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

"It is Zeng Xianming, the General of the Military Command, and the Prefect of the County!"

Jiang Chuan's pupils contracted. These two people, who usually had a grudge against each other, were now walking side by side, which showed that the situation was serious.

"Send more men! We'll turn Longhai City upside down, but we have to catch that kid!"

Zeng Xianming shouted sternly.

The prefect added with a gloomy face.

"Remember, they must be alive! We can't afford to offend either the imperial court or the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect! Capture them first!"

Jiang Chuan's heart sank.

These two are clearly afraid of taking responsibility and want to make him a scapegoat!

He had to come up with a solution as soon as possible, but the entire city was under martial law, and the city's protective formation blocked all exits.
"boom!"

The sound of a door being broken down came from downstairs.

Jiang Chuan froze, hearing the soldiers' shouts.

"Search! Don't miss a single corner!"

Jiang Chuan took out a jade-green bead from his bosom—the Breath-Avoiding Bead!

This was a life-saving item left to him by his master, capable of temporarily concealing his aura.

He swallowed the bead and simultaneously used the Shadow Escape technique, his figure drifting out of the window like smoke.

"Huhu."

Jiang Chuan was panting heavily after using Shadow Cloak continuously, and his internal energy was almost exhausted.

He hid under the eaves, trying to think of a solution while enduring the dizziness.

What puzzled him was that no matter where he hid, the pursuers always managed to find him quickly!

"There must be something on me that gave me away."

Jiang Chuan quickly examined his entire body—clothes, sword, personal belongings, even his hair—but found nothing.

"strangeness."

Jiangchuan frowned.

The shouts of pursuers could be heard again in the distance.

He had to move again, dragging his weary body stealthily toward the west of the city.

Unbeknownst to Jiang Chuan, he arrived at the shore of Yueming Lake, an inner lake of the county town.

The lake was brightly lit, with painted boats and pleasure boats shuttling back and forth, and the sounds of string and wind instruments filling the air.

"These scions of prominent families."

Jiang Chuan sneered.

While the entire city was under martial law and a manhunt for the assassin, these young masters and ladies continued their revelry unaffected.

On the largest pleasure boat in the center of the lake, a group of elegantly dressed young people were drinking and chatting happily.

One of the dashing young men, holding a folding fan, swayed his head and recited poems, making the young girls around him giggle.

"Young Master Ye, your writing is truly excellent!"

"One more song, please!"

The young man, known as "Young Master Ye," was smug and about to recite another poem when he suddenly noticed a figure moving in the shadows on the shore.

He squinted but saw nothing, and then returned to his wine and women.

On the shore, Jiang Chuan emerged from the shadows, gazing at the bustling scene on the lake, when suddenly an idea struck him.

"Perhaps I can sneak onto the pleasure boat? Those scions of noble families don't recognize me, and the pursuers probably won't search their ship."

Just as he was pondering, a cold hand suddenly landed on his shoulder!

"Who?!"

Jiang Chuan felt a chill run down his spine, and his black jade sword was instantly drawn, the tip pointing directly at the throat of the person behind him!
"No, no, no! It's me!"

A familiar voice called out in a panic.

By the moonlight, Jiang Chuan could see the face of the person who had come into view—it was the alchemist Su Wen!

That young man who had met him once at the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect and gave him the Great Rejuvenation Pill!

"Su Wen?"

Jiang Chuan did not sheath his sword, and his vigilance remained undiminished.

"Why are you here?"

Su Wen raised his hands and smiled wryly.

"I'm here to help you! When I saw the city-wide wanted poster, I knew you'd be trapped in the city."

"help me?"

Jiang Chuan sneered.

"The whole city thinks I'm an assassin. Why would you help me? Aren't you afraid of being implicated?"

Su asked anxiously.

"If I had any ill intentions towards you, I would have simply called for help earlier! Why risk showing myself?"

He pointed at Jiang Chuan's sword.

"Do you remember the Great Rejuvenation Pill? I refined that!"

Jiang Chuan was taken aback upon hearing this. The Great Rejuvenation Pill had indeed saved his life, and its formula was unique, making it impossible for ordinary alchemists to refine.

He slowly sheathed his sword, but still maintained his distance.

"Speak, what exactly happened? What does the assassination attempt on the Liang Prince's residence have to do with me?"

Su Wen looked around, pulled Jiang Chuan to a more secluded spot, and whispered.

"Of course I know it wasn't you. The real assassin is Zhao Weiyuan, the third prince of Yan!"

"Zhao Weiyuan?"

Jiang Chuan frowned.

"That prince of Yan who cultivates at Panlong Peak in the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect?"

"It's him!"

Su Wen nodded.

"Although this person cultivates in the immortal sect, his character is wicked."

Last night, he sneaked into the Liang Prince's mansion to assassinate him, but was captured on the spot by the mansion's retainers.

Ironically, when he revealed his identity as the third prince of Yan, no one believed him.

A thoughtful look flashed in Jiang Chuan's eyes.

"How is the Prince of Liang now?"

"Severely injured and unconscious."

Su sighed.

"Princess Chai was too frightened, and now the Prince Liang Maoye is in charge of the Prince's residence."

Inside the Liang Prince's Mansion, candlelight blazed brightly.

Prince Liang Maoye sat upright in the main seat of the study, his face, though only in his early twenties, carrying a composure beyond his years.

A confidential report that had just been delivered was spread out in front of him.

The Cloud Sea Immortal Sect replied that Zhao Weiyuan was indeed in seclusion on Panlong Peak and had not emerged for three months.

"absurd!"

Liang Maoye slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle.

"Could it be that ghosts are locked up in the dungeon?"

The kneeling retainer touched the ground with his forehead, not daring to raise his head.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. That is indeed the reply from the immortal sect."

Liang Maoye forced himself to calm down.

His father was seriously injured and fell into a coma, and his mother was emotionally devastated. The entire burden of the Liang Prince's Mansion fell on his shoulders.

He cannot afford to act rashly, especially at such a sensitive time that could trigger a war between the two countries.

"Go to the dungeon."

He suddenly stood up.

"I want to interrogate Zhao Weiyuan myself!"

After passing through heavily guarded passageways, Liang Maoye arrived at the deepest part of the Prince's Palace dungeon.

The damp, chilly air was thick with the stench of blood, and the torchlight cast flickering shadows on the stone walls.

When the cell door opened, what came into view was a corpse lying in a pool of blood.

Zhao Weiyuan had a short sword stuck in his chest, and his eyes were wide open.

"How is this possible!"

Liang Maoye staggered backward, his face deathly pale.

Just two hours ago, he had personally interrogated this man who claimed to be a prince of the Yan Kingdom!
"Your Majesty, be careful!"

His retainers quickly helped him up.

"The assassin might still be nearby!"

Despite his dizziness, Liang Maoye knelt down to examine the body.

Zhao Weiyuan's fingers were covered in blood as he scribbled two crooked characters on the ground: "Blood Moon".

"Blood moon?"

Liang Maoye frowned. What did that mean?
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached. The chief steward of the Prince's mansion rushed over in a panic.

"Your Highness! The Princess Consort has woken up and is demanding to see you! She insists that the assassin be executed by slow slicing."

Liang Maoye gave a wry smile.

The mother, Chai, came from a military family and had a strong personality; at this moment, she probably wouldn't listen to any explanation.

He glanced at Zhao Weiyuan's corpse and said in a deep voice.

"Block the news. Just say the assassin died from his injuries. Also, immediately send someone to fetch the best coroner in Longhai. I need to know how he died!"

When Liang Maoye rushed to his mother's bedroom, Chai was weeping bitterly at her desk.

Upon seeing her son, she immediately grabbed his arm. "Maoye! How is your father? Has the assassin been caught?"

"Don't worry, Mother, Father will get better."

Liang Maoye offered a soft word of comfort.

The assassin has been killed.

"Just die like that?"

Chai's face was filled with ruthlessness.

"He got off too easy! He should be torn to pieces!"

Liang Maoye sighed inwardly.

He dared not tell his mother that this "assassin" was likely the real prince of Yan, and that the consequences would be unimaginable if the news leaked out.

"Mother, the Imperial Preceptor Cheng Zizai is already on his way to Longhai."

He changed the subject.

"With the Imperial Advisor's intervention, Father will surely be able to turn the tide."

Mrs. Chai calmed down a little, but she was still gritting her teeth.

"No matter who instigated it, my Liang family will never let them live under the same sky!"

After comforting his mother to sleep, Liang Maoye stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the night sky.

Dark clouds obscured the moon, and the starlight dimmed, just like his mood at that moment.

Zhao Weiyuan's death is too suspicious; there must be more to it than meets the eye.

The words "blood moon" made him feel uneasy.

"Sir."

A deep voice came from the shadows.

"A letter has arrived from Haojing. His Majesty has ordered you to temporarily assume the authority of the Prince of Liang and to ensure the stability of the Longhai region."

Liang Maoye took the secret letter and examined it closely under the lamp, his brows furrowing more and more deeply.

The letter mentioned that there had been unusual activity on the border of Yan recently, but there had been no news of a prince going missing.

"Pass the order."

He put away the secret letter, his voice icy.

"Strengthen city defenses and strictly check people entering and leaving the city, especially disciples of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect."

On the shore of Moonlit Lake, Jiang Chuan's face turned ashen after listening to Su Wen's account.

"Zhao Weiyuan is dead?"

He clenched his fists.

"This is clearly an attempt to confirm my guilt!"

Su Wen nodded.

"Now the whole city believes you are the assassin, but the real culprit is dead and there is no way to prove it."

Jiang Chuan suddenly thought of something and grabbed Su Wen's shoulder.

"How do you know all this? You even have inside information about the Liang Prince's mansion?"

Su Wen smiled wryly and took out a jade slip from his bosom.

"My master is a royal alchemist; this is the news he just sent."

"Brother Jiang, you are in an extremely dangerous situation. Not only are the authorities hunting you down, but I'm afraid there are also people within the Immortal Sect who want you dead."

Jiang Chuan was startled.

Indeed, if someone within the Immortal Sect hadn't leaked his whereabouts, how could the County Military Command have found him so easily?
"Identity jade token!"

He suddenly realized what was happening and pulled the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect disciple token from his waist.

The jade plaque gleamed faintly in the moonlight, with runes subtly flowing within it.

Su Wen's expression changed upon seeing this.

"This is a tracking talisman!"

Jiang Chuan no longer hesitated. He surged with true energy in his palm and crushed the jade tablet to pieces!
A commotion arose in the distance, as if someone had lost track of their target.

"Sure enough."

Jiang Chuan sneered.

"It seems there are people in the immortal sects who would love for me to die."

Su Wen's expression was solemn.

"What should we do now?"

Jiang Chuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked.

"Is Senior Brother Kongchan still in the city?"

"Yes! It's in the Hanging Temple Villa in the south of the city."

"it is good."

Jiang Chuan was somewhat resolute.

"Brother Su, please inform Senior Brother Kong Chan that I have asked him to use the Buddhist Heavenly Eye to investigate the truth of last night at the Liang Prince's Mansion."

Su asked, puzzled.

"how about you?"

"I?"

Jiang Chuan looked towards the brightly lit giant ship in the center of Moonlit Lake.

"Since someone's going to cause trouble, I'll make the commotion even bigger!"

Su Wen tried to dissuade him, but Jiang Chuan had already leaped onto the lake, stepping on lotus leaves, and disappeared into the mist in a few leaps.

In a secluded pavilion somewhere in the county town, candlelight flickers in a dark room.

The young master with the fan leaned back on the soft couch, casually toying with a blood-red jade pendant.

Before him, a bodyguard was kneeling on one knee, reporting.

“Master, Jiang Chuan’s presence has suddenly vanished. He seems to have sensed the tracking talisman on the jade tablet.”

The young man with the fan chuckled softly.

"That's clever of you."

He turned to look at the moonlight outside the window.

"It's alright, the game has only just begun."

"Master, what's next?"

"Go tell Zeng Xianming."

The young man with the fan closed his folding fan and gently tapped his palm.

"Jiang Chuan was last seen at Moonlit Lake. Tell him to make sure he captures the man before dawn."

The giant ship of Fengyue Tower was brightly lit, resembling a palace on the water.

This three-story painted boat is entirely vermilion, with glass wind chimes hanging from its eaves, which make a crisp and melodious sound as it sways with the waves.

Four maids in white stood at the bow and stern of the ship, each holding a palace lantern. Their faces were beautiful, but their demeanor was as cold as ice.

"Young Master Ye, you've really gone all out tonight!"

"I heard that even Miss Fan Su and Miss Xiao Man have been invited out!"

"Shh, keep your voice down, that person is not someone to be trifled with."

The crowd watching from the shore whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with envy.

As the most famous brothel in Longhai County, Fengyue Tower's reputation even spread throughout the eighteen counties of the western border of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The girls in the building were not only all stunningly beautiful, but also exceptionally skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, making them highly sought after by countless officials and nobles.

However, the brothel had two unwritten rules.

First, the two top courtesans, Fan Su and Xiao Man, never "entertain customers," they only accompany guests for drinks and conversation;
Secondly, it is strictly forbidden to force girls to do anything in the building.

There was once a young master from a noble family who refused to believe in evil and tried to force himself on a girl. As a result, the mysterious master of the Fengyue Tower destroyed his cultivation on the spot and almost made him paralyzed from the waist down.

This incident caused a sensation throughout the city and made everyone realize the terrifying power behind the brothel.

Tonight, both of these rules have been broken.

On the top deck of the giant ship, a young man dressed in a moon-white robe stood by the railing.

He was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a handsome face that was almost otherworldly. He held an ivory folding fan in his hand and gently waved it. The four characters "风流提傥" (meaning "elegant and dashing") on the fan were written in a flamboyant style.

This is the "Young Master Ye" who has recently become famous in the county town—no one knows his full name, nor does anyone know his background; all that is known is that he is generous and his cultivation is unfathomable.

"Young master, the wine is warmed up."

A gentle, soothing voice came from behind.

Young Master Ye turned around and saw Fan Su, dressed in a light purple silk dress, walking towards him carrying a white jade wine pot.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, and she exuded a scholarly air in every gesture. She didn't seem like a woman of the world, but rather like a lady from a scholarly family.

"Su'er is always so thoughtful."

Young Master Ye chuckled, reaching out to take the wine pot, but deliberately stroking Fan Su's hand lightly.

Fan Su's expression remained unchanged; she simply took a half-step back, skillfully avoiding further contact.

"Young master, please have some self-respect."

Young Master Ye was not offended; instead, he laughed heartily.

"What an ice queen!"

"Brother Ye is bullying Sister Su again!"

A sweet, charming voice came from behind the beaded curtain.

A young girl dressed in a pale yellow dress skipped and jumped into Young Master Ye's arms.

The girl was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks, and her two dimples were especially cute when she smiled.

In stark contrast to the dignified Fan Su, she was lively and agile, like a cheerful little bird.

This is Xiao Man, another top courtesan at the brothel. (End of Chapter)