The courtyard of the Yue residence was lively that evening.
The brothers had gathered around the stone table, continuing their discussion about the Yue Shadow Guard.
Yue Ming spoke seriously,
"The training is progressing well. If we continue like this, within a year the Shadow Guard will become very strong."
Yue Heng nodded slightly.
"They still need discipline. Strength alone is not enough."
Yue Jun added thoughtfully,
"We must also make sure no one outside the family discovers them."
The others agreed.
Yue Rui laughed lightly.
"Still, it feels good knowing the Yue family finally has its own hidden force."
As they continued speaking, Yue Ning stood nearby listening quietly.
Her expression remained calm, but their words made a thought appear in her mind.
Shadow Guard…
For a moment she fell into deep thought.
Actually…
I also have something similar.
But unlike the Yue family's Shadow Guard…
No one knew about hers.
Not her father.
Not her brothers.
Not even Xu Chen.
It was a secret she had kept for five years.
A mercenary group called Silent Oath.
---
Yue Ning lowered her gaze slightly as the thought returned.
It has been a long time…
Before the Yue family entered the capital 6 years ago, she had secretly formed that group beneath the Heavenly Auction Hall.
But after establishing it and arranging its management, she had rarely interfered directly.
Instead, the group sent her regular reports.
For the past six years, she had only learned about their activities through those written reports.
She had never personally gone there again.
Life in the Yue residence had become busier.
Her brothers' studies.
Family matters.
Later, her engagement with the Crown Prince.
Everything had happened so quickly.
Without realizing it, six years had passed.
---
The brothers were still discussing their Shadow Guard plans.
"…tomorrow we will review their training again," Yue Heng said.
Yue Ning listened quietly but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Six years…
I haven't visited them even once.
She felt a little curious.
And a little responsible.
After all, the Silent Oath had originally been created under her command.
Yet she had only relied on written reports all this time.
Perhaps I should go and see them myself.
Her eyes brightened slightly.
Tomorrow…
I should visit the Heavenly Auction Hall.
It had been years since she last stepped inside.
The underground chamber where the Silent Oath trained was hidden far below the auction hall.
Few people even knew such a place existed.
I wonder how they are now.
Are they stronger than before?
Has anything changed in these five years?
---
"Ning'er?"
The voice interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up.
Yue Rui was watching her curiously.
"You've been standing there silently. What are you thinking about?"
Yue Ning smiled softly.
"Nothing important."
The brothers returned to their discussion.
None of them realized that their conversation about the Shadow Guard had reminded Yue Ning of a secret hidden beneath the capital.
A force that had existed quietly for years.
A group bound by a silent oath.
And tomorrow…
For the first time in five years, their unseen leader planned to visit them again.
---
The streets of the capital were lively that morning.
Carriages rolled past the wide stone roads, merchants displayed their goods, and nobles moved between the government districts.
A modest carriage stopped quietly in front of the grand Heavenly Auction Hall.
Yue Ning stepped down calmly.
The building stood tall with red pillars and golden ornaments, its reputation known throughout the capital as the finest place for rare treasures and auctions.
To ordinary visitors, it was simply a luxurious trading house.
But Yue Ning knew better.
Beneath the magnificent hall…
There existed an underground world few people knew about.
She adjusted her cloak and entered the hall.
Inside, servants were arranging items for the next auction while wealthy customers wandered around examining rare artifacts.
Behind the main counter stood the shopkeeper, a calm young man dressed in simple merchant robes.
His name was Han Mo but with his face mask he have another face beacuse he is an former boarder commander presumed dead so he changed his facial look .
To everyone in the auction hall, he was merely the capable manager who handled business matters.
But in truth…
He was one of the three leaders of the Silent Oath.
And the moment Yue Ning stepped inside, Han Mo noticed her.
For a brief second, his calm eyes flickered with recognition.
But his expression remained completely natural.
He bowed politely like any ordinary shopkeeper.
"Welcome, Miss Yue."
Yue Ning looked at him quietly.
To outsiders, their exchange seemed like a normal greeting between a noble lady and a merchant.
But both of them understood the truth.
Han Mo quickly stepped out from behind the counter.
"If Miss Yue wishes to view some of our rare collections, please follow me."
Yue Ning nodded.
"I would appreciate that."
Han Mo led her away from the crowded main hall toward a quieter corridor.
Along the way, he spoke casually as if explaining the building.
"This section holds some private storage rooms. Only selected guests are allowed here."
A servant nearby glanced at them briefly but saw nothing suspicious.
After all, it was normal for the shopkeeper to guide important customers personally.
They soon reached a wooden door at the end of the corridor.
Han Mo opened it.
Behind the door was a narrow staircase leading downward.
To anyone else, it looked like a storage cellar.
Han Mo spoke softly without looking back.
"The rarest treasures are stored below."
Yue Ning smiled faintly.
"Yes… I remember."
They descended the stone stairs together.
With every step downward, the noise of the auction hall above slowly disappeared.
The air became cooler and quieter.
At the bottom of the staircase stood a large underground chamber illuminated by lanterns.
Several men were training with swords.
Others were reviewing documents.
Everything stopped the moment Han Mo entered.
One of the fighters looked up.
Then his eyes widened.
"Leader…"
The others turned.
The room fell completely silent.
Then one by one, they immediately stood straight and bowed.
"Leader!"
"It's the Leader!"
Their voices carried both surprise and excitement.
Five years.
It had been Six years since Yue Ning last appeared here.
Han Mo stepped aside respectfully.
His calm shopkeeper demeanor disappeared, replaced by the composed authority of a commander.
"Leader," he said quietly, "welcome back."
Yue Ning looked around the chamber.
The training grounds had expanded.
Weapon racks lined the walls.
Several new members stood among the group.
Clearly, the Silent Oath had grown stronger during the past five years.
She nodded slowly.
"You've managed things well."
Han Mo spoke respectfully.
"We followed your instructions."
He then added,
"The other two leaders are currently handling missions outside the capital. They will return within a few days."
Yue Ning acknowledged the information.
"Good."
One of the younger members couldn't hide his curiosity.
"Leader… will you stay this time?"
Yue Ning walked toward the center of the chamber, her gaze steady.
"For now, I only came to see how things are."
She paused briefly.
"But from today onward… things may become more complicated in the capital."
The members exchanged serious looks.
They had all heard rumors.
The Yue family's rise.
The Crown Prince's engagement.
Political tension in the court.
Han Mo asked carefully,
"Do you have new orders?"
Yue Ning looked at the assembled members of the Silent Oath.
A faint but confident smile appeared on her lips.
"Not yet."
"But soon… I may need all of you."
The underground chamber became silent.
Because after Six years of quiet existence…
Their mysterious leader had finally returned.
And the Silent Oath might soon step into the hidden currents of the capital's power struggles.