I was a mineral prospector in Chengdu, who transmigrated into the body of a mortal sword immortal.

Duan Qiniang stood by the window, watching Li Bai's figure disappear at the end of the corridor in the backyard of Zuiyue Tower. The night wind ruffled the hair at her temples, carrying the faint sounds of string and wind instruments and laughter from the front building, sounds particularly jarring now. She stood there for a long time, until her blue robe was completely blended into the night, before slowly turning around.

The zither is right beside me.

Her fingers traced the cold strings, but she didn't pluck them. Her gaze fell on the myriad lights of Chang'an outside the window—beneath that dazzling brilliance, who knew how many undercurrents and schemes were hidden? Li Bai had likely been drawn into a vortex far beyond his imagination.

All she could do was try her best to weave a network of intelligence for him.

As for whether this net can catch that impending doom...

Duan Qiniang took a deep breath and summoned her trusted maid who was guarding the door.

"Go tell Granny Wang that I need to know who is in charge of the selection process at the Inner Palace, especially the stewards of the residences near Yichun Courtyard." Her voice was soft, but carried an undeniable determination. "Also, find out if there's been any movement from General Gao lately."

The maid responded softly and quietly withdrew.

Duan Qiniang walked to the dressing table and sat down. The bronze mirror reflected a face that was still beautiful but weathered by time. She remembered the young man who had woken up in the red-curtained bedchamber months ago, his eyes clear yet lost. Back then, Taibai, though down on his luck, still had a light in his eyes.

The light now resembles a sword that has been tempered.

Sharp, but also easily broken.

***

The east wing of the backyard.

Li Bai pushed open the door, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted towards him. The room was small, but extremely tidy. There was a wooden bed, a table and two chairs, a wardrobe, and in the corner stood a celadon vase with several fresh bamboo branches inserted in it. The bamboo leaves were verdant, gleaming warmly in the candlelight.

Outside the window was a small courtyard, with clumps of bamboo partially obscuring a path paved with bluestone slabs. A night breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, the sound crisp and tranquil, completely shutting out the noise from the building in front.

He closed the door and walked to the window.

The night sky over Chang'an was tinged with a reddish hue by the lights, and few stars could be seen. But in this secluded corner of the backyard, the faint sound of the night watchman's drum could be heard from afar—it was the first watch of the night.

Li Bai sat down on the edge of the bed and closed his eyes.

Within his dantian, the third-grade azure lotus slowly rotated, emitting a faint azure halo. True essence flowed through his meridians like a stream, nourishing the fatigue from days of travel. He circulated the Azure Lotus Sword Technique, feeling the sparse spiritual energy from the outside world being slowly absorbed and integrated into his true essence.

An hour passed.

Two hours passed.

When the second watch drum sounded outside the window, Li Bai opened his eyes.

His true energy had recovered to 80%. The fatigue had largely subsided, and his limbs were filled with strength. He took a deep breath and could clearly feel the flow of spiritual energy in the air—the spiritual energy in Chang'an was much thinner than that in Shu Mountain, but it was still richer than in ordinary places.

This is the atmosphere of the capital city.

He stood up and walked to the center of the room.

The right hand is loosely clenched.

The azure lotus within his dantian trembled slightly, and a wisp of azure sword energy emanated from his fingertips, condensing into a phantom sword shadow in his palm. The sword shadow was about three feet long, entirely azure, with lotus patterns faintly visible flowing across its blade.

Azure Lotus Sword Intent.

This was the connection he established with the Azure Lotus Sword, which slumbered at the bottom of the Sword Pool, when he received the Azure Lotus Sword Technique from the High Priest in the Shu Mountain Secret Realm. Although the real Azure Lotus Sword was still far away in Shu Mountain, this sword intent had already begun to manifest.

Li Bai stared at the sword shadow in his palm.

The sword's shadow was faint, like a thin mist, ready to dissipate at any moment. With his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was still far from being able to fully refine the Azure Lotus Sword. But at least, he could already sense its presence and borrow a tiny bit of its power.

He tried to infuse more true energy into the sword shadow.

The sword's shadow solidified slightly, its azure light brightening a bit. The lotus patterns on the sword's blade flowed faster, emanating an ancient yet sharp aura. But as soon as this aura was released, Li Bai immediately withdrew it.

Not here.

This is Chang'an, right under the emperor's nose. Any fluctuation of extraordinary power could attract unnecessary attention.

He dispersed the sword shadows and sat back down on the bed.

For the next three days, Li Bai hardly left the east wing.

During the day, he cultivated his inner energy, consolidating his Foundation Establishment stage cultivation. He repeatedly circulated the Azure Lotus Sword Technique, allowing his true essence to flow through his meridians, refining it to a higher purity. With each cycle, the Azure Lotus within his dantian would rotate more steadily, and the patterns on its petals would become clearer.

That evening, he attempted to further refine the Azure Lotus Sword Intent.

It's not about manifesting the sword shadow, but about using one's divine sense to touch and understand the "Dao" contained within that sword intent.

The core of the Azure Lotus Sword Technique is "emerging from the mud unsullied".

The sword's intent is like a lotus, born in the turbid world, yet transcending it. Sword techniques are not about killing, but about severing—severing obsessions, severing shackles, severing everything that binds the mind.

Li Bai closed his eyes and concentrated in the darkness.

His consciousness sank into his dantian, approaching the blue lotus.

The lotus petals trembled gently, and a cool aura surged into his consciousness. In that instant, he seemed to see an endless lotus pond, with millions of blue lotuses swaying in the wind. Each lotus was a sword intent. Millions of sword intents converged into a blue sea.

He was adrift in the sea.

Feel the purity of the sword intent, feel the tranquility of the lotus, feel the lofty detachment from the world.

But soon, another emotion welled up.

It's an obsession.

It is an obsession with Yang Xiaohuan, an obsession with Yang Yuhuan, the resentment of the dagger piercing his chest in his past life, and the helplessness of watching his beloved fall into the deep palace in this life.

These obsessions, like silt, entangled his consciousness.

The Azure Lotus Sword Intent began to repel it.

The lotus petals closed, and the cool breeze dissipated. Li Bai's consciousness was ejected and returned to his body. He opened his eyes, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

No.

His obsession was too deep, contradicting the core principle of the Azure Lotus Sword: "transcendence."

But this is precisely why he must cultivate the Azure Lotus Sword Technique—because only a sword that can sever obsessions can protect the person to whom those obsessions are attached. It's a paradox, but it's also the path he must take.

Li Bai wiped the sweat from his brow and continued trying.

***

On the evening of the fourth day, Duan Qiniang arrived.

She wore an elegant pale yellow dress, her hair simply styled with a single jade hairpin. She carried a food box and entered the room, bringing with her a faint fragrance of osmanthus.

"Have you been settling in well these past few days?" She placed the food container on the table and opened the lid.

Inside were several delicate side dishes: a plate of osmanthus cake, a plate of braised beef, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a pot of warm wine.

"Very good." Li Bai stood up. "Thank you for the arrangements, Seventh Sister."

Duan Qiniang waved her hand and sat down at the table. She didn't get to the point right away, but first poured Li Bai a cup of wine, and then poured one for herself.

The liquor is top-quality Jiannanchun, with a mellow aroma and a subtle fruity fragrance.

"Eat something first," she said. "You've been staying indoors these past few days; I'm afraid you haven't been eating properly."

Li Bai was indeed hungry.

He sat down and picked up his chopsticks. The food was delicious; the osmanthus cake was sweet but not cloying, the braised beef was savory and flavorful, and the seasonal vegetables were crisp and refreshing. He ate slowly but attentively.

Duan Qiniang looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

She only spoke after Li Bai had almost finished eating.

"I've heard some news," she said in a low voice, "about Miss Yang."

Li Bai put down his chopsticks.

"explain."

"The key eunuch in charge of this selection is the Junior Supervisor of the Inner Palace, surnamed Zhang," Duan Qiniang said. "He was originally Gao Lishi's confidant and was transferred to the Inner Palace three years ago to be in charge of the selection of palace maids. This time, he arranged the guarding, food, and personnel scheduling of the Yichun Palace."

Gao Lishi.

Li Bai's eyes narrowed.

He was all too familiar with this name—the most trusted eunuch of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, who wielded immense power and influence, and whose influence was also behind the forced suicide of Yang Guifei at Mawei Slope.

"How is the security at the building?" he asked.

"It's heavily guarded," Duan Qiniang said bluntly. "The outer perimeter is patrolled by the Imperial Guards, who change shifts every two hours. Inside the buildings, eunuchs sent by the Inner Palace Administration are on duty day and night. All people entering and leaving must have their waist tags checked and their names verified. Supplies are delivered once a day at 7:45 AM by fixed carriages. The drivers and attendants are all familiar faces; strangers simply cannot get close."

Li Bai remained silent.

All of this was expected. The selection of officials for the imperial palace is a matter of royal dignity, so tight security is inevitable.

"However..." Duan Qiniang paused, "I found out that there is a small alley outside the back wall of the inn, which is rarely used. At the end of the alley is a dye shop, and the dye shop's workers pass through that alley every day at the beginning of the Yin hour to buy dyes at the market in the east of the city. At that time, it is still dark and the guards are most lax."

Li Bai's eyes lit up.

"Furthermore," Duan Qiniang continued, "I heard that the esteemed poet He Zhizhang recently returned to the capital from Luoyang. While in Luoyang, he read several poems you wrote in Sichuan and greatly admired them, even remarking to others, 'This young man possesses the talent of a banished immortal.' If you could make friends through poetry and pay a visit to He Zhizhang, perhaps..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

He Zhizhang was a renowned scholar of the time, holding the official position of Secretary of the Imperial Library, and enjoyed high prestige both in literary circles and among the general public. If Li Bai could gain his favor, or even be recommended, his situation in Chang'an would be much better. More importantly, if the story of "Li Bai and Yang Guifei" could be spread through the mouths of a prominent figure like He Zhizhang, forming a beautiful tale of "talented scholar and beautiful woman," it might influence public opinion in the selection process.

Although the hope is slim.

But it's better than having no hope at all.

Li Bai pondered for a moment.

"Forced entry is too risky," he said slowly. "If we're exposed, not only will we fail to save Yuhuan, but we'll also implicate you and Zuiyuelou. Kidnapping her is even worse—how can a weak woman like her follow me on a life of exile?"

Duan Qiniang nodded.

"So I want to take a two-pronged approach," Li Bai said. "On the one hand, I plan to visit He Jian to make friends through poetry and see if I can use his reputation to generate some public opinion. On the other hand, I want to personally explore the area around the residence, understand the terrain and guarding patterns, and prepare for any possible opportunities in the future."

"When are you going?"

"Tomorrow," Li Bai said, "I'll first go and check out the outer perimeter of the compound. As for Supervisor He... we need a suitable opportunity. Could you, Seventh Sister, help me find out where Supervisor He usually likes to go and when it's convenient for me to visit him?"

"That's easy," Duan Qiniang said. "He Jian loves wine and often goes to the 'Xinghualou' in Pingkangfang to drink and meet friends. On the fifteenth of every month, he hosts a banquet there, inviting three or five close friends to compose poems. Tomorrow is the fifteenth."

Li Bai's eyes lit up.

"it is good."

Duan Qiniang looked at him, hesitant to speak.

"Is there anything else?" Li Bai asked.

"...Taibai." Duan Qiniang's voice was very soft. "Are you really sure? This path is too difficult. You will not only be facing a few eunuchs and a few guards, but the entire palace, the rules of the entire Tang Dynasty. Even... it may be the emperor himself."

Li Bai remained silent.

He walked to the window and opened it. The night breeze blew in, carrying the fresh scent of bamboo leaves. In the distance, the lights of Chang'an still shone brightly, like a galaxy that would never be extinguished.

"Seventh Sister," he said calmly, his back to her, "if one day you see someone standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall, would you turn away because the cliff is too high, the wind too strong, or saving her too difficult?"

Duan Qiniang remained silent.

"I won't." Li Bai turned around and looked at her. "Because I know that if I leave like this, I will dream of her falling every night for the rest of my life."

His eyes were calm, yet like a deep pool, concealing unseen whirlpools.

Duan Qiniang suddenly felt her eyes getting hot.

She turned her face away and took a deep breath.

"...I understand." She stood up. "I will arrange everything tomorrow. As for the residence, I will have Granny Wang inquire about more detailed information. As for Supervisor He...I will prepare a visiting card and a gift."

Thank you.

"No need." Duan Qiniang walked to the door and stopped. "Taibai, I only hope... no matter what the outcome, you will live."

After saying that, she pushed open the door and left.

The room fell silent again.

Li Bai stood by the window, watching her figure disappear at the end of the corridor. The night wind rustled his robes. He raised his hand, and the shadow of the Azure Lotus Sword once again materialized in his palm.

The sword's shadow was faint, yet exceptionally resolute.

***

Day .

Li Bai got up very early.

Before dawn, at the beginning of the Yin hour, Chang'an was still immersed in sleep. The streets were deserted, save for the watchman striking his clapper, the sound echoing through the empty alleys, adding to the desolation.

He changed into a dark gray coarse cloth outfit, wrapped his hair in a cloth, and smeared some stove ash on his face, making him look like an ordinary commoner. This was prepared by Duan Qiniang—he needed to sneak into the outer perimeter of the inn to investigate, and he couldn't be too conspicuous.

Go out through the back door of Zuiyue Tower, cross two alleys, and you'll arrive near Yichun Courtyard.

The building was situated inside the city wall, in a separate courtyard. High walls of blue bricks surrounded it, and the vermilion gate was tightly shut. Two Imperial Guards stood before the gate, holding long halberds, their eyes fixed straight ahead. The figures of patrolling guards could be vaguely seen atop the wall, their footsteps rhythmic and heavy.

Li Bai did not approach the main gate.

He went around to the back wall of the building.

Just as Duan Qiniang had said, there was a narrow alley outside the back wall, no more than five feet wide, paved with bluestone slabs, with moss growing in the cracks between the slabs. On both sides of the alley were high courtyard walls, with a few withered vines sticking out from the top of the walls, swaying slightly in the morning breeze.

The alley was very dark.

Before dawn, only a faint glimmer of light appeared on the eastern horizon. Li Bai moved silently, hugging the base of the wall. His footsteps were light, landing without a sound—a movement technique he had acquired through his training at Mount Shu.

He stopped halfway down the alley.

This spot faces the back wall of the building. The wall is very high, over two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) tall, with broken porcelain shards stuck at the top, gleaming coldly in the dim light. There are no windows in the wall, only a few small vents sealed with iron bars.

Li Bai listened intently.

Faint footsteps echoed from within the walls—guards on patrol. The footsteps were rhythmic, passing by approximately every thirty breaths. In addition, there were faint breathing sounds emanating from the shadows at the base of the wall.

There are still people there.

Hidden sentry.

Li Bai's heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, the palace guards wouldn't just be stationed in the open. He held his breath, suppressing his true energy to the extreme, as if his entire being had merged into the shadows of the corner.

Fifteen minutes later, the sky began to brighten.

The sound of wheels rolling came from the end of the alley. A donkey cart slowly approached, carrying several large wooden barrels filled with various dyes, emitting a pungent odor. The driver was an old man in his fifties, dressed in coarse cloth from a dye shop, his face weathered by time.

The donkey cart passed by the corner where Li Bai was hiding.

The old man seemed oblivious to him, continuing to drive his cart while humming an off-key tune. But just as the cart was about to pass, the old man suddenly coughed and spat out a glob of phlegm, which landed right on the flagstones at Li Bai's feet.

Then, the donkey cart continued forward and disappeared around the corner of the alley.

Li Bai lowered his head.

On the bluestone slab, next to the thick phlegm, there was a small white object.

It's a crumpled piece of paper.

He quickly picked up the crumpled paper and unfolded it. Several lines of small writing were drawn on it in charcoal:

"At three-quarters past the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), under the third vent on the east wall, the guards change shifts, with a five-breath interval. Old Wang from the dyehouse."

Li Bai's pupils contracted slightly.

Wang Laowu must be the old man who drove the cart earlier. One of Duan Qiniang's men?

Without thinking too much, he stuffed the crumpled paper into his pocket and continued to observe.

It's time for the third quarter of the Yin hour.

The footsteps inside the wall suddenly became chaotic. Then came the sounds of hushed conversation and the soft clanging of metal—the guards were changing shifts. Li Bai counted carefully, and sure enough, there was a gap of about five breaths between the departure of the old guard and the arrival of the new one.

Five breaths is a very short time.

But it's enough to do a lot of things.

For example, stuffing a piece of paper into the air vent of an iron fence.

Li Bai took out a note he had prepared beforehand—it contained only one sentence: "Three days later, at Hai hour, in the back alley." There was no signature, but Yang Yuhuan should have been able to recognize his handwriting.

He waited for the right opportunity.

He moved when he heard footsteps coming from inside the wall as the changing of the guard was completed.

His figure darted like a ghost to the east wall, where he found the third air vent. The air vent was about ten feet off the ground, its iron bars rusted. Li Bai leaped up, lightly tapping the wall with his finger, using the momentum to rise, and precisely slipped the strip of paper into the gap of the air vent.

Then it landed and retreated into the shadows.

The whole process took less than three breaths.

There was no response from inside the wall.

Li Bai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left the alley. By the time he returned to the backyard of Zuiyue Tower, it was already broad daylight. He changed back into his blue robe, washed the soot from his face, and sat by the window, waiting quietly.

Waiting for news from Duan Qiniang, waiting for He Zhizhang's banquet, waiting... for that opportunity that might change everything.

***

As evening approached, Duan Qiniang hurried over.

Her face was pale, and she was breathing rapidly, clearly having walked quickly. As soon as she entered the room, she closed the door behind her, leaned against it, and her chest heaved.

"What's wrong?" Li Bai stood up.

Duan Qiniang looked at him with a complicated expression.

"Rumors are circulating in the palace..." Her voice trembled slightly. "His Majesty... His Majesty seems to have heard of Miss Yang's beauty and is quite interested. The people in the Inner Palace are making preparations, and he may... he may summon her soon."

The room fell silent instantly.

The bamboo leaves outside the window rustled, the sound so clear it was almost jarring.

Li Bai stood still, motionless.

His face was expressionless, but Duan Qiniang noticed that his fingers were trembling slightly. It wasn't fear, but something deeper, more repressed.

"How fast?" he asked, his voice eerily calm.

"I don't know," Duan Qiniang shook her head, "but at the latest... it won't be more than ten days."

Ten days.

Li Bai closed his eyes.

In ten days, they had to complete tasks such as visiting He Zhizhang, creating public opinion, inspecting the premises, formulating plans, and dealing with the possibility of being summoned earlier than scheduled.

There's not enough time.

Outside the window, dusk was settling in.

The lights of Chang'an lit up one after another, and the dazzling Milky Way now looked like a giant net, slowly tightening.