To facilitate his practice, the musician lived in seclusion, his residence far removed from the main courtyard.


    Late at night, bamboo shadows swayed all around. Inside the room, the flickering candlelight illuminated two figures—one standing, the other kneeling.


    Tao Hong, who guarded the door, knelt down beside Mei Yi, her knees hitting the stone b in front of the door with a crisp sound, like an egg being smashed to the ground, its shell shattering and its contents spilling out.


    The young maid lowered her head, wiping the corners of her eyes as she softly sobbed.


    The night in the Dark Hall seemed no different from the outside world. Yet, there were no chirping insects in the woods, no evening breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees. Instead, a foul, damp odor lingered in the air, spreading an endless sense of heaviness and oppression, as if there were no end in sight.


    In the Dark Hall, there was an eight-year-old girl, born to the servants and maids of the hall. She had grown up here and had never seen the outside world. To her, the world was just like this, and she was perfectly content with everything in the Dark Hall, carefree and happy every day.


    Tao Hong sometimes envied her.


    Before being sold to the Dark Hall, Tao Hong had seen real sunlight, real starlight, and the bustling streets during the Lantern Festival. Because of this, every day in the Dark Hall felt unbearably long.


    The sobs outside the room mixed with Mei Yi''s wailing inside, reaching Shen Jizhi''s ears.


    He shifted his steps, moving aside to avoid Mei Yi''s kneeling posture, his tone betraying little emotion: "And then, I die?"


    "Of course not!" Mei Yi replied firmly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She pushed herself up from the ground, wiped the tears from her face, and reiterated to Shen Jizhi, "I won’t let anything happen to you! I know the form your master used to suppress the Immortal Origin Stone. In the next few days, I’ll gather the ingredients and refine the pill. Once you break through the Immortal Origin Stone, take the pill, and it will suppress its effects for a while. After that, we’ll leave the Dark Hall and find your master so he can reset the seal for you."


    Shen Jizhi gazed at the half-finished talisman brush in his hand, lost in thought.


    He didn’t fully believe Mei Yi’s words. But whether she was telling the truth or not, one thing was certain: Mei Yi wanted to leave the Dark Hall.


    Shen Jizhi naturally wanted to leave as well, though the method he chose to escape would not be up to her to decide.


    However, there was one thing she mentioned that piqued his interest.


    Shen Jizhi: "The form?"


    Mei Yi, who had been waiting for Shen Jizhi’s response, was momentarily taken aback: "Yes."


    Shen Jizhi put away the talisman brush, fetched paper and a brush, and ced them on the table, speaking in a businesslike manner: "In that case, could you write it down for me to see?"


    "Of course," Mei Yi agreed, ncing at Shen Jizhi without revealing anything in his expression or demeanor.


    After a moment of hesitation, Mei Yi picked up the brush and began to write, speaking softly as she did: "Jizhi, I know Aunt Mei’s actions are selfish and unfair to you. Breaking through the seal will cause you immense pain, but I... I have no other choice. This is the best n I cane up with. My body is damaged, and I’m destined to remain a Foundation Establishment cultivator for life. On my own, I can’t escape... I’ve tried, and every time I’ve failed..."


    Her smile was bitter, tears streaming down her face and dampening the paper. "Jizhi, you don’t know this, but the City Lord—" Mei Yi gritted her teeth, her voice filled with resentment, "He’s in seclusion in the Dark Hall! If he sessfully breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage and emerges, it will be even harder for us to escape. Time is running out. This might be our only chance..."


    Shen Jizhi listened half-heartedly, his eyes fixed on the white paper.


    Flying Illusion Ginseng, Dragon Grass, Silkthread Flower...


    Each ingredient was a rare herb worth two to three thousand spirit stones. Combined, they amounted to—


    nearly thirty thousand spirit stones.


    Shen Jizhi blinked, hisshes veiling the flicker in his eyes.


    "Give me the pill," he interrupted Mei Yi’s pleading without hesitation, "and I’ll take you out of here."


    Mei Yi’s brush paused, and she looked up in shock and confusion: "?"


    Seeing his cold, expressionless face, she had thought she would need to persuade him further.


    If that didn’t work, Mei Yi considered turning to Jian Huan.


    Perhaps Shen Jizhi would listen to Jian Huan.


    But how had his attitude changed so suddenly?


    Which of her words had struck a chord with him?


    Jian Huan followed Tao Hong and Liu Lu, walking through the dimly lit corridor of the Dark Hall, her mind upied with what Shen Jizhi had told her that morning.


    The Immortal Origin Stone? A cultivation legacy left by a Transcendence-stage expert?


    It all sounded so suspicious. If it were truly left by a Transcendence-stage powerhouse tens of thousands of years ago, it should be a treasure. Such a treasure should have been the golden opportunity for the male lead, Jing Chi, or the female lead, Jiang Qiaoqiao. How had it ended up with the antagonist, Shen Jizhi?


    "Ying Ti, we’re here. You go and get the flower seeds, while Liu Lu and I fetch Madam’s meal," Tao Hong stopped in front of a stone door and turned to Jian Huan, her tone hinting at something. "Wait for us afterward, and we’ll head back to Mei’s courtyard together."


    Jian Huan snapped out of her thoughts and, mimicking Ying Ti, kept her head down and softly replied, "Alright."


    Tao Hong pressed her hand against the stone door, and a ripple of light spread across its surface. Soon, the door opened automatically, and the three of them stepped inside.


    Beyond the stone door was a hidden world, with various shops scattered throughout.


    Maids, servants, and ck-d guards moved between the shops, either fetching items for their masters or purchasing what they needed.


    The Dark Hall had only one woman—Mei Yi—but there were also various stewards, each with their own allowances.


    Meals were provided by a dedicated shop, and Tao Hong and Liu Lu headed there as usual.


    The flower seeds Jian Huan needed were special. nts and flowers could only grow in Mei’s courtyard because of the Celestial Stone there, which provided a semnce of sunlight.


    Everywhere else was lit only by candlelight, making it impossible to grow flowers or nts.


    Thus, the flower seeds were a special provision for Mei’s courtyard, and special provisions required approval from Nanny An.


    Nanny An’s hall was brightly lit.


    An elderly woman with sagging eye bags reclined on a daybed, attended by two young maids.


    One massaged her shoulders, while the other rubbed her legs.


    Jian Huan approached her, bowing deeply and keeping her gaze fixed on the ground, her demeanor cautious and timid. In a barely audible voice, she said, "This maid greets Nanny An. I’vee to fetch the rose seeds Madam requested."


    Nanny An nced at her dismissively, then gestured to the maid rubbing her legs: "Take her to get them."


    The maid smiled and replied, "Yes," before leading Jian Huan away.


    Nanny An watched Jian Huan’s retreating figure and spat on the ground: "I truly envy the maids in Mei’s courtyard. We’re content with a bowl of hot soup, but they get to grow flowers, admire them, and even listen to music!"


    The maid massaging Nanny An’s shoulders ttered her: "Isn’t that the truth? It’s all because she knows how to please people."


    "Indeed, envy won’t get us anywhere," Nanny An half-closed her eyes. "But she wasn’t always so skilled at it. In the first couple of years, she had quite the temper and suffered a lot. But she learned her lesson. Look at how well she’s living now—better than the City Lord’s wife outside!"


    The maid chimed in: "Well, I’ll be obedient too. I’ll listen to you, Nanny."


    Nanny An chuckled: "You’ve always been sweet-tongued! You’re the most obedient, and that’s why I rely on you the most. When the City Lord achieves his breakthrough, I’ll take you out of here, and we’ll live in luxury!"


    The maid beamed: "Then I’ll thank you in advance, Nanny. I’ll serve you for the rest of my life!"


    Jian Huan followed the other maid obediently, her brow slightly furrowed.


    A breakthrough in cultivation? What connection did the City Lord of Ningzhang City have with this Dark Hall and his own cultivation?


    As for Mei Yi, from what Nanny An said, it seemed she had been forcibly taken and imprisoned here by the City Lord, like a caged bird.


    Mei Yi wanted to escape, which exined why she had helped Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi hide their identities and wanted Shen Jizhi to break the seal to rescue her. It aligned with her desires.


    But Mei Yi’s words to Shen Jizhi left Jian Huan feeling uneasy.


    The truth seemed shrouded in a veil, withyers of deception making it hard to discern what was real.


    As evening approached, the musician stopped ying his qin and said to Shen Jizhi, who was crafting talismans, "Young Master, it’s time for you to go and buy some things. This is when I usually go."


    Every half-month, arge shipment of goods arrived in the Dark Hall, and today happened to be one of those days.


    During the day, the masters had first pick, and though there were no restrictions on the servants, the musician preferred to wait until most had finished before going.


    The musician handed Shen Jizhi his purse and said, "I usually buy some pastries, preserved fruits, and melons."


    Shen Jizhi opened the pouch and nced inside. There were about a dozen taels of silver, themon currency in the Dark Hall, just like the money used by ordinary people outside.


    He nodded. "Alright."


    After a moment of thought, he added, "I''ll buy half, and you buy the other half. Is that eptable?"


    The musician naturally agreed. "Of course, I''m not picky. Just choose whatever you like, young master."


    Shen Jizhi hummed in acknowledgment and asked, "How much do fruits like grapes cost here?"


    The musician thought for a moment, trying to recall. "About two taels for a bunch, I think?"


    He wasn’t entirely sure. When it came to shopping, he rarely remembered prices. Once he bought something, it was done.


    Shen Jizhi''s lips twitched slightly. "That''s a bit expensive." Much pricier than outside.


    The musician smiled sheepishly. "Things in the Dark Hall are generally more expensive, especially fresh fruits. They’re quite rare here."


    Shen Jizhi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do you know how to bargain?"


    The musician looked a little confused. He wasn’t sure why Shen Jizhi was asking this, but he answered honestly, "No, I never bargain when I shop."


    What a shame. That meant he couldn’t bargain either.


    Shen Jizhi sighed quietly and nced at the musician. "Do you have a lot of money?"


    The musician shook his head. "Not really. I only have thirteen taels on me right now..." He then added, "By the way, young master, you can spend around ten taels. That’s usually how much I spend each time."


    Shen Jizhi’s gaze lingered on the musician’s face, his expression carrying a depth the musician couldn’t quite decipher.


    Only thirteen taels on hand, yet he spends ten taels at once?


    With a hint of disapproval, Shen Jizhi took out five taels of silver from his own pouch and handed it back to the musician.


    The musician quickly protested, "No need to give it back. Consider it my treat for you..."


    "No need," Shen Jizhi interrupted. He opened the door and walked out.


    If the musician paid, would it count as a gift from him or from the musician?