On the 19th day of the Twelfth Month, the venerable Mr. Yu of Yu Family Manor in Daxian Capital celebrated his sixtieth birthday—a life-long title of "Herbal Sage" within the medical circles. By the 18th, guests began to arrive steadily at the manor, filling its gates with bustling activity. Yun Rao slightly altered her appearance and prepared a generous gift, holding a request card she had stolen from Su Yan—now presenting herself as Lady Su Ran of Ba Fang Pavilion, an honored guest invited to attend the birthday celebration. Ba Fang Pavilion was a prominent information network among the martial arts circles; Yu Family Manor, a renowned medical dynasty in the capital, had long shared mutual recognition but limited direct interaction. The young lady Su Ran—familiar only by reputation—had never met any of them before. Yu Family Manor personally issued an official invitation to Ba Fang Pavilion. Given the prestige of the pavilion’s standing within the martial community, when Yun Rao arrived as Lady Su Ran, Yu Master did not immediately sense anything amiss. After a brief exchange of greetings, he assigned a young attendant to guide her to one of the specially arranged guest quarters in the West Wing. After thanking him, Yun Rao followed the attendant toward the West Wing suite, silently observing the surroundings and discreetly noting down routes and hidden mechanisms. At first glance, she thought Yu Family Manor no different from an ordinary noble estate—only the residents themselves knew how many concealed mechanisms and intricate arrays were embedded throughout its grounds. Master Yu was a master of traditional Chinese medicine, famed for his secret herbal formulas, which were highly coveted and sought after across the region. Yet despite their excellence, these formulations were often priced high and supplied at his discretion—his personal mood determining who received them. As such, although the family held esteemed status in the medical circles, they had accumulated several rivals. Without making moves within this very manor, it was likely the entire estate would have already been besieged and reduced to ruins. Yun Rao knew that many guests like herself were visiting precisely for the chance to secure these prized formulations—but she remained cautious. She understood that rushing in without first fully assessing the estate's defenses might cost her life. Thus, though she had intentions of seeking out the medicines, she chose not to act prematurely—her safety was paramount. After settling into her room and receiving instructions from the attendant to remain still, the young attendant then quietly withdrew. Yun Rao rested well, replenishing both body and spirit. As night fell and the estate grew quiet, Yun Rao changed into a night-dress, draped a black cloth over her face, and gently opened her door—then lightly leaped up onto the roof, using the glow from lanterns set along the estate’s high points to survey the overall layout. She carefully recorded every detail in her mind. With near-perfect light-footedness, she moved smoothly between pavilions and wings without drawing attention. Only one concern remained—potential hidden mechanisms that might trigger alarms. To avoid activating any of these, Yun Rao walked with exceptional care. She assumed that with such refined skill, the likelihood of being noticed was minimal—yet her confidence proved premature. As she gracefully transitioned from the West Wing to the East Wing, skimming silently across the rooftops without stirring a single breath, even the wind remained still. She believed no one would be disturbed. Yet as she paused just at the eastern pavilion’s roof, barely able to take in the scene—she was suddenly struck by a sharp, piercing sound behind her. In an instant, Yun Rao spun around with fluid grace, deflecting some unknown projectile that had come hurtling from behind. Before she could regain balance, two stones-like objects impacted her knees with force, causing her body to buckle and collapse. The smooth surface of the roof allowed her little time to react—she slid down like a sack of grain until she landed on the ground below. Her face changed instantly: shock turned to discomfort. As she attempted to steady herself with internal breath control, sudden chest pressure surged—and then her vital energy began to disorganize. The fluttering in her lungs grew stronger, turning into an unpleasant metallic taste in her throat. Her black cloth became damp at the edges. She had survived so many such events over these days—yet still remained upright today. Yun Rao smiled faintly, holding one hand on the floor and pressing lightly against her chest, neither rushing nor attempting to flee—because she realized she could no longer move. Two pairs of ivory-embossed silk shoes approached slowly and steadily as she rolled from the roof. The gait was elegant yet unhurried, suggesting a high level of skill and possibly noble standing. Though Yun Rao did not look up, she sensed the strength and calm presence radiating from him—his internal cultivation clearly surpassed her own. Rather than offering immediate aid, he paused before her. Then gently knelt down. "Madam, what a pleasant pursuit," said his voice—a clear, calm tone like water flowing over stone, gentle yet composed without emotion, slightly familiar. Her body stiffened imperceptibly, then relaxed as she slowly raised her gaze to meet his eyes. Nine Heavens of a Celestial Being. The image of this unfamiliar, refined young man—his elegance and grace complemented perfectly by the softness of his voice—rose vividly in her mind. His gaze, cool yet steady, seemed to carry a fleeting trace of curiosity that swiftly returned to stillness. "Who are you?" he asked simply, not reaching out to lift her veil—but holding steadily on her eyes, tone unchanged and even. Yun Rao hesitated—her thoughts racing. She found it difficult to respond. Was she expected to speak? Would the faint metallic taste in her throat betray her to him? He watched her once more, then lifted his hand toward her face. Yun Rao glanced at that elegant hand—white and long, as if untouched by life’s dust—and realized how poised and serene he was. His fingers gently stroked the edge of the black veil, focusing on it with a quiet intent. She did not resist—she had no strength left to do so. He then lifted his gaze again, applied firm pressure, and swiftly pulled the veil aside. "Su Ran?" His voice held a subtle rise in tone now, laced with surprise and slight bewilderment. They were acquainted from their shared past. Yun Rao breathed out a sigh of relief, pressing down on the metallic taste, gently clearing her throat, then spoke softly—her voice slightly hoarse—"Master An." She wiped blood from her lip with the back of her hand. He looked at her once again—a touch of oddity in his expression—but said nothing, instead extending a clean square cloth to her. Yun Rao silently took it, regardless of whether it would be stained—then used it firmly to wipe away the blood from her corner of the mouth. After all, he had been so attentive as to have caused this very incident. A single piece of cloth was hardly worth mentioning. In truth, she now felt confident that using Su Ran’s identity had been a wise choice. "Would you not normally stay awake until morning?" he asked—his voice continuing to drift into silence after the initial question, as if unsure whether to complete it. "Do you not know how this Yu Family Manor is arranged—" Yun Rao could not decipher his expression clearly—only sensed that Su Ran held a special place in his heart, though she could not gauge exactly how deep that connection was. She understood now that as long as she maintained the guise of Lady Su Ran without revealing her true identity, everything would remain stable. "I came to extend birthday greetings on behalf of my brother," she began. "I couldn’t sleep late at night. I heard the manor’s arrangements are particularly unique—so I decided to explore a bit." She paused, sensing that further explanation might be unwelcome. He nodded slowly and let his words trail off once again. Yun Rao wisely chose not to pursue further questions—simply placing one hand behind her back with a polite smile. "Well—it’s now past dusk," she continued, smiling warmly. "I’ll return to my room and rest. You too—please take care of yourself." With that, she turned and moved quickly—her steps trembling slightly as her internal energy surged. She instinctively grasped the window frame for balance, yet dared not look back. The two pairs of eyes following her movement lingered with steady curiosity, sending a current of unease through her spine. After steadying herself again through deep breathing, Yun Rao continued onward—reaching her room safely without further incident. Though she carried minor injuries, she remained hesitant to re-examine the path and eventually settled into bed, sighing in quiet disappointment at having made it only just. On the morning of the birthday banquet itself, Yun Rao was naturally seated beside Master Yu at one of the designated tables—an honored guest. As she looked up, she caught sight of Master An sitting beside Master Yu—just as he had been during their first encounter.