I became a saint through my son's boasting.

The capital city, the Demon Hunting Bureau.

The commander knelt on one knee and reported to his direct superior: "Sir, I did not capture the murderous demon on my trip to Qingyuan County, Qingzhou."

He explained:

"It's not that I neglected my duties, but that the demon seemed to lack any bloodthirsty aura, and our Demon Hunting Division's tracking artifacts were completely unable to track it."

"Oh? Is that so?"

The woman in the red dress, who had been facing away from him, turned around, revealing a beautiful oval face. She had fair skin, delicate features, but a cold demeanor.

She gazed at Qianhu, her expression meaningful, and asked, "Since you couldn't track down the demon, why were you injured?"

"I!"

Qianhu's expression changed slightly.

He hadn't expected that his injury would be detected so easily just because he was slightly out of breath. He truly was a peerless genius of the Chen family.

He took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist and smiled wryly, "On our way back, we encountered another demon, fought it, and let it escape."

The woman in the red dress had sharp eyes: "But you don't have any demonic aura on you. Are you sure you fought with a demon?"

Qianhu's pupils contracted!

He sighed inwardly, then changed his kneeling position from one knee to both knees: "Please forgive me, Your Excellency, I did not mean to conceal anything."

"Actually, this time, I happened to encounter a reclusive expert at the Innate Realm. Because I was ignorant of my own limitations, I was taught a lesson by that senior. However, the senior showed mercy and spared my life, so I would like to return the favor and help him cover it up."

Chen Xiwei's expression softened a bit: "I'm glad you're being honest. Get up."

The commander breathed a sigh of relief, then stood up and stood respectfully in place, bowing his head and waiting to be asked questions.

With her hands behind her back, Chen Xiwei suddenly asked, "What are the distinguishing features of that reclusive Innate Realm expert?"

Qianhu thought for a moment, then said with a strange expression, "Does being exceptionally handsome count?"

Chen Xiwei's eyes turned cold: "Are you mocking me?"

"No, no, no!"

The commander quickly waved his hand and explained with a wry smile, "My lord, that senior is truly exceptionally handsome and possesses an extraordinary air. In terms of appearance alone... I have never seen anything like him in my entire life."

"Um?!"

Chen Xiwei frowned.

A figure involuntarily appeared in her mind, but after a moment, she sighed and a look of sadness appeared in her eyes.

That person is dead.

Three years ago, all her relatives died.

Only she, as a hostage left in the capital by the Chen family, escaped that calamity under the protection of the Mountain and Sea Formation.

She thought for a moment, then, almost as if possessed, asked, "What did that person look like?"

The commander paused for a moment, then gave a fawning smile: "My lord, that man's demeanor is hard to describe in words, let me draw it for you."

So he quickly took a brush, ink, paper and inkstone from the table next to him and began to paint.

He finished drawing very quickly.

Chen Xiwei casually picked up the painting; she wanted to see just how handsome this so-called innate master really was.

She actually has a bit of a competitive streak.

"This is?!"

However, the next moment, her eyes widened, her heart surged with emotion, and her body even trembled slightly.

It's that person!

He's not dead?!

At that moment, the intense surprise and excitement almost made her lose her mind, and then she became somewhat anxious and uncertain.

"Is it really him? Or is it just someone who looks like him?"

The person in the portrait, although seven or eight parts similar to that person, is not exactly the same. The person in the portrait is also good-looking, but not as refined.

Moreover, the person she knew had extremely poor cultivation talent and would never be able to reach the Innate Realm in his lifetime, let alone in just three short years.

"Does the adult know this person?"

Qianhu asked cautiously.

Chen Xiwei calmly said, "He looks like my brother-in-law."

"The Chen family's son-in-law?"

Qianhu blurted it out.

"Um?!"

Chen Xiwei glared at him.

Immediately, the commander shrank back and awkwardly laughed, "Ahem, sir, I didn't mean anything by it, that's what everyone calls me."

It's no secret that Chen Xiwei comes from the Chen family, one of the three great families, and it's common knowledge that the eldest daughter of the Chen family, Chen Xiyao, has taken in a son-in-law who lives with her family.

Women from the three great families did not marry outside the family; it was common for them to take in sons-in-law.

Chen Xiwei didn't dwell on it and continued, "When you saw him, was he alone? Was there a child with him?"

"have!"

The commander stated definitively, "When we entered his secluded courtyard, he came out of his room, and a five- or six-year-old child was peeking from behind the door."

Chen Xiwei's eyes lit up immediately.

A sudden surge of hope welled up in her heart—that person was very likely her brother-in-law, and her nephew Chen Qian was still alive.

"No, I have to go see for myself!"

She was so excited that she talked to herself.

At this moment, the commander whispered a reminder: "My lord, you are a hostage of the Chen family and cannot leave the capital."

"Bullshit hostages!"

Chen Xiwei sneered, "My entire Chen family has been wiped out. What use is this hostage to the royal family? Who do they think they can use me to threaten?"

Qianhu's eyes were filled with complex emotions as he said in a low voice, "That's true, but... you have a forbidden spell from the royal family on you, and the Mountain and Sea Formation is also there. Can you even leave the capital?"

Chen Xiwei was taken aback, then said calmly, "You don't need to worry about that. Just give me the detailed address and map, and make sure this matter is not leaked in the slightest."

"Understood, sir!"

A thousand households made a solemn promise.

He certainly wouldn't speak recklessly, after all, this was his direct subordinate, the garrison commander. Betraying one's direct superior is a major taboo in officialdom, tantamount to ruining one's own future.

Who would dare to employ a traitor?

After Qianhu left, Chen Xiwei smiled slightly.

"Hehe, forbidden spells... Father told me that all forbidden spells are related to blood. As long as I can obtain royal blood, I can leave the capital."

......

That afternoon, Princess Changning, the most beloved daughter of Emperor Xiao Yuanzheng, was invited to Chen Xiwei's villa.

After drinking a cup of green tea, he collapsed on the spot.

"Changning, I'm sorry... I had no choice. I hope you won't blame me when you wake up."

Chen Xiwei took out a dagger that shimmered with blue light, then grabbed Princess Changning's wrist, intending to bleed her.

Princess Changning's eyelid twitched!

But it didn't move.

"No, this one is too big. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it. Let's get a smaller one."

Suddenly, Chen Xiwei put down the dagger, then pulled out a thin golden needle from somewhere and stabbed it into Princess Changning's wrist.

"Ding!"

The thin needle broke on the spot.

"Hmph, you, Changning, you look so fair and delicate, but your skin is harder than iron?"

Chen Xiwei gave a soft snort, then injected her innate qi into the fine needle, which immediately became incredibly firm and pierced straight through.

"Sizzle!"

Instantly, a small amount of blood gushed out like a fountain. Chen Xiwei quickly rolled up her left sleeve, revealing her wrist.

Blood poured onto his wrist, revealing a complex golden pattern that gradually faded and eventually disappeared.

"Haha, it worked!"

Chen Xiwei quickly pressed her hand on Princess Changning's wrist, and after a moment, the bleeding stopped and the wound healed on its own.

Chen Xiwei picked up Princess Changning from the ground, carried her into her bedroom, placed her on the pink-themed bed, and covered her with a blanket.

"Sweetie, go to sleep by yourself."

Chen Xiwei looked at that gentle and quiet face, a soft smile appearing on her face, and even pinched that face.

Then she went out.

She arrived at a deserted corner, took off, and soared into the sky.

Not long after she left.

Princess Changning slowly opened her eyes. She gently got out of bed, straightened her skirt, and then went to the window of the room to look at the distant sky.

Birds are born to yearn for freedom. Whether you come back or not, I hope you... have a safe journey.

Her eyes were complicated as she murmured to herself.

......

The sky was high and the clouds were light.

"call out--"

A figure soared over the city wall from the sky and flew out of the capital.

Above the capital city, there was a vast, faintly visible array, composed of countless golden runes, resembling an inverted bowl that enveloped the entire city.

Chen Xiwei's figure pierced through the great formation and flew straight south.

Meanwhile, outside the capital, several mysterious eyes were watching this scene with excitement.

"Three years have passed, and I'm finally out..."

"There are two Chen family members who escaped the net. This one has left the capital, and she will probably go to find the other one."

"Follow her."

"As long as we wipe out all the descendants of the Chen family, our lord will be able to break free from his seal. Then, we can have anything we want!"