The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

“Last night I met a fortune teller on the streets of the county town.”

Jiang Chuan said slowly.

"He predicted that I would be in great trouble."

Gu Cheng frowned slightly.

"How can the words of charlatans be trusted?"

"That's what I thought at the time too."

Jiang Chuan gave a bitter smile.

"But looking back now, what he might have seen was a black-robed boy who looked exactly like me."

A hush fell over the council chamber. Zhu Lu stopped tapping on the armrest, his eyes gleaming.

"Disguise?"

The lonely city murmured to itself.

Jiang Chuan nodded.

"Exactly.

That person is very likely the mastermind behind framing me. Finding that fortune teller will prove my innocence.

Zhu Lu suddenly laughed, his laughter tinged with amusement.

“Interesting, very interesting. If we can catch the mastermind behind this, I can give an explanation to the authorities in Gaojing.”

Jiang Chuan looked coldly at Zhu Lu.

"If we can't catch him, does Lord Zhu intend to use me as an excuse?"

"Young Master Jiang is joking."

Zhu Lu squinted.

"Your status in the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect is well-known. However, the fact that Zhao Weiyuan, as a prince of the Yan Kingdom, died in the Liang Prince's Mansion without a reasonable explanation could potentially cause a major disaster for both countries."

Suddenly, Gu Cheng slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

"Enough! I will investigate the truth myself."

He turned to Jiangchuan.

Do you remember what the fortune teller looked like?

Jiang Chuan smiled slightly.

"Having a photographic memory is my skill."

"Somebody come!"

With a single command from the lonely city.

"Prepare paper and pen, please invite the artist!"

Soon, a painter dressed in a gray robe rushed over and set up his painting tools on the side of the hall.

Jiang Chuan closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before beginning a detailed description.

He was about sixty years old, with a long, gray beard that reached his chest, and a scar on his left eyebrow.

The painter wielded his brush with lightning speed, and the ink lines gradually outlined the silhouette of an old man on the rice paper.

Zhu Lu walked up behind the painter and stared intently at the gradually taking shape portrait.

"The city's protective array was activated last night, so the city gates will not be opened easily."

Gu Cheng analyzed.

"The fortune teller should still be in the city."

Jiang Chuan suddenly remembered something else.

"There is one more thing to tell you. Last night, before entering the city, I met an old friend in Changting Town."

Ye Qiu's previously nonchalant expression suddenly became focused.

"Oh?"

“This person was originally my friend, but he acted very strangely last night.”

Jiang Chuan recalled.

"He used a sword technique I had never seen before, and it was so skillful that it didn't seem like something he had learned on the spot."

A glint of light flashed in Gu Cheng's eyes.

"you mean"

"I suspect that the person I knew was also an imposter."

Jiang Chuan said in a deep voice.

"A master of disguise."

The lonely city seemed lost in thought.

Ye Qiu, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

"I am merely an observer; what matters most is Lord Gucheng's opinion."

Gu Cheng let out a cold laugh.

"Young Master Ye has certainly distanced himself from the matter cleanly."

Ye Qiu smiled noncommittally, but secretly sent a telepathic message to Xiao Man, who was standing in the corner.

"Notify Hongluan to investigate the movements of the Thousand-Faced Ghost."

Xiao Man nodded almost imperceptibly and quietly left the council hall.

Zhu Lu rubbed his hands together, a look of anticipation on his face.

"A master of disguise. I'd like to see for myself."

You'll see him soon.

"I am alone," Gu Cheng said coldly.

"I will find this fortune teller as soon as possible and find out who is behind it."

Zhu Lu gave Gu Cheng a meaningful look.

"Gaojing probably doesn't want to wait too long."

A cold glint flashed in Gu Cheng's eyes.

"Is Lord Zhu threatening me?"

"How dare you?"

Zhu Lu cupped his hands in greeting, but showed no fear on his face.

"It's just a reminder."

"It's finished!"

The artist suddenly spoke up, breaking the tense atmosphere.

The crowd gathered around and saw a lifelike depiction of an old man with an air of otherworldly wisdom on the Xuan paper.

Gu Cheng picked up the portrait and examined it carefully.

"Send word to search the entire city for this person!"

As soon as the order was given, squads of guards from the Liang Prince's Palace quickly set out.

Gu Cheng turned to the crowd and said.

"Please return to your rooms and rest for now. I will notify you immediately if there is any news."

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Ye Qiu noticed Gu Cheng carrying Qin Nu away, his eyes filled with complex emotions, but he ultimately said nothing.

After checking on Su Wen's condition, Jiang Chuan followed a maid from the Liang Prince's Mansion to the room prepared for him.

The room was elegantly furnished, with exquisite dishes and wine laid out on the table.

"Please enjoy your meal, sir. Please feel free to call me if you need anything."

The maid bowed respectfully and left the room.

Jiang Chuan waved his hand to set up a soundproof barrier before sitting down to enjoy the food and wine.

He casually picked up some food and drank some wine, but in reality, he keenly sensed a faint soul force monitoring him.

"It's neither Ye Qiu nor Gu Cheng."

Jiang Chuan thought to himself.

"Then it can only be Zhu Lu."

He continued eating without showing any emotion, but inside he was experiencing a storm of emotions.

Zhu Lu emerged unscathed after his battle with Gu Cheng. What does this mean? The strength of a Fifth Realm Sage is indeed unfathomable.

"Knowing the subtlety in the three realms"

Jiang Chuan chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"In this vast world of martial arts, we are still too weak."

After a hearty meal, Jiang Chuan lay down and closed his eyes to rest.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, the chess piece on his wrist suddenly moved.

"This is."

Jiang Chuan sat up abruptly and took out the conch shell that Yu Youwei had given him from among the chess pieces.

The crystal-clear conch shell trembled slightly in his palm, emitting a faint blue light.

Jiang Chuan was overjoyed and quickly brought the conch shell to his ear.

Even after months apart, Yu Youwei's voice still made his heart tremble slightly.

After parting ways in Danyang County, she ventured into the martial world while he cultivated in the mountains. The two were like two parallel lines, rarely intersecting.

"At midnight tonight, in Gaoyang Lane."

The words left in the conch shell still echo in my ears.

Jiang Chuan picked up a crystal-clear spirit stone from the chessboard, his true energy flowing between his fingers.

"Scatter beans to create soldiers!"

He let out a low shout, and the spirit stone fell to the ground and transformed into a human shape. The outline gradually became clear, and finally it became a spirit soldier with a similar figure to him.

"Lie down and sleep."

Jiang Chuan gave the order, and Ling Bing nodded blankly, stiffly lay down on the bed, and pulled the brocade quilt over himself.

Jiang Chuan took out a dark-colored bead from his bosom—the Breath-Avoiding Bead, a gift from his senior brother before he left the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect. It could block one's aura and conceal one's form.

He held the Breath-Avoiding Bead under his tongue and immediately felt his aura recede, as if he had become one with the surrounding environment.

"Shadow Cloak Technique!"

Jiang Chuan's figure flickered, transforming into a black shadow that blended into the shadows of the corner of the room, and he quietly slipped out of the high wall of the Liang Prince's Mansion following the direction of the moonlight.

"Youwei, wait for me."

In the shadows, Jiang Chuan's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Young Master Liu's chess skills have improved once again; this old servant is truly impressed."

Zhu Lu, holding a black piece, gently placed it in a corner of the chessboard; the white pieces' chances of winning were now gone.

Liu Qing gently waved his folding fan, a bitter smile appearing on his handsome face.

"Steward Zhu is too kind. I am truly ashamed to admit defeat after only three hundred moves."

Outside the attic window, the moonlight was like water. Zhu Lu suddenly looked up, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy old eyes.

"Interesting, that junior dared to slip away right under my nose."

Liu Qing paused, his folding fan still in his hand.

"Jiangchuan?"

"The Breath-Avoiding Pearl is wonderful, but it cannot hide from the sage's divine sense."

Zhu Lu sneered.

"The Shadow Escape Technique of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect has indeed been passed down from Lin Xiao."

Liu Qing suddenly stood up and knelt on one knee.

"Please, Steward, grant me a chance to atone for my crimes. I will surely bring you Jiang Chuan's head!"

Zhu Lu's withered fingers tapped the chessboard, producing a dull sound.

"Liu Qing, do you think I don't know that your identity has been discovered?"

Liu Qing's body stiffened.

"The absence of evidence does not mean the absence of doubt."

Zhu Lu squinted.

"Your value lies elsewhere, step down."

"But Jiang Chuan—"

"This game is much bigger than you think."

Zhu Lu interrupted him and looked out the window.

"The Yan envoy has arrived, and the city's protective formation has been closed. Tonight, he will not escape death."

Liu Qing's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Was the Yan state also involved?"

Zhu Lu did not answer, but gave him a meaningful look.

"Remember, some pieces are destined to be sacrificed."

Deep within the dungeon, the stench of blood and decay almost solidified into a tangible form.

The lone figure, clad in a black robe, strode steadily through the dark corridor, causing the guards to bow their heads in respect,不敢直视 (不敢直视 is a phrase that doesn't translate directly, but can be left as is).

"right here?"

The lonely city stopped in front of an exceptionally clean prison cell.

"Yes, sir. As you command, I will clean every day and ensure that all three meals are taken without fail."

The guard answered respectfully.

Gu Cheng waved for the guards to leave, then faced the prison door alone.

Behind the iron fence, a man dressed in a tattered black robe sat cross-legged. Despite his ragged clothes, he possessed an extraordinary air about him.

"How is it outside?"

The prisoner spoke, his voice hoarse yet powerful.

The lonely city sneered.

"The situation is out of control, but if Xue Xing can break through the encirclement, there may be a glimmer of hope."

"The Imperial Advisor said that the main battlefield is at the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect."

The prisoner shook his head.

"We shouldn't place our hopes on this."

"Can the envoys from Yan be kept outside the city?"

he asked suddenly.

A cold glint flashed in Gu Cheng's eyes.

"Besides you, who else can stop us?"

The prisoner remained silent for a moment.

"The dungeon is unguarded?"

"All clues point to Hokyo."

Gu Cheng's tone was icy.

“Zeng Xianming’s life is no longer important. What, you still want to expose the Crown Prince? If you do that, none of us will survive!”

The man in the cell suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with rage.

"That idiot! To seize the emperor's military power, he dared to collude with the Demonic Sect! Killing Zhao Weiyuan was an extremely despicable move!"

"The momentum of the national war is irreversible."

"I am alone," Gu Cheng said in a deep voice.

"All we can do is eliminate the person behind the Crown Prince."

"The eldest son of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect has also been involved."

The prisoner clenched his fists.

"It must be the work of the Demonic Sect!"

"The Cloud Sea Immortal Sect has gone too far!"

He angrily pounded the ground.

"First, Lin Xiao destroyed the Demon Sect's mountain gate, then there was the Battle of Qilian Mountain and the Battle of Thousand Caves City—this is the Demon Sect's revenge! The Crown Prince actually dared to collude with them; he's utterly foolish!"

The lone city suddenly approached the prison gate, its voice extremely low.

"If the Crown Prince's collusion with the Demonic Sect is exposed, the Great Zhou will be torn apart! Do you understand?"

The prisoner slumped down in despair.

"The Imperial Preceptor has been surrounded and attacked by the Demonic Sect, and his fate is unknown. I cannot swallow this insult!"

"The Imperial Advisor blocked the encirclement and allowed you to escape, not so you could complain."

"I am alone," Gu Cheng said coldly.

"Although Xue Xing cannot be relied upon, those people on Zuowang Peak will not sit idly by."

The man in the cell smiled gloomily.

"That's all we can hope for."

At noon, the sky grew increasingly gloomy.

The autumn wind swirled withered leaves in the empty streets, the chill as sharp as a knife, cutting painfully into people's faces.

Jiang Chuan looked up at the gray sky and frowned slightly.

The weather seemed to reflect the recent situation in the county town—dark clouds loomed, and a storm was brewing.

People are filled with anxiety.

Jiang Chuan muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping across the deserted street.

The once bustling market is now deserted, and the few pedestrians who do appear walk hurriedly with anxious expressions.

He dared not be careless. After turning into a small alley, he took out a human skin mask from his sleeve.

His fingers lightly stroked his cheek, and his once handsome features suddenly became unremarkable, even his signature starry eyes dimmed a bit.

"Three laps should be enough."

Jiang Chuan silently counted in his mind, deliberately wandering through the intricate streets and alleys. Sometimes he would stop and pretend to tie his shoelaces, and sometimes he would suddenly turn around, glancing at the empty alley behind him out of the corner of his eye.

After confirming that no one was following him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and strode towards Gaomo Lane.

The footsteps on the bluestone path were crisp, but were quickly swallowed up by the howling autumn wind.

Where is Youwei?

As Jiang Chuan was pondering, his nose suddenly twitched, catching a faint, delicate fragrance.

He was all too familiar with that aura!
"Green scales?"

Jiang Chuan was overjoyed and followed the scent into a narrower alley.

He hadn't seen that quirky little girl for a long time since they parted ways.

At the end of the alley is an inconspicuous courtyard with gray walls and black tiles, and two faded lanterns swaying gently in the wind in front of the door.

As soon as Jiang Chuan reached the door, the mottled wooden door creaked open a crack.

"Brother Jiang Chuan!"

A slender green figure shot out like an arrow, heading straight for Jiang Chuan's embrace.

He quickly opened his arms and caught the little man who looked like a cannonball.

"Ouch, my little darling, you're going to break me to pieces!"

Jiang Chuan smiled and ruffled Qing Lin's hair, then lifted her up to examine her closely.

The little girl wore a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with two jade bamboo leaves tucked into her hair. Her large eyes blinked brightly, full of life. Most striking was the faintly visible blue scale on her forehead, which gleamed strangely in the sunlight.

"You've grown quite a bit taller!"

Jiang Chuan weighed it in his hand, teasing her on purpose.

"You've gained weight. It seems Sister Youwei has been giving you plenty of good food."

Qinglin giggled and gestured with her little hands.

"I'm this tall! Sister Youwei said if I grow any taller I'll catch up to her!"

Jiang Chuan couldn't help but chuckle. He picked her up and stepped into the courtyard, while simultaneously using his other hand to restore his original appearance to his face.

The courtyard opens up into a bright and spacious view, a stark contrast to its simple exterior.

In a small courtyard paved with bluestone, an old persimmon tree stands in the corner, its gnarled branches laden with bright red fruits that resemble tiny lanterns. Beneath the tree, a stone table and benches are set with a complete tea set. A gentle breeze carries the delicate aroma of tea.

"coming?"

A soft, gentle voice drifted from under the eaves.

Jiang Chuan looked up and saw Yu Youwei standing against a pillar in a plain white dress.

She wore no makeup, yet possessed a naturally elegant and refined气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament).

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the persimmon leaves, casting dappled shadows on her, making her smile appear even more gentle.

"Well, here we come."

Jiang Chuan's throat moved slightly, and his voice unconsciously softened a bit.

Qinglin squirmed in his arms and whispered. (End of Chapter)