Preparations

Tianyan had left, departing cleanly and decisively. Before she went, she had not cast back even a single glance in his direction. The faint, clear fragrance of incense in the room remained distracting. The girl had departed, yet the tea had not grown cold. Staring at the steaming porcelain cup freshly poured before him, Xu Yuan’s swirling emotions ultimately dissolved into a soft sigh. “Truly just like in my memories…” Tianyan’s decisive departure had not caught him off guard. Twenty years in the illusion. For his sake, Tianyan had changed profoundly. She had learned how to care, how to be gentle, how to soothe his spirits like a cool spring whenever he fell into low spirits. Yet that did not mean she had stopped being the proud girl she once was. Her arrogance, her sharpness, and the brilliant, dazzling talents that could wound others remained intact. It was merely that she had buried all of it in the deepest recesses of her heart in exchange for his love. Bits and pieces of memories from the illusion welled up in his mind. Xu Yuan unconsciously reached out and touched the porcelain cup, which still retained its warmth. What Tianyan had always wanted was actually very simple. She only wanted him to settle down, to stay by her side and hers alone. Even if their days were plain and quiet, even if they lived in a thatched hut deep in the countryside. Draining the remaining tea she had left behind in a single gulp, Xu Yuan slowly pushed against his knees and stood up. Tianyan’s desire was not excessive; it was almost humble. Yet, regrettably... He could not grant it. At least, not right now. His ghostly spiritual vision swept across every corner of the room once more, but he could no longer sense any trace of Tianyan’s presence. Fetching a tie at random, he pulled back his disheveled hair and bound it behind his head. Putting away the complicated emotions swirling in his chest, Xu Yuan walked silently toward the door. He needed to inform Lou Ji now. According to Tianyan’s habits in the illusion, whenever she suffered a grievance and stormed off in tears, she never went far. She would always linger nearby, and then on some morning, or some night, or just after a meal had been prepared, she would suddenly reappear at his side with a cold, lovely pout on her face. Waiting for him to coax her with a few gentle words, before they resumed traveling together. But that was not what Xu Yuan wanted right now. He had to ask Lou Ji to completely shake Tianyan off. Only by doing so could he keep Tianyan from being torn in two by the events to come. After all, the people of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion were already preparing to assassinate him. *Creak—* The moment the door opened, Xu Yuan stopped in his tracks. A woman was standing in the corridor outside. She wore a loose, plain white ruqun draped over her voluptuous figure, her full, generous bust straining against the fabric, revealing fair skin at her collarbone. Seeing Xu Yuan emerge, she immediately curtsied. “Young Master.” Xu Yuan glanced at her. In no mood to admire her graceful charms, he asked offhandedly, “Muxi, where is Lou Ji?” A flicker of curiosity flashed in Bai Muxi’s eyes. She cast a swift glance past him into the room, and upon seeing no sign of the Saintess, immediately answered, “In response to Young Master, Chief Lou went down to the lowest level of the pavilion just now.” The bottom floor? Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly as thoughts of Jing Xuelan, afflicted by that unknown disease, crossed his mind. It seemed Lou Ji and Luo Xiran were likely tinkering with that little guinea pig again. Reflecting on this, Xu Yuan looked at Xiao Bai before him and asked in a low voice, “I see. Muxi, what are you waiting out here for?” Bai Muxi’s bright eyes fluttered for an instant. She lowered her head and murmured, “Earlier, I sensed Lady Saintess leaving, so... so I came to check on you, Young Master.” “Worried about me?” “...Yes.” “Heh.” Looking at Xiao Bai keeping her head lowered so obediently, Xu Yuan reached out, patted her head, and said with a smile, “Don’t worry. It was just a minor dispute. Go back to your room and cultivate.” With that, he turned to walk away, but Bai Muxi caught the hem of his robe. Xiao Bai tentatively lifted her gaze to peek at his expression and probed, “Young Master... do you need Muxi to go comfort Lady Saintess?” “...” Xu Yuan paused in surprise, then chuckled softly, his mood brightening a little. If only Tianyan, Li Qingyan, and the Big Ice Block were all as sensible and considerate as Xiao Bai. Given Xiao Bai’s wits, she would never do anything foolish right now. If she said comfort, then comfort was truly what she meant. Under normal circumstances, sending Xiao Bai to soothe Tianyan might have yielded good results. But right now... better not. “No need. Go back to your room and continue cultivating. Strive to temper your Dao Charm as soon as possible.” “...Yes.” Noticing that Xu Yuan was in low spirits, Bai Muxi curtsied once more and said respectfully, “Muxi... will certainly not disappoint Young Master.” With that, she stood respectfully in place without moving, watching his silhouette vanish around the corner of the corridor. She had accomplished what she set out to do. She was well aware that in the Young Master's heart she could not compare to the others, which was why she needed to invest more effort into these subtle details. Little by little, drop by drop, perhaps the day would come when the Young Master's gaze would linger on her a little longer. *** After parting with Bai Muxi, Xu Yuan headed straight for the secret chamber on the lowest level of the black eagle pavilion to find Lou Ji. Passing Li Junqing’s room, Xu Yuan intended to drop in and give the fellow a heads-up to prepare for an assassination attempt, only to find that every concealment and detection-warding array in the room was fully active. Guessing that the kid was probably indulging in daytime debauchery again, he shelved the thought for the time being. Continuing downward past the cramped corridor where the servants lodged, he arrived once more outside that secret chamber. With no intention of knocking, Xu Yuan pushed the door open with one hand. What met his eyes was Jing Xuelan—one of the female leads of *Cangyuan*—still skimpily clad and bound to the stone bed, though she was no longer as hysterical as before. Her eyes were closed, and she lay quietly on the stone bed in the chamber. Presumably, Lou Ji and Luo Xiran, those two 'medical experts,' had drugged her into unconsciousness. As for Lou Ji and Luo Xiran, the two women were tinkering with vials and jars of medicinal concoctions before several stone tables in the corner of the chamber. When Xu Yuan stepped inside, he even caught a few technical terms that went completely over his head. Lou Ji did not seem particularly surprised by his arrival. Her back turned, her hands never stopping, her teasing voice drifted over, clear and melodious like a secluded spring: “It’s only been this long, Changtian, and you’ve already picked a fight with that girl?” “...” Xu Yuan walked into the secret chamber, staring at his elder sister's alluring, slender back. “Sister, I have serious business to discuss with you.” “Serious business?” Lou Ji arched an eyebrow at his words. After a moment of thought, she set down the jars in her hands, turned around, and leaned her shapely hips against the desk behind her. “What serious business?” she asked with keen interest. Xu Yuan pondered briefly, glanced up toward the ceiling, and asked as if to verify, “Did Tianyan truly leave?” A trace of confusion flickered across Lou Ji’s magnificent purple eyes. “This is the serious business you wanted to discuss?” Even so, she cast a glance through layers of barriers toward the stern of the black eagle pavilion and answered softly, “The girl hasn’t left. She’s trailing behind us.” Just as he thought... Xu Yuan felt a bitter pang in his heart, yet his eyes remained calm. “Can you completely mask our aura and shake her off?” “I can,” Lou Ji agreed, then asked with a radiant smile, “Though, Changtian, were those things you said to her just now meant to deliberately provoke her?” Those things? Hearing this, Xu Yuan immediately realized that Lou Ji had been eavesdropping again. This older sister truly had a twisted sense of humor at times. To eavesdrop when the atmosphere had been primed and loaded like a chambered round—was she not afraid of hearing something she shouldn't? She possessed not an ounce of propriety expected of an elder. “Now don’t be mad, Changtian~” As if sensing Xu Yuan’s annoyance, Lou Ji glanced subtly at the extra willow ghost blade hanging at his waist and explained with a touch of coquettish grievance, “Earlier, I sensed the qi dynamic inside your room was a bit peculiar, so I paid a little attention.” Xu Yuan understood immediately. The entire black eagle pavilion was enveloped by her constant Dao domain, leaving virtually no blind spots. If the qi dynamic that leaked when he devoured the Saint Tier yin origin hadn't been detected by her, that would have been abnormal. Xu Yuan took a deep breath and answered in a low voice, “I’m not angry. I’m used to it by now.” Lou Ji promptly returned to her lazy smile. “Good, as long as you're not angry. So, did you deliberately anger Tianyan into leaving just now?” “Yes, and no.” “What kind of an answer is that?” Lou Ji burst into a giggle and sat right back onto the stone table behind her, crossing her shapely, supple legs. Her enchanting purple eyes twinkled seductively as she looked at him. Xu Yuan gave a quiet snort and explained, “Certain groundwork has to be laid in advance. Otherwise, when things finally erupt, it will be very difficult to handle.” “Groundwork?” Lou Ji’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise for a moment, and once the implication struck her, she broke into peals of tinkling laughter. “Changtian, if you want proud daughters of heaven like them to get along in harmony, it’s not going to be an easy feat~” Xu Yuan shrugged. “In the illusion, Tianyan and I depended on each other for nearly twenty years. Getting her to accept others truly isn’t easy, but human effort can achieve anything.” “You don't hide your philandering nature at all, do you? But... you said the illusion just now?” Lou Ji teased him lightly, but then her voice turned several degrees more solemn. Though the smile lingered in her lovely eyes, it was edged with genuine seriousness. “Changtian, have you truly remembered those so-called memories from the illusion?” “Yes.” “Truly just memories?” Lou Ji’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. “You suspect someone implanted thoughts in me?” Xu Yuan asked with a faint smile. “One cannot be too cautious,” Lou Ji did not deny it. “Changtian, you know your current identity.” “Rest assured,” Xu Yuan chuckled, reassuring her. “My mind is completely clear.” “Everyone who has had thoughts implanted in them believes their mind is completely clear.” “...” Meeting her gaze for a moment, Xu Yuan smiled softly and shook his head, saying in a low voice, “Sister, you don't need to worry about this. The Overseeing Heaven Pavilion does have a scheme, but your suspicions are pointed in the wrong direction.” Lou Ji’s gaze instantly hardened, and chilling wisps of killing intent drifted unconsciously from her body. “In other words, the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion truly harbors ulterior motives?” “Yes. That’s why I came looking for you.” “What is it?” “To assassinate me.” “...” The moment the words fell, silence descended upon the chamber. Even Luo Xiran, who had her head buried in medicinal herbs and stones off to the side, lifted her gaze. An extremely peculiar expression crossed Lou Ji’s alluring, delicate face. There was shock, understanding, and fury, but ultimately those emotions settled into bewilderment. Myriad pieces of intelligence connected in her mind in an instant, yet even she could not fathom the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion’s purpose in doing this. It was irrational. There were many people in the realm who wanted Changtian dead right now, but the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion should not be the one to strike. From the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion’s perspective, waiting until the powder keg blew up and threw the realm into utter chaos before biding their time to sell to the highest bidder would yield far greater benefits. She looked at him, her voice very soft. “Are you certain?” “Almost certainly,” Xu Yuan nodded. “And among the assassins, there is at least one Transcendent Realm expert.” Lou Ji exhaled gently, her delicate brows knitting slightly. “If their method truly is assassination, there really was no need to go to such lengths to implant special thoughts into you. But Changtian, how did you learn of this?” Xu Yuan made no secret of it and explained directly, “In the illusion, I learned some of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion's secrets. They possess an extraordinary treasure capable of searching for the location of anyone who possesses the Heavenly Yan divine soul.” At this point, Xu Yuan tapped his temple lightly with a finger. “And my spiritual vision happens to be able to detect that qi dynamic.” “You sensed this qi dynamic just now?” “Yes.” “Yet my Dao Charm did not detect any method of probing descending upon your room just now.” “...” Those words left Xu Yuan momentarily tongue-tied. He clicked his tongue, turning over how to explain it to her. Before he could speak, however, Lou Ji’s voice, tinged with a hint of regret, reached his ears: “Never mind. No wonder you sent that girl away ahead of time... I understand the situation now. Changtian, how do you intend to handle this?” “...” Xu Yuan turned to look at her, surprised. An anomaly that even a Semi-Saint’s Dao domain failed to detect had been sensed by him, a mere Soul Condensation cultivator. No matter how one looked at it, it was bizarre. Given his older sister's nature, she would normally have dug down to the bottom of the matter before making any judgment. Yet now, without any explanation, she simply believed him? Meeting his puzzled gaze, Lou Ji smiled warmly. Leaning forward slightly from the edge of the stone table, she propped an elbow on her thigh and rested her cheek in her hand, looking at him. Her voice sounded like an orchid in an empty valley: “You don't need to be so surprised, Changtian. Eventually, you will take over the Prime Minister's Manor, so I will trust your words and trust your judgment, just as I trust your father. As for right now, all you need to do is tell Sister what you intend to do, and Sister will carry it out.” “...” As her soft words faded, Xu Yuan’s expression grew somewhat solemn. He felt an inexplicable pressure. After a few breaths, Xu Yuan asked with slight hesitation, “Whatever I say, Sister, you will do?” Lou Ji’s eyes curved into a smile. “Naturally. This time, Sister will not question your decision in the slightest.” Hearing this affirmative reply, Xu Yuan let out a soft breath with a faint smile, yet his gaze grew heavier. He understood what Lou Ji meant. Handing the authority over this assassination incident to him was virtually equivalent to entrusting him with handling the relationship between the Chancellor's Manor and the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. This time, Lou Ji was acting as a senior figure of the manor testing him—the heir of the Prime Minister's Manor—rather than showing an older sister's affection for her brother. The Chancellor's Manor was still at the peak of its power, but in the turbulent landscape of Great Yan, under the watchful eyes of other factions, every step was taken on thin ice. Lou Ji wanted to see his choice. She wanted to see whether personal feelings would compromise his judgment as the heir of the Prime Minister's Manor. At this thought, Xu Yuan narrowed his slender eyes slightly and uttered his first sentence in a low voice: “At this stage, it is not suitable for us to openly fall out with the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion.” Lou Ji maintained her alluring posture, her slender index finger tapping against her cheek, noncommittal. “Mm, and then?” “So, when they were probing me earlier, I gave them a reminder.” “A reminder?” “I made contact with the probing qi dynamic, letting the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion know that I had detected their surveillance.” “You actually possess such a method?” A hint of astonishment surfaced in Lou Ji’s eyes, but it swiftly morphed into genuine delight. “That works too. If they know when to back off, we won't have to worry about an open fallout at this stage.” “Yes, but we must still prepare for the worst. Use the Heavenly Communication Crystal to notify Di'an City and have Father arrange reinforcements to receive us.” “Of course.” Lou Ji agreed with a smile, then asked as if casually, “But Changtian, what if those people still insist on carrying out the assassination?” “...” Standing in the center of the secret chamber, the autumn chill of the wind drifted in through the holes in the window lattice beneath the vaulted ceiling. Xu Yuan’s thoughts were somewhat intricate. He believed the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion’s people wouldn't be foolish enough to force a strike when their assassination attempt had already been exposed. Still, since she had asked... “If they still insist, then send them on their way.” “...” Lou Ji slowly stretched her body and rose from the stone table. Looking at the man half a head taller than her, she asked with a teasing smile: “Then wouldn't that circle right back to the first question? At this stage, it isn't really suitable for us to openly fall out with the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion, Changtian.” Xu Yuan shook his head and said faintly: “Assassination is already an extreme line crossed against me. “Yielding to their edge isn't weakness. A single reminder was enough; any more, and they will only push their luck, won't they?”