It is said that the first shadow to reveal itself traversed the Fang clan’s land and quickly arrived at the ancestral hall. With a single flip, it entered the hall.

Fang Zehou was currently under house arrest within the hall. Fang Heling hadn’t mistreated him per se, merely seized his authority and forbade him from leaving.

The shadow strode into the hall. Fang Zehou, not yet asleep, was kneeling before the ancestral tablets of the Fang family’s forefathers.

The shadow said, “Heling has gone out, and I find it unsettling. Should we perhaps…”

“Let him be,” Fang Zehou replied without turning around. “He has grown, and it is natural for him to want to prove himself.”

“But…”

“There are no ‘buts’. It is true that due to my selfishness, we lost the Fang family’s most promising young talent. Now, even the trade routes in Yun country are unreliable. Compared to the other two families, the Fang family has no future. If Heling wishes to take a risk, let him gamble this once.

If he wins the gamble, that is naturally for the best. If he loses, I, as his father, will be his safety net. Even if it means staking the entire Fang family, as long as he can truly grow, I am willing.”

The shadow ceased speaking.

Its loyalty lay solely with Fang Zehou.

Facing Fang Heling’s power grab, Fang Zehou was not without the means to resist. He was simply indulging his son’s choices once more.

…

Jiang Wang carefully maintained his distance. The deepening mastery of the Four Spirits Body Refinement Technique allowed him to precisely control his physical form. He could keep pace with the target without relying on Daoist techniques.

He didn’t need to follow Fang Heling; he only needed to follow the shadow that was tracking Fang Heling.

Easily evading the city guard’s night patrol, three shadows sped through the city, one after another, exiting Maple Forest City through the south gate.

The city guard’s garrison was located in the southern outskirts.

“What is Fang Heling planning?”

Jiang Wang hesitated, unsure whether to send a message to Wei Yan and Zhao Lang. But remembering the hidden post of the Arrest and Interrogation Department ahead, he decided against it.

The people of the Arrest and Interrogation Department undoubtedly possessed the means to contact the authorities immediately. If anything truly happened, it wouldn’t be delayed.

He soon noticed that their route had shifted.

They bypassed the city guard’s garrison at a distance, continuing south.

Southeast of Maple Forest City was Phoenix Stream Town, and further on was the direction of Three Mountains City. Directly south, beyond the city guard’s garrison, was only Ox Head Mountain, of which he had never heard anything noteworthy.

In Jiang Wang’s understanding, if there were any evil cults or unorthodox hideouts, they wouldn’t be located under the noses of the city guards.

Maple Forest City’s guards were extremely powerful. With Wei Yan’s breakthrough, the current commanding general and two vice generals were all in the Ascending Dragon Realm. Add to that five vice generals in the Connecting Heaven Realm, and they could face any force in battle. Once the art of military formations was activated, they could even topple cities and pull out fortresses.

Yet, Fang Heling had actually gone to Ox Head Mountain.

Ox Head Mountain had two protrusions resembling ox horns, hence its name.

The mountain wasn’t tall, the scenery was ordinary, and neither bandits nor ferocious beasts were known to reside there. If they did, the Maple Forest City guards on maneuvers would have long since swept them away.

But this ordinary mountain suddenly gave Jiang Wang a feeling of a man-eating beast. He didn’t know where this pressure came from.

Looking back at the city guard’s garrison from here, the campfires were but starlight dots.

Jiang Wang suppressed the unease in his heart and followed the distant shadow up the mountain.

At the very least, he had to find out who Fang Heling was meeting. Only then could he close the case. And with his current Eighth-Grade Zhou Tian Realm cultivation, the perfected Purple Qi Coming East Sword, the mastered Daoist art of Flame Flower, and the warning provided by the Arrest and Interrogation Department cultivator ahead, he figured that escaping wouldn’t be a problem if he encountered danger.

Occasional strange bird calls made the forest even quieter.

The feeling of unease grew stronger.

Jiang Wang tightened his grip on the sword, but didn’t draw it directly; the blade’s gleam could expose him.

“Shhh…”

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze swept over him. Jiang Wang felt enveloped in a soft warmth, and a hand covered his lips.

Jiang Wang’s body tensed and then relaxed. It wasn’t that he didn’t have time to react, but he had already recognized the newcomer.

“White Lotus?” Jiang Wang asked quietly as the hand slowly slid down.

That hand slipped from Jiang Wang’s lips and pinched his chin, turning his face completely.

Jiang Wang then saw White Lotus, her face covered by that black veil magic artifact.

“What are you doing here?” White Lotus’s eyes were fierce, but her voice was very low.

It seemed that on this Ox Head Mountain, there was also someone she feared.

Jiang Wang pointed into the distance, indicating that he was following someone.

White Lotus released his chin and grabbed his hand instead.

“Come with me!”

Her garments fluttered as she moved through the forest like a night bird, quickly disappearing.

…

Almost simultaneously, Fang Heling turned back on the mountain!

The one who had been tracking Fang Heling to this point was indeed a hidden post from the Arrest and Interrogation Department.

He was one of Shan Cha’s trusted subordinates, assigned to this mission because of his competence. He had indeed been careful and cautious along the way, always keeping his distance.

But when he saw Fang Heling turn around from afar, he knew something was wrong.

Without a word, he shook out a yellow incense stick. With a flick of a finger, he tried to light it.

Once the yellow incense burned, the Arrest and Interrogation Department would immediately receive the message. When the yellow incense burned out, it meant that the one lighting it was in a desperate situation.

But this yellow incense… remained motionless, unable to be lit!

He tried to cast a hand seal to summon fire, but a slender, fair hand reached out and gently took the yellow incense.

Then he felt himself floating, light as a feather.

Higher and higher he flew.

Only then did he realize that the person standing there, still making the hand seal gesture, was none other than himself!

So what was he now? A soul?

He was shocked, he struggled, but it was all meaningless.

Then, a wave of intense pain washed over him, “drowning” him and shattering him into pieces.

The man wearing the bone mask lightly let go, letting the shattered soul dissipate.

“It’s someone from the Arrest and Interrogation Department,” he chuckled softly, having already received the information. “Shan Cha is indeed courageous.”

Fang Heling stood in the forest, watching from afar as the Bone Envoy extracted the soul.

He couldn’t suppress the chill that emanated from the depths of his heart, but his expression remained calm.

From the moment he chose to place his birth father under house arrest, he understood the choice he had made.

This was his own choice.

He could only rely on himself. He had to grow, and there was no turning back.

“I’ve already been targeted by the Arrest and Interrogation Department. What do we do now?” he asked.

“This person’s death is tantamount to admitting that I have a problem.”

“What problem do you have?” The Bone Envoy’s voice was surprised. “Is it not normal for a hidden post to be sacrificed while on a mission? Who can prove that his death is related to you?”

“My Lord,” Fang Heling said, somewhat aggrieved and helpless. “I am sincerely working for you. I’ve done everything I should have done. There’s no turning back! Please stop toying with me.”

“No, no, no. I’m not toying with you. I’m also sincerely talking to you. If the Arrest and Interrogation Department investigates the Fang family, what can they find?”

“Nothing. I’ve already taken care of the loose ends. And besides… I really don’t know what the things you arranged for me to do mean. The Arrest and Interrogation Department won’t find anything.”

“Then let them investigate.”

Fang Heling sighed. “But sometimes they don’t need evidence.”

“That’s true when dealing with ordinary people,” the Bone Envoy laughed. “But don’t forget, you’re a Dao Academy student.”

“I am indeed a suspect. The Dao Academy might not protect me, right?”

“Poor boy, you have no idea what you possess.” The Bone Envoy chuckled twice and turned to walk into the mountains. “Today’s events are canceled. Go back.”