In the blink of an eye, they arrived at a secluded manor.
The surrounding array formations isolated all auras. Just as he followed Xue Lao Er through the gate, a thick, intoxicating floral fragrance surged in from all directions.
Gu Changhuai subtly glanced sideways, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Everywhere he looked, clusters of roses bloomed, with thorny vines climbing up the pillars to the rooftops or hanging from the eaves.
Vibrant, dazzling roses bloomed atop the thorns—white, pink, purple, red—clustered together amid swirling mists, giving the entire manor an ethereal, unreal quality.
Beautiful. Fragrant.
…They’d make delicious pastries, he thought.
Gu Changhuai mused to himself.
Finally, they reached the depths of the manor, where two maids waited at the door.
“You’re here.” One maid greeted Xue Lao Er, then glanced at Gu Changhuai. “Madam asked me to inquire why the Shadow Head of the Demon Clan is traveling with someone from Xinnan Immortal Sect.”
It was clear they had long been monitoring Xinnan Immortal Sect’s movements and knew everything about it. Gu Changhuai’s eyes flickered as he smiled amiably. “The Demon Clan doesn’t discriminate against undercover agents, you know.”
Xue Lao Er said, “He’s currently on a mission within the immortal sect, so he’s traveling with its members.”
After a pause, his voice turned icy. “In case of any changes, the Demon Venerable specially sent us two to assist Madam.”
The maid curtsied. “Allow me to report.”
She turned, opened the door, and entered, closing it behind her. This completely blocked the outside view, and a barrier also prevented divine sense from probing.
Seizing the moment, Gu Changhuai quietly asked Xue Lao Er, “You still haven’t said why the Demon Venerable sent us here. And who is this madam?”
Xue Lao Er’s response was unexpected. “I don’t know.”
“…?” Gu Changhuai shot him a puzzled look, his eyes plainly asking—Are you serious? Don’t mess with me.
“The Demon Venerable said everything is to be arranged by Madam,” Xue Lao Er explained.
Gu Changhuai: “…”
The kid had gotten smarter.
Seeing he wouldn’t get anything out of him, Gu Changhuai withdrew his gaze, boredly crossed his arms, and waited. The corner of his eye suddenly caught a flash of bright red.
Hm?
A red hair tie?
He whipped his head around. At the bend in the corridor at the end of the hall, that splash of red vanished abruptly, as if it had been his imagination.
Gu Changhuai turned back casually, as if nothing had happened.
Soon, the maid emerged and opened the door. “The Little Young Master was retrieved an hour ago. Madam has received the news and is heading this way. She’ll return to the manor tomorrow.”
She made a guiding gesture. “Please follow me. Rest well here tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll trouble you two to unseal our Little Young Master’s seal.”
“No problem at all.” Gu Changhuai said offhandedly, “Is it just you two on the manor?”
The maid nodded. “Yes.”
“But I think I saw a shadow dart by just now.” Gu Changhuai deliberately pointed to the flower clusters in the courtyard. “Over there—a little girl, not even as tall as the roses.”
The maid smiled politely. “Perhaps the Shadow Head was seeing things.”
From the moment they met, both maids had maintained unwavering smiles, their expressions unchanging, as if their faces couldn’t stiffen.
Gu Changhuai raised a brow noncommittally. “Maybe I was.”
…
Once the maids left, Xue Lao Er turned to Gu Changhuai and sneered. “I never see you so talkative usually. Today you’re asking nonstop.”
Gu Changhuai leaned lazily against a pillar. “You drag me here for a mission without saying what it is, make me wait for some madam I’ve never met, and I can’t even ask a few questions?”
Xue Lao Er: “…”
On second thought, that made sense.
He turned to meet Gu Changhuai’s gaze. “Have you heard of Lady Mengying?”
At that, Gu Changhuai’s eyes stilled. “You mean the Lady Mengying who weaves dreams? The one who can kill in dreams? Didn’t everyone in the Demon Realm say she died at her husband’s hand?”
“She didn’t die,” Xue Lao Er said. “The Demon Venerable has been sustaining her life. He called us this time because her son is a half-demon whose bloodline was sealed by cultivators. She wants to break the seal.”
Silence fell around them.
Gu Changhuai lowered his eyelids thoughtfully.
Now it all made sense.
If a half-demon bloodline was forcibly unsealed, the loss of control would drive them mad… But what if they used Nurturing Baleful Qi to compensate for the half-demon’s deficiencies?
After a moment’s thought, he glanced at Xue Lao Er and smiled. “As expected of the Shadow Demon most favored by the Demon Venerable. Even after failing the assassination, he didn’t punish you. Now he’s entrusting you with something this important. Work a bit harder, and you might replace the Left Protector!”
In the Demon Realm, the Left Protector held the highest position under the Demon Venerable, able to command city lords and command hundreds of thousands of elite demon soldiers.
Flattered by Gu Changhuai, Xue Lao Er straightened proudly. “No, no—such a trivial matter is nothing.”
Seeing him puffed up, Gu Changhuai pressed. “Of course. Look at me—sent to assassinate Rong Ye, struggling just to stay alive. It’s like exile, no chance to impress the Demon Venerable. You should cherish your opportunity.”
Xue Lao Er was swayed, lifting his chin. “With my skills, the Demon Venerable will promote me soon enough!”
Gu Changhuai propped his cheek on one hand, drawling, “I just wonder if those missing people from Xinnan Immortal Sect are connected to you. If so, that’ll be a big merit on your record.”
Xue Lao Er’s eyes flicked toward him and he snorted coldly. “Put away your fox tail. Wait for tomorrow’s task—no more prying!” With that, he flicked his sleeve and stalked off.
Gu Changhuai: “…”
He was dumb when he should be smart and sharp when he shouldn’t be.
Too bad.
He had a cheat.
Gu Changhuai shrugged regretfully, snapped his fingers lightly, and said, “Come out.” With the words, Han Ya—which had vanished upon entering the manor—emerged from a swirl of black mist.
Han Ya boredly pecked at its wings, pulled out a broken thorn, shook its head, and swallowed it without hesitation.
“…You eat anything,” Gu Changhuai patted its little head. “What’s the situation? See anything?”
Ignoring the manor’s various immortal sect barriers, Han Ya—which came and went from Supreme Peak like it was empty—had no trouble scouting the place thoroughly.
The truth Xue Lao Er wouldn’t spill, Han Ya would.
“Hmph hmph.” Han Ya cawed strangely. “I am the Ancient Demon Crow! As if a few weeds could stop me? Ridiculous!” It boasted proudly, “The people you’re looking for are in the dungeon. Aren’t you going to thank me?”
Seeing its smugness, Gu Changhuai stuffed a candy in its beak. “Enough showing off. Lead the way—quick!”
The dungeon was dim, damp, and cold.
Aside from the walking path, thorns spread across the walls up to the ceiling, and the blooming roses emitted a faint glow.
Enough to illuminate the entire dungeon.
In the quiet, one could see the two maids walking ahead, sprinkling dew on the roses lining both sides. With each drop, the buds bloomed in response.
Gu Changhuai concealed his form and aura, silently trailing behind them. The maids proceeded, twisting and turning until they reached the end of the dungeon.
Hidden in the shadows, Gu Changhuai peeked out. At the end was a sealed chamber. Looking up at the wall… his eyes narrowed slightly.
One, two, three, four…
Damn. The dozen or so Enforcement Hall disciples were neatly hung on the wall.
Bound tightly by thorns, only their faces were exposed, eyes closed. From afar, they looked like a dozen people zipped into identical sleeping bags, napping on the wall together.
A rose of a different color bloomed above each one’s head.
Compared to the casual sprinkling along the way, the maids tended more carefully to these head-top roses, leaping up to add something to the blooms.
One maid’s hand trembled.
“Hey, don’t add too much.” The other noticed and reminded her. “Madam said to keep these people alive. Quickly remove the excess pollen.”
The trembling maid hastily removed some of the extra pollen.
Just then.
Gu Changhuai sensed a unfamiliar aura approaching. His eyes changed, and he immediately retreated, holding his breath carefully.
The next instant, a burly figure strode past, dragging two people along the path like slaughtered pigs—one in each hand, scraping the ground.
He marched to the dungeon depths, grumbling, “Why won’t Madam let me eat these cultivators? They’re not as tender as a child’s brains, but they have their own flavor. It’s killing me with hunger!”
The maids smiled faintly and said softly, “Madam has her reasons for keeping them. How dare you question her orders?” She raised her head. “Ask no more. Do your job.”
Her voice was melodious like an oriole, yet carried an undertone of unyielding defiance.
Shi Ying snorted coldly but said no more, merely tossing the two he dragged forward. “I’ve brought the people.”
The pair on the ground crumpled into a heap like a pile of mud.
![Hundreds of Assassination Attempts on the Immortal Venerable [Transmigration Book]](https://i1.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tr.jpg?resize=151,215 "Hundreds of Assassination Attempts on the Immortal Venerable [Transmigration Book]")
