Chapter 42: Shy Shen Zhixia, Movements from All Sides! (2-in-1 Chapter)

The dining hall of Chen Fu.

The table was already laden with food, and the kitchen kept sending out more dishes; maids carried plate after plate of delicacies into the dining hall, stacking them up like pagodas.

The food was rich and fragrant, the aroma so enticing it made one's mouth water just by smelling it.

"Zhixia, come try this. This is Green Feather Chicken Soup, a specialty of the Southern Commandery. It’s great for the complexion and highly nourishing."

"And this is stir-fried snow beef; it’s extremely beneficial for martial artists."

"There’s also this rice stir-fried with Green Azure Hawk eggs..."

He Yuzhi enthusiastically served food to Shen Zhixia, introducing each dish as if it were a prized treasure.

There were creatures that flew in the sky, ran on the ground, and swam in the sea—a dazzling array of varieties... Moreover, all the ingredients were graded exotic beasts; one could sense the rich essence of blood and flesh from far away.

Shen Zhixia’s throat moved slightly, and she couldn't help but swallow.

Ever since leaving Martial Saint Mountain, she had only eaten ordinary meals, and the essence refined from them was negligible... Back on the mountain, if she wanted to eat exotic beasts, she could catch and roast them herself, but here in Tian Du City, everything had to be bought with silver.

Yet, in front of Chen Mo’s mother, she felt embarrassed to gorge herself, so she chewed slowly with her small mouth, appearing quite like a dignified young lady of a noble house.

"What’s the occasion today? Are we celebrating the New Year early?"

Chen Mo walked into the dining hall, looked at the scene that resembled a grand banquet, and asked in confusion, "Are you two eating all of this?"

He Yuzhi rolled her eyes at him. "What do you know? The cultivation techniques of Martial Saint Mountain focus on refining essence into qi and returning to the source; digestion is fast, so naturally, she eats more. Our family isn't short on these things; I can't let your wife go hungry, can I?"

"W-wife?!"

Shen Zhixia’s pretty face turned beet red in an instant, and she became somewhat flustered.

Refining essence into qi?

Chen Mo was slightly stunned.

So that’s why this girl could eat so much—it had to do with the technique she cultivated?

No wonder she stuffed her face every day yet her belly remained flat; he had thought her stomach was a spatial magic treasure.

"Auntie, I came in such a hurry last time that I didn't prepare anything..."

Shen Zhixia suppressed her shyness, took a sandalwood box from her bosom, and handed it to He Yuzhi with both hands. "This is just a small token of my sincerity; I hope you will accept it."

"You shouldn't have brought a gift just for visiting."

He Yuzhi smiled, reached out to take it, and opened the lid. Inside, resting quietly on red silk, was a pure white bead, lustrous like jade and emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.

"This is..."

"This is a Youth-Preserving Bead, which I happened to obtain while traveling down the mountain."

Shen Zhixia said, "Although it cannot grant eternal youth, wearing it close to the body for a long time can keep the skin fair and youthful, and prolong one's life."

"Auntie, you are already beautiful and elegant, so you naturally don't need this, but please consider it a small gesture."

A Youth-Preserving Bead...

He Yuzhi looked surprised.

This was a top-tier wonder, the kind that money couldn't buy!

It was rumored that the "Fairy Qingxuan," who topped the Beauty Rankings, possessed one, and her appearance hadn't changed in years, her skin so tender it seemed it could drip water—all thanks to this item.

He Yuzhi took good care of herself; though nearly forty, she still looked like a girl of eighteen, but what woman would complain about being too beautiful?

This gift could be said to have hit the mark perfectly!

"Since that's the case, I, as your elder, must show my appreciation as well..."

He Yuzhi pondered for a moment and slipped a jade bracelet off her wrist.

It was emerald green with not a single impurity, the jade as translucent as amber, its surface glowing with a warm luster—clearly something nurtured by years of wear.

"This bracelet was given to me by Chen Mo’s grandmother when I married into the family. It is a family heirloom passed down by our ancestors. I have worn it for twenty years, and today, I give it to you."

"This is too precious, I cannot accept it... Besides, I am a martial artist, always wielding blades and spears; if I accidentally chip or break it, I wouldn't know how to answer to you." Shen Zhixia waved her hands repeatedly, refusing in a panic.

He Yuzhi shook her head. "The bracelet is not as important as the person; if it breaks, it breaks. Besides, you saved Chen Mo last time, so this is the least I should do."

"Chen Mo has already given me a gift..."

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

Seeing this, a hint of a smile flashed in He Yuzhi’s eyes, but she put on a stern face and said, "He is him, and I am I. One thing is one thing; just take it."

Without further ado, she slipped the jade bracelet onto Shen Zhixia’s wrist.

"This... thank you, Auntie."

Seeing this, Shen Zhixia found it difficult to refuse again.

He Yuzhi’s eyes crinkled with a smile; the more she looked, the more satisfied she became.

She had always respected Chen Mo’s wishes; as long as Chen Mo liked her, even if he brought a courtesan home, she would support him.

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

And Shen Zhixia was someone whose background was known, and she was a top-tier genius; such a satisfying daughter-in-law was hard to find.

She had to seize this opportunity!

Thinking of this, He Yuzhi turned to look at Chen Mo and said, "Last time you tore up the marriage contract in public, although there were other reasons, in the eyes of outsiders, it still caused the Shen family to lose face."

"I will prepare some jewelry and brocade, and you will send them to the Shen residence. On one hand, it is to apologize in person, and on the other, you two are not young anymore; there must be a formal understanding."

"Cough, cough!"

Chen Mo almost choked on his own saliva.

The implication of these words, while not quite a formal marriage proposal, was close enough...

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

Knowing that as long as she stayed, the two of them wouldn't be able to act naturally, He Yuzhi said, "I still have some trivial matters to attend to; you keep Zhixia company and have a good talk."

Then she stood up and left.

The dining hall fell silent.

Shen Zhixia was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "We haven't seen each other for ten years, and it’s only been a month since we reunited. Isn't this a bit too rushed..."

Although she did have special feelings for Chen Mo, she wasn't sure of his intentions and didn't want to be tied to him just because of their parents' wishes.

Chen Mo frowned and said, "We’ve already kissed, do you want to deny it now?"

Shen Zhixia was stunned at these words. Recalling the "wet" incident from that day, her cheeks flushed red, and her eyes showed anger. "It was clearly you who took liberties with me; how dare you say that?"

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

"Y-you are shameless!"

"Don't you know if I have teeth? You were the one who stuck your tongu..."

"Don't you dare say it!"

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

"Just kidding, the food is getting cold."

"Hmph."

Shen Zhixia glared at him.

After this bit of banter, her feelings of anxiety and hesitation were swept away.

Although she felt a bit shy and angry, her heart felt inexplicably much more at ease...

Looking at the delicacies before her, she hesitated for a moment; compared to teaching this scoundrel a lesson, eating seemed more important...

Yu Prince’s Mansion.

In the study, Chu Heng leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed, while a beautiful maid knelt before him, busy with her work.

Knock, knock, knock.

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

Seeing the scene before him, his expression remained calm, clearly having grown accustomed to it.

"Any news?"

Chu Heng asked.

The old butler replied, "Last night, Chen Mo took people to the Music Academy, specifically to the Qingya Studio where Xu Yuqiong is. The two spent the night together and only left early this morning."

"Oh?"

Chu Heng stroked the maid’s hair, a smile curling his lips. "I was wondering how to arrange for him to meet Yu'er; I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence."

"Tell Yu'er to cultivate her charm technique well; she must hook him for me!"

Recently, Chen Mo had been rising in fame in Tian Du City; from his frequent visits to the palace to the Empress’s generous rewards, it was clear how much both sides valued him.

His father was a third-rank official with real power, and his mother was a martial arts grandmaster backed by a top-tier sect... Such a background was indeed hard to ignore.

Not to mention that he himself was a sixth-rank martial artist and a hero who had claimed the first kill of the Ten Great Heavenly Demons.

Even without the savage slave case, he was worth the effort.

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

The butler said, "This morning, Lin Huai’s body was discovered."

Chu Heng shook his head. "So what if it was discovered? There were no traces left on the body; even if they investigate, they won't find anything leading to me."

The butler’s voice deepened as he continued, "The Six Doors have already determined it was the work of the demon race. The case has been elevated to the Eastern Palace, and the Empress has ordered the Three Judicial Offices to investigate, in coordination with the Tianlin Guards."

Hearing this, Chu Heng’s palm clenched tightly, tearing out a handful of hair.

Despite the intense pain, the maid dared not resist in the slightest, not even daring to moan, and continued her work meticulously.

"With the Evil-Suppressing Jade suppressing it, even the city-protecting array could be deceived; how could the Six Doors find any clues? Could that demoness have tricked me?"

"No, she has no reason to... Even if a trace of demon qi leaked while interrogating Lin Huai, it should have dissipated after three days. How could they find it?"

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

The steward replied, "Shangguan Yunfei, but the one who traced it to the demon race is Chen Mo."

Once these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.

Chu Heng looked slightly startled and said, "Chen Mo?! Wasn't he still at the Music Conservatory last night..."

The steward said, "This case was originally being investigated jointly by the Six Fan School and the Dinghuo Division. I don't know why Chen Mo followed along, but it is said that he saw it was the work of the demon race at a glance, and on the spot, he summoned the remnant soul of Lin Huai, who spoke the word 'demon' with his own mouth..."

Chu Heng fell into a long silence.

After a long while, he said in a strained tone, "Isn't he a martial artist? And he can summon souls, too?"

The steward said, "Perhaps he made use of some kind of magic treasure... Now that it has been exposed too early, the city will surely be on high alert, and continuing would be very risky. It would be better to temporarily shelve the plan and wait for the wind to die down before making further arrangements."

"We have already reached this point; it is not something I can stop just because I want to."

Chu Heng’s expression was gloomy, "Tell that demoness to be careful recently and not to show her face easily."

"Yes."

The steward acknowledged the order and turned to leave the room.

As the maid continued her efforts, Chu Heng’s breathing gradually grew rapid; he grabbed her head tightly with his palm and pressed down with force.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

The maid was nearly suffocating and could not help but struggle.

Chu Heng ignored her and increased the force of his palm.

Crack!

With a crisp sound of breaking bone, the maid instantly stopped moving.

Chu Heng’s body shuddered, he let out a long sigh, and tossed the corpse aside as if throwing away trash.

"Chen Mo..."

His narrow eyes were as cold and venomous as a viper.

Yangxin Palace.

The palace was towering, its glazed tiles shining with a golden radiance under the sunlight.

Behind the tightly closed vermilion-lacquered doors was a long corridor covered with fine, soft carpets. Through the beaded curtains, one could see a woman with a graceful figure lying on a phoenix couch.

Her deep red thin skirt had slipped to her hip line, revealing a waist and back as white as mutton-fat jade, like flawless jade that is hard to find for ten thousand gold.

A female official dressed in black palace attire knelt to the side, her palms coated with fragrant, orchid-like ointment, massaging her body with gentle movements.

It was as if a layer of jade film had been plated onto her skin; sunlight spilled through the window lattice, casting a pale pink, lustrous glow.

"Your Highness, the case on White Tower Street is a bit strange. The city is covered by a grand array, so how did the demon race sneak in? And they even dared to commit such a violent crime?" The female official looked puzzled.

Lin Huai’s corpse had already been sent to the Demon Suppression Division. After a personal inspection by the Envoy, a trace of residual demon aura was indeed discovered.

In this way, it could almost be concluded that there were demons in the city!

This was the capital of the Great Yuan, under the feet of the Son of Heaven! The appearance of the demon race meant something that went without saying!

"A grand array?"

"Heh, it is nothing more than a means to coerce the imperial court. If it weren't for this so-called Sacred Sect, there might not be so many demons in this world!"

The Empress said coldly.

The female official remained silent upon hearing this.

Martial Saint Mountain, the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion, and the Wuwang Temple were collectively known as the three great Sacred Sects.

They carved out their own territories, held transcendent status, were not subject to the jurisdiction of the imperial court, and could be called nations within a nation!

Except for Martial Saint Mountain, which kept a low profile and did not interfere in worldly affairs, the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion and Wuwang Temple promoted their sects extensively, with believers spread across the Nine Provinces.

Under the whole heaven, all is the King's land; if not for the turbulent situation, the imperial court would absolutely not tolerate the existence of such forces.

Years ago, demons ran rampant, and imperial officials died one after another. Seeing that the imperial order was on the verge of collapse, Emperor Wulie had no choice but to invite the high monks of Wuwang Temple to set up the Eight Directions Demon-Sweeping Array to expel the demons.

Although the demons were eventually purged, this also became a thorn in the side of the imperial court.

"Compared to this, I am more curious as to why the demon creature would target a minor official of the Ministry of Works?"

"According to the report from the Six Fan School, the corpse died in a miserable state and suffered endless torture before death... It feels as if they were interrogating something."

The Empress shook her head.

With only one corpse, the information that could be obtained was too little.

This demon race was adept at hiding; with millions of people in the Heavenly Capital, trying to ferret it out was no different from looking for a needle in a haystack.

Unless it appeared on its own and committed another crime.

"The demon aura remaining on the corpse is very thin; even the Profound Jade did not react, making it almost impossible to detect."

"Since that Chen Mo was able to discover the anomaly, he must have some means of sensing demon aura. Perhaps he can find some clues."

The female official said while pressing on her waist.

"Chen Mo..."

The Empress’s eyes flickered slightly.

Recently, this name had appeared in her ears with high frequency, and every time it was accompanied by a major case.

"Issue my imperial decree: have Chen Mo serve as the lead investigator, with the Six Fan School responsible for coordination, to solve this case with all their might!"

"Yes!"

The female official acknowledged.

"I would like to see just how much ability this person really has!"

"If he truly satisfies me, I wouldn't mind paying a little more to snatch him away from Yu Youhan..."

The Empress hugged a pillow, pressing out a lush curve at her chest, her misty phoenix eyes seemingly filled with anticipation.