That night, Mu Zhian's carriage glided through the quiet streets and came to a halt just before the Bai family mansion. He jumped out and approached Bai Ruoxi, lifting the curtain and extending his hand to her. In the dim light, Bai Ruoxi looked at him, hesitated for a moment, then grasped his hand and stepped down from the carriage. As she surveyed her surroundings, curiosity got the better of her. "Master Mu, why must we sneak into the Bai family home?" she asked, bewildered by the absurdity of their clandestine entrance into her own family's mansion.
"Miss Bai, I wonder where Uncle Bai is after being attacked and seriously injured," Mu Zhian replied, his tone serious. Bai Ruoxi was taken aback, surprised that he knew of her father's condition. But then she recalled that it had been quite some time since she had last seen the head of the Bai family. Given the Mu family's influence in Tianxuan City, it was not unexpected for him to have gathered information.
In a hushed voice, she responded, "My father is recovering in a very safe place, guarded by two attendants."
"In other words, your mother is currently managing the Bai Mansion?" Mu Zhian inquired. Bai Ruoxi hesitated but eventually nodded slightly.
"So, after Miss Bai left, there are only a few servants and Mrs. Bai remaining in the mansion, correct?" he confirmed.
"Mr. Mu, what are you implying?" Bai Ruoxi asked, a frown creasing her forehead as unease settled in her heart.
"You will understand soon enough," Mu Zhian said, pausing for a moment. "But it may not be until tomorrow night." He glanced over at the maid lurking in the shadows. "Sister Meng Rou, I leave it to you."
Bai Ruoxi turned to see a woman dressed in a beautiful goose-yellow long skirt and short boots, stealthily blending into the night. If Mu Zhian hadn't pointed her out, she might have never noticed the maid's presence.
"Don't be surprised. She is one of the best in the Core Formation Realm when it comes to concealing her aura," Mu Zhian explained. Though not the strongest among Core Formation Realm cultivators, Wei Mengrou's ability to remain undetected was unparalleled. This skill had previously misled a black-robed man, who failed to recognize that Wei Mengrou was also hiding her aura in the Bai Mansion.
"Don't exceed half an hour. Once that time is up, I can't guarantee that you two won't be discovered," Wei Mengrou warned seriously.
Mu Zhian nodded and turned to Bai Ruoxi. "Let's go." Although a bit confused, Bai Ruoxi followed his lead, jumping up lightly to scale the wall of the mansion. She glanced back at him, whispering, "Master Mu, what do you intend to do?"
Mu Zhian surveyed the mansion. The moonlight illuminated the yard, and the soft rustle of leaves filled the air. It appeared that the Bai family had no servants present at this hour. He turned to Bai Ruoxi and instructed, "Wait for me here. I'll be back soon." Before he could respond, she leaped off the wall.
Mu Zhian felt a tinge of regret, wishing he could patrol the skies on a flying sword now that he was in the Core Formation Realm.
As he strolled through the Bai Mansion's backyard, he remained vigilant, searching for the room where Bai Yuanfeng resided. His gaze fell upon the second room in the backyard, where he noticed the flickering candlelight and the faint silhouette of a woman behind the door. Although Wei Mengrou masked his presence, Mu Zhian took caution and suppressed his own aura as he approached the door and listened intently.
He heard nothing. Regretting the absence of weak paper doors that could easily be breached, he continued his search and soon spotted an open window. Adjusting his breathing, he moved quietly to the window and peered inside, only to feel disappointment wash over him.
Bai Yuanfeng sat alone in the room, draped in a silk nightgown, her light makeup removed, revealing a more aged appearance. While still beautiful, she paled in comparison to her daughter. Was the black-robed man lying, or was Bai Yuanfeng simply too cautious? Mu Zhian pondered. The man should not have lied about something so easily exposed, suggesting that Bai Yuanfeng was indeed overly careful.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder from behind. Startled, he turned to find Bai Ruoxi standing there, her eyes filled with anger as she lowered her voice. "Master Mu, why are you sneaking into my mother's room in the middle of the night—"
Before she could finish, a sudden chill ran down Mu Zhian's spine. He quickly covered Bai Ruoxi's mouth with one hand, pulling her close and pressing against the wall beside the window. Her eyes widened in surprise, and as she turned to look at him, she sensed something was amiss.
In the stillness of the backyard, a stream of light suddenly appeared, and a majestic figure descended gracefully on a flying sword—Gongsun Xiong. Bai Ruoxi's eyes widened in shock. How could he be in the Bai family home? Her astonishment deepened when, moments later, the door opened quietly, revealing Bai Yuanfeng, who welcomed Gongsun Xiong into her room with a smile.