The princess clasped her hands behind her back and strode toward the upper palace.
She didn't stop until she reached the entrance of the Eleventh Floor's Eight Trigrams Mystic Gate.
Then she turned around and said coldly, "Mengtu, Meiyang."
"Here!"
"Tonight, take that fool Qin Zi to the Demon Suppression Tower to interrogate the Greedy Daoist and Elder Ghost. If he can't get anything out of them, so be it—he can go to the Fire Palace and report to the Empress for his execution!"
With that, the princess stepped into the room and slammed the door shut behind her.
Down below, the Twelve Zodiac looked at each other in confusion.
Clearly, something big had just happened.
Lingyin heard everything from inside and ran out, anxious.
"Interrogate prisoners? What's going on?"
The other Zodiac didn't know either—they all shook their heads blankly.
About half an hour later, Qin Ming finally returned, covered in snow.
Mengtu, Meiyang, and the others rushed over to brush the snow from his robes while asking anxiously about what had happened.
Qin Ming briefly summarized the situation.
Everyone was stunned.
"So the princess was right… Little Qin Zi really is asking for death! Looks like the Empress really is going to execute him…"
"Qin Zi, the Greedy Daoist and Elder Ghost were tortured by the White Feather Guards for an entire day and night and still didn't crack. You think you can get them to talk?"
"Yeah, Qin Zi! Those two must've already thrown away thoughts of life or death. How can you interrogate them? Why'd you take this job?"
Qin Ming just smiled calmly and waved them off.
"It's fine! How would I know if I don't try?"
With that, he carried his clothes to his room.
"Call me when dinner's ready. After we eat, we'll head to the Demon Suppression Tower."
His carefree attitude left the Zodiac and Lingyin dumbfounded.
"What's this guy even planning…?"
...
Qin Ming changed clothes and sat at the edge of his bed.
On the way back, he'd been pondering the interrogation.
He didn't believe those two had truly cast aside fear of death.
They were from the Heavenly Dao Sect—a cult that believed in "self above all" and destroying anyone who stood in the way of their interests.
Clearly, they were selfish to the core. People like that wouldn't die for anyone else.
They stayed silent because they knew once they talked, they'd lose their value—and be killed.
But as long as they stayed quiet, they might still live a bit longer.
With that in mind, Qin Ming had a way to make them talk.
It had been a day and a half since his last draw.
Qin Ming's mind entered the Heaven-Sealing Gourd.
Current Luck Points: 40
[40 Luck Points spent. Draw successful. You have obtained: Breath-Holding Pill.]
[Breath-Holding Pill: Grade-Two Pill. Temporarily halts all bodily functions and enters a pseudo-death state. Duration: two hours.]
What could a Breath-Holding Pill be used for?
Suddenly, a bold idea struck him.
Could tonight's interrogation mission be a chance to rescue Uncle Master Mu Sizhe?
No matter what, Mu Sizhe had once guided him—he couldn't ignore that kindness.
Qin Ming thought for a bit and formed a plan.
...
That evening, Lingyin fetched dinner early from the imperial kitchen.
She knew tonight was important for Qin Ming.
During the meal, Qin Ming was as relaxed as ever, even eating two big bowls of food.
Lingyin, Mengtu, and Meiyang stared in disbelief.
Is he not scared at all?!
But just because Qin Ming wasn't afraid didn't mean everyone else wasn't worried.
Lingyin was so anxious she barely ate half a bowl of rice.
The strange energy within her could only be suppressed when she was near Qin Ming—what if something happened to him?
Mengtu and Meiyang also barely touched their food.
Despite the short time they'd spent with Qin Ming, they'd grown fond of him.
Now he was being sent on such a dangerous task—and might even die. How could anyone be at ease?
Up on the eleventh floor, the princess hadn't eaten a single grain.
She drank straight from a wine jug, letting the clear liquor drip down her chin and into her chest.
She didn't care at all.
The night grew darker.
Qin Ming, Mengtu, and Meiyang set off for the Demon Suppression Tower with 200 guards.
"Ladies, on the way, let's take Xuanwu Street and buy three jars of Drunken Immortal Brew from the Drunken Immortal Inn."
"Qin Zi, seriously? You still want to drink right now?"
"Of course! If the interrogation succeeds, we'll drink in celebration. If it fails—well, I'll drink to my own death! Haha…"
Qin Ming laughed and galloped off on his snow-horse.
Mengtu muttered softly, "He's mad! Death-drinking wine, seriously…"
The Drunken Immortal Inn was packed with guests.
Lanterns hung from every pillar, casting a warm glow.
The innkeeper sat at the front desk, calmly clicking away on an abacus, her graceful face tinged with worry.
She couldn't stop thinking about her disciple Qin Ming.
She was worried that the Greedy Daoist's presence in the palace would bring him trouble.
"Hey, innkeeper!" a green-robed attendant shouted from the middle table.
"You're so pretty. My young master wants to know if you're married."
Yun Shuiyao lifted her gaze slightly.
There were eight people at that table. The one in the center—a man in white—was the strongest, at Body Tempering Level Three.
She ignored them and kept doing her accounts.
"My young master wants you to come drink with him. He says he can book out the entire inn tonight!"
Yun Shuiyao didn't even look up.
"If you want to drink, drink. If not, leave. Don't get in the way of business."
"Hahaha…"
The white-robed young master stood up, snapping open his folding fan.
"If even a single drink is too much, I guess your business really doesn't matter anymore!"
He looked around and raised his voice.
"Everyone listen! I'm Xue Huai. My father is General Xue Pan of the White Feather Guards. This woman doesn't know what's good for her. No one here is allowed to buy wine tonight. Let's see how she does business now!"
A flurry of whispers spread throughout the inn.
"Damn, he's Xue Pan's son? No wonder he's such a jerk."
"Looks like the innkeeper's in trouble tonight."
"She really is gorgeous though…"
Sure enough, no one else came forward to buy wine.
Xue Huai sat with his men, mocking Yun Shuiyao the whole time.
But she remained calm, head down, fingers clicking on the abacus, not even looking at them.
Just then, Qin Ming walked in through the door.
He instantly spotted his master doing accounts at the counter.
"Shopkeeper, three jars of Drunken Immortal Brew."
Yun Shuiyao didn't even look up and replied calmly:
"Not selling any liquor tonight."
She didn't want to cause trouble for her other customers.
Xue Huai burst into laughter.
"See that? She's too scared to sell wine now!
You with the armor—Demon Suppression Guard, huh? Well, sorry! No drinks for you tonight. Get lost!"
"My father's a White Feather General! You don't want to get on his bad side. Hey shopkeeper, come drink with us!"
Qin Ming frowned slightly at the insult and kept walking toward the counter.
"Shopkeeper, three jars of Drunken Immortal Brew."
Xue Huai and his men were instantly pissed off.
Yun Shuiyao paused.
That voice… it sounds so familiar…
She looked up—and froze.
It's him!
Her disciple Qin Ming!
Not only was he healed—he'd become a Demon Suppression Guard!
For the princess to trust him like this, how much had he gone through?
Though her heart was filled with emotion, Yun Shuiyao's face didn't change.
She gently lifted her white sleeve and said softly,
"This guest, we're not selling wine tonight. Don't stir up trouble—please leave."
She didn't want him to get caught up with the White Feather Guards.
Unexpectedly, Qin Ming turned to Xue Huai and his goons and smiled.
"I am buying this wine tonight."
"You're looking for death!"
Xue Huai jumped up from the table.
His seven goons stood too, all drawing their blades.