"Don't run!" Jiang Jingwei roared, stepping forward to rush into the ward, only to be pulled back by Zhang Yuanqing as they nearly brushed past each other. "You can't fly, can you? What's the point of chasing then?" Zhang Yuanqing said with irritation. The red-haired girl with a slightly upward tilt to her eyes and a regal bearing tilted her head, thought it over, and found it fair—so she abandoned her pursuit, sighing indignantly. "Baseless and unscrupulous. He can fly, yet we didn't even have snipers stationed nearby?" "Clearing space for Wei Yuanzhou, Zhang Yuancheng pulled out a damp paper towel, wiped away the blood from the floor, and held it in his hand, then said to Jiang Jingwei, 'Tell Guan Ya I need to attend to something—there will be no danger. You continue to stay at the hospital and wait for my message.' 'Oh!' Jiang Jingwei replied, without asking why—perhaps surprised, or simply indifferent. At this moment, the advantage of being a fire master truly shines through. If it were anyone else, even if they didn't press for details, they'd naturally ask one or two questions, wasting energy in mere courtesy. Zhang Yuancheng's body dissolved into a dreamlike stream of starlight, vanishing outside the intensive care ward. The very next moment, he appeared in the shadowed flower bed behind the hospital building, summoning the red ballet shoe. 'Tap, tap...' the red ballet shoe danced joyfully around its owner, its soles striking the ground with crisp sounds—clearly delighted, as it had not been out for a while. Zhang Yuancheng tucked the damp paper towel into the shoe and whispered, 'Take me to him!' This was to prevent Xiao Yuan from deliberately avoiding him and not bringing the person back to Wuhen Hotel. The Red Dance Shoes shot out like a swift arrow, making a series of crisp "taps," and vanished into the night. Zhang Yuanqing walked steadily toward the hospital entrance, where a number of taxis were parked. He casually selected one and said, "Driver, just follow my instructions." The driver had never heard such a request before and was reluctant, but the young passenger in the back seat said, "I'll guarantee you five hundred." With that, the driver pressed the accelerator and the car surged forward like a launched arrow. "Alright!" he exclaimed, then pointed the way while leaning against the back seat, gazing out at the dazzling night scenery. His brows gradually furrowed. The spirit medium had repeatedly threatened Bai Hu Wan Ai with death, and unless there was a special reason, even if he were Xiao Yuan's companion, he would not have spared him. The special reason was that, originally, Kou Beiyue had assassinated Chi Yue An. Yet Bai Hu Wan Shi clearly differed from Chi Yue An. Beyond the shared camaraderie of joint operations, Bai Hu Wan Shi himself was not fundamentally flawed—earning extra income was no issue, as long as he didn’t become overly greedy. After all, you cannot expect everyone to be saints. Therefore, the reasons behind Xiao Yuan’s companion’s assassination of Bai Hu Wan Shi stemmed solely from personal grudges, misunderstandings, or minor conflicts—each of which presented a serious challenge. Should it be a personal grudge, and Bai Hu Wan Shi were indeed faultless, then according to protocol, any official traveler of evil profession must be eliminated, and he would find it difficult to show leniency. If it were a misunderstanding, the resolution would be the simplest—by initiating the matter himself, he could simply ask Xiao Yuan to compensate Bai Hu Wan Shi with a sum of money, thereby settling the matter amicably. But if the issue arose from a series of minor disagreements that had grown into resentment and a desire for retribution, that would be the most serious—signaling that Xiao Yuan’s companion would inevitably continue to involve others in future incidents. "I hope this doesn’t prove too difficult for me," Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. This matter should be handled quietly, preferably by him—so he didn't even bring Guan Ya. Hmm. After locating the target, first accompany the Red Slipper in dance, then find a concealed spot to address the lingering effects of the Mountain God's Staff. To show up at official duties under a tent—quite unbecoming. …… The Unseen Hotel. Xiao Yuan kicked open the standard room where Kou Beiyue and the plump man were staying, the door slamming with a loud crash, waking both of them instantly. One instinctively summoned her dagger; the other, a human skin mask. Upon seeing Xiao Yuan, who had transformed into a gong-affected form, Kou Beiyue gasped and withdrew his dagger, saying, "You startled me, Xiao Yuan..." The next moment, he was truly startled, his face pale with urgency, asking, "What happened to Zhang Uncle?" Xiao Yuan carried an elderly man dressed in a heavy coat. The man appeared severely injured, unconscious. The dark coat was soaked in thick blood, already saturated with it. While walking toward the single bed, Xiao Yuan barked, "Don't stand there gaping—go to my room and fetch the fungus cultivation jars and first-aid medicine chest." Her pupils were dark and lustrous, like precious stones; long tendrils grew from her forehead, and two small pointed teeth protruded from her mouth. Her cheeks were adorned with intricate patterns of black and yellow, resembling a queen bee's makeup—both strange and breathtaking. Yet when she grew angry, her composure was as cold and commanding as a queen bee's, causing Kou Beiyue and the younger, plump boy to involuntarily shrink back. Without pausing to ask questions, Kou Beiyue hurried out of the room, dressed in a four-cornered skirt. Xiao Yuan swiftly and carefully laid the elder on the bed, then tore open the elder's clothes—only then did the younger boy fully assess the elder's injuries. Large areas of the chest skin were carbonized, with flesh sunken and depressed, suggesting the flames had also reached the internal organs. Moreover, a deep, narrow incision ran through the heart, from which thick streams of blood gushed out. Had the elder been wounded by the Mist Lord and the Fire Demon? Well, it should be either the Mist Lord with the Flame Demon's items or the Flame Demon with the Mist Lord's items. The plump young man quickly produced a jade-green bead and said, "Have him hold this bead—it will help stabilize his condition." Xiao Yuan snatched the bead from him, opened Zhang Su's mouth, and inserted it. Zhang Su's pale face quickly turned rosy. While this did not heal the injuries—the wound still bled and the carbonized skin remained unrevived—it was sufficient to keep him breathing. At that moment, hurried footsteps came from outside, and Kou Beiyue returned with one hand holding an emergency box and the other cradling a dusty clay jar. Xiao Yuan paid no attention to the box and quickly took the jar, which was half a meter high, and sat beside the bed. With her right hand, she reached into the jar, searched for a few seconds, and pulled out a plump, round silkworm. This silkworm was full-bodied and snowy white, with a dark black head, and was held between her fingertips, wriggling vigorously. First, she removed the jade bead and then gently placed the silkworm near Zhang Su's mouth, pressing it gently until it A thick green juice splashed into Zhang Shi's mouth, and he instinctively rolled his tongue, then took a large swallow. Xiao Yuan kept pressing and bursting six silkworms before finally stopping, placing the clay pot on the nightstand, then opening the first-aid box to retrieve gauze, disinfectant, surgical knife, and thread. With her sharp surgical knife, she carefully shaved off the carbonized skin until she revealed the fresh, pink flesh, then stitched the bleeding wound on his chest. Lastly, Xiao Yuan evenly spread the "remains" of the silkworms over the fresh, pink flesh. After completing all this, she slowly exhaled, her face no longer tense, then rose to give her instructions: "Go and wrap him up." She still looked like a beast, now needing to change into regular clothes. ... When Xiao Yuan finished dressing, she returned to Kou Beiyue's room to find the elder already awake, gazing blankly at the ceiling, silent and expressionless, with a look of deep weariness on her face. Kou Beiyue stood by the bedside, ignoring his younger brother who kept signaling at him, anxiously asking, "Uncle Zhang, who hurt you? Tell me, and I'll personally settle this for you." But the elder remained silent, refusing to respond. The elder's personality flaws were obvious, yet this young one—he simply couldn't see through him. It was clear that the fifth-level Wugui master had far superior cultivation in self-discipline. "I understand!" the plump young man carefully absorbed the elder's teachings. "Elder, shall we go to the hotel lobby? There might be guests there." Though the hotel itself was hardly bustling. Kou Beiyue cleared her throat and spoke with firm determination: "You stay at the front desk. I'll remain here. In case anything arises inside, I can assist as well." The plump young man: "...". In the room, the young woman, now dressed in the front-desk uniform, pulled out a high-backed chair beside the desk. "While the medicinal power of the gushi remains, you'll feel numbness and muscle fatigue. By morning, it will subside." She sat down, reached into her suit pocket, pulled out a box of lady's cigarettes, drew out a slender, long one, lit it, and gently exhaled a stream of white smoke. "The last time you were injured by an official envoy, it was in Jinghai City." Though you've suffered greatly, your mood is remarkably vibrant—you've said your long-standing heartaches finally seem to be resolved. Xiao Yuan brushed off the ash from her sleeve, speaking calmly: "Yet when you came to the hotel tonight, you were deeply troubled, your expression dim and preoccupied. In less than half a month, your emotional state has shifted so dramatically, Master Zhang—what has happened to you?" Master Zhang shook his head slightly, his voice hoarse: "Unless it's of one's own volition, the Master of Unseen Traces has established a rule that no past events or private matters shall be discussed." Xiao Yuan, with her slender, delicate fingers holding the cigarette, gently pressed the tip between her full red lips, her posture exquisitely graceful—like a lady of a wealthy family from the Republican era. After finishing the cigarette, she lightly extinguished it in the ashtray, and said softly: "Do you still remember the Master of Unseen Traces' rules? Isn't what you've done tonight a betrayal of him? According to the rules, once you decided to assassinate the official saint, you ceased to be a guest of this hotel—and then, I should not have come to The elder lying on the bed looked somewhat ashamed: "I'm truly sorry—I have indeed broken the rules established by Master Wenhun. Once I recover from my injuries, I will leave." Xiao Yuan expressed her frustration, her eyes brimming with both disappointment and sorrow. Over the years, new members have continuously joined, only to be gradually dismissed or even fall away due to unresolved heart burdens, failing to fulfill the rule of self-redemption—some even passing away like the one who died regretting never having been a true father. She had become, in essence, the true front-desk attendant of a hotel, welcoming one after another and seeing them depart one by one. Now, even Zhang, who had been with the team longer than she, has taken this very path. At that moment, a brilliant streak of starlight flowed like a stream through the window, coalescing into a young man with a tall, graceful posture and refined features. He stared intently at the elder on the bed and coldly said, "You had better clarify your position—this will determine whether I arrest you or assist you." To be honest, the appearance of the assailant surprised him greatly. He looked elderly and weathered, with deeply sun-browned, rough skin etched with fine lines, and dark, thick lips. His hair was short, with only a thin layer of white—no traces of black. This was a man in his sixties, perhaps even older, a typical country farmer. Though he had become a spiritual realm traveler, the years of his earlier life had left an indelible mark on him. He was somewhat reserved and straightforward, sharing the same demeanor as the old farmers he had seen as a child on the field paths. Day after day, he spent his time plowing and tending the land, gradually losing the ability to engage in social interaction, which made him appear reserved and unassuming. How could such a man have become a spiritual realm traveler, let alone one of the malevolent kind? When Zhang Yuanqing appeared in the room, the old man's face instantly paled, and his body convulsed violently as though he wanted to rise and face him—yet his limbs remained paralyzed and stiff, able to do nothing but tremble and writhe. "You've actually come all this way..." Zhang said, his voice hoarse. "Xiao Yuan, hurry up—take Bei Yue and leave me. Don't worry about me." Xiao Yuan sighed gently. "Don't be nervous, he's my friend." Zhang, his body trembling, paused, stunned. "A friend?" Just a few hours earlier, the official Saint who had been fighting for his life at Jinghai City People's Hospital—was now a friend of Xiao Yuan's? When had she acquired such friends? Xiao Yuan spoke calmly. "He's Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn!" Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn... Zhang was first stunned, then his expression changed, his eyes flashing with complex emotions that were hard to decipher. Xiao Yuan didn't notice the shift in the old man's demeanor. She was focused on Zhang Yuanqing, softly introducing him. "Uncle Zhang!" "Uncle Zhang, isn't it?" Zhang Yuanqing almost let it slip—after all, he was related by blood. He managed to hold it in. He first gave a brief account of the incident to Xiao Yuan, then turned to Zhang Uncle, his face stern, and spoke in a calm, firm tone: "Since you're one of Xiao Yuan's companions, I'm sure you've heard of me, Zhang Uncle. I need to know your reasons for assassinating the White Tiger Emperor. If there's any misunderstanding involved, I'll help resolve it. If you have any grievances, I'll stand up for you." To strengthen his appeal, he recalled an earlier instance: "Kou Beiyue is the very example." Xiao Yuan also looked toward Zhang Uncle lying on the bed. To his surprise, the elderly man, his face flushed and voice hoarse and urgent, said: "Xiao Yuan, don't let him take me away. I'll pay the price for everything I've done, but don't let him take me away. For all these years, this has been my only request." Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing's forehead tightened with a sudden surge of veins. The very thing he feared had come true. Zhang Uncle's attitude was nothing short of a confession—this meant he would have to make a choice between his official duties and his personal relationships. Would he Zhang Yuanqing chose the latter. He faced the man coldly, walking toward the bed and saying, "Nice to meet you, Uncle Zhang, but I must take you with me." Uncle Zhang looked toward Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan hesitated, but seeing the old man's weathered face and his pleading expression, she softened, stepping in front of Zhang Yuanqing and shaking her head, "You can't take him. Arrest Uncle Zhang—his fate is sealed. If he protests to the authorities, you won't be able to save him." Zhang Yuanqing paused, gazing at Xiao Yuan's beautiful and refined features, and frowned, "Xiao Yuan... you shouldn't have stopped me. He broke the rules of Master Wuhen, violated his vow, and is no longer your companion. Even if he appeals to Master Wuhen himself, he'll support me." With that, he stepped past Xiao Yuan and moved toward the bed. Yet, as he took his first step, a sudden weight settled on his shoulders. In the next instant, Zhang Yuanqing soared into the air like a spirit, crashing against the window frame with a heavy thud, causing the entire wall to tremble. He stared in astonishment at the small circle who had been thrown against the wall, as if unable to believe: "You fought with me?" A touch of shame flashed across the small circle's face, then she spoke coldly, "I'll give you a full account of Zhang Si's matter. For now, please go back." Zhang Yuanqing stared at her for several seconds, his temples pulsing with visible veins. He hadn't expected such a turn of events—he hadn't anticipated that the small circle would take action to protect Zhang Si by confronting him directly. Though the fall hadn't injured him physically, it had deeply wounded his feelings. Suddenly, Zhang Yuanqing realized that, in the small circle's eyes, the companions of the Wenhua Master team were truly his own people. Whenever a conflict arose between the two groups, she would unconditionally choose her own team. His anger surged upward, and he coldly remarked, "I can certainly give you time—however many days you need. It's your request, after all. But Xiao Yuan, what comes next? Can you kill him and hand him over to me, personally escort him to the official authorities? Even having me arrest him—you simply won't allow that." "Or are you secretly releasing people while I'm away—without even telling me? Now I finally realize you've never truly treated me as one of your own." "Stop making things up," Xiao Yuan said, her face stern. As the door closed, Zhang Yuanqing angrily demanded, "I have helped Kou Beiyue out of a sense of justice—Xī Yuè An must die, even if he is a senior official of the Wu-Xing Alliance. I can't bear it when villains thrive while the righteous suffer. I value procedural justice, but I yearn more for substantive justice. 'If this time I give him a chance, if I shield him... then Xiao Yuan, I'll never stand straight in my work again. When the next Xī Yuè An arises, my conscience will question me: What right do you have to eliminate evil and restore peace? What right do you have to claim justice when you're merely protecting offenders? 'If this time, because of your concern, I let him escape, and later he commits another harm, I will never be at ease. Have you ever thought of these things? You haven't! 'In your eyes, there's only your own companions—never a place for me.' Xiao Yuan's pale cheeks trembled slightly, a strange pang of pain rising in her heart. She took a deep breath and replied coldly, 'You cannot take Zhang Uncle away with you.' "I'm taking him today, no one can stop me!" Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth. "Do you want to fight me? Try throwing me again!" Xiao Yuan's brows furrowed. Watching the two of them arguing, Zhang Uncle lay silently on the bed for a few seconds, then spoke softly, "Young man, I promise I will no longer harm anyone. But I truly can't go with you—please, give me a few days. Don't take me now. Whatever you'd like to know, I'll tell you."