Rong Zheng said that her memory was incomplete for three years.

It was a kind of vague intuition.

As people grow, some insignificant things are often swallowed by time. Like what they ate five years ago today, or who they chatted with... these trivial branches get cut off so that people can grow straight and tall like trees.

If that were the case, Rong Zheng wouldn't find it strange.

Her past life was simple, practicing swordsmanship, going out, coming back to practice again... over and over. Ever since she was taken in by the Floating Pavilion, she had always followed her Shi Fu.

But one day, she suddenly focused on one thing—

Under what circumstances did she enter the Floating Pavilion?

Who found her?

Such an important matter, yet Rong Zheng had no recollection of it.

Besides, Rong Zheng vaguely felt that during her youth, there were three years that were fragmented.

Like a piece of fine white gauze with several holes dug into it. When piled together, it was not noticeable, but there were indeed gaps.

This was just her feeling, with no evidence to support it.

When she asked her Shi Fu, he told her not to be distracted and to stop immersing herself in these elusive thoughts.

The more her Shi Fu avoided the topic, the more suspicious she became.

It indicated that what she had forgotten was indeed something very important.

Thus, Rong Zheng wanted to borrow the Bone-Illuminating Mirror.

"This matter is neither big nor small. Leaving it unresolved is always a knot in my heart," Rong Zheng stretched out her arm, lying on the wooden table, her fingers interlacing like an ant's antennae, trying to reach the jade pendant at the Immortal's waist.

Tao Mian took off the jade pendant of unknown value and placed it in her hand, letting her play with it.

"In that case, why not go and find it? Memories are very precious."

Rong Zheng's fingers kneaded the warm jade, her cheek rolling half a circle on her arm.

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"Then let's go! Just as Little Tao said, let's catch that thief first!"

Unexpectedly, Tao Mian's casual joke was actually put into practice.

They took on aliases and tore down the bounty notice posted by the Thousand Lantern Tower, embarking on the quest to find the mirror thief.

Rong Zheng had clues, but they were very complicated. They were given by her so-called "friends on the road," and they needed to verify them one by one.

The next half month could be described as the most frequent and concentrated period of lawlessness in a thousand years of the Immortal realm.

The first clue pointed to a wealthy merchant in the mortal world, who supposedly obtained the mirror through unknown channels and gave it to his newlywed concubine.

The concubine was beautiful and young, while the merchant was nearing sixty.

Originally, the Shi Fu and disciple each had their roles: Tao Mian was to disguise himself as a newly hired steward during the day to get close to the concubine, while Rong Zheng would sneak into her bedroom at night to steal the mirror.

However, Tao Mian's part went awry. After a simple disguise, he approached the new concubine but almost got locked in a small dark room.

"That was close," Tao Mian said with lingering fear as he came out, "This Immortal almost lost his innocence here."

Rong Zheng was speechless.

That night, the Fifth Disciple entered the bedroom as planned, searched around, but found no trace of the Bone-Illuminating Mirror.

It seemed this was a false lead.

Next, they went to a prince's residence, where it was said the prince bought the mirror to treat his son's illness.

However, they arrived at an inopportune time; the young man was already lying on a board as the suona played.

Another fruitless endeavor.

The two were undeterred, treating it as a journey. Tao Mian even kept vigil for the young lord he didn't know, while his disciple was rummaging through the prince's mansion.

He stood guard and kept watch.

The following clues were even more bizarre. Tao Mian and Rong Zheng climbed mountains, crossed seas, and even fought a bear spirit from the demon realm.

They experienced everything, whether they should or shouldn't.

Rong Zheng was not discouraged; in fact, she seemed to enjoy it.

"Are you here to catch a thief or to have fun?" Tao Mian asked her, "We've been everywhere except the Immortal realm."

"Oh, while I'm still alive, let's create some beautiful memories together. Didn't you say memories are precious?"

"...But you should consider whether your Shi Fu, at my age, can handle it."

At this moment, they were sitting at a roadside stall eating noodles, dressed plainly and inconspicuously, blending in as ordinary passersby.

The greatest joy of eating in a bustling market was eavesdropping on gossip.

They heard quite a bit. Like Zhang San stealing from Li Si's house, or Wang Er drowning himself while fishing by the river.

There were useful tidbits too, like news about the Floating Pavilion.

Recently, there seemed to be significant changes within the Floating Pavilion. The Pavilion Shi Fu, Du Hong, was in seclusion, and twelve Shadow Guards were causing trouble.

Some of them were close to Rong Zheng and Chen Yan, and seeing the fate of their senior brothers and sisters, they naturally thought of themselves.

Having devoted themselves to the Floating Pavilion for over a decade, only to end up like this, they were understandably resentful.

Realizing that years of blood, sweat, and tears were in vain, these Shadow Guards were bound to rebel.

However, the newly appointed head of the Shadow Guards by Du Hong was no pushover. Using the internal strife, he dealt with those who disagreed with him. This faction was relatively senior and hard to control. In the infighting, some were inevitably consumed.

Rong Zheng listened to these reports in silence. Only after the people at the next table left did she bury her head in her noodles.

Tao Mian sighed almost inaudibly and handed her a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

For the next three days, Rong Zheng was sullen. Whatever emotions she had, she didn't hide from Tao Mian, but she spoke less and was listless.

Tao Mian took her to lively places, to watch plays, listen to music, and watch people fight crickets.

Until one night, three days later, as they walked on a moonlit path, a figure blocked their way.

"Sister Zheng."

The visitor was Lianqiao, a Shadow Guard from the Floating Pavilion, Rong Zheng's third junior brother, and the one who led the charge against Rong Zheng at Mist Tower on Du Hong's orders.

Lianqiao was severely injured, not only with external wounds but also suffering from internal Gu Poison. His face was pale, and his speech was intermittent.

Upon seeing Rong Zheng, Lianqiao's expression was one of joy.

"Some brothers mentioned they encountered someone who looked like you, and indeed, it's Sister Zheng herself."

Rong Zheng hurriedly crouched down.

"Stop talking, let me stop the bleeding and heal you first."

Lianqiao shook his head, refusing Rong Zheng's kindness.

"Sister, I won't live long. I came to see you one last time to fulfill Brother Chen Yan's last wish. Brother Chen Yan instructed me that unless you intended to seek this item, I should never reveal its whereabouts to you.

He said, the thing you seek is right where you often meet."