Chapter 590: Clear Wave Inn

Before the revived corpse, the elder personally examined it. After confirming it was the kind of resurrection that turned a person into a 'walking dead,' he sniffed the air around him, then turned and summoned a palace maid to question her. "Is this scent the usual incense used in the empress's residence?"

The palace maid decisively shook her head. "No, I've never smelled this scent before."

The elder's gaze fell again on the struggling corpse being held down. He immediately made a judgment, muttering, "Death-repelling incense..."

He then turned to someone nearby and said, "Go find a pharmacist to confirm the scent."

Afterward, he sought out the black-clad man he had brought earlier and inquired about the soul-confining bags. The black-clad man informed him that all the bags contained souls, but this time, they were all human souls, not dogs.

The elder asked him, "Are you certain the soul in that previous bag was a dog?"

The black-clad man quickly replied, "Not necessarily a dog, but its form was definitely dog-like."

The elder's gaze shifted again to the revived corpse, and he muttered to himself once more, "Could it be that they originally only intended to revive a human, unaware that there were confined souls nearby, and that it would attract me? Was it my sudden intervention that prevented them from cleaning up the situation in time?"

He didn't know the exact principle behind resurrection by death-repelling incense, only having a speculation about it.

The black-clad man beside him, hearing this, quickly agreed, "Right Saint, that's an insightful observation. It's indeed possible."

The elder glanced at him. If they could truly clean up without anyone knowing, undetected, then was the strange situation in the Queen's room merely an isolated incident? Had no one truly noticed anything unusual before? He dared not investigate further along this line of thought.

Therefore, it was best to proceed with the Queen's instructions and assess the situation first.

It wasn't long before two figures clad in black cloaks arrived. Such individuals, who practiced demonic arts and possessed 'demon eyes,' were not to be publicly summoned. The elder ordered everyone to step away, turn their backs, and not look.

The two men, using their 'demon eyes,' meticulously searched both inside and outside the room. It was better not to have searched; once they did, both were overwhelmed.

Traces of energy, when tracked, didn't appear in distinct forms; in the 'demon eye's' vision, they were more like a gaseous substance. The energy characteristics of most people were largely similar, unless their species differed.

If there were a clear path, it would be easy to lock onto features and track them.

However, there was no continuous trail of energy at the scene. Within such a small area, so many people had come and gone, intermingling, that only a ghost could distinguish whose traces were whose.

Inside, it was a chaotic mess, and the energy traces outside were even more jumbled and intertwined, blurring the vision of the 'demon eyes.'

What could be done? They had no choice but to admit defeat.

After hearing their report, the elder hesitated, "Can't you compare the energy traces inside the room with those of the people outside to exclude possibilities?"

One of the cloaked figures replied, "Right Saint, it's already muddled. If, at the time of the incident, those present hadn't gone inside and interfered, and had allowed us to examine it first, we could have easily locked onto the characteristics."

The elder cast a sideways glance at him, thinking, "Isn't that obvious? When an anomaly is discovered, the first step is always to search. How else would anyone know what happened without going in?"

The other cloaked figure interjected, "Now it's like asking us to find the water that was just stirred into porridge; it's genuinely impossible. However, there's something I'd like to say, if it's appropriate."

The elder said, "Your opinions are important; speak freely."

The cloaked figure pondered, "There is another method for comparison. If the culprit is no longer here and has already left the scene, we can compare against the people currently present. Perhaps we can find out who left within a specific timeframe. Of course, this wouldn't prove that the person who left is the culprit."

The cloaked figure who had spoken first added, "If we are to compare, we must do it quickly. If too much time passes, the energy traces will fade, and we won't be able to compare them anymore."

The elder's eyes flickered. "In other words, if, apart from the energy traces of those present, no traces of anyone else leaving are found, then the culprit is still at the scene, hiding among these very people?"

Neither of the two cloaked figures responded to this. They didn't want to bring up the topic of an inside accomplice. In any case, that was the implication, and it was also clear that it wasn't an insider; who could possibly break in here? The royal court's vital area was protected by an extraordinary grand formation; even masters capable of shattering the void couldn't ignore its presence.

The elder thought for a moment, then decisively ordered, "Proceed with the comparison as you suggested. Investigate!"

In a mountain forest in the Royal Capital of Dongsheng, Shi Chun emerged from the Two Realms Passage. Upon seeing the distant celestial palace buildings towering in the sky, he breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he turn back and summon Wu Jinliang from the other end as well.

Referencing the positions of the Royal Capital's landmark buildings, Wu Jinliang also roughly pinpointed their location and likewise breathed a sigh of relief. "This shouldn't be too far from our home. See that lake? We should be able to get home after crossing a few hills. Good, good, no need to try those soul-confining bags from the royal court again. It seems the ones sent to Shen Moming haven't been discovered."

Shi Chun scoffed, "If the ones sent to Young Master Nan were discovered, it would be strange if the ones sent to Shen Moming weren't, unless Young Master Nan actively betrayed us."

Wu Jinliang conceded the point.

Shi Chun said, "We can't stay in the Royal Capital for long. Let's disguise ourselves and leave directly through the Xun Gate."

"Sigh," Wu Jinliang lamented. The two had originally planned to openly show their faces after returning, hoping to go home, spend some intimate time with Duan Xiangmei, and gather with Young Master Nan to see if any new courtesans had arrived. Who knew they'd get embroiled in that royal court incident?

After disguising themselves, the two left the mountains and hitched rides on the road. They didn't even dare to take the same carriage, operating separately, and arrived at the Royal Capital's Xun Gate Hub one after another.

After observing from the shadows and finding no abnormalities around the Xun Gate, they successively paid their way and, separately, passed through the Xun Gate to arrive at Beiju Luzhou.

The reason they acted separately was still due to Wu Jinliang's somewhat conspicuous height.

And the reason for coming to Beiju Luzhou was that the Heaven Forging Sect was located within its territory. The two still had to continue with their original plan regarding Dong Liangyi's apprenticeship.

However, the plan had now changed, and they dared not openly seek out the sect on the mountain.

The reason was simple: if things secretly sent to Young Master Nan could be discovered, it was possible that anyone connected to Shi Chun was being watched, especially since he didn't have many connections.

After appearing directly in the Beiju Royal Capital via the Xun Gate, they didn't linger to admire its prosperity. The two then used the Xun Gate again, arriving in Yanzhou, which was also the location of the Heaven Forging Sect.

The two emerged from the Xun Gate and found a corner. Shi Chun pulled out a mother-child talisman, muttering as he sent a message to Situ Gu, "There's no need to worry about Situ Gu's talisman falling into the wrong hands. Not many would dare to lay a finger on that old man."

Wu Jinliang teased, "You're happy to be seeing Zhen'er, who's always chattering with you, aren't you?"

Shi Chun scoffed, "Do you think I'm like you? I don't plan on seeing her; if I do, I might not be able to get away. Meeting Situ Gu is enough."

"Sigh," Wu Jinliang said, stroking his chin and smacking his lips. "She's quite beautiful. It's really strange that she clings to you and not me..."

The two waited and waited, but Situ Gu's reply was long in coming, which struck them as odd. If the mother-child talisman had fallen into someone else's hands, they wouldn't necessarily not reply. It was possible he was busy and hadn't noticed.

So, Shi Chun sent a message every so often.

But there was still no reply.

Wu Jinliang expressed doubt, "Chun Tian, could it be that your status is too low, and he just threw your mother-child talisman away?"

Shi Chun hesitated, "Or perhaps he's not in Yanzhou. Let's go and check the situation at the Heaven Forging Sect."

The two again sought out the Xun Gate for relocation.

The Heaven Forging Sect was unlike ordinary sects; a direct Xun Gate was located at the foot of its mountain, emerging right into Heaven Forging City, which was under the sect's control.

Backed by the cultivation world's foremost artifact-forging sect, the city's prosperity went without saying.

Wu Jinliang, looking around, suddenly exclaimed, "I wonder what Wukang Mountain looks like now."

At this reminder, Shi Chun also recalled the Xun Gate he had personally helped earn at Wukang Mountain. It should have been completed long ago, but they hadn't yet returned to see it.

The Heaven Forging Sect's terrain was not like other famous mountains and rivers, which stood tall. Its elevation was lower, so its sect location couldn't be seen from within the city.

After inquiring, the two took a boat from within the city to leave it.

The area had a well-developed water system, with waterways within the city allowing boat tours of both urban and outlying scenery. The periphery of the Heaven Forging Sect was also open for tourists to visit.

Clear, emerald waters revealed the bottom, with aquatic plants, making people feel as if they were in a painting. A boatman, human-headed and snake-bodied, propelled the boat by swaying his tail at the stern. The speed was at the passengers' discretion, and he could even chat with them.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang had intended to inquire about the Heaven Forging Sect once the conversation flowed, but before they could even speak, the boatman, who was swaying his dark, whip-like tail in the water at the stern, spoke first: "You two might not know, but the Heavenly Palace is going to be repaired. News from the Heaven Forging Sect says that the Heavenly Palace needs renovation, and grandmasters from the ten major artifact-forging sects have been summoned to a banquet to discuss the repair plans. It seems most of the Heaven Forging Sect's high-ranking members have gone."

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances. The latter asked, "Has the world's foremost artifact-forging master gone?"

The boatman laughed, "How would we know such specific details? But for such a major undertaking as repairing the Heavenly Palace, I suppose he wouldn't dare not go, would he?"

Wu Jinliang said, "Repairing the Heavenly Palace is a big deal; once there, it might not be easy to return, right?"

The boatman replied, "The repairs haven't started yet; I heard they're just beginning discussions. How could common folk like us know the specifics? Esteemed guests, it's getting close to evening. Will you be staying in the city, or at an inn on one of the outer islands?"

Wu Jinliang didn't make the decision, looking instead at Shi Chun.

Shi Chun surveyed the mountains and waters of the Heaven Forging Sect on one side. "Then let's find an inn on an island to enjoy the evening scenery. We prefer quiet, so please take us to a secluded inn."

This was actually to avoid exposure, as they didn't want to stay in a crowded or conspicuous place.

It was the same concern: after the items sent to Young Master Nan were exposed, they feared Situ Gu might also be under surveillance.

"Alright!" the boatman readily agreed, wagging his tail more enthusiastically in the water. "I know an inn that's not only secluded but also quite nice."

The boat's speed, cutting through waves, noticeably quickened.

After navigating through a network of waterways, they arrived at a water island adorned with flower fields. The boat docked by the pier, and from the quiet, secluded inn on the island, wisps of cooking smoke rose into the setting sun.

It was very quiet.

The boatman disembarked, his snake tail transforming into bare feet as he led the way. Before even entering the inn, he called out, "Old Jin, I've brought guests! Come and welcome them!"

The inn's sign bore the characters "Qingbo."

As the three entered, the innkeeper, a middle-aged man, appeared.

Seeing them, the innkeeper offered a wry smile, cupped his hands in apology, and said, "Old Hei, it's truly bad timing today. My humble establishment is fully booked."

He stepped aside, gesturing towards the common room, inviting them to see for themselves.

Indeed, there were quite a few various guests seated inside.

The boatman was taken aback. He had specifically sought out a secluded spot, only to find it fully booked. What a situation!

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang instinctively exchanged glances, both sensing something amiss. It wasn't merely that it was fully booked, as they didn't know the usual occupancy here. Rather, was this fully booked inn perhaps a little too quiet?

Shi Chun immediately activated his right eye's ability to survey the entire inn. The moment he saw the group of guests inside, his eyelids couldn't help but twitch. He had actually discovered that several of them possessed demonic energy.