Through a series of hidden corridors and floors, Hong Nian Niang pointed out where several trapdoors and emergency exits were. Anji and Yihao took notes seriously and paid close attention when the lady in red explained evacuation procedures.

"The Red Palace is like a maze," she explained. "While we try to make it as secure as it possibly could, there is no doubt that once the demonic cultivators discover this place, they will attempt to burn it all down. Memorise these routes. It will be useful when the time comes. For now, I’ll show you the watch tower point. It’s the best place in the real Red Palace and the one place your older brother frequents to clear his mind."

The path to the top of the Red Palace was not linear. There were many twists and turns that made it easy to get lost in. Without an experienced guide who knew the paths and secret entryway, it was unlikely for any intruders to stand a chance. After about ten minutes, Anji gave up on trying to mentally route this place. Even with her ability to read energy flow with her second sight, it was still too complex.

Eventually, the small tour group arrived at what seemed like the bottom of the ceramic roof. The attic was much larger than one would expect. Without partitioned rooms and false corridors, the real floor space was enough to make Anji feel tiny.

Like Anji, Yihao marvelled at the floor space in the attic. There were several entrances and trapdoors in the location, but on the whole, it was the perfect place for him to stretch his muscles if he wanted to. Compared to the empty hallways and overly crowded gambling den below, this was his favourite spot in the city. Honestly, he had no idea why people romanticised the city. He preferred the vast mountains instead. Having to watch his every movement in a confined space felt stifling. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Hong Nian Niang did not comment or stop Yihao from doing his somersaults the moment he had breathing room. For a boy raised in the wild at the back of the Celestial Sect’s Forested Mountain, the city must feel like a coop to him. On the other hand, she was more interested in the look on Anji’s face. The girl appeared deeply lost in thoughts and once more, Hong Nian Niang noticed that strange amber glow in the ring of her iris.

Giving the children some time to admire the only true vast space in the Red Palace, Hong Nian Niang activated a lever that lowered a small portion of the roof tiles attached to a hidden platform, revealing a hole in the roofwork. The tiles were actually firmly nailed into the platform and worked as a standing base that could carry several people for full roof access.

"Come," she beckoned to the children. "To the watch tower."

Thrilled, Yihao bounded over with Anji walking behind him. After they stood steadily on the moving platform with red roof tiles, Anji noticed that the tiles were not ceramic. If anything, they felt like stone.

While Hong Nian Niang pulled the lever to lift them up, Anji studied the strange material. It felt strangely familiar. Yet, Anji could not place a finger on it. Unlike fired clay that gave a brownish-red tinge, this stone was almost blood red with specks of black and other minerals in it.

"Is this granite?" Anji eventually asked just as they approached the top of the roof.

Thanks to the huge size of the building, the roof was not particularly steep. It was as if they were sitting on a hill looking down at the rest of the capital city. Yihao was already stepping off the platform and enjoying the strong breeze. Anji hesitated a little and only stepped out of the hidden platform when Hong Nian Niang did so.

"Yes, it is granite." Hong Nian Niang confirmed. "In particular, this is blood granite. Mingshen spent a long time scouting for a good granite mine. Every single roof shingle was carved from the same mine of blood granite. If you looked at it from afar, you might think it was regular clay tiles painted red."

Anji nodded. It was what she thought too at first. Granite was a heavy stone. It was also difficult to carve because of the hardness. Why did the Red Palace build its roof out of granite? The number of tiles here would be heavy enough to crush regular wooden structures. No wonder they had to secretly use steel beams.

"It’s not purely aesthetics," the Vermillion Bird Sect Leader chuckled. "It’s to prevent fire arrows and projectile attacks."

Of the stones that were commonly used for such things, most people would have gone with slate. The Red Palace was also a very tall building. Most arrows and catapults would not be able to reach this height. Anji raised her brows subtly. Was it truly designed for siege as well and not simply aesthetics? She found it hard to believe but accepted it anyway.

Although Anji remained polite and silent behind her, the Vermillion Bird Sect Leader was no fool. She could feel the silent judgment coming from the young child. Unlike before, when she was easy to fool, Anji had become almost as perceptive as her teacher. As expected of the Mystical Qilin Sect’s successor. Nothing could fool her eyes.

"You should check beneath these tiles," she whispered low enough to avoid Yihao’s hearing and flashed Anji a smile before hurrying to pull the reckless teenager back from going too far off the edge.

Surprised by how easily Hong Nian Niang read her, Anji blinked and looked at the tiles beneath her feet. Was there something buried beneath them?

Checking it with her second vision, Anji’s eyes flashed golden for a second. It was only then that she realised just what the roof tiles were hiding.

The Red Palace was not just a fortress in structure. It was also a hidden armoury, as expected of an assassin’s guild. No wonder there were so many reinforced structures in the ghost corridors. They were not meant to keep intruders trapped, but to protect the ghosts working here, should the fireworks hidden inside these granite slabs go off.

Gulping nervously, Anji treaded with caution. Although she had full faith that they were properly maintained, there was no guarantee that the explosive spell embedded in these granite tiles would not suddenly malfunction. After all, she had no idea what or where the trigger was.