In Jiangnan City, nestled in the southeast heartland of the Kingdom of Yao, prosperity has been a historical emblem. A convergence point for merchants from all quarters, the populous city thrives with incessant throngs on its bustling streets. Naturally, the city's dominion stretches vast, spanning dozens of miles.

After much inquiry, Cheng Wu Yue had exerted considerable effort to reach his destination - Ganquan Temple to the city's south.

At this midday hour, the temple was devoid of other worshippers.

A young monk, upon noticing Cheng Wu Yue and his companion, approached them with measured steps: "Are the benefactors here to offer incense or conduct a ceremony?"

Cheng Wu Yue halted, offering a bow to the young monk: "Venerable, I come from Luoyang's Fuhua Temple, bearing a message from Abbot Yuan Jin, specifically to meet with Master Yuan Qing."

Xiang Nan glanced between Cheng Wu Yue and the monk, mimicking a bow behind Cheng Wu Yue.

"Fuhua Temple?" The monk hesitated for a moment before opening the gate, "Please, benefactors, follow me."

Cheng Wu Yue and his company followed the monk inward, circumventing two Buddha halls and passing through a courtyard to arrive before a secluded hall.

The hall doors stood open, presenting a Guanyin statue within.

The abbot of Ganquan Temple, Yuan Qing, sat kneeling before the statue, softly tapping a wooden fish.

The monk called softly into the hall, "Master, there are two from Fuhua Temple."

The wooden fish fell silent abruptly. Yuan Qing's form paused momentarily before he rose and bowed to Guanyin, then stepped out to greet Cheng Wu Yue with a nod.

"How fares my fellow brother, Yuan Jin?"

Cheng Wu Yue stepped back and respectfully bowed to Yuan Qing, then retrieved a dark clay bowl from his pack and presented it to Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing, upon seeing the bowl, paused, breathed a silent prayer, then accepted it.

"My brother wandered the vast world with only this bowl in his possession, seeking wisdom through life's hardships. His words, 'Only through wandering, one finds the Way,' were beyond my comprehension."

Cradling the bowl, Yuan Qing was lost in thought. "Now he has wandered to paradise, which is well."

Coming back to the moment, he cradled the bowl and bowed slightly, beckoning Cheng Wu Yue to follow him into the hall.

Xiang Nan, following suit, hesitated upon observing his soiled garments.

The young monk noticed and gestured behind him, "Young benefactor, come with me."

Xiang Nan, torn between the hall and the monk, nodded obediently and departed with the monk.

Within the hall, Cheng Wu Yue knelt beside Yuan Qing before the Buddha statue.

Yuan Qing resumed his rhythm on the wooden fish, eyes closed.

Cheng Wu Yue, looking up at the Guanyin, fell into a momentary silence.

"You must be Wu Yue."

Cheng Wu Yue turned to Yuan Qing with puzzlement: "How does the master know of me?"

"Yuan Jin mentioned you in a letter. At your youthful age and lay status, I presumed it's you."

Cheng Wu Yue said nothing, prompting Yuan Qing to continue after a pause: "You've come far to Jiangnan, accompanied by a young boy. What plans do you have henceforth?"

Cheng Wu Yue shook his head with a wry smile: "That child... he's just a beggar I encountered on the road. Insistently following me, we've traveled over a hundred miles. I'm afraid he can't return now."

"All things arise from causes and conditions, and all things fade away when conditions end."

The pace of Yuan Qing's wooden fish quickened, and Cheng Wu Yue sat in stillness, pondering silently before the Buddha.

After some time, Yuan Qing opened his eyes, looking at Cheng Wu Yue as his fish fell silent.

"Has my brother left any words for me?"

Cheng Wu Yue shook his head: "Only a note, to return this bowl for his peace of mind."

Yuan Qing nodded: "Stay in the temple for the coming days."

With that, Yuan Qing closed his eyes again and resumed his chanting, striking the wooden fish.

Cheng Wu Yue inhaled deeply, rose with a bow to the Buddha, and left the hall.

Standing in the courtyard, he lifted his gaze to the horizon, where wind chimes from the scripture tower tinkled melodiously.

Eyes closed, Cheng Wu Yue stood immersed in tranquility.

"Brother..."

Only when Xiang Nan called did he awaken. Eyes opening, Cheng Wu Yue saw Xiang Nan, now clean and clad in simple robes, hair neatly tied, approaching from afar.

"That's more fitting," a glint of joy in Cheng Wu Yue's eyes.

Xiang Nan felt a touch of shyness but faced Cheng Wu Yue without timidity: "Where to next, brother?"

Cheng Wu Yue, with hands clasped behind his back, started towards the temple exit: "To a good place."

"A good place?" Xiang Nan followed closely.

"A place where we can fill our bellies."

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"I want roast chicken..."

"Do you have money for roast chicken..."

Xiang Nan's face fell slightly, and he said no more. Cheng Wu Yue chuckled and patted his head.

Together, they walked out of Ganquan Temple, facing the sun.

The day had shifted past noon when Ye Nanjiao, having hastily readied herself, hurried down from her room, only to run into Wan Qiu carrying a small jar of wine.

Wan Qiu ruffled Ye Nanjiao's hair affectionately: "Where are you off to in such a rush?"

Ye Nanjiao's eyes narrowed into a smile: "Auntie, I'm on an important mission. That's hardly just playing around, which sounds more like a dog."

"Stay safe and come back early, don't miss dinner," Wan Qiu, amused by Ye Nanjiao's retort, patted her shoulder.

"Got it, got it—" Ye Nanjiao responded as she rushed out of the Drunken Life Building.

But in that instant—as her foot stepped out from the building—a sudden emptiness welled up from within. She looked up at the sky, transfixed, until a gust of wind fluttered through her hair, snapping her back to the moment as she walked towards the crowded streets.

The bustle of the market flowed as usual, lively and vibrant.

Ye Nanjiao entered several shops, soon carrying an assortment of items. A faint outline of an incense burner, some incense sticks, a small box of pastries, and a few dishes could be seen.

Holding this mix of seemingly purposeful goods, she walked determinedly forward. Yet, when passing by a fruit stall on the main street, she turned back.

Ye Nanjiao wedged the bags under one arm, picked up an apple, rubbed it on her clothing, and took a bite.

The stall was run by an elderly woman whose eyes crinkled into a smile at the sight of Ye Nanjiao. She quickly picked up two more apples, calling out: "Little Master Bingchen, it's been a while since you've patronized my business. I thought you'd forgotten about me."

"Where would those words come from, grandma? How could I ever forget you? Your apples are the sweetest in all of Jiangnan City," Ye Nanjiao quickly chewed and swallowed two bites, reaching into her robe to hand over some coins without looking, "Grandma, please bag the biggest and best for me."

The grandmother didn't take the coins offered by Ye Nanjiao, but she did select the largest apples and bagged them: "Why give money? These past years, it's thanks to your care that those ruffians haven't troubled me. Just your frequent visits make me happy."

"I know, grandma, I'll come see you again tomorrow." Ye Nanjiao insisted on leaving the coins on the stall, took the bag of apples, and quickly walked away.

Ye Nanjiao passed by several more stalls and turned into a narrow alley off the main road—a winding stone-paved lane, obscured by ancient trees and hidden from the bustle of the market. It was not easily found unless one was a regular of the street. Surprisingly, at the end of this secluded alley lay a rather quaint and elegant shop. Ye Nanjiao then entered an ink treasure shop.

Pushing open the door, she was greeted by the light scent of incense and the fresh aroma of ink and Xuan paper filling the air, with inkstones, brushes, and ink sticks neatly arranged on the shelves—a hidden gem of an ink treasure shop indeed.

Seeing Ye Nanjiao's figure, the shopkeeper greeted her familiarly: "Little Master Bingchen, what brings you to grace us with your presence today?"

Ye Nanjiao placed the packages she was carrying on the counter and walked deeper into the shop, turning around a screen.

Pointing at a dark-colored screen, Ye Nanjiao asked the shopkeeper who followed her: "Shopkeeper Liu, do you still have this screen? I need eight pieces."

"There should be a few left in the storeroom at the back—" The shopkeeper was calculating in his mind when he suddenly gaped at Ye Nanjiao, "Young ancestor, what do you need so many screens for?"

"A secret!" Ye Nanjiao leaned in mysteriously, "Don't ask, I need them urgently. Have your workers take them to the clock tower in front. Charge it to Aunt Wanqiu's account."

"That clock hasn't rung for hundreds of years, what spectacle are you planning there?"

Ye Nanjiao gave him a reassuring look, patting his shoulder: "Don't worry, I won't skip out on the bill."

The shopkeeper nodded helplessly, muttering as he headed towards the back storehouse: "Wanqiu is going to come settle accounts with me again tomorrow..."

Ye Nanjiao tilted her head, picked up her parcels from the counter, and left, heading towards the clock tower.

Meanwhile, just steps away from the alley, the teahouse was bustling with noise and lively atmosphere.

Cheng Wuyue and Xiang Nan had ordered a couple of small dishes and some dry food and were sitting by the window on the second floor.

Xiang Nan, ravenous, devoured the food voraciously.

Cheng Wuyue was merely sipping tea, quietly observing the scene outside the window—downstairs, a figure hurried past.

Cheng Wuyue instinctively gripped the teacup in his hand tightly, about to lean out for a better look, but the figure vanished as if slipping through oil.

Cheng Wuyue returned his gaze outside with a tinge of disappointment and casually stopped a passing server.

"Excuse me, I'd like to inquire about something."

"Ah! Of course, ask away!" the server said, leaning in eagerly.

"Is there a Ye residence in this city of Jiangnan?"

The server pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "You must be from out of town. The Ye surname isn't prominent, there’s no notable family by that name here in Jiangnan City."

Cheng Wuyue frowned slightly: "Think again, about seven or eight years ago, there should have been a Chief Secretary by the name of Ye, from Luoyang."

"Now that you mention it, I do recall such a person, but that was several years back," the server said, glancing around and lowering his voice, "That man was quite pitiable. He was an upright official, but barely three years into office, he was gone. Rumored to be connected to the Royal Prince's faction, he got entangled in a major scandal and was imprisoned. Being too straightforward, he offended many nobles, and not long after his imprisonment, news came of his death due to sudden illness… Imagine, a perfectly healthy man..."

Cheng Wuyue's fingers tightened around the teacup, veins bulging, yet his face remained impassive. He questioned further: "What about the family of the Ye residence? Were they implicated?"

The server shook his head, voice even softer: "I haven't heard of such a thing, presumably, those nobles wouldn't go so far as to exterminate an entire family, lest they expose themselves. Most likely, they’ve left this place of sorrow by now—ah, sir, I mean, my lord. Such matters are not to be discussed, please don’t mention I told you this."

Cheng Wuyue nodded, pulling out a few copper coins and handing them to the server: "Thank you."

The server, smiling, accepted the coins and bowed before walking away.

Xiang Nan wiped his mouth and glanced at Cheng Wuyue: "Brother, aren't you eating? You haven't had anything all day."

Cheng Wuyue’s gaze softened, and he smiled lightly: "I'm not hungry yet, you eat more."

Xiang Nan then grabbed another bun and stuffed it into his mouth: "Was that Mr. Ye a friend of yours?"

"A friend's elder," Cheng Wuyue replied.

"Are you here in Jiangnan to find that friend?"

"Something like that."

"What if you can't find them?"

Cheng Wuyue’s expression fell slightly, and he lowered his head: "I don’t know..."

Xiang Nan didn’t dare to probe further and ate quietly.

While Cheng Wuyue was lost in thought, looking at Xiang Nan, a commotion suddenly erupted from downstairs. Shortly after, a young man ran up from below, bustling into the seat next to Cheng Wuyue’s table.

The young man shouted at his companions: "Stop eating, let’s go. Little Master Bingchen is solving another case."

Hearing the name Bingchen, the teahouse patrons perked up with interest, and amidst the buzz, many left together.

"Bingchen?" Cheng Wuyue was taken aback and murmured the name, also standing up.

Xiang Nan, puzzled, put down his chopsticks and looked at Cheng Wuyue.

"Let's go see as well," said Cheng Wuyue, not waiting for Xiang Nan's response, and headed for the exit of the teahouse.

Reluctantly glancing at the remaining food, Xiang Nan hurriedly crammed a few more bites into his mouth, then grabbed a bun and rushed after Cheng Wuyue.