier. Qin Wanwan’s instinct told her something abnormal was happening. It seemed something really was coming. She raised her hand and placed a formation array beneath Liu Feishuang’s feet.

“You!”

The guard immediately sensed something wrong with Qin Wanwan. Just as he was about to say something, Qin Wanwan said in a low voice: “Don’t speak!”

With that, Qin Wanwan took one of Liu Feishuang’s hairpins. She brought two fingers together and wiped them across the hairpin. After a talisman lit up, she inserted the hairpin into her own hair, raised her hand to stick a concealment talisman on Liu Feishuang, and pushed her to the guard: “Protect her.”

With that, Qin Wanwan leaped up. At that very instant, vines as thick as a giant dragon broke through the earth, chasing Qin Wanwan and charging straight at her. Surrounding mist filled the air. In a moment, Qin Wanwan disappeared from the spot.

Liu Feishuang stared blankly in the direction Qin Wanwan disappeared. Before she could react, a sword broke through the thick fog, immediately forcing her to retreat against the wall.

The person wielding the sword didn’t turn back. He only used the sword edge to point directly at her throat. From behind, his blue robes and wide sleeves swayed with the wind. He stared in the direction Qin Wanwan left, his voice extremely cold.

“How did the person disappear?”

“You’re the one from the forest, in the forest…”

“I’m asking you a question!” Jian Xingzhi turned and shouted.

“She…” Liu Feishuang came to her senses. She tried to calm down as much as possible. “She took my hairpin, gave me a talisman. Suddenly thick fog arose. Wild rose vines emerged from the ground chasing her. She ran into the fog…”

Before finishing, Jian Xingzhi suddenly slashed his sword toward midair. Sword light illuminated the night sky, revealing a transparent wall. He leaped in and disappeared from the spot.

Liu Feishuang finally reacted. She cried out urgently: “Save her! Save her!!”

With that, she turned back to see Luo Xingzhou rush into the courtyard. She grabbed Luo Xingzhou’s sleeve: “Luo Xingzhou, quick, save her!”

As Liu Feishuang and Luo Xingzhou rapidly notified the Liu Family, Qin Wanwan fell from the barrier and discovered she’d arrived at a separate courtyard.

This separate courtyard obviously wasn’t Liu Family architecture. The Liu Family was typical Jiangnan garden architectural style, but this courtyard was a bamboo yard. The bamboo was covered with blooming wild roses. When wind blew, the bamboo forest outside rustled. The entire house was quiet and empty—yin energy pervaded.

She should have entered an illusion. Qin Wanwan pondered. She used Liu Feishuang’s talisman to change her own aura. Now in those vines’ eyes, she was Liu Feishuang. The other party seemed to want to harm Liu Feishuang, so they dragged her here.

There was a light in the room ahead. Qin Wanwan stood in the courtyard, looking at the human shadow on the room. It seemed to be a woman. She faced the mirror, drawing her eyebrows.

“I said long ago,” that woman’s voice came from the room, seeming very far yet very near, “you cannot obtain Lin Yanzhi. Life after life, you should painfully lose your beloved and never meet a good end.”

“My elder sister has left. You don’t deserve to live.”

“Who are you?”

Qin Wanwan spoke coldly. The shadow inside seemed to have finished drawing eyebrows and put down the eyebrow pencil, beginning to press her lips with lip paper.

“Over a hundred years ago, your Liu Family wouldn’t listen to my warning. Since that’s the case,” the woman seemed to be a phantom, completely ignoring her questions. She stood up in the room, her voice suddenly becoming shrill, “then go die!”

The moment her words fell, the courtyard vines madly attacked Qin Wanwan.

Qin Wanwan leaped up. The flying sword in her hand urgently swung and slashed at the vines. The vine attacks came endlessly. Qin Wanwan dodged left and right. Her hand formed incantations. Just as the incantation was falling, someone laughed lightly.

“As I will, by heavenly spirit fire.”

Mei Suihan’s voice rang out. In an instant, heavenly fire descended from the sky, falling onto the vines. Qin Wanwan looked up to see Mei Suihan standing atop the bamboo house roof, smile on his face, but his eyes held not half a degree of warmth.

“Extinguish.”