Sai Chuxue

Following the source of the sound, everyone's gaze turned toward a tree.

There, standing gracefully on a branch, was a young woman whose face was indistinct in the shadows.

"Thump~"

She lightly tapped the branch beneath her feet, descended slowly, and came before the crowd.

As she drew near, Zeng Anmin saw her clearly.

The young woman wore a black robe, with flowing gold silk ribbons running from shoulder to waist. A gleaming belt cinched her slender waist, so fine it could be encircled by a hand.

Loose trousers were tucked into a pair of straight leather boots, their surface etched with profound patterns that flickered with each step she took, catching the eye.

At her waist hung a jade-green pendant, swaying with every stride.

Looking at her face—a straight, delicate nose, cheeks tinged with a rosy flush, lips neither thick nor thin, vividly red like autumn cherries.

Stunning!

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

Even in her standard-issue attire, she could not hide the allure of her features.

Another ninety-point beauty!

But Zeng Anmin was not a man whose values followed his eyes. He frowned at the approaching young woman and asked:

"Who are you?"

The girl lifted her head, revealing an unblemished face. Her eyes met Zeng Anmin's for a moment, then quickly darted away.

Her voice was soft, as if squeezed from her delicate nose:

"I'm from the Profound Formation Division. I've been sent by my master to bring him back."

Seeing her demeanor, Zeng Anmin chuckled inwardly.

This girl is like a fresh graduate—innocent, naive, and a little socially anxious.

When dealing with a shy girl,

you have to keep staring straight into her eyes. That trick works wonders!

Zeng Anmin looked at the girl with a serious expression:

"This man is a wanted criminal we've apprehended. You can't take him away."

Hearing his words, the girl instinctively turned to speak.

But when her gaze met his unblinking stare, she flinched, looking away, forcing calm onto her face.

Her voice dropped lower:

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

"That won't do." Zeng Anmin watched the socially anxious girl, secretly amused.

His face remained stern:

"This man is a major criminal of Prince Jiang's Estate..."

Before he could finish, a deep voice came from behind him—Zeng Shilin's:

"You may take him."

??

Zeng Anmin turned back, a look of confusion on his face, and looked at his father.

I almost exposed my identity as the Black Cat Martial Artist to land this fish, Dad!!

Zeng Shilin sat in his chair, expression calm. He looked at the girl before Zeng Anmin and said slowly:

"Sai Chuxue, the seventh disciple of Master Xu, a Sixth-Rank Formation Master."

Hearing Zeng Shilin's words, the girl jerked her head up, a flicker of bewilderment in her eyes:

"You know me?"

"Master Xu's eight disciples are all extraordinary figures. How could this official not know of them?"

Zeng Shilin nodded lightly, a hint of warmth in his tone:

"This man is yours."

"Th... thank you."

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

From a pouch at her waist, she took out a compass and shone it gently over Qi Linxian:

"Release!"

In the next moment, the compass emitted a flash of Bright Light. Qi Linxian's body trembled once, then he instantly fell unconscious. Soon after, he was drawn into the compass.

A legendary Storage Space!

And it could hold living things?!

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

What a treasure indeed!!

After Sai Chuxue subdued Qi Linxian, everyone's gaze toward her carried a trace of shock.

Clearly, her methods had just dealt a massive blow to their minds.

Such divine techniques—no wonder she was a master from the Profound Formation Division in the capital.

Under so many eyes, Sai Chuxue felt extremely uncomfortable. She pursed her lips and was about to head outside.

"Hold on!"

Zeng Anmin suddenly spoke up.

"What... what is it?"

The young woman halted, turning back to look at Zeng Anmin with a bewildered expression.

"This man was still caught with my help, wasn't he? Aren't you going to show some gratitude?"

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

He had spent so many days and put in so much effort.

He had chosen today to spring the trap.

And then someone else came along and snatched the fruit at the last moment.

If he said he wasn't the least bit upset, that would be a lie.

Sai Chuxue pondered his words for a moment.

Then she nodded with considerable agreement:

"You're right, I really should give you something in return, but I don't have anything on me right now."

As she said this, she suddenly remembered something and took a jade pendant from her waist.

"Take this jade pendant. If you ever come to the capital, bring it to the Profound Formation Division and find me. I'll be sure to thank you properly."

Only then did Zeng Anmin's expression ease slightly. He took the jade pendant and examined it closely.

The pendant was made of some unknown material—crystal clear and extremely beautiful, with a warm, smooth feel in the hand.

Then, Zeng Anmin turned his gaze to Father.

Zeng Shilin's face was expressionless as he slowly rose from his chair.

"Let's go."

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

In the cabin, only the father and son remained.

Zeng Anmin couldn't hold back any longer, his face serious as he looked at his father.

Zeng Shilin lifted his eyelids slightly, then gave a faint smile:

"You're underestimating the influence of the Profound Formation Division in our Great Sage Dynasty."

"How so?" Zeng Anmin asked humbly, seeking guidance.

After all, he had only transmigrated not long ago and knew very little about the supernatural powers of this world.

He had originally thought that the Vast Righteous Qi cultivated by Confucian Path practitioners was too useless.

After all, he was already at the Confucian Path Seventh Rank, yet he still couldn't see what use the Vast Righteous Qi in his Sea of Consciousness had...

Even killing Wang Lin had relied on martial arts.

But today, on the river, when he saw his father merely point a finger, and the formation that the fleeing Qi Linxian had gathered instantly vanished, a burning excitement rose in his heart.

"The Profound Formation Division was founded by Master Xu, who was the first strategist to follow the Great Ancestor."

Zeng Shilin's gaze slowly drifted toward the direction of the capital, his voice carrying a hint of reminiscence:

"Although the Profound Formation Division does not meddle in state affairs, not a single official dares to underestimate it."

Holy shit!!

Zeng Anmin's head shot up.

If that was the case, then Master Xu... had lived for at least six hundred years?!

Wasn't that an immortal?!

Taking a deep breath, Zeng Anmin felt an inexplicable surge of excitement in his heart.

In that instant, he developed an inexplicable craving for the supernatural powers of this world!

"It's better for the Profound Formation Division to say that Prince Jiang is rebelling than for your father to say it."

"I understand!"

Zeng Anmin tucked that surge of excitement back into his heart, his expression steady and composed.

"Now that we have both witnesses and physical evidence in hand, once we return, we'll surround Prince Jiang's Estate with troops, detain the prince, and await the Imperial Decree!"

"Mm."

Father nodded with satisfaction.

Then his eyes, calm as still waters, turned toward Zeng Anmin, and his voice drifted out, low and unhurried:

"Now then, let's talk about why you weren't affected by your father's Heart-Reading technique."

Zeng Anmin: ...