"Who exactly are you? Why have you saved me twice? What is your true purpose? Just tell me what you want."
In a dilapidated house on East Street, Shen Zhao and Ji Bingyan stared at each other.
After Shen Zhao rescued her from the Warm Fragrance Pavilion, he had brought her here.
She had expected him to take advantage of her, but to her surprise, this "Chu Liuxiang" had made no improper moves.
This gradually eased the tension in Ji Bingyan's heart.
After nearly three hours, the effects of the Ten Fragrance Tendon-Softening Powder wore off. Ji Bingyan immediately sprang to her feet, her posture defensive, and glared at Shen Zhao with intense hostility.
Shen Zhao rubbed his nose. "I told you it was just a coincidence. Helping you was a simple act."
"A simple act? To save me, you risked offending the Dragon Han Empress and put your life on the line. Your 'simple act' sure is quite ambitious."
"I'm not from the Central Continent. I'll be gone after I finish what I need to do. What can the Dragon Han Empress do to me? Once I leave the Central Domain, her power means nothing."
Seeing Shen Zhao's utter disregard for offending the Dragon Han Empress, Ji Bingyan couldn't help but look at him with a newfound respect.
"You seem to have recovered. Seeing you so lively, I assume you're fine. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now. Farewell."
"Wait."
"What is it?"
Ji Bingyan watched Shen Zhao's retreating back and finally whispered, "Thank you."
"Ha, take care."
Shen Zhao didn't linger, immediately using his lightness skill to leap into the vast night and vanish.
Hu Yushu waited for a long time outside the Wind and Rain Pavilion's secret passage.
When Shen Zhao arrived, she immediately greeted him, "Fellow Daoist, is the matter settled?"
"Yes. Is the Pavilion Master here?"
"The Pavilion Master has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me, Fellow Daoist."
Following the familiar routine, Shen Zhao was blindfolded and taken through a series of twists and turns to Ying Zhaoyun's chamber.
Inside, the zither music still played, but compared to two days prior, a subtle hint of hostility now permeated the melody.
Shen Zhao frowned. With his max-level talent for music, he immediately sensed Ying Zhaoyun's agitated state, a flicker of wariness rising in his heart.
"Yushu, you may withdraw."
"Yes, Pavilion Master."
The moment Hu Yushu left, the zither music abruptly stopped.
Ying Zhaoyun slowly emerged from behind the screen. Through the eyeholes of his butterfly mask, Shen Zhao could clearly feel a sharp, menacing aura.
"The Pavilion Master seems to be in a bad mood. Did something happen?" Shen Zhao broke the tense atmosphere.
"Today, we received word that the court has dismantled two of the Wind and Rain Pavilion's strongholds in the northern part of the Celestial Dynasty. Do you think I could be in a good mood?"
"The Wind and Rain Pavilion's very existence threatens imperial authority. Such events were inevitable. I assume the Pavilion Master had some mental preparation for this?"
"Of course you wouldn't understand this heartache of loss—it wasn't your own creation."
"Investment always involves risk. There are no guaranteed profits. The Pavilion Master's fortitude still needs strengthening."
"Enough of that. Did you truly retrieve the Seven-Colored Cloud Gu?"
"Naturally."
"I'd like to inspect the goods."
"And the item I requested?"
Ying Zhaoyun produced a jet-black, goose-egg-sized stone.
"The Heaven-Burning Divine Stone is here."
Shen Zhao frowned and examined it closely. It was indeed the same divine stone he had obtained in his previous life. He then retrieved the storage pouch containing the Seven-Colored Insect Gu.
"Here is what you asked for."
"You really obtained the Seven-Colored Cloud Gu?"
"The Pavilion Master can verify its authenticity for himself."
With the transaction confirmed, the exchange was immediately completed.
Ying Zhaoyun smiled. "I never expected you to be so capable. You eliminated the Poison King Valley, which had plagued the Imperial Court for years, in just two days. You truly are remarkable."
Shen Zhao tucked away the Heaven-Burning Divine Stone, unfurled his folding fan, and chuckled. "You flatter me, Pavilion Master. Since our transaction is concluded, I'll take my leave if there's nothing else."
Ying Zhaoyun: "There's no need to rush, sir. The Seven-Colored Cloud Gu is far more valuable than the Heaven-Burning Divine Stone, so I'd like to offer you an additional piece of information as a bonus."
"What information?"
"You caused a great disturbance today; the Dragon Han Empress won't let this matter rest."
"Haha, thanks for the warning."
"Aren't you afraid?"
"What is there to fear?"
An eerie silence fell over the room.
After a long pause, Ying Zhaoyun slowly said, "Then I wish you good luck, Yushu, see our guest out."
"How utterly baffling."
Shen Zhao froze for a moment before leaving the Wind and Rain Pavilion.
***
In the dead of night, Yanhuang City, stripped of its daytime clamor, grew quiet and serene.
Walking through the narrow streets and alleys, Shen Zhao pondered his next move to uncover the connection between Di Feijing and the Xiongnu.
Before he knew it, he had turned into a secluded alley and rounded a corner.
A chilling killing intent struck him like a cold blade.
Before him crouched a woman holding a lantern, burning paper money in a brazier.
Under the flickering candlelight, her face was radiant and beautiful, yet utterly expressionless.
Shen Zhao closed his fan and approached her slowly.
The woman didn't look up, continuing to methodically feed paper money into the brazier, watching it turn to ash.
As they passed each other, she spoke.
"Young sir, wandering these hidden alleys so late at night, aren't you afraid of encountering ruffians?"
Shen Zhao stopped and turned his head slightly.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking that? Why is a young lady like you out alone at this hour? Aren't you afraid of being harmed?"
"I'm waiting for someone here."
"Who?"
"Chu Liuxiang."
"Ha! What are you waiting for him for?"
"Why don't you take a guess?"
Shen Zhao propped his fan against his head.
"A woman waiting here in the dead of night can only have two reasons: either she's meeting a lover, but since I have no connection with you, that's unlikely.
That leaves the second possibility. Your cold demeanor and the murderous intent hidden in your eyes suggest you're here to take my life. Am I correct?"
The girl finished burning the last paper offering, then rose and turned her back to Shen Zhao.
"You guessed right, Chu Liuxiang. But do you know why I want to kill you?"
"I'd wager it has something to do with Di Feijing. Am I right, Dragon Han Empress, Song Yanran!"
As he spoke, Shen Zhao unfurled his fan, ready to defend himself.
"Clever. You're the first person to remain so calm after learning my identity."
"Your praise is undeserved, Empress."
"I'll give you one chance to live. If you sincerely kneel before Prince Jing and beg for forgiveness, I might spare you.
Otherwise, those paper offerings I just burned are merely preparations for your journey to the underworld."
Shen Zhao sighed softly and shook his head helplessly.
"Ah, if only you'd told me this earlier, Empress."
"What do you mean?"
"When I beat Di Feijing, I swore a solemn oath in front of everyone inside and outside the Warm Fragrance Pavilion."
"From now on, I'll beat him every time I see him. A gentleman's word is as binding as four horses can't pull back. I don't consider myself a good person, but I always keep my promises."
Song Yanran's lips curved slightly. "It seems you're determined to drive yourself to your doom."
"Doom? Empress, have you ever heard the saying?"
"What saying?"
"There's no path that leads to death without a way out. When you're pushed to the brink, you'll find a way to survive."
"Is that so? Then today, I'll test whether this 'way out' truly exists and how you plan to survive by being pushed to the brink."
As she spoke, the lantern in Song Yanran's hand whirled, emitting waves of spiritual light.
Within moments, a barrier was cast over a hundred-mile radius.
Simultaneously, their surroundings shifted abruptly, space twisting as they found themselves on a precipitous cliff.
"A realm of consciousness?"
"You're knowledgeable."
With a backhand strike, Song Yanran unleashed a boundless aura of Daoist principles and laws, surging toward Shen Zhao's back.
Shen Zhao had anticipated this. The instant she moved, he stepped into the void, executing the Water-Wind Stride to swiftly evade the attack.
He spread his hands and unleashed the Flicking Finger Divine Art.
Song Yanran didn't dodge. The finger energy struck her three-foot-thick Protective Qi barrier but failed to make the slightest ripple.
However, Shen Zhao's true intent was to create an opening. After feinting with a few more flicking fingers, he immediately leaped into the distance and fled.
"How dare you profane the Emperor's majesty? Chu Liuxiang, pay with your life!"
Song Yanran would never let Shen Zhao escape. She transformed into a beam of light and gave chase.
Between the sheer cliffs and precipices, the two figures raced one after the other, the pursuer and the pursued.
"Come and catch me if you can! If you do, I'll let you... hahaha—!"
Shen Zhao's mocking voice echoed through the mental realm.
"Chu Liuxiang, don't let me catch you! If I do, I'll make your life worse than death!"
"Then try and catch me first."
-----------------------
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