The two who had been flying on swords finally returned safely to Jinling City just after noon, having narrowly avoided danger.
Chu Qingyi retrieved her immortal sword in a small grove outside the city to avoid causing a commotion among the townsfolk.
"Ugh!" Li Xuan, finally stepping onto solid ground, had no time to savor the long-awaited feeling of earth before his stomach churned violently. He hurried to a corner and began to vomit.
"My heavens, being an immortal is no easy task. Drifting through the sky day after day—even if you're lucky enough not to fall to your death, you'd still vomit yourself to death," he grumbled, leaning against a nearby tree and wiping the vomit from his lips.
As a mere mortal, how could he know that cultivators communicate with their immortal swords through mental connection? Even in danger, they can quickly devise countermeasures, making the chance of falling to their death minuscule.
As for sword-sickness, few indeed ride as hitchhikers clinging to an immortal sword like Li Xuan.
"It seems not just anyone can become an immortal. If I had to float in the sky every day, even if I had the talent and the masters of the Celestial Master's Mansion invited me with an eight-man sedan chair, I wouldn't go! Ugh!" Li Xuan's face turned purplish-red, and after just a few words, he bent over and vomited again.
Only after he had nearly emptied his stomach of the food from the past few days did he feel somewhat relieved. But when he turned to look for Chu Qingyi, he found she had already vanished.
"Mother?! Mother!" he shouted loudly, but only the sound of wind rustling through leaves answered him—no one paid him any heed.
Had she gone back first?
He hurried out of the grove and caught sight of a figure in white walking toward the city gate.
Judging by the silhouette, it had to be Chu Qingyi.
He breathed a sigh of relief, clutching his stomach as he ambled slowly along the road home.
While Li Xuan had been vomiting, Chu Qingyi had already taken the lead. Along the way, she had been thinking about her reunion with Li Ye. Having left a note and disappeared for so long, he must be both worried and overjoyed, right?
When they met, she would rush into his arms for a hug and pour out all her thoughts from these past few days.
As for Li Xuan, he would return once he had vomited to his heart's content.
The city gate bearing the three large characters "Jinling City" drew closer, and Chu Qingyi's steps grew lighter. The thought of soon seeing Li Ye deepened the smile on her lips.
A quarter of an hour later, she finally arrived at the familiar old Li family residence.
Unfortunately, there was no sign of Li Ye in the courtyard. Even the furnishings inside the house remained exactly as they were when she left, and the note on the table lay untouched in its original spot.
She ran a finger across the table, and her fingertip gathered a thin layer of dust.
Had he not returned at all...?
The joy in her heart instantly faded. From the time she left until now, Li Ye had been away from home for over half a month, unaware even of her departure for Qinglong City.
Her pearly teeth lightly bit her red lips, her delicate face filled with desolation.
Well, she might as well pay a visit to the Judicial Bureau!
Having made up her mind, Chu Qingyi didn't even warm her seat before setting off again for the Judicial Bureau.
"Excuse me, do you know where the Judicial Bureau is?" Chu Qingyi asked a passerby with a gentle smile.
She had asked questions like this many times along the way, but those who responded were either too stunned by her beauty to speak or gave her strange, scrutinizing looks.
However, since she had never been to the Punishment Department, finding Li Ye required relying on such clumsy methods.
"Th-there... over there..." The passerby stood frozen in place, staring dazedly at her breathtaking beauty, completely unaware whether the direction he pointed in was correct.
"Wow! What a stunning beauty!"
"I've never seen such a beautiful woman in my life—she looks just like a fairy from the heavens!"
"Nonsense! Even the fairies in the heavens aren't as beautiful as her!"
Other passersby stopped in their tracks, unable to resist praising her.
Chu Qingyi frowned slightly. Situations like this had happened more than once, which was why she had covered her face with a veil when traveling to Azure Dragon City. But this time, she had left in such a hurry that she had completely forgotten about the veil.
"Sister, I know where the Punishment Department is. Let me take you there."
Just as Chu Qingyi was unsure what to do, a childish voice rang out from the crowd. It was a little boy, only about five or six years old.
When others saw it was just a snot-nosed kid, they immediately teased him, "Where did this little brat come from? This young lady is going to the Punishment Department—it's not a place just anyone can enter. Do you think it's as easy to find as a mud pit where you play?"
"That's right, miss. The Punishment Department is a strange place—not only is it hard to find, but it also gives off a sinister aura. Most people in the area avoid it. Why would a young lady like you want to go there?" An elderly man in the crowd hunched over and kindly advised her.
Before Chu Qingyi could respond, the little boy beside her, his young face filled with anger, pointed at the old man and shouted, "You're lying! The Punishment Department isn't scary at all like you say!"
"Hey, you little brat, how dare you shout at an old man? Where are your manners?"
"Miss, the Punishment Department really isn't a place for people, especially not a delicate young lady like you."
"Thank you for your concern, sir. I'll be on my way now." Seeing that more and more people were gathering to watch the commotion, Chu Qingyi simply took the little boy's hand and pushed through the crowd to leave.
The boy didn't resist and obediently followed her.
When they reached a secluded alley where there were noticeably fewer passersby, Chu Qingyi stopped and looked at the boy with a gentle expression. "Little one, what's your name?"
"Sister, my name is Doudou. I'm not lying to you. My dad has taken me to the Punishment Department many times. It's not scary at all like they say. The uncles and grandpas there are all very nice, and they're really strong—they can beat those demon beasts to a pulp!" Doudou excitedly described the situation inside the Punishment Department.
"Oh? Then who is Doudou's father? Can you introduce him to me?" Chu Qingyi was amused by his innocent demeanor, guessing that his father was likely a member of the Punishment Department.
Doudou glanced around before leaning close to Chu Qingyi's ear, swaying his head playfully and speaking in a sweet, hushed tone, "All the uncles call my father Shadow Blade. Daddy never lets me tell anyone, but I like you, sister, so I'm telling you. You mustn't tell anyone, okay!"
Shadow Blade... So he must be someone hidden within the Punishment Bureau, responsible for investigating demon beasts.
"It sounds like Doudou's father is very impressive. By the way, Doudou, among the uncles you've met, is there one named Uncle Li Ye?" Chu Qingyi found Doudou utterly adorable and gently pinched his chubby cheek.
"Sister, are you talking about Brother Li Ye? He's so nice to me! And Sister Yaoyao too. They often bring me delicious treats."
"Ya... Yaoyao?"
"Yes! They're often together. I'll tell you a secret—once when I was hiding in the kitchen sneaking a chicken leg, I saw them kissing! Shh, sister, you can't tell them I was stealing food. If Daddy finds out, he'll definitely spank me!"
Yaoyao... Kissing...
Squatting on the ground, Chu Qingyi felt the world spin around her. She didn't hear a single word Doudou said afterward; only those few words echoed endlessly in her mind.
Her chest tightened unbearably, as if something had collapsed inside, leaving her struggling to breathe.
The scene before her blurred, a buzzing filled her ears, and even Doudou's figure began to appear as a double image.
Her thoughts suddenly grew chaotic, fragments of past memories piecing themselves together. No wonder... no wonder that day, the scent of perfume—something he never wore—had clung to him. No wonder he came home less and less often...
So... it was all just excuses...
"Sister? Sister!" Doudou called out, seeing her frozen in place without a response.
"Doudou, take me to the Punishment Bureau," Chu Qingyi said, her face pale and her voice trembling. She clung to a final shred of hope, praying that the "Brother Li Ye" Doudou mentioned was not the man who shared her bed.
But... in such a small Punishment Bureau... how many Li Yes could there possibly be...
Lost in her thoughts, Chu Qingyi let Doudou's small hand lead her. The passersby, the scenery along the way, the chaotic noise—all faded into dullness. Her mind was blank, her steps mechanical, like a soulless puppet.
"Sister, we're here," Doudou said, shaking the hand that held Chu Qingyi's. She hadn't spoken a word the entire way, and innocent Doudou had no idea it was all because of the careless words he had spoken.
The journey had taken no more than fifteen minutes, yet to her, it felt as long as a century.
Along the way, she had deceived herself countless times—this Li Ye was not her Li Ye; it was all just a misunderstanding.
But she had never once considered what she would do if it really was him.
She lifted her head and gazed at the low-key yet luxurious mansion before her. Its entire structure was a sinister shade of bluish-black, and the plaque bearing the words "Punishment Bureau" was adorned with two ferociously carved dragons at its corners, making it look utterly chilling.
Moreover, she faintly sensed that beneath this very mansion, surges of pure demonic beast energy emanated. Though seemingly calm, it seethed restlessly, as if secretly brewing a force ready to soar skyward, yet bound by something, forced to remain pent up underground out of fear.
Looking at the mansion again, its front was low while the back rose high, facing away from the shade and toward the sun. Its architectural layout was quite peculiar, forming the shape of a dragon in its contours, and the area with the heaviest demonic beast energy precisely corresponded to the dragon's head.
The design of this mansion indeed held hidden depths.
No wonder the common folk spoke of the Punishment Bureau as an ominous place. Just the demonic beast energy seeping from underground was enough to make ordinary humans feel uneasy. Coupled with the mansion's eerie architectural features, anyone would sense something amiss here.
"Daddy!" Dou Dou suddenly let go of Chu Qingyi's jade-like hand, shouting excitedly before scampering off happily on her short little legs toward the distance.
"Oh, my little ancestor, why didn't you tell Daddy before running off on your own? If your mother finds out, I'll be kneeling on the washboard again..."
A rough, hearty male voice rang out, filled with affection.
The man wore a tight-fitting outfit of black and red, embroidered with golden patterns in dark thread. The form-fitting style perfectly accentuated his robust, powerful, and explosive muscles. A green-and-white jade pendant shaped like a coiled dragon hung at his waist, while his thick, sturdy legs were concealed beneath his robes, with only the lower part of his calves visible in black boots.
Matching his rough and hearty voice, the man stood eight feet tall, with tender skin, a full beard, and an honest, straightforward face.
"Daddy, I brought this lost sister here," Dou Dou, nestled in his arms, pointed at Chu Qingyi and said in her childish voice.
"Oh?" The burly man followed her finger and finally noticed Chu Qingyi standing dazed before the gates of the Punishment Bureau.
She, too, sensed his gaze and turned to meet his eyes.
"This... this is... the sister you mentioned?" The burly man stared wide-eyed at the stunning woman not far away. Dressed in pure white, she exuded an air of cold, solitary pride. Though her slender, tall figure was entirely concealed by her robes, her silhouette hinted at alluring curves, especially the ribbon cinched at her waist, accentuating her slender waist and the gourd-like curve formed with her hips.
Her beauty, enough to overshadow heaven and earth, rivaled that of a celestial maiden from the highest heavens. Yet, a slight flaw marred her perfection—a trace of melancholy lingered between her brows, her delicate, distant-mountain-like eyebrows slightly furrowed, evoking a sense of pity and a desire to smooth away the crease.
"P-please, may I ask... who are you?" The burly man had never seen such an otherworldly beauty before, and his mind went momentarily blank, his words stumbling.
His question received no response. Instead, the woman flashed a smile toward Dou Dou in his arms before turning and walking into the Punishment Bureau.
Thump, thump, thump...
The burly man's heart raced inexplicably, and two blushes appeared on his cheeks.
His mind was filled with the woman's smiling face, feeling as if all the flowers in the world blooming at once could not compare to the beauty he had just witnessed.
"Hey, hey, wait! The Punishment Bureau has a barrier, you can't—"
Before he could finish, he saw the woman walk in as if nothing stood in her way, completely unhindered.
Just in case, the gates of the Shenxing Division were protected by a barrier that only cultivators with a certain level of immortal power could pass through. Ordinary people or those with weak immortal power would be repelled by the barrier and unable to enter.
Since the woman before him had walked in unscathed, she must be a cultivator of considerable strength.
The burly man secretly breathed a sigh of relief, unable to help but wonder when another notable figure had emerged in Jinling City—and one who combined both beauty and power.
"Daddy, I'm going to tell Mommy that you were drooling over that sister just now," Doudou pouted, speaking indignantly.
"Don't, my little ancestor! Daddy wasn't doing that at all!" the burly man said with a pained expression. Thinking of his beautiful wife at home, lovely as she was, she could be quite fierce, often making him kneel on the washboard.
Ah, there was no helping it—he loved her, after all.
...
To avoid trouble, Chu Qingyi, who had entered the Shenxing Division, used an immortal technique to conceal her form. Ordinary cultivators would be unable to detect her; only those with far greater immortal power than hers could see through her disguise.
At this point, if she were to openly announce her identity, even the head of the Shenxing Division would have to show her respect. But she didn't want to alert anyone, so she had no choice but to investigate in secret.
Moreover, she had another concern: if Li Ye really was... involved with someone else, with her current strength, he would be completely unaware of her concealed presence, allowing her to act as the situation demanded.
However, this approach also had significant drawbacks. In the vast Shenxing Division, she would have to search for Li Ye room by room, which would take a considerable amount of time.
The front hall, the library, the registration office...
She had searched almost everywhere she could think of. As the sky gradually darkened, she still hadn't found any trace of Li Ye.
Could he be out investigating a case today?
She couldn't help but speculate, secretly relieved. Sometimes, no result was easier to accept than a definite outcome.
Just as she was about to head back, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance.
"Yaoyao, I really don't know what I would have done without you today to deal with that beast. Tell me, what wish do you have? I'll grant it," Li Ye said with great enthusiasm, turning to Xu Ruanyao beside him.
"Really?" Xu Ruanyao blinked playfully, her voice sweet and coy.
"Of course."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Ruanyao leaned in intimately and whispered something into his ear. Both of them chuckled and quickened their pace toward the backyard.
Unbeknownst to them, in the very spot they had just passed, Chu Qingyi, hidden from sight, watched everything unfold before her eyes, her spirit utterly shattered.
So... it was true...
Her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife. The intense pain spread through every cell of her body with each heartbeat, making it hard for her to breathe. She could only lean weakly against the wall, trying to calm her turbulent emotions.
Even so, she refused to give up. Summoning her strength, she followed the two of them, who were chatting and laughing, all the way to the backyard.
She watched as Li Ye and Xu Ruanyao, their behavior intimate, entered a side room together. Their laughter and cheerful voices turned into sharp blades in her ears, piercing her heart relentlessly. The flesh of her heart felt torn and bloodied, the pain so overwhelming she could barely breathe.
A mist of tears gradually clouded her eyes, blurring the figures of the two before her. Heartbroken and shattered, she still couldn't believe what was happening right before her eyes. She wished it were all just an unrealistic nightmare—that when she woke, Li Ye would still be the husband she longed for, the husband who would never betray her.
Yet the stark reality lay before her, sharp and undeniable. Waves of agony kept her painfully awake. No matter how much she tried to deceive herself, she would eventually have to face the heartbreaking truth.
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