The people of the Heart Pavilion believed that the information had been successfully delivered to the elder.

However, it was intercepted entirely by an ancient Divine Artifact.

When it was publicly deciphered, the elder who had ties with the Mental Path and Heart Pavilion was thoroughly exposed.

The Great Elder slowly opened his tightly shut eyes: "The Eldest Princess has such deep machinations! Yet... my association with the Heart Pavilion is an open matter, all to unite forces for Qingqiu. Is that considered my grave sin?"

Fufeng stared into his eyes, coldly saying: "I don’t need to argue with you about your guilt. I only remember that you just signed the Heavenly Fox Contract and that you have a life-and-death battle with Su Lin! If you lose, all of you must leave Qingqiu!"

The Great Elder’s Spirit Platform was surrounded by a swirl of black aura, darkening his vision.

He had just accused Fufeng of deep schemes, but the real scheme lay not in gathering information with the Heavenly Fox Hairpin, but in that piece of paper - the Heavenly Fox Contract.

If it were merely external ties, it would remain a debatable topic for days without resolution, one they need not overly concern themselves with.

You say I have ties with the Heart Pavilion and Mental Path, but I openly admit it’s all for Qingqiu.

But the tightest noose around their necks was this decisive battle with Su Lin.

If the Great Elder lost, with Su Lin’s nature, there would be no mercy.

Once he dies, his entire group must, per the contract, leave Qingqiu!

This is what Fufeng truly intended with her long journey back to the clan.

As the eldest daughter of Qingqiu, she’s wandered the Jianghu for a whole century; her cultivation may not be pinnacle, but her scheming has improved immensely.

Fu Ya’s face turned red: "I’m going to tell Seventh Sister!"

She was about to leave.

Fufeng stretched out her hand, grabbing her: "No need to go! Seventh Sister isn’t even in Qingqiu; she has already run away. In the quiet room in seclusion, it’s actually her maid in disguise using the Heavenly Fox Bracelet."

Ah?

Everyone was shocked simultaneously.

"Where did Seventh Sister go?"

"She transformed into a green-robed scholar and is having a great time with her Brother Su in Jiangnan." Fufeng smiled.

"She... actually participated in Su Lin’s trip to Jiangnan?" Fu Ling’s eyes shone brightly.

Fufeng raised her gaze, staring at the Elder Council before her: "Now do you see? The current generation of Qingqiu descendants can accomplish great things, such as establishing rules on the Jiangnan Cultivation Path! And you... aside from blindly rejecting the Imperial Family, what else can you do other than choosing a gutter rat?"

"Exactly!" Fu Ling said: "You can mindlessly oppose the Imperial Family, but you can’t ignore the iron fact that by allying with them, you can achieve great achievements!"

Fufeng smiled; this was another of her goals in returning to the clan.

She...

Call it what you will, be it infatuation or the traditional "soft for men" trait of the Fox Clan, she has ties with the Imperial Family.

She is a concubine of the Seventh Prince.

According to the Heavenly Fox Ancestor’s teachings, she is violating the ancestral rules.

Thus, she hopes this generation of Qingqiu descendants can change this stereotype; there are countless people in the world, and many emperors too. Just because the first Human Emperor failed the Heavenly Fox Ancestor doesn’t mean every subsequent emperor will wrong the Fox Clan women.

At least her husband wouldn’t!

That night...

Lin Xiaosu was very well-behaved.

So well-behaved that he was unrecognizable.

Fu Fu tried numerous times to entice him with Miao Mu, wanting to lure him into the cabin for something, but he was slow and didn’t get it.

Fu Fu’s lips pouted to the point of being able to hang an oil bottle.

Kuang Lang, feeling his presence nearby, her thoughts wandered far—tonight, he didn’t intend to enter the cabin; might he invite her to "patrol the river"?

Today, even the Sect Leader was taken down; he truly had good reason to have fun with her.

But he didn’t.

He sat by the table chatting with Gu Suixin, drinking, sipping tea, and eating fruits...

Why?

Kuang Lang’s heart sank bit by bit.

Could it be he’s grown tired of her?

Indeed, after all, she’s not pretty; two times might have been enough for him.

In the future, perhaps there will be no more chances to be with him.

Sir, you’re so cruel, do you know that?

If you hadn’t touched me, I certainly wouldn’t have such thoughts, but you did touch me; you led me to such pleasant experiences, and then you left... it leaves one so empty inside...

Luckily, a night’s time is ultimately short.

No matter how hard it is to endure, a night passes easily.

The next day, at dawn.

As the sun rose, Lin Xiaosu stood up: "Target, West of Moon Lake! Set out!"

The flagship moved, the army began.

Lin Xiaosu sent troops to West Moon Lake!

It was the "West of Moon Lake" mentioned in the poem Han Yan gave him that day—If the North Wind knows, it won’t go beyond West Moon Lake.

This was Han Yan’s warning! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

She was explicitly telling him: If you’re sensible, don’t touch my Hanyue Valley.

Today, Lin Xiaosu clearly responded to her: I intend to touch your Hanyue Valley!

The thunder roared, Moon Lake stood still, the sun rose, the lake waters shimmering gold.

Fifty warships set sail from Huzhou, crossing Moon Lake.

Above the sky white clouds floated, the flags on the warships waved, everything seemed so normal.

However, sudden changes erupted in front of West Moon Lake...

Suddenly, the lake water became misty and disorienting.

The warships plunged into the zone, and the sky and waters seemed like another world.

Above the sky, blossoming peach flowers.

Below the water, a fog pervades.

It appeared so beautiful, yet concealed enormous eeriness.

Petals drifted down from the sky, vanishing into the mist like funeral offerings.

"Senior Brother!" Gu Suixin’s face changed: "One of the Seven Strange Techniques of the Heavenly Capital, the ’Zhanghua Technique.’"