Fu Qingyang led his five teammates out of the camp. Looking up, they saw a dense swarm of insects blanketing the camp, emitting a continuous hum. Focusing closely, Fu Qingyang observed that the insects resembled flying mosquitos, but much larger—several times the size of ordinary mosquitos—uniformly blood-red, with slender mouthparts gleaming like metal, resembling sharp needles. The soldiers clutched their heads, rushing back and forth amid the swarm, screaming as they fell one after another, desperately scratching at their cheeks and chests, tearing their skin and flesh, blood streaming freely. Some soldiers retreated into buildings, closing doors and windows; the insect swarm then settled like flies, settling on the surfaces, trying to squeeze through the cracks. The camp's elite warriors employed their special techniques: the fire master rode a soaring dragon of flame, burning the insects; the water spirit caused well water to surge out, coalescing into massive hands that grasped and pulled the insects, though the speed of the insects proved too great for a lasting effect. The wood spirit lit incense to repel the insects, hoping the scent would drive them away. The blazing flames rising from Tian Xia Gui's body surged outward, enveloping him in a radiant fire. He strode steadily toward a corpse, pausing to examine it closely. The body was shriveled, most of its blood drained away, with dense clusters of red insect eggs adhering to the ruptured wounds. The eggs were translucent, their internal life forms rapidly developing and growing. Tian Xia Gui was startled, launching a stream of flame that consumed both the eggs and the corpse, and declared, "These parasites not only feed on human blood—they also attach to the bodies, multiplying swiftly. We must eliminate the entire colony quickly; otherwise, the entire city of Linxia will be lost." His words weighed heavily on the seasoned military officers. "It finally makes sense why the Northern Dynasty's forces have remained passive these past days—they've been cultivating these parasites, aiming to gradually weaken our troops without engaging in direct combat." Ling Jun exhaled, opened his inventory, and pulled out a green bamboo flute, playing a soft, melodic tune. The melody rose steadily, drifting upward into the sky, then into the surrounding forests. Suddenly, birds from Linxia city surged toward the camp, gathering in great numbers. Across the outer mountain forests, dark waves of birds rose and drifted steadily toward the camp. The flocks circled above the camp, diving now and soaring now, chasing the swirling mosquitoes that darted about. Within less than a minute, the attacking gushtogether were completely consumed. "Good thing it hasn't turned winter yet; otherwise, handling the gushtogether would have been a challenge," Fu Qingyang said, his composed expression easing slightly as he issued rapid, clear orders: "The heavens are now under fire. Zhao City God, you two take charge of the body recovery. Magician's Eye, you take up your post on the city walls to steady the troops' morale. Ling Jun and Xiahou Aotian handle the cases of soldiers affected by poisoning." As he spoke, Fu Qingyang ascended on his sword, vanishing into the clouds, leaving behind only a cold, concise remark: "I'm going to meet the elite warriors from the Northern Dynasty." Ling Jun and the others understood that Fu Qingyang intended to single-handedly hold off the Northern Dynasty forces, creating chaos and preventing them from launching an immediate assault Half an hour later, the five returned to the camp and found Fu Qingyang sitting at the table, bare-chested, wrapped in bandages, with a noticeable injury. "Did you get hurt?" Ling Jun immediately rushed forward to examine his condition. "It's just a minor injury," Fu Qingyang waved his hand, gently discouraging Ling Jun from touching him too much. As he took the pill offered by Xiahou Aotian, he continued, "I fought a series of matches against top warriors from the Northern Dynasty and discovered a rather sobering truth—the Northern Dynasty has several times as many elite fighters as we do. Moreover, the Right Commander of Ju Que's army is a Level Eight Mist Master, slightly inferior to me in strength. Even though I've drawn upon every ounce of my strength, I haven't seen the legendary top warrior of the Northern Frontier, Tuoba Guanghe. This suggests that Tuoba Guanghe is likely at the peak of Level Eight." What does the peak of Level Eight mean? It refers to a level where even Fu Qingyang, himself a Level Eight Master wearing the Sword Master's cloak and nearing the realm of the Dao, would still hesitate to claim a decisive victory in a one-on-one duel. At the stage of mastery, even among those at the eighth rank, the difference between early and late stages is truly significant. Mago-eyes King nodded, saying, "So it seems, once the battle begins, we'll have a tough fight ahead." As for Zhao Chenguang, Ling Jun, and Tianxia Guihuo, they suddenly felt a great sense of security and relief, thanks to the presence of Fu Qingyang and the Mago-eyes—two top-tier talents. Well, Xiahou Aotian counts as half of that. Though he has an odd personality, Xiahou Aotian excels in his professional capabilities. Fu Qingyang said, "Please report on your current status." Xiahou Aotian immediately replied, "Our wells have been compromised by spies who poisoned them. The toxin is quite potent, but thanks to me, the soldiers who were affected have already recovered. In the several wells within the camp, I've placed purification beads in each—one in each well—hoping that after we leave the mission, the organization will cover the costs." "I've also planted a large number of water vines that absorb toxins. From now on, all I need to do is check if the vines have Zhao Chenghuang said, "We've lost six hundred soldiers, but fortunately, they were all rank-and-file troops, so the loss isn't too severe." Fu Qingyang said solemnly, "Under my command, they're all brothers—this grudge must be avenged." He then turned to the Magi-eyes King of Heaven and said, "Given the northern dynasty's strength, retreating to the capital will surely mean defeat. Let's set aside the current situation in Yuan Shi's camp for now—trust him." Suddenly realizing it was improper, she hurried to stop her steps, blushing and hesitating, saying, "Your Majesty, I long for you so much." Zhang Yuancheng carefully observed her, and couldn't help but be struck by the refined taste of the emperor—indeed, this lady was about sixteen, with a delicate grace, like a lotus emerging from clear water, truly a tender, fresh bloom. "Wan Mei, as though you had been away for three autumns, I too miss you dearly," Zhang Yuancheng said, tightly grasping her hand and smiling warmly. Even as he took hold of her slender, pale hands, he felt an irresistible force drawing them back. The graceful Wan Mei, slightly bashful, replied, "Your Majesty, in broad daylight, how could one be so bold and impetuous? After sunset, please rest in the hall, and I would like to attend to your needs." Who exactly was this person? Zhang Yuancheng gazed at her clear and refined face, her outward expression full of warmth and agreement, yet his mind was already analyzing her identity. Another celestial traveler, perhaps. Hmm, possibly. With the example of Jiang Jingwei, Zhang Yuanqing discovered a quick way to identify teammates—simply observe physical interactions with the imperial consorts. Those who showed resistance were undoubtedly the Lingjing Travelers. After all, to them, the lazy emperor was merely a background NPC, and it made no sense to sacrifice themselves to a "NPC" who merely consumed tofu. The Lingjing realm wouldn’t feature a quest requiring unconditional dedication—such a quest wasn’t exclusive to love-oriented professions. As for spies, Zhang Yuanqing believed it was impossible for them to resist physical contact, since their very job was to seduce the emperor. The more the emperor visited them, the more the spies should be delighted. In his own faction, there were indeed many tactically astute individuals—yes, quite a few—but those who truly excelled at performance? Either Xie Lingxi or his aunt. Zhang Yuanqing said: "Ah, a beautiful lady. I have other matters to attend to. I’ll just step aside for now. I’ll be preparing for the imperial bedchamber tonight." With that, he flashed a warm, flirtatious smile, appraised Wan Ren’s graceful figure from head to toe, and then led the group of attendants and e The Lingjing realm would not allow him to make any gestures suggesting he was a Lingjing traveler; thus, he had to conceal his identity and summon his teammates under the pretext of attending to the Empress’s personal needs, assigning them to serve as close guards in the imperial quarters around the clock. Wan Ren turned her eyes slightly, gave a smile, and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!" After leaving her pavilion, Zhang Yuanqing immediately proceeded to the palace of De Fei. On the way, he called for a eunuch and asked casually, "How has the Emperor treated De Fei lately?" The eunuch smiled warmly, "He has shown her great favor." Didn't every emperor show great favor to some woman? Zhang Yuanqing then asked, "Compared to the other beauties and consorts?" The eunuch again smiled and replied, "The Emperor has shown De Fei the greatest favor." Zhang Yuanqing now understood—perhaps it was because of the tragedy that had befallen De Fei’s entire family, which had prompted Emperor Zhao Shun to treat her especially leniently. Soon, they arrived before the palace of the Imperial Consort, and under the guidance of a court attendant, entered the garden directly. Stretching out before them, white flowers of an unknown variety bloomed profusely, lending the entire garden a cool, refined elegance. Inside a pavilion within the garden, a graceful lady in simple robes was playing the zither. Her waist was slender, her posture elegant, her eyes like autumn waters resting low, her brows arched like the long peaks of spring mountains. Her skin was as pure as snow, and her complexion vibrant and harmonious—truly a beauty of exceptional grace. Zhang Yuanqing, following his own theory, actively interacted with the lively and graceful attendants—gently pinching them, patting them, or kissing them. The attendants were full of mild complaints, yet showed no desire to evade. They all felt that being lightly handled by the Emperor was a fortune earned over eight lifetimes, and even hoped to go further—perhaps even climb onto the Emperor’s bed. Zhang Yuanqing did not object nor insist, merely sighed, "Since the imperial consort has no interest, then let us arrange another time." He needed to continue playing the role of Zhao Shun. Subsequently, he visited Lady Ya and the Empress, but Lady Ya claimed illness and did not see him, while the Empress had left the palace to visit her family in Yang's residence and was not available. In the evening, Zhang Yuanqing met Wang the court singer at Yuyin Pavilion. This singer was plump and beautiful, dressed in colorful robes, with a broad forehead, bright almond eyes, rosy cheeks, and a gentle gaze that naturally exuded charm. "Your Majesty, I've been dying to see you! For these three days, why haven't you come to me to sing?" Wang the singer happily approached, bowing gracefully. To her, Zhang Yuanqing was straightforward and cold, saying, "I have been poisoned by treachery, and the Imperial Court's Secret Bureau is investigating the matter discreetly. Therefore, I have kept this matter confidential. Wang the singer, you have served me both before and after my illness." Wang's face changed instantly. "Your Majesty, even if I had a hundred hearts, I "Zhang Yuanqing changed the tone of his speech, smiling, "Of course, I'm not doubting you. What I want to tell you is, if there's anyone you suspect, report them to the Imperial City Office immediately." Wang Geji only then shifted from concern to joy, scolding, "Your Majesty, are you trying to scare me to death?... I'm just a geji, how would I know of any traitors? All I can do is play the qin and sing songs. Perhaps I should just sing for you..." Before she finished speaking, Zhang Yuanqing stepped close, wrapping his arms around Wang Geji's waist, and chuckled, "No need to sing—just follow me into the room." As his hands touched her soft waist, she clearly felt her body stiffen instantly, her muscles tensing sharply, then relaxing a moment later. "Your Majesty, you've just recovered from illness—how can you be so busy..." Wang Geji gently pushed at the emperor's chest, her smile tender and graceful, "Once you've fully recovered, I'll attend to you then." "If he were a spy, he would have been eager to meet with me—even if he didn't kill me on the spot, he'd have arranged for me to stay so he could poison me later. Wang Geji also resists physical contact with me. Zhang Yuanqing released his grip and said, 'Tonight, I'll have the imperial bedchamber!' Then, with his attendants and eunuchs, he turned and departed. ... In the evening, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his quarters by deer carriage and lay down on the soft bed, reviewing his day's findings. Chu Beauty is Jiang Jingwei; Wen Beauty's identity remains unknown, though confirmed to be a traveler from the Spirit Realm. The Lady Ya and the Empress were not seen. As for De Fei—Zhang Yuanqing is uncertain. De Fei didn't resist his hand-holding, indicating she is not averse to physical contact. Yet her reluctance to share the bed and her cold demeanor suggest there is a 'line of blood' feud between the two of them. Wang Geji, however, is quite intriguing. According to the daily records, Wang Geji has been a frequent favorite of Zhao Shun. One would expect, after countless nights of intimacy, that she So Wang, the court lady, might also be a traveler from the Spirit Realm. Although the spy has not yet been identified, today's gains have been substantial—especially the acquisition of a bodyguard! "There are no clues pointing to the spy at all. To uncover him within 24 hours is nearly impossible. Today's correct move, therefore, was to dig out allies within the imperial harem and enlist them to protect the palace, allowing the spy to eventually fall into place on his own." As for the challenge of remaining anonymous, that is simply an added difficulty of the quest—otherwise, with just the deer chariot and calling out 'Ji Ni Tai Mei' along the streets, it would be easy to signal with companions. The difficulty of maintaining one's level of cultivation and preserving inventory items would then lose all meaning. Fortunately, Zhang Yuan's keen insight uncovered a truly 'bug-like' method for finding allies, successfully identifying three such companions. Now, all that remains is to wait for them to come to attend the imperial audiences at night. At that moment, a strong aroma of medicine drifts into Zhang Yuan's nostrils. He frowns and turns to see Li, the senior attendant with silver hair, entering with a maid, who Zhang Yuanqing immediately adopted the demeanor of a negligent sovereign, growing impatient and saying, "I've already told you not to drink it—what's wrong with you? Can't you understand me?" Li Changshi's face tightened, suppressing his temper and speaking in a low, measured tone: "Your Majesty, the imperial physician has explained that you've been struck by a rare toxin. If you don't take your medicine on time, the residual toxins will accumulate in your body, leading to long-term complications." Rare toxin? Then why didn't you mention it earlier? Zhang Yuanqing seized the opportunity to gather information. "What kind of rare toxin is it? I've never heard of it!" Li Changshi replied solemnly: "According to the physician, it's a complex mixture of several different poisons, each potent in its own right, yet counteracting one another. As a result, you won't die immediately, but it's difficult to identify the perpetrator, since the poisons may have been administered at different times." Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood—thus, the murderer had remained elusive. After all, the imperial consorts were all women of the emperor, and the Imperial Court's judicial office dared not subject them to harsh Zhang Yuanqing pretended to be impatient, picked up his bowl, and drank the medicinal soup in three loud gulps. Of course, he didn't forget to have the palace maid test the medicine—though Li Changshi was a trusted official of the Zheng Concubine and thus unlikely to be the culprit, the protocol had to be followed. After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing waited anxiously in the inner chamber. Finally, he heard the call from a eunuch at the outer door: "Chu Beauty is here!" Immediately, the tall panelled gate opened, and Chu Beauty, about fifteen or sixteen years old, delicate and graceful, entered the chamber accompanied by two palace maids. "Your Majesty!" Chu Beauty declared loudly, "I am shy, so may I ask that you retire the attendants and have only myself attend to you?" Zhang Yuanqing had exactly that in mind—since he wasn't truly engaging in intimacy with Chu Beauty, having the maids present would have disrupted the scene. So he asked them to step back. "Clap, clap!" Zhang Yuanqing tapped the bedstead. "Come, come, Chu Beauty, please sit down." Chu Beauty remained still, listening intently until the footsteps faded, then approached. Then, Zhang Yuanqing saw a snow-white dagger slide out of her sleeve. "???"