If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

The moonlight is cold.

Zhou Yang walked back to his residence, his pace neither fast nor slow. The palace walls were very high, casting large shadows, like a crouching behemoth. The wind blew out from the shadows, carrying the freshly washed smell of blood, mixed with the dampness of the earth.

He didn't pay attention.

He was already used to this taste.

His residence was originally a small but quiet side hall next to the East Palace. Now that the East Palace was gone, it had become the safest place. The Imperial Guards stood guard every three steps and sentries every five steps, as silent as rows of wooden stakes.

Pushing open the door, a dry, warm feeling rushed out.

A small oil lamp illuminated the room. Zhou Yang took off his dew-stained flying fish robe and casually draped it over the screen. He walked to the table and poured himself a cup of tea. The tea was already cold, but he drank it down in one gulp, leaving his throat feeling dry.

Just then, he saw the letter.

The letter lay on the corner of the table, without an envelope, just a neatly folded piece of white paper. It lay there quietly, as if it had been there from the very beginning.

Zhou Yang paused for a moment.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

The room was spotless, and the table was empty when he left. The window was bolted from the inside, and the door lock was intact. How did this letter get in?

He didn't go to get it right away.

He first looked around the entire room. The bed was neatly made, the books on the bookshelves were arranged perfectly, and the floor tiles were so clean they reflected light. Everything was exactly the same as when he left.

Except for this piece of paper.

It appeared out of nowhere, like a ghost, shattering all the peace.

Zhou Yang walked over and sat back down in his chair. He didn't rush to touch the letter; he simply looked at it. The paper was of the finest quality, Chengxintang paper, thick and with neat edges. It was folded very carefully, every corner perfectly aligned.

He reached out, pinched one corner of the paper between two fingers, and slowly unfolded it.

There was no sealing wax, no signature, only one line of text.

The characters were written with ink, the strokes thin and firm, penetrating the paper as if carved with iron hooks and silver lines.

"You have already seen the Heavenly Gate; the Star Gazing Pavilion awaits your arrival. Also, the 'guest' is on his way."

very short.

Zhou Yang took the note under the lamp and read it again. He recognized every single word, but when put together, they exuded an indescribable chill.

Tianmen.

Last night, he pushed open a "Gate of Heaven." It was the gate to the highest power in the empire, and also the gate to hell. Few knew of this, but those who did were all in high positions. How could the Star Gazing Pavilion know?

Stargazing Pavilion.

He'd heard of that name before. A very mysterious sect, neither serving in the court nor forming any faction, said to be able to observe celestial phenomena at night and foresee the fate of the nation. Some said they were a group of eccentric sorcerers, while others said they were truly people standing above the clouds.

Zhou Yang always felt that this kind of reputation was mostly self-proclaimed.

But now, this letter has changed his mind somewhat.

Who is the "guest"?

The "guest" that the Star Gazing Pavilion would specifically mention is probably not a friend who came for tea.

Zhou Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the table, tap, tap, tap. The sound was soft, yet it felt like it was striking one's heart.

He already had an answer in his heart.

Just then, a very light footstep sounded outside the door. It was unhurried, with a unique rhythm.

Zhou Yang didn't look up, but simply said, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a figure silently slipped in, then gently closed the door behind her. It was Qin Shuang. She had also changed into casual clothes, a dark blue outfit that made her face appear even paler.

She walked straight to the table and placed something on it. It was a small porcelain bottle with a cork stopper.

"It's a hemostatic medicine, the best kind for wounds." Qin Shuang's voice was flat, revealing no emotion. "You have an injury on your hand."

Zhou Yang looked down and noticed a small scratch on the web of his right hand. It was probably from the fight at the Eastern Palace; the blood had already congealed, and he hadn't even noticed it.

He didn't touch the medicine bottle.

He pushed the note in his hand in front of Qin Shuang.

"Take a look at this," he said.

Qin Shuang's gaze fell on the note. She read it quickly, only glancing at it once before her brows furrowed.

"The Star Gazing Pavilion," she uttered the name, a hint of gravity barely perceptible in her voice, "They finally couldn't hold back any longer."

"Do you know them?" Zhou Yang asked.

"Not familiar with them." Qin Shuang shook her head. "But they're in the Jinyiwei's files. The Star Gazing Pavilion isn't under the jurisdiction of the Six Doors, nor is it on any sect's list. They're like a group of ghosts, only appearing in legends. It's said that every time a new emperor ascends the throne, they send someone to deliver a 'star map,' and only the emperor knows what's written on it."

Zhou Yang paused for a moment.

"So, they are the royal family's private fortune tellers?"

"You could say that," Qin Shuang said, looking at the words on the note. "But this 'guest' likely refers to the Heavenly Principle Sect."

"You think so too?" Zhou Yang asked.

"Besides them, who else deserves to be called a 'guest' by the Star Gazing Pavilion?" Qin Shuang's voice turned cold. "The events at the palace last night were far too significant. The Heavenly Principle Sect suffered heavy losses in the Eastern Palace, and they will certainly not let this go. It's no coincidence that the Star Gazing Pavilion sent this letter at this time."

She looked up at Zhou Yang.

"They are warning us, but they are also inviting us."

"warn?"

"They're warning us that the Heavenly Principle Sect is coming." Qin Shuang pointed to the word "guest" with her fingertip. "An invitation, an invitation to the Star Gazing Pavilion."

Zhou Yang smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"What kind of invitation is this? This is clearly a ploy to make us their shield." He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in front of him. "The Star Gazing Pavilion knows the Heavenly Principle Sect is coming to cause us trouble. They don't want to get involved themselves, so they're trying to push us to the front lines. They want us to fight the Heavenly Principle Sect to the death, so they can reap the benefits. What a cunning scheme."

His words were direct and harsh.

Qin Shuang did not refute it, because it was the truth.

"What makes them think we'd go?" she asked.

"They know we have no choice but to go." Zhou Yang's eyes deepened. "The Heavenly Principle Sect is a sword hanging over our heads. The fact that the Star Gazing Pavilion sent this letter is tantamount to telling us that they have intelligence about the Heavenly Principle Sect. If you want to know what the Heavenly Principle Sect will do next, and if you want to find a way to survive, you must go to the Star Gazing Pavilion."

This is an open conspiracy.

It's a blatant trap, but you have no choice but to jump in.

Zhou Yang read the letter over and over again, as if he were appreciating an interesting toy.

"Stargazing Pavilion...stargazing," he murmured. "They always like to talk about themselves in a mysterious way. In reality, they're just a group of businessmen who make a living off information asymmetry."

He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

A night breeze swept in, ruffling his hair. The night outside was dark, but the stars were unusually bright. One, two, they formed a vast galaxy.

"Since we're doing business, we can talk about the price," Zhou Yang said.

Qin Shuang walked to his side and followed his gaze to the night sky.

"You mean, go?"

"Why not go?" Zhou Yang turned to look at her. "The Star Gazing Pavilion wants us to be their weapons, so we will. But how we use these weapons, and who we cut, is up to us. Besides, since it's a business deal, there has to be some compensation."

His gaze lingered on Qin Shuang's face for a moment.

"Regarding the reward for 'Dragon's Spine'."

Qin Shuang's heart skipped a beat. She knew Zhou Yang had been searching for that fragment of the divine weapon. Perhaps the Star Gazing Pavilion, such a mysterious place, truly held some unknown secrets.

"Have you thought this through?" she asked. "This is dangerous. Neither the Star Gazing Pavilion nor the Heavenly Principle Sect is easy to deal with. Offending both at the same time is like putting yourself in a very dangerous situation."

"From the moment we stepped into the capital, we've been on the verge of collapse," Zhou Yang said calmly. "What difference does it make whether it's sooner or later?"

He stretched out his hand and pointed to the Big Dipper in the night sky.

"The Star Gazing Pavilion is in that direction."

His fingers were steady, like a precise javelin.

"Instead of sitting here waiting for the Heavenly Principles Sect to come knocking on our door, we should take the initiative to go out and stir things up. The muddier the water, the easier it will be for us to fish."

This is his survival rule: never place your hopes on others, and never wait for danger to strike. He wants to be the hunter who takes the initiative.

Qin Shuang looked at him. In the moonlight, the man's profile was clearly defined, and there was no fear in his eyes, only an almost cold calm. She suddenly felt that the man in front of her was no longer the junior officer in Jianghuai City who only wanted to make some money and run away.

He has grown up, into someone no one can control.

it is good.

Qin Shuang uttered a single word in her mind.

"I'll stay with you," she said, her voice soft but firm.

Zhou Yang glanced at her, said nothing, and simply nodded. A certain unspoken understanding existed between them.

He turned around, walked to the bookshelf, and pulled out a thick geography book from the bottom shelf. He had casually taken it from the cabinet archives.

He flipped through the pages quickly, his finger pausing on a map.

"North of Beijing, past Changping, into the Yanshan Mountains, there is a cliff called Zhaixing Cliff. The Star-Gazing Pavilion is located at the top of the cliff." He pointed to a point on the map, "The terrain there is treacherous, with only one narrow path leading up, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

Qin Shuang also came over to take a look.

"It's a dead end."

"Yes and no." Zhou Yang drew a line on the map with his finger. "If we go around from the west, along the old site of the Great Wall, we can get to the back of Zhaixing Cliff. Although the road is difficult, it will allow us to avoid their frontal defenses."

As he spoke, he pulled a blank sheet of paper from the geography book, picked up a pen, and quickly drew the route. The pen tip scratched across the paper, clear and accurate.

After finishing the drawing, he folded the paper and blew on the ink.

"Old Zhang," he called out towards the door.

A member of the Imperial Guard immediately pushed open the door and knelt on one knee.

"Lord General Banner."

"Leave the city immediately and, following the route on this map, thoroughly investigate the area within thirty miles of Zhaixing Cliff. Don't overlook any road, any water source, or any place where you can hide." Zhou Yang handed him the map. "Remember, you are only allowed to look, not touch, and you must not alert anyone."

"Yes!" Old Zhang took the blueprints, turned around and left without saying a word.

Zhou Yang sat down again, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

"We've already sent out all the sentries," he said. "Before we set off, we should receive quite a bit of news from the Star Gazing Pavilion and the Heavenly Principle Sect."

As Qin Shuang watched him arrange everything methodically, the inexplicable tension in her heart gradually subsided.

This man always gives people this feeling. No matter how big the storm, he always seems to be able to find the most stable rock.

"This letter from the Star Gazing Pavilion is both a test and a form of coercion," Qin Shuang said, picking up the note again. "They've calculated our predicament perfectly."

"The more accurate their calculations, the more likely they are to give themselves away." Zhou Yang's lips curled into a cold smile. "The more anxious they are, the fewer cards they have left to play. The pressure from the Heavenly Principle Sect is greater than we thought."

He walked to the table, picked up the medicine bottle Qin Shuang had brought, uncorked it, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance filled the air.

He poured the powder onto the wound between his thumb and forefinger. A sharp pain shot through him, but he didn't even flinch.

"Alright, now that there are three people at the table, we can begin this game." He capped the bottle and tossed the medicine back to Qin Shuang. "I'll remember this medicine. I'll give you a better one next time."

Qin Shuang took the medicine bottle, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his fingers.

It's very cold.

She withdrew her hand and put the medicine bottle away.

"I'll go back and gather the necessary personnel; we can set off at any time."

"No rush." ​​Zhou Yang waved his hand. "Wait for Lao Zhang's news. Also, send out all the 'Eagle Eyes' we have. I need to know if any unfamiliar experts from major sects have entered the capital in the past few days."

"Yes."

Qin Shuang turned around and prepared to leave.

"Sister Shuang." Zhou Yang suddenly called out to her.

Qin Shuang stopped and turned to look at him.

Zhou Yang looked at her, paused for a moment, and then said, "Be careful. The Star Gazing Pavilion and the Heavenly Principle Sect are not to be trifled with. Since they know about the palace, they can know about us too."

His voice was low, yet carried a rare air of solemnity.

Qin Shuang felt a warmth in her heart.

Looking at Zhou Yang, she suddenly realized that the man's eyes no longer seemed to hold only calculation and self-interest. There seemed to be something else hidden in those unfathomable eyes.

"You too," she said softly, then opened the door and went out.

Zhou Yang was left alone in the room again.

He sat back down in his chair, picked up the plain white slip of paper, and lit it over the lamplight. The flame licked at the paper, and the thin, stiff characters slowly curled, turned black, and finally turned into a handful of ashes.

"Star Gazing Pavilion..."

Zhou Yang stubbed out the ashes in the ashtray and turned his gaze back to the window.

The night was darker.

The wind grew stronger, making the windowpanes rattle and creak.

He could almost hear the distant rumble of thunder approaching.

But he wasn't afraid.

He simply picked up a pen and continued writing something on another piece of paper.

The ink spread across the paper, like a large net being quietly unfurled.

At the heart of the storm is this upheaval in the capital.

The edge of the net has already extended to the far north.

Star-Picking Cliff, Star-Gazing Pavilion.

A new name, a new game.

He was ready to make his move.