The dim light of night stirred in the wind. That wind blew across the lands, sweeping through the buildings of the county capital, whimpering as it kicked up bits of dust. It stirred the hem of Master Seventh’s garment as it continued on its way to the Governor’s Mansion.

There, it caused Xu Qing’s hair to sway. Xu Qing looked out into the night, his heart calm. It was a type of calm he hadn’t been able to experience in the Moonrite Region. After everything he had experienced in Sea-Sealing County over the years, the place was largely his hometown. He felt like he had come home, and that put him at ease. Of course, as usual, there was a voice that penetrated that calm.

“Little Ah Qing, what was that thing you gave the old man that you claimed was a jade slip from the Heir Apparent?” The Captain seemed very curious. “I noticed just now that when he looked at it, he smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum….”

Xu Qing couldn’t help but clear his throat and instinctively scan the surroundings.

The Captain waved his hand complacently. “You don’t need to check anything. The old man isn’t here. If I was to guess, I would imagine that the jade slip probably contained praise for the old man from the Heir Apparent. Given how well I know the old man, that would definitely explain why he looked so pleased. How shallow! How oh so very shallow!”

The Captain shook his head in a very disapproving manner.

Xu Qing didn’t say anything, and was convinced he shouldn’t weigh in at all on this topic. After all… if their Master was around and heard….

The Captain clearly didn’t feel the same way, as he lowered his voice and prepared to elaborate on his opinions. However, that was when Xu Qing suddenly detected a very familiar aroma drifting inside along with the wind.

Along with that fragrant aroma came a slim, refined figure, who approached the building with graceful steps. She wore a long white gown, and was flawlessly beautiful, with flowing black hair that danced in the wind and eyebrows like crescent moons. Her lovely eyes, straight nose, and tender cheeks made her immaculately attractive. As she neared, moonlight faded. Her skin seemed so fair the wind might make it shatter, and would cause anyone who looked at her to be lost and unable to break free.

There weren’t very many people who could enter the Governor’s Mansion unannounced. Master Seventh was one and Marquis Yao was another. Other than those two, there was only one other. Plumdark. Her arrival seemed to brighten the building. It was as if the moonlight was automatically drawn to her presence.

Xu Qing’s heart started to race.

As for the Captain, he blinked a few times and, thinking about Ling’er and the clay fox, started to do a bit of analysis.

Ling’er is pure and simple. The clay fox is slutty and coquettish. Plumdark is elegant and flirtatious…. Who else is there? Oh right, that psycho Yanyan. And of course Ding Xue, who’s dead set on winning Xu Qing. And how could I forget Qing Qiu?

With such thoughts on his mind, the Captain sighed as he came to the realization that all of those women were beautiful and had their own merits. A prickle of jealousy suddenly appeared in his heart.

Now that I think about it, though, little Ah Qing is actually in a bad position with so many tigresses focused on him. It must be so stressful! Exhausting! The slightest mistake could end up in a hellish slaughter!

I’m different. I’m free! Unrestrained and unfettered. Only I can enjoy the winds of freedom. Only I can soar to the highest heights in heaven and earth. Here in Revered Ancient, neither the lowest mortal nor the highest god could ever put shackles on a noble figure like myself. I will be free forever and ever!

The Captain was really feeling proud of himself, and marveled at his own virtuous way of thinking. He cleared his throat. The more he convinced himself of how virtuous he was, the more he realized that his way of thinking was correct. Heart swelling with pride, he looked down his nose at Xu Qing. His gaze contained compassion, as well as a gleam of wisdom regarding his understanding of life. In fact, he was just about to explain his most recent enlightenment to Xu Qing when Plumdark’s voice reached his ears.

“Erniu. Li Shitao wants to see you.”

The moment the words left Plumdark’s mouth, the Captain’s eyes went wide. He looked like a blooming flower as his heart started racing. “Lady Peachy wants to see me right now? In the middle of the night?”

The Captain licked his lips excitedly. As of that moment, thoughts of enlightenment, virtue, and freedom didn’t seem very important. Looking like a fire had been lit within him, he hurried away, having completely forgotten about his analysis of Xu Qing. As far as he was concerned, meddling in the affairs of others wasn’t nearly as entertaining as his Lady Peachy. As he rushed off, he took out a peach and helped himself to a bite.

I’m on my way, Peachy!

Xu Qing watched the Captain disappear, unsure of what to say. Nor was he in the mood to pay much attention to the Captain. His heart was currently racing as Plumdark slowly walked up to him.

Xu Qing had grown up a lot… but in the presence of Plumdark, he acted just the same as he always had. He stepped back. Then back again. Eventually he reached the edge of the room and couldn’t go back any further. Steeling himself, he clasped hands.

“Greetings, Arch-Immortal.”

Laughing softly, Plumdark approached, until she was standing right in front of him…. Her sweet fragrance filled the building, entering Xu Qing’s mind and heart. The wind couldn’t dispel it.

As she looked into his eyes, it seemed like time froze. His mind went blank, and he felt incapable of moving. He had never felt this way around Ling’er, and wasn’t even sure why he always reacted this way around Plumdark.

“Turn around,” she said softly.

Xu Qing turned so his back was to Plumdark.

Plumdark smiled gently. Reaching out with her delicate hands, she collected Xu Qing’s hair together and bound it with a headband. Once it was in a ponytail, she took a moment to make a few adjustments.

It felt strange to Xu Qing. However, if any other person had been there to look at him, they would have been stunned. This hairstyle was perfectly suited to Xu Qing, as it accentuated his handsome features and also made him seem more carefree and uninhibited.

“That looks good.” She stepped to his side and looked with him off into the night.

The falling moonlight cast their shadows long behind him. It was a beautiful night. The building was quiet.

Then Plumdark quietly asked Xu Qing about how things went in the Moonrite Region. Gradually calming down, he started telling the story. She listened intently, occasionally turning to look at him. She didn’t seem even slightly distracted. Time passed. It was very reminiscent of the time the two of them went out on their own traveling.1

For some reason, Xu Qing gradually started to feel even more comfortable. As the night grew deep, he got to the end of the story about the events in Moonrite Region.

Next, Plumdark told him about what had happened in Sea-Sealing County while he was gone. “I’ve been focused mostly on the Green Dark Sect. With your Master and Marquis Yao here to run Sea-Sealing County, things were getting back to normal. If only King Heaventide hadn’t shown up, your return would have been quite an amazing event. All of the initial work in setting up the Green Dark Sect is done. It’s already established a bit of a reputation in Sea-Sealing County.

“Incidentally, your Master and Marquis Yao opened up Forbidden by the Immortal again. Since there’s no god there, the mutagen levels have dropped, and a lot of ancient records and other items have appeared. Sea-Sealing County’s reserve powers are going to grow. As for me… I went into Forbidden by the Immortal a few times.”

Plumdark looked at Xu Qing, and the wind caused a few strands of her hair to brush against his face. His heart raced. “There are some very special ruins in there…. I could sense them calling to me.”

Confusion appeared in Plumdark’s eyes. She had been ruminating on this issue for a while, and hadn’t spoken about it to anyone. But today, in front of Xu Qing, she was talking about it openly.

Her voice very low, she said, “Xu Qing, do you still remember how I talked about a dream I keep having? Those ruins give me the same feeling that I experience in that dream. It’s like I was actually in that place a very, very long time ago. I can’t be sure though…. Sadly, they’re nothing but ruins now.”

Looking at how confused Plumdark appeared to be, Xu Qing thought back to the dream she had mentioned. Then he thought about Forbidden by the Immortal. That said, he hadn’t been to very many places in Forbidden by the Immortal, and wasn’t sure which one Plumdark was referring to. 2

After all, Forbidden by the Immortal was full of ruins. That said, he did remember that phoenix-like temple where he had acquired the timescape bottle. Although the memories didn’t contain anything specifically related to Plumdark, he did remember that when he put that timescape bottle into his twelfth heavenly palace, he had briefly heard a sigh that sounded somewhat like her.3

His heart skipped a beat, and he was about to ask something when Plumdark started speaking again.

“While I was in those ruins, I found some evidence that indicated you had been there.”

Xu Qing’s pupils constricted. “I didn’t go to many places in Forbidden by the Immortal,” he said. “But there was one place that, the closer I got to it, the clearer it got. Eventually, it turned into a palace complex with nine palaces that resembled a phoenix. Upon walking away from it, it reverts to a bunch of ruins.

“I lost three days of memories while I was there, but I ended up getting a timescape bottle. Afterward, the place really did turn into ruins. If you found evidence that I’d been there, then I’d say it’s highly likely the ruins you just mentioned are the same place I went.”

Xu Qing waved his hand, causing a god trove to appear behind him. The timescape bottle within it slowly floated out toward Plumdark. A sensation of time spread out that would immediately attract the attention of anyone present. Light shimmered from it, mixing with the moonlight to make everything even more beautiful.

As it shone on Plumdark’s face, her eyes glistened and her eyelashes quivered. Her feelings finally shone through her fair skin, causing it to turn slightly pink. Her lips glistened like dew on roses.

A long moment passed, after which she exhaled softly. Looking away from the timescape bottle and into Xu Qing’s eyes, she said, “Shall we take a trip there together?”

1. Plumdark and Xu Qing went traveling starting in chapter 297. ☜

2. Xu Qing’s visit to the ruins began in chapter 522.1. Plumdark explained her dream in chapter 380. ☜

3. He heard the sigh in chapter 523.2. ☜