Of course, Wang Ping and Yu Cheng Taoist couldn’t tell Yang Hou the truth. The matter was far too complicated.

Yang Hou’s responsibility was to use the inner affairs’ eyes and ears in Shangjing City to uncover Liu Zixiu’s travel routes over the past few months, and to investigate every person he had come into contact with along the way.

The workload was immense, but it was necessary.

Wang Ping returned to the Mountain Peak Dojo and sat before the old locust tree to enter a meditative trance. He had long been prepared for the death of his second senior brother, Liu Zixiu, so he felt no great sorrow—only the regret and longing that comes with losing a loved one.

The chaotic situation filled him with a growing sense of frustration. Zhongzhou had become a grand game of chess where anyone could place a piece on the board. Now that he and Yu Cheng Taoist had made their move, others would be forced to either attack or defend.

Yu Lian’s massive body was coiled around the old locust tree. After quietly observing Wang Ping for a moment, she rose silently on a cloud and landed in the adjacent courtyard. Her gaze then fell upon the small, newly built training ground just outside.

Wang Yang’s practice of the Chang Chun Technique was already starting to look quite impressive, and Shen Xiaozhu had also benefited greatly from teaching him.

「Five days later」

In the morning, Wang Ping awoke from his meditative trance. Gazing at the familiar, beautiful scenery of the gardens, he took a deep breath, feeling the tangible sensation of the air flowing into his lungs. Then he rose and looked up at the sky.

"Is something on your mind?" Yu Lian asked.

"Yes. I plan to make a trip to the Southeast Islands. It’s inconvenient for Master and me to show our faces in Shangjing City, but it should be fine on Fellow Daoist Xia Yao’s end. I’m sure she knows something." Wang Ping glanced at Shen Xiaozhu, who was meditating to purify her marrow. "Perhaps she’s been waiting for me to go to her."

As he spoke, he walked into the small courtyard. He took out a sheet of fine rice paper mounted on brocade from his storage pouch and wrote a formal introductory letter to Xia Yao. But after finishing the letter, he realized he had no suitable messenger.

Liu Shuang was on a mission for the Daoist Scripture Hall and definitely couldn’t get away. Wang Li was crippled, and Su Hai had already led his troops north long ago. As for the two in the courtyard, they weren’t qualified to venture out alone yet.

Yu Lian discerned Wang Ping’s thoughts and said with a smile, "You could send the letter to Zi Hong first and have him deliver it to Xia Yao."

"A good idea."

Wang Ping’s eyes lit up. Zi Hong was his nominal disciple, and his strength was considered unrivaled in the Foundation Establishment Stage. In theory, there should be no problem with him delivering the letter.

So, he summoned a Puppet Bird, placed the neatly folded letter into its abdomen, and imbued the bird with the memories he wanted to convey to Zi Hong.

As the Puppet Bird flew into the sky and disappeared from view, Shen Xiaozhu also finished her day’s marrow purification. With her current medium-grade bone structure, she could perform the purification six times a day and was expected to complete this step within twenty years.

Shen Xiaozhu was already forty-two years old. By the time she finished her marrow purification, a full sixty-year cycle of her life would have passed. If all went well, she could attempt Foundation Establishment before the age of ninety.

"With her steady temperament, I think she could cultivate the Taiyan Talisman technique," Yu Lian remarked, noticing Wang Ping’s gaze and putting in a good word for Shen Xiaozhu.

Wang Ping nodded. Shen Xiaozhu did have a steady temperament; she was patient and never arrogant, and she remained calm in the face of adversity. Her only issue was her excessive obsession with the path of cultivation. Such obsession could be a good thing, but it could also be a bad thing.

Over the years, Wang Ping had selected some Taoist Family classics for her to read. Her obsession had lessened somewhat, but she was still far from meeting his expectations.

"We’ll see after she finishes her marrow purification. If she can truly hold fast to her original intentions, I’ll find a way to improve her bone structure again," Wang Ping said, revealing his plan.

Yu Lian nodded and said, "She knows what she wants, which is why she can restrain her heart and practice self-discipline. But her greatest problem is also that she knows *too well* what she wants. After more than a decade of cultivation, she has improved somewhat. Once she’s done with her marrow purification, you could let her go out and gain some experience. Treat it as another round of worldly cultivation."

"Alright!"

Wang Ping walked back to the small courtyard, where Wang Yang, who was sweeping, immediately bowed in greeting.

...

Xia Yao’s reply came quickly. Less than half a month after Wang Ping sent his letter, a disciple from Lishui Prefecture arrived to deliver a response. The messenger was another Imperial Family princess named Xia Ying, who had a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

Her attire was nearly identical to Wang Ping’s memory of Xia Yao, and even her emotional state was strikingly similar. If it weren’t for the fact that Water Spirits were not skilled in crafting puppets, Wang Ping would have suspected this Xia Ying was also a puppet created by Xia Yao in her own image.

After reading the reply, Wang Ping wrote another letter for Xia Ying to take back. In it, he stated that he would pay a visit within three months.

After sending Xia Ying off, Wang Ping summoned Hu Qianqian and Zuo Xuan to his Mountain Peak Dojo.

"The situation has been complicated lately, so you both must be extra careful. Especially you, Fellow Daoist Zuo Xuan. Be mindful of who in the Daoist Scripture Hall you can trust, and how you trust them. Also, unless absolutely necessary, do not leave Nanlin Road for the time being."

Wang Ping instructed them seriously.

"Mm..."

Zuo Xuan nodded, glanced at Hu Qianqian beside her, and said, "I feel you don’t have to make this trip specially, Fellow Daoist. After all, the matter with Wulang hasn’t been resolved yet."

"Our chess piece is now out in the open, so some things must be done. Otherwise, we’ll become even more passive." As he spoke, Wang Ping took out a secret letter and gave Zuo Xuan another instruction, "You must deliver this letter into Zi Luan’s hands personally."

Zuo Xuan looked at the letter Wang Ping offered her, stepped forward to take it, and said, "Since you have a plan, Fellow Daoist, I won’t say any more."

Wang Ping then turned his gaze to Hu Qianqian. "No matter what happens, Wudao Prefecture cannot fall into chaos. If anything comes up, you can find Fellow Daoist Zuo Xuan or consult with Yang Hou of the Inner Courtyard."

"Yes!" Hu Qianqian acknowledged.

"Is there still no news about that Alchemist?" Wang Ping asked.

"Correct. He’s been in seclusion recently, working exclusively on the Day One commission. The people we were monitoring later seem to have been discarded by Day One as well."

"So cautious... that means there’s a big fish." Wang Ping immediately ordered, "Continue the surveillance. If this big fish poses no threat to us, don’t dig too deep. If there is a threat, deal with it decisively. But it’s best not to expose ourselves. The ideal way would be to use the Daoist Scripture Hall’s methods—for example, Fellow Daoist Taishan of Ningzhou Road, or Fellow Daoist Zi Luan could also work."

"Yes!" Hu Qianqian nodded in acknowledgment.

Wang Ping glanced at Zuo Xuan again and said with a smile, "Remember, from this moment on, everything you do represents the Lord. This is the most crucial point. For all matters, major or minor, you can report to Fellow Daoist Zi Luan while I’m away."

Both Hu Qianqian and Zuo Xuan were taken aback.

"Yes!"

They were both intelligent people and immediately understood the implications. Neither of them was rigid, so they adapted in just a moment.

Wang Ping wasn’t worried that Zi Luan would take the opportunity to win the two women over to his side. It was unnecessary. Wang Ping was already on his side, and trying to poach Wang Ping’s subordinates would just be poor form. Given Zi Luan’s character, he most likely wouldn’t do such a thing. However, he might occasionally try to stir up a little trouble for his own amusement.