Cold and unfriendly rays of the Sun fell throughout the land once again, reminding the world of its eternal existence.

But despite the soft yet shiver-inducing rays, mortals wake up, living their lives no matter how hard it may be.

Things are not so different for cultivators, for they too, are not immortals who can be aloof from the secular world.

And a conversation deeply intertwined with the secular world of cultivation was fated to happen in a distant valley, in a small pavilion even mortals won't find surprising.

The pavilion was five-cornered and open, letting the natural wind enter freely. Its pillars were adorned with azure stars and had a simplistic imagery of two crimson moons hanging underneath the roof.

In that small pavilion, there was a middle-aged man drinking wine and admiring the view of the valley.

The middle-aged man's elegant azure robes, well-groomed black hair and goatee, and his way of drinking in tandem with the view of the valley made a picturesque scene that won't lose to any painting.

But that painting was ruined when the space just outside the pavilion started to twist and worm.

From it, emerged another middle-aged man, but this man was not ordinary-looking. For he was dressed in a scarlet and white mianfu. Yet he was not wearing a mianguan crown, instead his long, red-tinted hair was left alone to freely fly in the air like wisps of flame.

This alone was shocking, but his temperament was even more special. He exuded a presence that could make awe and respect appear in people's hearts. Truly a majestic temperament.

Yet this middle-aged man, who can leave people in awe, cuffed his fists and said, "Apologies to Daoist Hou for intrusion, I hope it isn't bothering fellow Daoist."

"So this is Daoist Que Zi, please come inside, let us enjoy some wine." Daoist Hou bowed in return as he invited the other.

"Indeed, who doesn't enjoy spiritual wines among us cultivators?" Laughed Daoist Que Zi as he entered the pavilion and sat at the side of opposite Daoist Hou.

"How did fellow Daoist Que Zi even find my seclusion grounds?" Said Daoist Hou as he poured some wine into Daoist Que Zi's cup.

To this, Daoist Que Zi raised his cup and said with a smile, "Ah, well, my family's investigation specialists are not so incompetent to not be able to find this place that you, Red Book Detective Hou Shu is not even bothering to deeply conceal."

"But surely your investigation specialists have failed you in something. Otherwise, why would Fellow Daoist Que Zi come here uninvited?" Said Hou Shu with a gentle smile on his lips but a cheeky look in his eyes.

Hearing this and seeing the playful look in Hou Shu's eyes, Daoist Que Zi responded by taking a sip from his cup of wine and putting a knowing smile, "Daoist Hou surely jests, other than a unique mystery like the one that brought me here, what mystery can stop my Yan family?"

"You bore me," Hou Shu rolled his eyes, "Us cultivators should have good humor!" He declared.

Though Hou Shu may appear playful outside, countless thoughts were colliding in his Sea of Consciousness.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

'If there is a mystery troubling even the great Yan family, one of seven super forces of the current times, then the matter is truly pressing.' Hou Shu thought.

Though his demeanor is still the same carefree on the outside, "Even if there has been a case great enough to require me, fellow Daoist should have just called me through my Crimson Moon, Azure Stars agency, my underlings will surely give you, the Yan Patriarch the respect and courtesy they deserve."

"Indeed, I should have," Yan Que Zi said calmly but the moment he finished, the cup in his hand shattered from the pressure of his hand as his expression started to distort.

"but those Zhan scoundrels!" Said Yan Que Zi filled with killing intent and rage towards the Zhan family, "Those battle hungry snakes won't ever stop their blabbering mouths if they heard that I, the Patriarch of the great Yan family went to find help from someone who is not from the Seven Hegemons!"

The killing Intent was so great that the cold rays of the Sun started to sizzle, lakes started to evaporate and land started to crumble.

Seeing that the killing intent is starting to affect his seclusion grounds, Hou Shu's brows furrowed as he spoke up, "Daoist Que Zi's status as Yan Family Patriarch doesn't mean I can ignore the damage fellow Daoist is bringing to my seclusion grounds!"

Hou Shu released his own Nascent Soul Great Completion stage aura to stabilize the environment.

The cold rays stopped sizzling, lakes recondensed and land started to reform, returning to normal. Well, as normal as it can be after the Great Calamity anyway.

The moment Hou Shu finished speaking, Yan Que Zi's aura vanished as if it was never there, the same with his ferocious expression.

With a slightly apologetic smile on his lips, he said, "I hope Daoist Hou can forgive me, I had to make a display of force, as you know, because of those Zhan scoundrels."

"Indeed, I understand the difficulties of someone in your position. Let us forget about it." Hou Shu nodded his head.

Just as Yan Que Zi was about to respond, both he and Hou Shu looked out of the pavilion.

Slowly, in their view came an azure crane, riding on it a girl with the appearance of someone in their early twenties, with dark bronze skin and long flowing hair, not typical of the people of Dashou Immortal Province.

The girl had a worried expression on her face, but the moment she saw Hou Shu, she let out a relieved sigh, as if a mountain has been taken of her shoulders.

She landed her mount, the azure crane beside the pavilion and quickly entered inside through the circular entrance.

"Master! what was that!? I was so worried for you!" Said the Girl to Hou Shu the moment she was six feet away from him.

But then she finally noticed that there was someone else besides her Master so she quickly bowed towards Hou Shu and Yan Que Zi to show respect and said "Disciple greets Master and Senior!"

Though she had her head down because of her bow, Yan Que Zi could clearly tell that the young girl was embarrassed. Thus, Yan Que Zi gave a hearty laugh and said, "It seems I truly scared this young girl here, I apologize to Daoist Hou once more."

To which, Hou Shu said nothing but just chuckled in response.

Yan Que Zi looked at the girl who was still bowing, as if she wanted to borrow her head into the ground like an ostrich to escape from dying of embarrassment, then once again at Hou Shu as he asked, "I didn't know Daoist Hou had taken a disciple."

"I only took her in twenty years ago, just before I entered seclusion." Hou Shu then looked towards the girl and said, "Ling'er, introduce yourself to Senior Yan Que Zi."

The girl jolted straight and then bowed towards Yan Que Zi once again, "Junior here is the disciple of Master Hou, the Red Book Detective, with the family name of Bai and the given name of Ling."

Yan Que Zi waved his hand and said, "Ah, so this is Little Ling."

"Haha, She may be a bit clumsy, but she has her merits, I think Daoist Que Zi can feel her Nine Layered Forge Fire Physique?" Chuckled Hou Shu.

"Indeed, when she breaks through Golden Core stage, her physique will truly be unmatched in her level." Yan Que Zi nodded and remarked.

Quite a high praise as it is spoken by the Patriarch of the family that has the Celestial Flames from the Immortal Realm of the past.

But Hou Shu only grunted in acknowledgment and took a sip of his wine.

But the taste is all ruined by evaporation and recondensation. 'It's all Yan Que Zi's fault, I am going to charge him extra for it!'

So with that in mind, Hou Shu spoke up once again, with a slight smile, "But let's not talk about me or my disciple anymore, why don't you talk about the case that brought you here?"