Even the crescent moon is bright

At midnight,

The Shangguan estate remained brightly lit.

Beyond the moonlight streaming down, light emanated from the lanterns beneath the eaves, the hand lamps carried by the patrolling maids, and the special candles illuminating the study.

Standing outside the study door, Shangguan Ce noticed the silhouette lingering on the screen window.

He couldn’t help but swallow, and even after steeling himself four or five times, he only then raised a hand to knock upon the door.

“Patriarch, you sent for me?”

“Come in—”

Before anyone stepped forward, the door swung open, and the silhouette on the wall was replaced by a formidable, corporeal back.

Hesitating for a moment, Shangguan Ce finally stepped through the doorway.

“Ce’er, I believe you’re nearing your Second Revolution in cultivation, aren’t you?” Shangguan Hongzhi remained with his back to him, the rustle of turning pages accompanying his words. “Tell me, the first star you communed with… from which tier of heaven did it hail?”

“Replying to the Patriarch, the first star I communed with was from the Third Tier of Heaven; it strengthens my arm strength,” Shangguan Ce paused slightly, then patted his chest, declaring with conviction, “But as you said, I am on the verge of breaking through to the Second Revolution. When that happens, I am certain I will be able to commune with stars from the Fourth, or even… even the Fifth Tier of Heaven!”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Shangguan Hongzhi’s lips curved subtly.

He closed his book, then turned to face the inexplicably excited young man, a slight arch in his brow.

“Such ambition is commendable, and it proves that my years of personal tutelage haven’t been in vain.”

He set the book aside, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled to Shangguan Ce’s side, lifting a hand to pat his shoulder.

“I recall my Third Brother telling me, back when he was alive, that you were destined for great things.

It seems he wasn’t mistaken.

What do you think?”

‘Third Brother… wouldn’t that be… Father?’

Shangguan Ce’s body trembled uncontrollably.

The person mentioned by Shangguan Hongzhi was none other than his deceased father, a beloved kin who had passed before witnessing him truly embark on the path of cultivation.

“Patriarch… did Father… truly say that?”

“Heh heh, I wouldn’t stoop to deceiving a junior like you.

Though you are the child of my wayward younger brother and a maidservant, you are, after all, his sole bloodline,” Shangguan Hongzhi leaned in slightly, whispering into his ear, “Therefore, I have always regarded you as my own.”

“Thank you, thank you, Patriarch, for your esteem!”

“Hahahaha, there’s no need for such formality.

In the future, I’ll be relying on you to properly assist that girl Qiuyue; after all, you are her elder brother.”

Though Shangguan Hongzhi spoke with such courtesy, he still allowed the person before him to kneel, making no move to help him up.

“Patriarch, surely you didn’t summon me today merely for pleasantries?

Young Miss Qiuyue… Miss Qiuyue suddenly fainted today, and I presume…” Shangguan Ce paused, lowering his head and softening his voice, asking cautiously, “You must have something for me to do, correct?”

As his words faded, the already sparse sounds within the study vanished in an instant, leaving only the chirping of insects outside the window and the approaching rustle of the Patriarch’s robes.

Under immense pressure, Shangguan Ce felt his legs tremble, his throat bobbing, yet he could not utter a sound.

“Thwack—”

A heavy hand clapped down on his shoulder, causing him to instinctively shut his eyes.

“Hahahaha! Truly the offspring of my Third Brother, so clever!

I adore children like you, hahahaha!”

‘Eh?’

The sudden burst of laughter, the inexplicable praise, and even the Patriarch personally bending to help him up, for a moment, left Shangguan Ce feeling as though he were dreaming.

It took several breaths of dazed confusion before he finally managed to stammer out.

“Please, please instruct me, Patriarch!

I shall dedicate my full efforts and not fail your high expectations!”

Hearing this, Shangguan Hongzhi turned to gaze outside the door.

As a glimmer of starlight flowed through his eyes, the entire Shangguan estate came into his view.

He nodded in satisfaction and spoke softly.

“Actually… it’s nothing particularly difficult.

I merely wish to ask if that boy Yun Mu has any close young boys or girls.”

‘Yun Mu?’

Shangguan Ce repeated the name, his heart suddenly seizing, and a surge of killing intent instantly welled up.

Yet, he swiftly suppressed his thoughts.

“To my knowledge, the family servants are granted one day off each month to go out and purchase personal items, though their range of travel is limited to the capital city,” He furrowed his brow slightly, then continued after a moment of thought, “I recall that Yun Mu, though he receives no stipend, also goes out.

It seems he visits some bookshop in the westernmost part of the capital, only… I’m not entirely sure of the exact location.”

“Oh? And how does this relate to the young boys and girls I mentioned?”

“Patriarch, you may not be aware, but previously Young Miss Qiuyue, um…”

“Speak freely.”

Only after receiving permission did Shangguan Ce stammer out his words.

“Just last month, Young Miss Qiuyue suddenly had a whim.

She claimed to be worried that Yun Mu might have found a sweetheart outside, so she secretly followed him.

Concerned for her safety, I went after her once I finished my duties.

Although I met the Young Miss returning halfway and didn’t follow all the way there, I did overhear her words—”

“What was that? Turns out it was just a pair of twin toddlers and a pile of old books.

If he likes reading them, let him,” he mimicked Shangguan Qiuyue’s petulant yet adorable tone in a strange fashion, then earnestly explained. “Therefore, I can assert with certainty that there are indeed young boys and girls familiar to Yun Mu there.”

Hearing Shangguan Ce’s conviction, Shangguan Hongzhi nodded slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly turned, seizing the young man’s arms, his voice laced with an undeniable authority.

“I recall… tomorrow is the monthly outing day, isn’t it?

In that case, I command you to secretly follow Yun Mu, locate that pair of twins, and bring them to me,” He paused slightly, then added, “If it proves inconvenient, then kill them, but their heart’s blood must be obtained, do you understand?”

With that, he retrieved two crystal-clear bottles, intricately carved with mysterious patterns, from his embrace and handed them to Shangguan Ce.

“Contain it within these.”

‘These are… Profound Mechanism Vials!?’ Shangguan Ce’s eyes widened, immediately grasping the gravity of the matter.

He carefully put away the two vials, then bowed, declaring, “I shall not fail the Patriarch’s expectations!”

“Very well, get some rest.

Remember to return before the Hour of the Dog (TL Note: The traditional Chinese time division ‘xū shí,’ corresponding to 7 PM to 9 PM.) tomorrow.”

“As you command!”

After bowing once more, Shangguan Ce quickly walked out of the study.

At this moment, only one thought occupied his mind: to proceed with his original plan of visiting the stables to confirm whether Yun Mu had returned.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t even know the whereabouts of those young boys and girls, let alone how to accomplish this task.

****

Under the moonlight,

Shangguan Ce moved with electric speed, passing through layers of courtyards, finally stopping before the mule and horse stable, dozens of zhang (TL Note: A traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3.33 meters or 11 feet) away from the main residential complex.

What met his eyes was a ground covered in mud and puddles reflecting the moonlight, while a pungent odor immediately made him pinch his nose and frown.

“Tch… truly filthy,” he cursed under his breath, stepping in despite a strong wave of nausea.

On a pile of straw within the shed, a familiar, shabbily dressed figure was curled up, deeply asleep.

‘Sleeping so soundly?’

Upon seeing the serene curve at the corner of the young man’s lips, Shangguan Ce’s face instantly darkened.

A surge of emotions, a volatile mix of fury and intense revulsion, churned within his chest, a nearly boiling killing intent threatening to erupt.

‘Damn this little beast! This young master has been on edge because of you all this time, yet you’re sleeping so soundly.

Dammit…’

At this thought, he clenched his fist, bringing forth a gust of wind as he fiercely struck out, only to abruptly halt just an inch from the young man’s cheek.

Shangguan Ce took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his violent urges as he straightened up.

In the end, he still couldn’t resist, spitting a gob of thick phlegm with disdain onto the sleeping young man’s cheek.

“Consider yourself lucky.

I’ll properly entertain you once this matter is over… No, tomorrow, once I’ve captured those young boys and girls from the bookshop, this young master will gouge out their heart’s blood right before your eyes, letting you experience what it means to beg for life but be denied, to beg for death but be unable to die.”

With that, he spat viciously once more, then quickly departed the area.

Under the moonlight,

Yun Mu’s body stirred slightly, and half-awake, he raised a hand to wipe away the spittle from his cheek.

A soft snore began, and he drifted back into slumber.

****

In the study,

Shangguan Hongzhi still stood before the door.

Two masked figures, seemingly merged with the night, knelt on one knee before him, awaiting his command.

“Issue orders for a thorough investigation into all of Yun Mu’s movements over the past six months.

Any young boys or girls close to him, anyone he might have touched, are to be apprehended without exception.

As for that pair of twins in the west of the city…” he paused, “do not act rashly for now.

Await my command.”

“As you command, Master!”

As his words fell, a breeze stirred, and the two shadowy figures vanished abruptly like smoke, leaving only the Patriarch standing alone in the dead of night, gazing up at the moon.

“Tonight’s moonlight, clear and frosty, though not yet full… is quite… splendid, splendid indeed…”