At last, they arrived at the Han family estate. Only then did Leander reluctantly let go of Han Ling's hand. Han Ling shot him a helpless glance and lightly tapped his chest.
"What now? It's not like we won't see each other again. Why are you so clingy?"
Leander looked perfectly justified. "It's different. We're in the honeymoon phase. I looked it up—this is completely normal."
Han Ling rolled his eyes. "So you're admitting you're not acting normal? What I mean is—maybe it's time to tone it down a bit."
He said that, but in his heart, he was secretly grumbling: As a Tianshi with Tiangang-level cultivation, how had a single kiss thrown his breathing out of rhythm? How embarrassing.
"Anyway... babe." Leander suddenly changed the subject, his tone softening, though his gaze remained glued to Han Ling's lips. "I might not come to train tomorrow. I've been invited to a charity auction."
He paused, then added, "It's not mandatory, but..."
Han Ling immediately covered his mouth with his hand. "That look in your eyes says you're about to start trouble again."
Leander blinked innocently. Only when Han Ling sat down beside him again did he gently pull Han Ling's hand away and whisper, "I really don't want to go. Because you won't be there. Without you, I don't even want to be there a minute."
His eyes lowered, and his voice turned uncharacteristically calm and restrained. "But if I don't go, those petty opportunists in the family will take the chance to show up in my name. They'll speak nonsense, act like they're someone just because of me. And during the auction, someone's bound to try cozying up, engaging in shady deals..."
"It's not that I fear them." Leander's tone turned cold, silver eyes sharpening with a glint of frost. "I just don't want them using my name to cause trouble. Especially when you won't be there."
Han Ling was caught off guard by how frank he was.
Leander turned to look at him, his gaze unflinchingly sincere. "You know what the Ashcroft family is like. If I show the slightest weakness, they'll swarm in. I used to not care—after all, they couldn't bite me. But things are different now. I have you. I don't want to waste time on people like them anymore."
Han Ling let out a soft laugh, though his eyes grew a little more serious.
"Such a hopeless romantic... Aren't you afraid of developing a heart demon from this?"
"Then let's face it together in the heart demon realm," Leander teased, his smile sugary sweet. "At least I'd get to see you there, so I'm not scared."
Han Ling couldn't help but laugh, though he forced a stern expression. "My dear heir of the Ashcroft family, you're still young. Your cultivation just stabilized. Love is fine, but don't forget your responsibilities. Our road ahead could be hundreds—maybe thousands—of years long."
"Whether you get tired of me or decide not to keep walking this path, that's all for later. But for now, you have to learn how to protect what's yours."
Leander was clearly moved. Of all Han Ling's words, he only truly heard one line: We might live together for hundreds of years.
He froze for a moment, then a slow, joyful smile crept onto his face.
There was nothing more thrilling in the world than Han Ling saying, he wanted to spend centuries with him.
Han Ling noticed him spacing out and gave him a light push. "Quit daydreaming. I'm heading off."
Outside the ship, Steward Liu had been waiting at the entrance. Han Ling couldn't linger any longer. But just as he stood up and turned to leave, he suddenly turned back and blew Leander a kiss. "Mua~"
Leander blinked in confusion. By the time he processed what had happened, the hatch had opened, and Han Ling's figure was already gone.
"...How is he so cute?" Leander collapsed into his seat, grinning like he'd just hit the jackpot.
He murmured, "No matter how profitable that charity auction is or how many power plays unfold, I won't let anyone use you."
---
Though Han Ling was far stronger than Leander, the world was still run by mortals. Some things were simply out of their control.
After disembarking, Han Ling asked awkwardly, "Uncle Liu, why are you here?" Despite surviving countless storms in the cultivation world, love was a first for him. He still got flustered.
"Young Master didn't come down for quite a while, so I came to check." Liu smiled kindly, making Han Ling even more embarrassed.
"But Young Master, Madam wishes to see you."
Han Ling was a bit surprised his stepmother wanted to see him. He didn't ask Liu about it and simply followed him to the living room, where a plainly dressed but well-maintained woman sat sipping tea, flipping through a book.
"Madam, the Young Master is here."
"Mm," she acknowledged without even lifting her gaze.
"Tomorrow's charity auction—you'll represent the Han family. Don't embarrass us. Now leave."
With that single sentence, she dismissed him. Han Ling was left dumbfounded. What was his stepmother up to, letting him attend such an important event?
He didn't understand what game she or his father were playing. But he'd once been the sect leader of a powerful cultivation sect—what was there to fear from a little auction?
Once back in his room, Han Ling sensed a faint spiritual fluctuation. Just as he wondered if it was the spirit sword, it suddenly emerged. He was prepared, so it didn't startle him.
"Why so happy today?" The spirit sword didn't seem discouraged by Han Ling's calm reaction—it zoomed excitedly around the room.
Suddenly, Han Ling felt something intrude into the depths of his sea of consciousness. His once-still spiritual world rippled with a faint sword intent. Before the sword appeared, he heard a soft giggle. A strand of silver-white sword energy condensed into a small figure.
It was a boy, no older than seven or eight, floating in Han Ling's consciousness. With long white hair draped over his shoulders, a faint silver sword mark glimmered between his brows. Surrounded by spiritual mist, he radiated youthful stubbornness.
"Master~ Look! I can take on a form now and go out with you to fight monsters! I'm super awesome now~"
His voice was bright and milky, like a little boy holding a wooden sword, scared of tripping yet eager to battle. He looked up shyly, tugging at his sleeve, eyes full of pride and hope.
Han Ling's brow twitched. His consciousness brushed against the boy, and a wave of pure intent flowed into his mind. It wasn't a typical spirit—it was the sword's true form, the "Embryo Spirit Form," a manifestation only born from complete resonance between sword and master.
Wait—when had they formed a contract?
"When did we make a contract, Xiao Xiao Yun?"
Yun Qian looked guilty, avoiding Han Ling's gaze but stealing glances until he saw Han Ling wasn't angry.
"Um... while you were sleeping."
"And I didn't wake up?"
"I had Uncle Liu drug you!!!" Yun Qian immediately sold out Steward Liu.
"Oh? Looks like you're hiding more than I thought..." Han Ling began to suspect the Han family had more secrets than he imagined. Could his transmigration into this body be their doing?
Yun Qian ignored him, spinning midair. "Hmph! I've been training hard these days! See? I'm strong enough to show you my future handsome form!"
"...You want to show me that badly?" Han Ling's tone teased.
The boy puffed his chest. "Of course! How else will you know how cool I am?"
Han Ling chuckled and reached out to ruffle his silver hair. It felt like a semi-physical projection—cool yet familiar.
"You're much cuter than I imagined."
"I'm not cute, I'm cool! I'll look like this in the future, but I'm still incubating... Feed me more spiritual energy!"
Yun Qian grinned before fading with a wave of spiritual fluctuation. As his form vanished, he muttered, "Don't bond with other swords! If you do, I won't recognize you when I grow up! And... my name is Yun Qian..."
The spirit sword's presence disappeared like it had never been there. Han Ling, watching the bracelet on his wrist—the sword now asleep—shook his head.
No wonder it hadn't accompanied him out lately. It had been training on its own. Moved by its efforts, Han Ling fed it a bit of his own spiritual power.
With Yun Qian now curled up as a bracelet, sleeping peacefully, Han Ling couldn't help but feel conflicted. The Ling Zhao case was still unresolved, and now new mysteries surrounded the Han family.
Still... life was meant to be colorful.
He decided not to tell Leander he'd be at the charity auction tomorrow. A surprise would be more fun.
The next morning, Steward Liu woke Han Ling early for preparations. "Young Master, it's still so early!"
"Madam arranged it. The charity auction begins at 3:00 PM," Liu gently reminded him of his stepmother's plans.
Oh right, he'd forgotten. Last night, Leander had called him...
They hadn't yet reached the salon, but Liu handed him a catalog. "These are the auction items. The Master said to go ahead and bid if anything catches your eye."
Han Ling's mood improved. Spending someone else's money? Great.
While on the road, Leander messaged him: Chen Qiyue would be attending too.
Han Ling asked: Are celebrities allowed at these kinds of events?
Leander Ashcroft: They can. Popular ones get invited by the organizers, but they're seated way in the back.
Leander Ashcroft: Some buy invitations at high prices through insiders. As long as they pay, no one complains.
LonelyLing: What a bunch of profiteers (⊙o⊙)
Leander Ashcroft: Just heard—Ling Ning will also attend. But unlike her brother, she had to buy her way in.
Leander Ashcroft: Baby, you haven't kissed me today~
LonelyLing: ...
Han Ling ignored him.
At the salon, Han Ling was led to a quiet corner. The place was packed. Just as he was about to sit down, he caught a floral scent nearby—and spotted Grant.
Grant was sporting dark circles and had his eyes closed while a stylist did his makeup. Only when the makeup was done did he sense someone staring and turned around, nearly shocked.
"M-Master?! What are you doing here?!" He couldn't imagine a ghost hunter in a salon.
"Attending the auction."
"Right, sorry... Forgot you're from the Han family."
"What's with the eye bags? Only a few days and you're already a mess."
"And what's this floral scent on you? Changed perfumes?"
"I don't know. These past few nights, I keep dreaming of Ling Zhao. He's lying quietly in a field of flowers. No matter how I call him, he won't wake."
"I'm really worried, Master... What should I do..." Grant was on the verge of tears.
A staff member quickly passed him tissues. "No crying, or your makeup will smudge."
Han Ling and Grant exchanged a deep look.
"Found anything during this time?" Grant whispered.
Han Ling shook his head. "We checked his social media nothing strange. No one can explain what happened. But I think something's hidden deeply."
"The flowers in your dream—what kind?"
Grant hesitated. "Not sure. Purple, pink, white... I tried looking them up, no matches. But I never noticed the scent."
Han Ling's brow furrowed.
He had noticed the scent initially assuming it was perfume. But now...
"You don't usually wear this kind of fragrance, right?"
"No. I don't wear perfume. This jacket was just delivered today... Why does it smell like flowers?"
"I'll visit your place later."
Han Ling didn't want to jump to conclusions. But with Ling Zhao's unstable soul, his rare astrological fate, and this dream...
Something or someone was quietly manipulating everything from the shadows.
-------------------
If you've made it this far, thank you.
This story is still in its early stages, and every collection or Power Stone you give becomes a force that keeps it moving forward.
I'll continue updating, and I'll stay true to what this story is meant to be.
If you're willing to walk this path with me, I'd be truly grateful.