Shen Zhuo waited patiently in the courtyard until the sky was completely dark. The candle flames in the various rooms flickered to life and then died out, allowing the night to fully swallow the Jian estate. After confirming that no one was around and that Pei Chuan was fast asleep, Shen Zhuo slipped silently out of the window.
He held his breath and focused his mind, avoiding the patrolling guards as he moved quickly through the shadows of the walls. Under the cover of moonlight, the small building stood within reach. Beneath the cold lunar glow, its silhouette took on a sinister air.
Suddenly, he darted behind a tree and held his breath. A moment later, the light of a lantern swung over the spot where he had just stood.
“Did you hear something?” he heard one guard ask.
“Nothing. I did not hear a thing,” the other replied. “Probably just a stray cat.”
The lantern light swept around several times with stubborn persistence, but it was in vain. The guard continued, “That is strange. I could have sworn I saw someone coming this way.”
“Even if someone sneaked in, there is nothing to fear,” the other man sneered. “There is someone inside the building to deal with them.”
The two laughed and walked away, their voices fading into the distance.
Once they were gone, Shen Zhuo peeked out from behind the tree and immediately scaled the courtyard wall. The air was thick with the scent of decaying plants. The entire garden was a desolate wasteland, with only the small building standing at the end.
The main entrance was secured by a rusted copper lock. Shen Zhuo moved to a side window and pushed against it, finding it locked from the inside. He extended a sliver of spiritual energy into the crack of the window, using it to slide the bolt open.
Such control far exceeded the typical abilities of the first level of Qi Refining, but for Shen Zhuo, who had once reached the Tribulation Stage, manipulating spiritual energy was as natural as moving his own limbs. He pushed again, and the window swung open.
He climbed inside. Layers of thin dust rose from the floorboards, which had not been stepped upon for a long time. Using the moonlight, Shen Zhuo tried to make out the blurry shapes within the room.
However, the view was too indistinct. He closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, a thin layer of spiritual energy covered his vision.
All things in heaven and earth are composed of Qi. When Qi gains intelligence or is refined through cultivation, it becomes what people call spiritual energy. By covering his eyes with spiritual power to observe the world through Qi, the physical constraints of objects faded away, revealing their true essence. In this pitch black darkness, observing Qi was clearer than using physical sight.
The hall on the first floor was so empty it felt desolate. A few mahogany tables and chairs were scattered haphazardly, and a screen in the corner had peeling lacquer, looking as though it might collapse at a single touch. Shen Zhuo walked straight toward the stairs behind the screen and ascended to the second floor.
The second floor was also empty, though it appeared even more dilapidated. The wind caught a door that stood ajar along the corridor, causing the hinges to let out a strained groan. Shen Zhuo stood still, staring at the door for a long time before finally setting his suspicions aside. Perhaps it was just an illusion.
He turned toward the third floor, but froze the moment he stepped onto the stairs. A sudden iron gate blocked the middle of the staircase. It looked entirely out of place against the ancient wooden structure, having clearly been installed much later. The gate was secured with a copper lock identical to the one on the front door.
“Interesting,” Shen Zhuo whispered.
He grew increasingly curious about who was on the third floor. It was significant enough for the Jian family to go through the trouble of installing two locks and stationing guards throughout the night.
He stared at the jarring iron gate and calculated his options. This location was secluded, and the night was still. As long as his movements were light and fast, picking the lock was feasible.
The night wind whistled through the broken window frames, sounding like a low wail that served as a warning to anyone daring to trespass. Clouds obscured the moon, and the shadows in the stairwell grew thick, as if something might reach out from the darkness at any moment.
While Shen Zhuo was lost in thought, a cold hand reached out and silently settled on his shoulder. Shen Zhuo went rigid. A chill shot up his spine. Acting on pure instinct, he whipped around, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. The blade slid out half an inch, flashing with cold light.
He found himself face to face with an incredibly familiar person.
“Why are you here?” they asked.
“Why are you here?” Shen Zhuo countered.
The identical questions echoed simultaneously in the silent stairwell. The person before him was dressed in black, holding a shimmering white jade fan. The fan, which he had not yet retracted, was the very thing that had just touched Shen Zhuo’s shoulder.
Seeing that it was Xie Yuan, Shen Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief. He slid his sword back into its scabbard and said helplessly, “Daoist Xie, why are you here playing ghost instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?”
Xie Yuan retracted his hand. With a crisp snap, he elegantly unfurled the white jade fan. “Is Daoist Shen not here as well? Could it be that we had the same idea?”
Their eyes met, and the scrutiny in their gazes said everything. Shen Zhuo suddenly remembered his system task, which required him to find the jade pendant said to be vital to Xie Yuan.
He spoke with feigned casualness. “Is Daoist Xie also very interested in what lies behind this door?”
“I heard this place was haunted and came to investigate,” Xie Yuan replied, half hiding his face behind the fan, leaving only his smiling eyes visible.
“So, you mean to say Daoist Xie did not come for the matter of the jade pendant.”
Xie Yuan’s fan paused slightly. He countered, “Of all the people gathered at the Jian estate, who is not here for the pendant?”
“Is that so?” Shen Zhuo took a step forward instead of retreating, staring directly at Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan’s smile did not fade. “Is it not?”
“I suppose so.” Shen Zhuo let out a light laugh and stepped back to give him space. “Does Daoist Xie wish to go up?”
Xie Yuan partially closed his fan and pointed the tip toward the copper lock. “This lock will not be easy to open. If we make too much noise and alert others, it will be difficult for either of us to escape. However, it may still be worth a try.”
Hearing this, Shen Zhuo said, “In that case, I will leave it to you, Daoist Xie.”
Xie Yuan did not move. He gently swayed his fan and offered a slow warning. “Daoist Shen, sometimes ignorance is far more,” he began.
Before he could say the word “safe,” the fan in his hand stopped abruptly. The composure on his face froze instantly. Shen Zhuo heard the strange noise at the same time and went rigid.
It was not a scratching sound, nor a thud. It was a faint, thread-like whimper, like a soft sob seeping through the cracks of the door. It sounded exceptionally clear in the dead silence of the hallway.
Their eyes met again. Shen Zhuo swallowed hard, his throat tightening.
“In your opinion, Daoist Xie,” Shen Zhuo whispered, watching Xie Yuan’s expression closely, “is the Jian family locking up a person or a ghost?”
Xie Yuan’s eyes flickered as he mimicked Shen Zhuo’s earlier tone. “What does Daoist Shen think?”
Shen Zhuo brushed his fingertips against the copper lock. “If you ask me, this lock does not look like it was designed to hold a ghost.”
He suddenly looked up, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. Without another word, Shen Zhuo grabbed the iron gate. His muscles tensed as he shook the gate violently, causing it to clang loudly. The harsh metallic clashing drowned out the sobbing, sounding terrifyingly loud.
“Daoist Shen, what are you doing?” Xie Yuan hissed.
Shen Zhuo ignored him. Instead, he raised his voice and shouted toward the third floor, “I am Shen Zhuo of the Xuanyun Sect! I wonder which great expert resides upstairs? Would you care to show yourself?”
His voice echoed through the empty stairwell. A dull thud came from the third floor, as if something had fallen to the ground. Then came a deathly silence. Even the faint sobbing stopped abruptly, and the stairwell returned to stillness.
Shen Zhuo’s hand remained on the iron gate, but now only the sound of their heavy breathing remained. From behind him came Xie Yuan’s low, soft laugh. “Daoist Shen, your way of doing things is truly unexpected.”
“If I do not cause a stir, how will I know if what is hidden inside is a person or a ghost?” Shen Zhuo released the gate and stepped aside. “Does Daoist Xie still want to go upstairs?”
Xie Yuan swung his fan playfully. “What does Daoist Shen suggest?”
“There is no need,” Shen Zhuo said, looking up at the dark stairs behind the gate. “The jade pendant is not here.”
“Oh? Why do you say that?”
“It is too clean. There is not a single ripple of spiritual energy.”
Xie Yuan blinked in surprise. He then used his white jade fan to send out a wave of spiritual energy, far more potent than Shen Zhuo’s, which swept through the entire building. After his investigation, he found it to be exactly as Shen Zhuo had said. Aside from the two of them, there were no other spiritual signatures.
“If that pendant is truly the treasure Master Jian claims it to be, it should not be this clean,” Shen Zhuo continued. “However, earlier in the corridor,” he started to say.
Xie Yuan cleared his throat, interrupting him. “I heard footsteps earlier and hid for a moment.”
His gaze sharpened as he scrutinized Shen Zhuo from head to toe. After a long silence, he spoke slowly. “Everyone says the last disciple taken by the Xuanyun Sect leader is a waste. Yet, your control over spiritual energy is more refined than that of many other cultivators.”
“Daoist Xie flatters me,” Shen Zhuo said, looking down. “These are just small tricks for survival.”
“I doubt that is the case.” Xie Yuan tapped the jade fan against his palm, his eyes glittering with curiosity.
Shen Zhuo avoided his meaningful gaze and asked, “Since Daoist Xie does not plan to go upstairs either, shall we leave?”
With Xie Yuan’s agreement, the two climbed out of the window and left the courtyard together. They returned to their respective quarters. Before parting, Shen Zhuo suddenly asked, “Have you ever noticed the spiritual energy on Master Jian and the butler?”
“Spiritual energy?” Xie Yuan was stunned. “Are they not ordinary mortals? How could they have spiritual energy?”
Shen Zhuo shook his head. “I cannot explain exactly what it is. You might want to take a look next time, Daoist Xie.”
A flash of surprise crossed Xie Yuan’s eyes. “Why are you telling me this?”
Shen Zhuo looked at Xie Yuan’s handsome features, which remained striking even in the moonlight. “You want that jade pendant.”
“Everyone wants to find the pendant. After all, Master Jian has offered a reward of ten thousand gold.”
“No,” Shen Zhuo denied, looking at him steadily. “You want it, and I am going to help you.”
“Why?” Xie Yuan took a step forward, the distance between them closing suddenly.
Shen Zhuo turned away, his gaze falling on the distant courtyard wall. “Daoist Xie does not need to know that.”
The night wind blew, ruffling stray hairs. Xie Yuan stared at the side of the youth’s face, which was outlined by the moon. He suddenly asked, “Tomorrow, do you want to look for the pendant together?”
Shen Zhuo turned back to look at those familiar eyes. “Is Daoist Xie inviting me?”
“If you wish to interpret it that way, then yes.”
Shen Zhuo thought for a moment. He suddenly looked up and stared directly into Xie Yuan’s eyes from a very close distance, asking unexpectedly, “Then can I kiss you once? No, wait. Fifteen times.”