To her utter surprise, Ranran nodded and sounded gratified, "So, Elder Mu, you know that Su Yu is not a good person. You must be wondering how I seem so much stronger than you. Actually, I think it's because you've been in that sinister palace for too long, which has greatly diminished your spiritual power! As a woman, you still need to be careful… How about I free you from this burden, so that you don't have to return to that dangerous place again."
Ignoring Mu Qingge's glaring eyes, she sealed her mouth completely and then tied her up and stuffed her into the nearby cabinet after applying a sleeping talisman.
Mu Qingge, under the effects of the golden talisman, wouldn't wake up for a while. The cabinet was empty and used for decoration, so it shouldn't be disturbed for a while. Once the people from the palace left, Gao Cang and Qiu Xier would come to deal with her, to prevent her from waking up and exposing Ranran.
Ranran's figure was similar to Mu Qingge's. Because Mu Qingge presently had injuries on her face, she always wore a veil when going in and out. So Ranran didn't need to disguise herself further; wearing the veil would cover her face.
After putting on Mu Qingge's clothes, clearing her throat, and lowering her voice to imitate Mu Qingge's speech pattern, Ranran, was also naturally gifted with a parrot-like voice, able to imitate singing and speech perfectly. She managed to fool her way back to the carriage and returned to the palace without raising suspicion.
Although her imitation of the voice was quite similar, she only gave simple commands like "set off" or "go out" during the remaining time, keeping silent otherwise. In this remarkably smooth manner, she returned to the palace on the west side.
The Battle Goddess preferred to ride in luxurious carriages with high canopies, making several daily trips in and out, with guards and badges in place, allowing her to enter the palace smoothly. The palace guards had already grown accustomed to it.
As for Battle Goddess's depressed mood and reluctance to speak much, the palace maids and eunuchs serving her also found nothing out of the ordinary.
In recent days, Mu Qingge's temper had been erratic due to her facial injuries. Her sudden silence brought relief to the attendants, and no one felt masochistic enough to approach and fawn over her.
When Ranran returned to the Western Palace and dismissed her attendants with a wave, she first took a tour of the rooms. The room was lavishly decorated, with precious jewels piled on the table, and exquisite clothing hanging on screens.
Ranran knew that Elder Mu loved to live in luxury, and after touring her rooms, it was indeed evident.
Although Su Yu was merely using Elder Mu, he was really generous. Supporting a woman like this, solely relying on Shifu's consultation fees...it would be rather challenging.
Ranran pondered for a moment, then sat on the couch and tried to mobilize her true qi.
As Shifu said, her dantian full of true qi had dissipated the moment she entered the palace, unable to gather again no matter what she tried. However, during meditation, she could still circulate her meridians to maintain her health.
Ranran felt that Elder Mu really threw all caution to the wind, just to avoid the three major sects. Spending too much time in such an atmosphere would greatly damage the foundation of even someone with a high cultivation level.
In theory, Elder Mu, with skills not inferior to her Shifu's, could easily establish her own Sect. However, for some reason, this Elder Mu seemed accustomed to rely on others, using them as tools or being used as one…
Was this really her true character?
Ranran couldn't imagine how the once carefree woman, who indulged in drinking and enjoyed life to the fullest, ended up being so timid and hesitant now.
Thinking about this, she was even more curious about Su Yu. How cunning must he have been, to be able to manipulate Mu Qingge for two lifetimes, using her all these while?
But the immediate priority was to find out where Shifu was. Considering Mu Qingge's words about Shifu likely still being in the palace, Ranran found it plausible. Even if she couldn't find Shifu, she could find the spiritual spring on his neck.
With that in mind, she took out the small compass made by Uncle Master Zeng. Similar to the compass Qin Xuanjiu had, it could detect faint waves of energy near demonic entities.
Ranran didn't intend to act at night. The Great Qi Palace was too vast, and she couldn't use true qi; moving around at night would only attract attention.
So, taking advantage of the rare, clear day, she put on her veil and confidently led a few palace maids to take a walk in the Imperial Garden.
Seeing the Battle Goddess's figure from a distance, the scattered concubines and consorts looked at her with faint disdain.
After all, Mu Qingge, neither a consort nor a concubine, had taken possession of the best of everything in the palace, sharing the Emperor's glory and favor, which naturally aroused envy and resentment.
Ranran hid her face in the veil, seemingly walking casually about but was actually checking the small compass hanging around her neck.
Shifu had the spiritual spring on him, and the compass should be able to sense some demonic energy. After walking back and forth several times, she noticed that the compass trembled slightly each time she faced the northeast direction, as if responding to something.
She looked in the northeast direction and saw a tall tower there, said to be where the founding heroes were honored by the former emperor, built right in the center of the Pool of Inquiry.
The Pool of Inquiry had been expanded twenty years ago and had become quite a large body of water.
However, as she was about to head towards the Pool of Inquiry — now called the Lake of Inquiry — she was stopped by someone and informed that it was a forbidden area of the palace and not to be approached.
Ranran could only express her curiosity and ask why it was a forbidden area. The guards exchanged glances, and one of them, with a forced smile, said, "You know, a few days ago, an assassin came and fled to the Lake of Inquiry. In the end, he slipped and fell in. The corpse hasn't been retrieved yet. It's such an ominous place; you'd better stay away."
Ranran knew she couldn't get close right now. But after hearing the guard's words, she felt her heart lurch.
She had to leave for now but reassured herself silently: even if Shifu had temporarily lost his spiritual power in the palace, he couldn't possibly be drowned so easily. There must be some deception involved, and she needed to quickly investigate the anomalies in the lake…
Just as she was deeply engrossed in her thoughts, a voice filled with anger sounded behind Ranran, "Why are you still staying here? Have you been dazzled by wealth and luxury?"
Ranran hadn't sensed anyone approaching, so she turned around cautiously. It turned out to be a lady in a red dress, with a bright and charming aura, standing angrily behind her. Without any reservation, she grabbed Ranran's wrist and pulled her into a nearby pavilion.
"You can all leave; I want to have a chat with the Battle Goddess." The lady in red instructed her attendants.
Just then, a eunuch came over, smiling without reaching his eyes, and said to the woman in red, "Consort Jing, why have you come here? Your father, Lord Zhou, just had an audience with the Emperor and was planning to come and pay his respects to you. He's waiting outside your palace gates."
Upon hearing this, the lady in red, Consort Jing coldly glared at the eunuch, then turned and left quickly.
But her gait was not like other palace concubines, who walked delicately like lotus flowers. Instead, she walked briskly and gracefully, almost as if she had martial arts skills.
As Ranran was about to head back, she saw Lin Yeting, the beloved disciple of her master Mu Qingge, being led by a eunuch to find his mentor.
Lin Yeting seemed to have noticed Consort Jing approaching Mu Qingge earlier. After paying his respects to his mentor, he knowledgeably said, "Consort Jing's father, although holding a high position as Minister of War, but both father and daughter are really rigid in thinking. It's been said that Minister Zhou Dao has been reprimanded by His Majesty several times recently, indicating a loss of favor… Before she entered the palace, it seemed she had a good relationship with you, Master, so I dare to speak up and advise you to keep them at arm's length, lest you be burdened by these two father and daughter…"
Ran Ran immediately understood upon hearing this. This Consort Jing's father, Zhou Dao, was actually the former superior of General Qin Xuanjiu, who guarded the Wangxiang Pass.
When someone used the incident of soldiers from Wangxiang Pass throwing themselves into the river to accuse General Qin Xuanjiu, it was this Minister Zhou Dao who strongly vouched for him.
However, Zhou Dao and the treacherous Prime Minister Lin have always been enemies. Now, Lin Yeting is taking advantage of the situation to sow discord, obviously working hard for his father.
Xue Ran Ran naturally had a strong aversion to the Lin family's father and son. Although they had never worked together, she had long sensed their foul stench.
Moreover, if Lin Yeting continued to follow her around, she would not be able to act freely.
So, Ranran tightened her throat, imitated the voice of Elder Mu, and coldly said Shifu's one-worded mantra: "Get lost!"
After saying that, she turned and walked towards her palace without looking back.
Although Lin Yeting also knew that his master had been extremely irritable these past few days, he never expected her to be so blunt in rebuking him today, leaving him dumbfounded for a moment.
But later, he realized that Consort Jing Zhou Feihua was once a close friend of Mu Qingge, so he suddenly understood that his words just now were too careless, possibly causing displeasure to his master.
Although he had upset his master, Lin Yeting was not too alarmed.
Did she really think she was a god-like figure? Although she was highly honored by His Majesty, that favor being withdrawn one day would catch her off guard.
Although he called that woman his master, it was at his father's behest, to monitor her closely. Did she really think he, the son of a high-ranking Prime Minister, was someone at her beck and call?
Master Lin, unable to restrain himself, snorted coldly and turned to leave as well.
After returning to the West Palace, Ranran dismissed the attendants and prepared to change into a neat outfit, waiting quietly for the night to come.
With nothing else to do, she crossed her legs to meditate, hoping to calm her mind so she could discern her Shifu's voice amidst the noisy sounds near and far in the palace. But no matter how carefully she listened, she did not a sound from her Shifu.
However, she did catch some unrelated voices.
She heard her so-called "beloved disciple" Lin Yeting seem to be whispering not far from the West Palace: "That old man Zhou Dao doesn't know how to appreciate favors, he is quite stubborn and unwilling to move voluntarily. He might need a lesson… I heard that the Emperor has been favoring Consort Jing for several nights in a row… With this, Lord Zhou might have a chance to turn things around because of his daughter!"
Another eunuch with a high voice said, "If the Lord Chancellor is worried about this, it's easy to handle. Recently, Consort Jing's cousin also joined the Forbidden Army. They grew up together like childhood sweethearts… If the young master is interested, there's a drinking session in the barracks tonight, a chance…"
The rest of their conversation was too soft for Ranran to hear clearly.
Right now, her sole focus was on rescuing her Shifu. Palace intrigue and power struggles were not her concern, so even though she heard it, she didn't pay it much mind.
Soon, night fell, and Ranran silently calculated the time for the changing of guards in the Western Palace. Taking advantage of the shift change, she lightly jumped onto the roof from a window and swiftly headed towards the northeast tower.
Thanks to her Shifu's strict training, even without using her Qi, her footsteps were light and agile. As she approached the tall building near the Lake of Inquiry, her small compass on her neck trembled violently. Ranran felt ecstatic; perhaps her Shifu was being held captive there.
When she stopped on the last roof, she saw a large open space ahead, with the high tower built in the center of the Lake of Inquiry. The island around it was surrounded by lush greenery and deep waters. The Forbidden Army around seemed wary of the lake, avoiding it from a distance, as if there were ferocious beasts inside.
She had used the eyes of the Vermilion Bird before and saw her Shifu rushing towards that high tower. Adding that to the words of the guards during the day, could it be that her Shifu had really fallen into the lake and hadn't come out since?
Under the cover of night, Ranran crouched on the roof like a bat, avoiding being seen by distant observers. She closed her eyes and tried to focus, quickly hearing a strange gurgling sound coming from the depths of the lake.
Amidst the low, deep gurgling of the water, there seemed to be a hint of painful whimpering, that voice... resembled her Shifu!
Ranran's eyes widened in shock. Could it be… Shifu was imprisoned underwater?
At that moment, soldiers changing shifts seemed to be talking. A leader-like figure asked, "Any unusual movements from the Winged Immortal today?"
The person being asked replied, "Much calmer compared to yesterday. Didn't that assassin fall into the lake by himself yesterday? The Immortal seems satiated today, behaving quite calmly without surfacing. Plus, you saw it hasn't rained today."
The leader spoke in a low voice, "You mustn't be careless. If the Immortal fully awakens, the entire Capital's foundation will be overturned. We must feed it on time and check the lake for tremors regularly…"
Ranran was bewildered. She suddenly remembered something about the inner river and the recent continuous heavy rain in the capital. Could there be something deadly hidden beneath the palace's lake?
If so, was Su Yu insane? Concealing such a sinister creature in the palace, if anything went wrong, wouldn't it affect everyone in the city? And what did they mean by feeding captured individuals to the Winged Lord? Could they be referring to her Shifu? Had her Shifu been captured and fed to that lake-dwelling monstrosity?
If Su Yu indeed kept some evil creature, similar to the Immortal Devouring Bug, it would require nourishment from someone with deep spiritual energy.
In many ways, her Shifu Su Yishui, was a perfect delicacy! The thought of Shifu possibly being fed to an evil creature made Ranran's heart feel like it was about to explode.
Shifu, were you really killed by the tyrant this way??
Ranran took pause, knowing she still had a chance to sneak out of the palace, but approaching that deep pool could lead to her being devoured by whatever lurked inside.
However, the whimper from her Shifu that Ranran was certain she had heard earlier, he might be underwater struggling right this moment!
According to Elder Mu, Shifu escaped yesterday and jumped into the lake. If Shifu hasn't come out yet, then Shifu must still be underwater…
Thinking of this, Ranran actually felt no fear. She had always been someone who, once decided on something, she wouldn't look back.
If Shifu had really perished under the water, she would risk everything to retrieve even a piece of his bone…
Taking a deep breath, she prepared to jump down, but before she could leap, she felt a chilling presence behind her.
Slowly turning, Ranran saw Su Yishui standing there beside her, dripping wet, staring at her with his beautiful eyes.
Ranran held her breath, examining her Shifu from head to toe – complete and unharmed, not missing any arms or legs. Yet, there was an indescribable eeriness about him.
She was about to speak when Su Yishui gestured for her to go down from the roof and quickly led her along the ridge to a nearby palace.
Compared to previous emperors, there were not many consorts in Su Yu's palace. This palace near the lake seemed abandoned for a long time, covered in dust.
As they entered the room, Ranran tried to grab her master's wrist to check his pulse. This was a skill Su Yishui had taught her for discerning people. External appearances could change with illusions, but pulses remained consistent, especially her master's, which was unique.
But when she reached out, her hand passed through Su Yishui's body, piercing through his waist.
The person before her was not Shifu but merely an illusion… similar to how the spirit spring had once conjured Mu Qingge's image at the military platform.
But this illusion of Su Yishui frowned sternly, "Why are you so disobedient? Didn't Yutong send you all out? Why did you sneak into this place?"
If it were a demon's illusion, how did it know about her Shifu's orders to her Second Uncle Master?
Ranran stared at the illusion in a daze, her lips trembling as she whispered, "Shifu… are you dead?"
Could it be that Shifu had died too tragically, and now his spirit was lingering to appear before her?
Perhaps to fit with his disciple's imagination, the man before her exuded a chilling and sinister aura, "Even if I am not dead, you're close to driving me to my grave."
Ranran was almost choked up, whispering, "Shifu…"
It would seem that Su Yishui did not want to scare his little disciple out of her wits, so he said in a low voice, "I can't leave the palace right now, but there's no immediate danger to my life. My movements are restricted, so I had to detach from my primordial spirit to meet you this way. How did you get into the palace?"
Ranran whispered, "I tied a charm to the foot of the Vermilion bird and saw you falling into the Emperor's trap, getting captured… How can I go back with peace of mind? Even if I have to fight to the death, I must save Shifu..."
Hearing this, not only did Su Yishui not feel his disciple's filial piety but he reached out to grab her shoulder, though his hand couldn't touch her at all.
He tried to rein in his anger, emphasizing every word, "I forbid it. Don't you dare die!"
Ranran was somewhat stunned by the inexplicable hatred in his eyes. Blinking at Su Yishui's spiritual form, she dared not speak.
She seemed to have touched her Shifu's sore spot again. At this moment, she was a little afraid of her furious Shifu.
Su Yishui also realized he had frightened Ranran. Seeing how she was shrinking a little from him, he did his best to take a deep breath, trying to calm the agitation in his heart.
Having sacrificed most of his core cultivation to the divine spell, he was highly sensitive to this spirit fruit that is Ranran and her unique aura, which was why he recognized her existence when they first met in Juefeng Village.
Just now when he was underwater, he woke up abruptly when he sensed Ranran's aura, and conjured his spiritual form to find her.
However, this method of separating the soul consumes even more than Beast-Taming Arts, and he cannot sustain it for too long.
So, he spoke in a low voice, "Early tomorrow morning, find an opportunity to leave the palace and quickly return to the West Mountain... It's my fault, if I had known that the Capital was so dangerous, I would never have brought you here. Also, be extremely careful of Su Yu… He…"