High-level martial arts: Long spear with black flames to suppress demons.

The headquarters of the Night Division in Shanghai.

Murong Yan received approval to be transferred back to the Jiangnan General Bureau.

Over the past two days, she handed over her work one by one and tried to send messages to Shen Chang'an several times, but there was still no response. Wang Ting's side only confirmed that he and Du Yue had gone to Beiming, but it was still uncertain when they would be able to contact him.

She didn't wait any longer. After completing the formalities, she left Shanghai that same day and returned to Jiangnan.

After returning to the Jiangnan headquarters and submitting her leave application, she did not go to the Murong family's large villa area in Hangzhou, but instead went to her old house in the countryside alone.

The old house is on the edge of the village, with white walls and gray tiles, and a narrow stone path in front of it. The courtyard wall has been repaired several times, and some parts are of different colors, but the wooden door is still the same two as before, which makes a soft sound when pushed open.

The courtyard was very clean, with several flowerpots under the eaves and some fallen leaves on the stone table in front of the house.

The most eye-catching thing is the tree in the yard.

The tree trunk was already as thick as a bowl, and its branches and leaves stretched over the eaves, casting shade over half the courtyard. When Murong Yan reached the door, an elderly woman with gray hair was squatting under the tree, gathering the cleared weeds into a winnowing basket.

Hearing the door open, she looked up and quickly stood up.

"Oh, it's Xiaoyan. Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"

"Come back and take a look."

Murong Yan placed the luggage under the eaves, walked over and helped her up, saying, "Take your time, there's no rush."

This aunt has been taking care of them since they were little, even before they were born. After they grew up, they all went their separate ways, so the old house was left to the aunt to look after. She has been taking care of it for many years, cleaning the house and opening the windows for ventilation. But what she cares about most is this tree, watering it when it is dry and pruning it before winter.

This was planted by Murong Xiangqing herself when she was a child.

It's been thirty years already.

When Murong Yan was young, the saplings hadn't yet grown over the courtyard wall when she and her two sisters lived here. Later, people gradually left, and the old house became empty. The trees, however, grew taller year by year, and now even the second-floor windows have branches reaching out.

Seeing her looking at the tree, the aunt smiled and said, "We just pruned the branches a few days ago, and it's growing very well. The house has also been cleaned, and the bedding was aired out. If you want to stay, just lay it down."

Murong Yan nodded, withdrawing his gaze from among the branches and leaves.

"I'll stay here for a while, Auntie. You should go back and rest for a few days. You don't need to come over for the next couple of days. I'll call you if anything comes up."

"What about food? Should I buy some groceries and have them delivered?"

"No."

The aunt nodded, told her where to put a few things in the kitchen, then packed up her tools and left.

The courtyard gate closed again. Murong Yan stood under the tree for a moment, then took out his phone and dialed Murong Qing's number.

"I've returned to Jiangnan, to my old house."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Why did you go there?"

"I want to come back and visit. If it's convenient for you, come find me here, and we can go together."

"Okay, I'll be there this afternoon."

......

In the afternoon, footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard.

Murong Yan was tidying up inside when he heard the wooden door open. He turned and came out. Murong Qing was standing inside, a simple travel bag slung over her shoulder. She didn't go any further in; she first looked under the eaves, then shifted her gaze to the trees in the courtyard.

The shadows of the trees fell at her feet, and the light spots swayed gently as the wind blew. Murong Yan stopped under the eaves, and the two looked at each other from a few steps away, neither of them speaking for a moment.

In the end, Murong Yan spoke first: "Come in and sit down."

Murong Qing responded and placed the bag next to the stone bench.

Tea was already prepared on the table. Murong Yan poured her a cup and sat down on the other side.

"How have you been lately?"

"fine."

Murong Qing held the cup, his gaze falling on her face. After a moment, he asked somewhat hesitantly, "How are your injuries? You were so badly injured in the Dead Zone, and you've been staying in Shanghai these past few days... Have you recovered?"

"She's mostly recovered."

Murong Qing then lowered his head and took a sip of tea.

"You used to say that all the time."

Murong Yan paused slightly, then smiled. The two remained quiet for a while, but this time it wasn't as awkward as when they first met.

A breeze blew in from above the courtyard gate, rustling the leaves. Murong Qing looked up and suddenly said, "You've grown so much."

"The aunt has been taking very good care of me."

"I remember when we first planted it, my sister was worried it wouldn't survive, so she came to check on it every day."

Murong Yan followed her gaze and said, "You even secretly poured the leftover tea in, saying it was to replenish it."

"That was when I was so young."

After Murong Qing finished speaking, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

After a brief moment of laughter, the two did not delve further into those old matters. Murong Yan took out the compiled information and placed it in front of her.

"Everything we could find in the last few days is here. The Gu family is still searching for what Chang'an left behind, and there's no new information about Xu Mingjing for now. However, the capital has begun investigating his whereabouts, so there may be further developments."

Murong Qing read through the pages one by one, his brows gradually furrowing.

"Still can't get in touch with Chang'an?"

"No, I only know that he and Du Yue went to Beiming, so I have to go there in person this time."

Murong Qing closed the file: "When are you leaving?"

"I've already asked for leave from headquarters tonight and sent a leave letter to my family. No one will be waiting for me to go back and handle things these next few days."

"Go through the official channel?"

Murong Yan shook his head.

"I just came back from Shanghai and am heading straight to the Demon Realm. My itinerary is recorded in the system, which makes it easy for people to notice. This time, I'll take a different route and find a way to contact the Royal Court once I get there."

Murong Qing handed the documents back to her.

"I know someone who does business in both sectors; I can ask him."

"Then contact him."

......

Before leaving, Murong Yan closed all the windows in the house and checked the kitchen again. Murong Qing stood in the yard, looking at the tree. She seemed to have noticed something, walked over, and reached out to brush away a withered leaf that had fallen on a low branch.

Murong Yan came out without urging Murong Qing to leave. Only after Murong Qing turned around did the two of them leave the courtyard one after the other.

The wooden door closed, and the old house fell silent once more.

That evening, the two arrived in the "Demon City" of South China, but instead of going to the official entrances and exits, they chose to stay at a hotel in an urban village.

The people Murong Qing had contacted were already waiting there.

The other party was a middleman who frequently traveled between the two borders. After meeting them, he did not ask about their origins, but only verified the number of people traveling with them and their luggage. He then said that a batch of goods would be crossing the border later and he could give two people a ride along the way.

The price was naturally much higher than the normal price. After confirming the arrangements and paying the spirit stones, Murong Qing and Murong Yan stayed at the hotel to wait.

Late at night, the person who was supposed to meet them came and knocked on the door.

The two left and arrived at the designated place, where someone was already waiting.

It was a temporary passage hidden inside the mountain, with a small entrance and less stable spiritual light than a formal gate. The people delivering the goods passed through first, and only then did the guide turn back to greet them.

"When you pass through, make sure to store your spiritual energy and don't linger inside."

The two concealed their auras, said nothing, and stepped into the light and shadow one after the other.

Stepping out of the passage, the wind carried a rich scent of grass and trees. The ground was damp, and the faint cries of strange beasts echoed from the distant forest.

They have already arrived in the demon realm.

The people who were there to meet them were busy checking the goods and didn't notice the direction the two had left in. Murong Yan and Murong Qing walked along the forest path for a while, and only stopped when they were sure no one was following them.