Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

Thirteen tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep, clutching his blanket.

She stared at the ceiling of the bed, lost in thought.

Was Shen Mu doing this on purpose, or was she just being overly sensitive?

The thought of that handsome face so close to hers made Thirteen's face flush again. She was indeed naive; even in modern times, she had never been so close to a handsome man.

She could still hear some rustling sounds outside. Since her bed was right next to the window, she slowly moved along the edge of the bed until she reached the window.

He opened the window and, holding onto the window railing, looked out.

As night fell, she saw Shen Mu, dressed in a dark black robe, standing facing her in the moonlight, his head bowed as he spoke to Hao Jing about something, though she couldn't hear him clearly.

He suddenly seemed to sense Thirteen's gaze, and subconsciously turned his head, only to meet a pair of misty, tender eyes.

Thirteen was somewhat lost in thought. The moonlight shone into Shen Mu's cold eyes, like the mist on a mountain stream, so clear and beautiful.

Hao Jing noticed that Shen Mu suddenly froze and seemed lost in thought. He followed Shen Mu's gaze and turned his head, only to see Thirteen hurriedly closing the window.

When he turned around, he saw that Shen Mu's face was full of anger.

"What...what are you looking at?"

Hao Jing was so frightened that he started to stutter. He was surprised that Hao Jing had gotten angry with him just because he turned his head to look at what Hao Jing was looking at.

Seeing Haojing's state, Shen Mu could only sigh deeply.

"I'm looking at an idiot."

The words had a double meaning, but coincidentally, Thirteen inside the room overheard them.

She glared angrily at the window, as if Shen Mu were right in front of her.

She didn't know what feelings she had for Shen Mu, even though she was, after all, a woman.

But it's different for Shen Mu.

Could it be that he also likes men?

And what happens is that I am a man now?

Thirteen subconsciously smoothed his chest, feeling that his thoughts were indeed a bit too bold. If that were the case, he might as well finish off Chongming as soon as possible and go back to Cangqiong Mountain to hide.

Another incense stick has burned in the blink of an eye.

Shen Mu looked tired. He wanted to go home early, but Hao Jing kept him chatting.

It was nothing more than how Thirteen had tormented and enslaved him during that time.

Seeing that it was almost past the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), and that he was still someone who needed to attend court the next day, he said somewhat impatiently.

"Just keep this to yourself for now. I'll send someone to give you some money as compensation later, okay?" Shen Mu didn't really want to stay and listen to Hao Jing's complaints; it was just that Hao Jing's timing was terrible.

He had something else to say to Thirteen.

"Sir, are you just going to try and get rid of me with silver?"

Haojing's eyes seemed to be red, but it was hard to tell whether it was from genuine grievance or from drowsiness.

"How much?"

"One hundred taels!"

"Ok?"

"Eight...fifty taels!"

"Can you say that again!"

"Twenty taels! That's the lowest I can go, sir. I haven't even asked you for reimbursement for the medicine I bought for Thirteen."

Hao Jing frowned, looking aggrieved. Even with his imposing stature, he couldn't hide the stark contrast in his appearance.

It truly disgusted Shen Mu.

Shen Mu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, simply saying it was a matter of paying to avoid trouble. He pulled a bag of silver from his pocket and casually tossed it to Hao Jing, giving him an impatient glance.

"Hurry up and get out of here! Finish everything I told you to do before you go to sleep!"

"Yes, sir!" Hao Jing, having received the money pouch, immediately put on a fawning smile and left Thirteen's courtyard almost without looking back.

Shen Mu sighed and turned his head to look at the room, noticing that the lights were still on.

Thirteen had intended to stick his ear to the window to continue eavesdropping, but unexpectedly, there was no sound outside. Just as he was lost in thought, the window that Thirteen was sticking to was suddenly opened from the outside.

"oops--"

She gasped instinctively and shrank back. Looking up, she saw Shen Mu opening the window and standing outside.

Seeing her flustered state, Shen Mu chuckled softly.

"What? Sir, you have a hobby of eavesdropping? Why don't I tell you myself?"

"That's not necessary."

Thirteen deliberately looked away from Shen Mu, refusing to look at him. She thought to herself that this old fox was probably plotting something wickedly.

"Since you can't sleep, why don't you keep me company and chat for a while longer?"

"Don't you need to attend court tomorrow?"

Thirteen also thought that it must have been well past midnight by now, and Shen Mu probably wouldn't be able to sleep for long before having to go back to the palace.

Shen Mu smiled and leaped through the small window, landing steadily inside the room.

Thirteen couldn't help but glare at him.

"You came in without even asking if I wanted you to?"

Shen Mu didn't seem to care about Thirteen's question. He picked up a clean round stool, sat down, and slowly answered.

"You're a grown man, what are you afraid of me doing to you?"

He seemed to have guessed Thirteen's thoughts, which made Thirteen blush again.

She turned her head away, pretending to be busy, and hurriedly closed the window.

"I'm not afraid of what you do to me, I'm only afraid that you'll turn around and find the poison I planted in this house."

Thirteen wasn't lying. She had a habit of scattering her carefully prepared poison powder in every corner of the house when she wasn't home for a long time, to prevent ants, insects, or thieves.

Although Pei Suisui took her away in a hurry that day, she still casually sprinkled some on her before leaving the house.

Thinking of this, she suddenly remembered Haojing's matter and quickly reminded him.

"Remember to tell Haojing later that he must have had my poison on his hands when he took my money."

"It's alright, as long as it doesn't kill him."

Shen Mu's words, on the contrary, made Thirteen chuckle softly.

"You really are Haojing's master. He probably learned his smooth talk from you."

"No, that's not it. I wasn't with him when I was a child." Shen Mu's expression turned slightly serious, as if some inexplicable emotions were churning in his eyes.

Thirteen realized something was wrong and quickly apologized.

"That's not what I meant. I just said he's funny, like you!" She regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth, realizing she was rambling again.

Could it be that Haojing poisoned the medicine he prescribed for her as revenge?

"This has nothing to do with you. I'm here to talk to you about the Demon Lord." Shen Mu's expression turned serious. Putting aside personal feelings, the most important thing was to resolve the chaos.

"Is there any news about him? Where? In Nanyang?" Thirteen asked excitedly.

Ever since Chongming disappeared, she has been like a headless fly, unable to find any clues about him anywhere.

She had also heard about this matter concerning her junior brother Chongming from Shen Mu.

Unfortunately, after the Emperor's birthday celebrations, Consort An suspended her access to the palace. Instead, she was confined to her courtyard every day and unable to go to the palace to inquire about anything.

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Mu slowly nodded.

"There seems to be some progress, but I still need to send someone to confirm it."

"Where is he now?"

"He is in the Western Regions."