Chapter 12: Talk to the owner

“Ah, this journey was quite long. Good thing this kid doesn’t have much meat on him, or my old back would’ve been done for.”

In front of the Shangguan residence, Hu Delu gently placed Yun Mu on the ground, rubbing his aching waist and back as he grumbled.

The moon was already high in the sky.

“You, if it weren’t for the fear of sending you back too early and making that Shangguan Hongzhi suspicious, I wouldn’t have bothered enduring all this hardship for no reason… Honestly, I’m impressed. I don’t even know if it was your father or mother in your past life who met me once and latched onto me like a ghost.”

“No, to be precise, I met you out of necessity, after all, it was that little girl, the Empress…”

He paused slightly, not continuing, instead gently kicking the youth’s already healed arm and smiling cheerfully.

“Hey, my sewing skills aren’t bad at all. Although I used a bit of Yao power to finish the stitches, this clothes restoration came out pretty good… Hopefully, you’ll be smart enough not to get caught up in any slip-ups when questioned.”

In truth, with Hu Delu’s strength, he could have transported the boy from the west side of the city to here in half the time it took for a single incense stick to burn.

But after considering some necessary “eating, drinking, and entertainment” factors, he chose to take his time.

Of course, along the way, he did something proper.

This outfit was made from the sewing kit and cloth he bought out of his own pocket.

Finding a random rooftop, he used his extremely skilled sewing techniques to recreate the patched-up shirt Yun Mu once wore in his memory.

The purpose?

To prevent Shangguan Hongzhi from discovering today’s encounter between the youth and Shangguan Ce.

Being able to use the power of the stars without opening the meridian gates, nearly killing someone close to Second Turn with untrained strength—although the opponent’s carelessness was a factor—was unprecedented.

If the matter was discovered, the youth’s chances of survival would plummet.

No one would allow such a tremendous hidden risk to remain, unless he was a complete waste.

The saying “Wealth should not be flaunted; better not to stand out” applies perfectly here.

“Uh…”

“Hm? Awake?”

The voice beneath him sounded, accompanied by a faint movement.

The youth seemed on the verge of waking.

Hu Delu pulled back his foot, raised an eyebrow, and quickly slipped to the eaves nearby.

He muttered a low incantation and transformed into a grayish raccoon, flicking his tail as he disappeared into the darkness.

“What is this…”

Yun Mu instinctively raised his arm; his pupils suddenly dilated.

“Right, Shangguan Ce.”

Looking up, he saw the familiar main gate, faintly lit, with no one around.

“Weird, how did I get back here? I clearly remember nearly killing that guy.”

He shook his head hard, trying to recall what happened next.

“Uh… nothing. I have to check, or if he’s not dead, he’ll definitely threaten Grandpa Xie and the others.”

“The knife… right, hold my knife…”

He looked down, but a headache struck him—his old clothes inexplicably restored, and his right arm, fully recovered, both pressed heavily on his mind.

“I…”

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

A rough voice sounded, and under the red lantern light, a tall figure cast a shadow over him and his own shadow.

“Greetings, Master of the House.”

Yun Mu turned and bowed naturally.

“I was late returning today because I lost track of time outside.”

“Lost track of time…?”

Shangguan Hongzhi paused slightly and patted his shoulder.

“Good thing nothing happened. Come in.”

“Yes.”

The youth glanced at his boots and slowly stood up.

Images of being knocked out earlier flickered in his mind.

Was that person the Master of the House?

But… why did he knock me out?

“Yun Mu, do you know why I’m still awake so late?”

Before he could think further, the sudden question interrupted his thoughts.

“Master, I don’t know…”

“Sigh, you’re exactly like your Shizun, always so straightforward.”

The tall man shook his head.

“I came looking for you because I’m worried.”

Worried about me?

Yun Mu was slightly stunned, but quickly understood.

The concern was reasonable—this body was prepared for Shangguan Qiuyue. If anything happened to it, everything would be troublesome.

“Sorry… Master, I am foolish.”

“All right, all right, no need for such formalities. I have a good relationship with your Shizun. Her death back then hurt me deeply too.”

Shangguan Hongzhi looked up at the moon.

“I later sent people to search all around the Endless Cliff, but…”

He sighed deeply.

The sorrow on his face made the youth’s heart tremble.

Shizun…

Deep down, Yun Mu never wanted to believe Lin Xizhi was truly dead.

If asked why, he might scratch his head and smile stubbornly but earnestly.

Everyone says Shizun is dead, but no one has found her bones.

She was so powerful, able to rescue me from bad guys in a blizzard.

How could she have simply… disappeared?

If pressed further—why hold a spirit grave, offer annual sacrifices, and speak to her?

Back then, the boy would fall silent for a long moment, then answer calmly and with certainty:

I think… I probably won’t get the chance to see Shizun alive again in this lifetime.

But if there really is an afterlife, and I can see her down there, with me honoring her like this, she would smile, hug me, pat my head, and praise me for being a sensible good kid.

And if… just if she’s actually alive somewhere, and one day sees this grave I made, she’d probably be so mad she’d put her hands on her hips and scold me for being an unfilial brat.

But deep down, she’d know her little disciple has never forgotten her, and has always been a good kid who remembers her.

Yun Mu would never want Shizun to think he was a bad child.

“Master, thank you. If Shizun’s spirit is in heaven, knowing your concern for her would surely bring her joy.”

“Eh, you flatter me.”

Shangguan Hongzhi waved his hand and patted Yun Mu’s shoulder again, this time with gentler strength.

He handed him a finely made outer robe of good fabric.

“Go see her. That girl has been mumbling your name ever since she woke, refusing to stay in the Main Courtyard… stubborn as ever, not even my words as her father work.”

His tone was affectionate yet helpless. He nodded toward the side courtyard and gave Yun Mu a gentle push.

“A woman’s hard to keep at home… hurry along. Remember to give her this robe; the night’s chill is biting.”

“Yes, Master.”

Yun Mu bowed deeply, clutching the soft, cool robe, and turned toward the dark, silent side courtyard.

Shangguan Hongzhi remained where he was, watching the slender figure disappear into the shadow under the porch.

The feigned kindness and sorrow on his face quickly faded, replaced by his usual deep, cold demeanor.

He didn’t leave immediately but turned sharply, his gaze piercing the shadow where Hu Delu had just disappeared.

Then he silently pushed open the side door.

From the shadows within, as if seeping silently from the ground, several black figures appeared.

Two of them were carrying a limp, almost lifeless youth—none other than a mentally shattered Shangguan Ce.

“Ce’er, did you complete the task I gave you?”

“Task… task… what task was it…”

Shangguan Ce’s face twisted grimly.

His lifted arms suddenly dropped, and he collapsed onto the ground, clutching his head and trembling all over.

“Task, task… my task was… task…”

Seeing his strange behavior, Shangguan Hongzhi remained calm.

A domineering star force instantly enveloped the disheveled youth on the ground.

He paused briefly, then looked to the black-clad men.

“When you found him, could you tell who injured him?”

“Reporting to Master, we found Young Master Ce in a small alley in the west civilian district during a mission. At that time, he was already—”

“Useless!”

He kicked Shangguan Ce hard, sending him crashing into the opposite wall.

The heavy impact shattered the wall with a loud crack, and a muffled groan sounded.

The usually overbearing Shangguan family heir had fainted.

“You two, take him inside and treat him with the best medicine. Whether he can return to normal depends on his own fate.”

“Yes, Master.”

“As for the rest of you, follow me to the west side of the city to make arrests. I have no patience to wait for you to find any more clues.”

As he spoke, the black-clad men vanished into the shadows like phantoms, leaving no trace.

Shangguan Hongzhi slowly raised his right hand.

On his palm, a pure, almost otherworldly white thread of energy had quietly formed.

His fingers twitched slightly, and the thread silently dissipated as if it had never existed.

“There are Yao Zu in this city… that’s a bit unexpected.”

With a sudden powerful step, he leapt into the air.

His destination: the west side of the city.