The conversation among the four in the upper hall of the Liuyao Pavilion that afternoon carried a weightiness that felt almost regal, as if state dignitaries were deliberating over a monumental secret. No one dared to interrupt. The table was laden with dishes, yet their gazes were distant, as if the bustling streets of Liuyao City below were nothing but a faint, far-off shadow.
Xue Yao, the young woman in red, suddenly spoke up.
"Young Master, who do you mean?"
Her voice brimmed with curiosity. Even though she had followed Yifan for some time, she still struggled to find balance—both in power and in understanding the hidden layers of his plan. Only Yun Xinyao seemed to grasp Yifan's intentions with ease.
"That person… is Yu Tianlei," Yifan replied calmly.
Confusion flickered across Xue Yao's face. She could only guess at the meaning in her heart. When the name was spoken, Yao Yue felt an unsettling prickle. Hadn't Yu Tianlei already been given a harsh lesson by Yifan? They should be enemies. Why, then, would Yu Tianlei be the one seeking a mirror shard for Yifan?
'Could there be another purpose behind this?' Yao Yue wondered.
A chill ran down her spine. If there was indeed a hidden design, then the calculations of this man were terrifyingly precise. She swallowed hard.
Yifan took a slow sip of his tea, then gently set the cup down. His gaze swept over the three girls before him, silencing them instinctively.
"Very well. That is enough for this discussion. It is time to leave."
The words were light, almost casual, yet they unmistakably ended the serious discourse.
'Time to leave?' Yao Yue echoed silently in her mind.
Her body tensed, taking a hesitant step closer to Yifan. Anxiety clung to her, impossible to hide.
"Young Master… are you going to leave?"
Her pleading gaze was evident. Her heart felt heavy. If Yifan truly left, it was as if she had lost her home, her place of return.
"Yes, I will leave," Yifan said softly.
Yao Yue froze. Her expression was tangled with unspoken thoughts, lips parting as if to say something, yet nothing emerged. She simply stared at him in silence.
Yifan met her gaze, as if reading her very thoughts.
"Yao Yue, do not worry. We will meet again. And as for the conflict between the Liuyao Pavilion and the Yusheng Dynasty, there is no need for concern. I will stand by your side."
The gentle tone soothed her like a promise carved into stone, unbreakable. As the Mistress of Liuyao Pavilion, Yao Yue could not leave freely, yet the assurance from Yifan warmed her heart, even if unease lingered.
"Young Master… may I… may I follow you in the future?" Her voice trembled, tinged with hesitation and fear.
Yifan smiled faintly. This girl was almost like glue clinging to him, yet he did not refuse.
"Of course."
A sparkle of joy lit Yao Yue's eyes. Rarely had the Mistress of the Liuyao Pavilion felt so unburdened. With Yifan and the others, her weight seemed to lift, and her demeanor became lighter, more cheerful than before their encounter.
"When will you depart, Young Master? I wish we could linger longer together," she said, smiling.
"Perhaps tomorrow," Yifan replied.
Yao Yue made a soft huff, pouting in a charming, almost playful manner, reminiscent of Yun Xinyao when sulking.
"In that case, today I will massage your shoulders, Young Master."
"Oh… if you wish, I would not refuse," Yifan chuckled lightly.
"Very well, Young Master."
Xue Yao, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward.
"Xue Yao also wishes to massage you, Young Master," she said gently.
Clearly, she did not wish to be outdone by Yao Yue. The two young women now resembled rivals, vying for a treasured prize.
Only Yun Xinyao remained, letting out a soft snort, eyes narrowing at the two. Her voice was icy, yet carried a teasing lilt:
"In that case, I shall brew some poisoned tea."
The room froze instantly. Every head turned toward her. Even Yifan glanced up. Yun Xinyao's expression hardened for a moment, then her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"Just joking," she added with a soft laugh.
Xue Yao and Yao Yue glanced away, eyes glinting with mild annoyance, then resumed their ministrations on Yifan. The heaviness that had once pressed down on the room melted away, replaced by warmth and harmony.
Yet from a distance, a pair of eyes had been watching all along. The figure turned and vanished into the shadows.
Yifan's gaze flicked toward the departing presence, a faint smile tugging at his lips. In his mind, he mused,
'Heheh, just a mere mouse.'
'I wonder… what surprise will you bring?'
---
Far from Liuyao City, a grand, bustling metropolis sprawled across the land. This was Yusheng City, larger and more imposing than Liuyao City. Its very name heralded the seat of the Yusheng Dynasty.
Golden palaces pierced the sky, and colossal walls encircled the city, every gate guarded by warriors of varying cultivation levels. Only members of the Yusheng Dynasty were permitted entry.
At the city's heart, a magnificent palace radiated an aura of supreme authority. This upper-tier dynasty had long been regarded as the dominion of the Northern Region of Tianxian Continent. Centuries ago, they raised their banners of war and emerged victorious. Another upper-tier power in the Northern Region had been annihilated in the conflict against Yusheng Dynasty, solidifying a reputation that could not be underestimated.
Inside the main palace, two men trembled. One bowed low, face filled with helplessness. The other stood with his right hand missing. They were Yu Hanhai and Yu Tianlei.
Before them stood a line of elders. The air was thick with oppressive energy, each clearly a top figure of the Yusheng Dynasty. They wore golden robes—men and women alike, their faces showing beauty despite age.
Tears of frustration streaked Yu Tianlei's face as he stared at the throne, where an imposing figure sat. This was the Emperor of the Yusheng Dynasty, his aura so majestic it constricted the chests of all present. Beside him sat a woman in golden robes, beautiful yet commanding—the Empress of the Yusheng Dynasty.
"Father… please take action for your son," Yu Tianlei's voice cracked.
The Empress's brow furrowed, a look of pity crossing her lovely features as she glanced at her husband on the throne.
The Emperor's gaze was sharp, like a coiled dragon. Calm and unshaken, he seemed to have anticipated everything.
"Because you succeeded in retrieving the Immortal artifact shard, I will not punish you further. Your sentence is the loss of your hand," he stated.
A heavy silence followed. None dared speak.
"Elder Hanhai, your punishment was indeed deserved. But since the expert you encountered is a Heavenly Venerable, as you claimed, this Emperor grants you pardon."
Yu Hanhai, trembling, immediately fell to his knees in relief. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy!" he exclaimed.
Yu Tianlei's voice returned, tears of resentment still falling.
"Father… will you simply let this pass? That man has shown no regard for the Yusheng Dynasty!"
His words seemed concerned for the dynasty's honor, yet those attuned could sense the personal vendetta laced within. He intended to use the dynasty as a tool for his own revenge.
The Emperor snorted coldly, causing Yu Tianlei to shiver even more.
"Of course, it shall not be ignored. But for now, there is no need for action. Greater threats loom over this dynasty."
"But you, second prince of the Yusheng Dynasty, have insulted an unknown expert and brought minor trouble upon me. You are still worse than the Crown Prince."
The words were sharp, cold, and immediately silenced Yu Tianlei. Resentment boiled within him. Once more, the shadow of the Crown Prince—a thorn and humiliation in his life—loomed large. His father had always compared them: praise for the elder, blame for him.
Now, even after successfully retrieving the Immortal artifact shard, the treatment felt unjust. His heart shattered, struck by lightning.
The Empress opened her mouth, then held back. Her hands clenched on her exposed thigh, sorrow fleeting across her beautiful face.
Yu Tianlei's eyes reddened. The world was unfair to him. To be a prince in a dynasty might be a delight for some, but for him, it was a living hell. If he did not seize the position of Crown Prince, he felt he would forever be oppressed, overlooked, and belittled.
He gritted his teeth, fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. A new resolve began to ignite within him.
'Then, do not blame me!'