Xiaodouding noticed Zhang Chen's arrival and instinctively clung to him like a koala. Because Xiaodouding had been drinking medicinal soup these past few days, he slept deeply, and Zhang Chen and Xie Lingyun's commotion surprisingly did not wake him.

The next day, at dawn

The elders counted the people and discovered that no one had died the previous night, and with the disappearance of the Illusion Technique, Wu Changming also entered Huangli Temple. Everyone in the Daoist Temple was overjoyed, and the disciples celebrated their escape from danger.

The disciples gathered in the square, Zhang Chen hid among them, quietly observing Wu Changming. He saw a black Qi Mechanism circulating around Wu Changming, clearly indicating he had been tainted by the Celestial Demon, rooted in his mind.

Wu Changming was not a fool and had sensed something. With a gloomy expression, he finished counting the people, sent away Xie Lingyun, then disappeared from the Daoist Temple.

"The Divine Dao is like a natural hotbed for the Celestial Demon, most suitable for parasitism," Zhang Chen thought to himself, but he could not stop it.

He couldn't prevent Yellow Heaven Dao's teachings, nor could he stop the Celestial Demon's possession.

He managed to pull out the Celestial Demon yesterday because the demon had just possessed Xie Lingyun and hadn't completed its seven-day resurrection process.

As everything returned to normal, the Daoist Temple regained tranquility, all disturbances vanished, seeming at peace once more.

Zhang Chen's days returned to how they were before, practicing Qi Cultivation and occasionally teasing Xiaodouding.

"It's been a while since I've visited the Master; previously, I was busy trying to survive, now it's time to seek some wisdom," Zhang Chen turned into a wisp of mist and disappeared into the mountains, traveling miles beyond the Daoist Temple before transforming into a Vampire Bat and flying away.

In terms of travel speed, mist cannot compare to the flight speed of a Vampire Bat.

When Zhang Chen reappeared in Daliang City, Wang Family Lane, he sensed something was amiss because there were more soldiers guarding the lane.

But those soldiers had bruised noses and swollen faces, looking quite ragged.

"Strange." Zhang Chen looked at the guards outside, showing a hint of surprise, but still carried his gifts and walked forward.

"Stop, who goes there?"

As Zhang Chen approached the entrance of the lane, a guard extended his hand to block Zhang Chen's path.

"I am Zhang Xiaohua," Zhang Chen quickly bowed and pulled out a piece of silver from his sleeve, handing it over. He sensed the danger, so he decided to use a fake name.

With a flattering smile upon seeing the silver, the guard asked respectfully, "Are you here to see that scholar?"

Zhang Chen was surprised upon hearing this, then calmly responded, "Indeed, please make an exception, brother."

"No need for such an address, you may go in." The guard mistook Zhang Chen for a person of status, seemingly unsurprised by his arrival. Recently, many noble visitors have come, though officially the lane is supposed to be sealed, he dared not refuse them.

Those noblemen have quite volatile tempers, daring to block them results in a good beating, and he couldn't fight back, causing him considerable frustration. After several beatings, he gained experience and simply asked for the name before letting them through.

Zhang Chen entered the lane and arrived at his master's door, seeing it ajar, he pushed it open and went inside.

But upon entering, he was stunned by the mess of the courtyard.

The courtyard was turned upside down, many ceramic items shattered across the ground, looking quite disordered.

His master sat beneath a large tree without having combed her hair or washed her face, uncharacteristically poised like a lady, with legs crossed, holding a teapot, gazing blankly at the old tree, pondering something unknown.

At this time, reading sounds came from the house, and Zhang Chen recognized the voice belonging to the fallen aristocrat Chai Chuanxin.

Seeing the courtyard seemingly raided by bandits, Zhang Chen hurried inside and approached Han Suzhen: "Master, what... what's happening here? Did misfortune befall us?"

Upon seeing Zhang Chen, Han Suzhen was startled, quickly sat upright, put down the teapot, and let out a long sigh: "I thought you weren't coming back."

Confused by Han Suzhen's remarks, Zhang Chen responded: "Once a master, always a master; how could a disciple not visit the master?"

Han Suzhen scrutinized Zhang Chen up and down before suddenly sighing and collapsing on the chair without care: "You shouldn't have come."

"What's happened?" Zhang Chen moved forward, placing seven paper bags on the table, his eyes fixed on Han Suzhen, filled with surprise.

Han Suzhen now had none of the demeanor expected of a mentor, but carelessly reclined like a delinquent girl: "Your gifts are going to cause my death."

In Zhang Chen's confused gaze, Han Suzhen recounted the events. It turned out that Zhang Chen instructed the Fox Spirit to steal a large amount of gold and silver, leading to strict security in the city.

Han Suzhen spent lavishly with the jewelry and gold Zhang Chen gifted, catching the eye of the authorities who became suspicious.

It's well known that Chen Sanliang and his wife in the Northern Land have been under surveillance, and seeing their sudden extravagant lifestyle, raised suspicions.

A large number of officials came to investigate, and the couple explained it was Zhang Chen's gift for apprenticeship, but a quick inquiry revealed Zhang Chen's impoverished background, making it implausible for him to present such wealth. Crucially, a victim identified the origin of some pearls, and the gifts were deemed stolen by the authorities.

Thus, the blame fell onto Chen Sanliang and his wife.

Either they found Zhang Chen and faced him for clarification, or Chen Sanliang and his wife took the blame.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen looked at Han Suzhen lounging lazily in the deck chair, acting as though these matters were unrelated to her, revealing a bitter smile and kneeling before Han Suzhen: "It's the disciple's fault, causing trouble for you, Master."

Han Suzhen glanced sideways at Zhang Chen, legs crossed, embodying a delinquent vibe: "Don't you have something to tell me, boy?"

With a bitter smile, Zhang Chen replied: "All the jewels were stolen by the disciple, you should hand me over to avoid trouble, I won't cause you any problems."

"Come here." Han Suzhen beckoned Zhang Chen with her finger.

Zhang Chen crawled before Han Suzhen, and she looked at him curiously: "I'm curious how you stole those jewels from the county office? And how did you manage to rob so many wealthy households in one night without leaving any trace?"

With a bitter smile, Zhang Chen pondered: "Extraordinary people must use extraordinary methods. Don't worry, I won't involve you in this; I will find a way to clear your name."

"No need, it's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. Just don't let them find you." Han Suzhen lazily said: "With my status, they can't pin such charges on me."

"If it's not difficult, then why are there soldiers outside?" Zhang Chen inquired.

"Because those soldiers found Chai Chuanxin's manuscripts during the search, which caused trouble," Han Suzhen said.

Confused, Zhang Chen looked at Han Suzhen, puzzled by the significance of the manuscripts, wondering if they contained forbidden content.

With a wry smile, Han Suzhen said: "This goes back to Chai Chuanxin's debate about the Dao with the Master during his past quests."

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