On the outskirts of Ningzhang City, there was a vast expanse of reed marshes. The autumn wind swept through, scattering light and delicate reed flowers across the ground.


    A few egrets stood nearby, their yellow toes half-submerged in the water, gently pecking at their white feathers.


    Suddenly, as if sensing something, the egrets pped their wings and took flight, leaving behind echoing cries.


    The once calm water surface abruptly turned turbulent, ripples spreading out in circles, crashing against the surrounding rock walls with a sshing sound.


    The reeds swayed violently, copsing in patches, sinking into the water and bing waterlogged, heavy and unable to rise again.


    A ck tower slowly emerged from beneath the reed marshes, standing tall and emanating an eerie chill.


    At dusk, the setting sun cast a warm, radiant glow over thend, draping the ck tower in a golden cloak, softening its cold demeanor.


    From the top of the ck tower, people began to emerge, tiptoeing to the windows and peering out in disbelief. "This... this... are we... are we really out?"


    "Sister! Look! The sun! We''re out! We''re out!" Ying Ti tugged at Xiu Niang''s hand, her eyes wide with excitement. "Sister Huan and the others seeded!"


    Xiu Niang gazed at the sunset half-hidden in the clouds. Her eyes, unustomed to daylight after so long, streamed with tears, but she refused to close them, choking back sobs. "I thought... I thought we would die in that dark hall. I never imagined..."


    Xiu Niang couldn''t finish her sentence, covering her face as she wept.


    For a moment, cheers and cries filled the ck tower.


    Only the top floor remained silent.


    The mangled corpse of the Ghost Fish Kingy sprawled on the ground, its once beautiful, sharp tail nowhere to be found.


    Nearby, Jian Huan pushed aside the fallen rubble, picking up a fish tooth from beneath. She blew off the dirt and carefully stored it in her pouch, then turned her head and asked brightly, "Shen Jizhi, are you done yet?"


    "Almost," Shen Jizhi replied, crouching in front of the Ghost Fish King''s shattered head. He used his sword to pry open its mouth, carefully extracting the remaining teeth, his profile focused and serious.


    Seeing this, Jian Huan didn''t press him further.


    Earlier, they had been too busy fighting for their lives to take in their surroundings.


    Jian Huan began digging out the night pearls embedded in the rock walls, following the corridor forward.


    The further she went, the deeper her frown became. The corridor was lined with piles of skeletons, some still wearing the clothes of boatmen.


    The Ghost Fish King didn''t just plunder the ships for their cargo and treasures—it took the people too.


    Jian Huan had assumed these people were sold into very, but now it seemed their fate was far worse.


    At the end of the corridor was a grand hall door.


    The door was open, and Jian Huan paused, holding her breath as she looked inside.


    A massive pool dominated the space, its surface eerily calm. Under the pale light of the night pearls, the dark red water resembled countless cold, ghostly eyes.


    "This is a bit troublesome," a cool voice suddenly spoke behind Jian Huan, startling her so badly her heart nearly stopped.


    Shen Jizhi surveyed the scene in the hall, sniffing his hand in mild disgust.


    Despite using cleansing spells multiple times, he still felt the lingering slimy residue of the Ghost Fish King.


    Jian Huan took a deep breath, pressing a hand to her racing heart.


    Shen Jizhi nced at her, his gaze falling on the pool of blood and the shriveled corpses piled in the corner. He stepped forward, blocking the doorway and shielding Jian Huan''s view. "You''re scared of this...?"


    "Scared of you!" Jian Huan snapped. "Can''t you walk with a little noise?!"


    "..." Shen Jizhi blinked rapidly, taking half a step back.


    After a moment of silence, he looked at her. "I didn''t walk here."


    Jian Huan sensed he was about to say something annoying. "Huh?"


    Shen Jizhi said tly, "I flew here on my sword. How could there be footsteps?"


    Jian Huan: "..."


    "Antai District, fifth row, neenth courtyard?" Shen Jizhi looked at Yue Shi, who was carrying Mei Yi on his back, his brow slightly furrowed.


    "Yes," Liu Lu replied, handing Tao Hong over to Ying Ti for care. She looked at Shen Jizhi with pleading eyes. "Master Shen, may Ie with you? If Madam wakes, I can help take care of her."


    Shen Jizhi thought for a moment and didn''t refuse. "Fine."


    Meanwhile, Jian Huan was speaking with the Imperial Pacification Office cultivators who had arrived from Ningzhang City.


    "Finally, you''re here!" With so many people needing assistance, Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi couldn''t possibly handle it all. It would take too much manpower, resources, and money. It was best to leave it to the Imperial Pacification Office.


    Every year, the major sects of the Nine Provinces Continent allocated a significant portion of their funds to the Imperial Pacification Office. As the leading sect, the Jade rity Sect contributed even more.


    They couldn''t just take the money and do nothing.


    The leader of the group, also a Jade rity Sect disciple, bowed to Jian Huan. "As soon as Elder Yu contacted me, I mobilized immediately. Gathering the team took some time, so apologies for the dy, Junior Sister."


    "No, no, Senior Brother Ma, you''re too kind. We haven''t been waiting long," Jian Huan waved her hand, quickly pulling him aside to expedite the handover. She pointed to the hundred or so people lying on the ground. "These are members of the Xie family. They were in danger on the river earlier, so we fed them hibernation bugs and stored them in our pouches. Now we''re handing them over to you for treatment. Oh, and one more thing!"


    Jian Huan lightly kicked Xie Yuanying''s foot. "His tongue was cut out. Please have your healers treat him. Don''t worry about the cost—he can afford it. Use the best medicines."


    Senior Brother Ma nodded, about to take a closer look, but Jian Huan hurriedly pulled him aside again, pointing to the ck tower and the people sitting, standing, or lying around. "We''ve rescued everyone inside. They''re mostly fine, but you''ll need to help them find their families and provide some... psychological counseling."


    "Psychological counseling?" Senior Brother Ma looked puzzled.


    Jian Huan exined, "Justfort them and make sure they don''t develop inner demons from this experience."


    "Ah, I see," Senior Brother Ma nodded in understanding.


    "Alright!" Jian Huan pped her hands, smiling brightly. "That''s about it. We''ll leave this to you. We have some personal matters to attend to, so we''ll take our leave. But we''ll be staying in Ningzhang City for the next few days. If you need anything, just contact me on the Xuantian Mirror. I''ll answer any questions you have!"


    As soon as she finished speaking, Senior Brother Ma blinked, and Jian Huan was gone.


    Jian Huan flew over to Shen Jizhi, grabbed Liu Lu, and urged, "Quick, let''s go."


    Shen Jizhi helped Yue Shi, who was carrying Mei Yi, onto his sword, and they swiftly departed with Jian Huan.


    Though it wasn''t a big deal, they had taken all the valuable items from the ck tower, leaving nothing for the Imperial Pacification Office. It felt a bit unfair.


    Flying was prohibited within the city, so the group avoided the main streets, slipping into Antai District and heading toward the fifth row.


    Antai District was near the city gates, not part of the main urban area. Its residents were a mix of all walks of life.


    The sun hadpletely set, and twilight enveloped the area. Many households had already lit theirmps, the warm candlelight flickering and casting the silhouettes of families eating dinner against their windows.


    The group passed quickly beneath the windows, heading straight for their destination.


    The fifth row sounded close, but it was actually at the very end. The further in they went, the more dpidated the houses became, with piles of garbage littering the corners of the alleys.


    A tatteredntern hung at the corner, covered in dust and no longer lit. It swayed precariously in the evening breeze.


    By the light of the moon, Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi led the way, turning into the fifth row.


    Suddenly, Shen Jizhi''s gaze sharpened, and he paused slightly.


    Jian Huan also raised an eyebrow, ncing at Shen Jizhi out of the corner of her eye.


    Ahead, in front of a small, rundown courtyard, sat five burly men with bare chests and arms.


    They held broad-ded machetes on theirps, arms crossed, their faces fierce and intimidating.


    The courtyard wall was scrawled with the words "Repay Your Debt" in ck charcoal, a stark and unsettling sight.


    Liu Lu''s eyes widened, and she moved closer to Jian Huan, clearly frightened.


    Jian Huan whispered reassuringly, "Don''t worry, don''t worry." She pointed to Shen Jizhi beside her. "He''s the one who should be scared."


    Shen Jizhi: "..."


    The burly men had already noticed them, turning their heads in unison to scrutinize the group. Their thick brows and intense eyes scanned the neers, exchanging nces but making no immediate move.


    These people looked well-dressed and noble, and it was unclear what they were doing in this remote ce.


    They had already turned the corner, so it was awkward to turn back now.


    Shen Jizhi pondered for a moment, his hands sped behind his back, and walked past the five men with light steps, his gaze fixed straight ahead. He exuded an air of calm detachment, as if passing through a field of flowers without touching a single petal.


    Jian Huan struggled to keep a straight face, afraid she might burst intoughter. She tugged at Liu Lu, following closely behind Shen Jizhi.


    For the sake of that bag of fruit he had given her, she decided not to expose his true identity.


    The five burly men exchanged nces. One of them, with a hoarse voice, asked, "What are these people up to?"


    "No idea. They look a bit odd."


    "Did you see? There''s a woman who seems to have fainted. Are they human traffickers?"


    "Doesn''t seem like it. That girl leading the way has a pretty face. She could make money in other ways; why resort to trafficking?"


    "True. Then why are they heading that way? Are they nning to jump into the river?"


    "Whatever. It''s none of our business. Damn it, when is Old Man Liuing back? Did he die out there or something?"


    "Such bad luck. Liu Qiang and his gang have been looking for him everywhere. How much debt does that old man have? Can he even stay alive long enough to pay it back?"


    "..."


    The path ahead was a dead end.


    Shen Jizhi stood silently, gazing at the moonlit surface of the river, its shimmering waves stretching endlessly into the distance. He calmly closed his eyes.


    Jian Huan mped a hand over her mouth, her dark eyes sparkling with amusement. She poked him lightly. "Hey, Shen Jizhi, have you ever heard a saying?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Shen Jizhi replied tly, "No."


    "..." Jian Huan was momentarily speechless. "I haven''t even said it yet!"


    Shen Jizhi nced at her. "The debts of the father fall on the son, as it should be?"


    Jian Huan nodded with a grin. "Exactly."


    Shen Jizhi snorted coldly. "He''s dreaming."


    A momentter, the group turned back. Under the suspicious gazes of the five burly men, they hurried away. When the men weren''t looking, they slipped around to the side and climbed over the wall.


    Since there were people outside, they moved inplete silence, not even lighting amp.