After being chosen by the Ice Queen

The carriage traveled through the night.

Gu Yan closed his eyes to rest.

Bai Jin sat opposite him, gently waving a folding fan. The man before her might be able to deceive ordinary cultivators with his outwardly displayed serpent-dragon aura, but he couldn't fool the innate keenness of the Qingqiu fox clan.

"Zhuyin...or is he a descendant?" The clan's silent, ancient lamp, engraved with the scene of the Zhulong carrying the dragon, had been lit by countless methods by successive clan leaders, including enlisting the help of high-ranking priests from Longhu Mountain, all to no avail. The person before them might be the only possibility.

"Brother Gu, you're not surprised by the sights of Lin Yuan City?"

"The world is vast and full of wonders. Humans and demons live together, each taking what they need. There must be a reason why this situation can be maintained. However, the fact that Young Master Bai's Qingqiu Fox Clan was able to establish the Lan Yue Tower here and have all parties tacitly approve of it is truly admirable."

"Brother Gu has a good eye. But since it's a transaction, it's better to be frank. I am Bai Jin, one of the current leaders of the Qingqiu Fox Clan." Her tone was slightly serious. "Three hundred years ago, my ancestors, together with the special envoy of Longhu Mountain and the major local demon clans, made the Lin Yuan Pact. As long as we abide by the law, pay taxes, and do not cause trouble, the demon clans can live here in peace. Of course, the premise is that we have the strength to maintain this balance."

Gu Yan nodded.

The carriage drove out of the city and traveled along a secluded mountain road for about half an hour before stopping in front of a quiet and elegant manor. A wooden plaque hung above the gate, bearing the four seal characters "Qingqiu Bieyuan" (青丘别院).

Bai Jin led Gu Yan out of the car and towards the gate. The stone gate opened silently.

The pavilions and towers in the courtyard are arranged in a well-organized manner, offering a different view with every step.

"This is my secluded retreat outside Lin Yuan City, where I store some ancient artifacts."

The two passed through several courtyards and arrived at a circular building in the backyard. The building had only one bronze door, which was carved with star, moon and fox patterns.

Bai Jin took out a fox-shaped jade pendant and pressed it against a spot on the door. The pendant lit up, echoing the pattern on the door, and the bronze door opened inward, revealing a downward stone staircase.

"The antiquities are down below." Bai Jin stepped aside to gesture, "Brother Gu, please."

The passage was short, ending at a small stone chamber. In the center of the chamber was a stone platform, upon which sat a lamp.

With its simple and ancient design, the lamp base is supported by a coiled snake, and the lamp body is carved with a picture of a dragon holding a sphere in its mouth. The creature, which has no feet or horns and a body resembling a long snake, closes its eyes and holds a sphere in its mouth, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist.

The lamp was dim and empty.

The Yin energy within Gu Yan's body circulated faster and faster, uncontrollably. A call came from the ancient lamp.

Bai Jin suppressed her excitement and said slowly, "This lamp is called 'Hui Shuo,' and it is one of the relics passed down from ancient times to our clan. According to the records in the fragments, it is related to the Yin of Time and contains the secrets of time. However, for countless years, no matter what kind of spiritual power, demonic power, or incense and prayer power is poured into it, it cannot be lit. The elders of the clan speculate that only someone who truly possesses the power of Yin of Time can activate its spirituality."

"Brother Gu, simply try to communicate with the Dark Lamp using your own aura. Whether you succeed or not, the sea chart and the secrets of the East Sea will be yours. If you succeed..." She paused, "My Qingqiu Fox Clan is willing to offer three more Pure Heart Fox Jade pieces and provide Brother Gu with any assistance we can."

"I can give it a try." Gu Yan nodded. "Miss Bai will protect me. If anything unusual happens, interrupt immediately."

Gu Yan changed his tune. Bai Jin knew that his pretense had been seen through, so he didn't hesitate and smiled sweetly: "Brother Gu, rest assured, I have already taken control of the restrictions here, so it's safe and sound."

Gu Yan walked to the stone platform and sat down cross-legged. He first circulated the "Heart Source Meditation Method" to calm his mind, and then drew out a wisp of candlelight energy, which drifted toward the ancient lamp.

The image of a dragon holding the hour star on the lamp suddenly lit up. The dragon in the image opened its closed eyes a crack, revealing two points of dim light.

Gu Yan's consciousness was sucked into a gray void. In the center of the void, a dragon shadow slowly coiled. It held a ball of light in its mouth, and with each breath, it caused the River of Time to rise and fall.

His breath of light was like a stream to the ocean in the face of this illusory figure.

Long Ying's eyes opened and closed slightly again, and a thought was transmitted through Gu Yanzhu's breath.

Above the waves, in the fog-shrouded reef area... a dark shadow looms deep within... the seawater is as black as ink, with bottomless whirlpools...

Before Gu Yan could get a closer look, the dragon shadow exhausted its power, closed its eyes, and vanished along with the entire space.

Inside the stone chamber, the glow of the dim lamps faded, restoring its ancient simplicity.

Gu Yan suddenly opened his eyes, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Brother Gu, are you alright?"

"It's alright."

"It worked?"

"I guess so." Gu Yan showed Bai Jin the picture. "That's the view of the Misty Reef area deep in the East China Sea."

Bai Jin listened intently, his eyes sparkling with interest: "That's right. It is indeed 'Mist Reef'. Those shadows and whirlpools... Our clan's fragmentary records mentioned it only briefly, calling it the Gate of Return to Nothingness and the Eye of the Abyss, a forbidden place that even the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas keep quiet about."

She immediately took out a jade slip: "This contains a nautical chart and some secrets of the East China Sea, including known relatively safe shipping routes, markings of dangerous areas, and several neutral islands where supplies can be obtained. I will retrieve the three Pure Heart Fox Jade later."

Thank you.

"I am the one who should thank you," Bai Jin said solemnly. "The Dark Lamp has been silent for countless years, but today it has manifested an extraordinary phenomenon because of Brother Gu, which is of great significance to our clan. If Brother Gu ever needs my help in the future, Bai Jin will do his best to assist you."

When Bai Jin went to retrieve the fox jade, the jade pendant at her waist flashed red.

Bai Jin frowned: "An urgent message came from Lan Yue Tower in the city. The imperial envoy has suddenly arrived and specifically requests to see the tower master."

"Brother Gu, I'm afraid I'll have to excuse myself for a moment. I'll have my maid bring the fox jade over; you may rest here for a while."

Gu Yan thought for a moment and said, "It's alright, Miss Bai, you can go first. I can return to the city on my own."

Bai Jin didn't insist on keeping him. She summoned a maid, gave her a few instructions, and then hurriedly left.

Gu Yan left the stone chamber under the guidance. Night had fallen, and a cool mountain breeze was blowing.

Instead of returning to the inn, he went around into the mountains and found Jinbao anxiously looking around.

"Boss! You're finally out! Are you alright?"

"Nothing's wrong. Any new developments in the city?"

"Yes. Not long after you left, a group of people dressed in official robes rode into the city and went straight to the official post station in the city center! The rats on the street said that those people smelled very strong, like some high-ranking officials." Jinbao quickly reported, "Also, things seem a bit tense at Lanyue Tower, and many fox demons have gone back."

"Let's return to the city first, but find another place to stay." We've obtained intelligence from the East China Sea, so it's not advisable to linger here. We'll try to find a ship to go east first thing tomorrow morning.

As for the entanglement between the Qingqiu fox clan and the imperial court, and the deeper secrets of that dark and ancient lamp... these are temporarily irrelevant to him.

(Draft)