As Han approached the attic, an inexplicable sense of unease crept into his heart.

  After everything that had happened with Senior Sister just recently, he was now sneaking back here behind her back. And to make things worse, he’d be spending the night here.

  Life was tough.

  Ahead, Lu Qingmo stood with her back to them.

  For some reason, Han felt a chill emanating from her silhouette. The temperature around them seemed to have dropped—cold, almost biting.

  "Aunt Mo, we're back."

  "Why have you come here so late at night?"

  "..."

  What kind of question was that?

  I’m coming home!

  No, something was off. Aunt Mo was acting strange.

  Han thought for a moment and quickly found a way to break the tension.

  "Senior Sister almost died this time."

  Surely, such a shocking statement would grab Aunt Mo’s attention.

  If Senior Sister was on the verge of kicking the bucket, there was no way Aunt Mo would just stand by!

  As expected, despite the flicker of irritation in her eyes, Lu Qingmo couldn’t ignore Han’s words. She immediately turned around, her brows knitting together as she walked over to check on Bai Ruoyue.

  Though Bai Ruoyue appeared fine now, Lu Qingmo still noticed something.

  "What happened?"

  "We..."

  Han gave a brief account of what had transpired in Black Mountain, though he deliberately omitted the part about using his own blood to save Bai Ruoyue.

  Saving his Senior Sister was just something he should do—not worth bragging about, and certainly not worth wasting Aunt Mo’s time with. As the overseer of the Ghost Division, she had far more important matters to attend to.

  "The Huang family… so it's them." Lu Qingmo's gaze turned ice-cold.

  "This isn’t Tianyue City; this is Black Cloud Town. Did they really think they could get away with this?"

  "I’ll make sure they regret it."

  Daring to lay a hand on someone she had watched grow up, someone who was practically her person—this was beyond intolerable.

  "Aunt Mo, if it’s inconvenient, you can wait—" Bai Ruoyue hesitated.

  "No need to wait." Lu Qingmo’s tone was resolute.

  "Black Cloud Town has its own rules. And for now, those rules will be followed."

  She didn’t specify how she planned to deal with the Huang family, but given her influence in Black Cloud Town, making life difficult for them would be very easy.

  Here, Lu Qingmo was practically the highest authority. Even the commander of the Dingwu Division wasn’t as well-connected as she was.

  With just a little maneuvering, she could create all sorts of trouble for the Huang family’s people—completely aboveboard, with no flaws to pick apart.

  What’s that? Accusing the Ghost Division overseer of abusing her power?

  Go ahead, say it.

  Who sent you? Who’s behind this? What’s your real agenda?

  "It’s fortunate you two stumbled upon the Pool of Life."

  Lu Qingmo pulled out a pill from her storage pouch and handed it to Bai Ruoyue.

  "Otherwise, recovering from these injuries would’ve been far more troublesome."

  "Absorbing the water of life has actually been a blessing in disguise. It’ll greatly benefit your cultivation in the future—an unexpected stroke of fortune."

  "As martial artists progress, the stronger their life force, the higher their eventual achievements."

  As Bai Ruoyue swallowed the pill, Lu Qingmo’s gaze flickered between her and Han.

  A perilous ordeal in Black Mountain. A desperate escape. A lone man and woman, stranded together...

  This had potential.

  Bai Ruoyue glanced at Han before suddenly speaking.

  "Actually, it wasn’t just the Pool of Life that saved me. Junior Brother helped me even more."

  "That’s true." Lu Qingmo nodded. "Han did well. If not for him, you might not have made it out."

  "Not just that." Bai Ruoyue continued, "I was poisoned—snake venom. The toxin had already spread to my heart and brain. I lost consciousness."

  "It was Junior Brother who saved me. He detoxified me."

  Han maintained a polite smile, but internally, he felt a creeping sense of dread.

  Senior Sister, I saved your life—why are you doing this to me?

  "Oh?" Lu Qingmo raised an eyebrow and looked at Han. "You were poisoned as well?"

  Why didn’t you mention that earlier?

  "Yes, it was a potent snake venom." Bai Ruoyue’s eyes gleamed as she looked at Han.

  "Junior Brother used his own blood as an antidote. While I was unconscious, he fed me his blood to neutralize the poison. He kept at it for two whole hours, until he passed out from blood loss."

  "Without Junior Brother, I would have died in Black Mountain. He gave me a second chance at life."

  "It was my duty."

  Han kept smiling, but his mind was screaming.

  Wait, wait, wait—I only fed you my blood for one hour! How did it suddenly become two in your version? Don’t just make things up!

  Senior Sister, are you trying to kill me?! What’s your endgame?!

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Lu Qingmo’s eyelid twitched. She glanced at Han, the corners of her lips curving slightly—yet not quite forming a smile.

  "I had no idea, Han. You’re quite capable."

  "You did well. If not for you, Ruoyue truly would have been in danger. I owe you my thanks."

  "It was my duty."

  Han’s grin remained in place, but internally, he was breaking down.

  "Aunt Mo," he quickly changed the subject, "about the Dead Sin Ghoul—Jiang Wangyuan. There’s definitely something suspicious about him."

  "I suspect the Black Mountain God is aiding him."

  "You make a good point." Lu Qingmo nodded.

  "Given what you’ve described, that ghoul must be under the Mountain God’s protection. Ghouls shouldn’t have the ability to control wild beasts—not even through innate abilities or Daoist techniques."

  "And his appearance—completely human, with the ability to suppress bloodthirst? That’s not something a newborn ghoul could achieve in just a month or two."

  "When I attacked, I should have been able to take him down before he entered Black Mountain. That wouldn’t have broken the Mountain God’s rules. Instead, it was the Mountain God’s power that interfered beyond its domain."

  Lu Qingmo didn’t outright say that the Mountain God had broken the rules. After all, he was the one who made the rules.

  "Huh?" Bai Ruoyue finally processed what this meant. "Why would the Mountain God protect a ghoul?"

  "That’s the real question." Lu Qingmo mused. "A Dead Sin Ghoul is a being of endless malice—an enemy of all living creatures. The Mountain God shouldn’t be shielding him."

  Han recalled that Lu Qingmo had previously said a ghoul couldn’t enter Black Mountain. And yet, here they were…

  What the hell was this old god up to?

  "Jiang Wangyuan… he was once an official." Lu Qingmo continued. "I’ll have my people look into him tomorrow. There should still be records."

  "Jiang… that surname."

  "What about it?" Han asked.

  "Do you remember? I told you the Mountain God was once a general of the previous dynasty."

  Han nodded.

  "Before I came to Black Cloud Town, I studied records on the Mountain God. Back when he was a mortal general, one of his most trusted lieutenants was surnamed Jiang."

  "Could there be a connection…?"

  After a moment of thought, Lu Qingmo turned to Han.

  "Go focus on your cultivation. I need to talk to Ruoyue."

  Han quietly nodded and left—better to stay out of trouble for now.

  Now, only two remained. A pair of stunning women, one older, one younger.

  Their eyes met.

  Lu Qingmo sighed and pulled Bai Ruoyue into an embrace.

  "It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let you enter Black Mountain. I put you in danger."

  Bai Ruoyue buried her face against Lu Qingmo’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around her.

  "It’s not your fault, Aunt Mo. It was the Huang family’s doing."

  Her voice trembled slightly.

  "Aunt Mo, I was really scared. I thought I’d never see my father again. Never see you again…"

  Lu Qingmo gently stroked her back.

  "I won’t let it happen again."

  She had watched Bai Ruoyue grow up. In her heart, the girl’s importance was beyond words.

  Just imagining what could have happened made her shudder.

  If Bai Ruoyue had truly been lost, Lu Qingmo would never have forgiven herself. She wouldn’t have been able to face those in Yujing City either.

  "Why didn’t you use a transmission snail to contact me?"

  "The Mountain God forbade you from entering. We didn’t want you to take the risk."

  "You two… always thinking alike."

  "Aunt Mo, I want to sleep with you tonight. We haven’t done that in so long."

  "Alright."

  "Oh, by the way, Junior Brother and I bathed in the Pool of Life together."

  Lu Qingmo’s hand—mid-stroke along Bai Ruoyue’s back—suddenly froze.

  “I wasn’t in the best condition at the time. It was my junior disciple who carried me down,” she explained.

  “What about An Lang? You two are still male and female… bathing together—”

  “We were fully clothed.”

  “Oh, that’s good.” Lu Qingmo nodded solemnly.

  “You’re still young. Be cautious. Some things can easily spiral out of control.”

  “…”

  Holding Bai Ruoyue in his arms, Lu Qingmo’s eyes darkened with complex emotions.

  Ruoyue might be…

  Sigh, what a mess.

  Not far away, Han was training while secretly observing them. Seeing that the atmosphere between them was harmonious—and that they were still holding each other so tightly—he finally relaxed.

  The dream trial for the day had yet to be used. Once Han finished his practice, he informed Lu Qingmo and the others before heading back to his room.

  Activate!

  Everyone was pulled into the dream realm.

  “Has Master returned?”

  “Just got back.”

  Without hesitation, Han pulled Bai Tian in as well. The man was clearly anxious, bombarding them with questions. It seemed Shen Long and the others had already filled him in.

  It wasn’t until he saw his daughter and junior disciple alive and well that he truly relaxed. But that relief was quickly replaced by fury.

  “The Huang family!”

  Bai Tian was livid—and when he was mad, things got serious.

  He turned to Lu Qingmo. “If a Bone Refining realm warrior from the Huang family were to die in Black Cloud Town, how would the Dingwu Bureau handle it?”

  “Given the implications and the Huang family’s influence, they would launch a full-scale investigation,” Lu Qingmo replied.

  “And if they fail to find the culprit?”

  “They would continue investigating.” Lu Qingmo’s tone remained formal.

  “Neither the Dingwu Bureau nor the Ghost Division would abandon a case just because it’s difficult. The Great Qi laws must be upheld.”

  “But they also wouldn’t convict an innocent person without evidence.”

  Bai Tian nodded, satisfied.

  “Father, you mustn’t act recklessly,” Bai Ruoyue urged.

  “A Bone Refining warrior might be nothing to you, but there are very few in Black Cloud Town who could take one down without a trace.”

  The local sect leaders and noble families mostly had Bone Refining warriors at best. If one were to die so mysteriously, the list of suspects would be very short.

  “Senior Sister is right,” Han chimed in.

  “The Huang family doesn’t yet know they’ve lost an entire team of Organ Refining warriors to us. We have time to deal with them slowly.”

  The Huang family had long been an issue—Wanxing Merchant Guild’s grudge with Huang Mingri, the hostility from Huang Mingnian’s faction at the Shuiyuan Conference, and now this incident in Black Mountain.

  Han had already designated the Huang family as enemies.

  But their power couldn’t be underestimated. As one of the dominant forces in Tianyue Prefecture, they had both Marrow Cleansing and Enlightenment realm experts. They had to tread carefully.

  Bai Tian chuckled. “I’ve lived for decades. Do you think I’d be so reckless?”

  “…”

  Fair enough. Bai Tian was a seasoned veteran. He wouldn’t overlook such an obvious issue.

  If he were to make a move, there would be no loose ends.

  With that, everyone went their separate ways to continue training. Bai Ruoyue, full of energy, eagerly went off to test her rejuvenated body.

  “Don’t keep things like this from me again,” Lu Qingmo suddenly spoke up.

  Han understood what he meant.

  “When you’re in danger, you should contact me first.”

  “I wouldn’t have let you enter Black Mountain to chase the Ghost Corpse if I wasn’t certain I could protect you.”

  Han admitted his fault. “That was my mistake.”

  “No,” Lu Qingmo shook his head. “The mistake was mine. You’ve already done an excellent job.”

  “Han… don’t do this again. I…”

  “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  At the heart of it, it was still concern.

  Han nodded firmly, then added,

  “Aunt Mo, I didn’t just find the Pool of Life this time.”

  “I also obtained a yin-attributed flame.”

  Now was the perfect opportunity to refine the Ghostflame into something more powerful.

  On his way back, Han had already briefed Bai Ruoyue on a cover story—there would be no loopholes regarding the flame’s origins.

  A small, gray-green flame hovered in front of Han, exuding a chilling aura. Instead of heat, it made the surroundings even colder.

  Lu Qingmo stared at the Ghostflame in silence.

  Sure, fortune and misfortune often come hand in hand, but this?

  A Pool of Life and a rare yin flame?

  Just how lucky are you?

  “Aunt Mo, what do you think? Can this flame be refined with the Yin Ground Fire?”

  “Yes,” Lu Qingmo nodded. “But there’s some risk. Although this flame isn’t of a high level, your Yin Ground Fire is still very new.”

  “Trying to absorb a stronger flame could be dangerous. Not too much, though—since you can practice in the dream realm first.”

  Han had expected this.

  After all, this flame hadn’t dropped during Brother Tree’s boosted rewards period, but it was still valuable to him.

  Besides, Lu Qingmo had just admitted there was a risk to absorbing it.

  Which meant—

  “If my luck is good, can I bypass the risk?”

  Lu Qingmo blinked, momentarily stunned.

  What kind of question is that?

  How do you even measure luck?

  How was she supposed to answer that?

  “…Just test it in the dream first.”

  “Alright.” Han nodded. “If I die, I die.”

  That… didn’t sound right.

  But then Lu Qingmo glanced at Bai Ruoyue in the distance, grinning ear to ear despite the blood dripping from her seven orifices, and figured—yeah, maybe this was normal for them.

  The Ghostflame floated before Han as he summoned his Yin Ground Fire.

  Forming the Yin Ground Fire Seal, he directed his fire to engulf the Ghostflame.

  Fwoosh!

  The Ghostflame erupted violently. Sparks flew as the two flames clashed, their energies fiercely resisting each other.

  But Han didn’t give up. He maintained his Yin Ground Fire Seal, steadily pushing his fire to devour and refine the Ghostflame bit by bit.

  Boom!

  A sudden explosion sent flames bursting outwards, but Han suppressed it with a mere thought.

  Oh? You think you can hurt me in my own dream?

  Lu Qingmo remained composed. “Keep going. Refining another flame is never easy or safe. One failure is nothing.”

  “I failed plenty of times before succeeding.”

  Han understood. This level of technique and control—of course it wouldn’t be easy.

  But that just made it more exciting!

  The Ghostflame had that cold, aloof appearance, acting all superior.

  Yet deep inside, it was burning just as fiercely.

  Playing the contrast game, huh? Let’s see how I tame you!