Chapter 263: Reunion

The sword light left its sheath in an instant. The bright light and the clanging sound startled the faces of the three masters as they turned back abruptly.

Wu Dong's feeling at that time was exactly the same as Pei Ye's now, perhaps even more so, because when Pei Ye turned his head to look at the "Fenghuai Scroll," his pulsing, warm neck was no more than two feet away from the "Soul-Snatching Scroll."

For the thing that took the scroll to also cut off this head would really not be a difficult task.

The hair on the back of his neck stood up like sharp needles. Pei Ye had already pulled his sword horizontally in front of him, suddenly retreating between the three of them.

Sui Zaihua reached out his hand the fastest.

Even faster than Pei Ye's movement, the entire space suddenly tilted like a mirror, as if it had condensed into pieces of connected ice crystals. Pei Ye was clearly facing away, yet he seemed to see himself in that reflection.

And then it flashed and disappeared, as if it were just an illusion.

But everything had already stopped.

People, swords, true Qi, heaven and earth spirit mysteries... all were sealed crystal-clearly within it.

Pei Ye's body went rigid, his retreating body frozen in mid-air, becoming a statue. Like an ant frozen in ice, it was not binding, not an obstacle, but a thorough casting to death, so that even his eyes had nowhere to turn.

No matter how long one spent with them, only at the moment of truly striking did the vast power of a master appear completely. At this moment, Pei Ye felt truly like an ant facing a hurricane. The so-called Bowang Autumn Champion was nothing more than a child's game.

This was: *Spirit-Child Observing the World* · 【Covering Mirror into Painting】.

"Place a mirror on the ground, the mirror reflects the world, observe it with your eyes; if the eyes move, the world in the mirror moves. Sir, if my eyes don't move and I turn the mirror over, won't the world in the mirror also stop moving?"

"Hahaha, a child's fancy, whimsical."

"It's not, Sir. Look, it really has become a painting that doesn't move."

Recorded in the *Great Canon of Spirit Mysteries*, Mystic Scripture Section, Item 43, it was precisely one of the "Seven Mystic Scriptures" prepared by the Great Tang court for the officials of the Mystic Gate. Its required spirituality was too sufficient, and it was once classified into the "Spirit Scripture Section." To this day, it remained one of the techniques learned by the fewest people.

And the *Spirit-Child Observing the World* of Sui Shaoqing of the Ceremony Platform had always been one of the few profound attainments in the entire Shao Long Prefecture.

At this moment, the old man had absolutely no probing or hesitation. The moment that empty grid entered his field of vision, the most absolute imprisonment had already descended upon this space.

In such a blockade, nothing in the entire space could escape. The next moment, Sui Zaihua pressed his hand down, the entire mirror shattered coldly, and Pei Ye stumbled to the ground.

It was also at this time that a thought suddenly came from the Chi shadow in Pei Ye's abdomen: "Pei Ye, where are you?"

Pei Ye was startled: "... Immortal Platform, what's wrong?"

"I felt that thing in Yang Yan's jade pendant."

"..."

Pei Ye stared abruptly. The cabinet had returned to silence, and Wu Dong and An Zang were also looking with their hands on their swords.

Sui Zaihua slowly opened his palm, which was empty.

He hadn't caught anything.

"... What about now?" Pei Ye asked his abdomen gently.

"It's gone."

——————————

The three masters conducted the most thorough inspection of the entire Return-Storage Cabinet, but that thing—whatever it was—was as if it had never appeared.

Only the empty grid reminded them of what had just happened.

"After the two volumes taken out were lost, we would definitely go to check the remaining three volumes," An Zang watched the final heavy door slowly close. Outside the four of them, a barrier of mysterious Qi separated them, not knowing if it was useful or not. "This is the opportunity he was waiting for."

Yes, this was an unavoidable open conspiracy. If the three masters standing here couldn't prevent these three volumes of case files from disappearing, it actually reflected differences at certain levels, and there was no other way.

Unless they chose never to open the final layer, but the enemy had already taken action. They could neither predict the future nor give up eating for fear of choking.

The atmosphere was silent for a moment. Soon, Wu Dong's voice sounded hoarse: "It doesn't matter; the information we just obtained has instead been consolidated."

He looked at the few people: "This technique, or this person, can indeed enter and exit the fourth floor with composure, but cannot pass through the Return-Storage Cabinet. He must wait for us to open it; there must be a boundary."

"Does the Crane Inspector confirm that there is such a thing as 'entering and exiting the fourth floor'?" Sui Zaihua said.

"What do you mean?"

"The so-called 'passing through obstacles,' is it a misunderstanding?" Sui Zaihua said. "Perhaps it never possessed the ability to pass through anything. Before the doors and windows of the fourth floor were closed, it was already inside, and it never left afterward."

"... No," Wu Dong climbed the stairs first, his voice coming down. "Checking the case files was a whim of mine; no one could have predicted it. If it had been monitoring me all along, why didn't it steal the remaining three volumes when I opened the cabinet to take the scrolls, just like it did just now?"

"This is not a carefully premeditated matter. It is more like a person holding divine powers coming to the Immortal Platform with a purpose. Seeing what was on the table, he took what was on the table; if he couldn't get into the Return-Storage Cabinet, he waited for the Return-Storage Cabinet," this Crane Inspector, who had seen countless criminals, had eyes like candles. "—He is not being sneaky; he is fearless."

"Therefore... actually, we cannot infer how important these case files are to him," An Zang said.

"They weren't important to begin with. Just some investigation progress; perhaps he just wanted to see," Wu Dong said. "But we don't need to speculate too much about the motivation. As for the 'boundary' mentioned just now, I have a view, temporarily shared with the two of you."

"Please speak."

"We don't know if it can enter the first or second layers. I think we don't need to dwell on it. Just taking the third layer as an example, there are three differences from the fourth floor."

"First, although both are sealed, the fourth floor has wooden doors and paper windows, while the third cabinet is cast of gold and iron, with different thicknesses of material; second, there are tiny gaps between the doors and windows on the fourth floor, while the third cabinet is completely and thoroughly sealed, with different degrees of sealing; third, the fourth floor is only sealed by wood and stone, while the third cabinet involves spirit-Qi locks, and the means and levels are also different," Wu Dong said slowly. "In short, the third cabinet can block air, true Qi, and spirit Qi, actually dividing the inside and outside into two completely different spaces, while the fourth floor has many spaces where one can play tricks. The above three points must be investigated together with the Black Ribbons from the perspectives of martial logic and spirit logic, comparing similar martial arts and techniques to roughly reconstruct this means."

Several people nodded.

"Then that's good. Everyone, please return," Wu Dong said suddenly.

When he said this, his eyes swept over Sui Zaihua and Pei Ye: "Everyone has things to be busy with."

Sui Zaihua and Pei Ye were facing the trap under the Joyful Huan Si Lou. To lure the bird into the cage, the trap should indeed not be moved.

However... under these circumstances... Pei Ye looked at this Crane Inspector with some astonishment. The sudden chill was still vivid in the youth's heart.

Did he also want to continue pushing forward with the previous plan?

"I will watch the investigation of this matter tonight. Tomorrow before noon, let's gather at the State Yamen to discuss this matter in detail," Wu Dong's gaze moved to Pei Ye.

Pei Ye immediately woke up—his position determined Sui Zaihua's position. If he came to the Immortal Platform, it would inevitably attract suspicion, but it was very normal for the newly appointed Autumn Champion to stroll around the State Yamen.

He nodded immediately.

Wu Dong nodded slightly: "Then let's stop here."

At this time, they had reached the fourth floor. Wu Dong stepped over the threshold without any intention of letting the three of them sit down.

Pei Ye still couldn't help but say: "Just leave you alone here?"

Wu Dong looked at him and said lightly: "A Crane Inspector at the Immortal Platform is like a bird in its nest."

He held the door leaf, his tone without any ripples: "If they wanted to kill me, the time before the two masters arrived was the best opportunity. Before reliable information comes out, we should continue to do our things. Of course... I also welcome him to come. Using one's own corpse to solve a case is a skill that every Crane Inspector has mastered."

Pei Ye didn't know why his brain twitched, and he came out with: "Some people don't leave corpses."

"Hahaha." This strange and ugly-looking person actually smiled at him, his voice hoarse: "Then... there are also ways that don't leave corpses."

—

Sui Zaihua placed Pei Ye in front of the room and turned to vanish.

It was the deepest part of the night. Pei Ye walked into the room. The black cat was no longer practicing, squatting quietly on the bed, opening a pair of green eyes to look at him.

"What did you encounter at that time?" it asked first.

Pei Ye turned to close the door, was silent for a moment, and told it what he had seen tonight: "When you sent me the message, it was exactly the moment after it stole the case files and Master Sui made a move to intercept it."

"..." The black cat was silent.

"What do you think is going on?" Pei Ye sat on the edge of the bed and asked with a frown, "Could it be the *Strange Techniques Absolute Scripture*? I originally thought that the *Strange Techniques Absolute Scripture* could be the answer to any unsolved case and shouldn't be used to fill in the blanks at will, but, since you can feel it..."

"I can't feel it."

"Ah?"

"I have never been able to feel the *Strange Techniques Absolute Scripture*," the black cat looked at him. "What I felt this time wasn't them either. The *Strange Techniques Absolute Scripture* or the 'fruit' itself, but the feeling Yang Yan's jade pendant gave me was that the 'fruit' was reacting to it."

"..."

"It was the same just now; I felt its openness in front of the 'fruit'."

"... I remember you said 【Chun Shou】 is a fruit," Pei Ye took off his boots and pulled his legs onto the bed, thinking. "Does 【Chun Shou】 react to the jade pendant? Why didn't I feel anything?"

"It's not 【Chun Shou】, it's 'Chi Fire.' Chi Fire hasn't taken shape yet; it's not your ability, so naturally, you can't feel it."

Pei Ye stared: "Chi Fire is also a fruit?!"

The black cat's clear green eyes looked at him quietly for two seconds: "You finally know how to care about serious matters."

"... Hurry up and say it!"

"No, but it possesses the characteristics of a fruit, or rather, it is a part of a complete fruit," the black cat thought, frowning. "It needs to be completed..."

"... The knowledge here should be complete, but I can't remember it."

Pei Ye was silent for a while: "What exactly is a 'fruit'?"

"I don't know; this is just an appropriate concept," the black cat said. "Something like 【Chun Shou】."

Pei Ye was silent: "A fruit should be relative to a 'tree,' right?"

"..."

"..."

"... Perhaps," the black cat looked at him seriously. "But now there is no evidence, so let's not speculate. We must first find the source of this feeling—and Yang Yan's jade pendant matter, you should spend some effort on it as soon as possible."

"Alright," Pei Ye nodded seriously as well. When the black cat spoke with such a serious attitude, it meant that what was in front of them was indeed a top-tier "serious matter." Pei Ye raised this matter to the highest level in his heart, picked up the *Snow Collapse* beside him, and leaned back against the headboard.

Things were indeed starting to tighten up. The Joyful Huan Si Lou and Yang Yan's matter were still unresolved, and tonight another unsolved case was added. Beneath the water's surface, several unrecognizable crocodiles glided through the shadows, but Pei Ye couldn't see their purpose.

Most importantly, he was just a small shrimp among them, yet he was also coveting the dragon pearl they were fighting over.

Wouldn't he be torn to shreds if he were the slightest bit negligent?

Under the pressure that covered him, reading the sword manual and thinking about the gathering among the masters again tomorrow, Pei Ye, who hadn't slept peacefully for several nights, gradually grew sleepy. He pressed the book against his chest. This time, no one came to disturb him suddenly, and the youth fell into a dream.

——

Morning.

White dew at first light.

Bundles of golden light fell on the bed, and Pei Ye opened his eyes.

When too many things were weighing on his heart, people always woke up very early. Pei Ye rubbed his eyes in a daze, feeling that this morning was a bit quiet... even a bit tranquil.

This atmosphere made him very comfortable, but thinking of the many problems to be solved, he sighed lightly for a moment, pressed the booklet on his chest, and sat up.

"Can I take a look at this *Snow Collapse*?" A clear, light voice came from beside him.

"Hmm—" Pei Ye responded dully, his movements suddenly stopping.

A clean white sleeve drifted into his field of vision.

The quiet peace of the whole room seemed to suddenly have a place to land. Pei Ye turned his head in a daze, and the woman, like an ancient goddess, stood three feet from the bed.

A month since parting, her spirit was as it had been.

Pei Ye had never been prepared for such a sudden and hasty reunion. Subconsciously, he pulled the quilt, and the messy bed came into view again. He said in some embarrassment and panic: "Ming... Miss..."

"Sorry, I saw your lamp was lit last night and thought you were still reading," Ming Qitian explained. "I only saw you were already asleep when I came in."

The words "reading" entered his ears, and Pei Ye's heart tightened. The daze and confusion of waking up were swept away. He flipped over and smiled: "Ah, Miss Ming, how was your sword-questioning journey?"

"Quite well," Ming Qitian nodded slightly, reached out to hand him a small bottle of pills, and said softly, "How did you get injured?"

"... Ah." Pei Ye lowered his head to look. It was actually the injury left by Shang Huaitong that day. After using the Tianshan medicine, it was more than half healed, but it hadn't completely recovered.

"From fighting in the ring."

"Take one."

Pei Ye picked one and swallowed it, with only one thought in his heart—the medicine of Yunlang Mountain seemed to be indeed better than the medicine of Tianshan.

Then he turned his gaze to the woman's other hand; that translucent divine sword was already in her palm.

Sure enough, only when with this woman did this sword, which was like a fairy spirit, not look so abruptly dazzling.

"Liuli, I've been helping it heal whenever I have time these days. It's already more than half better now," Pei Ye sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, leaning his head on his ankles, and said with his head held high. "Earlier, it didn't like to move for seven or eight hours every day, but now it's much better."

Ming Qitian nodded and returned it to him: "Thank you, I'll continue to trouble you."

"Not at all, not at all." Pei Ye was a bit embarrassed. In fact, he had been busy recently and had somewhat neglected this sword. "Thanks to it, I reached the fourth realm so quickly."

"It is indeed a very fast progression."

"By the way, Miss Ming!" Pei Ye swayed back and forth, unable to help but smile, "That... guess what ranking I got in the martial arts competition?"

"Congratulations on winning the championship."

"..." Pei Ye was a bit discouraged, "Is my performance that obvious?"

"No, when I arrived, I saw the silk banner hanging upstairs."

"... Alright. And, I didn't use the Snow Night Flying Goose, oh," Pei Ye chuckled, "I won against a sixth-rank with a fourth-rank using a newly learned clumsy sword—that person even knew half a move of Intent Sword."

Ming Qitian nodded. Pei Ye's interest was piqued. The small jade sword and small wooden sword in his hands slashed and explained as he detailed how he defeated the enemy three times.

The black cat had already rolled its green eyes slightly, but Ming Qitian was indeed listening seriously, watching the small sword on the youth's fingers quietly, imagining this sword fight.

Pei Ye finished speaking and looked at her with shining eyes.

"Not bad." Ming Qitian nodded.

Pei Ye touched his head and smiled, the pride on his face unable to be hidden.

The woman continued to nod and said: "Walking the path of evil with a broken sword is generally because of insufficient comprehension. The latter part of the *General Theory* says 'Intent and Realm must be harmonious.' You being able to see through that sword with this principle means you must have read it very deeply and thoroughly."

"..."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 264 =====