Baili Gelin pushed aside the dense foliage before her, squinting to gaze at the distant Prince Ying's mansion in the night. Numerous guards patrolled the perimeter with lanterns, but the once densely woven Spiritual Qi Net that had enveloped the mansion was now gone. She was taken aback.
Had something happened in the mansion in just a few short days?
To infiltrate the mansion unnoticed, she and Lu Li had racked their brains, preparing numerous tools to deal with the intricate Spiritual Qi Net. Yet now, all their efforts seemed wasted.
Lu Li gestured to her, and Baili Gelin immediately understood, tossing out Talisman Paper. Instantly, tiny green monsters swarmed over their bodies, concealing all traces of spiritual energy fluctuations.
"Rescuing them comes first. If we encounter that prince, don’t engage recklessly. As long as we’re alive, there’s always a way."
He whispered the reminder.
He had repeated this over ten times already on their way here. She never realized Lu Li could be so nagging before. Baili Gelin threw out her Mystic Sword. Since Demon Manipulation would be too conspicuous and easily detected, they had specifically switched to swords for Flying on a Sword. They soared swiftly into the mansion, only to find it pitch-black inside, with not a single light in the courtyard where Ji Tongzhou resided.
She couldn’t sense Ji Tongzhou’s spiritual energy fluctuations—was he not here? Baili Gelin’s heart tightened. If he wasn’t here, had he taken her sister and Ye Ye away as well?
Seeing a group of lantern-carrying guards approaching, Lu Li pulled her into the shadows of the trees and added, "We’re unfamiliar with the mansion’s layout. It’s unlikely Ye Ye and the others would be kept in guest rooms. It’s safer to capture someone in charge and question them."
Baili Gelin nodded silently. Truthfully, if she were alone, she’d probably charge ahead recklessly like a headless fly. Having Lu Li here was much better—at least he remained calm and rational most of the time.
Honestly, she hadn’t expected Lu Li to stay by her side all this while.
A few days ago, the two of them had fled the mansion in disarray, not daring to stop until they had flown hundreds of miles, certain no one was pursuing them. Only then did they find a secluded spot to recover. Their injuries were far worse than anticipated—the Healing net worked agonizingly slowly on the burns from the Black Fire, delaying their full recovery.
Her mind was fixated on Ye Ye and Baili Changyue, leaving no room to dwell on past grievances with Lu Li. He, too, acted as if nothing had ever happened between them. Both tacitly avoided the topic, pretending ignorance. Perhaps for them, feigning obliviousness was easier.
The night deepened. After waiting in the shadows for what felt like ages, the patrolling guards had circled the mansion several times without any sign of someone in charge—likely all asleep. Growing impatient and anxious about Ye Ye’s safety, and fearing Ji Tongzhou’s sudden return, Baili Gelin pulled out another Talisman Paper and flung it forcefully. A petite Oriole Demon fluttered its wings, circling high above before swooping down to sing at the guards like a melody.
A yellow orioles singing in the dead of night was undeniably eerie. As expected, the guards stirred into commotion. After much fuss, a man who appeared to be the steward finally emerged, draped in an outer robe, fuming. "What’s all this fuss about? If the bird’s annoying, just shoo it away! The prince isn’t even in the mansion—stop acting so scared!"Baili Gelin silently whistled, and the Oriole Demon immediately chirped crisply, circling leisurely before flying off in another direction. The guards promptly gave chase. Watching them round the corner, she swiftly moved, landing soundlessly behind the steward and covering his mouth with her hand.
"Want to end up like this? Then scream."
She held a stone in her palm, crushing it effortlessly into powder. The steward's eyes instantly filled with terror, trembling so violently he could barely stand, nearly collapsing. True enough, when she released him, he didn't dare make a sound, only kowtowed frantically on the ground.
Baili Gelin yanked him up by his hair and said coldly, "Where are the people your prince captured a few days ago? Take us there!"
With that, she gripped his wrist, channeling a trace of spiritual energy into his meridians. For someone without a Spirit Root, forced infusion of spiritual energy was more agonizing than being sliced or stabbed. The steward immediately writhed in pain, about to scream, but Lu Li had already clamped a hand over his mouth.
Following him through the winding paths of the prince's residence, they eventually entered a dungeon. Lu Li peered inside first—many guards were stationed within, but the dim lighting made it impossible to tell if Ye Ye and the others were there. After a moment's thought, he suddenly asked, "Where has your prince gone?"
The steward hung his head dejectedly and whispered, "I truly don't know... The prince has been in a foul mood these past few days. Last night, he said he was going out for a walk and hasn't returned since..."
Baili Gelin sneered. "Foul mood? A heartless bastard like him can even have moods?!"
The steward's lips twitched as if he wanted to argue, but fear ultimately sealed them shut.
Lu Li pressed further, "Who is imprisoned in this dungeon?"
The steward hesitated, seemingly reluctant to answer. Under Baili Gelin's fierce glare, he finally muttered, "The prince only just returned recently. Three people were locked up here a few days ago. One was taken away by a Celestial from the No Moon Court, and the other two disappeared a few days back. We reported it to the prince, but he didn’t seem to care. I don’t know where they went. And then... Lan Ya Junzhu from Zhao Yang came to see the prince earlier, pleading for something, I think. But the prince just had her tied up and thrown into the dungeon..."
Lan Ya Junzhu was imprisoned in the dungeon by Ji Tongzhou?! Baili Gelin wanted to sneer even harder—he'd truly lost his mind. She summoned vines to bind the steward from head to toe, even gagging him to prevent any noise. The two hurried into the dungeon. The moment the guards spotted strangers barging in, they shouted and charged, only to be instantly ensnared by vines, struggling helplessly.
Baili Gelin strode swiftly past the rows of cells. The steward hadn’t lied—the dungeon was eerily empty. Only when she reached the very last cell did she see, beyond the mystic iron bars, Lan Ya Junzhu, haggard and bound by the Dragon Imprisoning Lock. Their eyes met, and Lan Ya stared at them in shock and confusion before speaking hoarsely, "You? How did you get here? Where’s the prince? Is he not in the residence?"
Baili Gelin urgently asked, "He’s not here. Do you know where Ye Ye and the others are?"
She repeated the question several times, but Lan Ya remained silent, her expression twisted with something between grief and despair.After returning to Zhao Yang from the princely residence, she often overheard her father and others discussing these matters. It was impossible not to feel distressed, yet the pain wasn’t as overwhelming as she had imagined. Her years of obsession and infatuation with the prince had dissipated overnight, just like the collapse of Yue Kingdom and the scattering of its followers.
Unexpectedly, Long Mingzuo encountered some unforeseen obstacle. Not only did Wugou withdraw his troops, but even the many disciples originally dispatched were recalled. This left the rebellious vassal states, including Zhao Yang, bewildered and helpless, soon to be crushed one by one under Yue’s military might. It was only a matter of time before Zhao Yang, too, would be trampled beneath their iron heels.
In desperation, she had no choice but to seek out Ji Tongzhou again, pleading for mercy in hopes that he might spare Zhao Yang for the sake of their past affection and restore her former glory as a princess.
Lan Ya Junzhu’s face flushed momentarily, only to turn deathly pale the next instant.
She had expected the prince to refuse her audience, yet to her surprise, he allowed her into the residence without hesitation. When she saw him, she dared not speak a word—only fell to her knees, clutching his feet in supplication, humbling herself in complete submission.
“What are you begging for?” Ji Tongzhou had asked at the time.
Without thinking, she uttered the same obedient, reverent words she had spoken since childhood. In truth, she had never truly understood the prince. From youth, he had always been blunt and straightforward, devoid of cunning—an easy man to deal with. He had treated her with courtesy and respect, and she had always believed she held some small place in his heart. But she was wrong.
She offered her chastity and dignity to this young prince, and this time, he did not refuse. He accepted without hesitation. She still remembered the swaying, ornate canopy above the bed, the soft yet pallid glow of candlelight. He had been like a beast, a monstrous demon intent on devouring her, showing no mercy, leaving her in such agony she nearly screamed.
He wouldn’t even look at her face, covering it entirely with cloth as if lost in frenzied release. His throat emitted indistinct murmurs—someone’s name, certainly not hers. In that moment, she realized with absolute clarity that in his heart, she held not the slightest weight. There was no affection—there never had been.
The next day, she was bound with the Dragon Imprisoning Lock and thrown into the dungeon. The prince would not forgive a traitor. He had trampled her dignity without remorse and given her nothing in return.
Someone called her name outside the cell. Lan Ya Junzhu slowly snapped out of her daze to see the cell door unlocked by a Locking Spell. Baili Gelin stood there, a dagger in hand, gesturing toward the Dragon Imprisoning Lock. “Fine, I’ll free you first! While Ji Tongzhou’s away, get out of here.”
Lan Ya Junzhu suddenly shrieked, “No! I won’t leave! Don’t touch the Dragon Imprisoning Lock!”
Baili Gelin stared at her in shock. “You want to stay tied up in the dungeon? That Ji Tongzhou has lost his mind! If he cared even a little about your past ties, why would he lock you up?”
Lan Ya Junzhu only rasped hoarsely, “I won’t leave! I’ll stay! The prince will come to see me! He will! One day, he’ll forgive me!”
Asking for his forgiveness?! Had this princess lost her mind?!
Baili Gelin sheathed her dagger. The princess had never been on good terms with them—if she was determined to refuse rescue, so be it.
“Suit yourself. But first, tell me—where did Ye Ye and the others go? You must know, right?”
Lan Ya Junzhu sneered. “I don’t know the lowborn scum you speak of. If you mean the two who were here before, the prince has already executed them.”Baili Gelin felt the world spin around her, nearly collapsing to the ground. Lu Li firmly grasped her shoulder, steadying her unsteady body as he frowned and said, "Is this true? Spreading baseless rumors is unbecoming of someone of noble status."
His words actually softened Lan Ya Junzhu's expression somewhat, and she added, "I am not spreading baseless rumors. Ask any guard here—those two lowly commoners dared to ambush His Highness the Prince and were executed by his order."
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