Guardians of the Dafeng Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Guardians of the Dafeng Synopsis

Modern office worker Yang Ling accidentally finds himself transported to the mystical and fantastical Da Feng Dynasty. There, he assumes a new identity as Xu Qi’an, a bronze gong of the night watchmen responsible for supervising officials and solving crimes for the people of Da Feng. Relying on his modern knowledge and reasoning skills, he successfully cracks one bizarre case after another, earning a reputation as the kingdom’s top investigator.

In this world filled with demons, magic, treacherous schemes, and hidden dangers, Xu Qi’an and his like-minded companions choose to face challenges head-on. They courageously sacrifice themselves when necessary, standing against the shadowy forces within the court, speaking out for justice and the people, and working together to safeguard the stability of Da Feng.

Guardians of the Dafeng Recap

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At the company team-building event, Xu Qi'an arrived late due to meeting with a client. He originally thought it was just a dinner gathering, but to his surprise, the boss announced on the spot that Xu Qi'an would be promoted to Regional Manager of the North District to assist General Manager Zhu. Although the boss described it as "assisting," General Manager Zhu, who was still in a deputy role, had been scheming to secure the top position for years.

He never imagined he would lose to a young newcomer like Xu Qi'an. Manager Zhu was dissatisfied and made sarcastic remarks, implying that Xu Qi'an lacked experience and was merely a sycophant. He made these comments publicly in front of many colleagues, which was hard for anyone to bear. Xu Qi'an remained silent, walked over to grab a bottle of beer, and everyone stared, thinking he might smash it over Manager Zhu’s head.

To their surprise, Xu Qi'an instead respectfully raised the bottle, toasted Manager Zhu, and apologized. To ease the tension, Chu Caiwei quickly suggested they all play a murder mystery game after dinner. The group cheered, breaking the awkward atmosphere. After a few rounds of drinks, Manager Zhu collapsed onto the floor, drunk like a pile of mud. Xu Qi'an led the group in the game and drew the role of a "night watchman.

" As he read the script, he grew puzzled by its intricate plot and the characters' intertwined fates. Little did he expect that when he awoke, he would find himself in a dark, sunless prison cell. A jailer brought a bowl of food and addressed him as "Xu Qi'an. " Xu Qi'an stood up, bewildered, and asked the jailer why he was there, what crime he had committed, or even what time period it was.

He also questioned why they were all wearing costumes. The jailer glared at him, thinking he was being insolent, and dumped the food out for the dogs. Xu Qi'an began recalling the plot of the murder mystery game. Just then, a refined young man came to visit him, introducing himself as Xu Xinnian. Xu Qi'an vaguely remembered this was his second cousin, "Second Young Master Xu.

" According to Xu Xinnian, their father had once lost a shipment of tax silver, leading to the entire Xu family being implicated. Xu Qi'an himself was imprisoned and would soon be exiled to a remote wasteland, while their father was scheduled for execution in five days. Since there was still time, Xu Qi'an immediately begged Xu Xinnian to find the case files by any means possible.

Although Xu Xinnian didn’t know what Xu Qi'an planned to do, he agreed to try, as long as there was a sliver of hope. Soon, Xu Xinnian obtained the case files and hurriedly delivered them to Xu Qi'an. After thoroughly examining the records, Xu Qi'an concluded that a demonic creature might be involved. At the site where the tax silver went missing, the emperor had already dispatched numerous investigators to search the area.

Xu Qi'an was also ordered to use the Wind-Watching Technique to detect any trace of demons nearby. Xu Qi'an repeatedly analyzed the files, reminding himself not to be misled by the conclusions presented. He believed the missing tax silver wasn’t caused by demons but by human actions. According to the records, an explosion occurred on the water surface when the silver disappeared, which suggested another layer of mystery. Fifteen thousand taels of silver couldn’t vanish into thin air.

After re-enacting the entire process, Xu Qi'an suddenly shouted from his cell that he had discovered the truth behind the missing silver. The jailer, who had been focused on gnawing a chicken leg, quickly perked up upon hearing someone had cracked the case. He rushed to report it to the officials in charge.

Kneeling before the officials, Xu Qi'an explained that the 15,000 taels of silver had been swapped during transport with a metal that closely resembled silver in color and texture—sodium. This metal would explode upon contact with water. The officials were skeptical, and Chu Caiwei kindly suggested Xu Qi'an demonstrate with the metal. Xu Qi'an hesitated but explained that sodium required high heat to refine, which was difficult to achieve without electricity in Great Feng.

To everyone’s surprise, Chu Caiwei used her magic to generate the necessary heat and, with some guidance, successfully refined sodium. True to Xu Qi'an’s explanation, the metal resembled silver in both texture and color. When it was dropped into water, it exploded with a "bang," proving his theory. The mystery was finally solved, and it became clear that Xu Pingzhi wasn’t at fault. The officials hurriedly reported the findings to the emperor to claim credit.

Not long after, the jailer received orders to release Xu Pingzhi and his family. Xu Pingzhi, who had been lamenting his fate and tearfully bidding farewell to his wife, was stunned when the jailer opened his cell door. He thought he was doomed, as losing 15,000 taels of tribute silver was a grave crime. Overwhelmed with relief, he asked what had happened. The jailer explained that a family member had uncovered the truth.

Initially, Xu Pingzhi thought it was his capable son, Xu Xinnian, but to his surprise, it was his nephew, Xu Qi'an. Since Xu Qi'an had saved the entire family, Xu Pingzhi insisted his wife agree to let Xu Qi'an dine at the family table from now on.

Xu Pingzhi returned home with his family and opened the door, only to see his son, Xu Xinnian, attempting to hang himself. Startled, everyone rushed to untie him. Xu Xinnian had earned scholarly honors and worked at an academy, but his bookish nature made him appear somewhat pedantic. Now, being demoted to a lower status, he felt humiliated and impulsively tried to take his own life.

Fortunately, his family arrived in time to save him; otherwise, he would have met a tragic end. That evening, the family enjoyed a lavish dinner, followed by sitting under the moonlight as Xu Qi'an recounted how he uncovered the truth of the case. When Xu Qi'an described refining the metal sodium, Xu Pingzhi surprisingly showed no shock and remarked that he almost figured it out himself. For several days, Xu Qi'an stayed at home, eating and sleeping well.

He began to suspect that he might never return to his original world. Resigned to adapting to his new life, he decided to calm his mind and plan for the future. Over time, Xu Qi'an got to know each family member better. Xu Pingzhi was a straightforward and honest martial man, with no trace of scheming in him. His aunt, on the other hand, was shrewd and calculative, frequently scouring Xu Pingzhi’s hard-earned savings.

The two younger sisters were pure and innocent. The elder one, lively and romantic, enjoyed reading “forbidden books,” while the younger one, about five or six years old, was a little glutton with an insatiable appetite. Thanks to his contributions to solving the case, Xu Qi'an smoothly became a junior constable. Initially, he had no intention of joining the government and only wanted to make money—preferably lots of it.

However, lacking the resources to start a business and with his aunt refusing to support idle people, she coaxed him into leaving. With no other options, Xu Qi'an reluctantly donned the constable uniform and slowly made his way to the yamen to report for duty. On his first day, Xu Qi'an heard about a case. Captain Wang was under immense pressure from his superiors, who demanded the case be resolved quickly, even though there were no clear leads.

At first, Captain Wang didn’t think much of the newly appointed scholar. He simply explained the case details and handed Xu Qi'an the file. Xu Qi'an immediately deduced a rough outline of the case: Zhang Yourui, a prominent local wealthy man, had married a concubine 20 years younger than him. One night, Zhang Yourui was mysteriously killed. There were no signs of trampled grass or footprints at the scene.

The victim had been struck with a blunt weapon, falling face-up, but the fatal blow was to the back of his head. The incident occurred in the courtyard of the concubine’s residence. At the time, the concubine claimed she saw someone climbing over the wall to escape, but the wall bore no traces. Xu Qi'an speculated that Zhang Yourui’s son, Zhang Xian, might have had an affair with the concubine.

Fearing exposure after being caught by Zhang Yourui, he decided to silence his father permanently. Observing the concubine’s troubled expression, Xu Qi'an, who had read some psychology books, questioned her persistently. Unable to resist his probing, the concubine spilled the truth like beans from a bamboo tube. The case concluded with the concubine being imprisoned while Zhang Xian was released shortly after.

Chu Caiwei expressed doubts about the outcome, but Captain Wang dismissed her concerns, stating that he personally saw the legal clerk deliver the case closure documents to the Hall of Righteousness. From that point on, it was no longer their responsibility.

Xu Qi'an was still puzzled about what the Hall of Righteousness was. Coincidentally, he encountered a group of people attempting a prison break there. Xu Qi'an tried his best to stop them, but the group successfully freed the prisoner and was about to turn on him. Xu Qi'an secretly panicked, thinking his life might end here. At this critical moment, Song Tingfeng and Li Yuchun appeared.

The two of them, like rain in a drought, not only saved Xu Qi'an's life but also recaptured the escaped criminal. Brimming with pride, Xu Qi'an and his colleagues escorted the criminal back to the office. For the first time in his life, Xu Qi'an felt that being a constable could actually be quite impressive.

In the Great Feng, constables were not merely tasked with night patrols and announcing the time; they were responsible for inspecting officials, punishing evildoers, and protecting the common people. The role sounded appealing, and Xu Qi'an decided to fully utilize his talents in this world, regaining his sense of purpose. However, his uncle, Xu Pingzhi, sighed deeply, warning him not to think too highly of the future.

Xu Pingzhi himself had once been full of passion but was later "betrayed" and disillusioned. After a small success on a case, Xu Qi'an earned a bit of respect from Captain Wang. The next time he entered the yamen, Captain Wang respectfully invited him to the archives, locked the door behind him, and claimed it was to provide a quiet and comfortable workspace. The locked doors and windows, Captain Wang said, were to ensure he wouldn’t be disturbed.

After several days of confinement in the yamen, Xu Qi'an was finally allowed to go home. No sooner had he finished eating than Captain Wang arrived with a group of constables, bringing crates of unresolved case files that had accumulated over the years. They claimed it was to save Xu Qi'an the trouble of commuting to the yamen, and leadership had generously approved him working from home.

Xu Pingzhi, having spent years in officialdom, was wary of the implications of letting his nephew handle cases at home. After exchanging a knowing glance with Captain Wang, Xu Pingzhi understood the arrangement and even nailed the windows shut himself to ensure Xu Qi'an couldn’t escape. Xu Qi'an was locked in at home daily, unable to take a single step outside.

His uncle promised Captain Wang that during this period when officials were secretly inspecting the area, he would not let Xu Qi'an cause trouble. Xu Pingzhi personally guarded the door day and night. After several failed escape attempts, Xu Qi'an realized he had no way out. Deep in thought, he concluded that his best option was to curry favor with Captain Wang. As long as Captain Wang was happy, everyone’s lives would improve.

The next time Captain Wang came to check on Xu Qi'an, Xu Qi'an eagerly knelt, clutching the captain’s legs, apologizing for his earlier "insubordination. " Pleased with Xu Qi'an’s change of attitude, Captain Wang began integrating him into social circles. He took Xu Qi'an to entertainment venues and invited him several times to brothels to listen to music. Xu Qi'an understood what Captain Wang wanted and decided to adapt.

To gain his freedom, he played along, drinking, dancing, and blending in with the group. Xu Qi'an’s efforts paid off, as Captain Wang became increasingly satisfied and gradually allowed him more freedom. One day, Xu Pingzhi chatted with Xu Qi'an about how he was of marriageable age and promised to find him a good match.

Xu Qi'an was puzzled by this rare display of affection from his uncle until he discovered that Xu Pingzhi, short on private funds due to recent socializing, wanted Xu Qi'an to help cover some expenses. Xu Qi'an took his two younger sisters out shopping. While buying candied hawthorn, his sister was harassed by the son of a Ministry of Revenue official. Naturally, Xu Qi'an wouldn’t let his sister be wronged and pushed the arrogant young man aside.

This, however, led to trouble. The official’s son, furious, ordered his men to cripple Xu Qi'an’s hands and feet. Xu Qi'an refused to give in and tried to reason with him, but the man pulled out a dagger. His sister quickly ran to the yamen to seek help. Thankfully, Xu Qi'an was a constable, and Captain Wang brought reinforcements to the scene.

Initially, the captain was ready to arrest the perpetrator with great zeal, but upon realizing the offender was the son of a Ministry of Revenue official, his courage deflated like a punctured balloon. Surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, Captain Wang had no choice but to order his men to take everyone involved in the disturbance back to the yamen.

The son of the Ministry of Revenue’s Assistant Minister, Zhou Li, had already called for reinforcements. Xu Qi'an, now imprisoned, sensed that his chances of survival were slim. Desperate, he bribed Captain Wang to deliver a message to Chu Caiwei at the Directorate of Celestials, stating that he was in trouble and asking him to send this book along.

Xu Qi’an was confident that Chu Caiwei would not only come to his aid but would also offer substantial benefits in return. Tempted by the money, Captain Wang rushed to the Directorate of Celestials. There, he handed over the book, requesting to see Chu Caiwei. The guard on duty delivered the book to Song Qing. Song Qing, who was busy with his experiments as usual, had already endured thousands of failures.

His face, bruised and battered from explosions, lit up with excitement upon seeing the chemistry-filled booklet. However, just as he reached the most crucial part, he found the content missing. Upon inquiring about the book’s origin, Song Qing understood Xu Qi'an’s intention. Xu Pingzhi, upon hearing that his nephew was in trouble, immediately stood in the way of the escorting guards. However, outnumbered, he too was quickly detained and sent to prison.

Before being taken away, Xu Pingzhi urgently instructed his wife to go to Yunlu Academy and find their son, Xu Xinnian. Having become a student of two renowned scholars, Xu Xinnian might be able to save Xu Qi’an. Xu Xinnian, upon receiving the urgent letter from his mother, immediately reported the matter to his teachers.

Hearing that the imprisoned person was the author of the widely acclaimed poem, the two great scholars promptly went to find the local Minister of Personnel in charge. Song Qing and the two great scholars arrived at the Minister’s residence almost simultaneously. All three held prominent positions and were highly regarded by the Emperor, making it impossible for the Minister to offend them. Upon hearing the name of the person they wanted to rescue, the Minister immediately questioned his subordinates.

Since Xu Qi'an had been crying out for justice from the beginning, the officials in charge of the case, unable to withstand the Minister’s stern gaze, spilled the entire story. In the end, Xu Qi’an was acquitted and released. Before leaving, Xu Qi’an vented his anger by punching Zhou Li a few times. That evening, everyone celebrated the happy resolution with a reunion meal. As night fell, there was a knock on the door—Chu Caiwei had come to visit.

Having heard about Xu Qi'an’s predicament, she came to check on him and shared some critical information. There had been new developments in the tax silver case. The culprits behind the embezzlement were Zheng Xinhe and Lu Changzhi, and their backer was none other than Zhou Xianping, Zhou Li’s father. Xu Qi’an’s recent imprisonment, on the surface, appeared to be due to Zhou Li’s misconduct.

However, it was actually a retaliation by the Zhou family after Xu Qi’an uncovered the embezzlement. It was now clear that the Xu family’s fate was intertwined with the tax silver case. While they were operating in the open, Zhou Xianping, the sly Assistant Minister, was lurking in the shadows. Without taking Zhou Xianping down, the Xu family could not safely extricate themselves. Chu Caiwei asked Xu Qi’an if he had any plans.

They had already gathered evidence, but Zhou Xianping, being a wily official with numerous allies in the court, couldn’t be apprehended recklessly. Any rash actions might destabilize the court, so the Emperor had tasked Chu Caiwei with finding a way to bring him to justice discreetly. Chu Caiwei sought Xu Qi’an’s advice. Xu Qi’an believed that confronting a prominent fourth-rank official head-on was unwise.

Since the capital was under inspection, Zhou Xianping would likely be desperate to cover the financial shortfall. The key was to find Zhou Xianping’s weakness and ignite the fuse that would expose the truth about the tax silver case. Xu Qi’an assigned his uncle and Xu Xinnian to investigate Zhou Xianping’s vulnerabilities while he went to the Directorate of Celestials to help Song Qing with his chemical experiments.

As a modern man, completing one or two experiments was a breeze for Xu Qi’an. Under Song Qing’s admiring gaze, Xu Qi’an successfully assisted him in completing the experiments and was rewarded by the Directorate of Celestials with a precious sword.

After receiving the sword and expressing his thanks, Xu Qi'an murmured to himself on his way back. He couldn’t understand why the Supervisor gave him such a sword. Just earlier, the Supervisor had claimed that alchemy was priceless, yet he readily accepted his teacher’s gift. Xu Qi'an felt this was somewhat hypocritical and lamented that he was, after all, just an ordinary man.

When he muttered a disrespectful comment about his teacher, the sword in his hand seemed to understand him and flew toward him aggressively. Terrified, Xu Qi'an hastily apologized, narrowly escaping a fatal accident. At that moment, two people approached from the opposite direction, exuding an imposing aura that made Xu Qi'an instinctively step aside in respect. One of them was Wei Yuan, the leader of the Nightwatchers, and the other was Nangong Qianrou, a female Nightwatcher.

Both left a deep impression on Xu Qi'an, and he concluded that they must be influential figures. Princess Huai Qing once overheard the students of Yunlu Academy reciting a famous poem, “Have no worries about the road ahead; there are friends everywhere in the world. ” Finding the poem extraordinary, she specifically asked the academy’s headmaster, Zhao Shou, about its author. Zhao Shou truthfully replied that it was written by none other than a humble martial artist.

On the way to Yunlu Academy, Xu Qi'an and Xu Xinnian were riding horses, hurrying along. After learning that they had offended Zhou Xianping, Xu Qi'an was anxious to secure a safety net for his family. With two underage sisters at home, Xu Qi'an sought to persuade Yunlu Academy’s teachers to take his sisters in as students to ensure their safety. The academy’s two renowned scholars, Zhang Shen and Li Mubai, were known for their love of talent.

Upon hearing that Xu Qi'an had arrived, they warmly welcomed him. Xu Qi'an explained his intentions, but the two scholars pretended that it would be a challenging matter. They mentioned that they were currently compiling a collection of poems titled “On the Pursuit of Learning” and suggested that if Xu Qi'an could make a contribution, they would do their utmost to help his sisters enroll in the academy. Hearing that twenty poems were needed, Xu Qi'an racked his brains.

Determined to secure a safe refuge for his sisters, he gave it his all but could only come up with half-lines of twenty poems. He presented the incomplete poems to Li Mubai, who was somewhat disappointed. However, Xu Qi'an slyly hinted that once he was less occupied, he would complete the poems and ensure they would not disappoint his teacher. This reassurance delighted Li Mubai, who smiled and cheerfully saw Xu Qi'an off, reminding him to return soon.

Xu Qi'an and Xu Xinnian began their journey home. Along the way, Xu Xinnian marveled at Xu Qi'an’s meticulous planning, convinced that their sisters and mother would be safe at the academy and out of Zhou Li’s reach. When they arrived home, they noticed they were being followed. They alerted Xu Pingzhi, advising him to be more vigilant in the future. As a martial artist, Xu Pingzhi immediately instructed his subordinates to strengthen their defenses.

That evening, Xu Qi'an, Xu Xinnian, and Xu Pingzhi gathered to review the clues they had collected over the past few days. According to Xu Pingzhi, Zhou Li was known to frequent private residences and brothels and was particularly infatuated with Fu Xiang, a courtesan from the Imperial Entertainment Bureau. Xu Qi'an suspected that Fu Xiang might hold some critical secrets. To get close to her, they brainstormed strategies.

Since Xu Xinnian was a Yunlu Academy scholar, visiting such places would damage his reputation, leaving Xu Qi'an, the little constable, to take on the task. Hearing that Fu Xiang had a fondness for scholars, Xu Qi'an prepared an elegant outfit for himself, dressing up handsomely. On his first visit to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau, he discovered that there was a queue and that securing a spot required a hefty fee.

With his wallet nearly empty, Xu Qi'an went to the street to figure out a solution. Spotting a game of pitch-pot with wagers involved, Xu Qi'an took his last bit of silver and used his exceptional pitch-pot skills to win a magical jade mirror. He then helped a nobleman win a string of prayer beads, earning a reward of six hundred silver taels.

With the money in hand, Xu Qi'an hurried back to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau, only to unexpectedly encounter Xu Pingzhi and Xu Xinnian there. Seeing everyone greeting Xu Pingzhi warmly, Xu Qi'an immediately realized that his uncle was a regular visitor.

The three Xu family men—Xu Qi'an, Xu Xinnian, and Xu Pingzhi—unexpectedly encountered one another at the Jiaofang Division, leading to an awkward situation. Since they were already there, they decided to make the best of it and sat together at a table, exchanging meaningful glances that hinted at their unspoken thoughts. Each felt a little self-conscious, but soon the atmosphere shifted as Fu Xiang, the famous courtesan, began evaluating everyone’s poetry.

Xu Qi'an, with his exceptional memory, immediately thought of a verse inspired by Fu Xiang's name: "Sparse shadows cast slantwise over the clear shallow water; faint fragrances float at dusk beneath the pale moon. " The verse captivated Fu Xiang, paving the way for their meeting. During their conversation, Xu Qi'an deliberately asked Fu Xiang why she hadn't accepted the "buyout" offers from influential officials and nobles to become a concubine—a path that seemed like a good choice.

Fu Xiang, however, dismissed the idea, stating that she despised the frivolous and spoiled temperament of wealthy young men. She then provided Xu Qi'an with a crucial piece of information about Zhou Li. Zhou Li, known for his debauched lifestyle, had offended Zhang Yunyin, the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Weiwu, during last year's Lantern Festival after pursuing a girl. Since then, the two had been secretly competing against each other. Xu Qi'an had finally identified Zhou Li's nemesis.

The Marquis of Weiwu held a prestigious position, on par with the Vice Minister of Revenue. Xu Qi'an devised a plan using a jade mirror he possessed, which could absorb anything, including people. Through personal experimentation, he discovered that those absorbed into the mirror would experience temporary amnesia. With the help of Xu Xinnian and Xu Pingzhi, they quietly captured Zhang Yunyin. Zhang Yunyin was confined to a woodshed, while Xu Qi'an and Xu Xinnian stood outside discussing loudly.

They pretended to be henchmen of the Vice Minister of Revenue, threatening to sever Zhang Yunyin’s tendons. Hearing this from within, Zhang Yunyin quickly concluded that his captors were indeed from the Vice Minister’s faction. Desperate, Zhang Yunyin managed to climb over the wall and escape. He immediately reported his ordeal to his father. The Marquis of Weiwu, who had long been overshadowed by the Vice Minister of Revenue, seized this opportunity.

Wearing his armor, he stormed into court and petitioned the civil and military officials to impeach the Vice Minister. As a result, Zhou Li was sent to the Dali Court and the Discipline Office, where he endured some minor punishments. Zhou Li initially believed this was all a misunderstanding that would soon be clarified, but he underestimated Xu Qi'an's cunning. To deliver the final blow, Xu Qi'an visited the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring to seek his senior brother’s assistance.

Although his senior brother usually avoided political matters, Xu Qi'an offered a rare alchemical formula that he desperately wanted. Compelled by this offer, the senior brother personally visited the prison and used his secret techniques on Zhou Li. Under the influence of these techniques, Zhou Li confessed and signed a statement admitting his guilt. Shortly afterward, the court issued an announcement: Zhou Xianping was dismissed from his position and exiled due to mishandling tax silver and failing to discipline his son.

Zhou Li was also exiled for kidnapping Zhang Yunyin. With this, the Vice Minister of Revenue’s influence was entirely eradicated. Wary of the Vice Minister's potential allies and having already been imprisoned twice, Xu Qi'an decided to leave to avoid implicating his family. After bidding farewell to his younger brother, Xu Xinnian, he visited the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring one last time to say goodbye to friends who had helped him.

Using his chemistry booklet, he managed to earn one final windfall. With Chu Caiwei's assistance, they devised a fundraising scheme similar to modern live streaming, attracting numerous contributions for alchemical research and quickly accumulating several silver notes. As Xu Qi'an left the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring, he happened to encounter the Second Princess, Lin An. A brief glance revealed her extraordinary beauty, as stunning as fish sinking and geese falling from the sky.

Her elegance and composure left a deep impression on him, despite his vast experience meeting countless people. Lin An, who was also deeply interested in chemistry, had been conducting experiments in the Directorate. Although she had failed several times in a row, she remained determined and unyielding.

The Second Princess, Lin An, nearly caused an explosion at the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring while attempting to refine the tax silver. Despite the hardships and dangers, Lin An was overjoyed by the results. When she returned to the palace and saw her mother, Consort Chen, she was all smiles. However, Consort Chen, bound by traditional thinking, disapproved of women engaging in laboratory work, believing they could never surpass the Crown Prince. This favoritism deeply saddened Lin An.

Meanwhile, Xu Qi'an was preparing to flee when he was unexpectedly intercepted by two watchmen. These two were clearly prepared and escorted Xu Qi'an into a carriage. Feeling uneasy, Xu Qi'an reflected on how he had taken down Zhou Li and concluded that he had left no loose ends. Believing money could solve anything, he quickly handed over a silver note as a bribe to one of the watchmen.

The watchman merely gave him a warning: "Say nothing that shouldn't be said. "The two watchmen brought Xu Qi'an directly to Master Yang. Nangong Qianrou was also present. It turned out that the watchmen had been observing Xu Qi'an's entire scheme from the shadows. They recognized his potential as a watchman and decided to recruit him. Xu Qi'an was given a choice to take Master Yang or Nangong Qianrou as his mentor.

Nangong Qianrou, eager to take him as a disciple, deliberately got close to him, using both persuasion and intimidation. However, Xu Qi'an wasn’t easily swayed. Remembering how Yang Yan had once helped him escape prison, Xu Qi'an chose to apprentice under Yang Yan as a gesture of gratitude. To officially become a watchman, Xu Qi'an had to pass several assessments. The two senior watchmen tested his aptitude in areas like intelligence and inner resolve.

Xu Qi'an, nonchalant and playful, didn’t take the test questions seriously. Nevertheless, he solved the first question in just three breaths. The observing senior disciples were secretly amazed. Many considered nine breaths an impressive time, yet Xu Qi'an had shortened it by two-thirds. He then ascended three floors without performing any formal kowtow.

Upon hearing that Wei Yuan had decreed anyone reaching the fourth floor without bowing would face the punishment of lingchi (death by a thousand cuts), Xu Qi'an was startled and immediately prostrated himself. However, the heart-reflecting mirror still showed that Xu Qi'an was standing, indicating his bow lacked true humility. Confused, Xu Qi'an wondered why the mirror treated people differently. Wei Yuan asked for a report on Xu Qi'an’s assessment.

Hearing that he had solved the question in three breaths and only bowed at the fourth floor, Wei Yuan was quietly impressed. A quick answer indicated intelligence and resourcefulness, while a lack of fear showed boldness and independence. Wei Yuan saw great potential in Xu Qi'an as a future leader if properly trained. Xu Qi'an eventually reached the sixth floor, where the test involved interpreting one of Wei Yuan’s poems.

After reading it once, Xu Qi'an discerned Wei Yuan's deep desire for power. As someone from modern times, Xu Qi'an didn’t care for such matters. However, to become a watchman, he had to give the test his all and carefully analyze the examiner’s intent. Meticulously breaking down the poem, Xu Qi'an crafted an exquisite answer and earned a top grade of "Jia Shang.

"Nangong Qianrou admired Xu Qi'an’s talent and tried to trade two silver ingots to have him as a disciple. However, Yang Yan, determined to secure Xu Qi'an for his team, refused to give him up. Upon learning that Xu Qi'an had gone to the Marrow-Cleansing Pool, Yang Yan personally called his brother-in-law, Li Yuchun, to provide guidance to the newcomer. Initially, Li Yuchun had a poor impression of Xu Qi'an.

Out of respect for Yang Yan, he reluctantly agreed to join him in observing Xu Qi'an's progress. To their astonishment, Xu Qi'an completed a process that typically took an entire day to reach the Qi Refinement Stage in less than an hour!

Xu Qi'an had just completed his training at the Marrow-Cleansing Pool. As he jumped out, the water splashed directly onto Li Yuchun. Yang Yan immediately introduced him, explaining that this was Li Yuchun, the Silver Gong captain, and Xu Qi'an’s new teacher. Xu Qi'an silently lamented his luck, realizing he hadn’t left a great first impression. Hearing that her elder sister Huai Qing had recommended a watchman, Huai An, who was often disregarded by their mother, felt smug.

She herself had just recommended a candidate who earned a "Yi Shang" rating and was looking forward to showing off. However, she was quickly deflated when she learned her sister’s recommendation had earned the top "Jia Shang" rating. Once again, Huai Qing overshadowed her, leaving Huai An embarrassed. Now officially a watchman, Xu Qi'an was elated. He decided to visit his uncle’s house to catch up.

Outside the house, he found Xu Xinnian sitting idly and gave him a gift, prompting Xu Xinnian to warmly invite him inside. Inside, Xu Qi'an’s uncle and aunt were trying to sell part of their house. Ever since Xu Qi'an left, they had decided to sell the side wing, but due to its poor location, they hadn’t been able to find a buyer. It turned out his uncle was eager to sell off his old home.

When Xu Qi'an found out, he unceremoniously questioned his uncle about it. However, the two got along well and didn’t take it to heart. Upon hearing that Xu Qi'an had become a watchman, Xu Pingzhi praised him and even asked him for introductions to help his own prospects. Wanting to keep the benefits in the family, Xu Qi'an shared the types of test questions he had encountered during his assessments.

To his surprise, his uncle couldn’t even grasp the intent behind the questions. It was clear he wasn’t cut out to be a watchman. Huai An decided to attend a poetry gathering organized by the Empress. When the Crown Prince heard about it, he remembered how clueless Huai An usually was and didn’t want her to embarrass herself. To dissuade her, he brought her pastries and advised against attending, warning her not to set herself up for failure.

However, Huai An was not one to give up easily. To fully concentrate on preparing for the poetry gathering, she moved out of the royal mansion. On his first day as a watchman, Xu Qi'an meticulously dressed himself, repeatedly checking his appearance in the mirror until he was satisfied. Full of excitement, he set off, imagining himself commanding respect and admiration.

However, upon reporting for duty, he found himself locked in a room to review case files, with even the windows nailed shut. This scene felt eerily familiar—previously, Xu Qi'an had been ostracized after offending Zhou Li, and now, despite becoming a watchman, he was subjected to the same "test. "By sunset, Xu Qi'an wanted to head home, but his senior colleagues delivered a pile of case files to his house, making him work from home.

Though the other watchmen were puzzled, they couldn’t say much since Li Yuchun had already spoken on the matter. Huai An, preparing for the poetry gathering, decided to recruit a talented team. She instructed her maid to seek out extraordinary poets. After a long search, they overheard a stunning half-line of poetry at a brothel. This poem was one that Xu Qi'an had written long ago to capture the attention of the courtesan Fu Xiang.

Unexpectedly, it had become a popular tune in the brothel. Meanwhile, strange occurrences were reported in Taikang County, where a mysterious creature was coming ashore and devouring people. The watchmen received the mission and mobilized immediately. Li Yuchun called Xu Qi'an out of the pile of case files and sent him to investigate. To support the watchmen, the Emperor dispatched the sorceress Chu Caiwei. Since Xu Qi'an already knew Caiwei, she eagerly invited him to ride in her carriage.

When Xu Qi'an and the other watchmen arrived at the scene, they found a desolate landscape, devoid of any vegetation. A deep earthen kiln loomed ominously. Holding a torch, Xu Qi'an ventured forward. Suddenly, he heard a voice ask him where he was. Startled, Xu Qi'an realized he was the only one who could hear it. What on earth was going on?

Xu Qi'an and Chu Caiwei discovered saltpeter used for making explosives in the underground kiln. They also encountered a powerful demon beast ranked among the top ten in combat strength. Upon seeing its form, Chu Caiwei identified it as a Mei Beast. The creature was ferocious, covered in impenetrable scales. Fortunately, the investigators were all Silver Gong-level experts. Working together, they managed to subdue the beast with one decisive strike.

Just as they thought they had killed it, the beast feigned death and escaped when they let their guard down. Fearing the beast would seek reinforcements, Xu Qi'an and his companions hurried after it. To their surprise, the Mei Beast hadn’t gone far before it suddenly dropped dead. Their first mission together was a success, and everyone was overjoyed. Chu Caiwei noticed Xu Qi'an was injured and generously gave him a healing and energy-replenishing pill that she had personally crafted.

Xu Qi'an shared the pill with his fellow companions. Xu Qi'an finally identified the source of the mysterious voice he had heard in the kiln. It came from a small jade mirror he carried. Uncertain about the mirror’s origins or purpose, he handed the peculiar item over to Chu Caiwei for safekeeping. The group brought the slain demon beast back, where Wei Yuan sought the opinions of Yang Yan and Li Yuchun.

After Li Yuchun reported the situation, he added that Xu Qi'an had specifically pointed out a concern: The Mei Clan had been running rampant and had taken refuge in the local kilns, severely affecting the lives of the villagers. However, sealing off the village without thought would cut off the villagers’ livelihoods, leaving them unable to survive.

Xu Qi'an had even urged Li Yuchun to advocate for the villagers before Wei Yuan and suggest that the Emperor reduce some of the harsh taxes and levies. Though Li Yuchun usually had a negative view of Xu Qi'an, Wei Yuan appreciated his remarks. He saw Xu Qi'an as someone with a broad perspective and genuine concern for the people, advising Li Yuchun to set aside his prejudice.

In retaliation for Xu Qi'an’s outspokenness, Li Yuchun punished him by making him and the other Silver Gong-level watchmen clean latrines. After completing the unpleasant task together, Xu Qi'an, grateful for the camaraderie, invited his companions out for some relaxation. Upon hearing that they wanted to visit the Jiaofang Department to listen to music, Xu Qi'an generously offered to accompany them. At the Jiaofang Department, Xu Qi'an’s past reputation preceded him.

After crafting a memorable line of poetry there previously, many were enamored with a mysterious "Yang Ling," though few knew his identity. Fu Xiang’s maid recognized Xu Qi'an and quickly informed her mistress. Fu Xiang, who hadn’t entertained guests for days, appeared elegantly dressed and walked straight toward Xu Qi'an. Upon hearing her call his name, the crowd grew even more admiring and surrounded Xu Qi'an.

Feeling flattered by the attention, Xu Qi'an, often known for his combat prowess, decided to humor the crowd by standing on the Jiaofang Department’s stage and improvising poetry. While performing, he noticed someone in the back watching him intently—it appeared to be the maid of the Eldest Princess. Xu Qi'an, believing that the Eldest Princess had recommended him for the watchman role, wanted to express his gratitude.

To honor her, he recited a classic piece, On Loving the Lotus, as a gesture of thanks. However, Xu Qi'an had mistaken the maid’s identity. She was actually the Second Princess Huai An’s servant, not the Eldest Princess’s. Misinterpreting his performance as an offering to the wrong person, the maid angrily spat at him and left in a huff. Xu Qi'an returned home, puzzled about what he had done wrong.

The Second Princess Huai An summoned Xu Qi'an to meet her and asked if he was willing to become one of her retainers. Xu Qi'an, unaware that the person behind the screen was Huai An, was eager to meet the Eldest Princess instead. Trying to be mysterious, he played coy and even rejected the gold Huai An offered, angering her. Frustrated, Huai An stepped out from behind the screen to confront him directly.

Huai Qing was eager to recruit talented individuals, but Xu Qi'an repeatedly declared his loyalty to "swear allegiance to Huai Qing," which made Huai An feel uncomfortable. She ordered her maid to give Xu Qi'an a fright with some harsh punishment, merely to test his resolve. However, Xu Qi'an, having spent time with the Nightwatchers and seen all sorts of torture devices, was unfazed. Despite all her attempts, Xu Qi'an remained adamant about his loyalty to the Eldest Princess.

With no other options, Huai An reluctantly ordered her maid to release him. After being let go, Xu Qi'an felt indignant about being tormented all night without even catching a glimpse of the Eldest Princess. Determined, he made a scene at Huai An’s doorstep, insisting on seeing the Eldest Princess before leaving. Ultimately, he sat down outside in protest, resolved to stay until his demand was met. Hearing of Xu Qi'an’s antics, Huai An found him amusing.

This young man was unruly and fearless, completely unlike the people in the palace. Amused, she decided to grant his wish and came out to meet him. The moment Xu Qi'an saw her, his heart raced like a startled deer, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He thought to himself, "Such beauty exists in the world—seeing her today has made it all worthwhile.

"Xu Qi'an immediately knelt and expressed his gratitude for the Eldest Princess's recognition, vowing to serve her loyally. When Huai An heard him call her "Eldest Princess," she realized he didn’t even know what the real Eldest Princess looked like. For the sake of her poetry competition victory, Huai An decided to go along with the misunderstanding and impersonate her sister.

Back at the Nightwatcher headquarters, Li Yuchun did not confine Xu Qi'an to the office to review case files as usual. Instead, he ordered him to patrol the streets with his colleagues, which mostly involved playing mahjong. Xu Qi'an was puzzled by Li Yuchun’s sudden leniency and suspected it might be the Eldest Princess pulling strings behind the scenes. To confirm his suspicion, Xu Qi'an went to see the Eldest Princess.

Huai An, who had just come up with half a line of poetry and wanted to win his loyalty, falsely admitted that she had indeed instructed Wei Yuan to treat him favorably. Hearing this, Xu Qi'an was overjoyed and wholeheartedly believed it, feeling that his future success was now assured by aligning himself with the Eldest Princess. Returning to Chunfeng Hall, Xu Qi'an was scolded by Li Yuchun for being late and shirking his duties.

Li Yuchun even summoned two Silver Gong officers to punish him. Alarmed, Xu Qi'an, who wasn’t built to withstand physical punishment, remembered his "Eldest Princess" trump card. He brazenly confronted Li Yuchun, pointing out flaws in the Nightwatcher’s protocols and declaring that he would expose these issues. He then instructed a colleague to fetch a "white paper" from his room. The document listed several real shortcomings in the Nightwatcher system.

Li Yuchun, seeing the validity of Xu Qi'an’s points, deflated like a punctured balloon. He personally handed the "white paper" to Wei Yuan, who, upon reading it, found the suggestions insightful and even noticed a redesigned Nightwatcher uniform. Wei Yuan was so impressed that he claimed credit for the ideas on the spot. To focus on composing poetry for the Eldest Princess, Xu Qi'an requested a few days off. At home, he poured all his knowledge and effort into writing.

Not only did he need to craft poetry for the princess, but he also had to help his cousin, Xu Xinnian, with his tasks, leaving him feeling overwhelmed. His uncle, Xu Pingzhi, upon hearing that Xu Qi'an had established a connection with the princess, eagerly asked if he could introduce him so he could serve her as well. Seeing his uncle, already in his fifties, harbor such naive ambitions, Xu Qi'an could only shake his head in exasperation.

Meanwhile, Huai An, still pretending to be her elder sister, began studying poetry diligently at home to provide Xu Qi'an with refined critiques and appear erudite. One day, she heard that Xu Qi'an had gone to the Directorate of Celestials. Alarmed, she realized her elder sister was also there that day. If they crossed paths, her ruse would be exposed!

At the Directorate of Celestials, Xu Qi'an found Song Qing studying the small jade mirror. Song Qing had been observing it for a long time but could not fully determine its functions, though he deduced that it was crafted by the Earth Sect. When Xu Qi'an learned that the mirror could recognize an owner and even allow entry into it, his curiosity grew.

Alone in his room, Xu Qi'an bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the mirror. To his surprise, the cracks on the mirror began to heal automatically. Entering the mirror, Xu Qi'an found himself surrounded by five floating crystal spheres. A voice began speaking to him, asking if he was a member of the Heaven’s Will Society and if he knew someone named Jin Lian.

Xu Qi'an, utterly confused, admitted that he was not part of the Heaven’s Will Society. The voice explained that Jin Lian, a member of the society, had been pursued and handed over the mirror to divert disaster onto someone else. The voice then demanded Xu Qi'an hand the mirror over to him. Hearing that the mirror brought calamity, Xu Qi'an was more than willing to give it up.

However, not being a fool, he demanded 800 taels of silver, claiming he had initially paid 500 taels of gold for it. The other party readily agreed and set a meeting point for the exchange. The agreed location was Guiyue Tower, and Xu Qi'an was optimistic about the deal. However, another crystal sphere began speaking to him, warning him not to trust the first voice, who was known for deceit and betrayal.

It urged Xu Qi'an to turn the mirror over to the Heaven’s Will Society instead, as they were trustworthy. Unable to decide whom to trust, Xu Qi'an eventually handed the mirror to Yang Yan. Upon hearing that it originated from the Earth Sect, Yang Yan immediately took Xu Qi'an to see Wei Yuan.

After explaining the series of events to Wei Yuan, Xu Qi'an suggested that since the mirror was a valuable treasure, it should be confiscated for the public good by Chunfeng Hall. Wei Yuan, seeing through Xu Qi'an's fear of death, smiled knowingly. A nearby Bronze Gong reminded Xu Qi'an to watch his words. Realizing his mistake, Xu Qi'an quickly knelt and confessed that he sought external help in hopes of avoiding disaster.

Wei Yuan, pleased with Xu Qi'an's honesty, ordered Yang Yan to investigate the situation further. Yang Yan went to the meeting location and encountered an Earth Sect member exuding a sinister aura. Although Yang Yan managed to temporarily overpower him with his exceptional martial arts, their skills were evenly matched, making it hard to determine a victor. While Yang Yan was investigating, Xu Qi'an waited in Wei Yuan’s office.

Noticing that Wei Yuan had pulled up his collar due to the cold, Xu Qi'an thoughtfully added more charcoal to the brazier, warming the room. Wei Yuan, aware of Xu Qi'an’s small gesture, smiled approvingly. Xu Qi'an also observed Wei Yuan’s fondness for tea, noting the many teapots and jars in the room. To show his gratitude, Xu Qi'an crafted a tea table using exquisite local marble.

He designed it with ingenious mechanisms, including automatic tea refilling and compartments for concealing and revealing jars of tea and various snacks for Wei Yuan’s leisure. Since Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao from Chunfeng Hall had always treated him well, Xu Qi'an enlisted their help to carry the tea table to Wei Yuan’s office. The two, being low-ranking officers, had never had the chance to meet Wei Yuan before.

Now, thanks to Xu Qi'an, they finally saw their superior and were moved to tears, further solidifying their admiration for Xu Qi'an. Wei Yuan found the tea table innovative and even invited Xu Qi'an to sit and enjoy tea with him. This scene annoyed Nangong Qianrou, but it didn’t affect Wei Yuan’s appreciation for Xu Qi'an. He even gifted Xu Qi'an a small jar of premium tea, a significant honor.

When Xu Qi'an showed the jar to Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao, they were filled with envy. Li Yuchun, noticing them leaving Wei Yuan’s office, questioned why they hadn’t reported their visit beforehand. Meanwhile, Nangong Qianrou, still displeased, made sarcastic comments about Xu Qi'an, further souring Li Yuchun’s opinion of him.

Yang Yan managed to repel the Earth Sect's Purple Lotus but faced an unexpected turn of events when Daoist Jin Lian, the one who had originally handed over the jade mirror, appeared and killed Purple Lotus. Later that night, Jin Lian visited Xu Qi'an’s quarters, trying to recruit him into the Heaven’s Will Society.

Hearing that many members of the society possessed unparalleled martial arts and extensive networks, Xu Qi'an, eager to expand his social connections, happily agreed and became Member Three of the Heaven’s Will Society.

Xu Qi'an introduced himself to the team using an alias. After learning about the basic details of the team members, he returned to report to Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan recognized several of the names Xu Qi'an mentioned. Interestingly, the founder of the Heaven’s Will Society did not seem to mind Xu Qi'an’s identity and even allowed him to gather information freely within the group.

This puzzled both Wei Yuan and Xu Qi'an, leading them to speculate that the society might be trying to recruit Nightwatchers. As a reward for Xu Qi'an’s efforts, Wei Yuan allowed him to choose a sword manual and specifically advised him to pick one with simple, practical techniques, avoiding flashy but impractical moves. Taking this advice to heart, Xu Qi'an selected the "One Blade Manual.

" Li Yuchun, however, disapproved of this choice, as the manual’s preface boldly stated: “One slash is enough. If you need a second, then the best strategy is to retreat. ” Li Yuchun found this philosophy disgraceful, but Xu Qi'an, valuing his life above all, thought it was perfectly reasonable. Lately, Xu Qi'an’s luck had been extraordinary. After receiving his reward, he also obtained the new manual.

Suspecting that this good fortune was due to Lin An, he visited her to confirm. Lin An took all the credit for his success, making Xu Qi'an completely trust her. He even swore to follow the Eldest Princess for the rest of his life. Lin An felt both anger and frustration—she wanted to reveal her true identity but feared that Xu Qi'an would abandon her upon learning the truth, costing her a capable ally.

Soon after, the Nightwatchers received an alert: Pingyuan Bo had been murdered, and the suspect was nearby. Xu Qi'an and his colleagues were ordered to apprehend the perpetrator. Through the jade mirror, a voice from his team revealed that the suspect was Member Six of the Heaven’s Will Society, Hengyuan. Hengyuan admitted to killing Pingyuan Bo. This revelation surprised Xu Qi'an, as Hengyuan had previously saved his life.

Xu Qi'an questioned Hengyuan in the group chat, trying to determine whether Hengyuan had acted out of righteousness or malice. If Hengyuan was kind-hearted, Xu Qi'an considered helping him as a way to repay his debt. But if Hengyuan were malevolent, Xu Qi'an planned to use the information to capture him and earn a reward. Hengyuan explained that Pingyuan Bo was involved in human trafficking, abducting and abusing children for profit.

He provided irrefutable evidence of Pingyuan Bo’s crimes, angering the Heaven’s Will Society members. After learning Hengyuan’s location, Xu Qi'an secretly handed him a set of clothes from Xu Xinnian’s academy to disguise him, ensuring that the Bronze Gong members could not identify him. After discreetly delivering the clothes, Xu Qi'an was caught by the Golden Gong, who discovered the jade mirror in his possession.

To retrieve it, Xu Qi'an boldly approached the group, invoked Wei Yuan’s name, and demanded the artifact back. Though they did not recognize Xu Qi'an, mentioning Wei Yuan made them cautious, and they returned the mirror to him. Through the Heaven’s Will Society, Xu Qi'an learned that Pingyuan Bo’s death had caused trouble for Wei Yuan, with court officials accusing him of incompetence for failing to apprehend the suspect.

After a sleepless night of inner conflict, Xu Qi'an decided to confess to Wei Yuan. When he admitted to secretly helping the suspect escape, Wei Yuan was furious, throwing a cup to the ground. Xu Qi'an quickly presented the evidence of Pingyuan Bo’s crimes, gradually calming Wei Yuan’s anger. In fact, Wei Yuan had already disliked Pingyuan Bo and had intentionally given the Nightwatchers a temporary reprieve earlier in the day.

Wei Yuan forgave Xu Qi'an and instructed him to continue infiltrating the Heaven’s Will Society, emphasizing the importance of identifying all its members. He also reminded Xu Qi'an to stay safe. That night, Hengyuan reported his safety in the group chat. Everyone knew it was Member Three—Xu Qi'an—who had saved him. Curious, they asked how he had managed to evade the Nightwatchers.

Before Hengyuan could fully explain, Xu Qi'an exaggerated the story, claiming he had worn Hengyuan’s clothes to divert the Nightwatchers and was now being hunted himself. This gained him the sympathy and admiration of the group, elevating his reputation within the society.

Xu Qi'an’s unwavering loyalty to the Eldest Princess left Lin An feeling dissatisfied. To tarnish the Eldest Princess’s image in Xu Qi'an’s eyes, Lin An devised a plan. She instructed her maid to hire a few people who would "accidentally" pass by Xu Qi'an and gossip about the Eldest Princess, claiming she had poor character, questionable medical skills, and dubious morals.

In her room, Lin An secretly rejoiced, believing that once Xu Qi'an heard these rumors, he would surely be disappointed in the Eldest Princess. At that point, Lin An could reveal her true identity and potentially win him over. However, just two minutes later, her subordinates reported that Xu Qi'an had detained the gossiping troublemakers for interrogation. Lin An was shocked to discover how quickly Xu Qi'an had identified their lies.

Fortunately, he still didn’t realize she was the mastermind behind the scheme. Xu Qi'an claimed he had received credible information that the Second Princess was interested in recruiting him, but he firmly declared his eternal loyalty to the Eldest Princess, vowing never to serve another. Lin An, exasperated by his rambling, hurriedly dismissed him. After the Pingyuan Bo incident, Jiang Jinluo developed a strong impression of Xu Qi'an and insisted that the Spring Breeze Hall release him.

Jiang Lüzhong had even learned that Xu Qi'an was well-connected with the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring and planned to use this relationship to acquire more magical artifacts for future investigations. However, when Jiang Lüzhong sent people to Spring Breeze Hall to retrieve Xu Qi'an, Li Yuchun refused outright. Though he often found Xu Qi'an annoying, Li Yuchun recognized that everyone competing for Xu Qi'an meant he was a rare talent.

Jiang Lüzhong, furious over Li Yuchun’s refusal, personally went to Spring Breeze Hall. Hearing that someone was trying to poach Xu Qi'an, Yang Yan, unwilling to lose a valuable subordinate, also stepped in. The two Golden Gongs ended up fighting in front of a crowd, creating a spectacular scene. Many of the Copper Gongs had never witnessed Golden Gongs in combat, let alone top-tier masters facing off. The breathtaking battle left everyone, including Li Yuchun, in awe.

Xu Qi'an, meanwhile, was eating watermelon when he heard about the commotion and grew curious. Upon arriving at the scene, he saw that Yang Yan and Jiang Lüzhong were indeed evenly matched. Unable to resist, he asked what had sparked the duel. When he learned they were fighting over a highly talented subordinate—himself—he couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride. Shortly afterward, Wei Yuan summoned Xu Qi'an to ask for his decision.

On the way, Xu Qi'an analyzed the situation and concluded that it was best for Wei Yuan to make the choice on his behalf, avoiding offense to either side. To demonstrate his sincerity, Xu Qi'an even presented a poem he had written during his initial examination. In Xu Qi'an’s view, he could learn valuable lessons whether he worked under Yang Yan or Jiang Lüzhong.

When he returned to Spring Breeze Hall, his colleagues surrounded him, curious about his decision in front of Wei Yuan. Proudly, Xu Qi'an shared his strategy and eloquence, leaving everyone amazed at his high emotional and intellectual intelligence. Not long after, Li Yuchun summoned Xu Qi'an to his office. Assuming he was about to be reassigned, Xu Qi'an pretended to be deeply reluctant to leave, expressing that he saw Spring Breeze Hall as his family.

His heartfelt performance moved Li Yuchun. While Xu Qi'an continued his act, he speculated about his potential new position. However, when Li Yuchun handed him the official transfer order, Xu Qi'an’s smile disappeared. Wei Yuan had assigned him to serve under Li Yuchun’s command for the next three years, with strict instructions that he would not be transferred during this period. Realizing he was now stuck for the foreseeable future, Xu Qi'an felt utterly trapped.

Jiang Lüzhong couldn’t understand Wei Yuan’s decision, so Wei Yuan explained. Xu Qi'an acted based on his instincts, often disregarded rules, and had a sharp, flexible mind, making him difficult to manage. On the other hand, Li Yuchun was rigid, methodical, and adhered strictly to principles and boundaries. Under Li Yuchun’s mentorship, Wei Yuan believed Xu Qi'an could correct some of his shortcomings.

Late at night, the jade mirror by Xu Qi'an's pillow transmitted a message. Hengyuan, Number Six in the group, shared news: he had previously placed many orphans he had saved in the Anji Hall for care. However, just yesterday, the Anji Hall was discovered by government officials. Worried about the children’s safety, he rushed there, only to find that the officials were actually cleaning and organizing the hall, with no intention of targeting him. Hengyuan was puzzled.

Not only were the officials aware of the orphans, but they also treated the situation kindly. He couldn’t figure out who was behind this act of kindness and asked the group for answers. Xu Qi'an claimed ignorance, but after putting down the jade mirror, he recalled reporting Hengyuan’s situation to Wei Yuan in the past. Wei Yuan had instructed him not to intervene further. It was likely that Wei Yuan had secretly taken care of it.

Recently, the Nightwatchers received a tip about a demon beast in Dahuang Mountain. Li Yuchun led Xu Qi'an and his team to investigate. During the mission, Xu Qi'an learned more about Wei Yuan from Li Yuchun. Wei Yuan was not only highly intelligent and meticulous but also a paragon of virtue and an exceptional martial artist. He had once single-handedly defended against an army of one million during a siege, turning the tide of battle and earning widespread admiration.

However, after founding the Nightwatchers, Wei Yuan voluntarily abandoned his martial arts and never spoke of his past accomplishments again. While investigating Dahuang Mountain, Xu Qi'an encountered Chu Caiwei, who was using her Qi-watching technique to interrogate suspects. Chu Caiwei attempted to detect lies but found no useful leads despite questioning many individuals. Xu Qi'an examined the case files closely. The victim, Liu Han, had been found dead in his study, sitting upright in his chair in a respectful posture.

The time of death was incredibly swift. Despite interviewing numerous people, they uncovered no valuable clues. Exhausted from her Qi-watching efforts, Chu Caiwei relied on Xu Qi'an to assist in questioning Zhou Chixiong. Zhou claimed that while on night duty, he saw no intruders. Furthermore, many soldiers were stationed nearby, and Liu Han's study showed no signs of a struggle or footprints. The situation was baffling! While patrolling the area, Xu Qi'an and his colleagues came across Sangbo Lake.

They shared stories about the site, where the founding emperor of the Great Feng Dynasty had once discovered the Nation-Stabilizing Sword. After three years of meditation by the lake, the emperor’s martial arts greatly improved, enabling him to lead victorious campaigns and establish a unified China. Since then, successive emperors had visited the lake to offer sacrifices and uphold tradition. Lin An, noticing Xu Qi'an stationed nearby, became worried he might encounter the Eldest Princess.

She quickly ordered her guards to instruct the Nightwatchers to stay away. Standing by Sangbo Lake, Xu Qi'an felt uneasy and vaguely heard cries for help. Intrigued, he listened closely as the sound became clearer. Alarmed, he asked the two colleagues beside him if they heard anything, but they hadn’t. Xu Qi'an felt a sharp headache, a sense of panic, and weakness as he strained to discern anything unusual around him.

As the sacrificial ceremony began, attendees solemnly lit incense in prayer. Suddenly, the lake’s waters roiled violently, and the Nation-Stabilizing Sword burst through the roof of the main hall. Arrows flew everywhere, plunging the scene into chaos. Shouts of “Protect the Emperor! ” rang out, but Wei Yuan immediately ordered his men to secure the Empress instead. Before entering the palace, the Empress and Wei Yuan had shared mutual affection. However, due to family opposition, their feelings were ultimately suppressed.

Seeing arrows flying toward Lin An, Xu Qi'an leaped to her side, shielding her in his arms and deflecting the surrounding projectiles. Held tightly by Xu Qi'an, Lin An experienced a profound sense of safety she had never felt before. Eventually, the chaos subsided, and the Nation-Stabilizing Sword returned to its original position.

Emperor Yuanjing entered the main hall alone to reinforce the seals, sneering that no matter how strong a first-rank official was, they were merely prolonging their life by a few years. Xu Qi'an later discussed the secrets of Sangbo Lake in the group chat. Everyone speculated wildly, sharing gossip both true and false. Meanwhile, Lin An sat in her palace, racking her brain for a strategy. During the ceremony, Xu Qi'an had addressed her as the Eldest Princess.

Now that the Eldest Princess was aware of Lin An's identity, Lin An feared Xu Qi'an might learn the truth and turn against her in the future. A clever maid suggested a bold plan: why not recruit Xu Qi'an as her consort?

Xu Qi'an finally had a day off at home. To show his value, he personally cooked some delicious food for his family and even asked if there were any household chores he could help with. Meanwhile, Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao had an exciting task and quickly invited Xu Qi'an to join them. They were heading to confiscate the property of a household, and there was an opportunity to collect some valuable items along the way.

Hearing about the benefits, Xu Qi'an enthusiastically agreed to go with them. Upon arriving at the target house, another group deliberately caused trouble. Recognizing they were from Chunfeng Hall, someone slapped Zhu Guangxiao twice. Xu Qi'an immediately drew his sword, but Song Tingfeng quickly reminded him to endure for the sake of the bigger picture. Moments later, another officer, Zhu Chengzhu, a Silver Gong, arrived and kicked Zhu Guangxiao twice before also striking Xu Qi'an several times.

Xu Qi'an was furious but, seeing that Zhu Chengzhu was a superior officer, he had no choice but to endure the humiliation. When they finally began the confiscation process, Zhu Chengzhu seemed intent on making things difficult for Chunfeng Hall. While his men quietly pocketed gold and silver ingots, Song Tingfeng and his group were scolded for taking just two pearl necklaces. They were then ordered to stay put and clean up the trash after the others finished.

As Song Tingfeng tried to calm Xu Qi'an down, cries and pleas for help from a woman came from the hall, clearly indicating someone was committing an atrocity against her. Unable to tolerate it any longer, Xu Qi'an ignored warnings from those around him and rushed into the room. He dragged the beastly man off the bed. Enraged and humiliated, Zhu Chengzhu reminded Xu Qi'an of his subordinate status.

Instead of stopping, Zhu Chengzhu dragged the woman into the courtyard, stepped on her head, and tauntingly looked at Xu Qi'an. Seeing that Zhu Chengzhu continued to exert force on the woman, whose face was already covered in blood, Xu Qi'an could no longer suppress his fury. He drew his blade, took a deep breath, silently recited the martial arts techniques from his books, and struck with a single slash.

The blow sent Zhu Chengzhu flying over ten meters, splitting his silver badge in two. Zhu Chengzhu collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood and barely conscious. The surrounding crowd was stunned and quickly surrounded Xu Qi'an. Even Xu Qi'an himself hadn’t expected his strike to be so powerful. Realizing the severity of the situation, Zhu Guangxiao urged Xu Qi'an to flee as far as possible. However, Xu Qi'an refused, saying, "If I run, what will happen to you all?

What about my family? "Zhu Chengzhu's arrogance stemmed from his father, a Golden Gong, who had attained his rank at a young age with powerful backing. When Zhu Chengzhu's father saw his son covered in blood and brought back unconscious, he was enraged and immediately set out to kill Xu Qi'an. Fortunately, Song Tingfeng raced ahead and informed Li Yuchun, who in turn sought help from Yang Yan.

Just as Zhu Chengzhu's father was about to kill Xu Qi'an on the road, Yang Yan arrived and reminded him that it was improper to use private punishment. Yang Yan took Xu Qi'an to see Wei Yuan, leaving the decision to him. Li Yuchun gathered witnesses from the scene to provide evidence in Xu Qi'an’s defense. Despite this, Zhu Chengzhu's father remained aggressive. Wei Yuan, though understanding the situation, was in a difficult position.

In the end, Wei Yuan ruled that Zhu Chengzhu should be dismissed for his lawless behavior, while Xu Qi'an was sentenced to be executed for insubordination. Hearing Wei Yuan’s judgment, Xu Qi'an's eyes reddened. He had endured severe injuries and humiliation at Zhu Chengzhu’s hands, but when the man allowed his subordinates to harm an innocent woman, Xu Qi'an felt compelled to act. Now, the teacher he had always respected had sentenced him to death.

Unable to understand, Xu Qi'an asked Wei Yuan if he still remembered his original commitment to justice and serving the people. Wei Yuan turned his back and gave no reply. Xu Qi'an was taken to prison, leaving his colleagues deeply saddened. Many of them pleaded with Wei Yuan on his behalf.

Not only did Chunfeng Hall rally behind Xu Qi'an, but even his normally disdainful aunt humbly sought out Madam Wang Xiuhua, the wife of a minister, to plead on Xu Qi'an’s behalf. To do so, she even offered her most valuable jade bracelet as a gift. As the execution date drew closer, all the Golden Gongs, except those with the surname Zhu, gathered at Wei Yuan’s residence, hoping he might reconsider.

Li Yuchun, unable to watch his subordinate suffer such injustice, donned mourning clothes, carried his work uniform, and stood outside Wei Yuan's office, shouting his name and begging him to uphold justice and save Xu Qi'an.

Li Yuchun directly reported to Wei Yuan, stating, "If one’s character is not upright, they cannot lead others. " Despite enduring much in the past, he now found it intolerable that his disciple faced such a decision for upholding justice. Resolute, Li Yuchun submitted his resignation, willing to sacrifice himself for this cause. He placed his uniform down and left decisively. Wei Yuan remained silent, standing upstairs and watching Li Yuchun’s actions with a sense of deep satisfaction.

He thought to himself: "I was right about him. Li Yuchun is upright and righteous. That’s precisely why I placed Xu Qi'an under his guidance. "Upon hearing the news brought by his younger sister, Xu Lingyue, Xu Xinnian rushed home overnight to visit Xu Qi'an in prison. However, Xu Qi'an was sound asleep, immersed in a dream-like state honing his martial arts skills.

Xu Xinnian woke him, and Xu Qi'an instructed him to retrieve a small jade mirror from the jailer and take it to the monk in the eastern part of the city. He told Xu Xinnian to relay his predicament to the No. 1 member of their group, who might be able to help since they were currently in the city. Xu Xinnian then secured an audience with the Princess Royal by using an invitation card.

He explained Xu Qi'an’s situation in detail. Knowing Xu Qi'an’s exceptional skills in solving cases, the Princess Royal decided to plead for him before the emperor. At the time, strange incidents had occurred near Sangbo, at Yongzhen Shanhe Temple, where five guards had been killed. After examining the scene, Wei Yuan determined the case to be highly complex. When he encountered the Princess Royal, he requested her to appeal to the emperor for more time to investigate the matter.

When the Princess Royal met with her father, the emperor, she originally intended to use this opportunity to save Xu Qi'an, knowing his exceptional abilities. However, Lin An happened to interject at the palace, persuading the emperor to assign the case to the Crown Prince instead. The Princess Royal remained composed but realized Lin An might not yet know about Xu Qi'an’s situation. After leaving the palace, she intentionally let the news reach Lin An’s ears.

Upon hearing that Xu Qi'an was to be executed within a few days for insubordination, Lin An panicked and ran to the emperor, pleading for clemency. To persuade her father, Lin An recalled her maids mentioning that Xu Qi'an could be made her "male concubine. " Without hesitation, she declared that Xu Qi'an was her male concubine. The emperor was shocked and immediately summoned Lin An’s mother, the noble consort, to clarify.

Upon understanding the term’s meaning, Lin An, with tears streaming down her face, knelt and begged the emperor for leniency, claiming ignorance. Finally, the emperor, learning from Lin An that Xu Qi'an was an excellent investigator, agreed to temporarily release him so he could solve the Yongzhen Shanhe Temple case and redeem himself. Meanwhile, outside Haoran Tower, Xu Qi'an’s uncle, Xu Pingzhi, stood determined, ready to stage a prison break to save his nephew.

He waited an entire day at the gate, having invited his usual comrades to assist him. However, these so-called brothers deserted him at the last moment, leaving Xu Pingzhi alone. Having exhausted all resources and favors, he decided to act alone, even knowing he was no match for the guards. To ensure he wouldn’t back out, he tied the blade to his hand with a cloth. At the same time, an imperial decree arrived, ordering Xu Qi'an’s temporary release.

Wei Yuan instructed Yang Yan to inform Li Yuchun to return and resume his duties to investigate the case. In the prison, Xu Qi'an was briefed on the Yongzhen Shanhe Temple case, which delayed his departure. Meanwhile, Xu Pingzhi was captured by patrolling watchmen as soon as he approached Chunfeng Hall. He was severely beaten and sent to the jail.

Dazed and battered, Xu Pingzhi couldn’t even lift his head as he was escorted past Xu Qi'an, who failed to recognize his uncle. Instead, Xu Qi'an instructed his colleagues to interrogate the detainee harshly and extract any conspiracies behind his actions. Finally released, Xu Qi'an returned home and reunited with his family. Seeing how much his sister, cousin, and aunt had worried for him deeply moved him. However, no one knew where his uncle had gone. They only recalled that before leaving, Xu Pingzhi had said he was going out to buy roasted chicken.

When Zhu Jinluo heard that Xu Qi'an had been released from prison again, he angrily went to Wei Yuan to question him. Wei Yuan calmly reminded him that it was the emperor’s decision, and as watchmen, their duty was to fully obey the emperor's orders. With this explanation, Zhu Jinluo had nothing more to say. After being released from prison, Xu Qi'an was tasked by Wei Yuan to lead the Chunfeng Hall and Zhenxie Hall teams in investigating the case.

Wei Yuan appointed him as the chief examiner for the case. Upon reviewing the case files, the first question Xu Qi'an asked Wei Yuan was whether something was sealed beneath Sangbo. The National Guardian Sword held significant importance to Sangbo, but as it remained intact, it seemed there might be something else hidden within Sangbo. Xu Qi'an’s question directly hit the crux of the matter. Although Wei Yuan knew the secret, it was a grave matter.

He warned Xu Qi'an, "The emperor only ordered you to investigate who was behind the explosion at the mountain and temple. Do not concern yourself with anything else. "The teams from Jin Jun Hall, Chunfeng Hall, and Zhenxie Hall gathered completely under Xu Qi'an’s command. He methodically assigned investigation tasks to each squad, ensuring everyone was ready for action. Xu Qi'an personally went to Sangbo.

The lake’s surface appeared calm, but Xu Qi'an remembered hearing strange sounds from its depths before. Determined to uncover the truth, he dove into the lake. At the bottom, he found three stone pillars, numerous iron chains, and a massive engraved stone at the center, clearly part of a formation. Xu Qi'an carefully examined the characters on the stone tablet before surfacing to describe them to Li Yuchun.

Hearing Xu Qi'an’s account, Li Yuchun felt a chill, suspecting the matter was connected to the Directorate of Celestial Observations. As Xu Qi'an continued tracking clues, he discovered suspicious activities within the Ministry of Justice. He immediately led his team there, only to be blocked at the gate by the guards who showed disdain for them. Seeing the obstruction and pressed for time, Xu Qi'an resorted to his "one-strike" style, knocking down all the guards and barging into the Ministry.

The furious Ministry of Justice vice minister was about to act when a eunuch from the palace arrived just in time. The eunuch informed the officials that Xu Qi'an, though a Bronze Gong, had been appointed by the emperor as the chief examiner for the case. The Ministry of Justice struggled with the case. The explosion at Yongzhen Shanhe Temple required a significant amount of gunpowder, the primary ingredient of which was saltpeter.

This discovery linked the case to recent Miao tribe attacks in Dahuang Mountain. Xu Qi'an asked the Ministry of Justice vice minister who could have concealed such a large quantity of explosives. The vice minister replied that it would require the involvement of the Minister of Works and two deputy ministers. However, mobilizing the Minister of Works would cause a huge commotion, making it a difficult lead to follow. Xu Qi'an’s probing question sparked new insights for the vice minister.

On their way back, Chu Caiwei and Xu Qi'an speculated about potential suspects. Connecting this case to a previous incident in Jingzhao Prefecture, they identified Zhou Chixiong as the most likely culprit. They immediately went to find him, only to learn from his gatekeeper that Zhou Chixiong had taken leave several days ago to visit his relatives. Once again, the lead went cold, and Xu Qi'an regretted missing the opportunity.

Xu Qi'an recalled the gruesome state of the guards who had been stationed at Yongzhen Shanhe Temple on the night of the incident. All 312 guards had been drained of their blood essence, a horrifying act that could only be carried out by someone with immense cultivation and skill. Li Yuchun sighed, acknowledging that this investigation was far more challenging than expected. The complexity of the case, coupled with the strength of their opponent, made it an uphill battle.

That night, Xu Xinnian and Xu Qi'an sat on the rooftop discussing their next steps. Xu Xinnian, concerned about the difficulty of the case, suggested that Xu Qi'an take this opportunity to escape. He proposed fleeing to Yunzhou, a region rife with bandits and far from the emperor’s reach, where palace officials wouldn’t be able to pursue him. Xu Xinnian’s casual remark sparked a realization for Xu Qi'an: Zhou Chixiong might have fled to Yunzhou.

Meanwhile, Xu Pingzhi finally returned home, visibly thinner and limping. He had risked his life to break into Menghu Hall to save Xu Qi'an. Seeing Xu Qi'an standing unharmed before him, Xu Pingzhi was overwhelmed with emotion and broke into tears. Later, Xu Qi'an and Chu Caiwei went to the prison to interrogate the Taikang County Magistrate again. Accompanying them was Zhang Shen, the grand tutor from Yunlu Academy, who was highly confident in his ability to read auras.

However, when Zhang Shen cast his spell, there was no reaction. Xu Qi'an approached the Taikang County Magistrate only to find that he had already died.

The death of the Taikang County Magistrate in prison was a major event. The officials responsible for his detention were deeply anxious. Xu Qi'an did not dwell on their negligence and immediately ordered a coroner's examination. Xu Qi'an asked Chu Caiwei to observe the aura of the scene. She discovered that the magistrate had died in his sleep, a highly unusual circumstance.

Xu Qi'an questioned the coroner if they had encountered this type of murder method before, and the reply pointed to the work of a Wu Shenshi. Li Yuchun, recognizing the term, explained that many soldiers in Yunzhou had died at the hands of these people in the past. Their bodies bore no wounds, and they died peacefully and silently. The bizarre nature of such killings left Li Yuchun uneasy.

As watchmen who relied on martial skills, how could they counter an enemy who left no trace? Xu Qi'an believed the priority was to capture Zhou Chixiong immediately and set out to head for Yunzhou. However, Yunzhou was unfamiliar territory and teeming with bandits. Rushing in without preparation would be reckless. Xu Qi'an turned to the Heaven-Sealing Guild chat group and asked if anyone was in Yunzhou.

Member Number One quickly reached out to Member Number Two, asking for her help in investigating Zhou Chixiong. Number Two flatly refused, citing that Number One was a court official, and she would not assist anyone from the imperial court. Listening to the conversation, Xu Qi'an deduced that Number Two was based in Yunzhou. Since they were both members of the Heaven-Sealing Guild, they likely had considerable abilities.

Remembering that Number Two had once sought his help with Hengyuan, Xu Qi'an invoked their prior agreement, asking her to investigate Zhou Chixiong in exchange for clearing the debt. Number Two agreed. While waiting for Number Two to track Zhou Chixiong, Xu Qi'an went to report to Wei Yuan. This time, when entering Wei Yuan's room, Xu Qi'an was notably more restrained. He stopped three meters away, respectfully saluted, and began reporting his findings from the investigation.

Wei Yuan, aware that Xu Qi'an had directly reported the case to Emperor Jingdi previously, noticed his cautious demeanor. It was clear that Xu Qi'an was still apprehensive about the near-execution judgment from before. Wei Yuan was unbothered and, after listening to the report, carefully advised Xu Qi'an to investigate Zhou Chixiong’s background. As a mere seventh-rank official, how had Zhou managed to escape under their noses? Moreover, the watchmen had yet to uncover his trail.

Wei Yuan speculated that Zhou might have used a magic artifact to conceal his presence. He urged Xu Qi'an to look into who had provided Zhou with such an artifact and suggested seeking answers from the Eldest Princess. He then handed Xu Qi'an a dossier on Zhou Chixiong's background, revealing that Wei Yuan had preemptively investigated Zhou, which explained the timely delivery of the materials.

Xu Qi'an realized that Wei Yuan had been secretly assisting him all along, even finding a way to save him from his death sentence in the past. On the journey back to the palace, Xu Qi'an and Wei Yuan shared a carriage. Wei Yuan confided in Xu Qi'an that during the announcement of his death sentence, plans had already been made to secretly transfer him to safety and have him continue the investigation under a hidden identity.

He asked if Xu Qi'an minded this arrangement. Xu Qi'an admitted he did not care as long as his life was preserved, but he expressed a strong desire to solve the case openly rather than live in fear. Wei Yuan, seeing Xu Qi'an's growing confidence, reminded him to remain calm and patient in critical moments. Although he appeared to have everything under control, Wei Yuan cautioned that clarity could sometimes alienate others.

The imperial court and the watchmen’s ranks still harbored deep-rooted issues that could not be resolved overnight. For the first time, Xu Qi'an entered the palace. He noticed that many palace attendants would glance at him, whisper, and chuckle. Overhearing some of the gossip, he was shocked to hear rumors that he was the Eldest Princess's "favorite.

" This startled Xu Qi'an, leading him to suspect that the rumors had been deliberately spread by Princess Lin An to recruit him into her faction. Unaware that he had been misled about the identity of the Eldest Princess, Xu Qi'an worried the rumors might create doubts about him. He resolved to clarify matters with the princess. At that moment, a poetry gathering was being held in a pavilion with Huai Qing, Lin An, and several imperial princes in attendance.

From a distance, Lin An saw Xu Qi'an approaching and, alarmed, immediately instructed her maid to lead him away. Xu Qi'an was confused when he was turned away, but Huai Qing noticed Lin An’s anxious demeanor and, unaware of the situation, ordered Xu Qi'an to be brought back. Xu Qi'an finally realized he had been deceived by Lin An. Earlier, in front of the group, he had openly declared his loyalty to Princess Lin An, which drew considerable laughter. Fortunately, the Eldest Princess did not take offense and instead asked him about the progress of his investigation.

Xu Qi'an reported the clues he had gathered to the Eldest Princess. Based on the evidence, the Eldest Princess suddenly suspected the Northern King and directly rebuked Xu Qi'an for his boldness. Xu Qi'an was stunned—he hadn’t even been aware of the Northern King's existence. The Eldest Princess, impressed by Xu Qi'an's intelligence and sharp instincts, asked if he was willing to pledge loyalty to her.

Xu Qi'an hesitated for a moment and excused himself by saying he was already acquainted with Lin An, and switching allegiance to the Eldest Princess might invite trouble. The Eldest Princess brushed off his concerns. With no further objections, Xu Qi'an accepted the token she offered him. She then took him to the library pavilion, where they searched through various books. They discovered that the Bodhi Beads had the ability to block aura detection.

Xu Qi'an suddenly recalled an incident where he had participated in a game of pot-throwing for a string of Bodhi Beads. At that time, he had overheard that the person in the sedan chair was a woman. How, then, could this woman be connected to the Northern King? The Eldest Princess also mentioned that Princess Pingyang had fled late at night to avoid a royal marriage and had disappeared without a trace.

Even the Directorate of Celestials had failed to locate her using aura-detection techniques, suggesting a connection to the Bodhi Beads. Prompted by the Eldest Princess’s insights, Xu Qi'an realized that Lin An, who had a close relationship with Princess Pingyang, might have valuable information. Despite the earlier awkwardness, Xu Qi'an steeled himself to meet Lin An again, only to be refused entry. To show his sincerity, Xu Qi'an stood under the scorching sun for a long time.

When Lin An still didn’t open the door, and he felt himself on the verge of becoming sun-dried jerky, Xu Qi'an hatched a plan. He pretended to faint from heatstroke and collapsed on the ground. When Lin An heard that Xu Qi'an had fainted, she immediately ordered her servants to carry him inside, give him cooling herbal soup, and fan him.

Xu Qi'an slowly "regained consciousness" and, with his silver tongue, quickly coaxed Lin An into a good mood, easing the tension between them. After reaffirming his loyalty to her, Xu Qi'an asked about Princess Pingyang's disappearance. In the palace, Lin An indeed had the closest relationship with Princess Pingyang. She took Xu Qi'an to the imperial garden and recounted Princess Pingyang's story.

The two sisters were very close, and Lin An knew that Pingyang had a deep bond with a man named Henghui from the Qinglong Hall. The two had grown up together and shared mutual affection. Henghui's words often delighted Pingyang. When the emperor decreed a marriage for Pingyang, she refused to comply and secretly met Lin An before leaving. After Pingyang disappeared, her father fell ill and passed away due to political struggles, while her mother cried every day.

Whenever she saw Xu Qi'an, Pingyang’s mother would inquire about her daughter’s whereabouts. Though Lin An had no news, she would comfort her aunt by saying Pingyang was living well. Now that the topic of Pingyang had come up again, Lin An was very worried about her sister’s situation. Xu Qi'an reassured her, explaining that Pingyang had taken a magical artifact capable of concealing her aura when she left.

In the imperial palace’s rear garden, a small dragon—kept as a spirit pet by the princes—was raised in the pond. Normally docile, the dragon would occasionally take the princes for flights in the sky. Recently, however, the dragon had stayed underwater and refused to come out. That day, the dragon surfaced, appearing particularly agitated as it swam around erratically and even spat water.

The emperor, upon hearing about the change in his spirit pet’s behavior, went to the pond, accompanied by Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan, hearing that Xu Qi'an had just passed by the pond, secretly broke into a cold sweat. Feigning submission, the spirit pet carried the emperor into the sky. However, it took advantage of his unguarded moment and threw him mid-air. Fortunately, the guards acted swiftly and ensured the emperor's safety.

The small dragon then soared into the sky and began searching for a specific aura, eventually locating Xu Qi'an. At that moment, Xu Qi'an was walking with Lin An in the rear garden. The spirit pet dove toward them, and Xu Qi'an quickly stepped in front of Lin An to shield her. The emperor and his guards soon arrived, and the small dragon was subdued.

Lin An hastily explained to the emperor that Xu Qi'an had protected her, demonstrating his merit and requesting clemency for his death sentence. However, while the emperor granted Xu Qi'an a reward, he did not revoke the previous punishment. Instead, he gave Xu Qi'an fifteen days to solve the case.

The spirit dragon inexplicably threw a tantrum and nearly collided with Lin An's tribute beads, infuriating the emperor. He ordered the spirit dragon to be captured and returned to the pond. The emperor immediately declared a citywide curfew and instructed Wei Yuan to tighten security measures. Xu Qi'an returned home to find Xu Pingzhi and Xu Xinnian teasing him for serving two masters simultaneously, saying it was an impossible balancing act.

Xu Xinnian asked Xu Qi'an what he planned to do. Xu Qi'an replied that while Lin An was not particularly sharp, she was lively, innocent, and fiercely protective when it mattered most. On the other hand, the Eldest Princess was exceptionally intelligent, calculating, and bold. With the Eldest Princess as a powerful ally, there would be no worry about future promotions or wealth. Hearing this, Xu Pingzhi immediately began flattering Xu Qi'an, hoping to be recommended to the Eldest Princess.

Xu Qi'an ignored him and started practicing martial arts. At that moment, Xu Qi'an's jade mirror began signaling him. Member Four of the Heaven-Sealing Society wanted to privately discuss Hengyuan's whereabouts. The three members speculated whether Hengyuan had taken the magical artifact that could block auras. They decided to visit the residence of the Earl of Pingyuan together.

Upon arrival, they noticed that despite the recent confiscation of his property, the Earl’s residence was still bustling with music and dancing, as if nothing had changed. Soon, however, a mysterious figure wearing a bamboo hat appeared. This person, possessing exceptional martial skills, easily defeated the guards and killed the Earl's legitimate son. From the rooftop, Xu Qi'an and Heaven-Sealing Society Member Four watched in horror as the Earl’s heir was reduced to ashes.

Despite their combined efforts, they were no match for the mysterious figure. After executing his deadly blade technique, Xu Qi'an quickly signaled his companions to escape. When Xu Qi'an reported the incident to Wei Yuan, Wei Yuan showed him a portrait. The person in the drawing was Henghui—the one who had eloped with Princess Pingyang. Wei Yuan deduced that Henghui had likely stolen the magical artifact that blocked auras and was connected to the Sangbo case.

Lin An visited Princess Pingyang's mother, who still lived in the family residence, clinging to hope that her daughter might one day return. She offered Lin An pomegranates that Pingyang had once picked herself and reminisced about the past. Overwhelmed by her longing for Pingyang, Lin An lied to comfort her, claiming that Pingyang had gone to Persia, where the scenery was beautiful.

Pingyang’s mother immediately expressed a desire to visit Persia, saying she had nothing else to occupy her time. Lin An quickly made excuses, saying the journey was long and arduous, and by the time they arrived, Pingyang might have moved elsewhere. Meanwhile, the new case involving the Earl of Pingyuan added to a string of recent incidents that greatly displeased the emperor. He berated the ministers for being incompetent while continuing to collect their salaries.

Turning to Wei Yuan, the emperor demanded updates on the investigations. Wei Yuan cryptically stated that he could only report the details in private. The emperor dismissed the ministers, including Minister of War Zhang Feng, and held a private conversation with Wei Yuan behind closed doors. The dismissed ministers, already frustrated from being reprimanded, were further annoyed by being excluded. Each harbored their own suspicions. When Wei Yuan finally emerged, they eagerly questioned him.

Wei Yuan mysteriously claimed that the matter was of great importance and that the cases were nearly solved, with significant results expected in a few days. His casual remark, however, alarmed Zhang Feng, who returned home, hastily packed his valuables, and attempted to flee with his son. They were intercepted at the city gates. From a vantage point, Wei Yuan and Xu Qi'an enjoyed tea as they received the report of Zhang Feng’s capture.

Wei Yuan, satisfied, remarked that a guilty conscience always reveals itself. They could now use this opportunity to trace Henghui’s whereabouts. At that moment, Henghui appeared at the gates of Zhang Feng’s residence. Using his Absorbing Star Technique, he drained three people of their life force in an instant. However, as he entered the courtyard, he triggered a formation. Yang Qianhuan, a fourth-grade formation master from the Directorate of Celestials, revealed himself.

Henghui sneered, dismissing Yang’s abilities as insufficient to challenge him. Just as he prepared to attack, Jiang Jinluo, Yang Yan, and other top experts arrived, making it clear that a fierce battle was inevitable.

Xiao Rou was the first to fight Henghui. There were few in the world who could rival Henghui, and after only three rounds, Xiao Rou was thrown to the ground and severely injured. Yang Yan, seeing his partner gravely wounded, immediately rushed to assist. Surprisingly, Yang Yan managed to pierce Henghui’s chest with his sword. However, inexplicably, Henghui instantly recovered to full strength.

Fortunately, Yang Qianhuan delivered a critical strike just in time, forcing Henghui to flee, aware he was no match for them. Yang Qianhuan, Yang Yan, and Xiao Rou began to ponder: Henghui’s arm didn’t seem like his own. No ordinary person could possess such overwhelming power. Who was controlling him behind the scenes? None of them could figure it out. Meanwhile, Yang Qianhuan heard that the Night Watchmen had assigned a bronze gong to investigate the case.

Intrigued, and not wanting a mere bronze gong to outshine him, Yang Qianhuan decided to meet Xu Qi’an in person. Henghui fled to his hideout, an abandoned well, where Hengyuan was meditating in silence. Seeing Henghui stumble back, injured and staggering, Hengyuan tried to persuade him to abandon his ways, but Henghui remained unmoved. Instead, he intended to devour his senior brother to replenish his energy.

Xu Qi’an returned to Wei Yuan’s office to find Xiao Rou and Jiang Jinluo heavily injured, their bodies and heads wrapped in bandages. Jiang Jinluo even had a black eye, prompting a laugh from Xu Qi’an. According to Yang Yan’s account, Henghui’s martial arts likely reached the first rank, and it was now up to Xu Qi’an to uncover the mastermind behind these events.

Wei Yuan reminded Xu Qi’an not to use aura-sensing techniques on officials of fourth rank or higher but hinted that he could bring a sorcerer along. Xu Qi’an initially thought he could bring Cai Wei again, but Yang Yan mysteriously stated that someone even more skilled would accompany him this time. Who could this more skilled individual from the Directorate of Celestials be? Xu Qi’an wondered. Upon arriving at the Directorate, he discovered it was Yang Qianhuan.

Xu Qi’an recognized his name from the words embroidered on his robe, but the man refused to reveal his face. No matter how Xu Qi’an tried, he couldn’t catch a glimpse of Yang Qianhuan’s true appearance. As a fourth-grade formation master, Yang Qianhuan effortlessly evaded Xu Qi’an, his movements light and elusive. Xu Qi’an, not one to give up easily, decided to lower Yang Qianhuan’s guard by composing a poem for him.

The poem, “I grasp the sun and moon, pluck the stars; none on earth are like me,” flattered Yang Qianhuan so much that he agreed to accompany Xu Qi’an to interrogate Minister of War Zhang Shen. As expected of a fourth-grade formation master, Yang Qianhuan waved his fan, and in an instant, he and Xu Qi’an were at Zhang Shen’s residence.

With his back to Zhang Shen, Yang Qianhuan could tell that Zhang Shen was lying in response to all of Xu Qi’an’s questions. After two hours of working together, Xu Qi’an still hadn’t managed to see Yang Qianhuan’s face. Just then, Xu Qi’an’s jade mirror signaled. Someone had discovered Hengyuan’s whereabouts. Xu Qi’an immediately rode out with the Night Watchmen. At the scene, they found not only Hengyuan but also the lifeless body of Henghui.

Hengyuan explained that the night before, Henghui had chosen to sacrifice himself to save him. Hengyuan then revealed Henghui’s secret: a year ago, Princess Pingyang had refused the emperor’s arranged marriage. She enlisted the Earl of Pingyuan’s legitimate son to obtain the artifact that could block auras and sought trusted allies to help her escape under the cover of night. However, their escape was doomed from the start.

Princess Pingyang, a sheltered noble unfamiliar with the ways of the world, and Henghui, a free-spirited wanderer untouched by power and darkness, were an ill-fated pair. A trusted servant, Zhang Yi, the son of Deputy Minister of War Zhang Shen, pretended to help but had ulterior motives. As soon as their carriage left the capital, Zhang Yi revealed his true nature, stoning Henghui to death and attempting to assault Princess Pingyang.

The princess resisted with all her might, ultimately taking her own life with a hairpin. Although Henghui had died from the stoning, his body was later manipulated by a skilled practitioner of demonic arts. Yang Yan, listening to the account, immediately deduced that Henghui had been turned into a corpse puppet and used as a vessel for dark magic. Following Hengyuan’s directions, Xu Qi’an excavated Princess Pingyang’s burial site and found her remains.

Upon hearing of the princess’s tragic fate, Lin An rushed to the morgue. Lying there was her dearest sister, someone she had often reunited with in her dreams. Now, they were separated forever. Lin An compared the hairpin found at the scene with her own and confirmed it belonged to Princess Pingyang. Overcome with grief, she wept bitterly. Princess Pingyang’s mother also came to the morgue. Having already lost her husband, she now mourned the loss of her daughter.

Her cries of despair echoed through the hall. Even the Eldest Princess, upon hearing the news in the palace, lost her composure, angrily dismissing the messenger. Learning that Princess Pingyang’s death was caused by the Earl of Pingyuan’s legitimate son and Zhang Yi, Lin An silently wept. Upon returning, she wrote a letter in blood, which she personally presented to the emperor and the court officials.

During the morning court session, Lin An, dressed entirely in white mourning clothes, tearfully recounted Princess Pingyang’s tragic story while holding the blood letter. Once carefree and cheerful, Lin An now stood as a sobbing figure, her pale face accusing the Deputy Minister of War of heinous crimes. The officials, upon hearing the details, were stricken with fear and dread.

Lin An, driven by friendship, personally delivered the blood letter to the former emperor’s court, which had a significant impact on the entire court. Initially, Princess Pingyang’s escape, which violated the imperial edict, could have easily been twisted into something she was blamed for. However, with Lin An’s support, she silenced those who wanted to speak on Zhang Feng’s behalf. In the end, the emperor ordered Zhang Feng’s execution by decapitation.

Lin An’s mother, the imperial concubine, was furious upon hearing that her daughter had presented the blood letter to the former emperor’s court. She immediately went to confront Lin An, scolding her for interfering in state affairs. She reprimanded Lin An for being naive and unworldly, blaming her for her father’s indulgence. Lin An had never been politically astute, and now, for the sake of a princess, she had openly exposed herself. The concubine angrily berated her.

However, Lin An did not heed her mother’s words; her mind was consumed with thoughts of Princess Pingyang. Recalling the tragic scene when they last met, Lin An couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. Out of nowhere, a butterfly fluttered around Lin An, lingering near her for a long time. Lin An’s eyes reddened as she stared at the butterfly, murmuring to herself, *Could it be that Princess Pingyang has finally found freedom? *Henghui, too, had been released from prison.

Upon hearing that Zhang Feng would be executed within five days, he felt that the people who had harmed Princess Pingyang had been punished, avenging the wrongs. He thought that his junior brother could now rest in peace. The position of Minister of War was now vacant, and the emperor called for officials to recommend capable candidates. Each official rushed to recommend their own trusted confidants, but Wei Yuan remained silent.

The emperor, puzzled, handed the matter over to the Ministry of Personnel. Eventually, Wei Yuan humbly requested the emperor to pardon Xu Qi’an’s death sentence, though the emperor still did not agree. After learning of Princess Pingyang’s wrongful death, Lin An remained in the palace, unable to eat or sleep, her eyes constantly red from crying.

The Eldest Princess, seeing Lin An’s sorrow, called for Xu Qi’an to visit, bringing with him a scroll and some carefully prepared pastries to give to Lin An. However, when Xu Qi’an arrived at Lin An’s courtyard, a maid turned him away, as Lin An refused to see anyone. After the maid left, Lin An unrolled the scroll Xu Qi’an had brought.

It was a painting of Princess Pingyang, drawn during her lifetime, depicting scenes of the two of them celebrating the Lantern Festival together. There was also a poem, written by Princess Pingyang herself. Upon seeing Pingyang’s handwriting, Lin An broke down into uncontrollable sobs. The crown prince, visiting to console Lin An, was also deeply saddened upon hearing her cries.

Recently, Xu Qi’an had not received his salary, and his aunt began causing trouble, demanding that both Xu Pingzhi and Xu Qi’an immediately hand over their monthly stipend. With no money in their pockets, Xu Qi’an and Xu Pingzhi were left with no choice but to give up meat and eat vegetables to save money. But just as they spoke, a palace eunuch arrived at the Xu family to announce an imperial decree.

The emperor’s reward had finally arrived, and Xu Pingzhi and his wife were stunned to see the emperor’s generous gift—five thousand taels of gold, sparkling in the sunlight. They had never seen such dazzling wealth before. With this reward, Xu Qi’an’s family status immediately rose. His aunt and Xu Pingzhi quickly surrounded him with warmth and concern, and Xu Qi’an, in turn, generously entrusted much of the gold to his aunt for safekeeping.

Xu Qi’an also brought some gold to share with his former comrades in the Night Watch, including Li Yuchun. Everyone was deeply moved upon receiving the gold, expressing their gratitude. Historically, people could endure hardship together but rarely shared in good fortune, yet Xu Qi’an, who benefited, remembered to share it with them. He was truly a rare and good person. The emperor’s delay in pardoning Xu Qi’an made him uneasy.

Wei Yuan suggested that the emperor simply did not like Xu Qi’an, perhaps due to the previous incident with Linglong. Xu Qi’an then asked whether capturing Zhou Chixiong would lead to a pardon for him, and Wei Yuan nodded, confirming that capturing Zhou Chixiong would indeed be a great achievement. Finally, the second member of the Tian Di Hui caught Zhou Chixiong. Riding on a phoenix, they delivered Zhou Chixiong to Xu Qi’an.

To deal with the benefactors who had aided Zhou Chixiong, Xu Qi’an gathered the great scholars from Bai Lu Academy and Chu Caiwei from the Directorate of Celestials to accompany him in presenting the matter to the emperor.

Xu Qi'an escorted Zhou Chixiong to the imperial court. Zhou Chixiong, very stubborn, immediately knelt upon seeing the emperor and began a tragic performance. Xu Qi'an had the diviners from the Directorate of Celestials activate the Qi observation technique and burned a talisman. As soon as the ritual was done, Zhou Chixiong immediately confessed the truth: the mastermind behind everything was the Minister of Rites, Li Yulang. Upon hearing this, Li Yulang in the crowd trembled in fear.

The diviners from the Directorate of Celestials confirmed that Zhou Chixiong's words were true. The emperor became enraged and immediately ordered a thorough investigation. Wei Yuan proactively took charge, but the Minister of Justice also expressed his loyalty, offering to assist the emperor. Xu Qi'an instinctively turned his head, fully aware that many in the Ministry of Justice were allies of Li Yulang. However, Wei Yuan did not rush to make a statement, and Xu Qi'an did not act rashly.

After some deliberation, the emperor entrusted the investigation to the Minister of Justice. After the morning court session, the Minister of Justice deliberately reminded Wei Yuan not to attempt shifting the blame elsewhere, warning that the Ministry of Justice was not to be trifled with. Xu Qi'an, of course, would not let Wei Yuan suffer such an insult. He immediately approached and mocked the Minister of Justice, who had received praise for his talent in handling matters.

Xu Qi'an then publicly recited a poem by Su Dongpo: "Everyone raises sons and forgets their wisdom; I was misled by my own cleverness throughout my life. " The crowd laughed in surprise, and the Minister of Justice's face turned pale. He was about to charge Xu Qi'an with a crime, but with Wei Yuan's backing, Xu Qi'an had the upper hand. After finishing his official duties, Xu Qi'an went to visit Lin An.

Recently, Lin An had been deeply affected by the events concerning Princess Pingyang and had lost a lot of weight. Xu Qi'an took Lin An out for a walk to help her clear her mind, and fireworks were being set off nearby. Lin An remembered the beautiful fireworks she had once watched with Princess Pingyang. Unable to hold back, she asked Xu Qi'an if Princess Pingyang had simply gone to another place. Xu Qi'an nodded, agreeing.

In that situation, fleeing was Princess Pingyang's only option, as she loved freedom and had never liked the intrigue and deception of the palace. Born in the inner palace, Lin An knew well how many things were out of one's control. She had once asked Princess Pingyang why becoming a princess was something so many women dreamed of. But Princess Pingyang had not thought so. She longed for freedom, just like a butterfly soaring in the sky.

Xu Qi'an then described another world to Lin An, a world where women could choose the life they wanted. If they could not meet someone they liked, they would choose to live independently. Lin An, though somewhat disappointed with the current world, still chose this era, because here she had friends who cared for her, a mother and father who loved her, and although she knew she had nothing, everyone still doted on her, including Xu Qi'an.

As they spoke emotionally, Lin An kissed Xu Qi'an and confessed that she no longer wanted him to just be her friend. Since the emperor had rewarded Xu Qi'an with one thousand taels of gold, his aunt immediately bought a large house. Now that her nephew had gained some fame in the capital, visitors were constantly coming to deliver gifts, and the house was bustling. Even the families of the officials came to give gifts to Xu Qi'an's aunt.

Not just the female relatives, but even the Night Watchman, Jinluo Yang Yan, came to congratulate the Xu family on their housewarming. With Jinluo present, everyone was astonished. The golden-threaded armor that Jinluo wore reflected such a dazzling light that it was blinding. It brought honor to the Xu family, making them proud in front of everyone.

When Xu Qi'an went to visit Lin An again, a maid handed him a letter, informing him that Lin An had gone on a journey, though the maid didn’t know where she had gone. In the letter, Lin An told Xu Qi'an earnestly that she was going to fulfill Princess Pingyang's wish to see the world. Knowing that the princess was safe, Xu Qi'an felt relieved and waited for her return.

Three months later, a convoy carrying silver ingots was hijacked in Yunzhou. The bandits, unaware that they were targeting Xu Qi'an, the Night Watchman, were no match for his sword skills. Xu Qi'an's technique was powerful, and he cleared out the bandits effortlessly, saving his men a lot of trouble. All the bandits were captured, and Xu Qi'an ordered his subordinates to send the silver tax payments to the imperial treasury.

While carrying out a mission, Xu Qi'an suddenly encountered a cloud of chaotic Qi rushing toward him. A large amount of miasma entered his body, rendering him immobile. In his hazy state, he vaguely saw a face that resembled Zhu Yang from the Ministry of War. Strangely, Xu Qi'an wondered why Zhu Yang would want to take his life. He was no match for his opponent and was defeated in an instant.

When two bronze gongs came to look for him, they found Xu Qi'an lying motionless on the ground, covered in blood and wounds. When they checked his pulse, they discovered he had no signs of life. Xu Qi'an's sudden death brought immense grief to Wei Yuan and the Xu family. Wei Yuan personally requested the emperor to bestow a posthumous marquis title upon the Xu family.

However, many officials who had harbored resentment toward Xu Qi'an due to the silver tax case opposed the idea, claiming that Xu Qi'an's low status made him unworthy of such an honor. In a rare display of anger, Wei Yuan turned and slapped one of the dissenters in court. This was the first time Wei Yuan had ever lost his composure in the imperial court. Seeing the humiliated officials, the emperor couldn't help but laugh.

Wei Yuan argued that Xu Qi'an had sacrificed himself for the court, and a posthumous title was a small gesture in recognition of his contributions. Eventually, the emperor approved Wei Yuan's request. The loss of his most capable assistant enraged Wei Yuan, who immediately ordered preparations for a military campaign against the Sorcerer Cult. The Xu family was consumed with grief. Xu Pingzhi claimed Xu Qi'an's body and wept uncontrollably as he held Xu Qi'an's memorial tablet.

The family, who had just moved into a larger home due to Xu Qi'an's achievements, now mourned his untimely death. Even Xu Qi'an's critical aunt, who often nitpicked him, was red-eyed with sorrow. On the day of the funeral, many came to pay their respects. Xiaorou and Chu Caiwei were among the mourners. Overwhelmed with sadness, Xu Pingzhi sealed the coffin, preparing to lay his nephew to rest. Suddenly, an orange tabby cat dashed toward the coffin.

The mourners cried out in shock and tried to chase the cat away. Unbeknownst to them, this cat was actually Master Jinlian of the Heavenly Dao Society in disguise. Upon hearing that Xu Qi'an had passed, Master Jinlian rushed to see him and discovered that a trace of Qi still remained in his body. Using his magic, he revived Xu Qi'an. The crowd was stunned when the coffin lid was opened.

Many shouted in fear, believing it to be an act of the undead. Xu Pingzhi, trembling, stepped forward and saw a pair of hands slowly emerging, followed by Xu Qi'an's injured face. Chu Caiwei quickly used the Qi observation technique to confirm it was indeed Xu Qi'an. Witnessing his resurrection, the crowd exclaimed in awe and congratulated him. Wei Yuan, who was studying a map and planning military operations, teared up when Xiaorou reported that Xu Qi'an was alive.

Meanwhile, Xu Qi'an soaked in a bathtub, reflecting on the surreal dreams he had while unconscious. Much of it was unclear, and he couldn't recall certain details, as if he had lost his memory of the day he was harmed. After cleansing himself, Xu Qi'an went to see Wei Yuan. Placing a hand on Xu Qi'an's shoulder, Wei Yuan expressed his heartfelt relief and asked what had happened that day.

When Xu Qi'an mentioned his suspicion of Zhu Yang, Wei Yuan shook his head. Zhu Yang had already defected to the Ministry of War and was preoccupied with exposing corruption among the Night Watchmen, leaving him no time for such acts. Wei Yuan speculated that it was the Sorcerer Cult's Spirit Master who had manipulated Xu Qi'an's fears, causing him to see his greatest dread.

However, it seemed the Spirit Master did not want Xu Qi'an dead, as Xu Qi'an would not have survived otherwise. Wei Yuan instructed Xu Qi'an to attribute his survival to the use of the Directorate of Celestials' elixirs if questioned. Back at Chunfeng Hall, Xu Qi'an wondered why his three close friends hadn’t visited him during the funeral. He soon learned from a companion that the trio had boarded a small boat and gone to Yunzhou to avenge him.

Touched by their loyalty, Xu Qi'an used the jade mirror to contact Member No. 2 in Yunzhou, urging her to intercept the trio and ensure their safe return. Member No. 3, who was already on her way to the capital to meet Xu Qi'an, was informed of his survival. Xu Qi'an, keeping his identity hidden, pretended to be a scholar preparing for the imperial exams and directed her to meet his Night Watchman brother instead.

Later, Chu Caiwei brought an elixir to Xu Qi'an. That night, as the medicine took effect, Xu Qi'an regained many of his memories. The details of his ambush became vividly clear.

Late at night, Xu Qi'an was plagued by another nightmare. It felt as though he had been struck by a mass of malevolent Qi and thrown into a deep pit, unable to move. Awakening from the nightmare, he poured himself a cup of water, only to discover traces of the same malevolent Qi in the water. This startled Xu Qi'an greatly. Suddenly, he found himself in a void. When he came to, he realized he was holding onto a monk.

The monk had a gentle expression and seemed vaguely familiar, though Xu Qi'an couldn't recall where he had seen him before. The monk claimed he didn’t know his true identity but explained that someone had brought him here, hoping to use Xu Qi'an's body to nurture a severed arm. Shocked, Xu Qi'an refused to become a vessel for anyone. However, the monk introduced himself as Shen Shu and assured Xu Qi'an that he was highly skilled in magic.

He promised that living within Xu Qi'an's body would cause no harm and even suggested that Xu Qi'an would benefit greatly, becoming the most powerful gold gong. After careful consideration, Xu Qi'an, seeing no immediate harm, agreed to Shen Shu’s request. Now that Shen Shu had integrated into Xu Qi'an's body, he could sense Xu Qi'an's every thought.

Sometimes, Xu Qi'an suspected something foreign had entered his body and considered consulting Wei Yuan or the Chief Diviner of the Directorate of Celestials. However, Shen Shu advised him to "keep this secret," prompting Xu Qi'an to hold his tongue. When Xu Qi'an met Wei Yuan again, he tried to inquire about the shadowy figure he had seen in his dream behind Wei Yuan. Yet Wei Yuan remained tight-lipped, refusing to divulge any information.

Realizing it was futile, Xu Qi'an abandoned the idea of pressing further. Leaving Wei Yuan's residence, he stumbled upon a pouch filled with gold coins—a windfall requiring no effort at all. Xu Pingzhi, assigned to recover a lost pouch, inadvertently returned to their old home. Hearing someone sobbing inside, he suspected the house had been burgled and entered with his knife drawn. To his surprise, he found his son, Xu Xinnian.

It turned out no one had informed Xu Xinnian about the family's move to a new house. Upon hearing rumors that Xu Qi'an had died in the line of duty, Xu Xinnian had been devastated and rushed home from White Deer Academy without any travel funds. Exhausted from the journey, he finally arrived. Seeing Xu Qi'an alive and well, Xu Xinnian burst into tears of joy. After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Xinnian mentioned he wanted to rest in his room.

Xu Pingzhi suddenly realized that, amidst the chaos surrounding Xu Qi'an’s situation, they had completely forgotten to prepare Xu Xinnian’s room. Xu Qi'an expected Xu Xinnian to be upset, but to his surprise, Xu Xinnian didn’t mind. Instead, with reddened eyes, he kept staring at Xu Qi'an and remarked how fortunate the family was to have him. Meanwhile, Li Miaozhen arrived in the capital with her enchantress companion.

The enchantress attempted to use seduction techniques on Xu Qi'an, but he was entirely unaffected. On the contrary, Xu Qi'an managed to extract valuable information about Li Miaozhen from her. Li Miaozhen explained that her purpose for coming was to seek Xu Qi'an’s help in solving a case. She then shared a memory of hers with him. While traveling through a remote mountain, she and her companion discovered a severely injured man.

The man, skilled in archery, delivered a cryptic message before his death: “The blood massacre stretches three thousand miles. ” Could it be that the Northern King was planning a rebellion? Li Miaozhen couldn’t make sense of the situation and sought Xu Qi'an’s assistance to unravel the mystery.

Xu Qi'an was alarmed upon hearing the phrase “the blood massacre stretches three thousand miles. ” If it were true that the Northern King was rebelling, it would be a grave matter. Without delay, he hurried to report to Wei Yuan. Although Wei Yuan had spies deployed across the southern and eastern regions, there had been no recent news from the north.

To ensure everything was handled properly, Wei Yuan decided to personally escort the witness to the palace and report to the Emperor. In the court, the officials debated fiercely upon hearing the suggestion to transport large quantities of grain to the Northern Territories, which were thousands of miles away. Many opposed the proposal, citing the limited supply in the national treasury. This angered others, who argued that the Northern Territories were part of the empire and could not be abandoned.

Some with ulterior motives downplayed the situation, falsely claiming that the northern unrest was merely the work of petty thieves, fearing that the Emperor might punish them if the true state of military affairs were revealed. It wasn’t until Wei Yuan emphasized the term “blood massacre” that the Emperor was shocked. He immediately summoned the Directorate of Celestials to investigate the witness Wei Yuan had brought. While the Directorate's Qi Observation Technique raised suspicions, it did not provide conclusive proof.

The Emperor ultimately agreed to dispatch officials to the Northern Territories to conduct a thorough investigation. Li Miaozhen personally went to the Xu family residence, where she learned that Xu Xinnian was at home. Mistakenly assuming that Xu Xinnian was a member of the Tian Di Society, she confronted him directly to seek answers. However, Xu Xinnian was clueless about the matter. At that moment, he was soaking in a bathtub.

Li Miaozhen, with her decisive and fearless personality, was a stark contrast to Xu Xinnian, a scholarly and pedantic student from Yunlu Academy. The two were on entirely different wavelengths. Caught off guard by the sudden intrusion, Xu Xinnian was so flustered that he called for help. Li Miaozhen bombarded him with questions, but his ignorance enraged her. In her frustration, she dragged him outside and hung him out the window.

When Xu Qi'an returned home, he found his uncle and younger sister eavesdropping at the door. Intrigued, he joined them, thinking Xu Xinnian might be experiencing a romantic awakening. Instead, he saw Xu Xinnian being kicked out the window by someone, standing in the courtyard shivering and exposed. Seeing Li Miaozhen, Xu Qi'an immediately understood the situation. It seemed his brother had become a scapegoat for him this time.

Li Miaozhen explained that her visit to the capital was to investigate a matter concerning Su Su’s father, who had been an official in the Ministry of Personnel. Years ago, Su Su's father disappeared after entering the capital, and Su Su was desperate to find his whereabouts. Xu Qi'an had previously promised Li Miaozhen that he would help her resolve a case in exchange for her assistance.

Now that she had come to collect on that promise, Xu Qi'an naturally had to reciprocate and help her uncover the truth. When Wei Yuan heard that Li Miaozhen had come to the capital, he felt her presence was inappropriate and instructed Xu Qi'an to send her away. Xu Qi'an explained Li Miaozhen's purpose, and Wei Yuan mentioned someone who could help her—Xu Xinnian. After being thrown into the courtyard by Li Miaozhen, Xu Xinnian fainted.

His father, Xu Pingzhi, had no choice but to carry his unconscious and exposed son to the medical clinic. Walking through two alleys with Xu Xinnian on his back, Xu Pingzhi caused quite a scene. Embarrassed beyond measure, Xu Xinnian refused to leave his room afterward. Xu Qi'an, half-doubting Wei Yuan’s plan, still trusted Wei Yuan's wisdom and decided to try it. He ran home to seek Xu Xinnian’s help.

Seeing how sincerely his elder brother pleaded, Xu Xinnian, thinking of someone who might assist, reluctantly agreed to try. Lin An, who had accompanied the Noble Consort on a family visit, was supposed to return within two weeks. However, due to taking the wrong route, the journey was extended by half a month.

The secret guards arranged by the Eldest Princess had been ordered not to reveal themselves, but when Lin An encountered danger, they disguised themselves as a merchant caravan to escort her back. During the return trip, Lin An couldn’t stop thinking about Xu Qi'an, recalling many happy memories from the past. Impatient, she urged the boatman to hurry. Xu Xinnian, attempting to contact his friends in the Ministry of Personnel, released numerous Kongming lanterns as signals.

The next day, he asked Xu Qi'an to accompany him to meet these friends. However, after waiting for a long time with no one showing up, Xu Qi'an concluded that someone had likely stood them up.

The scorching sun blazed overhead, and not only was Xu Qi'an losing patience, but even Xu Xinnian was growing restless. He had already bought several slices of watermelon from a street vendor, eating so much that he felt stuffed, yet their contact still hadn't appeared. Finally, Xu Qi'an reminded him that the person might have moved houses, and the signal location could have changed. Realizing this, Xu Xinnian decided to release more Kongming lanterns that evening.

Lin An had already returned to the capital. Upon hearing about Xu Qi'an’s recent troubles and his sacrifices for the court, she hurried to the Xu family residence. Meanwhile, Li Miaozhen had an encounter with a group of rogue guards who refused to pay for their meals. Unable to tolerate such injustice, she punished them. During this, she met a kindred spirit—a man who carried a sword everywhere, seemingly dedicated to cultivating his swordsmanship.

Xu Xinnian and Xu Qi'an were releasing Kongming lanterns together when the door suddenly opened. Lin An entered and, seeing Xu Qi'an safe and sound before her, was overcome with emotion. She rushed to him and hugged him tightly. Sensing the situation, Xu Xinnian tactfully slipped away. At dawn, Lin An woke up to find herself lying in the arms of her maid, Gangzi. Could it be that the events of the previous night were just a dream?

She couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. Gangzi explained that Xu Qi'an had personally escorted her home the previous night. At that time, Lin An had clung to him tightly, refusing to let go. In a moment of quick thinking, the maid disguised herself as Xu Qi'an, allowing Lin An to rest peacefully. The next morning, Xu Qi'an excitedly brought breakfast to Lin An, reminding Gangzi to ensure its freshness and that Lin An ate it quickly.

According to their plan, Lin An should have returned to the capital much later. However, when Xu Qi'an saw Lin An in her disheveled and weary state the night before, he couldn’t help but voice his curiosity. Unfortunately, Gangzi, lacking tact, gave a perfunctory response, saying Lin An had only intended to see him briefly before returning to bed. Disappointed, Xu Qi'an left feeling deflated.

By noon, they arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place, and the woman who had been haunting Xu Xinnian's dreams finally appeared. She was Wang Simu, the brilliant and quick-witted daughter of Wang Zhenwen, the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet. Although Xu Xinnian and Wang Simu shared mutual affection, the vast social gap between them left Xu Xinnian hesitant to pursue her. When the two met, Xu Xinnian had something important to ask her, but he struggled to speak.

Fortunately, Xu Qi'an stepped in, quickly requesting Wang Simu's help in accessing the Ministry of Personnel to investigate someone. Wang Simu learned the purpose of their visit, but Xu Xinnian’s reserved and overly proper demeanor left her at a loss. Teasingly, she remarked that given Xu Qi'an’s status, it might not be appropriate for him to enter the Ministry. Xu Qi'an immediately understood her implication and suggested that Xu Xinnian handle the matter instead. Wang Simu readily agreed.

At the Ministry of Personnel, Xu Xinnian diligently searched through records, maintaining a respectful demeanor throughout. Meanwhile, Wang Simu personally brought him snacks and noticed his sweaty brow. She thoughtfully approached him to ask if he was too warm or needed a break. However, as she was descending the stairs, she accidentally tripped. Fortunately, Xu Xinnian caught her in time.

What could have been a heroic rescue that made Wang Simu’s heart flutter was instead interrupted by her father, Wang Zhenwen, who had just returned. Misunderstanding the situation, he assumed Xu Xinnian was a scoundrel and promptly kicked him out of the house. Bruised and humiliated, Xu Xinnian returned home, locked himself in his room, and cried bitterly. Shortly afterward, Wang Simu arrived at the Xu residence to explain everything to Xu Qi'an, asking him to help comfort Xu Xinnian.

Meanwhile, she took the initiative to visit Xu Xinnian’s parents, bringing lavish gifts. Xu Xinnian’s mother was speechless with joy upon receiving an entire set of gold jewelry. Xu Pingzhi, thrilled by the masterwork sword crafted by the renowned artisan Gu Huanzhen, couldn’t stop admiring it. Wang Simu observed that her future parents-in-law seemed simple and genuine, and she believed they would be easy to get along with in the future.

Wang Simu carefully prepared gifts for Xu Xinnian’s parents. She gave his eldest sister an expensive set of cosmetics, but noticing her lack of enthusiasm, she quickly followed up with two of the most popular storybooks. Xu Xinnian’s eldest sister, who loved reading such books, was delighted and immediately got up to serve tea to Wang Simu. Seeing that everyone was happy, Wang Simu explained her purpose for coming.

She admitted that, because of her, Xu Xinnian might have suffered a blow to his pride. Xu Pingzhi quickly reassured her, saying that his son had always been obedient and sensible since childhood, and he would neither hold grudges nor cause his parents unnecessary worry. With that, he led Wang Simu to see Xu Xinnian. At that moment, Xu Xinnian was miserably preparing to hang himself, feeling utterly humiliated by the day’s events.

He believed he had lost all dignity and, worse, had offended Wang Zhenwen, a man who could decide his future in the imperial bureaucracy. Xu Pingzhi flung open the door, only to see Xu Xinnian attempting to hang himself while his nephew frantically clung to him to stop him. Afraid that Wang Simu might see this, Xu Pingzhi quickly shut the door. Xu Xinnian’s mother then approached, opened the door, and, seeing her son in distress, hurriedly closed it again.

She claimed that Xu Xinnian was engrossed in his studies and should not be disturbed. Wang Simu, however, didn’t believe their excuses. She finally opened the door herself and saw Xu Xinnian calmly reading while his elder cousin was grinding ink beside him. Xu Xinnian’s parents caught sight of Xu Qi’an giving them a knowing look and shaking a piece of rope in his hand, and they understood what was happening.

They quickly changed the subject and invited Wang Simu to go sightseeing elsewhere. Wang Simu, aware that Xu Xinnian was undoubtedly upset, felt relieved. She glanced at him with concern before leaving. Xu Qi’an was puzzled by the significance of the stone Wang Simu left behind. Xu Xinnian explained that it symbolized, “My heart is as steadfast as a stone and unbreakable. ” Realizing Wang Simu’s true feelings, Xu Xinnian’s despair dissipated, and he no longer felt hopeless.

Meanwhile, the emperor tasked Wang Zhenwen with overhauling the Ministry of Personnel. Wei Yuan also wanted to use Wang Zhenwen’s efforts to eliminate lingering enemies of the court. Wei Yuan preemptively investigated the Ministry’s personnel files and discreetly removed the records of those guilty of serious crimes. However, these files needed a mediator to reach Wang Zhenwen’s hands. Wei Yuan thought of Xu Qi’an and assigned him this task.

Wei Yuan’s plan was to use Xu Xinnian’s situation to help Xu Qi’an redeem himself and earn Wang Zhenwen’s favor. After some thought, Xu Qi’an devised an even better plan. He handed the confidential documents to Xu Xinnian, allowing him to present them to Wang Zhenwen. This way, Wang Zhenwen would also hold Xu Xinnian in higher regard. That night, Wang Zhenwen’s residence was brightly lit.

With the emperor demanding a thorough investigation into the Ministry of Personnel, failure to uncover leads could result in Wang Zhenwen’s dismissal. At this critical moment, Wang Simu handed the confidential documents to her father, helping him escape from a precarious situation. Although Wang Simu attributed the success to Xu Xinnian, Wang Zhenwen knew very well that Wei Yuan was the one assisting him behind the scenes. The emperor commended Wang Zhenwen and rejected his request to retire to the countryside.

After court, Wang Zhenwen personally visited Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan first took him to observe the market prices of grain and then casually chatted about everyday matters. Wang Zhenwen learned that Wei Yuan was preparing to personally lead troops to attack the Wu tribe. Wei Yuan expressed hope that Wang Zhenwen would protect the emperor and stabilize the court during his absence. At last, Wang Zhenwen understood Wei Yuan’s character.

It became clear to him that Wei Yuan’s ambitions were not tied to court politics or factional struggles but were rooted in a broader vision for the world. Wang Zhenwen realized that his earlier judgments of Wei Yuan had been mistaken.

Wang Simu went to her father, Wang Zhenwen, in an attempt to explain Xu Xinnian's situation. Wang Zhenwen, of course, understood that the Xu family was using a "self-sacrifice" strategy, but considering his own mishandling of matters last time, he decided to prepare some trauma medicine as a gesture of goodwill. With her father’s gift of trauma medicine in hand, Wang Simu immediately brought it to the Xu household. She personally applied the medicine to Xu Xinnian’s wounds.

With his beloved by his side, all the grievances and humiliation Xu Xinnian had previously felt disappeared, and his heart was once again at ease. The room was quiet, and only the two of them were present. As the atmosphere turned subtly romantic, Xu Xinnian leaned closer, but just as he was about to take action, he caught sight of his mother nearby. Wang Simu, embarrassed, quickly said her goodbyes.

However, Xu Xinnian’s mother brought out a jade bracelet and personally announced it was a gift for her future daughter-in-law. This made Wang Simu beam with joy. She immediately put the bracelet on her wrist. Despite its small size, she managed to wear it with some effort. Meanwhile, Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen were drinking together at an inn. Their conversation grew increasingly lively, and they hit it off so well that they decided to become sworn siblings.

Previously unaware of each other’s full names, it was only during their oath-taking that they learned their identities and realized they were sworn enemies from the Heaven and Earth Society. In the past, they had relentlessly clashed in their group exchanges. Now, finally meeting face-to-face, they decided to fulfill their promises by directly engaging in a fight to determine who was superior. At Wang Simu's mediation, Wang Zhenwen finally agreed to let Xu Qi’an review the Ministry of Personnel’s archives.

Originally, they also planned to invite Li Miaozhen, but after waiting for a long time without seeing her, Xu Qi’an had no choice but to examine the personnel rosters with Su Su. After an extensive investigation, Su Su discovered the whereabouts of her father, Su Hang, who had passed away more than a decade ago. Meanwhile, Xu Qi’an found clues about the masked man who frequently appeared in his visions.

This man had participated in the Battle of Linyuan as a supervisory commander, but for some reason, his name had been erased. To gather more information, Xu Qi’an issued a public bounty, offering ten taels of silver to anyone who could identify the blank entries in the records. Through a wealth of information, Xu Qi’an pieced together the mysterious man’s trajectory, though he regrettably vanished without a trace after the Battle of Linyuan.

Xu Qi’an then consulted Wang Zhenwen, who recalled that such a person had indeed existed. However, he couldn’t remember the man’s name. He vaguely remembered that, following the Battle of Linyuan, a secret treasure had gone missing from the imperial palace. Wang Zhenwen wasn’t sure what it was, but he was certain of its immense importance—far beyond the scope of his authority as the Ministry of Personnel's chief minister.

He advised Xu Qi’an that, unless prompted by Wei Yuan, it was best for outsiders not to delve into this matter. Since Xu Xinnian and Wang Simu had expressed their feelings for one another, their relationship grew increasingly affectionate. One evening, Xu Xinnian personally escorted Wang Simu back to her residence. At the intersection, the two found it hard to part. Wang Simu quickly claimed she had forgotten something at the Xu household, so they returned together.

This back-and-forth continued five or six times, leaving the maid who accompanied them completely exhausted. Elsewhere, Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen sparred to compare their martial skills. Their strengths were evenly matched, and neither could gain the upper hand. Seeing people fighting on the rooftop, Shangguan Xiaorou intervened with a stern warning but ended up getting injured by the pair. Shangguan Xiaorou ran to report the incident to Wei Yuan.

At that moment, Wei Yuan, sitting in his room, observed the manifestation of the Vajra’s wrathful visage. It seemed that a significant event was about to unfold.

Yang Qianfan fantasized about defeating the Dharma image in battle, but after several rounds of fighting, he realized he had no chance of winning and ended up face-first in the dirt. Unconvinced, he went to the Supervisor of the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring to argue. The Supervisor, annoyed by his incessant chatter, directly kicked him out.

A few days later, Xu Pingzhi received an invitation to attend a banquet hosted by high-ranking officials and nobles, where there would be a martial arts competition featuring battles against Dharma statues. As an ordinary martial artist, Xu Pingzhi had never had the chance to attend such events, so he brought his entire family along to the feast. At the banquet, Madam Xu encountered Sister Xiuhe.

During Xu Qi’an's previous imprisonment, Madam Xu had brought numerous gifts to plead with Sister Xiuhe for help. Now that they were attending the same event, Sister Xiuhe, in her usual sarcastic manner, looked down on her. However, when she noticed that Madam Xu was seated in a position of higher honor than her own, her expression turned sour. It was Xu Pingzhi's first time meeting the court officials he had only ever heard of, including Wei Yuan.

Seizing the opportunity, Xu Pingzhi eagerly approached Wei Yuan, pouring tea and trying to curry favor. However, Wei Yuan responded with only a polite smile. Realizing his over-eagerness, Xu Pingzhi awkwardly excused himself. Meanwhile, Xu Lingyue, Xu Qi'an’s youngest sister, noticed a variety of fruits and candied snacks on Wei Yuan’s table. Unable to resist, she sneaked under the table. Lingyue, being young, adorable, and well-behaved, caught Wei Yuan’s attention.

He lifted her onto his lap and peeled fruit for her. Xu Pingzhi, seeing his daughter’s boldness, broke into a nervous sweat. Fortunately, Wei Yuan was fond of children. Xu Qi'an’s eldest sister reassured Xu Pingzhi not to worry, reminding him that since Wei Yuan had always supported Xu Qi'an, he would likely extend his care to their family as well. The seating arrangement at the banquet was also quite deliberate.

Thanks to Wang Simu’s meticulous planning, the tables for Wang Zhenwen and Xu Pingzhi were placed close to one another. Xu Pingzhi even scooted closer to Wang Zhenwen, asking which person was the Chief Minister and commenting that his son would be a perfect match for the Chief Minister’s daughter. Wang Zhenwen, a man who had seen all sorts of people in his life, found Xu Pingzhi’s innocent and straightforward demeanor both amusing and exasperating.

Outside, the excitement grew as the Dharma statue battles were about to begin. The crowd eagerly anticipated who would emerge victorious that day. Xu Qi'an was extremely nervous, knowing he had little chance of success. If he failed today, it would be a humiliation witnessed by the entire city. Thankfully, Lin An was present and brought him a poetry collection to encourage him. She advised him to recite poetry onstage, as it would enhance his aura.

Xu Qi'an took Lin An’s words to heart. As he ascended the Dharma statue, he confidently recited poetry, exuding a charismatic presence that won over the audience. Cheers erupted from the crowd below. Upon reaching the Dharma statue, Xu Qi'an fell into a hallucination.

In the illusion, he saw the entirety of his life in a modern society—from being a crying infant in swaddling clothes to experiencing a failed romance during his school years, enduring the heavy pressures of middle age, and finally becoming an elderly man confined to his sickbed. He witnessed the full trajectory of a single human life. Someone in the illusion asked him whether living had any meaning at all.

Even as an old man nearing the end of his life, Xu Qi'an firmly believed that life had meaning. Although every stage was marked by failures and sadness, the value lay in the experience itself. It was the journey, with all its highs and lows, that gave life its significance.

Yang Qianfan fantasized about defeating the Dharma image in battle. However, after several rounds, he realized he stood no chance and ended up face-first in the dirt. Unwilling to accept defeat, he went to argue with the Supervisor of the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring. The Supervisor, irritated by his incessant complaints, unceremoniously kicked him out. A few days later, Xu Pingzhi received an invitation to a grand gathering hosted by high-ranking officials and nobles to watch a Dharma battle.

Normally just an ordinary martial artist, Xu Pingzhi had never had the chance to attend such an event. Excited, he brought his entire family along to the banquet. At the event, Madam Xu encountered Sister Xiuhe. During the time Xu Qi'an was imprisoned, Madam Xu had brought many gifts to plead for Sister Xiuhe's help. Now that they were at the same banquet, Sister Xiuhe, in her usual sarcastic manner, looked down on her.

However, upon seeing that Madam Xu was seated in a position of higher honor, Sister Xiuhe's face turned green with envy. It was Xu Pingzhi’s first time seeing the court officials he had only ever heard of, including Wei Yuan. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xu Pingzhi eagerly approached Wei Yuan, offering to refill his tea and acting with great enthusiasm. Wei Yuan, however, only responded with a polite smile. Realizing his overzealousness, Xu Pingzhi awkwardly retreated.

Meanwhile, Xu Lingyue, Xu Qi'an’s youngest sister, noticed an array of fruits and candied snacks on Wei Yuan’s table. Unable to resist, she quietly sneaked under the table. Lingyue, being young, adorable, and well-behaved, caught Wei Yuan's attention. He lifted her onto his lap and peeled fruit for her. Xu Pingzhi, seeing his daughter's boldness, nervously broke into a sweat. Fortunately, Wei Yuan was fond of children.

Xu Qi'an’s eldest sister reassured Xu Pingzhi not to worry, saying that since Wei Yuan had always supported Xu Qi'an, he would naturally extend his care to their family as well. The seating arrangement at the banquet was also carefully planned. Thanks to Wang Simu’s meticulous setup, the tables for Wang Zhenwen and Xu Pingzhi were placed close together.

Xu Pingzhi even leaned over to Wang Zhenwen, asking which person was the Chief Minister and boldly stating that his son would make a perfect match for the Chief Minister’s daughter. Wang Zhenwen, a man who had seen countless personalities, couldn’t help but find Xu Pingzhi’s straightforwardness both amusing and exasperating. Outside, the excitement reached its peak as the Dharma battle was about to begin. The crowd eagerly anticipated the day’s victor.

Xu Qi'an was extremely nervous, knowing he had little chance of success. If he failed today, it would be an embarrassment witnessed by the entire city. Thankfully, Lin An was present and brought him a poetry collection to encourage him. She suggested that he recite poetry during the competition to enhance his aura. Taking her advice to heart, Xu Qi'an ascended the Dharma statue while confidently reciting poetry.

His charisma won over the audience, who erupted into cheers and chants of encouragement. As Xu Qi'an climbed the Dharma statue, he fell into an illusion. In this hallucination, he witnessed his entire life in a modern society. He saw himself as a crying infant in swaddling clothes, a teenager experiencing a failed romance, a middle-aged man burdened by the pressures of life, and an elderly man confined to his sickbed. He observed the complete trajectory of a person’s life.

In the illusion, someone asked him whether life had any meaning at all. Even as an elderly man nearing the end of his life, Xu Qi'an firmly believed that life held meaning. Although every stage was filled with failures and sadness, the true value lay in the experience itself. The journey, with all its ups and downs, was inherently meaningful.

The Celestial Realm Envoy led Xu Qi'an into an illusion and repeatedly asked him about the meaning of life. At first, Xu Qi'an was somewhat confused, but after a brief moment of thought, his mind became clearer. Toward the final stages of his life in the illusion, he found peace and prepared to make a counterattack. During each lifetime's final moments, he would return to discuss the meaning of life with the envoy, becoming increasingly spirited.

Now, Xu Qi'an began posing his own questions, asking the envoy if eating had meaning, if breathing had meaning, or even if opening one’s eyes had meaning. This left the envoy utterly bewildered, shaking their worldview. They began to doubt their own actions, and Xu Qi'an effortlessly split the Dharma image apart. As the Dharma image began to collapse, Xu Qi'an obtained a small jade knife. The audience erupted in cheers, celebrating his victory in the Dharma battle.

Xu Pingzhi, overcome with emotion, wept with joy and even forgot his status, grabbing the Chief Minister’s sleeve to wipe his tears. Lin An, finally relieved of her anxiety, revealed a proud smile. Xu Qi'an had lived up to everyone's expectations and emerged victorious. When Xu Qi'an awoke, he found himself lying in the White Deer Academy, still holding the small knife he had used to split the Dharma image.

The Supervisor of the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring informed him that this carving knife was the treasured artifact of the White Deer Academy. The sword Lin An had once given Xu Qi'an seemed to have played a role in splitting the Dharma image, thanks to the combined efforts of the White Deer Academy and the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring.

When the Emperor received the news, he was baffled as to how a mere Silver Gong night patrolman could so easily destroy the Dharma image. Palace servants relayed the explanation: the carving knife from the White Deer Academy contained the power of a semi-saint, and Xu Qi'an, being the chosen one, had awakened this primordial force of the semi-saint. Carrying the fortune of a true dragon, he completed the task effortlessly.

Upon learning that Xu Qi'an could harness the power of a semi-saint, the Emperor grew even more wary. The Supervisor of the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring and the great scholar of the White Deer Academy discussed the matter as well. Now that Xu Qi'an’s brilliance was shining brightly, it was certain that Emperor Jing had taken notice. The Emperor would not tolerate someone stronger than himself. The two influential figures decided to protect Xu Qi'an and help him advance further.

At the same time, Emperor Jing received Xu Qi'an’s request to be granted the title of marquis. After a brief moment of thought, the Emperor agreed. However, he immediately issued another decree, ordering Xu Qi'an to set out on a mission to investigate the "Blood Massacre of Three Thousand Miles.

" The Emperor justified this by claiming Xu Qi'an's unparalleled abilities and his strong connections with both the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring and the White Deer Academy would make the task easier. When Lin An heard that Xu Qi'an was leaving on a mission, she hurried to see him off.

However, a maid relayed an order from the Imperial Consort, who declared that Lin An was to be confined to the palace to protect her reputation, as rumors were spreading that she had gone to the White Deer Academy for Xu Qi'an. Disguising herself as a maid, Lin An secretly left the palace to meet Xu Qi'an. Since Xu Qi'an’s success in splitting the Dharma image, people from the palace began showering the Xu family with gifts.

These included jewelry from the wife of the Vice Minister of Works and rare paintings from other officials. Holding these treasures, Xu Qi'an questioned his uncle and Xu Xinnian about why they hadn't taken better care of him while he was unconscious. Xu Xinnian explained that when he and Xu Pingzhi had visited, Princess Lin An had taken it upon herself to look after Xu Qi'an.

When Xu Xinnian had tried to pour water and wash a towel to clean Xu Qi'an’s face, Lin An insisted on doing it herself. Seeing that the two men had nothing to do in the room, she urged them to leave. Thus, Xu Xinnian and Xu Pingzhi were essentially driven out. After recounting the details, Xu Xinnian sighed, remarking on how much Princess Lin An cared for Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an, however, was unfazed and added that his request for a noble title from the Emperor was actually for Xu Xinnian’s sake. Xu Qi'an explained that since Xu Xinnian was deeply in love with the Chief Minister’s daughter, a lack of a noble title would make the union impossible due to the disparity in status.

Xu Xinnian lamented helplessly, commenting that Xu Pingzhi had embarrassed himself in front of the Chief Minister, Wang Zhenwen, which likely doomed any chance of a marriage alliance. When Xu Pingzhi realized the elderly man he had been chatting with that night was Wang Zhenwen himself, his eyes widened in shock. One day, in the courtyard of his home, Xu Qi'an encountered two envoys from the Celestial Realm.

One of them, named Du Ku, touched Xu Qi'an’s forehead and awakened Shen Shu, who had been residing within Xu Qi'an. Shen Shu recalled fragments of his past but remained incomplete, needing more time to recover within Xu Qi'an’s body. Grateful for Xu Qi'an’s care, Du Ku revealed some information: Shen Shu had been placed inside Xu Qi'an by the Spirit Sage of the Witch God Sect.

Once Shen Shu recovered, the Spirit Sage might come to take Xu Qi'an away. For now, the safest place for him was this city. After leaving Xu Qi'an with these warnings, the two envoys disappeared.

Late at night, Xu Qi'an began reviewing case files, recalling how he had been imprisoned shortly after his transmigration, destined to be sent to Yunzhou. Later, after solving a case, he avoided that fate. However, when he finally went to Yunzhou to escort a suspect, a mysterious figure wearing a bamboo hat forcibly infused Shen Shu into his body but did not kill him. Piecing together these events, Xu Qi'an found it all incredibly strange.

The Spirit Sage of the Witch God Sect wanted him dead but was also using him, going to great lengths to get him to Yunzhou while hesitating to come to Da Feng, perhaps fearing the Supervisor. Meanwhile, Nangong Qianrou saw Xu Qi'an engrossed in the files and couldn’t help but comment. She mentioned that Wei Yuan had been poring over case files day and night recently and had even sent her to retrieve more information about the case.

It turned out Wei Yuan was also investigating clues. Unable to make sense of it all, Xu Qi'an quietly went to see Wei Yuan. The two began playing a game of truth or dare. Xu Qi'an asked Wei Yuan what Da Feng had lost years ago and what the nation's fortune truly was.

Wei Yuan explained candidly: once Da Feng's national fortune was lost, its harvests would decline, and the days of favorable weather would end, leaving the people in hardship and causing political instability. When it was Wei Yuan's turn to ask, he posed a single question that left Xu Qi'an in awe.

Although Xu Qi'an had been carefully hiding the matter of Shen Shu, Wei Yuan had already figured it out and even knew precisely when Shen Shu had entered Xu Qi'an’s body. Xu Qi'an felt uneasy, fearing that he might bring disaster upon himself. With even the Emperor starting to view him with suspicion, his future seemed bleak. Wei Yuan advised him not to worry and to focus on advancing his rank.

Once he achieved higher levels of cultivation, he would no longer be treated as a pawn to be moved around. Before long, a decree from the palace arrived. Emperor Jing granted Xu Qi'an the title of Viscount and appointed him as a chief judge, ordering him to depart for Chuzhou in seven days to investigate the "Blood Massacre of Three Thousand Miles. " Xu Qi'an broke into a cold sweat.

Investigating Duke Zhenbei in Chuzhou seemed like an extremely dangerous mission. Following Wei Yuan's suggestion, Xu Qi'an visited the Cloud Deer Academy, hoping the Supervisor would provide him with a powerful artifact. To his surprise, he received a book titled *Records of the Great Wilderness*. Xu Qi'an couldn’t make sense of the unfamiliar characters and turned to Xu Xinnian, who only knew the book was related to the Directorate of Celestial Monitoring but had no further insights.

That evening, Xu Qi'an studied the book alone, trying to decipher its contents. Suddenly, inspiration struck. He burned a talisman he carried, quickly uncovering the book's mysteries. From it, a surge of energy enveloped Xu Qi'an, greatly enhancing his martial arts skills. It was a moment of enlightenment, and he felt as though he had fully integrated Shen Shu's abilities within him. Meanwhile, Princess Lin An, confined to the palace, received reports of Xu Qi'an’s movements.

Upon hearing that he had spent his free time at a brothel listening to performances, she slammed her hand on the table in anger and immediately questioned her maid about what had transpired. By this time, Xu Qi'an had already loaded his luggage onto a ship and was saying goodbye to Xu Xinnian, his uncle, and aunt. Li Miaozhen, accompanied by Su Su, was also preparing to head to Chuzhou.

Hearing that Xu Qi'an was about to undertake something meaningful, she expressed keen interest in assisting him secretly. After bidding farewell to his family, Xu Qi'an boarded the ship and watched as his relatives' figures faded into the distance. With a sigh, he muttered to himself, "Da Feng is not worth it.

Lin An heard from her maid that Xu Qi'an was departing for Chuzhou today to investigate a case, a mission fraught with dangers. Worried about his safety, Lin An rushed out. By the time she reached the dock, Xu Qi'an's ship had just departed. Hearing Lin An calling his name from the dock, Xu Qi'an immediately ordered his crew to stop the ship and wait for her for a quarter of an hour.

Impatient to see Lin An, Xu Qi'an couldn’t bear the ship’s slow return. Overcome with eagerness, he dove into the water and swam toward her. Meanwhile, Lin An, who had never done manual labor in her life, boarded a small boat and started rowing toward him herself. The two made their way to each other, and when they finally met on Lin An's boat, Xu Qi'an mustered his courage and kissed her.

He repeated her own words from the past: "I don't want to just be ordinary friends. " After confessing his feelings, Xu Qi'an hurriedly swam back and re-boarded his ship. Once back on the ship, Xu Qi'an recalled how Wei Yuan had promised to dispatch the twelve bronze figures to assist him. However, he only saw Nangong Qianrou.

Frustrated, Xu Qi'an ordered his men to search each cabin, only to discover that Nangong Qianrou's nickname was "Number Twelve" due to her rank among the night watchmen, having no actual connection to the twelve bronze figures. It seemed Wei Yuan had played a trick on him. While pacing the deck, Xu Qi'an spotted a sachet belonging to the Duchess of Zhenbei.

Previously in Da Feng, he often had the strange fortune of finding sachets, but he hadn’t expected this one to belong to her. Realizing the duchess was secretly aboard the ship, Xu Qi'an suspected trouble. That evening, he warned Nangong Qianrou that the duchess’s presence was highly suspicious and would likely provoke pursuit. As soon as he finished speaking, countless flaming arrows rained down on the ship, catching the soldiers off guard.

At dawn, various officials stood at the dock, organizing the transport of injured soldiers to safety. Xu Qi'an, determined to protect the Duchess of Zhenbei, set off alone to pursue the Kui tribe attackers. The officials regretted not heeding Xu Qi'an’s warnings the night before; had they adjusted their strategy, they could have reduced the casualties significantly. The Kui tribe relentlessly pursued the Duchess of Zhenbei. To evade them, the duchess had her maids dress in her clothes as decoys.

However, Xu Qi'an, now adept at using the Qi-Observing Technique, quickly pinpointed the duchess’s true location and rescued her in time. The Duchess of Zhenbei, who had once been held as a political hostage in the palace for several years, was desperate to return home. Eager to escape, she attempted to flee repeatedly.

Xu Qi'an, fully aware of her intentions, captured her five or six times before she finally realized there was no way out and reluctantly complied with his arrangements. Xu Qi'an decided to take the Duchess of Zhenbei to Neihuang County first. While the officials acted openly, he would operate in secret. To gather information, Xu Qi'an visited a courtesan in Chuzhou. Though he used his cousin Xu Xinnian's name, the courtesan quickly recognized him as Xu Qi'an.

She intentionally mentioned that Xikou County had been mysteriously sealed off two days ago. Xu Qi'an noticed the hurried movements of the people passing by and decided to investigate further. However, when he questioned another local courtesan, she claimed to know nothing about the blockade.

Xu Qi'an inquired with a servant in green about the lifting of the blockade in Xikou County. When he found the servant completely unaware, he grew suspicious. It seemed that many people's memories in this area could be altered at will. When Xu Qi'an returned to his room, he found that the Duchess of Zhenbei was missing. Assuming she had escaped again, he cast a minor spell to track her down.

To his surprise, he found the duchess behind the house, giving alms to a few beggars. Earlier, Xu Qi'an had given her a pouch of gold seeds, instructing her to "show some token of kindness," but instead, she gave all the gold seeds in the pouch to a grandfather and grandson pair. The beggars stared at the gold in shock, their hands trembling too much to accept it.

Xu Qi'an reminded the duchess that these gold seeds were exceedingly rare and equivalent to tens of thousands of taels of silver. The duchess seemed unaware of the value of such wealth until Xu Qi'an explained that even the descendants of the beggars for generations to come would live comfortably. Only then did she realize the enormity of her generosity. That day, Xu Qi'an encountered members of the Mei clan.

In exchange for critical information, Xu Qi'an first helped them capture two runaway servants. Then, he used the duchess as bait to compel the Mei clan members to reveal the meaning of "the blood massacre over three thousand miles. " Realizing they were no match for Xu Qi'an, the Mei clan members confessed that the Duke of Zhenbei cared nothing for the duchess. Her value lay in the spiritual essence within her body.

By absorbing her essence, the duke could ascend to the second rank of immortality. Without her essence, he could still achieve the same result by consuming the life force of numerous second-ranked sorcerers. The Mei clan member also advised Xu Qi'an to submit to the Duke of Zhenbei and offer him the duchess. This, they promised, would bring Xu Qi'an wealth, rank, and power. Xu Qi'an dismissed their suggestion and sent them away.

Late at night, Xu Qi'an deliberately stayed out for a long time before returning, only to find the duchess still in her room. He candidly told her that he now knew the truth and that she was free to leave whenever she wished. The sincerity in his gaze was unmistakable.

The duchess, however, sighed, lamenting how she had been treated as a mere commodity her entire life—first given away by her parents to the emperor's palace, then gifted by the emperor to the Duke of Zhenbei. Even with the cage opened, she felt like a bird with no place to go. Xu Qi'an made her some porridge, encouraging her to eat.

At that moment, a jade mirror signaled that Li Miaozhen had captured a key suspect who insisted on speaking only to Xu Qi'an. After settling the duchess, Xu Qi'an rode tirelessly for three days and three nights to reach the inn where Li Miaozhen was staying. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep immediately. That evening, the contact arranged by Li Miaozhen arrived as promised.

He revealed that the "blood massacre over three thousand miles" occurred in the region under the jurisdiction of Zheng Xinghuai, the Minister of Revenue. Xu Qi'an and Li Miaozhen were stunned. Wasn’t Zheng Xinghuai serving in the palace? The informant explained that the person in the palace was an impostor, while the real Zheng Xinghuai was hiding in a cave on a nearby cliff.

The informant then led them to the cave, where they found Zheng Xinghuai in tattered clothes, his hair and beard disheveled. When they asked about the events of that day, Li Miaozhen used a calming spell to keep him from becoming too agitated. She then performed a spell to connect Xu Qi'an and Zheng Xinghuai, allowing them to relive the events together.

On the day of the massacre, Zheng Xinghuai was having a meal with his family when a guard rushed in to report that the Protector General was gathering civilians at the city gates. Puzzled, Zheng Xinghuai hurried to confront the general, demanding to know his intentions. Without warning, the Protector General began slaughtering all the unarmed civilians, turning the streets into rivers of blood.

The general had secretly allied with the Witch God Cult and drew his sword to kill Zheng Xinghuai. However, Zheng’s son threw himself in the way, sacrificing his life to protect his father. Reliving this moment, Zheng Xinghuai broke down, unable to move past the pain of losing his son. The shared vision ended. With the truth revealed, Xu Qi'an was deeply moved. He realized this case was incredibly complex.

The scale of the tragedy, with countless deaths, remained almost unknown due to a powerful force erasing the memories of many. This force was so strong that even Wei Yuan was unaware of its full extent.

Xu Qi'an instructed Li Miaozhen to quickly send news to the capital while he focused on protecting Zheng Xinghuai. Reflecting on the massacre of the city's people and the Duke of Zhenbei’s atrocities, Xu Qi'an drew his blade and rode the clouds to confront the duke. From afar, he could already see the blood spirits formed from the slaughtered citizens of Chuzhou.

When the Duke of Zhenbei saw Xu Qi'an, he repeatedly claimed that his actions were for the stability of the nation. But Xu Qi'an saw through his lies. Even as death loomed, the duke continued to make excuses. If it was truly for the nation's peace, what about the 380,000 innocent lives lost? The Duke of Zhenbei attempted to rally Xu Qi'an to join him in attacking the Kui tribe.

However, with the Nation-Stabilizing Sword in hand, Xu Qi'an summoned the full power of his primal soul. A grand scene played out across the heavens, displaying the confrontation between Xu Qi'an and the duke. Below, many soldiers, who had once sworn loyalty to the duke, witnessed the truth: their revered general was a demon who had massacred an entire city. Some began to waver, though agitators tried to twist the narrative.

Xu Qi'an publicly challenged the duke, pointing out that the Nation-Stabilizing Sword, a weapon capable of discerning truth, was present. If the duke truly cared for the people, the sword would acknowledge him. Everyone watched intently as the Duke of Zhenbei reluctantly approached the sword. As soon as he touched it, the sword repelled him violently. The crowd gasped, realizing the duke was indeed a demon. With the Nation-Stabilizing Sword, Xu Qi'an struck down the Duke of Zhenbei.

In his final moments, the duke mocked Xu Qi'an, saying he had gone to such lengths for mere "ants. " To view the common people as ants showed the duke's arrogance and blindness. Xu Qi'an ended his life with one last strike, declaring that the duke was no different from an ant himself. Next, Xu Qi'an turned his attention to the Kui tribe leader, recognizing the danger he posed. If left alive, the world would remain in turmoil.

Summoning all his strength, Xu Qi'an launched a decisive attack. Using only one strike, he killed the leader and sealed his essence within the jade mirror. With all enemies eliminated, Xu Qi'an was utterly exhausted. When Li Miaozhen returned from her own tasks, she found the battlefield littered with the remnants of the Kui tribe's demonic forces. She quickly searched for Xu Qi'an, eventually finding him collapsed on the ground. Xu Qi'an eventually regained consciousness after an unknown amount of time.

Reflecting on his battle with the Kui tribe leader, he remembered how the divine being Shen Shu within him had provided him with boundless strength. However, he wasn’t sure if Shen Shu was still there. Su Su tended to him diligently, bringing along Zhu Yang and Yang Yan from Chunfeng Hall to help replenish his vitality. Thanks to their efforts, Xu Qi'an recovered quickly. Xu Qi'an then met with several ministers to discuss how to report the situation to Emperor Jing.

The Duke of Zhenbei had close ties to the emperor and was deeply loved by the people. Bringing back such dire news would be met with skepticism. Xu Qi'an encouraged everyone not to lose heart. Though it would be difficult, they had to try. Additionally, if Que Yongxiu entered the palace first to present his version of events, he would distort the truth to serve his interests. It was crucial to reach the emperor before Que Yongxiu.

Li Miaozhen suggested bringing General Li along to explain everything to the emperor. However, just before their departure, General Li, overwhelmed with guilt, took his own life.

Xu Qi'an returned to the capital with the investigation delegation from the Northern State and the Duke of Zhenbei's coffin. When palace attendants reported his arrival to Emperor Jing, the emperor was leisurely fishing, appearing relaxed and indifferent. The attendants cautiously led the ministers inside, where Zheng Xinghuai, the administrative commissioner of Chuzhou, described in precise detail the tragic events behind the "Three Thousand Li of Blood. " However, Emperor Jing refused to believe him.

The ministers collectively impeached the Duke of Zhenbei, presenting evidence that his actions were driven by ambition for promotion. The emperor remained unmoved upon hearing about the massacre of 380,000 Chuzhou citizens. However, when he learned of the Duke of Zhenbei's death, he ran barefoot outside, demanding to see the body. Emperor Jing opened the coffin, repeatedly calling for his "royal brother. " The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that the emperor had no intention of condemning the duke.

Xu Qi'an spoke out boldly, listing the duke's crimes and urging the emperor to provide justice for the innocent citizens of Chuzhou. Enraged, Emperor Jing cursed Xu Qi'an and reminded him not to presume that he wouldn't be executed. The emperor even held a blade to Zheng Xinghuai's neck, but Zheng remained calm, responding that, with his entire family already dead, his own life no longer had any meaning. The emperor's hand faltered, and the blade fell from his grasp.

He dismissed everyone in frustration. Later, Xu Qi'an visited Wei Yuan to apologize for not reporting to him sooner. Wei Yuan admitted that he had already suspected the Duke of Zhenbei's involvement before Xu Qi'an was sent to Chuzhou. The emperor's decision to assign the investigation was merely a formality, and the outcome was of no real importance. However, Wei Yuan hadn't expected Xu Qi'an to kill the duke outright.

He explained that the duke's divine power had nearly reached the second rank, and his massacre of citizens was meant to amass spiritual energy for his eventual campaign against the Kui tribe. Wei Yuan pointed out that Xu Qi'an could have waited until the duke launched his attack on the Kui tribe to reap the benefits without taking direct action. Xu Qi'an questioned how the duke could have been held accountable after sacrificing himself in battle against the Kui tribe.

Wei Yuan reminded Xu Qi'an of his previous warnings about not showing off too much. Now that he had openly clashed with Emperor Jing, Wei Yuan placed a hand on Xu Qi'an’s shoulder, advising him again to learn restraint or risk losing even more. Wei Yuan, known for his strategic foresight, instructed Xu Qi'an to leave the remaining matters to him. Xu Qi'an nodded and took his leave.

That same day, it was scheduled for the Grand Secretary to visit Yunlu Academy for a poetry evaluation. Xu Xinnian, eager to excel, prepared diligently, hoping to emerge as the champion. However, his plans were interrupted when Wang Simu arrived with urgent news about the court's upheaval. Hearing that Emperor Jing was acting emotionally, Xu Xinnian shed his usual timid demeanor. He rode a carriage straight to the palace gates and loudly recited ethical principles, impressing the Grand Secretary.

Xu Xinnian spoke passionately for two to three hours without pause. When the eunuchs tried to punish him, the Grand Secretary intervened, protecting him and requesting an audience with the emperor. Emperor Jing, however, refused to see them and ordered the Grand Secretary to send the accompanying officials away. After the Grand Secretary left, the emperor instructed the eunuchs to record the names of those officials who had not come to plead.

Despite the ministers’ collective petitions, the emperor ignored their advice. This news reached Lin An, who rushed to her father’s chambers and knelt, pleading with him to heed the officials' counsel and listen to the people’s voices. The imperial consort, alarmed, hurriedly persuaded Lin An to leave. Back home, Xu Qi'an received a warm welcome from his family. After dinner, Xu Xinnian analyzed the emperor's recent behavior with Xu Qi'an.

Xu Xinnian noted that Emperor Jing, known for his usually stoic and reserved demeanor, had acted completely out of character in public. This behavior, he suggested, must have been intentional. Reflecting on his encounter with the emperor, Xu Qi'an found himself increasingly suspicious.

Emperor Jing delayed passing judgment on the Duke of Zhennan, causing dissatisfaction among many officials. Even Lin An was deeply worried. She summoned the Crown Prince to discuss the matter. The Crown Prince advised Lin An to stop concerning herself with this issue. He reminded her that the Duke of Huai was their uncle and that, both emotionally and logically, they should not join the ranks of those impeaching him.

Furthermore, Emperor Jing had always favored Lin An because she refrained from interfering in court affairs. If she continued to press the matter, it could lead to trouble for her in the future. Emperor Jing convened the court again to discuss the punishment for the Duke of Zhennan. However, Prince Li suggested that the blame be placed entirely on the Kui tribe, arguing that their invasion had triggered the subsequent events.

He proposed that the massacre of Chuzhou be attributed to the Kui tribe instead of acknowledging the corruption of imperial relatives, thereby avoiding disheartening the populace with tales of official greed and misconduct. The officials were deeply disturbed by this suggestion. Though Zheng Xinghuai vehemently refuted it, emphasizing that the massacre was witnessed by tens of thousands of soldiers, Emperor Jing still dismissed the court without making a decision, leaving the matter unresolved.

After the court session, some officials suggested that Zheng Xinghuai return to Chuzhou to recover and plan for the future. Zheng, heartbroken, accused them of being shameless. He then attempted to visit several high-ranking officials, but apart from Wei Yuan, who welcomed him, the others avoided meeting him. Wei Yuan empathized with Zheng Xinghuai's pain and personally brewed tea for him.

In his words, Wei Yuan subtly advised Zheng to exercise patience and avoid acting rashly, urging him to take a gradual approach. That evening, Zheng Xinghuai met with Xu Qi'an. Noticing Zheng’s sorrowful expression, Xu also used the fable of the tortoise and the hare to encourage him, emphasizing the importance of patience and careful planning. His advice echoed Wei Yuan’s exactly.

Zheng Xinghuai expressed his gratitude and invited Xu Qi'an to share a bowl of plain noodle soup with him. The two walked to a nearby noodle stall. As they ate, Zheng Xinghuai recounted his past. He explained that he had been demoted to the impoverished region of Chuzhou after offending the previous Grand Secretary. Over time, he had grown to love the local people and dialect.

However, witnessing the horrific massacre of the people he cared for had left him unable to endure the injustice. Although Wei Yuan's advice might be correct, Zheng confessed that every time he closed his eyes, he saw the blood-soaked images of that tragic day. Not long after, Que Yongxiu, a man guilty of countless crimes, submitted a bloodstained letter distorting the facts.

In it, he falsely accused Zheng Xinghuai of conspiring with the Kui tribe to orchestrate the massacre of Chuzhou. The emperor, believing these slanderous claims, ordered Zheng Xinghuai to be arrested and interrogated to uncover the truth.

Court officials, armed with an imperial token, were sent to arrest Zheng Xinghuai. Despite Wei Yuan deploying many Jinluo officers to protect him, Zheng Xinghuai, upon hearing that the emperor had issued a "kill without pardon" order, chose to surrender voluntarily. He wanted to avoid implicating more innocent people. Once imprisoned, Zheng Xinghuai was subjected to severe torture. No matter how brutal the methods, he refused to confess to false charges.

Furious, Que Yongxiu ordered his tendons severed in both his hands and feet and had his legs broken. Even as he endured unimaginable pain, Zheng Xinghuai denounced their despicable actions. A nearby judge coldly remarked that Zheng was delusional. He revealed that while the emperor had once seen Zheng as useful and spared him, Zheng’s constant petitions and secret maneuvers in court had exhausted the emperor’s patience.

The judge, in a tone of finality, admitted the truth—he wanted Zheng to die knowing why. Xu Qi'an and the Jinluo officers arrived at the prison to rescue Zheng Xinghuai, but it was too late. Zheng had been hanged to death, his body bound by iron chains, covered in wounds, and drenched in blood. The ground beneath him was soaked with a large pool of blood. Both Xiao Rou and Xu Qi'an's eyes reddened with grief.

The wrongful death of a righteous man left them questioning the rule of law in the current regime. In Zheng Xinghuai's final moments, his mind drifted back to Chuzhou, where the people were once simple and kind, the markets bustling. He imagined the warm scene of villagers greeting him with enthusiasm and his elderly mother welcoming him home. Xu Qi'an took a piece of white cloth, carefully wiped the bloodstains off Zheng Xinghuai's body, and removed the chains binding him.

Carrying an air of solemnity, Xu Qi'an left the prison and silently observed the officials who had escorted Zheng to his death before walking away. That night, Xu Qi'an did not return home. Xu Pingzhi, hearing about Zheng Xinghuai’s tragic end, feared that Xu Qi'an might do something reckless. He mobilized the family and Xu Qi'an’s friends to search for him. After an exhaustive night of searching, Chu Yuanzhen found Xu Qi'an near a hoop-tossing stall.

Xu appeared calm, explaining that he had spent the night contemplating and had finally decided on a course of action. Returning home, Xu Qi'an ate a proper meal. As he finished, he announced that he needed to rest. Before heading to his room, he noticed the worried expressions of his uncle and aunt. Smiling, Xu Qi'an reminded Xu Pingzhi to pack his belongings and leave the city after dinner.

Having seemingly made up his mind, Xu Qi'an took his blade and headed to the palace gates. The guards stopped him, warning him that entry without a summons was prohibited. Xu Qi'an's blade sparked with fire as it struck the ground. Wei Yuan appeared, urging him not to act rashly. Xu Qi'an smiled faintly and handed Wei Yuan a slip of paper left behind by Zheng Xinghuai.

The words "take your time" were inscribed on it—a message fitting for Wei Yuan. However, Xu Qi'an declared that he was no longer willing to wait. He sought justice for Zheng Xinghuai. Xu Qi'an hunted down Duke Cao and Duke Hu, the men responsible for Zheng's suffering. Using the same tortures they had inflicted upon Zheng, he exacted vengeance upon them.

He then tied their bodies behind his horse and paraded them through the streets, exposing their crimes to the public. At the Meridian Gate, Xu Qi'an dragged the two criminals onto a high platform and forced them to confess the truth. By then, the people understood that Zheng Xinghuai had been wrongfully executed. Just as Xu Qi'an was about to deliver justice, a squad dispatched by Emperor Jing to arrest him arrived on the scene.

Many Jinluo officers and members of the Directorate of Celestial Studies arrived, along with Xu Qi’an’s friends from the Spring Breeze Hall. They stood protectively by Xu Qi’an’s side as he publicly exposed the crimes of Duke Cao and Que Yongxiu. Afterward, Xu Qi’an personally executed them, beheading the two wicked men for all to see.

Having eliminated the two villains, Xu Qi’an threw away his Nightwatchman’s token and apologized to Wei Yuan, declaring that he would no longer serve as an official. Wei Yuan sighed deeply and remarked, "To be a good official is to be unashamed before the heavens and worthy in the eyes of the people. Yet, once you enter the bureaucracy, how many can truly achieve this? "Suddenly, someone patted Xu Qi’an on the shoulder.

Turning around, he saw Zheng Xinghuai, appearing just as he had when they first met. Zheng expressed his gratitude on behalf of the people of Chuzhou. Xu Qi’an smiled, feeling a sense of relief—Zheng could finally rest in peace. The emperor soon arrived with soldiers, crossbows drawn, ready to kill Xu Qi’an. However, their attempt failed. A golden flash erupted as Xu Qi’an swung his blade, and in that moment, he and the light vanished.

With the intervention of a mysterious figure employing celestial techniques, the crowd seemed to forget Xu Qi’an’s existence entirely. Six months later, storytellers in the capital still recounted the Chuzhou case with great interest, attributing the emperor’s decision to reveal the truth to the heroic efforts of the Nightwatchman. Wei Yuan also convened a meeting with the ministers, urging them to speak with their conscience. During morning court, Emperor Jing accused Wei Yuan of disrespecting the throne, calling his actions insubordinate.

In response, Wei Yuan produced the Yasheng inscribed blade and compelled the emperor to issue a self-criticism edict. With all the ministers unanimously supporting the proposal, the emperor had no choice but to comply. As the Witch God Sect became increasingly audacious, Wei Yuan personally led the army to eradicate them. After several grueling battles, Wei Yuan sacrificed himself in the line of duty. With the nation left without his guidance, the court’s affairs fell to the Grand Secretary.

When the Grand Secretary struggled to manage everything, he received assistance from the much-praised Xu Xinnian. Now, Xu Xinnian, a beacon of justice, helped stabilize the kingdom and finally fulfilled his long-held ambitions. Meanwhile, Xu Qi’an returned to the Xu household and bought a skewer of candied hawthorn for his younger sister. Yet, when he arrived, his sister and the rest of his family no longer recognized him, as if they had never met him before.

Even Xu Pingzhi and his cousin failed to recall who he was. Although saddened, Xu Qi’an realized he now had all the time in the world. He wrote down the alchemy principles he had yet to explain and sent them to the Directorate of Celestial Studies. Passing by the Spring Breeze Hall, Xu Qi’an saw his former colleagues still upholding justice and punishing wrongdoers. He also noticed members of the Tian Di Society enjoying noodles together, laughing and chatting.

Chu Yuanzhen’s sword sheath bore an inscription of poetry that Xu Qi’an had once gifted him. Although everyone sensed that someone was missing, they could not remember who it was. Princess Lin An often returned to the lakeside pavilion, feeling a sense of loss as she waited for someone—though she could not remember whom. One day, a collection of poems was delivered to her residence.

The exquisite verses stirred her memories, and she vaguely recalled the poet who had once brought her so much joy. She remembered asking why the poems he gave her always lacked the final lines, to which he had replied that if he gave her the complete collection, he could not remain by her side for long. Realizing that person had returned, Lin An ran out of her room to search for him, but she was already too late.

Walking along a sunlit path, Xu Qi’an saw Minister Zheng and his family reunited, and all his friends returned to their simple, happy lives. Everything was as it once was, except for his absence. Xu Qi’an lay down beneath a large tree to rest. In a dreamlike state, he was taken to Yunzhou, where he met a mysterious figure. The figure, dressed in black and masked, was someone Xu Qi’an had seen many times in his memories.

The man revealed that the fate of Da Feng was tied to Xu Qi’an. He explained that the Supervisor sought to elevate the nation’s fortune, and Xu Qi’an was the ideal candidate for the task. Finally, Xu Qi’an realized the masked man was his father—Xu Pingfeng. His father spoke passionately, "True contentment lies in detachment. This nation’s destiny was always ours to bear.

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