The Shy Shen Zhixia, Winds Stir Across the Four Quarters! (Two-in-One Chapter)

Chen Estate dining hall.

The table was already laden with dishes, and the kitchen was still sending them out without pause. Servant girls carried platter after platter of delicacies into the dining hall, stacking them up like a pagoda.

The rich, savory aroma wafted in all directions, making one's mouth water just from the smell.

"Zhixia, come try this. This is Green Feather Chicken Soup, a specialty of South Prefecture. It beautifies the skin and nourishes the body. It's especially restorative."

"This is Stir-fried Snow Beef. It's very beneficial for martial artists."

"And this rice is made with Azure Hawk Eggs..."

He Yuzhi eagerly served Shen Zhixia dish after dish, describing each one as if she were reciting from a catalogue.

There were all kinds of delicacies, from the skies, the land, and the sea, dazzling in their variety... And every ingredient came from a ranked exotic beast. Even from far away, one could sense the rich essence of their flesh and blood.

Shen Zhixia's throat bobbed. She couldn't help swallowing.

Ever since leaving Martial Saint Mountain, she had been eating ordinary meals, which provided hardly any essence after refinement... Back on the mountain, if she wanted to eat an exotic beast, she could catch one herself and roast it. But now that she was in Heaven Capital City, everything had to be bought with silver.

But with Chen's mother sitting right there, she was too embarrassed to eat her fill. She chewed slowly with her small, cherry-red lips, looking every bit the dignified young lady from a prominent family.

"What's the occasion today? Are we celebrating the New Year early?"

Chen Mo entered the dining hall and looked at the feast spread before him in bewilderment. "Are the two of you going to eat all this?"

He Yuzhi shot him a look. "What do you know? The cultivation method of Martial Saint Mountain focuses on refining essence into qi and returning to one's origin. It makes digestion faster, so naturally she eats more. Our household can afford it, too. We can't let your wife go hungry, can we?"

"W-wife?!"

Shen Zhixia's pretty face flushed bright red in an instant, and she was at a loss.

Refining essence into qi?

Chen Mo paused.

So the reason this little glutton could eat so much had to do with her cultivation method?

No wonder she stuffed herself every day and still had a flat stomach. He'd thought her belly was some kind of spatial treasure.

"Auntie, I came by in such a hurry last time that I didn't prepare anything..."

Suppressing her embarrassment, Shen Zhixia took a sandalwood box from her clothes and offered it to He Yuzhi with both hands. "It's just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you'll accept it."

"You came to visit. You didn't need to bring a gift."

He Yuzhi smiled, took the box, and opened it. A pure white, round bead lay on the red silk inside, its luster like jade and a faint fragrance wafting from it.

"This is..."

"This is a Youth-Preserving Bead. I came across it while traveling after leaving the mountain."

Shen Zhixia said, "It won't keep you young forever, but if you wear it close to your body for a long time, it can preserve your rosy complexion, prevent your hair from turning white, and prolong your life."

"Auntie, you're already beautiful and elegant, so you certainly don't need something like this. Please just accept it as a little something extra."

A Youth-Preserving Bead...

He Yuzhi looked astonished.

This was a truly exceptional treasure, the kind money couldn't buy!

It was said that Fairy Qingxuan, the top-ranked beauty on the Rouge Ranking, had one. Her appearance hadn't changed all these years, and her skin was so tender it looked as though you could squeeze water from it. This treasure was surely part of the reason.

He Yuzhi had taken excellent care of herself. Though she was nearly forty, she still looked like a girl in the bloom of youth. But what woman would ever complain about being too beautiful?

This gift had landed right in her heart!

"Since you've given me something, I ought to give you something in return..."

After thinking for a moment, He Yuzhi slipped a jade bracelet off her wrist.

It was a flawless emerald green, the jade clear as amber, its surface gleaming with a gentle luster. It was obviously a piece that had been worn and lovingly cared for over many years.

"When I married into the family, Mo'er's grandmother gave me this bracelet. It's an heirloom passed down from our ancestors. I've worn it for twenty years, and today I'm giving it to you."

"This is too precious. I can't accept it... Besides, I'm a martial artist. I'm always wielding weapons. If I accidentally chip or break it, I wouldn't know how to face you." Shen Zhixia waved her hands again and again, hastily refusing.

He Yuzhi shook her head. "A person matters more than a bracelet. If it breaks, then it breaks. Besides, you saved Mo'er last time. I should show my gratitude."

"Chen Mo already gave me a gift..."

Shen Zhixia took the Red String from around her neck and drew a jade pendant from her chest.

At the sight, a trace of amusement flickered in He Yuzhi's eyes. She put on a stern expression and said, "He's he, and I'm me. One thing has nothing to do with the other. I'm giving it to you, so keep it."

Without waiting for a reply, she slipped the jade bracelet onto Shen Zhixia's wrist.

"This... Thank you, Auntie."

Seeing this, Shen Zhixia didn't dare refuse again.

He Yuzhi's eyes crinkled with a smile. The more she looked at her, the more pleased she was.

She had always respected Chen Mo's wishes. As long as he liked someone, she would support him, even if he brought a woman from the pleasure quarters into the family.

But deep down, she also didn't want the future mistress of the Chen Family to be nothing but a pretty ornament.

Shen Zhixia was someone she knew well, and she was a peerless prodigy. A daughter-in-law this well-suited was hard to find.

She had to seize this opportunity!

Thinking of this, He Yuzhi turned to Chen Mo and said, "You tore up the marriage contract in public last time. Even though there was more to it, in the eyes of outsiders, you still made the Shen Family lose face."

"I'll prepare some jewelry and fine brocade for you to take to the Shen Mansion. It'll be an apology, and besides, the two of you aren't children anymore. This matter needs to be settled one way or another."

"Cough, cough!"

Chen Mo nearly choked on his own saliva.

What she meant wasn't exactly a proposal, but it was close enough...

Shen Zhixia lowered her head, wishing she could bury her face in her rice bowl.

Realizing the two of them wouldn't be able to relax with her there, He Yuzhi said, "I still have some errands to take care of. Keep Zhixia company and have a good talk."

Then she got up and left.

The dining hall fell quiet.

After a moment of silence, Shen Zhixia said softly, "We hadn't seen each other for ten years, and it's only been a little over a month since we reunited. Isn't this a bit too rushed...?"

She did have feelings for Chen Mo, but she didn't know how he felt about her. She didn't want to bind the two of them together just because their parents had arranged it.

Chen Mo frowned. "We've already kissed. Are you trying to deny it now?"

Shen Zhixia froze at his words. Remembering what had happened that day when she'd gotten soaked, her cheeks turned rosy and her eyes flashed with indignation. "You were the one who took advantage of me. How can you say that with a straight face?"

"I don't care. That was my first kiss. Anyway, you have to take responsibility for me."

"You—you shameless rogue!"

"Don't you know whether I've got any teeth? Back then, you even stuck your tongue..."

"Don't you dare say another word!"

Shen Zhixia raised a hand to hit him, but Chen Mo dodged to the side and raised his hands in surrender.

"I'm joking. The food's going cold."

"Hmph."

Shen Zhixia glared at him.

After all that joking around, the unease and uncertainty in her heart vanished.

Though she was a little annoyed and embarrassed, she somehow felt much more at ease...

Looking at the delicacies before her, she hesitated. Compared to scolding this lecher, eating seemed a little more important...

Yu Prince Mansion.

In the study, Chu Heng leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. A pretty maid knelt in front of him, her head lowered as she busied herself.

Knock, knock, knock.

The door sounded, and the Old Butler walked in.

Seeing the scene before him, he showed no reaction at all. Clearly, he was used to it.

"Any news?"

Chu Heng asked.

The Old Butler replied, "Last night, Chen Mo took some people to the Music Bureau. He happened to visit Qingya Pavilion, where Xu Yuqiong was staying. The two spent the night together and didn't leave until this morning."

"Oh?"

Chu Heng stroked the maid's hair with his fingers, a faint smile lifting the corner of his mouth. "I was still wondering how to arrange for him to meet Yu'er. Who knew it would happen so conveniently?"

"Tell Yu'er to practice her seduction arts well. Make sure she reels him in!"

Recently, Chen Mo had been making a name for himself in Heaven Capital City. His frequent visits to the Imperial Palace and the generous rewards he'd received from the Imperial Empress were enough to show how highly the various factions regarded him.

His father was a high-ranking official of the third grade with real power, and his mother was a Martial Arts Grandmaster backed by a first-rate sect... With a background like that, it was hard to ignore him.

Not to mention that he was a Sixth-Grade Martial Artist himself, and the hero who had scored the first kill among the Ten Heavenly Demons.

Even without the Barbarian Slave Case, he was worth a little effort.

"Is there something else?" Seeing the butler's grave expression, Chu Heng asked with a frown.

The butler said, "Lin Huai's body was found this morning."

Chu Heng shook his head. "So what if they found it? There's not a single trace left on the body. Even if they investigate, they won't find their way to me."

The butler's voice lowered as he continued, "The Six Gates has already determined that the Demon Race was responsible. The case has been brought before the Eastern Palace, and the Imperial Empress has ordered the Three Judicial Offices to investigate in concert with the Heavenly Qilin Guard."

At that, Chu Heng's hand clenched so suddenly that he tore out a fistful of hair.

Even with the maid working beneath him, the intense pain didn't dare make her resist in the slightest. She didn't even dare to let out a grunt, and continued her work with painstaking care.

"With the Evil-Suppressing Jade hiding it, even the city's protective array couldn't detect it. How could the Six Gates have uncovered a clue? Could that demoness have tricked me?"

"No, she had no reason to... Even if a trace of demonic aura escaped while Lin Huai was being interrogated, it should've dissipated after three days. They could still detect it?"

Chu Heng frowned and asked, "Who's in charge of the case?"

The butler replied, "Shangguan Yunfei. But the one who traced it back to the Demon Race was Chen Mo."

At that, the room fell silent for a moment.

Chu Heng looked somewhat taken aback. "Chen Mo?! Wasn't he at the Music Bureau last night...?"

The butler said, "The case was originally being investigated jointly by the Six Gates and the Ding Fire Bureau. I don't know why Chen Mo went along, too. They say he saw at a glance that the Demon Race was responsible, then summoned Lin Huai's residual soul on the spot. It personally said the word 'demon'..."

Chu Heng sank into a long silence.

After a long while, he said with difficulty, "Isn't he a martial artist? The hell, he can summon souls, too?"

The butler said, "Perhaps he used some kind of magical treasure... Now that we've been exposed too early, the whole city will be on high alert and heavily guarded. Going on would be too risky. We should put the plan on hold for now and wait until things calm down before deciding what to do."

"We've already come this far. It's not up to me to stop just because I want to."

Chu Heng's expression darkened. "Tell that demoness to be careful lately. She shouldn't show her face unless she has to."

"Yes."

The butler answered and turned to leave the room.

As the maid continued her efforts, Chu Heng's breathing grew more and more ragged. He grabbed her head hard and pressed down.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

The maid was almost suffocating and couldn't help struggling.

Chu Heng ignored her and pressed down harder.

Crack!

With a crisp snap of bone, the maid went limp in an instant.

Chu Heng shuddered, then let out a long breath. He tossed the corpse aside as casually as if he were throwing out the trash.

"Chen Mo..."

His narrow eyes were cold and venomous as a snake's.

Yangxin Palace.

The palace rose high above, its glazed roof tiles gleaming gold in the sunlight.

Beyond the tightly shut vermilion doors, a long corridor was covered with soft carpets. Through the pearl-studded curtains, a graceful woman could be seen lying face-down on a phoenix couch.

Her crimson gauze dress had been lowered to her hips, revealing a back as white as mutton fat jade, like a flawless treasure worth its weight in gold.

A female official in a dark, black palace gown knelt beside her. Her hands were smeared with fragrant oil, and she gently massaged the woman's body.

It was as if a layer of jade had been glazed over her skin. Sunlight streamed through the lattice windows, giving it a faint pink sheen.

"Your Highness, there's something strange about the case on White Pagoda Street. The city's covered by a great array. How did the Demon Race get inside? And how did they dare commit murder so brazenly?" The female official looked puzzled.

Lin Huai's body had already been sent to the Demon Suppression Bureau. After a Consultant Envoy examined it personally, they had indeed found traces of demonic aura.

That meant they could almost be certain a demon was in the city!

This was the capital of Great Yuan, right beneath the Son of Heaven's feet! The significance of the Demon Race appearing here went without saying!

"The great array?"

"Heh. It's nothing but a means of coercing the court. If not for that so-called Sacred Sect, there might not even be so many demons in this world!"

The Imperial Empress spoke coldly.

The female official fell silent.

Martial Saint Mountain, Heaven's Pivot Pavilion, and Wuwang Temple were known together as the Three Sacred Sects.

They each held sway over a region, stood above the common order, and were beyond the court's control. They were practically kingdoms within the kingdom!

Martial Saint Mountain kept a low profile and avoided worldly affairs, while Heaven's Pivot Pavilion and Wuwang Temple actively spread their faith, with believers throughout the Nine Provinces.

All under heaven belonged to the king. If not for the turbulent times, the court would never have tolerated the existence of such powers.

Back then, demons ran rampant and court officials died one after another. With the state's order on the verge of collapse, Emperor Wulie had no choice but to ask the high monks of Wuwang Temple to lay down the Eight Directions Demon-Purging Array and drive out the demons.

Though the demons were ultimately purged, the array had become a thorn in the court's side.

"More than that, what intrigues me is why a demon would target a minor clerk from the Ministry of Works."

"According to the Six Gates' report, the body was in a terrible state. The victim had been tortured before he died... It feels as if someone was being interrogated for something."

The Imperial Empress shook her head.

There was too little information to be gleaned from a single corpse.

The Demon Race excelled at hiding. With hundreds of thousands of people in Heaven Capital City, finding one demon would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Unless it revealed itself and struck again.

"The demonic aura left on the body was extremely faint. Even the Mystic Jade didn't react. It was almost impossible to detect."

"Since Chen Mo was able to notice something was wrong, he must have some way of sensing demonic aura. Perhaps he can find some clues."

The female official said this as she pressed the woman's waist.

"Chen Mo..."

The Imperial Empress's eyes flickered.

Lately, that name had been coming up around her with increasing frequency, and every time it did, it was tied to a major case.

"Pass down my decree: have Chen Mo take charge of the investigation. The Six Gates will assist and devote every effort to solving this case!"

"Yes!"

The female official answered.

"I'd like to see just how capable this man really is!"

"If he truly satisfies me, I wouldn't mind going to a little more trouble to snatch him away from Yu Youhan..."

The Imperial Empress hugged a pillow, its pressure accentuating the full curves of her chest. Her misty phoenix eyes seemed to hold a hint of anticipation.