If I think carefully about the secrets of the Imperial Palace, these are only two of them. Tsk! Since when have I become so good at making excuses for him?

She stretched out her fair hand, grabbed his ear, and chided gently with a hint of reproach, "Su Dudu, go get my clothes for me, will you?"

Su Bei's face was full of bitterness, and he felt somewhat guilty. In my heart, I actually reveled in the pleasure, but physically, it was a hardship—even with a body as strong as an ox, it couldn't withstand such exertion... Goji berries! I urgently need mulberries soaked in goji berries right now!

That's what he was thinking. Nevertheless, he carefully tied the straps of Lan Bao'er's bellyband and then passed clothes to Ji Baoer.

The two women dressed quietly, a silent understanding between them. It seemed that after this absurd yet meaningful night, their animosity towards each other had diminished just a little.

Witnessing the rare harmony before him, something tugged at Su Bei's heartstrings. With a sudden impulse, amidst the women's startled cries, he reached out, pulled them close, and embraced them tightly with all his strength. It was as if he feared the two women in his arms would leave him the very next moment, and he wanted to use this sensation to confirm that this was real.

Dan Wulan and Ji Nanjue were startled. Then, as if comforting a child, they patted Su Bei's head.

"It's time to go find Zi Jun," Dan Wulan said. "You'll have to figure out how to console her yourself."

"After all, she saw some things she shouldn't have," Ji Nanjue added. "She must still be recovering from the shock..."

Su Bei let go, looking into their eyes, and said softly, "Having you both by my side is a blessing of three lifetimes."

Once the three were dressed, Ji Nanjue turned to tidy up the bed. Seeing the disheveled sheets, still bearing damp traces, her face flushed hotter as she recalled everything. At first, I could endure it, but towards the end, I couldn't hold back. It didn't even matter if it was Su Bei or that Supreme Yang Lotus Root; even Dan Wulan would have done...

She glanced back. Dan Wulan was trying hard to maintain a cool and detached demeanor, but her tightly pressed-together calves betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Let's go find Zi Jun."

"It's time to leave..."

Dan Wulan took Su Bei's large hand, and Ji Nanjue took his other arm. Together, they walked out of the room.

Arriving at Li Zijun's tightly closed door, Su Bei took a deep breath, making his voice as gentle as possible. "KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK—"

"Zi Jun, it's your master," he said.

After a moment, the door creaked open. A small, timid face appeared, flushed with shyness, her eyes downcast, not daring to look at Su Bei. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Um... Master..." she stammered. "Are you... finished?"

Finished? Su Bei's expression was a bit strange. What does she mean, 'finished'? Why does that sound so awkward? It's not like I did anything during the day...

"AHEM. Well, your master hasn't done anything improper," Su Bei said. "We should get ready to depart now, um..."

Li Zijun finally mustered the courage to face Su Bei. Biting her lower lip, her eyes shimmering, she gazed at him intently. Then, she tentatively reached out a small hand and gently touched the dark circles under his eyes. "But... Master, the circles under your eyes are really dark."

"You look so weak."

Su Bei was speechless. Although I'm outwardly silent, I'm truly moved. My disciple is indeed my caring little treasure; she's the only one who noticed.

He reached out, intending to pat Li Zijun's head. Li Zijun instinctively trembled and stepped back. Seeing the awkward expression on her master's face, she realized her reaction might have been excessive. Blushing, she stepped forward and placed Su Bei's large hand on her own head.

A stiff smile formed on Su Bei's lips as he patted her head. "Disciple, it's time for us to depart..."

Li Zijun glanced at Dan Wulan and Ji Nanjue, then at Su Bei. With her small hands behind her back, she followed the three of them.

"Zi Jun, how far is it from here to South City?" Su Bei asked.

Li Zijun blinked, then smiled. "We should be close. With Master's speed, it will probably take about three or four days..."

A beat of silence followed.

「South City, capital of the South Wind Ancient Country.」

The scenery here was exquisite. Generations of people from the South Country had lived here, cherishing the elegance of its waterscapes. The architectural style was renowned throughout the lands for its ever-changing vistas, offering endless variations as one moved through it.

「Within a very secluded manor.」

A black swallow, carrying a fresh insect, skillfully circled the cloister. It flapped its wings along the vermilion eaves, then suddenly swooped down towards its destination.

"CHIRP! CHIRP!"

The fledglings in the nest eagerly stretched their necks out, chirping incessantly.

"The scent of orchids and musk lingers, while the chime of jade pendants fades. The east wind sways the weeping willow strands; gossamer threads drift among peach petals; a beaded curtain partly conceals a hibiscus-like face..."

Within the manor, the sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas filled the air. An opera troupe had set up in a corner. This large opera troupe seemed rather empty. Only a few costumed actors were on stage, while the percussionists on either side played loudly. Below the stage, however, there were hardly any spectators—only a middle-aged man with a smile, tapping to the rhythm, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

Just then, a man in black approached. He remained silent, simply standing quietly behind the middle-aged man. Only after the current act on stage concluded did he leisurely walk over to the middle-aged man's side.

"Supreme," the man in black said.

The middle-aged man picked up his teacup and waved his hand. The actors on stage dispersed, positioning themselves around it, while the percussionists slowly retreated backstage.

"What is it?" he asked indifferently.

The man in black reported, "Young Master encountered Su Bei from the Sword Sect in Xiegu City. His cultivation realm has improved again. Moreover, an incredibly powerful woman is with him; we cannot trace her identity."

"Additionally, Li Zijun, the Confucian Sage's daughter, seems to have become Su Bei's disciple."

The middle-aged man hummed in acknowledgment, tapping his teacup. He sighed. "Those useless fools. They tried to assassinate Li Zijun twice and failed both times."

"They just gave that old fellow, the Confucian Sage, a reason to laugh at us."

"But none of that matters now. So what if we couldn't capture Li Zijun? I have my own ways to obtain her Confucian Tri-Energy."

With a gesture of his hands, the surrounding actors returned to the stage. The gongs and drums resounded—THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

"How are the arrangements at Ask Immortal Mountain progressing?" the middle-aged man asked.

The man in black replied, "All arrangements are complete. Once activated, no one in the center of the Big Array will escape."

"Even if someone at the Tribulation-Crossing Stage were to appear, they absolutely wouldn't be able to break through."

The middle-aged man shook his head. "Don't be so absolute," he said. "To construct such a perfect Big Array right here in South City will inevitably lead people to suspect me. Besides, with so many individuals with Gifted Constitutions, it's not yet time to devour them all at once."

"When the time comes, deliberately reveal a flaw and, at your discretion, let about half of them escape."

"Jia Yi, you've been with me the longest. Do you know what your fate will be after this is accomplished?"

The man in black lowered his head and was silent for a moment. Then, he knelt on one knee, his voice deep. "Your subordinate is willing to die for you, Supreme, willing to die for the reforging of the Great Dao."

The middle-aged man nodded and patted his shoulder. "After this is done," he said softly, "flee towards Inverted Heaven. Run as far as you possibly can..."

"Perhaps there, you might survive."

"Hmm. Have you found any trace of the Eastern Emperor's movements?"

Hearing the middle-aged man's question, the man in black shook his head. "Supreme, the Eastern Emperor seems to have vanished from the face of the earth. None of our spies can find any trace of her."

"Recently, all political affairs of the Eastern Country have been handled by Queen Lin. She is also the one who will be attending the ceremony at Ask Immortal Mountain."

After hearing the man in black's words, the middle-aged man fell silent for a long time. Then, he spoke slowly, "I'm puzzled. Where could the great Eastern Emperor have gone?"

"To Inverted Heaven? Could she be searching for something?"

A moment of silence passed.

The man in black nodded. "Reporting to Supreme, it's very possible!"

The middle-aged man repeated, as if to himself, "To Inverted Heaven? Is she searching for something there?"

Again, silence.

The man in black affirmed, "Reporting to Supreme, it is highly probable."

He then reiterated, "Indeed, Supreme. Very possible."