To prepare for tomorrow night's Human Gate test, Mu Qinglan went to bed early.
When she woke up the next day, the sun was already high, but she was still full of energy.
It was rare for her to sleep in.
The first thing she did upon waking was to sense Ah Qi's digestion progress. After closing her eyes for two seconds, she had a clear understanding—Ah Qi would wake up by this afternoon at the latest.
This gave her much more confidence for the night.
"Now the Light Wisp spell is close to small accomplishment. I'll practice the other two a bit more later. Although mechanist is my main profession, since I have the magician profession, I can't neglect it either."
Mu Qinglan thought this as she slowly propped herself up.
She gathered her white hair. The girl, wearing a cyan silk nightgown, swung her porcelain-like legs, her jade feet slightly arched, aimlessly tapping the cold floor.
—Her legs weren't completely useless, just unable to exert much strength.
She could still sway them a little.
And she could still feel them.
A moment later, after washing up, the girl got out of bed.
She pushed the door open.
Strands of autumn air blew in from outside the courtyard, turning the leaves yellow. With the gentle breeze, the girl closed her eyes, faint light surging at her fingertips, and she immersed herself in last night's state again.
The timing was perfect for a small grind.
○
"Practicing magic so early?"
This was the scene Shen Yao saw when she was led into the back courtyard by a maid.
She couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.
As a constable, Shen Yao had seen many young masters and ladies from noble families, but even among those who had walked the transcendent path, few were this diligent.
After all, there were... too many things more interesting than hard practice.
Shen Yao lightened her footsteps, nodded slightly to signal the maid to leave, and then stood alone by the wall, silently watching her practice.
After a long while.
"Why didn't you call out to me when you arrived, Miss Shen?"
The girl complained gently, the long circulation of spiritual power making her pale little face slightly flushed.
"Practice is important," Shen Yao said calmly.
Hearing this, Mu Qinglan didn't say anything. She knew the other had this kind of cold personality.
It would be abnormal if she suddenly came over to praise her one day.
So after seeing Shen Yao arrive, she simply went along with it, pretending she hadn't noticed her, deliberately showcasing her serious and diligent side.
People often believe most firmly in what they observe without the other's knowledge.
Shen Yao was no exception.
Mu Qinglan had a distinguished status, yet was still working hard on cultivation—wasn't this the kind of character that easily aroused goodwill?
Creating it was also natural.
The bad woman understood this all too well.
'Just showing my strong side can certainly make Shen Yao obediently listen, but it can't make her stand with me on the same side from the bottom of her heart. But if I move her with other aspects, then she'll consider more for me.'
'It would be best if she could like me.'
'But I can't deliberately create a persona either; if my purpose is too strong, she'll be on guard.'
Mu Qinglan pondered.
'But Shen Yao's temperament is still too cold, without any curiosity. It's very troublesome to work on... I need a curious little cutie who would be easier to deceive, and could also give the great ice mountain Shen a sense of crisis.'
Mu Qinglan shook her head secretly. How could there be such a coincidence?
Someone worth utilizing, with strong curiosity, and even acquainted with Shen Yao—it was too difficult to find someone who could simultaneously meet these three conditions.
But it didn't matter.
She would just let things take their natural course.
After all, she was already confident.
○
After staying in the courtyard for a while, the two went inside.
Shen Yao began to report on the aftermath of the events from two days ago.
Taking down five government officials in just one day, in Heyang City where there was already some tension, was undoubtedly like dropping a deep-water bomb.
For a time, everyone's eyes were on this.
The Six Bureaus conducted trials quickly. With conclusive evidence and grievous crimes, several were beheaded on the same day.
The remaining few who hadn't finished their trials were kept in prison, living in constant fear.
Mu Qinglan's operation could be said to have broken the backbone of the Crown Prince's faction.
—They probably wouldn't be able to recover for some time.
Shen Yao's voice was cold and clear, and her expression didn't change much as she spoke, but she was indeed somewhat admiring.
After meeting Mu Qinglan.
These past few days, her life had been turned upside down.
Before, she had only wanted to quietly cultivate, waiting until she reached a level where she could defeat her enemy before suddenly taking revenge.
But after witnessing Mu Qinglan's operations, after seeing the Crown Prince's advisors running around in panic, unwittingly, another thought sprouted in Shen Yao's heart.
Perhaps, some matters didn't necessarily have only one solution—force.
Thinking this, her voice inevitably softened a bit.
On the other side, Mu Qinglan's expression remained calm as she listened to Shen Yao say that she had been caught by the Chief Constable for several conversations these past two days, saying she had received imperial praise today, saying her prestige in the Six Bureaus was unmatched these days, and that all of this was inseparable from her.
The white-haired girl's lips curled slightly.
Having received so much kindness from her, could she possibly escape from her palm?
It was just a matter of time.
She believed that sooner or later, this cold ice mountain would willingly call her... master.
Then Shen Yao spoke of the Crown Prince's faction. After this great disaster, the Crown Prince's mansion had fully retracted their forces. Even the small hooligans in the dark side of the capital didn't dare to swagger around under the Crown Prince's banner recently.
It seemed they wouldn't dare to show their faces for a short period.
This analysis was reasonable, but Mu Qinglan couldn't help but narrow her eyes.
Could that Crown Prince from the plot, known for his vindictive character, really swallow this grievance? Probably not...
But it didn't matter.
The Crown Prince's faction had been severely weakened in this wave and was being watched by the entire capital. Even if they had strong forces, they probably couldn't do anything for at least a month.
She had at least a month to develop.
With the game plot in her mind and her understanding of the villainous characters in Heyang, who would kill whom after a month was uncertain!
Couldn't be helped, it had begun.
"By the way, tonight is the full moon night. Are there any constables in the Six Bureaus planning to break through the Human Gate tonight?" Mu Qinglan suddenly asked.
"There are indeed." Shen Yao nodded slightly: "I'm not clear about the situation in other branches, but at headquarters, a junior sister of mine is planning to attempt a breakthrough tonight. She has been practicing the supernatural for over two months."
"Oh?"
This made Mu Qinglan somewhat curious. "Junior sister?"
"A closed-door disciple accepted by my master, the daughter of Duke Bai," Shen Yao explained: "Her name is Bai Yuyu."
"Bai Yuyu?"
Mu Qinglan was startled for a moment.
○
Autumn was deepening.
In the evening in Heyang, even the peddlers and merchants had dispersed early. Ordinary citizens were at home making fires and cooking, and the various constables of the Six Bureaus were also getting off work one after another.
But in a certain room of the Six Bureaus, the light was still on.
"Let's hold the ritual here tonight, to avoid being nagged by that group, worrying about this and that. It's just the mere Human Gate..."
Inside the room, the girl muttered, slowly checking the ritual on the ground.
"The ritual is correct, and the calming incense is ready."
"Tomorrow morning, after passing, I'll go report the good news to Master and Sister, and also thoroughly inquire about Sister's new friend. It seems Sister's information also came from her?"
—Hmm.
"Must properly thank her..."
Bai Yuyu murmured, lying on the desk, bit by bit hiding the small unease in her heart within her nervous ramblings.
She never showed weakness in front of others.