Bensheng and Ananda were struggling to hold back their laughter."Pfft... hahaha! Sanbao? A scruffy drunkard with such an adorable name!"
Sanbao shook his head repeatedly. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. What would little brats like you know about the nobility of this name?""'I advise you, friends of good faith, to take refuge in the Triple Jewel of your own essential nature.' Is your name taken from the Platform Sutra?" Yeluo inquired.The laughter from Bensheng and Ananda died in their throats."As expected, the young lady is more knowledgeable," Sanbao nodded approvingly. "But do you know what arts I used just now to pull you two in? That was 'Clairvoyance' and 'Telekinesis'!"Bensheng and Ananda gave up on thinking altogether, turning in unison to Yeluo, waiting for her explanation.Yeluo, suppressing her irritation, said, "'Clairvoyance' originates from the Divine Eye, one of the Five Supernormal Powers of celestial magic. It operates on a similar principle to Ananda's 'Farsight.' As for this 'Telekinesis' of yours... don't try to deceive me. It's clearly different from ordinary telekinesis."Sanbao triumphantly waved a crumpled talisman. Remembering the paper stuck to her, Yeluo reached up, plucked it off, and, ignoring the various stains with effort, examined the spell seal upon it."This is..." Yeluo frowned, thinking for a moment. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, seemingly hesitant about how to phrase it."See something you can't quite put into words? Heh, never mind, I'll unveil the mystery for you. Just now, you were standing on the ground outside. A person shares the most fundamental connection with the earth beneath their feet. Normally, if you leave the ground, another substance must take over this connection... like your sword. You can ride your sword because of the link between person and blade. To make a special transfer of this connection, you need this talisman paper imprinted with a spell seal. I used the talisman to sever your connection to the earth, which is how I pulled you through the sealed gate." He pointed at Ananda. "It's the same for the little crow. It shares the most fundamental connection with you. If you were to vanish into thin air, it would lose that tether and become an existence outside the natural order. If I hadn't pulled it in simultaneously, it would have been utterly annihilated."Ananda, terrified, spread its wings and hugged itself, realizing its small life had nearly been sent straight into the cycle of reincarnation.Both Bensheng and Yeluo were shocked. They had never heard the underlying process of spellcraft explained in such a way. For Yeluo, the scriptures spoke of the same principles, but never as
clearly and understandably as Sanbao had just done.But for Bensheng... this was the first time he had ever understood an Internal Science lesson! He hurriedly asked, "In the natural order, is everything in the world connected?""It's a fundamental principle of supernatural powers, just like all living beings in the world being connected by bloodlines. Nothing exists in true isolation," Sanbao said, looking confused. "How is it you seem to know nothing? Strange, you didn't even form a hand seal to challenge me earlier... Just how did you get into the Royal Underground Palace, kid?"Ananda let out a sigh. "Let me explain."After Ananda recounted the whole story, Bensheng stood dumbfounded. Ananda thought he was stunned with joy at the return of the secret art "Passing Through Walls," but then Bensheng shouted, "You mean that person wasn't Yeluo?"Ananda collapsed. "That's the point you latch onto?"Yeluo leaned forward, displeased. "Hey! Just how unfamiliar are you with me? Couldn't you even tell if I was real or not?"Bensheng's ears turned red from Yeluo's close proximity, and he quickly averted his eyes. "Ahem, well... that line about 'The original manuscripts being straightforward and easy to understand, sure to benefit even those who struggle with scriptures'... was that fake too?"Yeluo was exasperated. "Of course it was! I told you to stop obsessing over Serendipitous Encounters. If not for that, you wouldn't have been tricked..."Bensheng's head drooped in dejection. "But... I genuinely can't read the scriptures. At a single glance, the characters start to spin, blur, and make me dizzy. Even when Instructor Xiao Bai writes them extra large, it doesn't help..." He paused, then rallied his spirits. "Besides, I heard about Serendipitous Encounters from Court Supervisor Beimen himself! He said disciples who struggle with Internal Science should go out and seek them. He said one true encounter could be worth a century of cultivation, better than grinding away miserably at the Academy. That's why I decided to skip class and search for one!""Court Supervisor Beimen?" Yeluo frowned. "That's strange. He's always been the one who emphasizes coursework the most."Sanbao, propping his chin on his hand, watched them digress further and further. Finally, he couldn't hold back. "So, kid, you're really not a thief?""You're the thief!" Bensheng retorted, puffing his cheeks angrily.
"Thief?" Yeluo's gaze shifted from Sanbao back to the crumpled talisman in her hand. A realization struck her, and she stiffened. "I know who you are. 'Clairvoyance,' 'Telekinesis'... what you used was clearly the spell 'Remote Manipulation.' Sanbao... no wonder, no wonder I didn't recognize you. The wanted posters don't even have your picture, they only mention you use talisman seals to steal. You're Sanbao, the top-ranked thief wanted by the Imperial Constabulary!"Sanbao's mouth twitched, showing no tension at having his identity revealed. Instead, he seemed deeply dissatisfied with the label "thief."A cold sweat trickled down Yeluo's temple. She discreetly moved her right hand behind her back, feeling for her sword. "So, you came to the Royal Palace... to steal treasures?"Sanbao shook his head. "No! I came here today to distance myself from the thieves on that wanted list."Bensheng was baffled. "What does that mean?""Most thieves in this world steal for others. I'm different. I only steal for myself.""...""...""...""Isn't that still stealing?" the duo and the bird said in unison."There's a difference, a very big difference," Sanbao said with a roguish grin. "I steal for myself, and this 'self' has principles. I absolutely refuse to steal anything that would harm another's happiness or health. Those other thieves steal for wealth and profit. They don't care who suffers misfortune because of their crimes. Today, I came to the Royal Underground Palace to teach that second-rate scoundrel on the wanted list, Wu Ni, a lesson. He's only emerged in recent years, notorious for his cruelty, having robbed and slaughtered several families. I've chased him three times, and he slipped away each time. This time, hmph, he thinks he can steal from the Royal Palace? We'll see about that!""Wu... Ni? That name sounds familiar..." It had been so long. It took Bensheng a moment to remember the relentless human soldier. "Could it be... he followed me to the Seven-Leaf Country? Then... does that mean all of this today was his doing..."No sooner had he spoken than faint sounds emanated from the dark tunnel. Before Bensheng could react, Yeluo had already drawn her sword, placing herself between him and the tunnel.Clang!
Several fine needles collided with the sword blade and clattered to the floor.Simultaneously, a sound came from the tunnel. Sanbao casually tossed his wine skin. The wine spiraled out, each drop perfectly encasing one of the airborne needles, carrying them to splatter against the wall."Haha! So the little rat Wu Ni finally shows himself! This time, I won't let you escape!" Sanbao laughed, standing up. He placed a talisman in his mouth, chewed it, and strode toward the tunnel.Suddenly, a gale-force wind swept in from behind—the main gate had been opened somehow. Ananda, too light to resist, was instantly swept out by the wind.Bensheng, clutching a bookshelf, reached out and shouted, "Ananda—!"Following the wind came a boundless, inky black cloud. It rolled along the ground, seeping into every crack, surrounding them until it blotted out all light from the palace's stone bricks. The cloud carried a damp, strange odor that stung their noses and throats, making it hard to breathe.Pinching his nose, Bensheng waved his hands, trying to part the cloud. Sanbao and Yeluo had been right beside him moments before, but now he couldn't see them at all. If he were still a deer, with his keen senses, he might have detected their presence. Stamping his foot in frustration, Bensheng decided his only option was to run!His plan was simple: the underground palace was large, but not infinite. If he followed a wall, he could orient himself. Strangely, he ran a long way without hitting a wall.Abruptly, the scene shifted again. A steady drizzle began to fall, gradually dissolving the black cloud and revealing their surroundings. Bensheng's eyes widened. He was still in the Royal Underground Palace, right where he started. He hadn't moved an inch.By the bookshelf piled with scrolls, Sanbao lay slumped in the corner. Three broadswords were buried in his chest, each pinning him gruesomely to the floor. The blood spreading around him had stained half the scrolls crimson. His eyes were half-open, devoid of life."Uncle Sanbao!"How could someone alive and well moments ago end up like this...? Fighting down his panic, Bensheng turned and saw Yeluo also standing frozen, staring at Sanbao's body, her face a mask of horror."This..."The thick, coppery scent of blood hit them—the first time either
had smelled it so strongly—sending chills down their spines."Impossible!" Bensheng yelled into the palace. "Uncle Sanbao is too powerful to die! You... you're trying to trick us!"He didn't know who this "you" was directed at, but a sinister, sneering laugh immediately echoed through the chamber.Yeluo raised her sword. "Show yourself, Wu Ni!"The laughter continued, reverberating throughout the palace. Gritting his teeth, Bensheng suddenly ripped open a pouch on his person. "I don't believe you could beat Uncle Sanbao!" He rummaged through it. "This has to be an illusion!"The art of illusion, while simple in casting, targeted the mind directly, making it immensely potent. To break it, one had to pinpoint the inconsistencies between the illusion and reality. Failure to find the flaw meant even the most powerful practitioner could remain trapped.Just as Yeluo was growing worried, she saw Bensheng pull a bamboo whistle from the pouch.The sinister laughter cut off abruptly, replaced by a low curse from Wu Ni. Ignoring it, Bensheng blew into the whistle with all his might. A piercing shriek tore through the air. The Hall of Divine Artifacts flickered, cycling through three layers of color before settling. The scene remained the same, but the image of Sanbao impaled by swords was gone."Well done, kid!" Sanbao's voice came from amidst the sounds of clashing weapons."Uncle Sanbao!" Bensheng cried out in relieved joy. "You're alive?!"Sanbao, having just kicked Wu Ni away, stood poised on one leg, flashing a dashing grin. "This master is the thief among thieves! You think I'd die so easily?"Yeluo asked, stunned, "Bensheng, that whistle... is...?"It looked utterly ordinary, yet a single blast shattered a triple-layered illusion? Had Bensheng truly had a Serendipitous Encounter after all?"This?" Bensheng wanted to invent some grand origin story, but his mind went blank under pressure. "I won it in a finger-guessing game with a traveler on Six Dusts Street. I didn't even want it... but the man said this whistle was powerful, capable of breaking illusions, though most people would never need it."Back then, he'd felt cheated. What would a junior disciple need with an illusion-breaking tool? He couldn't use it either!But just now, seeing Sanbao's "condition," all he felt was furious
indignation. He'd blown the whistle on impulse, never expecting the seemingly common trinket to actually work.Sanbao, having momentarily disengaged from Wu Ni to catch his breath, glanced over and laughed. "Kid, a whistle fashioned from the Divine Bamboo of Mount Kunlun is a genuine treasure! Legend says they made a flute and a xiao from it. The flute's notes were ethereal and graceful, the xiao's sound mournful and desolate. The last short remnant was crafted into this whistle. But, alas, the whistle's shriek is unbearably awful, enough to outrage gods and men. Any mind, no matter how drowsy or troubled, is instantly jolted to clarity upon hearing it. The essential item for refreshing the spirit, whether at home or on a journey! A divine whistle like this? Dispelling a mere mortal illusion is child's play."Upon hearing this, Bensheng immediately put the whistle to his lips again, aiming it at Wu Ni, who was now crouched on a crossbeam. If Wu Ni tried any more illusions, he'd blast him with the sound immediately.Wu Ni's face, hidden beneath his hood, contorted with fury. He had followed the path Bensheng's passage had cleared through the ten layers of wards. While he'd noticed Yeluo was also in the palace, he assumed a mere disciple, however famous, posed little threat. He'd trapped her and Bensheng in a shared illusion to focus on dealing with Sanbao. Now, this brat with his stupid whistle had not only freed himself but Yeluo as well.He saw the bright yellow glow gathering at the tip of Yeluo's sword—the sign of a spell empowering a weapon."Strike!"The sword shot forward, spinning through the air and impacting the beam where Wu Ni stood. Had he not leaped away instantly, it would have impaled him. Before Wu Ni could even regain his footing, the sword rebounded and shot toward him again from mid-air."Pierce!""Pursue!"Yeluo, forming hand seals, issued commands. The sword moved with agile precision, doggedly chasing Wu Ni.Sanbao let out a strange laugh. "'The sword, a purifier of mind and essence, externally subdues heterodox paths, internally severs all ignorance and affliction.' Young lady, you'll protect us weaklings, won't you?"Wu Ni retreated continuously until he was just beyond the reach of Yeluo's sword, pressing himself against the wall like a gecko. His
hood fell back, revealing his wretched features.He suddenly curled his lips into a smirk aimed at Bensheng. "Good little deer. Don't you miss Lumbini? Let's return to Chaoyun Country together. Then you can see your clan and friends!"Sanbao and Yeluo flanked him, firmly keeping Bensheng protected behind them. Knowing his own limitations and not wanting to get in the way, Bensheng resisted the urge to charge forward, no matter how angry he felt. "Hmph! You want to skin me for a shawl for your lord's concubine. I'm not that stupid! If you want to catch me, come and get me yourself!"After his defiant shout, he focused, his gaze sharp. Suddenly, he noticed Yeluo's red robes seemed soaked, clinging to her body and outlining her graceful figure. Cursing himself internally, he quickly looked away, but his eyes kept drifting back. This internal battle between shame and glancing continued until he noticed something wrong."Uncle Sanbao, Yeluo... the gale, the black cloud, the heavy rain just now... they were all illusions, right?""Of course they were," Yeluo said without turning her head. "The illusion art severed our six senses, making us believe everything happening around us was real."Sanbao, watching Wu Ni's movements, stealthily reached into his clothes for another talisman.Bensheng glanced toward the main gate, and his face instantly turned ashen. "No... that's wrong. The gate is truly open... And Ananda hasn't come back. It was blown away by the wind..."Sanbao pulled a handful of talismans from his robe. They were completely soaked, disintegrating into a pulpy mess in his hand. He shuddered. "He's right. The crow is a spiritual creature. Illusion arts don't affect spiritual creatures. He got rid of it on purpose to execute his spell unimpeded."Wu Ni let out a sinister chuckle. "Haha! Finally, you've fallen into my trap! My illusions... they aren't just illusions!"The wind, cloud, and rain on the surface were the shared illusion targeting Bensheng and Yeluo. But for Sanbao, it was a real gale tearing at his clothes, a tangible black cloud saturating his talismans, a torrential downpour infused with magical power, washing away every spell seal."Sanbao, you brought this on yourself by sticking your nose in my business. Don't blame me for what comes next."