Lan's eyes widened. He had no idea what was happening—he hadn't expected this at all—and was trying to think of a reasonable response.
"Hey, bastard, you just gave yourself away."
"...?"
"What kind of baby sits there lost in thought after being slapped awake?"
Lan knew he could no longer keep up the act, but he made one last attempt.
"Ga-ga goo-goo."
Zhan tilted his head slightly and said:
"That's really all you could come up with?"
Finally, Lan surrendered.
"Mom might wake up. Sit down and be quiet."
Zhan smiled with satisfaction.
"So, you're a reincarnator too, right?"
Lan answered as honestly as he could:
"Yes."
"But that's enough for now."
"Why?"
"Isn't knowing that enough for you?"
"I just see a stranger I'm forced to sleep with. That's enough for now."
Zhan was satisfied with that. He didn't have much desire to exchange more information either.
"We'll decide on divisions later. For now, good night."
"Divisions?"
"Yeon is mine. Choi is yours."
"What? Wake him up, you bastard!"
Both Lan and Zhan now felt more at ease. They knew they had inherited an intensely challenging life and possessed the ability to confront future problems—whether within the sect or with each other.
Lan and Zhan whispered the same thing:
"I am Arslan, a man from the modern world."
---
The Second Steward was summoned. The one who had called him to the Jade Palace was the First Steward.
The Second Steward found himself alone in the grand hall of the Jade Palace.
"Something's wrong. There's not even a single servant or guard at the entrance."
From beside the Heavenly Demon's seat, the First Steward appeared.
"Yes, no one's here. Follow me."
The Second Steward sensed the urgency and followed him to the First Steward's study.
The First Steward might appear calm, but his habits weren't as they usually were—a clue to the Second Steward about the pressing situation.
"Well, tell me what's happened."
After a brief pause, the First Steward began:
"The succession war begins in eleven years, after the Fourth Lady's children enter the Demonic Academy."
"And now the heavens have decreed it will be even bloodier."
"What do you mean?"
"Outside the palace, in a villa beyond Tai'an, a child was born. The Heavenly Demon stayed with the mother and child all night."
The Second Steward instantly understood the reason for the tension.
"Lady Namgung is a hostage. So the child is from the second concubine."
"Given the Heavenly Demon's affection for her, their child might be entered into the succession competition."
The First Steward nodded in agreement.
"The Second Lady is already pregnant. Another competitor will be born in a few months. And the sects and clans of the Murim Alliance are waiting for an opportunity to redeem the humiliation of the last war."
The Second Steward suspected there was more.
"We hold hostages from the Jagal and Namgung clans, so this move is orchestrated by the Murim Alliance itself."
The First Steward picked up a scroll and faced the Second Steward.
"There's no evidence of any movement from the Murim Alliance or the major clans."
"Moreover, the Alliance Leader is extremely old."
"But..."
"But?"
"Morim Union Strategistw on't stay quiet."
"That's to be expected from someone nicknamed 'the Piece-Mover'."
"This scroll contains the new duties for the guards of Tai'an."
"I entrust it to you. We must be prepared."
---
On the upper floor of an inn, the Hao faction representative waited. His companions only knew they shouldn't interfere with the approaching client.
The sound of a flute reached the upper floor before the client herself. The representative whispered at that moment:
"Get lost."
"..."
"Excuse me, sir, what did you say?"
"Get lost. Go downstairs. Your presence won't help."
A long silver flute and a beautiful woman—she was today's client of the Hao faction. She sat opposite the Hao representative.
"You told me you have information. I'm waiting."
"Madam, I must see what you've brought to buy with you."
"..."
After a brief pause, she answered with displeasure:
"I am a respectable lady, not a pickpocket. Be a little kinder to a Hao faction member."
"Remember, despite your appearance, you're a man."
The Hao representative picked up the wine and began filling the cups.
"The problems for the lady you serve are about to increase."
"And I'm here to help her along this path in exchange for a little support."
Now the atmosphere had shifted. The discussion was about the Fourth Lady's interests.
"What do you have, and what do you want?"
Now everything was to the representative's liking.
"I said a little gold and the Fourth Lady's support. It's not too much to ask."
"After all, Lady Flutist, Jianghu is no place for greed."