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

In the southern suburbs of the capital, there is an abandoned post station.

The courtyard wall, long neglected for years, was half-collapsed, and weeds grew to waist height. Only a few rotten logs remained in the stable, and the roof leaked. But precisely because of its dilapidated state, no one wanted to come to such a place.

Zhou Yang chose to settle down here.

"Settle down first." He tossed a few copper coins to the driver. "Go to the nearest town to buy some food and wine. And get a new travel permit."

The driver took the coins, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Sir, is this place... really safe to stay in?"

"It's habitable." Zhou Yang smiled. "The safest place is one where no one can live."

The coachman ran off. Qin Shuang stepped down from the carriage, looked around, and frowned: "You're letting me stay in a place like this?"

"It's temporary." Zhou Yang had already started walking around the courtyard. "We'll move once we figure out the defenses of the capital and find a suitable place to stay."

"how long?"

"Three days."

Qin Shuang stared at his retreating figure. This man was always like this, talking about deadlines while his eyes were already fixed on much further ahead. She suddenly felt a little superfluous—he had arranged everything from Anyang County to the capital.

"What are you planning?" she asked.

"Kill them." Zhou Yang said without turning his head. "Kill Commander Chen first."

Qin Shuang remained silent.

She was more familiar with the name Chen Qianhu than with Zhou Yang.

Her colleagues in Anyang County orchestrated a conspiracy against her, ultimately forcing her to leave the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Zhou Yang killed her brother, creating a blood feud.

"Now is not the time," Qin Shuang said.

"I know." Zhou Yang finally stopped and turned around. "So it's 'seizing every opportunity,' not 'killing anyone you see.'"

He pointed to the lights in the distance: "That's in the direction of the capital. There's a garrison twenty miles away. If Commander Chen can operate on the outskirts of the capital, he must have military power. If we rashly rush in, it's tantamount to suicide."

"So what do you want to do?"

"Wait for news," Zhou Yang said. "The people from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion should be arriving soon."

The intelligence network of Tianji Pavilion was established by Zhou Yang when he was in Anyang County.

At that time, he helped the Star Gazing Pavilion solve a small problem and received a jade token in return. The jade token could contact nearby spies and exchange intelligence.

This kind of transaction is beneficial to both parties.

Tianji Pavilion needs the dust of the martial world, and Zhou Yang needs the light within that dust.

As night fell, a young man dressed in a gray robe climbed over the wall. He looked to be in his early twenties, carrying an old umbrella, and was so ordinary that he would be easily lost in a crowd.

"Master Zhou," the young man cupped his hands in greeting, "the information you requested."

"explain."

"The Heavenly Principle Sect's presence around the capital has been confirmed in three locations," the young man said, handing over a piece of paper. "The manor in the northern suburbs, the dock in the east, and the mass grave in the south. All three locations show traces of formations, but their specific functions are unknown."

"What about the spectators?" Zhou Yang asked.

The young man paused for a moment: "The spectators? We're investigating too. But we don't have any concrete information yet. We only know that the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets has been reviewing the files of various counties in the north, as if he's looking for someone."

"Looking for me?" Zhou Yang laughed at himself.

"Maybe." The young man wasn't sure. "Anyway, things haven't been peaceful in the capital lately. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is looking for people, and so is the Heavenly Principle Sect. The theatergoers... I heard they've already entered the capital."

"Understood." Zhou Yang put away the note. "Thank you for your hard work."

The young man hesitated for a moment, then said, "Master Zhou, you must be careful. Commander Chen has been recruiting men lately; it seems he's plotting something."

"What are you planning?"

"I don't know. But it's a big commotion. He replaced all the guards in his mansion with trained martial artists. He also brought in twenty fine horses from outside."

Zhou Yang nodded: "Go ahead. Contact me if there's any new information."

The young man climbed over the wall and left. Qin Shuang came out of the house, carrying a bowl of water: "Of the three locations where the Heavenly Principle Sect has set up its operations, which one would you like to investigate first?"

"A mass grave," Zhou Yang said.

Why?

"Setting up an array in that kind of place is either to raise corpses or to hide something. The former requires corpses, and the latter requires corpses as cover. Either way, it will leave traces."

Qin Shuang understood.

Zhou Yang wasn't blindly looking for trouble. He was using the Heavenly Principles Sect's arrangements to verify his suspicions—who the spectators were and what they wanted to do.

"You're always like this." She handed her the bowl of water. "You never say anything, you just do it."

"You can't help even if I tell you." Zhou Yang took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

Qin Shuang glared at him, but there was no real anger in her eyes.

She's used to it.

The following evening, Zhou Yang set off for the mass grave.

There were only two people traveling with them: Qin Shuang and a guard skilled in stealth. They rode three horses, making their way through the darkness.

The mass burial ground was located twenty miles south of the capital, on a barren slope. The imperial court forbade burials here, but the common people had their own customs. When poor families died and couldn't afford to buy land, they would wrap the dead in straw mats and leave them here.

It's suffocating during the day, and nobody comes at night.

Zhou Yang stopped at the bottom of the slope and squinted to observe.

"There's a formation," he said.

"Where?" Qin Shuang asked.

"I can't tell." Zhou Yang shook his head. "The aura of the formation is very faint, hidden beneath the corpse energy. Unless you're specifically looking for it, you can't detect it at all."

"Then how did you know there was a formation?"

"I have a feeling," Zhou Yang pointed to his head, "that the earth's energy here has been disturbed. The stench of corpses isn't natural; it's been deliberately cultivated. Someone is using these corpses to practice evil arts, or... to raise something."

Qin Shuang's hair stood on end.

Although she was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and had seen many bloody scenes, this was the first time she had faced something so sinister.

"Should we leave?" she asked.

"Since we're already here," Zhou Yang smiled. "How will we know what Commander Chen and the Heavenly Principles Cult are up to if we don't take a good look?"

He dismounted and walked up the slope on foot.

The mass grave was littered with corpses, some rotten to the bone, others still covered in decaying flesh. Flies buzzed around, and a nauseating stench filled the air.

Qin Shuang and her guards followed. The guards drew their swords and looked around warily.

Zhou Yang stopped in front of a mound of earth.

There are clearly more people buried here than elsewhere. The soil is freshly turned, and you can feel that what's underneath isn't naturally decomposed remains.

"Here." He crouched down, picked up a stone, and drew a circle on the ground. "The core of the formation should be here. Dig it up and take a look."

"Digging?" The guard was dumbfounded. "There are... so many corpses."

"Are you scared?" Zhou Yang glanced at him.

The guard swallowed hard and shook his head.

"Then let's dig," Zhou Yang said. "Be careful not to damage the formation."

The three of them worked together and dug for half an hour.

Beneath the soil lay corpses wrapped in burlap. The bodies were well-preserved, showing no signs of decay, but their faces were ashen and their lips black, suggesting they had died of poisoning.

"Human sacrifice." Qin Shuang's expression changed. "This is a method used by the Heavenly Principle Sect."

"That's right." Zhou Yang pointed to the burlap on the corpses. "Each one has a talisman drawn on it. This is a 'corpse-nurturing array,' which uses living people as funerary sacrifices to extract their resentment and transform it into yin energy. The yin energy is then used to power the array above."

"What kind of formation should we supply?"

"I don't know." Zhou Yang stood up, dusting off his hands. "But for the Heavenly Principle Sect to go to such lengths to set up this array, it's definitely not a small matter. Notify the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and have them investigate. There should be other clues here."

The guard responded and went to contact the hidden agent.

Qin Shuang looked at the corpses, a chill running down her spine: "What exactly does the Heavenly Principle Sect want?"

"If we want to know, we have to keep investigating," Zhou Yang said. "Let's go check out the estate in the northern suburbs."

The villages in the northern suburbs are more lively than the mass graves.

Although it was in the middle of nowhere, there were guards at the entrance of the manor. There were more than twenty servants dressed in plain clothes, pretending to be farmers from the neighborhood, but in reality, each of them had bulging temples, clearly indicating that they were trained fighters.

Zhou Yang observed from the distant woods for an hour.

"There are experts here," he said.

"How did you know?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Those gatekeepers aren't standing in the right posture. Their left feet are slightly turned inward, which is a sign of practicing external martial arts. Anyone who can guard a place like this is definitely not an ordinary guard."

"and then?"

"Then... we need to find a way to sneak in." Zhou Yang thought for a moment, "Forced entry is definitely not an option. Let's first check the layout of the estate and find an opportunity to probe their sentries."

Over three days, Zhou Yang led Qin Shuang to explore all three locations.

The mass grave is a corpse-raising site, the village in the northern suburbs is an intelligence relay station, and the eastern dock is a cargo transshipment point. The three places seem independent, but they are actually connected by a hidden thread.

"Chen Qianhu is working for the Heavenly Principle Sect," Zhou Yang concluded.

Are you sure?

"His twenty fine horses were for transporting goods at the dock," Zhou Yang said. "I've already had the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion investigate where the goods came from and where they went. But what's certain is that Commander Chen has already boarded the Heavenly Principles Sect's ship."

Qin Shuang remained silent.

Commander Chen was an old acquaintance of hers who had once pursued her but held a grudge after being rejected. If he really joined the Heavenly Principles Sect, her next situation would be very dangerous.

"Are you scared?" Zhou Yang asked.

"I'm not afraid," Qin Shuang shook her head. "I just find it ironic. My former comrades-in-arms have now become enemies."

"There's nothing to be sarcastic about," Zhou Yang said calmly. "That's just how the world is. Today's friend is tomorrow's enemy. As long as the profit is right, anything can be sold."

"Will you sell them too?" Qin Shuang suddenly asked.

Zhou Yang glanced at her but did not answer.

He couldn't answer that question. Or rather, he didn't want to answer it.

On the morning of the fourth day, news came from Tianji Pavilion: the shipment at the dock was destined for the capital.

"The capital?" Zhou Yang frowned. "Does the Heavenly Principle Sect dare to cause trouble right under the emperor's nose?"

"It's said... it's what the theatergoers wanted," the young man said. "The Heavenly Principle Sect is looking for something and needs to use connections in the capital to get things done. Commander Chen is that connection."

"What is it?"

"I don't know. What the audience wants is always kept secret."

Zhou Yang fell into deep thought.

The audience, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the Heavenly Principles Sect, Commander Chen... these clues swirled in his mind, gradually piecing together a vague outline.

But it's still a little short.

He needs more information.

"Keep an eye on things," he told the young man. "Report any suspicious activity immediately."

The young man left. Qin Shuang came in from outside, holding a letter in her hand: "A message from Tianji Pavilion via carrier pigeon."

"Whose letter?"

"The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets," Qin Shuang said, "He wants to see you."

The letter contained only four words: Tomorrow at Shenshi (3-5 PM), at the dilapidated temple outside the city.

After reading the letter, Zhou Yang burned it immediately.

"Are you going?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Go," Zhou Yang said. "The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets has something I need."

"What is it?"

"News from the spectator." Zhou Yang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant outline of the capital city. "Since he took the initiative to contact me, it means he has already found out something. If we miss this opportunity, we may never have another chance."

Qin Shuang didn't say anything.

She knew that once Zhou Yang made up his mind, she couldn't stop him.

Moreover, she also wanted to find out who the spectators were and what the Heavenly Principle Sect was planning.

"Then I'll get ready," she said.

"Mm," Zhou Yang replied, his gaze never leaving the direction of the capital.

The storm had been brewing for a long time.

It's time to close the net.

[Piece Selection]

Nightfall permeated every corner of Anyang County.

In the willow grove west of the city, the cold wind whistled through the bare branches, making a mournful sound.

Zhou Yang squatted under an old willow tree, his fingers gently stroking the ground. The soil still carried the warmth of the day, mixed with the smell of decaying leaves.

"They're here," he said without looking up.

Qin Shuang leaned against another tree not far away, her Imperial Guard uniform gleaming dimly in the moonlight. Her hand remained pressed against the embroidered spring knife at her waist.

"several?"

"Three." Zhou Yang's fingernail pulled a piece of charcoal, about the size of half a fingernail, from the soil. "There's another one keeping watch outside the woods. They're all from the Heavenly Principle Sect."

Qin Shuang frowned: "How did you know?"

"The footprints are too heavy." Zhou Yang crumbly the charcoal between his fingertips. "Ordinary people walking at night will unconsciously lighten their steps. These are different; it's like they're in a hurry to get somewhere."

Faint footsteps approached from afar; it wasn't just one person.

Four dark figures slowly approached from the depths of the woods, their movements cautious yet practiced. The leader had a cloth bag hanging from his waist, which made a slight clinking sound as he moved.

Zhou Yang stood up and patted the dirt off his hands.

"Qin Shuang, you take two people and deal with the one on the outer perimeter. Leave the remaining three to me."

"You want to capture me alive?"

"Of course." Zhou Yang took out a jade slip from his pocket. "I need to know exactly what they're planning in Anyang County."

Qin Shuang nodded and made a gesture behind her.

Two imperial guards vanished silently into the night. Her fingers rested on the hilt of her sword, her eyes fixed on the four approaching figures.

Thirty steps.

Twenty steps.

Ten steps.

Right now.

Qin Shuang drew her sword abruptly, the blade tracing a gleaming silver arc in the air. She moved with lightning speed, instantly rushing towards the black-clad figure on the far right.

The man in black clearly hadn't expected an ambush. Just as he was about to draw his weapon, Qin Shuang's knife was already at his neck.

"Don't move." Her voice was as cold as iron.

The other three men in black reacted quickly, immediately spreading out to attack Zhou Yang. But Zhou Yang stood still, a slight smile even playing on his lips.

"A trivial skill."

He stretched out his right hand, fingers spread. An invisible barrier instantly unfolded in front of him.

The three men in black's attack struck the barrier as if it were a wall. They were sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

Zhou Yang walked slowly to the leader and squatted down.

"I ask, you answer." He picked up the man's cloth bag, which contained several stones engraved with runes. "What are these things for?"

The man in black gritted his teeth and remained silent, his eyes filled with fear.

Zhou Yang sighed. "It seems you don't want to tell me." He tapped the jade slip lightly with his fingers. "But it's alright, I can find out myself."

The jade slip began to heat up, emitting a faint red light.

The man in black looked at Zhou Yang in terror: "You...who are you?"

"Someone who doesn't want to be a pawn." Zhou Yang stood up. "Qin Shuang, take them back. Remember, don't kill them."

Qin Shuang, holding the prisoner, looked at Zhou Yang with a complicated expression: "What you just used wasn't internal energy."

"Hmm." Zhou Yang put the rune stones into his pocket. "These are other things."

Back in the safe house, Zhou Yang placed four rune stones on the table. Each stone was about the size of a palm and engraved with different symbols.

"This is the core of the formation." He traced the patterns on it with his finger. "The Heavenly Principle Sect has set up a small spirit-gathering formation in Anyang County."

Qin Shuang stood by the table: "What are they trying to do by gathering spiritual energy?"

"It's not spiritual energy." Zhou Yang picked up a stone and examined it closely. "It's yin energy. These runes aren't for cultivation; they're for sacrificial rituals."

The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on their faces.

"A sacrifice?" Qin Shuang's voice was filled with doubt. "A sacrifice for whom?"

"Something that shouldn't be worshipped." Zhou Yang's eyes shone brightly in the candlelight. "Those madmen of the Heavenly Principle Sect want to summon an external god."

He walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain. In the distance, the outline of Anyang County was faintly visible in the night.

"Qin Shuang, we need to turn the tables on them."

"How so?"

"Since they want to hold a ritual, we'll help them out," Zhou Yang said, turning around. "However, this ritual must be performed according to our rules."

Qin Shuang understood: "You're going to use this formation?"

"It's not just about using it." Zhou Yang walked to the table, picked up the jade slip again, and said, "I'm going to modify it. I'll turn a formation that attracts yin energy into bait that can attract the attention of that spectator."

His fingers swept quickly across the jade slip, and tiny rays of light shot out from it, weaving intricate patterns in the air.

"That spectator has been secretly observing us. If we make a commotion at the Heavenly Principle Sect's sacrificial ceremony..."

"He won't be able to resist watching," Qin Shuang replied.

"Yes." Zhou Yang laughed, "And the more carefully you look, the easier it is to slip up."

For the next three days, Zhou Yang locked himself in his room.

He kept revising the array diagram in the jade slip, sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes quickly carving. He studied the rune stones on the table over and over, examining each engraving carefully with a magnifying glass.

Qin Shuang was busy interrogating the prisoners.

The three members of the Heavenly Principle Sect were initially stubborn, but under Qin Shuang's methods, they eventually relented.

They admitted to being outer disciples of the Heavenly Principles Sect, responsible for maintaining the various smaller formations in Anyang County. The main formation was located in an abandoned temple outside the city, where sacrifices were held on the first and fifteenth of each month.

"Tomorrow is the fifteenth," Qin Shuang told Zhou Yang, relaying the interrogation results. "They're preparing a major sacrificial ceremony tomorrow night."

Zhou Yang raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.

"Perfect." He pushed the modified array diagram in front of Qin Shuang. "Look, I've changed the original spirit-gathering array into a resonance array. Once activated, it will generate special spatial fluctuations."

"What can be done with this kind of fluctuation?"

"There's nothing we can do." Zhou Yang stood up and stretched his shoulders. "But if someone were observing us from a distance using a similar method, this fluctuation would interfere with their observation."

He walked to the window and gazed in the direction of the capital city in the distance.

"It's like a flashlight in the dark. No one notices it normally, but if someone is looking this way with binoculars, they'll spot the light."

Qin Shuang looked at the array diagram on the table; the complex runes and lines dazzled her.

Are you sure you can do it?

"Of course," Zhou Yang said confidently, "but we need to replace those rune stones. Leave the real ones where they are, and put the fake ones into the core of the formation."

"How do I change it?"

"Simple." Zhou Yang laughed. "Don't we have prisoners?"

The next night, the moonlight was hazy.

The abandoned mountain god temple sits on a small hill outside the city, surrounded by weeds that are taller than a person.

Four figures quietly approached the temple; they were the three members of the Tianli Sect who had been arrested the night before. One of them was walking in front, carrying something wrapped in black cloth.

Behind them followed Qin Shuang and two Imperial Guards, all dressed in night clothes, their figures almost blending into the darkness.

"This is it," the lead follower said, pointing to the temple gate. "The main altar is in the inner hall."

Qin Shuang made a gesture, and the two Imperial Guards immediately dispersed to guard the surroundings.

"Go inside," she said to the three believers.

The interior of the temple appeared even more dilapidated than the exterior, covered in cobwebs and dust. In the center of the main hall, a circular array about three zhang in diameter had been drawn, upon which various ritual implements were placed.

"Place the stones in the four directions." Zhou Yang's voice came to Qin Shuang's ears. He was on a tree a mile away, giving instructions through a specially made communication jade slip.

Following instructions, the followers placed the four rune stones at the four corners of the formation, respectively.

Qin Shuang stood at the door, cautiously observing her surroundings.

Everything is going smooth.

Just then, a strange wind suddenly blew from deep within the temple, carrying a sweet and pungent smell.

"No, that's not right." Qin Shuang immediately drew her sword.

The array in the center of the hall suddenly lit up, not the expected blue and white, but a strange purple.

"Retreat quickly!" Zhou Yang's voice became urgent.

But it was too late.

The four rune stones emitted a blinding light simultaneously, and purple energy surged from the ground, instantly enveloping the entire hall.

The three cult members screamed and fell to the ground, their bodies visibly shriveling up.

Qin Shuang immediately held her breath and retreated rapidly.

The purple aura seemed to have a life of its own, spreading along the ground and instantly withering even the weeds in its wake.

"Zhou Yang!" she called out to the communication jade slip.

"Don't panic!" Zhou Yang's voice remained relatively calm. "This isn't a sacrificial array, it's a ritual sacrifice array! They knew from the beginning they would be captured!"

Qin Shuang felt a chill in her heart.

If this is a sacrifice array, then what is the goal of the sacrifice?

She watched as the three cultists turned into dried corpses, the purple aura growing thicker and thicker, gradually condensing into a blurry human shape in the air.

"Qin Shuang, get out of there immediately!" Zhou Yang's voice turned serious. "That formation is summoning something!"

Without hesitation, Qin Shuang turned and ran.

Just as I ran out of the temple gate, a loud explosion came from behind me. The entire hall exploded, sending bricks, stones, and wood chips flying everywhere.

Purple mist shot into the sky, forming a huge vortex in the night sky.

Zhou Yang watched this scene from the tree, his expression grave.

The jade slip in his hand suddenly vibrated violently, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

"They've arrived."

He looked down at the jade slip, its light flickering and displaying strong energy fluctuations.

It didn't come from the temple, but from the direction of the capital.

"The spectators couldn't resist any longer," Zhou Yang said with a smirk. "He added an observation point over the capital."

The jade slip vibrated more and more intensely, as if it were being interfered with by something.

Zhou Yang quickly scribbled a few lines on the jade slip to adjust the receiving frequency.

Soon, regular pulse sounds emanated from the jade slip.

"This is... a space monitoring signal." He listened carefully to the intervals and frequency of the pulses. "The frequency is very high; the equipment should be near the imperial city."

A bell tolled from the direction of Anyang County in the distance; it was the watchman announcing the time.

The third quarter of Hai hour.

Zhou Yang put away the jade slip and jumped down from the tree.

Qin Shuang arrived with two Imperial Guards, her face still covered in dust.

"Are you alright?" Zhou Yang asked.

"It's nothing," Qin Shuang said, panting. "What was that?"

"A trap set by the Heavenly Principle Sect." Zhou Yang looked at the temple, now reduced to ruins. "They sacrificed three people to create a massive energy surge, drawing the attention of the spectators."

Why do this?

"A test." Zhou Yang took out another jade slip. "They're testing the reaction speed and observation methods of the spectators. Now we know that the spectators have set up at least two observation points in the capital."

Qin Shuang wiped the dust off her face: "What about our previous plan?"

"As usual." Zhou Yang carefully put away the jade slip. "It's actually better this way. Now that the spectators have revealed their observation point, we can deploy a targeted counterattack."

He looked toward the capital, his eyes resolute.

"The game has begun."

"What's the next step?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Let's go find Commander Chen." Zhou Yang turned and walked down the mountain. "Since he likes cooperating with the Heavenly Principle Sect, let's give him a big gift."

The night wind blew across the hills, carrying the acrid smell of the temple explosion.

Zhou Yang's steps were steady, not at all like someone who had just experienced an explosion.

Qin Shuang followed behind him, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Are you sure you want to go find Commander Chen? He's definitely on high alert now."

"We need to go when he's most on guard," Zhou Yang laughed. "The more tense the situation, the easier it is to make mistakes."

When they reached the foot of the mountain, four horses were already waiting there.

It was arranged in advance by Qin Shuang.

He mounted his horse and charged towards Anyang County.

Under the moonlight, four dark figures moved swiftly along the official road, like ghosts in the night.

The guards on the city wall spotted them and immediately raised their torches.

"Who goes there!"

Zhou Yang didn't slow down; he simply pulled out a token from his pocket and threw it over.

The guard caught the token, and when the torchlight shone on it, his expression changed drastically.

It is a token of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

And it's not an ordinary token.

The city gate opened quickly, and the four rushed in.

The streets were deserted, with only the distant sound of the night watchman's clapper echoing through the air.

"Commander Chen's residence is in the east of the city," Qin Shuang caught up with Zhou Yang. "Going there now would be too conspicuous."

"We need to stand out," Zhou Yang said, reining in his horse. "We'll swagger in through the main gate."

Qin Shuang stared at him in shock: "Are you crazy?"

"Sometimes, the craziest method is the safest." Zhou Yang turned his horse around. "Commander Chen doesn't expect us to dare go to his house at this time. He probably thinks we'll find a place to hide first."

East City, Chen Mansion.

A tall wall surrounded the gate, and two servants with swords stood at the entrance. The light from the lanterns illuminated the character "Chen" on the gate.

Zhou Yang immediately dismounted and strode towards the gate of the mansion.

"Halt!" A servant stepped forward to block their way. "This is Commander Chen's residence; unauthorized personnel are not permitted!"

Zhou Yang didn't say anything, but directly took out another token from his pocket.

It wasn't a token from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

It was a black iron plaque with a simple character "理" (li, meaning reason) engraved on it.

The servants turned deathly pale upon seeing the iron plaque.

"Heavenly... Heavenly Principle Sect..."

Zhou Yang put away the iron plate and kicked open the door.

"Tell Commander Chen that the person he needs to see has arrived."

The mansion immediately descended into chaos, with servants and guards everywhere.

But no one dared to step forward to stop them; they had all seen the black iron sign.

Passing through the front yard and around the screen wall, the main hall is brightly lit.

Chen Qianhu sat in the main seat, his face grim as he looked at Zhou Yang who walked in.

"Zhou Yang, you dare to come here again?"

"Why wouldn't you dare?" Zhou Yang walked over and sat down opposite him. "But you, when did you get involved with the Heavenly Principle Sect?"

Chen Qianhu clenched his fists under the table.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?" Zhou Yang took out the four rune stones from his pocket and threw them on the table. "Then how do you explain these things?"

The stone landed on the table with a crisp sound.

Chen Qianhu's eyes flickered.

"Just a coincidence."

"A coincidence?" Zhou Yang laughed. "Then the sacrificial array in the temple is also a coincidence?"

Commander Chen suddenly stood up: "You sent men to the temple?"

"Not only that." Zhou Yang leaned back in his chair. "I also know that the Heavenly Principle Sect has set up seven small-scale formations in Anyang County, all within your jurisdiction."

He paused, then looked into Commander Chen's eyes.

"You're doing things for them."

Commander Chen remained silent.

The atmosphere inside the hall became oppressive, and even the candlelight seemed to have stopped flickering.

"Zhou Yang, you're too naive." After a long silence, Commander Chen finally spoke. "Do you think you can fight against the Heavenly Principle Sect all by yourself?"

"I am not alone." Zhou Yang looked towards the door, where Qin Shuang was leading two Imperial Guards in.

Commander Chen's expression turned even uglier.

"Qin Shuang, are you going to go against this madman too?"

"I'm not going against him," Qin Shuang said, walking up to Zhou Yang. "I'm just doing my job."

"What official business?"

"Investigate the activities of the Heavenly Principle Sect in Anyang County." Qin Shuang produced an official document. "This is an order directly issued by the Northern Garrison Command."

Commander Chen trembled slightly as he looked at the seal on the official document.

"you..."

"So, Commander Chen," Zhou Yang stood up, "you now have two choices."

He held up two fingers.

"First, continue cooperating with the Heavenly Principle Sect. But you should know the consequences: colluding with a cult is a crime punishable by death ten times over."

"Second, cooperate with us. Tell us all of the Heavenly Principle Sect's plans in Anyang County, including their true purpose."

Chen Qianhu sat back in his chair, his forehead covered in sweat.

"What if I cooperate?"

"You can live," Zhou Yang said calmly, "and you can continue to be your commander."

"The Heavenly Principle Sect will not let me go."

"With us here, they can't touch you." Zhou Yang looked at Qin Shuang. "Right?"

Qin Shuang nodded: "The Northern Garrison Command can provide you with protection."

Commander Chen fell into a long silence.

The candlelight flickered, casting ever-changing shadows on his face.

Zhou Yang did not urge him; he knew that Commander Chen would make the right choice.

After all, Commander Chen was a smart man.

Smart people know when to take sides and when to abandon their pawns.

"Alright." Commander Chen finally spoke. "I'll cooperate."

Zhou Yang smiled.

"Very good. Now, tell us exactly what the Heavenly Principle Sect wants to do."

Commander Chen took a deep breath: "They're looking for something."

"What is that?"

"A fragment of the dragon's spine," Commander Chen said in a low voice, "is said to be somewhere in Anyang County."

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang exchanged a glance.

Dragon spine fragment?

This was the first time they had heard of this name.

"What is a fragment of the dragon's spine?" Qin Shuang asked.

"I don't know either," Commander Chen shook his head. "I only know it's a fragment of some kind of divine weapon, and the Heavenly Principle Sect has been searching for it for a long time."

"A divine weapon?"

"Yes." Commander Chen leaned forward. "It's not an ordinary weapon, it's... something left behind by an Outer God."

Zhou Yang frowned.

Outer Gods?

Another Outer God.

It seems that the goal of the Heavenly Principle Sect is not just simple rituals; they are plotting something bigger.

"Where are the fragments?" Zhou Yang asked.

"I don't know," Commander Chen shook his head. "The Heavenly Principle Sect is also searching. They suspect it's in a cave outside the city, but the exact location is uncertain."

Zhou Yang took out the jade slip from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Can you recognize this?

The jade slip shimmered with a faint light, displaying a complex array diagram.

Commander Chen examined it closely: "This is... an observation array?"

"You know this?"

"I've seen it in the scriptures of the Heavenly Principle Sect." Commander Chen pointed to a symbol on the jade slip. "This symbol represents 'the observer,' which is the Heavenly Principle Sect's name for a certain being."

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

It seems that Commander Chen knows more than he thought.

"Who is this observer?"

"I don't know." Commander Chen shook his head. "The ancient texts only say that he is an entity that is always observing the human world; the Heavenly Principle Sect calls him the 'Spectator of the Play.'"

Spectators.

really.

"What do they want to do with the observation array?"

"Find the location of the audience," Chen Qianhu said. "If we can locate the audience, we can harness their power."

Zhou Yang understood.

The Tianli Sect wanted to use the power of the theatergoers to find the fragments of the dragon's spine.

The audience also seemed interested in the dragon spine fragments.

All three forces are searching for the same thing.

"Commander Chen, you've done a great job." Zhou Yang put away the jade slip. "Continue to cooperate with us, and you will get what you want."

"What do I want?" Commander Chen laughed self-deprecatingly. "Right now, I just want to live."

"Then let's cooperate to the end." Zhou Yang stood up. "Tomorrow, take us to the Heavenly Principle Sect's stronghold in Anyang County."

Commander Chen hesitated for a moment: "That place..."

"What?"

"It's very dangerous." Commander Chen's voice was filled with fear. "The stronghold is full of core members of the Heavenly Principle Sect, and each of them is quite powerful."

"So we need you to lead the way," Zhou Yang said firmly, "as a sign of our sincerity in cooperating."

Chen Qianhu looked at Zhou Yang for a long time before finally nodding.

"I'll come find you first thing tomorrow morning."

It was already very late when we left the Chen residence.

The sound of the night watchman's clapper was particularly clear on the street.

"A fragment of a dragon's spine." Qin Shuang walked beside Zhou Yang. "Have you heard of it?"

"No," Zhou Yang shook his head, "but it doesn't sound like anything good."

"Both the Tenrikyo sect and the Outer Gods are interested in it..."

"Then we should find out even more." Zhou Yang looked at the distant night sky. "But right now, we have more important things to do."

"What?"

"Set up the real game." Zhou Yang took out the jade slip that had been vibrating. "The spectators have taken the bait; now it's our turn to play our cards."

The light on the jade slip was brighter than before, and the spatial fluctuations it displayed were more regular.

The observation point over Beijing is still operational, and it appears that monitoring efforts have been intensified.

"He discovered we were investigating the Dragon Spine fragments," Qin Shuang said.

"That's right." Zhou Yang smiled. "That's exactly what we want."

He stopped and turned to look in the direction of the Chen residence.

"Commander Chen chose to cooperate not because he was afraid of us, but because he was also searching for the Dragon Spine fragments."

How did you know?

"Intuition." Zhou Yang continued walking forward. "A smart person won't easily take sides unless they want something from both."

Back in the safe house, Zhou Yang immediately began inscribing a new array on the jade slip.

This is not a simple resonance array, but a more complex anti-monitoring array.

"What are you doing?" Qin Shuang asked curiously.

"Prepare a grand gift for the audience." Zhou Yang's fingers moved rapidly, and intricate patterns appeared on the jade slip. "Since he enjoys watching plays, let's give him a good one."

The array diagram became increasingly complex, and the light emitted by the jade slip grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, Zhou Yang inscribed a special symbol at the center of the formation.

"This symbol..."

"It's a 'mirror.'" Zhou Yang put away the jade slip. "The spectators are monitoring us, and this formation will reflect their monitoring signals back."

"Bounce back?"

"Yes." Zhou Yang's eyes gleamed in the candlelight. "Let him see what he looks like."

Qin Shuang said thoughtfully, "You're provoking him."

"It's not provocation, it's an invitation." Zhou Yang walked to the window. "An invitation for him to come down and participate in this game himself."

He pushed open the window, and a cold wind rushed in.

"The pieces are in place, and the board is ready. Now, let's see if the spectator dares to make a move."

A faint purple light flashed across the night sky and then disappeared.

A smile appeared on Zhou Yang's lips.

"It seems he accepted the invitation."

The wind outside the window seemed to have picked up, making the candlelight inside the room flicker precariously.

But this time, Zhou Yang didn't close the window.

He stood by the window, letting the cold wind blow on his face.

A storm is coming.

And he had been waiting for a long time.

Shadow of the Undercurrent

The night felt more real than the day. A wisp of purple mist lingered on the horizon, like the hem of a garment being dragged by the wind. Zhou Yang lay in the dark room, his gaze fixed on a crack in the roof beam, where a dark shadow moved slowly. He wasn't asleep; he was waiting for a signal.

A strange image suddenly flashed through his mind: a deep blue sky, the starlight dim, only tiny fireballs streaking across the night. As they fell, they didn't burn, but instead clung to the air, leaving ripples of light like water. Information sprouted in a semi-dreamlike state; the voice wasn't loud, but it was as clear as a whisper in his ear. Celestial observation and the connection with the Outer Gods were being upgraded. There were no names in the signal, only runes swirling in Zhou Yang's mind. He understood: this wasn't a warning to ordinary people; it was a protocol. He had to be faster.

He sat up in bed, gripping the edge tightly, his hands barely giving him a chance to breathe. This semi-dreamy guidance indicated that the newcomer sent by the spectators was testing the waters, and he couldn't afford to be slow. Qin Shuang, behind the curtain, heard his breathing. She didn't ask, but simply came out and changed into casual clothes. On Zhou Yang's side, figures had already risen.

"The runes they just delivered were cut from the edge of the altar," a follower whispered, holding a roll of cloth that gleamed like ice. Qin Shuang took it; the runes on the cloth looked like raindrops, with crimson edges.

"The altar?" Zhou Yang asked, meeting Qin Shuang's gaze with a cold glint in his eyes. "Where is it?"

"It's west of Dongfeng Town." The attendant nodded. "It suddenly appeared last night. The old villagers around said the ground was quietly rotating. Some people heard a bell ringing, but as soon as they opened their mouths, their voices were swallowed by the wind."

Qin Shuang walked to the door and lifted the curtain a crack. A breeze blew in, carrying the smell of earth and damp metal. She didn't speak, but simply turned her gaze to Zhou Yang, indicating that they could leave.

They exited through a secret passage. The night south of the capital still lingered slowly, but suddenly someone raised a lamp at a street corner, its light seemingly obscured by a hand. Somewhere outside, the black flag still hung, but now purple threads flowed through it. Those threads, carried by the wind, seemed to be testing their steps.

The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets was already waiting under the skylight. There was only an oil lamp in the room. He sat at a wooden table, a translucent black jade in his hand. Hearing them approach, the old man nodded slightly, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes.

"The Outer God Altar?" He didn't look up. "The information I have isn't very clear yet. I told you to avoid it because there's a suction force there, and the atmosphere outside is abnormal." He paused. "Go and gather more runes and give me enough fragments so I can analyze them."

"We already have them." Qin Shuang handed over the roll of cloth. "These three runes were knocked off the edge of the altar, and the evil energy is still growing."

The old man took it, raised his palm, and the runes seemed to be drawn to the black jade, attaching themselves to it. His expression was focused, his gaze and fingers absorbed into the almost transparent patterns of light. After a few seconds, he looked up and said, "The master of this altar is an outer god who controls the flow of time. His formation doesn't just twist speed; it twists the timelines together like a rope. If you go in, it'll be like falling into a whirlpool; your bodies will be stretched, your actions won't keep up with your thoughts, and you might even reach several points before you can't get back."

Zhou Yang listened quietly, his brows slightly raised. His body was already calculating – if he were in that kind of situation, he would have to be the first to notice.

"A faster pace of action." The old man withdrew the runes. "You must compress your bodies into the simplest movements. Don't let your thoughts be distorted to that extent. This Outer God doesn't know if they've set a trap to lure in the spectators." He looked out the window again. "Speed. Slowness will kill you."

Qin Shuang nodded. "There are some fragments next to the altar. We need to collect them, piece them together, and then have you analyze them."

"Take a few talisman refiners with you," the old man said. "Be quick. You're not going to attack his formation, but to dismantle its edges into pieces so he can rebuild it himself."

Zhou Yang walked to the window, gazing at the distant clouds. The wind wasn't as fierce as before, unlike his previous perception. Purple light slid down from the black flag, flicking like a snake's tail. He opened a piece of paper in his pocket; on it was drawn the symbol of the black jade's transformation. He tore the paper in half, throwing one half to the ground. The fragment wasn't because of the information, but because he didn't want to get himself involved.

"I'm going to the altar," he said to Qin Shuang. "You take some men back to the back alley of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. We need someone to guard the capital so that the spectators can't truly control the timeline. Right now, I'm their pawn, but I can cut the strings first."

Qin Shuang looked at him. She knew he was on a roll and couldn't afford to miss it. She only said one sentence: "Bring a set of talismans," then turned and went downstairs. The stairs creaked. She didn't like that sound.

Outside, several attendants had already mounted their horses, ready to depart. Zhou Yang waved his hand, and as if in response, the purple light at the edges of the gust of wind cracked open in several places. He didn't turn back, but followed the horsemen away.

Qin Shuang wouldn't go far. The old man Tianji stepped forward, leaning on his cane, and said, "If you intend for him to run fast, I'll have to make you run fast too."

She squinted. "I understand."

The wind continued to blow through the night. Everyone felt that the purple light on the horizon wasn't just a few streaks of light, but rather the entire sky was bathed in it. She reached out and closed the window; the teapot was still warm. The tea wasn't cold, as if it had just been taken off the stove.

The old man placed the newly pieced-together runes on the table. The runes made a sound, like fine rain hitting a stone slab. The old man silently rose and pressed a millstone onto the runes. The millstone's teeth, following the rhythm of the outer god, crushed them into fragments.

In the distance, the altar lights flickered on. Purple light rippled across the black flag, and a figure descended, but that figure moved faster than the wind. Qin Shuang looked out the window, saying nothing more. Silence reigned in the room.

"The Outer God is watching," the old man said from the side. "The signs of the spectators coming are even more obvious. Don't let him see that you've given up."

Chapter 473 [More Than Just Chess] (Awakening Closed Loop - Burst Phase)

Dark as ink.

Thirty miles outside the capital, in an abandoned post station, candlelight flickered.

Zhou Yang sat cross-legged on the ground, with three jade slips in front of him. Each slip emitted a faint blue light and was engraved with fine patterns.

Qin Shuang stood in the doorway, her hand resting on the hilt of her knife. A gust of wind slipped in through the crack in the door, causing the hem of her dress to sway slightly.

"They're here," she said softly.

Zhou Yang didn't look up, his fingers slowly tracing the jade slip. The patterns seemed to come alive, flowing beneath his fingertips.

In the distance, a rustling sound came from the woods. It wasn't the sound of wind blowing through the leaves, but footsteps. Very light, very dense, like a group of cats walking in the night.

The old man of divination emerged from the inner room, holding a compass in his hand. The compass needle spun wildly, emitting a faint hum.

"The formation has been activated," the old man said calmly. "They want to trap us here."

Zhou Yang finally raised his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Trapped? Their chessboard is too small."

He stood up and placed a jade slip on his forehead. A brilliant blue light erupted, instantly enveloping his entire body. Qin Shuang instinctively took a half step back; there was an indescribable sense of oppression within the light.

"Protect me." Zhou Yang's voice was somewhat ethereal, as if it came from a very distant place.

Qin Shuang didn't ask why, and simply drew her knife. The blade gleamed coldly in the candlelight.

The footsteps outside grew closer. In the darkness, some blurry figures appeared. They were dressed in black, their faces covered with cloth, only their eyes visible. Those eyes held no emotion, like lifeless objects.

The old man of Heavenly Secrets looked at the figures, his expression changing: "Something's not right. They're not members of the Heavenly Principle Sect."

"I know." Zhou Yang's voice carried a hint of coldness. "They are pawns of the spectators."

He closed his eyes, and the jade slip on his forehead emitted an even brighter light. The surrounding air began to distort, like a road surface scorched by the summer sun.

"Space..." the old man's eyes widened. "You really can do it?"

Zhou Yang did not answer. His body began to become transparent, then split into three identical shadows. Each shadow stood in a different position, forming a triangle.

The figures outside stopped in their tracks. They seemed to be trying to figure out which one was the real Zhou Yang.

"Now!" Qin Shuang shouted, brandishing her sword and charging forward.

The blade flashed like snow, aimed directly at the nearest man in black. The figure did not dodge, allowing the blade to strike his body. The blade sliced ​​through his flesh, but no blood flowed; only a wisp of purple smoke emerged.

Qin Shuang frowned and swung her sword three times in quick succession, cutting the figure into several pieces. But the severed bodies continued to move, like puppets controlled by invisible strings.

Zhou Yang's three clones moved simultaneously.

The left clone raised its hand, palm facing the sky. The right clone pressed its palm to the ground. The middle clone clasped its hands together.

Three beams of azure light shot out from their bodies, converging in the air to form a complex rune.

"boom!"

The ground shook violently. It wasn't an ordinary tremor, but a deeper, more profound tremor. Space itself was shaking.

The men in black outside staggered backward. Their bodies began to become unstable, and blurry cracks appeared at their edges.

"You've disrupted the formation," the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets said with delight. "You've forcefully torn a gap in their aura."

Zhou Yang's main body suddenly appeared in the center of his three clones. A golden light flashed in his eyes, a sign of burning through his lifespan.

"Not enough," he said softly.

A second jade slip appeared in his hand. This time, he didn't stick it to his forehead, but crushed it directly.

The fragments of the jade slip transformed into countless points of light, merging into the meridians within his body. His aura surged instantly, dispersing the purple mist in the air and forming an invisible domain.

"What is this?" Qin Shuang stared in shock at the scene.

"Spatial restriction." Zhou Yang's voice was cold. "Turn this place into my chessboard."

He took a step forward, and his figure suddenly vanished. The next moment, he appeared behind a man in black, his finger pointing at the man's back.

There was no sound, and no light effects.

The man in black simply vanished, like a drop of water evaporating into the air.

Zhou Yang disappeared and reappeared again. Each time he appeared, a man in black disappeared as well. His movements were so fast that they were impossible for the eye to follow.

The remaining men in black began to retreat. Their movements became chaotic, as if they had lost control.

"Trying to leave?" Zhou Yang's voice echoed in the night air. "My game isn't over yet."

He formed a hand seal, and a third jade slip appeared above his head. The jade slip spun rapidly, emitting a strong vibration.

"Space locked!"

Centered on the post station, the space within a hundred feet suddenly froze. The wind stopped, the sound disappeared, and even the movement of air ceased.

The men in black froze in place, as if a pause button had been pressed. One of them tried to struggle, but his body slowly tore apart in the distorted space, finally dissipating into purple smoke.

"Excellent technique," exclaimed the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets. "This transcends the level that martial arts can achieve."

Zhou Yang ignored the old man's praise. He walked up to a man in black who was still standing and reached out to remove the man's mask.

Under the face mask, there was no human face.

It was a smooth skin, devoid of any facial features, except for a thin crack running down its center. Within the crack, purple light flowed slowly.

"Servants of the Outer Gods," Zhou Yang said softly. "The spectators are starting to get serious."

He pointed his finger at the crack. The servant's body trembled violently, emitting a silent howl. Purple light surged from the crack, but it seemed to be blocked by something, unable to spread.

"Tell me everything you know." Zhou Yang's voice carried an irresistible force.

The servant's body began to twist and deform, something wriggling beneath its skin. Finally, its chest split open, revealing a beating purple heart inside.

Inside the heart, many tiny runes were rotating.

Zhou Yang stretched out his hand, and the heart automatically flew into his palm. The heart was still beating, but the runes on it were slowly disappearing.

"There's too little information," he frowned. "The spectators are very well hidden."

The moment he released the spatial barrier, the remaining servants simultaneously vanished into purple smoke. A sulfurous smell filled the air, like the lingering scent after a thunderstorm.

Qin Shuang walked to his side, looking at the remaining purple marks on the ground: "What is this?"

"Traces of their existence." Zhou Yang crouched down, touched a bit of the mark with his finger, and smelled it. "A type of spatial coordinate. Old man, can you analyze its origin?"

The old man with the secrets of heaven walked over, took out a small bottle, and carefully collected some purple marks. He observed them closely, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

"This thing is dangerous," the old man said. "It not only records their origins, but also carries the gaze of Outer Gods. By doing this, you are inviting that being to watch you."

"I want him to keep an eye on things." Zhou Yang stood up, dusting off his hands. "A spectator hiding in the shadows is always unsettling."

He turned to look in the direction of the capital. The moon was bright in the night sky, but some areas were particularly dark, as if they were obscured by something.

"They think I'm a pawn," Zhou Yang said calmly. "Then let them see that a pawn can overturn the chessboard."

Qin Shuang looked at him, the moonlight outlining his profile. This man always seemed to do crazy things, but he always managed to escape unscathed. She didn't know where this confidence came from, but she felt reassured.

"Where to next?" she asked.

"Let's go see old friends." Zhou Yang smiled. "Commander Chen must miss us a lot. But before that..."

He took out a cloth bag from his bosom, opened it, and inside were several fragments of jade slips. These were the remaining parts of the jade slip he had just crushed.

"Give this to the old man." He handed the fragments to Qin Shuang. "He might be able to use them."

The old man of heavenly secrets took the fragment, his eyes lighting up: "This is a core fragment of a spatial array! With this, I can deduce even more."

"Then I'll have to trouble you," Zhou Yang said. "We need to take care of some things before dawn."

He walked to the doorway and looked at the outline of the capital city in the distance. The torches on the city walls stretched out in a continuous line, like a fiery dragon.

"The onlookers thought he was playing a grand game," Zhou Yang said softly. "Unfortunately, he chose the wrong opponent."

The wind began to blow again, carrying the chill of the night. But this time, there was something different in the wind. The ripples in space continued, spreading slowly like ripples on the surface of water.

Qin Shuang walked to his side and stood beside him: "What are you going to do?"

"Let the pieces jump off the board by themselves." Zhou Yang turned and nodded to the old man. "Please stay here; we need some time."

The old man nodded and began examining the fragments: "Go on, I'll leave some backup plans."

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang stepped out of the post station and disappeared into the night. Their figures quickly vanished into the woods, as if swallowed by darkness.

Inside the post station, the candlelight still flickered. The old man of the Heavenly Secrets pieced the fragments together on the table, took out a fine brush, dipped it in special ink, and began to draw something on the paper.

His hand was steady, each stroke precise. On the paper, a complex array pattern slowly took shape.

"More than just chess..." the old man murmured to himself, "This child has truly forged his own path."

He looked up out the window. A thin purple ray of light stretched across the night sky, leading deep into the capital city. It was the coordinates Zhou Yang had left behind, a provocation against the Outer Gods.

The storm is really coming.

This time, it's not just a storm in the Jianghuai region, but a hurricane sweeping across the entire martial arts world.

The old man of celestial secrets put down his pen and picked up the still-beating purple heart. The runes on the heart had disappeared, but a faint fluctuation still lingered within it.

"Interesting." He chuckled. "Even spectators aren't invincible."

He placed the heart into a specially made box and affixed several talismans to it. After doing all this, he continued to draw the array.

In the darkness of night, in a corner of the capital, someone raised their head.

"Space Manipulator..."

A hoarse voice echoed in the empty room, "Interesting. Let me see what you're capable of."

In the darkness, a pair of purple eyes slowly opened.

Chapter 474 [The Hidden Dragon Emerges] (Resource Integration Closed Loop - Accumulation Phase)

After the boat docked, Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang didn't disembark but instead went around to the riverbank. The mud was still wet, and their shoes were covered in mud. Qin Shuang's eyes were fixed on the distant city gate, a habitually cold smile on her lips. Zhou Yang left the crowd behind and secretly went to find that former Heavenly Principle Sect stragglers.

The white armbands of the Imperial Guards fluttered softly in the wind. Zhou Yang beckoned to two men who emerged from the woods. They were the sniper and messenger he had encountered earlier on the mountain path, their faces still bearing traces of smoke. The sniper, Sheng Yi, had chapped lips but bright eyes. He said, "The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets said that the array's core over there went dark just now. We should remain still."

Zhou Yang nodded and handed over two silver tokens. "To gain a foothold in the capital, you must first establish yourself. Follow me and keep quiet for now."

Qin Shuang coldly swept her gaze around. "You're all on the Heavenly Principles Sect's pursuit line; you can't return to the village. The capital's line needs to be firmly established. First, assign me observers in three directions."

Behind them, a young man dressed in gray cloth ran up quickly. Qin Shuang saw him bow. The young man handed her a small package. She opened it and saw several military tallies written on thin bamboo slips. Two mountain passes and a river were marked on them. She nodded: "These are three old strongholds, descendants of the former chieftains. By incorporating them, we can find out who is watching their movements."

Zhou Yang walked a few more streets and found the old warehouse hidden behind the teahouse. Inside, cloaks soaked with sweat were scattered haphazardly. Several raggedly dressed vagrants were talking in hushed tones. Qin Shuang walked in, her voice low: "Everyone, spare your lives and listen to me first. There are three more routes outside the capital; we need spies. Whoever is willing to do it, trade your lives for Huang Zhong." Their eyes widened, their lips moved. Sheng Yi stepped forward and patted them on the shoulder.

"Qin Shuang is right. We're not going to our deaths. We'll hold the observation post first, and if we spot anything unusual, we'll send word immediately. We'll arrange for supplies."

One of them nodded, leaning against a pillar and taking a deep breath. The flags fluttered by; they tore several pieces of black cloth into small flags and tied them to a tall pole. At night, they could see whether the lights in the distance had improved.

Zhou Yang tugged at Qin Shuang's sleeve: "There are a few people who have military skills and can enter the waterways on the outskirts of the capital and then make their way around."

She smiled slightly: "Bring me two more scouts. They need to know how to use light-footed skills." Qin Shuang found two squad leaders from the southern route, one skilled in street stealth and the other familiar with warehouse machinery. They leaned over the sketch, discussing how to use the side passages of the drainage ditches to enter the city. Qin Shuang took one of them to a dark room and personally taught him how to read the distribution of lights in various houses in the capital.

At night, the old man appeared at the old pharmacy. He lit a bronze lamp in the corner of the room. The light flowed like water. Zhou Yang stood by the window, his hand resting on the windowsill. The old man didn't look him in the eye, but directly handed him a small bronze bell.

"The Ethereal Bell," the old man said. "With each strike, the sound waves can draw out the magical runes surrounding the capital. Whenever these runes are repaired, the bell will vibrate inside and outside the capital. The bell's sound can also transmit short messages, penetrating the barriers that seal the gates."

Zhou Yang scooped up some dust from his sleeve and wiped it off. "So, a single ringtone is like sending a text message?"

The old man waved his hand: "You heard me right. The sound of bells and drums pierces the heavens. Others can hear it, but can't discern the direction. Only those familiar with the ethereal path know the meaning hidden within the echoes." He traced a thin line on the bell's surface. "Don't let the magic rune scholars over there sense your pulse."

Qin Shuang took the bell, her fingertips gently stroking its bronze surface. The bell was warm and smooth, somewhat like ice water in her palm. "We'll set up three Guanyin altars first. Each one will be connected to an opening. When the bell tolls at night, the echo will mark the location of whoever the sound lands on."

Zhou Yang then asked, "How long can the Void Bell suppress it?"

The old man shrugged: "For a while. Everything has its limits. Don't let the guardians of the capital dismantle the old bell. You'll have to rely on yourselves in the end."

They decided to first set up observation posts along the east, south, and west sides of the capital. Each post was constructed using a mixture of old ship planks and wooden frames, hidden near wheat fields. Zhou Yang went to find several of his former private school students who had taken him in at the North Station of the capital. They were of humble origins but could recognize inscriptions. He gave each of them a bamboo tag engraved with "Capital Line" and ordered them to use the correspondence. The students dared not slack off, working through the night to open their textbooks, writing the characters indistinctly, and then soaking the paper with sesame oil to make it illegible. He instructed them: "The characters must be written in a way that is not standard. The scouts of the Heavenly Principle Sect are accustomed to recognizing standard characters. You will use these incorrect characters to bypass them."

Qin Shuang then instructed the boatmen at various docks in Anyang County. "Your bamboo rafts will all have red ribbons attached. When you reach the capital at night, release a yellow lantern." She took out a piece of blue paper and circled several waterways. "Once the magical runes in the capital begin to move, the ethereal bell will ring first, and the boatmen will flip the lanterns once. This will synchronize the bell's sound with the lantern's light on the river."

Zhou Yang listened, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. The night wind ruffled the hem of his clothes. He looked towards the horizon: "That mysterious outer god... if it wasn't brought in from the capital, could it have been unearthed from beneath the river?"

Qin Shuang leaned against him: "If we finish building the capital route, it will be blocked. What we need now is to replenish our manpower." She pointed to the bamboo plaque in her hand, "Let those who gave up halfway come back. Let's make it clear that returning to the capital alive is better than dying in the mountains."

Zhou Yang marked five nodes on the outskirts of the capital on the map. He connected the path of the Ethereal Bell with the observation points one by one. He wrote down a few numbers, "It's not necessary to send people along every route. We can create a false line to guide the Heavenly Principle Cult's magic pattern hunters to detour."

Qin Shuang pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her bosom, unfolded it, and found it to be a secret letter. She glanced at it under the lamplight, then looked up: "A letter from the observer in the high-rise. The lights from the previous night showed a faint purple glow at the east gate. That was the fluctuation of the runes from the other side."

Zhou Yang put the map down, picked up the crumpled paper, and ran his hand over it. Then he folded the paper and placed it next to the bell. He said, "We need to make two plans. First, we'll establish three lines of defense around the capital. Second, on the surface, we'll act like we're going to pay homage, but secretly we'll be testing the demonic runes. Third, when the demonic runes are repaired to a certain extent, we'll use the sound of the bell and the lamplight to pin down that purple light."

He glanced at Qin Shuang, his eyes shining: "We cannot allow the unknown Outer God to wait for us in the darkness. We must take the initiative and make it uneasy."

Qin Shuang nodded, gently turning the clock once. Their reflections were displayed on the clock face. She whispered, "Prepare the artisans behind the scenes in the capital. Tell them that once the bell tolls, use fireworks to create a reflected light, confusing the eyes on the other side."

After listening, the old man of the heavens suddenly laughed: "You two are just like snakes that want to drag the enemy into the trap they have woven."

Qin Shuang didn't speak, only tightened her blue cloak. Zhou Yang glanced at the night sky again. The stars grew denser and denser, as if plotting something. The surrounding wind paused for a moment, seemingly awaiting the next instruction.

Outside the capital, the lights still shone. They didn't stop. Amidst the bustling crowd, Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang continued their arrangements. The ethereal bell lay at the bottom of the box, its sound more subdued than before. Zhou Yang placed his hand on the bell, gently shaking it, producing a very low hum. The sound circled three times in the warehouse, like the echo of people returning home from the lower alleyways.

"We'll keep the bell," he told Qin Shuang. "If they make a move, we'll have a heads-up. We won't let the people in the capital know yet."

Qin Shuang agreed. She put away the ethereal bell and entrusted it to Sheng Yi to guard. Sheng Yi placed the bell into a lacquered wooden box slightly larger than a fist, the lid of which was wrapped with a net of silver thread. His eyes were serious: "With the bell in hand, we can hear the demonic runes inside and outside the Song wall. As soon as the demonic runes tremble, the bell will tell me which alley to take."

Zhou Yang took out a piece of paper with ink and drew another line. He said, "We want the Beijing line to be like a rope that hasn't been pulled up yet. The enemy will think we're still far away, and when the real adversary makes their move, they'll find that we've already surrounded them."

Standing behind him, Qin Shuang added in a low voice, "Call the old blacksmith over there on the platform. They can make reflectors under the lamplight. That thing will be the most luminous signal when the bell tolls."

Their plan was quietly taking shape. At night, a cold wind blew by, and the leaves trembled as if trying to reveal something. But they were not only paying attention to the sound of the wind, but also to the magical patterns that were slowly flowing on the distant edge of the capital.