Xi Sanji touched down on the sea floor with a little puff of sand. A second later, Hui followed suit. Ahead of him, Xi Sanji paused, looking at the palace. She waited a few moments, then looked back.

Hui stood there, his hands behind his back, a service smile on his face. He gestured for her to continue. Using the secret sound transmission technique, he said, I’m with you, Elder Sister.

Xi Sanji frowned at him. Returning his secret sound transmission technique, she replied, If you’re with me, then why are you way back there? Come walk alongside me. You’re too young to go alone.

Ah… yes. Unable to refute her without giving himself up, Hui walked up to half a step behind her.

She narrowed her eyes.

Hui coughed into his fist. I wouldn’t dare to walk alongside Elder Sister. This small one isn’t worthy. Instead, let me walk behind you, where I belong.

For another long moment, she stared at him.

Despite being in the ocean, Hui felt sweat break out on his back. Rescinding his secret sound transmission technique, he thought to himself, Elder Sister, don’t call me out on this one. Please, let me have it. Become my trap-finder obediently!

Shaking her head, Xi Sanji walked ahead. Stay close.

Yes! Hui followed at her heels, sure to let her stay one step ahead.

As they approached, the palace’s doors opened wide. More gold glittered on the inside, welcoming them in. Hui peered around Xi Sanji, investigating the palace’s interior. Is it all gold, inside and out? If that’s the case, I can simply steal the palace, without ever entering the palace!

Ahem, though we should definitely explore the palace first. I wouldn’t want to inadvertently set off any traps or offend any seniors that might be dwelling within.

Xi Sanji stepped over the threshold. Hui waited a beat for any traps to appear. When none spawned, he quickly scanned the room with his divine sense, then stepped in.

The second he stepped over the threshold, the gold doors slammed shut.

Hui jumped. He whirled, but the doors were already shut. He glared at them. Oh, hey! Now that’s not fair. That’s like when you’re playing tabletop games and you walk into a room and say “I test for traps,” and then the game leader says, “well, you didn’t say you test for traps on the particular block which coincidentally was hidden by a table I just now decided was there” and you get hit by a trap anyways! I tested for traps, okay? Let me have it! Just once, let me have it!

Xi Sanji turned back, unbothered. “Interesting.”

“Interesting? Elder Sister, how is that interesting? We’re trapped in…” Hui paused. He patted his body down, then turned around. I’m in air? And not only that, but my robes are completely dry? Is there some kind of environmental formation here that I didn’t notice?

If my divine sense couldn’t notice it, then this palace was built by someone well beyond seventh realm. Hui swallowed, suddenly nervous. Uh oh. My trump card’s been trumped. Even if I reveal my full cultivation level here, I’m still too weak!

“I wonder if this was one of our Elders’ hiding spots… or grave,” Xi Sanji murmured, half to herself.

Hui cut his eyes at her, his heart thudding. Grave? Don’t suggest such ominous things. I already have too much yin.

I could use more death qi, though… could always use more death qi. Though, since I haven’t noticed any yin or death qi or any other death-associated energies or auras, I suspect it isn’t a grave… or it’s a grave so old that all energies have dissipated, essentially making it not a grave.

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He cleared his throat. “I think it’s more likely to be a treasure realm, don’t you think? Since we… er, were coincidentally studying herbs when it opened up…” Hui! What are you saying? Admitting to her that it’s a treasure realm? First off, if it is, it’s my treasure realm. I want the jump on looting it! I don’t want her to know! Second, she didn’t solve the puzzle, I did. I don’t really want her to know that I’m the one who brought us here… or that I solved a puzzle to get us here. After all, if she knows I solved a puzzle to bring us here, she has all the more reason to suspect that this is a treasure realm, which—obviously, I don’t want her to know!

She looked at him. “Why were you studying the herbs? I received enlightenment and wished to act on it, but why were you there?”

Hui smiled at her. “Elder Sister, when one sees opportunity open before their eyes, who turns it down?”

Giving him a suspicious look, she put a hand on her chin. “Why were you even in our tier? How did you gain access to the pill library?”

“Er, Elder Sister, I followed you into the library. Is it my fault if you don’t close the door behind you? As to why I was in your tier… I’m a member of Eight Tiers Palace, am I not?”

Xi Sanji snorted. “That’s right. Any member of Eight Tiers Palace can waltz in and steal all our secrets, and there’s nothing we can do to stop them.”

“You… could close the library door behind you,” Hui offered humbly.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Apologies! Apologies, Elder Sister. I spoke out of turn.” Hui bowed quickly, not wanting to draw her ire.

Xi Sanji shook her head. She smiled. “We all make mistakes.”

Especially Elder Sister? Hui thought, but didn’t speak a word aloud. He looked around, taking in the room, and beside him, Xi Sanji did the same.

They stood in the palace’s broad lobby. Gold walls glittered in all directions, engraved with scenes from a cultivator’s life. To their left, a young girl approached a beautiful fairy maiden. In the next panel, a pill furnace appeared from the fairy maiden’s sleeve, glittering with radiant light. On the opposite wall, the young girl brewed her first pill. In the next panel, the girl, now a young woman, handled her pill furnace while she taught a small group of disciples, who gazed on with rapt expressions.

Xi Sanji gasped. “It’s our sect’s founder. It must be!”

Hui nodded to himself. It’s some kind of pill cultivator’s treasure? Interesting. Well, I can send it to Xixing. I’m sure she’d appreciate it. It’ll be my gift for always checking up on Zhubi.

Speaking of, should I take Zhubi to her when we return? He’s been kidnapped for far too long… anything could have happened!

Only one set of doors opened, in the walls dead ahead of them. Hui glanced around just to be sure, then gestured to Xi Sanji. “Shall we?”

She nodded and strode forward, pink robes billowing around her. Hui fell in at her heel, putting his hands behind him.

Beyond the doors, the projection woman stood there, a severe expression on her face, body ever so slightly translucent. Her eyes met Xi Sanji’s, and she smiled. “O true descendant of the Green River Pill Sect, heed my wo—”

Her voice stopped abruptly as her eyes fell on Hui. Her expression twisted with hatred. Intense killing intent and spiritual pressure emanated from the projection, slamming onto Hui’s shoulders. “Filthy follower of Tseng Caihong, you dare to step into our inner sanctum?”

Ah… whoops. I don’t suppose she’d listen if I explained that I’m really a hostage and planning to overthrow Eight Tiers Palace?

Do I want Xi Sanji to know I’m planning to overthrow Eight Tiers Palace? She doesn’t seem to like the Palace, but there’s a difference between not liking something and wanting to overthrow it. Besides, a secret between two is no secret at all… Hmm. Guess there’s only one way to resolve this.

Casually reversing the flow of his qi, Hui dropped to his knees. “A… a deviation!” He coughed up blood, then fell onto his face, dead.

Xi Sanji rushed to his side. “You… er, you! Hold on! I have a pill!” Pulling out a pill, she stuffed it into his mouth.

Ha? Has Elder Sister forgotten my name? Oh well. Makes it easier on me, since she can’t reveal me later if she doesn’t know who I am!

In any case, it’s fine! I’m fine! Focus on pleasing the projection of that senior! We can worry about healing me later! Hui held the pill in his mouth, refusing to chew it.

In the background, the projection’s expression returned to a smile. It rescinded its pressure and killing intent and instantly swapped back to the first script. “Heed my words. I have hidden my true inheritance here, beyond the reach of Tseng Caihong. I…”

Looking at the ‘dead’ Gui Hui, Xi Sanji’s lips pressed together. She reached into his mouth and fished the pill up, considered for a moment, then put it in her mouth.

Externally, Hui stayed dead, but internally, his eyes widened. Eh? Elder Sister, you can’t be considering what I think you’re—

Xi Sanji leaned toward his face, her lips pursed.

Elder Sister…!