Qingyang City looked just like she remembered.
At the city gates, people bustled about and the guards were strict, but compared to the tense atmosphere of Qingxi Sect, this place felt much calmer.
When it was their turn to enter, Xie Zhaolin simply took out a token, the very same one the Zhou family had once given to Guest Elder Ming Yue.
The city guard scanned it, immediately recognizing the unique Zhou family seal and the authority tied to a Guest Elder. Their attitude shifted to one of respect, and without much questioning, they bowed and let her through.
"Master, where are we heading next?" Mo Yan asked in a low voice, keeping a cautious eye on their surroundings.
After all, they were now within the Hehuan Sect's territory, so extra vigilance was necessary.
Xie Zhaolin paused briefly in thought. She had originally planned to investigate quietly on her own, but then she realized the Zhou family's long-standing influence in Qingyang City meant their information network was far more efficient than anything she could do alone.
Besides, she was officially still a Zhou family Guest Elder. Using their resources to look into Zhang Xiuxiu's background, or even gather hidden information about the Hehuan Sect, would be much easier and far more plausible.
As for risks… she was already a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator with multiple trump cards at her disposal. Acting as Ming Yue, the Zhou family wouldn't dare cause trouble for a Golden Core Guest Elder.
"Let's go to the Zhou residence first," she decided. "I'm still a Guest Elder there. Using their influence to investigate Zhang Xiuxiu will make things much simpler."
And… she also wanted to see whether the Zhou family had changed at all during her absence.
The Zhou estate remained grand, yet slightly more discreet than before. Xie Zhaolin felt a faint pressure in her chest; she hadn't expected that after Zhou Zhilán joined the Hehuan Sect, the Zhou family would act even more low-key than before.
The current Patriarch was clearly a clever one.
Xie Zhaolin didn't hesitate. She revealed her Guest Elder token. The guards at the gate froze for a moment, then their faces lit up with joy and awe. They bowed quickly. "Elder Ming Yue! You've returned! Please, come in! I'll inform the Patriarch immediately!"
Clearly, her position as a Guest Elder still carried significant weight in the Zhou family. Xie Zhaolin made her way to the Guest Elder courtyard that had been kept for her.
The small courtyard was serene and elegant, spotless as if maintained regularly. Soon after she sat down, a maid arrived to inform her that the Patriarch was waiting in the main hall.
Xie Zhaolin adjusted her robes and moved toward the hall at a calm, unhurried pace.
Inside, the current Patriarch—Zhou Wanru, a middle-aged beauty dressed in pale purple, radiating grace and competence—smiled as she waited.
To Xie Zhaolin's mild surprise, Zhou Zhilán's father, Zhou Hanqing, was also present.
Zhou Wanru's eyes flickered with a subtle sharpness. "Elder Ming Yue, welcome back! I've prepared some tea to greet you."
She sensed that this Guest Elder's aura was far deeper and more restrained than a few years ago, faintly carrying a heart-stopping pressure. Clearly, the Elder had grown stronger during her seclusion.
Zhou Hanqing stood and bowed slightly, his expression a mix of politeness and something more complex.
After a few polite exchanges and sipping the spirit tea, Xie Zhaolin got straight to the point, casually asking, "Do you happen to know a woman named Zhang Xiuxiu?"
Zhou Wanru furrowed her brows in thought, then glanced at Zhou Hanqing. "Zhang Xiuxiu… that name sounds familiar. Hanqing, could it be… the one connected to that Chu family young man who had an engagement with Zhilán back then?"
Zhou Hanqing's expression darkened slightly. He nodded, his tone calm yet distant. "Exactly. She was once Chu Huaizhou's fiancée. But… she died in that massacre at the Chu family."
Xie Zhaolin showed a brief expression of shock and regret, letting out a soft sigh. "So… she's already gone…"
Zhou Wanru quickly responded, "You knew her, Elder Ming Yue? Could there be some connection?"
"Something like a brief encounter," Xie Zhaolin said with measured regret. "Years ago, I received some help from her. Now that I've returned, I hoped to see how she's doing and repay her kindness. I didn't expect… heaven separated us forever."
Zhou Wanru and Zhou Hanqing nodded in sympathy, murmuring polite phrases like, "What a pity," and "Truly a beauty taken too soon."
Xie Zhaolin then shifted the conversation. "Do you know if she still has any living family? Since she's gone, if her family still exists, repaying the favor through them would at least ease my mind."
Zhou Wanru paused in thought. "I believe Zhang Xiuxiu's family was fairly ordinary. I can't recall the exact details, but since you care about this, I'll immediately have someone investigate thoroughly and provide you with an answer."
Xie Zhaolin's expression softened with gratitude. She took out an exquisite storage pouch and placed it gently before Zhou Wanru. "Thank you, Patriarch Zhou. These spirit stones are just a small token. Please don't refuse them."
Zhou Wanru's divine sense flickered over the pouch. She was startled to see dozens of high-grade spirit stones and hurriedly protested. "Elder, this is far too much for a mere trifle!"
"You don't need to refuse," Xie Zhaolin said gently but firmly. "Gathering information often requires using connections. These stones may come in handy. I trust you to handle this matter."
Seeing her resolve, Zhou Wanru's smile widened, and she nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Elder Ming Yue. We'll take care of it, and as soon as there's news, you'll be informed immediately."
After some more casual conversation, Xie Zhaolin excused herself, citing travel fatigue.
"Master, what should we do now…?" Mo Yan asked.
Xie Zhaolin paused thoughtfully. "Keep an eye on the Zhou family quietly. Watch how they investigate and who they contact. I need to go check one place personally."
Night had deepened.
A shadow almost blending with the darkness slipped silently out of the Zhou estate, weaving through the streets of Qingyang City.
Xie Zhaolin's destination was clear—the western residential district, where Zhang Xiuxiu had once lived.
Using the fragmented information Zhou Hanqing had inadvertently revealed and the faint memory tied to Zhang Xiuxiu, she quickly located a slightly dilapidated courtyard.
The gate was tightly locked and covered in dust, clearly abandoned for some time.
Her divine sense swept over the courtyard. No formation or lingering spirit energy was detected. With a flicker of movement, she easily scaled the wall.
Inside, weeds grew wildly, the houses were simple, and the furniture was blanketed in thick dust.
Everything indicated this place had long been deserted. She meticulously searched every corner, leaving no trace unchecked. In an unassuming wall crack in the bedroom, her divine sense detected a faint, almost vanishing energy pulse.