The mansion of a Song dynasty noble family in Lingnan.

Song Zhi stood respectfully in front of the hall. In front of him was a tall man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He had a cold and stern face and looked to be in his early forties. This man was none other than Song Que, the Heavenly Blade.

At this moment, Song Que was looking at a letter in his hand.

“Brother, when I left Yangzhou, Emperor Yang Guang personally saw me off and asked me to tell you to come to Yangzhou for a chat.”

"In addition, Master Li also meant the same thing," Song Zhi said softly.

The letter was written by Yang Guang, and it mentioned some plans for the future of the Sui Dynasty, including the campaigns against Tuyuhun and Goguryeo, in order to consolidate the Han people's rule.

"Second brother, what's your opinion?" Song Que asked, tucking the letter into his sleeve.

“If it were before, I would naturally not have agreed to my elder brother going to see Yang Guang, but things are different now,” Song Zhi said.

"Why?" Song Que turned around and asked.

"Because of Master Li, with him around, Yang Guang will be safe no matter what, and he will surely win even if he conquers other countries," Song Zhi continued.

"If this person truly possesses extraordinary abilities as you claim, why does he hold Yang Guang in such high regard?" Song Que countered. Yang Guang had a poor reputation in their eyes; he had murdered his brother, usurped the throne, and was ambitious and eager for quick success—this was why Song Que had always disliked him.

"Brother, I actually asked the Taoist priest the same question in private."

What did he say?

"The Taoist priest only said two words: Han people." Song Zhi raised his head and looked at Song Que with a firm gaze.

“Han people.” Song Que’s expression immediately changed.

"Han people, Han people, what a fine Han people! Indeed, Yang Guang is a genuine Han Chinese. Good, just for that reason, I'll go to Yangzhou to meet him!" Song Que shouted.

"father…"

Just then, a little girl's clear voice came from outside the door.

Song Que and Song Zhi immediately showed gentle expressions.

A cute girl of about ten years old pushed open the door and walked in.

"Father, I want to go to Yangzhou too."

"Yuzhi, what brings you here? Why aren't you practicing martial arts with your older sister?" Song Zhi said with a smile.

"Greetings, Second Uncle." The little girl bowed to Song Zhi.

"Dad, I heard it all! You're going to Yangzhou, and I want to go too! I've never been to Yangzhou before, and Uncle Lu said it's a lot of fun there." The person who came was Song Que's youngest daughter, Song Yuzhi. The little girl looked at Song Que with her big, bright eyes full of anticipation.

Song Que looked at his youngest daughter with some helplessness. Everyone in the Song Clan would show him great respect, but this daughter was the only one who was not afraid of him at all. She was very mischievous and lively, but precisely because of this, Song Yuzhi was the most favored among the children.

Song Que smiled and patted his daughter's head.

"Alright, then you can come with me."

"Yay, that's great, thank you Dad."

“However, I must remind you, while you’re by my side, you can’t neglect your daily studies. I won’t let you have the same indulgence as your older sister. If you don’t practice well, I will punish you,” Song Que said sternly.

"Yes, yes, I will definitely practice hard." The little girl nodded hurriedly.

Song Que was a man of his word. As soon as he decided to go to Yangzhou, he immediately ordered his family to make preparations. The next morning, Song Que, his cousin Song Lu, and Song Yuzhi, who was dressed as beautifully as a princess, set off from the Song clan to Yangzhou.

This time, Song Que left Song Zhi to oversee the family, and only brought Song Lu and eighteen Song family Black Iron Guards. The group did not travel by carriage, but instead rode their own horses. Of course, Song Yuzhi was too young, so he had to share a horse with his father.

After leaving the city, the little girl on horseback excitedly looked at the scenery rushing past, her face flushed with excitement, looking very cute. Looking at his well-behaved daughter in his arms, Song Que also showed a smile.

Yangzhou, Yang Guang's temporary palace.

Li Daoyi and Yang Guang were playing chess in the garden, while Dongfang Bubai and Xiaolongnu stood quietly to the side, and Mengmeng was led by the Empress to eat snacks.

"Master, have you heard about the He Shi Bi jade?" Yang Guang suddenly asked.

“How could I not know? It’s spread all over Yangzhou,” Li Daoyi said with a slight smile.

The members of the Demonic Sect were searching everywhere for the whereabouts of the He Shi Bi jade, and such a high-profile operation could not be kept secret.

"These martial arts practitioners are truly outrageous, Daoist Master. Do you think the imperial court should intervene?"

"Why interfere? As long as they don't disturb the people, let them be. The He Shi Bi jade is not something that can be obtained easily. I'm afraid the martial world will be in chaos next," Li Daoyi said, shaking his head.

"Yes, that's true. But I've already made preparations. I've sent Dugu Feng from the capital, along with five thousand Imperial Guards, just in case," Yang Guang said.

"The Dugu Valve? Sure."

Just then, a man walked in from the garden gate; it was Pei Ju.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Master Li." Pei Ju bowed to the two.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Minister Pei?" Yang Guang asked.

"Your Majesty, I just received a message by carrier pigeon from the capital." Pei Ju said, taking a short piece of paper from his sleeve and handing it over.

"Oh? Could it be Dugu Feng?" Yang Guang asked, somewhat puzzled.

He opened the note, glanced at it, and then frowned.

"Another minister has been assassinated," Yang Guang sighed.

“They were Goguryeo assassins, weren’t they?” Li Daoyi said slowly.

"Master, you are absolutely right. It is indeed them. They are far too arrogant." Yang Guang nodded.

Since Yang Guang ascended the throne, he strictly controlled trade between the two countries and prohibited the export of strategic materials such as copper and iron to Goguryeo. As a result, Goguryeo people often crossed the border of the Sui Dynasty to plunder materials, and conflicts between the two countries continued. Later, there were even assassins from the other side who came to assassinate ministers. I had no idea what was going on.

"Your Majesty, Goguryeo harbors wolfish ambitions and we must be wary of them," Pei Ju said in a low voice.

"I have my own plans," Yang Guang nodded.

Li Daoyi knew that after Yang Guang finished conquering Tuyuhun, he would launch a campaign against Goguryeo, and the Sui Dynasty would begin its decline from then on.

In the evening, the oxcart left the palace, carrying Li Daoyi and the others back to the lakeside courtyard. The little guy, cute and obedient, nestled in Li Daoyi's arms and fell into a deep sleep.

"This child is truly unfathomable." Looking at Mengmeng's sweet and adorable sleeping face, Li Daoyi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This little guy has been quite peculiar since his appearance. The system doesn't restrain him and even seems to have some awe towards him. Li Daoyi once asked Mengmeng some questions, but the little guy seems to have lost a lot of memories, or rather, his memories have been sealed away. For example, last time, she was able to directly bypass the system and take things from the store, which really scared him at the time.

Afterwards, Li Daoyi asked Mengmeng how she did it, but the little girl's answer surprised him. Mengmeng didn't know the reason either, she just felt that she could do it. Li Daoyi quickly asked if she could take those valuable items, and Mengmeng hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

"This guy was probably just trying to fool me back then!" Li Daoyi thought to himself, but he didn't care. After all, he felt more at ease using the things he redeemed with the points he earned.

"Hmm?" Li Daoyi suddenly sat up straight, as if he had sensed something.

"What's wrong?" Dongfang Bubai asked.

“Someone is following us,” Li Daoyi said softly.

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Bubai and Xiaolongnu exchanged a glance and were about to lift the curtain.

“No need,” Li Daoyi stopped the two women.

After saying that, Li Daoyi flipped his hand, and a butterfly appeared in his palm. He then gently stretched his hand out of the carriage, and the butterfly fluttered its wings and disappeared into the night.

Before long, the oxcart entered the fog.

Just then, a figure slowly descended from the sky and landed where the oxcart had just disappeared.

This was a man dressed in black, completely covered in night clothes, making it impossible to see his face.

"An array?" The man in black looked at the fog blocking his way but did not move forward.

"Who exactly is this person? When did such a master appear in the world?"

The man in black stood there for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, but ultimately did not step into the mist. He shook his head, and then his body floated up as lightly as a feather, and soon he flew away like a large bird.

However, what he didn't know was that a butterfly had somehow landed on his back.

The man in black displayed remarkable lightness skills, comparable to flight. He flew for a quarter of an hour without ever touching the ground for leverage, finally landing on a rocky mountain.

The man in black walked up to a huge rock and pressed his hand into a groove at the bottom of the rock.

"Click..."

A series of mechanical noises could be heard.

Then the boulder actually moved aside, revealing an entrance large enough for one person to pass through.

The man in black slipped inside, and the stone returned to its original position.

Inside was a cave, with many luminous pearls embedded in the walls, illuminating the passage as if it were daytime. The man in black walked forward a dozen steps and a large cavern appeared before him. The stalactites shone with iridescent colors under the light of the luminous pearls, filling the cave with a sense of mystery.

The butterfly silently fell from the man in black's back.

The man in black removed his mask, revealing a very ordinary face, the kind that would blend into a crowd, but his eyes were full of vicissitudes and revealed wisdom.

"With the appearance of the He Shi Bi jade, the world is about to descend into chaos. Should I leave this world?"

"What is that person's background? Even I can't see through him," the man in black murmured.

Suddenly, a butterfly flew in front of him. The man was startled and quickly turned around to look behind him. After confirming that there was no one else there, he reached out his hand.

A butterfly gently landed on his hand.

"Strange, little one, when did you come in?" The man smiled as he looked at the pink butterfly in his palm.

"It just came in," Butterfly suddenly said.

The man immediately released his grip and then stepped back.

“You…” The man stared at the butterfly in shock.

The butterfly fluttered its wings, slowly emitting a red glow, and then, to the man's astonishment, transformed into a two-inch-tall woman with a pair of butterfly wings behind her.

"Hehehe..." The Butterfly Woman burst into laughter upon seeing the man's surprised expression.

"What are you?" the man asked.

"My name is Xiaodie, and I come from the Spirit Realm," the butterfly woman said softly, her voice very melodious.

She slowly flew to the man, and he could see Xiaodie's appearance clearly. She was a very beautiful woman, but her petite figure concealed her sexiness.

"And you, what's your name?" Xiaodie asked.

“To Yutian.” The man took a deep breath and then said.