The guard quickly took out the key, and with a click, the lock opened.
The sun shone through the exquisitely carved window, and the dust danced in the light.
If one took a nap in such sunlight, one would surely feel languid all over, but the room was empty. A blue-and-white porcelain teapot sat quietly on the rosewood table. The tea had long since gone cold. It seemed that the person had left long ago.
The guard was stunned. This was impossible! They had been guarding here all along. When did the person leave?
Ji Yunxi was also stunned for a moment when she saw the empty room. She quickly realized that Jiang Linyin was not a person who could be imprisoned.
She lifted her foot and walked in. She wanted to see how this person had escaped.
Lu Shu looked at the calm Ji Yunxi, while he himself was quite flustered. He entered the room and opened the cabinet, and then pushed aside the curtains. He searched everywhere, but there was not even a shadow of Jiang Linyin.
"Where is he?"
Lu Shu turned to look at the guards with anger in his eyes.
The guards were intimidated by Lu Shu's aura. Their legs went weak, and they immediately knelt on the ground.
"This... This subordinate is not clear. The supervisor specifically told us that this is an important prisoner, so we have been guarding here and did not dare to leave for a moment."
The guards spoke incoherently. They knew that this person was important because Lu Shu had specifically told them to guard him well. But now, they had lost him. The guards did not even dare to breathe loudly.
Ji Yunxi did not say anything. She raised her hand and asked the guards to stand up. She turned her head and saw a note on the table. The handwriting was quite elegant, just like the owner's unruly personality.
Through this note, Ji Yunxi seemed to see Jiang Linyin's sly smile. She had been played by him.
She picked up the note and took a long time to recognize the three words "Meet at Kunlun".
The hand hanging on one side tightened. A trace of anger flashed in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared. Her expression was still calm.
As if she remembered something, Ji Yunxi walked to the window and touched it. Sure enough, she felt unevenness. She saw that it was a knife mark.
This room was located on the third floor of the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion, the top floor. She had originally thought that he was greedy for the women in the music workshop, and he was probably a good-for-nothing. She did not expect that he would jump out and escape. She had underestimated him.
Feng Xingzhi walked forward. "What did it say?"
Ji Yunxi handed the note to him and asked Lu Shu, "What about the people guarding the lower courtyard?"
Just as she finished speaking, she heard someone shouting outside. "What's going on? Why are you like this? Where is that person?"
The people outside carried in a few people. They were tied up with strips of torn bedding. Their hands and feet were weak, and they were unconscious. One of them even had his clothes taken off.
"Master, we arranged for people to take turns on duty. At that time, we felt that there was someone behind us. Before we could react, our mouths were covered. It felt like a needle was stabbed into our necks. Then we lost consciousness."
Ji Yunxi sat in front of the table and slowly poured herself a cup of tea. She took a sip and said, "We were careless. We let him escape."
Feng Xingzhi put the note back on the table. His expression was ugly. "He sure knows how to pick the right time. He thought that we were busy with the Bamboo Intent Tower's matters and had forgotten about him. He even left a note so arrogantly after he escaped."
A trace of coldness showed in Ji Yunxi's eyes. "This is exactly the kind of thing he would do. It's not a surprise."
Lu Shu turned to the few guards kneeling on the ground. "Hurry up and go after him."
The few guards suddenly realized this. They quickly got up and rushed out. As they ran, they thought that if they stayed here, they would not be able to breathe.
Ji Yunxi looked at the tea in her hand. Her fingertips gently rubbed the cup. She squinted her eyes and said, "He is well-prepared. It's probably impossible to catch up with him. It seems that we have to go to the Kunlun Mountains."
Feng Xingzhi agreed. "It's okay. I'll let the people in the prince's mansion set off immediately to search for him in Kunlun."
Ji Yunxi put down the cup. Her fingers bent slightly as she knocked on the note on the table. She murmured softly, "Kunlun. He sure knows how to pick a place to escape. He is not stupid."
Lu Shu also looked over. He asked in confusion, "Master, what do you mean?"
Feng Xingzhi's eyes were cold. "What do you think Kunlun is?"
Lu Shu understood. The Kunlun Mountains were famous for cultivating immortals. It was the capital of the divine race in the mortal world. It was located at the intersection of the four countries, Xirong, Nanyan, Beidi, and Dongjin. Every year, people who wanted to cultivate immortals would go there. After becoming a disciple, they could cultivate. When they reached the level of a superior immortal, they could ascend.
"Does the master mean... that he might be from Kunlun?"
Ji Yunxi shook her head. "We do not know this yet, but he went directly to Kunlun. It is possible that he has Kunlun's support."
"The disciples of Kunlun have high requirements for spiritual power. All the people we will face will be experts." Feng Xingzhi added.
"Correct." Ji Yunxi nodded in satisfaction. "For a mortal to enter the Kunlun Mountains, there is no other way except to join Kunlun. Therefore, the unique background of cultivating immortals has also created a complex population in the Kunlun Mountains. Their identities and backgrounds are even more complicated. There, even a disciple who is dressed ordinary might be a person of noble status."
"That's right. Ascending to immortality, becoming immortal, and having the same lifespan as the heavens. This is the goal that humans have been pursuing since the beginning of time." Feng Xingzhi slowly said.
Lu Shu felt that with the abilities of his master and the pavilion master, they should be able to enter Kunlun without a problem. He was just about to say something when he heard Ji Yunxi's warning.
"We have to send people to investigate first."
Feng Xingzhi said, "The disciples of the Dreamy Elegance Pavilion are not convenient. Their target is too big. It is better to let the people from the prince's mansion go."
Ji Yunxi did not refuse. She just kept reminding them, "Remember, this matter cannot be made public. Let the people who go search for him be careful and avoid any trouble. If you accidentally anger someone, it will be troublesome."
"Don't worry. I will arrange it." Feng Xingzhi naturally understood Ji Yunxi's concerns.
Qing Xuan perked up when he heard the three words, Kunlun Mountains. His eyes lit up. "Master, I heard that the disciples of the Kunlun Mountains also depend on their aptitude. With your aptitude, there is no problem for you to cultivate in the Kunlun Mountains. I wonder if the master can bring me along when you go."
Ji Yunxi looked at him and saw that he instantly became energetic. She deliberately teased him. "What's the use of bringing you?"
Qing Yun felt a little embarrassed when he heard this. "I know that my aptitude is not as good as the master's, but I can follow you and take care of your daily life. If I can see how they cultivate, it will be even better."
Lu Shu laughed when he heard this. He deliberately said on the side, "That's right. What can you do? Look at your weak appearance. You can't carry anything with your shoulders, and you can't lift anything with your hands."
"You... You are talking nonsense. I am a mysterious bird spirit beast. What can't carry anything with my shoulders and lift anything with my hands? Don't talk nonsense, okay?"
They started again.
Feng Xingzhi shook his head helplessly.
Ji Yunxi watched them bicker. In the end, she just gave a light smile.