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

Blood Slaughter King's body slumped down.

It hit the ground with a dull thud.

Fresh blood flowed from the seven orifices and quickly seeped into the soil.

The remaining two Dharma Kings stood frozen in place.

They stared intently at Zhou Yang's fist.

The fist looked unremarkable.

Yet it contains a power that terrifies them.

Blood Slaughter King is the strongest of the three.

One punch was all it took?

"Run!" The Red Serpent King was the first to react.

He turned and rushed down the mountain.

Their movements were as fast as a ghost.

But some people are even faster.

Qin Shuang's blade flashed.

The blade traced a silver arc.

It was blocking the Red Serpent King's escape route.

"Get out of here!"

The Crimson Serpent King roared in anger.

The single claw forms a claw and grabs at the blade.

A harsh, screeching sound filled the air.

His fingernails clashed against the blade.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Qin Shuang was so shocked that she took three steps back.

Arms are numb.

But she successfully stalled the Red Serpent King.

Take a breath.

Just one breath is enough.

Zhou Yang's figure had already appeared behind the Crimson Serpent King.

The fist was thrown again.

This time, the Red Serpent King was on guard.

He crossed his arms to block.

"Bang--"

The sound of bone cracking was clearly audible.

The Red Serpent Dharma King flew away like a kite with a broken string.

It crashed into the mountainside.

It slid down again.

Zhou Yang did not check whether he was dead.

He knew that punch could be fatal.

Now only one remains.

Black Scorpion Dharma King.

This guy has been hiding in the farthest place since the start of the battle.

Now he finally realized that escape was no longer an option.

"Spare me!"

Black Scorpion Dharma King suddenly knelt down.

He kowtowed repeatedly, as if pounding garlic.

"Senior, spare my life! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness!"

Zhou Yang looked at him.

This Dharma King is different from others.

He has a very special aura.

It's like a variant of some kind of poison.

Zhou Yang's lifespan perception system suddenly jolted.

this person.

Maybe it will be useful.

Just as Zhou Yang hesitated, a golden light shot out from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.

The golden light transformed into a large net.

It instantly enveloped the Black Scorpion Dharma King.

"ah!"

The Black Scorpion King screamed in agony.

The golden light tightened.

His body began to twist and deform.

Finally, it turned into a wisp of black smoke and was sucked into a jade bottle.

The doors of Tianji Pavilion slowly opened.

The old man of the heavens slowly walked out.

He held the jade bottle filled with black mist in his hand.

"This fiend is gravely sinful and deserves the torment of being sealed away."

His voice was calm.

But Zhou Yang could detect a hint of weariness in his voice.

That golden light attack just now must have taken a toll on his health.

"Thank you for your help, senior." Zhou Yang cupped his hands in thanks.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets waved his hand.

"It was nothing."

He glanced at the corpse on the ground.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"The Heavenly Principle Sect will probably not let this go easily."

Zhou Yang did not respond.

he knows.

The trouble has only just begun.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit me.

Zhou Yang staggered.

Hold onto the tree trunk next to you.

The three forced bursts just now have consumed more of my lifespan than expected.

Now the aftereffects are starting.

His vision began to blur.

My limbs feel cold.

The blood in my body felt like it had congealed.

"Zhou Yang!"

Qin Shuang quickly helped him up.

"How are you?"

"fine."

Zhou Yang gritted his teeth.

Sweat seeped from his forehead.

He knew this was no small matter.

Every burn of life brings us closer to death.

But in that situation, there was no other choice.

"We need to find a place to rest."

The old man of heavenly secrets suddenly spoke.

His gaze fell on a cave not far away.

"Come with me."

Qin Shuang helped Zhou Yang up, following behind the old man Tianji.

The mountain road is very steep.

Zhou Yang's steps grew heavier and heavier.

Every step felt like walking on cotton.

The scenery in front of me began to distort.

He could barely concentrate.

I didn't let myself completely faint.

The cave wasn't very big.

Very dry.

There was some dry grass in the corner.

The old man of the heavens set up a simple formation at the entrance of the cave.

"You can stay here comfortably for a few days."

He looked at Zhou Yang.

"I understand your situation."

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

"Senior refers to..."

"The price of burning life."

The old man of heavenly secrets said calmly.

"This power, though formidable, should not be used frequently."

He pondered for a moment.

"I have some longevity pills here; perhaps they can help alleviate your symptoms."

He took out a celadon bottle from his sleeve.

handed over.

Zhou Yang took the porcelain bottle.

I opened it and took a sniff.

The aroma of medicine was wonderful.

It is indeed a rare and effective medicine.

"I will remember your great kindness, senior."

He thought for a moment.

He took something out of his pocket.

"This is..."

When the old man of the heavenly secrets saw the metal fragment, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The fragments were entirely dark gold in color.

The surface is covered with ancient patterns.

It was a fragment of the dragon's spine.

Where did you get this?

The old man's voice trembled slightly.

Zhou Yang answered truthfully.

It was found in the storage bag after the Blood Slaughter King was killed.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets stared at the fragments for a long time.

He spoke after a long pause.

"These are fragments of an ancient divine weapon."

His expression was very serious.

"Each fragment contains world-destroying power."

He looked up at Zhou Yang.

"Do you know what this means?"

Zhou Yang shook his head.

"It means endless trouble."

The old man of the heavenly secrets sighed.

"Whoever possesses it will either become the new ruler of this world."

"Either you'll be hunted down by countless powerful figures until you're killed and your soul is scattered."

Zhou Yang gripped the shards in his hand tightly.

He could sense the terrifying energy contained within the fragments.

"Senior, this fragment..."

It doesn't belong to anyone.

The old man of heavenly secrets interrupted him.

"It has its own will."

Just then, the dragon spine fragment suddenly emitted a dazzling light.

Zhou Yang felt a tremendous suction force.

The fragments were trying to break free from his grasp.

He gripped it tightly.

But that force was too strong.

"Buzz—"

The fragment made a clanging sound.

It transformed into a golden light and shot towards the top of the cave.

"not good!"

The old man's expression changed drastically.

He tried to stop them, but it was too late.

Golden light pierced through the cave.

It shot into the sky.

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang immediately ran out of the cave.

Look up.

The golden light stopped high in the sky.

It remains suspended in place.

As if waiting for something.

Sudden.

A figure appeared in mid-air.

The man was wearing a long black robe.

The face was blurry and indistinct.

His hand reached out towards the golden light.

The movements are slow.

Yet it gives people a feeling that they cannot escape it.

The golden light fell into his hand automatically.

The light from the fragments gradually faded.

"The audience..."

The old man of the heavenly secrets murmured.

His face was more pale than ever before.

How did he end up here?

Zhou Yang looked at the mysterious figure.

Alarm bells rang in my mind.

This person gave him a feeling that far surpassed that of the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets.

He was even more terrifying than any enemy he had ever encountered.

"Was he the one who watched the play at the Star Gazing Pavilion earlier?"

Qin Shuang asked in a low voice.

Zhou Yang nodded.

He remembered that scent.

Although it's very light, it's definitely not wrong.

The man in black robes did not speak.

He merely glanced indifferently at the direction below the mountain.

Then the figure suddenly disappeared.

It was as if it had never existed.

The dragon spine fragments also disappeared.

"Oh no!"

The old man's voice was filled with anxiety.

"If the fragment falls into his hands, chaos will ensue."

Zhou Yang frowned.

He felt that things were spiraling out of his control.

I originally thought that obtaining the fragment was a matter of chance.

In retrospect, it seems more like the beginning of trouble.

"Senior, who exactly is this spectator?"

The old man of the heavenly secrets shook his head.

"have no idea."

His eyes were very serious.

All I know is that he has been secretly observing this world.

"I never get directly involved in anything."

But this time...

He looked at Zhou Yang.

"He showed himself and took the fragment."

"This is definitely not a good sign."

Zhou Yang fell silent.

He could sense something watching him from the shadows.

It was a cold and indifferent gaze.

It's like looking at an ant.

"You should get some rest first."

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets broke the silence.

"We'll make plans once I've fully recovered."

He turned around and took a few more steps.

"These pills are enough for you for a month."

"I will come to see you again in a month."

After saying that, he disappeared into the woods.

Only Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang remained in the cave.

"That was so dangerous just now, and you still insisted on going through with it."

Qin Shuang helped Zhou Yang clean his wounds.

Her movements were very gentle.

"no way."

Zhou Yang gave a wry smile.

"Either burn your lifespan, or die."

"I choose the former."

Qin Shuang paused for a moment.

Is it worth it?

Zhou Yang looked into her eyes.

There was concern in those eyes.

There are also concerns.

"Being alive now is enough."

He reached out and wiped the blood from her cheek.

"You're injured too."

"Minor injury."

Qin Shuang shook her head.

But Zhou Yang noticed that her left hand was trembling slightly.

That last strike, though it blocked the Crimson Serpent King, was still effective.

But the force in his arm was also considerable.

"Be more careful next time."

Zhou Yang said softly.

"We are comrades-in-arms."

"You're injured, it'll be a big problem for me."

Qin Shuang raised her head.

Looking at Zhou Yang's serious expression.

Suddenly I laughed.

"knew."

The wind was strong outside the cave.

The wind rustled the leaves.

Neither of them spoke.

Just quietly enjoy this moment of peace.

"Qin Shuang."

"Um?"

"If one day, I become someone else..."

What would you do?

Qin Shuang remained silent for a moment.

"Then I'll wake you up."

Her voice was firm.

"No matter what you become."

She took Zhou Yang's hand.

I will always be by your side.

Zhou Yang looked down at their clasped hands.

Something seemed to melt away somewhere deep inside me.

"Feed."

"Um?"

"Your hands are so cold."

"Your hands are too hot."

"is that so?"

"Um."

"Then let's just keep it covered like this."

"good."

Outside the cave, night was falling.

The distant mountains appeared as dark silhouettes under the moonlight.

An even bigger storm is brewing.

At this very moment, in this small cave, the two people's hands, clasped tightly together, gave each other the warmest strength.

[As an observer, it's the anger of a chess piece.]

The firelight inside the cave, like a warm heart, beat in the silent night.

Zhou Yang's hands were warm, while Qin Shuang's hands were cold.

Two distinctly different temperatures were transmitted to each other through their tightly pressed palms. This warmth seemed to dispel the chill outside the cave and temporarily suppress the fear in their hearts.

Zhou Yang leaned against the stone wall. The aftereffects of the battles of the past few days and the burning of his lifespan left him like an empty shell. His eyelids were heavy, but he couldn't bear to close them.

He wanted to see Qin Shuang more.

Look at her profile reflected in the firelight, look at her tightly clenched hands, look at the unprecedented focus and worry in her eyes.

This feeling is very unfamiliar.

It's also...addictive.

In that brief moment of tenderness, the air in the cave changed without warning.

It's neither cold nor hot.

Rather, it is a kind of detachment.

It was as if all sound, all smell, all temperature had been wiped from this world in an instant by an invisible hand. The flames still burned, but no heat could be felt. The wind still swirled at the cave entrance, but not a sound could be heard.

Qin Shuang suddenly raised her head, and for the first time, a look of utter vigilance appeared in her sharp, eagle-like phoenix eyes.

Zhou Yang's body tensed instantly, a chill piercing through him as he felt weak. Almost instinctively, he pulled Qin Shuang behind him.

A voice rang out at the same time.

It didn't come from the cave entrance, nor from behind.

It seems to seep out from between everyone's bones.

"good."

The voice was flat and emotionless, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

"Burning a century of lifespan in exchange for a victory. It's a worthwhile deal."

As the words were spoken, a figure appeared out of thin air beside the campfire.

He seemed to have been standing there all along, only now willing to let mortal eyes see him.

He was an extremely handsome man.

It wasn't the kind of ruggedly handsome, nor the kind of delicately beautiful, but rather a kind of gender-transcending, near-perfect appearance. His features seemed to have been sculpted by a god with the most precise chisel, without the slightest flaw.

But this perfection sends a chill down one's spine.

Because there was nothing in his eyes.

There was no anger, no joy, no curiosity, not even contempt. They were pure, cold eyes, as deep as the starry sky. One glance, and you felt as if everything about you had been laid bare, like a naked doll.

He was fiddling with something in his hand.

It was a jet-black fragment, irregularly shaped with sharp edges. It didn't reflect light; instead, it seemed to absorb the surrounding firelight, appearing particularly glaring between the man's slender, pale fingers.

It's a fragment of a dragon's spine!

Zhou Yang's heart sank.

That thing was clearly still in my arms, how could it be...?

The man seemed to sense his gaze, and with a flick of his finger, the fragment of the dragon spine traced a barely perceptible black line in the air before he caught it steadily.

His gaze fell on Zhou Yang for the first time.

"Who are you?"

Zhou Yang spoke, his voice hoarse and dry. Every word seemed to be squeezed from his throat, tinged with blood. He used all his strength to force himself to stand up straight, instead of slumping like a sick man. Posture was the only thing he could defend at this moment.

The man smiled.

That wasn't a warm smile.

His lips curled up very slightly, as if triggering some intricate mechanism.

"Me?" he asked back, his tone carrying a hint of innocent curiosity, "Just a spectator interested in exciting games."

He glanced around the cave, his gaze sweeping over Qin Shuang, then over the darkness at the cave entrance, before finally returning to Zhou Yang.

"These 'toys' you're fighting over," he said, waving the dragon spine fragment in his hand, "I'll keep them for you for now."

"presumptuous!"

A furious shout rang out from outside the cave.

The figure of the Celestial Mystery Elder swept in like a wisp of green smoke. He had been in seclusion healing his injuries, but this illogical turn of events had startled him. At this moment, his beard and hair stood on end, and his Taoist robe billowed without wind, clearly indicating that he had used all his strength.

"What right do you have to trespass into my Star Gazing Pavilion and steal divine artifacts?!"

The Celestial Elder's stern question resounded throughout the land. As the guardian of this land and the master of the Star Gazing Pavilion, his dignity was not to be challenged.

The man finally shifted his gaze from Zhou Yang and glanced at the Heavenly Mystery Elder.

That look in his eyes was like someone looking at a noisy insect on the roadside.

"reason?"

He repeated the word softly, a faint hint of sarcasm playing on his lips.

"You are only qualified to talk about reason when you can make the rules."

The moment he finished speaking, his figure began to blur.

It's not moving, it's not disappearing.

He was like a drop of water merging into the ocean, or ink spreading across rice paper. His entire being, along with his magnificent robes of indiscernible material, slowly and effortlessly dissolved into the void behind him.

Everything inside the cave returned to normal.

The heat of the flames, the howling of the wind, the earthy smell... all came back.

It was as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than an absurd illusion.

But everyone knows that's not the case.

The old man of the Heavenly Secrets froze on the spot, his anger and majesty solidifying, then shattering inch by inch into unbelievable horror. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. The power displayed by that person was completely beyond his comprehension.

That's not martial arts, not mystical arts, that's... the authority that only gods possess.

Zhou Yang clenched his fists secretly inside his sleeves.

The fingernails dug deep into the palm, piercing the skin, and the oozing blood brought a sharp stinging pain.

The pain made his chaotic thoughts crystal clear.

Onlookers?

game?

Toy?

These words, like red-hot steel needles, pierced his mind.

He always believed himself to be the most clear-headed gambler in this dark world. He wagered his life on the stakes, battling against heaven, against earth, against man, meticulously calculating gains and losses each time. He thought of himself as a member of the poker table, a player participating in the game.

Only now did he realize how terribly wrong he had been.

He is not a player.

He wasn't even a chip at the gambling table.

He was merely a chess piece on the board. A laughable piece that thought it could think and move on its own.

His so-called enemies, the Heavenly Principles Sect, and Commander Chen... were nothing more than pawns of a different color.

The true players sit outside the chessboard, observing with detached indifference.

Everything they fought over—cultivation techniques, secret treasures, fragments of the dragon's spine—was nothing more than "toys" in the eyes of the other.

A chill ran up Zhou Yang's spine from his tailbone to the top of his head.

This terrified him more than death.

Death is the end.

His current predicament is that even his starting point is in someone else's hands. Everything he has done—his struggles, his calculations, his burning of life—has become a drama for others to watch.

What is this?

Something was exploding inside Zhou Yang's chest.

It wasn't anger.

Anger is too cheap.

It was something colder, harder, and purer. It was an unwilling roar born from the depths of the soul after the meaning of existence had been completely denied.

Chess pieces? Sure.

Games? That's fine too.

However, there are always pieces that want to overturn the chessboard.

There are always pieces who want to sit in that position.

"Zhou Yang?"

Qin Shuang's voice pulled him back from that cold, reverie.

Her hand was still holding his own, the warmth of her palm reminding him that he was still alive, that he was not yet a completely meaningless pawn.

Zhou Yang slowly raised his head and looked at Qin Shuang.

His eyes have changed.

There was no weakness, no confusion, and no trace of the previous warmth.

All that remained was a bottomless darkness, and at the edge of that darkness, a single, burning, cold spark.

"I'm fine," he said, his voice eerily calm.

The old man of Heavenly Secrets stood there, utterly dejected, as if he had aged ten years. He stared at the spot where the man had vanished, muttering to himself, "Inhuman...inhuman...what kind of being is this..."

Zhou Yang ignored him.

He simply stared at his empty chest, at the spot where the dragon spine fragment had vanished, as if he could still feel the chill of being stripped away.

He turned to Qin Shuang and said, "Let's go."

"Where to?" Qin Shuang asked.

"The capital city."

Zhou Yang uttered two words, each word as cold as ice.

Qin Shuang didn't ask why. Looking into Zhou Yang's eyes, she knew that some things had completely changed. She simply nodded and replied, "Okay."

The old man with the murky eyes turned to Zhou Yang: "The capital...you're going to the capital? The capital is a whirlpool now. Once you go, you'll never get out."

Zhou Yang looked at him, and for the first time, an expression appeared on his face.

It was a smile.

A smile devoid of warmth, even bordering on cruel.

If we can't get out, then we won't get out.

He paused, then added, word by word.

"Someone has to go and look after the chessboard."

After saying that, he didn't linger and turned to walk out of the cave.

Qin Shuang followed closely behind, her hand never letting go from beginning to end.

Inside the cave, only the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets remained, standing motionless beside the dying embers of the fire. He watched the two young men disappear into the cave entrance, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

He saw something he had never seen before in the young man's back.

That was not desire, not hatred, and not ambition.

That was a kind of... anger.

A silent rage belonging to a chess piece towards the player and the chessboard.

The night wind howled.

Zhou Yang walked ahead, taking each step very steadily.

The moonlight from the mountaintop shone on him, casting a long shadow.

His hands were still clenched tightly.

The knuckles turned white from the force applied.

The "toy" that was taken away, the "reason" that was ignored, and the "pawn" identity that was defined—all of these turned into a stinging pain in the palm of my hand.

Sober, and persistent.

This anger will become his new fuel.

It is hotter and more dangerous than its combustion life.

Returning empty-handed, undercurrents are surging.

That space was like a piece of cloth that had been punctured.

It vanished quietly.

There was no sound, no light.

Along with the fragment of the dragon's spine and the person who called himself "the spectator," they all vanished.

At the mountaintop, there was a deathly silence.

Only the wind rustled through the hem of my clothes.

Zhou Yang stood still, motionless.

His hand was still in the motion of reaching out into the void.

My palms are empty.

The burning sensation had not yet subsided.

It spreads from the palm of the hand all the way to the heart.

A beloved toy was snatched from someone's hands.

That's how it feels.

No, the word "toy" is incorrect.

That was never his to begin with.

He was just a lucky guy who happened to be passing by.

To discover it by chance, and to lose it by misfortune.

piece.

This word, like a needle, was stuck in his head.

The last look in the eyes of that "spectator" was neither contempt nor gloating.

Rather, it's a kind of...look at interesting phenomena.

It's like watching an ant struggling to carry food.

What will ants do if their food is taken away?

Will they give up, or will they charge forward in even greater anger?

He was that ant.

The old man's expression was not good.

It was an expression that mixed fear and helplessness.

He has lived too long and seen too much.

He knew that such a being was beyond the comprehension of people at their level.

"snort."

The old man let out a cold snort.

It felt like a feeling towards myself, and also like a feeling towards the air on the mountaintop.

Just then.

"bite."

A soft sound.

Crisp, abrupt.

A warm, smooth jade slip fell from the edge of that vanished space.

It rolled around a few times before finally stopping at Zhou Yang's feet.

This is not the space we were in before.

Rather, it is what is squeezed out in the aftershocks of the disappearance of space.

Zhou Yang's gaze finally moved.

He slowly lowered his head.

Looking at the jade slip at his feet.

The jade slip was a translucent milky white color and felt cool to the touch.

It has no texture at all, as smooth as a drop of solidified milk.

The old man's pupils contracted slightly.

This is... an unclaimed item?

Or... was it a "script" deliberately left behind by that "spectator"?

Zhou Yang didn't think much of it.

He bent down and picked up the jade slip.

As soon as the jade slip was in hand, a cool sensation flowed into the body through the palm of the hand.

It slightly extinguished the fire in my heart.

He ran his thumb along the smooth surface of the jade slip.

Then, his consciousness sank into it.

There were no restrictions as expected, nor any danger.

His consciousness flowed freely.

The next moment, a massive torrent of information rushed into his mind.

It is not a martial arts technique or skill.

It's not some earth-shattering secret.

Instead, they are images and tracks.

Countless mysterious runes were constructed, combined, and disassembled deep within his consciousness.

That was a kind of... interpretation of "space".

How to fold space, how to distort distance, how to create a stable gap out of thin air.

It's not the kind of simple teleportation technique.

It is the most basic and core rule!

If he can successfully cultivate this secret technique, all the top-tier movement techniques he obtained by burning his lifespan will pale in comparison.

This is the true path to freedom.

Traveling a thousand miles in one step is not just a legend.

value?

This secret technique is a hundred times more valuable than that piece of broken iron!

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at the place where the space had just disappeared.

There, only the flowing night sky.

That spectator...

He wasn't making fun of himself.

He is investing.

Throw out a bone and see how the dog tries to snatch it.

If you can't get it, give us something else.

Make the dog stronger, then watch the next, even more spectacular performance.

The anger of being mocked still lingers.

But beneath this anger, a chilling thought began to take root and sprout.

Want to watch a show?

Ok.

I'll put on a big show for you.

He clutched the jade slip tightly in his hand.

The stinging sensation in his fingertips brought him to his fullest alertness.

"senior."

Zhou Yang turned around and looked at the Heavenly Mystery Elder.

His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

"What you said."

The old man of the heavens looked at Zhou Yang with a complicated expression.

He seemed to be trying to glean something from Zhou Yang's face.

But on that young face, there was only an almost indifferent calm.

"I haven't forgotten."

The old man sighed.

"Come with me."

He turned and walked back to the heavy wooden door of the Star Gazing Pavilion.

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang followed them inside.

Inside the Star Gazing Pavilion, everything remained the same as before.

It was dim, quiet, and filled with the smell of dust and old books.

The old man with the secrets of heaven walked to a bookshelf and dragged a heavy wooden box out from underneath.

When the box was opened, it didn't contain any rare or secret manuals, but rather stacks of papers wrapped in oiled paper.

"These are the scattered records from the Star Gazing Pavilion over the past century regarding the 'spatial rifts' that have appeared in various places, as well as some records of 'Outer Gods'."

The old man took out a stack of papers and handed them to Zhou Yang.

"These are all rubbings. You can't take the originals with you."

Zhou Yang took it.

The paper was thick and smelled of ink.

He casually flipped through a few pages.

The document is densely filled with records of locations, times, and strange phenomena that occurred at the time.

"In the thirty-seventh year of Tianyuan, a spatial rift appeared at Black Wind Pass in the northern desert, and more than thirty herders went missing. Later, a caravan passed by, smelled a strange fragrance, and fell into a coma. When they woke up, one of them went mad and said that there was a 'god with a thousand eyes and ten thousand feet'..."

"In the first year of the Longqing reign, a fisherman on the shore of the East China Sea saw a 'black sun' rise from the sea, followed by a giant object falling, turning the seawater within a radius of ten zhang into blood, and killing all the fish and shrimp..."

The records are disorganized and lack a systematic approach.

It's like countless people's experiences being forcibly pieced together.

But between these lines, Zhou Yang could sense a deep-seated eeriness and madness.

"Are these useful?"

Zhou Yang asked.

"have no idea."

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets shook his head.

"But the rules of the Star Gazing Pavilion dictate that valuable information should be recorded. Perhaps one day, these fragments will piece together the truth."

He closed the box.

"Transaction complete."

Zhou Yang carefully put the papers away.

Then, he looked at the old man who knew the secrets of the heavens.

"Senior, let's make a deal."

The old man of the heavenly secrets raised his eyes, seemingly somewhat surprised.

"What kind of deal?"

"Tenrikyo."

Zhou Yang's words were concise and to the point.

"They won't let me go. And the Outer Gods behind them are also a threat to this world. We have a common enemy."

"What do you think I, an old man nearing the end of my life, can do to help you?"

The old man of the heavenly secrets chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"You possess an intelligence network."

Zhou Yang said, "The Star Gazing Pavilion can observe celestial secrets, so it should also be able to observe the movements of some 'people.' I need information from the Heavenly Principle Sect. In return, I will tell you everything I know about the 'Outer Gods.'"

The old man of the heavenly secrets fell silent.

He stared at Zhou Yang.

Looked for a long time.

It's like they're reassessing the young man's worth.

A pawn that dares to negotiate with that kind of being.

It is itself an unstable variable.

"Can."

Finally, he nodded.

"However, I will only provide what I have observed. How you do it specifically is up to you."

"make a deal."

Zhou Yang extended his hand.

The old man of the heavenly secrets paused for a moment, then reached out and gently shook hands with him.

The old man's hands were dry and weak.

"This agreement takes effect today."

"I hope we can all live to see the results."

Zhou Yang withdrew his hand.

"We're leaving."

The two walked out of the Star Gazing Pavilion again.

The sky outside was already beginning to lighten.

The east was beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

The wind and rain that had been raging all night seemed to have completely stopped.

The mountain road was still muddy.

The first rays of dawn illuminated the road ahead.

Qin Shuang remained silent.

She simply walked quietly beside Zhou Yang.

She could sense that Zhou Yang's previously radiating aura of ferocity had subsided.

It has become something deeper.

It's like a piece of red-hot iron being quenched in ice water.

On the surface, he appears calm, but beneath lies an even more terrifying energy.

"Your hand."

Qin Shuang suddenly spoke.

She reached out and gently touched Zhou Yang's wrist.

It's still so hot.

Like a ball of fire.

Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks.

He looked down at Qin Shuang's fair fingers.

Then, he turned around and took her hand.

Her hands were still as cold as ever.

It felt like holding a piece of fine, cool jade.

The sky was getting brighter.

They did not stop in the town at the foot of the mountain.

They rented a horse-drawn carriage and headed towards Anyang County.

The carriage was very quiet.

The only sound was the rolling of wheels.

Zhou Yang leaned against the car wall with his eyes closed.

It looks like they're taking a break.

But he kept clutching that white jade slip in his hand.

Qin Shuang sat opposite him.

She looked at Zhou Yang.

His brows were slightly furrowed.

Even in their sleep, they seemed to carry a hint of defensiveness.

The train carriage jolted slightly.

Zhou Yang's eyes snapped open.

There wasn't a trace of the grogginess of someone who had just woken up.

Only sharpness and vigilance.

"I'm fine."

He said.

Qin Shuang didn't say anything.

She shifted her position and sat down next to Zhou Yang.

"Take off your shirt."

Zhou Yang was taken aback.

"what?"

You are injured.

Qin Shuang's tone left no room for argument.

"You took that blow head-on last night; your meridians must be damaged. Don't die on the way; otherwise, all my money will have been wasted."

Her words were, as always, in Qin Shuang's style.

When showing concern for others, one should always consider the financial implications.

Zhou Yang smiled.

He didn't say anything more and silently took off his shirt.

His strong upper body was covered with dark red scars.

Some wounds are very deep, and you can even see the skin and flesh rolled back.

Qin Shuang took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom.

Pour out some green ointment.

Her fingers were cold.

With her fingertips moistened with ointment, she gently applied it to Zhou Yang's back.

The ointment felt cool and refreshing after being applied to the body.

Zhou Yang could feel that the restless meridians were slowly calming down.

"hiss."

When his finger pressed against a particularly deep wound, he couldn't help but gasp.

"Bear with it."

Qin Shuang's voice was soft, but powerful.

Her movements, however, were very gentle.

I was afraid of touching any other wounds.

The lighting inside the carriage was somewhat dim.

The ointment had a pleasant fragrance mixed with a faint smell of blood.

There is another kind, a cool fragrance that belongs to Qin Shuang.

Zhou Yang did not move.

He simply felt the soft hands on his back.

That hand that usually holds a knife and has tasted blood.

At this moment, however, it carries a strange tenderness.

"You saved me in the same way last time, at the post station in the capital."

Zhou Yang suddenly said.

"Just remember that."

Qin Shuang answered without looking up.

"You almost died that time."

"You almost died this time."

"So, we're even."

"It's not even."

Zhou Yang said.

"You came here of your own accord this time."

"……Shut up."

Qin Shuang pressed her fingers lightly on his lower back.

Zhou Yang winced in pain.

He didn't say anything more.

The carriage returned to silence.

The only sound was the application of ointment to the skin.

Slight, rustling.

I don't know how much time passed.

Qin Shuang finally finished treating all the wounds.

"alright."

She withdrew her hand and wiped her fingers with a cloth.

"Don't use force within three days, otherwise the wound will reopen, and I won't be able to save you again."

"understood."

Zhou Yang put his clothes back on.

He glanced back at Qin Shuang.

She was looking down, tidying up the small porcelain bottle.

The lines of her profile appeared exceptionally soft in the dim light.

Thanks.

Zhou Yang said.

He spoke those two words very stiffly.

Qin Shuang paused for a moment.

"I already said we have a business relationship. If you die, I won't be able to explain it to the company."

She didn't even look up.

But Zhou Yang noticed that the base of her ears seemed a little red.

He smiled.

I didn't expose her again.

He leaned back against the car wall.

He was toying with the milky-white jade slip in his hand.

Smooth and cool.

He has completely figured it out.

That "spectator" is controlling the game with the most ingenious means.

Give, then take away.

Make him angry, make him resentful, make him yearn for something beyond death.

Then give him a real "opportunity".

Light the fuse, then leisurely wait to watch the fireworks.

This is an investment.

An extremely risky investment targeting Zhou Yang.

And he had already boarded the ship.

I can't go down.

I don't want to go down either.

Since you want to watch a show.

Then I'll flip this table over.

Shall we start the game?

Ok.

He looked down at the jade slip, a cold smile curving his lips.

This time, the chess pieces won't obey.

The carriage slowly moved forward.

They returned empty-handed.

No.

He brought back something more important than the Dragon's Spine fragments.

That is a staircase leading to a higher place.

And an invitation to a more dangerous, and more exciting game.

The undercurrents, unseen by him, were already surging into a tidal wave.

Beyond the chess pieces

The carriage rolled over the stones on the official road.

The car bumped slightly.

Zhou Yang's back slammed against the car wall with a dull thud.

He didn't pay attention.

His fingers caressed the milky-white jade slip.

The jade slip had a very peculiar texture; it didn't resemble jade at all, but rather some kind of bone. It was cool to the touch, and that coolness traveled from the fingertips all the way into the crevices of the bones.

He closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into it.

There were no texts or diagrams of the exercises as expected.

Inside the jade slip was a chaotic, milky white.

It was like a thick, impenetrable fog.

Immediately afterwards, a line lit up in the fog.

A golden thread.

It is fine, yet incredibly solid.

It extends from nothingness and pierces into nothingness.

Zhou Yang's mind unconsciously followed that line.

In an instant, a mysterious feeling welled up inside me.

He seemed to detach from his body and float in mid-air.

He saw the carriage beneath his feet, the horses pulling it, and the road ahead.

Then, my gaze suddenly stretched out.

He saw the entire official road, the woods beside it, and the blurry outline of Anyang County in the distance.

Then comes an even wider world.

Mountains, rivers, towns... everything has become a huge, flat map.

That golden thread is on this map.

It is not static.

It extends, it turns, it folds space at an unbelievable angle.

Zhou Yang tried to understand its trajectory.

The more he investigated, the more a tearing pain swept through his mind.

He felt as if he were reading a book from another world, a book that didn't belong to this world at all.

Every symbol, every turn, contains rules he cannot comprehend.

"You want me to understand you?"

Zhou Yang sneered inwardly.

"That depends on whether you're worth the price."

He no longer hesitated.

With a thought, he began to burn his own lifespan.

Ten years is like a handful of dry firewood thrown into a raging fire, instantly turning to ashes.

The immense life force transformed into pure energy, surging into his consciousness.

The chaotic milky white was dispersed, and the trajectory of the golden thread instantly became clear.

It is no longer just a simple line.

The line branched into countless finer forks, like another, more intricate net covering the vast expanse of heaven and earth.

Each node corresponds to a spatial coordinate.

The trajectory of the gold line is the shortest path connecting these coordinates.

Spatial...transfer?

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

This is not a simple shrinking of space, but a true leap across space.

He saw a point. It was a mountain outside Anyang County. He could even "see" the crooked pine tree on the mountaintop.

Another point. A dyeing workshop in a small town a hundred miles away.

The gold thread connects these two points.

In theory, as long as he can grasp even a tiny bit of the trajectory, he can appear directly in the dyehouse from the mountaintop.

Ignore all obstacles in the way.

too strong.

This power has transcended the scope of martial arts.

This is clearly the work of a deity.

That "spectator" just casually gave him this thing?

No, that's not right.

Zhou Yang forced himself to calm down.

He looked again.

Although the gold lines are clear, the lifespan required to fully analyze and understand even one of the paths is astronomical.

His ten-year lifespan had only allowed him to glimpse the tip of the iceberg.

This jade slip is more like a catalog.

A catalog containing countless divine-level martial arts techniques...

To truly obtain something, you have to risk your life.

That guy was definitely up to no good.

This is keeping him hanging.

With this unattainable power, he was lured to continuously burn his life, to become stronger, and to create even more dazzling fireworks.

Zhou Yang opened his eyes.

Deep in his eyes, there was an uncontrollable fire.

That fire eventually turned into a chilling, poisoned flame.

"Okay, very good."

He put the jade slip into his bosom.

It was pressed tightly against my chest.

The icy touch kept him alert.

"You're awake."

Qin Shuang's voice was very soft.

She hadn't slept; she sat opposite him, holding a hot water bottle in her hands, her eyes fixed on the receding night view outside the window.

"Um."

Zhou Yang responded.

"What's inside the jade slip?"

Qin Shuang asked. She didn't look at him, but Zhou Yang knew that all her attention was on him.

"A problem."

Zhou Yang said.

"A bigger problem than the dragon spine fragments."

He didn't elaborate. Some things are better left unknown to most people.

"So, what's our plan next?"

Qin Shuang finally turned her head, her gaze landing on Zhou Yang's face. Her eyes were bright, like two cold stars in the dimly lit carriage.

"Return to the capital."

Zhou Yang's tone was completely calm.

"I'm not going back this time to become a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, nor to investigate any cases."

He paused for a moment, looking into Qin Shuang's eyes.

"Flip the table."

Qin Shuang raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Whose table?"

"All those who want to use us as pawns."

Zhou Yang said.

The "spectator" hiding in the shadows, the Heavenly Principle Sect, and even... certain unspeakable figures in the imperial court.

He's had enough.

From Fang Tian, ​​to Chen Qianhu, and now to the audience members.

He's always stuck in other people's scripts.

It's time to try something different.

Qin Shuang remained silent for a moment.

She didn't ask Zhou Yang what he had gone through, nor did she ask him why he had suddenly changed so much.

She just asked.

"What do I need to do?"

Zhou Yang looked at her.

This woman is always so direct, so... reassuring.

"Once you get back, you'll need to utilize all of the Qin family's connections."

Zhou Yang said, "Help me investigate three things."

"First, the true stronghold of the Heavenly Principle Sect in the capital is not those overt contact points, but their true core. I need to know who the high-ranking members above the sect leader are."

"Secondly, a list of all martial arts masters in the capital who have gone missing, died suddenly, or disappeared without a trace in the last ten years, especially those who have mastered some kind of special inheritance."

"Third, and most importantly."

Zhou Yang leaned forward slightly.

"Help me investigate whether anyone within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, or in any of the Six Ministries or higher of the Imperial Court, is dealing with anything from 'outside the heavens'."

"From beyond the heavens?"

Qin Shuang caught the word.

"Yes, from beyond the heavens."

Zhou Yang did not explain, "This range is very broad. It could be some strange books, some magical artifacts of unknown origin, or... it could be related to certain 'people'."

He didn't know the specific identity of the "spectator," but the person who could orchestrate such a grand scheme was no ordinary individual. Anyone who could connect with him was certainly not a common person.

Qin Shuang noted it down.

"Where are the supplies?"

She asked a very practical question: "Going back to the capital would be like plunging headlong into the center of a vortex. The manpower and resources in Anyang County are simply insufficient."

"I need you to help me buy some things."

Zhou Yang held up one finger. "First, a large amount of gunpowder, preferably in contact with the Shenji Battalion's standard-issue fire oil tanks, the more the better."

"Secondly, highly poisonous. Not the ordinary arsenic, but a specially made poison capable of killing even a master of the Innate Realm, the more types the better."

"Third, several new human skin masks, identity documents, and a fast ship that can go directly to the sea, docked at a hidden pier."

"This is……"

Qin Shuang looked at him. "Are you preparing an escape route?"

"No."

Zhou Yang shook his head, a cold smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I'm preparing an escape route for everyone. Either listen to me, or we'll all be left with nowhere to go."

Silence fell over the carriage once again.

Only the wheels rolled on, monotonously crushing through the night.

Qin Shuang looked at Zhou Yang.

The man in front of me still had the same eyebrows and eyes, but the feeling he gave off was completely different.

Before, he was like a sharp blade hidden in its sheath, sharp but restrained.

Now, he is like a knife that has been drawn from its sheath, carrying blood and coldness, pointing unabashedly at everyone's throat.

She suddenly felt a little unfamiliar.

And then I felt that this was his true self.

"it is good."

Qin Shuang spoke, breaking the silence.

"I'll go back to the capital with you."

"It's very dangerous."

Zhou Yang reminded her.

"From the day you decided to save me in the prison, we've been in the same boat."

Qin Shuang looked at him, her eyes calm and firm, "If you want to overturn the table, someone has to hand you the hammer."

She paused, then added.

"And I'm very curious."

"What are you curious about?"

"I'm curious about that bigger game you mentioned, just how fun it is."

Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment.

Then he smiled.

It was a genuine laugh from the heart.

"Then let's go all out."

……

at the same time.

The capital city, the Star-Gazing Pavilion.

The night wind howled atop the towering attic.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets stood with his hands behind his back, beside the armillary sphere.

He didn't look at the stars in the sky, but instead looked down at a huge sand table in the center of the pavilion.

The sand table simulates the mountains and rivers of the Great Yu Dynasty.

It was covered with countless flags representing different forces.

The black flag represents the Heavenly Principle Sect.

The yellow flag represents the imperial court.

There were also several flags with strange colors, representing some reclusive sects and families.

The old man's gaze fell on the black flag in the Jianghuai region.

That flag is slowly...fading.

"There are variables..."

He muttered to himself.

A disciple dressed in blue emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee.

"Master."

"Relay my orders."

The old man's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"Send out all the disciples from the 'Wind' and 'Forest' classes."

"Disciple is here."

"Keep a close eye on the Tianli Sect's incense halls and contact points in various places."

The old man stretched out his withered finger and gently tapped it on the sand table.

"Especially their headquarters."

"Every personnel transfer, resource flow, and correspondence with messengers in the capital must be kept completely clear."

"Furthermore, activate 'Star Gazing' to expand the surveillance targets to the highest levels of the entire capital city."

"Yes."

The disciple accepted the order and prepared to leave.

"etc."

The old man of heavenly secrets called him back again.

"Tell them that if they find a young man named Zhou Yang, they should not disturb him, but simply record all his movements and report back to me immediately."

"Zhou Yang? That Imperial Guard?"

The disciple was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, that's him."

The old man's eyes became somewhat profound.

"It seems this young man is going to completely muddy the waters."

"I need to see clearly what's hidden underwater."

"Yes."

The disciple in green robes vanished into the night with a flash.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets looked at the sand table again.

The black flag on the Jianghuai flag had become dull and lifeless.

Instead, there was a barely perceptible wisp of... purple aura.

Although faint, it carries a corrosive power that cannot be ignored.

"The audience..."

The old man laughed, a laugh tinged with sarcasm.

"Since the piece has jumped off the board by itself, it wants to be the player."

"Then I'd like to see how well you can play this game."

He picked up a white jade chess piece representing the "Star Gazing Pavilion" and gently placed it next to the yellow flag in the capital.

There is no overlay, only... coexistence.

The night grew deeper.

A storm is brewing.

【Downstream】

The river water was muddy and yellow.

The awning boat made a slit in the water, then quickly closed it again.

The spray from the waves cleaved by the bow carried the stench of river mud. This smell, unique to the Jianghuai region, filled the air. Zhou Yang sat at the bow, holding a bamboo pole, but not using it to propel the boat. He simply let one end of the pole dip into the water, feeling the slight vibrations from the current.

Go downstream.

Destination: Anyang County.

Behind him lay the mess left by Jianghuai. Behind him were the unseen eyes of the Heavenly Principle Sect. He was like a pebble blown by the wind, not knowing where he would land, but all he could do was roll forward.

The cabin curtain was lifted.

Qin Shuang came out. She had changed into an ordinary cloth dress, dark blue, which was very durable and resistant to dirt. Her hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin. Dressed like this, she looked like a housewife going to town to buy groceries.

However, the coldness on her face was impossible to hide.

"It's windy." Zhou Yang didn't turn around.

Qin Shuang walked to his side and stopped. She looked at the fields rushing past on both sides of the river, the bare branches of the trees like countless hands reaching towards the sky.

"How far are we from Anyang County?" she asked.

"It'll be soon," Zhou Yang said. "In another day by water, we'll be able to see the city walls of Anyang County."

After he finished speaking, he retracted the bamboo pole, water droplets dripping down it and hitting the boat deck with a soft "plop." He turned his head and looked at Qin Shuang.

There's something I need to tell you in advance.

Qin Shuang's eyes flickered, waiting for what was to come.

Zhou Yang pulled something out of his pocket. It wasn't a banknote, nor a medicine bottle. It was a jade slip. The jade slip was smooth and warm to the touch, yet it had no patterns, just like a piece of ordinary polished jade.

He handed it over.

"Take it."

Qin Shuang did not answer immediately. Her gaze fell on the jade slip, as if she were assessing a murder weapon.

"What is this?"

"A storage device," Zhou Yang said succinctly. "It's better than the Qiankun bag used by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It has more space, and... it's bound to your Qi and blood."

Qin Shuang then reached out, her fingertips touching the jade slip. A cool sensation traveled from her fingertips. She held the jade slip in her palm.

"Is it linked?"

"Yes." Zhou Yang nodded. "Drop a drop of your blood on it and touch it with your divine sense. A space will then open up inside. The size of this space depends on the strength of your blood and qi. The stronger you are, the larger it will be."

He paused, his tone becoming serious.

"But it has another characteristic. Once bound, your consciousness is connected to it. If your emotions fluctuate too much, or if you encounter mortal danger, it will generate corresponding fluctuations. For some people, it's like a lamp in the dark."

Qin Shuang immediately understood.

"Tenrikyo."

“That’s right,” Zhou Yang said. “They have special techniques to track fluctuations in spiritual energy. So, from the moment you use it, you must learn to control yourself. You must never let your emotions get out of control. Anger, fear, even… ecstasy, could all reveal your location.”

This is far heavier than a simple storage tool. It is a convenient package, but also a deadly shackle.

Qin Shuang looked at the jade slip in her hand and remained silent for a moment. She raised her eyes and looked at Zhou Yang.

"Why are you giving it to me?"

"Because you're my only sugar daddy right now." Zhou Yang's answer was bluntly cruel. "My life is temporarily tied to you. If you die, my business will fall apart. This thing can help you save some important things at crucial moments. For example... that batch of goods that were moved from Anyang County."

He didn't say that this was also a test. A test of whether Qin Shuang was worth his continued investment.

Qin Shuang tightened her grip on the jade slip. She didn't ask any more questions, but instead lowered her head, gently tracing a line on her fingertip with her nail, squeezing out a bead of blood. The blood landed on the jade slip, instantly seeping in and disappearing.

A faint light appeared on the surface of the jade slip, then disappeared.

"I understand," she said, her voice devoid of any emotion.

She did it. Even after hearing such important news, her heartbeat and her breathing remained steady.

Zhou Yang was somewhat surprised. This woman's temperament was even harder than he had imagined. That was good. On the perilous journey ahead, an emotional companion was more terrifying than an enemy.

"Remember, hide it well," Zhou Yang instructed. "Don't let anyone know."

Qin Shuang nodded and tucked the jade slip into her inner pocket. The movement was very quiet, without making a sound.

Just then, the boatman poked his head out from the stern, a hint of nervousness on his face.

"Sir, it seems there are soldiers checking people up ahead."

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang exchanged a glance and both stood up.

At the bend in the river ahead, an official boat stood blocking the way. A dozen or so men stood on the boat, dressed in black, close-fitting uniforms, but not the flying fish robes of the Imperial Guards. They were local soldiers from Anyang County.

They are inspecting the passing merchant ships and passenger ships one by one.

"People from the Heavenly Principle Sect?" Qin Shuang asked in a low voice.

"Doesn't seem like it." Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes. "The attire of a garrison soldier. But..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but he saw it. At the bow of the official boat stood a man. The man was dressed as a soldier, but at his waist hung a badge in the style of the Heavenly Principle Sect—an inconspicuous, flame-shaped bronze badge.

It is the people of the Heavenly Principle Sect who are using the government to set up checkpoints.

"How did their forces infiltrate so quickly?" Qin Shuang frowned. They had only been away from Jianghuai for a few days, and the influence of the Heavenly Principle Sect had already seeped into the outskirts of Anyang County like mercury.

"Not surprising," Zhou Yang said. "That's called leveraging external forces. They're good at that. If we go head-to-head, the two of us, plus the others on the boat, wouldn't stand a chance."

"So what do we do?"

Zhou Yang glanced at the boatman, then at the two other men helping to row. All three men looked flustered.

He suddenly laughed.

"Don't panic."

He said to the boatman.

The boatman looked at him, a young man in his early twenties, whose face showed no fear, but rather a bit...excitement?

"Shopkeeper, bring over all the boxes from our boat," Zhou Yang instructed.

There were already three large boxes on the ship, which were said to be silk imported from Jiangnan.

Although the boatman and his crew were puzzled, they quickly did as instructed and moved all the boxes onto the deck.

"Open all the boxes."

With a creak, the lid of the box was lifted. Inside, there was no dazzling silk. Only piles of herbs. There were dried angelica, astragalus, and some roots and stems whose names I didn't know. A strong herbal aroma immediately filled the air.

Qin Shuang was stunned. When were these changed?

"Sir, this is...?"

"Shut up." Zhou Yang hissed, then took out a yellowed piece of paper from his bundle and waved it in front of the boatman.

"See this? This is my family's ancestral prescription. It's a cure for men's unspeakable problems and women's deficiency of both qi and blood. The reason I went to Anyang County this time is to find a pharmacy to sell this prescription. These boxes of herbs are samples."

The boatman was dumbfounded.

Zhou Yang ignored him and instead winked at Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang was incredibly intelligent and immediately understood his plan.

He plays the role of a traveling quack selling fake medicine.

She didn't speak, but simply stood silently to the side, lowered her eyes, and made herself an inconspicuous background figure.

Zhou Yang cleared his throat, and when their boat was stopped by the soldiers and a leader-like man came over, he immediately put on a humble yet sly smile.

"Sir, you've worked hard!" He greeted him with a beaming smile. "I'm just a humble doctor, Zhou Langzhong, traveling around to earn a meager living."

The soldier leader frowned, glanced at the herbs on the deck, and then looked at Zhou Yang's glib tongue with impatience.

"What do you do?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I'm here to treat a patient!" Zhou Yang pointed to his box. "Take a look, Your Excellency. These medicinal herbs are all top-quality. Especially this..." He grabbed a handful of dark, fibrous roots, "'Black Diamond'! It's specially formulated to replenish kidney deficiency. Three times a night, it's not a dream!"

Qin Shuang listened from the side, her eye twitching involuntarily. She kept her head down, afraid that her expression would betray them.

The garrison commander's face darkened even more. Several of his men behind him couldn't help but want to laugh.

"Nonsense! Inspect!" the leader shouted.

Several soldiers were about to board the ship.

Zhou Yang stopped them, still wearing that same smile.

"Sir, don't worry, don't worry!" He took out a small silver ingot from his pocket and subtly slipped it into the leader's hand. "It's just a small business, a way to make a living. This is a little something from me to buy the brothers a drink."

With the silver in hand, the leader's expression softened slightly. He weighed it in his hand and let out a cold snort.

"Don't give me that. It's just routine."

"Yes, yes." Zhou Yang nodded and bowed. "But sir, I have a secret, and I don't know if I should tell you."

"speak."

Zhou Yang leaned close to his ear, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "Sir, to be honest, I didn't come to Anyang County this time just to sell medicine. I actually came... to find someone."

The leader narrowed his eyes.

Looking for someone?

"Yes," Zhou Yang said with a bitter expression. "I have a younger sister named Cuihua, who is incredibly beautiful. She was swindled by a wealthy man in Anyang before the New Year, who ran off with my prescription! I've traveled thousands of miles to find her! Sir, you have extensive connections in Anyang County; could you help me inquire about her? That wealthy man is called Wang Ermazi; he runs a pawnshop in the west of the city!"

This speech was crafted with great emotion and vivid detail, making it seem plausible.

Qin Shuang clenched her fists inside her sleeves. She used all her strength to stop herself from kicking Zhou Yang into the river.

The garrison commander was completely exasperated. He thought the man in front of him was a madman, a charlatan. A fake medicine seller, accompanied by such a taciturn woman, spouting such a lame story.

He waved his hand, as if shooing away flies.

"Alright, alright, get out of here! Don't get in my way!"

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" Zhou Yang thanked him profusely, as if he had received a great favor.

He turned around and shouted at the boatman, "Set sail! Set sail! Don't delay the official's business!"

The awning boat started again and slowly circled around the official boat.

Zhou Yang remained standing at the bow of the ship, waving goodbye to the officers and soldiers on the official vessel, his smile radiant.

He stopped smiling only after the boat rounded the bend and the official ship was no longer in sight.

He glanced back at Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang was also looking at him. Her gaze was complex. There was an urge to kill, but also a hint of... relaxation that she herself didn't even realize.

Zhou Yang chuckled.

"How was it? Was my acting worth a tael of silver?"

Qin Shuang took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She didn't say anything, but simply turned around and walked back to the cabin.

The cabin was dimly lit.

Qin Shuang took out a small waist token from her bosom. This was not a token of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but a token that was neither gold nor jade, with a simple character "cloud" engraved on it.

She walked to a corner of the cabin where there was an inconspicuous drain hole. She pulled out the plug, inserted the waist tag into it, and then plugged it back in.

The waist tag slipped silently into the murky river water through the drain hole.

This was a covert operation she had planted in Anyang County. A signal for emergency contact. Anyone who saw the badge would immediately use their connections to create a minor disturbance in the western part of Anyang County. For example, an "accidental" fire.

This would attract the attention of most of the soldiers guarding the city.

She was at the bow of the boat, seemingly motionless, but she had actually used her fingernail to carve a tiny "fire" character on the waist tag.

A diversionary tactic. Zhou Yang put on a show in the open. Meanwhile, she, in the shadows, played another game.

After doing all this, she finally sat down and leaned against the bulkhead. Only then did a wave of exhaustion wash over her.

……

at the same time.

The capital city, the Star-Gazing Pavilion.

The night sky was as black as ink, with few stars.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets sat cross-legged on a futon, before whom lay an ancient bronze mirror. The mirror was blurry, reflecting no human image, only the starry sky above.

A disciple walked in silently and knelt behind him.

"Master."

"Speak," the old man said, his eyes still closed, his voice echoing in the empty attic.

"There's something unusual happening outside the capital." The disciple handed over a bamboo scroll. "It's not someone from the sect, nor someone from the court. It's a... very strange fluctuation. It's like stars have deviated from their orbits, or like... someone has opened their eyes in the night sky."

The old man of heavenly secrets opened his eyes.

His gaze fell on the rolled-up bamboo slips. He didn't take them, but simply extended his finger and pointed at them from a distance.

The bamboo slip unfolded by itself, revealing a star map. At the center of the star map was the location of the capital city. Outside the capital city, a very faint purple ripple was slowly spreading.

The color of the ripples was exactly the same as the purple aura the old man had seen on the sand table.

"Outer Gods..." the old man murmured to himself, his voice devoid of emotion, "They really did come."

His finger traced a line in the air. The line started from the capital, traveled south, and finally pointed to... Anyang County.

"That pebble in the Jianghuai region is rolling pretty fast."

He withdrew his hand.

"Pass down the order: activate all the informants under the 'Yun' name. Keep an eye on Anyang County. I need to know what else has appeared there besides the Heavenly Principle Sect."

"Yes," the disciple replied, preparing to leave.

"Wait," the old man called out to him again.

The disciple stopped and bowed his head respectfully.

The old man looked at the ancient bronze mirror, in which starlight shimmered, as if it held countless secrets.

Tell Zhou Yang.

He paused, then said, word by word:

"The path he's on is just the beginning. If he wants to be the player, he must first learn how to survive when the board is overturned."

The disciple's heart skipped a beat. Master's words meant... to directly send a message to that person?

This has never happened before.

But he dared not ask any further questions and could only reply again, "Your disciple obeys."

After saying that, he disappeared from the pavilion like a wisp of smoke.

The old man of celestial secrets closed his eyes again. Deathly silence returned to the attic. Only the bronze mirror continued to reflect the eerie starry sky.

……

The covered boat continued to drift downstream.

As evening approached, the sky grew extremely overcast, as if it were about to rain. Fog rose over the river, creating a vast expanse of white, greatly reducing visibility.

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang both stood at the bow of the boat, looking ahead.

At the edge of the fog, a row of tall, blurry outlines could be vaguely seen.

Like a giant beast crouching on the horizon.

That is the city wall of Anyang County.

Arrived.

Zhou Yang gazed at the city, his eyes deep and thoughtful. He smelled the scent in the air. It was no longer the fishy smell of river mud, but a mixture of desire, power, and bloodshed.

He reached into his pocket and felt around. There was still a small bag of silver left.

His capital.

"Where should we go first after we enter the city?" Qin Shuang asked. Her voice was calm, as if there were no traps waiting for them in the city.

"Let's find a place to stay first," Zhou Yang said. "Then, we'll go see an old friend."

"An old friend?"

"Commander Chen." A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhou Yang's lips. "Isn't he trying to ruin me? Then let's... go to his house for a visit first."

Qin Shuang looked at him. This man, despite being a fugitive being hunted down, always possessed this crazy confidence to turn the tables.

She suddenly realized that the storm in Anyang County might not be as long as she had imagined.

Because some people are born to be the center of a storm.

The ship was getting closer and closer to that enormous city.