The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Upon seeing Jiang Chuan enter, Feng Ling'er attacked him without saying a word, wanting to test his strength.

Jiang Chuan quickly accepted the challenge, displaying his swordsmanship skills to fight Feng Ling'er.

In a short while, Jiang Chuan realized that Feng Ling'er was actually a Supreme Realm expert, and he was clearly at a disadvantage in front of her.

"Hmph, with such meager skills, you dare to come to Ping'an Town?"

Feng Ling'er attacked while sneering.

Jiang Chuan fought back with all his might, and just when he was about to give up, Uncle Long intervened and stopped Feng Ling'er.

"Miss Feng, stop! Miss Yu has gone out on business and asked Young Master Jiang to stay in Ping'an Town to wait."

Feng Ling'er then stopped, and Jiang Chuan, panting heavily, looked somewhat puzzled.

"Uncle Long, what exactly happened? Where is Miss Yu?"

Uncle Long sighed: "Miss Yu has urgent business to attend to and asked me to wait for you here."

Miss Feng is a good friend of Miss Yu; I apologize for any offense I may have caused earlier.

Jiang Chuan was somewhat dissatisfied, but he could only accept it. "When will Miss Yu return?"

Uncle Long shook his head: "I don't know the exact time. Please wait patiently here, Young Master Jiang."

Meanwhile, at Tongfu Tavern in Ping'an Town, Jiang Wei was sitting opposite a mysterious man in black robes.

The tavern was bustling with people, noisy and chaotic, but no one noticed the two of them.

“Young Master Jiang, Zhao Weiyuan has close ties with the Liu family, and it’s likely that the Liu family is supporting him.”

The man in black robes said in a low voice.

Jiang Wei asked, "The Liu family? Is it the Liu family that has close ties with the Crown Prince?"

The man in black robes nodded: "Exactly."

In my opinion, Zhao Weiyuan's hostility towards Young Master Jiang is likely related to the Crown Prince; the Crown Prince wants to use Zhao Weiyuan to put you in a difficult position.

Jiang Wei's pupils contracted sharply, fully aware of the danger.

"So, this is actually a power struggle within the imperial court."

The man in black robes continued, "Young Master Jiang, I can help you deal with Tang Zhizhi, as long as you..."

Jiang Wei interrupted the man in black robes: "This is absolutely unacceptable. Tang Zhizhi is my fellow disciple. How can I do such an unjust thing?"

The man in black robes sneered, "Young Master Jiang, don't be fooled."

Now that the Crown Prince is arrogant, the Prince of Zhou is preparing to deal with Prime Minister Tang. Even though Tang Zhizhi is Prime Minister Tang's granddaughter and has entered the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, she cannot escape this storm.

The man in black robes was right; it was simply impossible for Jiang Wei to deal with his own fellow disciples.

"I need to think about this matter some more."

The man in black robes stopped pressuring them.

"Young Master Jiang, you should take care of yourself."

This peaceful town may seem calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging beneath. Be careful.

After saying this, the man in black robes got up and left.

After noon, inside the inn in Ping'an Town.

Jiang Chuan and Jiang Wei sat facing each other, the tea on the table long since cooled.

Previously, the two had just finished discussing Liu Qing's matter when Jiang Wei spoke up.

"Jiang Chuan, to be honest, I am about to go to Danyang County to see the Prefect Ding Xiangzhong."

Jiang Chuan asked in confusion, "Senior Brother Jiang, why is that?"

Jiang Wei picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "This is my uncle's order. I have made all the necessary arrangements, and it will not attract the attention of the court."

He continued, "I would like to invite you to come along. With your reputation, you can help me maintain order."

Jiang Chuan had some doubts about Jiang Wei's actions, but seeing Jiang Wei's sincere eyes, he finally nodded.

“In that case, I will accompany Senior Brother Jiang on this trip.”

But could Senior Brother Jiang reveal more about the reasons behind this?

Jiang Wei smiled and said, "This is a long story, I'll tell you the details on the way."

The next morning, the sky was overcast with dark clouds and a light drizzle was falling.

Looking at the terrible weather, Pei Guoguo pouted and said, "With this rain, I don't want to go out."

After saying that, she looked at Fang Sheng and said, "Fang Sheng, why don't you stay and keep me company?"

Fang Sheng had no choice but to nod.

Jiang Chuan and Jiang Wei embarked on their journey to the county town.

Feng Ling'er saw the two figures leaving from the pavilion and made a guess.

"Judging from their posture, are they heading to the Marquis of Weiyuan's residence? I heard that Yu Youwei is there too. In that case, they might run into each other, which would save me a lot of trouble."

Jiang Chuan and Jiang Wei traveled in the rain and arrived at Danyang County at noon.

The city was bustling with activity, and the rain did not dampen people's enthusiasm.

Looking at the scene in the city, Jiang Wei said to Jiang Chuan, "Jiang Chuan, let's go to the Marquis of Weiyuan's residence first."

However, you'll need to bring some gifts to get in.

Jiang Chuan looked surprised: "Senior Brother Jiang, you didn't prepare a gift beforehand?"

Jiang Wei scratched his head: "I was thinking that having a gift is better than having none."

"Wander around first; you're bound to find something suitable."

The two strolled through the streets of the county town, where everyone was dressed in fine clothes, their silks and satins shimmering in the rain.

Looking at Jiang Chuan and Jiang Wei, they were dressed in simple clothes and stood out from the people around them.

Jiang Wei said, "Dressed like this, I'm afraid we won't be able to enter the Marquis of Weiyuan's residence. Jiang Chuan, let's go buy some new clothes first."

Jiang Chuan nodded in agreement.

The two found a clothing store, which was filled with all kinds of exquisite clothes.

Jiang Wei chose a moon-white robe, while Jiang Chuan chose a black fitted outfit.

After changing into new clothes, the two men's demeanor changed drastically, and they looked like noble young men, attracting the attention of passersby.

After that, they continued choosing gifts.

Unfortunately, despite wandering through various shops, Jiang Wei was unable to find anything that met his expectations.

"This gift is really hard to choose; it just doesn't feel quite right."

Jiang Wei was somewhat troubled.

Jiang Chuan knew that Jiang Wei's trip was not just for courtesy, so he suggested, "Senior Brother Jiang, you have been traveling for a long time and are hungry."

"Why not go to a restaurant for a meal first, fill your stomach, and then look for something? Your thoughts might become clearer."

Jiang Wei replied, “That suits me perfectly. Let’s find a place to fill our stomachs first.”

The two arrived at the famous Tingyuxuan Restaurant in Danyang County.

Stepping into the restaurant, you are greeted by a cacophony of noise as diners clink glasses and chat.

Jiang Wei found a seat by the window and ordered several signature dishes and a pot of fine wine.

When the food and wine were served, Jiang Wei poured Jiang Chuan a full glass of wine and then drank it all in one gulp.

Jiang Chuan asked, "Senior Brother Jiang, I think you came here not just to give Ding Xiangzhong a gift, right?"

Jiang Wei put down his wine cup and smiled: "I can't hide it from you."

I really wanted to use this opportunity to learn about the local customs and culture of Danyang County so that I could better understand Ding Xiangzhong.

This restaurant is crowded and noisy; it's the perfect place to gather information.

Jiang Chuan felt a greater appreciation for Jiang Wei's thoughtfulness.

At that moment, they heard the conversation of several diners at the next table.

"Have you heard? Marquis Ding Xiangzhong of Weiyuan has acquired a rare item."

One of them said in a low voice.

"What rare item is it? Tell me about it."

Bystanders pressed for answers.

"It's a mermaid! I've heard it comes from the Mermaid Kingdom in the outer sea of ​​Qingzhou. Those mermaids are incredibly beautiful, but the Mermaid Kingdom was destroyed because of them."

Ding Xiangzhong planned to invite the heroes of Danyang to witness the spectacular sight of mermaids splitting their tails on the night of the full moon two days later.

Jiang Chuan and Jiang Wei both looked surprised. Jiang Wei put down his chopsticks, cupped his hands towards the next table, and said, "Gentlemen, I just heard you talking about the merfolk of the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion. Would you be willing to elaborate?"

Seeing Jiang Wei's extraordinary attire and respectful attitude, one of the people at the next table said, "Young master, you may not know this, but the mermaid is hidden in Ding Xiangzhong's mansion, and no one has ever seen what she looks like."

However, it is said that the mermaid's ability to split its tail is extremely rare. Once the tail is successfully split, it can transform into human form and possess extraordinary abilities.

Ding Xiangzhong's invitation likely has ulterior motives.

Jiang Wei thanked the group and then discussed things in hushed tones with Jiang Chuan.

"It seems there is something strange about the Marquis of Weiyuan's residence. I'm afraid I've made an important discovery this time."

Jiang Wei said.

Jiang Chuan nodded: "That's right, the matter of the merfolk is mysterious, we must go to the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion to find out the truth."

After a satisfying meal, the two continued to select gifts.

Finally, in an antique shop, Jiang Wei found a beautiful jade pendant.

The jade pendant has a warm and smooth texture and is engraved with a lifelike auspicious dragon pattern.

"This is it. Ding Xiangzhong is fond of antiques, and this jade pendant will surely suit his taste," Jiang Wei said with satisfaction.

In the afternoon, Jiang Wei took Jiang Chuan to the residence of Marquis Weiyuan.

The gates of the Marquis's mansion were tightly shut, with two guards at the entrance dressed in armor and carrying long spears.

Jiang Wei stepped forward, presented his visiting card, and showed his gifts.

The guard took the visiting card and gifts, examined them carefully, and said, "Please wait a moment, gentlemen, I will go and inform them."

Before long, a guard came out and said respectfully, "Young masters, the Marquis invites you."

Upon entering the Marquis's residence, one sees a spacious courtyard, lush flowers and plants, and pavilions and towers arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner.

The two were led to a living room, which was luxuriously furnished and filled with calligraphy, paintings and antiques.

Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes walked in; it was Ding Xiangzhong, the prefect of Danyang.

"I was unaware of your arrival, gentlemen. I apologize for not welcoming you properly," Ding Xiangzhong said with a smile.

Jiang Wei quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Prefect Ding, I have long admired your name."

I hope the Prefect will not take offense at our visit today, Brother Jiangchuan and I.

Ding Xiangzhong's gaze fell on Jiang Chuan, somewhat surprised.

Jiang Wei introduced, "Prefect Ding, this is a disciple of Hua Yangzi of Zuowang Peak of the Yunhai Immortal Sect, whose Daoist name is Qingyang."

The "Yang" generation holds an extremely high position in the Yunhai Immortal Sect, and they are usually peak masters or peak master candidates.

Ding Xiangzhong realized that Jiang Chuan was an extraordinary person, and quickly bowed and said, "So you are Young Master Qingyang, my apologies for not recognizing you."

Jiang Chuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Prefect Ding, you flatter me. I am but a junior, and it is an honor to meet you today."

At this moment, a light rain began to fall. Ding Xiangzhong invited Jiang Wei and Jiang Chuan into his residence to take shelter from the rain, and instructed the Marquis's wife to prepare her treasured Yunjian Sparrow Tongue Tea to entertain the distinguished guests.

Jiang Wei took a sip of tea and said, "Prefect Ding, I heard that you have acquired a treasure, so I came here specifically to see it for myself."

Ding Xiangzhong smiled: "Young Master Jiang is well-informed."

Yes, I have indeed acquired a rare item, but it is not convenient to show it off right now.

Two days later, on the night of the full moon, I will perform a ritual and invite you all to witness the wondrous sight of the mermaids splitting their tails.

Jiang Chuan had studied celestial observation and knew that it would rain in the next few days, but Ding Xiangzhong was confident that the clouds would part and the moon would appear on the night of the full moon.

"Prefect Ding, as far as I know, it will rain for the next few days. I wonder if you have any ingenious methods to clear the clouds and see the moon on the night of the full moon?"

Ding Xiangzhong smiled mysteriously: "Young Master Qingyang, rest assured, I have a plan. You will know when the time comes."

Inside the hall, Jiang Chuan noticed an elderly man with white hair, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom and emanating an extraordinary aura; his cultivation was unfathomable.

He guessed that this was the Taoist master whom Ding Xiangzhong had invited.

After everyone dispersed, Jiang Chuan went back to his room.

The candlelight inside was dim, and the rain pattered outside the window. He sat by the window, listening to the rain, his thoughts in turmoil.

I couldn't help but think of Yu Youwei: "I wonder where she is now, and whether she is doing well."

The night was deep, and all was quiet except for the sound of rain.

Jiang Chuan was just about to fall asleep when he suddenly sensed an unusual presence approaching.

He became alert, quietly rose, gripped the hilt of his sword with his right hand, held his breath, and prepared to deal with the unknown situation.

The person who arrived was light-footed, dressed in black, masked, and moved extremely quickly.

But Jiang Chuan still managed to detect that faint aura thanks to his keen senses.

Just as Jiang Chuan was about to draw his sword, the mysterious man vanished in an instant.

A noise came from the back window, and a mysterious person jumped in through it.

Jiang Chuan didn't hesitate and drew his sword.

Upon seeing the person's face clearly, he nearly dropped his sword.

"Youwei, it's you?" Jiang Chuan exclaimed excitedly.

Yu Youwei chuckled: "What, you're not welcoming me?"

Having said that, he turned around and circled behind Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan then noticed that Yu Youwei's pupils had turned azure blue, and her aura was different from before. Now, her cultivation level was at the late stage of the Zhiwei realm, the same as his.

"The color of your eyes... what is the reason for this cultivation level?"

Jiang Chuan asked with a puzzled look.

Yu Youwei sighed softly: "This is a side effect of suppressing my cultivation."

"I need to enter the Kunlun Secret Realm, a place that only allows cultivators below the Supreme level to enter. I have no other choice."

The two looked at each other and asked why they were there.

Jiang Chuan truthfully replied, "I came here with Prince Jiang Wei of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

Yu Youwei nodded: "I came with my fellow disciple."

When her senior brother was mentioned, a complex look appeared in her eyes.

Immediately, the two recalled the past.

Yu Youwei teased, "I still remember how disheveled you were when we first met."

Jiang Chuan laughed and said, "I was reckless back then. I'm so grateful for your help, otherwise I would have suffered a lot."

Amidst laughter, Yu Youwei suggested, "Jiang Chuan, I know an interesting place. How about we go together?"

Jiang Chuan asked curiously, "Where? Are you going to steal something?"

Yu Youwei smiled slyly: "Maybe I'm planning to steal a mermaid."

Jiang Chuan was shocked, "The merman is the treasure of Marquis Weiyuan, and the Marquis's mansion is heavily guarded, how could..."

Seeing Jiang Chuan's nervousness, Yu Youwei laughed and said, "Look how nervous you are. You just want to see the merfolk, not really steal them."

I've heard that merfolk are incredibly beautiful and can even split their tails and transform into human form; I'm truly curious.

Jiang Chuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, let's go take a look together."

The two changed into night clothes and, under the cover of darkness and wind and rain, quietly made their way to a pavilion in the Marquis's residence.

Guards patrolled back and forth around the attic, and torches swayed in the wind and rain.

The guards looked exhausted, clearly having been on patrol for a long time, which gave Jiang Chuan and Yu Youwei the perfect opportunity to infiltrate.

Yu Youwei leaned closer to Jiang Chuan and whispered, "The merfolk are hidden in this pavilion."

Jiang Chuan nodded, and the two of them crouched down, hiding in the shadows, their eyes scanning their surroundings warily, quietly searching for an opportunity to sneak in.

Jiang Chuan and Yu Youwei seized the opportunity during the handover between guards and quickly arrived at the foot of the pavilion.

They climbed silently up the vines along the wall and quickly climbed through the window into the attic.

Upon entering the first floor of the attic, an indoor lotus pond comes into view in the dim light.

In the pool, the merman was firmly chained by four black gold chains.

The mermaid seemed to sense something and leaped out of the water.

Jiang Chuan and Yu Youwei stared intently, stunned into silence—the merman's face was exactly the same as Yu Youwei's.

"Princess, save me!"

The merman shouted at Yu Youwei.

Jiang Chuan sensed that things might not be so simple; they might have fallen into a trap. (End of Chapter)