The City Lord's residence—this was supposed to be his own territory, his dwelling place. Yet, why did it have to be shrouded in such secrecy?
This couldn't help but make Chen Chang'an suspect that this City Lord, Asura, must be a man with a guilty conscience. Otherwise, why go to such lengths?
When Wei Fengtang heard Chen Chang'an's words, he let out an awkward chuckle. Truth be told, even subordinates like him found it hard to understand, though none dared to voice it aloud like Chen Chang'an.
"Ahem, the City Lord is waiting for you inside. You should go in now," Wei Fengtang coughed awkwardly.
"Fine, I’ll go meet this City Lord of yours."
"By the way, have you ever seen what your City Lord looks like?"
Chen Chang'an had only taken a few steps when he suddenly turned back and asked this question, leaving Wei Fengtang momentarily stunned.
"Alright, I see."
Though Wei Fengtang didn’t answer, the hesitation in his eyes told Chen Chang'an everything he needed to know.
He had never seen Asura’s true face either!
If he had, Wei Fengtang wouldn’t have hesitated—after all, Chen Chang'an was about to meet Asura in person. His hesitation only meant he wasn’t sure how to respond.
Chen Chang'an walked over to the artificial hill and discovered a hidden passage within it.
Strangely, the entrance wasn’t particularly well-concealed. So what was its purpose?
Chen Chang'an didn’t dwell on it. The passage was already lit with oil lamps, and as he ventured deeper, he eventually found himself in a vast chamber.
The space was arranged like a room—elegant but not extravagant, with a classical charm and a faint, lingering fragrance in the air.
Behind a folding screen, a shadowy figure could barely be discerned, clad entirely in black robes. It was impossible to tell whether the person was male or female.
Yet, Chen Chang'an recognized it instantly—this was the same black-robed figure he had seen in that wooden hut.
"Asura?" Chen Chang'an tested the waters.
"Indeed, it’s me."
"You wanted the Purple Gold Badge just to meet me?"
The voice was low and deliberately controlled.
This City Lord, Asura, not only concealed their appearance but also disguised their voice.
Chen Chang'an didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped around the screen and sat down directly across from Asura.
Admittedly, Asura’s black robes covered everything. Even face-to-face, not a single feature was visible—no skin, not even the eyes.
Just how much wrongdoing had they committed to be this terrified?
Was it really necessary to hide to this extent?
"Is there a need for all this secrecy?"
"To be honest, I’ve already formed some guesses about your identity."
"Why don’t we speak openly? What do you say?" Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile.
"Oh?"
"No one in the entire Unreturnable City knows my identity. You’ve only been here a short while, yet you claim to have suspicions?"
"I’d truly like to hear your theory." Asura’s voice betrayed no emotion.
"You’ve done an excellent job keeping your identity hidden all these years in Unreturnable City."
"But everyone slips up eventually. Little clues can give you away without you realizing."
"Right… Boss Lady?" Chen Chang'an said, smiling faintly.
The moment the words "Boss Lady" left his lips, Asura’s body tensed ever so slightly—just for an instant, but Chen Chang'an caught it.
After a pause, Asura removed the black robe, revealing their true face: none other than the proprietress of the Joyful Pavilion.
"How did you figure it out?"
"Even my subordinates, who’ve followed me for years, never suspected a thing. How could you, after just a few days?"
"Where did I slip up?" The Boss Lady regarded Chen Chang'an with curiosity.
Hearing this, Chen Chang'an chuckled. "You didn’t really think I chose the Joyful Pavilion just because it was quiet, did you?"
"There are plenty of quiet places in Unreturnable City. I didn’t have to pick yours."
Hmm?
What did that mean?
Had Chen Chang'an suspected the Joyful Pavilion from the moment he entered the city?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Back then, Chen Chang'an hadn’t even known who the City Lord was. He’d even gathered information from her. Why would he suspect the Joyful Pavilion?
"I don’t believe you!" The Boss Lady’s gaze was skeptical. She refused to accept that Chen Chang'an had doubted her from the start.
Chen Chang'an wasn’t bothered by her disbelief. "You know Da Huang, right?"
"Its senses are incredibly sharp. The moment we entered Unreturnable City, it mapped out the entire place."
"Your Joyful Pavilion might seem far from the City Lord’s residence, but the two are connected by hidden tunnels."
"The passages are intricate and well-hidden, but Da Huang’s keen perception picked them up."
"That’s when I knew the Joyful Pavilion and the City Lord’s residence were linked."
"So…"
From the very beginning, Chen Chang'an had known the Joyful Pavilion was unusual—though he hadn’t immediately connected the Boss Lady to Asura.
But as time passed, he began noticing small clues. The most damning? The black robe left behind in the wooden hut.
"You know, you carry a unique scent—not from any perfume or powder, but something innate to you."
"That hut reeked, and you’d done your best to mask it. But on the robe you left behind, I still caught traces of that fragrance."
"That’s when I started suspecting you were Asura."
Hearing this, the Boss Lady frowned. "Just because of that tiny slip-up? Even so, that alone couldn’t confirm it, could it?"
"Was that all?" she pressed.
"Of course not."
"But it was the accumulation of little things that deepened my suspicions."
"Regardless, the facts prove I was right," Chen Chang'an said, smiling faintly.
The Boss Lady hadn’t expected Chen Chang'an to be so observant. Outwardly, he’d seemed completely normal, yet from day one—perhaps even their first meeting—he’d been piecing things together.
Just how cunning was this kid?
"You’re clever. And you guessed right about many things. Truthfully, when I decided to meet you, I never intended to keep hiding my identity."
"I just wanted to see how you’d react when you saw me."
"But while you’re sharp, there are still things you’ve missed."
"Chen Chang'an, you’ve underestimated others," the Boss Lady said with a smile.
Things he’d missed?
Chen Chang'an regarded her calmly. "And what might those be?"
"Your sister… or perhaps your twin?"
As these words were spoken, the Boss Lady's heart shuddered violently.
Impossible!
This is absolutely impossible!
How could he even know about this?
Seeing the stunned look in the Boss Lady's eyes, Chen Chang'an knew he had guessed right once again.
"What? Still not planning to show yourself?"
"The other Boss Lady!"
After Chen Chang'an finished speaking, a figure emerged from another direction and stepped into the secret chamber.
"So it's true—twin sisters!"
is also known as: "Sword Flying Under the Desk: My School Life" "Balancing Cultivation and STEM Homework" "The System That Taught Me to Take College Entrance Exams While Surviving Heavenly Tribulations" Good news: I got reincarnated. Even better news: I got reincarnated with a system. So, should I chase wealth? Or pursue immortality? Maybe become a superhero for the motherland? But with regrets weighing on this second life, I’d rather fix what I missed before. System: "Host, the cultivation world is full of dangers. You must form your Golden Core immediately!" Lin Mo glanced at the truck he’d just stopped with one hand. "At my level, it’s not like I’ll piss off ‘Little Boy’ or ‘Fat Man,’ right? Whatever—I still have two math problems left. Go play by yourself." System: "How can you still focus on homework at a time like this?! Host! Don’t throw your life away!" Lin Mo stayed silent, burying himself deeper into his workbook.
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"