Chapter 424: Search

Yin Song: "Entering the imperial palace isn't hard, but you're different. Did your senior brother mention that there's a Zhang Fengguang in the palace—he's from Long Hushan."

"He doesn't care about anything else—not even if rebel troops storm the palace—but no demon or monster will slip past his eyes. And you? You're a cultivator, using Yuanli. You fall under the category of demon or monster."

Pan Yun rolled her eyes and said, "Then what if I pretend to be an ordinary martial artist?"

Yin Song said confidently, "You won't fool his eyes."

"So he ignores martial artists sneaking into the palace?"

Yin Song said, "That's the Jin Yi Wei's job. Zhang Fengguang only fulfills his own duties."

Pan Yun said confidently, "Then I'll be a martial artist."

Yin Song knew he couldn't stop her. He waved his hand. "Do a good job with your disguise. If you're caught, run immediately. If you can't run, surrender. Your senior brother still has some influence—use his name at the critical moment to save yourself."

Pan Yun: "I thought announcing your name in the palace would be more useful."

Yin Song: "What am I? Zhang Fengguang isn't an official—he doesn't play by court rules."

Pan Yun nodded, understanding. "Zhang Fengguang is a cultivator. He responds to our kind of rules."

Yin Song nodded. "Ruzike Sect."

He said, "If you can't deliver it, bring it out—I'll deliver it."

Yin Song twisted his waist, pushed off his legs, and turned his neck. "My martial skills are quite good, and I know the palace well."

Wang Cong finished going through everything and interjected, "Little Master, are all these things to be exchanged for grain and cloth?"

Pan Yun hummed, then simply handed him the money boxes and the crumpled gold and silver stored in her space. "Move fast. After the second month ends, spring warms and flowers bloom—don't delay the farming season."

Wang Cong packed everything away. "Then I leave tomorrow?"

"Go. Take Tao Yanbai and the other two with you as assistants."

Wang Cong raised an eyebrow—he knew his little master was about to do something big, and something bad.

He lowered his gaze. "Hu Daxia…"

"Just keep the little yellow dog safe and well-fed—he'll be fine for now," Pan Yun said. "He's powerful. The Wu Lin Alliance won't catch him anytime soon."

Yin Song wanted to speak but held back—he wanted to say that in Jingcheng, the person Hu Jing should fear most wasn't the Wu Lin Alliance, but the Jin Yi Wei.

But he thought again: their troubles were already enough. Further contact between Pan Yun and Hu Jing might not benefit Hu Jing at all.

So he stayed silent.

A copper thread hanging from Yin Song's window snapped with a *bang*, and the copper coin tied to it fell, striking the ground with two distinct sounds.

Yin Song hurried forward, saw it was the yang side, immediately pinched his fingers to calculate, eyes widening slightly, then turned back. "Quickly, pack everything away. Xiao Hong, hide. Hong Yan, you…"

Hong Yan suddenly transformed into a red fox with a *pop*.

Yin Song's words stuck in his chest. After circling once, he struggled out, "Fine, I guess."

The group moved quickly. Wang Cong packed all the boxes. Pan Yun stored the coral tree. Miao Zhen and Miao He immediately grabbed brooms and swept the floor clean. Yin Qingjun and Tao Yanbai rushed to the kitchen, carried the prepared meals to the dining hall, and served everyone rice…

Yin Song picked up the fallen coin, flicked his hand, and pulled down the half-hanging copper thread, stowing it away.

Less than half a watch later, everyone had finished tidying up and sat together in the dining hall, lifting bowls and eating furiously.

Pan Xiaohei and his bowl had been moved to the dining hall, squatting on the floor, staring at Hong Yan with wide eyes.

Before anyone had swallowed their first bite, a loud banging came at the door.

Tao Yanbai, mouth full of rice, rose to open it, but Yin Qingjun pressed him down and went himself. Soon after, the door opened and a squad of Jin Yi Wei poured in. At the front were two faces Pan Yun recognized: Yun Yan, whom she'd met yesterday, and Cao Ye, whom she'd seen before.

Pan Yun's gaze lingered on Cao Ye. How strange—twice now he'd been present during household raids, and now he was here again, searching Yin Song's residence.

What strange fate bound her to him?

This was Pan Yun's fourth time seeing Cao Ye—but Cao Ye had never seen her.

So when Yun Yan entered the dining hall, his gaze swept over her once and focused entirely on Yin Song.

In his eyes, today's target was Yin Song.

But Yun Yan knew better—for the Emperor, Yin Song was to be investigated, but Pan Yun was the one who must be emphasized.

"Innate Lord, the Nan Zhenfu has received a tip that you harbor wanted fugitives. We are ordered to search your residence. Please cooperate."

Yin Song looked genuinely surprised. "Wanted fugitives? Is there a misunderstanding? My household contains only my sect members—how could there be any fugitives?"

"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we'll find out after searching."

Yin Song fell silent for a moment, then sighed heavily and stepped aside. "Very well. Though the innocent need no proof, if evidence can clear me, so much the better. Please search thoroughly, and restore my reputation."

!. Read

Yun Yan waved his hand. Behind him, the Jin Yi Wei scattered, rushing into every room, the back courtyard—even the kitchen and latrine weren't spared.

They weren't just looking for people—they were looking for objects.

An Chen led two men and kicked open Hu Jing's door. Inside, no one was present.

The room hadn't changed much, but the bedding and pillow on the bed were clearly new. The clothes hanging on the nearby screen were clearly those of a young boy—not Hu Jing's.

An Chen pursed his lips, lifted the bedding, checked under the bed and the cabinets—there wasn't a single trace of Hu Jing's presence.

His partner couldn't help glancing at him. "An Chen, did you make a mistake? There's no blood, no gauze—this room never housed someone injured and bedridden."

An Chen sniffed lightly. "Did you smell the medicine?"

The two inhaled. One said, "Faint, but yes—it's medicine."

"Are you referring to this?" Another man lifted a medicine chest from the desk by the wall. "I remember those two—Tao Yanbai and Miao He—they're trained in medicine, Dao physicians. They've been carrying medicine chests and banners out daily to treat patients."

An Chen and his partner: …

An Chen gathered his breath. "Did you keep tight watch today? Did anyone leave?"

"How could no one leave?" one said. "Today, only the boy Tao Yanbai stayed. Everyone else went out."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier? Did you see a middle-aged man leave?"

"No. I was watching alone—I don't have a body duplication technique. When I returned, I saw Pan Yun and Wang Cong talking at the gate, then they parted ways. You told me to prioritize watching Pan Yun, so I followed her."

"You returned? Where did you return from?"

"Where else could I be coming back from? Of course from the palace. I entered the palace with you to report back on our mission — did you forget?"

Anchen lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. Such a short time, the problem probably wasn't serious, but… where was Hu Jing?

They turned the residence upside down but couldn't find Hu Jing anywhere, and of course, they didn't find Wang Zhen's gold, silver, and jewels either.

What they did confirm was that Yin Song was truly incorruptible — the money and valuables in his home could be counted on one hand.

Good night.

(End of chapter)