The entire sect is obsessed with love, but I'm the only one who's truly insane.

Above the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the sky was filled with rosy clouds, cranes circled around, and four people stood on the clouds. One of them was dressed in a wide-sleeved robe and a Taoist robe, with a silver crown and a jeweled whisk in his hand, looking aloof and otherworldly. Behind him were two people, one with dark gold and silver embroidery, who looked very imposing, and the other in a feathered robe, who looked like the clouds in March.

Beside these three stood a monk, dressed in a blue sash and jade-colored kasaya.

Sunlight fell on the clouds, making the four people's clothes shine brightly, sparkling so brightly that the emperor couldn't open his eyes.

The head eunuch behind him squinted and thought to himself, "Good heavens, in broad daylight, the Yuan family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke."

The emperor's thoughts were completely different from those of his eunuch. Good heavens, in broad daylight, was the Yuan family's ancestral temple about to be smashed?

The Yuan family has done a lot of bad things, but they've also done quite a few good things.

He then asked with trepidation, "May I ask what brings you... esteemed immortals to my Great Zhou?"

A cold, emotionless female voice came from the clouds, "I brought my senior brother and his beloved disciple here. He is about to be reborn as an immortal. Before that, he must sever his ties with the mortal world. He can't let go of the people of the Great Zhou, so I brought him here for one last look."

The emperor was completely bewildered by these words, and his old face unconsciously furrowed between his brows. Then he heard a somewhat familiar but much deeper male voice coming from the clouds.

"Second Uncle, it's me. I've come back to visit."

The call of "Second Uncle" startled Yuan Qi. He tilted his head back, squinted his old eyes, and stared intently, still unable to determine which one was Yuan Ye. His gaze darted around, and he called out to the figure in the flowing robes, "Yuan Ye?"

"Second Uncle!" Yuan Ye called out affectionately.

"Yuan Ye!" The emperor confirmed it; his nephew loved wearing sparkly theatrical costumes. He happily took a few steps forward.

A person rushed down from the clouds.

"Second Uncle!" A tall, strong young man in a silver Taoist robe landed in front of the emperor, his phoenix eyes filled with tears, and he held his second uncle's arm with both hands.

Yuan Qi was taken aback for a moment, then grasped his nephew's hand in return. "You've lost weight! And grown taller too. Did the Imperial Preceptor really take you to a fairy island in the sea?"

Look at how much he's changed! Even his robes are so simple now. He's definitely going to be a deity.

But thankfully, at least he didn't become a monk.

Lin Du was still in the cloud, communicating telepathically with Wei Zhi, "Is the Imperial Ancestral Temple alright?"

"No," Wei Zhi replied.

Lin Du withdrew her divine sense. Neither she nor Wei Zhi noticed anything, which meant that there was probably really no problem.

"Let's go and visit their ancestral graves," Lin Du decided.

Lin specializes in lifting people's coffin lids to ferry them across the river; he has no idea what immorality is.

Wei Zhi nodded, "It is indeed very possible. Let's go tomorrow. Your nephew doesn't have as much acting talent as you. It's a bit exaggerated now."

All thunder and no rain. The uncle and nephew patted each other's backs again and again, both crying bitterly. They shed fewer tears than they had when they bit their tongues while eating candy yesterday.

Lin Du closed his eyes, "It's no longer effective."

The uncle and nephew both have terrible acting skills that are so bad they're disgusting to watch.

If the ancestral graves of the Yuan family could emit green smoke, it would be because someone blew them up.

Ni Jinxuan tugged at Lin Du's sleeve, looking at the scene of filial piety on the ground, and asked softly, "Didn't Yuan Ye say the emperor was in danger?"

Lin Du sighed. "That's why you don't understand."

The emperor, tears welling in his eyes, asked, "I heard from that fairy that you came to sever your ties to the mortal world. How long do you plan to stay? To take one last look at our Great Zhou? The borders are peaceful now, and the Western Xia has been defeated by that brat Xie Yu. Life is good now. Take a good look around. Do you still like to listen to opera? Are there operas on the fairy island?"

Lin Du translated for Ni Jinxuan in real time, "This is a test to see if Yuan Ye intends to stay, whether he's here to seize his throne, and when he's leaving."

Ni Jinxuan's eyes widened. "Is that so?"

Yuan Ye replied, "No chance, but thanks to the ancestors, I sawed wood on the immortal island. Because I sawed wood well, my master said I was hardworking and could endure hardship, so he was willing to take me to cultivate."

"Sawing wood is good, sawing wood is good!" Yuan Qi put his arm around Yuan Ye's shoulder. "But won't the immortals above mind if you do this?"

"That was my martial aunt," Yuan Ye paused, "I lost my composure because I was worried about my family, it's nothing serious. After that, my martial aunt severed my ties with the mortal world, and I could no longer remember anything from before. My martial aunt, although she was a bit aloof and everyone on the Immortal Island was afraid of her, she was the most talented person on the Immortal Island and the future Immortal Venerable."

Lin Du continued translating, "Yuan Ye means that I am very powerful, so don't mess with me. He is not very capable. He was just favored by his master and can walk. After he leaves, he will not remember anything about the human world and will not compete with him for the throne."

Yuan Qi sighed inwardly, "You've suffered so much!"

"It's no hardship, it's all about serving the people." Yuan Ye held his uncle's arm. "It's good that the world is at peace."

Lin Du closed his eyes, no longer wanting to translate.

Wei Zhi seemed to be deep in thought. "Who taught him that?"

"Me." Lin Du gave him a lazy glance. "What's wrong with that? We Taoists take the well-being of all people as our responsibility."

Wei Zhi stopped talking, just smiled, "It's nothing, I think that's a good point."

Lin Du hummed in agreement, "Of course, it's a famous quote from a great man."

A group of people were led into a palace. Yuan Ye held Yuan Qi's hand, his eyes red-rimmed, and said, "Uncle."

Yuan Qi's eyes were also red. "Ye'er, is there anything else you need? I'll have someone accompany you shopping."

"I need money." Yuan Ye said decisively. "There's no need for money on the Immortal Island. I want to take my junior sister to the mortal realm to show her some hospitality."

"No problem, no problem." Yuan Qi smiled and patted his shoulder. "I'll find an official to accompany you around."

"How is Qingyu doing now? He used to take the blame for me when I was a child. I want to see him again." Although Yuan Ye didn't know why his junior uncle was thinking about him, he also wanted to see him, so he asked.

"Of course, of course." Yuan Qi readily agreed, then said he had to attend to official business and left. He only relaxed his smile and became serious when he returned to the palace.

A young man in purple robes was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing him, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty."

"Yuan Ye is back, and he's brought with him a highly accomplished master. That old Taoist priest actually sent Yuan Ye to the Immortal Island. Did you see it?"

"Yes, there are no silver threads or tampering, so it should be genuine." Xie Yu stood up and bowed his head.

"There really are immortals in this world," the emperor frowned. "He wants to see you. Go and test the waters for me."

The young man cupped his hands and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

The young man in purple robes strode out, moving freely within the palace. The servants who saw him held their breath, trembling with fear.

Inside the palace, Yuan Ye was introducing the tea and snacks on the table to Jin Xuan. Lin Du's gaze was intense, but Wei Zhi next to him had the words "You can't" written all over his face.

Suddenly, the sound of bowing came from outside the door, "Greetings, Grand Commandant!"

Yuan Ye paused in his explanation to Jin Xuan, looked up, and saw a person coming against the light, exuding a heavy aura of menace, with cold and stern eyes. The handsome face was marred by two tattooed characters, making him appear somewhat sinister and wicked. He walked with a steady gait, just like a demon god.

In a daze, he recalled how he and Xie Yu used to skip class together, climb over the wall to play in the streets, and search for antique books, artifacts and all kinds of toys in those shops. When they found something good, they would put it in their pockets and then go to a restaurant for a good meal. There was nothing that Xie Yu could not win at playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football) and Touhu (ancient Chinese arrow-throwing game).

Yuan Ye called out his courtesy name, "Xie Qingyu, you're here."

Xie Yu stopped a few steps in front of the table, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Xie Yu greets King Xuan."

Yuan Ye's smile suddenly froze on his lips.

If you want to buy sweet-scented osmanthus with wine, it doesn't seem like you are a teenager.

The copper bell on the table jingled, and Ni Jinxuan shifted uncomfortably. A dark glint flashed in Xie Yu's dark eyes as he looked up toward the source of the sound. Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles pressed down on the girl.

A deep female voice rang out, "Grand Commandant Xie."

Xie Yu looked at the speaker. The woman was dressed in a Taoist robe and a silver crown. Her eyes were deep and inquisitive, and there was no smile on her face. She looked at him as if he were an ant. "I am Lin Du, the martial uncle of the Prince Xuan you mentioned. Please call him by his name. From now on, he has nothing to do with the royal family."

The Great Zhou Dynasty was not any dynasty in Lin Du's memory, but Lin Du was not entirely without historical knowledge.

A person who has been branded with tattoos can still rise to the position of Grand Commandant, so he must not be underestimated.

This person has committed at least a great deal of murder.

Xie Yu and Lin Du exchanged glances for a moment, then Xie Yu looked away and nodded slightly. "Yes."

He turned to look at Yuan Ye, "Long time no see."

Wei Zhi seemed to be deep in thought, and transmitted his voice to Lin Du, "There's something strange about him."

Lin Du remained calm and said, "There is a corpse aura, but not much. It's very strange, I can't quite put my finger on it."

"He has Soul-Gathering Wood on him, something that only exists in the spirit world," Wei Zhi added.

Lin Du glanced at Wei Zhi and suddenly understood something. "Actually, we have another important matter to discuss with you. A few years ago, a cultivator from our sect defected. I wonder if Grand Commandant Xie, who has been in court for so many years, is aware of any Taoist rebellion?"

Xie Yu then looked at Lin Du, smiled slightly, and said directly, "If he is the imperial advisor that Yuan Ye mentioned, then I have already killed him."

Lin Du lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Wei Zhi's hands hanging at his sides, lost in thought, and whispered to Wei Zhi, "Something's not right."

"Something's not right. He's not looking into your eyes, he's looking at your eyebrows. He doesn't look away, but he's actually lying."

Wei Zhi smiled. "This guy is quite interesting."

Lin Du understood. "Keep a close eye on things. I suspect..."

"The Imperial Advisor is not dead," Yuan Ye transmitted his voice. "I have the Imperial Advisor's birth date and time. I made a soul-tracing talisman on the way. When Xie Yu arrived, the talisman on my chest burned. It was a close call; I almost burned to death."

Lin Du: ...As expected of you.