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With his eyes squeezed shut, he inhaled deeply, pondering her question. Taking A'Ying - what purpose did it serve in his mission? For the first time, he was at a loss for an answer. Perhaps, he had never considered it or deliberately avoided it.

"Yun Luo?"

She edged closer, purpressing her lips together. "Are you manipulating her too? I have a right to know the details at least!"

He slowly cracked open his eyes and turned to her, his head shaking in negation. "That wasn't part of the initial strategy. Duke Wei must be scheming something."

"So you suspect her motives? Then why did you intervene on her behalf in front of all the elders?"

He pursed his lips, scanning the area for an explanation. "I'm not entirely convinced she's not a spy, but I have a strong suspicion-"

"-what suspicion?" She pressed closer, her heart hammering in her chest like a ticking bomb. "She has her own objectives, just like us. On top of that, there's an unknown person sending her cakes every year on her birthday." Jing Yi bit her lip, surprised by his deduction.

"Cakes?" He gave a curt nod, sheathing his sword. "Bai Ling." Jing Yi paused, piecing together the fragments. "Does she know the-"

His negative shake silenced her. She inhaled deeply, taking a step back. "I think this is somehow connected to her agenda. And I believe it's linked to the demoness. That's why I intervened in front of the elders."

"The demoness? She's also targeting my father." He nodded, trying to nudge her towards the solution. "What if she's no different from the avaricious elders?" Zhao Yun shook his head, his conviction unwavering. "Her past is as shrouded as mine. If my gut feeling doesn't lead me astray, she could be Consort Bai Jue of Liang."

She gasped, her eyes darting around in suspicion. Satisfied that they were alone, she pulled him closer, her gaze flickering. "Bai Jue? Didn't she perish in the plague with the slaves after being expelled from prison?" Zhao Yun let out a sigh, crossing his arms. "If I'm correct, I have no idea how she managed it. But the chances are high. She shares the same surname, requested for your master, and retreated upon seeing Bai Ying."

He continued, "most crucially, she possesses the same tattoo we have. That's a question that burns in my mind."

Jing Yi's eyes widened in stark surprise. "The dragon tattoo? Isn't that exclusive to Yihua Palace?" He nodded again, a thought churning in his head. "She must share a history with your master. As long as we shadow the two, rescuing your master is just a matter of time."

She inhaled deeply and exhaled heavily, "but what if Duke Wei fashioned her into a spy? What if your intuition deceives you? What if Yourong is also a covert agent?" His eyes darted upwards in a sharp movement. Stifling his frustration, he retreated a step from her.

"Whatever the cost, we're rescuing my master and vindicating Yihua Palace's reputation."

Taking a deep breath, he turned to face her again. "My master will be alright. As long as they lack the secret to forging the Guo Se sword, they can't kill him." She rubbed her hand through her hair in desperation, retorting, "so you believe the demoness? That's why they slaughtered Yihua Palace?" He didn't nod, but the resolute expression in his eyes spoke volumes.

His clenched fists relaxed for a moment, "what about Consort Gu?" She lowered her head, "she's alive. A few years after you left Liang, the people say she inexplicably collapsed one day in the snow, for a decade. But the physicians were able to heal her."

"What transpired with Zhen Lan and General Su during that period?" She sighed again, letting her hands fall limp at her sides. "Zhen Lan was sent to the barracks at a young age under Duke Wei's command while General Su safeguarded the eastern borders from Rouran's incursions."

He clenched his fists, fuming for a moment. "Zhen Lan-"

"I don't need to know anything else-"

When he caught sight of her unwavering gaze fixed on his hand, he looked down, bewildered.

"What's that mark?" He swiftly covered his hand, turning away. But before she could inquire further, I hurried over, my eyes scrutinizing both of them inquisitively. "Your master?" Feng Liu emerged as well, with Zhen Lan following behind. He chuckled softly, turning to address Feng Liu.

"We deserve better treatment," Feng Liu scoffed, his hand lingering pointedly on my shoulder. My gaze flicked between them, unease twisting in my gut. What secrets lurked beneath those forced smiles? More importantly, what transpired between Shifu and Elder Yu?

Concern etched on Zhen Lan's face as she approached Jing Yi. "Are you alright?" Jing Yi offered a silent nod, my own eyes glued to Shifu's retreating form. Zhen Lan followed close behind.

Feng Liu lingered, his curiosity a tangible weight. Just as he inched closer, a hand shot from the shadows, rendering him unconscious. The figure emerged, and a jolt went through me - A'Ying. The usual spark was missing from her eyes, mirroring the coolness in mine. We locked gazes, a silent question hanging heavy between us.

Mo Yan stepped out, his trademark grin plastered on his face. "Well done, A'Ying! Your skills have certainly sharpened."

A'Ying chuckled, retrieving her sword. "Shifu," she acknowledged with a curt nod.

"Did you secure what I requested?" A'Ying beamed, pulling out a map. Her smile faltered as she brushed past me, studiously avoiding my gaze. Mo Yan's brows shot up in surprise. "This is a blueprint of Mohua Capital," she explained, "complete with secure trade routes."

Mo Yan's hand darted out, grabbing the map. "Where did you get this? And for what purpose?" A'Ying snatched the map back, her voice firm as she addressed Shifu.

"It serves two purposes: escape and apprehending the nitre traders in Ming. A single maneuver to fell two foes." I approached her slowly, my gaze intent. "Where did you obtain this?" she remained silent, fists clenching at her sides.

"Ru Yi Pavilion. They were none the wiser," she finally admitted. Mo Yan's eyebrows shot up further. This revelation seemed to spark a new understanding in him. He glanced back at the time they knelt before him, and A'Ying offered a curt nod. Her complexity was far greater than he initially perceived. No wonder she agreed to join him.

A groan escaped Feng Liu's lips as he stirred. A swift blow to the neck sent him back into unconsciousness. "The guards will be upon us soon," a new voice, Mudan's, cut through the tension. We all turned, but Mo Yan and A'Ying seemed unfazed by her arrival.

"Who is she?" My voice cracked with suspicion as Zhao Yun mirrored my curiosity, his gaze flitting between me and the newcomer.

A dark tattoo, like a spider scrawled across porcelain, snagged his attention on A'Ying's wrist. A humorless chuckle escaped him. Another, identical to his own, peeked out from her other wrist. Demon sect disciple, confirmed. His deduction was chillingly clear. Consort Bai Jue, reborn as Demoness Bai Ling.

"Mudan," A'Ying spat, her voice laced with barely contained anger. "She's no threat."

A primal snarl ripped from my throat. "Mudan? Where'd she crawl out from? What if she's a Wei agent, or worse?"

A'Ying bristled, her own temper flaring. "I said she's not part of the plan! What's gotten into you?"

Mudan intervened, her voice taut with urgency. "Enough! Don't provoke the guards!"

"I don't care!" I roared, a primal urge to lash out coursing through me. My hand shot out, propelled by an unseen force, grabbing A'Ying's collar. Mudan reacted instantly, yanking me back.

A'Ying, startled by my sudden aggression, rubbed her throat, her eyes wide with confusion.

"It's my duty to protect her," Mudan declared firmly. "Back down!"

"Do you even know who you're challenging?" I snarled, shoving Mudan aside with a surge of unexpected strength.

She stumbled, thrown off balance by my attack. A'Ying stood frozen, chest heaving. Before I could unleash another word, Zhao Yun's voice boomed.

"Stop!"

My hands trembled violently. A grotesque green mark pulsed beneath my wrist, spreading like a venomous stain.

My jaw slackened as I stared at the stunned faces of Zhao Yun, Mudan, and A'Ying. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I stumbled back, my vision blurring. What was this power seizing me? Was I becoming like those blood venom puppets, devoid of control?

Was this triggered by jealousy? Would Shifu even recognize the monster I was turning into?

My trembling arm reached out, the world dissolving into a swirling darkness. As approaching guards shouted, a figure blurred into motion. Mo Yan whipped A'Ying and Mudan against the wall, muffling their screams.

"Yourong?!" he bellowed, his voice laced with terror as darkness claimed me.

The air hung thick with the scent of forgotten memories as Su Ruo knelt before the ornately carved stone panel. Moonlight, filtered through a narrow crevice high above, illuminated an intricate network of grooves and constellations etched onto its surface. It resembled a celestial map, a forgotten language yearning to be deciphered.

Xiao Zhan and Xiao Fan stood beside her, their faces etched with anticipation. Earlier, they had stumbled upon a chamber filled with ornately carved tablets, their arrangement mirroring the constellations on the panel. Su Ruo believed the key lay in replicating that arrangement.

"Remember the tablets?" Su Ruo asked, her voice echoing in the cavernous space. Xiao Zhan and Xiao Fan exchanged a quick nod, their expressions grim. The chamber of the dead still sent shivers down their spines.

"The Azure Dragon lies in the east," Su Ruo stated, pointing to the constellation carved on the panel. "Xiao Zhan, you stand to my right."

Xiao Zhan, without hesitation, moved to her designated spot.

Su Ruo's gaze darted between the panel and the memory of the tablet arrangement. "The Vermillion Bird presides over the south," she continued, her voice gaining a hint of urgency. "Xiao Fan, take your position to my left."

Xiao Fan mirrored Xiao Zhan's action, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes. With their positions mimicking the cardinal directions of the deceased tablets, a tense silence descended upon the chamber.

Su Ruo, her heart pounding against her ribs, returned her focus to the panel. With trembling hands, she traced the outline of a constellation - the White Tiger. "The White Tiger resides in the west," she murmured, a newfound conviction hardening her voice. "Focus on the White Tiger, both of you!"

Understanding dawned on their faces. They closed their eyes, visualizing the celestial beast etched on the panel, their energy harmonizing with Su Ruo's intent.

A low hum resonated through the chamber, the air crackling with unseen energy. The stone panel shuddered, sending tremors through the floor. Slowly, with an agonizing groan, the panel began to rise, revealing a hidden passage bathed in an eerie green glow.

They huddled together for a moment, a shared sigh of relief escaping their lips. Emerging from the darkness, Su Ruo turned to Xiao Fan, a brief flicker of warmth passing between them before they quickly stepped apart. Xiao Zhan, who had been the first to regain his composure, walked towards the front of the chamber, his eyes drawn to the intricate carvings adorning the walls.

The room was larger than any they'd encountered so far, sunlight streaming in from an opening at the far end. The ceiling, unlike the rough-hewn stone of the tunnels, was adorned with a meticulously rendered map of the constellations. The floor, too, was meticulously tiled, its polished surface reflecting the faint light. Unlike the damp, earthy passageways, this chamber felt oddly sterile, as if someone had lived and maintained it for quite some time.

Scattered around the room were various objects: ornately carved flower vases, several glass vials filled with unknown liquids, a pungent aroma of herbs hanging in the air, and a collection of strange metal contraptions.

"What are those?" Su Ruo asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"It certainly looks like someone resides here," Xiao Zhan murmured in agreement, his gaze lingering on the vials. He raised a hand to quiet them as they seemed on the verge of further discussion. "Let's not touch anything for now."

Su Ruo chuckled softly at his caution, then turned to Xiao Fan, a flicker of self-consciousness crossing her face. She quickly averted her gaze, remembering the impulsive hug from earlier.

Clearing her throat, Xiao Fan spoke up, a question gnawing at him. "Su Ruo, how did you know about the constellations? Did you discuss them with Zhao Yun before we left?"

Su Ruo fell silent, a frown creasing her brow. They hadn't discussed anything of the sort. In fact, she had no recollection of ever learning about constellations.

"Yes," she finally replied, uncertainty lacing her voice. "The Yihua Palace was renowned for its expertise in celestial navigation. Only a select few outside the sect received such instruction."

A knot of unease tightened in her stomach. Zhao Yun clearly knew something about her past, her true identity, and her amnesia. But why the secrecy? What was he hiding, and why send her on this mission with Xiao Fan?

Before she could delve deeper into the mystery, a scrawny figure emerged from the passage they had entered, a flickering lamp held aloft. "Intruders!" he shrieked, his voice echoing in the cavernous chamber.

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