Chapter 14: Infiltrating the Palace
Yan Zhen and Yun Xiu didn’t go to an inn. Instead, they rented a small houseboat moored along the riverbank.
Houseboats like this were common and affordable in the Water City, while proper inns were rare and expensive.
Inside the cabin, a dim light glowed. They lay on the bed, facing each other, their gazes locked.
Yun Xiu, unable to withstand his gaze, lowered her head, her cheeks flushing.
He smiled, pulling her into his arms. He was about to say “good night” when she closed her eyes, her chin slightly raised, her lips parted invitingly.
“…”
He kissed her, but he didn’t touch her, nor did he initiate anything further. She opened her eyes, a puzzled expression in them, like a child asking, Where’s my candy?
He stroked her hair, his voice gentle.
“It’s not safe out there. We’ll… continue this after we settle down.”
She wanted to disappear.
She had been trying to fulfill her earlier promise, offering herself to him after they left Ye Mei’s residence, but his words made it sound like she was the one who wanted it.
This rascal!
/(//o/ω/o//)/
“I’ll remember this. We’ll settle the score later.”
“You can’t accumulate… sessions.”
“You didn’t say that before! You’re cheating!”
“I… Fine, I’ll make it up to you now. You can add this one to the next time, but not after that.”
“How boring.”
“If you’re bored, then go to sleep!”
“Okay.”
“Ah! What are you doing?!”
“Finding a soft pillow. This one is too hard.”
“Then just… use it as a pillow. Don’t move. And no biting.”
“Okay~”
“Mmm! You… you liar! Gently, Yan Zhen…”
…
The next day, they woke up early, returned the houseboat, and went ashore. They explored the city, enjoying the sights and the food, searching for large shops, asking if they had any Water Elemental Hearts.
They had a wonderful day of sightseeing, but they couldn’t find a single Water Elemental Heart, not even in the Great Serpent Chamber of Commerce, the largest trading company in the Water City.
The manager had explained that all their Water Elemental Hearts, both on display and in storage, had been purchased by the royal family, at market price, and they had been instructed to deliver any future stock directly to the palace.
“Why is the royal family suddenly buying so many Water Elemental Hearts?”
“It’s probably related to Her Majesty’s injuries, but I don’t know the details.”
…
It was already late when they left the Great Serpent Chamber of Commerce. They rented another houseboat for the night.
He lay in bed, lost in thought.
“Let’s go to the palace tomorrow.” Yun Xiu suddenly said. “With my status, I should be able to meet the Serpent Queen. We can trade something for a Water Elemental Heart.”
He shook his head.
The Serpent Queen was currently suffering from the Extreme Flame within her body, requiring her full attention to heal. She wasn’t accepting visitors, no matter who they were.
He had to sneak into the palace, steal a Water Elemental Heart from her treatment chamber, and perhaps even help his future wife with her injuries.
“The Serpent Queen is using the Water Elemental Hearts to treat herself, and she’s clearly running low. She won’t give us one. We have to take it.”
She looked at him strangely.
“You’re going to… rob her?”
“No, I’m going to steal it.”
He whispered his plan to her.
She was worried.
“Will that work?”
“As long as you don’t miss.” He was confident. “And we can’t let anyone notice. Your Wind Mystic Power is more suitable for this than my Wind Rune.”
“What if I miss?”
“Then you’ll have to take responsibility and… retrieve it for me.—The palace is huge. You can’t possibly miss, right? You’re making me nervous.”
She chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand.
“I’m just teasing you. Leave it to me.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Be serious! If you mess this up, you’ll regret it! I still haven’t used my… reward from our agreement, you know?”
“…”
— You little rascal, using that to threaten me after I offered to help.
She glared at him, then, her arms crossed over her chest, protecting herself, she closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
Seeing her defenses, he abandoned his plan for some late-night… activities. He activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal, entering the crystal space to inform his Beautiful Sect Master of the situation, then, returning to the houseboat, lay down beside Yun Xiu, quickly falling asleep.
…
On their third day in the Water City, they explored the city, searching for a suitable launch point, finally choosing a windmill tower.
It was a reasonable distance from the palace, offering a clear view of a section of the palace walls.
They stealthily climbed to the top of the tower, waiting by the window for nightfall.
Unexpectedly, it began to rain before dark, a heavy downpour.
The rain would provide excellent cover, increasing their chances of success.
Without delay, he removed the crystal pendant from his neck, handing it to Yun Xiu, then activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal, entering the crystal space.
…
She held the pendant, gathering Wind Mystic Power, then, with a flick of her wrist, sent it soaring through the rain, silently over the high palace walls.
She watched for a moment, relieved that it hadn’t caused any commotion.
…
Inside the palace walls, after confirming the area was clear using his Beautiful Sect Master’s projection technique, he activated his Star Shifting Fire Seal, emerging from the crystal space, then picked up the pendant, placing it back around his neck.
— What a convenient method of infiltration.
In the script, he had been alone, first shooting the pendant into the palace, then entering and exiting the crystal space. It was essentially the same.
He was inside, but the real challenge was just beginning.
He didn’t know the palace layout, nor did he know where the Serpent Queen’s treatment chamber was located.
In the script, desperate and out of options, he had simply wandered around aimlessly, relying on luck, being discovered by the guards, then accidentally stumbling into her treatment chamber while escaping.
He wasn’t going to rely on luck this time. What if his luck was bad?
He had to use his brain.
The Serpent Queen had purchased a large quantity of Water Elemental Hearts. The area where she was located must have a higher concentration of Water energy.
He moved stealthily, his Spiritual Perception spreading outwards, searching for areas with strong Water energy, while carefully avoiding the patrolling guards, his nerves on edge.
Whenever he encountered a situation he couldn’t avoid, he would activate his Star Shifting Fire Seal, entering the crystal space.
After several such jumps, he began to feel dizzy.
With his current cultivation, repeatedly traversing space was taking a toll on both his body and soul.
He had to hurry.
…
After an hour, he finally found a suitable location, carefully approaching it.
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