Chapter 1 Approaching

At a gallop, the five-person party arrived outside Dingchun City just as the sky began to brighten.

Riding on horseback, they stood amidst the undulating mountains outside the city, gazing at the city not far away.

The city, predominantly white, radiated a soft halo under the first rays of dawn. Intermingled with the colorful wildflowers blanketing the mountains, Dingchun City looked every bit like the embodiment of spring.

"Ahead is Dingchun City. Everyone, be careful. Do not reveal anything about the building ship. We will enter the city under our original pretense and head to the Liu family first," Jin Sanniang said.

The other four nodded in agreement.

Jin Sanniang's words weren't an attempt to bury their heads in the sand, pretending that the bizarre events on the Han River hadn't occurred.

Rather, before a concrete clue or even a conclusion could be drawn, any rash action could lead to uncontrollable consequences.

Ye Chuxiao had glimpsed the 'answer' ahead of time, but this answer wasn't the ultimate one; it only scratched the surface of the mystery.

The most crucial and fatal issue was that they lacked the means to restrain the Corpse Elder.

The Corpse Elder's 'threat' remained a constant thorn in their side.

"I must find a safe opportunity to reveal the truth to Jin Sanniang. Only she can summon reinforcements and work with me to restrain the Corpse Elder," Ye Chuxiao thought.

As they rode into the city, the beauty of Dingchun City unfolded before them like petals being peeled away, layer by layer.

Balconies lining the streets were covered in flowers. A gentle breeze caused the petals and leaves to sway, as if waving hello to every guest entering the city. The rooftops of some houses were also planted with greenery and flowers. Women washing silk, in groups, balanced large basins on their heads and quickly dispersed along the city's small paths to the surrounding canals.

The sounds of playful laughter added a touch of liveliness to the city, which was still half-asleep in the early morning.

Clear springs flowing from the distant mountains converged into rivers that gently meandered through Dingchun City, providing the city with water and vitality.

"Dingchun City is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. Compared to it, Shenjing seems too solemn and rigid," Ye Chuxiao said with emotion.

Jin Sanniang said, "It is indeed beautiful, but the beauty you see at first glance is often not real. The places you can't see are still full of blood and cruelty."

Ye Chuxiao said, dejectedly, "Big Sister Jin! Can't you let me keep some beautiful illusions about it, at least for a little while?"

Jin Sanniang turned to look at Ye Chuxiao, then suddenly smiled, "No!"

"Having seen its ugliness, I don't want others to harbor illusions about it."

As she spoke, Jin Sanniang herself burst into laughter, and the golden badge on her chest shone brightly in the morning light.

Ye Chuxiao's gaze locked onto it once again, while Qiao and Zhao exchanged a knowing look and sighed simultaneously.

Little Ye... is still too young after all!

Did he think Jin Sanniang was only talking about Dingchun City?

Did he really believe that Jin Sanniang's position as a Jinzhang Constable was solely due to her distant kinship with Divine Constable Jin Buyi?

Jin Sanniang! The words 'rose with thorns' weren't enough to describe her.

Female Rakshasa, Female Yama, those were her true names.

The Liu family of Dingchun was located in the best part of the city's south side, occupying hundreds of acres. In front of the mansion, a pair of bronze lions bestowed by the emperor hundreds of years ago lazily basked in the sun, appearing almost lifelike and full of spirituality.

Seeing Ye Chuxiao and the other four approach the gate, the male lion yawned widely, while the female lion spoke, "Please wait a moment, officers. I will go and report."

After saying this, the female bronze lion leaped off the stone platform where it had been lying and gracefully flew into the high-walled courtyard.

"As expected of a millennium-old aristocratic family. Even the doorkeepers are imperial bronze lions, full of spirituality after hundreds of years of nurturing," Qiao Wuqi said with admiration.

Zhao Sibai said, "Then you haven't seen the white python that guarded the Bai family's gate. That was truly extraordinary, but it's a pity the Bai family fell, and the whereabouts of that spiritual white python are unknown."

Cui Yu said, "It's not exactly unknown. The Jinzhang Constable who was responsible for investigating the Bai family's extermination once cut off a section of the white python's tail in the deep mountains and later reported that the white python was actually just a piece of white brocade, transformed by hundreds of years of spiritual infusion and cultivation. Cutting off its tail was equivalent to destroying its overall spirituality, so it likely dissipated on its own between heaven and earth."

"That's truly a pity!" Zhao Sibai shook his head with some regret, though it was unclear what he was regretting.

As they chatted idly, the central gate of the Liu mansion swung open.

Dozens of people filed out of the mansion.

Leading the way was a rather portly middle-aged man, dressed as a wealthy merchant, even looking vulgar, showing no trace of a millennium-old family's heritage.

"Welcome! Welcome, esteemed officials, to my humble abode! Please come in! Please come in!" the portly middle-aged man said, his face beaming with greasy smiles.

Cui Yu said, "This is the Thousand-Faced Smiling Buddha, Liu Suifeng, the current head of the Liu family of Hedong. According to the Six Doors' records, Master Liu was once known as the most beautiful man in Hedong in his youth, attracting the daughters of three major sects to fight over him, causing a sensation outside Dingchun City."

The portly middle-aged man patted his round belly, his face full of trembling flesh as he laughed, "Let's not mention it! Let's not mention it! It was just youthful recklessness. Please forgive me! Please forgive me!"

He then said to Cui Yu, "This officer with a remarkable memory must be the 'Living Encyclopedia' who is rumored to have read all three thousand volumes of the Six Doors' records."

Then, he turned to Jin Sanniang and said, "You must be the legendary Jin Sanniang! Indeed, your beauty surpasses all descriptions! Seeing you in person is better than hearing about you!"

"Evil God Zhao Sibai, Dingfeng Arrow Qiao Wuqi... and this young officer!"

"Please come in quickly!"

They followed Liu Suifeng into the Liu mansion.

Passing through the front hall and the garden, they went straight to the waterside pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, wine and dishes had already been prepared, along with a full complement of song and dance performances.

"I have been waiting for the arrival of the esteemed officials for a long time. The dishes and wine in this pavilion are replaced by the kitchen every half hour, and they are all carefully placed in warm jade cups and plates, just waiting for you to come, so you can have something hot to eat and drink, to warm both your body and your heart," Liu Suifeng said with a smile.

At this moment, Jin Sanniang became stern and ruthless.

"Master Liu is too kind!"

"I wonder where Liu Qiantiao is now. We need to see him immediately to record his background and information so we can prepare a file for the Six Doors."

Liu Suifeng's expression didn't change as he beckoned to the steward in the distance, "Go! Fetch the Sixth Young Master."

The steward scurried away, disappearing into the depths of the courtyard.

Ye Chuxiao frowned slightly.

Liu Suifeng had prepared wine and dishes in advance, repeatedly replacing them, seemingly showing great sincerity.

But why did he seem so indifferent to the 'main topic' of their visit?