A white light and a gray shadow danced and spiraled along the palace walls. Moments later, eerie splatters of blood dyed the golden walls crimson. With a piercing scream, the illusory gray shadow burst through the wall.
The white light contracted, the luminous curtain resumed a human shape, and the unblemished black robe of the Xuan Nu (Mysterious Lady) gracefully gathered as she moved. Her elegant figure set the space spinning around her, and in an instant, she soared after the fleeing shadow.
“Boom—” palace walls collapsed, dust filled the sky. Until the two vanished, the deafening clash finally broke through the space filled with Daoist magic, shaking the entire palace like an earthquake, causing instant chaos.
“Hu…” heavy footsteps surged in from all directions. A group of thunder-and-fire Taoist priests rushed forward first, only to find their sect leader lying motionless in the rubble, not moving a muscle, his life status unknown.
Chaos reigned throughout the palace. Thinking quickly, everyone reached the same conclusion: it must have been a demon invading the palace, and the national master had bravely fought the demon, suffering grave injuries.
“Search! Tear the palace apart for me!”
The old emperor was so furious he trembled, his imperial countenance enraged. Instinctively, he edged closer to the cultivators.
With such a serious situation, naturally the Beigong father and son would not be absent. While others bustled about, the frowning young master stood with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes slightly closed, seemingly deep in thought.
Moments later, while the top investigator of Aolai Country was still searching the rubble for clues, the false young master suddenly opened his eyes, pushed off hard against the ground with his long legs, and like a female panther, swiftly leapt forward to the side.
“Huh? Master he…” the Three Hawks and Ten Guards were puzzled, glancing at Beigong Zheng’s retreating figure before turning back in confusion toward their senior apprentice brother.
“Follow him!” The Marquis Beigong’s eyes flickered with a barely noticeable emotion. The famed Yin-Yang Divine Detective leapt into the air first.
About a mile from the ruins, still within the palace grounds, the two figures were running faster than human comprehension. To the palace eunuchs and maids, it felt like a sudden cold gust of wind had appeared from nowhere, then vanished in an instant.
“Daring San, you cannot escape. Leave your head behind!” The white light suddenly accelerated and finally blocked the gray shadow’s path. The deep, calm beauty of the Purple Mansion’s Holy Maiden’s eyes finally rippled with emotion.
“You and I have no enmity or grudge. Why must this be?” At this moment, Qiao San’s clothes were soaked in blood, his injuries worsening. Even though his Ten-Yang Body was extraordinary, he could not escape his powerful pursuer within such a short time.
“Sorry, but the Xuan Nu needs the Nine-Heaven Xuan Fire Pill, so I must inconvenience you.”
Perhaps moved by a flicker of guilt, the Xuan Nu unusually spoke more than usual. She then raised her jade knife with her right hand and lifted her jade bracelet with her left, ready to “borrow” Daring San’s head.
“The Xuan Fire Pill—you mean that Spirit Flame Sacred Pill?! Sigh…”
Qiao San finally understood his own value and the pill’s importance. If it had drawn the attention of the Purple Mansion’s Holy Maiden, it was naturally extraordinary.
“Wait… wait!”
Qiao San waved both hands frantically, slowing the Xuan Nu’s deadly strike while humbly pleading, “The sheepskin… hehe, I’ll give it to you. Why must a life be taken? Don’t immortals value human lives? I am just an ordinary person! Hehe… Or, I can even help you steal that Sacred Pill!”
He was truly a rogue. Words that heroes and chivalrous men would disdain flowed effortlessly from his mouth, natural and without a hint of shame.
“Sigh… the Xuan Nu does not wish to take a life either.”
The Purple Mansion Holy Maiden’s eyes flickered with reluctant resolve. Before joy could reach Qiao San’s face, the beautiful fairy plunged him back into despair.
“The heavenly law dictates that the celestial realm must maintain harmony with the human world. Therefore, the Xuan Nu can only exchange the Sacred Pill with the ruler of Aolai Country, not steal it. Do you understand? If you do, please offer your head!”
“Damn it!” Qiao San cursed inwardly, realizing this involved “celestial diplomacy.”
What nonsense! They wouldn’t bully the earthly court but chose to oppress an ordinary, powerless civilian like him.
What kind of heavenly law was this?!
The jade bracelet’s glow locked onto Qiao San’s figure, its powerful suction preventing escape. Severely injured and in danger, Qiao San bitterly wondered if he could grow a new head if his were severed.
“Demon! Daring to wreak havoc in the palace! Take this arrow!”
A sharp shout and a fierce gust rang out simultaneously. The Demon-Exterminating Bow’s glow aimed directly at the demoness—the Xuan Nu—clearly a mistaken identification by Beigong Zheng.
“Zheng, stop!” Beigong Hou’s eyes were sharp and his mind clear, but unfortunately, his warning came too late. The invisible arrow had already left the bowstring.
Beigong Zheng’s strength naturally could not harm the Xuan Nu of the Purple Mansion. The immortal maiden twirled her jade knife, instantly dissipating the invisible arrow. However, in that instant, Daring San vanished again.
“My son acted rashly. Please, Immortal Lady, do not punish him. I am Beigong Ping of the Chen Yuan Sect, humbly greeting you…”
Marquis Beigong flashed forward to block in front of his son, bowing respectfully. Before he could finish speaking, the Xuan Nu’s figure had already dissolved into nothingness, leaving only a calm celestial voice on the wind: “I am a disciple of the Purple Mansion. Fellow Daoist, please return!”
Beigong Ping couldn’t help but inhale sharply. Purple Mansion Mountain was the supreme holy land in cultivators’ hearts. With the Xuan Nu’s decree, he and the others naturally ceased pursuit.
The astute Marquis Beigong looked deeply at Beigong Zheng. After a brief pause, he sighed helplessly, “Zheng’er, your master sent word yesterday. Your senior apprentice brother Chi Ya and two grand-elder uncles have descended the mountain. Go to the Pavilion Ten Miles Outside the City to greet them. Remember, do not return until you’ve met them!”
“Father!” Beigong Zheng saw hidden reprimand in his father’s eyes, along with deep concern and care. His eyes grew hot, his heart in turmoil. Suppressing his objections, the false young master left the palace with the Three Hawks, carrying his troubles and contradictions, stepping away from the scene of chaos.
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