Sai Chuxue

Following the source of the voice, everyone turned their eyes toward a tree.

There, standing gracefully upon the trunk, was a young woman whose face could not be seen clearly.

"Plop~"

The young woman lightly tapped the branch beneath her feet and slowly descended, arriving before the group.

Once she drew near, Zeng Anmin saw her clearly.

She wore a black robe, its flowing golden ribbons running from her shoulders to her waist. A reflective belt cinched her slim waist, slender enough to be held in one hand.

Her loose trousers were tucked into a pair of straight leather boots, etched with profoundly mysterious patterns that flickered before the eye with every step she took.

A jade-green pendant hung from her waist, swaying with each step.

Looking at her face, her delicate nose stood high, her cheeks carried a rosy flush, and her lips were neither thick nor thin, vivid red like autumn cherries.

A true masterpiece!!

Though it was night, it did nothing to hinder Zeng Anmin's appreciation of her beauty.

Though she wore a standard-issue uniform, it could not conceal the charm of her features.

Another beauty in the nineties!

But Zeng Anmin was not the kind of man whose values followed his features. He frowned at the slowly approaching young woman and asked:

"Who are you?"

The young woman raised her head, revealing a flawless white face. After glancing at Zeng Anmin, her eyes swiftly darted away.

Her voice was soft, as though squeezed out through her delicate nose:

"I am from the Profound Formation Division. By my master's orders, I have come to take him back."

Seeing her reaction, Zeng Anmin laughed inwardly.

This woman was like a fresh university graduate—clear-eyed, foolish, and carrying a touch of social anxiety.

When facing a socially anxious girl,

you had to keep looking straight into her eyes while speaking. This trick worked wonders!

Zeng Anmin looked seriously at the young woman.

"This man is a major fugitive we captured. You cannot take him away."

Upon hearing Zeng Anmin's words, the young woman instinctively turned her head to respond.

But when her gaze met Zeng Anmin's unblinking stare, she instinctively avoided his eyes and looked elsewhere, feigning calm.

Yet her voice dropped lower:

"My master said I must... must take him back."

"That won't do." Zeng Anmin looked at the socially anxious young woman, secretly delighted.

His expression, however, was stern.

"This man is a serious criminal wanted by Prince Jiang's Estate..."

Yet before he could finish, Zeng Shilin's deep voice sounded behind him:

"You may take him away."

??

Zeng Anmin's face was full of question marks as he turned to look at his father.

Dad, I nearly exposed my identity as the Black Cat Martial Artist just to hook this fish!!

Zeng Shilin sat in his chair with an impassive expression. Looking at the young woman before Zeng Anmin, he said slowly:

"Sai Chuxue, Master Xu's seventh disciple, a Sixth-Rank Formation Master."

Upon hearing Zeng Shilin's words, the young woman suddenly raised her head, a trace of bewilderment appearing in her eyes.

"You know me?"

"Master Xu's eight great disciples are all figures among immortals. How could this official not know?"

Zeng Shilin nodded lightly, his expression gentle.

"This man is yours."

"Th... thank you."

Sai Chuxue's eyes brightened slightly before she looked at Qi Linxian, who was pinned to the ground.

She took a compass from the pouch at her waist and lightly pointed it at Qi Linxian.

"Absolve!"

The next moment, the compass emitted a flash of light. Qi Linxian's entire body trembled slightly before he instantly fainted. Not long afterward, he was taken into the compass.

The legendary Storage Space!

It could even hold living things?!

Zeng Anmin's eyes gleamed as he stared fixedly at the compass in the young woman's hand.

It truly was a fine treasure!!

After Sai Chuxue stored Qi Linxian away, everyone looked at her with shock in their eyes.

Clearly, the method she had just displayed had dealt an immense blow to their hearts.

Such immortal means—she truly deserved to be an expert from the Profound Formation Division in the capital.

Being watched by so many people made Sai Chuxue extremely uncomfortable. She pursed her lips and prepared to leave.

"Wait!"

Zeng Anmin suddenly spoke.

"Wh... what is it?"

The young woman halted and turned back to look at Zeng Anmin in confusion.

"Didn't I help you capture this man? Aren't you going to show some appreciation?"

Zeng Anmin stared unblinkingly into the young woman's eyes.

He had spent so many days and exerted such great effort.

He had finally chosen today to draw in the net.

Yet someone had swooped in at the last moment and plucked the peaches.

It was impossible for him not to feel some resentment.

After hearing this, Sai Chuxue thought for a while.

Then she nodded in agreement.

"You are right. I should indeed give you something in return, but I do not have any useful items on me right now."

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and removed a jade pendant from her waist.

"Take this jade pendant. If you come to the capital someday, bring it to the Profound Formation Division to find me. I will certainly thank you properly."

Only then did Zeng Anmin's expression ease. He accepted the jade pendant and examined it carefully for a while.

He did not know what material it was made from, but it was crystal-clear and exceptionally beautiful, warm and smooth in his hand.

Then Zeng Anmin turned his gaze toward his father.

Zeng Shilin's expression remained blank as he slowly rose from his chair.

"Let's go."

"Father, without Qi Linxian, Prince Jiang's Estate..."

Inside the cabin, there were only father and son.

Unable to hold himself back, Zeng Anmin looked solemnly at his father.

Zeng Shilin lifted his eyelids slightly, then gave a faint laugh.

"You underestimate the influence of the Profound Formation Division in our Great Sage Dynasty."

"How so?" Zeng Anmin asked humbly.

After all, he had only crossed over not long ago and knew very little about this world's supernatural powers.

He had thought that the Vast Righteous Qi cultivated by those of the Confucian Path was far too useless.

After all, he was already Confucian Path Seventh Rank, yet for the moment, he could not see what use the Vast Righteous Qi in his sea of consciousness had...

Even when he killed Wang Lin, he had used martial arts.

But today, upon the river, he had seen his father merely point a finger.

The formation Qi Linxian had gathered while fleeing vanished in an instant, and heat rose in his heart.

"The Profound Formation Division was founded by Master Xu. Master Xu was the foremost strategist who followed the Great Ancestor in those years."

Zeng Shilin slowly turned his gaze toward the direction of the capital, his voice carrying a hint of remembrance.

"Though the Profound Formation Division does not involve itself in government affairs, not a single official dares to look down on it."

Good heavens!!

Zeng Anmin abruptly raised his head.

By that calculation, Master Xu... had lived for at least six hundred years?!

Wasn't that an immortal?!

Taking a deep breath, Zeng Anmin's heart inexplicably surged.

At that instant, he felt an inexplicable longing for this world's supernatural powers!

"If the Profound Formation Division says Prince Jiang is rebelling, it is better than if your father says it."

"I understand!"

Zeng Anmin tucked that excitement away in his heart, his expression steady.

"Now that we have both witnesses and physical evidence, once we return, we will send troops to surround Prince Jiang's Estate, take Prince Jiang under control, and await the Imperial Decree!"

"Mm."

His father nodded approvingly.

Then those calm, unruffled eyes looked at Zeng Anmin as he spoke in a faint voice:

"Now, should you not explain why you were unaffected by your father's Heart Inquiry?"

Zeng Anmin:...