Carriages, horses, and Spirit Boats came and went outside the ducal residence every day.
Boxes of Jade Slips arrived one after another from the Northwestern Circuit. Yanluo, a manager of the Demon Lotus Sect, had come several times, and even members of the Iron Household had visited. Only the master of this ducal residence had yet to appear.
On the fifth night, the soft sound of a Cloud Chariot touching down suddenly came from the direction of the main gate.
Xue Wugui's heart tightened, and the red light within him raised its keen tip.
Yet a moment later, only Tie Qingyao came through the Moon Gate.
Two Golden Core maids followed her. One held a Jade Talisman and relayed a message: "Madam, word has come from Jade Capital Mountain. The Duke has been regulating his breathing in a side hall these past few days. He won't return before he leaves. He asks that everything in the residence continue as usual, and says there's no need for you to see him off."
Tie Qingyao took the Jade Talisman and sighed before slipping it into her sleeve.
Their voices gradually faded with their footsteps.
In the shadow of a corridor pillar, Xue Wugui lowered his eyes and suppressed that sharp edge within him, little by little.
A thread of bloody sweetness rose in his throat.
This was already the third time he had forcibly reined in his killing momentum after building it to its peak.
Yet Qing Chen had not even shown his face.
Just then, a Mansion Guard steward came down the corridor, glanced at him, and casually tossed over a menial worker's token.
"Take two men and clear the spirit channels on the west side. Madam says the pond water is a little murky. Don't let it hinder the spirit