At Worst, It's a Dead Fish and a Broken Net

Within three days, the orphan girl must arrive at the imperial palace. Anyone who disobeys will be beheaded!

This was far too abnormal. Ye Jing sensed something was wrong, his expression darkening.

He wasn't a fool. That debauched ruler of today, making such a grand show of summoning all the orphan girls of the Imperial Capital to the palace, surely had some scheme in mind.

Though he didn't know what that tyrant was plotting, a vague unease stirred in Ye Jing's heart.

"Officer, a small token of respect, unworthy of your notice. Here's three hundred taels in banknotes, for you and your men to enjoy some tea."

"Officer, could you perhaps let this humble official in on a hint? Why does His Majesty want the orphan girls of the Imperial Capital in the palace?"

"This maidservant of mine has never known proper manners since she was young, nor has she seen much of the world. I'm truly afraid she'll cause some great disaster in the palace."

Ye Jing pulled several banknotes from his bosom and slipped them into the sleeve of the Commander before him, hoping to pry some information from the man.

Glancing at the banknotes in his hand, Commander Zhang's face lit up with delight, and his gaze toward Ye Jing softened a little.

"Brother, I'm just a Commander—how would I know His Majesty's thoughts?"

"But word in the Night Watch Division is that two big shots have arrived in the Imperial Capital, said to be searching for relatives."

"Rest easy, brother, this is a good thing. If your maidservant turns out to be kin to those two gentlemen, you'll rise straight to the top. Even if not, she'll come back safe and sound."

Searching for relatives! The unease in Ye Jing's heart only grew stronger. Qiuyue possessed an Innate Dao Body, her talent monstrously exceptional—such aptitude meant her origins were far from ordinary.

When that Commander had mentioned those two big shots just now, his words were full of reverence. Clearly, these two figures were immensely formidable.

The more he thought about it, the more Ye Jing felt that the "relatives" those two spoke of were most likely Qiuyue.

"Officer, just what kind of background do those two big shots have, to make His Majesty personally lend a hand?"

Ye Jing wanted to keep digging for information from the Commander, but this man was only a Commander, not high in rank within the Night Watch Division, and knew little—only that the two big shots came from an Ancient Clan.

Ancient Clan! A flicker of confusion crossed Ye Jing's mind. He scoured the original owner's eighteen years of memories but found not a single scrap of information about any Ancient Clan.

Clearly, this so-called Ancient Clan wasn't something ordinary people could come into contact with.

"Rest assured, Officer. Within three days, I'll have my maidservant report to the palace."

Ye Jing couldn't be certain that the two big shots were searching for Qiuyue, so he could only play along for now.

Watching the Night Watch officers depart, Ye Jing hurried back home.

"Young Master, if something's weighing on your mind, you can tell Qiuyue about it."

At an eight-immortal table, seeing Ye Jing lost in thought with his untouched meal before him, Qiuyue asked with concern.

"It's nothing, Qiuyue. You're overthinking things."

Ye Jing brushed it off with a laugh, trying to divert her attention.

Qiuyue fixed her gaze on him, a hint of anger flashing across her face. "Young Master, you're lying to me again. We grew up together—when you lie, your eyes dart away."

"Besides, ever since you came back, your face has been written all over with worry."

Seeing that Qiuyue had seen right through him, Ye Jing could no longer hide it. This was as good a time as any to talk things over with her.

"Qiuyue, back in that snowy day when my parents found you, was there nothing on you that could identify you?"

"Like a jade pendant, a long-life gold lock—something that could prove who you are?"

Even though suspicion had already taken root in his heart, Ye Jing wasn't entirely certain. He could only ask Qiuyue, hoping for some clue about her origins.

"Young Master, why are you asking that again?"

"Don't you already know all the things the late mistress left me before she passed?"

"There's nothing that could prove my identity. Besides, Young Master, Qiuyue thinks this life is just fine. I don't care about some vague, illusory background."

Qiuyue shot Ye Jing a glare, a flicker of doubt in her heart. Ever since she'd shown him her cultivation, it seemed the Young Master had been constantly asking about her origins.

That made sense—Qiuyue had grown up with him. If there really had been any token of identity, how could he not have seen it in all these years?

He'd just been grasping at straws in his panic. If he could truly confirm Qiuyue's identity and origins, he'd have taken her and fled the Imperial Capital that very night.

It was precisely because he couldn't confirm her identity that he was hesitating.

To be honest, staying in the Hanlin Academy was the best choice for now. First, his strength wasn't truly unmatched in the world.

The Hanlin Academy housed many Ancient Texts, from which he could activate his Heaven-Defying Comprehension and rapidly boost his power.

Second, the signs of a great world-altering upheaval had already appeared. The entire Dali would soon fall into chaos, but no matter what the future held, the Imperial Capital would remain one of the safest places for some time to come.

What's more, Qiuyue possessed an Innate Dao Body, her talent peerless. In just over a month, she'd gone from an ordinary mortal to the Innate Realm.

Such terrifying speed in cultivation demanded a stable environment to train properly.

It was because of these two points that Ye Jing, knowing full well today's events were suspicious and might involve Qiuyue, still found himself wavering.

Gazing at Qiuyue, after a long moment, a sharp glint flashed in Ye Jing's eyes. If those two from the Ancient Clan really had come for Qiuyue, then so be it—he'd rather burn the bridge than let them take her.

If those two Ancient Clan figures truly meant to harm Qiuyue, he'd have no choice but to kill without mercy.

After all, he had his system. He could pack up all the Ancient Texts from the Hanlin Academy and take them with him. With his Heaven-Defying Comprehension, he could extract countless techniques from those texts and rapidly raise his strength.

Pulling three Sword Talismans from his bosom, he placed them in Qiuyue's hands. "Qiuyue, these three Sword Talismans were a gift from that Sword Sect master who caused such a stir in the Imperial Capital over a month ago."

"Each Sword Talisman contains a strand of Innate Sword Qi. If activated, fewer than ten Great Grandmasters in all of Dali could withstand its power."

"In three days, His Majesty will summon the Orphan Girl to the palace. Keep these three sword energies for your protection."

Ye Jing glanced at Qiuyue, his face full of gravity. "Unless your life is in danger, never activate these three Sword Talismans, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

"But rest assured, Qiuyue. Once you unleash this sword energy, that peerless master will sense it and come to your rescue."

The sword energy within these three Sword Talismans was none other than Ye Jing's own Primordial Sword Qi.

If Qiuyue carried these three Sword Talismans, Ye Jing could always sense her location.

If something went wrong three days from now, and the two Ancient Clan figures took Qiuyue away, Ye Jing could intercept them mid-journey and snatch her back.

This was the best plan Ye Jing could think of.

He could only hope those two Ancient Clan members weren't here for Qiuyue. Otherwise, this peaceful life would be shattered once more.

Ye Jing murmured to himself, a trace of melancholy in his eyes.