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

"Brother," Li Bai's voice was clear in the quiet mountain forest, "may I come in for a chat? I have some things I'd like to ask you."

The man in blue robes who was guarding the bamboo grove turned around at the sound. He was a robust man in his thirties, with dark skin, rough hands, and a simple knife at his waist. He strode into the thatched hut, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "What are your orders, Young Master Li?"

Li Bai invited him to sit down, took out Yang Yuhuan's letter from his bosom, and pointed to the description of the "cold-eyed attendant": "Brother, you have been in Chang'an for a long time. Have you ever heard of such a person in Li Linfu's household? He is about thirty years old, with an ordinary face, but his eyes are as cold as a poisoned sword. He is skilled with a long sword and has extraordinary skills."

The man in blue frowned, recalling carefully. The thatched hut was dimly lit; the oil lamp's flame flickered in the afternoon breeze, casting swaying shadows on the earthen walls. Outside the window, bamboo leaves rustled, and the sound of a distant mountain spring could be clearly heard.

"Li Linfu keeps a group of 'shadows' in his mansion." The man in blue lowered his voice. "These people don't show their faces often. Some are responsible for gathering intelligence, and some specialize in assassinations. Seventh Sister once warned us that if we encounter someone on the street with particularly cold eyes and who walks silently, we should try to avoid them."

"And those who use swords?"

"There is one." The man in blue nodded. "About two years ago, Seventh Sister saw him once in Pingkang Ward. He was Li Linfu's trusted bodyguard, and it is said that his swordsmanship was extremely high. He once killed seven martial arts masters in one night, and there was only a red spot on their throats on their corpses. Seventh Sister said that the way he looked at people was like looking at dead people."

Li Bai's heart sank.

Two years ago.

Yang Yuhuan entered the palace two years ago.

"What's this person's name?"

"I don't know his real name." The man in blue shook his head. "We only know that people in Li Linfu's household call him 'Cold-Noodle Judge.' He rarely appears in public, and not many people have seen his true face."

Li Bai stood up and paced around the cramped thatched hut. The muddy ground beneath his feet was slightly damp, making a soft crunching sound as he stepped on it. The air was filled with the scent of dried grass and earth, along with the fresh fragrance of bamboo leaves drifting in from outside the window.

"What's the situation in Chang'an now?" he asked.

The man in blue robes said gravely, "Young Master Li, the situation is not good. At dawn today, our men sneaked into the city through the Golden Light Gate and found that there were 30% more military officers patrolling the city than usual. There are also many unfamiliar spies near Pingkang Ward, some disguised as peddlers and some as beggars, but their eyes keep glancing towards Seventh Sister's building."

"Where is Li Linfu's residence?"

"The security is tight," the man in blue said. "There are two more sentry rings around the mansion, and everyone entering and leaving is being strictly checked. Moreover, since last night, the Li family has been sending out multiple groups of people out of the city in different directions—some heading east towards Luoyang, some south towards Sichuan, and some west towards Longyou. It seems like they are expanding the search area."

Li Bai walked to the window and looked at the undulating bamboo forest outside. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows that rippled like water when the wind blew. In the distance, verdant mountains rose one after another, and white clouds drifted lazily by, creating a scene of tranquility and peace.

But beneath this calm, undercurrents are already surging.

The Azure Lotus Sword has been exposed.

That night at Qujiang Pool, to save Xiaolian, he had no choice but to use the Azure Lotus Sword. Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, the extraordinary phenomenon of its soaring light inevitably attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives. Li Linfu was investigating, the Imperial Palace was investigating, and perhaps even the Emperor himself…

"Young Master Li." The man in blue took out a small bamboo tube from his pocket and handed it over. "This is a secret letter that Seventh Madam sent this morning, instructing me to deliver it to you personally."

Li Bai took the bamboo tube, uncorked it, and poured out a roll of silk paper as thin as a cicada's wing. Unfolding it, Duan Qiniang's delicate handwriting came into view:

"My dear brother Taibai: News of last night's events has spread. This morning, three groups of spies appeared outside Pingkang Ward. They are not ordinary yamen runners; they seem to have connections within the palace. Supervisor He (He Zhizhang) sent word that His Majesty has heard of the 'strange phenomena' at Qujiang Pool and has ordered the Inner Palace Secretariat to secretly investigate the 'strange person.' You must remain secluded and avoid showing any further prominence. Also, the ceremony for conferring the title of 'Imperial Consort' upon Lady Yang has been set. It will be held in ten days in front of the Qinzhengwuben Building in Xingqing Palace. Once the ceremony is completed, there will be no turning back. Seventh Sister."

Ten days later.

Li Bai's fingers trembled slightly.

The silk paper was very thin, almost transparent, and felt weightless in his hand. But every word on it weighed heavily. The breeze blowing in from the window carried the fragrance of bamboo leaves, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in his heart.

"Ten days later..." he murmured to himself.

The man in blue said in a low voice, "Young Master Li, Seventh Madam also said that if you need, she can arrange for you to leave Chang'an immediately, either heading south to Sichuan or east to Jiangnan. Chang'an has become a place of trouble, and it is not advisable to stay there for long."

Li Bai shook his head.

leave?

Where can he go?

Yang Yuhuan was still in the deep palace, and in ten days she would be formally conferred the title of Imperial Concubine. Once the ceremony was completed, she would be Emperor Xuanzong's concubine, her status fixed and irreversible. At that time, even if he possessed extraordinary abilities, he would find it difficult to defy fate.

"I can't leave," Li Bai said, his voice soft but firm.

The man in blue looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Silence fell over the thatched hut. The flickering flame of the oil lamp cast Li Bai's swaying shadow on the wall. Birdsong drifted in from outside the window, clear and melodious, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere inside.

"Brother," Li Bai turned around, "I'd like to trouble you to return to Chang'an and tell Seventh Sister: First, I need to know the detailed procedures of the investiture ceremony—the time, place, participants, and guard arrangements, the more detailed the better. Second, please ask her to help me find out if that 'Cold-Noodle Judge' was the same attendant who brought Yang Yuhuan to the capital two years ago. Third…"

He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "Third, ask her to help me prepare some things."

"What is it?"

"Sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal," Li Bai said, "along with cinnabar, realgar, and lead powder. The quantities need not be large, but they must be pure."

The man in blue was taken aback: "These are...?"

"It's for alchemy," Li Bai said calmly. "I have my own uses for it."

Although the man in blue was puzzled, he nodded nonetheless: "Understood. Is there anything else you need, Young Master Li?"

"We shouldn't stay here any longer." Li Bai looked out the window. "Since Li Linfu's men have already left the city to search, this place will be discovered sooner or later. We should move tonight."

"Where to?"

"Seventh Sister has a manor thirty miles south of the city. It's a villa she bought years ago, and few people go there on ordinary days," the man in blue said. "It's more secluded there, and there's a tunnel leading into the mountains, so we can evacuate quickly if anything happens."

"Alright." Li Bai nodded. "Go and prepare. We'll set off before dark."

The man in blue clasped his hands in a fist salute and left.

Li Bai was left alone in the thatched hut again. He walked to the table, unfolded Duan Qiniang's secret letter again, and his gaze fell on the three words "ten days later". The light of the oil lamp shone on the silk paper, and the words seemed to dance.

Ten days.

Only ten days.

He walked to the wall and took the Green Destiny sword from his bag. The blade was broken in two, the cut jagged and gleaming with a dull metallic sheen under the light. Running his fingers over the blade, he could feel the subtle unevenness. The leather wrapped around the hilt was worn away, revealing the wood beneath.

This sword accompanied him through the Shu Mountains, through secret realms, and as he slew demons and monsters.

But now, it's broken.

Just like his plan, it fell apart before it even began.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened. The last rays of the setting sun shone through the western mountains, turning the bamboo forest golden. The birdsong gradually thinned out, replaced by the rustling of the evening breeze through the bamboo grove and the chirping of unknown insects in the distance.

Xiaolian came out of the inner room. She had changed into a set of coarse cloth clothes, her hair was simply tied up, and her face still looked tired, but her eyes had regained some of their sparkle.

"Young master, I heard you talking," she said softly. "Only ten days left, isn't that right?"

Li Bai nodded.

Xiao Lian walked to his side, looking at the broken Qingming sword on the table: "Young Master, is it still possible for us to rescue Miss Yang?"

"Yes," Li Bai said, his voice soft but firm. "I definitely can."

"But..." Xiaolian bit her lip, "The palace is heavily guarded, and Li Linfu is watching us so closely. It's difficult for us to even get close. How can we rescue them?"

Li Bai did not answer.

He walked to the window and opened it. A gentle evening breeze rushed in, carrying the coolness of the mountains and the fragrance of grass and trees. In the distance, the last rays of the setting sun were disappearing, and the sky was tinged with a deep blue twilight. The first star had already lit up, twinkling against the deep blue sky.

"Xiao Lian," he suddenly asked, "do you believe in fate?"

Xiao Lian was taken aback: "Fate?"

"It's fate," Li Bai said. "Some people believe that a person's life is predetermined. When one is born, when one dies, when one is rich or poor, is all arranged by Heaven and cannot be changed."

Xiaolian thought for a moment and shook her head: "I don't believe it. If everything is predetermined, what's the point of living? Like me, if I'm destined to be a maid for life, why should I try to learn to read and write, and to do accounting? If Miss Yang is destined to enter the palace as a concubine, why did she write a letter to the young master to express her unwillingness?"

Li Bai smiled.

The smile was faint, but very genuine.

"You're right," he said. "If everything is predetermined, then there's no point in trying. If history cannot be changed, then time travel is pointless."

He turned around and looked at Xiaolian: "But I believe that people can change their destiny. Just like I could travel from 2003 to the Tang Dynasty, just like I could transform from a mere scholar into a sword immortal, just like..."

He paused, then said in an even softer voice, "Like me, I can save her."

Outside the window, night had completely fallen. The deep blue sky was dotted with more and more stars, like scattered diamonds. A mountain breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, making it undulate like ocean waves. In the distance came the long, mournful cry of an owl.

It was completely dark.

The man in blue robes pushed open the door and entered, his clothes damp with the night dew: "Young Master Li, everything is ready. The carriages and horses are just outside the bamboo grove; we'll set off tonight."

Li Bai nodded, put the broken Qingming sword into his pouch, and then carefully examined the Qinglian sword in his arms—the sword had been nurtured in his dantian and was now as quiet as a sleeping infant. He could feel a faint pulse emanating from the sword's body; it was the sword spirit breathing.

The three of them quietly left the thatched hut.

The night was dark, moonless, with only starlight barely illuminating the mountain path. The soil beneath their feet was soft, making almost no sound as they stepped on it. The bamboo grove swayed in the night breeze, the rustling of the bamboo leaves masking their footsteps.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a secluded path appeared ahead. A simple carriage was parked by the roadside, pulled by an old horse, and the driver was a taciturn old man who simply nodded when he saw them approaching.

The three boarded the carriage. The carriage was small, barely enough for three people to sit. The curtain was drawn, blocking out the starlight. The carriage started moving, the wheels rumbling over the dirt road with a dull thud.

The carriage was dark, with only faint starlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains. Li Bai could smell the wood and old fabric inside, feel the vibrations from the wooden planks as the carriage swayed, and hear the night wind blowing through the mountains outside.

Xiao Lian was nestled beside him, already asleep. Her breathing was even and soft.

The man in blue sat opposite him, his hand on the hilt of his knife, listening warily to the sounds outside the carriage.

Li Bai closed his eyes.

Countless images flashed through my mind.

On a street in Chengdu in 2003, a cold dagger pierced Yang Xiaohuan's chest, her eyes filled with sorrow and helplessness.

On the outskirts of Chengdu, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, fifteen-year-old Yang Yuhuan turned around and smiled, captivating all who beheld her.

The soaring sword light of the Azure Lotus Sword when it is drawn from its sheath in the Shu Mountain Secret Realm.

On the banks of Qujiang Pool, Xiaolian's terrified eyes as she was being chased.

And then there was that letter—Yang Yuhuan's handwriting, delicate yet sorrowful: "This love can only be cherished in memory, for at the time it was already a regret."

Ten days.

Only ten days.

The carriage traveled through the night. After some time, the driver's low voice came from outside: "We've arrived."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and starlight poured in.

Li Bai alighted from his carriage and before him lay a manor hidden deep in the mountains. The manor was small, with blue bricks and gray tiles, high walls, and a tightly closed gate. Dense woods surrounded it, completely concealing it from the outside.

The man in blue stepped forward and knocked on the door three times, then two times. Footsteps came from inside, and then the door opened a crack. An old servant peeked out, saw the man in blue, nodded, and opened the door completely.

The three of them went inside.

The manor was quiet, with several old locust trees in the courtyard casting dappled shadows. A light was on in the main house, casting a shadowy figure on the window paper.

Duan Qiniang came out of the house.

She wore a plain-colored dress, her hair simply tied up, her face showing fatigue, but her eyes were still bright. Seeing Li Bai, she quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Taibai, you've finally arrived."

"Seventh Sister," Li Bai said, clasping his hands in thanks.

"Don't talk about that," Duan Qiniang said, pulling him into the house. "Let's talk inside."

Two oil lamps lit up the main room, illuminating the simple furnishings: a square table, a few chairs, a bookshelf, and a daybed. Tea sets were laid out on the table, and the tea was still steaming.

Duan Qiniang gestured for Li Bai to sit down and personally poured him tea. The tea was green tea, with a clear, bright color and a fragrant aroma. Li Bai took it, sipped it, and the tea's fragrance melted in his mouth, carrying a slight bitterness followed by a sweet aftertaste.

"I've already sent people to prepare what you requested," Duan Qiniang said, sitting down opposite him. "Sulfur, saltpeter, charcoal, cinnabar, realgar, and lead powder will be delivered tomorrow. But Taibai, what do you need these alchemical ingredients for?"

Li Bai did not answer directly, but instead asked, "Have you found out the procedures for the investiture ceremony?"

Duan Qiniang took out a roll of paper from her sleeve and spread it on the table. The paper contained a detailed drawing in fine brushstrokes of the layout of the square in front of the Qinzhengwu Building of Xingqing Palace, as well as the procedure for the investiture ceremony.

"Ten days from now, at the third quarter of Chen hour, the ceremony will begin." Duan Qiniang pointed to the blueprints. "The location is the square in front of the Qin Zheng Wu Ben Building. At that time, His Majesty will attend with civil and military officials, concubines of the harem, and princes of the imperial clan. Miss Yang—no, Consort Yang—will come out of the harem in a phoenix palanquin, walk along the imperial road in the center of the square, and ascend the steps in front of the Qin Zheng Wu Ben Building to receive the golden edict and golden seal of investiture."

Li Bai carefully examined the blueprints.

The square was large, rectangular in shape, about two hundred paces wide from east to west and three hundred paces long from north to south. The Qinzhengwuben Building faced south, with nine steps of white marble in front of it. The square was guarded by imperial guards, with a guard every ten paces. On both sides of the imperial road were ceremonial guards, musicians, palace maids and eunuchs.

"What's the situation with the guards?" he asked.

"The Imperial Guards number three thousand, personally commanded by General Chen Xuanli," Duan Qiniang said. "In addition, there are five hundred Imperial Guards patrolling the perimeter of the square, and two hundred eunuchs from the Inner Palace Service serving inside. Trying to sneak in is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Li Bai's finger moved across the drawing, finally stopping on the imperial road in the center of the square.

"Will Yang Guifei's imperial carriage pass through here during the ceremony?"

"Yes." Duan Qiniang nodded. "After exiting the inner palace gate, walk straight along the imperial road and stop in front of the steps. Then, Consort Yang dismounts from the palanquin, walks up the steps, and receives her investiture."

"What about the speed of the phoenix carriage?"

"It's very slow," Duan Qiniang said. "The ceremony is solemn, and the phoenix palanquin is carried by eight eunuchs. The pace is slow, with each step taken slowly and deliberately. It takes about a quarter of an hour to get from the back palace gate to the steps."

A quarter of an hour.

Li Bai closed his eyes and began to deduce the scenario in his mind.

The square, the imperial road, the imperial carriage, the guards, the officials, the emperor...

Countless images intertwined in his mind, forming a complex chess game. What he had to do was find a way to break the deadlock within this game.

"Taibai," Duan Qiniang's voice interrupted his thoughts, "what exactly do you want to do?"

Li Bai opened his eyes and looked at her: "Seventh Sister, do you believe that people can change fate?"

Duan Qiniang was taken aback, then smiled: "If it were before, I might not have believed it. But since I met you, I believe it. What is impossible for someone who can travel from a thousand years later to the Tang Dynasty?"

"Then if I said," Li Bai's voice was soft, but every word was clear, "that I want to create an 'accident' at the investiture ceremony to rescue Yang Yuhuan, would you believe me?"

Duan Qiniang's smile froze.

The air in the room seemed to freeze instantly. The flame of the oil lamp flickered, casting a swaying shadow on the wall. The sound of the night wind rustling through the treetops came from outside the window.

After a long silence, Duan Qiniang finally spoke, her voice hoarse: "Taibai, are you... are you serious?"

"Seriously," Li Bai nodded.

"Do you know what this means?" Duan Qiniang stood up and paced around the room. "That's in Xingqing Palace, before the Emperor, before all the civil and military officials! Three thousand Imperial Guards, five hundred Golden Guards, and a renowned general like Chen Xuanli in command! How are you going to create an 'accident'? How are you going to save people? How are you going to escape?"

"I don't know," Li Bai said, "but I do know that if I don't try, Yang Yuhuan will become a concubine in ten days, locked away in the palace forever, with no freedom. And I will regret it for the rest of my life."

Duan Qiniang stopped and looked at him.

The light from the oil lamp shone on Li Bai's face, a face that had once been etched with poetic and carefree elegance, now showing only unwavering resolve. His eyes shone brightly, like the brightest stars in the night sky.

"You're crazy," Duan Qiniang said.

"Perhaps," Li Bai laughed, "but it's better to go crazy once than to regret it for a lifetime."

Duan Qiniang remained silent for a long time.

The sound of the night watchman's gong came from outside, bang bang bang, it was the third watch of the night. The night was deeper, the stars brighter.

"Those sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal you wanted," Duan Qiniang suddenly asked, "are they for making gunpowder?"

Li Bai nodded.

He had studied chemistry in college and knew the formula for gunpowder. Sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal, mixed in a certain proportion, made up the simplest form of gunpowder. Although it wasn't very powerful, its chaotic production was sufficient.

"You want to use gunpowder to create an explosion and rescue people in the chaos?" Duan Qiniang asked.

"Not only that," Li Bai said. "Gunpowder is only one aspect. I will also use cinnabar, realgar, and lead powder to create smoke and flashes. During the ceremony, if there are sudden explosions, smoke, and flashes, the scene will surely descend into chaos. The Imperial Guards will prioritize protecting the Emperor, the officials will panic, and the eunuchs and palace maids will scatter and flee. That will be the opportunity."

Duan Qiniang sat down again, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"The plan sounds feasible, but there are several problems," she said. "First, how do you smuggle gunpowder in? Security for the investiture ceremony is extremely strict; everyone entering the square will be searched, and even officials are not allowed to carry sharp weapons. Second, how do you detonate it? Third, even if you create chaos, how do you approach the imperial carriage under the noses of three thousand imperial guards and take Yang Guifei away? Fourth, after taking her away, how do you escape? Chang'an will be immediately sealed off, and a city-wide manhunt will be launched. Where can you escape to?"

Li Bai remained silent.

He knew about these issues.

Each problem was an insurmountable obstacle, like towering mountains standing in his way.

But he had to get over it.

For Yang Yuhuan, for that love that transcends a thousand years, and so as not to have any regrets.

"I will find a way," he said, his voice soft but firm.

Duan Qiniang looked at him for a long time. Finally, she sighed, "Fine, fine. Since you've made up your mind, I'll help you."

"Seventh Sister..."

"Stop talking." Duan Qiniang waved her hand. "I, Duan Qiniang, have been in Chang'an for so many years. I may not have much else, but I do have some connections. I'll figure out a way to handle the security check. I'll have someone research the detonation. I'll arrange the escape route. But Taibai, you have to promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"If things are hopeless, give up immediately." Duan Qiniang stared into his eyes. "Living is more important than anything else. As long as you live, there's still a chance. If you die, you'll have nothing left."

Li Bai remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "I promise you."

Duan Qiniang finally breathed a sigh of relief. She stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. The night breeze blew in, carrying the coolness of the mountains. In the distance, the mountains lay prostrate in the night like giant beasts, and starlight sprinkled on the mountains, giving them a faint silver glow.

"Nine days left," she said softly. "Nine days to prepare for an operation that's almost impossible to succeed. Taibai, do you think we've all gone mad?"

Li Bai walked to her side and also looked out the window.

The night was deep, and the stars were shining brightly.

"Maybe," he said, "but sometimes, you just have to go crazy."

Outside the window, a shooting star streaked across the sky, leaving a long trail of light before disappearing behind the distant mountains.

Like a flash of sword light.