In the dark courtyard, a hush fell over the scene after the wounded Observatory member spoke.

Liu Wufeng was the quickest to react. Taking a few steps forward, he asked, "Have you found out where she went?"

Everyone had just pieced together the sequence of events, so they already had a theory about Long Yan’s sudden escape.

It wasn’t that Long Yan had wanted to escape on her own. She was under the Nightmare’s control. In other words, when the enemy realized their plan had failed, they used the Nightmare to force Long Yan to leave her residence.

Therefore, if they could follow her trail and locate her, they might be able to uproot the mastermind behind all this.

That was why Liu Wufeng had asked his question.

However, in response to Liu Wufeng’s question, the pale-faced Observatory member just gave a bitter smile.

"Landlord Long is an expert in the Art of Portrayal. She took on the role of someone skilled in Stealth. None of the Observatory’s agents could find a single trace of her. We’ve completely lost her."

The Art of Portrayal is the signature technique of the Peach Opera Garden. It is an extremely mysterious art; one simply needs to portray a specific character. The more one believes in the role, the more real it becomes, and the more one can access the corresponding abilities.

If Long Yan portrayed a character skilled in the art of stealth, she would gain the corresponding ability.

Of course, while this ability seems powerful, allowing one to possess all sorts of skills, it does have its drawbacks.

For example, the abilities are broad but not deep. Furthermore, each new role requires a great deal of effort and practice.

Some people might only manage to master one or two roles in their entire lifetime. And because their focus is divided, their skills appear jumbled, never achieving true proficiency.

Hearing this, Liu Wufeng’s brow furrowed tightly. He nodded and said, "Secure the area and don’t let anyone enter. Let’s go. We’ll investigate the premises ourselves."

If she had truly evaded all the Observatory’s surveillance, finding her now would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

But Liu Wufeng wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

Everyone nodded. Without another word, they left some members of the Yi Division behind to look after the unconscious members from the Jia Division before hurrying toward Long Yan’s residence.

...

Meanwhile, Shen Bai and his group were experiencing one abnormal situation after another.

And on the other side, inside a remote inn in Fenglin State, Tang Yun was trembling as he looked at the woman standing before him.

Long Yan wore plain clothes, her hands clasped behind her back. Her eyes shone with a light as cold as Cold Ice. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Not far away, the Female Daoist held the Evil Thought Pearl, a faint smile on her face. "Congratulations, Landlord Long, on successfully casting off all your Heart Demons and becoming yourself again."

Long Yan turned and shot the Female Daoist a cold glance. "I will give you what you want, but not now. The more pressing concern is how to get you out of this."

The Female Daoist smiled. "Very few people in this world can truly appreciate drama, and in Fenglin State, you are the only one, Landlord Long. Even if the Observatory comes, we’re just a group of common opera performers. They won’t have any evidence or leverage, so they can’t do anything to us."

"The most dangerous place is the safest place."

Long Yan tapped her fingers on the tabletop. "I’ll kill Shen Bai for you, but I need to find the right opportunity first. You also have to help me get what I want."

The Female Daoist asked, "What is it that you want, Landlord Long?"

Long Yan narrowed her eyes. "I want to become the master of the Peach Opera Garden."

At these words, Tang Yun, standing to the side, looked even more terrified, lowering his head to stare at the ground.

Just moments ago, Long Yan had escaped her residence, come to the inn, and found them.

And all of this had been orchestrated by the Female Daoist.

That strange artifact, the Evil Thought Pearl, had magnified the Nightmare’s power and successfully altered Long Yan’s disposition.

Tang Yun could say without a hint of exaggeration that the woman standing before him was indeed Long Yan, but not the Long Yan of the past.

In Long Yan’s life, the Peach Opera Garden had always been her greatest source of pain.

And through the control of the Nightmare and the Evil Thought Pearl, that pain had now been infinitely magnified, overwhelming her normal thoughts.

It wasn’t by her own will; the evil thoughts were controlling her.

More importantly, not even the Female Daoist could control the current Long Yan.

For in this state, Long Yan was more like a person possessed by evil thoughts.

If not for their mutual needs, they probably would have already died by Long Yan’s hand.

That was why, even when Long Yan brought up the Peach Opera Garden, Tang Yun didn’t dare say a single word.

After all, he was from the Peach Opera Garden, and a member of the Direct Lineage at that.

His father, moreover, was the one who had once wanted to marry Long Yan.

If Long Yan were to find out, he’d probably have lost his head by now.

After all, the Long Yan controlled by evil thoughts wouldn’t bat an eye at taking a few lives.

The Female Daoist asked cautiously, "When do you plan to strike, Landlord Long? This Shen Bai cannot be allowed to live. Letting him be could spell disaster."

Long Yan said flatly, "Not now. Do you think the Observatory can’t figure out what you can? Right now, the Observatory has undoubtedly surrounded Shen Bai with countless spies. If I make a move in Fenglin State, forget about that Liu Wufeng fellow—even Elder Mu could arrive in an instant."

"Do you think I am a match for Elder Mu?"

As she spoke, a cold light flashed.

A chilling Qi rose from Long Yan’s body. The Female Daoist quickly lowered her head, also falling silent.

’There was nothing to be done.’ That was just how the Evil Thought Pearl worked; she couldn’t hope to use it to gain complete control over Long Yan.