Zhang Yuanqing jolted awake, instantly regaining consciousness. He tried to move his body, but his muscles were stiff and weak, as if he had undergone full-body anesthesia. The queen and Jingwei beside him were in the same condition—pale, twisting slightly, making feeble resistance, appearing even less strong than a three-year-old child. "No need to struggle," Wang Beiwang said calmly. "Once struck by Qinglong Clan's Soft-Joints Powder, even the top-tier martial artists on the frontier will remain limp for a full cup of tea's worth of time." "Uncle, Brother, what are you doing?" Zhang Yuanqing forced a smile. "I'm your cousin Li Erdan!" Wang Beiwang snorted. "I'm saying it plainly—I've already broken free from your mental manipulation." Hypnosis is the modern term; in ancient times, it was known as "mental and spiritual control." Zhang Yuanqing's heart quickened, abandoning his unrealistic hopes. He began to think of strategies while delaying time, asking, "How did you manage to do that?" "Wang Beiwang tapped the hilt of his sword," "A swordmaster cultivates his mind. A mere manipulation of the mind can only affect me temporarily. When I spoke with my parents before going to bed, we discussed you all—then I already sensed something was off. Midway through the night, I naturally awoke, realizing I had been under your mental influence. You truly have boldness—how dare you stay at my home?" "You're not even skilled in refined techniques, are you?" "I would never reveal my secrets to my enemies!" Zhang Yuqing paused, stunned. It wasn't because Wang Beiwang had deceived him—this wasn't the crucial point. What mattered was the phrase "swordmaster cultivates the mind." From the perspective of a spiritual realm traveler, this was a passive ability known as "unyielding resolve." Unyielding resolve was a passive skill attainable only by swordmasters at the fourth level. Theoretically, Wang Beiwang, who had surpassed the extraordinary stage, should not possess this ability. Yet ancient cultivators differed from spiritual realm travelers: the latter achieved enlightenment through a sudden breakthrough, while the former cultivated their abilities gradually through persistent practice. That is to say, ancient scouts began refining their willpower during the extraordinary stage, patiently cultivating until they transformed into "steel resolve" upon reaching the Sage realm—this was a gradual, progressive cultivation process. Such matters now fall outside Zhang Yuanqing's area of awareness. Observing the dazed enemy, Wang Beiwang emitted a cold sigh: "I have limited patience. If you don't come clean now, don't expect me to be gentle." Zhang Yuanqing's eyes flickered, his face bright with a smile: "Esteemed hero, we—well—" To the side, Jiang Jingwei grew impatient: "Kill them then. Don't waste words." "Go!" Zhang Yuanqing turned sharply, spitting at her—this dull-witted girl must be here to take the brunt of the blow. He continued: "Sir, we were pursued by our enemies and had no choice but to seek refuge in your esteemed household. We only wish to use your magnificent estate as a sanctuary. We harbor no ill will toward your father or mother. Otherwise, why would we simply linger, feasting and drinking, doing nothing at all?" "The Heavenly Sovereign is always adaptable and pragmatic—those who know how to seize the moment are truly outstanding. If not for his arms being bound and his body weary, Zhang Yuanqing would have bowed and paid homage on the spot. The Queen nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, indeed. We are merely staying for a few days, with no intention of doing anything improper. Brother Wang, as a man of the frontier and a true hero of the martial world, please help us." She regretted only that she was not a musician or a lover of passion, unable to fully employ the beauty strategy. Wang Beiwang gazed thoughtfully among the three of them, then kicked over a wooden chest, pointing to the three sets of yellow robes that slid out, and coldly remarked, "The Yellow Dragon robes—these are worn by the Emperor. Ordinary people hardly dare to wear them, let alone weave and keep them privately, for that would be tantamount to rebellion. You three must be quite distinguished indeed." His gaze sharpened, and suddenly he drew his sword, piercing Zhang Yuanqing's shoulder, "So, who exactly are you?" Zhang Yuanqing gasped in pain, blood instantly soaking his shoulder, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He strained, shouting, "Master, please spare us! We are thieves who stole the Yellow Dragon robe. That's why we've been pursued." Wang Beiwang replied coldly, "As before during the day, I will ask you a question and you must answer within three breaths—three moments. If you hesitate, I will pierce you with a sword. Each delay, a sword stroke." In Zhang Yuanqing's mind, he thought, How long is three breaths? Is your timing really that loose? Before he could even begin to complain, Wang Beiwang asked, "With your mere novice skills, how did you manage to infiltrate the palace?" "The robe wasn't stolen from the palace." "Then where?" "From the Zheng family." "Why does the Zheng family possess the Yellow Dragon robe?" "Because the Zheng family intends to rebel." "Are they the ones pursuing you?" "Yes." "Why did you choose to steal the imperial robe?" "Because we serve the Yang family. The Yang family wishes to gather evidence proving the Zheng family's rebellion." During the rapid exchange of answers, Zhang Yuanqing kept his emotional responses under control, making every statement feel profoundly authentic, countering Wang Beiwang's probing insight. As for the Yang family—Wang Beiwang didn't press further questions; he fell into thoughtful reflection, genuinely astonished by what had been revealed. As a native of the capital with long-standing experience in the martial world, his perspective differed significantly from that of ordinary folk or grassroots practitioners. Zheng family's treachery, Yang family's subtle maneuvering—these reflected the highest level of political strategy and conflict, far surpassing mere martial confrontations. He believed his "younger brother Li Erdan" had not been lying; at the very least, with his sharp perception, he hadn't detected any signs of deception. Moreover, the three sets of Huanglong robes were exquisitely embroidered, made from fine fabric—undoubtedly originating from the imperial court or a distinguished noble family. These three "thieves" clearly possessed notable abilities, though not exceptional—making it unlikely they could have infiltrated the imperial palace. In comparison, their infiltration of the Zheng family seemed far more plausible. Seeing Wang Beiwang's expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty, his eyes darting rapidly within his sockets, as if caught in a mental storm, Zhang Yuqing exhaled in relief. After a few seconds, Wang Beiwang gathered himself and suddenly turned to Jiang Jingwei, asking, "Did he really say that?" Jiang Jingwei nodded firmly, "Yes, it's true." Wang Beiwang's gaze instantly sharpened, fixing on Zhang Yuqing, "You dare lie to me!" He swiftly drew his sword, splashing a stream of blood, then swiftly transferred it to his wrist, ready to plunge the sharp tip into Zhang Yuqing's chest—his usual decisive as a member of a martial guild and a swordman who had learned to thrive on bloodshed. Just as the sword was about to pierce through Zhang Yuqing's heart, Wang Beiwang suddenly halted, the tip only half-inserting into his chest, pausing just before it reached the heart. "I'll need you both," he said, sheathing the fine iron sword. Zhang Yuqing felt a great sense of relief, knowing that his subtle manipulation of Wang Beiwang's emotions had finally paid off at the crucial moment. After regaining consciousness, Zhang Yuanqing began subtly influencing the other person's emotions. Considering that the other was a swordsman, he only made shallow impacts, making the swordsman perceive the "three pests" as highly valuable and thus inspiring a sense of maximizing their utility. Swordsman emotions were particularly difficult to manipulate, so he deliberately presented a series of valuable information, guiding the swordsman to explore, thereby gaining time to shape and control the emotional dynamics. The subsequent development of Jingwei being "forced" to betray her teammates was of secondary importance. A swordsman wouldn't be foolish enough to only ask one person, and neither the queen nor Jingwei had means to counteract the insight spell—having their lies uncovered was entirely normal. Zhang Yuanqing didn't aim to deceive the other completely, but rather to delay time, allowing his emotional manipulation to take full effect. Although affected by the cartilage-dispersing herb and with his limbs bound, as a traveler of the Spiritual Realm, as long as his inventory remained unsealed, he would always have the opportunity for a decisive counterattack—or escape. Wang Beiwang wouldn't keep staring at them indefinitely. Zhang Yuanqing had just thought this when he saw Wang Beiwang waving his sword handle and swinging it toward his side. "Crack!" The handle struck behind his ear, and Zhang Yuanqing's eyes rolled back as he fainted. Wang Beiwang then repeated the same move, knocking out Jiang Jingwei and the Queen, before leaving the room. "Wang Beiwang chuckled, 'Your two sisters are quite attractive—selling them into a teahouse might even secure them a leading position. As for you, you're rather handsome, but perhaps not enough to command a place as a young companion for the elite officials.' Jue seemed rather discouraged... Zhang Yuanqing sighed, 'To which official's household should I go? Could my cousin please let me know in advance so I can prepare mentally?' Wang Beiwang replied coldly, 'No need to hesitate—when the time comes, it will become clear. On the journey, don't play games. If you dare to cry out for help, I'll cut off your tongue.' What could be so frightening about having one's tongue cut off? Once I meet my aunt and Red Chicken Brother, a single vial of Life Source Liquid will cure me right away! Zhang Yuanqing tuned his ears carefully, listening to the sounds outside the carriage. There were no loud calls or bustling voices—only with close attention could one occasionally catch the subtle movements. This area isn't a bustling commercial district; it's quite quiet and peaceful. Ah well, shouting for help now won't make much difference. I'll wait until Unfortunately, he didn't get a chance until the carriage came to a stop. Wang Beiwang's route had been carefully planned, avoiding all bustling city centers. As the carriage halted, Zhang Yuancheng, the queen, and Jiang Jingwei all blinked in surprise, leaning forward to listen attentively to the sounds outside. "A low voice came: "Xu Elder is practicing his techniques." Wang Beiwang said, "This is an urgent matter—we must see him now." After a pause, the other replied, "I'll inform him. You go in first. There's a plank behind the door—lay it yourself." With hurried footsteps, the visitor departed. Wang Beiwang then went to the back of the door, fetched the planks, laid them across the threshold and steps, and then led his horse in, bumping and jostling along the way. "Did I just treat the old mother of this spiritual realm with undue harshness? This is truly unfair to me. Zhang Yuanqing's heart sank to the very depths. All his preparations had been for nothing. The senior monks of the Qinglong Sect were surely at the Saint Realm level. He didn't know whether the queen under hypnosis and Jingwei could evade the swordmaster, but he was certain he himself would not escape the swordmaster's keen perception. At this moment, he regretted having lent the red slippers to Red Chicken Brother. Most extraordinary realm tools require bodily effort to operate; when one is physically weak and limbs bound, their effectiveness greatly diminishes. The red slippers, however, do not demand physical stamina—once worn, they enable one to glide across rooftops with ease and offer excellent evasion capabilities. In the spiritual realm, across both major regions, virtually all professions lack the ability to fly or teleport during the extraordinary phase, since extraordinary merely signifies strength beyond the ordinary. Only a few, such as Fire-element, Night-Wanderer, and Glider, are somewhat applicable now. The red slippers, as a rule-based item, are truly unique. At that moment, a steady and serious voice echoed from outside: "Northward!" A middle-aged man, dressed in a white robe, his hair secured with a wooden hairpin, his sleeves flowing gently like a Taoist, came walking through the winding corridor, guided by the gatekeeper. Wang Beiwang immediately stepped down from the carriage, straightened his posture, and said: "Master Xu, I have something to report. Yesterday, upon returning home, I caught three thieves in my household." Though dressed with a serene grace, Master Xu's eyes were notably sharp. He furrowed his brows. "You mentioned an urgent matter—only three thieves?" Wang Beiwang unfastened his bundle from his back and placed it on the carriage's fore compartment, then said: "Master Xu, please look." Unwrapping the bundle in front of Master Xu, he revealed a bright yellow robe embroidered with golden dragons. Master Xu's eyes widened instantly. In a flash of white, he moved to the fore compartment, tightly grasping the yellow dragon robe in his hands, and asked in a firm tone: "Where did this come from?" "It was carried by the very three thieves," Wang Beiwang said, turning his gaze toward the carriage No words were needed. Xu Elder hastily lifted the carriage curtain, gripping the yellow dragon robe tightly. With a quick glance, his eyes settled on the queen's face, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Ji Fu? You weren't in the palace?" The queen paused, momentarily confused. She thought to herself: Who is Ji Fu? Has Xu Elder mistaken her for someone else? The next moment, it clicked—Ji Fu was the assassin sent by the Qinglong Sect to the palace. Xu Elder then turned to Jiang Jingwei and Zhang Yuanqing. As he studied Zhang Yuanqing's face, his expression changed abruptly, and he gasped, "The fool king!"