In that instant, Xie Shuci wished he had been captured by the Hundred Gates as soon as he entered.

Especially when he saw Chu Wenfeng, who was following Chu Guiyi around like a tagalong, standing not far behind her.

Xie Shuci was filled with remorse! He was so regretful he was practically green with envy!

What the hell is this?!

Chu Guiyi clearly recognized Xie Shuci, and stared at him for a few seconds, stunned. Xie Shuci, worried about being exposed, winked and gestured for him to cooperate and not give himself away.

Chu Guiyi snapped out of his daze, a smile playing on his lips. He didn't mind Xie Shuci's dirty appearance, and helped him up from the ground. Then, he stood in front of Xie Shuci and said to the passersby, "Everyone, please disperse. I'll take them to get something to eat."

The steamed bun vendor nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, thank you for your trouble."

Chu Guiyi nodded slightly, then turned to Xie Shuci, "Shall we go?"

Xie Shuci lowered his head, pretending to be an ostrich, and said, "Oh..."

Walking up to Chu Wenfeng, Xie Shuci deliberately ruffled her hair a couple of times to cover her face, even though it was only a matter of time before she was recognized.

Chu Wenfeng stared at Xie Shuci suspiciously for a few moments, then said to Chu Guiyi, "Senior Brother, why do I feel like I've seen him somewhere before?"

Chu Guiyi nodded with a smile, "Perhaps."

Xie Shuci: "..."

Following Chu Guiyi, the two arrived at an inn and requested a private room.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Xie Shuci led the little beggar into the room with Chu Guiyi.

Along the way, Chu Wenfeng would occasionally peek at Xie Shuci, as if he was wondering if he had seen this person somewhere before.

Upon entering the room, Chu Guiyi said, "Sit down."

Then he said to Chu Wenfeng, "Wenfeng, go and tell the waiter to prepare some light food."

Chu Wenfeng stared at Xie Shuci suspiciously, then responded and slowly left the room.

Once everyone had left, Chu Guiyi finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, "What are you doing...?"

Xie Shuci knew he recognized her. She looked up and awkwardly scratched her hair a couple of times, then stammered, "I had no choice. They all know what I look like. If I don't disguise myself, I can't even get into Yuemanwu."

No sooner had Xie Shuci finished speaking than Chu Wenfeng, who had just left, suddenly pushed open the door and shouted, "I remember now, you are Xie..."

Xie Shuci was startled and turned his head to see Chu Wenfeng with a flushed face.

Xie Shuci: "..."

Chu Wenfeng stopped talking in time, went into the room, pointed at Xie Shuci, and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... What kind of outfit is this... Hahaha..."

"You...you're hilarious...thank you..."

"You actually...really managed to beg your way through..."

Enraged, Xie Shuci grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it at him, yelling, "You're hilarious! You idiot!"

Chu Wenfeng easily caught the flying teacup, and said breathlessly, "Between the two of us, who looks more like an idiot?"

Xie Shuci retorted angrily, "I'm forced into this by life's circumstances! What do you know!"

The little beggar looked at them with a confused expression, not understanding what they were talking about.

Chu Guiyi released a wisp of spiritual energy into the little beggar's nasal cavity, and the little beggar's consciousness instantly became blurred, and he fell asleep in Xie Shuci's arms.

Chu Guiyi picked up the little beggar from his arms and put him aside, then looked at Chu Wenfeng, who was laughing by the door, and said, "Wenfeng, that's enough."

Chu Wenfeng slowly suppressed his smile, walked back to the table, and when he met Xie Shuci's angry gaze, he still couldn't help but laugh.

Xie Shuci rolled her eyes at him, wiped her face, and said, "What's so funny? Is it that funny?"

"Pfft—" Chu Wenfeng answered him with laughter.

Even Chu Guiyi, who had been holding back his laughter, couldn't help but feel a little weak, but when he met Xie Shuci's resentful gaze, he forced himself to suppress his laughter again.

"You guys are so annoying!" Xie Shuci said with dissatisfaction.

"Alright, enough joking around," Chu Guiyi said seriously.

"snort."

Chu Wenfeng's smile gradually faded, and he pointed at Xie Shuci, cursing, "Are you sick? You know this is where your fate is sealed, yet you still rush here?"

Xie Shuci's eyes darkened as he said, "I've seen Bixie, and I can pretty much confirm it. If I hadn't come, Xie An would have been the one to die."

Chu Guiyi frowned.

Xie Shuci continued, "If I die, I can be reincarnated, but if Xie An dies, then there is nothing left."

Xie Shuci said casually, "So, from a broader perspective, it's more worthwhile for me to die."

Chu Wenfeng rolled his eyes at him. "Idiot."

Chu Guiyi sighed, "I believe in your choice. However, Shuci, you probably don't know that many immortal sects and families aren't in a hurry to go to Sangqi City; they're all lying in wait in Yuemanwu. Once they discover your whereabouts, I'm afraid..."

Xie Shuci was certainly aware of this.

“Even so, I have to come,” Xie Shuci sighed. He paused for a moment, then added, “You shouldn’t be involved with me right now. What if someone finds out?”

Chu Guiyi shook his head and said, "Let's not talk about that for now. Why are you the only one here? Where is Young Master Xie?"

Xie Shuci looked dejected. "I don't know."

Chu Wenfeng asked incredulously, "You didn't go with him? That's so unexpected! Did you two have a fight?"

That little idiot always brings up the very thing he doesn't want to talk about.

"It's more than just arguing," Xie Shuci said with a wry smile.

Unexpectedly, Xie Shuci reacted this way. Chu Wenfeng asked curiously, "What's wrong? Has he fallen for someone else?"

Xie Shuci glared at him, "If you can't speak properly, then shut your bird beak!"

The latter pouted, "Then why would you split up with him?"

Xie Shuci hadn't told anyone about this in recent days, but now, facing two acquaintances, he couldn't hold it in any longer.

He rested his chin on his hands, blew on the hair that fell across his face, and said, "He doesn't agree to me coming to Sangqi City."

"Nonsense, I wouldn't agree either. I'd rather break your legs than let you come to Sangqi City."

Xie Shuci rolled her eyes. "Can't you try a gentler approach? Do you think you can find a partner like this? Xie An would never treat me like this."

Chu Wenfeng pouted, "Yes, he's gentle with you, but you still managed to sneak over here, didn't you?"

Xie Shuci said, "You don't know anything. I lied to him. I said that as long as he seals all his memories of me, I will stay in Tianzhu City until the Immortal Sect Selection is over before I can leave."

Chu Wenfeng stared in disbelief and said, "He actually believed it?"

"Nonsense, if he didn't believe me, why would I be here? Xie An probably thinks I'm still as stupid as before, that I could obediently try to find a way to break the Killing Dao in Tianzhu City. Who knows how many years that would take."

Chu Guiyi frowned and said, "So, he really sealed away his memories of you."

Xie Shuci nodded and said, "Yes, only I can open that seal."

Chu Wenfeng chuckled, "He's outsmarted himself."

"Where is the King?" Chu Guiyi asked.

"My journey is fraught with peril, so how could I possibly bring it along on this adventure? I left it in Tianzhu City."

"Hiss." Chu Wenfeng shrugged. "That little thing is so clingy to you, why didn't it come along?"

Xie Shuci lowered his eyes and said, "The king actually listens to me very well. Whatever I tell it to do, it does..."

Before Xie Shuci could finish speaking, a white dove flew in from the horizon, slowly landed by the window of the room, glanced inside, and then flapped its wings and flew in. Xie Shuci's eyes lit up, "Hey! It's been so long since I've eaten pigeon."

Chu Wenfeng scoffed, "This is a descendant of the Bluebird—the Messenger Pigeon, a spirit pigeon specifically for delivering messages."

Chu Guiyi said, "These spirit pigeons have a keen sense of smell. They can find you even from thousands of miles away by smelling the scent of the token you carry. Shuci must be someone trying to send you a message. Try activating it with your spiritual power."

"Oh," Xie Shuci nodded in response.

A wisp of spiritual energy flowed from his fingertip and flew towards the messenger pigeon. Upon contact with his spiritual energy, an array appeared on the messenger pigeon's body. Immediately afterwards, Xiao Lian's voice rang out: "Xie Shuci, the Great King has disappeared. It cried all night the day you left, and the next day, while Xiao Xianlan was preparing food for it, it ran away. I guess it probably went looking for you. I'm sorry."

Hearing the voice, Xie Shuci was taken aback.

Chu Guiyi and the other person also stopped.

The messenger pigeon delivered the message, flapped its wings, and flew out the window.

Xie Shuci's face turned deathly pale. "Your Majesty..."

Chu Guiyi frowned and comforted him, "The Great King's identity as a spirit beast is not easy to be discovered, and after all, it is a spirit beast and should have the ability to protect itself."

Xie Shuci was immediately stunned, as if he had lost his soul. The King was missing... The King might have come looking for him...

That little brat! Didn't he agree to stay in Tianzhu City and wait for me to come back?!

Chu Wenfeng pouted and said, "That little thing has a more sensitive sense of smell than ordinary spirit beasts. It set off a day after you and is following the scents you left along the way. If nothing unexpected happens, it should arrive at Moonful Dock tomorrow. Don't worry, that little thing is even smarter than you and won't cause any problems. Besides, the Hundred Gates' target is you and Xie An, not it. Even if ordinary people discover its identity, they can't do anything to it."

Even so, Xie Shuci was still uneasy.

But at that moment, the messenger pigeon that had already flown away flew back.

Xie Shuci paused for a moment, then channeled another wisp of spiritual energy into it. An array appeared, and Xiao Lian's voice came again: "Oh right, I forgot to tell you, don't worry too much, it took a..."

"Take those two lions from the gate with you too. When they arrive, give those two heartless little bastards a good scolding for me!"

Xie Shuci: "...

Chu Wenfeng chuckled and said smugly, "I told you, that little thing is much smarter than you, and won't let yourself get taken advantage of."

Chu Guiyi chuckled and shook his head: "With three spirit beasts that can transform into human form traveling together, even if the people from the Floating Pagoda Mirror come, they might not be able to do anything to them."

After all, even if you can't beat them, you can still run away; humans are nowhere near as fast as them.

Xie Shuci felt a little relieved, but even so, he still decided that once the king arrived, he would definitely give it a good beating!

“That’s right, the letter.” Chu Guiyi suddenly said.

Xie Shuci hummed in response, "What's wrong?"

Chu Guiyi said, "We met some of your senior brothers in Moonlit Valley. They seem to be looking for you and should still be in Moonlit Valley. Perhaps they have something to say to you. Why don't you go and see them?"

Xie Shuci was stunned. "How did they get here?"

Chu Guiyi shook her head. "I don't know."

Xie Shuci nodded in confusion, but he had originally wanted to thank them before he died, and now was the perfect time.

"Where are they?" Xie Shuci asked.

Chu Guiyi said, "They seem to know the head of Yuemanwu and have already been invited to the academy."

Chu Wenfeng couldn't help but ask, "Just who are they? Even Elder Meng and the head of Yuemanwu treat them with great respect."

Xie Shuci didn't know as much as they did, and shook his head, saying, "I don't know either."

That's strange.

Xie Shuci said, "Then I will stay in Moonful Dock for the time being and see if I can find an opportunity to meet them."

Chu Wenfeng found his attire amusing. "Indeed, even I almost didn't recognize you in this outfit, let alone others. Xie Shuci, I never expected you to be so shameless."

"Can you eat your face? If I weren't worried about being discovered, do you think I would want to dress like this?"

“That’s not entirely true. I feel like you’re really enjoying yourself,” he gestured with his chin toward the little beggar on the ground. “You were putting on quite a show just now.”

"Get out of here! I'm hungry, go and get me some food."

Chu Wenfeng pursed his lips, then slowly got up and left the room.

Chu Guiyi also woke up the little beggar.

After a conversation, Xie Shuci learned that the little beggar was not actually a beggar, but had run away from home in a fit of anger after arguing with her father. So after dinner, Chu Guiyi and the other person took her back.

Xie Shuci also parted ways with them. Before leaving, Chu Guiyi gave him a way to disguise himself so that he wouldn't wander around Moonlit Dock in tattered clothes anymore.

Despite having the ability to disguise himself, Xie Shuci did not intend to continue to get involved with Chu Guiyi and the others. After all, everyone knew that Xie Shuci had once been on good terms with them, and he didn't want to implicate the Chu family if they were discovered by someone with ulterior motives.

After parting ways with the two, Xie Shuci wandered the streets with an utterly ordinary face. Chu Guiyi had told him that this disguise technique wouldn't be noticed unless someone touched his face. He swaggered around the streets a few times, and just as Chu Guiyi had said, no one gave him a second glance. If you threw him into a crowd, no one would notice him at all.

Finally, he staggered to the location of the academy and saw the Yin family disciples walking out looking disheveled.

Xie Shuci knew what kind of people these were. If they were to be seen in their predicament, they would definitely not let it go. So, before they noticed, Xie Shuci looked away and pretended to look at the flowers and plants on the ground. After a short while, he heard a group of people behind him cursing and saying, "What are you looking at? You're overestimating yourself!"

People on the roadside quickly looked away, avoiding them like the plague; they could tell from their clothes that they were from the Yin family.

After the Yin family left, Xie Shuci saw a student at the academy gate looking at their backs with indignation. He walked up to them slowly and sighed, "The Yin family is really arrogant. They just offended Elder Meng, and now they're coming here to cause trouble again?"

As Xie Shuci spoke, he observed the students' expressions. When he read the students' expressions of agreement, Xie Shuci knew that he had hit the nail on the head.

"That's for sure! I've never seen anyone more shameless than them!" the student exclaimed indignantly.

Xie Shuci pressed his advantage, asking, "What stupid thing have they done this time?"

The student said, "What else could it be? They insist that Yin Mingyuan's weapon is still in Moonful Harbor and demand that the patriarch return it to the Yin family. Aren't they dreaming? That weapon was forged by the patriarch himself for Yin Mingyuan. He returned the weapon to the patriarch before he died, and these shameless bastards actually dare to ask the patriarch to return it to the Yin family!"

Xie Shuci clicked his tongue and sighed after hearing this: "These people must be used to sucking Yin Mingyuan's blood, right? They're so shameless! He even gave everyone blood before he died, how dare they ask for it!"

"Exactly! How did Yin Mingyuan end up with such a group of fellow disciples!"

"yes!"

Xie Shuci talked with the students, sharing a common hatred of the enemy, which won the students' favor.

Xie Shuci said some irrelevant pleasantries to him, and eventually, intentionally or unintentionally, steered the conversation toward himself and Xie An.

Upon hearing their names, the students sighed and said, "Originally, the head of the family intended to invite Xie Shuci to teach at Yuemanwu, but it's a pity."

Xie Shuci subconsciously said, "Ah, it's okay, he won't come anyway."

Although Xie Shuci's grades were originally quite good, he didn't like going to class at all.

The student glanced at him. "How did you know?"

Xie Shuci chuckled dryly and said, "I was just guessing."

The student sighed, "You have no idea how excited the disciples in our academy were when this news first came out, but not long after, the Hundred Schools ordered his arrest."

Xie Shuci asked, puzzled, "Why are you all so excited about his coming?"

The student looked around and lowered his voice, saying, "When the Dragon Fang Secret Realm opened, many students wanted to join in the fun, but the headmaster wouldn't allow it. As a result, many people sneaked in and got trapped inside. It was Xie Shuci who found a way to save them."

"Oh! I see." Xie Shuci nodded and said.

The student stared at him for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Why are you asking so many questions?"

"I was just being a chatterbox, we ended up talking a bit longer than usual."

The student glared at him and waved his hand, saying, "Go away! Don't ask so many questions."

Xie Shuci originally wanted to ask his senior brother about their movements, but fearing it would arouse his suspicion, he had to give up.

That night, he found a secluded inn to stay in.

He inquired during the day and found that there seemed to be no trace of Xie An in Yuemanwu, and he didn't know where he was now.

As for the "net of heaven and earth" mentioned by the Feng family disciples, Xie Shuci had not yet sensed it.

The next day, Xie Shuci went out early in the morning and wandered around the gate of Moonful Valley. He guessed that the Great King and the others should be arriving soon.

On the street, he ran into Chu Guiyi again. Chu Guiyi told him some news: many of the immortal sects and families that originally planned to wait for him and Xie An to enter Yuemanwu had entered Sangqi City first, seemingly not intending to continue to stay in Yuemanwu.

Although Xie Shuci felt puzzled, he didn't take it too seriously.

They wandered around the entrance all day but didn't see the king and the two little lions. As the sky grew darker, Xie Shuci became increasingly uneasy, worried that something might have happened to them on the way.

As night deepened and the streets remained deserted, Xie Shuci's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was gripped with anxiety. What if something really happened to the King... Xie Shuci dared not imagine that outcome.

Moonlit Valley was, after all, an academy, and a curfew was imposed at midnight. Xie Shuci had no choice but to return to the inn for the time being, planning to go out to find the King and the others when it got darker.

As time passed, Xie Shuci became increasingly restless in his room. After midnight, he activated the barrier and left the inn.

The barrier he was creating around himself wouldn't last long; it would gradually disappear as he moved.

As soon as Xie Shuci stepped out of the inn, before he even got close to the city gate, the barrier around him disappeared.

He could only conceal his presence and avoid the patrolling cultivators as he approached the city gate.

Although the city gates were closed, Xie Shuci's rudimentary skills made it difficult, but not impossible, to scale the city walls.

However, as Xie Shuci approached the city gate, he heard a rustling sound coming from ahead.

Thinking they were patrol officers, Xie Shuci quickly held his breath and carefully hid in a corner.

"What do we do now?"

"Waaah... Daddy's scent is everywhere here."

"It's all your fault!"

Xie Shuci paused upon hearing the sound, then quietly peeked out from behind the noise.

Under the cold moonlight, three children of about half a year old stood by the city gate.

A boy dressed entirely in white with a head of white hair coldly stared at the two people beside him; a boy dressed in gold with a head of blond hair glared at the little kid who was shorter than them.

The blond boy gave the little kid a sharp rap on the head. The little kid covered his head, looked at him with teary eyes, and darted behind the boy in white in a few steps.

The boy in white crossed his arms and glanced at the blond boy.

The blond boy said angrily, "You're always protecting him! I'm clearly the best person in the world for you all! If it weren't for this kid's gluttony on the way, insisting on staying in Luofang City for two days, would we have arrived in the middle of the night?"

The little boy lowered his head and said, "But Daddy's scent can be smelled in Luofang City..."

"Nonsense! Don't think I don't know. I almost didn't want to leave after eating and drinking at the Feng family's house."

"I didn't... Little Silver Brother, he's so fierce, I'm so scared."

The boy in white turned around and gently patted his head reassuringly. Although his face was expressionless, his movements were very gentle.

Xie Shuci: "..."

He knows that little brat is the king, so are the other two Little Gold and Little Silver?

The king and Little Gold usually get along very well, while Little Silver just watches them enjoy themselves on their own. But after they transform into human form, it's Little Silver who becomes friendly and kind to the king.

Sure enough, no one in this world can escape the clutches of a simp.

That's just the king's character, isn't he? He's strangely similar to the little blind boy from before.

"Waaah... I miss my daddy so much." The king covered his eyes with his little hands, tears streaming down his face.

Xiao Jin panicked, "Don't cry! We're all here! We'll definitely find your father... and your mother too."

The king sobbed uncontrollably, “But I can’t smell my mother’s scent… Where is my mother… Where is my father…”

Xiao Yin said helplessly, "Keep your voice down, don't get caught."

The king obediently nodded, lowered his voice and continued to sob, looking pitiful no matter how you looked at him.

Xie Shuci felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this and quickly stepped out from the corner.

"Your Majesty..." Xie Shuci called out softly.

The king shuddered and slowly looked at Xie Shuci. Then, a smirk appeared on his lips, and tears streamed down his face as if they were free.

"Waaah! Father!" The king opened his arms and ran towards Xie Shuci with a loud cry.

Fortunately, Xie Shuci had set up a barrier around the area beforehand, so he was not discovered.

Xie Shuci squatted down. He caught the little king in his arms, and the king's little hands tightly hugged his neck, crying his heart out, as if afraid that Xie Shuci would abandon him again.

Xie Shuci's eyes also reddened from his crying. He gently patted the king's back with heartache and whispered to comfort him, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."

"Father... Father... I miss you so much, I miss Mother so much..."

Xie Shuci lowered her eyes, her throat tightening with emotion: "I miss you so much, I miss Mother so much too."

"Father... let's find Mother together, okay..."

Xie Shuci hugged him tightly and buried her face in his small shoulder.

Xiao Jin watched with tears in her eyes, and Xiao Yin stepped forward and said, "Let's leave here first."

Xie Shuci nodded, picked up the king, and led the two lion beasts back to the inn.

The king cried himself to sleep in his arms, clutching Xie Shuci's clothes tightly before falling asleep. When Xie Shuci tried to put him on the bed, he immediately snuggled closer to Xie Shuci. Xie Shuci had no choice but to take him to bed with him. The two lions then turned back to their original forms and lay by the bed to guard them.

The king was sleeping very restlessly, calling for his father and mother, which made Xie Shuci feel heartbroken. He had originally planned to teach him a lesson, but now he couldn't bear to.

The next day, after leaving the three little creatures at the inn, Xie Shuci found Chu Guiyi and her companion, and with their help, bought a messenger pigeon to send news of the king and the others back to Tianzhu City, so as not to worry them.

Just as Xie Shuci was about to return to the inn to find the three little creatures, Ye Changxuan, looking solemn and travel-worn, found Chu Guiyi and the other person.

She seemed to want to say something, but when she saw Xie Shuci in disguise next to her, she paused for a moment.

Chu Guiyi said, "It's alright, just tell me what's on your mind."

Ye Changxuan nodded, also feeling that the matter could not be delayed any longer, so she asked, "Do you have any news about Shuci?"

Chu Guiyi frowned and hesitated for a moment before asking, "What's wrong?"

Ye Changxuan took a deep breath and said, "Yesterday, a message was circulating among the immortal families in Sangqi City. Almost only the family heads or leaders knew about it. You haven't entered Sangqi City yet, so you probably haven't heard about it."

Seeing her serious expression, Chu Guiyi asked solemnly, "What happened?"

Ye Changxuan said, "Xiao Xun has been arrested! He will be publicly executed during the Immortal Sect Selection five days from now."

Xie Shuci felt a buzzing in his ears, and his whole body instantly drained of color.

Xie An has been arrested...

He was executed in public.