"I think we've lost them," she announced, slowing her pace as they reached a quieter neighbourhood. Wooden balconies hung overhead, strung with drying laundry that fluttered in the breeze like festival banners. The air carried the mingled scents of cooking spices, blooming jasmine, and the ever-present undercurrent of city life.
Hei Wuya, whose dramatic ensemble was attracting curious stares from the few locals they passed, looked extremely uncomfortable. His hand never strayed far from his sword hilt, and his eyes darted suspiciously at every shadow.
"They'll have the city gates watched by now," he muttered. "And you just assaulted members of a major clan with... what was that powder, again?"
"A specialized histamine agent," Su Lan Yi replied airily, pausing before a modest teahouse nestled between two residential compounds. Its weathered wooden sign creaked gently in the breeze, depicting a simple steaming cup above faded characters: "Tranquil Cloud Teahouse."
"We can wait here until the commotion dies down," she suggested, adjusting her veil. "The owner owes Su Ruolan a favor."
Hei Wuya raised an eyebrow, his scar twitching slightly. "Let me guess. Is he another 'specialty beverage' enthusiast?"
"His wife, actually." Su Lan Yi's tone softened unexpectedly. "Terrible case of chronic migraines. Su Ruolan provided a remedy when the Wei Clan's head himself claimed her condition was untreatable."
[ACCESSING HOST MEMORIES: CONFIRMED. TEAHOUSE OWNER'S WIFE SUFFERED FROM MIGRAINES FOR 17 YEARS. DIVINE HEALING SECT CHARGED HER 20 GOLD FOR 'TREATMENT' THAT DID NOTHING. SU RUOLAN FELT SYMPATHY FOR THE FAMILY AND HELPED OUT FOR FREE.]
Something sharp twisted in Su Lan Yi's chest at the memory—not her memory, but Su Ruolan's. The woman hadn't just been a skilled healer; she'd been genuinely kind. Su Lan Yi pushed the uncomfortable feeling aside.
The teahouse was mostly empty at this mid-afternoon hour, that awkward time between lunch and dinner when most people had better things to do than lingering over tea. Perfect for fugitives with dramatic schemes. The owner, a middle-aged man with smile lines etched deep around his eyes, recognized Su Lan Yi immediately despite her veil and ushered them to a private room in the back without question.
"I'll bring your usual, Miss Su," he said with a bow that conveyed more respect than formality required. "And for your... companion?"
Hei Wuya had drawn himself up to his full intimidating height, apparently attempting to look appropriately menacing for a "Terror of Blood Moon." The effect was somewhat undermined by the way he had to duck to avoid hitting his head on the low doorframe.
"The same will be fine," Su Lan Yi replied smoothly. "And perhaps some of your wife's honey-ginger chicken, if it's available?"
The owner nodded and withdrew, leaving them alone in the small room with its simple furnishings—a square table, cushions for seating, and a landscape painting of mist-shrouded mountains on the far wall. A latticed window overlooked a tiny garden, providing both natural light and a potential escape route if needed.
"Huh. That's strange," Su Lan Yi murmured, removing her veil once they were alone.
"What is?" Hei Wuya asked, awkwardly folding his long limbs as he sat across from her.
"The veil. It clearly doesn't work if the viewer was friendly. I could talk to him with ease."
[I TOLD YOU BEFORE. MYSTIQUE VEIL SPECIFICATIONS: PREVENTS RECOGNITION BY THOSE WITH HOSTILE INTENT. APPARENTLY, HE'S A FRIEND, JUST LIKE HEI WUYA. OR THE VEIL IS DEFECTIVE. QUALITY CONTROL IN THE VILLAIN SHOP IS SOMETIMES QUESTIONABLE. LACK OF FUNDING, YOU KNOW?]
"Of course the System would sell defective merchandise," Su Lan Yi muttered. "Next time, I'll demand a trial period."
"Are you... talking to your System again?" Hei Wuya asked, his expression caught between fascination and concern.
Su Lan Yi waved dismissively. "Just remarking on shoddy craftsmanship. Not important."
Before Hei Wuya could press further, the owner returned with a tray bearing a steaming teapot, cups, and a platter of golden-brown chicken pieces glistening with sauce. The rich aroma of ginger and honey filled the small room, making Su Lan Yi's borrowed stomach growl embarrassingly.
"You should wrap your sleeves too, Mister Terror," she suggested as the owner withdrew. "The food here is too good to risk staining your costume. Want to try a bite of my chicken?"
Without waiting for a response, she attacked the platter with her chopsticks, selecting a particularly succulent piece. After a millennium of abstaining from actual food in favour of spiritual essence, the flavour explosion of real, physical sustenance remained a novel delight. She closed her eyes briefly in appreciation. Condemning all chicken kind to death for the crimes of their ancestor was, admittedly, a good idea.
"You eat like someone who's been starving for centuries, that’s for certain," Hei Wuya remarked snarkily.
"Technically accurate," Su Lan Yi replied around a mouthful. "You're definitely more perceptive than your outfit suggests."
Hei Wuya ignored the jab, reaching for the teapot instead. He poured with surprising grace, his movements betraying years of formal etiquette training. "You still haven't answered my question from earlier."
"I've dodged so many questions lately, you'll need to be more specific."
"What is your ultimate goal here? If you truly ARE who you claim to be—a shattered immortal soul seeking to restore itself—why waste time with petty vengeance against the Cerulean Abode Clan?"
Su Lan Yi paused, chopsticks hovering midair as she considered her response. She'd already revealed too much to this young demonic cultivator. The System had warned her repeatedly about sharing her true circumstances. And yet... having an ally with local knowledge would significantly improve her chances of success.
She set down her chopsticks and picked up her teacup, swirling the amber liquid thoughtfully. "Who said anything about vengeance? I'm simply exploring economic opportunities while gathering resources for my journey."
"You SPECIFICALLY targeted the Clan that helped condemn Su Ruolan to death with your medicine stall," he countered. "There are others. Richer, more dubious, and easier to beat in terms of medicine quality. Yet you chose them."
"A fortunate coincidence." Su Lan Yi took a deliberate sip of tea. "Besides, Su Ruolan deserves her cut. She was one of their top healers for half her life, and all she got in return was a hateful lover and death."
[COINCIDENCE BELIEVABILITY: 0.003%. I'M NOT BUYING THIS EXPLANATION.]
Hei Wuya's expression made it clear he wasn't buying it either. He leaned forward, crimson eyes narrowed. "Even if I were to accept your... unusual circumstances, it doesn't explain why you're fixating on local politics instead of your supposed soul restoration."
Su Lan Yi sighed dramatically, setting down her teacup with a decisive click. "Very well. Since you're being so persistent, I'll share the truth with you."
She reached for another piece of chicken, chewing thoughtfully before continuing. "My System has informed me that to gather my soul fragments, I must 'fix' this world's narrative. The original story—Su Ruolan's execution and the triumph of Wei Chenglin and Bai Lianhua—was apparently deemed unsatisfactory by whatever cosmic forces govern these things."
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
[ERROR: YOU CANNOT TELL HIM ALL THIS! IT'S AGAINST THE RULES!]
"Fix the narrative?" Hei Wuya repeated skeptically, eyebrows rising. "What does that even mean? And why are you eating that chicken like it personally offended you?"
[NO! STOP TALKING! ABORT MISSION!]
"It means creating a more... satisfying story," Su Lan Yi explained, ignoring the System's increasingly panicked warnings. "One where justice is served, the real villains receive their comeuppance, and corruption is exposed rather than rewarded. And I'm eating like this because after a millennium of consuming nothing but spiritual essences, actual food is... revolutionary."
[TECHNICALLY ACCURATE, THOUGH I WOULD HAVE PHRASED IT MORE AS "REVERSING THE KARMIC IMBALANCE CREATED BY THE UNJUST PERSECUTION OF AN INNOCENT PERSON" BUT "FIXING THE NARRATIVE" WORKS TOO. WAIT... STOP TELLING HIM ALL THIS! STOP, STOP, STOP...]
Hei Wuya's accessories jangled as he shrugged. "You believe the Wei Clan is corrupt?"
"I KNOW they are." Su Lan Yi's voice hardened, her fingers tightening around her chopsticks until her knuckles whitened. "Su Ruolan's memories are quite clear on this point. They falsified evidence during her trial, claiming her medicines contained forbidden ingredients when they knew perfectly well they didn't."
She stabbed at another piece of chicken with unnecessary force. "The elders of the Divine Healing Sect did this because she had discovered their own use of restricted substances in their 'premium' remedies."
Hei Wuya's eyes widened slightly. "That would explain why they were so quick to move against you today. If you're selling legitimate medicines at lower prices..."
"Then customers might start asking uncomfortable questions about why the Medicine Shop's supposedly superior products cost so much more," Su Lan Yi finished, her mouth half-filled with chicken. "Yep."
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR TEMPORARY ALLY'S COMPREHENSION HAS INCREASED BY 20%! AT THIS RATE, HE MIGHT FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR PLAN BY THE NEXT DYNASTY!]
"And what do Wei Chenglin and Bai Lianhua have to do with this?"
Su Lan Yi's expression didn't give away much, but her voice carried a smile. "That's the interesting part. According to Su Ruolan's memories, they're not just bystanders. They're actively involved in the Divine Healing Sect's operations. The sect provides spiritual protection and political cover, while the Wei clan supplies them with... specialised products."
"What kind of specialised products?" Hei Wuya's hand had stilled, teacup hovering halfway to his lips.
"The kind that artificially accelerate cultivation progress at the cost of long-term spiritual stability," Su Lan Yi replied softly. "The kind that would be absolutely forbidden if the Imperial Cultivation Regulators knew about them."
A series of emotions flashed across Hei Wuya's face too quickly to track—surprise, concern, then something darker. "That's a serious accusation."
"It's not an accusation; it's a fact." Su Lan Yi's hand curled into a fist. "One that got Su Ruolan killed when she discovered it and tried to report it."
[I'M DETECTING A GENUINE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE FROM YOU, HOST. CAREFUL—YOU'RE STARTING TO CARE ABOUT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS BODY. THAT'S DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.]
A thoughtful silence fell between them, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the few patrons the teahouse had even now, and the occasional chirp of a sparrow in the garden outside. Su Lan Yi used the break in conversation to finish off the chicken, savoring each bite with the enthusiasm of someone who had a vendetta to satisfy.
"Let's say I believe you—about all of it," Hei Wuya finally said. "The immortal soul, the System, the corruption. What exactly is your plan? Surely it's not just selling discounted medicine outside their door."
"That's merely phase one," Su Lan Yi replied, dabbing her lips with a napkin. "Establish a presence, build a customer base, and create a financial foundation for what comes next."
"Which is?"
Su Lan Yi refilled their teacups, taking her time before answering. "Tell me, what do you know about the Imperial Alchemical Examinations?"
"They're held once every three years in the capital," he replied promptly. "The top-ranked alchemists receive imperial patronage and positions of influence."
"And the Wei Clan's Entrant has placed first for the past seven examinations," Su Lan Yi added. "A remarkable achievement, considering the level of talent throughout the empire."
"You're suggesting they cheated," Hei Wuya said flatly.
"I'm suggesting nothing," Su Lan Yi replied, innocently raising her teacup. "I'm merely noting that statistically, such consistent success is... improbable."
[VICTORY PROBABILITY ANALYSIS: CHANCE OF WINNING TOP RANK SEVEN CONSECUTIVE TIMES WITHOUT MANIPULATION = 0.00034%. ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION: THEY'RE CHEATING CHEATERS WHO CHEAT.]
"And you plan to... what? Enter the examinations yourself?"
Su Lan Yi's laugh at that was hearty. "Goodness, no. That would be far too straightforward." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "I plan to expose how they've been winning."
"Which is...?"
"They've been bribing the judges, obviously." She waved a hand dismissively. "But more importantly, they've been sabotaging their competitors."
Hei Wuya's eyebrows rose. "That's a bold claim. The organisation of the exam is impartial and has been heavily monitored for the longest time."
"Su Ruolan discovered evidence of it shortly before her... execution," Su Lan Yi explained. "The Wei Clan has been sending agents to tamper with rival alchemists' ingredients before the final rounds. Nothing too obvious—just enough to ensure their concoctions fail at critical moments."
"And you have proof of this?"
"Not yet," Su Lan Yi admitted. "But the next Imperial Alchemical Examination is in two months. Which gives us just enough time to implement phases two and three."
"US?" Hei Wuya repeated, his crimson eyes narrowing. "I don't recall agreeing to participate in your schemes."
"And yet, here you sit, helping a supposedly deceased villainess evade capture after assaulting members of a prominent clan," Su Lan Yi pointed out. "Curious behavior for someone not involved."
[LOGICAL TRAP DEPLOYED! TARGET UNABLE TO DENY INVOLVEMENT WITHOUT ADMITTING TO POOR DECISION-MAKING SKILLS!]
Hei Wuya opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again, his brow furrowing in what appeared to be genuine confusion at his own actions. The scar along his jaw pulsed visibly as he clenched his teeth.
"I'm simply... gathering information," he finally said.
"Of course you are," Su Lan Yi agreed, her tone making it clear she didn't believe him for a second. "And what has your information-gathering revealed so far?"
"That you're either going to change the world we live in, or die trying," he replied bluntly. "I haven't decided which is more disturbing."
"Such flattery," Su Lan Yi said dryly. "You're making me blush."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Hei Wuya's face before he could suppress it. "You still haven't explained what phases two and three entail."
"Patience, young one. Strategic details shouldn't be shared until absolutely necessary." She took another sip of tea. "But I will tell you this much: phase two involves establishing my reputation as a legitimate alchemist, and phase three concerns a certain... special ingredient the Divine Healing Sect believes only they can access."
Hei Wuya leaned forward slightly, his curiosity plainly visible. "What ingredient?"
Su Lan Yi tapped the side of her teacup thoughtfully. "Tell me, what do you know about Ghost Frost Orchids?"
[HOST, ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO TELL HIM...?]
The effect was immediate. Hei Wuya's eyes widened, and he instinctively glanced around the empty room before lowering his voice. "Ghost Frost Orchids are extremely rare and heavily regulated. They only grow in areas with concentrated yin energy, typically deadly to cultivators below the Gold Core realm."
"Mmm, not quite correct," Su Lan Yi said, the smile evident in her voice. "That's what the Cerulean Abode Clan wants everyone to believe. In reality, Ghost Frost Orchids can be cultivated under the right conditions. Conditions that, coincidentally, exist in certain caverns within Blood Moon territory."
Hei Wuya went very still, his teacup frozen halfway to his lips. "How do you know about those caverns?"
"Su Ruolan knew," she replied simply. "The question is, why are you pretending not to know about your clan's ghost orchid cultivation facilities?"
[DETECTING ELEVATED STRESS LEVELS IN TARGET. YOU'VE TOUCHED A NERVE, POSSIBLY SEVERAL NERVES, POSSIBLY AN ENTIRE NERVOUS SYSTEM.]
The teacup in Hei Wuya's hand cracked slightly as his grip tightened. For several seconds, he said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he set down the damaged cup.
"You are a dangerous woman," he said quietly.
"I prefer 'well-informed,'" Su Lan Yi countered. "Now, about those orchids—"
A commotion from the front of the teahouse interrupted her. The distinctive clank of armoured boots and official voices raised in command echoed through the thin walls. Su Lan Yi was on her feet in an instant, all traces of relaxation vanishing.
"Time to go," she whispered, moving toward the window.
Mystique Veil (神秘面纱 – Shénmì Miànshā)
A concealment item that prevents recognition by hostile individuals. Either defective or working as intended, since the teahouse owner recognized Su Lan Yi immediately despite it.
Imperial Cultivation Regulators (皇家修真监管者 – Huángjiā Xiūzhēn Jiānguǎn Zhě)
Officials who enforce rules regarding acceptable cultivation practices. Would be extremely interested in the Divine Healing Sect's specialized products.
Imperial Alchemical Examinations (皇家丹药考试 – Huángjiā Dānyào Kǎoshì)
A prestigious competition held every three years in the capital. The Wei Clan's suspiciously consistent first-place victories defy statistical probability.
Ghost Frost Orchids (鬼霜兰 – Guǐ Shuāng Lán)
Rare flowers supposedly only growing in yin-concentrated areas. Actually can be cultivated under controlled conditions in certain caverns within Blood Moon territory.
Gold Core Realm (金丹境界 – Jīn Dān Jìngjiè)
Advanced cultivation stage required to safely handle dangerous materials. Supposedly needed to harvest Ghost Frost Orchids, though this is another convenient lie from the Wei Clan.
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