As Qin Ming followed Eunuch Zhou Chang,
The Princess was still fast asleep, enjoying her beauty rest.
Mengtu and Lingyin had already begun cleaning the courtyard.
"Lingyin, why do you look so radiant lately? Always glowing and cheerful."
"Ah? Mengtu, do I? I think I'm the same as always."
"No way. Before, even when you smiled, your eyes had that gloomy palace-woman vibe.
But now? That gloom is gone. It's like…"
"Like what?"
"Like a girl in love~"
Lingyin's cheeks turned red as she raised her little fists and playfully smacked Mengtu on the shoulder.
"You're teasing me again. Careful or I'll tickle you!"
"I'm not teasing! I'm being serious!"
Lingyin rolled up her sleeves and chased after Mengtu, tickling her with both hands.
Mengtu giggled and ran around the snow-covered courtyard, evading the attack.
"Lingyin! Just don't be like those other maids who mess around by themselves all day and ruin their health!"
"You're still saying that? Keep talking and I will make you pay for it!"
Their playful banter echoed through the Taiyin Palace, adding a splash of warmth to the snowy, gloomy morning.
…
In the Imperial Garden, the stone path was blanketed in snow.
Qin Ming walked behind Zhou Chang, their steps crunching on the snow beneath them.
"Captain Qin, you're young and already have the Princess's favor. Now, the Emperor himself has rewarded you—your future is limitless!"
"Eunuch Zhou flatters me. We're all just trying to survive in the palace."
"Not at all. We eunuchs, no matter how hard we try, still stay eunuchs.
But you? You've climbed straight to a Demon Guard Captain in the Taiyin Palace!
That's basically one step to the heavens!
You know, there are no generals in the Demon Guard, just captains named after the Zodiac—your status is equal to theirs now."
Qin Ming suddenly realized something.
He'd thought "Captain" was a minor position,
But in the Demon Guard… it was a big deal.
"Where are you from, Captain Qin?"
"Han Ye City."
"Never been, but I hear it's dark and cold."
"It is. Year-round, always the same."
Qin quickly flipped the conversation to Zhou Chang—he didn't want to make up too much about Han Ye.
"And where are you from, Eunuch Zhou?"
"Starlight City."
"Never been, but I've heard it's beautiful."
Zhou Chang smiled warmly, his voice soft.
"Starlight City is much brighter than Fluorite City. Hardly any night at all. The sky's always filled with glittering stars—it's beautiful.
But it rains a lot. Floods too. Back in my village, we all lived in treehouses to stay dry."
"Sounds… kinda nice."
Qin Ming sank into thought.
This Grand Yan Empire's four great cities were seriously strange.
Han Ye City was in total darkness.
Fluorite City had some dim light but remained gloomy.
Starlight City had no night, only stars.
Aurora City was even brighter—like constant daylight.
This world was full of mysteries.
They crossed the Imperial Garden.
Qin Ming saw a stele with simplified characters that read "The Winding Path Leads to Serenity."
A eunuch in green robes stood beside it, head bowed.
As soon as Zhou Chang approached, the eunuch stepped forward.
"Eunuch Zhou, I have something to report."
Zhou Chang looked at Qin Ming and smiled.
He pointed to some buildings ahead, cloaked in mist.
"Captain Qin, I won't go further. Just follow that path—you'll reach Tianyi Academy.
Someone will greet you and guide you to pick your technique."
"Alright. Thank you, Eunuch Zhou. I'll take my leave."
Qin Ming walked forward.
Thanks to his Turtle Breath Technique, his perception had greatly improved.
He could vaguely make out voices behind him in the Imperial Garden.
Zhou Chang's tone turned cold.
"What's so urgent this early?"
"Brother Zhou—it's huge. You said to report immediately if we found a transmigrator in the palace."
"You what? A transmigrator?"
"Yes! We can harvest a soul essence from her!"
Zhou's voice lowered to a hush as he glanced around.
"Normal transmigrators don't have soul essence!"
"This one's different. The Five Elements Sect thought they had a hidden agent in the palace.
But we caught wind of it and have been watching her.
She's using that secret route.
If we catch her, we can trade her to the Five Elements Sect for soul essence. Then we can upgrade our talents!"
A hundred meters away, Qin Ming froze.
He crouched behind a rockery, activating his Turtle Breath and Stealth talents to their limits.
He heard everything they said.
Unbelievable.
This world was like a damn spy novel—murders and betrayals everywhere.
Even the Empress's Fire Hall had been infiltrated by transmigrators.
But how did Zhou Chang pass the bloodline detection?
Thankfully, Qin Ming hadn't exposed himself.
Or he'd be stabbed in the back again.
Hearing their footsteps heading away,
Qin Ming moved silently to follow.
Even with Zhou Chang at Body Tempering Level Nine, he couldn't detect Qin Ming at all.
"Where's that transmigrator now?"
"She's cornered in the Cold Palace by Qingchi Lake. She's probably waiting for nightfall."
"Good. Who exactly is she to the Five Elements Sect?"
"Still unclear. She's wearing green robes and has a long braid."
The moment Qin Ming heard that,
A figure flashed in his mind—
Qing Xuan!
Green clothes. Long braid. That had to be her.
But why did she come to the palace?
Was she looking for him?
Zhou and the eunuch turned a corner.
Ten heartbeats later, Qin Ming emerged and tailed them quietly.
He moved quickly, masking his presence.
Zhou Chang and the eunuch took turn after turn, finally arriving at an abandoned Cold Palace.
Qin Ming had never been here before.
Red maple trees grew thick around the palace.
The fallen leaves, layered with snow, blanketed the ground.
No one had cleaned this area in ages.
Zhou met up with the others—Lan Hua and Da Kui.
The four of them circled the palace from all sides.
With a hand signal from Zhou, they launched their assault.
Qin Ming observed their cultivation levels.
Zhou Chang was a formidable Body Tempering Nine.
The eunuch and Da Kui were both Level Seven.
Even the maid Lan Hua was Level Eight.
They darted toward the palace interior.
Qin Ming lay flat on the rooftop,
His white robes blending perfectly with the snow.
Zhou's group approached the main hall.
The eunuch, sword in hand, pushed open the doors.
Suddenly—
A blade of cold light slashed straight at his face!
Startled, he leapt back, dragging a curved path through the snow.
BOOM!
The massive saber swing missed—
From within, a green-clad figure burst out,
Long braid flying wildly over her shoulder—