Kong Hou, sitting in the carriage, also heard the commotion outside. She lifted the carriage curtain and stuck her head out. The troublemaker was a male cultivator at Foundation Establishment stage, dressed ordinarily, with ordinary looks, and even his voice had no distinguishing features—the type who, tossed into a crowd, could never be found no matter how hard you looked.

Many people were entering and exiting the city. As soon as the male cultivator started causing trouble, he attracted many people’s attention. Hearing about a major sect bullying people, those entering and exiting all wanted to stay and watch the excitement. Soon the city gate was blocked so tightly not even water could pass through.

Seeing the situation, the guard captain worried about a stampede accident and hurriedly arranged for guards to maintain order at the scene. There were elderly and children in the crowd—trampling or injuring someone would be no small matter.

“If you haven’t done anything wrong, why are you rushing to drive people away?” The man said indignantly. “Are ordinary people not people anymore?”

The guard captain ignored him and had guards set up a rope barrier around the perimeter: “Dear fellow townspeople, the city gate is for people to pass through. If everyone blocks it here, wouldn’t we delay others’ important business? That wouldn’t be good.” He tugged at the rope line they’d set up. “Please cooperate—stand outside this line to watch, and mind the elderly and children beside you. Don’t trample or squeeze anyone.”

Once all the common people stood outside the rope, the guard captain turned toward the man and cupped his hands, neither servile nor overbearing: “Please forgive us, Xian Chang. All who enter Yancheng must prove their identity.”

The common people watching the excitement were all outside. The man, watched by countless pairs of eyes, inexplicably felt like a monkey on stage, there for their amusement and conversation. Steadying his mind, the man snorted coldly: “All these excuses—you just want a toll, don’t you?”

“You’re such an unreasonable man. Why must you be so relentless?” Seeing these guards were all ordinary martial artists, Kong Hou worried this Foundation Establishment man might suddenly attack and injure someone. She jumped down from the carriage, bent down and ducked under the rope the guards had pulled up. The guards pulling the rope had just been about to say she couldn’t go inside, but when they saw Kong Hou leap to the guard captain’s side in one bound, they swallowed their words.

“You’ve said so much yet refuse to take out your identity token. I think the problem isn’t with these guards—it’s that you harbor malicious intentions.” Kong Hou’s face grew stern. “So many cultivators entering Yancheng have all presented their identity tokens. Why are you the only exception? Could it be…”

Kong Hou’s gaze swept over him: “Could it be you’re an evil cultivator wanting to sneak into the city to harm the people, deliberately causing trouble here to smear the reputation of rogue cultivators and sect disciples?”

“You’re talking nonsense! It’s clearly these guards who look down on people with their dog eyes, disrespecting us rogue cultivators, which is why they’re deliberately making things difficult.” No matter what Kong Hou said, the man stubbornly clung to the topic of Yancheng guards bullying rogue cultivators.

Kong Hou could almost be certain this male cultivator’s identity was problematic. In these recent days, she’d seen rogue cultivators with various temperaments, but absolutely none like this—stirring up trouble, wishing rogue cultivators and sects would come to blows. Looking at the surrounding spectators—a mix of cultivators and ordinary people pointing and gesturing at the man—they didn’t believe his words but were watching his performance.

It seemed Hefeng Studio usually enjoyed popular support. No matter how the man caused trouble, no one would believe his words. Perhaps the man wasn’t performing for the locals—as long as a few newly arrived cultivators in Yancheng believed his words, it would spread from ten to a hundred.

In this world, everything was scarce except people who believed rumors.

“Young Master An He of Hefeng Studio has arrived!”

“Where is Young Master An He?”

Hearing young girls’ voices suppressing their excitement, Kong Hou turned toward the city gate. In the sunlight, a handsome young master in white robes embroidered with gold patterns rode a black horse. The horse stopped outside the rope barrier, and he leaped off with hands behind his back, standing gracefully and elegantly. More than half the women present were watching him.

Young Master An He seemed long accustomed to such gazes. His eyes didn’t shift even slightly as he went straight to asking the guard captain: “What happened?”

The guard captain explained the whole sequence of events.

The man cursed and swore: “You have strength in numbers. I can’t provoke you. Fine—I just won’t enter this Yancheng.” He angrily turned around, about to leave.

“Stop.” A jade-bone fan, emerald green and crystal clear, suddenly appeared in Young Master An He’s hand. With a wave of the fan, the man who was about to squeeze into the crowd flew back uncontrollably and fell to the ground, rolling.

“What are you trying to do?” The man climbed up from the ground. “Don’t go too far.”

“Evil cultivators with malicious intentions—everyone has the right to punish them.” Young Master An He ignored the cursing man and raised his hand toward everyone: “I apologize. Today an evil cultivator tried to sneak into the city. I’ve frightened everyone.”

“No, no—Young Master is too polite.” Hearing Young Master An He say this, everyone thought more and more that this man was suspicious, already deciding in their hearts he was an evil cultivator. Although there was no more excitement to watch, there was still a handsome man to look at. The people surrounding them, even after the man was bound, were reluctant to leave immediately.

“This fellow Daoist is?” Only then did Young Master An He turn to look at Kong Hou, giving her a perfunctory bow with a completely flat tone.

Having long grown accustomed to Huan Zong’s peerless appearance, Kong Hou, facing An He’s handsome face, didn’t get too excited. She returned the greeting according to propriety: “This humble one was merely passing through. Farewell.”

An He’s gaze swept across her eyes: “Thank you for speaking up to help just now, fellow Daoist.”

“Such a small matter isn’t worth mentioning.” Kong Hou noticed most of these guards were around thirty years old and guessed they might have elderly above and young below, which was why she had meddled and stood here. Now that people from Hefeng Studio had arrived, it was none of her business anymore.

“Farewell.”

“Farewell.” Young Master An He watched Kong Hou jump onto the carriage, the carriage traveling far away, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

“Senior Brother.” A fellow disciple behind him said, “What’s wrong?”

“Tell me…” An He said expressionlessly, “Could that young girl just now possibly be a man cross-dressing as a woman?”

“Huh?” The fellow disciple was stunned. That young girl appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old, with a curvaceous figure and a sweet, soft voice. No matter how you looked at it, she was a genuine woman—and a beautiful one at that.

“Senior Brother, you must have seen wrong.” The fellow disciple muttered quietly, “Where would you find such a good-looking fake woman?”

Hearing this, An He’s brow furrowed even tighter. If she was a woman, why was she completely unmoved when she saw his face?

Glancing at the man on the ground, bound tightly and covered in dust, An He’s eyes showed some disdain: “Take him back.” Several similar incidents had occurred recently—this was definitely not a coincidence. Fortunately, the main sect had sent them a message earlier and they’d prepared in advance. Otherwise, if things continued this way, trouble would arise sooner or later.

Pointing at the sign hanging by the city gate, An He said: “Go back and have someone replace the bulletin board with a larger one so every person entering the city can see it, to prevent anyone from pretending to be pitiful using their rogue cultivator status.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

An He was finally satisfied. He flew back onto his horse: “Return.” He still needed to report today’s events to the main sect to avoid any oversights. He’d only recently taken over Hefeng Studio from his master. Before he succeeded as Studio Master, his master had praised him many times before Sect Master Jin of the main sect. If he couldn’t manage Yancheng and Hefeng Studio well, wouldn’t he make his master lose all face?

“Yancheng truly lives up to its name as Water City.” Kong Hou leaned by the carriage window and saw there were even arched bridges inside the city. Rivers wound through, and the water inside was very clear. In some places, signs were posted reading “Fines for throwing or dumping pollutants in the river.” Along the riverbank walked outer sect disciples of Hefeng Studio carrying nets, scooping up any filth they saw.

“The scenery here is truly beautiful.” Kong Hou turned to Huan Zong: “Huan Zong, are we still staying at an inn?”

“No need for an inn.” Huan Zong shook his head. “I seem to have a small courtyard here.” He lifted the curtain and asked Lin Hu: “Lin Hu, where is my small courtyard?”

“On East Street in the inner city. It’s been cleaned and maintained over the years. Young Master and Miss Kong Hou can move in anytime.” Lin Hu drove the horses toward the inner city. So this still wasn’t Yancheng’s most prosperous area. The carriage went up a huge iron chain suspension bridge. At the bridge’s end was a very large gate. Approaching the gate, Kong Hou sensed the nearby energy field wasn’t quite right—a defensive formation array must be set up here.

After passing through the gate beyond the suspension bridge, Kong Hou saw trees blooming with flourishing flowers. Below the road, young masters and misses chatted and laughed—it was like a paradise beyond the world.

Seeing an unfamiliar carriage enter, disciples of Hefeng Studio came forward and bowed: “Where have the distinguished guests come from? Our small city has fine wine and abundant flowers, fragrant fish and celestial music. We wish the distinguished guests a pleasant stay.”

“Thank you.” Lin Hu handed his identity token and property deed to this disciple. The disciple took them, glanced at them, and returned them with both hands, smiling as he stepped back several paces: “So you’re also a resident of our Yancheng. Please, everyone.” The address on the identity token was Peicheng, yet they also had property in Yancheng—in the most prosperous area no less. They must be quite wealthy cultivators.

Lin Hu nodded toward him: “Much obliged.”

Flower petals blown by wind entered the carriage. Kong Hou caught them with her hand, only to discover the flowers were fake.

“It’s not yet the best season for flowers to bloom fully, but because Yancheng’s people love flowers so much, Hefeng Studio uses formation arrays to create an illusion of blooming flower trees in the inner city for local residents to admire.” Huan Zong calculated the dates. “In a little while, the weather will warm up. At that time, all of Yancheng will be immersed in a sea of flowers. Since you just broke through Foundation Establishment and entered Heart Movement stage, you need to consolidate your mental state. We might as well stay in Yancheng for a while, enjoying Yancheng’s unique song, dance, and flower exhibitions before leaving.”

“Won’t that delay you too much?” Kong Hou thought of Huan Zong’s health and wasn’t quite at ease.

“What delay? Two months earlier or later makes no difference to me.” Huan Zong poured Kong Hou a cup of tea. “I also want to see what Yancheng looks like when it becomes a sea of flowers.”

“You’ve never been to Yancheng before?” Kong Hou suddenly understood. No wonder Huan Zong said he had a house here but didn’t know where it was—he simply had never come before.

“Did Senior Lin buy the house for you?” The person hadn’t come yet, but the house was already purchased—truly worthy of a wealthy Liuguang Sect disciple.

“Years ago, someone received some favor from me and insisted on repaying the kindness. I used Yancheng’s beautiful scenery as a reason and had him arrange a small courtyard for me here.” Mentioning the past, Huan Zong’s tone was very calm. If he hadn’t been annoyed by the person constantly coming to deliver gifts and preventing him from practicing his sword in peace, he wouldn’t have made such a request.

Kong Hou didn’t continue asking. She leaned on the carriage window, staring entranced at the falling flower petals of various colors. If flower trees created by formation illusions were already this beautiful, what kind of beautiful scenery would it be when real flowers bloomed profusely?

She then noticed that some people entering the city would pay spirit stones to disciples guarding the gate, while others didn’t need to. Seeing this, she secretly grew doubtful—could Yancheng really bully people of certain identities?

“Senior Lin.” She walked to the carriage door, lifted the curtain, and asked Lin Hu: “Why do Hefeng Studio disciples collect spirit stones from some people?”

“Supporting these formation arrays requires spirit stones, and Yancheng’s beautiful scenery is famous, so many people come because of its reputation.” Lin Hu explained. “Aside from local residents and people who own property in Yancheng, everyone else who enters the inner city to enjoy themselves must pay spirit stones.”

Kong Hou: “…”

This was the first time she’d learned you could earn money this way. Hefeng Studio’s name sounded very transcendent, but when it came to money matters, they calculated quite clearly.

The carriage passed through a long painted rain street and stopped outside an exquisite small courtyard. The courtyard was cleaned inside and out, and a barrier surrounded the exterior.

Lin Hu removed the barrier and pushed open the main gate to let Huan Zong and Kong Hou enter. Inside the small courtyard were pavilions, towers, lotus pools, and winding bridges—everything was present, beautiful as a fairyland. Kong Hou felt the person who had received Huan Zong’s favor must have had a very surging desire to repay the kindness.

“The main hall and side halls in front haven’t been used much. Only a few servants live in the row houses at the back. We’ll stay in the inner courtyard.” Lin Hu introduced the small courtyard’s layout to Huan Zong, the master. “Yancheng’s inner city isn’t large. Although this small courtyard is exquisite, it doesn’t occupy a wide area and has no other auxiliary courtyards. So I can only trouble Miss Kong Hou to stay in the back courtyard together with Young Master.”

“What’s the problem with that?” Kong Hou touched the carved flowers on the Nine-Twist Bridge railing. “We’re all our own people. Must we still be particular about appearances?”

Lin Hu said: “Then I’ll take Miss to the back courtyard. There’s a living spring hot spring in the back courtyard. Miss can go soak in it.”

“Good!” Kong Hou nodded repeatedly, her face beaming with a smile so bright it surprised both Lin Hu and Huan Zong somewhat.

When she was small, her father emperor was obsessed with music and couldn’t possibly take her and the Empress Mother to soak in hot springs in the capital suburbs. Later, when Emperor Jing Hong changed dynasties and ascended the throne, he would take consorts and children to the suburban palace to escape summer heat or soak in hot springs—but he never took her along. As a result, from childhood she’d heard other people say how comfortable the hot spring palace in the capital suburbs was, yet never had the chance to soak in one.

Now this small courtyard was so beautiful and even had a hot spring—it simply couldn’t be more perfect.

Arriving at the back courtyard and asking where the hot spring was, Kong Hou went over happily, leaving the master-servant pair of Huan Zong and Lin Hu staring at each other.

“Young Master, that female cultivator at Qi Refining stage who was with Liuyan Sect disciple Bian Hong has disappeared.” Lin Hu said. “Not long after Bian Hong was stripped of his status as Head Disciple, the female cultivator named Lüyao vanished. The female corpse found at Lüyao’s registered residence has been confirmed to be Lüyao herself. I suspect the real Lüyao was killed by the woman beside Bian Hong just to assume her identity and get close to Bian Hong.”

“Poor Lüyao—less than ten years on the cultivation path before dying at the hands of an evil cultivator.” Lin Hu sighed. “If Liuyan Sect and Qingyu Sect had formed a marriage alliance, it would have been good for both sects. Now after this uproar, though the two sides won’t become enemies, it’s still not like before.”

“A man who would change his heart would still change his heart after forming a dao companion bond with a woman. The dao companion ceremony not being completed is actually a good thing for that female disciple from Qingyu Sect.” Huan Zong sometimes didn’t understand human nature, yet sometimes saw through it extremely clearly. “In this matter, Bian Hong is not innocent.”

“Young Master, I understand your meaning.” Lin Hu frowned. “Evil cultivators only use these kinds of underhanded dirty methods—truly disgusting.”

“They only dare use such methods because they don’t have the courage to face us directly.” Huan Zong lowered his eyelids, his expression distant. “The evil cultivators now—their abilities can’t compare to those of the past, and neither can their courage.”

Lin Hu: “…”

These words actually made some sense. Forget it—he’d better go out and buy fish to cook for these two. Tasks that didn’t require much thinking were more suitable for him.

Kong Hou leaned against the hot spring edge, took out tea and snacks from her storage ring, cast a levitation spell on a tray, and closed her eyes to enjoy herself extremely comfortably. Wind lifted the gauze curtains hanging outside the hot spring. Flower petals created by the formation array drifted into the small courtyard. Kong Hou opened her eyes—a flying message talisman had flown in.

Reaching out to catch it, she connected her divine sense to the flying message talisman. It was a letter from her master and senior brothers and sisters. The letter was full of questions about whether she was eating well, sleeping well, and whether Liuguang Sect disciples were easy to get along with. If they didn’t treat her well, she needn’t worry about Liuguang Sect’s reputation—she should settle accounts however they should be settled.

Only at the letter’s end did they congratulate her on successfully advancing to Heart Movement stage cultivation. They especially emphasized that cultivation needn’t be too arduous—she still had many senior brothers and sisters above her bearing the weight, so she shouldn’t feel too much pressure.

Other people’s sects always worried disciples weren’t striving enough, while her sect would forever only worry she lived too wearily.

Placing the flying message talisman in her storage pouch, Kong Hou found an unused flying message talisman and began replying to her master and senior brothers and sisters. For instance, how beautiful Yancheng was, how shameless evil cultivators were, how fun soaking in hot springs was, how delicious the fruit wine she’d brought from the sect tasted when drinking it while soaking in hot springs. Kong Hou was like a village girl entering the city for the first time, eagerly sharing with her closest people the things she’d long anticipated finally obtaining.

She replied with all sorts of miscellaneous things—even mentioning in the flying message talisman how Liuguang Sect disciples were wealthier than her. Only when the flying message talisman was full of spiritual power and she could no longer use divine sense to inscribe other information inside did she take out one of her master’s hairs, activate it with spiritual power, and send the flying message talisman out.

After replying to the flying message talisman, Kong Hou climbed out of the hot spring pool, changed clothes, and went outside. A woman in green robes stood at the door: “Miss, the meal is ready. Please come with me.”

“Have Huan Zong and Senior Lin also gone over?”

“Young Master and Immortal Lin have already arrived first.” The woman turned sideways to reply, treating Kong Hou very respectfully.

However, Kong Hou stopped in her tracks. She looked at the woman: “There seems to be a formation array ahead?”

The woman paused before reacting to what Kong Hou was saying. She replied: “Because the courtyard has been uninhabited for a long time, Immortal Lin previously set up some formation arrays in the courtyard. My immortal roots are shallow and I don’t understand formation arrays, but I haven’t been harmed by the formation arrays all these years.”

“Is that so?” Kong Hou suddenly understood. “Then you lead the way ahead.”

“Miss, please.” The woman’s smile was gentle as she turned to continue forward.

However, at this moment, Kong Hou took out two protective talismans and stuck them on herself, then turned and flew away from the woman, shouting loudly: “Senior Lin, save me!” In a critical moment, nothing was simpler or faster than calling for help. She couldn’t call Huan Zong—his health wasn’t good.

In that brief instant, many thoughts had already flashed through Kong Hou’s mind.

Huan Zong was reading in his room. Hearing Kong Hou’s cry for help, he didn’t even have time to drop the book in his hands before flying out through the window.

The woman hadn’t expected Kong Hou’s expression to change so suddenly. She paused before attacking Kong Hou with a magical tool. Her movements were so fast she was like an afterimage. However, when her palm struck Kong Hou’s body, Kong Hou wasn’t injured—instead, she used this force to escape even farther.

“A backlash talisman?” The woman’s face turned pale. A sweetness rose in her throat—she was nearly forced to spit blood by the backlashing spiritual power. Seeing one strike failed, she didn’t continue fighting but turned to flee.

Fast—she must be fast. Otherwise, she would die here today.

However, her speed was still too slow. She heard the faint sound of dragon roars in the air. A silver light passed through her body, and she fell like a dropped stone, crashing heavily straight down from the air.

“My Nascent Soul, my Nascent Soul…” The woman clutched at her spiritual platform. The spiritual platform was now destroyed, and the Nascent Soul had been annihilated completely. Spitting several mouthfuls of dark blood, the woman looked back in terror at the handsome man walking toward her holding a precious sword. Her hands clawed at the ground as she crawled forward several steps.

“I beg Xian Chang to spare my life! I followed Demon Lord’s orders to impersonate servants from other sects and assassinate disciples from famous sects. This is my first time taking action. Considering I’ve never succeeded, spare this dog’s life.”

The woman’s voice became coarse and unpleasant—where was this a woman? Clearly a male evil cultivator.

Buzz.

The sword in his hand emitted dazzling bright light. With a raising of the hand and falling of the sword, the evil cultivator made no more sound.

The last drop of blood fell from the sword tip to the ground. Huan Zong sheathed his sword. After the sword disappeared from his hand, he turned to look at Kong Hou: “Kong Hou, are you alright?”

Kong Hou sat on the rooftop, pinching a backlash talisman that had already turned charred black and shook her head. After a long while, she said dazedly: “Huan Zong, that sword just now—was that your natal sword?”

The moment the sword flew out, she momentarily thought it was a divine dragon emerging from the sea. The massive spiritual pressure and sword energy almost made it impossible for her to breathe. Fortunately, she wasn’t someone who made things difficult for her own body, so she simply sat down with a thump.

“This evil cultivator was already at Nascent Soul great perfection cultivation.” Huan Zong’s face was terribly pale. “Fortunately you discovered something was wrong in time. Otherwise, you might have been injured.”

“I just thought it was strange. With Senior Lin and your personalities, you definitely wouldn’t let an unfamiliar servant woman come alone to call me. Moreover, you and Senior Lin don’t value this small courtyard, so how could you specially set up formation arrays in the rooms? You’re not that poor.” Being able to set up a barrier outside the main gate was already Senior Lin’s greatest economizing.

This evil cultivator had miscalculated the wealth level of Liuguang Sect disciples. If this were her senior brothers’ and sisters’ courtyard, even if there were formation arrays covering the ground, she wouldn’t have been suspici

ous.

So, it all came down to a matter of money.

“As long as you’re alright.” Seeing Kong Hou still had the mood to joke about him being wealthy, Huan Zong knew she hadn’t been too frightened. He smiled, covered his mouth, and coughed lightly a few times: “I’ll go change clothes.”

“Alright.” Kong Hou nodded, jumped down from the roof, walked two steps, then felt something was wrong. She turned and followed in the direction Huan Zong had left.

Walking past a corner corridor, Huan Zong released the hand covering his mouth and spit out a mouthful of blood. Expressionlessly, he took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Huan Zong!” Kong Hou jumped down from the opposite roof, angry: “You’re injured.”

“It’s not an injury. This is my old…”

“Don’t talk.” Kong Hou grasped his wrist and channeled spiritual energy into his body. Inside, spiritual energy was indeed chaotic and meridians unstable.

“When your body feels uncomfortable, you can’t just endure it.” Kong Hou glared at him, using spiritual power to help Huan Zong guide the chaotic spiritual energy. Only after her spiritual energy was exhausted and the spiritual power in Huan Zong’s body stabilized did she release her hand: “People who hide everything in their hearts are idiots. You’re not some pitiful person with no one to care for or love you. Why are you so harsh on yourself?”

Huan Zong: “I…”

“Don’t speak. Do you know how scary girls are when they get angry?” Kong Hou grabbed Huan Zong’s collar, pulled him down, and prepared to stuff a Qi Condensation Pill in his mouth.

Lin Hu, who had entered carrying fish, saw Miss Kong Hou with her hand on Young Master’s chest, while Young Master had also lowered his head. He silently stepped back.

Huan Zong turned his head and saw him standing at the second gate.

Lin Hu couldn’t help thinking he should have gone to buy another fish instead of being here.