The moon is round like a tray.

Bamboo shadows sway.

What mars the beauty is.

The starlight is slightly sparse, scattered across the dome, sometimes hidden, sometimes visible.

Due to increased environmental awareness, Kyoto’s smog problem has improved in recent years, but it ultimately cannot compare to the countryside.

The countryside nights are still much cleaner and clearer.

Yet life is like this.

There are always trade-offs.

The countryside lacks the bustling prosperity of the city, doesn’t it?

In the ancient quiet courtyard amidst the noise, Lan Peizhi is still habitually wearing simple hemp clothing, only her retro water wave hairstyle is undone, cascading naturally. She slightly tilts her head, standing solitary in the courtyard, gazing at the boundless night, her cheeks serene, pondering who knows what.

"Sigh..."

Who knows how long it has been, a soundless sigh gently resonates, those eyes capable of intimidating snakes and ferocious beasts lack focus, revealing a faint and bewildering... confusion.

So she has times of entanglement too?

But so it is.

The so-called Guanyin is merely an honorific bestowed by the outside world; in a materialistic world, true Bodhisattvas cannot exist.

At most.

Just better at hiding one’s heart than the average person.

"Maybe Aunt Lan herself doesn’t even know the reason?"

Cao Jinse’s words, like a sorcerous sound, linger endlessly by her ear, never fading.

This gradually stirs a trace of impatience within Lan Peizhi.

This mood is certainly unfit for moon gazing.

Should only be suitable for finding someone to confide in.

But looking around, the courtyard is lonely and desolate, with only falling bamboo leaves, where is there a carefree soul to share her thoughts with?

"Rustle..."

Her naturally fallen hair gently lifts, Lan Peizhi, slightly softer in demeanor than usual, turns around. Just as she is about to enter the house, suddenly, as if hearing something, her crystal ear slightly moves, then she looks toward the western courtyard wall.

Outside the courtyard wall is an alley.

The blue bricks laid on the wall are silently still, showing no unusual signs.

Lan Peizhi stops there, her gaze fixed, maintaining patience.

In the tranquil night.

A pitch-black figure suddenly peers over the wall, shiftily glancing around to confirm safety, before continuing its actions, clambering over the wall—first the neck, then the upper body until the whole person mounts the wall.

Whoa!

This is Kyoto.

This is the century-old Drum Lane.

Someone dares to play the role of a thief in such a place?

Completely disregarding Uncle Cap.

The fellow riding the wall under the cover of night claps his hands, utterly audacious, though checking the surroundings, yet stubbornly failing to notice Lan Peizhi in the courtyard, observing everything.

If she were to shout "catch the thief" at this moment, would it frighten him into wetting his pants and scrambling off?

But Lan Peizhi is definitely not a weak woman; she simply watches silently, without calling for help.

The thief on the wall is searching for a suitable landing spot inside.

Unexpectedly, he should have scouted earlier, knowing there are no cameras; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so brazen.

Anyway, it’s only three to four meters high, less than two stories tall, not a big deal, taking a breath, the guy quickly picks a relatively flat spot, moves both legs inside, then without hesitation, bravely jumps down.

"Whoosh—"

An inexplicable whistling sound.

With the thief’s nimble posture jumping the wall, landing steadily should be easy, but who knew a pebble would fly from somewhere, striking his calf hard? With a muffled groan, the fellow immediately loses balance, causing a deviation upon landing, and ends up rolling messily on the ground.

Clutching his aching calf, the fellow, gritting his teeth, immediately lifts his head, finally discovering the owner standing in the courtyard.

"Don’t move, it’s me!"

The intruder instantly shouts rationally, fearing being mistaken for a flower thief and getting beaten up.

Though the other should see clearly, what if pretending not to?

Who can guarantee that’s not possible?

After all, the dim night is a natural excuse.

Sure enough, once he declares his identity, the other loses the reason to advance further.

The fellow climbing walls late at night grits his teeth to endure pain, struggling to stand, looking truly hit hard by that pebble, squeezing a sheepish smile, limping slowly forward, it is impressively lifelike, more like a disabled person than the disabled.

"I knocked on the door but no one answered, so I... Aunt must sleep so early?"

This courtyard is managed by someone, though he forgot their surname.

Explaining at once, his attitude commendable, but is the excuse a bit far-fetched?

If no one answers the door, thinking to leap a wall.

If it were chasing a girl, she doesn’t agree, does it mean resorting to force?

Truly reckless and willful!

Getting hit by the stone is pure karma.

Falling on one’s rump is definitely light.

Lucky it’s in Shen Zhou; if it were abroad, trespassing a home, who knows if he would get a bullet in the head just when peeking over the wall.

"Get back over immediately."

Lan Peizhi speaks, concise and clear.

Jiang Chen, now hobbling, immediately reveals a bitter smile, speaking in an expected tone: "My leg... can’t climb back."

"You sure?"

Lan Peizhi remains inscrutable.

Exchanging glances, Jiang Chen maintains a two-meter safety distance, his heart alarmed, experience from previous encounters tells him extreme danger is nigh.

He hurriedly raises his hand, palm facing out, solemnly straightening it before him.

"Please wait!"

"I came to find you tonight with an important matter, hence had no choice but to resort to this. I know calling you probably wouldn’t get a response."