From the moment she first laid eyes on Li Xuan, she had felt an instinctive aversion. Not only was he unkempt and slovenly, but he also frequently stared at her with a strange intensity. At first, she hadn't paid it much mind, assuming it was mere curiosity.
But as it happened more often, she increasingly felt that Li Xuan's gaze was sticky and invasive. No matter where she went, she couldn't escape his watchful eyes. Whenever his gaze followed her, she felt an unsettling sensation, as if she were being devoured alive, leaving her profoundly uncomfortable.
Earlier, when she went out with Li Ye, she had been tempted several times to voice her concerns. Yet, each time, the words died on her lips.
Unlike her cold detachment, Li Ye hadn't seen Li Xuan in five years. Their unexpected reunion filled him with joy and happiness. If she were to voice her suspicions now, it would not only dampen his spirits but could also spark a family conflict.
After weighing the pros and cons, Chu Qingyi decided to keep silent, repeatedly reassuring herself that it was all in her head.
Li Ye, enjoying the warmth of family reunion, had no idea that his son and wife standing before him were each lost in their own thoughts, quietly calculating their own schemes.
After the meal, Chu Qingyi excused herself early, citing physical discomfort, and retired to the east wing to rest. Only Li Xuan and his father remained seated under the eaves, sipping wine beneath the moonlight, savoring this rare moment of tranquility.
"Xuan'er, your mother is injured and will need some time to recuperate before she can regain her strength. I also need to focus on stabilizing my immortal energy, so I must embark on a training journey during this period. I'll have to trouble you to take care of your mother's daily needs." With that, Li Ye downed the cup of Nü'er Hong wine in his hand, the flush on his cheeks growing even more pronounced.
"Father, we are family—there's no need to speak of trouble. It is my duty to do so." Li Xuan was overjoyed, feeling as though happiness had arrived unexpectedly. Now, didn't he have a legitimate reason to get closer to Fairy Qingyi?
Li Ye, who had been torn between going on his training journey and caring for Chu Qingyi, suddenly felt as though the clouds had parted to reveal the clear sky. He looked at Li Xuan with gratitude in his eyes, completely oblivious to the latter's unusually excited expression.
A few days later, in the Judgment Hall of Jinling City.
"Hahaha! It's rare indeed for Young Master Li to remember our Jinling City after achieving such success. Truly rare!" Xu Zhengfeng, the head of the Judgment Hall, laughed heartily, his admiration for the distinguished Li Ye, seated in the main hall, plain to see.
"You flatter me, Master Xu. It is an honor for me to seek a position in the Judgment Hall and contribute my share to the safety of Jinling City," Li Ye replied with a modest smile.
"Young Master Li, there's no need for modesty. Throughout history, many cultivators have emerged from Jinling City, but how many have given up the allure of the outside world to return to this small city? And how many have shown such concern for the people's welfare as you have?" Xu Zhengfeng did not hold back his praise.
"Master Xu, you honor me too much. The purpose of establishing the Judgment Hall was to capture beasts that bring calamity to the land and restore peace to the people. If we speak of caring for the people's welfare, as the founder of the Judgment Hall, you undoubtedly rank first—no one would dare claim otherwise." Li Ye clasped his hands in a respectful salute to Xu Zhengfeng.
"Young Master Li, not only are you talented and dignified, but your temperament is also remarkably mature and steady. Excellent, truly excellent!" Xu Zhengfeng burst into another round of hearty laughter.
After the exchange of pleasantries, Li Ye declined Xu Zhengfeng's invitation to a banquet, rising to his feet and cupping his hands in farewell.
As for the Judgment Hall, it was neither subordinate to the local magistrate nor under the jurisdiction of the city lord's mansion. It had stood in Jinling City for decades.
In principle, the major powers in Jinling City all had their own backers, and underhanded dealings and manipulations occurred daily. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a world ruled by power and influence.
Yet the Judgment Hall remained an unyielding neutral force, with no backing and no allies. Its ability to stand firm in this city of turbulent undercurrents for so long was due to two reasons: first, the head, Xu Zhengfeng, possessed unfathomable strength, making others hesitant to provoke him without knowing his true capabilities; second, since its founding, the Judgment Hall had adhered to a strict code: Punish those who commit heinous crimes; punish those who bring chaos to the land.
The common folk did not fully grasp the meaning of these words, assuming the Judgment Hall was merely an organization similar to the constabulary.
However, those in the know understood the significance of these twelve words.
In a world primarily inhabited by cultivators, demonic beasts, and ordinary civilians, the common folk made up the largest population but were also the weakest. It was nearly impossible for them to commit heinous crimes or wreak havoc in a region. Thus, it was clear that the Prudence and Punishment Department targeted demonic beasts that harmed the people, as well as the occasional cultivator who had strayed from the righteous path.
In its subsequent operations, the department truly lived up to the twelve-word description. It secretly investigated, tracked, and captured demonic beasts with criminal records, confining them to the twelve underground prison levels. There, special talisman arrays suppressed them, preventing them from causing further harm.
In any case, the Prudence and Punishment Department was undoubtedly doing good for Jinling City. Most major and minor factions had a few cultivators overseeing their affairs, and they turned a blind eye to the department's actions, unwilling to oppose it.
During its early days, the department had some friction with the constabulary under the local government. The two sides clashed over a particular case, with the dispute escalating all the way to the city lord's residence.
The constabulary chief loudly accused the Prudence and Punishment Department of overstepping its authority and obstructing the investigation, tearfully pleading with the city lord to deliver justice.
Just as the constabulary members were waiting to see the department face severe consequences, the outcome left them dumbfounded. The city lord decreed that the case would be handled entirely by the Prudence and Punishment Department. Furthermore, in any future conflicts between the two organizations, the department would take precedence. If necessary, the constabulary's personnel could be dispatched at the department's discretion.
The announcement sent shockwaves through the city's populace. In the eyes of ordinary people, the Prudence and Punishment Department seemed shrouded in mystery. They wanted to uncover its secrets but found no way to do so.
Li Ye happened to overhear the townsfolk discussing the department and formed a general understanding of it. This sparked his idea to seek employment there. On one hand, pursuing demonic beasts would allow him to refine his spiritual energy, and on the other, it was close to home, providing support in case of emergencies.
With a tentative mindset, he visited the Prudence and Punishment Department. Surprisingly, the process went smoothly. The department head, Xu Zhengfeng, had a keen eye for talent. Upon learning that Li Ye was a disciple of the Celestial Masters' Sect and had already reached the Three Flowers Gather at the Summit realm, Xu immediately extended an olive branch. He appointed Li Ye as the Fifth Shadow Blade of the department and gave him a specially crafted token as a symbol of his identity.
As Li Ye walked home, he fiddled with the token engraved with the character "Shadow." Fifth Shadow Blade—it seemed there were four other cultivators like him serving in the department.
In recent years, very few children in Jinling City had been born with innate spiritual intelligence. The handful who did were quickly selected by major sects and taken away at a designated age to cultivate in their respective schools. Many of them vanished without a trace over the years.
Those who achieved some success as cultivators rarely chose to return. The allure of the wider world, the pursuit of peak strength, and the path of cultivation were their ultimate goals.
Jinling City was merely an ordinary border town with scarce resources, connections, and opportunities. It offered cultivators very little in terms of capital.
As the saying goes, people strive for higher grounds, just as water flows to lower places—it's simply human nature.
This led to the near extinction of the cultivator community in Jinling City. Apart from the city lord and his commanders, leaders of major factions, and a handful of cultivators in the Judicial Bureau, the rest were all ordinary civilians.
This was precisely why Li Xuan had received the reward. Li Ye, being a native of Jinling City, possessed an innate sixth-level spiritual intelligence and was selected as a disciple by the elders of the Celestial Master Manor—a rarity as scarce as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, unprecedented and likely never to be seen again.
The calls of street vendors rose and fell in succession, while shops of all kinds displayed a dazzling array of goods. The street stretched like a slender ribbon toward its end, dotted with leisurely strolling pedestrians who resembled scattered, twinkling stars.
Li Ye gazed at the bustling, lively alley, tightening his grip on the token in his hand. A sense of responsibility welled up from the depths of his heart.
After Li Ye had left, Xu Zhengfeng set down his teacup and spoke affectionately to the figure behind the screen, "Come out now, he's gone." A playful flash of pink emerged from behind the screen, and with delicate, swaying steps, the long hem of her dress brushed the floor, rippling as she moved. A white cloud-patterned sash cinched her waist, accentuating its slender, almost graspable delicacy.
Her cascading black hair fell to her waist, adorned with a seven-treasure coral hairpin. With each step, the tassels swayed gently, casting a glow that made her face as radiant as peach blossoms.
"Father, Yao'er was just afraid he'd see me," said the newcomer, Xu Zhengfeng's beloved daughter, Xu Ruanyao. Her words were like pearls, her voice clear and laced with a playful charm, utterly captivating.
"You, you... when will you ever grow up?" Xu Zhengfeng shook his head helplessly, his eyes overflowing with adoration.
Hearing this, Xu Ruanyao playfully stuck out her tongue, her expression innocent and childishly endearing. Her fair skin was as smooth as a freshly peeled egg, tinged with a delicate blush. Her bright eyes sparkled as if speaking volumes, while her small red lips stood in stark contrast to her pale, tender skin.
On both cheeks, a pair of shallow dimples symmetrically framed her smile, appearing and disappearing with her gentle laughter, making her utterly adorable.
Though young, she carried an air of elegant beauty, unique and captivating.
"Speaking of which, the moment you heard the name Li Ye, you were so excited you started jumping around, completely forgetting a young lady's modesty. If I hadn't stopped you today, you might have thrown yourself right in front of him," Xu Zhengfeng recalled his daughter's unusually exuberant behavior and grew curious. "What exactly is the connection between this Li Ye and my precious daughter? Tell your father all about it."
"Oh, what do you men know about a girl's affairs?" Xu Ruanyao sat on a wooden chair in the hall, cupping her peach-blossom-like cheeks with both hands, lost in thought as she stared in the direction Li Ye had departed.
As for her connection with Li Ye, it wasn't exactly long, but it wasn't short either—roughly twelve years in total...