The night stretched long and deep over Jinshi City.
Mist coiled low between the rooftops, silver in the moonlight, the air still thick with the scent of incense and rain. Beneath that quiet veil, a ripple of distortion passed — barely there — as two unseen shapes glided across the city's spine of tiled roofs.
The fox ran with measured rhythm, paws whispering against the tiles, every leap precise and deliberate. The lizard perched on its head blinked, golden eyes wide against the dark, tail twitching for balance as the wind brushed past.
They moved like shadows born from the night itself — too fast, too light to leave a sound.
> "Hey, we'll soon arrive at the next estate," the fox murmured, its voice carried through divine sense — smooth, low, and tinged with amusement. "Would you like some time to recover your strength before we arrive?"
The lizard clicked softly, its tone questioning as it glanced down at the fox.
> "Hmm? I mean, you don't look like one who just fought several cultivators. There's barely even a scratch on you."
The fox's ears twitched as it gave a low, amused trill.
> "But you'd best take a moment to recover yourself to peak condition. Two mid-stage cultivators await, and I'd hate to see you caught off guard."
The lizard, still staring with wide, glowing golden eyes, didn't reply.
The fox continued to move quickly and silently, leaping from roof to roof. Huh, why isn't it saying anything? Did it fall asleep? it thought, glancing upward — but it didn't see anything. Oh right, we're invisible, it remembered, flicking its ears. Using divine sense, its voice flowed smoothly again.
> "Hey, are you listening to me? Do you want to take a moment to recover, or should we continue?"
> "No, don't stop. Continue," the lizard finally replied.
Hearing this, the fox smiled and answered,
> "Alright then. No time to waste — more of my precious treasures await my arrival."
The fox charged forward even faster.
Ahead, the rooftops began to change — no longer the muted grays of common homes, but curved tiles lacquered black.
The Lin Family Estate.
The fox slowed, crouching low as it neared the perimeter. A faint hum vibrated through the air — sharper and steadier than the Shen family's formation. Spiritual currents pulsed like threads across the night, weaving in tight concentric circles around the walls.
The lizard's tail stiffened, its golden eyes narrowing as its tongue flicked out, tasting the energy in the air.
> "Formation," it thought, narrowing its eyes. "Defensive, but… not strong. It's not built for defense — it relies on alarm triggers, like the other one."
The fox stepped closer.
Its turquoise eyes shimmered faintly, scanning every wall, every roofline. The lizard perched on its head, golden eyes glowing softly, mirrored its vigilance.
> "Quiet," the fox transmitted. Its voice was a whisper, even in thought. "Last time, I almost set off the final alarm. I won't make the same mistake twice."
The fox's whiskers twitched as it read the flow of Qi in the air.
> "Hmm… clever," the fox murmured, jaws tightening. "They're not relying on a single formation. Two layers — overlapping barriers designed to shift positions, covering the weak points. One on the outside of the wall, and the other on the inside."
> "We'll need the same approach. It might be harder, but it's still the same principle — find the weak point and slip through. No rush. One misstep and the whole estate lights up."
A faint ripple of energy danced across the top of the walls, almost imperceptible. The lizard's claws flexed lightly against the fox's head, its glowing eyes scanning the barrier.
> "There. That spot — do you see it?" it thought. "Energy dips for just a breath. That's it."
The fox's ears twitched. It raised its gaze, following the lizard's direction.
> "Good. I see it. Wow, that was quick. Now let's get in before it moves."
The lizard's wings flickered — not enough to disturb the still night, but just enough to adjust its angle for a better view of the weak point.
The fox exhaled softly, muscles tensing. With a single, fluid motion, it leapt from the ground, slipping through the barrier and landing silently on the estate's fence between the two layers. Its paws touched lightly, tail flicking for balance.
The lizard clung tighter, golden eyes scanning the formation's energy flow. It could see every ripple — every subtle shift in the spiritual net — and traced where they needed to go.
> "Through here," it thought, guiding the fox precisely. "Be careful. Any misstep, and the whole family will know we're here."
The fox's turquoise gaze softened in acknowledgment. It pressed forward, slowing to a near crawl, claws barely touching the stone. Every breath was measured, every step deliberate.
The night held its silence. Only the faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the estate's formation marked the world around them.
> "We're almost there," the fox transmitted, its voice calm and precise. "Have you found it yet? Once we're inside, I'll suppress my presence — nothing detectable."
The lizard flared its wings slightly, adjusting their angle, seeing the flow of energy through the weak point.
> "There," it thought.
The fox stopped moving.
> "Huh? Where?"
Its glowing turquoise eyes swept over the barrier, narrowing as they fixed on one spot.
> "I see it."
> "Once we slip through," the fox said, "I'll cover the outer sweep. You go straight for the mid-stage one. Nothing moves without me knowing."
With a final glance, the fox inched forward, tail coiling behind it, body pressed low. The weak spot of the formation loomed ahead — a small, faint gap in the spiritual net of energy, just enough for them to slip through.
> "Steady," the fox whispered. Its fur shimmered faintly, invisibility brushing the edges of perception. "No alarms. No mistakes. Move."
In a heartbeat, they were through, passing silently into the courtyard beyond. The night held stillness once more. Only the faintest ripple in the air hinted that something had passed.
The fox crouched low, turquoise eyes scanning the estate's inner defenses. The lizard atop its head flicked a claw, sending a soft spark of lightning along its scales.
> "All clear… for now," it thought.
The estate lay before them — still, quiet, unaware of the predators already inside.