Chapter 42: The Blushing Shen Zhixia, the Four Directions Stir! (Combined Chapter)

The Chen family dining hall.

The table was already piled high with dishes, and the kitchen continued to send out more; maids carried tray after tray of delicacies into the hall, stacking them like pagodas.

Rich, savory flavors filled the air, and merely smelling them made one's appetite surge.

"Zhixia, try this—it's the Biyu chicken soup unique to Nan County, excellent for beautifying the skin and nourishing the body."

"This is stir-fried snow beef—it greatly benefits martial cultivators."

"And this rice stir-fried with green-cyan eagle eggs…"

He Yuzhi enthusiastically piled food onto Shen Zhixia's plate, listing each dish with the familiarity of someone recounting family treasures.

Birds from the sky, beasts from the land, creatures from the sea—all varied, abundant, dazzling… and every ingredient was a ranked beast, their rich essence of flesh and blood palpable even from afar.

Shen Zhixia's throat moved slightly; she couldn't help swallowing.

Since leaving Sacred Martial Mountain, she'd eaten only ordinary meals, their refined essence negligible… Back on the mountain, she could catch beasts herself and roast them, but now in Ducheng, everything cost silver.

Yet before Madam Chen's eyes, she dared not eat heartily, chewing slowly with delicate lips, appearing every bit the refined lady of a noble household.

"What's today, celebrating the New Year early?"

Chen Mo stepped into the dining hall, gazing at the banquet-like scene, puzzled: "You two are eating all this?"

He Yuzhi shot him a look. "What do you know? The Cultivation Method of Sacred Martial Mountain emphasizes refining essence into Qi, returning to the source—it digests quickly, so naturally you eat more. We're not short of these things; we can't let your wife go hungry, can we?"

"Wife?!"

Shen Zhixia's face flushed crimson instantly, flustered and at a loss.

Refining essence into Qi?

Chen Mo paused, slightly stunned.

So this girl eats so much because of her Cultivation Method?

No wonder she gorges herself daily yet still has a flat belly—I thought her stomach was a space treasure.

"Madam Chen, I came last time in such a rush, didn't bring anything…"

Shen Zhixia forced down her embarrassment, pulled a purple sandalwood box from her bosom, and offered it with both hands to He Yuzhi: "A small token of my respect—please accept it."

"You came, that's enough—why bring gifts?"

He Yuzhi smiled, reached out, opened the lid, and saw a pure white pearl resting quietly on red silk, its luster like jade, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.

"This is…"

"It's a Youth-Preserving Pearl—I found it by chance during my descent for trials."

Shen Zhixia said: "It won't grant eternal youth, but worn close to the body long-term, it preserves rosy complexion and prolongs life."

"Madam Chen, your beauty is already like moon and flowers, exquisitely refined—you don't need this. Consider it merely a small bonus."

Youth-Preserving Pearl…

He Yuzhi's expression turned astonished.

This was a top-tier rarity—one you couldn't buy even with gold!

Rumor had it that the number-one beauty on the Rouge List, the "Qingxuan Immortal," owned one; for years her appearance hadn't changed, her skin so tender it could be squeezed for juice—all thanks to this pearl.

He Yuzhi kept herself well, nearly forty yet still looking like an eighteen-year-old girl—but which woman ever thought she was too beautiful?

This gift had struck straight at her heart!

"If that's the case, this elder must also offer something in return…"

He Yuzhi pondered a moment, then slid a jade bracelet from her wrist.

Its color was emerald green, flawless, translucent as amber, glowing with a soft, warm luster—clearly worn and nurtured for years.

"This bracelet was given to me by Mo'er's grandmother when I entered the family—it's a family heirloom. I've worn it for twenty years; today I give it to you."

"This is too precious—I can't accept it… Besides, I'm a martial cultivator, always wielding blades and spears; if I accidentally break it, I won't know how to explain it to you." Shen Zhixia waved her hands frantically, refusing.

He Yuzhi shook her head. "A bracelet is nothing compared to a person—break it, let it break. Besides, you saved Mo'er once; I owe you something."

"Chen Mo already gave me a gift…"

Shen Zhixia unfastened the red cord from her neck and pulled out a jade pendant from her chest.

Seeing this, He Yuzhi's eyes flickered with a smile; she sternly said: "He's him, I'm me—separate matters. Take it."

Without further argument, she slipped the bracelet onto Shen Zhixia's wrist.

"This… thank you, Madam Chen."

Shen Zhixia, seeing this, could no longer refuse.

He Yuzhi's eyes sparkled with satisfaction, growing more pleased by the moment.

She had always respected Chen Mo's choices—if he loved someone, even a courtesan, she'd support it.

But deep down, she didn't want the future mistress of the Chen family to be merely a pretty ornament.

Shen Zhixia was well-known, a top-tier prodigy—such a perfect daughter-in-law was hard to find.

She must seize this chance!

Thinking of this, He Yuzhi turned to Chen Mo and said: "Last time you publicly tore up the marriage contract. Though there were hidden reasons, to outsiders it still shamed the Shen family."

"I'll prepare some jewels and brocade—you'll deliver them to the Shen residence. One, to formally apologize; two, you two are no longer young—this matter needs resolution."

"Cough! Cough!"

Chen Mo nearly choked on his saliva.

The implication—though not a formal proposal—was nearly the same…

Shen Zhixia lowered her head, wishing she could bury her face in her rice bowl.

Knowing her presence made them uneasy, He Yuzhi said: "I have some matters to attend to—you two talk properly."

Then she rose and left.

The dining hall fell silent.

Shen Zhixia was silent for a moment, then said softly, "We haven't seen each other for ten years, and it's been barely a month since we reunited. Isn't this a little too hasty…"

Although she did indeed have different feelings toward Chen Mo, she wasn't clear about his intentions, and didn't want to bind him and herself together just because of a parent's decree.

Chen Mo frowned and said, "We've already kissed, and you still want to deny it?"

Shen Zhixia was stunned by the words, recalled that day when she got "soaking wet," her cheeks flushing red, her eyes furious. "It was clearly you who took liberties with me, and you still have the nerve to say that?"

"I don't care, that was my first kiss. Either way, you have to take responsibility for me."

"You—you're shameless!"

"Whether I have teeth or not, don't you know? Back then you even stuck out your tongue…"

"Don't you dare say it!"

Shen Zhixia raised her hand to hit him, but Chen Mo dodged to the side and raised his hands in surrender.

"Just kidding, the food's getting cold."

"Hmph."

Shen Zhixia glared at him.

After all this clowning around, the anxious, conflicted feelings were swept away.

Though a little embarrassed and annoyed, her heart was inexplicably much more at ease…

Looking at the delicacies before her, she hesitated. Compared to teaching this rogue a lesson, eating seemed to be more important…

……

Yu Wang Fu.

In the study, Chu Heng leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed. A fair-featured maid knelt before him, busily working with her head lowered.

Knock, knock, knock.

The door was knocked, and the old butler walked in.

Seeing the scene before him, his expression didn't ripple at all—he was clearly used to it.

"There's news?"

Chu Heng spoke up to ask.

The old butler answered, "Last night Chen Mo took people to the Jiaofang Si, which happened to be Xu Yuqiong's Qingya Studio. The two of them spent the night together and didn't leave until early this morning."

"Oh?"

Chu Heng's fingers lightly stroked the maid's hair, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. "I was still thinking about how to arrange for him to meet Yu'er, and I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence?"

"Tell Yu'er to cultivate her charm arts well, and make sure to hook this man for me!"

Recently Chen Mo's fame had been rising in Tiandu City. From his frequent visits to the imperial palace, and the Empress's generous rewards to him, one could see how much both factions valued him.

His father is a Rank 3 high official, holding real power; his mother is a Wudao Sect master, backed by a top-tier sect… such a background is indeed hard to ignore.

Not to mention that he himself is a Rank 6 martial artist, the meritorious hero who claimed the first kill among the Ten Great Heavenly Demons.

Even without the slave case, he's worth putting in some effort.

"Anything else?" Seeing the butler's expression turn solemn, Chu Heng frowned and asked.

The butler said, "This morning, Lin Huai's corpse was discovered."

Chu Heng shook his head. "So what if it was discovered? No traces were left on the corpse. Even if they investigate, they won't trace it back to me."

The butler's voice sank slightly, then continued, "The Six Doors have already determined it was done by demon-kind. The case has been escalated to the Eastern Palace. The Empress has ordered the Three Judicial Offices to investigate, coordinating with the Tianlin Guard."

Hearing this, Chu Heng's hand suddenly clenched tight, ripping out a handful of hair.

Under the intense pain, the maid didn't dare resist in the slightest, not even daring to let out a sound, continuing meticulously with her duties.

"With the Suppressing Evil Jade pressing down on it, even the city-protecting grand formation was fooled—how could the Six Doors possibly find any clue? Could that demon woman have tricked me?"

"No, she has no reason to… Even if a wisp of demonic aura leaked when Lin Huai was being interrogated, three days have passed, it should have long since dissipated. How could they still find it?"

Chu Heng frowned and asked, "Who's in charge of this case?"

The butler replied, "Shangguan Yunfei, but the one who traced it to demon-kind is Chen Mo."

At these words, the room fell silent for a moment.

Chu Heng said, slightly taken aback, "Chen Mo?! Wasn't he at the Jiaofang Si last night…"

The butler said, "This case was originally being jointly investigated by the Six Doors and the Dingfire Office. For some reason Chen Mo also tagged along. It's said he saw at a glance that it was demon-kind's doing, and on the spot summoned Lin Huai's remnant soul, personally uttering the word 'demon'…"

Chu Heng fell into a long silence.

After a long while, he said with difficulty, "Isn't he just a martial artist? How the hell does he know how to summon souls?"

The butler said, "Perhaps he used some kind of dharma treasure… Now that it's been exposed too early, the city will surely be on edge, on high alert. Continuing carries great risk. Perhaps we should shelve the plan for now and wait until things calm down before making further plans."

"We've already come this far—it's not something I can just stop whenever I want."

Chu Heng's face darkened. "Tell that demon woman to be careful lately, and not to show herself lightly."

"Yes."

The butler acknowledged, turned, and left the room.

As the maid continued her efforts, Chu Heng's breathing gradually grew ragged. His hand gripped her head tightly and pressed down hard.

"Mm—mm!"

The maid was nearly suffocating and couldn't help struggling.

Chu Heng paid no heed, the force of his hand increasing.

Crack!

At the crisp sound of a bone breaking, the maid instantly went still.

Chu Heng's body trembled once, and he let out a long breath, casually tossing the corpse aside as if throwing away garbage.

"Chen Mo…"

His narrow, elongated eyes were cold and sinister, like a venomous snake.

……

Yangxin Palace.

The palace towered high, glazed tiles gleaming with a golden radiance beneath the sun.

Behind the tightly shut vermilion-lacquered great gates lay a long corridor carpeted in fine, soft rugs; through a curtain strung with pearls and jade, one could see a woman of supple, graceful bearing lying face-down on a phoenix couch.

A crimson-red sheer skirt had slipped down to the line of her hips, exposing a waist and back white as mutton-fat jade — like flawless beauty-jade beyond any price.

A female official in a dark palace dress knelt at the side, her palms coated in an orchid-fragrant balm, massaging her body with gentle motions.

It was as if a layer of jade film had been plated onto the skin; sunlight slanted in through the window lattice, casting a pale-pink, dewy sheen.

"Your Highness, the case over on Bai Ta Street is rather strange. The city is covered by a great formation — how did the yao slip in? And how dare they brazenly commit murder?" The female official's expression was puzzled.

Lin Huai's corpse had already been sent to the Zhenmo Si; after a personal inspection by a Can Shi, a faint trace of lingering yao qi was indeed discovered.

Given this, one could almost be certain there was a yao within the city!

This was the great Yuan capital — Ducheng — right beneath the Son of Heaven's feet! The appearance of a yao meant something that went without saying!

"A great formation?"

"Heh, it's nothing more than a means to coerce the imperial court. If not for these so-called Holy Sects, there might not be so many yao in this world!"

The Empress said coldly.

The female official fell silent at the words.

Wusheng Mountain, Tianshu Pavilion, and Wuwang Temple were together known as the Three Great Holy Sects.

Holding their own territories, their status stood transcendent, ungoverned by the imperial court — a kingdom within a kingdom!

Apart from Wusheng Mountain, which kept a low profile and did not meddle in worldly affairs, Tianshu Pavilion and Wuwang Temple had spread their teachings far and wide, their believers scattered across the Nine Provinces.

All under heaven was the king's land; if not for the turmoil of the times, the imperial court would absolutely never have tolerated the existence of such powers.

In those years, when yao and demons ran rampant and court officials perished one after another, with the court about to collapse, Emperor Wulie had no choice but to invite eminent monks from Wuwang Temple to lay down the Eight Directions Demon-Sweeping Formation and drive out the yao and demons.

Although the yao and demons were ultimately purged, this became a thorn in the imperial court's heart.

"Compared to that, this palace is far more curious as to why a yao would set its sights on a mere minor clerk of the Ministry of Works."

"According to the report from the Six Doors, the corpse was in a wretched state — before death it had endured every manner of torment… it felt as though something was being interrogated out of it."

The Empress shook her head.

From a single corpse alone, there was too little information to be gained.

This yao was skilled at hiding; with several million people inside Tiandu City, rooting it out would be no different from fishing a needle from the sea.

Unless it revealed itself of its own accord and committed another crime.

"The yao qi lingering on the corpse is extremely faint — even a Tongxuan Jade showed no reaction, it's nearly undetectable."

"Since that Chen Mo was able to notice the anomaly, he must possess some method of sensing yao qi. Perhaps he can pick up some clue."

The female official said, pressing at her waist as she spoke.

"Chen Mo…"

A faint light flickered in the Empress's eyes.

Lately this name had been cropping up by her ear with great frequency, and each time it was accompanied by a major case.

"Convey this palace's decree: let Chen Mo take charge as chief investigator, with the Six Doors responsible for coordination — devote full effort to solving this case!"

"Yes!"

The female official responded.

"This palace truly wishes to see just how capable this man is!"

"If he truly satisfies this palace, I wouldn't mind paying a little more to snatch him away from Yu Youhan's hands…"

The Empress hugged a pillow, her chest pressed into a full, rounded curve, and in her hazy phoenix eyes there seemed to be a hint of anticipation.