Seeing Meng He Ze in such a state, Ji Chen knew that if he were to find Wei Ping at this moment, a fierce battle would be inevitable.

Both sides were brothers, and he was unwilling to see either hurt:

“It truly wasn’t his fault. When you were away, he devoted himself to protecting Brother Song with all his heart. The defenses of Thousand Canals District were strict. It’s just that the assassin was too cunning! Look, everyone has endured this ordeal together, and we’re even more united than before.”

Xu Kan Shan and others hurriedly intervened, speaking up for Wei Ping.

“Senior Brother Song has already awakened and his body is unharmed. It’s too late today. Let’s meet Senior Brother Song and General Manager Wei tomorrow morning.”

“General Manager Wei has been busy inside and out. It hasn’t been easy for him.”

As the cold wind blew, Meng He Ze’s mind cleared somewhat.

On this journey away from home, he had experienced many storms and his character had become more steady than before. When he first heard that Song Qian Ji had been assassinated, he had lost his composure.

With Ji Chen blocking him, he was destined not to see that fellow Wei Ping tonight. It was better to take a step back first.

“What are you all rushing for? I wasn’t planning to cause him trouble.”

After speaking, he lifted the carriage curtain and helped four elderly people down: “These are my parents, along with our family steward and cook. From now on, they’ll live in Heavenly City. Father, Mother, these are all my friends.”

Everyone welcomed them warmly, and the tense atmosphere instantly dissipated.

When Meng He Ze’s family members alighted from the carriage, they appeared slightly uneasy, standing behind their son: “Zheng Xian, so this is Thousand Canals County? Where is that Senior Brother Song you mentioned?”

“Senior Brother Song is at the Immortal Official Mansion in Heavenly City.”

The four were surrounded by everyone with greetings, and they gradually realized that these immortal elders and masters were no different from ordinary people, not as lofty as those they had met before and gradually relaxed.

The Meng family household had dozens of members and was counted among the great houses of Green Deer County. Years ago, when the Hua Wei Sect came to recruit outer disciples, Madam Meng had not wanted Meng He Ze to go “test his spiritual roots.”

Who would have thought that Meng He Ze would climb over the wall and run away, registering himself, and pass the test immediately.

The whole city was shocked, all saying that the Meng family had a son, named He Ze with the courtesy name Zheng Xian, a dragon among men, who was going to learn that “immortal, mountain-moving, sea-filling” great skill.

The Meng family held three flowing banquets in succession, with grand pomp and circumstance.

Only Madam Meng asked the elder who was recruiting disciples: “Immortal Master after my son enters the immortal gate, can he still return home to stay for a few days?”

The elder sternly warned: “Immortals and mortals are different. If he cannot sever worldly ties, it will only delay his immortal path! Don’t entertain such thoughts!”

Old Master Meng comforted his wife: “This child Zheng Xian has been clever since childhood. Before, when we met a traveling law master, he gave him a string of spiritual jade prayer beads and also said he had the roots of wisdom. It seems he is destined to be different from ordinary people!”

Though he said this, his eyes still contained tears.

Before leaving, Meng He Ze was radiant with pride: “Who cares about the difference between immortals and mortals? Once I enter the inner sect and become a true immortal master, I’ll return home in glory!”

The recruiting elder’s eyes were cold: “After cultivating immortality, you will remember nothing.”

Meng He Ze’s return home this time was beyond the Meng family’s expectations. Old Master Meng and Madam Meng wept with joy upon seeing their son. The steward and cook were a married couple with no children of their own, who had spent most of their lives in the Meng household and regarded Meng He Ze as their son.

The four packed their belongings, willing to go anywhere. The other cousins, maids, and servants were reluctant to leave their homeland and feared changes. Old Master Meng did not force them and generously divided the family property.

The newly arrived outer disciples had reddened eyes and were quietly sobbing.

Zhou Xiao Yun asked with concern: “Did you suffer on the journey? I know some medical skills. If anyone is injured, come let me take a look.”

The disciples shook their heads: “No matter how difficult, we’ve made it through. Now that we’ve reached Thousand Canals, we’re not afraid anymore.”

Someone said: “It’s just seeing Senior Brother Meng with his parents that makes us homesick for a moment.”

“What’s so difficult about that?” Zhou Xiao Yun smiled: “Senior Brother Song said before that anyone with family members still living could bring them to Thousand Canals. It’s entirely voluntary.”

But the young disciple hesitated: “But the sect elders said that if one seeks immortality, one must first sever worldly ties.”

Zhou Xiao Yun disdainfully said: “We disciples of Song Academy don’t do that. Those cultivators born into true cultivation families practice at home from a young age, then leave home to apprentice, but their masters never make them ‘sever worldly ties.’ A clan with hundreds or even thousands of people—I’ve never heard that when someone’s cultivation becomes high, they cut off relations with anyone. Instead, they help each other and share resources.”

“Yet they tell disciples of mortal origin to ‘sever worldly ties to achieve the great Dao’ and ‘the sect is your only home.’ What kind of reasoning is that? Is it just because their relatives are cultivators and our relatives are mortals?”

The newly arrived outer disciples gasped repeatedly, extremely surprised.

Someone said: “Sister, I’ve never heard such words before. But thinking carefully, they make sense.”

Zhou Xiao Yun smiled: “Once you’ve entered Thousand Canals, there are many things you’ve never heard before.”

Ji Chen quietly instructed Xu Kan Shan and others:

“I’ll trouble you here. I need to find Brother Wei and warn him, so he can lay low for a while.”

Senior Brother Meng had high prestige, and General Manager Wei had good relationships with people, but the two didn’t get along.

“You go quickly. We’ll keep an eye on Senior Brother Meng here.”

Ji Chen sought out Wei Ping through the night, imagining himself as a hero with an important mission, maintaining the unity and stability of Thousand Canals.

Wei Ping was easy to find; if not at Song Academy, he would be at various border defenses, temple prisons, and other places.

Because he had to coordinate and arrange matters, someone would always have seen the busy General Manager Wei.

Tonight was unexpected—it seemed as if Wei Ping had vanished into thin air and didn’t respond to message talismans.

“Didn’t he go to Song Academy to make a midnight snack?”

“Didn’t he go to the Poison Miasma Forest area?”

“Isn’t he at the Temple Prison?”

Ji Chen inquired everywhere but received only questioning in return.

When he stood on the main street of Heavenly City, facing the vast night and taking out his formation disk, his feelings were indescribable.

“Only when tracking down enemies would one use formations. Brother Wei, forgive me…”

Wei Ping was abnormal tonight—he was hiding something from him!

…

After settling his family, Meng He Ze climbed over the wall just as he had done as a child.

The formations of the Immortal Official Mansion and Song Academy did not prevent him; he could push open the door at any time.

The Vermilion Gate was still the same Vermilion Gate, and Song Academy was still the familiar Song Academy.

The moonlight was like yesterday’s. When he left, the plum blossoms had not yet bloomed; upon his return, the plum fragrance filled the garden.

Before the joy could reach Meng He Ze’s brows, he suddenly heard a song floating with the night wind and plum fragrance.

The completely unfamiliar aura made him frown.

A lamp was lit on the stone table in the courtyard, with a dim fire glow in the winter night.

That person wore an outer robe embroidered with a hundred flowers, actually sitting in Song Qian Ji’s rocking chair, leaning against Song Qian Ji’s cushion, with a frail little cat curled up on his lap.

He closed his eyes and crossed his legs, lightly tapping the armrest with one finger as if keeping time, humming languidly:

“White blade avenges injustice, yellow gold spills what is and is not, killing in the red dust world, repayment comes in an instant…”

Meng He Ze didn’t understand music, but that voice was deep, clearly that of a rough man.

Like carrying a cold blade on a snowy night, killing in ten steps—truly a murderous aura.

This person was dangerous.

His right hand instinctively gripped the cold sword hilt.

Just as he was about to step forward and question, he heard the melody change, transforming into a tender female voice:

“I only thought iron wealth was destined for life, who knew life’s calculations would be clear in an instant? Think of those years when I could pamper myself and act willfully, now today I don’t have to remember the past…”

Such a high, thin voice came from the same person!

Like a delicate beauty sighing about falling into the mortal realm, trapped in fate’s cage, only able to recall past glories.

Meng He Ze’s brow furrowed even deeper.

How could there be such a chaotic person in the pure place of Song Academy, singing such a disorderly song?

Where had that bastard Wei Ping gone? What kind of steward was he?

Lan Fei Yuan didn’t need to open his eyes to sense a visitor, but he was too lazy to pay attention.

Today he had figured out the situation. As long as Song Qian Ji didn’t let him die, no one in Song Academy could kill him.

It was meant to be a prison, yet it was safer than his own home.

But the visitor’s aura leaked out, with a fierce presence.

The earth-yellow kitten made a whimpering sound in its throat, its spine arched, fur standing on end. Its eyes were round and wide, baring its teeth and showing its claws, warning the visitor with a ferocious appearance but timid heart.

Lan Fei Yuan stopped singing and squinted at the sword-wielding youth: “In the middle of the night, whom are you looking for?”

The young man was handsome, solidly built, bathed in moonlight as he stood under the flower trellis, staring at him without moving.

Like a black panther gathering strength.

Lan Fei Yuan thought to himself, a Foundation Building realm kid on the verge of breaking through to Golden Core dares to display his pressure before me, showing off.

When Meng He Ze heard him ask “Whom are you looking for,” all the blood in his body rushed to his head. What kind of thief dared to usurp the nest, turning host into guest?

He coldly said: “This is Song Academy. And who might you be?”

Lan Fei Yuan thought for a moment, then grinned.

He knew who this person was now.

After receiving the assassination commission, he carefully investigated everyone around Song Qian Ji—their backgrounds, experiences, combat power, and killing techniques.

He had thought this intelligence was now useless, but at this moment he was extremely grateful—he knew clearly how to use just one sentence to make the visitor instantly lose his rationality:

“Looking for Song Qian Ji, right? He’s in the back kitchen brewing medicine for me. You might as well come back tomorrow as a guest.”

“Zing!”

Sword light broke through the night!

Plum blossoms shattered, and the cat leaped in fright!