Where Immortals Once Walked

The prison guards here were no different from those outside. Moreover, prisoners sent into the Molten Palace rarely had any chance of getting out again, so skimping on a prisoner’s daily supplies and meals was common practice.

But toward State Preceptor Qing Yang, even the head jailer maintained a measure of courtesy, and that was yet saying anything of those beneath him.

State Preceptor Qing Yang lifted the food box, walked to the table, and sat down to eat.

Most people, when first locked inside the Molten Palace, would be too anxious and afraid to eat for days. Yet she ate and slept as usual, as though she had already seen through everything.

Today’s prison meal consisted of two large yellow steamed buns, each bigger than her palm, steamed until soft and fluffy. In the middle was a piece of fragrant braised pork belly, neither too fatty nor too lean, along with stir-fried sprouts.

There was also a large red apple and a cup of chicken soup stewed with lion’s mane mushrooms.

If the other prisoners saw this meal, their saliva would flood the floor. But for State Preceptor Qing Yang, before entering prison, it had been many, many years since she had eaten food so... down-to-earth.

The chicken soup was too full. Whether it had been the attendant or the prison guard, whoever carried it in had clearly jostled it too much. In any case, the soup had spilled all over the bottom of the food box.

State Preceptor Qing Yang had only just picked up the meat-filled bun and taken a bite when she noticed the soup at the bottom of the box beginning to contract.

That might have been a natural phenomenon. After all, the bottom of the box was lacquered red and did not absorb water.

However, State Preceptor Qing Yang’s gaze swept over the back of the jailer outside the cell, then drifted, whether intentionally or not, to the candle by the wall. She casually half-rested the lid over the food box, just so that it blocked the changes at the bottom.

The movement was perfectly natural. Many people placed the lid that way.

To State Preceptor Qing Yang, the candle by the wall was more worthy of caution than the jailer. The Heavenly Palace’s eternal candles[1] had all sorts of uses, and the most basic of those uses was surveillance.

Since she was already in the Molten Palace, every word and action of hers was under the heavenly gods’ watch.

At this moment, however, only State Preceptor Qing Yang likely saw the secret at the bottom of the food box.

The soup quickly gathered into shape, unexpectedly forming several dozen words.

Snail toad appeared at Nian Zanli’s warehouse in South Xinzhuang. Large quantities of self-heal herbs found. Storage records and eyewitnesses present.

It was but a few words, yet these words carried a grave matter.

Especially the words “snail toad” and “self-heal herbs.” Even someone as unshaken in crisis as State Preceptor Qing Yang had her pupils shrink slightly at the sight.

After only a few breaths, the soup spread out again, and the writing vanished.

This bit of divine technique had been executed without a trace.

State Preceptor Qing Yang slowly chewed her bun, then blew on the chicken soup until it cooled before drinking it, while thoughts spun rapidly through her mind.

As the mastermind behind hunting monsters to obtain beads, she was of course very clear that Nian Zanli had not the slightest connection to the snail toad, self-heal herbs, or even the entire elixir of youth case.

The sudden appearance of the snail toad and self-heal herbs in Nian Zanli’s warehouse was very likely someone framing him.

Why would they act now?

Is it because it’s easier for the snail toad to move after the heavy rain?

No, it can’t be that simple. I’d only been arrested a few days ago, so why would the snail toad that had been out of sight for two months suddenly make an appearance in Lingxu City?

Hm, wait, could it be because I’d given up Dong Rui?

In outsiders’ eyes, the appearance of the snail toad at Nian Zanli’s warehouse could at most prove that General Nian was also connected to the elixir of youth case.

But in the eyes of State Preceptor Qing Yang and other insiders, the focus of this case now lay in the source of the divine blood.

She had already explained to the Heavenly Palace that the source of the divine blood was Dong Rui, and that this person was very likely hiding somewhere in Lingxu City.

And the snail toad was Dong Rui’s proud creation.

Now, the snail toad had appeared in Nian Zanli’s warehouse, feasting on self-heal herbs.

The connection could then be drawn directly. Did that not roughly equal a connection between divine blood and Nian Zanli?

It should not be forgotten that just a few days earlier, in a residence on Sweet Wheat Street, an old oak tree had suddenly mutated. At that time, a sheep monster next door had eaten its leaves and gone mad, killing people and wrecking the street, creating an enormous disturbance.

Afterward, two things had already been confirmed.

First, the old oak tree’s mutation was likely caused by divine blood.

Second, the source of the disturbance was that the servants in the residence had been cleaning out items left behind by the previous owner and had accidentally shattered something near the oak tree’s roots.

In other words, the previous owner had privately possessed divine blood.

And who was that person?

Nian Zanli.

These two cases were both connected to Nian Zanli. To put it plainly, divine blood and the elixir of youth case—these two fatal pressure points that even upper-class nobles did not dare touch—were now both aimed squarely at Nian Zanli.

Her first thought was that this was State Preceptor Shuang Ye’s deliberate doing. After all, Dong Rui and Xi Yunhe were both under him, were they not?

Should I follow along with his intention?

Still, something is strange about all this.

Deep down, she knew that State Preceptor Shuang Ye very much wished to use this opportunity to dig out the god standing behind her.

He had gone to such great pains to create this trap, so how could he be willing to give up halfway?

Or rather, now that he had the advantage, why would he lift the blade high only to put it down lightly?

Not to mention, there was also a god standing behind State Preceptor Shuang Ye. Now that this kind of change had occurred, was he acting on his own, or did the god behind him intend to soften the situation?

The struggles among the gods were just like her relationship with State Preceptor Shuang Ye. Sometimes they eased, and sometimes they became fights to the death.

After she finished eating, the jailer naturally collected the leftover food and dishes.

State Preceptor Qing Yang wiped her mouth with a soft cloth, then walked to the glazed window and sat facing the mountain scenery.

Or perhaps another force within Lingxu City has become involved?

Should I seize this opportunity?

She had practiced the skill of assessing the situation for almost two hundred years. Yet at this moment, she was still conflicted and torn.

Was dragging State Preceptor Shuang Ye into the water more important, or was closing the case as quickly as possible and regaining her freedom more important?

If this page was not turned, her new chapter would never begin.

Four hours later.

Bai Ziqi walked into the depths of the Molten Palace and saw State Preceptor Qing Yang sitting in the slanting sun, leaving only her back to him.

He made his footsteps heavier, but she seemed not to notice.

Bai Ziqi walked closer, and the jailer immediately opened the door for him.

He entered the cell and stopped only when he reached the prisoner’s side. Then he coughed lightly and called out, “State Preceptor Qing Yang.”

Only when he called out a second time did State Preceptor Qing Yang slowly open her eyes and turn her head slightly.

“Deputy Cloud Envoy Bai.”

“Have you been comfortable these past few days?” Bai Ziqi glanced outside. “Has the Molten Palace neglected you?”

“All is well.” State Preceptor Qing Yang looked at him and asked, “What happened?”

Bai Ziqi’s eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. “You know?”

“If nothing had happened outside, why would a busy man like Deputy Cloud Envoy Bai have time to visit a useless old woman like me?” State Preceptor Qing Yang smiled self-mockingly.

Bai Ziqi studied her carefully.

Even with the slanting sun adding color to her face, this world-famous master of Spring Palace had lost her former rosy complexion, and there seemed to be two more wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.

The beauty that had belonged to her was fading in step with her halo.

Of course, Bai Ziqi would not soften his heart. What he was thinking was whether the state preceptor had truly been cut off from the outside world despite having already been imprisoned here.

“About the list of people who purchased the elixir of youth...”

“I’m sorry. I already explained. It burned along with Qingfu Temple.” State Preceptor Qing Yang sighed softly. “How could I keep evidence that was harmful to me?”

“Can you not remember any of the major customers?”

State Preceptor Qing Yang smiled and said, “Those trivial matters were all handled by Qingfu Temple. Where would I have the time to flip through the pages one by one?”

Bai Ziqi also smiled and said, “What a pity. Baoshu King’s memorial just arrived today, and it mentioned several names. It says they are a list of suspects who may have taken the elixir of youth, and it asks the Lord Emperor to help investigate them once the mastermind is caught.”

With that, he took out a memorial and laid it open on the table, pointing out several lines marked in red for State Preceptor Qing Yang to see.

State Preceptor Qing Yang walked over. The moment she saw those names, her heart jolted.

Hoh, as expected of the Baoshu King, it’s striking when I’m already down.

Bai Ziqi said at ease, “I am conveying the Lord Emperor’s words. He asks whether any of these names are familiar to you.”

State Preceptor Qing Yang’s gaze shifted slightly.

The Lord Emperor’s words?

She did not doubt that this was indeed what the Monster Emperor had told the deputy cloud envoy to convey. This matter was too serious, and Bai Ziqi would not dare falsely transmit the monarch’s will.

That was right. There were many buyers of the elixir of youth. If a few were not arrested, there would be no way to provide an explanation. The common people and the heavenly gods would not be satisfied.

Countless thoughts turned through her mind. Only after several rounds of weighing the matter did she point out several names on the list. “Now that you mention them, I really do remember. Mm, these families bought it. More than once, too.”

Bai Ziqi carefully questioned her on the circumstances of those families’ purchases, and State Preceptor Qing Yang answered everything she knew.

The coud envoy personally made the written record, then adjusted it for State Preceptor Qing Yang to see. “If you confirm there are no errors, place your signature and seal.”

Once State Preceptor Qing Yang signed her name and pressed her fingerprint, it meant someone in the imperial court was about to suffer a great calamity.

The wealth, power, and noble elegance those aristocratic families had accumulated over decades or centuries would soon come crashing down like a toppled house of cards, all because of a few light identifications from State Preceptor Qing Yang.

The feeling of holding such power...

State Preceptor Qing Yang exhaled lightly. What a pity, this is probably the last time I’ll get to experience something like this.

“I also came today to ask you about someone.” Bai Ziqi took a jug of wine and two silver cups from his storage ring. “Care for a couple of drinks?”

State Preceptor Qing Yang smiled faintly.

Bai Ziqi filled a cup for her. She picked it up and sniffed lightly twice before saying, “This is Courtyard Full of Fragrance, one that’s been aged at least thirty years.”

As the master of the Spring Palace, her food and drink had naturally always been exquisite. This “Courtyard Full of Fragrance” was one of her favorite wines, soft and lingering on the tongue, with a long, delicious aftertaste. It was a special tribute from the east.

After this, she feared that she would never get to taste it again.

Of course, when State Preceptor Qing Yang tasted the wine, she remained calm as still water, revealing nothing at all. Bai Ziqi, seated opposite her, was a smiling tiger. He only appeared amiable on the surface. In truth, he was a sharp blade in the Heavenly Palace’s hand.

The two had exchanged blows back and forth over the elixir of youth case for several rounds.

Before finding the temple attendant “Kong Jiaxiang,” the fish that had escaped the net at Qingfu Temple, State Preceptor Qing Yang had been one step ahead of Bai Ziqi in everything. She had cleaned up almost every clue, leaving him nowhere to begin and stuck under the enormous pressure from the Heavenly Palace, the Lord Emperor, and public opinion.

Now that she had been caught, Bai Ziqi coming to see her again was itself a show of force.

She would no longer raise the question of whether Kong Jiaxiang was real or fake. There was no point to that.

“Regarding General Nian Zanli, how much does State Preceptor Qing Yang know?”

So he had indeed come for this matter. State Preceptor Qing Yang kept the cup in hand. “I know him.”

“I heard he has always wanted to launch a counterattack on the State of Yuan, and State Preceptor Qing Yang has acted as a lobbyist for him several times in borrowing troops.”

“This man is firm of will and skilled at both moving and training troops.”

Bai Ziqi smiled. “Everyone says Beijia has famous generals in abundance.”

State Preceptor Qing Yang glanced at him. “A thousand soldiers are easy to obtain, but one general is hard to find. What state would be so arrogant that it would not want to recruit a few more strong commanders?”

1. These are probably related to the eternal lamps of Star-Plucking Tower. ☜