Volume Three: Do Not Follow the Carefree Way, Chapter One Hundred and Six

Jin Li was somewhat surprised, still wondering how she had been discovered so quickly when Si Nianjun continued, “I don’t care whether you are from the Celestial Clan or the Divine Clan. Please leave immediately.”

With that, he stood up to leave. Jin Li also rose and asked, “Si Nianjun, why do you say this?”

Si Nianjun tilted his head slightly. The silver-white mask he wore emitted a faint, cold glow. His skin was pale as snow, yet unlike that of an ordinary person—it bore a hint of sickness.

“It is better if the Lady Sovereign knows less,” he said.

“You know me?”

Jin Li was taken aback. Few in the Four Seas and Eight Desolations had ever seen her true face. Yet here, in this city, someone recognized her—and judging by his tone, might even know something about her.

Si Nianjun gave no answer and walked away silently.

In that brief moment, the inn fell into a profound silence, leaving her alone. It dawned on her that Si Nianjun was here only to wait for her, urging her to leave as soon as possible.

What secrets did the ancient city of Shanjing, a place that had stood since ancient times, conceal? What was hidden within that barred her from entering to investigate? Could the death of Tu Shan Yan be connected to all of this? And more...

A cascade of questions exploded in her mind like firecrackers, each igniting the next until they overwhelmed her. She couldn’t help but suspect that the deaths of those mortals in Peach Blossom Village were deeply linked to Tu Shan Yan’s demise.

She was determined to uncover the truth. If it involved the Four Seas and Eight Desolations or even the mortal realm, then this was no longer just a matter of the Divine Clan’s fall.

Night came, and sleep eluded her. She held the jade token tightly in her hand. She still didn’t know its true purpose or use, but everything felt orchestrated by unseen hands behind the scenes.

She had just learned that the Taoist had discovered Tu Shan Yan’s whereabouts but was mysteriously killed when he went to investigate. Following the clues left by the Taoist, she arrived at Shanjing Ancient City. Upon reaching the city gate, an unfamiliar man—Si Nianjun, the younger brother of the city lord—had handed her the jade token and warned her to leave.

Her thoughts drifted back to the night the Taoist died so tragically.

The young man had chased after the killer. Jin Li examined the stiffened corpse carefully and finally noticed faint clues in the other hand—the Taoist had cast a talisman with a spell just before dying.

When Jin Li activated her immortal technique to view the talisman, it revealed clues pointing to Shanjing Ancient City. But as soon as she finished looking, the talisman quietly burned away, as if nothing had happened.

The girl sat up, recalling the Taoist’s final words: “Leave quickly,” followed by the word “death.”

Was this a hint for her? Or did those three words carry some hidden meaning?

Why was there a deliberate pause after “leave quickly”? Why would a dying man think to add such a pause?

Or was the Taoist trying to make sure she saw it clearly?

At that moment, she stood, sitting cross-legged on the bed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a shadow moving stealthily on the window frame. The moonlight was bright, the figure moving slowly and furtively.

Jin Li watched silently, suspecting it might be a petty thief.

But then the figure seemed to pour something onto the ground and lit it.

Suddenly, thick smoke and flames spread quickly outside the window, even seeping through the cracks into her room.

A firestarter? Was this an attempt on her life or a robbery?

Jin Li was momentarily speechless. Then she heard the clamor of shouting and hurried footsteps. The fire crawled inside through the window, creeping toward the table nearby.

The black smoke soon engulfed the entire room, the acrid stench making Jin Li uncomfortable. She lightly covered her face and transformed into smoke, leaving the room.

She perched on the eaves outside, watching the frantic efforts to extinguish the fire. The innkeeper was wailing as if mourning a dead relative, utterly distraught.

If Jin Li hadn’t seen clearly with her Phoenix Eye that the person was the innkeeper, she might have believed the grief was genuine.

Crossing her arms, Jin Li rested on the eaves. As the crowd thinned, she opened her eyes and observed the smoldering ruins, a few pillars still standing amid the shattered walls.

She saw the innkeeper dismiss the remaining fire-fighters, then close the main door tightly before sneaking toward the back entrance.

Transforming into smoke again, Jin Li followed the innkeeper. She was an elderly woman and didn’t wish to trouble her. But when the innkeeper received spirit stones with an obsequious smile from a figure clad in black, Jin Li’s anger surged.

Yet she could not act rashly. She didn’t know if this black-cloaked person was the same one she had seen at the altar. If so, her chances of victory were slim. If not, perhaps following him might lead her to the hidden mastermind.

The innkeeper, thrilled with the payment, nodded and left.

But then Jin Li witnessed a terrifying sight. The black figure’s back was to the woman, but under the moonlight, the shadow’s cold eyes opened. It rose from the ground, and in an instant, the innkeeper’s blood splattered across the white wall as she was stabbed through the heart.

As the innkeeper died, the shadow returned to the ground as if sinking into an endless abyss beneath.

A shadow that kills.

It was the first time Jin Li had seen such a thing.

Suddenly, the black-clad figure seemed to sense her gaze and spun around sharply. Cloaked in darkness, his face was unseen, but Jin Li felt those eyes pierce her like a gaze into the abyss.

A chill ran down her spine.

She hurried away.

But things did not go as smoothly as she had hoped. The shadow pursued her.

It pressed against the white wall, its cold eyes fixed on her.

The jade token in her palm glowed and heated.

She withdrew her leg, sidestepped, and with her left hand behind her back, slowly summoned Phoenix Fire, calling forth the Mysterious Hidden Sword.

She believed she could defeat this shadow.

But she was unsure of her odds.

Though now fully in her divine form, she had only penetrated the sword’s intent to the first level, and her Phoenix Eye was open—but this was far from sufficient.

The shadow let out a sinister, chilling laugh.

They seemed to be testing each other, or perhaps waiting.

The shadow awaited its master—meaning, as long as she kept the master at bay, killing the shadow was possible.

Jin Li formed a two-finger gesture with her right hand and quickly drew a talisman. Blue-purple runes shimmered as she tossed it into the air.

In the next moment, golden light erupted, a golden wheel spun, and holy light poured onto the earth. The shadow trembled slightly.

A smile curved Jin Li’s lips. “Prepare to die.”

She gripped the Mysterious Hidden Sword tightly. The shadow refused to yield, immediately assuming a defensive and offensive stance.

Jin Li’s sword strikes were fierce and swift, forcing the shadow to retreat repeatedly.

Suddenly, the shadow’s strength surged, and it charged directly at her.

Her robes fluttered as she waved her hand, flipping into the air. Spinning gracefully, she switched the sword to her right hand with a deft flick.

With one hand, she clenched the talisman; with the other, she reversed her grip on the sword, poised to strike.

With a heavy thud, the white wall was shattered, a large crater appearing where the impact landed. Cracks spider-webbed outward rapidly.

Jin Li’s hand shimmered with golden light as she tightly gripped the shadow, the cold gleam of her sword pressed against its neck.

The shadow screamed loudly, as if scorched by the searing golden light, writhing in intense pain.

Just as Jin Li thought she had it captured, a figure casually stepped into the golden light barrier outside.

Lazily, the figure called out, “Return, my shadow.”

Jin Li’s heart leapt in alarm. That voice was the summon from the other side.