Medicine King Valley, Clear Moon Pavilion.
Yun Qingyue had yet to retire for the night.
She sat alone before the window, an ancient yellowed tome spread beside her. In the candlelight, a trace of irrepressible weariness lay between her brows.
These past days, she had been investigating the origins of that wandering Daoist.
The deathly aura clinging to the roots of the Dragonblood Black Ginseng was far too strange.
Her master, Mu Wanqing, had already confirmed that it was not an aura left behind by an ordinary undead cultivator, but by an existence of an exceedingly high level—one that might even surpass the Longevity Realm.
Such an aura should not have appeared on a wandering Daoist.
She had decided to leave the valley tomorrow and personally investigate at Hundred Herbs Market.
If necessary, she would follow the trail of that Dragonblood Black Ginseng and pursue it southeast—
"Knock, knock, knock."
The window lattice sounded softly three times.
Yun Qingyue sprang to her feet, three golden needles already pinched between her fingers.
"It's me."
A familiar voice came from outside the window.
Yun Qingyue froze.
She hurried forward and pushed open the window.
In the night wind, Lu Chen stood outside, clad in black robes dark as ink, his expression composed.
He looked at her.
She looked at him.
Three breaths passed.
He spoke first.
"Don't leave the valley. There's an ambush at Hundred Herbs Market."
Yun Qingyue did not ask, "Why are you here?" or "How do you know?"
She simply looked at him.
"You received my letter?"
"Mm."
"When did you return to the capital?"
"Five days ago."
"The secret realm... did it go smoothly?"
"Mm."
Yun Qingyue fell silent.
She looked at Lu Chen—at the air about him, more grave and condensed than it had been five days