Chapter 077 Forbidden Cave

A night passed, whether in torment or in deep sleep, slowly slipping away. Living among mortals, Xueze found her spiritual power greatly suppressed, even her vitality paled compared to the lively aura of the spirit of Tianshan. Fortunately, her foundation was solid enough that the disparity did not overwhelm her.

At dawn, Xueze woke early, only to find that she was not the earliest riser; others were already awake. Outside the sleeping quarters, palace maids waited to escort her to the front hall, where she would meet her partner to discuss the next steps.

She cared little about her companion, having witnessed his abilities yesterday and heard Liu Li speak of him. He seemed wholly intent on investigating the case, not someone distracted by ulterior motives or the wrong path.

Upon reaching the front hall, with only Gao Hai present, all others withdrew, leaving the vast chamber to the two of them. They exchanged glances, then looked away. Gao Hai dared not linger his gaze; in his heart, Xueze stood beside the emperor himself—a sacred, noble presence.

“Miss, now that no one else is here, we may freely discuss our strategy.”

“Very well!”

Xueze appreciated Gao Hai’s straightforwardness and efficiency; she herself was troubled about how to begin and how to investigate.

“This morning, I received the Empress Dowager’s decree commanding us to first inspect the forbidden ground in the rear hills, then return to the palace for a detailed investigation. What does Miss think?”

“The rear hills have already been cleaned, leaving only lingering traces, no clues. Others have gone there many times before—what is the point?”

“I am of the same mind. The rear hills have accumulated many corpses; the stench must have overridden all other scents, making further visits unnecessary. Since we now hold the authority to investigate, perhaps we should choose our own course?”

Xueze pondered, recalling her master’s words: “Leave no clue unchecked; any place may conceal a secret.” After careful consideration, she replied, “It is the Empress Dowager’s order, and the rear hills are a crime scene. Now, with the morning dew and mist settling, perhaps the odors are not so muddled. Let us examine it closely. If you have other plans, you may pursue them; I shall go alone by decree.”

“In that case, I will accompany you, if Miss does not mind. The forbidden ground in the rear hills is not to be explored at will; this is a rare opportunity. Moreover, the place is complex and somewhat eerie—not suitable for Miss to venture alone!”

Xueze nodded, “Very well, let us depart.”

The rear hills lay some distance from the palace. With Gao Hai accompanying her, Xueze had to match his pace, using lightfoot techniques. After about half an hour, they reached the foot of the hill.

It was a small mountain, about a hundred meters tall, with towering trees and dense undergrowth. It appeared long untouched, though vast and deep—apart from the forbidden ground, it was an excellent place. Why, then, did no one ever set foot here?

Gao Hai led the way, clearing the path with his blade, cutting grass and breaking branches to make a passage.

“Miss, the grass here is thick; I will go ahead. Please bear with the dew and greenery. There are stone steps not far ahead…”

“Thank you, sir, but this is an investigation, no need for such care. I am not one for pampering.”

With that, Xueze strode forward. Gao Hai hesitated, then quickly moved ahead and brushed away the dew from the path. He understood well that this young lady held weighty status—especially to Liu Li, she was a distinguished guest, not to be slighted.

After a while, they arrived at an open area; ahead, stone steps ascended the mountain.

The slate steps were flanked by weeds, with moss in the cracks; dew slicked the stone surface, making it slippery. Twenty meters above, white mist shrouded everything, obscuring the view; the steps seemed to lead into a maze of fog.

Such was the morning scene: the sun had not yet risen, the forest dim and thick with mist. Seeing this, Gao Hai grew anxious, fearing for the young lady behind him.

“This path leads to the mountain top, and the forbidden ground. The mist is heavy and the path slippery—Miss, please be careful.”

“Please lead the way, sir!”

Gao Hai nodded and stepped onto the stairs, proceeding at a measured pace, always attentive to his surroundings.

Over the years, to survive palace life and protect both the emperor and himself, he had trained himself to deliberate and observe every detail. It had become a habit, never fully trusting his judgment of his environment, relying instead on constant vigilance.

Xueze, too, felt something odd. From outside, the scenery seemed pleasant, but within, the mists and gloom felt unsettling.

The morning fog was thick, its droplets settling many odors in the air, unpleasant to breathe. So, while Gao Hai was distracted, Xueze cast a minor spell to disperse the mists, restoring their sight.

Upon reaching the summit, Gao Hai noticed the mist thinning around him and felt puzzled. Looking back, he saw their path was now clear of fog, and was startled.

“What…?” Gao Hai looked around nervously, as alert as a startled deer.

Xueze paused, awkwardly asking, “Why are you anxious, sir? Did you notice something?”

“Miss, the sudden disappearance of the morning mist may be a bad omen!” Gao Hai drew nearer, hand on the hilt of his blade. “Could it be as the rumors say, that wild spirits haunt these woods?”

Xueze glanced at him and laughed. “This mountain lies in the imperial rear garden, surely blessed and protected—what wild spirit would dare cause trouble here?”

“But the mist’s sudden dispersal is strange. It’s just like the palace rumors: appearing and vanishing in an instant, as if by ghosts and demons. These royal murders, one after another, show the enemy is powerful and ruthless. We must take every precaution!”

Xueze nodded, approval in her gaze. “You have a keen mind, sir, worthy of the emperor’s trust. But just now, I dispersed the morning mist with a spell—no need to worry. The scent tells me we’re near our destination; let us focus on other matters.”

Gao Hai started, quickly bowing in apology. “So that’s why—I’ve spoken out of turn, please forgive me!”

“No matter! Since we both know each other's identity and share the task of investigation, there’s no need for such formality. Besides, one look at your face tells me you’re not one for stiff etiquette; feel free to be yourself, and I can do the same.”

“Very well, then Gao Hai shall lead the way!”

Following Gao Hai, Xueze soon reached the cave spoken of in rumor. From Gao Hai’s expression, she knew he had visited several times before.

Even before entering, the air near the entrance was thick with the stench, acrid and rotten, almost choking. This odor formed an invisible, impenetrable wall, deterring all but the boldest—no wonder the case remained unsolved, shrouded in speculation and uncertainty.

Xueze surveyed the surroundings; everything was as a mountain forest should be, but the place was unusually secluded, tangled deep within the woods—perfect for hiding and wrongdoing. The cave must have been carefully chosen by the culprit, allowing both contact with the outside and concealment from pursuit.

“This must have been the first hiding place. Why so many corpses here? Did someone intentionally sabotage the scene to create such chaos, hindering investigation?”

Gao Hai simply nodded at her words, offering no further response. Xueze eyed him curiously, noting his solemn demeanor, breath held as if bracing himself.

“So you fear the smell too? Understandable—such stench is not for ordinary people. Your courage to stand here is admirable; let me help you.”

Thinking for a moment, Xueze conjured a silk veil by spell, layering it with ice needle protection. She knew not how to eradicate the odor entirely, nor any spell to absorb or transfer it, but such minor magic was well within her skill.

“Sir, take this.”

Gao Hai accepted the veil in confusion, immediately feeling much better. “Miss, what is this?”

“Wear it over your mouth and nose; you’ll smell nothing at all.”

“Such a marvel—why does Miss not use it herself? Gao Hai is unworthy!”

“I am different; I have spiritual artifacts to shield me—this stench cannot harm me. Besides, I need to sense what lies beneath the corpse odor; using the veil would only hinder me.”

Gao Hai followed her instructions, and indeed, he could no longer smell the stench, nor did his eyes sting.

“I thought Miss wore a veil for some protection, but I see now you have holy artifacts. It seems I worried too much—please pardon me!”

“No need. Let us go.”

Xueze and Gao Hai entered the cave, discovering its depths and many passages. The markings on the walls appeared ancient, likely carved long ago; this must have been a cave dug by ancestors, now repurposed by the murderer.

“This… seems to have existed for centuries!”

“Yes, I think so too. Though I’ve never heard of it before, I don’t know who built it.”

Xueze examined the walls closely, letting not a speck of dust escape her gaze, every sign affirming its antiquity.

“This cave is old—what was its original purpose?”

“I’m not sure. I only know there is a forbidden ground in the rear hills, and this cave was only recently discovered by the world.”

“So few know of the cave; how did the murderer learn of it? To hide here, kill so many—could there be a connection to the royal family?”

“That’s a reasonable suspicion; after all, those killed are all palace people. Though their ranks and traits differ, they are all strong and upright—perhaps tied to some secret art.”

Xueze paused, “Have you ruled out the possibility that the culprit is a royal? If he’s in the palace, that would make things easier.”

“Based on the methods and timing, it’s unlikely a palace member. I’ve been in Beihua for many years and never heard of anyone who kills unseen or by strange means. If he lived here all along, he would not have waited so long to act.”

Xueze nodded, “The main thing is his methods are ruthless, skilled in poisons, versed in yin-yang arts, and—”

“Watch out!”