Feng Lingshuang followed Lu Li’s back, passing through one strictly guarded palace gate after another and walking down a long, solemn palace path.
As the bright lights of Yangxin Hall finally came into view, Feng Lingshuang could feel her heartbeat accelerating.
However, her racing heart was not because she was about to meet the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom, but because of Lu Li walking in front of her.
‘Ah… Master, so close… so close…’
Looking at Lu Li’s back, Feng Lingshuang’s eyes, which were already bright, suddenly seemed to capture the stars, becoming crystal clear and sparkling with pure joy and unspeakable excitement.
The corners of her lips curled up into a sweet and slightly mischievous arc.
Feng Lingshuang followed Lu Li into Yangxin Hall, the bright light within causing her to squint slightly behind her veil.
She quickly scanned the situation inside the hall.
There was the majestic Emperor sitting behind the imperial desk and the mysterious Ghost Face Regent standing to the side.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the person.”
Lu Li spoke modestly, introducing Feng Lingshuang to the Zhou siblings.
Feng Lingshuang steadied her mind and stepped forward.
Following the etiquette of the cultivation world, she bowed toward the Jin Emperor, Zhou Ruolin, on the Imperial Seat.
Her cold voice drifted out from behind the white veil as she spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.
“Disciple Jian Mingzi of the Heavenly Sword Sect greets His Majesty, the Jin Emperor.”
Zhou Ruolin sized up the figure below—upright, possessing a sharp aura, yet completely hidden behind a veiled hat.
He spoke in a deep voice, carrying the pressure of an Emperor.
“Immortal Jian Mingzi, you may rise. Both Immortal Lu and the Regent have recommended you to me, saying your swordsmanship is superb, your heart is righteous, and that you have made significant progress in investigating the Yin Corpse Sect. I ask you, what is the attitude of your Heavenly Sword Sect regarding the Yin Corpse Sect’s intention to open the Gate of the Demon Realm within my Imperial Secret Realm?”
Feng Lingshuang straightened her body and tilted her veiled hat slightly, as if meeting Zhou Ruolin’s gaze.
Her voice was clear and firm.
“To answer Your Majesty, slaying demons and protecting the mortal world is the foundation of our Heavenly Sword Sect. The Yin Corpse Sect has acted against the natural order, desecrating the remains of our ancestors. They have already committed a great crime against the Righteous Path! Now, they even dare to attempt to open the Gate of the Demon Realm and bring chaos to all living beings. This is an atrocity that enrages both gods and men! No one in the Heavenly Sword Sect will sit idly by! If Your Majesty intends to move against them, my sect will surely draw our swords and charge through fire and water without hesitation!”
Feng Lingshuang’s answer was powerful and resonant, carrying the determination and sharpness unique to a Sword Cultivator.
In an instant, a chilling sword intent permeated the entire Yangxin Hall.
A flash of satisfaction appeared in Zhou Ruolin’s eyes.
He then asked several detailed questions regarding the specifics of the Yin Corpse Sect’s movements and the level of support the Heavenly Sword Sect could provide.
Feng Lingshuang answered them all fluently, demonstrating a deep understanding of the situation and the sect’s firm stance.
Ultimately, Zhou Ruolin was completely reassured.
He formally finalized the plan to ally with the Heavenly Sword Sect and authorized Lu Li, Zhou Ruoxi, and “Jian Mingzi” to be jointly responsible for subsequent contact with the Heavenly Sword Sect and coordination during the Secret Realm operation.
By the time Feng Lingshuang received her orders and exited Yangxin Hall with Lu Li and Zhou Ruoxi, it was already late at night.
The stone lamps lining both sides of the palace path emitted a dim yellow glow, stretching the shadows of the three individuals.
Lu Li cupped his hands toward Feng Lingshuang and said, “Immortal Jian Mingzi, the next part will be hard on you. Please contact your sect elders as soon as possible, explain the stakes, and secure their support.”
Feng Lingshuang nodded her veiled hat slightly.
“Rest assured, Immortal Lu. I will send word back to the sect immediately. This is a matter of great importance; the sect will definitely cooperate fully.”
Feng Lingshuang’s gaze involuntarily fell upon Lu Li again.
Zhou Ruoxi took all of this in, and the corners of her mouth beneath the ghost mask curled into an unnoticed arc filled with amusement and deep thought.
‘Alas… Senior Sister, oh Senior Sister. In this life, we sisters have actually gathered around Master once again under such circumstances…’
‘As expected, is this truly fate?’
The three walked silently along the winding palace path, the moonlight stretching their shadows as they intertwined and separated.
The solemnity and decisiveness from within Yangxin Hall seemed to linger in the quiet night air, weighing heavily on their hearts.
In the midst of this silence, Zhou Ruoxi’s footsteps suddenly paused.
She tilted her head, clearly receiving some kind of message from a subordinate.
A moment later, Zhou Ruoxi turned toward Lu Li and Feng Lingshuang.
Her voice beneath the ghost mask carried a hint of imperceptible helplessness.
“Immortal Lu, Immortal Jian Mingzi, an urgent matter has suddenly arisen in my mansion that requires my immediate attention. I’m afraid I cannot continue walking with you two.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Li nodded understandingly.
“The Regent has many affairs to manage; national matters should naturally take priority. I thank the Regent for your hard work tonight.”
Feng Lingshuang also nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Zhou Ruoxi’s gaze lingered briefly on Lu Li and Feng Lingshuang.
That look, separated by the cold ghost mask, was difficult to interpret, yet it seemed to carry some profound meaning.
She said no more, cupped her hands in a salute, and turned away.
Her figure quickly disappeared at the end of a fork leading to the Regent’s Mansion, her steps hurried as she merged into the shadows of the deep palace.
On the palace path, only Lu Li and Feng Lingshuang remained.
The surrounding silence seemed to deepen.
Lu Li stopped and turned toward Feng Lingshuang.
His tone was gentle and polite, carrying the distance of someone concluding an interaction.
“Immortal Jian Mingzi, it is late. Since the matters in the palace are temporarily settled, why don’t we…”
Lu Li had intended to say “part ways here,” but before those words could leave his mouth, Feng Lingshuang’s heart felt as if it were gripped by an invisible hand, giving rise to a strange sense of emptiness and urgency.
“Immortal Lu!” she blurted out almost subconsciously, interrupting Lu Li.
Her voice coming through the veil was slightly more hurried than usual.
Seeing Lu Li look over in confusion, she hurried to steady her mind and found a reasonable excuse.
Her voice regained some of its coldness, yet it still carried an imperceptible anticipation.
“The inn where I am staying seems to be not far from the Xuling Sect Inn where you are staying; both are in the east of the city. Right now, the night is deep and the dew is heavy, and the curfew is strict. Why don’t we… walk together for a while? It would be more secure.”
After Feng Lingshuang finished speaking, her cheeks beneath the veil burned slightly, fearing the reason sounded too intentional.
Lu Li, however, did not think much of it.
He looked up at the sky; stars were bright against the dark blue canopy.
The road was long, and there were many guards patrolling at night.
Walking together would indeed save them the trouble of frequent questioning.
Moreover, the other party was a talented disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect with upright character, so walking together for a stretch was perfectly acceptable.
After a brief reflection, Lu Li nodded agreeably.
“Mhm. That sounds good. Then… I shall trouble Immortal Jian Mingzi to walk with me.”
“Haha… Immortal Lu is too polite.”
Feng Lingshuang let out a secret sigh of relief, a small, honey-like joy quietly spreading within her.
Feng Lingshuang and Lu Li then walked side by side toward the palace exit along the dimly lit palace path.
Leaving the oppressive central area of the palace, the surrounding scenery gradually opened up.
After passing through several gates, they arrived at the banks of the Imperial River, which connected the palace to the external government offices and the inn district.
White marble railings stood tall, and the path beneath their feet was made of smooth bluestone slabs.
Beside them, the Jinshui River flowed quietly in the night, its surface reflecting scattered lamplights and sparse stars, the ripples shimmering.
With no urgent topics left to discuss, a subtle silence fell between them.
Lu Li walked with his hands behind his back, his head slightly tilted as he gazed at the exceptionally bright stars in the sky, thinking about the Secret Realm Trial, the conspiracy of the Yin Corpse Sect, and a series of other far-reaching issues.
The night breeze ruffled the corners of his green robes, carrying a refreshing and clean scent from him that was particularly clear in the quiet night.
Feng Lingshuang kept her head slightly lowered, her gaze seemingly falling aimlessly on the flowing river beside her.
However, the reflection in the swaying ripples did not show starlight, but rather the blurred profile of the person beside her that pulled at her heartstrings.
The smooth line of his jaw when he looked up at the stars, the way his brow furrowed slightly when he was deep in thought, and his sleeves swaying gently with his steps… every detail of Lu Li was greedily and carefully captured and cherished by her through those distorted watery shadows.
At this moment, how Feng Lingshuang wished that the road beneath her feet had no end.
Lu Li and Feng Lingshuang walked all the way in silence, neither of them speaking to the other again.
Lu Li was immersed in his own thoughts, while Feng Lingshuang was immersed in her stolen, silent companionship and observation.
The night breeze became increasingly gentle, swaying past and brushing the weeping willows by the shore with a soft rustling sound.
Everything around them seemed to be immersed in this tranquility.
Even the Jinshui River, which had been gurgling, seemed to lower its voice, turning into a gentle background accompaniment.
The conspiracies and schemes that troubled them, the heavy responsibilities of their sects, and the mists and entanglements of their former and current lives all seemed to be temporarily isolated and diluted by this tender night, becoming distant and unreal.
The bluestone path beneath their feet extended forward under the hazy lamplight and moonlight, as if there truly were no end in sight.
The passage of time also seemed to become blurred and slow, each moment stretched out and soaked in an indescribable, almost stagnant peace and beauty.
‘If it’s possible…’
Feng Lingshuang prayed silently in her heart.
She would rather the destination of this trip never be reached.
She wanted to walk like this forever, in this quiet night, by his side.
There was no need for words, no need for recognition; as long as she could feel his presence and breathe the same air as him, it would be better than everything else in the world.
However, this stolen tranquility was suddenly broken in an extremely eerie manner.
Just as Feng Lingshuang’s mind was completely immersed in this illusory peace, she suddenly noticed something wrong out of the corner of her eye.
The ripples of the river beside them—the shimmering, swaying light—had solidified.
It was as if they had been instantly frozen inside a giant, invisible piece of amber, maintaining their undulating form from the previous moment but no longer flowing.
Feng Lingshuang instinctively looked up.
The wind around them had suddenly stopped.
The night breeze that had just been gently brushing her white veil and the corners of Lu Li’s robes had disappeared without a trace.
The weeping willows by the shore remained tilted at the angle they had been blown, motionless.
The sounds around them had vanished.
The faint distant water clock, the low chirping of summer insects nearby, even… her own footsteps and Lu Li’s steady breathing beside her—all of it had disappeared.
The entire world fell into a dead silence.
Feng Lingshuang jerked her head to look at Lu Li beside her.
At this moment, Lu Li still maintained the posture of walking forward with his hands behind his back and his head slightly tilted.
His gaze was fixed on the distant stars, and his face wore a thoughtful expression.
However, his movements were completely frozen, like a statue meticulously carved by a craftsman; even the curve of his fluttering robes was solidified mid-air.
In fact, it wasn’t just Lu Li.
As far as Feng Lingshuang’s eyes could see, everything had fallen into absolute stillness.
Falling leaves were suspended in mid-air, the raised foot of a patrolling guard hung above the stone slabs, and the jumping flames in the lanterns had become static spheres of light…
Time, at this moment, seemed to have been forcibly paused by some incomprehensible power.
Only she, Feng Lingshuang, was the only existence in this frozen world that could still think and move.
‘What… What is going on?!’
Immense shock washed over Feng Lingshuang like ice water, causing her pupils beneath her veil to contract sharply.
Her blood almost flowed backward!
She had never experienced, nor even heard of, such a bizarre situation!
Was it an extremely profound magical formation?
Or was it some kind of divine technique she couldn’t understand?
Could it be… those Yin Corpse Sect evil cultivators?
Just as her mind was reeling and she was attempting to circulate her spirit energy to investigate the surroundings and find the source of this eerie stillness…
Clack… Clack…
Two sets of hurried footsteps echoed clearly from behind the corner of the palace path not far ahead.
In this eerie world where all sounds were silenced and time was frozen, these sudden footsteps sounded particularly piercing, even… carrying a hair-raising sense of mockery.
‘Wait? Someone is there?!’
Who could move freely in frozen time?
Was it a friend or a foe?
Was it the culprit behind all this?
Just what kind of powerhouse could perform such a great divine technique to freeze a master like her Master?
Alarm bells rang in Feng Lingshuang’s heart.
A strong sense of crisis left her no time to think.
Almost by instinct, her body moved like a startled bird.
She suddenly lunged to the side, quickly and lightly disappearing behind a thick cluster of ornamental shrubs by the path.
Feng Lingshuang held her breath, restraining her aura to the absolute limit.
Through the gaps in the leaves, she tensely watched the direction from which the footsteps were coming.
Feng Lingshuang’s heart pounded wildly in her chest, slamming against her ribs.
The sound was so loud it felt as if it would shatter this dead world.
Immediately following that, two figures hurried around the corner of the palace path, one after the other.
By the light of the frozen lanterns—which emitted a static glow like insects trapped in amber—Feng Lingshuang saw the appearance of the two newcomers clearly.
They were two youths.
The one running in front had a somewhat slender build and was wearing the plain practice uniform of Duanqing Peak.
His long black hair was tied behind his head, swaying slightly with his running movements.
He possessed a pair of very unique violet eyes, which were currently wide and round due to anxiety and a bit of annoyance.
His fair profile was exceptionally clear under the static light.
The other one following closely behind was slightly taller and wore a moon-white male robe of luxurious fabric.
Every movement he made carried an air of elegance distinct from ordinary disciples.
He had rare pink hair, also tied up with a male hair crown.
His pink eyes were agile but held a hint of playfulness.
He was currently panting slightly, his face carrying a somewhat defiant expression.
And these two “youths” in Feng Lingshuang’s eyes were none other than Fu Shangyu and Gu Qingying, who had previously overheard the news in the palace about the Yin Corpse Sect opening the Gate of the Demon Realm and were now heading off to report to their respective powers.