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Gu Changjin's destination was a small side room adjacent to the main residence, which concealed a secret passage leading to Daci'en Temple.

He needed to traverse this passage to meet Xuan Ce.

His black boots cracked against broken twigs buried in the snow with a sharp sound.

Gu Changjin's expression was stern as he was about to bypass the main house. However, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the wooden door of the residence, and suddenly, an immense sense of panic seized him.

For that brief moment.

The sounds in his ears were no longer the rustling of wind and snow but the howling of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Under his feet, it felt as if he was stepping on wet puddles instead of thick snow.

Gu Changjin halted, placing a hand on his chest, and frowned at that door.

That door instilled in him a fear more overwhelming than any flood or beast.

This place was the escape route he had left for Shiiun and the other two. If the day ever came when his true identity was exposed, he would undoubtedly face a situation where survival was nearly impossible.

This courtyard was something he had secretly arranged after Shiiun's staged death, and it was supposed to be a secure place.

But at this very moment, this annex or even this very door was causing him immense panic. An uncontrollable fear made his hands tremble slightly.

Gu Changjin stared intently at the wooden door.

Without hesitation, he strode forward and pushed the door with great force.

"Creak—"

With a dull creak, the door opened, revealing the scene inside.

It was empty, save for some simple, old furnishings. There was nothing else.

A musty smell hit him, the scent of a place long uninhabited.

Indeed, this was an annex under a deceased person's name, and few would usually venture here.

Yet, the sight of this barren room pierced his heart with a sudden, sharp pain.

Gu Changjin's face paled, and in the midst of the biting wind and heavy snow, a fine sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Time was of the essence, and he had no time to ponder the bizarre scene. After scanning his surroundings, he hastily closed the door and slipped into a secret passage through a small side room.

The tunnel led to the forbidden area at the back of Daci'en Temple's mountain, where there was a bamboo cottage. It was inhabited by Xuan Ce, who had once been the Venerable Master Fan Qing's top disciple at the temple.

Xuan Ce had long been expelled from Daci'en Temple, but despite this, nobody dared to evict him from the bamboo cottage. Even Venerable Master Fan Qing turned a blind eye to his presence.

Xuan Ce had a gaunt, sharply defined face.

On such a frigid day, he wore only a thin monk's robe, with his shoulder-length black hair loosely draped down. Under the snow-laden pine tree, he slowly swept away the snow.

Hearing footsteps, he lifted his gaze and recognized Gu Changjin. He paused in his task.

"A rare visitor. Has Lord Gu come to seek me out to fulfill a promise?"

Though he had already left the temple and grown his hair back as a layperson, he still referred to himself as "a poor monk."

Gu Changjin replied, "I'm not here to hold you to your promise, Master. I've come to make a deal with you."

"A transaction? Does Lord Gu wish for this poor monk to commit murder as well?" A hint of irony flickered in Xuan Ce's profound eyes.

"Not murder, but I would like to request Master to investigate something in Su Prefecture for me and search for a person along the way."

"Searching for someone? Investigating matters?" A peculiar, eerie smile tugged at the corners of Xuan Ce's lips. "This poor monk only engages in business involving killing. If you want me to do anything other than that, does Lord Gu know the rules?"

Five years ago, the former chief disciple of Da Ci'en Temple, once known for his compassion, had begun dealing in the business of murder within the serene grounds of Buddhism.

To make him take on a job other than murder, one must first withstand ten of his moves.

And even after those ten moves, whether he accepts the job or not depends on his mood.

Xuan Ce owed Gu Changjin a life, having vowed to repay it with either his own life or by fulfilling one of Gu Changjin's wishes.

Though Wen Xi's matter was important, it wasn't significant enough for Gu Changjin to waste such a promise.

Gu Changjin chose to accept ten of Xuan Ce's moves.

Removing his cloak, he nodded and said, "Please, Master."

Xuan Ce gazed steadily at him before suddenly dropping the broom in his hand. His fingers curled into a fist, and he darted towards Gu Changjin with lightning speed.

The two figures intertwined in combat, their every move exuding a chilling intent to kill.

The snow grew heavier, gradually covering the black cloak lying on the snowy ground with a layer of frost.

After a moment, Gu Changjin suppressed the bitter taste rising in his throat and said, "Ten moves have passed. Will Master accept this deal or not?"

"If I were to take it on, what can Lord Gu offer me?"

Gu Changjin picked up the cloak and replied calmly, "I can lend you a hand in destroying Daci'en Temple."

Snowflakes gently landed on Xuan Ce's long, dark eyelashes. He blinked slowly, then smiled, saying, "I, as a poor monk, accept Lord Gu's deal."

Half an hour later, upon returning to the courtyard through the secret passage, there was no sign of the luxurious carriage adorned with gold and jade. Gu Changjin followed the hidden marks left by Heng Ping and hastened through the snowy forest.

Deep in the dense woods, Rong Shu sat in the carriage, still pondering over Heng Ping's words.

"This courtyard holds a secret for our master. I hope Madam will keep it confidential."

If this secluded place was truly a secret, why did Gu Changjin so openly imprison her, Mother Zhang, and the third person in their previous lives?

If this courtyard wasn't Empress Qi's, how would she have known of its existence and sent someone to give Rong Shu poison?

Did Gu Changjin divulge this information to her?

In her past life, even though Rong Shu had guessed that Gu Changjin would hate and resent her, she never imagined he would kill her.

For he had never been one to take lives so casually.

Rong Shu believed she had not committed any unforgivable crime. No matter how much Gu Changjin disliked her, he should not have wished for her death.

Therefore, the poisoned cup in her previous life likely came from Empress Qi's hand.

Did Gu Changjin know that Empress Qi intended to kill her?

Moreover, why did this Qiu Mountain Courtyard later become the Sishi Garden? A person like Gu Changjin didn't seem the type to bother renaming an annex.

Four seasons, four seasons.

Rong Shu muttered silently to herself, a fleeting thought darting across her mind, but it evaded her grasp.

In the midst of her contemplation, the subtle sound of a door opening interrupted her train of thought.