The door creaked open .
Dust hung in the air like mist, disturbed by the faint pulse of Qi leaking from Yue Zihan's skin. His white hair shimmered faintly under the morning light, and the black blindfold hid the red-and-blue storm beneath.
Inside ,the palace halls were quiet only the sound of his footsteps and his servant footsteps echoed . Ruo Jin had grown,taller more refined and walked with the confidence a few steps behind him . Silent as always. At twenty four he had really matured.
They reached a clearing at the end of the hallway. A training ground for his fathers soldier. Most of them stopped what they were doing and looked at him. They had only known of the blindfolded prince as a mere rumor as it had been said he was out for training. It was rumored a secluded master had taken him to train.
Yue zihan noticed that he had become a spectacle to them. He smiled and continued on his walk leaving behind a wake of rumors.
He smiled faintly. "Guess no one expected me to still have a return."
[Correction:] Probability of your survival, according to pre-departure records: 0.03%.
[Conclusion:] You are statistically inconvenient.
Zihan smirked. "And yet, their only prince."
His boots echoed down the marble corridor. Every sound carried a strange nostalgia — not for this palace, but for the other world.
Earth.
He could almost smell it again — the stench of car fumes, cheap coffee, and broken promises.
A world where "cultivation" meant surviving the nine-to-five, and "immortality" meant buying the newest skincare product.
He chuckled softly to himself. "People there used to say, 'Find your inner peace.'"
[ System:] Did you ever?
Zihan scoffed. "Inner peace is overrated. I prefer external chaos."
[System Remark:] Fitting, given your body composition.
He ignored it, pausing at a window. Beyond it stretched the city — crimson rooftops, winding rivers, floating lanterns rising like silent prayers. The capital looked peaceful from here, untouched by the cosmic turbulence inside him.
For a moment, the calm almost fooled him.
almost
At the end of the hall stood two figures — his father, Emperor Yue chenxi, tall and steady as a mountain, and his mother, Empress chu milan, a calm radiance wrapped in silk.
They didn't move at first — just watched him approach.
His mother's eyes shimmered. "Zihan…"
He tilted his head slightly. "Mother. Father. I see your eyesight's better than mine."
Yue chenxi brows furrowed at the blindfold. "Is it necessary?"
Zihan gave a lopsided smile. "For everyone's safety, yes. Mostly yours."
[Clarification:] Host's Chaotic Sight currently destabilizes localized Qi fields within a thirty-meter radius.
[Sub note:] That includes biological organisms with fragile meridian systems.
Zihan tilted his head toward his parents. "See? Even the voice in my head says you'd pop like balloons."
His mother laughed softly despite herself. "You haven't changed."
"Oh, I've changed plenty," he replied, walking them.
His mother's hands trembled slightly as she reached out.
She couldn't see his eyes, but she could feel the strange calm radiating from him — like a storm pretending to be a man.
"You're thinner," she whispered.
He grinned faintly. "father packed very little food "
Emperor yue crossed his arms. "You went to tame chao spring .What did it give you in return?"
Zihan paused, the smirk softening into something quieter. "Perspective. And a very rude roommate."
[Hello.]
His parents exchanged puzzled glances.
Zihan chuckled. "Don't worry, he only insults me when I deserve it. Which is often."
For a brief instant, the sarcasm faded. Empress chu reached up and touched his cheek , the skin cool, like moonlight on water.
Her voice softened. "Zihan… we only ever wanted you to be safe."
He didn't pull away, but his answer was quiet.
"Safety's never been my talent."
[True Statement.]
He sighed. "See? Even my System agrees."
She smiled faintly. "Then maybe it can keep you alive longer than your pride will."
[Statistically unlikely.]
Zihan smirked again. "You two are going to get along beautifully ."
He straightened, the playful tone returning. "Anyway, I'll be in the library. I should probably learn the dynamic of the world I'm in before I accidentally destroy it."
[Recommendation:] Begin with "Mortal Realm Power Hierarchies — Volume I."
Note: Burning the library is discouraged.
He turned away, hands in his sleeves. "No promises."
As he walked off, his father's voice echoed softly:
"Zihan."
He paused but didn't turn.
"Welcome home."
Zihan's lips curved into a slow, quiet smile.
"…Feels strange to hear that."
[Emotional response detected.]
Warning: Host approaching human sentiment threshold.
He chuckled. "Relax, System. I'm still the villain in this story."
And as he disappeared into the golden halls, the blindfolded heir left behind warmth, mystery, and the faint, amused hum of chaos itself.