At this moment, a carrier pigeon flew in through the window and landed on the counter.

Jing Ci took the note off the pigeon and glanced at it.

"Teacher."

He frowned. "There's news from Laojun Mountain."

Huai Yin raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Jing Ci's expression turned grave and he said, "It's dire."

Huai Yin's weathered eyes narrowed slightly.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as if everyone in Peak City could sense the tremor of the Sky Dome.

But it seemed like an illusion—silent and elusive.

That chilling sensation, however, was real, flashing through everyone's hearts briefly yet unmistakably.

"Even if Master has other plans, I'm still alive, and so are you."

Huai Yin spoke without emotion. "I even begged for the Golden Phoenix Feather for that disobedient disciple, so why is it still dire?"

Jing Ci shook his head and said, "That's why Senior Lin Zhengchun is right: the curse from the Vermilion Bird Clan isn't so simple. Otherwise, why has the Gu Family been adamant about preserving their lineage? Wouldn't it be simpler to end their bloodline altogether? Unless they know that if their lineage breaks, something terrifying will happen. Moreover, all records related to the Gu Family have been erased."

He added, "After Gu Ci'an's death, all the ancient books of the Gu Family disappeared. Even Grandmaster and the Judgement Court couldn't have done something like that right under our noses. So, there's something we don't know."

Huai Yin frowned. "Still, it shouldn't be dire now."

After all, the disobedient disciple is only seventeen.

"That's not necessarily true."

Jing Ci reminded, "His mother… she's already in her forties."

After a long pause, Huai Yin said, "Let Lin Zhengchun divine another reading."

Jing Ci raised an eyebrow. "Teacher, one reading costs a Longevity Bone. Our stock…"

Huai Yin waved his hand dismissively. "Do it!"

Jing Ci nodded. "Understood."

Huai Yin withdrew his gaze, fiddling with the Copper Coins on the table, staring at them for a long time.

In the end, finding nothing of significance, he turned and tossed the four Copper Coins into the trash can.

"What worthless junk."

With a clang, he kicked the trash can over.

Jing Ci said nothing; he knew the old man was angry.

"Prepare yourself. Let's enter the Immortal Palace and fulfill Master's promise."

Huai Yin said, "Then we'll make a trip to the Fusang Divine Palace to search for clues."

Jing Ci casually asked, "Is the junior also heading to the frontier? What if we run into him?"

"What a pity Gu Ci'an handed the Yin Yang Twin Jade to his little apprentice."

Huai Yin sighed. "Otherwise, even if he could profile and use Life Perception, he wouldn't recognize me."

·

·

The hospital at the Black Cloud City Base.

Gu Jianlin sat on a stone bench in the garden, placed the birdcage down, and calmly asked, "Are you settling in alright?"

Wanwan, wearing a pink-and-white hoodie, sat blankly beside him, dazed and lost in thought.

Uncle Mu, clad in a sleeveless shirt, boxed nearby and chuckled. "Yesterday, her older sister made her do homework for five to six hours straight. We taught her Pinyin and literacy before, but she wasn't very keen on learning—preferred running wild in the settlement instead. But things are different now. When she enters society later, she can't be illiterate."

Thanks to the King of Qing's endorsement, the Unclean had a chance to be pardoned.

As for Wanwan, being only a six-year-old girl, she wasn't going to be prosecuted either way.

After all, the King of Qing had spoken.

Though her psyche had been tainted, medication could suppress it, and with proper care from the Priests, she could live until the age of fifty or sixty and, under certain supervision, lead a normal life in society.

"I'm settling in fine."

Wanwan murmured, "Brother, why do I have to study?"

Gu Jianlin replied sternly, "Because you need to support your father and sister. In this place, there are rules—everyone must serve nine years of educational conscription, or they'll be kicked out."

Wanwan was startled, her attention instantly sharpening. "Everyone will be kicked out?"

Gu Jianlin confirmed. "Yes. There will even be exams. If someone fails, they'll be kicked out. Not just your father and sister—even I'll be kicked out. Then we'll all be homeless."

Wanwan panicked a little. "Big brother, why would you be kicked out? Don't you have a home?"

Gu Jianlin explained, "Because, just like your father, I was framed."

Wanwan was too young, and the bloodshed and violence of Black Cloud City could easily scar her psyche. After much deliberation, the association had her drink Mind-bending Tea accompanied by psychological treatments.

Currently, she couldn't recall the details of that day—only that everyone had been captured.

"Ah."

Wanwan blinked blankly and said, "Then… why am I the only one who needs to study?"

Gu Jianlin thought for a moment and decided to craft an elaborate lie: "Because we're all too stupid to study. In this world, not everyone deserves the privilege of education—especially someone like your Cheng Youyu brother. You're a smart child, so you must be responsible for supporting us fools, understand?"

Wanwan seemed to ponder this, as though she believed it. "Then… what's homework?"

Gu Jianlin made up something on the spot. "That's your Cheng Youyu brother's gift to you. Since he's too stupid to become educated, he's pinned all his hopes on you. When you grow up, make sure to repay him well."

Hmm, this kind of lie—once the little girl grows up—she'll definitely see through it.

When that happens, let her blame the Fatty.

Wanwan fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at the mountains of textbooks inside the house.