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

Li Bai folded the paper filled with keywords and tucked it into his robes. The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward, casting long shadows on the floor. He walked to the bedside, sat cross-legged, and prepared to continue regulating his breathing to recover his true energy. But the cloud of doubt in his heart grew thicker—the imperial guards, the swordsman from the Western Regions, Yang Yuhuan under close surveillance—these fragmented images filled him with a deep unease. Chang'an City appeared prosperous on the surface, but countless eyes were secretly watching him, watching the girl trapped in the inn. And all he could do now was wait, wait for Duan Qiniang to bring new information, wait for the next opportunity to break the deadlock. Just as he closed his eyes, preparing to meditate, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from downstairs.

The footsteps were very light, like a child's steps, but the rhythm was fast, with a sense of urgency.

Li Bai opened his eyes and quietly released his divine sense.

The footsteps paused briefly at the top of the stairs, as if trying to determine the direction, before heading straight for his room.

It wasn't Duan Qiniang. Duan Qiniang's footsteps were more steady, carrying the rhythm unique to women of the night. Nor was it the waiter; the waiter's footsteps were always drawn out and casual, carrying a fawning tone.

The footsteps... sounded unfamiliar.

Li Bai slowly rose, walked to the door, and placed his right hand on the broken sword hidden in his sleeve. True energy flowed quietly through his meridians, and the Azure Lotus Sword Intent was poised to be unleashed. He held his breath and listened intently.

"Knock knock knock".

A knock sounded on the door, very soft, with a tentative tone.

"Who?" Li Bai asked in a low voice.

There was a moment of silence outside the door, then a childish voice rang out: "Excuse me... are you Young Master Li?"

It's a child.

Li Bai frowned slightly, scanning the area outside the door with his divine sense—it was indeed a child, about eight or nine years old, dressed in coarse cloth, holding a letter in his hand. There was no one else around, and at least no suspicious presence within a ten-foot radius.

He opened the door.

A little boy stood outside the door, his skin slightly dark, his eyes large, and a hint of timidity in them. He saw Li Bai, paused for a moment, then quickly handed over the letter in his hand: "Someone asked me to give this to Young Master Li."

"Who sent you to deliver this?" Li Bai took the letter and looked at the envelope—it was unsigned, unsealed, just a plain white paper folded up.

"A...a sister." The little boy's voice was a little muffled. "She gave me two copper coins and told me to deliver them to this inn, saying she was looking for a young master surnamed Li. She didn't say his name."

"What kind of older sister?"

"She was wearing a veil, so I couldn't see her face." The little boy scratched his head. "The clothes she was wearing... I think they were blue? I can't remember exactly. Her voice was very pleasant, but she was in a hurry. She told me to bring it over quickly and leave as soon as I finished."

Li Bai stared into the little boy's eyes, eyes clear and seemingly genuine. He reached into his robes, pulled out a copper coin, and handed it to the boy: "Thank you. Also, if anyone asks, just say you delivered it to the wrong place and couldn't find the person, understand?"

The little boy took the coin, his eyes lighting up, and nodded vigorously: "I understand! I don't know anything!"

After saying that, he turned and ran, his footsteps thumping away at the top of the stairs.

Li Bai closed the door and returned to the table.

The oil lamp had burned out, leaving the room dimly lit. He walked to the window and, in the last rays of the setting sun, unfolded the letter.

The paper was ordinary Xuan paper, with a rough texture and slightly rough edges. There was only one line of text on it, written in delicate small regular script, the ink not yet completely dry, carrying a faint scent of ink.

"Tonight at midnight, by the Qujiang Pool, under the third willow tree east of the Apricot Grove, I come alone, for matters concerning Yang Guifei."

The handwriting is neat and the strokes are delicate; it is indeed the work of a woman.

Li Bai's heart skipped a beat.

Jade Ring.

These two words were like a key, instantly unlocking the deepest door in his heart. The tearful eyes of Yang Xiaohuan in his past life, and the fleeting glimpse of Yang Yuhuan at the window of the residence in this life, overlapped at this moment. His breathing quickened, and his fingers gripping the letter trembled slightly.

Is it Yang Yuhuan?

Did she manage to get the message out?

This thought lasted only a moment before being suppressed by reason.

impossible.

Li Bai took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Yang Yuhuan was currently in the Yichun Courtyard, under the double surveillance of the Imperial Guards and the Inner Guards, her movements were restricted, and she even had difficulty leaving the house. How could she possibly send someone to deliver a message? Even if she did manage to send a message, why would she refer to herself as "Yuhuan"? She should have called herself "Yang Shi" or "this humble servant."

Moreover, the letter arrived at just the right time.

He had just sneaked into the inn last night and fought with the black-clad swordsman, and today he received this letter. The time, place, and people all pointed to one possibility—a trap.

Is he one of Li Linfu's men?

Or was it a trap set by the forces behind the black-clad swordsman from last night?

Or perhaps... an internal guard?

Li Bai held the letter to his nose and sniffed it carefully. A faint fragrance, like the delicate scent of some flower or herb, mingled with the scent of ink; it was quite unique, but he couldn't quite place it. He then held the letter up to the light, carefully examining the texture of the paper, the depth of the ink, and the strokes of the characters.

Although the handwriting is delicate, there is a deliberate neatness in the strokes, as if imitating a woman's handwriting, but it is not natural enough. Especially the two characters "玉环" (Yu Huan), the dot of the character "玉" (Yu) is written a little too heavily, and the ink is slightly blurred, revealing a hint of impatience.

This is not Yang Yuhuan's handwriting.

Although Li Bai had never seen Yang Guifei's original calligraphy in his previous life, based on his understanding of calligraphy, a woman who could write such delicate small regular script must have had a more rounded and composed brushstroke. The handwriting in this letter is elegant yet deliberate, neat yet stiff.

It's a trap.

It's almost certain.

but……

Li Bai stared at the four characters "It concerns Yu Huan" with a complicated expression.

Even if it's a trap, even if it's a den of dragons and tigers, as long as there's even the slightest possibility that it involves Yang Yuhuan, he can't ignore it. In his previous life, he watched helplessly as Yang Xiaohuan was driven into a desperate situation, unable to turn the tide. He didn't want to experience that regret and pain a second time.

Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance that this letter is indeed a message from Yang Yuhuan, wouldn't he regret it for the rest of his life if he didn't go?

The sun had completely sunk below the horizon, plunging the room into darkness.

Li Bai lit a new oil lamp, and its dim yellow light illuminated the room once more. He placed the letter on the table, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the surface, producing a rhythmic, soft sound.

To go or not to go?

If I go, how should I prepare?

If we don't go, how can we verify it?

Time passed by, second by second.

The sound of the night watchman striking his clapper came from outside the window—it was the hour of Xu (7-9 PM).

There are still two hours until midnight.

Li Bai stood up and walked to the window. Night had fallen in Chang'an, and the lights of countless homes were gradually coming on. The streets were becoming less crowded, with only a few carriages hurrying by. In the distance, towards Qujiang Pool, a dark outline could be vaguely seen—the imperial garden, which should have already closed for the night, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter.

At midnight, the Qujiang Pool is sure to be deserted.

If it really is a trap, then that's the perfect ambush spot.

Li Bai closed his eyes, and a topographical map of Qujiang Pool appeared in his mind—in his previous life, as a geological engineer, he had studied the geographical changes of Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty and had a general impression of the terrain around Qujiang Pool. The apricot grove was on the east bank, and the third willow tree... There should be a reed bed nearby, as well as several pavilions for tourists to rest.

If it's an ambush, the reed marshes are a good hiding place, the pavilion can be used to deploy archers, and the area around the willow trees offers a wide field of vision, making escape difficult.

He needs help.

But the letter said "Alone".

If he goes with others, the other party might not show up. If they are truly Yang Yuhuan's people, seeing that he has broken his promise, they might immediately leave, and the communication would be cut off.

Dilemma.

"Knock knock".

The knocking sounded again.

This time it's Duan Qiniang.

Li Bai opened the door, and Duan Qiniang slipped in, closing the door behind her. She was wearing a plain dress today, her hair simply tied up, her face showing fatigue, but her eyes were still bright.

"Any news?" Li Bai asked.

Duan Qiniang shook her head, walked to the table and sat down. She poured herself a glass of water and drank it all in one gulp. "I've been inquiring for a long time, but there's very little information circulating about the Inner Guard. All I know is that there is indeed such a secret force, directly under the Emperor's command, but nobody knows exactly how many people there are, who their leader is, or where they're stationed. Some say they're inside the capital, some say they're in some manor outside the city, and some even say they don't exist at all, just a facade used by the Emperor to intimidate his officials."

She put down her teacup and looked at Li Bai: "And you? What did you discover?"

Li Bai pushed the letter on the table in front of her.

Duan Qiniang picked up the letter and carefully read it by the lamplight, her expression gradually becoming serious.

"When did you receive it?"

"It was delivered by a child an hour ago."

"Where's Xiaotong?"

"I gave them the money and sent them away. They said a woman in a blue dress wearing a veil had asked them to deliver it."

Duan Qiniang brought the letter to her nose and smelled it, then examined it under the lamplight, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper: "The ink has a musky orchid scent; such perfumes are not cheap, and ordinary women cannot afford them. The paper is ordinary Xuan paper from the 'Wenhua Zhai' shop in the West Market, costing ten copper coins a ream; half the scholars in Chang'an use this kind of paper. The handwriting... is a good imitation, but the execution is still lacking."

She looked up at Li Bai: "Are you planning to go?"

"What do you think?" Li Bai asked in return.

Duan Qiniang was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The risks are extremely high. First, the messenger doesn't show his face and uses a child to deliver the message, which means he doesn't want to reveal his identity. Second, the meeting at Qujiang Pool at midnight is a time when the park closes at night, and ordinary people can't enter. Without a special pass, you can't even get through the gate. Third, the words 'alone' clearly mean that you are to go into danger alone."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "I suspect this is one of Li Linfu's men. You sneaked into the residence last night, and although you weren't caught, you must have alerted some people. They don't know who you are, but they know you're investigating Yang Yuhuan. This letter is bait to lure you in."

Li Bai nodded: "That's what I think too."

"Then why..."

"But I must go." Li Bai interrupted her, his gaze resolute. "Seventh Sister, I know there's a 99% chance this is a trap. But even if there's only a sliver of a possibility, if this letter truly concerns Yu Huan, I cannot refuse. In my past life... I missed it once; I cannot miss it again in this life."

Duan Qiniang looked at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "You care about her that much?"

"I care," Li Bai said without hesitation. "More than my own life."

The room fell silent.

The wick of the oil lamp crackled and popped, producing a tiny flame.

Duan Qiniang sighed and put the letter back on the table: "Alright. Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. But you can't just go like this; you have to be prepared."

"What suggestions do you have?"

"First, Qujiang Pool does close at midnight, but I know a small path." Duan Qiniang lowered her voice, "There's a section of the wall in the southeast corner of Qujiang Pool that's been in disrepair for years and has a gap. It's usually covered by weeds and few people know about it. I've gone in there a few times... for secret rendezvous."

A flicker of unease crossed her face, but she quickly regained her composure: "Second, you can't really 'go alone.' I can provide support from the outside, and if things go wrong, I can create chaos to give you a chance to escape. Third, you need to scout the terrain beforehand, determine the retreat route, and prepare for any unforeseen circumstances."

Li Bai's eyes lit up: "You know that path?"

"Hmm." Duan Qiniang nodded, "But that road is difficult to travel; it involves crossing a reed bed, and there might be snakes and insects at night. Moreover, if the other party really is Li Linfu's man, they might have set up an ambush on that road as well."

"It's better than forcing my way in through the main gate," Li Bai pondered. "There must be guards at the main gate. If they've set up an ambush there, I won't even have a chance to get in."

"Then it's settled." Duan Qiniang stood up. "I'll go prepare some things now—snake repellent, tinder, and signal fireworks. Before dark, go and wander around Qujiang Pool to familiarize yourself with the terrain, but don't get too close, lest you alert the snakes."

Li Bai nodded: "Okay."

Duan Qiniang walked to the door, then turned back to look at him, her eyes filled with worry: "Li Bai, promise me, if things go wrong, retreat immediately. As long as we're alive, we can always fight another day. We can discuss Yang Yuhuan's matter at length."

"I understand," Li Bai said solemnly. "Thank you, Seventh Sister."

Duan Qiniang smiled, pushed open the door, and left.

Li Bai was left alone in the room again.

He walked to the window, gazing at the deepening night in Chang'an. In the distance, towards Qujiang Pool, all was darkness, save for a few lonely lanterns swaying in the wind. Tonight at midnight, an unknown struggle would unfold there.

Is it a trap or an opportunity?

he does not know.

But he knew he had to go.

For the unfulfilled regrets of the past life, for the destiny of meeting in this life, and for that girl trapped in the deep palace, whose fate is uncertain.

Li Bai took a deep breath, turned and walked to the bedside, taking out the broken Qingming sword from under his pillow. The bronze blade gleamed with a dim light under the lamp, and the patterns on the blade seemed to come alive, faintly shimmering with a bluish light.

He carefully hid the broken sword close to his body and checked his belongings again—a few copper coins, a small packet of calming powder, a fire tumbler, and a small bottle of wound medicine that Duan Qiniang had given him earlier.

not enough.

If it were truly a trap, the other party would certainly be prepared; his preparations would be far from sufficient.

But time was of the essence, and this was all he could do.

Li Bai blew out the oil lamp, pushed open the window, and leaped out. His figure rose and fell a few times in the night, disappearing between the eaves.

He was going to Qujiang Pool to survey the terrain in advance.

The city of Chang'an at night was quiet and mysterious. Few pedestrians walked the streets, only a few carriages hurried by, the sound of their wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs echoing through the empty streets. Li Bai avoided the main roads, taking the alleyways instead, his figure moving like a ghost in the shadows.

Half an hour later, he arrived near Qujiang Pool.

This is already the outskirts of the city, surrounded by gardens and manors, making the night even quieter. The walls of Qujiang Pool stand tall and dark, like a sleeping giant. Inside the walls, the outlines of pavilions and towers are faintly visible, gleaming with a cool light under the moonlight.

Li Bai hid behind a large tree and observed carefully.

Sure enough, there were guards at the main gate—two Imperial Guards soldiers stood with halberds in hand, their solemn faces illuminated by the lantern light. A patrol of soldiers also passed by every fifteen minutes, maintaining a tight security perimeter.

Southeast corner...

Li Bai moved quietly along the wall, avoiding several places where there might be hidden sentries, and arrived at the southeast corner.

Just as Duan Qiniang had described, there was a section of the wall that had collapsed. Although it had been simply repaired with bricks and stones, the gaps were large and overgrown with weeds. Li Bai parted the weeds and found that the gap was large enough for a person to squeeze through sideways. He peeked inside and saw a reed bed. The night wind blew, the reeds rustled, and the air was filled with the smell of moisture and earth.

He noted down the location and continued his survey along the wall.

The apricot grove is on the east bank. To enter from the gap, you have to cross a reed bed and then a lawn to reach it. The third willow tree… Li Bai sketched out the terrain in his mind. There should be a pavilion nearby, and a few stones for people to rest on.

If it's an ambush, the pavilion and behind the rocks are excellent hiding places.

People can also hide in reed beds.

Even... in the water.

Li Bai looked at the surface of Qujiang Pool. In the darkness of night, the pool water was dark and deep, like a giant mirror reflecting the starlight. If the enemy were lying in ambush in the water, he would not be able to detect them at all.

The risks are greater than we imagined.

But there was no turning back.

Li Bai took a deep breath and turned to leave. He couldn't stay there too long, lest he be discovered by the patrolling soldiers.

When we returned to the inn, it was already early 9 PM.

There is still one hour until midnight.

Duan Qiniang was already waiting in the room, a cloth bag on the table. Seeing Li Bai return, she breathed a sigh of relief: "How did it go?"

"I've surveyed the terrain, and it's indeed as you said, there's a gap in the southeast corner." Li Bai sat down, poured himself a cup of water, and drank it all in one gulp. "The main gate is heavily guarded; we can't get in from there. The area around the apricot grove has a wide field of vision, and people could hide behind the pavilions and rocks. The reed marshes and the water are also good places to ambush."

Duan Qiniang opened the cloth bag, inside were several items: a small packet of snake repellent, two fire tinderboxes, three signal fireworks, and a short dagger.

"Sprinkle snake repellent on yourself, and snakes and insects will stay away. Keep a tinderbox handy, and signal lights—green for safety, red for danger, and yellow for needing backup. Here's a short dagger for self-defense; it's not as good as your sword, but it's better than being empty-handed."

Li Bai took the short dagger; it felt heavy in his hand, and the blade was sharp—it was a fine knife.

"Thanks."

"Don't say that." Duan Qiniang waved her hand. "I'll go with you. I'll wait for you outside the reeds. If you don't come out within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, or if you send out a red signal, I'll light fireworks to create chaos and attract the guards' attention, and you can take the opportunity to escape."

Li Bai looked at her and said, "Seventh Sister, this is too dangerous. If the other party is really Li Linfu's man, and they find out you're out there making contact, they might arrest you too."

"Then let them arrest me." Duan Qiniang smiled, her eyes filled with a resolute determination. "I've been in Chang'an for so many years, and I haven't done it for nothing. Li Linfu will have to think twice before he tries to touch me."

Li Bai was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay. But you must promise me that if things go wrong, you will leave immediately and not worry about me."

"I'll try my best," Duan Qiniang said, not giving a direct answer.

The two stopped talking and prepared for their own time.

Li Bai sprinkled snake repellent on his clothes and cuffs, and then carefully concealed the signal flare and tinderbox close to his body. He tucked a short dagger into his boot and hid the broken sword in his sleeve. He sat cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing, adjusting himself to his optimal state.

Duan Qiniang sat at the table, quietly watching him.

The glow of the oil lamp danced across her face, outlining her soft features. This courtesan, usually so alluring, was unusually quiet at this moment, her eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.

Time passes little by little.

The sound of the night watchman striking the clapper came again—it was three quarters past 9 PM.

There is still a quarter of an hour until midnight.

Li Bai opened his eyes and stood up.

"It's time to go."

Duan Qiniang also stood up. The two looked at each other, said nothing more, pushed open the door and went out, disappearing into the night.

The night in Chang'an City deepened.