Su Peisheng and Gesang, dressed in Taoist robes, almost ran to Changfang Ridge. When they entered the main kitchen, everyone was already resting, as it was past lunchtime.

Money makes the world go round!

Su Peisheng took out some silver from his pocket and gave it to a Taoist priest in the kitchen, telling him that the second-in-command should quickly prepare a few dishes and to choose the best ones. When the Taoist priest brought out the ingredients, they were nothing more than some cabbage, radishes, and eggs.

"This is the best?" Su Peisheng asked incredulously.

The Taoist priest asked with a blank look, "Are you new here? We are newcomers to the Taoist path. Being able to eat eggs already means we've been exposed to meat. Do you really want to eat meat?"

Su Peisheng was dumbfounded. During the days he was imprisoned, he was only given one dish a day in his cell: either boiled potatoes or boiled cabbage. They thought it was poor food because it was considered rations, but now, seeing what these Taoist priests were eating, it wasn't much better.

"Alright then, could you fry a few more sunny-side-up eggs?" Su Peisheng asked.

The Taoist priest accepted the money and naturally agreed to this request. He then prepared four dishes for Su Peisheng: stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, stir-fried shredded radish with scallions, stewed potatoes with chili peppers, and fried eggs.

As the two men carried the food boxes out of Changfang Ridge, Su Peisheng said, "I've never seen such expensive dishes before. These few vegetarian dishes cost me ten taels of silver. They're even more expensive than the most expensive dishes at Zuibailou in the capital."

Meanwhile, Lanqin and Fourth Master were lying together on Lanqin's narrow single bed. It was Fourth Master who insisted!

Both of them had taken off the Taoist's dark blue robes, wearing only white nightgowns. Lanqin could only lie down comfortably by clinging to Fourth Master's chest. Lanqin's entire body was on Fourth Master's body, her legs placed between his thighs, her hips pressed against his erect penis, which she could clearly feel was hard.

After more than ten days of separation, all the worry had turned into a soft embrace. Fourth Master closed his eyes slightly, clearly exhausted. Just Lanqin's touch had aroused him, showing that he was indeed longing for her, but he was simply too tired.

Lanqin looked up at the Fourth Master and said softly, "Master, may I go down? It will be more comfortable for you to sleep alone, okay?"

"No, this is fine!" Fourth Master said domineeringly.

"..." Lanqin felt that the hard object at the base of her thigh seemed to be getting harder and harder.

"My lord, Eunuch Su has returned with a food box." Fortunately, Si Hua's voice came from outside the door.

Lanqin quickly sat up and said, "Master, dinner is ready!"

After Lanqin finished dressing, she personally unlatched the door and said to Si Hua outside, "Go and bring in the food box. You don't need to come in to serve me."

Lanqin placed the four dishes on a simple table, then walked to her narrow bed and said to the Fourth Master, who had his eyes closed, "Get up and eat. You can sleep after you finish eating. There's still a whole night to go!"

"Hey me! I don't want to get up!" Fourth Master said, still with his eyes closed. His leisurely and carefree appearance made Lanqin feel both sorry for the hunger he had endured for the past ten days and amused by his childishness.

"Tomorrow we're going to fight that fake sect leader. Aren't I worried at all?" Lanqin said.

"What are you worried about? This is a matter for the Quanzhen Sect; I'm just an observer. They wouldn't dare touch me, otherwise they wouldn't have waited so many days. Besides, the one at Jin Ding suddenly summoned the four heads of the sect for a meeting; it must be that the one in the capital sent word. He's probably giving him instructions. Our target is the one behind them," Fourth Master said, squinting his eyes. He sounded like a cunning old fox, his tone lazy yet very confident.

Lanqin then personally served the rice, added some vegetables, and went to Fourth Master's side. She sat on the edge of the bed and began to feed him.

Fourth Master ate slowly, as if savoring Lanqin's service. He rarely let Lanqin serve him before, usually being reluctant to do so.

Lanqin suddenly thought, "My lord, the New Year is almost here. Let's try our best to go back before the New Year. I miss Hongli and the others."

Fourth Master nodded and said, "Don't worry, it won't take that long. Once we catch that person, I'll immediately take you back to the capital. Don't worry, you can just wait here. Don't go to Jin Ding tomorrow either."

Lanqin quickly said, "No, I don't want to be separated from you again, Master. I have to go."

Fourth Master stared intently at Lanqin and said, "Fighting is a man's business. I don't want you to take any more risks. Just stay here obediently. Listen to me!"

Lanqin was at a loss for words. She knew that Fourth Master was very domineering, and once he made up his mind, it was difficult to change it no matter what.

"Keep feeding her!" Fourth Master looked at Lanqin's anxious little face, which he was trying to comfort, and felt quite pleased.

As Lanqin fed the baby, she was also thinking about how to go with them tomorrow. She was getting really anxious waiting here. But Fourth Master wouldn't let her take any risks, yet she was still worried.

"What are you thinking about?" Fourth Master asked, observing Lanqin's expression.

"It's nothing. I was just wondering who has such a long reach that they can control the Quanzhen Sect with just one person. It's terrifying to even think about," Lan Qin said.

The previously relaxed expression on Fourth Master's face was immediately replaced by a cold and aloof one. His dark eyes shot out beams of light as he said, "This person is hiding in the shadows, but I recognize his scent. This time, we must not let him off lightly again."

Lanqin had a feeling that it might be someone from within the royal family, and that the struggle for that position was becoming increasingly brutal.

After Lanqin finished feeding him, Fourth Master pulled her back to bed. The two lay there, whispering sweet nothings and being affectionate. Su Peisheng and the others stood guard outside, not allowing anyone to approach, not even Xiuzhu.

As darkness fell, Zhou Tianhao returned with the Taoist priest who had informed him to go up the mountain. He also came to the library to see Xiuzhu.

"Master!" Xiuzhu shouted as he saw Zhou Tianhao walk in from outside.

When Su Peisheng and the others saw Master Zhou come up, they all greeted him.

"How are your master and that lady?" Zhou Tianhao had been worried ever since he deliberately ignored Ling Feng that day. He had promised his master that he would no longer get involved with the affairs of the Quanzhen Sect, so no matter what Ling Feng did that day, he refused to say a single word to him.

“Our masters are all here, everything is alright,” Su Peisheng said to Zhou Tianhao, unaware of what had happened that day.

Zhou Tianhao nodded, exchanged a few more words with Xiuzhu, and then turned to find Zhou Xingchuan. Although he didn't know the whole story, he could tell from their presence that something significant must have happened.