At the peak of Fufeng Mountain, the bright moon hung high, and the Milky Way sparkled brilliantly.

The moonlight turned the courtyard at the mountain’s peak as bright as snow, with the low whisper of insects adding to the tranquil and leisurely atmosphere.

"The Mountain Master is not in a good mood today, let’s patrol farther away to not disturb his peace."

"Every time the Mountain Master is in a bad mood, he locks himself here for several days, sigh..."

Two Feather Clan guards flapped their wings, trying not to make a sound as they quietly moved away from the peak courtyard and stood guard further away.

The bushes rustled behind the courtyard as two breezes drifted into it.

"Strange, the guards and defenses here are incredibly weak, it almost feels too easy to sneak in."

Jiang Yuebai leaned against the courtyard wall, scanning the surroundings, feeling uneasy.

Xie Jingshan transmitted his voice, "This is an opportunity not to be missed; I just need to meet him and ask a few questions."

Jiang Yuebai thought for a moment and said, "You go find him yourself, I’ll stand watch outside, at most for half an hour."

"Alright!"

Xie Jingshan slipped into the front courtyard and saw the flickering lights in the main hall, a thin shadow reflected on the window. He took a breath and lifted the back window, jumping inside.

The person sitting at the desk turned at the sound, and Xie Jingshan removed the Divine Concealment Talisman, gradually returning to his true appearance. They locked eyes, both struck speechless.

"You... why are you here?"

A clear, bird-like female voice reached his ears. Xie Jingshan stared dumbfounded at the petite girl before him, looking only seventeen or eighteen, her face full of freckles, still young and innocent, with sparrow wings behind her back, in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Huaixi, you’ve... turned into a girl?"

Xie Jingshan blurted out, his mind blanking.

The girl was startled, retreating and scanning the area in a panic, "Don’t come over, you need to leave quickly."

"Xiaoque."

A gentle male voice came from behind the screen, sending a shock through Xie Jingshan as he turned to look.

There, a man like a clear moon and gentle breeze, wearing an ink robe with white feather patterns, stepped out from behind the screen. His innate smile made him feel like he was bathing in spring wind.

"It’s been a long time, Brother Jingshan."

Xie Jingshan’s heartbeat raced, then he burst into laughter, "Hahaha, I knew it — how could you turn into a girl? By the way, what happened last time? You disappeared, and they told me you’re a remnant of the Ghost Clan. But to hell with that, I didn’t believe it."

"I am," Shen Huaxi replied with a calm smile.

Xie Jingshan’s laughter caught in his throat, his expression stiff and awkward.

"Xiaoque, you may go."

The young girl looked tense and worried, "But tonight..."

"It’s fine, you may leave."

"Yes."

Xiaoque glanced at Xie Jingshan, who was wiping his face, and bowed before leaving.

She had seen this person who often followed the Mountain Master at the medical camp in the Land of Azure Flame and recognized him as the Mountain Master’s cherished friend.

"Please, Master Wangshu, come in as well; the night wind is chilly."

Xie Jingshan’s expression grew tense, "It seems you’ve been keeping quite a close watch on us these years."

Shen Huaxi smiled silently and walked to the table, gesturing for Xie Jingshan to sit.

Xie Jingshan looked out the window, Jiang Yuebai shook his head, signaling for him not to enter and reminding him to be cautious.

At this moment, Shen Huaxi was also at the Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivation, but his presence felt ethereal to Xie Jingshan, like a breeze — impossible to see or grasp, everything before him an illusion.

"You know I haven’t been poisoned by the Forgetfulness Elixir?"

Xie Jingshan sat down boldly, sniffing as the incense in the room made his nose itch.

Shen Huaxi poured tea for Xie Jingshan, "As the Young Master of the Mountain and Sea Building, if you couldn’t even guard against a mere Forgetfulness Elixir, why would True Monarch Tianbao let you travel alone?"

Xie Jingshan chuckled, "So that day, you purely intended to save me, to make that Ghost Face believe I wouldn’t reveal your identity?"

"Fufeng Mountain isn’t very suitable for growing tea, I hope Brother Jingshan doesn’t mind."

Xie Jingshan held the teacup, feelings mixed, "These years, have you been well?"

Shen Huaxi spread his hands, "What does Brother Jingshan think?"

"Seems like it’s been not too bad," Xie Jingshan downed the tea in one gulp, "Indeed, it doesn’t taste good. I’ll have the Mountain and Sea Building send you some good tea from the Central Plains later."

"Brother Jingshan, I have something urgent to do tonight, please be concise and leave early, your stay in the Extraordinary People Country is very dangerous."

"Was it you who robbed the Mountain and Sea Building?" Xie Jingshan asked directly.

Shen Huaxi paused briefly, "I didn’t give the order, but I knew about it, and I know it was done by the Iron Feather Country. Moreover, I didn’t stop them."

"Why? Are you planning to declare war on our Mountain and Sea Building?" Xie Jingshan stared intently at Shen Huaxi.

Shen Huaxi lowered his eyes, the smile on his lips turning increasingly bitter, "All these years, I’ve just been a puppet under someone else’s control. If Brother Jingshan is still willing to trust me, please give me some time; soon, I’ll end everything."

"What do you intend to do?" Xie Jingshan had a foreboding feeling.

Shen Huaxi looked up, "Does Brother Jingshan have any other matters?"

Xie Jingshan clenched his fists, wishing he could punch away the fake smile on Shen Huaxi’s face.

Shen Huaxi stood up to see him off, "It’s wise for the Mountain and Sea Building to temporarily withdraw, return once the situation stabilizes. I’ll compensate for the Mountain and Sea Building’s previous losses, please give me some time. If there’s nothing else, could Brother Jingshan please..."

"Do you know someone around you wants to harm you?"

Xie Jingshan slapped the letter he had received onto the table.

Shen Huaxi glanced at it lightly, his smile unchanged, "Brother Jingshan, please go back."

Xie Jingshan slammed the table and stood up, "I came to find you specifically, not to listen to you fool me. Regarding the Mountain and Sea Building, my grandfather is determined to make an example for the entire Extraordinary People Country. Are you waiting for him to personally come and kill you?"

"Or do you knowingly let others use you and willingly allow it? Only to be discarded like trash once they’re done with you, making you the scapegoat?"

Shen Huaxi’s eyes darkened, "Brother Jingshan, being too sentimental will backfire on you."

"I..."

"Xie Jingshan! Someone’s coming; let’s go!"

Jiang Yuebai suddenly appeared beside Xie Jingshan, pulling him as she prepared to activate the Five Ghosts Shifting Technique, the only means she currently had to escape with someone else.

"Tonight, none of you are leaving!"

The Five Ghosts Shifting Technique wasn’t fully activated yet when a dark stream suddenly rushed in through the window at lightning speed, straight at Jiang Yuebai’s face.

Xie Jingshan’s expression turned fierce, and he quickly stepped in front of Jiang Yuebai, raising his sword across his chest, with the green light bursting from the sword sheath.

Boom!

The tremendous force shattered the green light, and both Xie Jingshan and Jiang Yuebai behind him were violently thrown back, crashing through the screen to the ground.

The black water stream infiltrated Xie Jingshan’s body with unstoppable force, bringing an electric numbness that felt like ten thousand ants gnawing, causing him to groan in pain.

"Xie Jingshan, are you alright?"

Jiang Yuebai got up, dragging Xie Jingshan backward, away from the pervasive black stream on the ground.

Xie Jingshan endured the pain and fished out an elixir to consume, "It’s Yin Thunder, Water Thunder."

Jiang Yuebai looked up to see the entire room covered by the black stream, the doors and windows sealed, with no escape.

Shen Huaxi stood tensely in place, facing an old man with horns on his head and white hair, who had appeared inexplicably before him.

The black stream surged at the old man’s feet, and the oppressive force of his Golden Core Peak cultivation brought a bone-chilling cold, making one’s skin crawl.

He grinned malevolently, looking at Jiang Yuebai and Xie Jingshan.

"Good disciple, your strategy to lure them into a trap worked well. This grand gift, I am most pleased."