After that night when Zhao Shuning gave instructions to A Shui and A Yue.
A few days later.
They left Chaozhou with Kong Ye.
Before leaving, Zhao Shuning probed Kong Ye's consciousness once again and found everything normal.
Besides, there was a pleasant surprise.
That was the vague figure they had discovered before.
This time, she could see it clearly.
It was a woman.
She was quite gentle and charming.
However, when Zhao Shuning asked Kong Ye, he had absolutely no idea why there was such a woman in his mind.
Zhao Shuning projected the image into the air.
Suddenly, as if realizing something.
She whistled into the air. Before long.
The Speech - Understanding Beast appeared.
When Zhao Shuning saw the tears in the Speech - Understanding Beast's eyes, her conjecture was confirmed.
If her guess was correct, this woman should be Qi Yurou.
Since Kong Ye really couldn't remember any intersection with this woman and his consciousness had just returned to normal with great difficulty, Zhao Shuning couldn't bear to force him anymore and had to give up.
When Kong Ye left, Zhao Shuning asked him to take back some words.
Then she let them leave completely.
Originally.
A Shui and A Yue were still a bit worried about the journey, but until they left the Sea Spirit Kingdom, they didn't encounter any ambushes. It seemed that what the gang leader said was indeed the most trustworthy.
After A Shui and A Yue left, Zhao Shuning didn't linger for long and rushed towards the capital of the Sea Spirit Kingdom.
On this journey.
Although she didn't stop for too long, she deliberately slowed down her pace a bit, as if waiting for someone to appear.
However.
Until Zhao Shuning reached the capital of the Sea Spirit Kingdom, the person she was waiting for didn't appear in front of her.
The capital of the Sea Spirit Kingdom.
It was extremely prosperous.
Running through the capital were roads paved with pebbles.
Zhao Shuning lowered her head.
She thought these pebbles on the road were extraordinarily round, and many of them were even a bit reflective.
Perhaps.
These pebbles were fished out of the river and had been washed by the stream day and night, becoming much smoother.
Zhao Shuning didn't pay much attention at first.
But the moment her foot stepped on a pebble.
Her heart trembled involuntarily.
She lowered her head.
Looking at her feet.
There was a gray and round "pebble". Just looking at it like this, it was an ordinary pebble.
However—
Zhao Shuning bent down.
Why did she feel that there was a trace of spiritual power on this "pebble"?
Zhao Shuning's spiritual energy and spiritual power were both at the peak, so she was extremely sensitive.
She picked up the "pebble" and held it in her hand.
Then she slowly stood up.
When the "pebble" touched Zhao Shuning's warm palm, it flashed a faint light.
"Hello, I'd like to ask you something."
Zhao Shuning walked towards a rouge vendor and asked the old woman kindly. At the same time, she took out a small night - pearl and handed it to the old woman.
The old woman took the night - pearl.
She was quite knowledgeable.
She said straightforwardly, "Miss, just say what you want."
Zhao Shuning originally planned to go to the Duke's Mansion first, but now, she changed her mind.
"I want to know which river these road - paving pebbles were fished from?"
Looking at the dull pebble in Zhao Shuning's hand.
The old woman said, "Miss, if you're planning to go to the Clear Water River to fish for something good, I'm afraid it's a bit late. These road - paving pebbles were carefully selected by the soldiers before being used to pave the road. The jade stones with a crystal - clear texture are extremely rare and hard to find. Even if there were any, they would have been taken away by the officials long ago."
Saying this.
The old woman looked at the pearl in her hand again.
"Miss, it's really a loss for you to exchange this night - pearl for just this piece of information. Well, you can choose a box of rouge from my stall. Consider it a gift from me."
Zhao Shuning casually picked up a purple rouge box from the stall and then asked, "Auntie, do you know exactly where the Clear Water River is?"
"Miss, you're still not giving up? Well, the Clear Water River is straight along this road to the east. When you reach the end, you'll come across three diverging roads. Take the right - most path and go all the way to the end. There's an inn there. It has a signpost. Miss, since you've given me such a precious thing, I'll tell you the truth."
Saying this.
The old woman deliberately looked around.
Then she lowered her voice.
"The Clear Water River, you'd better not go there as a young girl. You don't know, that place is extremely strange. It's located in the suburbs, and there have been quite a few deaths there before."
Hearing this.
Zhao Shuning's eyes lit up.
She immediately became interested.
That was exactly where she was heading.
After thanking the rouge - selling old woman, Zhao Shuning walked straight along the road.
Zhao Shuning was very clear about her purpose in coming to the capital.
She wanted to figure out why those spiritual pharmacists had died for no reason. Also, since the Frost Flower could now be artificially cultivated, why were they still using such a cruel method as they did five hundred years ago?
If these things were really done by Xia Qingyan's descendants, then she had to investigate thoroughly.
After all, the blood flowing in the descendants of the Xia family was somewhat similar to hers.
All the way to the suburbs.
Zhao Shuning finally found that inn.
She also saw the signpost.
She drank two cups of tea in the inn and asked about some things before continuing on her journey.
Along the way.
She was extremely careful.
But she didn't find anything.
Now, she had reached the side of the Clear Water River.
She actually thought that it was shaded by willow trees and the lake was clear. Although it was in the suburbs and a bit desolate, it was still a good place to enjoy the scenery.
Standing beside the Clear Water River.
Zhao Shuning stretched.
The Speech - Understanding Beast in the Qiankun Pouch seemed a bit restless.
"What's wrong?"
The Speech - Understanding Beast appeared in front of Zhao Shuning and grew much larger.
"Senior, there's the master's aura here."
The Speech - Understanding Beast was a bit uneasy.
Zhao Shuning could only comfort it first.
"Don't be in a hurry."
Zhao Shuning stood beside the Clear Water River, gently closing her eyes. Slowly, power began to gather in her hands.
Her spiritual power slowly seeped out.
Everything around her began to seem tiny.
The smell of blood.
Fights.
Screams.
Fear.
There were so many scents and emotions left here, all intertwined.
But the source of all the resentful spirits.
Seemed to be.
It.
Zhao Shuning opened her eyes.
Her expression suddenly became extremely solemn.
She looked at the Clear Water River in front of her.
The Clear Water River was extremely clear, but countless streams of blood had once flowed through this river.
"Senior, how's it going?"
"Xiaoyu, step back a bit. I'm going to turn over all the pebbles in the Clear Water River."
After Zhao Shuning finished speaking.
The Speech - Understanding Beast sensed the solemn look on Zhao Shuning's face.
It quickly flapped its wings and retreated several steps.
Zhao Shuning's hands moved, constantly changing.
A huge seal appeared above the Clear Water River.
But just as she was about to release the seal.
Suddenly.
A scolding voice came from her ear.
"Where did this lowly wretch come from? How dare you act so presumptuously on our territory!"