Everyone else went to the Capital City through the teleportation channel, but Long Fei and Wang Xiaoya didn’t take that route. Instead, they explored this world with Little Liuzi carrying them around.

This world is vast, and the Great Tang Empire only occupies a corner of it.

The two traveled, enjoying the sights, visiting famous mountains and rivers to pay their respects.

As they continued their journey, half a year passed unknowingly.

Upon entering Chang’an City, they immediately heard shocking news that shook the entire nation.

The Filial Emperor did not survive this winter and just passed away in Chang’an City.

The Crown Prince ascended the throne, taking the title of Emperor Gong.

Under the regency of Empress Dowager Wu, the era was named Shunchang.

A heavy snowfall blanketed the Capital City, covering the giant city in white.

Continuous snow fell, the sky was gray, and the sun hadn’t been seen for half a month.

White cloth was hung everywhere in the Capital City, and an early nighttime curfew made everything seem quite dull.

Long Fei and Wang Xiaoya walked through the snow, sitting down at a shabby tea house.

The tea house was drafty, with two rows of kettles steaming on the stove.

Wang Xiaoya looked around and shouted, "Shopkeeper, bring us a pot of tea."

After a while, a voice called from inside, "Guests, please wait a moment, it will be right up."

Wang Xiaoya murmured to Long Fei, "It’s getting dark, and if we don’t hurry into the city, the gates will close soon!"

Long Fei laughed and said, "Do we still need to enter through the gates?"

"Don’t we?"

Wang Xiaoya raised her brows and said, "If we don’t use the gates, aren’t we just acting like thieves?"

"True, let’s go through the city gates then!"

Long Fei smiled casually.

He seemed like a big shot in the Capital City, choosing any path he wished.

At this moment, a shop assistant came in from the backyard, picked up a kettle, and poured it into a teapot, bringing it to Long Fei and Wang Xiaoya.

He repeatedly apologized to them, "Sorry, I had a bit of an upset stomach, making you wait long."

He set out two tea bowls and poured tea for Long Fei and Wang Xiaoya.

Wang Xiaoya frowned at the dark brown tea and asked, "What kind of tea is this? Why does it look so dark?"

The shop assistant was momentarily stunned and laughed awkwardly, "Sorry, I’m new here and don’t know what this tea is. I’ll ask the shopkeeper when he returns."

Long Fei joked, "It’s not peaceful lately; there are reports of miscreants around. Did you poison the tea for us to drink?"

The shop assistant’s face changed, and he quickly exclaimed, "Guest, how can you slander someone’s good name! If you say that, don’t drink the tea; this shop can’t serve you!"

Long Fei raised the tea bowl with a smile and said, "Just joking, don’t take it seriously. Consider this bowl of tea on me, drink it to warm yourself up."

The shop assistant’s face turned white, and he quickly swung the kettle at Long Fei, shouting, "Master, we have a troublesome guest, come and help!"

He dodged behind the counter, pulling out a big knife from beneath the table.

The wind swirled from the backyard, revealing a Daoist dressed figure holding a horsetail whisk, who emerged, belching heavily.

Wang Xiaoya exclaimed in surprise, "Is this a den of thieves?"

Long Fei calmly held the teapot, not spilling a drop.

He smiled at the Daoist and said, "After eating meat, how about a sip of tea to wash it down?"

The Daoist’s two tufts of beard trembled as he spoke, "Young man, seeing you both as extraordinary, you must have some cultivation level. I advise you not to meddle, or you may get hurt."

Long Fei chuckled, "Your advice is wise, but I still need to return this pot of tea to you. If you can catch it, we’ll leave right away."

He raised his hand and sent the teapot flying.

The Daoist sneered, "Are you testing me?"

He used his horsetail whisk to create a vortex in front, trying to catch the teapot.

But the teapot easily passed through the vortex, smashing into him and knocking him to the ground heavily.

It was just a teapot, but it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

The Daoist was pinned down, out of breath, shouting repeatedly, "Spare me! Spare me!"

The knife-wielding assistant turned to flee but was stopped by Long Fei’s finger pointing at his back.

With a ’pop’, the assistant screamed and collapsed.

His clothes tore, and a bloody black centipede emerged from his body.

Wang Xiaoya, disgusted, said, "So it was the Centipede Spirit causing trouble!"

The Daoist, too, morphed under the pressure, turning into a two-meter-long centipede struggling back and forth.

One was a Core Formation stage old demon that could transform.

One was a barely sentient demonic beast wreaking havoc outside the city, eating people.

Long Fei lifted the kitchen door, revealing a large iron pot filled with human heads.

Beyond the door, the backyard was piled with corpses.

Wang Xiaoya, feeling nauseous, nearly vomited.

Long Fei asked the Centipede Spirit, "Where do you demons come from, and why are you here?"

The Centipede Daoist whimpered, not daring to speak, seemingly frightened.

"Not talking?"

Long Fei sliced its tail off with a finger.

Black blood sprayed from it with a ’pop’.

The Centipede Daoist screamed in pain, "I’ll talk, I’ll talk. I usually cultivate at Withered Grass Ridge, three hundred miles from the Capital City. Last month, I heard about an immortal fate being discovered nearby, so I brought my disciples here hoping for luck. But after a few days, there was no movement, and hunger drove us to take over a tea house to eat passing travelers."

"A man-eating demon like you seeking immortal fate?"

Long Fei sneered, raised his hand, and smashed its head into pulp, destroying its demon core.

Wang Xiaoya commented, "It seems the immortal fate is real, even the Demon Clan knows about it."

Long Fei, incredulous, pondered, "Why does the immortal fate appear now? Coincidence or deliberate?"

Wang Xiaoya raised her brows and said, "Are you saying someone might use this fate to cause trouble?"

Long Fei nodded, "Now that the Filial Emperor has passed, the New Emperor has ascended, with Empress Wu managing government, it’s a time of chaos. Some will surely seize the opportunity, and perhaps beneath the Capital City, there are hidden currents already."

Wang Xiaoya pursed her lips and said, "Should we return to Shu State and avoid this mess? I’m worried about leaving Qing’er alone there!"

Long Fei patted her head and said, "Since we’re here, we can’t avoid getting involved."

He led Wang Xiaoya outside, where a group of soldiers was approaching.

A young man leading them shouted, "Surround the place!"

The warhorses kicked up snow in all directions.

Long Fei and Wang Xiaoya found themselves surrounded.

A young official dressed in fine clothes entered the house with his men, then quickly came out, asking Long Fei and Wang Xiaoya, "Did you kill the Centipede Demon Daoist?"

Long Fei nodded.

"Heaven’s justice is swift and clear, that beast got off easy!"

The young official cursed, then extended a fist salute, saying, "I am the Minister of Dali Temple, Di Renying. You two high experts have acted righteously by eliminating this demon. I thank you on behalf of the Capital City’s citizens. Would you be willing to enter the city with me? It’s past curfew, and I can bring you along."

Long Fei and Wang Xiaoya exchanged glances, smiling back with a fist salute, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

They both were delighted, thinking that another famous figure of the Great Tang Empire had appeared.

Indeed, under the heavens, fate is subtly decided.