I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script

The group of constables finally caught up, panting heavily, and shouted, "Let go of the blade and step back!"

Xu Shulou lifted the sword and pointed it at the trembling man on the ground, speaking gently, "Honorable officers, you've misunderstood. This blade was just taken from this man. As a law-abiding citizen, how could I carry such a dangerous weapon around? What if it frightens innocent people?"

The constables eyed her suspiciously, but when she willingly handed over the large saber, they quickly confiscated it. The man immediately sobbed and threw himself at the lead constable, clinging to him for protection.

The doubt in everyone's eyes was practically overflowing.

Xu Shulou sighed and was about to force the man to vouch for her innocence when she took a step forward. The man instantly cried out, "Take me to the yamen! I’d rather go to jail!"

The lead constable glanced between the two of them and decisively waved his hand. "Take them both in!"

The commotion of the chase had drawn Xiao Ruzhuo over as well. Standing beside Xiao Ya, he watched the entire scene unfold before interjecting with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Officers—"

"It's you?" The constable's expression softened slightly. The two had helped the yamen capture several thieves earlier that day, proving themselves useful.

"Yes," Xiao Ya stepped beside Xu Shulou. "This young lady is with us. I can vouch that she is indeed... a law-abiding citizen."

The constable turned to the man. "Then why is he crying?"

Xu Shulou fabricated on the spot, "Perhaps tears of remorse. I was just enlightening him on the principles of being a decent person."

"..."

Xiao Ya’s lips twitched. "Is this your so-called experience? The constables don’t even recognize you. Did you not catch a single thief all afternoon?"

"I did catch them," Xu Shulou smiled. "But delivering them one by one was too troublesome. I decided to stockpile them instead."

"Stockpile them?" Xiao Ya was baffled. This was certainly new—people stockpiled vegetables and grain, but thieves?

The constables followed her dubiously to a small courtyard just a street away from the yamen, the residence of an elderly couple.

Xu Shulou pushed open the door and revealed over a dozen men stacked atop each other on the bed. "Look, a whole string of them."

The constables gaped. The men were tightly bound, and when one constable tugged at them, he realized they were all tied together in a line, the rope’s end even playfully knotted into a lucky knot.

"What... ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‍is this?"

Xu Shulou said proudly, "I found their hideout."

"How?" Xiao Ya thought for a moment before slapping her forehead. "Right, since they were a gang moving around, they must have had a meeting point. Instead of startling them, we should have tailed them. I should have realized."

"I did follow one," Xiao Ruzhuo admitted sheepishly. "But he was very alert. He slipped into a crowded shop and blended in. I memorized his clothes, but the moment I blinked, he vanished. I underestimated them—even with my senses, I lost track."

An experienced constable nodded. "These thieves are indeed hard to tail. They might change their outer robes between entering and exiting a shop to throw off pursuit. How did you manage it, miss?"

Xu Shulou patted the string of thieves. "Actually, I noticed an old man buying an unusual amount of food. After he left, I asked the vendor and learned he wasn’t a servant of any wealthy household. His behavior seemed suspicious, so I followed him—only to walk straight into an ambush."

She had originally been observing the thieves’ movements, waiting for them to transfer stolen goods. But spotting the old man had saved her the effort.

"An ambush?" The constable stiffened. "Were you injured?"

"No, thankfully I ran fast," Xu Shulou patted her chest, feigning fright. The constable was about to offer comfort when she added, "Otherwise, they might have escaped."

The constable swallowed his concern and asked professionally, "What about the elderly couple?"

"The old folks were shaken. I sent them to the physician first," Xu Shulou explained. "The thieves threatened the wife to force the husband into compliance."

The constable understood. "I’ll report the truth. That couple has lived here for years—honest and reliable. Even the magistrate knows them. You needn’t worry about them facing trouble."

As the constables prepared to haul the thieves away, they found the rope now tangled into an unyielding knot.

When the constable looked at her, Xu Shulou shrugged. "I had them neatly stacked, but they kept wriggling."

"..."

The competition ended with Xu Shulou as the clear winner. Between the other two, Xiao Ya lost to Xiao Ruzhuo by a single thief.

Night had fallen, and the Donglai Shun eatery had already closed. The three climbed onto a rooftop to drink under the moonlight.

Xu Shulou brought out two jars of plum wine she had packed earlier. After finishing one, she intended to slip away under the pretense of buying snacks, leaving the two to enjoy the night. But Xiao Ruzhuo stopped her, claiming he knew of a late-night tavern, and volunteered to fetch more wine himself.

Alone on the rooftop with Xiao Ya, Xu Shulou was caught off guard when the latter suddenly asked, "Elder Zhang... was he lucid before he died?"

Xu Shulou hadn’t expected her to bring up Zhang Baihe. After a pause, she nodded. "Yes. He passed peacefully."

Xiao Ya poured a cup of wine onto the ground. "...That’s good."

Seizing the moment, Xu Shulou countered, "Do you think Fan Yang and Fan Zhi killed Elder Zhang under the Lingxiao Sect leader’s orders, or was it their own decision?"

Xiao Ya studied her before answering, "I believe it was the sect leader’s command."

"..."

After a brief contemplation, Xiao Ya added, "It’s a cold-hearted move, but from a sect leader’s perspective, it wasn’t wrong."

"It wasn’t wrong, strictly speaking," Xu Shulou sighed. She understood the leader’s desire to protect the sect’s reputation by concealing a disciple’s demonic corruption. But just because something wasn’t wrong didn’t make it justifiable.

"I’m not saying I agree with the leader’s methods. I’ve always admired Elder Zhang," Xiao Ya clarified. "But growing up in the palace, I learned that rulers—with rare exceptions—can’t afford to be purely good. It’s human nature."

"Your answer differs from Senior Brother Lu’s." Lu Beichen firmly believed Fan Yang had acted alone.

Xiao Ya shook her head. "I’m not like Eldest Brother. I joined the sect late—I’ve never even met the leader properly. I don’t hold any filial affection for him."

Xu Shulou was slightly surprised, "You've never even seen his face?"

"We've spoken, just not face to face. For many years, the sect master has been in seclusion to recover from his injuries and hasn't emerged once. Important matters within the sect are reported to him by others, and only my master and a few others like Fan Yang are permitted to enter. If there’s any business, the sect master simply summons everyone and communicates through the closed door," Xiao Ya explained. "You know about the failed tribulation decades ago, don’t you?"

Xu Shulou naturally knew. Back then, the leader of Dustless Island had been invited to assist in guarding the tribulation and had personally witnessed the Lingxiao Sect master fail to withstand the heavenly lightning, leaving him severely injured.

The Dustless Island leader had sighed deeply upon returning and sent over rare medicinal herbs, urging younger disciples like them to cultivate their minds diligently and not be overly troubled by worldly distractions.

At the time, the Lingxiao Sect had been rising in prominence within the cultivation world. News of the sect master’s failed tribulation had many eagerly awaiting their downfall—until Lu Beichen’s parents successfully ascended to immortality, spreading word far and wide and restoring the sect’s prestige.

Still, she hadn’t expected the sect master’s injuries to remain unhealed after all these years.

Xu Shulou looked at the woman across from her. "Why do you trust me so much?" Even such confidential matters were shared without hesitation.

Xiao Ya smiled faintly and countered, "Do you know when I completely let my guard down around you?"

Xu Shulou guessed, "After our conversation in the Void Abyss Secret Realm?"

"Not entirely."

"Because I helped Elder Zhang Baihe?"

Xiao Ya shook her head. "Not quite."

Xu Shulou gave up. "Then I can’t guess."

"It was the day you were afflicted by the love gu," Xiao Ya said softly. "I wasn’t there myself, but I pestered our senior brother until he finally recounted everything that happened in detail."

Xu Shulou was taken aback. "What was so special about that day? Surely not because I killed Fan Yang?"

"In the Cloudwater Pavilion, under the influence of the love gu, you were determined to kill Fan Yang. I can’t imagine the fear and fury you must have felt..." Xiao Ya gazed at her, her eyes carrying an unreadable emotion. "Yet before striking, you still took care to shield the pavilion with spiritual energy, preventing its collapse from harming bystanders. That was when I knew—every word you said in the secret realm was true."

"..." Xu Shulou stood up on the rooftop, letting the luxurious aqua-blue brocade robes flutter in the night breeze. Hearing this, she snapped open a folding fan, obscuring the emotions in her eyes.

Under the moonlight, Xiao Ya sighed softly. "Xu Shulou, you are a sentimental soul. You love this mortal world—you love all under heaven."