A Shocking Dream

Qiuluo Mountain, connected to several surrounding mountains and forests, is the only truly deep and ancient forest. This place is desolate, with no human habitation within dozens of miles.

Legend has it that in the past, not only were poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts frequent, but there were also reports of ghosts and strange things happening from time to time, causing great suffering to the surrounding people. They repeatedly reported the matter to the authorities for help, but to no avail. In desperation, the villagers gradually moved away, and the forests around Qiuluo Mountain became desolate.

Many years ago, Wu Nian, a mechanical engineer who served Prince An, passed by Qiuluo Mountain and was struck by its breathtaking beauty. In her twilight years, she journeyed into the mountains and founded the Wu Nian Sect, then disappeared. Since then, Qiuluo Mountain has resurfaced in the public consciousness. Numerous expeditions have sought the mountain, but the legendary Wu Nian Sect has never been found. They believe the legend of the sect's founding is mere speculation, concluding that Wu Nian, the mechanical engineer, had passed away after entering Qiuluo Mountain, her remains vanishing.

Unexpectedly, many years later, the Guiyuan Sect suddenly emerged in the martial arts world. This sect was a breakaway from the Wunian Sect. Because of this, the Wunian Sect was renamed the Sunu Sect.

It turns out that Wu Nian, the mechanical engineer, did not have a sect of his own. In fact, the Wu Nian sect was located on the cliffs of Qiuluo Mountain. Qiuluo Mountain was just a cover; his real purpose was to prevent anyone from knowing the exact location of the Wu Nian sect.

"To dispel the rumors, no one dared to set foot on Qiuluo Mountain for years. Now that so many people have gathered at the foot of the mountain, all the rumors about Qiuluo Mountain being haunted can be refuted. In fact, if you stand at the top of Qiuluo Mountain and look carefully, you will find the eaves of our Su Nu Sect. It's just that they were too eager and ignored the visual effect at first glance."

"It's that simple?"

Was it just to get them to come up and dispel the rumors about Qiu Luoshan? Qin Ruoyu was full of doubts. He absolutely did not believe that this matter could be so simple.

"Oh, big brother, I know that everything you encountered in the palace was full of intrigues and deceptions. But this matter, you are just overthinking it. Since the eldest sister said that the Su Nu sect will not harm anyone's life, then there is no need to activate the mechanism to attack them. They are just a group of greedy people."

Inside the cave, Yuanyuan warmed her hands by the fire. Turning around, she saw Qin Ruoyu standing at the entrance, a look of melancholy on his face, seemingly unconcerned with what she had just said.

"The way you Su Nu sect do things is really weird." Qin Ruoyu looked at the pitch-black terrain outside the cave and said this after a long silence.

"Big Brother, what you saw was only what we wanted you to see. Naturally, it seems strange to you. Just like your palace, it seems strange to me too."

Qin Ruoyu did not respond. The cold wind of the night howled, blowing into the cave from time to time, making people shiver with cold. Fortunately, the fire in the cave can reduce some of the cold. Yuanyuan curled up against the wall, already asleep. Qin Ruoyu sat by the fire, not wanting to sleep at all. He thought about all the things he had encountered since coming to Qiuluo Mountain. He really didn't understand why Lin Bingshuang had such great ability that she could freely enter and leave the imperial city and the palace many times without being affected. Even the emperor's uncle, who was always cautious on weekdays, didn't know that Lin Bingshuang knew his every move at all times. Lin Bingshuang had neither revenge nor resentment. With her ability, it would be easy for her to kill them, but she never did it. Is she waiting? What opportunity is she waiting for?

No, if she had been waiting for an opportunity, she wouldn't have rescued him at the Imperial Palace Autumn Hunt. Since he arrived at Qiuluo Mountain, Lin Bingshuang seemed to know everything. How could she have so coincidentally intervened at the Imperial Palace Autumn Hunt? And how did she know he would come looking for her? She seemed to have anticipated his arrival. Did she have spies in the palace, constantly reporting their every move? Qin Ruoyu's fear deepened at this thought. Could it be that Lin Bingshuang possessed the ability to foresee his assassination at the Autumn Hunt, and saved him simply to destabilize the situation? She knew the Emperor's uncle would be deceived by Yunshuang, that he would come looking for her, and that the rumors would lead to a gathering of troops at Qiuluo Mountain. She had every detail under control. If that were the case, she was far too formidable for him. No, she was only human; a single person couldn't possess such extraordinary powers. Some things might simply be coincidences. As Yuanyuan had said, he shouldn't overthink things.

Qin Ruoyu had planned for the emperor's uncle to come this time. He knew that his mother was extremely dissatisfied with his relationship with Yunshuang and would definitely send the emperor's uncle to Qiuluo Mountain. Qiuluo Mountain was at least half a month's journey from the capital. After returning, he could delay for a while. By the time Yunshuang left the capital, the emperor's uncle would not be able to see her when he returned, and he and Yunshuang would have no more contact, which was exactly what he wanted. But if the emperor's uncle came to Qiuluo Mountain and thought of Lin Bingshuang and asked him about it, how would he answer? Lin Bingshuang would definitely not want to see the emperor's uncle, and the emperor's uncle was now bewitched by Yunshuang and in a state of obsession, so he would not want to see Lin Bingshuang either. Qin Ruoyu had originally had a good impression of the Holy Maiden of the Yun Kingdom, but because she had bewitched the emperor's uncle, he changed his mind.

"Who?"

Hearing the sound of footsteps outside the cave, Qin Ruoyu instantly became alert and shouted loudly. He looked towards the cave entrance, then stood up and walked out. Outside the cave, there was only darkness, and no one was in sight. Perhaps he was too nervous and worried too much. Qin Ruoyu returned to the cave, thinking that the fastest way to get here from the foot of the mountain would be tomorrow, and it was impossible for someone to come so soon. However, at this moment, Qin Ruoyu seemed to see something extremely shocking, and he took two or three steps back in fear. His eyes widened, his face turned pale, the muscles on his face were tense, and his eyes revealed a deep fear. His mouth was slightly open, as if he was stunned by the scene in front of him, and even forgot to breathe.

Before him, half-crouched, a white-haired woman in plain clothes. She gently caressed Yuanyuan's sleeping face. Her skin was as white as snow, her features delicate and cool. Her snow-white hair flowed down like a waterfall, framing her stunningly beautiful face and giving her an air of inviolable purity and coolness. Her eyes, clear as gemstones, shone with boundless wisdom and composure. Wu Nian, upon catching sight of Qin Ruoyu, slowly rose to his feet. Her white hair, like clouds, seemed to tell a poignant story of beauty and sorrow. Her manners were graceful and elegant, perfectly showcasing her unique temperament.

"You... who are you?" Qin Ruoyu asked with trembling voice.

"Don't you recognize me? I was the one who saved your life at the hunting ground." This voice...

"Are you Lin Bingshuang? Why did you become..." She had white hair and a beautiful face, not as ugly as they said.

"Why? Of course it's thanks to your uncle."

"Uncle..." Qin Ruoyu suddenly realized. She must be feeling an unprecedented heartache and despair, driven by love. This extreme physical and mental trauma and immense emotional loss had caused her hair to turn gray. "Uncle, if you saw her like this, would you still love Yunshuang?" Qin Ruoyu realized then that Lin Bingshuang was tall and graceful, her figure no less impressive than that of Yun Nation's Saint. No one had previously told him that Lin Bingshuang was also over five feet tall.