Chapter 66

Ever since the Retired Emperor was forced to abandon the capital and head west, he had been reduced to a figurehead by the Crown Prince, who was now the reigning Emperor.

Though he retained the empty title of Retired Emperor, he was effectively placed under house arrest within the palace, forbidden from receiving visits from any court officials.

No matter how illustrious his past had been, or how widely known his romance with Consular Yang, the devastation of the An Lushan Rebellion had left the common people struggling to survive. By the time news of the Retired Emperor's death spread, the populace was already numb or responded with bitter smiles, mourning a state funeral with little genuine grief.

The only fortunate thing was that, stripped of all power, the Retired Emperor's passing had virtually no impact on the imperial court or the realm. The proper mourning rites were observed, and with the Emperor and his ministers still running the government, state affairs continued without disruption.

However, recent rumors suggested that the reigning Emperor's health was also failing, splitting the court factions wide open.

Empress Zhang headed one faction. Yet because her son was too young to contend with his elder brothers, and her repeated attempts to place him on the throne had met with failure, she had no choice but to shift her support to the Prince of Yue.

The night banquet where Zhou Lanqing, a disciple of the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven, had met his doom was hosted precisely within the garden of this ill-fated uncle, the Prince of Yue.

Another faction belonged to the Crown Prince.

While the Crown Prince enjoyed the backing of court officials, his power remained precarious. When it came to exerting influence over the Emperor, he certainly could not compete with Empress Zhang's advantage of proximity.

Thus, he was forced to seek alliances with a third power: the eunuchs.

When it came to wielding absolute power, none could rival Li Fuguo.

Occupying a lofty and influential position, he stood at the very pinnacle of the eunuch hierarchy, having even been granted a noble title and ministerial rank. At times, his words carried more weight than the Emperor's own decrees.

Li Fuguo and his faction had not originally belonged to the Crown Prince's camp. Yet Empress Zhang's clumsy maneuvers had gradually pushed them straight into the Crown Prince's arms.

In addition to these, there was yet another faction—one that stood aloof from worldly affairs, possessed extraordinary power, and was so formidable that neither side dared to offend them.

That was Grand Preceptor Wan and the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven standing behind him.

Although the Crown Prince was the rightful heir to the throne, he was merely the Crown Prince; he could not command Grand Preceptor Wan's allegiance. He could only treat him with the utmost respect and strive not to give offense.

Empress Zhang felt precisely the same way.

Yet right in the middle of this tense standoff, a disciple of the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven had been murdered—and not just any disciple, but Grand Preceptor Wan's own martial nephew.

In an instant, winds and clouds surged, turning the political landscape treacherous and unpredictable.

The pond of state politics, hardly clear to begin with, had been churned by a tempest until it was murky beyond recognition.

Xie Chang'an and Li Chengying exchanged glances.

With tacit understanding, both of their minds turned to the Heavenly Artisan Furnace.

The Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven would hardly broadcast the loss of their sect's ultimate treasure, but using the Retired Emperor's death as a pretext to conduct a thorough search of the entire city was entirely logical and justified.

For all they knew, heavy arrays might already be laid out around the outskirts of Chang'an. The moment Xie Chang'an and the Zhuque tried to flee, they would trigger the restrictions and walk right into the trap.

Oblivious to the silent exchange between the two, Minister Li muttered to himself, realizing that Li Chengying's assessment was entirely accurate. The political situation was indeed chaotic, and it had already begun to ripple through the entire city of Chang'an.

The collision of multiple factions was already chaotic enough; now that the immortals of the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven had personally entered the fray, Minister Li felt a vague sense of unease. The genuine thought of resigning from office and returning to his ancestral home with his family actually crossed his mind.

Li Chengying suddenly asked, "If they are searching the entire city, will they eventually search our estate?"

Minister Li had not initially considered this possibility, but prompted by Li Chengying, he was taken aback.

"Even if they come, it will likely be just a formality. I still retain some connections with the Imperial Guards..."

Li Chengying countered, "What if immortals from the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven accompany them and demand a thorough search? I fear Father would find it difficult to refuse."

Having spent many years navigating the treacherous waters of the imperial court, Minister Li immediately caught the underlying meaning.

"Is it inconvenient for Daoist Master Xie to have them search the premises?"

Li Chengying replied, "With a disciple dead and the culprit still at large, the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven is bound to be on high alert, suspecting danger at every turn. If they search the house and stumble upon Daoist Master Xie, who is also a cultivator, it is bound to invite misunderstandings. Father, it would be best not to let outsiders know Daoist Master Xie is staying in the Li household. We will find a way to conceal her presence; once their search of the city is over, there will be no trouble."

Just as Minister Li was about to speak, he heard Xie Chang'an say,

"It's too late."

She suddenly looked toward the outside.

"They have already arrived."

It was not just the Imperial Guards who had come, but Lord Biyang himself.

While the members of the Li family did not recognize Lord Biyang, they certainly knew of Grand Preceptor Wan.

When they learned that the ethereal swordsman standing before them was actually Grand Preceptor Wan's senior martial brother and the dignified sect master of the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven, they were utterly astounded and dared not raise the slightest objection.

Upon receiving the news, Minister Li hurried over as fast as he could. Beads of sweat dotted his brow, yet his face wore a sincere and enthusiastic smile, as if he had been anticipating this visit for ages.

"What an honor to receive such distinguished guests! My humble home is truly graced by your presence. No wonder I dreamed last night of phoenixes descending and multicolored clouds filling the skies—it turns out immortals were visiting the mortal realm! Could it be that one of the young lads in the Li family possesses extraordinary bone structure, catching the eye of an immortal?"

Lord Biyang smiled faintly, sparing words like gold, and simply looked toward the accompanying Great General of the Left Guard, Li Qing.

Li Qing enjoyed a close personal friendship with Minister Li. Hearing this, he hastily motioned for the attendants to withdraw, stepping forward to explain in a low voice: "Don't bother exchanging pleasantries just yet. Lord Biyang's immortal sect has lost a vital and irreplaceable treasure. The thief may even be connected to the demise of the Retired Emperor. The Daoist Master has personally taken the field precisely to recover this item and apprehend the culprit."

Minister Li was greatly shocked. "Could someone have actually committed such a heinous and treasonous crime?! Yet what does that have to do with the Li family? Or do you suspect that I am the culprit? Can this old and frail body of mine fly into the deep palace by night to commit regicide?"

Li Qing sighed. "No one said you did it. Why are you getting so worked up?"

He pulled Minister Li's arm aside, lowering his voice.

"The item lost by the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven is no trivial matter! Grand Preceptor Wan flew into a rage and split up with Lord Biyang to search the capital since early this morning. It's not just your estate; the maternal families of Empress Zhang and the Crown Prince have all been searched as well. We were originally heading to Prime Minister Zhang's residence, but the Daoist Master suddenly sensed something and proposed changing our route, bringing us straight here. Just let the Daoist Master walk through the grounds and take a look to satisfy him, and once the formality is over, won't that be the end of it?"

Minister Li's tone turned stern. "His Majesty's obsession with Daoism and seeking immortals is something I failed to dissuade him from—that is my dereliction of duty. But must we lose even this shred of dignity?"

Li Qing sighed, "Ah, you are always far too rigid! Isn't everyone facing the same thing? My own household will likely be searched from top to bottom as well. These immortals possess heaven-shaking methods; mere mortals that we are, how could we dare cross them? Are you going to stubbornly protect your pride while completely disregarding your wife and children?"

Minister Li's facial muscles twitched as he flicked his sleeve angrily.

"Search away, then! Search as you please! I'd like to see what on earth you expect to find here!"

Yet inwardly, he felt a flutter of anxiety, wondering if the time he had spent stalling was enough for Erlang and the others to make arrangements.

Where had things gone wrong?

Ever since he learned of Lord Biyang's arrival, Li Chengying's mind had been racing.

Even if they were searching systematically outward from the palace gates, given the location of the Li estate, it shouldn't have been their turn so quickly.

Unless Lord Biyang had detected the trace of the Heavenly Artisan Furnace.

Li Chengying's heart sank slightly.

It must have been when he placed his hand upon the Heavenly Artisan Furnace earlier, attempting to probe its secrets, only to be repelled by an unknown force within the vessel—that was when Lord Biyang had caught the resonance.

Since the Heavenly Artisan Furnace belonged to the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven, the sect master naturally possessed a magical artifact capable of tracking its resonance.

An itch rose in his throat once more, and he furrowed his brow, forcefully suppressing the urge to cough.

The group arrived at the small courtyard, and a servant of the Li family hurried forward to knock on the door.

Lord Biyang halted his steps, frowning slightly.

Reading the expression, Li Qing hastily asked, "Daoist Master, is something amiss?"

Lord Biyang remained silent.

The wisp of spiritual qi fluctuation he had tracked using the Emperor Kaihuang Astrolabe had suddenly vanished.

Just moments ago.

Had it been masked, or had the thief who stole the Heavenly Artisan Furnace simply passed through this exact location?

Naturally, there was no need to explain such matters to Li Qing.

He stepped across the threshold into Li Chengying's courtyard.

Though he did not frequently reside in the capital, Lord Biyang had heard the rumors surrounding the Second Young Master of the Li family.

It was not that he had deliberately inquired; rather, before setting out, Li Qing had briefly filled him in, terrified that Li Chengying's eccentricities might inadvertently offend the Daoist master.

A lifelong affliction of foolishness cured overnight?

Without changing expression, Lord Biyang cast his gaze upon the occupants of the courtyard.

A young master, handsome to the point of exquisite beauty, sat casually upon the steps in disheveled attire. Clasping a sketchbook to his chest, he was lowering his head to scribble and draw, occasionally instructing the maid holding an umbrella beneath a tree to change her pose.

"Hold the umbrella higher! No, no, not like that!"

"A-Jin, you're too tall, you're blocking the whole tree! Squat down quickly!"

"Forget it, forget it, just stand back up. Squatting looks so ugly!"

Noticing Minister Li and the others approaching, the maid hurriedly turned and curtsied.

Li Chengying threw a tantrum: "What are you doing?! You're not even taking the drawing seriously, I'll have you go count ants later!"

Even when a person of such extraordinary beauty displayed childishness that far exceeded normal bounds, it remained a pleasing sight to behold.

A-Jin hastened to coax him, "It is this servant's fault. This tree is completely bare right now, so it doesn't look good drawn in anyway. Why don't we go inside to draw? There are plenty of pretty picture books in the study!"

After pondering for a moment, Li Chengying shook his head. "Go fetch all the silks from Mother's room and wrap them around the tree; then it will look pretty."

Lord Biyang paused in his tracks, forcing the others to stand there awkwardly.

Li Qing nudged Minister Li with a glance: Didn't you say his illness was cured?

Minister Li sighed and lowered his voice, "After all these years of cognitive impairment, how could it be completely cured in an instant? It's just that the episodes happen less frequently!"

As a close friend, Li Qing felt deep sympathy for him.

Such a fine-looking younger son, yet cursed with this congenital affliction. Forget about marrying and having children in the future; once his parents passed away, how would he manage on his own? The mere thought evoked pity.

"Since a true immortal happens to be visiting today, why don't you beg the Daoist Master to take a look at your son? Perhaps there's a turning point!"

Minister Li hastily replied, "How could I dare bother the Daoist Master? This is simply the boy's own destiny!"

Lord Biyang walked over, stopping a few paces away from Li Chengying. His gaze swept over the chaotic, incomprehensible scribbles on the paper.

The latter raised his head, looking up with curiosity. "Who are you?"

Without warning, Lord Biyang reached out and grabbed his wrist. The movement was not fast, yet it left no room for evasion.

Li Chengying tried to pull his hand back, but failed. A look of pain crossed his face, and he shouted loudly, "Father! There's a bad man here!"

His pulse was weak and chaotic—hardly a sign of longevity, yet entirely consistent with his reputed mental deficiency.

Unable to help himself, Minister Li stepped forward. "Daoist Master, is there any hope for my son's condition?"

Before he could finish, Lord Biyang had already withdrawn his hand.

"Take good care of him."

He spoke indifferently, offering no further elaboration.

Disappointment washed over Minister Li.

Though he had worried that Lord Biyang might see through Li Chengying's feigned madness, hearing the Daoist Master speak thus indicated that Li Chengying's health genuinely suffered from grave flaws that could not be simply cured. Even without his cognitive impairment, his lifespan remained compromised.

By this time, Lord Biyang had already circled the small courtyard once, his gaze finally resting upon A-Jin.

With a light flick of his sleeve, A-Jin tumbled backward.

The opened umbrella slipped from her grasp, landing softly upon the ground.

Li Chengying scrambled up in a flurry, helped A-Jin to her feet, and glared furiously at Lord Biyang. "What are you doing? You hurt A-Jin!"

Ignoring him entirely, Lord Biyang walked over, picked up the red umbrella, and spun it around in his grip a few times.

"Where did this umbrella come from?"

A-Jin's palms were scraped from the fall, and tears welled in her eyes, yet she dared not withhold an answer. "Yesterday during the heavy snow, I was returning from outside and forgot my umbrella. This umbrella happened to be left by the roadside, and after waiting a moment with no one claiming it, I brought it back first, intending to return it today."

Lord Biyang echoed, "Picked up by the roadside?"

A-Jin: "Yes..."

Lord Biyang: "Where?"

A-Jin named a specific location—precisely the street where the Sun family residence, the site of the incident, was located.

Lord Biyang flicked his finger against the red umbrella, and with a soft *poof*, a tongue of flame ignited the fabric, instantly consuming the entire umbrella bit by bit in the fire.

"My umbrella!"

Li Chengying cried out, attempting to lunge forward and snatch it back, only to be held tightly in place by A-Jin.

"Young Master, don't go! We have even prettier umbrellas, this servant will go fetch one for you right now!"

"I don't want another one, I want that one!"

Tears brimmed in Li Chengying's eyes, his expression full of grievances.

"He's a bad man, I hate him!"

"There, there, your mother's room has nice umbrellas, Father will go get them for you."

Minister Li hurried over to soothe him as well.

Seeing this, Li Qing felt an even deeper sense of regret.

Such a handsome young master—had it not been for his mental affliction, he would have been the dream lover of countless maidens.

The umbrella was burned to ashes.

Yet Lord Biyang still felt something was amiss.

Everything felt wrong.

He had indeed detected a trace of spiritual qi upon the umbrella, but the object itself was entirely ordinary, devoid of any special attributes.

Could it be that the anomaly of the Emperor Kaihuang Astrolabe earlier merely resonated with something nearby, rather than right here?

Just then, Zhao Beiyuan hurried over.

"Sect Master, Junior Uncle Du has made a discovery! A black cat holding a cup containing Junior Brother Zhou's lingering soul was spotted by Junior Uncle Du. When the cat saw him, it dropped the cup and fled, and Junior Uncle Du is currently in pursuit!"

Lord Biyang commanded, "Lead the way."

Without another glance at the people present, he followed Zhao Beiyuan and departed directly.

Left behind to clean up the mess, Li Qing offered Minister Li a wry, apologetic smile and cupped his fists. "I was merely acting under orders. Old friend, please forgive me!"

Minister Li still wore an expression of lingering anger. "What kind of nonsense is this!"

Muttering curses, he dragged Li Qing toward the exit, shouting intermittently about lodging a formal complaint before the throne and demanding the Emperor expel the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven, finally restoring peace and quiet to the courtyard.

A-Jin's legs turned to jelly, barely strong enough to support her. Stumbling over, she bolted the courtyard doors shut, then leaned against them and let out a long breath.

"That was terrifying..."

Returning to the study, Li Chengying addressed the ancient painting hanging on the wall: "He's gone."

The woman holding an umbrella in the rain stepped right out of the painting—it was none other than Xie Chang'an.

Li Chengying let out a breath of relief as well, his tears having vanished long ago in a display of masterclass emotional control.

"Fortunately, we had a backup plan. That man is truly formidable."

The painting had been created using the Sealing Brush, the umbrella was Xie Chang'an's true form, and the Heavenly Artisan Furnace was concealed within the umbrella. It was only through the simultaneous shrouding of these magical artifacts that they had successfully evaded Lord Biyang's search.

Instead of hurrying outside to investigate, Xie Chang'an fixed her gaze upon him for a moment.

So intently that Li Chengying felt a chill run down his spine.

"What..."

Without warning, she struck him lightly across the back. He doubled over in a fit of coughing, spitting out a mouthful of dark blood.

"If there is blood, spit it out. Do not swallow it."

"I'm used to it."

Li Chengying smiled faintly; coughing up blood to this degree had long since become routine for him.

"It's a good thing the cat demon ran out on its own just now, otherwise..."

Otherwise, had Lord Biyang lingered for a few more rounds, he might well have uncovered the anomaly.

That Emperor Kaihuang Astrolabe in his hand was sharper-nosed than a hound.

Xie Chang'an said, "It was no coincidence."

Being exceptionally clever, Li Chengying grasped the implication after a moment's thought.

"The cat demon helped us on purpose?"

Xie Chang'an nodded. "Most likely."

Li Chengying grew contemplative. "He left a tracking charm, certain that we would come looking for him, while also knowing the Heavenly Artisan Furnace was in the palace, thereby indirectly assisting you in acquiring that artifact. All of this seems calculated, as if he intends to draw us into conflict with the Southern Mountain Grotto Heaven so he can reap the profits from the chaos?"

Xie Chang'an corrected, "He intended to draw *me*, not *us*. You were not included."

"And am I included now?"

A voice—exquisitely alluring yet entirely alien to the Li household—rang out.

Two furry front paws propped themselves atop the wall, revealing a fox's head that was actually speaking human words.

It bared its teeth with a sinister expression.

"Xie Chang'an, you heartless, heinous scoundrel! But the heavens have finally opened their eyes, and I've tracked you down at last. Let's see where you can run this time!"