Wenxin agreed, glanced at him, walked out of the courtyard, and locked the door exactly as it was.

Wenxin returned to the Buddhist hall, sat cross-legged on the futon, facing a Buddha statue, with a faint Buddhist fragrance in the air.

He looked up at the gilded Buddha statue, but his thoughts drifted to the dark chamber behind it.

In that room stood a colossal object, which was what Lu Yisheng had referred to as the culmination of half a lifetime's work.

Since he was old enough to understand, Wenxin has followed the various rules set for him by the Buddhist community and his master, such as not eating meat, not drinking alcohol, not engaging in sexual activity, and not gambling.

Although many rules were broken later, he still believed that rules were paramount.

When he first arrived, Lu Yisheng warned him not to touch that machine, and he has followed that advice ever since, never once considering breaking the contract.

But today Lu Yisheng mentioned the phoenix tree, which made him seriously suspect that this thing was related to the phoenix tree.

Lu Yisheng had used the machine to send several people away. He didn't know what force made them disappear into the machine, only that they hadn't returned to this day.

Will they harm the sycamore trees?

Wenxin looked around the courtyard, closed the door, and went to the dark room.

As soon as the hidden dark brown wooden door was opened, a huge object covered with black silk cloth appeared before our eyes.

The thing was square and angular, and when you lifted the silk cloth, you saw that it was covered with buttons.

Every time Lu Yisheng needed to use it, he would send him away, so even now Wenxin still doesn't know how to use this thing.

But he was certain that the people Lu Yisheng brought last time had disappeared inside this machine.

It's like a door; once you step inside, you enter another world.

He looked down at the machine, eager to start it and see where it led. However, after pressing several buttons, the machine remained motionless and silent.

Wenxin hesitated for a few seconds, then gave up. She put the silk cloth back on, closed the door, and went to the Buddhist hall to meditate.

"If you need anything, you can come find me anytime. I'm in the southwest corner."

As he lay on the futon, eyes closed in meditation, a sentence suddenly echoed in his ears. Wenxin abruptly opened his eyes, looked around, but couldn't find the figure he longed for.

She didn't come; those were the words she said when she last came, and he'd kept them in mind ever since.

If there's something to do, you can go... Now that he suspects Lu Yisheng's strange machine is related to her, does that count as something to do?

Wenxin walked out of the Buddhist hall and looked at the southwest corner, deciding to go find her that night.

As the sun sets in the west, the earth is gradually enveloped in darkness.

After finishing the vegetarian meal brought by the palace servants, Wenxin took a bath and changed his clothes. It was a chilly night, and he habitually put on his tattered cotton-padded jacket under his monk's robe, but after thinking about it before going out, he took it off.

He wasn't sure if Wutong would remember, but it was still a memory. The memory was wonderful to him, but a heavy burden to Wutong.

Despite his domineering nature, Nanxing's actions were not considered unreasonable; he had someone make him a new cotton-padded coat early in the morning.

Wen Xin took it out and put it on for the first time, tied the belt, and walked out of the room. After glancing at the southwest corner, he easily leaped onto the courtyard wall, moving silently in the darkness like a nimble cat.

In less than half an incense stick's time, he found the side hall where Wutong was. However, there were no lights inside, it was so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, and there were no guards stationed outside the door.

Could she already be asleep?

Wenxin made her already light steps even lighter, and silently entered the palace gate in the dark.

Upon entering, you first see a spacious hall with a marble floor. Dim moonlight slants in through the windows, vaguely outlining the tables and chairs, but the areas without light remain completely dark.

Ever since Wenxin saw the palace, she felt uneasy and wondered if something had happened to Wutong.

To confirm his suspicions, he decided to go check the bedroom. But as soon as he took a step, a cold voice rang out in front of him.

"Who?"

There are still people here?

Wenxin didn't know if she was so preoccupied with missing Wutong that she hadn't noticed the person's presence, or if the person's skills were so formidable that they were difficult to detect.

He pulled his foot back, retreated into the shadows, and held his breath as he surveyed his surroundings.

The other person said something else.

“I already know you’re in. Get out.”

Wenxin keenly sensed the direction of the sound and looked hard. Sure enough, there was a solitary figure sitting on the steps, almost blending into the darkness, and motionless like a puppet. No wonder he didn't notice it when he came in.

who is it?

The outline looked somewhat familiar, but he wasn't sure, nor did he want to be.

Nanxing stared blankly into the darkness, knowing that someone must be standing there.

Normally, he would have already summoned the guards to catch the assassin. But for some reason, today he really wanted to talk to the other person, to ask him why he broke into the side hall at night, and whether he, like him, was also thinking of Wutong.

Before the palace servants withdrew, they left matches and an oil lamp beside him. Nanxing lit them, raised the lamp high, and the warm yellow light illuminated half of the palace, allowing the two people in the darkness to see each other.

Wen Xin's tall and slender white figure was less than ten feet away from him, gazing at him just like him.

Nanxing gave a cold laugh. "It's you."

Wenxin didn't respond.

Nanxing, holding an oil lamp, walked down the steps and stood before him, saying mockingly, "I brought you to the palace not so you could sneak into the women's quarters at night."

Wen Xin stared at him intently.

Where did the parasol tree go?

Nanxing didn't answer, looked at him for a while, and then suddenly burst into laughter.

Maniacal laughter filled the entire empty palace, echoing overhead and sounding incredibly bizarre.

Wenxin frowned deeply, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his neck.

"Tell me, where did she go?"

Something must have happened to Wutong, otherwise why would an emperor like him sit here like a ghost in the middle of the night?

Nanxing's laughter finally stopped, his eyes turned icy cold, and he raised his chin with unbridled arrogance.

"Go ahead and pinch me, pinch me to death if you want. But you should think carefully, after you pinch me to death, no one will ever give you the antidote again."

He paused, then took a little further forward. The two were about the same height, their noses almost touching.

Nanxing's eyes were bloodshot, yet she was smiling.

"Even if I die, you will have to be buried with me."

Looking at his arrogant and cold demeanor, Wenxin really wanted to strangle him. But firstly, the Buddhist sect wouldn't allow it, and secondly, if she strangled him, who would tell her where Wutong was?

He released his grip, leaving several bright red finger marks on Nanxing's neck. He seemed to feel no pain at all, only scoffing, "What kind of reclusive monk is he? He's nothing but a coward."

Ignoring his provocative words, Wenxin persistently asked, "Where exactly is Wutong?"

Nanxing suddenly fell silent, her gaze shifting to the doorway. After a long while, she whispered, "She's gone."

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