“You should know about hibernation, right? When the outside world changes abruptly, many living beings fall into sleep to reduce bodily wear. Throughout the entire Middle Era, Zhu Erniang likely slept her way through it. In Beijia, plenty of greater demons are also in deep slumber, only waking once in a long while.”

“The other ability is molting.” Helian Chen smiled. “You’ve seen its molted shells, haven’t you?”

“Yes, six of them.” But now, only four remain.

“That should be its innate divine technique. I believe each molt is equivalent to being reborn, similar to an immortal’s method of seizing a new body.” Helian Chen stroked his beard. “It’s a full reset. It looks like it’s still the same Zhu Erniang, but in truth, it has been reborn several times. A method like this can’t be flawless. I suspect it has side effects.”

He Lingchuan nodded. “Yes, it said so itself. After too many molts, it’s lost a lot of its past memories.”

“Exactly, exactly!” Helian Chen lightly slapped the table. “The mystery of the womb! That’s your proof!”

Cultivators who seize bodies and reincarnate violate the natural order, so when they plunge into the womb, they must pass through a veil of confusion. If they break through it, they might still remain themselves. If they fail, all their past memories are wiped clean, and they become a blank, newborn soul.

However, the price of forcing that passage was enormous. No matter how resilient the spirit, it would be damaged, and parts would be lost. Trying to be reborn again and again through reincarnation was impossible because the next “mystery of the womb” will be even stronger. Do it two or three more times, and the original memories would be gone for good.

With all memories erased, there was not much difference from death.

Zhu Erniang losing some memories each time it molted was strong evidence that its method was essentially the same as seizing a body.

He Lingchuan felt that he had learned enough, so he rose and bowed to Helian Chen. “Speaking with you has benefited me greatly, Master Helian.”

Helian Chen stroked his beard and smiled. “You’re a good child. If you have matters in the future, come find me with A’Luo.”

For a grand apothecary like him, that was genuine approval. He Lingchuan thanked him at once.

* * *

In the northern region of the Twilight Plains, on the border of the State of Chiyan.

The inn where He Lingchuan and Li Qingge had once stayed had housed certain guests for many days now.

A man in azure clothing sat on the second-floor corridor, gazing at the distant mountains.

They had booked out the entire upper floor. Not a single idle outsider remained, leaving them free to sit and listen to the rain tapping on the eaves.

This was the boundary between the State of Chiyan and the Twilight Plains. The mountains were still half-bald, the trees looked dispirited, and the wildflowers and grasses were scattered thinly over the ground. Even in midsummer, everything looked worn and bleak.

With little vegetation left as a veil, the near view was desolate, but the distant peaks seemed broader and more boundless.

Someone came to report from behind him.

“Commander Bai, locals say that the ruins of Qianxing City showed another anomaly twenty days ago,” the subordinate said. “That day, a sandstorm swept the plains, then a torrential downpour. Several merchant caravans accidentally wandered into the Qianxing City ruins. In the second half of the night, the rain stopped, the clouds broke, and the moonlight flared bright, and the mirage appeared.”

“I’ve heard the ruins sometimes produce mirages. They’re typically harmless, with occasional shadows and old scenes.” Commander Bai asked, “What was special this time?”

“Witnesses say there were two mirages. Everyone only saw the first, namely the fall of the State of Yuān and the death of its king. But over two hours later, a second mirage appeared, and that was one that nobody had ever seen before.”

“Oh?” Commander Bai’s interest stirred. “What was the second?”

“It was Qianxing City untouched by war. The buildings were all standing. Under the moonlit night, it was very quiet, with hardly anyone around. It looked like a snippet taken from an ordinary night in the city.”

“Ordinary?” Commander Bai chuckled. “If it were truly ordinary, why would it trigger a Tianluo disturbance?”

“Lord Commander believes that this is the reason for the Tianluo disturbance?”

“Twenty days ago, the timing matches. It’s worth digging into. Besides, the Qianxing City ruins have always been unusual historically. Whatever strange thing happens there is within reason.” Commander Bai said, “Also, the Lord Cloud Envoy has marked out a very wide area, a hundred kilometers north of the border. This whole region needs to be investigated carefully.”

“This subordinate has also learned that several monsters and a few constables have gone missing within Chiyan’s border recently, also on rainy nights.”

“When?”

“About seventeen or eighteen days ago. The authorities searched the area twice, found no clues, and then simply let the matter drop.”

“Mm, it seems this place is quite a mess.” Commander Bai waved a hand and said, “Go. Find a way to gather more leads.”

* * *

The capital of the State of Chiyan.

Fushan Yue was reviewing battlefield reports from the front lines.

It was the fifth day since he had returned to the capital from Twilight Plains, and the ruler had proclaimed him Crown Prince.

With Fushan Ji gone and no longer competing with him, the State of Chiyan could only comply with the will of the gods. From this day forward, Fushan Yue had to carry out the duties of the Crown Prince, sharing the burdens of the ruler.

The situation on the eastern front was still somewhat unexpected.

As he was mulling it over, someone came to report, “A verbal decree from His Majesty!”

Hm? Fushan Yue glanced at the sky. It’s already late. My father has something to say at this hour?

Since returning to the capital, he had received several orders, but every time he entered the palace, his biological father’s response was always just two words:

“No audience!”

The ruler of the State of Chiyan had named him Crown Prince only out of necessity. The resentment in his heart had not faded in the slightest.

Fushan Yue also knew better than to act smug after benefiting. These days, he had worked hard to perform, sending regular updates on the eastern imperial eagle courier case, and constantly sending treasures and beauties to his father, trying to cater to his tastes.

Only one son remained. What could the old man really do to him? His attitude would soften sooner or later.

The palace envoy came in and delivered the decree.

It turned out that the Touring Commissioner of Lingxu City had written a letter of complaint to the ruler of the State of Chiyan, claiming the Crown Prince’s special envoy spoke crudely, behaved recklessly, and even threatened the superior envoy.

And the ruler’s message to his son was to scold him for appointing outsiders carelessly, acting arrogantly, and offending the superior envoy. “Tell the man you sent out to be more polite to the superior envoy! Don’t embarrass the Fushan Family!”

After the palace envoy left, Fushan Yue looked up at the bright moon outside the window and suddenly burst into wild laughter.

The guard beside him: “...Your Highness?”

“Zhongsun Mou thinks running to my old man to complain will help. Hahahahaha!” Fushan Yue laughed until he felt lightheaded. He grabbed the eastern front report and slammed it down on the desk. “Naive! Is it me who wants to mess with him?

“It’s Chiyan that wants to mess with him!”

Otherwise, why did the ruler only scold him lightly, and only by word of mouth?

He had not ordered the case to be stopped.

If he did not say it could not be done, then it was tacit permission.

Fushan Yue’s heart finally settled. This move of his had been the right one.

* * *

Zhongsun Mou had been busy in Baishajue for three days already.

In the account ledgers Mr. Mai had left behind, many clues pointed here. Zhongsun Mou followed the threads and peeled them apart, gradually forming a clearer picture.

He even found Mr. Mai’s residence in Baishajue—

It was an inn in the eastern part of the city.

This inn emphasized comfort. Mr. Mai had rented a room here long-term; this year was already his third year. The innkeeper remembered him well because he spent generously, paying a full year’s lodging up front in one payment, and tipping often.

However, Mr. Mai himself was still missing.

The inn said he had not returned for more than ten days.

On the third day after arriving in Baishajue, Zhongsun Mou was about to head out. While changing clothes, he casually lowered his gaze and happened to see a tiny shadow dart past.

Huh, what was that?

As a merman, Zhongsun Mou actually had two sets of eyelids. The outer layer was the same as that of a normal person, while the inner layer was specialized and transparent for viewing underwater. That inner lid also had a powerful light-gathering effect, allowing clear sight even in dim depths.

The room’s light was poor, yet Zhongsun Mou could still see clearly.

That was a tiny spider!

As he changed clothes, the spider hopped from his old garment onto the hem of his new one.

How long has this thing been following me?

Zhongsun Mou reached out to grab it. The spider snapped away like a projectile and vanished under the bed.

It’s far too agile to be an ordinary monster. It must be a monster!

“That spider is a spy!” Zhongsun Mou barked. “Drag it out!”

His guards surged forward. One flipped the bed over. Another, quicker one, slammed the windows shut and barred the door.

“There’s a crack by the bed into the wall!”

“Break it open!”

A guard reversed his blade and used the blunt end to hammer into the wall, causing plaster to scatter down.

The bricks inside were exposed, but there was no sign of the spider.

They dug out a few more and discovered a hollow inside the wall bricks. The spider had likely burrowed through and escaped into the next room.

“Enough.” They won’t be able to catch it now. Zhongsun Mou motioned them to stop, his face dark as the ocean depths.

Who had released it?

Beijia was a monster state; theft and espionage methods were nothing new.

Was it that kid under Fushan Yue?

But small things like this usually can’t stray too far from their master.

Could it be that the moment I arrived in Baishajue, someone’s already fixed their eyes on me?

They had been flipping beds and digging walls, clanging and banging like mad. Naturally, the inn staff were alarmed and came to ask what was happening.

The guards had just sent the innkeeper away when Zhongsun Mou was about to leave again, and someone else came looking for him.

Who is this blind?

Supposedly, it was an old acquaintance from Lingxu City.

The man who entered was in his early thirties, with a round face and thick eyebrows. Zhongsun Mou did not recognize him at all.

Old acquaintance? Liar. He frowned, about to drive him out, when the man bowed deeply. “This humble one greets the Touring Commissioner! My master’s surname is Cen.”

“Chen?” A common surname. Lingxu City has countless officials surnamed Chen. “Who exactly?” What kind of nobody dares play riddles with me?

“Lord Cen Boqing, eldest son-in-law of our Beijia’s Minister of Finance.”

The Minister of Finance controlled the empire’s money and grain, making him practically Beijia’s great steward. His position was enormously powerful.

“Why is Cen Boqing here?” Zhongsun Mou was truly surprised. He had dealt with that man a few times. “He’s not even from Chiyan.”

“Lord Cen has an estate in Baishajue. Every year, he brings his family here to recuperate.”

Zhongsun Mou snorted. “I’ve only been here three days. How did you find me so quickly? Did someone at my side leak word to you?”

The moment the words fell, the guards behind him dropped to their knees. “We would never dare!”

“No, no. It has nothing to do with these men.”

“Then who?” This is the State of Chiyan. How many people here even know me?

“It was Lord Cen’s attendant,” the man said with a smile. “Lord Cen and you are old acquaintances from Lingxu City. His attendant has seen you many times. This morning, when you were drinking tea at Wang Manor, he recognized you.” Then he added, “Lord Cen wishes to invite you to Tianxiang Tower to reminisce. He asks that you kindly spare the time.”