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The last day!!
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The Li Mansion
Drip... Drip... Drip...
Rain hammered steadily outside the towering walls of the Li Mansion, the heavy droplets cascading from the rooftops like a cleansing flood, washing away the sins that were never meant to be uncovered.
In a chamber hidden deep within the estate, cloaked in the fragrance of sandalwood and faint poison incense, Li You Ran sat quietly. The white porcelain mask on his face reflected the flickering candlelight, concealing a countenance marred since that day. Though his outer appearance remained refined, even elegant, beneath the robes and mask, there brewed something volatile.
"There was an attempt on Jun Mo Xie's life today?" He asked calmly, his voice low, like silk brushing against steel. The corners of his lips didn't move, but the glint in his eyes flashed with dangerous amusement. "Is he dead?"
"No."
The voice came from a thin, black-robed figure kneeling respectfully on the floor. His voice was hoarse.
"A mysterious person appeared at the key moment and eliminated several of the assassins on the spot. The remaining were forced to flee. This individual… was extremely powerful."
A brief pause. The assassin dared not breathe loudly.
Li You Ran tapped his finger once against the armrest. A soft tock echoed in the chamber.
"I see..." He muttered. "Do you know who was behind the attack?"
"That is not clear, Young Master." The black-robed man kept his head bowed low. "We're investigating, but the situation is murky. There were no visible symbols, no leads."
A deadly silence.
Slam!
The teacup in Li You Ran's hand suddenly shattered on the floor.
The black-robed man flinched violently, sweat beading on his back despite the cool air. He dared not lift his head.
"Then go and find out." Each word was sharper than the last. "I don't care if you have to dig through every corpse in Tian Xiang City... I want answers."
"Yes, Young Master!" The man scurried out like a shadow fleeing from light.
The broken pieces of porcelain lay still.
Li You Ran stood slowly, his robes trailing softly behind him like a serpent moving through velvet.
His expression beneath the mask was unreadable, but the twitch in his fingertips betrayed his emotions; it was irritation, anticipation, and obsession.
"It seems… the Jun brat keeps surprising me," He whispered.
He turned away from the wreckage and walked slowly into his bedroom. As he reached the far wall, he paused and then pressed a pale hand against a certain section of the ornate panel.
Click.
GRRRRKKKKKKKK…
The grinding of ancient gears and hidden mechanisms filled the room like a groaning beast stirring from slumber.
The wall gave way, revealing a secret entrance spiraling down into darkness. A narrow stone stairway lay hidden behind the facade, and it descended, coiled like a snake preparing to strike.
Li You Ran descended into the gloom, his footsteps quiet. The deeper he went, the more muffled the world became, until even the storm outside felt like a distant memory. But just as the descent grew darker, the staircase curved upward again, leading back toward the surface.
As he emerged at the top of the second stairwell, a strange calm filled the air.
The rain sounded louder now, echoing gently through a narrow passage that opened into a secret courtyard, veiled beneath the old west garden.
Here, the rain was softer, filtered by the delicate bamboo roof covering the space.
Water trickled down quietly over stone lanterns and into shallow pools filled with koi, a hidden haven untouched by time.
"Young Li!"
The voice called out as soon as he stepped inside.
Li You Ran inclined his head toward the ten robed figures already waiting there. Each wore a white cloak trimmed in subtle blue.
The speaker was a tall man in his early forties, shoulders broad and bearing the confidence of someone who had led many to death, and survived it every time.
His gaze was like a sword, sharp, cold, without mercy.
"Brother," Li You Ran greeted with a respectful bow. "Still as punctual as ever."
"You're late," The man said flatly.
A soft laugh echoed behind him, and a woman leaned against a bamboo pillar with amusement in her dark eyes.
"Don't be so harsh, Elder Brother," She purred. "Perhaps he was picking flowers for us."
Li You Ran chuckled lightly. "I thought of it, Sister, but the rain today would have ruined their fragrance."
She raised a brow, impressed by the reply. "Still silver-tongued, I see."
The rest of the gathered individuals chuckled under their breath. Despite their dangerous reputation, this group always treated Li You Ran with a strange sense of respect, or perhaps amusement.
But the atmosphere quickly shifted as Li You Ran raised his hand and began speaking seriously.
"There's no sign of the Xuan Core yet," He began, voice steady, "but our networks are spread across the city. If anything happens, we'll know before anyone else. However, a troubling rumor has reached me…"
He paused for emphasis.
"Silver Blizzard City has arrived in Tian Xiang."
This drew a few raised brows.
"Along with several other powerhouses," Li You Ran continued. "At least four Supreme Xuan experts have entered the city, and countless Sky Xuan roam the streets, all hidden under various disguises. This city… is a powder keg waiting for a spark."
The middle-aged man snorted. "They can arrive. Let them."
"But if the Xuan Core appears—"
"They'll claw at each other like starving dogs."
Li You Ran nodded slowly. "True. But we won't have the leisure to sit back and enjoy the show. If we want to get it, we must act first, then vanish before the storm begins."
The middle-aged man folded his arms. "We have six Sky Xuan experts. Four Peak Earth Xuan. If we move fast enough... not even Yun Bei Chen himself could catch us."
Li You Ran's eyes gleamed. "Then everything rests in your hands, Brother."
The man grunted, then glanced toward a slim man at the edge of the group, almost unnoticeable until you were already watching.
"That includes you, Ghost. You've been oddly quiet."
The slim man chuckled, cracking his neck.
"Young Master," He said, bowing slightly. "Who are these 'related parties' you suspect? I may not match the others in brute power, but if you want something found... then there's no shadow I cannot walk through."
Li You Ran's voice dropped. "In addition to the Magnificent Jewel Hall… Jun Mo Xie and Tang Yuan."
There was a subtle narrowing of eyes across the group.
"Tang Yuan is injured," Li You Ran added. "Not a threat. Focus only on Jun Mo Xie for now. There's something off about that boy…"
He trailed off, his fingers brushing his chin.
Even with his mask, his unease was visible and contagious.
"Don't take him lightly," He warned. "Both the Jun mansion and the Hall are heavily guarded. Infiltration will not be simple. Be careful."
Ghost bowed. "Understood. If he farts in his sleep, I'll know which direction the wind blew."
The woman snickered behind her hand. "Still can't let go of that incident from two years ago?"
Ghost rolled his eyes. "I followed false information. That's all. If not for that—"
"You would've tripped over your own pride!" Another man laughed.
"Enough," The middle-aged man said sternly, though a smile tugged at his lips. "We don't dwell on failures here. We learn. And strike again."
DING! DING! DING!
Li You Ran raised his hand to speak, but a sharp, urgent chime rang out.
Every head turned.
Li You Ran stiffened, his eyes narrowing.
That bell.
It only ever rang when something critical occurred. Something… their guards couldn't handle alone.
Li You Ran's mind raced. What now?!
"Brothers," He said with surprising calm. "Remain seated. I'll check on the situation. It's likely nothing serious… this rain has dulled most ambitions tonight."
"We understand," The leader nodded. "Go. We'll be here."
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Spoilers for the next five chapters!
Chapter 111: The Chaos
Chapter 112: A Quartet Movement
Chapter 113: Interception
Chapter 114: A Storm of Masters
Chapter 115: The Players
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