Chapter Seventy-Nine: The News

"Chu Su Yi, how about we have a contest?" Leaving Xuan Yu Palace, Silver Yao glanced at the arrangements within the imperial palace, then turned to look at Chu Su Yi.

Hearing Silver Yao’s words, Chu Su Yi raised his brows in curiosity. "What kind of contest?"

Receiving the expected reply, Silver Yao broke into a smile. "I imagine you must have memorized the route to Ji Mu Yu’s study by now. Our contest will be to see who arrives there first!"

"No problem!" Chu Su Yi nodded, smiling.

"Three."

"Two."

"Go!"

With that, Silver Yao darted away, heading straight for her destination, leaving Chu Su Yi far behind.

"You’re cheating, Silver Yao! How could you?" Watching Silver Yao’s figure disappear into the distance, Chu Su Yi finally realized she had played a trick on him—something he hadn’t anticipated.

Silver Yao’s laughter echoed from not far ahead. Chu Su Yi shook his head helplessly and hurried after her. A contest was a contest; even if Silver Yao cheated, he would not let her win without a fight.

Soon, Chu Su Yi saw Silver Yao five meters ahead. Drawing on his energy, he moved in a blink.

"Silver Yao, look—I’ve caught up!"

Chu Su Yi’s cheerful voice sounded from Silver Yao’s left. She turned, quickly glanced at him, then slowed her pace, recalling the contents of the palace map.

Seeing Silver Yao stop, Chu Su Yi seized the opportunity to overtake her, soon leading by a wide margin. But when he sensed no pursuit from behind, he turned to look—Silver Yao had vanished. He was certain she hadn’t given up.

He began to wonder if there was a shortcut nearby to reach Ji Mu Yu’s study more quickly. Suddenly, inspiration struck—there was indeed a path, with an entrance near where he had just caught up with Silver Yao. Chu Su Yi realized Silver Yao hadn’t given up; she had found a shortcut and was aiming to reach the destination before him.

Refusing to be outdone, Chu Su Yi accelerated instantly, his figure streaking through the palace so swiftly that not even a shadow remained. Only a sudden gust of wind was felt beside him—a strange wind that caused several palace attendants to break out in cold sweat, for it seemed almost ghostly.

Silver Yao, meanwhile, raced along her shortcut, climbing and leaping across walls, determined to beat Chu Su Yi to Ji Mu Yu’s study.

Almost simultaneously, the two arrived outside the study—no winner, no loser.

They exchanged glances and chuckled. "You’re quite impressive!"

Nodding at each other, they walked to opposite sides of the study.

Inside, the study was empty—no one at all. They quietly climbed in through the window. The room was unusually dim; even in daylight, it was as dark as night. Lighting a lamp was out of the question, for caution was paramount. Fortunately, both had excellent night vision and could make out objects.

Daring not to disturb anything, Silver Yao and Chu Su Yi glanced over the visible areas. Yet nothing useful was found, leading them to suspect there might be a hidden chamber within.

Suddenly, the door swung open, a shaft of light piercing the darkness. Silver Yao and Chu Su Yi quickly concealed themselves, suppressing their presence.

Eyes shut, they adjusted to the brightness after a long period in the dark. Listening to the footsteps, they determined two people had entered.

"Master," a familiar voice called. Silver Yao recognized it as the one she’d let escape earlier. According to reports, he was Lin, an excellent subordinate under Ji Mu Yu. He called him ‘Master,’ confirming Ji Mu Yu’s presence. So the two who entered were Ji Mu Yu and Lin.

"You needn’t explain. I already understand the situation. This time, it’s not your fault. After all, how could you be a match for Silver Yao?" A voice as familiar as it was hateful sounded.

"Please punish me, Master!" Kneeling sounds followed; Lin had knelt.

Ji Mu Yu sensed nothing amiss, ignored Lin, and walked slowly to the desk, tapping it absent-mindedly. Lin kept his head bowed, barely breathing.

After a long pause, Ji Mu Yu stopped tapping, pulled out a chair, and sat down at an angle. "Rise. I’ve told you it’s not your fault. Don’t make me repeat myself."

His tone remained indifferent, his inflection unchanged. Yet Lin shivered, quickly standing. "Yes, Master!"

"This is your last chance. You are to lead the team searching for the Black Lotus. Remember—fail again, and you need not return."

Ji Mu Yu spoke of life and death as casually as commenting on the weather.

"Yes, I obey!" Lin accepted the order and withdrew.

Silver Yao and Chu Su Yi hid behind the bookcase, not daring to move. Only after Ji Mu Yu left could they escape; now was not the time to reveal themselves.

Yet, after a long while, Ji Mu Yu showed no sign of leaving. Silver Yao grew curious and peeked out—just as Ji Mu Yu turned his gaze, as if he sensed someone behind the bookcase.

Chu Su Yi swiftly reached out, pulled Silver Yao into his arms, holding her tightly and signaling her to stay still. Silver Yao wanted to resist, but seeing Chu Su Yi’s warning, she stilled, allowing him to hold her.

Behind the bookcase, nothing was amiss. Ji Mu Yu shook his head, convinced it was just his imagination. Silver Yao and Chu Su Yi breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, they hadn’t been discovered.

Silver Yao signaled Chu Su Yi to loosen his grip. She slowly slipped from his embrace, leaving Chu Su Yi with an inexplicable sense of emptiness—a hint of loss.

Emerging from his arms, Silver Yao’s cheeks were tinged with a rosy flush, warm and shy.

"Master." Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice rang out in the quiet room—utterly devoid of emotion. What kind of person could speak so?

The abruptness startled both Silver Yao and Chu Su Yi. With their abilities, neither had sensed someone else entering the room. If he hadn’t spoken, who knew how long it would have taken to notice him?

Their vigilance soared. The presence of such a person was a threat—how could he have evaded their senses?

"Lie, you’re here," Ji Mu Yu replied, his tone now subtly changed, no longer as rigid as before, as if something else had crept in.

Lie stood unmoving, having just entered according to Ji Mu Yu’s instructions—only after Lin left.

Ji Mu Yu rose. "Lie, what did your investigation yield? Last time, you said there were two Black Lotuses. Was that true?"

Ji Mu Yu’s question made one wonder about Lie’s identity—he seemed rather mysterious. But who was he to Ji Mu Yu?

"It’s true. There are two. The location of one Black Lotus has been confirmed. Now we await Lin and his team to retrieve it—or rather, seize it. The other, forgive my incompetence, I have yet to determine its whereabouts. But its existence is certain." Lie’s chilling voice delivered crucial news.

Silver Yao was inwardly astonished. The rumor of two Black Lotuses was one she had deliberately released. And indeed, only one’s location was known: the snowy mountains in the far north. The other was the one she had sent Li Yue Yin Rou to ask for at Li Hidden Manor—its location intentionally left uncertain. She would decide its whereabouts only after those two returned with the Black Lotus.

Ji Mu Yu nodded. "I’ve sent Yin Su to assist you in searching for the unknown Black Lotus. I hope you can quickly pinpoint its location. Since a second has appeared, let’s focus our efforts there. I suspect Silver Yao and Ji Xuan Yu will certainly interfere with the first."

"Yes. The latest news: the mysterious man accompanying Silver Yao met Gu Xin Yu today. It appears they are preparing to seize the Black Lotus." Lie immediately reported the freshest intelligence.

Silver Yao’s eyes widened. Li Su, like herself, had left secretly. Gu Xin Yu was surely traveling incognito as well. How could this information have been discovered so quickly? Chu Su Yi was equally astonished. This man called Lie was truly formidable—he’d obtained news at lightning speed. What about Silver Yao and himself?

"Oh? Are they declaring war on me?" Ji Mu Yu’s voice, half-amused, half-serious, sounded.

Lie fell silent.

Seeing this, Ji Mu Yu waved him off. "If there’s nothing else, you may go."

The room fell silent again, peace returning. Silver Yao and Chu Su Yi poked their heads out—sure enough, Lie was gone. They had to confirm visually that he had left; usually, sensing a presence was sufficient.

After a while, Ji Mu Yu also left the study. Once he was safely away, Silver Yao and Chu Su Yi exchanged glances, nodded, and emerged from behind the bookcase. They surveyed the study and then left the palace together.

"That man gives me a sense of deep mystery," Chu Su Yi spoke first in the woods after leaving the palace.

Silver Yao agreed, nodding. "Did you know about the two Black Lotuses? That was a rumor I had someone spread, but I didn’t expect him to confirm it so quickly."

"That man shouldn’t be underestimated," Chu Su Yi said solemnly.

"Who else knows Gu Xin Yu’s true purpose for going out besides us?" Silver Yao had realized who had tipped Lie off about Gu Xin Yu and Li Su.

Chu Su Yi thought for a moment. "Nameless—he probably knows."

As he spoke, he too realized: perhaps Lie hadn’t needed extraordinary skill to investigate so quickly; rather—

Rather, there was a traitor.

Seeing Chu Su Yi’s understanding, Silver Yao smiled and said nothing more.