The incident happened suddenly, throwing Qi Manor into chaos. The six of them took advantage of the confusion to regroup smoothly.
Shen Hefeng straightened his Taoist robe with practiced ease, leading the group to "patrol" deliberately through secluded corners.
Once they reached a hidden spot, Lu Jiayao patted his chest, exhaling in relief. "Thank goodness, thank goodness! As long as nothing went wrong!"
Li Zhuohua immediately lifted her chin proudly. "With me here, how could anything go wrong?"
"Exactly, thank heavens for Senior Sister Zhuohua," Wen Shuangbai chimed in with a smile, then slowed her steps as something occurred to her.
She glanced back and saw Xie Ziyin and Yin Xuan walking toward them from around the lotus pond, one after the other.
Xie Ziyin paused slightly when his gaze landed on Wen Shuangbai, standing amidst the crowded lotus-lined path.
Yin Xuan, looking listless, trailed behind. Noticing the pause, he stepped around Xie Ziyin and stopped in front of his junior sister. "Shimei," he called.
Wen Shuangbai: "Hmm?"
Yin Xuan: "Are you really set on marrying no one but Xie Ziyin?"
Wen Shuangbai didn’t hesitate before denying it. "Of course not!"
Hearing this, Yin Xuan reached out and gently patted her head, his voice softening. "Then wait for your senior brother to earn enough spirit stones—100,000—to dissolve your marriage contract."
Wen Shuangbai agreed cheerfully. "Deal!"
Watching her senior brother walk away, Wen Shuangbai turned to Xie Ziyin, who had caught up beside her. She held out her hand and asked, puzzled, "What did you do to upset my senior brother?"
Xie Ziyin glanced at her, untied the woven grass goose from his belt, and tossed it into her palm with a shrug. "No idea. I didn’t do anything."
Wen Shuangbai scoffed. "That excuse might fool Four Hundred, but not me."
"You think I’m like you?" Xie Ziyin sneered. "Making empty promises to a paintbrush every day?"
"None of your business." Wen Shuangbai lovingly stroked the sleeping Four Hundred, checking for any damage before sighing in relief. Satisfied, she reattached it to the Fire Plume Whip at her waist and dashed off without a second glance.
Under the night sky, the lotus flowers swayed in the breeze, casting rippling reflections across the pond.
The silhouette of the running girl flickered in and out of the mesmerizing play of light and shadow.
Who knew whose gaze it caught?
Wen Shuangbai quickly caught up with the others, joining Shen Hefeng and Lu Jiayao in their usual banter.
All six of them were careful not to discuss their separate activities from the night before, even though no one was around. After all, walls had ears.
When it came to potentially losing their jobs, they couldn’t afford to be careless.
Night turned to day, the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.
The six of them patrolled back and forth around the lotus pond endlessly.
If the Mystic Heaven Mirror had a step-counting leaderboard, Wen Shuangbai was sure they’d dominate the top six spots today.
Twelve hours later, by the next afternoon—
The midday sun was scorching, wilting even the lotus flowers in the pond.
Aside from Wen Shuangbai’s group, other patrol teams were also assigned to the area. After a full night, everyone was exhausted, hiding in shady corners to slack off.
Catching thieves was better left to those with real skills—they were just here for show.
"What’s up with those six? Haven’t seen them take a single break. Aren’t they tired?"
"Newbies still full of spirit. Give them half a year—or half a month—and they’ll be just as lazy as the rest of us."
"Speaking of which, the troublemakers last night were also new. Do you think this group might be suspicious too?"
"Nah, they don’t seem like it. They look genuinely broke—you know, that ‘struggling commoner’ vibe."
"True. The ones last night didn’t look like they’d ever suffered a day in their lives. Rich kids, obviously. And sure enough, they were trouble!"
"Any updates on catching Lu Ying and Yu Xiaoxiao?"
"Nope. No idea where they’re hiding—vanished into thin air!"
"Vanished?"
"Yeah, haven’t you heard? The guy set the woods on fire, and then they both disappeared in the flames. Probably some kind of teleportation array."
"If they haven’t been caught yet, they must’ve escaped the manor."
"Not possible. Qi Manor has protective barriers—even a teleportation array wouldn’t get them out. They’re definitely still inside."
"..."
Nearby, Wen Shuangbai overheard the chatter and turned to Shen Hefeng, who had been fiddling with his turtle shell divination tool. "Shen the Second, any luck yet?"
According to the Mystic Heaven Mirror, four from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace had already been eliminated, leaving two.
Wen Shuangbai didn’t like this. With Lu Ying and Yu Xiaoxiao still in Zhuoguang City, she couldn’t shake the feeling they’d interfere with their plans.
Only after eliminating these two could she relax.
"Nope." Shen Hefeng was frustrated.
That rat Lu Ying must have used a Divine Wood Talisman to block his divination!
He couldn’t pinpoint the bastard’s current location.
Wen Shuangbai rubbed her temples, trying to recall the novel’s plot.
Lu Ying’s Divine Wood Talisman could divine, cast curses, set up arrays, and even create a pocket dimension for hiding.
If he couldn’t leave Qi Manor, where would he hide?
At his current cultivation level, his pocket dimension wasn’t as impenetrable as the turtle shell of the Jade Rhinoceros Valley’s ancient tortoise.
If she could just find him, Wen Shuangbai could force him out.
She’d specifically learned how from Pavilion Master Xu in the Endless House.
"Steward Qi! Brother Wu! You’re here!" Lu Jiayao suddenly broke away from the group, sprinting toward a distant figure.
His shout sent the slacking guards scrambling back into position, pretending to patrol diligently.
Wen Shuangbai snapped out of her thoughts and saw Steward Qi approaching with a group of people.
Their team hurried over to greet them.
Steward Qi’s eye twitched at the sight of Lu Jiayao. Without hesitation, he shoved the thick-skinned Wu Ren forward as a shield.
Wu Ren embraced his favorite junior brother Lu with bone-crushing enthusiasm, then surveyed the gathered crowd. "While patrolling this area, have any of you noticed anything unusual?"
Every guard present chorused, "Reporting to Steward Qi and Guard Wu—nothing to report!"
Steward Qi scanned the surroundings, confirming nothing seemed amiss, then clasped his hands behind his back. "You’ve been patrolling all night. Must be tired, no?"
The guards shook their heads in unison, declaring with conviction, "Reporting to Steward Qi—not tired at all!"
But just as the chorus died down, a sluggish voice piped up weakly, "Tired."
Everyone: "..."
Steward Qi: "…?"
In all his years as steward, this was the first time someone actually admitted to being tired!
All eyes turned toward the voice.
Among the only team that had patrolled diligently without slacking off, the other five were now kicking and glaring at the silver-haired, bird’s-nest-headed culprit.
Are you trying to get us fired?!
A job paying 70,000 spirit stones a day—how could you say you’re tired?!
Yin Xuan's eyes were slightly damp from exhaustion. Seeing this, he sighed, bowed to Steward Qi and Wu Ren, and added with a weary expression, "My apologies, I misspoke. I'm not tired."
After a pause, he forced his eyes open, determined to prove his commitment to earning money. "Really."
Steward Qi and Wu Ren: "…………"
Steward Qi's emotions were complicated. He knew better than anyone which guards had slacked off.
These six young ones were good—when told to patrol, they did so without pause, never even thinking to sneak a break.
Though inwardly pleased, Steward Qi kept a straight face and merely coughed before saying, "These men will take over for you. Go rest."
"Oh, and one more thing." After a moment's thought, Steward Qi rewarded each of the six with a bottle of Spirit Recovery Pills—untainted, of course.
---
Guard Quarters.
Wen Shuangbai, clutching her Spirit Recovery Pills, dashed up to the third floor with a radiant smile.
Since it wasn’t her own door, she didn’t hesitate to kick it open and stride inside.
But after just a few steps, she suddenly halted, smacking her forehead. "Damn it, I almost forgot! That bastard Xie Ziyin still has my talismans from last night!"
During their separate missions the previous night, Wen Shuangbai had thoughtfully prepared talisman pouches for every teammate, just in case.
Without another word, she spun around, slammed the door shut, and bolted downstairs.
On the second floor, Xie Ziyin had just returned to his room.
A stack of thick alchemy books lay on his desk.
They were nothing special—just common medical texts from five hundred years ago, already in the room when he arrived.
Medicine was a discipline that demanded endless study, whether in the modern world or this foreign continent.
Learning never ceased.
Xie Ziyin was accustomed to this life and even found joy in it.
Between refining pills and patrolling for extra coin, he’d been flipping through these books to pass the time.
Scattered nearby were notes and scribbled thoughts on loose sheets.
On his way back, he’d planned to finish the book before resting.
But…
The man stood by the desk, eyes half-lowered, fingers tapping idly against the wood.
Then—BANG BANG BANG!
The door rattled violently, as if the person outside intended to smash it to splinters. "Xie, you dog! Open up!"
Clearly, she had no regard for doors that weren’t hers.
Xie Ziyin went to open it.
Wen Shuangbai demanded immediately, "Where are the talismans I lent you?"
"You said 'give,' not 'lend,'" Xie Ziyin corrected while pulling out a stack of talismans from his storage ring.
Wen Shuangbai didn’t take them. Instead, she plucked one from the pile and slapped it against his chest, locking eyes with him. "Use this, then come to my room later. Got it?"
Xie Ziyin: "……"
The meaningful look on his face told her he understood. Satisfied, she turned and sprinted off to bang on the others’ doors, doling out talismans as she went.
Xie Ziyin: Impressive.
After racing around the third floor, Wen Shuangbai felt a bit worn out. After a brief internal struggle, she indulged in a Spirit Recovery Pill.
She’d originally planned to hoard them for the future, using as few as possible.
But…
---
Within the Divine Wood Realm.
After a night of rest, Lu Ying and Yu Xiaoxiao had mostly recovered.
Yu Xiaoxiao stole a glance at Lu Ying’s brooding figure and whispered, "Brother Lu, are we just staying here forever?"
Lu Ying turned to her, the darkness in his eyes softening. "Xiaoxiao, don’t be afraid of me. I would never hurt you."
Had Wen Shuangbai been present, she would’ve smirked knowingly and praised, Classic second male lead behavior!
In the novel, Lu Ying was ruthless to everyone—cold, brutal, and merciless. Yet Yu Xiaoxiao was the sole exception.
He could slaughter the world without blinking, but never lay a finger on the female lead.
Many readers adored him, and fierce debates often erupted in the comments between Team Lu Ying and Team Di Qi.
As Lu Ying and Yu Xiaoxiao spoke, Wen Shuangbai kicked the door open again, talismans in hand.
The sudden noise made Yu Xiaoxiao jump.
Lu Ying soothed her before glaring at the intruder, his expression turning icy.
Of the six from Qingling Mountain, Lu Ying had specifically chosen Wen Shuangbai’s room.
After observing the Tian Village competition, his instincts told him she was no ordinary opponent.
Wen Shuangbai stood in the doorway, muttering as she counted talismans. "One, two, three, four…"
She shut the door slowly, then strode to the center of the room.
In one swift motion, she raised her head, and the stack of yellow talismans sprang to life. Guided by her spiritual energy, they shot toward the eight cardinal directions—Qian (Northwest), Li (East), Kan (West), Xun (Southwest)—and ignited midair.
A formation activated, sending ripples through the space.
The tranquil Divine Wood Realm trembled violently.
Lu Ying gritted out a name: "Xu. Jing. Shu."
The next second, the talisman array crushed the realm’s spatial fabric, forcing Lu Ying and Yu Xiaoxiao out of the pocket dimension and into the room, face-to-face with Wen Shuangbai.
She smiled sweetly. "Good afternoon, you two. Care to make a deal?"
Yu Xiaoxiao, mid-swing with her sword, hesitated and glanced at Lu Ying.
Lu Ying, gripping the fallen Divine Wood Token, frowned. "What kind of deal?"
In that split second of hesitation, two swords—one crimson, one silver—streaked through the air, aiming for Yu Xiaoxiao’s weapon and Lu Ying’s token.
Yu Xiaoxiao, caught off guard, lost her grip on her sword. Li Zhuohua’s invisibility talisman wore off, revealing her as she kicked the fallen blade toward Wen Shuangbai.
Wen Shuangbai caught it, assessed its durability, and promptly wrapped it tightly in her Firefeather Whip, denying Yu Xiaoxiao its use.
After disarming Yu Xiaoxiao, Li Zhuohua redirected her Flowing Rainbow Sword, thrusting it straight at Yu Xiaoxiao without mercy.
Yu Xiaoxiao dodged, instinctively reaching for her sword—only to remember it was trapped.
Furious, she spat, "Li Zhuohua! You’re a sword cultivator too! How can you stoop to ambushes? Fight me properly!"
Before the Sacred Tower trials, Li Zhuohua had been the epitome of honor, scorning underhanded tactics.
Sword cultivators fought with dignity—sneak attacks were for cowards!
But now?
Li Zhuohua barked, "Who cares if the cat’s black or white, as long as it catches mice!"
Wen Shuangbai, who’d drilled this mindset into her earlier, beamed with pride.
In the book, Senior Sister Zhuohua’s rigid principles led to her downfall.
Meanwhile, Lu Ying, still holding the Divine Wood Token, sensed danger faster than Yu Xiaoxiao and dodged Yin Xuan’s first strike.
But the second slash came too quick, slicing cleanly through his forearm.
When Lu Ying saw Xie Ziyin emerge, holding Wen Shuangbai’s custom-made scalpel, he was both furious and in pain, his face twisting in rage. He wanted to strike at Xie Ziyin, but Yin Xuan was nearby, prodding him with a sword.
Yin Xuan’s sword looked simple, even lazily wielded, but damn it—Lu Ying just couldn’t dodge it!
Xie Ziyin hacked off the arm and then bolted.
He fled lightning-fast—after all, he was just a feeble physician with no combat skills.
Shen Hefeng caught the severed arm with the divine wood tag firmly and quickly rolled away. Then, with a sinister chuckle, he pried out the tag and shoved it into the "mouth" of the Soul-Devouring Banner before Lu Ying could summon it back. "Eat up, eat up! This is good stuff, a real boost for you, my precious banner!"
The Soul-Devouring Banner, which required offerings to be used and thus was rarely deployed by these people: "…………"
Meanwhile, Wen Shuangbai stood to the side, overseeing the battlefield and filling in gaps. Every now and then, he’d flick a few poison-laced leaf blades at Yu Xiaoxiao and Lu Ying, making it easier for the senior brother and Li Zhuohua to deal with the pests. He remarked leisurely, "The deal is simple—you give me two lives, and I’ll give you a blessing. May you live happily together for a hundred years—how’s that sound?"
Yu Xiaoxiao, wounded by several sword strikes, struggled to hold on. "Ganging up on us isn’t honorable!"
Wen Shuangbai couldn’t care less. "Doesn’t matter. Winning is what counts."
After all, the real prize was the money!
Taking these two down meant a hefty reward from Steward Qi!
