"Northern region?"
Wang Zhu's left brow twitched, doubt flickering in her eyes.
Catching the suspicion in her voice, Zui spoke quickly.
"I know what you're thinking; but this isn't an ordinary brothel. It belongs to Ruyu. He built it by binding the souls of the malicious corpse he captured. Somehow, he enchanted it, so it follows him wherever he goes. That's why it's no longer here."
His voice grew firm.
"And, for the record, I might lie about trivial things, but never about something like this."
Wang Zhu regarded him in silence, her skepticism still evident.
Zui no longer cared whether she believed him or not. His voice remained steady as he went on.
"When I called the wind earlier, it told me Ruyu is heading to Jijui. The first capital of the northern region. He'll arrive around midnight."
Her expression remained unchanged, sharp and unreadable. Suspicion still lingered in her gaze, thickening the air between them.
She didn't know if the entity before her was telling the truth or weaving a careful web before striking. But in the end, it hardly mattered.
She had nothing left to lose.
No home to return to, no ties to sever, no debts left unpaid.
Only a path stretching endlessly before her–one that had long since ceased to promise anything but blood and silence.
So what did it matter if the entity standing before her was speaking the truth or merely spinning a careful web before the strike?
Her fingers curled around the hilt of her sword, the weight of it grounding her in the present.
At last, she gave a subtle nod.
"But I must go somewhere first. You'll wait here until I return," Her voice was calm but firm.
Zui's head tilted, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"Where are you going?"
The question hung between them a moment before his voice softened, tinged with something close to desperation.
"Can I come with you?"
"No," Wang Zhu said without hesitation.
"I'm returning to my sect. The barrier guarding the outer gate will disintegrate you instantly if you attempt to enter."
Zui furrowed his brow, frustration and unease flickering across his face as he searched for a solution.
"Then… I'll wait at the base of the mountain near your sect's gate. I won't approach it, I swear. Just don't leave me here alone. I… I don't want to be alone," he admitted, his voice faltering ever so slightly.
Wang Zhu studied him in silence, her gaze unreadable.
Finally, after a long moment, she gave a small nod.
As Wang Zhu passed through the gates of the Ranji Sect, a familiar voice called out.
"Senior!"
Something small and round sailed through the air toward her. Without missing a beat, Wang Zhu raised a hand, catching the loquat effortlessly.
She glanced down at the fruit before looking up to meet Pu Lian's grinning face.
He was dressed in a simple yet elegant white hanfu, the fabric shimmering faintly with a silver sheen in the sunlight.
"You're finally back! Eat that. I plucked it from my father's tree earlier, it's fresh and ripe," Pu Lian said with enthusiasm.
Wang Zhu eyed the loquat in her hand, a reluctant expression flickering across her face before she looked back at him.
"Where's Master? I need to speak with him in private," she said firmly.
"Perfect timing! He's in his pavilion, having tea-"
Before he could finish, Wang Zhu had already turned on her heel, striding off in the direction he mentioned.
Pu Lian stared after her, momentarily stunned.
"Senior! I wasn't finished talking…" he called after her, but Wang Zhu paid him no mind, quickening her pace.
"Eish! Wait up! I already told Elder Ning about what we discovered in that alley, but when they got there, the demon energy had vanished. How's that even possible?"
"They were too late. It already left," Wang Zhu shouted back without slowing down.
"Ahh… Well, too bad then," Pu Lian sighed, shrugging as if the news were nothing more than a mild inconvenience. He quickened his steps to match hers.
"So, why do you want to talk to my father?" he asked, finally catching up.
As expected, Wang Zhu didn't respond until they arrived.
She stepped forward and saluted respectfully.
"The disciple greets Master."
Before her stood the esteemed Grandmaster of Ranji Sect; Jiang Ying Fu, father of JiangPuLian.
His face, delicate with a faint touch of masculinity, bore no signs of age despite the years behind him.
With his youthful features, it was hard to believe he had long surpassed the typical human lifespan.
Standing at an impressive six-foot-three, he wore a black long-sleeved hanfu adorned with subtle silk patterns, exuding quiet authority.
"A-Zhu, you've returned," Grandmaster Jiang said warmly.
"How is your health? A-Lian told me you caught a fever from not resting properly in the cold at the West Gate."
Wang Zhu stole a glance at Pu Lian, who was already looking at her, winking and silently mouthing,
'You're welcome.'
Before she could respond, Grandmaster Jiang gestured toward the table.
"A-Zhu, come join me."
She nodded and stepped forward.
"A-Lian, bring another teacup for A-Zhu. And another baked dish."
Pu Lian pouted, openly displaying his annoyance.
He stomped his foot, spun on his heel, and reluctantly went to carry out his father's request.
"Just the two of us now," Grandmaster Jiang said, his tone calm.
Wang Zhu had long grown used to his cryptic way of speaking, as if he always knew her thoughts before she voiced them.
She bowed slightly.
"This disciple seeks Master's permission."
Her gaze lowered slightly as she continued.
"I wish to venture out… to further my skills."
Grandmaster Jiang set his teacup down gently, his eyes drifting toward the small pond in the pavilion, where two young lily sprouts floated lazily on the surface.
"Nature works in mysterious ways," he murmured, his expression undisturbed, like the quiet tide meeting the shore.
He turned back to Wang Zhu, who remained still, her posture straight, waiting for his response.
"You've grown quickly, just like A-Lian. Time moves faster now, as if the world itself is rushing toward something," he said with a quiet sigh.
"On your journey, don't forget to look back."