Lu Li stood tall in the front hall of the Regent’s Mansion.
Although the furnishings here were not as extravagantly luxurious as the inner halls of the Imperial Palace, they exuded a sense of restrained weight and solemnity.
There was heavy, dark ironwood furniture, and the walls were hung not with calligraphy or paintings, but with border maps and weapon racks.
The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood and a faint, metallic tang of rust, all of which highlighted the master’s special status as the one who held military power.
He did not have to wait long before a steady, rhythmic sound of metallic boots hitting the floor approached from the distance.
Lu Li looked up and saw a figure turning the corner from the inner hall.
The newcomer was clad in mouse-gray light armor that covered their entire body.
The dark plates seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
On their face was a strangely shaped Pitch-black Ghost Mask, leaving only a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes and a cold, hard jawline visible.
A faint, chilly aura seemed to swirl around the surface of the mask, twisting and isolating the person’s presence, making it impossible to probe their cultivation.
Just standing there, the figure projected an invisible pressure, like a ghostly general returned from an ancient battlefield.
“I am the Regent of the Jin Kingdom, Zhou Yan. Greetings, Peak Lord Lu.”
The figure spoke, her voice intentionally altered to sound husky and cold.
It lacked any original tone, making it impossible to discern her age or emotions.
Lu Li’s heart stirred slightly.
‘Is the Regent like this? He is unwilling to show even his true face? Is he a recluse by nature, or is there some other hidden reason?’
Lu Li suppressed the slight sense of oddity in his heart and cupped his hands in a return salute, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.
“This Daoist is Lu Li. I apologize for disturbing Your Highness’s peace so late at night, but the situation is urgent. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Peak Lord Lu is too polite.”
Zhou Ruoxi raised a hand to signal Lu Li to sit, while she walked to the main seat and sat down.
Her posture was ramrod straight, and the friction between her armor and the chair made a slight metallic clink.
“My Royal Brother has already informed me of the general situation through a Transmission. I did not expect there to be such lowlifes who would dare to use the people’s water supply to perform such sinister tricks right at the foot of the Royal City. To harm the commoners… their intentions are truly damnable!”
Her tone carried a perfectly measured amount of anger, befitting a prince who controlled the military and protected the stability of the state.
“Your Highness is wise.”
Lu Li nodded and took out the secret letter and the Deep Black Command Plate from his robes, placing them on the tea table between them.
“This is His Majesty’s handwritten letter and command plate. His Majesty’s intent is for Your Highness to mobilize the elite of the Jinwu Guard to accompany me to Zhang’s Sweet Water Shop immediately. We are to control all involved personnel and conduct a thorough search. We must find the evidence and sever this Source of Nightmares.”
Zhou Ruoxi’s gaze swept over the command plate.
She did not touch the secret letter, but simply said in a deep voice,
“I shall obey my Royal Brother’s orders. The Jinwu Guard can be mobilized at any time.”
Her tone shifted slightly as those eyes, looking out through the holes of the ghost mask, fixed on Lu Li.
“However… is Peak Lord Lu certain that the clues end with Shopkeeper Zhang and the water shop? Is there another mastermind behind them? If we act rashly, will we alert the enemy and cause the true culprit to hide even deeper?”
Lu Li met those eyes, feeling that the gaze was as sharp as a falcon’s, filled with scrutiny and inquiry.
His expression remained unchanged as he spoke frankly,
“Your Highness’s concerns are valid. Currently, the clues do indeed point to the water shop, and Shopkeeper Zhang is highly suspicious. But as Your Highness said, whether there is someone directing him behind the scenes remains an unknown. Therefore, I believe this operation must prioritize speed and secrecy. We must control everyone at the water shop with thunderous force, cut off all internal and external communication, and then conduct a detailed search and sudden interrogation. If we can pry open Shopkeeper Zhang’s mouth, we might be able to follow the vine to the melon. If there truly is someone behind him, such a move might force them to show their hand.”
He paused for a moment before adding,
“Of course, the specific details of the operation are for Your Highness to decide. The Jinwu Guard is Your Highness’s personal army. I do not dare to overstep my bounds in their deployment and command. I only wish to assist from the side and contribute what little strength I can.”
These words were spoken flawlessly.
He expressed his judgment and suggestions while respectfully returning the command authority to the other party.
Zhou Ruoxi listened quietly, the corners of her mouth under the ghost mask twitching almost imperceptibly.
‘Master is still as… meticulous as ever, and his words are so cautious.’
Zhou Ruoxi pondered for a moment as if weighing the options, then nodded.
“Peak Lord Lu’s considerations are thorough. Since that is the case, there is no time to lose.”
With that, she stood up abruptly, her dark armor clattering.
“I will immediately assemble a squad of Jinwu Guard experts to accompany us. We will proceed as Peak Lord Lu suggested — act quickly, take down the water shop first, and then plan for what comes next!”
Her tone was decisive and vigorous.
“That is excellent. I am grateful for Your Highness’s trouble.”
Lu Li also stood up, his heart settling slightly.
Although this Regent was a bit mysterious, his way of doing things was crisp and neat, without any dragging of feet.
***
Outside the Regent’s Mansion, in the shadows of a loft where one could catch a faint glimpse of the situation in the front hall, two small heads were peeking out.
Gong Shangyu lowered her voice, her pink eyes staring intently at the figure in the dark armor and ghost mask in the front hall.
“I have a feeling… that guy in the mask doesn’t look like a good person… Who wears a mask at home in the middle of the night…?”
Gu Qingying rolled her eyes at her in annoyance and gave Gong Shangyu’s arm a hard pinch.
“There you go being paranoid again! Everyone looks suspicious to you! That is the Regent! A Prince of the Jin Kingdom! The man in charge of the Jinwu Guard! What’s wrong with wearing a mask to maintain a sense of mystery? Maybe he’s just ugly and is embarrassed to show his real face! You think everyone is full of bad intentions like you!”
“Ouch! Take it easy!”
Gong Shangyu hissed in pain, shaking off Gu Qingying’s hand while baring her teeth.
“I’m just making a reasonable deduction! Look at that mask; it’s so eerie and ghostly. It’s very suspicious!”
“Suspicious your head!”
Gu Qingying whispered back sharply.
“Concentrate and listen to what they’re saying! It looks like Master is about to head out with the Regent!”
The two women quickly focused their hearing again, catching the gist of the conversation in the front hall.
“Hmph, at least he knows what’s good for him and agreed to send troops.”
Gong Shangyu curled her lip.
“But I still think this guy is weird… Look at the way he looks at Master…”
“Enough, stop talking nonsense!”
Gu Qingying interrupted her.
“Master and the others look like they’re about to leave! We have to keep up; we can’t lose them this time!”
***
Inside the front hall, the conversation between Lu Li and Zhou Ruoxi had reached its conclusion.
“Peak Lord Lu, please follow me to the training grounds to muster the troops.”
Zhou Ruoxi made a gesture of invitation, her movements carrying the briskness of a military officer.
“After you, Your Highness.”
Lu Li nodded slightly.
The two walked toward the training grounds within the mansion, one after the other.
The dark-armored figure was as steady as a mountain, while the figure in the Daoist robe was elegant and ethereal.
In the deep of the night within the mansion, they formed a strange picture.
Walking behind Zhou Ruoxi, Lu Li’s gaze inadvertently swept over her back, which was completely encased in armor and the ghost mask.
That persistent sense of oddity still lingered.
He felt as though a layer of mist always surrounded this Regent.
However, he attributed this to the other’s special status and the overly restrictive outfit, not thinking too deeply into it.
‘Perhaps those in high positions always have some eccentricities that differ from ordinary people,’ he thought to himself.
He then composed his mind, focusing his attention on the upcoming operation.
No matter what, resolving the current crisis and uncovering the truth was the most urgent matter.
Walking in front, Zhou Ruoxi felt that peaceful yet sharp gaze behind her.
Her cheeks under the ghost mask grew slightly warm.
She could only force herself to maintain a cold and murderous aura, stepping with extra force with every stride, as if trying to crush the sound of her racing heart beneath the clatter of her sharp armor plates.
‘Master… do you know how painful it is for me… to walk side by side with you yet be unable to reveal myself…?’
‘But please, wait a little longer… Soon, very soon, I will be able to handle everything and return to your side…’