The night in Heaven Dou City was as deep as ink.
After its bustle had faded, Star Gazing Pavilion was so quiet it seemed to stand apart from the world. The holographic star chart on the domed ceiling still rotated slowly, spilling cold radiance that reflected off the floor like the surface of a deep lake.
Han Yuchen sat behind the counter, swirling a stemmed glass in his hand. Inside was not red wine, but a liquid that gave off a faint, deep-blue glow.
It was Star Core Energy Liquid diluted ten thousand times.
"You're here?"
Without even lifting his head, he lightly clinked his glass toward the empty air.
"Your senses are impressive, Pavilion Master."
A green phantom silently condensed at the doorway. Along with a pungent, fishy-sweet smell, Dugu Bo's gaunt, gloomy figure appeared.
Compared to his arrogant demeanor during the day, Dugu Bo now looked somewhat wilted. His eye sockets were sunken, and deep within his emerald-green pupils was a trace of fatigue and agitation he could barely conceal. It was a sign of the poison backlash, and the tolling bell of a countdown to death.
"Did you bring it?" Han Yuchen set down his glass and gently tapped the tabletop with his fingertips, producing a rhythmic series of sounds.
Dugu Bo took a deep breath, flipped his wrist, and a scroll made from the hide of some unknown soul beast appeared in his hand. He tossed it toward the counter. "This is the detailed movements of the imperial family members you wanted, including everyone Prince Xue Xing has come into contact with recently. In exchange, I want to see the treatment you promised."
Han Yuchen was in no hurry to open the scroll. Instead, he pressed one hand on it, and an almost imperceptible stream of