Shy Shen Zhixia, the Four Directions Stir!

Dining hall of the Chen Estate.

The table was already laden with dishes, yet the kitchen staff continued to bring out more. The maids carried tray after tray of delicacies into the hall, stacking them high like a pagoda.

The food was rich and fragrant, the aroma wafting through the air, enough to make anyone's mouth water just by the scent.

"Zhixia, come, try this. It's Green Feather Chicken Soup, a specialty of South Prefecture. It's excellent for the complexion and highly nourishing."

"This is Stir-fried Snow Beef, which is of great benefit to martial artists."

"And this rice, fried with Azure Hawk Egg..."

He Yuzhi enthusiastically served dishes to Shen Zhixia, introducing them as if they were precious treasures.

There were creatures from the sky, the land, and the sea—a dazzling array of varieties. Moreover, every ingredient was a graded exotic beast; even from a distance, one could sense the dense essence of flesh and blood.

Shen Zhixia's throat moved as she couldn't help but swallow hard.

Ever since leaving Martial Saint Mountain, she had been eating ordinary food, which provided negligible essence after refinement. Back on the mountain, if she wanted to eat exotic beasts, she could catch and roast them herself, but here in Heaven Capital City, everything required silver to purchase.

However, in front of Chen Mo's mother, she felt too embarrassed to gorge herself. She chewed slowly with her small, cherry-like mouth, appearing quite like a dignified young lady of a noble house.

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

Chen Mo walked into the dining hall, looked at the feast that resembled a grand banquet, and asked in confusion, "Are you two eating all of this?"

He Yuzhi rolled her eyes at him. "What do you know? The cultivation techniques of Martial Saint Mountain emphasize refining essence into qi and returning to the origin; the digestion is fast, so naturally, the intake is high. Our family isn't lacking in these things; I can't have your wife going hungry, can I?"

"W-wife?!"

Shen Zhixia's pretty face turned beet red in an instant, and she became somewhat flustered.

Refining essence into qi?

Chen Mo was slightly stunned.

So, the reason this girl could eat so much had to do with the technique she practiced?

No wonder she stuffed her face every day yet her belly remained flat; he had actually thought her stomach was some kind of spatial magical treasure.

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

Shen Zhixia suppressed her shyness, took a sandalwood box from her bosom, and presented it to He Yuzhi with both hands. "This is a small token of my sincerity; I hope you will accept it."

"You shouldn't have brought a gift when coming to visit."

He Yuzhi smiled, reached out to take it, and opened the lid. Inside, resting quietly on red silk, was a pure white bead, lustrous as jade and emitting a faint, delicate fragrance.

"This is..."

"This is a Youth-Preserving Bead, which I obtained by chance while traveling down the mountain."

Shen Zhixia said, "While it cannot grant eternal youth, wearing it close to the body for a long time can preserve one's complexion, delay aging, and prolong life."

"Auntie, you are already beautiful and graceful, so you naturally don't need this, but please consider it a small gesture."

Youth-Preserving Bead...

He Yuzhi's expression was one of surprise.

This was a top-tier wonder, the kind that money couldn't buy!

It was rumored that "Fairy Qingxuan," who topped the Rouge Ranking, possessed one. Her appearance had remained unchanged for years, her skin so tender it seemed it could drip water, all thanks to this very item.

He Yuzhi maintained herself well; nearly forty, she still looked like a girl of eighteen, but what woman would complain about being too beautiful?

This gift had truly touched her heart!

"In that case, as your elder, I must show some appreciation as well..."

He Yuzhi pondered for a moment before sliding a jade bracelet off her wrist.

It was a deep, verdant green without a single impurity, the jade as translucent as amber, its surface glowing with a warm, gentle luster. One could tell at a glance it had been nourished by constant wear.

"This bracelet was given to me by Mo'er's grandmother when I married into the family. It is an heirloom passed down by our ancestors. I have worn it for twenty years, and today, I give it to you."

"This is too precious, I cannot accept it... Besides, I am a martial artist; I spend my days wielding blades and spears. If I were to accidentally chip or break it, I wouldn't know how to answer to you." Shen Zhixia waved her hands repeatedly, hurriedly refusing.

He Yuzhi shook her head. "The bracelet is not as important as the person; if it breaks, so be it. Besides, you saved Mo'er last time, so this is only fitting."

"Chen Mo has already given me a gift..."

Shen Zhixia took off the red string around her neck and pulled out a jade pendant from her chest.

Seeing this, a hint of a smile flashed in the depths of He Yuzhi's eyes. She put on a stern face and said, "He is him, and I am me. They are two separate matters. Just take it."

Without allowing for further argument, she slipped the jade bracelet onto Shen Zhixia's wrist.

"This... thank you, Auntie."

Seeing this, Shen Zhixia could no longer refuse.

He Yuzhi's eyes crinkled with a smile; the more she looked at her, the more satisfied she became.

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

But deep down, she didn't want the future mistress of the Chen Family to be a mere vase.

Shen Zhixia was someone whose background she knew well, and she was a top-tier prodigy. It wasn't easy to find such a satisfactory daughter-in-law.

I must seize this opportunity!

Thinking this, He Yuzhi turned her head to look at Chen Mo and said, "Last time you tore up the marriage contract in public, although there were other circumstances, in the eyes of outsiders, it still caused the Shen Family to lose face."

"I will prepare some jewelry and brocade. When the time comes, you take them to the Shen Mansion. On one hand, it is to pay a formal apology, and on the other, you two are not young anymore; there must be some sort of conclusion to this matter."

"Cough, cough!"

Chen Mo nearly choked on his own saliva.

The implication in these words, while not a formal proposal, was close enough...

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

Knowing that the two of them couldn't be at ease with her remaining, He Yuzhi said, "I still have some trivial matters to attend to. You keep Zhixia company and have a good talk."

Then, she rose and left.

The dining hall fell silent.

Shen Zhixia remained silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "We haven't seen each other for ten years, and it has only been a month since we reunited. Isn't this a bit too rushed..."

Although she did have special feelings for Chen Mo, she was unsure of his intentions and did not want to be bound to him simply because of her parents' wishes.

Chen Mo frowned and said, "We've already kissed; are you trying to deny it now?"

Shen Zhixia was stunned at these words. Recalling the "getting soaked" incident that day, a rosy flush spread across her cheeks, and her eyes filled with indignation. "It was clearly you who took liberties with me; how can you have the nerve to say that?"

"I don't care. That was my first kiss. You have to take responsibility for me regardless."

"You, you are shameless!"

"Do you not know if I have teeth? Back then, you even stuck your tongu..."

"Don't you dare say it!"

Shen Zhixia raised her hand to strike, but Chen Mo dodged to the side and raised his hands in surrender.

"I'm just joking. The food is getting cold."

"Hmph."

Shen Zhixia glared at him.

After this bit of banter, her feelings of anxiety and apprehension were swept away.

Although she felt a bit shy and annoyed, she felt inexplicably more at ease in her heart...

Looking at the delicacies before her, she hesitated for a moment. Compared to teaching this rogue a lesson, eating seemed more important...

Yu Prince Mansion.

In the study, Chu Heng leaned back in his chair with a relaxed expression. A beautiful maid knelt before him, her head buried in her work.

Thump, thump, thump.

A knock sounded at the door, and the old butler walked in.

Seeing the scene before him, his expression remained calm; he was clearly accustomed to it.

"Is there news?"

Chu Heng asked aloud.

The old butler replied, "Last night, Chen Mo took people to the Music Bureau. It happened to be the Qingya Pavilion where Xu Yuqiong resides. The two spent the night together and did not leave until this morning."

"Oh?"

Chu Heng gently stroked the maid's hair, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "I was just thinking about how to arrange for him to meet Yu'er; who would have thought it would be such a coincidence?"

"Tell Yu'er to cultivate her Charm Arts diligently. She must hook him for me!"

Recently, Chen Mo had been making a name for himself in Heaven Capital City. From his frequent visits to the Imperial Palace and the generous rewards from the Empress, it was clear how much both sides valued him.

His father was a third-rank official with real power, and his mother was a martial arts grandmaster backed by a top-tier sect... Such a background was truly hard to ignore.

Not to mention that he was a sixth-rank martial artist himself and a hero who claimed the first kill of the Ten Heavenly Demons.

Even without the Barbarian Slave case, he was worth the effort.

"Is there anything else?" Seeing the butler's grave expression, Chu Heng frowned and asked.

The butler said, "This morning, the body of Lin Huai was discovered."

Chu Heng shook his head and said, "So what if it was discovered? No traces were left on the body. Even if they investigate, they won't be able to pin it on me."

The butler's voice deepened as he continued, "The Six Gates have already determined it was the work of the Demon Race. The case has been elevated to the Eastern Palace, and the Empress has ordered the Three Judicial Offices to investigate, working in coordination with the Heavenly Qilin Guard."

Upon hearing this, Chu Heng's palm clenched violently, ripping out a handful of hair.

Under the intense pain, the maid dared not resist in the slightest, not even daring to let out a whimper, and continued her work meticulously.

"With the Evil-Suppressing Jade suppressing it, even the city's protective formation could be deceived. How could the Six Gates possibly find any clues? Could that demoness have tricked me?"

"No, she has no reason to... Even if a trace of demonic energy leaked out while interrogating Lin Huai, it should have dissipated after three days. How could they still detect it?"

Chu Heng frowned and asked, "Who is in charge of this case?"

The steward replied, "It is Shangguan Yunfei, though he discovered that the person who tracked the Demon Race is Chen Mo."

At these words, the room fell into a sudden silence.

Chu Heng looked slightly startled. "Chen Mo?! Wasn't he still at the Music Bureau last night..."

The steward said, "This case was originally being investigated jointly by the Six Gates and the Ding Fire Bureau. I do not know why Chen Mo followed along, but it is said that he identified the Demon Race's handiwork at a single glance and even summoned the remnant soul of Lin Huai on the spot, who personally uttered the word 'Demon'..."

Chu Heng sank into a long silence.

After a long while, he said in a strained voice, "Isn't he just a martial artist? Since when the hell can he summon souls?"

The steward said, "Perhaps he made use of some sort of magical artifact... Now that it has been exposed so early, the city will surely be on high alert. If we continue, the risks are too great. It would be better to shelve the plan for now and wait for the wind to die down before making further arrangements."

"We have already come this far; it is not something I can stop just because I want to."

Chu Heng's expression turned grim. "Tell that demoness to be careful lately and avoid showing her face easily."

"Understood."

The steward acknowledged the order, turned, and left the room.

As the maid continued her efforts, Chu Heng's breathing grew increasingly ragged. He grabbed her head with his palm and pressed down with force.

"Mmph!"

The maid was nearly suffocated and began to struggle.

Chu Heng ignored her, increasing the pressure of his palm.

Crack!

With a crisp sound of breaking bone, the maid instantly went still.

Chu Heng's body shuddered, and he let out a long sigh of relief, tossing the corpse aside as if it were trash.

"Chen Mo..."

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

Yangxin Palace.

The palace towered high, its glazed tiles shimmering with golden radiance under the sun.

Behind the tightly shut vermilion doors lay a long corridor covered in soft, fine carpets. Through the beaded curtains, one could see a woman with a graceful figure lying prone on a phoenix couch.

Her crimson thin skirt was pulled down to her hip line, revealing a back and waist as white as mutton-fat jade, as flawless as a priceless treasure.

A court lady dressed in black robes knelt to the side, her palms coated in fragrant orchid oil, massaging the woman's body with gentle movements.

It was as if a layer of jade film had been applied to her skin; as the sunlight filtered through the lattice windows, it cast a soft, pinkish, translucent glow.

"Your Highness, the case on White Pagoda Street is rather strange. The city is covered by a grand array, so how did the Demon Race sneak in? And how did they dare to commit such a brazen crime?" the court lady asked, looking puzzled.

Lin Huai's corpse had already been delivered to the Demon Suppression Bureau, and after a personal examination by the inspector, a trace of residual demonic energy had indeed been discovered.

With this, it was almost certain that there were demons in the city!

This was the capital of the Great Yuan, right under the Emperor's feet! The implications of the Demon Race appearing here went without saying!

"A grand array?"

"Hmph, it is nothing more than a tool used to coerce the imperial court. If not for these so-called Sacred Sects, there might not even be so many demons in this world!"

The Empress said coldly.

The court lady fell silent at these words.

Martial Saint Mountain, the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion, and Wuwang Temple were known as the three great Sacred Sects.

They occupied their own territories, held transcendent status, and were not subject to the jurisdiction of the imperial court—they were effectively states within a state!

Except for Martial Saint Mountain, which kept a low profile and ignored worldly affairs, the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion and Wuwang Temple expanded their sects aggressively, with believers spread across the Nine Provinces.

Under the vast heavens, all land belongs to the Emperor; if not for the turbulent situation, the imperial court would never have tolerated the existence of such powers.

Years ago, when demons and monsters ran rampant and court officials were dying one after another, the imperial court was on the verge of collapse. Emperor Wulie had no choice but to invite the high monks of Wuwang Temple to set up the Eight Directions Demon-Purging Array to expel the demons.

Although the demons were eventually purged, this had become a thorn in the side of the imperial court.

"Compared to that, I am more curious as to why the demon would target a minor official from the Ministry of Works."

"According to the report from the Six Gates, the corpse died in a miserable state, having suffered endless torture before death... It felt as if they were interrogating him about something."

The Empress shook her head.

A single corpse provided too little information.

The Demon Race was adept at hiding, and with millions of people in Heaven Capital City, trying to ferret it out was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Unless it revealed itself voluntarily and committed another crime.

"The demonic energy remaining on the corpse is extremely faint; even the Mystic Jade did not react, making it almost impossible to detect."

"Since that Chen Mo was able to discover the anomaly, he must have some means of sensing demonic energy. Perhaps he will be able to find some clues."

The court lady said while massaging the Empress's waist.

"Chen Mo..."

The Empress's eyes flickered.

Lately, this name had been appearing in her ears with high frequency, and every time, it was accompanied by a major case.

"Pass down My imperial decree: appoint Chen Mo as the lead investigator, with the Six Gates responsible for coordination, and solve this case with all your might!"

"Yes!"

The court lady responded.

"I would like to see just how much ability this man truly possesses!"

"If he can truly satisfy Me, I wouldn't mind paying a little more to snatch him away from Yu Youhan..."

The Empress hugged her pillow, the pressure accentuating the lush curves of her chest, her hazy phoenix eyes seemingly filled with anticipation.