Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling engage in a battle with Yan Si. Xie Xuechen deliberately lets Yan Si escape. Mu Xuanling asks him why he did that, and Xie Xuechen responds that Jinghua Palace is heavily guarded, making it impossible for Yan Si to steal the Jade Order so smoothly. Xie Xuechen suspects that Yan Si must have accomplices and remarks that it now depends on whether Nan Xu Yue can catch her. Indeed, Yan Si arrives at an alley where a man in black emerges. Yan Si hands the Jade Order to the man in black, insisting that she must take the Jade Order out to deliver it to the sect leader to accomplish their grand mission. Feng Yao chases after Yan Si, urging the man in black to leave first. Seeing Feng Yao steadily approaching, Yan Si kills herself.
Feng Yao retrieves Yan Si’s inner elixir, admitting that it was her mistake that allowed the man in black to escape. Nan Xu Yue reassures her, saying that at least they have now proven that Yan Si has accomplices. Feng Yao mentions that she overheard a conversation between the two of them. She heard Yan Si telling the man to definitely take the Jade Order out and deliver it to the sect leader. Xie Xuechen overheard this and realizes that the sect leader must be related to the Xiuxian Sect. Mu Xuanling remarks that the name “Xiuxian Sect” clearly indicates an enmity with the Celestial Alliance. Feng Yao thinks for a moment and says she has discovered something strange. She hadn’t paid much attention at the time, but now that she thinks about it, it does seem odd. She shares this thought with Nan Xu Yue and the others.
Next, Xie Xuechen instructs Gao Qiumin to investigate everyone in Jinghua Palace and informs Su Ningzhen of this matter. Su Ningzhen says that Gao Qiumin believes there is a traitor within Jinghua Palace, so he is now investigating alone. Gao Qiumin asks Su Ningzhen if she wants to stop him. Su Ningzhen declines, saying that she also wants to take this opportunity to properly reorganize Jinghua Palace. She tells Gao Qiumin to not only investigate but also to search everyone, instructing her to conduct body searches one by one. As Gao Qiumin is about to leave, Su Ningzhen asks her what she has been doing these past few days. Gao Qiumin explains, and Su Ningzhen asks if she is suspecting her. After hearing her response, Su Ningzhen lets her go.
Gao Qiumin looks at Su Ningzhen at the door and finds her behavior very strange. Gao Qiumin goes to inform Xie Xuechen that they have thoroughly investigated everyone in Jinghua Palace and are certain there are no issues. Gao Qiumin asks if they might have made a mistake, claiming that there are no traitors within Jinghua Palace. Xie Xuechen asks her if she has truly investigated everyone, and Gao Qiumin affirms. Xie Xuechen then asks if she has investigated Cui Wanwan. Gao Qiumin immediately responds that Cui Wanwan would not do such a thing. Nan Xu Yue speaks up, saying that Feng Yao saw a type of hooked tree leaf in Jinghua Palace that day. Feng Yao immediately draws the hooked tree leaf and places it in front of Gao Qiumin, explaining that such hooked tree leaves do not exist within Jinghua Palace.
She adds that they only exist outside the palace and that the leaves she saw were green at the time. This indicates that the leaves were fresh and not older than two hours, as leaves older than two hours would turn brown. Xie Xuechen explains that on that day, Gao Qiumin was at Yinxiu Mountain Villa, while Cui Wanwan took the opportunity to come to Jinghua Palace to steal the Jade Order. After hearing their explanation, Gao Qiumin still does not believe that Cui Wanwan was involved. Xie Xuechen asks her why she is so certain it wasn’t her. Gao Qiumin replies that she does not want to believe it, and Mu Xuanling adds that she doesn’t want to believe it either. Xie Xuechen retorts that then what are their efforts over the past few days worth—was it all just for fun? Gao Qiumin leaves, and Nan Xu Yue remarks that Mu Xuanling seems to harbor hostility towards Gao Qiumin.
Mu Xuanling admits that she does not like Gao Qiumin and has always hated her. Gao Qiumin returns to Jinghua Palace and conducts a search of Cui Wanwan’s room but finds nothing. She sees Nan Xu Yue and Xie Xuechen arrive. Gao Qiumin states that she has already checked and found nothing. Nan Xu Yue says that they have already cast a spell on Yan Si’s inner elixir, and in two hours, they will be able to see all of her memories. Cui Wanwan happens to overhear this and, fearing that the situation will be exposed, goes to the inn to try to retrieve her inner elixir. However, she does not realize that this is part of Xie Xuechen’s plan. Cui Wanwan is discovered and, while trying to escape, is killed by Su Ningzhen. Su Ningzhen invites Xie Xuechen and his group to have dinner at Jinghua Palace. During the meal, a Soul-Consuming Gu from the Dark Domain appears.
