《Drunken Lotus: Fated With The Rogue Hidden Dragon》 1 Prologue "Zhu''er run! RUN!!!" Those were the last words she heard before she sprinted away and into the surrounding forest, her heart heavy with guilt as she escaped with tears falling from her eyes. Cong Zhu Xia felt as though her heart was breaking into a million pieces. The moment she ran away from the ambush, she not only left all the faithful and loyal guards her father assigned to her, but she also left someone who is so dear and important to her heart. Ning Jun Qiao. The man who practically grew up with her and looked after her ever since she was still a child. He was both her father, Cong Zhi Qiang and uncle, Cong Tai Li''s student. He was someone who always treated her well and doted on her and she could do nothing but leave him and follow his instruction when he shouted at her to run. She knew that once she left, she would never be able to see any of them again. There were two most likely scenarios that she can already predict. Either they die and sacrifice their lives for her to escape or for their attackers to focus their attentions on her instead and manage to catch up to her and she dies thus giving Ning Jun Qiao and the others a chance at survival. From what she can sense with the level of cultivation she currently has, the most likely outcome and the one she actually hopes for is the latter. Her usually elegant and vibrant appearance now looked disheveled and frantic as she weaved through the trees, trying to escape the ones who broke off from the fight she left to go ahead and pursue her. Thump... Thump... Thump... The pounding sound of her heartbeat sounded loudly in her ears. She could barely hear the sound of the pursuers'' footfalls and only the sound of her blood pumping through her veins and her breathless pants echoed as she ran. Seeing the trees thinning out, she wanted to change courses but then she realized that all her attempts were being countered by the ones hunting her. Panic slowly threatened to consume Cong Zhu Xia as the knowledge sank in that for the very first time and possibly also the last, she has become a cornered prey. Coming to a stop just beyond the tree line, her heart sank as she saw the edge of a cliff and heard the sound of a raging river below it, effectively eliminating any possibility of escape and sealing her fate. Closing her eyes, she slowly wiped her tears before turning around with her back to the cliff and facing her would-be killers. As dignified and composed that one could be in her circumstances, she slightly tilted her chin up defiantly as she stared coldly at the men who surrounded her. A man in deep green robes with gold embroidery mockingly gazed at her and drawled out, "Ahh, so even in the face of death, the princess of the Cong Family still stands unwaveringly tall. Truly a shame that a flower like you has to wilt at the end." Ignoring his words, she just stared at him with eyes full of disgust and contempt, keeping quiet, unnervingthe man who spoke as she continued to gaze at them with cold and hatred-filled eyes. "Keeping silent little girl? Are you not going to beg this lord for your life?" he asked with a voice filled with disdain. Acting as if no one spoke, she remained still, her white robes with scarlet red embroidery of numerous flowers billowed in the wind, making it seem as though the flowers were blooming and her long raven black hair was blown gently around her, framing her beautiful face prettily. The sight was hauntingly beautiful, with her small, delicate body framed against the dark night sky contrasting with it, making her look like a deity illuminating the night. Her beautiful countenance, hidden behind a delicate silk veil that matched her robes, leaving only her enchantingly uniquely colored ice blue eyes to be seen as it pierced through them as she gazedcontemptously at them. There was something about her gaze that made him feel a sliver of nervousness about what they were about to do. That little inkling of fear made him immediately erupt in anger! Who was this girl in front of him? Just a young sixteen year old girl who has barely seen the world and weaker than him by leaps and bounds that his pride couldn''t help but be insulted at the feeling of being intimidated. "How dare you act so high and mighty in front of this lord, Dong En Lai?! Even you''re clan had to beg for mercy before this lord ended their lives and yet you act so arrogant in front of this lord? You must have swallowed leopard guts to give act so foolish!" Hearing his words, Cong Zhu Xia froze and her cold unfeeling eyes seemed to have another layer of frost in them as a flash of killing intent flitted past as she spoke in a chilling voice, "What did you just say?" With a smirk, Dong En Lai replied impetously, "This lord said that it would be wise for you to beg and maybe this lord would be lenient and actually grant you mercy! After all, it would be a shame to kill the last surviving member of the Cong Family Clan." Laughing arrogantly, Dong En Lai gave Cong Zhu Xia an appraising look and was surprised to see her ice blue eyes slowly curve upwards indicating that she was smiling behind her veil. "Hmm, is that so? Then I''ll have to remember this grace and your words in the afterlife! Please, I sincerely do hope that you will also appreciate this gift that I shall share with you!" Cong Zhu Xia announced softly, her voice filled with a mocking aloofness that made all of them shudder before she quickly reached into her sleeve and suddenly threw something to the ground in front which immediately exploded and a red smoke-like mist erupted from it like a deadly blooming bloody peonies as it travelled towards them and seeped into their bodies through the air they breath and contact with their skin. "W-What the... What did you do?!" Dong En Lai growled out loudly as he coughed. Everything happened so fast that it didn''t give them a chance to evade and no matter what they did, they weren''t able to wave off and disperse the blood-red mist. With a slight, tinkling laugh, Cong Zhu Xia happily smiled looking like an innocent, fragile sixteen year old girl yet her eyes gleamed with hatred and a cold satisfaction before she replied gently, "This was just the last gift on behalf of the Cong Family, The Immortal''s Decline!" Upon hearing her say ''The Immortal''s Decline'' all of them felt as if a cold bucket of water was thrown over them and fear gripped their hearts while Dang En Lai flew into a rage! "You!" With another laugh, Zhu Xia mockingly spoe as if she was telling a hilarious joke, "This young miss sincerely wishes you luck on finding a cure!" And before anyone could react further, Cong Zhu Xia took a step back and spread her arms from side to side as she stepped into thin air and fell down the cliff, her dainty figure disappearing into the dangerous rapids below. 2 Unwanted Dreams - 1.1 A choked gasp was heard in the silent stillness in the darkened room when the silhouette of a young woman suddenly sat up on the bed. Beneath the pale moonlight that flitted past the slightly open window, the lady''s countenance was illuminated softly making her snowy white skin appear as if it is glowing. The traces of sweat that dotted her forehead due to her unwanted dream seemed like dew drops on a flower''s petals, making her look breathtakingly fragile. Her big beautiful light-colored eyes of pale blue looked haunted and filled with an incredible sadness. Her whole face was devoid of color,with her small pouty lips slightly quivering and her clothes soaked with sweat, the image was heartwrenching! It simply made one have an overwhelming feeling of protectiveness towards the girl! A few moments passed and then the girl slowly stood up and went ahead and started changing her clothes. Washing herself quickly before donning a beautiful crimson robe with gold embroideries of numerous blooming lotuses, she sat down in front of a bronze mirror before she leisurely started combing her long raven black hair. Her previous haggard appearance slowly disappeared under her careful ministrations. Her pale but exquisite features were enhanced as she carefully applied powder and a little bit lf rouge. Her willowy brows above mesmerizing eyes framed by thick black lashes, skin so smooth like white jade and lips that were like a delicate flower''s soft blooming petals with delicate features making her look like she came out from a painting! The only difference is that in paintings, the young maidens usually exuded an aura of fragile and romantic tenderness yet despite her fairy and doll-like looks, she emitted an aloof and cold air filled withmelancholy. With a quiet sigh, the lady in red made a small gesture before a big wine jug appeared in her hand then with a sweeping motion across the room and all her belongings disappeared into her space. Unsealing the jug, the strong aroma of wine immediately permeated the air making her soft red lips curve with a slight satisfied smirk as she lifted the jug up to her lips and she was swallowed a mouthful. Pushing the window open, she sat on a chair just by it and savored the cool breeze that drifted in as she continued drinking. Her snowy white skin slowly had a tinge of red as an intoxicated blush settled on her cheeks making her look tender and all the more alluring. She passed the remaining night away drinking wine away as she tried to repress the dream she just had, not wanting to focus on the memories it evoked yet no matter how hard she tried and how much wine she downed, her consciousness couldn''t help but flit to the past. It was a dark night just like this when she had to say goodbye to the only life she had ever known. When the raging waters slowly beat her life out of her until she was black and blue and her soul was hanging by a thread to a body that was broken and battered. It was practically already a miracle that her body wasn''t torn apart by the river''s harsh currents. The moment she felt her consciousness slip away and the darkness swallow her whole, she thought that she was going to die. She only had one thought at that time, that was that on her next life she will get revenge! She swore that she would make sure that all who harmed her family and loved ones, all those people who were responsible for the extermination of her clan will pay for their actions a thousand-fold! She swore that she will let them experience an ending worse than death! Remembering that particular night, a satisfied smile bloomed on her cherry red lips as she recalled her parting gift to those horrid men, she couldn''t help but let out a small laugh brimming with mirth as she imagined the effects of her poison on them. It was just a pity that she wasn''t able to see it take into effect. Gazing out of the window, she can see that the once dark sky was slowly lightening up as the first rays of dawn peaked out at the edge of the horizon. The sight reminded her of what happened after she jumped off that cliff. Like the dark night sky, death had embraced her in it''s cold, silent embrace and yet like the coming of dawn, someone had found her and saved her, like ray of sunshine bringing warmth an a chance at a new beginning in the midst of the cold, dark abyss that she had almost settled in. She owed that person her life. When she woke up and finally regained consciousness, she had no will to live and yet this stranger not only took her in to his home and took care of her but he also made sure that she would live and not just survive. That one small thing made all the difference to her. From the moment she recovered, she just survived. She was just went about the motions, going about life like an empty lifeless doll who no longer cared about what happens to her. She was just numb. An empty shell of her previous self. Then he gave her a purpose. It started slowly. He would talk to her and give her random little things to play with and pushed her to get better. He treated her not as a stranger, but as someone he genuinely cared about. It completely baffled her at first! His actions and treatment helped her realize that in spite of losing everything, she wasn''t alone. She had him, Fan Hui Zhong. In time, they grew closer and she started to view him as family. Fan Hui Zhong had never asked her what happened but was always there to offer support and comfort when she broke down. A couple of years passed and she slowly recovered and improved. Fan Hui Zhong taught her a lot of things and helped train her so she could get stronger. In turn, she worked on finding ways to treat his long-term injury. She was almost able to completely cure him yet they still lacked a couple of certain rare herbs. It was one of the reasons why they were about to leave his house and go on and travel in search of the herbs and also to give her a chance to gain information to help her on her path of revenge. About a year back, she had told about what had happened to her. She had thought that once he found out, Fan Hui Zhong would ask her to leave but to her surprise, he only asked if she needed any help. That brought her an intense feeling of warmth and filled her with a sense of gratefulness. When she expressed her gratitude, he only laughed and flicked his finger on her forehead before telling her that it''s what families do. With a contented sigh, her chaotic thoughts finally settled as she focused on her memories with Fan Hui Zhong and she was about to take another gulp when a knock came from the door. "Xia''er, come and eat breakfast. We''ll be leaving soon." With small smile, she quickly stood up with the wine jug still in hand and opened the door and saw theman who saved her all those years ago. She saw how his sharp black eyes immediately focused on the jug in her hand and his nostrils flare as hesmelled the intoxicating scent of the wine. His huge hulking body towered over her, completely contrasting with her small, delicate build that just barely reached his chest while she looked up and met his gaze and smiling cheekily. His strong intimidating features would usually scare anyone witless with his disapproving gaze yet she only giggled and grabbed on to his arm as she put the jug away on her interspatial ring. One of the few things she was able to keep from her past. "Why are you looking at me like that? Did you not say that breakfast is ready?" she laughed as she talked while pulling Fan Hui Zhong along. She saw how Fan Hui Zhong''s gaze changed with a flash of worry before becoming doting as he slowly smiled and shook his head as he let her drag him along. His gaze sent a small pang of pain through her but also made her feel warm and loved. It was the same gaze that her father used to give her whenever she did something that was potentially dangerous. It was also the same gaze that Fan Hui Zhong gave her whenever he sees her drinking merrily away. As much as she wants to rid herself of the habit, drinking wine had become a part of her daily life. Afterall, it is what keeps the unwanted dreams and memories away. 3 Unwanted Dreams - 1.2 Looking at the young lady sitting in front of him, leisurely eating, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but let out an exasperated sigh. "Xia''er, what did I say about drinking during the day?" "You said not to?" she answered cheekily, as she looked at him with an innocent expression on her face with wide eyes shining with amusement making him shake his head. "Yet you were drinking so early in the morning!" Fan Hui Zhong exclaimed, his agitation written so clearly in his face making her giggle. Fan Hui Zhong''s increasingly darkening expression would usually send most people''s heart racing with a sense of fear but to Zhu Xia, it only made her want to tease him more! "I had started drinking last night! It just so happens that it lasted until dawn..." she answered coquetishly, batting her eyelashes up at him. Hearing her teasing words, Fan Hui Zhong felt his temple throb so early in the morning as he started ranting, "Zhu Xia, how many times do I have ask you to limit your drinking? Do you need me to beg before you even listen?" Seeing Fan Hui Zhong so worried about her, her teasing mood left her and she felt the usual guilt she felt whenever she worried him. She knew that Fan Hui Zhong always worried after her well-being ever since he found her, acting more and more fatherly towards her to the point that he even offered to officially take her in and adopt her to give her a new identity and make sure the threats she faced in the past will have a harder time to find a connection to the new her and she is kept safe. This was something that she couldn''t decline nor had she wanted to refuse. Aside from saving her, Fan Hui Zhong also became her family, a safe haven that she can always return to. Fan Hui Zhong really did become a father to her and treated her as if she was truly his daughter. This thought made the guilt she felt over worrying him grow all the more bigger. Putting down her chopsticks before gently wiping her lips, she then gave him a small apologetic smile and sincerely apologized. "Father, Xia''er is truly sorry for causing you to worry but this is really something Xia''er couldn''t help. No matter how much you dislike it, the wine keeps away the dreams and memories that I would rather not see." "Did you dream again last night?" Fan Hui Zhong asked, concern heavily laced his words as he looked at her with a mixture of worry and helplessness. With an almost lazy shrug, Zhu Xia gave him a resigned smile before she said, "It is nothing to worry about, I am used to it. The wine just helps me cope..." "Is there anything this old man can do?" he asked, his voice sounding gruffer than usual as he gazed at the young girl sitting in front of him. Even while talking about a topic that she would rather not recall, let alone discuss, Zhu Xia still reclined on the seat languidly, the intoxicated blush on her cheeks leaving it look rosy, making her look like an innocent young maiden with the small curving smile on her cherry lips yet her eyes betrayed her true emotion as they shimmered with unshed tears that she tried her best to blink away. Her usual impenetrable mask of aloofness showing small signs of cracks in front of Fan Hui Zhong. It wasn''t because she felt intimidated by Fan Hui Zhong''s gaze but it was because she had lost the feeling of needing to be on guard against him a long, long time ago. It was because of moments like this and times where she dreamt or remembered things in her past that she felt like her control over her emotions was crumbling. It was only in front of this man who she had grown to see as a father did she let this vulnerable side of her peek out from her usually cold and aloof shell but it was also because she thought of him as a father that she tries to keep her mask in place to keep him from worrying. After all, Zhu Xia has worried him enough! Looking away, Zhu Xia was itching to take a jug out and drink wine to drown herself out again but instead she had to settle on masking the lingering pain from her past before sending a bright, reassuring smile towards Fan Hui Zhong. Completely oblivious, Zhu Xia did not realize that the fleeting emotions on her face did not escape Fan Hui Zhong''s sharp discerning eyes. Slightly shaking his head, Fan Hui Zhong stretched out a hand and patted the head of the young lady in front of him affectionately before he said, "Nevermind then, just try to limit it. Now go ahead and make sure you have everything ready and also saddle the horses I bought. After I clean up here, we''ll be setting off." With a nod, Zhu Xia stood up and was about to go out when Fan Hui Zhong suddenly called out. "Xia''er, remember that from this day on, you''re past self is something that only the two of us will know. From now on, you will be Fan Zhu Xia, a daughter I had adopted since young, understand?" "Yes Father, Xia''er understands." 4 Arriving At The Capital - 2.1 The horses that Fan Hui Zhong told her to saddle were actually trained spirit beasts that resembled horses only much more bigger and with two antler-like horns on top of their heads, just beside their ears with bodies that had fur that felt like high quality velvet. Just by looking at them, one would feel in awe of the elegant and majestic creatures but to Fan Zhu Xia, it left her confused as she stared at them with wide eyes. The two spirit beasts, one black and one white continued on munching on some grass near the make-shift stable that actually used to be an old shed that Fan Hui Zhong had. Spying two saddles that was placed on one side, she picked them up and saw that one was an ordinary saddle and another was the common side-saddle that females usually use for riding. She was just about to attempt to saddle up the white one and figure out how to actually do it when she heard someone approaching. Turning around, she saw Fan Hui Zhong quickly making his way towards her and she couldn''t help but give him a relieved smile which made him laugh. "Ha, enough dawdling, give that here girl." Fan Hui Zhong said with an amused grin before quickly saddling up both spirit beasts and leading them out while Fan Zhu Xia trailed behind them. "Father, where did you get them? I expected to see horses not spirit beasts!" Fan Hui Zhong just grinned at her before he started to explain, "I bought them yesterday from a travelling merchant from the Thousand Beasts Rage Country. At first I was in search of fast horses but then they caught my eye." "Ohh, I see. Did the merchant tell you what kind of beast they are?" Fan Zhu Xia asked curiously as she went closer and closer and slowly started petting the white spirit beast who just ignored her and let her be. "He said that they were called Wind Runners. They are high-level mounts that are easy to tame but hard to find and are extremely rare. I had to pay quite a big amount of gold just to acquire them!" "That expensive?!" she exclaimed, completely shocked at Fan Hui Zhong''s actions. He was usually more thrifty and it was always her who like to go ahead and buy frivolously. "Haha.. I know you''re surprised but they are truly worth it! Besides, this would be perfect for you and your cousin." he replied with a laugh before quickly getting on the back of the black Wind Runner before gesturing for her to climb up on the other one as well. With a look of bewilderment, Fan Zhu Xia just stared at Fan Hui Zhong as she stood there in a daze before asking in a small voice, "Cousin?" With an amused laugh, Fan Hui Zhong grinned widely and replied, "Yes, you have a cousin as well as an uncle. Now get on before I continue on telling you about them." Snapping out of her daze, Fan Zhu Xia nimbly hoisted herself up and settled herself comfortably in the saddle before turning towards him. With a small smile, Fan Hui Zhong urged the black spirit beast to move while Fan Zhu Xia did the same and started to follow him while giving him an inquiring look. "Hmm, tell me, what do you want to know about first?" With a brief pause, Fan Zhu Xia asked, "Do these two spirit beasts have names already?" Her question threw Fan Hui Zhong for a loop before he shook his head good-naturedly and answering, "Well, the one I am riding is called Heise while the one you are riding is called Baise. It literally means black and white." "Huh, I like their names, it is simple and yet it really does fit them!" she laughed before smoothing down Baise''s long lustrous mane of silvery white hair. "Hmm, next then?" Fan Hui Zhong asked, promptly reminding her that now is the time to ask him if she has any questions about the capital, its people or about his relatives. "You never told me that you had a nephew and brother..." Zhu Xia started to say before trailing off. Fan Hui Zhong smiled wryly before he answered, "En. I didn''t really see the point of mentioning them before... After all, I have not seen them both for quite some time." "Will you tell me about them?" Zhu Xia inquired softly, as if sensing that there was something off. Her cautiousness and sensitivity to his thoughts and emotions made him feel warm inside. He truly thought that this is how it would feel to feel a daughter''s love and concern. It was refreshing and it soothed the old painful wounds of his shattered hopes and dreams of the future that he lost when his beloved wife, Yue Wan in childbirth. Briefly closing his eyes, he composed himself and reminisced on all those happy memories he had of his wife and his family. There was a lot since they were all very close and then he started talking about them to Fan Zhu Xia. "I have a younger brother named Fan Hui Liang, he is a good and upright man who has been with me through thick and thin. He was always against me hiding myself away here all alone after my wife died but I was stubborn so he couldn''t really do anything about it." "Next would be my nephew, Fan Xian Liang. He''s a nice kid. I can''t really tell you much about him since the last time I saw him was still only eleven years old!" Fan Hui Zhong suddenly blurt out as if realizing something just as he spoke before murmuring to himself under his breath, "I can''t believe it''s been more than a decade since I last saw them." Catching the lowly spoken words, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes widened slighly before she nodded and stayed quiet. The two of them settling on minding their own thoughts as silence slowly enveloped them while Fan Hui Zhong''s gaze focused on the distance and Fan Zhu Xia ruminated about the things she just found out. One could only speculate on what will greet them once they arrive at the capital. 5 Arriving At The Capital - 2.2 "We should make camp here for tonight. We should arrive at the capital by tomorrow and since the sun is about to set, the city gates will be closed once night falls so it is best to rest here for tonight." Nodding her head, Fan Zhu Xia slid off Baise in one swift motion making the spirit beast huff in appreciation as she led it towards a patch of grass that she spied at one side of the small clearing that Fan Hui Zhong found. Just like her, Heise was also led by Fan Hui Zhong to stay with Baise before turning to her and said, "Stay here first, I''ll go ahead and gather some firewood and see if I can catch something to eat. I''ll be right back." Smiling lightly at Fan Zhu Xia, Fan Hui Zhong quickly disappeared into the forest, his steps not even making any sounds, as if his huge hulking form was nothing but a shadow. Looking around, she gathered some sticks and small fallen branches that were in the clearing as well as some dried leaves before she settled down and started to assemble it until it resembled a small, make-shift fire pit. Fan Zhu Xia surrounded it with a few small stones she picked up to make sure the fire won''t spread before she snapped her fingers and a small flame appeared on top of her hand that she then threw towards the fire pit, lighting it ablaze. Sitting down beside the camp fire as it crackled merrily, she brought out a pot, a water gourd, a few vegetables and some medicinal herbs that she grew along with a few cooking utensils before she started preparing it and throwing them into the pot. Filling it up with water and adding some seasonings and some of the dried meat rations they brought to it, Fan Zhu Xia then placed it on top of the small campfire before covering it with the lid. As she waited for the soup to come to a boil, she just lazed around the campfire, bringing out a blanket and several pillows which she lounged against while bringing out a small wine jug and leisurely drinking wine. Less than an hour passed when Fan Hui Zhong returned, carrying two dead rabbits but now he was also wearing a dark black hood that also covered most of his face. Seeing his appearance, a lazy smile formed on her lips as she tilted her head in question with her brows slightly raised. "There are people watching." he complained in a low voice using one of his martial skills called Voice Transmission which enables the person speaking to limit those who can hear their voice to those they want to while skillfully skinning and gutting up the rabbits before cleaning them up and dividing them into smaller portions as he seasoned them. Taking another sip of wine, Fan Zhu Xia took the firewood that Fan Hui Zhong gathered and proceeded to make another campfire and watched as Fan Hui Zhong placed the rabbit meat to roast on it while she used the same skill as she responded, "I know, they''ve been here since I started cutting up the vegetables." "Hmph.. And you didn''t think to cover yourself?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with a voice tinged with annoyance making her laugh. "It was too late by then, they already saw me..." Exasperated, Fan Hui Zhong no longer used his sound technique and asked "Why would you decide to go ahead and drink knowing that it''s not safe to get drunk here?" "No need to worry about me Father, I wasn''t even drinking that much! Besides, I got thirsty." Fan Zhu Xia gleefully reasoned with him as he shook his head and looked at her balefully making her laugh even more. After some time, their food finished cooking and Fan Zhu Xia removed the lid from the pot as she served the two of them soup while Fan Hui Zhong gave her some of the roasted meat as they ate with gusto while Zhu Xia continued to drink, continously trying to convince her father to drink to no avail. Their carefree bantering as they ate carried the sound of their voices and enabled their observers hear their conversation. In the distance, there was a small group of cultivators who were also gathered around a small campfire and eating while two of them were standing at the edge of their group, looking off into the distance. Both were two young men that wore nicely embroidered robes that were of high quality. One had light-colored hair, the color of wheat while the other had dark brown hair that shone like newly polished wood and both had a countenance that could make any female swoon. As they stared off into the distance, the male with the light-colored hair had a pondering look on his face while his friend looked over at him exasperatedly. "Meng Yao, come on! I know what you are thinking, we are not going over there." the brown-haired youthtold his friend when he saw the familiar mischievous glint in his eyes. "Aww, come on Xian! Aren''t you the least bit curious on who they are?" Meng Yao, the youth with the wheat colored hair tried to convince his friend, his eyes not once leaving the two people who were happily eating. "I am not interested and you shouldn''t be either! You can''t just go around and approach random strangers like that. You can''t just act like you do at the capital." Hearing his friend start to berate him, Meng Yao sighed and gave one more longing look at the female dressed in red before he turned and resignedly said, "Fine! You win Xian, but when we return you have to go and accompany me during court for a week!" "Ugh, so bratty. Fine, I''ll do as my prince demands." he answered sarcastically receiving a slap to the back of his head which made scowl as his friend walked away and turned to look at him with a smug face. "You better keep that promise Xian, remember, a week!" With a laugh, Meng Yao strode off and entered one of the prepared tents and retired for the night, leaving his friend looking annoyed as he muttered under his breath, "I can''t wait to get back to the capital!" 6 Arriving At The Capital - 2.3 With the coming of dawn, the group of cultivators with Meng Yao started readying for their departure back to the imperial capital. The tents were put away, the campfire doused and the horses they rode were efficiently saddled. During all the commotion with the preparations, one lone figure stood away from the group with a flabbergasted expression on his face. "They''re gone." Incredulous, Meng Yao stared at the far away clearing that had served as a camp site where he saw two travelers eating and drinking happily just last night, now looking empty, without any signs of people even staying the night there. It was just so shocking! Meng Yao even purposefully woke up earlier at the same time as the cultivators escorting them and yet from the moment he checked the other campsite, not a soul was left in sight. He even ordered the guards to check on them when it was their turn to keep watch during the night but sometime during the night when they were switching of people, they had noiselessly slipped away! Grumbling under his breath, Meng Yao slowly made his way to the rest of his companions and got ready to depart, lamenting silently at the loss of his chance to meet two such interesting individuals. Meanwhile, the two people who seemingly disappeared without a trace was actually well on their way to the imperial city of Thunder Vale Country and has made good progress with their travel time and could already see the looming gates and walls with several built-in towers that served as the first layer of protection of the grand and imposing city. The gradually brightening sky softly illuminated the thousand-foot walls that were made with huge dark obsidian blocks of stone that faintly gleamed a it reflected the sun''s rays. As Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia grew closer, they were able to see the huge reinforced gates slowly open and a group of city guards and soldiersemerge in an organized fashion and quickly separated to form smaller groups that seemed to have different purposes. Some had stayed just inside the walls, others just outside the gates while some spread out just outside the walls in smaller squads. The imposing presence of these guards and soldiers had even rendered all those that were a bit ruly and impatient to pass through the gates simmer down and fall silent without even uttering a singlecomplaint. It left a deep, favorable impression on Fan Zhu Xia and it made her look at Thunder Vale Country with more appreciation. With guards and soldiers who exude an aura of rightousness and exhibit such discipline was something to commend! Sensing her positive mood, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but smile and feel some pride especially when he saw her cast an approving glance at the direction of the city gates. He wasn''t just happy that she liked the looks of the imperial capital but he was also proud since he knew that the soldiers and guards had been trained by his family for some time. The moment they neared the entrance, some of the troops that were standing guard who had casually inspected them couldn''t help but take a second look then gasp in surprise. Due to Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia now wearing black cloaks with hoods that partially covered their faces, the guards had to take another more intense look before a flash of recognition shone in their eyes when they glanced at Fan Hui Zhong. The guards had wanted to rush forward but had to instead settle to having one of them run to inform the captain in charge of the gates and just slightly bowing their heads in respect once they passed as they held back their excited smiles. Noticing the unusual reaction, Fan Zhu Xia shot a curious look towards Fan Hui Zhong but only got a small grin and a shake of his head in response, leaving her all the more curious. Just as she was about to question him, a loud booming voice suddenly called out and a big, muscular man wearing dark blue robes with deep gray detailing approach them with a huge grin on his face. "Brother Zhong! I can''t believe you''ve returned after all this years. It''s great to see you again!" The man said with a laugh before effectively pulling Fan Hui Zhong off the black spirit beast, Heise and giving him a bone-crushing hug that had Hui Zhong grimace, looking slightly peeved. "Brother Nian Zu, it''s good to see you too but can you please let go now?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with a hint of exasperation in his otherwise joyful voice. Laughing happily, the man quickly released Fan Hui Zhong and just said "Fine, fine!" Straightening himself up, Fan Hui Zhong asked if there was a place they can talk that''s more private since at the moment, they were just standing to one side of the gates which wasn''t that convenient. Realizing it, the man just scratched his head and looked sheepish before asking them to follow. Shooting a look towards Fan Zhu Xia, she immediately understood what Fan Hui Zhong meant and swiftly dismounted before leading both the spirits to trail after them. "Hmm, Brother Nian Zu, is there somewhere we can temporarily keep our mounts?" Fan Hui Zhong asked when he saw his daughter leading Heise and Baise. "Ah yes, of course! If you will..." Waving one of his hands, one of the guards then approached respectfully Fan Zhu Xia and after getting her permission, efficiently took charge of the spirit beasts. "No need to worry about them, I''m just having them corralled at the military barracks just a short distance away from here." the man, Nian Zu explained in assurance before he turned and then asked, "Shall we?" With a nod, both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia followed him into an office located at one of the wall''s towers. 7 Arriving At The Capital - 2.4 "Bai Nian Zu, this is my daughter, Fan Zhu Xia." Looking proud, Fan Hui Zhong introduced her happily as he strode over and affectionately draped an arm over Fan Zhu Xia''s shoulders and guided her closer to the surprised Bai Nian Zu. Looking at the confused man, Zhu Xia couldn''t help but stifle a smile before pulling down her hood to reveal her face which made Bai Nian Zu suck in a breath the moment he saw her features. When Bai Nian Zu laid eyes on Fan Zhu Xia, he couldn''t help but think that just her mere countenance could cause kingdoms to fall and how her enchanting pale blue eyes can root someone in place; looking at his dumbfounded expression, her cherry red lips curved into an amused smile making her look all the more breathtaking. Stepping forward, Fan Zhu Xia cupped her hands and then bowed as she said, "Xia''er greets Elder!" Hearing her soft, tinkling voice filled with amusement, Bai Nian Zu snapped out of his daze as he shot a dark look at his old friend, Fan Hui Zhong. "Ahh, no need to be so formal with me girl. You''ll make this senior feel ancient! Besides, I''m a sworn brother of your father so just call me Uncle." Bai Nian Zu replied calmly then coughed as he directed his gaze to Fan Hui Zhong who was shamelessly snickering. "My daughter''s a beauty aint''t she?" Hui Zhong boasted while smirking as he patted Zhu Xia on the shoulder making her shake her head wryly as she glanced at him. "That she is... So much so that she doesn''t even look like you!" Nian Zu retorted and grinned when he saw Hui Zhong''s face grow ugly making both him and Zhu Xia laugh when Hui Zhong started sulking. "No need to tease Father, Uncle Zu! I''m actually adopted." Fan Zhu Xia said with a soft smile; her eyes filled with gratitude when she looked at Fan Hui Zhong which wasn''t missed by the two men. Seeing the young woman give his friend a tender look, Nian Zu couldn''t help but feel happy for Fan Hui Zhong so he said, "Ahh, fine! I''ll stop teasing your father... Besides, you being adopted are just minor details." Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Fan Zhu Xia grew to like this loud, boisterous friend of her father. "Thank you Uncle Zu!" Waving her thanks away, Bai Nian Zu then asked, "So what are your plans then?" "We''re going back to see the Fan Family later." Fan Hui Zhong replied with a small grin. "Does that mean both of you will be staying at the capital now?" Bai Nian Zu asked excitedly as soon as he heard Hui Zhong tell him their plans to see his family. "Not sure if we''ll be staying here permanently, but we might be staying for some time." Hearing Fan Hui Zhong''s answer, the excitement on Bai Nian Zu''s face dimmed slightly and a tense atmosphere enveloped them before he shook his head and then smiled widely as he said, "Pah, it doesn''t matter if you leave again, the important thing is that you''re here now!" Seeing the awkward silence dissipate quickly, Fan Zhu Xia coughed lightly, drawing the attention of the two middle-aged men. Beaming brightly up to them, Fan Zhu Xia innocently asked, "Since things are good between Father and Uncle Zu now, can we go get some breakfast?" Hearing her request, both Fan Hui Zhong and Bai Nian Zu simultaneously burst into laughter making Fan Zhu Xia pout while staring daggers at them which just made the two laugh even harder. After several minutes, the two finally got a hold of themselves andthen Bai Nian Zu suggested a good restaurant that was already open in spite of how early it is and served good food and high-quality tea. Agreeing to Bai Nian Zu''s suggestion, both of them followed him when he told them that he''ll also join them. A short while later, the three of them got out of Bai Nian Zu''s beast carriage and followed him as they entered a tall and elegant tea house named The Golden Pheasant and disappeared inside. Unaware of the attention that their unusual attire drew since both of them were still wearing their cloaks and kept their hoods on, they just ignored most of the commoners that had bustled to and fro in the streets, completely oblivious that most of them were speculating on who they were and why the captain of the city and imperial guards, Bai Nian Zu was accompanying them. The news of two mysterious individuals slowly spread in the imperial city and no one expected that by the next day, all of them would find out who they were! While people gossiped outside, Bai Nian Zu, Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia were led to one the tea house''s private rooms before they were given a menu to choose from. Settling down inside the room, both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia took off their cloaks and sat comfortably and leaving the ordering to Fan Zhu Xia, she started picking numerous dishes without blinking an eye and then inquiring if they have any high-quality spiritual tea available. Surprised, the attendant nodded and informed them of the different kinds that they have and of its corresponding price. Nodding lazily, Zhu Xia chose the Spring Jade Spiritual Tea which almost made Bai Nian Zu choke when he recalled the price of her choice and the attendant''s eyes widen in astonishment before he asked, "Miss, the Spring Jade Spiritual Tea is the most expensive one we have, are you sure you''d like to order that?" Fan Zhu Xia just looked at the attendant and her lips slowly curved and her lashes fluttered softly, making her look alluring before she responded in a low, soft voice, "I am quite sure. Is there a problem with that?" Looking at her with mouth agape, it took the attendant a moment to gather his composure before respectfully bowing and telling then that he''ll immediately have their order prepared and the tea sent up before rushing out of the room looking flustered. Seeing her antics, Fan Hui Zhong just shook his head and looked at her with a doting gaze before asking, "Xia''er did you really have to tease that servant boy just now?" Giggling slightly, Fan Zhu Xia just shrugged and replied, "I wasn''t teasing, I just answered his question!" Sighing, Hui Zhong just smiled and pitied the man who had the misfortune of encountering his daughter during one of her teasing moods. The father and daughter duo completely forgot that their companion was completely not used to what just occured and only realized it when he suddenly reacted. "What in heaven''s name was that?!" Bai Nian Zu blurted out as he gazed at his two companions. "What was what, Uncle Zu?" Fan Zhu Xia questioned, genuinely confused while understanding slowly dawned on Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes. "That! How you acted! The whole scene earlier!" "That? But I was only ordering our food and drinks..." Zhu Xia replied, looking a bit lost so she turned to face her father who only laughed before patting Bai Nian Zu comfortingly. "Ahh Brother Zu, just ignore it. Xia''er is just in the mood to tease and that poor servant boy just fell prey to her." Hui Zhong explained the bewildered Nian Zu. "Then what about the tea?" Bai Nian Zu further questioned. "What about it? It''s just tea." Looking at his friend, Bai Nian Zu couldn''t help but give Fan Hui Zhong a disbelieving look at his reply. "It''s not just tea! It''s tea that''s worth more than a hundred gold per pound!" Nian Zu exclaimed. "The price does not matter as long as Xia''er likes it!" Hui Zhong promptly replied as he gave Fan Zhu Xia a doting look. Just as Bai Nian Zu was about to argue further, there was a knock at the door and when they recieved permission to come in, several attendants came in and started serving several dishes and poured them tea before Fan Hui Zhong dismissed them. Smelling the delicious aroma of the food, all three of them disregarded what transpired earlier and started eating happily and sampling the different dishes and when Fan Zhu Xia finally brought the tea to her lips, when she drank the Spring Jade Spirit Tea, she felt the spiritual qi in her body react and felt herself absorb a faint spiritual essence from it leaving her pleasantly surprised. "Father, this tea is quite good! It can even stimulate the spiritual qinin one''s body while also directly letting you absorb spiritual essence!" Zhu Xia praised happily before drinking a little more of it as she ate. "Hmm, does Xia''er like it that much?" Hui Zhong queried, while his mind was already turning with thoughts. Smiling, Fan Zhu Xia replied, "En. Xia''er likes it." "Then if Father buys more of this tea for you, will you drink this instead?" Fan Zhu Xia''s expression slowly changed before she vehemently shook her head and resolutely answered, "No! I shall still drink wine!" Hearing her words, Fan Hui Zhong could only lament and complain in heart why his daughter was such a drunkard. Coughing, Bai Nian Zu turned to Zhu Xia then asked, "Xia''er likes wine?" "I don''t only like wine Uncle Zu, I love them." she responded seriously, making Fan Hui Zhong''s eye twitch. Barking out a laugh, Nian Zu then told her, "If that''s the case, I shall send several jugs of wine from my collection over to you as a gift to commemorate our first meeting!" "Then Xia''er thanks Uncle Zu for the gift!" Beaming happily, Fan Zhu Xia pretended not to see her father''s sour look and just continued on eating and conversing with Bai Nian Zu. A couple of hours passed and after they finished eating and exchanging news then Fan Hui Zhong paid for the meal and asked Bai Nian Zu if he can have someone send the two spirit beasts; Baise and Heise over to the Fan Residence later in the afternoon to which Nian Zu immediately agreed on and assured them that he''ll send them over safely. After a wave goodbye, the three of them parted ways just outside the tea house with Bai Nian Zu off to check on his men while Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia went on their way, once again wearing the cloaks. 8 Meeting The Family - 3.1 After separating from Bai Nian Zu, Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia walked around a bit and ended up in the city square while talking about random things when Fan Zhu Xia fell silent. Amidst the noisy crowd of people in the square that were filled with merchants calling from their stalls to those who can be heard laughing and conversing with each other, Fan Zhu Xia exuded a somber atmosphere that seemed out of place. It was like she was a lone island in the midst of a sea of loneliness; aloof and indifferent, lost in her thoughts. The sight of her looking a bit lost and dazed made Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes narrow and heart tighten with worry. "Xia''er?" "Oh, sorry Father. I was just thinking about something." Fan Zhu Xia distractedly replied, flashing him a small smile from under her hood. Studying his daughter, Fan Hui Zhong noticed how her usually languid posture was unusually tense making his brows furrow even further in concern. Stopping in his tracks, Hui Zhong grabbed Zhu Xia''s shoulder and turned her to face him and said, "Girl, tell me what''s bothering you." "I... it''s nothing to worry about Father... I''m just feeling a bit nervous." "About?" Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia grabbed Fan Hui Zhong''s arm before walking again. "I''m nervous about meeting your family. I know you have a brother and a nephew but-" "Nephews." Hui Zhong interjected, effectively cutting off what his daughter was going to say and leaving her dumbfounded. "Nephews?!" "Yes Xia''er, nephews. They are all older than you." "Why didn''t you tell me?" Fan Zhu Xia asked indignantly; looking especially aggrieved. "Sorry, forgot to mention them." Hearing Fan Hui Zhong reason in an off-handed manner almost made Fan Zhu Xia''s blood boil before she slowly breathe in and out to calm herself and to her father''s amusement. "Then will you tell them about me now?" "Sure. Where should I start?" "How about explaining to me why you only mentioned Fan Xian Liang as my cousin and not the others?" "Oh that? Well it''s because I plan to gift Heise to him. He is also my youngest nephew as far as I know." Quirking an eyebrow, Fan Zhu Xia looked at him with a disbelieving expression on her face. "As far as you know?" "En. After all, I haven''t seen them in a long time and your uncle does still have your young aunt." Hui Zhong replied matter-of-factly. "My aunt?" "Mhmm... She''s a pretty energetic little thing. Her name''s Wei Rou Xiang." "Aside from little Xian, you have two more cousins. The eldest would be Li Jie; he should be twenty-five now if I remember correctly and then Yong Rui who is younger by one year." Curious, Fan Zhu Xia asked "What are they like?" "Well, Li Jie was always a quiet and serious boy. You used to remind me of him when I first found you and before you became a drunk." Rolling her eyes, Fan Zhu Xia ignored Fan Hui Zhong''s pointed look and remark before she questioned, "And Yong Rui?" "Ahh, that boy is like a splitting replica of his mother! Both in looks and in personality." Hui Zhong replied with a laugh as if reminiscing about something amusing. "Is there anything else that I should know?" Without answering, Fan Hui Zhong just kept walking and kept silent for a while. Their surroundings slowly changed from the noisy bustle of the market place from the main streets to a calmer more sedate atmosphere as they walked further away and into what seemed to be a residential district which exuded an understated elegance with the several towering cherry blossom trees that are scattered about, lending the district an air of beauty and grace. Several residential gates can be seen, with further distances away from each other as they went further in; from only a couple of residences residing in one street to just about two or three. Then they turned into another street which was comparatively shorter but this led directly just to one residence. Feeling a bit uneasy and nervous, Fan Zhu Xia was just about to open her mouth to ask why they were here when Fan Hui Zhong stopped in front of the one and only elaborate gate at the end of the street and looked up to stare at the hanging name plate with a melancholic smile before gently speaking. "Xia''er, there''s no need for you to worry and think about what the family is like. What''s important is that you are you and they are them. What they are like is not something you need to worry about. What you should really think about is if you actually want to get to know them." Following the direction of his gaze, Fan Zhu Xia looked up and let out a small gasp as soon as she read what was on the name plate. ''Fan Family; Lei Palace'' 9 Meeting The Family - 3.2 After standing in front of the gates for heaven knows how long, Fan Hui Zhong finally sighed as he stared back at his daughter who was staring at him with an accusing look ever since she read the name plate. "Father will explain everything to you later." With that, Fan Hui Zhong strode over to the elaborately detailed gates and gave three loud sharp knocks before lightly stepping back. Not even a minute passed before the gate slowly swung open and an old man with white hair and a short white beard wearing simple yet elegant robes stepped out. Studying the two of them, the old man smiled serenely at them before his gaze stayed on Fan Hui Zhong''s cloaked form looking inquisitive. "How may this old servant be of assistance?" His warm yet raspy voice asked calmly. The old man''s demeanor looking seemingly gentle and at ease and yet Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but feel the need to be on guard against him despite his seemingly frail and peaceful appearance. "Will you tell the current head of the family that Lei Wangye is here." Hearing the voice from under the hood of the cloak, the old man''s eyes widened for a small fraction and a spark of recognition flashed in his eyes which now twinkled in excitement. The old man visibly had to reign in his excitement and compose himself before he was finally able give them a nod of assent. "Right away my lord! Please follow me first." With another smile, the old man allowed them to enter first before closing the gates and then quickly led them inside and into an elegantly decorated hall that was located near the front of the residence. The hall was located in a large spacious building that was comparatively near to the entrance and was partially surrounded by multiple flowers, an elegant rock garden which had several fake but exquisite human-sized mountains and a small collection of several plum and cherry blossom trees; lending the pathway to the building to have a serene and tasteful atmosphere. The building itself was a large, two floor pagoda with an elegant archway that was flanked by two pillars made out of white jade with life-like golden dragons wrapping around each one, looking especially majestic and awe-inspiring. When they drew nearer to the pagoda earlier, Fan Zhu Xia glanced around curiously and found everything she saw to be quite beautiful yet with a simplicity that exuded class. Even by nearing the pagoda, she noticed that every material used to construct the pagoda was of the highest quality! From the flawless white jade pillars, dragons made out of pure gold, to the wood that was used to construct the very pagoda was the Onyx Blood Darkwood; one of the rarest and most expensive wood there is. The Onyx Blood Darkwood is actually very hard to harvest and also attracts spirit energy andis also extremely strong and durable, as if it''s actual stone instead of wood and is very rare since it can only be found and harvested at the innermost part of Spirit Forest which is inhabbited by dangerous spirit beast and untold dangers. Just appreciating the quality and worksmanship of the pagoda was already enough to see the show of status and power of this family but when Fan Zhu Xia saw the large hall they were told to wait in, she couldn''t help but praise it. All that she has seen so far has looked absolutely exquisite without looking gauy and austentatious! Growing even more curious the more that she looked around, Fan Zhu Xua couldn''t help but ask, "Father, this building is?" Overhearing the way that Fan Zhu Xia addressed Fan Hui Zhong, the old man''s heart couldn''t help but skip a beat and fill as if he''s bursting with excitement. He can''t wait to inform the family head that Lei Wangye has a daughter! "This is Na Huan Pavillion, the main area used by the family when receiving guests, throwing banquets and the like. Guests can only come up to here unless given permission by a member of the family." Fan Hui Zhong said in response, patiently explaining to Fan Zhu Xia the building''s purpose, completely oblivious to the old man''s reaction to their conversation. Upon reaching the hall, the old man made sure that they were situated comfortably and had called several servants to serve them some snacks and refreshments before hastily excusing himself to go and inform the family head of their arrival. Hurrying out of Na Huan Pavillion, the old man practically sprinted all the way to the main courtyard of Lei Palace where the study of the family head was located. Despite his speed and the distance he ran, the old man didn''t even look out of breath! Instead, he looked full of life and vigor! With his twinkling eyes full of excitement and that joyful smile, the old man looked like an adorably endearing grandpa. Stopping just outside of the study, the old man quickly rearranged his clothes and took a deep calming breath before promptly knocking on the door and asking for permission to enter. A deep voice swiftly responded and ordered him to enter to which the old man quickly complied before quietly shutting the door behind him. Giving a bow full of respect to the man sitted behind a desk filled with papers, the old man spoke in a respectful voice, "This old servant greets Clan Head!" "Please, no need for formalities Uncle Guo... You are practically part of the family!" Smiling warmly at the old man, the current head of the family; Fan Hui Liang remembered how the old servant in front of him; Min Guo Ji used to be the right-hand man and close confidant of his father; Fan Song Xue when he was leading the army of the Thunder Vale Country all those many years ago. Min Guo Ji had always followed his father and also treated him and his older brother, Hui Zhong affectionately. He even retired from his post in the army to come and serve in their family as the head housekeeper to look after them when Fan Song Xue got injured and fell into a coma. Even after all these years, Min Guo Ji''s unwavering care and loyalty never changed and it left a deep impression on the whole Fan Family that it wasn''t only Fan Hui Liang who thought of Min Guo Ji as family but also everyone else. "Master is too kind to this servant." straightening up from his bow, the old man replied with a small smile. "Tell me, what made Uncle Guo rush over?" Fan Hui Liang asked curiously. It was very rare for Min Guo Ji to be this excited. The last time Hui Liang saw Min Guo Ji look so happy was when his youngest son, Fan Xian Liang was born. Beaming, the old man, Min Guo Ji excitedly replied, "We have guests my lord!" "Guests?" "Yes Master... It''s Lei Wangye... ... and his daughter!" 10 Meeting The Family - 3.3 "Lei Wangye..." Fan Hui Liang whispered to himself disbelievingly while he directed his gaze to Old Man Guo Ji, as if to confirm if what he heard was correct. "Are you sure?" Nodding his head repeatedly, Min Guo Ji affirmed, "Yes Master, it really is Lei Wangye!" "Lei Wangye... So Older Brother Zhong really is back?!" Fan Hui Liang exclaimed as he shot out of his chair and out of the study with Old Man Guo trailing after him. "Where is brother now?" "Answering Master, Lei Wangye and his daughter are currently staying at the Na Huan Pavillion and waiting for you." Min Guo Ji replied quickly. "Na Huan Pavillion, good... Wait, did you just say ''daughter''?" Fan Hui Liang suddenly asked before coming to a halt as he stared at Guo Ji with wide eyes. "Yes my lord. This servant even heard the young miss call Lei Wangye ''father''." Without saying another word, Fan Hui Liang sped off and in a blink of an eye not even his silhouette could be seen. On the other hand, things at Na Huan Pavillion was quite peaceful. Both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia was seated quietly and was just enjoying the tea while Zhu Xia occasionally nibbled on some of the pastries they were served. The two of them had already made themselves comfortable and already taken off their cloaks. The tranquil atmosphere that surrounded them made it seem like they were a scene right out of a painting. A strongly-built man wearing black robes with simple silver embroideries with an intimidating aura looking dotingly at a young lady with an innocent-fairy like face that could ruin kingdoms and evoked an urge to shelter and protect her, just because of the fragility she exudes as she happily sampled the refreshments which sharply contrasted with her shapely body with curves that were further emphasized by the crimson red robes with simple gold detailing that was cinched at the waist by a wide belt. The beautifully contrasting sight was absolutely exquisite! When Fan Hui Liang burst into the hall, he couldn''t help but be momentarily awed before he was able to get a hold of himself when a servant spoke out and announced his presence. Turning their heads, both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia saw a finely dressed man which surprised Zhu Xia so much that she couldn''t help but suck in a breath. Fan Zhu Xia was so engrossed at studying the man who looked eerily similar to her father that she didn''t realize that the man had already spoken and Fan Hui Zhong had to cough several times to get her attention but even then she still seemed to be in a daze. "Xia''er..." Fan Hui Zhong called out, trying to keep the smile out of his voice when he saw his daughter so transfixed at his younger brother, Fan Hui Liang. "Xia''er..." "....." "Xia''er..." Fan Hui Zhong called out again after recieving no response the first time. "....." After trying to draw his daughter''s attention repeatedly but the only response he got from her was silence, Fan Hui Zhong started to feel a tad irritated but also slightly amused. This was the first time Fan Hui Zhong witness Fan Zhu Xia act like such an airhead! Uneasy with Fan Zhu Xia''s intense studying, Fan Hui Liang started to feel uncomfortable he then shot a look at Fan Hui Zhong and asked, "Brother, this is?" Raising his hand, Hui Zhong slighly shook his head before turning to his daughter then sharply barked out her name. "Zhu Xia!" "Huh?" Jolting out of her reverie, Fan Zhu Xia realized what she''s been doing and felt slightly embarassed. A light blush slowly spread to her cheeks making her look all the more endearing. Clearing her throat, Zhu Xia looked at Fan Hui Zhong with an inquiring gaze before asking, "Father, this man is?" "Your uncle." Looking astonished, both Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Hui Liang both simultaneously reacted, one was with surprise while the other sounded suspiciously happy. "Uncle?!" "Uncle!" Chuckling, Fan Hui Zhong gestured for Fan Hui Liang to sit with them then replied to the both of them, "Yes, uncle. Xia''er this is my younger twin brother, Hui Liang." Hearing her father''s answer, Fan Zhu Xia glanced back at Fan Hui Liang and quickly took note of his features and compare him to Fan Hui Zhong. To be completely honest, they were practically the same that it was almost scary how much they resemble each other. The only difference is the air they exude. Where Fan Hui Zhong seemed to be cold, aloof and intimidating while Fan Hui Liang seemed warmer and easier to approach. Oh and that Fan Hui Zhong had a beard which hid most of his facial features while Fan Hui Liang did not. Fan Zhu Xia only knew that their faces were practically a copy of each other because when she first met Fan Hui Zhong, he didn''t have a beard yet. Seeing his daughter lost in her thoughts again, Fan Hui Zhong sighed before he said, "Xia''er come. Introduce yourself and pour tea for your uncle." Smiling sheepishly, Fan Zhu Xia''s blush deepened before she took a small calming breath and quickly regained her composure impressing Fan Hui Liang. "I, Fan Zhu Xia greets Uncle Liang and offers this tea to elder to show this junior''s respect." reaching for the tea pot and tilting it slightly until the cup was filled before she set the tea pot down and gently lifted the cup while bowing her head slighty as Fan Zhu Xia greeted Fan Hui Liang. Her whole series of actions, from pouring the tea to raising the cup for Fan Hui Liang to get looked so fluid and elegant that it made the simple actions look mesmerizing. With a carefree smile on his lips, Fan Hui Liang quickly reached for the cup and drank the tea in one gulp. "Ahh, no need for such formalities between family! This elder is glad to havea niece that is such a beautifuland well-mannered young lady." Hearing his brother''s response, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but snicker which earned him a confused look from Hui Liang and an annoyed one from his daughter who promptly ignored him and flashed an innocent smile at her new-found uncle and sweetly replied, "Xia''er thanks Uncle. It is the good fortune and honor of Xia''er to be adopted by Father and to have gained such a family." Coughing slightly, Fan Hui Liang returned his niece''s smile despite sensing the girl''s annoyance at her her father and shrugged off his surprise at hearing that she was adopted. "Please, it is our family''s grace and your father''s good karma to have found such a good girl like Xia''er." Smiling gently at Fan Zhu Xia, Fan Hui Zhong then turned and quickly asked his brother Fan Hui Zhong what has been on his mind ever since Old Man Guo Ji told him the news of their arrival. "Elder Brother, since you are back, are you planning to stay for good now?" Exchanging a meaningful look with Fan Zhu Xia, Fan Hui Zhong answered wryly, "Brother, that is something that I cannot answer right now." "But why?!" "Brother, please understand that me coming here is just to let Zhu Xia meet the family." "But Elder Brother why not stay? This family need you now more than ever! I was never meant to be the head... you and I both know that." "Brother..." trailing off, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but stare at his younger brother guiltily. Seeing Hui Zhong''s expression, Hui Liang pushed further and added, "Elder Brother, please consider staying. You know that I am not as good as you in managing the affairs of the family." "Even so, please don''t sell yourself short Brother! You were still able to protect and care for our family for all these years." "I may have cared for the family but I wasn''t able to help Father even a little!" Fan Hui Liang argued back bitterly, his expression looking pained. "Liang''er please, don''t. Father''s situation is not your fault." Fan Hui Zhong reasoned, his expression reflecting his own pain but still he reached out and tightly grasped his younger twin''s shoulder in an effort to comfort him. Throughout, Fan Zhu Xia remained silent and just listened but hearing the deep sadness and distress on both her father''s and uncle''s voices, she couldn''t help but frown. "If I may ask, what is wrong with grandfather?" 11 Meeting The Family - 3.4 Silence met Fan Zhu Xia''s words when she asked and the only movement that happened in the hall was the servants quietly leaving the three of them alone. It wasn''t like Fan Hui Zhong or Fan Hui Liang wanted to hide it, but it was more like they didn''t know how to answer. A couple of minutes had already passed yet the two brothers showed no signs nor any intention that they were going to respond. Shifting her gaze between her father and uncle who were refusing to meet her gaze, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but sigh before slowly getting up from her seat and brushing her robes to get rid of the non-existent crumbs that could have fallen when she was drinking tea and nibbling on the pastries. Her actions didn''t go by unnoticed and both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Hui Liang instantly looked at her with similar troubled expressions. "Xia''er... It''s-" Shaking her head gently, Fan Zhu Xia wryly smiled with eyes that were filled with understanding as she interrupted her uncle from finishing his sentence. "Uncle, please... There is no need to explain, I understand." Sensing something amiss with his daughter, Fan Hui Zhong opened his mouth to speak but Fan Zhu Xia still beat him to it, the moment she saw his expression. "Father, you should continue talking with Uncle. It seems as though you are needed here and you shouldn''t make any decisions hastily." "But Xia''er..." Looking at his eyes directly, Fan Zhu Xia just shook her head and smiled gently. To others, it would look as though she was completely untroubled and at peace but to someone who has known her for a long time just like Fan Hui Zhong, he could see that this smile wasn''t as genuine as the ones he usually sees. It was like her smile hid her true emotions and thoughts yet her eyes seemed as though she could accurately guess what he was thinking of. And the moment she spoke her next words, his suspicions that she had an inkling of his thoughts were confirmed. "Father, please do not let me affect your choice in this matter. Whether you stay here or not should not be influenced by my presence." Seeing the signs of distress on his brother''s eyes, Fan Hui Liang couldn''t help but feel a tinge of guilt so he immediately spoke up and said, "Xia''er, it is not like we don''t want to tell you, it is just that your grandfather''s state is complicated." Seeing her uncle misunderstand the conversation between her and Fan Hui Zhong, she couldn''t help but let out another sigh as she replied, "Uncle Liang, I already know that. Just based on both of your silence earlier already made it easy for me to get the gist of the situation which is why I''m telling Father to think things through first before simply deciding to just leave again." Hearing her response, it left Fan Hui Liang stumped but filled him with a sense of gratitude and joy because of the effort she took to try and convince her father to stay. On the other hand, Fan Hui Zhong was anything but happy because he had a faint idea on what was going through his daughter''s head right now. Filled with turbulent emotions, Fan Hui Zhong called out his daughter''s name with in a distressed tone, "Xia''er!" "Father please stop... I know what you''re thinking but there is no need for it! You''ve already helped me enough as it is, so please excuse me... Xia''er will just be in the gardens outside while the two of you talk." Without another word, Fan Zhu Xia respectfully cupped her hands and bowed towards the two of them before quickly walking out of the room leaving them no chance to stop her. "Brother, what did she mean?" Fan Hui Liang carefully asked after witnessing his niece''s outburst and Fan Hui Zhong looking conflicted. "I had promised Xia''er that I''ll never let her be alone again." Hui Zhong replied, looking pained which in turn made Hui Liang feel guiltier. "Was it because we didn''t answer her question about Father''s condition?" "Not entirely... It may have played a part. Not telling her wouldn''t have offended her but me not answering would have made her think that I still had reservation against her." Looking troubled, Hui Liang couldn''t help but ask, "Isn''t that normal? Even my sons do not know the whole story behind Father''s accident." Sighing deeply, Fan Hui Zhong closed his eyes and rubbed them tiredly, his whole aura changing, losing his intimidating air and just looked as if he was a man who is just exhausted and tired from carrying a heavy burden as he sat there. "You don''t understand! Xia''er, she''s already been through so much and to see her withdraw back into herself, it''s just..." Trailing off, Fan Hui Zhong just shook his head and continued talking in a self-depracating tone, "I told her that I''ll always treat her like my own daughter but then I hesitated to tell her the truth!" "Brother..." Fan Hui Liang reached out in an effort to offer comfort while he called out to his brother but Hui Zhong just shrugged his hand off and stood up, looking agitated as he started pacing back and forth. "Liang''er, this is the first time that that girl asked m something that was personal without me encouraging her. This was the first time she took the initiative to actually get involved and act like how a daughter should, like how a granddaughter would express concern over their grandfather!" Seeing his brother so aggravated and filled with disappointment towards himself, Hui Liang stayed silent and let him continue his ranting. "But what did I do? Instead of accepting it, I hesitated instead! I know Zhu Xia... For her to ask, she was just looking for a way to show that she could help our family." "But how Brother? You of all people should know how many physicians has checked Father but all that they could do was stabilize his condition and prolong his life." "I know that but Xia''er is different..." "No matter how different she is, there''s nothing she could do. Not unless she was from or was trained by someone from the Mystic Terra Mountain which is highly unlikely!" Keeping quiet, Fan Hui Zhong just looked at him pointedly until understanding dawned on him and shock could be seen on Fan Hui Liang''s face. Full of shock and disbelief, Hui Liang could only weakly deny what his brother was implying and said "No..." "She is not from Mystic Terra Mountain. Not anymore." Hearing Fan Hui Zhong confirm it, Fan Hui Liang felt his body weaken with shock and he held on to the table while he stared at his brother with wide eyes. He just couldn''t believe that the young lady that he just met was from the mysterious Mystic Terra Mountain! Everyone knew that people from there was impossibly talented physicians and that even the people with the lowest position there could rival a highly skilled doctor throughout the lands. It was just that aside from being extremely secretive, the people that resided at the Mystic Terra Mountain only belonged to a lone small clan who tried to remain distant and separate with the conflicts outside of their territory. Due to this, their clan had no close ties to any specific power as far as everyone knew but despite of this, they were still well-liked and highly respected when they travelled to other territories, although there was rumours that spread a couple of years ago that their clan fell into ruin and were wiped out. This was the reason why Fan Hui Liang was so shocked in the first place ans could only ask, "Brother, how?" "That isn''t important. What is important is that from the moment I adopted her, she became a member of the Fan Family." 12 Meeting The Family - 3.5 "A member of the family. Ha!" Fan Zhu Xia mockingly thought to herself. She knew that it was too good to be true. Even if she was adopted and was treated well, having the same blood running through veins is still something that matters in a family like this. After all, the Fan family is apparently not a simple just a simple as she originally thought. For then to have a title of Wangye and to have their residence be recognized as a palace only proves that their level of power and influence is only slightly lower to that of the imperial family. Dejected, Fan Zhu Xia ignored the curious looks of some of the servants she passed and wandered around the gardens towards the path that they had taken earlier. Lost in her thoughts, she took a cursory glance around and noticed that just behind the fake mountains that they passed earlier was an intricately built pergola that had no walls and instead had several wooden pillars that had flowering vines with trumpet shaped blooms in varying shades of reds, yellows and oranges wrapped around them as it climbed up and lightly covered some parts of the awning making it look all the more enchanting. As Fan Zhu Xia drew closer, she noticed that although one side of the pergola was limited to the fake mountains that hid it from the view of people traversing the path from the entrance, it''s other side completely compensated from the lack of scenery by overlooking a beautiful view of a huge lotus pond that had an abundance of koi fishesswimming around. The sight of it made Fan Zhu Xia feel less troubled and seeing that there were a couple of couches and several chairs in the pergola with a few tables here and there, she decided to stay there for a while to wait for Fan Hui Zhong to finish his talk with his brother, Fan Hui Liang. Organizing her thoughts, Fan Zhu Xua couldn''t help but close her eyes and inhale the scent of the flowers while a small wistful smile graced her lips as she listened to the sound of the few hummingbirds flitting about mix in with the peaceful chirping of a couple of birds who decided to nest in the thick, flowery vines. Relaxing on one of the couches, Zhu Xia disregarded any sense of propriety and reclined on the couch while lifting her legs to stretch across it. With a flick of her hand, a wine jug appeared in her grasp which she promptly unsealed and took a deep, long gulp before sighing contentedly. Seeing her, a couple of servants brought her snacks and askes her if there was anything that she needed but she just thanked them then waved them away despite their objections. The servants could do nothing but observe from behind the fake mountains as they gossiped and whispered to each other animatedly. One of the maids who served the snacks whispered, "The young miss sure is pretty!" "That''s right! She even looks just like a fairy from a painting..." another one added as he stared at her in wonder. Still watching her, another maid whispered, "And she seems nice unlike most young misses from other families..." "Yeah! She even said thanked us when we served her earlier..." "I hope the young miss stays!" "That still depends on Lei Wangye you know!" "Yeah yeah, I know. Still, I hope young miss ends up staying, I wouldn''t mind serving another female master!" "Ahhh,you know it would still be up to Lei Wangye to assign her servants! There''s no guarantee we''ll even be able to serve her..." "We all know that! After all she is Master Zhong''s daughter!" Unknown to them, while they were whispering back and forth to each other, Fan Hui Liang''s eldest son, Fan Li Jie has already arrived and was actually listening to their gossiping when his eyes widened and surprise flashed when he heard that last remark that he couldn''t help but speak up. "Excuse me, but can you repeat what you just said?" Fan Li Jie asked from behind them, that the servants all jumped and simultaneously turned around before bowing down hurriedly and greeting him. "Eldest Young Master!" "Eldest Young Master!" "Eldest Young Master!" Surprised, every single servant bowed and greeted him respectfully, their hearts thumping erratically while they cursed in their minds on how stupid they were not to realize that the eldest young master, Fan Li Jie was already listening to them. "No need for that, just answer the question. Did you just say that my master, Uncle Zhong is back?" Fan Li Jie questioned impatiently. "Replying to Eldest Young Master, Master Zhong is indeed back and is even at Na Huan Pavillion discussing a few things with MasterLiang." Hearing the servant''s reply, Li Jie''s heart sped up in anticipation of seeing his uncle once more. After all, Fan Hui Zhong wasn''t just his uncle but also his master that had taught him so much and was someone he had deep respect for. Their uncle-nephew relationship was further strengthened by the bond that they have as a master and disciple! When Fan Hui Zhong left all those years ago, Fan Li Jie wanted to go with him but when he asked for permission, he was told not to come and just stay not by his father but by his uncle and master, Hui Zhong! As much as he disagreed with Fan Hui Zhong''s decision, Fan Li Jie still obediently followed his orders like a good disciple. He understood why he was told to stay. It wasn''t because he was unwanted but it was because he had a duty a the future heir to the Fan as well as Fan Hui Zhong''s disciple. Fan Li Jie was just about to go and make his way to Na Huan Pavillion when he remembered what the servants were talking about in the first place making him stop in his tracks. "They said that there was another female a master and they were talking about a young miss... Who under heaven''s name were they talking about?" Fan Li Jie thought with an almost imperceptible frown as he turned back and looked at the small cluster of servants who immediately straightened their bodies and kept their eyes lowered respectfully. With a cold and aloof voice, Fan Li Jie asked, "Who is this young miss you guys kept referring to earlier?" Glancing uncomfortably at each other they remained silent and looked conflicted as if they didn''t know how to answer. Finally, one of them gathered enough courage and stepped forward before respectfully answering, "The young miss we were discussing was the young lady that came with Master Zhong." Unsatisfied with the answer he got, Fan Li Jie indicated for the servant to continue with a sharp piercing look making the servant gulp uneasily while the others stared at him with eyes filled with pity. "She was... is your cousin..." Trailing off, the servant''s voice got fainter and fainter until he just bit his lip and bowed his head in fear. Everyone knew that the Eldest Young Master, Fan Li Jie was extremely temperamental and was usually cold and indifferent which made him a very unpredictable individual. This knowledge made the servant burst out into cold sweat as he felt his heartbeat speed up uncontrollably. A long silence descended upon them and the servants could do nothing but stay quiet and wait for Fan Li Jie''s command. After a few tense moments, Fan Li Jie finally spoke just one word that made them all sigh internally with relief, "Leave." Without further urging, the servants hurriedly bowed and expressed their gratitude before they scrambled away, making Li Jie shake his head slightly. "Cousin hmm..." Silently walking around the fake mountains, Fan Li Jie decided to go ahead and see the reason why the servants were all whispering to each other earlier. Lifting his eyes to look at the pergola, Fan Li Jie''s usually stoic expression morphed into one of utmost surprise when he saw the scene in front of him. 13 Meeting The Family - 3.6 Languidly reclining on one of the long couches in the pergola was a young lady with peerlessly good looks, dressed in vivid crimson robes while casually drinking wine directly from a rather large wine jug. Her whole body exuded an aura of indolent indifference that was both alluring and eye-catching especially with her sitting back on the couch with her legs stretched out on it while she shifted her legs lazily while her robes slightly revealed a flash of the smooth snowy white skin of her legs before her robes settled around her in gentle waves, further emphasizing her shapely body and making her seem all the more alluring. Despite of her seductively elegant pose, the alluring image she portrayed was shattered by several wine jugs that Fan Li Jie had noticed were scatterred around her as she continued downing gulp after gulp of alcohol. Just the sight of her made Fan Li Jie speechless! Was this woman trying to get drunk in the middle of the afternoon?! Was she really his cousin? Doubt slowly manifested itself on his face as he inched closer and closer to the pergola silently. A couple of meters away, Fan Li Jie was hit with the strong aroma of wine that with just a few inhales, he could already tell how strong the alcohol really was. Eyeing the jugs, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but be filled with surprise while he thought to himself, "How strong is this woman''s alcohol tolerance for her to still be able to drink that much wine?!" Without a change of expression, Fan Li Jie curiously studied the crimson-robed woman. Just when he was about to open his mouth, a soft melodious voice suddenly sounded out. "Who are you?" Fan Li Jie''s gaze snapped to the owner of the voice and his eyes landed on the intoxicated woman who was staring at him curiously with uniquely beautiful icy blue eyes. For a moment, neither spoke and just studied each other inquisitively. Eyeing the tall and quietly elegant man, Fan Zhu Xia met his gaze unabashedly and studied his features. He was undoubtedly very handsome with deep brown eyes and long silky black hair that was held away from his face with a single jade hairpin and his slim yet muscular frame looked tastefully elegant in dark emerald green robes with silver bamboo embroideries that made him seem like he just stepped out of a painting! While Fan Zhu Xia was engrossed in studying him, Fan Li Jie''s eye couldn''t help but twitch. "Is this woman really shamelessly eyeing me like a piece of meat?" he thought as he maintained his stoic expression while returning her gaze. Up close, her already beautiful face was even more enchanting. It was a countenance that could ruin cities and make empires fall and with that intoxicated blush that was making her snow-white cheeks look rosy made her look incredibly adorable. But her current image completely ruined that! Right now, all that could Fan Li Jie that could see was shameless intoxicated dandy who exudes an air of cold indifference as she openly appraised him. Feeling slightly irritated at the fact that she was eyeing him like a piece of meat, Fan Li Jie coldly asked, "Are you done?" Sensing the growing annoyance of the man in front of her, despite his cold and unchanging expression, Fan Zhu Xia cocked a brow in amusement while the corners of her lips tilted up as she nonchantly replied, "Just about..." Shamelessly letting her eyes roam over him, Fan Li Jie felt his expression darken while her eyes lit up in utter amusement which made him glare daggers at her. Ignoring his sour gaze, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but laugh and grin at him before lowering her lids halfway and coquetishly saying, "Okay, I''m done." Taking a deep, calming breath with his eyes closed, Fan Li Jie didn''t see Fan Zhu Xia stifle a smile at seeing him frustrated. If he did, he may actually his infallible composure! Exhaling slowly, Fan Li Jie asked with no emotion whatsoever, "You''re our new cousin?" "Hmm... I''m not sure. I mean you haven''t really told me who you are yet." Smiling playfully, Fan Zhu Xia straightened up and shifted her legs down before crossing them in an indolent manner while she gestured to the seat beside her that she just freed. Innocently looking up at him, Fan Zhu Xia batted her eyelashes and said, "Please, sit beside me..." Lifting an elegant eyebrow as he looked at her for a whole minute while Fan Li Jie measuringly stared at her unchanging smiling face before subtly sighing. Taking a couple of steps under her trailing gaze, Fan Li Jie fluidly sat down beside her and saw her smile widen before she teasingly asked, "Wine?" Sighing once again, Fan Li Jie could feel his head start to ache. This girl was like a female version of his second brother Fan Yong Rui! Both were annoyingly carefree with a playful personality who seems to have a fondness for wine and an innate ability to frustrate other people. Leaning back, Fan Li Jie ignored her for a second before answering, "No thanks." Snickering, Zhu Xia just responded with amusement coating her voice, "Suit yourself..." 14 Meeting The Family - 3.7 After speaking, Fan Zhu Xia promptly ignored FanLi Jie and continued drinking wine and acted as if there wasn''t anyone sitting beside her. A subtle smirk played at her lips as she felt the increasingly sour gaze of the man beside her making it hard for her to keep the amusement out of her face so she resorted to downing gulp after gulp of the wine straight from the jug. For the first time, Fan Li Jie lost his patience and snapped, "Are you seriously going to keep ignoring me?" Sparing him a glance, Fan Zhu Xia cocked her head to the side and looked at him from head to toe before she innocently drawled using a sickly sweet voice filled with amusement, "Father told me not to talk to strangers." Feeling ticked, Fan Li Jie returned her look with a glare before spitting out, "Fine! My name is Fan Li Jie. Now you are?" Stiffling a giggle despite Fan Li Jie staring daggers at her, Fan Zhu Xia flashed him a bright smile before inclining her head and answering, "This lady''s given name is Zhu Xia. It is an honor to meet Young Master Fan." "Likewise." Nodding his head in acknowledgement, Fan Li Jie noticed that despite her teasing demeanor earlier, Zhu Xia seemed completely sincere in her reply. "Then may this young master ask how to address the young miss?" "Senior can call this junior Xia''er if senior does not mind doing away with the formalities." "That is fine with me if Xia''er calls me Big Brother. After all, I heard we were cousins." Hearing his words, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes lit up with surprise and her mouth formed a small "O" as she looked at him as if he just gave her the greatest gift she could ever have. It made her already blushing face, look all the more endearing and adorable, with her big light blue eyes glittering like translucent, clear spring water, looking like an innocent fairy was beaming right at him. It was a huge contrast to her previous coquettish behavior that it left Fan Li Jie dumbfounded that he had to take a moment to collect himself. Completely oblivious to the effect of her smile, Fan Zhu Xia excitedly grabbed his hands and asked, "Really?" "Uhh, yes yes... Really." Fan Li Jie hastily replied with an awkward smile. Laughing happily, Fan Zhu Xia suddenly pounced on him and hugged him tightly, leaving him flabbergasted while she just giggled delightedly. Meanwhile, Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Hui Liang had already finished talking and was just about to go on their way to find Fan Zhu Xia when they ran into a servant who told them that Fan Hui Liang''s youngest son, Fan Xian Liang just got back and was waiting for them to finish talking and was just outside Na Huan Pavillion. Seeing them approach, Fan Xian Liang quickly straightened up and gave them a respectful bow while greeting. "Xian''er greets Father and Lei Wangye!" With a snort and a shake of his head, Fan Hui Zhong said, "Cut the crap with that ''wangye''... Just call me uncle you little brat!" "That''s right. You know how much your Uncle Zhong hates formalities." Fan Hui Liang added with a laugh. Smiling sheepishly, Fan Xian Liang corrected himself and promptly apologized while scratching his head slightly. "Sorry Uncle. I was just a bit surprised when I heard you were back." "That''s fine." Hui Zhong said in dismissal while looking at Xian Liang intensely which made Xian Liang feel slightly uncomfortable while his father just looked on curiously. "Is there anything wrong Uncle Zhong?" "Hmm, answer me this boy, did you camp a few miles away outside of the city walls last night?" Startled, Fan Xian Liang unconsciously nodded as he answered, "Yes I did. I was actually with a group that accompanied the crown prince." "Is that so?" "Yes Uncle... Why did you ask?" "Your presence feels familiar to the ones we encountered yesterday night." Confused, Fan Xian Liang thought about who they could''ve encountered yesterday when his eyes widened in realization as he remembered that there was only one group that they encountered and that was made up of only two people. "Yesterday? Wait, were you the cloaked man with the young lady in red?!" "Ahh, so you were the ones watching us! Small world..." Hui Zhong musingly replied with a wry smile. "Then Uncle, where''s the young lady you were with?" Lifting an eyebrow in question, Fan Hui Zhong decided not to ask why his nephew, Xian Liang was asking and instead answered, "Your Father and I are on our way to find her now." Glancing at Hui Liang who nodded in answer to Hui Zhong unspoken question, Hui Liang then spoke, "From what the servants had told me, she should be at the pergola by the lotus pond behind the fake mountains." "There''s a pergola there?" Fan Hui Zhong inquired curiously as they started walking with his brother leading them. "Yes Brother. It was newly built, Rou Xiang discovered a new breed of flowery vines and wanted somewhere to plant and showcase it so we had the pergola built." Fan Hui Liang said in reply, his voice softening a little as he talked about his wife. "Ahh... Little Rou still likes growing flowers then? How is my sister-in-law?" "She is doing quite well Brother! Rou''er is just over at the palace right now and is visiting the empress." "Good, good." Just when Fan Hui Zhong was going to speak again, Fan Hui Liang suddenly halted in his tracks as soon as they passed the fake mountains and his gaze was locked at the pergola in front of them with his mouth slightly hung open with a dumbfounded expression. Following his gaze, both Fan Hui Zhong''s and Fan Xian Liang''s eyes couldn''t help but widen in shock at the sight in front of them. Right in the middle of the pergola, surrounded by blooming flowers and scattered wine jugs were two people on a long couch with a man in dark emerald robes reclining halfway with a woman clad in crimson robes practically sprawling on top of him as she hugged him tightly with her face buried on his chest while he softly stroked her hair with a subtle yet slightly visible smile on his usually stoic face. Snapping out of his daze, Fan Hui Zhong loudly called out in a voice still filled with shock, "Xia''er?!" In response to his call, Fan Zhu Xia''s body visibly stiffened before she burrowed her face deeper into Fan Li Jie''s chest and clung to him tighter, deliberately ignoring her father''s voice and sensing her distress, Fan Li Jie gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders and made comforting noises. Her actions sent a pang of pain through Fan Hui Zhong and made him feel even more ashamed while Fan Hui Liang looked at them guiltily as they saw how much hurt Fan Zhu Xia felt because of what happened earlier. During all this, all of them forgot the presence of the newly arrived Fan Xian Liang who was looking at the scene with incredibly shocked and bewildered eyes. Seeing both his father and uncle looking lost and filled with regret is already confusing to him but seeing his usually cold and aloof brother who hates body contact with the opposite gender and could only tolerate their mother, holding, no, embracing a young lady in his arms protectively while gently whispering words of comfort was beyond anything his imagination could have conjured! Gathering his wits, Fan Xian Liang couldn''t help but look to his father and open his mouth to ask, "What''s happening?" 15 Sulking Xiaser - 4.1 Filled with remorse, Fan Hui Zhong made his way closer and softly called out, "Xia''er..." Unwilling to give in despite the obvious guilt her father''s feeling, Fan Zhu Xia stubbornly ignored his voice and resolutely kept her face buried in her cousin''s chest. Caught in between father and daughter, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but feel wry amusement at his cousin''s antics but he can understand why she''s acting like this and ignoring Fan Hui Zhong. Earlier, when Fan Zhu Xia pounced on top of him and hugged him happily, he saw how happy and relieved she was that he acknowledged her as his cousin. Frankly, her reaction confused him. Thinking back to what happened earlier, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but frown slightly as he remembered her answer to his question when she asked. "It''s nothing... It''s just..." When her voice trailed off, he just lifted an inquiring brow before prompting her, "Just?" Sighing dejectedly, Fan Zhu Xia made herself comfortable and had curled up to him with half her body lying on top of him before sadly murmuring, "It''s just that something happened earlier and I felt that maybe people here would not be as accepting of me." Stiffening slightly, Fan Zhu Xia tried to get up but Fan Li Jie held her down with an arm that he quickly wrapped around her shoulders the moment he felt her body tense. He could take a guess that she must have remembered or realized something that bothered her, hence the sudden tension her body displayed. "And why would you think like that? Did somebody do something?" Fan Li Jie asked in a low voice, his tone a touch colder. "Young Master-" opening her mouth, Fan Zhu Xia tried to explain but she was immediately cut off by an annoyed Fan Li Jie. "Big Brother." A bit surprised, Fan Zhu Xia lifted her head up and looked at Fan Li Jie who was looking down at her with a hard gaze before saying, "Did I not tell you to call me Big Brother?" Speechless, Fan Zhu Xia just blinked up at him with her mouth opening and closing as if she wants to say something yet no words came out. Seeing her up close and looking so bewildered, Fan Li Jie''s gaze softened a bit before he asked, "Well?" "Oh! Uhh, sorry... Xia''er will remember to address you as Big Brother Li Jie from now on and not Young Master..." Zhu Xia stammered in reply before her cheeks blushed a brighter shade of red as she quickly bowed down her head to avoid his gaze which made his annoyance dissipate at seeing her so flustered. "Good. Make sure you remember then Xia''er." "Yes Big Brother. Xia''er will remember..." Looking at her bowed head and her pink ears that peaked in between her hair, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but chuckle slightly and softly patted her head as if he was petting a puppy. It amused him that Fan Zhu Xia didn''t even complain and instead just docilely relaxed against him again without making a peep. Looking at their close proximity and touching bodies, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but feel slightly surprised at himself that he was letting this new cousin of his hug him and that he actually took the initiative to keep her from getting up. Usually, Fan Li Jie despised contact with other people especially contact with the opposite gender, the only woman he could tolerate before was his mother and yet here he was, actually embracing a young lady and absent-mindedly stroking her hair. "Xia''er..." "Hmm?" "Will you tell me now what happened to make you think that we wouldn''t like you?" For a long time, Fan Zhu Xia didn''t say anything and Fan Li Jie thought that she she wasn''t going to answer when he heard her say in a low, dejected voice, "Because we don''t share the same blood." The same blood? That was what she was worried about?! Hearing her lackluster response, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but sigh. He knew that those who knew they were adopted usually had this kind of insecurity where they would sometimes doubt their place in the family. It was completely natural for Fan Zhu Xia to feel like this and based from what she said, something happened earlier that definitely caused it. Just by the tone of her voice, Fan LiJie was able to detect the hurt she was trying to hide. Just as he was about to ask what really happened, his father, uncle and youngest brother arrived and saw them. Fan Li Jie was preparing to let go when he heard his uncle and master, Fan Hui Zhong call out his cousin''s name in a shocked voice which in turn made him feel slightly uncomfortable. Fan Li Jie knew that their position can be misunderstood and was a bit ambigous but when he felt Fan Zhu Xia stiffen and burrow closer to him while the hands that held on to the back of his ropes tightened, his attention was diverted towards her. This inevitably led to him ignoring the three people that had just come. Coming closer, Fan Hui Zhong tried coaxing her again but Fan Zhu Xia resolutely ignored him and instead distressedly called out with a muffled voice, "Big Brother Li Jie..." Sighing, Fan Li Jie gently patted her head and looked at his uncle who was looking at his daughter with a miserable expression on his face. "This disciple humbly greets Master! Li Jie hopes that Master has been well?" Fan Li Jie said in a respectful voice as he inclined his head. As much as he wanted to show proper respect to his Uncle Zhong who was also his master teacher, he couldn''t since Zhu Xia wouldn''t let him straighten up. Good thing Fan Hui Zhong didn''t take it to heart and just nodded while saying, "Your Master has indeed been well but this old man hasn''t taught you anything in years so just call me Uncle Zhong like you did when you were little." "As Uncle wishes." Absent-mindedly nodding while he stared at his daughter with a complex gaze, Hui Zhong just replied, "En." "Xia''er, will you turn around and look at Father?" Hui Zhong then asked pleadingly. Everyone of them turned to look at the young lady that was still curled up in Fan Li Jie''s embrace and waited for her reply but... All they got was a resounding silence! With a shake of his head, Fan Li Jie turned to look at Fan Hui Zhong and offered, "Uncle Zhong, it seems as though this cousin of mine is in bad mood, how about you let me spend some time with her while she calms down and we will meet you all at dinner later?" Seeing Fan Hui Zhong''s hesitant expression, Fan Li Jie continued on and said, "That way, every member of the family will be there and they''ll be able to meet Little Xia''er..." Seeing his daughter still turned away and refusing to acknowledge his presence, Fan Hui Zhong could only swallow his grievances and nod in consent. "Alright then, we shall wait for you both at dinner. Make sure you take care of your cousin Li Jie..." 16 Sulking Xiaser - 4.2 Sensing them leave, Fan Zhu Xia let out a quiet sigh of relief and let her body relax. "Thanks Big Brother..." In response to her murmur, Fan Li Jie just shook his head while he gently took hold of his cousin''s shoulders and slowly push her off of him and wryly asked, "Are you done with your sulking yet?" "I am NOT sulking!" "Are you sure?" Fan Li Jie drawled with his eyes filled with enjoyment at seeing his cousin filled with indignation as her eyes flashed at his words. "Big Brother Li, what under heaven''s name made you think that I, Fan Zhu Xia would sulk?! I do not sulk, I have never sulked, I only express my dissatisfaction!" Fan Zhu Xia stated arrogantly as she pushed herself off and allow her cousin to place her beside him. Humming in reply, Fan Li Jie only looked at her pointedly and asked, "Hmm, is that so?" Ignoring him, Fan Zhu Xia thought about what happened earlier and her mood instantly darkened and this was shown directly on her face which she didn''t bother masking. Pouting, Zhu Xia let herself be detangled from Li Jie and straightened up with a disgruntled face which made her look like spoiled child that failed to get what she wanted. Her thin, elegant brows that were softly curved like delicate crescent moons were drawn into a frown while she mumbled a string of incomprehensible words under her breath. Her soft, snow white cheek that still hadn''t lost that alluring intoxicated blush from the wine she drank was adorably puffed out as her narrowed icy blue eyes that were framed with thick lashes that curved slightly like a butterfly''s wing shot him a dark, unhappy look. To say that she was unhappy with him was a complete understatement. Yet this made Fan Li Jie feel nothing but amusement! The sight of someone actually pouting and throwing a fit like this but didn''t make him feel the slightest bit of annoyance but was instead a complete novelty for him! The other young ladies he encountered were always so quietand acts like virtuous little flowers ipublic but when they scheme, they are like sly little snakes with poisonous little tongues. It was absolutely abhorrent! This is why when Fan Li Jie encountered this cousin of his, even though she challenged the limit of his patience and was possibly as annoying as his secong brother, Fan Yong Rui, she was still an incredibly refreshing sight. Compared to the other young ladies from other high noble families with the exception of a few, Fan Zhu Xia who may act willful, coquettish and a highly possible drunk is way better than those who act like they are as pure as white lotus that has beautiful smiles while they scheme and stab each other in the back. Fan Li Jie would much rather have a sulking Fan Zhu Xia who is honestly showing her feelings than some other maiden who would gently smile and mask their true nature just to present a high noble image. Standing up from the couch, Fan Li Jie fixed his slightly disheveled robes and extended a hand towards Fan Zhu Xia. "Come on..." Staring at his hand, Fan Zhu Xia slowly lifted her small, jade-like hand and place it in Fan Li Jie''s. Her long, slender fingers were smooth and the skin of her palm were as soft as tofu and seemed so fragile and delicate that Fan Li Jie held it very carefully as he gently pulled her up to her feet before leading her away from the pergola. While walking, Fan Li Jie didn''t let go of her hand which to Fan Zhu Xia, wasn''t really a big deal since she thought that her cousin must have been used to this and usually held other young ladies'' hands before when they took a stroll. What she didn''t know was this was actually the first time that Fab Li Jie ever took the initiative to hold a girl''s hand before! Instead, Fan Zhu Xia was silently scolding herself in her mind on why she had even decided to follow and go with her cousin when she could have stayed at the pergola and just continued on drinking wine! Ahh, wine... The strong aroma of wine with it''s mouthwateringly lingering taste that played on the tastebuds and the slow trailing burn in the throat that spread warmth starting from the stomach until it travels to the rest of the body that builds up as one continues to drink. This was something she could have enjoyed if she had chosen to stay at the pergola! Feeling sour, Fan Zhu Xia grumbled, "Big Brother, where are we going? Why did we have to leave the pergola?" "We''re looking for Old Man Guo..." "Old Man Guo? Who''s that?" "He''s grandfather''s old friend who became the head steward of the family." Fan Li Jie explained patiently without sparing a glance at Fan Zhu Xia as he continued walking. "Oh..." For a moment, Zhu Xia remained silent before she a slight curiousity lit up her eyes and she asked, "Why are you looking for him?" "We are looking for him for you." Fan Li Jie replied with a meaningful look when he said ''we''. "We''re looking for him? Why?" Giving her another look, Li Jie matter-of-factly replied, "To ask him if a courtyard has been prepared for you and if none has been prepared yet then we could choose first and inform him to have it arranged." Looking at him weirdly, Zhu Xia sarcastically told him, "I''m not even sure if I''m staying here." "Of course you''ll be staying! I just got you as a cousin, I haven''t even enjoyed having Xia''er around as a little sister yet." "Huh? But-" "No buts! All three of us brothers had always wanted a little sister and now that you''re here we have that." Then Li Jie stopped walking and turned to look at her with a measuring glance before he continued walking and pulling her without speaking a word. Seeing the measuring gaze he shot at her, Fan Zhu Xia frowned slightly and asked, "Why did you look at me like that?" "Oh it''s nothing to worry about, I was just thinking that even though you are not the usual soft and gently sister and that you''re a bit bratty and unruly, it''s still better than having no sister at all." Hearing his words, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes widened in indignation and her free hand slapped Fan Li Jie''s shoulder as she exclaimed, "Hey!" Ignoring her with an amused smirk playing on his lips, Fan Zhu Xia glared daggers at him before deliberately dragging her feet to annoy him. In response, Fan Li Jie just shortened his steps to match his cousin''s and this instead made it look like they were just leisurely strolling around with their hands holding each others, the servants who managed to catch a glimpse of them felt as if they were seeing a painting of an immortal couple come to life. The two of them were simply breathtaking! The way they walked was so fluid and elegant that the whole air they exuded seemed tranquil and peaceful. This was a total contrast to what the two were actually feeling. While Fan Zhu Xia was still grumbling about the grievances she had in her heart, Fan Li Jie was musing and laughing slightly to himself inside when he thought of how his mother and second brother would react if they saw him holding hands with a girl. 17 Blooming Phoenix Courtyard - 5.1 "Eldest Young Master! Young Miss!" A warm yet raspy voice called out, drawing the attention of two people with heartbreakingly good looks and making them stop in their tracks. The man in who was still holding the young lady''s hand turned his body slightly and leaned down towards the lady then whispered to her and while he talked, a growing expression of understanding was soon seen on her face as she looked at the person who called out to them. Instead of just standing there and waiting, they instead started walking towards the one that drew their attention to meet up with him, after all the one who called them was actually the one that they were looking for as well. This man was actually Old Man Min Guo Ji! With a respectful tone, Fan Li Jie nodded his head in acknowledgement and said, "Old Man Guo, it is good that we ran into you, we were just looking for you." "Ahh, then this is truly a good thing! This old man was actually trying to find the young miss as well." Min Guo Ji replied good-naturedly as he gently smiled at Fan Zhu Xia. At one glance, Fan Zhu Xia immediately recognized the old man who called out to them as the same old man who had opened the gates for them. She would have never have thought that the old servant that they first saw was actually a very important figure in the Fan family. When her cousin, Fan Li Jie leaned down earlier, he whispered how this old man was the same one he mentioned earlier, Old Man Min Guo Ji. The trusted subordinate of the old family patriarch, their grandfather, Fan Song Xue and that Min Guo Ji used to be one of the most formidable army commanders before he retired to follow and protect Song Xue''s family when Song Xue got injured. It was no wonder that when Fan Zhu Xia first saw him, she felt threatened. That was a completely normal reaction! She was a bit confused though as to why he was looking for her in the first place and her confusion clearly showed on her face With her brows furrowed slightly and her eyes filled with puzzlement, Zhu Xia lightly queried, "Senior''s looking for me? Did senior need me for something?" "Ahh... There is no need for the young miss to be so respectful to this lowly servant, this servant is not worthy! The young miss may choose to call me however she likes." "Then this young miss wouldn''t be courteous and will ask if I can call you Grandpa Guo?" Fan Zhu Xia asked hesitantly with a hopeful look on her face. Her bright ice blue eyes glittering prettily like precious gems and clear as crystal spring waters while her reddish petal-like lips was curved slightly into a hopeful smile making her look impossibly adorable and innocent that it momentarily stunned both Fan Li Jie and Min Guo Ji. Her question had also obviously surprised Min Guo Ji and it showed clearly on his face before he rearranged his expression and a warm smile soon appeared on his lips before giving a small nod and saying. "This old man would be honored." "Many thanks then Grandpa Guo!" "Not at all Young Miss, it is this old one''s pleasure... If this servant may be so bold... this old man was actually just looking for the young miss so that he may show the courtyard that has been prepared for her to see if it suits her tastes." "Oh, is that so? Then will Grandpa Guo lead the way?" "Of course. If the Young Miss and the Eldest Young Master will please follow me..." Nodding their heads, both Fan Li Jie and Fan Zhu Xia then trailed after Old Man Guo as he slowly started leading them off to the direction of the courtyard. While walking, Fan Li Jie silently took hold of his cousin''s hand again which Min Guo Ji saw but chose to not say anything about it when he saw that Fan Zhu Xia just glanced at her cousin and let it be. After a while, Fan Li Jie asked curiously, "Old Man Guo, which courtyard has been prepared?" This faintly astonished Min Guo Ji that the Eldest Young Master, Fan Li Jie took the initiative to talk since most of the time Fan Li Jie remains silent and aloof, not bothering to talk unless completely necessary. Adding to the fact that Fan Li Jie was also the one who made a move to take hold of Fan Zhu Xia''s hand, it made things all the more surprising. Nevertheless, regardless of the surprise he felt, Min Guo Ji promptly answered Fan Li Jie''s question. "The courtyard that has been prepared is the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard." 18 Blooming Phoenix Courtyard - 5.2 "The courtyard that has been prepared is the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard." When Fan Li Jie heard this, his grip on his cousin''s hand tightened momentarily before it relaxed as if nothing happened. Having felt his reaction, Fan Zhu Xia''s interest was piqued, after all, from what she observed from Fan Li Jie before, her cousin seemed to be usually aloof and indifferent with a stoic demeanor and for her to get so many reactions from him, she really had to put in an effort yet when he heard Grandpa Guo say that she''ll be staying in this particular courtyard, he reacted to it. Although his reaction was subtle and hard to discern, Fan Zhu Xia was able to notice because he was holding on to her hand. Just what was special with this Blooming Phoenix Courtyard anyway? Despite her growing curiosity, Fan Zhu Xia refrained herself from asking and instead surveyed their surroundings. Indeed the Fan family residence was quite vast and magnificent, truly deserving to be otherwisely known as the Lei Palace. It had numerous flowering gardens which pathways wound about leading to different courtyards, buildings and grounds which made everything interesting. As they went to the inner part of the residence, they passed several smaller courtyards and Fan Li Jie opened his mouth and started talking while pointing to them. "There are different courtyards here and if you look closer, you''ll actually be able to tell. The ones with more elaborately decorated arches are usually prepared for guests and any unexpected visitors from noble families while the simpler ones are usually courtyards that we prepare for those who have simpler tastes or the army officers who come by to stay for a bit since the simpler courtyards have bigger spaces inside that''s big enough to train in." Humming her acknowledgement, Zhu Xia turned to gaze at whichever direction Li Jie was pointing at while Guo Ji just silently walked in front with a faint smile on his face. "Xia''er, do you see that building over there?" "En... What''s it for Big Brother?" "That''s one of the buildings where we store our weapons. It serves as our main armory while the other building we have which also contains some weaponry is located on the other side of the residence and is also our weapon smithery." "You have your own smithery?" Zhu Xia asked with a mixture of wonder and amazement. "Mhmm, yes we do. We also have a rather sizeable courtyard where our head doctor stays with his two disciples that serves as our infirmary. Their courtyard even has it''s own herb garden that they tend to, it''s where our family usually gets its supply of medicinal herbs." "Really?" Noticing her interest, Fan Li Jie nodded once and shot her a glance as he replied, "Yes. Would you like to go and drop by later?" "Oh can we Big Brother? Can we?" Zhu Xia asked with excitement, her eyes glittering as she looked at him. "Yes we can but we can do that after you''re settled." "Alright then... Remember Big Brother, you mustn''t forget to bring me there later!" "Ahh don''t worry Little Xia''er, I would not forget..." With a satisfied grin, Zhu Xia happily responded, "Good!" After a couple of more minutes of walking, they came upon a bamboo forest that theywere walking just alongside the perimeter of, and just as they were about to pass it and leave it behind, just beyond it, they could faintly hear the sound of people and the clang of weapons hitting each other which made Fan Zhu Xia gaze ponderingly towards the direction of it. "Beyond this bamboo forest is the training grounds that is located near the back of the residence, nearer to the foot of the mountain. The Blooming Phoenix Courtyard is located near here." Fan Li Jie explained when he saw Fan Zhu Xia look back towards the bamboo forest. "Oh, is that so? Then would it be noisy at my courtyard?" "Replying to Young Miss... The Blooming Phoenix Courtyard should still be quiet and peaceful since the noise coming from the training field should only travel a few meters away from the perimeter of the bamboo forest. The Young Miss'' courtyard is still a bit too far for the noise to breach." Min Guo Ji answered in reply before Fan Li Jie could even start. "Then are we close?" Fan Zhu Xia inquisitively inquired while taking note of her surroundings. What she saw was the leveled, stone pathway that was hadwinded around the residence but soon, aside from this, a cluster of cherry and plum blossom trees scattered about and as they walked further in, a couple of flowering dogwood trees can be seen scattered among the other trees which made everything all the more breathtakingly beautiful and with the mixture of whites, pinks and reds from the trees made the whole scenery all the more enchanting. The delicate yet fragrant scent of the tree blossoms permeated the air around them while the wind blew and the slight breeze carried some leaves and stray flowers from the trees down, making it fall gently around them, making a tranquil and peaceful scene surrounded by the sounds of nature as a couple of birds chirped and sang their bird songs. As Fan Zhu Xia looked around and took delight in her surroundings, the moment she glanced in front, she saw a courtyard with tall walls that had blooming firethorns with its vivid evergreen leaves and clusters of red, yellow and orange-colored berries covering it, making it look like the walls are covered with elegant blooming flowers made out of fire which inspired awe with its beauty especially coupled with the forest of flowering trees and the intricately-carved archway made out of deep red wood which Fan Zhu Xia had only seen once before and is called the Vermillion Blaze Wood which is even more expensive than the Onyx Blood Darkwood that she had seen earlier at the Na Huan Pavillion. It was said that Vermillion Blaze Wood is a very expensive and rare type of wood since it''s from an already rare Fire Ruby Tree that had a mutation prompted by the fire of a high-leveled spirit beast. The fact that its usually only found at the Spirit Forest due to it''s strict requirements for mutation is already a vast indicator of it''s rarity and price. Even the Fire Ruby Tree which is desired by a lot of alchemists for the fruit it produces, The Flamed Ruby which despite the name is not a type of crystal but is actually a fruit that has immense medicinal fire properties and a rare medicinal ingredient, although it is rare, it can still be found in other places and is possible to cultivate in very carefully controlled conditions. Even before back in the Mystic Terra Mountain, Zhu Xia had only seen a total of three Fire Ruby Trees that were meticulously grown by her mother. So for her to see Vermillion Blaze Wood here, Fan Zhu Xia was in shock! Noticing her wide-eyed stare, Fan Li Jie gently pulled her hand and drew her closer to the courtyard while teasingly asked, "Do you like the entrance of your courtyard that much Xia''er?" Coming out of her daze, Fan Zhu Xia switched her gaze to stare at her cousin in shock. "Big Brother...don''t tell me, this is the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard?!" 19 Blooming Phoenix Courtyard - 5.3 Passing through the tall archway, Fan Zhu Xia noticed the beautifully engraved gates of the same Vermillion Blaze Wood pushed wide open. The engravings on it was incredibly detailed phoenixes taking flight while leaving a trail of curling flames that looked so elegant that they almost resembled the soft curving petals of a flower. Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes couldn''t help but be drawn to it while she lifted a hand and reached out to slowly trace the carved details on the gate, appreciating the worksmanship. "That''s one of the reason''s why this courtyard was named Blooming Phoenix Courtyard." Fan Li Jie murmured from behind her making her turn to look at him. "One of the reasons?" "En. The other reason was because there was once a huge fire that encompassed the whole space where the courtyard is now built. Apparently, it was caused by a high-levelled fire type aerial spirit beast that used to be a contracted beast of an old clan ancestor and after that particular fire, a bunch of wild flowers grew in the area where the fire was the strongest." "Really? How interesting... Do you have any idea what spirit beast it was?" "Not really. Not much was recorded about the incident so we have limited information about it." "I see..." Nodding her head, Fan Zhu Xia was lost in thought when she remembered where she was and snapped out of it. Looking around, an involuntary gasp escaped her and she was filled with awe. Everywhere she looked was simply breathtaking. A few steps inside and she could see the immaculate garden inside the courtyard. The lush green grass covered the ground with flowering shrubs grew on the sides, bordering the walls while several trees of cherry blossoms, plum blossoms and flowering dogwoods provided shade in several parts of the courtyard, giving it a soft, tranquil look. Seeing her look around looking happy, Min Guo Ji lips curved slightly as he watched her. "Young Miss, if you will..." "Ah, of course." With a smile, Min Guo Ji led both Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Li Jie forward until they came upon a large and beautiful-looking courtyard. It''s appearance exuded an understated elegance. The materials used to construct the courtyard was a mixture of rare and normal yet expensive materials. There was high-grade Spirit Wood with a rich mahogany brown color which can be harvested from trees in areas rich with spiritual energy which is more common than the wood from a Fire Ruby Tree or the Onyx Blood Darkwood and this Spirit Wood was used as the main wood for the walls and floors which makes the whole atmosphere of the courtyard teem with spiritual energy because of the abundance of the spirit wood since spirit wood has the ability to attract small traces of spiritual energy which is good for a person''s health as well as extremely beneficial to cultivation. Aside from this, the main foundations as well as pillars of the courtyard was also made with Vermillion Blaze Wood which is extremely strong and sturdy, also has high immunity with normal flames while the windows and doors has a layer of panels with oil-treated precious silk paper which is water-proof in the middle of the panellings, acting as covers and designs at the same time due to the life-like paintings on them of several elegantly blooming flowers and phoenixes taking flight with some even leaving a trail of fire. Everywhere she glanced at, Fan Zhu Xia saw something that piqued her interest. It was as if everything was an art form and an amazing display of worksmanship and this is something that she never would have expected to see in any other ordinary courtyards. It was quite obvious that a lot of thought and effort was put into building this courtyard. Leading her inside, Min Guo Ji told her, "Young Miss, this courtyard has a total of five rooms; the biggest one is currently serving as the main bed chambers while two of the smaller ones are outfitted as guest bed chambers as well. The remaining two rooms are left unfurnished and you may decide how you would like to use it, just inform us so that we can make arrangements for it. This courtyard also has another rather sizeable room at the side that also opens up to the side gardens and is currently serving as a waiting area for guests and on the other side, there is a large bathing room that you may use, it even has a natural hot spring that Young Miss might enjoy." Hearing Grandpa Guo describe the courtyard to her left Fan Zhu Xia looking wide-eyed with astonishment. It gave her an idea of how special this courtyard is and the fact that they were giving it for her to use made her feel a little bit uncomfortable and unsure of it. "Grandpa Guo, are you sure that I''m supposed to stay in this courtyard? It seems a bit too much." "Please do not worry, this is the courtyard Master Liang and Lei Wangye had specifically ordered to be prepared for your use." Seeing her hesitate, Fan Li Jie who has been quiet since they entered finally spoke up while patting her head. "Just accept it Xia''er. There''s no need to hesitate over this." "But Big Brother Li Jie..." "You would end up using this courtyard one way or another so don''t bother arguing... Unless you don''t like it?" Surprised at the sudden question, Fan Zhu Xia shook her head and hastily replied, "No, I like it! I really do!" "There''s no problem then... Since that''s the case, Old Man Guo and I will leave you to settle down and rest for a while. I''ll drop by later to bring you to dinner." "Okay." Smiling at her, Min Guo Ji nodded his head before following her cousin out of the courtyard, leaving her alone. Taking in a deep breath, Fan Zhu Xia calmed her thoughts and composed herself; letting go of her worries for the time being. The moment she inhaled, she felt a small swirl of spiritual energy flow through her, making her feel invigorated, as if slowly washing away her tiredness which made her smile a little. The atmosphere filled with spiritual energy slightly reminded her of the atmosphere back at Mystic Terra Mountain and it brought her a sense of nostalgia. Deciding to explore her new courtyard, she went ahead and walked into each room, opening the doors and taking a peak inside. Every room she looked was all tastefully decorated with an understated elegance. She first walked to one side and opened the nearest door to stumble upon the waiting hall that Grandpa Guo had mentioned earlier. Fan Zhu Xia noticed that on one side was a partitioned part of the room where several seating areas and a couple of braziers were arranged there along with several small tables while on the other side was an elevated area with a long and elegantly carved padded seat that has enough space to sit at least three adult people while in front of the raised area was a large plush mat of a sleek charcoal color made out of somekind of beast leather. Scanning the room some more, Fan Zhu Xia noticed that the far side of the large room, directly on the opposite side of the door she came through was made up of several windows with two large doors in the middle; that slides open to reveal a view on the other side of a beautiful garden filled with a couple of trees as well as a crystal clear pond with a cascading water feature on one side which produced a very tranquil and calming sound of water gently flowing by. Stepping out, Fan Zhu Xia closed the door and continued on. She found the two unfurnished rooms which was still quite spacious if judging by normal standards. She also managed to find the two guest bed chambers which both looked great and almost identical, with big spacious beds that can comfortably fit two adults as well as a table with two chairs, a large dresser with a glass mirror hanging on top as well as a medium sized closet. After that, she went further along inside, passing another hallway and saw a large double door which she pushed open to see that she had just found the main bed chambers. Everything inside was all exquisitely decorated with furnishing made out of the highest quality materials. Unlike the other chambers, the room had a intricately designed silk partition that hid the bed from plain view from the door, dividing the room in half and providing another layer of privacy. From the side that she could see, she saw a small sitting area with a long padded couch and a small table in front and opposite it was a circular table with two chairs tucked underneath it. There was another door to one side which Fan Zhu Xia slid open to find that it led to a small but spacious garden that is enclosed with tall bamboo walls, isolating it from the rest of the courtyard. There was also a big, towering cherry blossom tree standing in one corner of the enclosement, bordering a small koi pond and on the other side was a completely levelled ground with thick wooden poles of varying heights planted firmly in different places. From the looks of it, this small enclosed garden was a place to privately train and cultivate without any prying eyes and possible distractions. Going back inside, Fan Zhu Xia went pass the silk partition and scanned the area behind it. What she saw was a large vanity table with several drawers and a small padded stool tucked underneath it while a rather large mirror with an ornately-carved flowering vines in the wooden frame made it look especially opulent. Parallel to it was a large dresser with an antique lantern on top, as well as another large closet to one side. Looking to the far side, she noticed that there was a slightly elevated platform with three steps and on it was a huge elegant bed with intricately carved bedposts and canopy that had sheer silk curtains hanging from it making it look almost ethereal. Taking a couple of steps towards the bed, Fan Zhu Xia let her hand skim the surface of the gossamer curtains and let out a sigh at the feeling. Throwing open the window on one side of the bed, she looked out and saw the view of the courtyard''s back gardens which mainly consisted of a lot of free space, a small but sturdily built shed, a couple of trees and another small pond filled with koi fish with a group of tall flowers with a deep purple color bordering on one of it''s sides. Feeling extremely happy about her new courtyard, Fan Zhu Xia turned away from the window and took a couple of steps before stopping and frowning slightly. "I''ve seen almost all of the courtyard but where''s the bathing room?" 20 Blissful Bathing - 6 Wondering where the bathing room was, Fan Zhu Xia quickly went towards the closet and with a wave of her hands; placed most of her robes and hang them inside, only leaving a couple of them in the space of her storage ring. She did the same with the dresser and placed her other articles of clothing as well as a couple of other things. She then made her way to the vanity table she saw earlier and opened a couple of the drawers before taking off her hairpins and accessories, placing them in different drawers before completely shutting them once she was free from all of the pins and accessories she was wearing earlier. After that, she went ahead out of her room and walked until she found the other hallway that she passed by earlier and followed it. Fan Zhu Xia noticed that it bordered the two unfurnished rooms she had entered earlier as well as had two more doors. Going to the farthest one first, she slid the big double doors open and saw that it led to the back gardens of the courtyard so she just closed it back up. Fan Zhu Xia then turned back and made her way to the other door that she passed and went to open it and stepped inside while closing the door behind her. Just by the entrance was a built in shelf on the wall where there''s a couple of baskets filled with different oils, extracts, salts as well as soaps and towels of different sizes. There also space to place your belongings and hang your clothes. Quickly stripping, Fan Zhu Xia removed her clothes and her shoes before grabbing a small basket and placing a couple of different oils, salts and soap, along with a couple of towels and made her way towards another two doors; one was unlike the previous door that she entered which was made of the same spirit wood as the rest of the courtyard, was now made out of entirely with white jade and glass and the other was quite normal when compared to the jade door and was just made with the same wood as the rest of the courtyard. Opening the other wooden door, she saw that it was a small but spacious room that serves as the toilet. There was a couple of buckets aside from the toilets as wells as a water pump and a tall table with a basin with a mirror hanging in front of it as well as a shelf filled with a couple of basins and towels as well as a basket of soaps and pots of potpourri which made prevented the room from becoming smelly. Closing it, Fan Zhu Xia directed her gaze to the jade door instead. The moment she pushed the jade door open, an involuntary gasp of surprise escaped her. Steam rushed to her, and stepping inside, a soft warmth enveloped her. Looking down, she noticed that the walls and floor was the same white jade as the door and the heat in the room was perfectly distributed that even the floor was comfortably warm. Because of the steam, Fan Zhu Xia''s view was slightly hazy but looking around, she noticed that there were a several small slits on the top part of one wall where the steam seems to seep out which serves as ventilation. It was enough to let air filter through but not large enough for anyone to fit in and since it was placed in the upper part of the walls, it would also be hard for anyone to take a peek and this brought her a small sense of security. Taking a fee more steps, Zhu Xia noticed that the bathing room was somewhat divided into two areas. One was for an area for washing were a couple of buckets and built in shelvings as well as jade stools where located alongside what seems to be an water pump while on the other side was a large curved pool with carved steps in the middle while it''s bordering edge extended all the way to the wall; shaping it into a half-circle. From what Fan Zhu Xia could see, the large pool is the one that generates the steam and this is also most likely the natural hot spring that the old man, Min Guo Ji told her about earlier. Feeling a bit torn, Fan Zhu Xia decided to wash herself for a bit to make sure she was rid of any dust and dirt she had on her body due to their travels and being outside before going into the pool. Placing her small basket filled with the soaps and oils earlier into one of the shelves that''s been built into the jade walls, Fan Zhu Xia grabbed a bucket and one of the stools before sitting down near one of the water pumps and getting water from it. The moment she poured water on top of herself, she exhaled in relief since the water wasn''t cold but wa also comfortably warm. Humming softly, Fan Zhu Xia cleaned herself happily. Using the soaps and various oils she got; the scent of it slowly mixed into the steam in the air which gave the whole room a relaxing floral fragrance which Fan Zhu Xia really enjoyed. Amidst the steamy haze, her alluring figure could barely be seen as the sounds of water splashing to the ground along with her soft humming filled the room. The water which fell down the floor was being drained in several parts into dimly glowing lights from the floor. Glancing at them curiously, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes widened slightly as she murmured, "Runes? Such extravagance for a bathroom..." Shaking her head with a smile, she continued on bathing. The warm water was washing away the soap suds from her as it sluiced down her body, leaving a trail of water, making her snow white skin glisten as if it was a pale white flower petal with luminous dew drops on it. After rinsing her hair one more time, she grabbed one of the towels she placed in the basket earlier and gently wrung the water from her hair while making her way to the pool. Once she was close enough, she dropped the towel by the edge of the pool and slowly lowered her leg into the water one by one as she stepped in. Standing waist-deep into the water, Fan Zhu Xia walked to the sides of the pool when she noticed that the same white jade used throughout the bathing room wasn''t only used as a border for the hot spring since the border extended for a feet and a half once it was halfway deep under the water serving as a bench which followed the circular side of the spring. Sitting down, Zhu Xia let out a contented sigh as she let her body relax while leaning her head against the upper part of the hot spring''s border. One by one, she could feel her muscles relax and the knots slowly loosening up until it disappears, making her feel extremely languid as she let her body sink in further with only her neck and head still exposed as her eyes fluttered close with relaxed smile filled with contentment on her lips. Letting her mind wander, she remembered the last time she had enjoyed soaking in a hot spring. It was a year before she was forced to jump off that cliff. Zhu Xia was only fifteen back then. She was travelling with a handful of her guards, along with Ning Jun Qiao, her brother figure. They had just come down from the mountains in Storm Blaze Country and entered one of their biggest cities, the Sear Spark City. It was a large bustling town that was filled with people of different backgrounds. Some were merchants, others were noblemen, commoners and even cultivators. Everything was so vivid and new to her that she wanted to explore everything but Ning Jun Qiao managed to convince her that they should rest first. When they found an inn they liked, they discovered that the inn where they decided to stay also had natural hot springs that they allowed customers to use. Hearing that, Zhu Xia immediately wanted to try it out and since the hot springs was for the use of all customers, it did not provide that much privacy so Ning Jun Qiao was against her idea but Zhu Xia was persistent. When she finally convinced him to let her use the hot springs, Ning Jun Qiao insisted to accompany her and told her that she could only use the hot springs if he was with her and as long as she only took her outer robes off and kept her inner and middle garments on. Despite her protests, she wasn''t able to win and ended up soaking in the hot springs wearing her inner and middle garments, soaking the clothes through while Ning Jun Qiao did the same with his back turned to her to give her privacy while guarding her and making sure no one tries anything with her. Looking back at it now, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but smile with melancholy. That was one of the happier memories that she had. Back then, even while soaking in the hot springs, she had bugged and teased Ning Jun Qiao but he only shook his head at her and laughed. Instead of having a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, Ning Jun Qiao and her laughed and played in the hot spring with their clothes soaked but now, she was here naked and alone, just sitting down quietly and relaxing. Back then, this is what she wanted to experience, a moment alone filled with peaceful tranquility but now, she would gladly give this up, just to be back there again. Shaking her head, she wiped a stray tear that fell from her cheek and just emptied her mind. Just focusing on the blissful feeling that this hot spring gave her. 21 Family Dinner - 7.1 After bathing, Fan Zhu Xia leisurely made her way back to her room while slowly circulating her spiritual energy; drying her hair and body fast, not letting her inner robe get damp while still leaving her skin looking flushed and tender from her bath. Entering her bed chambers, she went straight towards the bed and jumped on to it, relishing the soft feeling the cushion and pillows provided. Sighing happily, she pulled off the cover and burrowed herself under the sheets, pulling them back and over her shoulders as she closed her eyes. Fan Zhu Xia wanted to take a light nap before her cousin, Fan Li Jie comes to pick her up for dinner but the moment she tucked herself into the bed and closed her eyes, she was out like a light. Fan Zhu Xia was sleeping so soundly that even after a couple of hours had passed, she remained in the same position, sleeping deeply with her mouth slighly parted. This was the sight that Fan Li Jie stumbled upon when he entered the main bed chambers of the courtyard after calling out to Fan Zhu Xia several times and searching the other rooms inside the courtyard. Even when he entered her bed chambers, Fan Li Jie knocked on the door and called out as he opened it but still he received no answer and when he made his way to the other side of the room''s partition, he saw Fan Zhu Xia''s unconscious form, sleeping under the blankets, completely unaware of her surroundings. Taking a careful steps, making sure he doesn''t make any more sounds, Fan Li Jie made his way nearer to the bed and saw how deep Fan Zhu Xia''s slumber was. Looking at her peaceful expression with her soft, cherry lips slightly parted as she slept as a bit of drool leaked out making her look younger and more innocent, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but smile as he shook his head slightly. Reaching out, he took hold of the blankets and tucked it around Fan Zhu Xia''s sleeping form more securely and slightly closed the window to limit the cold breeze that could come into the room while lighting a few of the braziers in the room, giving it a comfortable warmth before giving the sleeping Fan Zhu Xia one last look and leaving quietly. Even with all the adjustments Fan Li Jie has done, Fan Zhu Xia just continued on sleeping, blissfully unaware of her surroundings. Meanwhile, in the main courtyard or more commonly known as the Xiong Jia Courtyard, located at the center of the entire residence; the current head of the family, Fan Hui Liang was waiting in the dining hall of the courtyard along with his older brother, Fan Hui Zhong and his youngest son, Fan Xian Liang. Currently it was just the three of them sitting around the table drinking tea as they waited for the others to arrive so that the servants can start to serve the food. No one said anything; not Fan Hui Zhong or Fan Hui Liang which left Fan Xian Liang no choice but to keep quiet as he glanced at his father and uncle back and forth. A short while passed and a maid went ahead and refilled the tea pot before quickly retreating and yet no one broke the silence. Fan Xian Liang''s father just kept his eyes on the table as he drank tea while his uncle just kept his eyes closed as he took a sip from his cup from time to time. The awkward and uneasy silence grated on Fan Xian Liang''s nerves and he couldn''t take it anymore! After all, the three of them have been here ever since they left the pergola earlier! His eldest brother, Fan Li Jie dropped by earlier without the red-robed woman and talked with them for a bit. He even answered a couple of Fan Xian Liang''s questions and explained to him who was the girl that he saw with him earlier. Apparently that young woman was their cousin, Fan Zhu Xia; their uncle''s adopted daughter. It still baffled him how his cold and aloof brother, Fan Li Jie; who hates people casually touching him was actually letting their newfound cousin cling to him like that, let alone how affectionate he was with her! It completely blew Fan Xian Liang''s mind! It made him incredibly curious on what prompted his brother''s uncharacteristic behavior. Sadly, he hasn''t gotten the chance to ask anyone for any details yet, not even the servants since he''s been stuck accompanying his father and uncle. Looking at them again, Fan Xian Liang couldn''t help but inwardly sigh. Here he was itching to ask them for details but due to the weird uncomfortable atmosphere that hung in the room, Fan Xian Liang just couldn''t find the right words to say. He ended up miserably biting his tongue and keeping quiet, hoping for someone arrive or for his father, Fan Hui Liang or his uncle, Fan Hui Zhong to at least speak up and break the silence. A couple of more minutes passed and still no one said a word. Fan Xian Liang had opened and closed his mouth several times already, looking like he wanted to say something but then deciding against it as he kept his silence. It was quite plain to see how uncomfortable Fan Xian Liang was but both Fan Hui Liang and Fan Hui Zhong disregarded his obvious tension and continued on ignoring him; making Fan Xian Liang silently curse them in his mind, lamenting how he had no choice but to remain stuck in this situation. Sitting in his seat, he looked at the direction of the open windows and absent-mindedly stared into the gardens. Fan Xian Liang inwardly prayed that hopefully this weird and awkward vibe that enveloped both his father and uncle disappear once the family dinner began. 22 Family Dinner - 7.2 After leaving his cousin, Fan Zhu Xia to sleep; Fan Li Jie left the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard quietly and made his way to Xiong Jia Courtyard where he left his father, Fan Hui Zhong earlier to wait with his uncle, Fan Hui Zhong and brother, Fan Xian Liang while he went ahead to pick up Fan Zhu Xia. Recalling the weird and awkward atmosphere back at the Xiong Jia Courtyard, Fan Li Jie couldn''t decide if it was better for his cousin, Fan Zhu Xia to miss dinner and all the awkwardness or feel frustrated because of her absence which could possibly make the dinner be dominated by a lot of uncomfortable silences which he would very much like to avoid. Thinking back to how his youngest brother, Fan Xian Liang was left alone with both his uncle; Fan Hui Zhong and his father; Fan Hui Liangmade him feel a bit sorry for him. When he left the Xiong Jia Courtyard, the whole atmosphere was uneasy and awkward with no one saying a word. Even when Fan Li Jie was there, he was the only one who explained and answered Fan Xian Liang''s questions. Shaking his head, Fan Li Jie picked up his pace a bit when he noticed a slight commotion up ahead of his path. Narrowing his eyes a bit, Fan Li Jie saw his mother, Wei Rou Xiang along with a young maiden who had her back turned to him; dressed in bright, colorful silks that fluttered gently with the breeze as she looked around. "Madam, you''re family''s gardens are really quite beautiful! It can really rival the ones I''ve seen at the palace!" the young lady exclaimed as she looked around. Smiling slightly, Wei Rou Xiang hid her discomfort and laughed instead while replying, "Ahh... Princess Ning, you flatter us!" "Please Madam, I have no need to flatter you, your home speaks for itself!" Glancing around, the young lady, Ning Yan Mei drew in a sharp breath as her eyes landed on the figure of a young man with breath-takingly good looks, who was slowly making his way over to them. Ning Yan Mei''s chatter stopped and she fell silent as she eagerly took in the approaching man''s appearance. His long dark hair, held up and away from his face by a single jade hairpin while some were left to frame his elegant face which further emphasized his handsome features. Long sharp eyebrows above deep brown eyes that seemed filled with a cold indifferrence as they glanced at her which made her breath hitch. "Mother, you are back." Fan Li Jie said as he turned to look at Wei Rou Xiang and ignore the young lady who was unabashedly staring at him with blushing cheeks. Hearing the man refer to Wei Rou Xiang as mother, Ning Yan Mei''s eyes widened as realization sunk in as to who the man was. Wei Rou Xiang was the current madam of the Fan family, the wife of the current head; Fan Hui Liang who is also a respected general in the Thunder Vale Country. This was one of the reasons why Ning Yan Mei had insisted on coming back with Wei Rou Xiang when she met her at the Thunder Vale Country''s Imperial Palace which she was currently staying at as a representative of the Spirit Valor Country. Another reason was because her father, the current emperor of Spirit Valor Country had wanted to make a connection with this particular family due to their fearsome reputation and the formidable power of their personal army. What she didn''t expect was for this handsome man to be one of the Fan Familiy''s young masters! This made Ning Yan Mei''s eyes glitter as she slowly smiled as she stared at the mother and son in front of her before she gently coughed to draw their attention. A flash of irritation entered Fan Li Jie''s eyes at her interruption before he quickly masked it, returning it to its former aloofness while his mother, Wei Rou Xiang smiled at him comfortingly. "Sincerest apologies my lady. Please, may I introduce to you my eldest son, Fan Li Jie..." With a pointed look at her son, Wei Rou Xiang subtly gestured to him making him internally sigh and wish he had just avoided them in the first place. Fan Li Jie had no interest in making the acquaintance of this young lady in front of him, especially with the way she had looked at him earlier. The way she studied him was vastly different from his cousin; Fan Zhu Xia''s innocent curiosity. This young lady''s stare had seemed more calculative but she quickly hid before others noticed. Unfortunately for her, Fan Li Jie picked up on it with just a glance. Noticing his mother''s stare, Fan Li Jie quietly sighed and stepped forward before inclining his head slightly. "A pleasure to meet you, young miss." Fan Li Jie murmured, his deep voice and direct stare momentarily making Ning Yan Mei freeze before she recovered herself and flashing him a bright smile. Ning Yan Mei noticed how Wei Rou Xiang had left her to introduce herself, giving her the option on how to present herself which she highly appreciated. This gave her a chance to get closer to Fan Li Jie and the Fan family and she would certainly seize this chance! Stepping closer to Fan Li Jie, Ning Yan Mei batted her eyes prettily and bashfully smiled up at him as she said, "Please Eldest Young Master Fan, no need for such formalities, I, Ning Yan Mei is your junior after all! This junior just wishes that senior will look after me during my stay here in Thunder Vale Country." Narrowing his eyes, Fan Li Jie fought the urge to step back from Ning Yan Mei and instead focused on her words which made him slighly frown. "You are not from here then?" Fan Li Jie queried while he subtly shifted to slightly increase the distance between them which made Ning Yan Mei pout which Fan Li Jie pointedly ignored. "Unfortunately not, if I was, I would be able to see senior more often! I am from the Spirit Valor Country, Emperor Ning Jun Jian is my father." Seeing his eyes widen slightly, Ning Yan Mei wanted to smirk at seeing him finally react normally but instead she kept that sweet innocent smile on her face. Getting over his surprise, Fan Li Jie realized that the visit of the Spirit Valor Country''s princess to their family may potentially cause some problems, not only for them but also the Thunder Vale Country, depending on their true purpose. Thinking like this, Fan Li Jie stoically replied, "Is that so? Then wouldn''t it be inappropriate for this princess to call me senior? After all, I am not worthy." "Then may I call you Brother Li instead?" Ning Yan Mei countered, her eyes flashing brightly while Fan Li Jie was grimacing internally at her words. Left with no other choice, seeing as he would be incredibly rude of he was to decline, Fan Li Jie stiffly replied,"If that is what you wish princess." Not noticing his hesitance, Ning Yan Mei just smiled happily while giggling as she flounced to Fan Li Jie''s side. "Then Brother Li must make time for me and me around the imperial city!" Sensing her son''s increasingly worsening mood, Wei Rou Xiang went ahead and interjected, "That is well and all Princess Ning but shouldn''t we go ahead and proceed to dinner?" Hearing his mother''s words, Fan Li Jie couldn''t help but furrow his brows and frown deeply. Luckily, Ning Yan Mei had her back turned as she agreed with his mother so only Wei Rou Xiang saw it. "I take it the princess will be joining us?" "Yes my son. Has arrangements for dinner been made?" "Preparations had already been made, the whole family is supposed to dine together tonight." "Ahh of course! I did hear back at the palace that the prince has just returned today, I am guessing your brother came back with him?" "Yes he did. Shall we proceed to the dining hall then?" Glancing at her son; Fan Li Jie and the Spirit Valor Princess; Ning Yan Mei who was staring at her son with barely hidden infatuation, Wei Rou Xiang slowly breath out before shooting an apologetic glance at Fan Li Jie. "Lead the way Li Jie." 23 Family Dinner - 7.3 Arriving at Xiong Jia Courtyard with his mother; Wei Rou Xiang and the princess of Spirit Valor Country; Ning Yan Mei in tow, Fan Li Jie was already in a extremely bad mood. He barely said anything during the whole walk and his mother had to answer and entertain the pouting princess which in turn made her head start to ache. Leading them to the dining hall, the servants opened the door for them and the gazes of all three people inside instantly snapped on to them. "Li Jie, where''s Xia''er?" Fan Hui Zhong immediately asked upon seeing them enter without his daughter; Fan Zhu Xia. "I''m sorry Uncle but Xia''er was sound asleep when I went to pick her up. She look tired so I didn''t want to disturb her." Fan Li Jie answered in reply, his expression softening a little and his voice loses some of it''s cold indifference but instead seemed a tad bit gentle which both his mother; Wei Rou Xiang and the princess; Ning Yan Mei noticed. While Wei Rou Xiang''s brows frowned in confusion as to who this Xia''er was, Ning Yan Mei frowned for a totally different reason. Just based from how Fan Li Jie''s whole demeanor changed at the mere mention of this particular girl''s name made Ning Yan Mei feel that something was amiss. Throughout their whole interaction together on their way here, Ning Yan Mei never got another reaction from Fan Li Jie aside from his initial surprise at her identity. In fact, it seemed that Fan Li Jie was actually trying to put distance between him and her! To Ning Yan Mei, this wasextremely unacceptable! She already found Fan Li Jie quite appealing and pleasing to her eyes. This was the very first time she even found a man who picked her interest and for him to continously ignore her yet visibly brighten up at the mere thought of another infuriated her to no end! Just as Ning Yan Mei was silently screaming out grievances in he mind, Fan Li Jie took the opportunity to sit by his brother; Fan Xian Liang which left only a little space on his other side which would force a person to choose another place to sit. Meanwhile, Wei Rou Xiang eyes landed on her husband; Fan Hui Liang and upon looking at him, she noticed the man who was sitting right beside him, finally realizing the identity of the person who had just asked her son a question. "Brother-in-law?!" Wei Rou Xiang exclaimed in surprise, excitement filling her as she gazed at the man who was once married to her best friend. Returning her gaze, Fan Hui Zhonh swallowed back his disappointment that his daughter wasn''t here and instead gently smiled at his little sister-in-law. "Ahh... Little Rou, you''ve grown even lovelier than the last time I''ve seen you." "Heavens! Brother-in-law it is you! How have you been? When did you get back?" Wei Rou Xiang asked, bombarding Fan Hui Zhong with questions as she rushed over to him and giving him an affectionate hug. Chuckling, Fan Hui Zhong gently pinched Wei Rou Xiang''s cheeks while pushing her away and answering, "I''ve been doing well and no need for all this excitement, we just got back today." Completely forgetting her presence as they talked, Ning Yan Mei felt increasingly wronged the longer she stood there. Luckily, Fan Hui Zhong noticed her just awkwardly standing there with an aggrieved expression. "Ehem... My dear wife, care to introduce our guest?" Fan Hui Liang pointedly asked, interrupting another one of his wife; Wei Rou Xiang''s questions. Realizing her mistake, Wei Rou Xiang blushed deeply, immediately straightening up and going back to Ning Yan Mei with an apologetic smile which Ning Yan Mei reciprocated, albeit; a bit stiffly. "I''m sorry... uhm everyone please... This is Ning Yan Mei, the princess of the Spirit Valor Country. She is currently visiting and staying back at the Imperial Palace." Hearing the introductions, all of them; Fan Hui Liang, Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Xian Liang stood up and gave Ning Yan Mei the perfunctory welcome and greetings while introducing themselves one at a time. "Fan Hui Liang; the current head of the Fan Family. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Fan Hui Zhong said with a respectful nod. Bowing slightly, Fan Xian Liang was next to introduce himself as he said, "My name is Fan Xian Liang, it is an honor to meet you princess." When it came to Fan Hui Zhong, he just respectfully inclined his head slightly and casually said, "Fan Hui Zhong; the Wangye of the Lei Palace." Listening to the introductions, Ning Yan Mei''s eyes widened in surprise when she heard Fan Hui Zhong introduce himself. At first she was a bit annoyed that Fan Hui Zhong didn''t even lower his head and just tilted his head in her direction but finding out his identity made her quickly understand and realize his reputation and status in Thunder Vale Country. It was commonly known by practically everyone that the manwho was given the title Lei Wangye personally by the current emperor of the Thunder Vale Country for his numerous meritous acts and incredible might while defending the kingdom from the unprecedented rampage from the frightening number of demonic spirit beasts who inhabited the bordering Abyss Valley Mountain Range. He was one of the main reasons why the Thunder Vale Country was able to overcome and hold out the rampaging beast wave until help from the Thousand Beast Rage Country had arrived and since back then Fan Hui Zhong had just replaced his father; Fan Song Xue, he wasn''t well-known yet and when word of his might and deeds had spread, it surprisingly did not carry his name but his title; Lei Wangye. For Ning Yan Mei to get a chance to meet Fan Hui Zhong was a stroke of good luck especially since it was rumored that Lei Wangye had retired from the military a couple of years ago and withdrawn from the public to the point that there was almost no news about him. Ning Yan Mei was positive that this was news that her father would very much like to hear. Truly it was a good choice of hers to insist on Wei Rou Xiang that she would like to join their family for dinner back when she bumped into her at the palace! "Please gentlemen, it is this princess'' honor to make your acquaintance!" 24 Family Dinner - 7.4 After all the formalities, dinner finally commenced as servants were summoned and food was served while both Wei Rou Xiang and Ning Yan Mei took their seats at the table with Wei Rou Xiang sitting beside her husband; Fan Hui Liang and Ning Yan Mei sitting across Fan Li Jie since she was led by Wei Rou Xiang to sit beside her. The Fan family dinner was a quiet affair. Due to the unexpected arrival of Ning Yan Mei and to Fan Zhu Xia''s absence, almost all of the men remained silent and only Wei Rou Xiang talked to keep Ning Yan Mei from feeling aggrieved due to Fan Li Jie''s continued ignorance of her presence. Seeing his mother''s miserable eyes as she looked at the pouting princess who kept shooting glances at his indifferent brother, Fan Xian Liang sighed and finally took pity on his mother and spoke, receiving a look filled with relief and gratitude from her. "Mother, I''ve heard from the crown prince that you''ve been spending a lot of time at the palace with the empress helping her with organizing some event?" "Oh yes, the empress had asked for my assistance in preparing for her nephew''s arrival." Hearing her reply, Ning Yan Mei stiffened for a fraction before relaxing. It was a good thing that no one was paying attention to her and all were instead staring at Wei Rou Xiang in surprise. "Nephew? The crown prince never mentioned any cousin..." Fan Xian Liang asked before trailing off, looking a tad bit confused. Grinning at her son''s puzzled expression, Wei Rou Xiang started explaining to everyone. Meanwhile at the Imperial Palace, in a private dining hall that is lavishly decorated with lush amber rugs on the pale white and gold marbled floorsthat went along with the white jade wall interiors that had gold trimmings and various paintings hung up on them that is complemented by the jade and silk furnishings in the room which is where the royal family was also currently having their dinner and contrary to the awkward atmosphere back at the Fan family, they were all conversing happily as they ate. Even the usually calm and stoic emperor; Jin Fa Chung was laughing boisterously when he heard his son''s; Jin Meng Yao complaining that his childhood friend; Fan Xian Liang, despite being younger than him by two years, acted like he was older and kept stopping him from having fun, making him sound like he was a child who got told off. To see his son loosen up while he was away brought Jin Fa Chung relief. He knew that Jin Meng Yao always worried about the little things despite the cheerful air he exudes but sending him off to study cultivation at Zenith Crescendo Academy with his sworn brother; Fan Hui Zhong''s nephew; Fan Xian Liang seemed to do him good. Grinning, Jin Fa Chung asked good-naturedly, "What were you trying to do then to make Xian''er stop you?" "It doesn''t really matter what I was trying to do, it was just a small thing..." Jin Meng Yao dismissively replied as he averted his gaze and hastily drunk a cup of wine which made both Jin Fa Chung and his wife and empress; Wu Li Hua look at each other in bemusement. Seeing that his parents weren''t going to pursue the topic, Meng Yao coughes then turned to his side and gave his sister; Jin Mei Rong a gentle smile as he asked, "Little Mei''er how have you been while I was away? Did father steal any of your sweets again?" Hearing his question, Jin Mei Rong tried to suppress her giggles and held a hand to her mouth but her twinkling eyes were filled with amusement as both of them glanced at their father who had an indignant expression. "It was one time, Meng Yao! One time!" Jin Fa Chung exclaimed in defense, blushing crimson as his two children and wife started laughing at his embarassment. "Haha... No need to worry about it Father, I don''t mind sharing." Mei Rong said in between giggles which prompted another round of laughter while Fa Chung could only sigh and shake his head in exasperation. Finally taking pity on their father, Meng Yao turned to his sister again and asked in a more serious tone, "Nevermind Father then, how have you been Mei''er? Did you still get attacks?" The laughter slowly died down when they heard the question and the previously joyful air was slowly replaced by a somber mood. This made Jin Mei Rong sigh sadly. She knew that her sickly constitution is a constant source of worry and sadness for her family. It wasn''t like she wanted to be so weak and sickly but due to an incident when she was still young, she sustained injuries that didn''t seem as serious at the time but gradually worsened to the point that it became too late to treat it fully. Mei Rong didn''t blame anyone for her health''s current state. At the time, her parents had done everything to make sure she survived her injuries and the fact that it wasn''t only her who got hurt grievously at that time made it all the more harder for them. The imperial physicians at that time practically made a miracle happen just to keep her alive and she was wholeheartedly thankful for all their efforts even if she gets the occasional attacks where her previous injuries would act up and render her bedridden for a time. Apparently, aside from her injuries where the perpetrator had aimed tocripple her by damaging her dantian core, she was also poisoned by the weapon used on her. The physicians were able to remove most of it and stop it from spreading but since the main focus of the attack was her dantian, it was inevitable that poison would seep in there as well and this was something that not anyone can remove. Understanding her situation, Jin Mei Rong had already accepted it and learned to leave with it but her family and their trusted vassals still found it hard to swallow and made them feel incredibly guilty. Looking at the three most important people to her, sitting around the table and looking at her with worry and guilt-ridden eyes, Jin Mei Rong gave them a gentle, reassuring smile and said, "Please everyone, no need to worry... I am fine and alive, that''s all that matters." "But Mei''er..." "No buts! I am fine brother! No need to worry anymore, besides my health shouldn''t be the dinner topic... Mother, I heard from some of the servants that you are preparing a welcoming banquet? Is it for that visiting princess?" Seeing her daughter was putting forth effort to change the topic of conversation, Wu Li Hua decided to go along with and nodded as she answered, "Originally it was not but now that she''s here, I thought it would be better to also announce her as one of the esteemed guests and one of the main reasons for the banquet." "When did this princess arrive?" Jin Meng Yao asked curiously. Before Wu Li Hua could answer, Jin Mei Rong quickly replied with a voice filled with annoyance that made both the emperor and empress hide their amused smiles while their son stared at his sister in surprise. "She arrived a couple of days ago... Oh, and brother, you should really avoid her, she isn''t very nice." "Really? Did she do anything to you?" Meng Yao asked with a frown on his face. The thought of someone bullying his sister while he was gone bothered him deeply. "Not really but I have a feeling that she''s up to no good." Sensing that her son''s expression darkening by the second, Wu Li Hua decided to intervene and spoke out, "It doesn''t matter what her true agendas are, your father already had people set up precautions, isn''t that right dear?" "Of course. I already have people keeping an eye on her and they will tell me as soon as something out of the ordinary happens... Now both of you two, keep eating." Jin Fa Chung said in reply while giving a pointed look to his children before returning back to his food. Picking up their chopsticks, both Meng Yao and Mei Rong resumed eating before Meng Yao suddenly stopped in the middle of chewing before he quickly swallowed his food and grabbed a drink then turned to his mother and asked, "If the banquet wasn''t for the princess, then who is it for? Is the original reason for the banquet the reason why you had me rushing to come back?" "Ah yes... The banquet is actually to welcome back your older cousin. Your father gave me permission to throw a welcoming feast for him." Looking extremely surprised, both Jin Meng Yao and Jin Mei Rong had only one thought in mind which they both simultaneously blurted out. "We have a cousin?!" 25 Newfound Cousin - 8.1 Dinner had just finished and both Jin Meng Yao and Jin Mei Rong are mulling about their newfound knowledge about this new cousin of theirs. According to their mother; Wu Li Hua, her older brother; their uncle, Wu Zhang He had adopted a son a couple of years ago since he needed to have an heir but hasn''t found a woman to marry and doesn''t have any plans of looking for one anytime soon. At first, Wu Zhang He didn''t have any plans to adopt a child but apparently, during one of his travels, he encountered a group of bandits who had ambushed a group of people who was just some guards that were escorting a physician during his journey to the next city. During the bandits'' attack, most of the guards were killed while some had fled leaving the injured physician and his young son. It was at that time that their uncle, Wu Zhang He came across them and since he was a strong and talented cultivator, dealing with the bandits was as easy as squashing a bug. Unfortunately for the physician, even with Wu Zhang He''s arrival, it was already too late for him and he was already at death''s door because of his grave injuries. His last request was for Wu Zhang He to please make sure that his young son lives on and in return, the physician gave a lot of precious medicine and herbs to him so Wu Zhang He had made sure that the young boy live on one of his estates as an apprentice to one of the physicians under the employment of the Wu family. After that Wu Zhang He almost forgot the boy entirely until one incident where his niece, Jin Mei Rong had an attack that caused a complication and the medicine needed needed an extremely rare herb. It was then that the emperor''s most trusted vassals started to look for the missing herb and luckily it was given to them by Wu Zhang Hewho had apparently gotten it from the herbs he had received from the physician. Upon realizing how precious the herbs and medicine that was left to him was and how much the old physician had helped his beloved niece, it was that he felt an overwhelming gratitude which is why their uncle had decided to also personally take in the orphaned son of the physician. When their uncle got the young boy and started training him in the ways of a cultivator, he found out that the boy had a huge talent for it so in turn, instead of keeping the boy with him here in Thunder Vale Country, he got the boy a master and had the master cultivator take the boy on his journeys to help him grow and when the boy departed with his master, their uncle; Wu Zhang He decided to keep his decision of adopting him private and didn''t let the public know, only letting his parents and his subordinates know of the boy''s existence. Now that they found out, both Jin Meng Yao and Jin Mei Rong didn''t know what to feel. The fact that they had no idea about their cousin''s existence was already disconcerting but when they thought of how their parents never showed any plans to tell them before made Jin Meng Yao think that there may be something more to the story than meets the eye. After dropping off his sister; Mei Rong to her courtyard, Meng Yao slowly made his way back to his own quarters, deep in thought. Thinking back to what his mother said, the only concrete thing both he and his sister knew about their cousin was his name which was Wu Jun Qiao. Aside from that, they knew nothing else and this made Jin Meng Yao wonder what kind of person his cousin was, where he''s been in the past years and when exactly is he going to arrive. Unknown to Jin Meng Yao, the very man he was wondering about was actually nearer than he thought. In a city close to the imperial called Splitting Hammer City, residing in one of the more exclusive inns was a tall young man with long silky raven black hair and a lithe yet muscular build, dressed in simple yet obviously high quality black robes, stood in front of a window, gazing into the dark midnight sky while another man who looked older than him silently stood behind him with his head respectfully bowed as if waiting for the young man to speak. Silence engulfed the two men in the room and no one moved, nor made any sounds. The older, middle-aged looking man just patiently stood there, waiting. Even if the middle-aged man seemed much more intimidatingwith an oppressive aura of a strong cultivator, he didn''t dare show negligence when it comes to this young man in front of him. In fact, the middle-aged man started to feel nervous with the continued silence of the young man! The silence was broken when the young man shifted his stance and placed both of his hands behind his back and leisurely turned his back to the window and gazing at the middle-aged man with a cold, impenetrable gaze that seemingly shone out from behind an intricately detailed half mask that covered the upper half of the young man''s face. His cold, shining eyes seemed to aloof and unfeeling to the point that it made it seem that he doesn''t care in the slightest but the strange glint in his eyes made his gaze seem extremely sharp which made the man shiver slightly as sweat started to form on his back under the scrutiny. A full minute passed making the middle-aged man feel increasingly uneasy before the young man finally decided to speak. "Ting Zhe, it''s been three years..." the young man softly spoke, his voice seemingly amiable and tranquil yet there was an underlying coldness underneath which made the middle-aged man named Yi Ting Zhe gulp. "Young Master, this servant has failed you! Please punish me as you see fit!" Yi Ting Zhe said as he dropped down on his knees and kowtowed three times before remaining bowed on the floor. Sighing, the young man slowly shook his head with disappointment before turning his back on the kneeling Yi Ting Zhe and turned to gaze out of the window once more. "Stand up Ting Zhe! I will not punish you... I just need you to work harder. I need to find her and I need to find her soon! It''s already been too long..." the young man spoke to him with cold voice that seemed to have a hint of melancholy at the end. This made Yi Ting Zhe feel increasingly guilty about not accomplishing his master''s order as he lifted his head and declared that he will give his utmost to complete the task given to him. Ever since he found the young master when he was injured, the moment he woke up and found out that Yi Ting Zhe was now assigned to him as his subordinate, the young master only gave him one absolute order and nothing else. That was to find a young girl. Just like what his young master said, it has already been three years and yet he still hasn''t found any traces of her and this not only frustrated him but also slowly turned his young master colder and more distant as more time passed by. The fact that his young master never got angry at him and just tiredly sighs everytime his disappointed with Yi Ting Zhe''s lack of results and never punished him made Yi Ting Zhe feel gratitude and also more motivated to increase his efforts at finding the girl, at the same time, Yi Ting Zhe also worried about his young master''s well-being everytime he leaves to search for the girl. Standing up, Yi Ting Zhe looked at his young master''s back and hesitantly asked, "Then what does Young Master plan to do?" Unseen by Yi Ting Zhe, the young man''s lips lifted slightly to form a smirk before he answered. "I''ll be going on to the imperial capital, the Golden Thunder City. I heard that my dear aunt actually made a fuss to welcome her new nephew and as such, I should be fillial and make sure to greet my imperial aunt." 26 Newfound Cousin - 8.2 The next day, just an hour after dawn, an elegant young man wearing an exquisite half-mask and black robes boarded a carriage with a simple exterior but a luxurious interior. Yi Ting Zhe could be seen beside the carriage, riding on top of a powerful horse-type spirit beast called a Stallion Drake which had a body of a horse only bigger and covered with reptillian-like scales on it''s head, legs and majorit of his body, making it look as if it is wearing some form of armor. Seeing the carriage curtain being pulled back, Yi Ting Zhe immediately focused his attention to it and saw the young master''s half-covered face peek out and look at him. "Ting Zhe, this time if you still don''t find anything after a month come back, alright?" "As you wish Young Master." "Good... Then go ahead, you know where to find me." with that as his parting words, the young man let go of the curtains before issuing out an order to depart, leaving Yi Ting Zhe to stare after the carriage that was also being pulled by Stallion Drakes until it was lost from his view before turning his mount around and galloping off to the opposite direction. Meanwhile, the young man man remained silent as he calmly sipped tea that was prepared for him with the carriage while leaning back against the silk cushions with his eyes closed. Before long, their carriage arrived in front of the city gates and with the driver showing the token of the Wu Family Head, they were let in without a hitch. Unsure of where to go, the carriage driver took advantage of the crowded streets and the moment he had to stop, he leaned down and called out to ask the young man inside. "Young Master, where do you want to go? Would you like to head back to the Wu residence first?" "Go to the Wu residence first. I still need to let Uncle Zhang that I''ve arrived." the young man said as he lazily replied. "Right away Young Master!" After that, the carriage driver quickly flicked the reins of the Stallion Drakes that were pulling the carriage and which made the spirit beasts let out a little roar which made the nearby pedestrians take a couple of steps back which made it easier for the carriage to move forward as the Stallion Drakes thundered forward, easily pulling the carriage behind it. Soon, the carriage made it''s way out of the capital city''s main streets and in to less crowded streets which still had a few business establishments but were not as noisy and populated as the ones in the main streets. The noise coming outside the carriage slowly lessened and only a few sounds were heard; a few people talking, the sounds of things being moved around and the clattering of hoovesas other carriages were pulled past them. After a short while, the carriage''s speed could be felt slowing down which prompted the young man to open his eyes and gently put down the empty cup of tea he had in his hand before pulling back the carriage curtains slightly and peeking out. What he saw were two large elegants gates situated on either side of the road, perpendicular to each other. The gate that they stopped at was the first one which was on the left, while the other one was just severaltens of meters away from them and was shut tightly with two guards standing on either side, just outside the gate. This made the young man eye the gate with curiosity before his attention was drawn by the sound of the gate where the carriage stopped be pulle open which enabled the driver to maneuver their carriage inside. Letting go of the curtains, the young man let it fall back to it''s original place and waited for the carriage to come to a full stop. Outside of the carriage, inside the main manor of the residence, a tall distinguished looking man wearing white robes was seen rushing towards the main entrance. As soon as he saw the incoming carriage, a grin appeared on the man''s mature and handsome face making him look all the more eye-catching. The moment the carriage came to a stop, the driver immediately jumped down from his seat and told the passenger inside that they have arrived and upon hearing the young man''s response from inside, he then opened the carriage door while simultaneously placing a rectangular stool on the ground to serve as a stepping aid to get down from the carriage. Amidst the watching gaze of the residence servants as well as the lord of the residence himself; Wu Zhang He, the white-robed man, a young man wearing black robes and an intricately detailed half-mask that covered half of his face which still couldn''t hide the obvious beauty of his handsome countenance disembark from the carriage gracefully before walking and making his way to Wu Zhang He with a small wry smile on his lips. "Uncle Zhang..." the young man cordially greeted Wu Zhang He while nodding in respect and acknowledgement to his direction. The numerous servants were surprised at his words and his actions since to them, this unknown young man had not even bowed properly towards their lord which made it seem like he didn''t show proper respect. They thought that their master would get angry but to their immense surprise, instead of anger, Wu Zhang He suddenly laughed and pulled the young man into a hug before pushing youth back while keeping his hands on the young man''s shoulders as he studied him while smiling. "You look great my boy! How have you been Jun Qiao?" Wu Zhang He questioned after he finished examining the young man in front of him. Grinning, the young man named Jun Qiao replied, "I have been doing very well thanks to uncle''s help." "Ah no need for thanks between family! Remember, I have already taken you in as my son!" Wu Zhang He responded with a meaningful gaze which Jun Qiao acknowledged with an inperceptible nod while the servants went into shock. This young man was the supposed youth that was adopted by their lord?! Then wouldn''t that mean that he''s the future heir of the Wu family unless their lord marries and gets a child of his own? The servants were knocked out of their shocked reverie when they heard the young man laugh before sheepishly saying, "Of course! I am sorry, I''m still a bit unused to everything." "That''s completely fine, completely fine... There''s no problem and besides you''ll eventually get used to it with time." Wu Zhang He replied before patting Jun Qiao twice on his shoulder and stepping back before turning to the servants who had their heads lowered to show them respect. Scanning them, Wu Zhang He''s eyes landed on an old lady with white hair tied into a single bun on top of her head. With a smile, Wu Zhang He called out, "Granny Fang, can you have someone prepare Jun Qiao''s quarters so that he may take a rest later?" "Of course Master. If you''ll excuse me... Master. Young Master." excusing herself, the old lady bowed to them both and smiled at them before calling out to the servants and leaving orders to prepare tea for their masters before leaving and bring a couple of the servants with her. After she left, Wu Zhang He glanced at the young man besides him and gave him a grin the moment their eyes met. "Come along Jun Qiao, let me show you around..." 27 Newfound Cousin - 8.3 After showing Jun Qiao around, both he and Wu Zhang He retreated to Wu Zhang He''s study where a servant quickly served them some snacks and refreshments before quickly going out and leaving the two alone. Glancing at young man sitting in front of him, Wu Zhang He expertly poured the both of them tea before voicing out what was on his mind. "So what are your plans now Jun Qiao?" Hearing the question, Jun Qiao didn''t immediately answer and instead picked up a cup of tea and took a sip before meeting Wu Zhang He''s gaze. "I plan to stay here for a while. I''m still looking for her and if I keep moving around as I have been, I might soon draw some unwanted attention. I would prefer to stay inconspicous to avoid my enemies from putting up their guard, that is of course, until I find her..." "Hmm... Well staying here is indeed a good plan, that way you''ll be able to set up a base of operations and give you a chance to slowly build up your strength and expand your reach in regards to influence and intelligence gathering." "Exactly! For now I just have to planand then act accordingly." Nodding his head in agreement, Wu Zhang He sipped his own tea as he ruminated Jun Qiao''s words. "Then what do you need to do first? Anything I could do to help?" Pausing, Jun Qiao carefully considered his plans before answering, "Well I need to find a place for myself first that is both private yet easily accessible... Actually in regards to this, I have something I''d like to ask Uncle Zhang''s help with." Surprised, Wu Zhang He instantly responded, "Tell me then, what is it that you need?" "First, I''s like to ask if you know who owns the residence perpendicular to here? The one just past yours with the closed gate and two guards and if there''s any chance that I could perhaps acquire it." Startled, Wu Zhang He looked at Jun Qiao before slowly smiling at him and shaking his head while letting out a few chuckles in between which made Jun Qiao frown in confusion. "Did I say something weird Uncle Zhang?" "Haha... Not at all, not at all! But do tell me, is that you''re only concern for now?" With brows still drawn together, Jun Qiao answered, "Yes, it is." "Then let me handle it! The residence you''re currently eyeing is actually vacant as of the moment. I know the previous occupants and I have a pretty good relationship with them. I can go ahead and ask if they are willing to sell this land to you." Curious, Jun Qiao asked, "Then may I know the previous occupants were?" "Oh, it was the Fan family who used to live there. They moved about a decade ago to the other side of the city near the foot of the mountains after a large expanse of land there was given to them by the emperor because of their family''s help with the unexpected demonic beast wave that happened ten years ago." "Help? What did they do?" "Well mostly it was due to the efforts of General Fan Hui Zhong, the current head of the Fan family at the time. He was able to hold the beasts back with the help of the Fan family''s personal army; the Lei Ji Army." Feeling that he''s heard the name of the army before, Jun Qiao remained silent as his brows furrowed before realization spread through him. With a brow raised up in question, Jun Qiao gave a measuring look to Wu Zhang He before asking, "Lei Ji Army... Is that the same army that was supposed to be under the Lei Wangye?" "It is. Fan Hui Zhong IS Lei Wangye after all." Wu Zhang He replied with an amused grin. "So you knew the infamous Lei Wangye?" "Not only knew, I even managed to witness him fight during during that time when he led the Thunder Vale army along with the Lei Ji army against the beast wave since I was one of the assigned generals that were tasked to lend support to him and when I saw him... It wa as if an immortal had descended and was fighting in front of us!" Wu Zhang He exclaimed with a somewhat dazed look in his eyes as if he was back there in the frontlines. "He''s that good?" "Better than what you might be thinking! Back then, he totally exceeded my expectations... I was only three years younger than him but he only replaced his father as a general the year before but his battle experience and leadership skills were beyond compare, even with the older and more experienced generals back then!" Hearing Wu Zhang He praise Fan Hui Zhong so much piqued his interest and couldn''t help but ask, "Do you think there''s a way for me to meet him?" "Before, I would have definitely be able to introduce you to him but a little more than a decade ago, Fan Hui Zhong retired and just disappeared. The public thinks that he''s just staying in Lei Palace in secluded cultivation but from what I was able to gather, he left Golden Thunder City and started travelling alone. I tried putting trackers on his trail but they lost him when he ventured inside the Abyss Valley Mountain Range." "Is that so? Then do you have any idea if he''s still alive?" "Oh he definitely is still alive. I get reports sometimes of a letter being sent to the Fan family by a contracted Lightning Hawk and the last I checked, Fan Hui Zhong had one of those before he left." "I see... (sigh)... Too bad he''s not here, it would have been great to get an opportunity to meet him." Jun Qiao sighed once again while he replied, slightly disappointed with what he learned with his head bowed slightly in contemplation. "Well don''t worry about that, there''s nothing that can be done. Right now, what you should really focus on is the matters at the palace." Looking up, Jun Qiao''s eyes met Wu Zhang He''s worried ones which made him frown. "What''s there to worry about? Is it my new cousins?" "No no... You''re two cousins are fine. Probably surprised about finding out of your existence but there shouldn''t be a problem with them." Sensing that there was something more to the situation, Jun Qiao''s previously relaxed demeanor turned serious as he asked, "Then what is it?" "Well... A certain princess is currently visiting and staying over at the palace." "Who?" Jun Qiao asked impatiently as he stared at Wu Zhang He''s tense and hesitant expression. "Ning Yan Mei; the princess of the Spirit Valor Country." Upon hearing the name, Jun Qiao''s eyes grew noticeably cold and his aura became increasingly heavy and suffocating before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath and slowly reigned in his emotions and controlled his presence. Despite of the calm he now exuded, when Jun Qiao opened his eyes, they still had a layer of frost in them with a sharp, dangerous glint but aside from his eyes, the expression on his face was completely different. A slow smile filled with amusement appeared in his lips, making him seem a bit mischievous, like a beautiful, other-wordly demon about to play with it''s prey. "Is that so? ThenI, Wu Jun Qiao must definitely pay a visit to my cousins and make sure that they are acquainted with me." 28 Newfound Cousin - 8.4 Back at the imperial palace at the main hall were morning court was currently in session were two youths that were sitting side by side slightly to the one side on a long intricately carved dais made out of white jade with gold details near the front on a small raised platform who''s height is only second to the connecting larger platform that was a whole three steps higher where a large majestic throne made out of jade with an exquisitely unique color of golden amber with gold and gem detailings where the emperor himself sat. The two youths were none other than Jin Meng Yao and Fan Xian Liang! Jin Meng Yao was present because his father wants him to take this opportunity to watch and learn the proceedings in court so that when the time comes for him to step down, Jin Meng Yao will have an idea on what to do and not just blunder about blindly. On the other hand, Fan Xian Liang''s presence was only due to Jin Meng Yao''s insistence and as far as the court ministers could see, Fan Xian Liang was being forced by their prince to attend which clearly reflected on the two young men''s expressions. All of the various ministers and court officials knew why the two young men where here so they just went ahead and disregarded their presence but some of the more experienced ones couldn''t help but heave an internal sigh at the crown prince''s antics. "Come on Xian, are you still sulking?" Jin Meng Yao teasingly asked under his breath while giving his friend a small nudge. "I am not sulking!" Snickering, Jin Meng Yao retorted happily, "You so are!" Shooting Jin Meng Yao a dark look, Fan Xian Liang decided to ignore him and let his mind wander to the events that happened in their home the previous night. Seeing Fan Xian Liang ignoring him, Jin Meng Yao couldn''t help but have an urge to tease his friend even more. "Are you throwing a tantrum? Is that why you''re ignoring me now?" Silence... "Xian..." Nothing... "Xian..." Still nothing... "Ignoring me isn''t going to help you leave earlier you know." Jin Meng Yao told Fan Xian Liang in a low whisper as he looked at his friend but still he got no response. In spite of Fan Xian Liang''s lack of reaction, Jin Meng Yao still continued trying to hound Fan Xian Liang covertly while trying to act as inconspicous as possible and yet regardless of his efforts, his father; Emperor Jin Fa Chung still noticed. Before long, Jin Fa Chung could no longer tolerate his son''s antics that he stopped a court official who was citing a report mid-sentence and barked in a loud voice filled with annoyance, "Jin Meng Yao!" Instantly, both Jin Meng Yao and Fan Xian Liang''s eyes shot up to look at the emperor with identical looks of surprise while Jin Meng Yao then paled slightly as he realized that his father had discovered that he wasn''t paying attention. "Yes Father?" Jin Meng Yao asked nervously as he stared at Jin Fa Chung who was seated at the majestic jade throne. "Are you even paying a slightest bit of attention Meng Yao?" "Of course! I-" Narrowing his eyes, Jin Fa Chung directed a piercing stare at his son while letting his aura flare slightly making Jin Meng Yao swallow up what he was going to say. "Are you sure?" the emperor asked coldly as he stared down at the crown prince while all the officials stayed silent, some feeling a slight chill in their hearts when they felt their emperor''s dominating aura flare up. Cursing his luck, Jin Meng Yao decided to keep silent to avoid futher angering his father especially when he felt his father; Jin Fa Chung directing his aura to solely focus and pressure him and him alone. Gritting his teeth, Jin Meng Yao silently endured and while the whole court fell into an uneasy silence, there were only a few ones who kept their cool and remained calm. Two of them were the father and son; Fan Hui Liang and Fan Xian Liang! Clearing his throat, Fan Hui Liang waited until he attracted te emperor''s attention and then calmly spoke up as soon as Jin Fa Chung''s eyes landed on him. "Your Majesty, if you would let this humble servant state his opinion? With a nod of his head and a small wave of his hand, the emperor gave his assent, "Go on..." "Why not just let the two youngsters out first? We can always decide their punishments later after morning court, that way we can focus on the matters we still have at hand." After Fan Hui Liang spoke, silence first greeted him while Jin Meng Yao felt increasingly nervous with his father''s lack of response. Finally, after a few moments passed, Jin Fa Chung sighed resignedly and then turned to look at both Jin Meng Yao and Fan Xian Liang. "You two leave for now." the emperor ordered with a flick of his hand. Quickly, both stood up and then bowed to the emperor''s direction before hastily making their way out of the main hall of the imperial palace. Once the massive door leading to the hall closed behind them, Jin Meng Yao let out relieved sigh while Fan Xian Liang smirked at his unruly friend. Turning to Fan Xian Liang, Jin Meng Yao said, "I really have to thank your father for saving me back there, if it weren''t forhim, my father would have probably pressure me with his aura until I coughed out blood!" "You know you would have deserved that right?" "Oy! Why would you side with my father on this? What kind of friend are you?" Jin Meng Yao indignantly complained while the two of them slowly made their way to the front gates of the imperial palace out were several eunuchs were waiting for them. "I''m the responsible one that always has to get us out of trouble that you always land us in." Fan Xian Liang retorted with an exasperated eyeroll. Affronted, Jin Meng Yao protested, "It''s not like I mean for us to get into trouble." "Of course you don''t" was Fan Xian Liang''s only response, his voice filled with sarcasm as he shot a meaningful look to his friend who then resorted to mumbling complaints under his breath. With a shake of his head, Fan Xian Liang turned to the nearest one of the eunuchs and asked, "Can you have someone please go and fetch both mine and the crown prince''s mounts?" Hearing his request, the eunuch immediately nodded his head respectfully and replied, "Of course Young Master Fan, it shall be done." "Very good, we''ll for our mounts here then." As soon as Fan Xian Liang finished speaking, the very same eunuch he spoke to bowed to the two of them before excusing himself and quickly striding off to have their mounts fetched. Not even half an hour has passed when they heard the tell-tale sounds of their mounts being led towards their direction and looking behind them, they could see two very large spirit beasts with saddles and reigns being guided to them. One was the crown prince''s mount, a Golden Thunderstone Tiger; it''s a large spirit beast that resembled a giant tiger with a black and gold striped patterned coat that gleamed brightly, as if parts of it''s huge muscular body emitted sparks while it moved sinously towards them. It''s large clawed paws digging slightly into the ground with each step and it''s golden cat eyes darted to look around as if studying it''s surroundings. The other one was the very same spirit beast; the Wind Runner that Fan Hui Zhong had ridden before which he had gifted to his nephew; Fan Xian Liang. It was the spirit beast named Heise; which looked like an extremely large towering horse with charcoal-black antlers and muscular body covered with velvety black fur. It was several times bigger than an ordinary horse and the way it moved was slightly different, it''s limbs moved more fluidly like water and it''s long midnight black hair moved gently as if it was being constantly blown by the wind. Stepping forward, Jin Meng Yao took the reins of the Golden Thunderstone Tiger and gave it an affectionate scratch behind it''s ears. "Thundaga, you''ve grown even more since the last time I saw you! Did you take care of little Mei''er while I was away?" Jin Meng Yao playfully asked as he continued scratching and petting his mount who let out satisfied growls and purrs from time to time as it sat down in his haunches in front of the crown prince. With a shake of his head and a small smile as he stared at his friend, Fan Xian Liang took the reigns to Heise and gave him a small affectionate pat before leading him towards the other two. "Meng Yao, will you be coming with me or shall I go on ahead?" Fan Xian Liang asked as he gazed at his friend who was engrossed with petting his mount. "Oh no no... I''ll go with you." Jin Meng Yao responded with a grin before he straightened up and tugged on his mount''s reigns, making it stand up. "Come on Thundaga, let''s go for a ride around the city today!" Jin Meng Yao said as he pulled himself up into the saddle and gave the Golden Thunderstone Tiger one more pat. Seeing Jin Meng Yao up on his mount, Fan Xian Liang swiftly swung his body up and settled himself comfortably on Heise''s saddle. With a flick of his reins, Fan Xian Liang made Heise move to exit the imperial gates with Jin Meng Yao having Thundaga immediately catch up to them. "Hey Xian, when did you get your new mount? That''s a Wind Runner right?" "Yes it is... I just got it yesterday to be honest. It was a gift." Curious to who would give such a rare and expensive mount as a gift, Jin Meng Yao asked, "Who gave it to you then?" Grinning towards his friend, Fan Xian Liang replied, "Uncle Zhong." "Oh I see. Your uncle is very generous with giving gifts, I remember when he gave me a gift before, I-" Just as he was reminiscing, Jin Meng Yao suddenly realized something an he cut himself off in mid-sentence to stare at his friend with wide eyes and a gaping mouth which made Fan Xian Liang burst out into laughter. "Wait a minute, do you mean to tell me that your uncle; Fan Hui Zhong, my teacher is back?!" Jin Meng Yao exclaimed in shock. "Yes, he''s back. I''m assuming that father would probably inform the emperor of his return later." Fan Xian Liang replied happily as he urged Heise to go a little faster towards the main streets. "Then where are we going Xian?! Shouldn''t we be heading back to your home? Why are you going the wrong way?" Jin Meng Yao asked agitatedly as he turned his head to look towards the direction that would lead them to the Lei Palace. Laughing, Fan Xian Liang replied, "No no... I need to buy some wine first before I go back, eldest brother gave me strict instructions not to go back without a lot of good quality wine." "Wine? Is it for master?" "Oh no... It''s not for him, it''s for our cousin." Fan Xian Liang said in reply, his eyes twinkling with humor. Surprised, Jin Meng Yao asked, "Cousin? You have a new cousin?" "We do! We only met her yesterday." Fan Xian Liang replied happily. "Her? You''re cousin''s a girl?" "Haha, yes she is. In fact, you''ce already seen her before." Fan Xian Liang chortled in amusement. Confused, Jin Meng Yao''s forehead creased and with a lost lool on his face, he asked, "I have? Where?" "Remember that pair of cultivators we saw camping out a short distance away from us when we were on our way back to the capital?" "Yes, I remember... don''t tell me that they were-" "That was them... it was Uncle Zhong and our new cousin, Zhu Xia." 29 Newfound Cousin - 8.5 Thinking back to what happened the day before, Fan Hui Zhong was making his way to his daughter''s courtyard along with his nephew; Fan Li Jie. A weird silence enveloped the two since both were thinking on how to ask the other about something that was lingering in their minds. Finally, Fan Hui Zhong got annoyed with the building tension that he suddenly stopped in his tracks which made Fan Li Jie lool at him inquiringly. "Alright boy, tell me what''s been bothering you?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with a pointed look which made Fan Li Jie sigh in resignation. "It''s nothing serious, Uncle Zhong. I was just wondering about what happened yesterday to make Xia''er react like that back at the pergola..." Hearing his nephew trail off, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but shake his head slowly before walking forward again with a slightly slower pace while Fan Li Jie trailed after him, staying silent while waiting to see if Fan Hui Zhong will respond. His silence paid off when Fan Hui Zhong opened his mouth and spoke in a low, gruff voice and said in a voice laden with regret, "It was my fault." "What do you mean?" Fan Li Jie asked, a bit confused since he was used to his uncle being cool and decisive, not like what he''s seeing right now. "I made your cousin feel doubt in her heart... made her doubt her place in our family." Frowning when he heard his uncle''s response, Fan Li Jie asked, his voice a bit distant, "What did you do?" Glancing at his nephew, a bit surprised at his cold demeanor, Fan Hui Zhong chuckled wryly and said, "She got you too, huh?" Narrowing his eyes, Fan Li Jie asked stiffly, "What do you mean?" "Oh don''t look at me like that, boy! You know what I mean... no need to feel ashamed of it. That''s exactly how I felt when I first found her." Fan Hui Zhong replied softly with a melancholic smile on his lips and a distant look in his eyes. Seeing that his nephew stayed quiet, Fan Hui Zhong continued and musingly said, "Xia''er just exudes this air that just makes you want to bundle her up and keep her safe... it just makes you want to do everything just to see her smile doesn''t it?" Returning his uncle''s probing look, Fan Li Jie broke off his gaze and stared ahead of them before murmuring softly, "Yeah, it does..." Smiling at his nephew who was avoiding meeting his eyes, Fan Hui Zhong just shook his head and told Fan Li Jie in a soft, emotion-filled voice, "Xia''er just has that effect on people. It''s not like she means it but it''s just that she''s someone who has a very gentle and innocent soul and yet life decided to put her through hell that cause her to be how she is now..." "What do you mean?" "The Xia''er that you met yesterday wasn''t the same one that I found all those years ago... In some ways she''s better but to those who may have known her before I found her, to them, she would''ve undoubtedly be different from the one they knew. It''s one of the reasons why I took her in. She looked so broken and alone... she reminded me of how I was when I lost your aunt during childbirth." Sighing deeply, Fan Hui Zhong closed his eyes for a minute before opening them up again, looking pained as he said, "Seeing her cling to you yesterday reminded me of how she was with me when I told her that I''ll always be there for her...that I will be her family and yet I made her doubt my words just because I hesitated." "Hesitated?" "I know that you have an inkling of an idea on what happen to your grandfather, after all, you were old enough to get the gist of things and I''m sure you now realize how complicated things are." "I do..." nodding, Fan Li Jie assented even though his eyes were still filled with questions. "Xia''er asked about that." Surprised, Fan Li Jie turned to look at Fan Hui Zhong and asked, "She asked about grandfather?" "Yes, she did..." "Why would she ask that? It''s not like she would''ve had any knowledge about grandfather." "Of course not! She only asked because your father brought it up while she was there and when she asked and both of us hesitated to answer her, we unintentionally made it seem like we didn''t want to tell her but in truth, we just didn''t know how to explain it properly." "Is that why she felt like she didn''t belong? That we wouldn''t like her?" "It probably is." Glancing at each other, both let out frustrated sighs as they ruminated on yesterday''s events. Breaking the silence that once more fell upon them, Fan Li Jie tried reassuring his uncle and said, "I''m sure if you explain to her why you can''t tell her will help her understand why you reacted the way you did." "I sure hope so, she is my daughter after all." Meanwhile, on their way back from the city''s market, Jin Meng Yao couldn''t stop himself from staring at his friend in shock and disbelief as he thought back to what Fan Xian Liang did. The moment they arrived at the market, they made a stop at each and every store that sold high quality wine and then to his surprise, Jin Meng Yao watched as his friend demanded to have the stores bring our their best wines bo matter what the prices were and as soon as he saw and checked the quality of each one of them, he proceeded to buy all of their stocks, leaving only a couple of jugs unbought due to the store owners pleas. Fan Xian Liang did this to all the stores they went through with no exceptions and Jin Meng Yao couldn''t help but just stare in bewilderment at how much wine his friend was buying. When he asked Fan Xian Liang why he''s buying so much wine if it''s only for his cousin, he just shrugged and then replied in a nonchalant manner, saying, "Xia''er likes wine." After hearing his answer, Jin Meng Yao was left stupefied on what exactly his friend was thinking. Which is why even now that they were on their way back to Fan Xian Liang''s home, Jin Meng Yao still couldn''t get over his surprise. Finally, Fan Xian Liang couldn''t take his staring anymore and turned to him and asked, "What is it Meng Yao?" "Nothing... it''s nothing." Jin Meng Yao said in reply while shaking his head slowly while still keeping his gaze trained on his friend. "Then why are you still staring at me?" Fan Xian Liang asked, feeling slightly annoyed. "Well it''s just..." "Just what?" "That was a lot of wine!" Jin Meng Yao exclaimed, his hands waving along with his words making him look a bit comical which made Fan Xian Liang snicker. "It''s not funny Xian! You really bought a lot, I mean, can your cousin even drink all that?" Jin Meng Yao grumbled indignantly while Fan Xian Liang continued to chuckle at him. "It doesn''t really matter if she can drink all of it, what matters is that we bought it for her. Besides, Eldest Brother might get annoyed if he finds out that I didn''t follow his instructions." "And those instructions would be?" "To make sure that I buy all the best wine in the imperial city." Fan Xian Liang replied with a bemused grin which left Jin Meng Yao completely flabbergasted. "I''m sure he didn''t mean ALL of the wine!" Meng Yao protested weakly. Ignoring his friend, Fan Xian Liang just mused aloud in response and said, "It''s better to be sure my dear friend... After all, I''ve never seen Eldest Brother so attentive to a female before." "What do you mean?" "You''ll see when we get there." 30 Old Feelings, New Faces. - 9.1 Furrowing her brows, Fan Zhu Xia felt light shining behind her closed eye lids, making her groan in protest. Turning around, she pulled the sheets over her head and tried going back to sleep when she felt her stomach grumble, making her frown deepen. Yawning, Fan Zhu Xia kicked the blanket covering her off and stretched out her limbs, feeling her joints pop back into place making her sigh in relief as she rubbed her eyes sleepily. Getting up from the bed, she surveyed her surroundings lazily when her eyes widened slightly in surprised when she noticed that it was sunlight that was streaming through the window that woke her up. No wonder her stomach was already protesting in hunger, apparently she slept right through dinner. Making her way to the bathing room, she went ahead and conducted her morning business as well as freshening up before she leisurely made her way back to her room and started to get herself ready for the day. Despite knowing that she missed dinner the night before and that her stomach was already grumbling in protest, Fan Zhu Xia was in no hurry to go out and look for someone she can ask to deliver food to her. Instead, she took her time picking the clothes she wanted to wear before settling on pale blue robes that was almost the exact shade of her eyes with silver embroideries. Fan Zhu Xia then pulled the top half of her hair back and braided in silvery blue silk ribbons made from the same material of her robes while adding white jade accessories to her look. After that, she sat in front of the mirror at her vanity table and lightly powdered her face and added a bit of rouge to her cheeks and lips, making her look less pale and coupled with her robes, it gave her a softer, more innocent look. Finally satisfied with her overall appearance, she took one more look at herself in the mirror and she was struck with a pang of bitter melancholy, making her eyes grow a tad colder and distant because when she looked at her reflection, the image she saw looking back at her with a wry smile reminded her so much of how she used to be like before everything came crashing down around her. Sighing, she half-heartedly turned away from the mirror and made her way out of her room, planning to look for someone she can ask on where she''ll be able to get food and just when she was nearing the front of her courtyard, she heard the tell-tale sounds of her courtyard door being slid open and the soft, muffled footsteps making it''s way inside. Tensing up slightly, she waited for the person to turn pass the corner and into the corridor and only relaxing when she saw two female servants who were each carrying warming baskets that had a bit of steam wafting out of the closed lid which made her mouth water and her stomach angrily grumble the moment she caught a whiff of the delicious aroma the steam carried. The two maid servants had somewhat similar features. Both had long black hair and almond shaped eyes with the only difference being is their height and color of their irises. The taller one had light peach colored eyes while the other had deep green eyes and from the moment they caught a glimpse of Fan Zhu Xia, the two female servants were momentarily stunned because it was the first time that they''ve seen their supposedly new young miss'' breathtaking countenance which reminded them of an icy immortal fairy with her icy blue eyes, snowy-white skin, pale blue robes with silver detailing coupled along with her silvery blue ribbons and white jade pins in her hair and accessories. The two young maids were knocked out of their stupor when they heard the blue-robed, young miss suddenly ask, "Is that food?" Blinking up at her, the two female servants managed to get ahold of themselves before respectfully nodding as they answered, "Yes miss." "Really? That''s absolutely perfect! I was just on my way out to look for someone to get me food." Fan Zhu Xia told them happily before gesturing to them to follow her. "Let''s go outside to the back garden by the koi pond with blooming purple flowers, I want to eat over there." "Of course miss." The taller one of the two immediately acknowledged her statement while the other just nodded and smiled as they followed Fan Zhu Xia out. Walking to a spot just beside the koi pond where a large flowering dogwood tree overlooked the water while being surrounded by the beautiful blooming stalks of purple flowers, Fan Zhu Xia waved her hand and produced a finely crafted circular table and a couple of chairs as well as a large fine rug and a couple of silk pillows beside the three of them. Very quickly, the two maid servants made short work of arranging everything around, leaving nothing for Zhu Xia to do other than just stand back and wait for them to finish. Their actions made her feel as if she was back in her old home at Mystic Terra Mountain where most of the servants wouldn''t let her lift a finger which used to frustrate her with how they kept treating her as if she was made out of fragile glass that could break at any time which was why she insisted on travelling around the lands to help her broaden her horizons and experience new things. This two maid servants in front of her reminded her so much of the people back at the Cong clan that used to serve their family that Zhu Xia couldn''t help but feel a nostalgic feeling which brought a tinge of sadness to her but also helped lighten her mood and feelings towards them. The moment the two finished fixing everything, they ushered Fan Zhu Xia to sit down before taking off the lids of the baskets and starting to efficiently set the food out in front of Fan Zhu Xia, making her mouth water as the delicious aroma of food permeated the air. No one spoke and after laying out all the food and cutlery as well a pouring tea for Fan Zhu Xia, the two maid servants stepped back to one side and just watched as their young miss slowly sampled each dish they brought before piling more of the food she liked into her bowl while they took note of which ones she liked best and which ones she liked least. A comfortable silence settled upon them when Fan Zhu Xia suddenly stopped eating and turned to the two of them and asked, "Aren''t the two of you going to join me?" Surprised, the younger and shorter of the two maids blurted out, "You want us to join you?!" Giggling at the younger maids outburst and the disapproving look the taller one shot to her companion who only gave a sheepish smile in return, Fan Zhu Xia nodded and then smiled as she replied, "Yes, I do want you to join me, after all the food you brought is too much for me to eat all on my own and besides, why do you think I brought out extra chairs when I''m not expecting guests? Come on and sit down with me." Looking at each other, the two maids were about to open their mouths to protest when Fan Zhu Xia beat them to it and said, "Just sit down you two, no need to feel uneasy." Left with no other choice, the two slowly sat down, murmuring thanks before looking at their new mistress who just smiled at them gently." "Tell me, what are your names?" Fan Zhu Xia asked. The taller one of the two with light peach-colored eyes first spoke and respectfully replied, "This lowly one is called Chun Tao. It is an honor to serve the young miss." "And this servant is called Chun Hua! A pleasure to finally meet the young miss!" the one with deep green eyes answered with happily with a shy smile on her face which made her look endearing. "It''s nice to meet the both of you. I hope to get to know you two better during my stay here then." Fan Zhu Xia said with a tinkling laugh to which the two responded with small smiles. Looking at the two, Fan Zhu Xia felt at ease and after some urging, both Chun Tao and Chun Hua succumbed and joined Fan Zhu Xia in eating and soon the sound of their laughter filled the morning air, making the whole atmosphere of the courtyard seem happy and harmonious. This was the scene that Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Li Jie stumbled upon, the moment they arrived at Fan Zhu Xia''s courtyard. Feeling a bit reluctant to disrupt the harmonious scene before them, Fan Hui Zhong had to take a minute to compose himself before he cleared his throat loudly andgruffly called out. "Xia''er..." 31 Old Feelings, New Faces. - 9.2 Hearing the familliar low and gravelly deep voice, Fan Zhu Xia involuntarily stiffened before she forced herself to relax and take a deep calming breath. Looking at her, Fan Hui Zhong could somehow see his daughter compose herself before lifting her gaze and pasting on her signature mischievous smile while exclaiming brightly and saying, "Father! Big Brother! What brings you here this early today?" "Xia''er, we need to talk..." Fan Hui Zhong replied quietly, with a voice that seemed uncharacteristically grim to Fan Zhu Xia which made her feel a tremor of nervousness run down her spine. Sending an uneasy glance towards Fan Li Jie, all Fan Zhu Xia got was an encouraging smile before he gestured for the two new maidservants to follow him. Giving a reluctant nod to Chun Tao and Chun Hua, the two servants, quickly got up and excused themselves, following Fan Li Jie''s lead and disappearing inside the courtyard building, leaving only the silent father and daughter. Not knowing what to do, Fan Zhu Xia gathered her courage and then swallowed lightly before clearing her throat and cheerily asking, "Would you like some tea, Father? The brew that Chun Tao and Chun Hua prepared for me is especially good!" "Xia''er..." "How about some of these dumplings? I just tried them earlier and they were really delicious!" "Xia''er..." "Oh and you should try them with this savory pheasant bird nest soup! The dumplings really go great with them and the..." Starting to feel a bit exasperated at his daughter''s obvious attempts to deflect, Fan Hui Zhong heaved a heavy sigh before sharply interrupting her in mid-sentence, "Xia''er, enough!" Startled, Fan Zhu Xia immediately snap her mouth shut and ended up looking at Fan Hui Zhong with big, wide eyes that somewhat struck Fan Hui Zhong as the same look a frightened, skittish animal would give him which made him feel even guiltier than he already is. Sighing tiredly, he slowly made his way to Fan Zhu Xia, as if afraid of making any sudden movements that might startle her further. "Calm down little one, I just want to talk." Hui Zhong told his daughter gently, wanting to ease her obviously high-strung nerves. A moment of silence passed between them before both of them opened their mouth at the same time and simultaneously spoke out. "Xia''er, I''m sorry..." "Sorry, Father..." Falling silent once more as their eyes snapped to meet each others gazes before Fan Zhu Xia tentatively smiled which made Fan Hui Zhong heave a sigh of relief before a grin slowly formed on his usually expressionless face making it look younger and less intimidating. With his conscience slightly eased, Fan Hui Zhong awkwardly scratched his beard-covered chin and coughed slightly before talking with a serious look on his eyes. "Little one, will you let this old man explain the reason why your uncle and I reacted the way we did yesterday?" A bit taken aback, Fan Zhu Xia could only nod her head slowly since she didn''t really expect that she''ll get an explanation from them. In fact, she thought that she would actually have to explain why she acted the way she did! Seeing her nod her assent, Fan Hui Zhong nervously swallowed and fidgeted for a second before finally opening his mouth to talk. "It wasn''t that we don''t trust you, Xia''er. It''s more like Liang''er and I really have no idea on how we can explain what happened with your grandfather." "I understand." "No...you don''t. I know that you felt that we don''t think you have any business knowing about it; just because I only adopted you and you cannot be more further from the truth!" Fan Hui Zhong vehemently rebutted, looking extremely distressed as he gazed at Fan Zhu Xia with aggrieved eyes. Before continuing on, Fan Hui Zhong reached across the table, pass all the cups and dishes to take Fan Zhu Xia''s hand which was loosely curved around a teacup into his grasp and then tightly held onto them making Zhu Xia look at him with a bittersweet smile. "I understand what you''re trying to tell me, Father... I guess you can say I''m just afraid to lose you too after all it''s not like I''ve been the ideal daughter!" Fan Zhu Xia replied with a self-depracating laugh as she shook her head slowly before looking down to gaze at their clasped hands. Feeling his daughter trying to pull her hand away slowly, Fan Hui Zhong just tightened his hold and replied with a choked voice, "Stop talking like that... in fact, stop thinking like that altogether!" Startled, Fan Zhu Xia''s head snapped up to look at Fan Hui Zhong when she saw the man who''s been her pillar of support, her rock throughout the past three years; slowly crumble in front of her with tears in his eyes. Distressed at seeing the sight of Fan Hui Zhong looking so vulnerable for the very first time since she knew him, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but worriedly exclaim, "Father, please!" Letting out a bitter laugh, Fan Hui Zhong half-heartedly smiled at his daughter and reassured her. "No need to worry about me, Xia''er... there''s no need for that but there is something you need to understand and never forget." Looking straight into Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes, Fan Hui Zhong held on tighter to her hand and said with a gruff voice filled with emotion, "Xia''er, always remember that you are my daughter. No matter what happens, where we are, who we are with... nothing and I mean nothing is ever going to change that! From the moment I took you in, I already thought of you as my own... and coming here doesn''t change any of that... Do you understand?" "I...Father, I..." stuttering, too lost for words; Fan Zhu Xia felt so overwhelmed with emotions that she didn''t even know what to say that she ended up trailing off and just staring blankly with wide eyes at Fan Hui Zhong. "Xia''er, you may not be of my own flesh and blood but I love you as I would any daughter of mine. Please never doubt that... You may not have realized it but it was you who brought me back to how I was before... it was you who brought me out of my grief of losing my wife and child... You weren''t the only one who''s life changed when I found you on that riverbank that day... You changed mine too." Fan Hui Zhong told her gruffly, his hand involuntarily clenching further to the point that it almost hurt yet Fan Zhu Xia didn''t say anything to stop him. She just looked at Fan Hui Zhong with blurry eyes as she blinked, causing tears to slowly rol down her snowy-white cheeks, falling like crystalline water drops down a flower''s soft petal. Fan Zhu Xia felt the strong emotions and conviction that Fan Hui Zhong was trying to convey and it left her speechless. Gazing at the man sitting across from her, the way he looked at her brought to mind how her uncle and father used to look at her when she was still a young child. It even reminded her of some of the times that Ning Jun Qiao comforted her when she was sad or afraid and the thought of him, of how he used to treat her and look after her, as well as the memory of the last time she ever saw him which just made Fan Zhu Xia cry even harder. Heaving sobs, slowly took over and racked her body as she tried choking out the words that she wanted to say. "I''m sorry... Zhu Xia is so sorry..." Seeing her break down, Fan Hui Zhong immediately got up from his seat and gathered Fan Zhu Xia into his arms, rocking her gently while whispering comforting words. His actions, in turn, just made Fan Zhu Xia cry harder as she clung to him and buried her head into his chest, soaking his front with her tears as she continously apologized. Sensing that it wasn''t just him that brought Fan Zhu Xia tears but most likely it was also the thought of her old family, Fan Hui Zhong just sat on the ground slowly, leaning Fan Zhu Xia gently on his chest and hushed her cries while stroking her back like how you would a crying child. "We understand, little one. It wasn''t your fault, it never was..." 32 Old Feelings, New Faces - 9.3 After calming Fan Zhu Xia down, Fan Hui Zhong ended up having her curled on his lap like a kitten, fast asleep. Looking down at her, a small doting smile slowly showed on his face as he thought of how Zhu Xia was acting. It was times like these that really made Fan Hui Zhong look at Fan Zhu Xia like she was still a little girl despite her age and it wasn''t entirely because she wasn''t acting her age but it was more of how she expressed her feelings, especially when she cries. When Fan Zhu Xia fully lets go of her control over her emotions and actually lets herself cry, the way she does it isn''t like how most peoply her age cry. Whenever Fan Hui Zhong sees or even just hears her crying like that, it was as if he was listening to a child crying. Maybe it was because she went through an extremely traumatic event at such a young age that when she cries, it was especially heartwrenching to hear and extremely hard to watch. She just exuded a desolate sadness and vulnerability, as if her innocence was broken and destroyed in just a blink of the eye and in a way, that was exactly how it happened. The very first time she cried like that changed the whole way Fan Hui Zhong looked at her. It wasn''t because he was judging her but it made him look at Fan Zhu Xia in a whole new perspective. The first time she cried like that was when she finally opened up and told him what had happened to her that caused her to be swept away by the raging waters and end up by the riverbank where he found her. Everything he heard and saw that day really just made Fan Hui Zhong want to take in and just protect that broken young girl with a body covered in bruises, looking black and blue all over with tears overflowing in her big pale blue eyes that looked so haunted and empty. The way Zhu Xia looked back then had always plagued him and Hui Zhong swore to himself that no matter what happens, he will do whatever it takes to keep that haunted look away. That he will do everything that he could to keep the life and vitality that slowly blossomed within the young girl''s uniquely colored ice blue eyes. Time passed and slowly, Fan Hui Zhong started to look and treat Zhu Xia as he would his own daughter. He didn''t even notice that his previously reclusive and stringent behavior slowly changed into a somewhat gentler yet definitely fatherly demeanor towards the young girl. A lot of people in the small town located near the borders of Thunder Vale Country had even noticed the change in his behavior and even his brother, Hui Liang said the same thing when they had talked after dinner last night and that was saying something since his brother was there and witnessed how badly he spiralled down to rock-bottom when his wife, Yue Wan suffered a complication during childbirth and died along with their newborn son. Hui Zhong was so lost back then, just a shell of who he was which was why he decided to retire and leave despite of so many people trying to convince him of otherwise. He was in such a dark place back then that there were times where he just wanted to join his beloved wife and deceased son in the afterlife that drove him to the brink of insanity at times. It was what made him venture into the Abyss Valley Mountain Range. From the moment he left the capital, Fan Hui Zhong knew that he was being followed by numerous people sent by different individuals and he could vaguely sense how many they were and where they were at. Their presence was what motivated him to go deeper and deeper into the dark forest despite the perilous nature of that mountain range until finally they lost his trail and he was finally alone. He knew that most of those who followed him was sent by people who cared about his well-being but he was in a bad place both mentally and emotionally at that time and all he wanted was solitude and time away from everything and everyone he knew. What he should have expected was that his decision to isolate himself deep within the Abyss Valley Mountain Range can be extremely fatal! Fan Hui Zhong spend months alone there and during the middle of his fifth month, he encountered one of the rarely seen yet extremely ferocious demonic spirit beast while traversing through the dark foliage. An Onyx Shadow Panther. Despite it''s seemingly simple name, true to it, this demonic spirit beast can seamlessly blend into the darkness and if it was experienced and powerful enough, can even dissipate into a shadow-like form that is practically impossible to see. Fan Hui Zhong was lucky enough that despite of his state of mind, his senses and instincts were still as sharp as ever. He was able to faintly sense the incoming danger right at the last minute which was what enabled him to dodge the Onyx Shadow Panther that just suddenly appeared from behind him, like a phantom materializing between the shade casted by the tall trees while bringing out one of his most prized weapons that he ever made, a long and heavy halberd made out of black steel. His heart almost stopped right then and there from the mere shock of seeing one of the rarest and most reclusive spirit beasts right there in front of him, staring intensely at him. It''s big wide eyes with ruby red irises and slitted pupils staring at him with a dangerous glint. It''s vivid gaze directly contrasting with it''s dark, almost smokey black body that seemed to fade in and out of the shadows as it slowly circled around him, moving so silently that it hardly made a sound. At that moment, Fan Hui Zhong knew that if he wasn''t able to escape from there in time, then the place where he was standing eould surely be his final resting place. Adrenaline pumped in his veins and his attention wholle focused on the huge shadowy panther stalking around him. His gaze never left it''s form and neither made a sound. Fan Hui Zhong tightened his grip on his favorite weapon which he had ironically named Dancing Shadow because of how it looked and how he handled it the first time he used it. The long halberd was taller than him by almost one whole head and it was made out of Black Gold Steel which was a combination of ordinary gold, steel and powdered dianite rock which was the hardest substance there is and could only be harvested by scraping off small amounts of it which resulted in it''s crushed, state which he just further refined to be as fine as powder. Together, he smelted all three and combined all of it to form his long black halberd that glinted beautifully as if there were little stars in it''s dark body due to the dianite. When he first used it, it was during the unexpected beast wave and at that time, the halberd looked like it was dancing through the air looking like a fleeting shadow as he expertly swung it against the stampeding spirit beasts, cutting them down one by one. It was how it got it''s name and now ironically he was about to use it against Onyx Shadow Panther. Thump... Thump... Thump... Three seconds passed before the Onyx Shadow Panther just dissipate into black smoke and blended into the shadows when he suddenly felt impending danger from his right which made him instinctively swing his halberd. Despite not seeing anything, something heavy and solid hit his weapon, stopping it''s swing mid-way and right there before his eyes, the Onyx Shadow Panther slowly materialized with a furious roar as blood from it''s left shoulder dripped down to the bladed tip of his halberd. Just as it roared, it''s actions became frenzied and it once again lunged at him, no longer even bothering to hide itself in the shadows and just throwing itself into a savage assault which left Fan Hui Zhong no choice left but to continue to defend. Their frenzied fight lasted throughout the day and the night as they moved through the forest simultaneously while the other spirit beasts wisely avoiding them which made Fan Hui Zhong internally sigh with relief. The only thing was that despite his stamina, even he grew increasingly tired with his continues defense. He knew that with the growing amount of injuries he received from the Onyx Shadow Panther, that of their fight goes on then he would inevitably lose with his fast-draining strength and his bleeding wounds. Fighting to hold on, Fan Hui Zhong waited for the Onyx Shadow Panther to show an opening and when he finally saw it slowing down it''s attacks due to fatigue, he put every last bit of his strength and suddenly dashed forward and swung his long halberd across the panther''s chest and belly while pushing it away with all his might which made it fall a few feet away from him. Panting, he saw the Onyx Shadow Panther sprawled on the ground, growling weakly and trying to get up with it''s ruby red eyes fixed warily at him but still not showing fear, just awareness that it knows that it''s life depends on Fan Hui Zhong''s decision. Returning it''s watchful gaze, instead of going over and finishing it off, Fan Hui Zhong stared at it for a full minute before slowly nodding his head toward''s it''s direction and backing away before disappearing into the forest and leaving the critically injured Onyx Shadow Panther on it''s own. Fan Hui Zhong respected the Onyx Shadow Panther''s strength and the fact that it was able to push him back and definitely hold it''s ground against him when so many other spirit beasts couldn''t. During this encounter though, despite not getting fatally wounded, Fan Hui Zhong discovered that the Onyx Shadow Panther was actually venomous, although not in a fatal way. He only found out after he had woken up in asmall cabin where an old man had tended to him after she found him where he lost consciousness after stumbling his way out of the forest, looking disheveled and heavily wounded. The old man had treated his wounds and advised him to go have a doctor check it out since he found slightly venomous substance as he was cleaning Fan Hui Zhong''s wounds. Heeding the man''s advise, Fan Hui Zhong sought out the nearest doctor which was located in the town where he decided to settle. From what the doctor told him, the venom isn''t fatal but what it does is that it slowly ate away at your spiritual qi and if continously exposed to it, could result in him becoming a waste. Unfortunately for Fan Hui Zhong at the time, no one had a way to remove the venom that was already in his bloodstream and he could only wait for the inevitable. It was one of the reasons why he chose to stay in that small far away village near Thunder Vale''s borders. With him slowly losing his cultivation and weakening, he knew that he would only be a liability if he went back. The only reason he did so now was because his new daughter, Fan Zhu Xia had slowly treated him and was able to halt the decline of his spiritual qi and actually help him slowly build it up again. Now they only lacked a couple of rare medicinal herbs to fully cure him which was why he decided to return to the capital where they hoped that they would have a higher chance of finding them. What Fan Hui Zhong did not expect was everyone''s reactions to his arrival, especially with the misunderstanding between him and his daughter. It definitely put him on a sombre and pensive mood, so much so that he didn''t even notice that Fan Zhu Xia who he though was still sleeping in his lap was already awake and staring at him quietly. Shifting slightly, Fan Zhu Xia spoke softly, slightly startling Fan Hui Zhong when she asked a question. "Father, can we go out and look around the city?" 33 Old Feelings, New Faces - 9.4 While Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia was left behind at the courtyard''s back gardens, Fan Li Jie led the two confused yet worried maids towards the receiving hall of the courtyard before casually taking a seat. Coming back to their senses, the two looked at each other before Chun Hua went out of the room before quickly coming back in with a tray filled with a pot of tea and a plate of snacks while Chun Tao opened the side doors to let a gentle breeze in before helping her sister serve the tea. Quietly attending to the eldest young master, Chun Tao and Chun Hua couldn''t help but keep sneaking worried glances at each other as they thought of their new young miss, after all, even the two of them could tell how nervous and reluctant their young miss was to be left alone with the Lei Wangye. A few more minutes passed when Fan Li Jie sighed before opening his eyes to give the two maids a measuring look which made the maids feel even more uneasy. Chun Tao, being older, took a deep breath before stepping forward and bowing to Fan Li Jie as she humbly yet hurriedly voiced out both hers and her sister''s worries and thoughts. "Eldest Young Master, please tell us... will the Young Miss be alright?" Instead of responding, Fan Li Jie just slowly lowered his cup and set it down in front of him before aloofly staring at Chun Tao with a blank expression on his face, unnerving her even more. Just when Chun Tao thought that he wasn''t going to answer her and that she''ll end up in trouble for speaking without permission, Fan Li Jie sighed then said, "No need to worry about my little cousin. She''ll be fine." "Really?" With another look, Fan Li Jie nodded silently in reply as he stood up and straightened his robes. "The two of you go and circle around to the back and check the small shed outside. Father said that he''ll be sending a couple of people later today to have it extended and converted into a kitchen and servant''s quarters." Startled, both of them nodded immediately and just as Fan Li Jie was about to leave, Chun Hua suddenly blurted out, "What about the Young Miss?" Without even sparing her a glance, Fan Li Jie replied, "Do not disturb them unless the call for you." "And what if the Young Miss looks for you?" Chun Tao inquired, making Fan Li Jie stop in his tracks for a second. "Then tell her that I''ll drop by later so she better wait for me." With that, Fan Li Jie made his way out of the courtyard, leaving the two maids looking after him with similar mystified expressions. "Sister, what should we do now?" Chun Hua asked. "Let''s just do what the Eldest Young Master ordered, I trust that the Young Miss will call for us should she need anything." What the two of them didn''t know was that the moment Fan Li Jie left, their Young Miss; Fan Zhu Xia was also getting ready to leave with her father; Fan Hui Zhong. "Are you ready to go Xia''er?" "I am Father, I just wanted to go and inform my new maids that I''ll be leaving." "I take it that Xia''er likes them then?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with a smile. "En. Xia''er likes them and thinks that Father has a good eye for picking servants for me." Hearing her words just now, made Fan Hui Zhong give his daughter a pondering look. To think that his daughter who was usually quite distant with new people and doesn''t like anyone she doesn''t know well get close, having two new maids is virtually having someone trailing behind you and when he suggested it before, she vehemently disagreed. It really made him wonder what was different with the two young ladies that made Fan Zhu Xia like them. Not being able to resist his curiousity, Fan Hui Zhong gave in and asked, "What made Xia''er accept the two? Father was actually quite ready to list down all the reasons why you should have your own maids just to try and convince you to give them a chance." Instead of answering right away, Fan Zhu Xia actually gave him a small smile filled with melancholy as her eyes showed a far away look. "The two of them reminded me of before... they gave me a feeling of home." Sensing his daughter''s changing mood, Fan Hui Zhong decided to just drop it and let it be. After all, even he can guess just what she means based from what she said. "Very well, I''ll be out by the courtyard gates then." "En. I won''t be long." Fan Zhu Xia replied before seemingly pulling herself out of her wayward thoughts and excitedly rushing out to find Chun Tao and Chun Hua. Before long, she found the two by the small building outside at the back of the courtyard, looking as if they were inspecting it and it''s surroundings with a couple of male servants while discussing something. "Chun Tao! Chun Hua!" Hearing their names be called, the two of them quickly turned to look to the direction where the voice seemed to originate from and saw their new mistress rushing towards them, looking like a fairy with snowy jade-like skin and blushing cheeks with her soft, pink lips pulled up into a smile as she waved at them. "Young Miss!" Coming to a stop in front of the two of them, Fan Zhu Xia gave both of them a smile, unknowingly making the breath of the male servants hitch with how bewitching her smile was when coupled with her breathtaking countenance. "Xia''er will be going out with Father, would the two of you like to come?" Looking at each other, Chun Tao went ahead and spoke for the both of them and asked, "Would Young Miss like for these two servants to accompany you?" "If the two of you are not busy then why not?" Looking at each other, they both nodded in tacit agreement before Chun Hua stepped forward and bowed. "Chun Hua will go and accompany Young Miss today!" "Yes, and Chun Tao will stay and oversee therenovations to be done to Young Miss'' courtyard." Chun Tao added with a small smile. "Very well. Come along then Chun Hua!" 34 Thousand Treasures Pavillion - 10.1 Going through the busy streets of Thunder Vale''s capital, the Golden Thunder City; the bustling streets was totally different from the time that Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Hui Zhong first arrived and the only difference is the time of the day! Before, it was early morning and although there were already people hurrying about back then, most had a calm, leisurely pace which in contrast to now, despite of the high sun in the sky in the middle of the day, a lot more people are roaming about, servants rushing about with errands, peddlers and a couple of shopowners shouting about as they tried to draw attention to their various wares and businesses and even several of the nobility flitted through the crowd followed by a couple of escorts, along with their maids and stewards as they entered the different tea houses and browsed through shops. To sum it up, everything was so lively! In the midst of the wide busy streets, countless carriages and horses passed but one in particular stood out and inexplicable drew attention. The carriage was larger than usual and was amazingly made of the same deep, dark red of the Onyx Blood Darkwood with gold detailings. It was almost exactly like the one that the royal family uses, the only difference is the family crest that was engraved in gold at right at the carriage doors and this was the one that drew attention the most. The crest of the infamous Lei Palace which belonged to no other than the reclusive Lei Wangye; Fan Hui Zhong! Of course, this was precisely the one that Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia were riding in as they remained completely oblivious to the shock that the carriage sent through the ones that recognized the crest as the people started to talk and gossip as they spread the news. This was in total contrast to the people who were settled comfortably inside the luxurious carriage where the atmosphere inside was more calm and relaxed compared to the streets they were passing. Fan Hui Zhong just watched silently with an indulgent smile as Fan Zhu Xia curiously pulled back the curtains to gaze outside the windows and observe the comings and goings of the people and establishments that they were passing. Unbeknownst to her, despite covering half of her face with a thin silk veil, coupled with her breathtakingly beautiful eyes filled with curiousity and the eye-catching carriage they were riding, she inadvertently drew attention without meaning to. Everyone now wondered who this young lady was and what relations she had to Lei Wangye! Speculations ran rampant and slowly spread through the crowd which inevitably travelled all throughout the capital shocking not only the commoners but also the various noble families. This was because almost everyone from the upper echelons of each prestigious family knew that Lei Wangye had left the capital several years ago and there has been no news since! While this piece of news threw the various family heads and elders into an agitated state, their younger generations were a totally different matter. Some families'' young ladies felt jealous of the attention Fan Zhu Xia drew with just a mere glance outside the carriage, most were in a state of shock as they hurriedly sent servants to bring the news back home while the young masters'' took note of this development and started planning on how to make the aquaintance of this mysterious young miss. Unknown to them, on the top floor of one of the tea houses in a private room, a young man with handsome features was staring fixated towards the carriage as it slowly drove away with glittering eyes. A smile slowly lifted the corners of his lips as he whispered to himself, "Found you..." In a blink of an eye, a strong breeze blew, momentarily making everyone in the streets shield their eyes as dust got blown around and if one looked towards the private tea room once more, they would notice that the young man was gone, only leaving a small pouch of gold coins, leaving the tea house''s servant who came in completely flabbergasted as he looked around the empty room. Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Fan Zhu Xia was animatedly talking to her father, seemingly carefree. "Did you see anything that piqued your interest?" Fan Hui Zhong asked. "Some but we can check them out later. I wonder... Is there anything fun or exciting happening in the capital today?" Fan Zhu Xia innocently queried as she looked at Fan Hui Zhong with eyes glittering with anticipation. If Fan Hui Zhong wasn''t used to it already, he would be dazed just like all the others who had Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes directed straight at them like this. Instead he just smiled dotingly and after a moment''s thought he replied, "I believe there should be an auction going on today." "Really?" "En. Let me have someone confirm then." With that, Fan Hui Zhong gave three sharp knocks and a small window opened up behind him, revealing the face of the driver directing the carriage. "Yes my lord?" A middle-aged man respectfully asked as he peered inside the carriage. This man was no stranger to Fan Hui Zhong and was named Min Sheng, a former subordinate of his while he was still in the army. A bit surprised to see him, Fan Hui Zhong exclaimed, "Min Sheng! What are you doing here? I thought you were still in the army?" "Answering Master, this lowly one decided to retire from the army and go and enlist under the Lei Sha Di Army that was established under your family''s banner to repay the grace that you have given before." "Ahh, that was nothing, no need for thanks. This Fan is just glad to see you well old friend." "Likewise, Wangye." Min Sheng replied with a heartfelt smile. "I almost forgot, Min Sheng, is there an auction going on today at the Thousand Treasures Pavillion?" "Replying to Master, yes there is one. It is due to start an hour from now." "Is that so? Little Xia''er, what do you think?" With twinkling eyes, Fan Zhu Xia grinned and happily nodded. "Sound like fun!" 35 Thousand Treasures Pavillion - 10.2 On their way to the Thousand Treasures Pavillion, the carriage that Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia unexpectedly halted in its tracks due to an elegant-looking, distinguished man with handsome features atop a Horse Wind Drake, a type of spirit beast that resembles a mighty stallion, usually used by the various powers elite force; had suddenly gotten in their way and came to a stopin front of their carriage, waiting for them to fully come to a rest before making his way to the side and knocking lightly on the carriage door. Ignoring the anticipation in the crowd''s faces, the man patiently waited for someone to acknowledge his presence while the crowd waited on baited breath on what was going to happen. Murmurs could be heard as people whispered to each other as they speculated on what''s about to happen. "That man on top of that mount-type spirit beast, Isn''t that-?" "It is, it is! Only a blind man wouldn''t know who that person is!" "Then why are the people inside that carriage keeping him waiting?" "Keep quiet you fool! Do you not recognize the symbol engraved at the carriage door?!" "Not really, this may even be the first time I''ve seen it." "You idiot! Has your head been filled with water that you could not recognize the crest of the one and only Lei Wangye?!" "Yes you old fool, it belongs to no other than Lei Wangye!" Despite hearing the agitated murmurings of the crowd, the man atop the Horse Wind Drake still had a carefree expression on his face. Finally, there was movement a slight movement visible inside the carriage before the curtains on the carriage window was pulled back before a man with strong, sharp features looked out to see the one who knocked. This man was precisely the Lei Wangye; Fan Hui Zhong! Recognizing Fan Hui Zhong, this inadvertently threw those who recognized him into a shocked frenzy, completely surprised at his reappearance in the imperial capital but contrary to them, the man atop the Horse Wind Drake had a smile grace his lips which made some of the ladies who were watching the scene involuntarily blush and sigh at the sight. Truly this man was a feast for the eyes! With an elegant and distinguished bearing, coupled with his strong yet gentle scholarly appearance, hereally drew the attention but despite of this, the man completely ignored the crowd and instead warmly greeted Fan Hui Zhong with a respectful voice. "Lei Wangye, it is a pleasure to see you again after all these years." Glancing at the man who spoke, Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes narrowed slightly before recognition flashed in his eyes. "Wu Zhang He? Is that you?" "En. I didn''t think that Lei Wangye would recognize me." "Of course I''d recognize you! You were a very promising and talented general even back then." With a slightly sheepish smile, Wu Zhang He brushed off Fan Hui Zhong''s compliment with a laugh as he replied, "Please Lei Wangye, you jest! This lowly one is nothing compared to you." "Nonsense! Don''t think that I don''t know how much you''ve improved over the years." "It would be all thanks to the guidance that Lei Wangye has shown us back then." "Think nothing of it! I just gave you a couple of tips back then, that is not enough for me to get cresit for guiding you." "Nevertheless, I, Wu Zhang He would like to show my gratitude on behalf of my Imperial Sister for all that you''ve done for our kingdom." Hearing Wu Zhang He say that, Fan Hui Zhong had a wry smile on his face as he was put on the spot. He knew that Wu Zhang He meant nothing else but sincere thanks with his words but who doesn''t know his background? After all, he even mentioned that he wanted to express his gratitude on behalf of his Imperial Sister, the current empress of Thunder Vale Country; Empress Wu Li Hua. Caught in a dilemma, Fan Hui Zhong wanted to refuse and say that he was going to accompany his daughter today and just as he opened his mouth to respectfully decline Wu Zhang He''s invitation, he felt a small, delicate hand touch his arm, drawing his gaze back inside the carriage. Seeing Fan Hui Zhong look back inside the carriage, a lot of people including Wu Zhang He was struck with curiosity as to who may be privileged enough to be riding alongside the infamous Lei Wangye. Before their curiosity could get any higher, they heard a soft, melodious voice speak out and say, "Father, you should go ahead and accept Lord Wu''s invitation. It would be very impolite if you do not." "Are you sure? Father did promise to accompany you today." "Xia''er is sure. No need to worry about me. After all, Father and I can meet up later after you''re business is done." Looking at Fan Zhu Xia''s smiling face, Fan Hui Zhong couldn help but sigh and give her an appreciative glance before replying, "Very well. Then Father will take his leave first, you go and enjoy yourself and I shall come and find you later." "En." With another smile, Fan Hui Zhong patted Fan Zhu Xia''s hand gently before opening the carriage door and directly disembarking, just barely giving everyone a glimpse of the elegant silhouette that was still sitting calmly inside before Fan Hui Zhong closed the carriage door himself. Seeing him go down, Min Sheng quickly ordered one of their escorts to disembark from their horse and personally led it towards Fan Hui Zhong and handed him the reins. Everyone there has barely recovered from their shock and even Wu Zhang He was just able to barely compose himself when they heard Fan Hui Zhong strictly give out orders. "Min Sheng, you are in charge of my daughter''s safety while I''m not around, do you understand?" "Of course my liege. Min Sheng will make sure nothing happens to the Young Miss." "Good. " Fan Hui Zhong nodded before turning to the escorts who all straightened their bodies a tad bit more before the moment Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes landed on them. "This Wangye assumes everyone knows what to do?" As if it was practiced just for today, all of the escorts who were all top fighters in the Lei Sha Di Army gave him a solemn smile before simultaenously giving words ofacknowledgement. "Good. Now go on ahead and accompany my daughter to the Thousand Treasures Pavillion and make sure to keep her safe." "Yes, Lei Wangye!" 36 Thousand Treasures Pavillion - 10.3 After Fan Hui Zhong left with Wu Zhang He, along with two guard escorts at Fan Zhu Xia''s insistence, the crowd dispersed while talking about what they saw and aside from confirming the news that it was really Lei Wangye that was riding inside the carriage but also this mysterious young miss who is supposedly his daughter! While the streets were abuzz with the news, the carriage that Fan Zhu Xia was in, finally arrived in front of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion. Coming to a stop, both Min Sheng and Chun Hua who had remained completely silent throughout the trip, both got off and made their way to the carriage door. Knocking lightly twice, Chun Hua then softly called out and said, "Young Miss, we''re here." Waiting patiently, Min Sheng surveyed the surroundings with a narrowed gaze while Chun Hua smiled lightly when she saw the carriage door start to open and hastened to place a small circular stepping stool before offering her hand to help assist her Young Miss in climbing down. While all of this was happening, both Chun Hua and Fan Zhu Xia was completely unaware of the stir that they caused! Looking at them, one would see a beautiful and elegant young lady that is comparible to a celestial being with her graceful bearing and almost water-like movements as if she floated down to land on the ground as she got down and off the carriage. Each of her movements were soft and fluid, while the silvery blue ribbons that were braided into her hair moved gently along the breeze as if it was floating in the sea of her deep raven hair which contrasted with her pale blue robes that enveloped her soft, womanly curves which swayed subtly as she walked making all the people''s eyes, especially the men, transfixed at her movements. Even her face which was partially hidden by the veil was especially eye-catching. The veil not diminishing the obvious beauty and allure her countenance has, making people wonder what kind of kingdom-toppling beauty is actually behind the wispy piece of silk that obstructed their view of her flawless face. While her appearance filled the crowd with curiousity and to some, longing, Fan Zhu Xia only felt excitement at finally arriving at their destination. Standing in front of the Thousan Treasures Pavillion, Fan Zhu Xia was in awe just by looking at it''s exterior! With tall walls made out of extremely smooth stone that it''s surface were like jade with elegant bamboo tiles and an awe-inspiring gate with bronze doors that is large enough to fit even their carriage in the entirety of it''s width, with room to spare that is currently opened wide to reveal a stone pathway with immaculately trimmed flowering plants and bushes on either side, leading all the way into a pair of elegantly carved doors made out of expensive spirit wood where a couple of attendants stood beside looking as if they were out of a painting. Engrossed with her surroundings, Fan Zhu Xia looked around her interestedly, barely noticing that half of her escorts, along with Min Sheng and Chun Hua were following quietly behind her, unwilling to divert her attention, because of this, Fan Zhu Xia''s mind wandered as she thought about where the other less conspicuouspaths led to, almost forgetting what they initially came there for in the first place. When one of the attendants decided to go ahead and meet them halfway, he lowered his head respectfully and nodded in greetings as he welcomed them. Even a man like him who has seen countless people with extremely prestigious backgrounds couldn''t help but feel a tinge of nervousness when standing in front of this young miss. Aside from her obvious deep connection to the infamous Lei Palace judging from the crest on the carriage that she was previously riding, even her demeanor spoke volumes! The aura she exceeded was both lofty yet enchanting, sweetly innocent yet indescribably untouchable. It truly made everyone feel as if they were in a dream when in her presence. Luckily, he, Ho You wasn''t as unexperienced and unlearned with the ways of the world despite his young appearance. This was even noticed by Fan Zhu Xia when she saw him quickly regain his composure enough to even give them an amiable yet courteous smile. This even gave Fan Zhu Xia a pleasant surprise. "Honoured guests, are you here to attend today''s auction?" Subtly paying closer attention to the attendant, Fan Zhu Xia gave him a small smile in return before answering him. "Sir is correct. We are indeed here for the auction. Has it started already?" "Please no need to be so courteous to this lowly one. This Honoured Guest may just refer to this one as Servant You." "You? That is a wonderful name meaning friend, this Young Miss is wondering if you would be a friend to her and show her around the Thousand Treasure Pavillion?" This gave Ho You an even better impression of her. Young, yet not conceited nor arrogant when treating those who most people would think was lower than them in status unlike most of the people who come here. This made Ho You feel as though this young miss is growing more pleasing to the eye the more he is around her making his next words be filled with sincerity. "It would be Ho You''s great honor. Please follow me." 37 Whos the real frog at the bottom of the well? - 11.1 Following behind Ho You, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes couldn''t help but widen for a fraction as she took in the bustling yet quiet and organized scene in front of her, making her momentarily stop by the entrance which drew quite a couple of eyes to her direction which made even Ho You smile wryly. Seeing how totally unaware of the effect she had on people, Ho You knew that despite her prestigious background, she was still quite grounded and a down to earth person. After all, if she wasn''t like that then how under heaven''s name was he able to chat with her earlier in such a familiar and amiable fashion? Oblivious to everyone''s thoughts and gazes, Fan Zhu Xia just looked around and absorbed the surrounding scene in front of her. The moment she entered the Thousand Treasures Pavillion, she immediately noticed how the tall walls were filled with numerous shelves of varying sizes containing a variety of rare and exquisite things ranging from weapons, tools, hard to find medicinal herbs, refining materials and even various armors and clothes! There were even numerous glass cases displaying a little bit of everything, from middle to high grade pills, trinkets and quite a number profound artifacts of different calibers, whereas a number of tables and comfortable chairs were setup in the far end side of the rather sizeable hall where a couple of people actually sat at while some attendants are showing them an item and explaining it before letting them inspect it themselves. This was something that even Fan Zhu Xia didn''t expect to see here. Fan Zhu Xia took everything in with an appreciative look in her eyes before calling Ho You''s attention and curiously asking a question. "Brother Ho, Xia''er didn''t realize that the Thousand Treasure''s Pavillion also had merchandise on display. Are the item''s to be auctioned also displayed here?" "Miss Xia''er, the items to be auctioned are not housed here. They are kept separately from the rest and is under tighter security than what we have here on the floor." Ho You patiently explained while Fan Zhu Xia nodded her head pensively as she thought of what he said. Meanwhile, a couple of the guests and customers near them couldn''t help but give them a strange look when they heard how casual they were at addressing each other, after all, one was obviously a young miss from a high-class family, solely judging by her clothes, lookd and the way she carried herself while the other was just a servant! He wasn''t even one of those servants worth befriending in their eyes after all as far as they know, Ho You was only one of the attendants in charge of greeting the customers and guests at the entrance and leading them inside the pavillion. Noticing the strange glances, Ho You half-expected Fan Zhu Xia to turn around and leave but to his pleasant surprise, not only did she ignore the looks and comments but he could swear that he distinctly saw a flash of disdain in her eyes when she shot a look at the direction of the other customers before it quickly disappeared as if it was never there as her gaze was still filled with warmth when she turned back to him. It left him a bit baffled, missing the query that she asked him. Seeing that Ho You''s mind was momentarily dazed, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but stifle a giggle making Ho You blush a little from embarassment. Just as Fan Zhu Xia was about to open her mouth to repeat her question, she heard a derisive snort come from behind her before a young lady''s voice that was soft and pleasant to hear started to talk in a mocking voice which made Fan Zhu Xia''s expression darken as a layer of frost appeared in her eyes. The initially pleasant voice quickly resembled nails scratching a board that emitted a high-pitched noise that was greating to hear. Simply annoying! "Such a bumpkin! Already awed by this place, it''s already quite obvious that you''re only putting on a show of being some family''s young miss! After all, who''s miss would actually go and fraternitize with a lowly servant? Hahaha!" Hearing her belittling words, almost all servants and workers in the vicinity had ugly looks on their faces while most of the customers'' servants could only swallow the humiliation they felt at the young lady''s words, almost all the attendants and workers of Thousand Treasures Pavillion had cold abd gloomy looks as they stared at the young lady. Talking loudly and haughtily, the young lady quickly drew the attention of the people there and almost all of them started paying attention, after all, who didn''t like watching a good show? Becoming the center of attention, Fan Zhu Xia was still ineffably composed as if she wasn''t hearing anything but passing air. This made Chun Hua who was filled with righteous indignation and was just quietly following behind her young miss hold her tongue and took deep breaths. If her young miss wasn''t going to bother with such petty matters then Chun Hua can only follow her lead. This was exactly the same with Min Sheng. Since the young miss did not give any orders then he can only silently watch, this didn''t stop him from coldly glaring at the young lady who suddenly decided to verbally attack their precious young miss out of nowhere! Min Sheng could only memorize her face and make sure to report this to Fan Zhu Xia''s father, the Lei Wangye; Fan Hui Zhong. Looking at the scene, the countless guests and customers started discussing amongst themselves and some even recognized who the young lady was that mocked Fan Zhu Xia. It was no other than the visiting princess of the Spirit Valor Country; Ning Yan Mei! 38 Whos the real frog at the bottom of the well? - 11.2 Seeing the young lady in pale blue dress continue to ignore Ning Yan Mei despite her mocking, this caused everyone to start whispering quietly amongst themselves and at the same time cause Ning Yan Mei to lose face. This made the visiting princess'' face blush in embarassment while Fan Zhu Xia remained unperturbed and continued chatting with Ho You as if she; Ning Yan Mei wasn''t even there and this caused the expression on her beautiful face darken as her eyes slightly redden and get wet with anger. "Look at how big that young miss'' guts is! To actually be able to stay calm despite angering the princess of the Spirit Valor Country!" "Shhh, be quiet! It''s quite obvious that the young miss is also from a prominent background." "Who could possibly have a background that could compare to Princess Ning?" Hearing the words from the crowd, one sentence particularly resonated with Ning Yan Mei''s current thoughts. It was precisely the question on who could possibly compare to her? In terms of family background, only the current princess and crown prince of Thunder Vale Country could possibly compare to her but even then they are a level below! Now there was this trash who actually had the audacity to ignore her? How absolutely laughable! Ning Yan Mei thought to herself. Earlier, Ning Yan Mei only mocked her because she couldn''t stand how all the attention that was originally on her was drawn away the moment Fan Zhu Xia stepped in and was immediately complemented on her extraordinary bearing and peerless countenance! In her opinion, even in terms of looks, no one could easily compare to her; Ning Yan Mei! After all, she was publicly acknowledged as the most beautiful maiden in Spirit Valor Country and throughout the nearby lands and even until now, there''s an extremely rare few who could possible hold a candle to her. Even the Thunder Vale Country''s princess; Jin Mei Rong who was famed throughout not only Thunder Vale Country but also the neighboring territories as a gentle and fragile beauty with looks that would remind one of a delicate flower that evokes a sense of protectiveness would appear lacklustre when standing beside her! Of course, Ning Yan Mei completely disregards the fact that this was only due to Jin Mei Rong being sickly which is why she would sometimes have a wan and pale appearance. Due to Ning Yan Mei''s confidence, couple with her overbearing demeanor and arrogance, the demeanor and actions of the people around her inevitably struck at Ning Yan Mei''s bottom line! After all, to her, a doted princess and a favored daughter of heaven; Ning Yan Mei could only accept that she is only below in terms of background, status and looks to one person and one person only, an that is her father, the emperor of Spirit Valor Country; Ning Jun Jian. Trembling with rage and indignation, Ning Yan Mei couldn''t help but explode and shout, "Impudent! How can a lowly trash like you have the gall to ignore someone of my stature?! Ha! You must have eaten leopard guts for breakfast to actually have the courage to provoke me!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. Despite Ning Yan Mei''s shouting, Fan Zhu Xia still acted as if she heard nothing to the point that even Ho You was starting to get worried, after all, Ning Yan Mei''s status and background was far from ordinary. With a concerned look in his eyes, Ho You asked, "Miss Xia''er, would you like to go straight to your auction room rather than continue looking around?" Seeing the concern for her well-being in Ho You''s eyes, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but be filled with warmth. "Brother Ho, please do not worry. There''s no rush, after all, even you told me that there is still an hour left before the auction starts. Xia''er would like to see what the Thousand Treasures Pavillion has on hand before going up to my auction room." Just as Ho You was about to reply, he was cut off when Ning Yan Mei shouted indignantly with a voice shaking with rage, "Y-You still dare continue ignoring this princess!" Yet instead of paying attention to her, Fan Zhu Xia actually sighed before saying in a matter-fact-voice, "Brother Ho, let''s go and look over there, it''s quite noisy over here. You should really tell the people in charge of Thousand Treasure Pavillion to not let mad dogs inside to bark at your guests and customers. It really doesn''t suit your establishment''s status and atmosphere!" Hearing her words and understanding the veiled meaning behind them, everyone in the crowd couldn''t help but feel their scalp go numb and chills run down their spine with fear for the young lady after all, she was facing the princess of Spirit Valor Country and this is one of the major powers throughout the lands that no one dares to provoke willy-nilly. Stunned, Ho You''s lips couldn''t help but twitch as he tried to control the amused smile that threatened to show on his face which was totally different from Chun Hua who was standing there with a dumbfounded expression and Min Sheng who didn''t care if anyone saw and had a satisfied smirk on his face. Aside from them, Ning Yan Mei''s face paled before rapidly blushing a deep red as her rage reached a whole new peak. "You...You dare compare me to a mad dog?! I want you dead! Dead!" she screamed. Immediately, the old man who was standing incospicously behind her that remained completly quiet, finally reacted and moved and actually revealed an astonishing level of cultivation; elementary level of the Early Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm! Seeing this, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes narrowed and seriousness filled her face but before she could do anything, Min Sheng flashed in front of her and clashed head on with the oncoming servant of Ning Yan Mei, surprising not only Fan Zhu Xia but everyone who witnessed it as well! By the heavens, everyone was already surprised when the inconspicous old man following the Spirit Valor Country Princess showed a cultivation at the elementary level of the Early Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm but to think that even the servant following the gutsy young miss in the light blue dress would also reveal a shocking cultivation level that was even higher than the elementary level of the Early Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm and was actually at the peak level of the Practitioner Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm! Seeing this, the old man who initiated the attack immediately withdrew and jumped back to stand beside Ning Yan Mei protectively while Min Sheng completely dispersed his attack with a flick of his sleeve, minimizing the shock wave of their attacks clashing to the relief of everyone present. During that split-second clash everyone fully realized that the young lady dressed in pale blue robes was truly someone that could only be a friend and not an enemy, especially with someone of her background who can actually send a peak level of the Practitioner stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm cultivator to act as an ordinary servant and escort. After all, cultivators who have reached the Heavenly Sky Realm were already an existence that commands respect since reaching that realm of cultivation is extremely hard. Frankly speaking, there are five cultivation realms. The Mortal Earth Realm, The Void Advancement Realm, The Heavenly Sky Realm, The Divine Immortal Realm and then there''s the legendary; Mythic God Realm. Now in each of those realms, there are corresponding stages which is the Early Stage, Practictioner Stage, Middle Stage, Intermediate Stage and the Advanced Stage. In each of this stages, it is then further divided into three which is the primary, elementary and peak level which determines how far away a cultivator is from advancing to the next stage. Just based in the cultivation ranks of their servants, it could be said that both of the young ladies were from an extraordinary background. With narrowed eyes, Ning Yan Mei drew in a deep breath and quickly composed herself before calling out quietly and coldly asking, "You... Who exactly are you?" Finally returning her gaze, Fan Zhu Xia smiled coldly behind her veil and her icy blue eyes seemed filled with a layer of frost as they stared at Ning Yan Mei, making her feel a feeling of dread bloom in her heart which was immediately pierced when she heard Fan Zhu Xia speak in a cold, condescending voice. "This young miss would apologize in advance but this young miss thinks that you don''t have the qualifications of knowing who this young miss is." 39 Whos the real frog at the bottom of the well? - 11.3 Hearing Fan Zhu Xia respond arrogantly, Ning Yan Mei felt deeply aggrieved. Since when had she; a favored daughter of heaven who was revered by every person she had ever encountered before, suffer such loss? To Ning Yan Mei, this was absolutely unacceptable! Despite of her unwillingness to step down, Ning Yan Mei could only bite her tongue painfully just to prevent herself from lashing out insults and this was all due to that annoying excuse of a servant of hers! How could this unknown girl have a servant more skilled and powerful than hers? It was simply infuriating! As if knowing her thoughts, Fan Zhu Xia maddeningly smiled and despite of her veil covering half helr face, her eyes still showed utter amusement as she looked at Ning Yan Mei''s embarassed face. This caused Ning Yan Mei to almost spit blood in anger yet due to her pride, she resolutely bit her tongue until it was numb before she tasted a coppery sweetness fill her mouth which she immediately swallowed down. Having watched enough, Fan Zhu Xia turned to the silently watching Ho You and smiled brightly as she said, "Brother Ho, I''m a bit tired from all this noise, I think it would be best if I go to the auction now. You mentioned that there were private rooms available right?" Hearing her questions, it was quite obvious that this was Fan Zhu Xia''s first time coming to the Thousand Treasures Pavillion, showing her lack of knowledge with how things work, especially with how the Thousand Treasures Pavillion operates when they hold auctions. After all, during the auctions, not everyone was qualified to get a private room and even if one was able to get a room, there are still requirements on what kind of room they are allowed to get. This made Ning Yan Mei''s eyes flash with sinister intent and she loudly laughed, disdain filling her face as Fan Zhu Xia looked at her with a raised eyebrow before sarcastically asking, "Is there anything else this young miss can help you with?" Feeling smug, Ning Yan Mei ignored her sarcastic tone and haughtily retorted, "You? How can you possibly help me when you don''t even how the Thousand Treasures Pavillion''s room works?" With a smug look on her face, Ning Yan Mei scoffed before speaking in a belittling manner. "If you want to reserve a private room for your use, you need qualifications! Unlike an ignorant fool such as yourself, this princess actually has the right to a private room of her own!" Sneering at Fan Zhu Xia, Ning Yan Mei couldn''t help but have a gloating look on her face and with a flick of her hand, a crystal blue card appeared held between her slender white fingers. The appearance of this card actually made people''s eyes widen slightly in surprise but when they thought of Ning Yan Mei''s background, they quickly calmed down. Seeing Fan Zhu Xia quietly at her, this made Ning Yan Mei mistake Fan Zhu Xia''s pensive look to shock which made her feel even smugger. With a gloating laugh, Ning Yan Mei asked, "Now do you see that you are just a lowly frog at the bottom of a stinky well, not knowing that you are in front of someone greater that you shouldn''t even dream of offending!" Despite of Ning Yan Mei''s words, Fan Zhu Xia still remained calm and only asked Ho You what the card was for which Ho You quickly explained. The crystal blue card was actually one of the four types of crystal cards given by the Thousand Treasures Pavillion as a token for the owners of the card to receive preferential treatment and the qualifications to use their private rooms during auction events held by the various branches of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion and this cards actually made with special materials, the higher ranked they are, the rarer it is both in quality and the likelihood that they are given out while each card also has different benefits and uses as well. The crystal blue card was more commonly known as the Flowing Mirror Card and this actually ranks third among this four cards! The fourth-ranked card, was the green-colored card, or more commonly referred to as the Translucent Jade Card which wa made from rare light-colored jade that was extremely durable but was cut very thinly, to the point that it is almost translucent, hence the name. This card, although it ranks the lowest, already qualifies the owner to reserve one of the smaller rooms during auctions, has a benefit of a ten percent discount when doing transactions with the Thousand Treasure Pavillion and the card also serves as a way to hold one''s money since it has a special inscription like the other cards that allows it to act like a spatial ring with only the storage limit as the difference among the cards but this card only allows money to be stored inside it. The owners of this type of card are usually rich merchants or some of the children of nobility who was able to get this through connections or bought it straight from the Thousand Treasure Pavillion since this is the only card that can actually be gained by buying it, unlike the others which is why it is more commonly seen. The crystal blue card, known as the Flowing Mirror Card which is the one that is in Ning Yan Mei''s posession was made from a seldomly seen type of stone that is usually found in frigid waters in the shallower parts at riverside rapids or the rocks jutting out in the middle of the river where they actually shimmer slightly and reflect the sunlight which can cause them to blend in with the raging waters of the rapids that can cause someone to accidentally hit it if they are going towards its direction. This type of card is much more rarer than the Translucent Jade Card and has the benefit of a larger capacity to hold the owner''s money as well as bringing with it the benefit of a twenty percent discount when doing transactions with the Thousand Treasures Pavillion and entitles the owner to be able to reserve a slightly larger and more luxurious room than the owners of the Translucent Jade Card. The Flowing Mirror Card can only be given by one of the branch managers to patrons that they deem are worth forging good relations, this of course includes clan leaders, elders and even future heirs to high positions among other figures which made the owners of the card feel extremely flattered to be placed in such high esteem. The next one, which ranks second is a purple-colored card that is extremely rare to see but is also known as the Essence Spirit Card! This card is made out of high grade essence crystals that were mined in the Spirit Forest and has a beautiful, ever-changing shade of purple that was crafted carefully and inscribed to hold a much larger space to keep money than the two other cards combined. This card, due to the material that was used to make it is also very special since it can attract trace amounts of spirit energy when out in the air which is extremely conducive to the owner''s cultivation since essence crystals has always been useful in cultivating. Aside from that, this card is only given to people who had earned the respect of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion''s branch leaders which is someone with the highest authority in the branch. People who receive this card is usually very powerful and influential people, this even includes the various leaders of the different powers and rulers of a kingdom or country. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. The Essence Spirit Card also has the benefit of having a thirty percent discount and the benefit to use one of the more larger an luxurious rooms during events like the auction for free and there is always only five rooms like this in the Thousand Treasures Pavillion. The last type of card is a card that is extremely rare to see, before it was rumored that only a select few people were able to possess it and this included the former Patriarch of the Cong Clan. This card is called the Mythic Midnight Card which is completely black in color and made out of a special type of ore that can only be mined at Mystic Terra Mountain. This was also probably the reason that most who speculated and came to a conclusion as to why the former patriarch of the Cong Clan had this type of card. It was said that people who has this type of card are extremely powerful and people who you would be either extremely stupid of crazy brave to offend. The ones who actually has this card in possession was rumored to number as many as the fingers in one''s hand since the only way to get this type of card is for the mysterious owner and leader of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion to give it to you. No one knows the requirements needed to qualify for this card nor what kind of benefit it brings with it. They only know that the owners of this cards can go to any branch of Thousand Treasures Pavillion and be treated to the same courtesy and even more as the branch leader. After listening to Ho You''s explanation, Fan Zhu Xia''s pensive look was replaced by amused happiness while mischief sparkled in her eyes as she giggled which made those looking at her momentarily dazed then confused on her behaviour. Turning to Ning Yan Mei, Fan Zhu Xia smiled softly behind her veil, her eyes glittering prettily before addressing the princess. "Your Highness, you are absolutely correct that this is the first time that this young miss ever came to the Thousand Treasure Pavillion, but this young miss does wonder if this is enough to prove my qualifications?" In the center ofnumerous curious yet confused gazes, Fan Zhu Xia gently waved her hand and in an instant, a card which drew spirit energy to it with an ever-changing purple shade suddenly appeared in her hands and upon seeing this, people''s jaw dropped open while some gasped in shock and surprise as the sight left them dumbfounded. Even Ho You was momentarily speechless before he suddenly blurted out a something that almost seemed like thunderclap to everyone there. "Essence Spirit Card!" Feeling faint, Ning Yan Mei stared with an incredulous look at Fan Zhu Xia, not even daring to believe what''s right in front of her eyes! One thought just keeps running through Ning Yan Mei''s mind over and over again. Just who on earth was this woman?! Before Ning Yan Mei could even gather her composure, Fan Zhu Xia laughed softly, her laugh filled with amusement, sounding like delicate bells tinkling beautifully that it made those who heard it mesmerized yet the next words she spoke immediately snapped everyone out of it. "Now this young miss would like to know, who is the real frog at the bottom of the well?" This time, Ning Yan Mei couldn''t hold it in and actually coughed out blood in anger before fainting. 40 Surprise At The Auction - 12.1 Being led by Ho You to one of the more prestigious private auction rooms, the atmosphere that Fan Zhu Xia left in her wake at the main hall of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion was complicated to say the least. The crowd was divided into people with varying emotions, mainly disbelief, shock, surprise and awe. No one could really doubt the authenticity of the card because the moment Fan Zhu Xia showed it, all the attendants and workers immediately recognized as the Essence Spirit Card and if anyone doubted the card''s authenticity, then why would Fan Zhu Xia be able to anger the Spirit Valor Country princess; Ning Yan Mei so much that she spat out blood before fainting in anger. The last thing on Fan Zhu Xia''s mind was what the people''s thoughts were, instead, she was filled with excitement and anticipation as Ho You gave her a brief narration on what kind of items will be auctioned today by the Thousand Treasures Pavillion. Although Ho You didn''t tell her the specific items, he did confirm that there should be quite a few rare medicinal herbs that were being shown today and that was more than she could have asked for. Finally, they arrived at the third floor before stopping in front of a black door which Ho You gently opened with a flourish as he gestured for them to go inside. Murmuring her thanks, Fan Zhu Xia passed Ho You, stepping inside gracefully and looking around, examining the room. A sound of appreciation sounded from the back of her throat as Fan Zhu Xia nodded approvingly after examining the room. "Brother Ho, your Thousand Treasures Pavillion really does live up to its name. Your auction room is exquisite!" Fan Zhu Xia exclaimed happily as she flounced over to the wall that was made out of glass that overlooked the auction stage before giving Ho You a beaming smile. "It''s good that Young Miss likes it." Ho You respectfully replied with a slight smile as he watched Fan Zhu Xia go from the glass wall to inspect the various furnishings in the room. With a tinkiling laugh, Fan Zhu Xia said, "How could this miss not like it? Everything in this room is of top quality! Really superb." "Then that is good! If Miss Xia''er would excuse me, Ho You still has to help out with the auction''s preparations. If the Young Miss should need anything, there will be a servants just outside the door, feel free to tell them what you need." "Xia''er understands. Thank you for all your help today Brother Ho." Fan Zhu Xia acknowledged sincerely. With a respectful bow and a smile goodbye, Ho You then quietly left the room, leaving only Fan Zhu Xia and her two companions; Min Sheng and Chun Hua. Letting out another appreciative sigh, Fan Zhu Xia glanced around the room before settling in one of the large sofas located right at the front, near the glass wall since it was the perfect place to sit down and watch the auction. Realizing that only she had taken a seat, Fan Zhu Xia looked behind her and saw Min Sheng and Chun Hua standing respectfully behind her making her surprised. "Why don''t the two of you take a seat? We still have to wait until the auction starts and there''s no use for the both of you to be standing when there''s a lot of seats available for you to use." "Please do not worry about us Young Miss. Standing here is better for us so that we can immediately react if something happens." Min Sheng replied seriously. Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia turned to her new maid, Chun Hua with an expentant look but Chun Hua quickly shook her head with a smile and replied, "We appreciate your concern but that isn''t necessary Young Miss, we are not at Lei Palace and as your servants, we should know our place." "There isn''t even anyone here besides us! What are you both so worried about?" Just as Min Sheng and Chun Hua were about to reply, a soft knocking sounded on the door, drawing all of their attention. Placing one hand on top of his sword''s hilt that was tied around his waist, Min Sheng went to the door and cautiously opened it to reveal a couple of attendants of Thousand Treasures Pavillion carrying several covered trays. With a slight raise of his brows, Min Sheng coldy eyed the attendants before questioning them. "What are you doing here? We haven''t called for any of you yet." "To answer this esteemed guest, we were sent over by the branch manager to bring tea and refreshments and to make sure that you had everything you needed before the auction starts." Without even acknowledging their words, Min Sheng instead looked towards Fan Zhu Xia who just gave a smile and nodded in assent. "Very well, you may serve them." "We thank you, my lord." Without another word, Min Sheng stepped back and opened the door wider and let the attendants in. With fast and practiced movements, the attendants uncovered the trays to reveal different snacks and delicate pastries which were all emiting a fragrant and delicious smell as they quickly served them, placing them on a small table in front of Fan Zhu Xia that was easily within reach while another quickly set up a a small tray with several delicate porcelain cups and a small built-in stove that had an inscription which was activated as soon as the teapot was placed on top of it. After everything was served, the attendants didn''t dally any longer and quickly excused themselves while telling them that if they needed anything, to just call before leaving the room in an orderly fashion. Eyeing the spread in front of her, Fan Zhu Xia reached up to remove her veil and hand it over to Chun Hua, exposing her breathtaking features and gorgeous countenance before she stretched out her hand to gently pick up one of the pastries to nibble on it happily while Chun Hua poured her tea and Min Sheng stood behind the sofa she sat in to assume his position again. Looking out the glass wall, Fan Zhu Xia noticed how the seats at the lower floor were gradually filling up as people were led to their respective rooms and seats in a quiet and orderly fashion. This made Fan Zhu Xia realize something before she excitedly said, "The auction''s about to start!" Meanwhile, in another room, much larger and more exquisite than the one where Fan Zhu Xia is, Ho You was standing respectfully to one side of an elaborately carved sofa as he waited for the man sitting on it to speak. "Has everything been taken cared of?" Without delay, Ho You promptly replied, "Yes Young Master. Everything was done according to your instructions." "You led her to the best room her card could get?" "Yes sir." "How about tea and refreshments I told you?" "Has already been served." Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. "How about the guards?" "I''ve already notified them to keep watch and make sure no one disturbs them." "The attendants?" "They are waiting just outside the room in the hallway just in case they need something." Finally satisfied, the young man leaned back and placed his arm on top of the armrest before lifting his hand and resting his chin on it as he nodded in approval. "Good." Letting out in inaudible sigh in relief, Ho You then asked, "Is there anything else the Young Master would like for me to do?" Not answering Ho You immediately, the young man had pondering look on his face, before a light glittered from his black obsidian eyes as he thought of something, making his already handsome features all the more appealing and eye-catching, especially when the corner of his reddish lips tilted up to form a smallmischievous grin, giving him an air of alluring devillish mystery. "Hmm...There is one more thing I''d like for you to take care of. Come here." Coming closer, Ho You leaned down slightly, enough to hear the young man''s quiet words of instruction. As Ho You listened, his eyes widened slightly in surprised before he straightened up and gave an affirmative nod as he carefully took the jade box that the young man materialized from his spatial ring. "I''ll go and take care of it right away." With a wave of his hand, the young man dismissed Ho You before directing his attention to the auction stage below before letting out a small laugh filled with anticipation before sighing wistfully as he shook his head with a smile on his face. "Oh how I wish I could see your face when you see the surprise I prepared for you, my little phoenix." 41 Surprise At The Auction - 12.2 "Oh look! The auction is about to start." Fan Zhu Xia exclaimed as she stared at the person who had come on to the stage. The person was an old man who had his shoulders slightly hunched over and had his hands clasped behind his back as he slowly made his way to the front and center of the elevated stage with sure steps. The initial murmurs and whisperings of the seated guests in the hall ceased as more and more people noticed the man who had entered the stage. Every single one of the people present had their attention drawn as looks of anticipation showed on their faces and a restless excitement filled the air. The old man barely paid attention to the eager and curious looks that were shot in his direction, instead, he calmly stood in the middle of the stage before clearing his throat. "To our esteemed guests, the Thousand Treasures Pavillion welcomes you to today''s auction! As many of you have realized, this old one will be responsible for conducting today''s auction since a personal friend of the owner of Thousand Treasures Pavillion has brought a very valuable item to be auctioned today and as a personal retainer of the owner, it is this old one''s job to ensure that today''s auction goes smoothly, thus this old one implores everyone to cooperate and not cause a fuss or else they will be escorted out and will no longer be allowed to set even half a foot in any of the Thousan Treasures Pavillion branches." The speech that had originally started with a welcoming and cordial tone ended with cold and sharp warning that it made everyone fill a chill in their hearts. Those that had initially underestimated the old man couldn''t help but feel an overwhelming respect as they stared at him. Who knew that this old man with hunched shoulders and a head full of white hair was actually a personal retainer of the mysterious owner of Thousand Treasures Pavillion. Many of the guests below and even in the private rooms all thought the same thing; If they could somehow befriend this personal retainer, how great would that be? If they are lucky and heaven wills it, they may even get the chance to meet this mysterious, yet powerful owner! It can be said that people who had these thoughts were many and most are already speculating on the best way to approach the old man. Curious, Fan Zhu Xia kept quiet andjust stared at the old man with a pondering look when the old man who was scanning the crowd with his gaze suddenly looked up and actually shot a glance towards their private room. To Fan Zhu Xia, she immediately realized that this person wasn''t just a person with extraordinary background but also someone who is quite powerful. With just that mere glance, Fan Zhu Xia knew that the old man could see her despite of the mirror that was supposed to hinder people from seeing those on the other side. This made the corner of Fan Zhu Xia''s lips lift slightly as she gave a nod of respect towards the old man which to her surprise was returned with a small, almost imperceptible nod of his own. Encouraged by this, a smile bloomed on Fan Zhu Xia''s face that it made both Chun Hua and Min Sheng who was in the same room and saw her sigh in admiration. Truly their new young miss had a beauty that no one could possibly compare to. While the two were thinking this, they were surprised when the originally quiet Fan Zhu Xia suddenly opened her mouth and called out to the old man at the stage in a strong yet respectful voice. "Many thanks for welcoming words and advise. We, as guests of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion will no doubt follow your instructions. If senior wouldn''t mind, this junior would like to ask how we can address this senior?" Startled, many looked up to the room where Fan Zhu Xia was in. Not only were people surprised about the bravery of the speaker, but they were also drawn to the voice! Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. The voice was filled with respect yet each word was spoken with a calm and undeniable confidence in a voice that was incredibly soft yet filled with power, not only that, the mere sound of her voice was undeniably appealing that it really made one want to pay attention. This made everyone incredibly curious, coupled with the fact that the voice seemed to be coming from a private room in the third floor which immediately made everyone pay attention, after all, there was only a handful of people who were qualified to get a room there, and apparently the lady who spoke was someone with a very powerful background and just like the old man, was worth befriending. Hearing Fan Zhu Xia''s voice, a suprised glint flashed in the old man''s eyes before he quickly suppressed it before replying with a mild voice and a small smile making him look like a very amiable elderly grandpa. "This old one is flattered by this esteemed lady''s courtesy! Please just refer to me as Old Ma." Glad that the old man answered, Fan Zhu Xia''s lips curled and with a satisfied nod, she replied, "Very well, then this miss will not delay the auction any longer. This miss just hopes that Old Ma will join this miss for a cup of tea after the auction is done." "But of course! This old one will be honored." Old Ma cupped his hand with a slight bow as he replied. In a span of a few minutes, two powerful figures had arranged a meeting just like that! The speed of the events made some people feel dazed. Those that had thoughts of inviting the two couldn''t help but shake their heads while smiling bitterly at the lost opportunity while the two people concerned; Fan Zhu Xia and Old Ma just ignored everything and treated it as if nothing happened, especially Old Ma who immediately gestured for an attendant to come on stage, signalling the start of the auction. "Now our esteemed guests, please direct your attention to our first item! This is just one of the many items that we have prepared for today''s auction, if you please..." 42 Surprise At The Auction - 12.3 To say that the Thousand Treasures Pavillion met her expectations was an understatement. From the very first item to be auctioned off being an extremely rare herb called the Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flower which had very high medicinal effects and a calming, soothing effect to a person''s meridians while providing a substantial boost to a person''s cultivation yet despite of this, due to it''s rarity, very few knew how to properly refine it which also made it hard for alchemists to maximize it''s effects but of course this was nothing to Fan Zhu Xia. In her mind, there was only one thought that ran through it and it was that Fan Zhu Xia simply had to get this herb! Especially since this was one of the herbs that Fan Zhu Xia actually lacked to fully cure an illness that her father, Fan Hui Zhong had contracted when he entered the Abyss Valley Mountain Range years before which affected his cultivation and damaged his meridians. With a smile, Old Ma held the small jade box which held three Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flower inside, he calmly explained it''s effects before calling out and stating, "This jade box has runes inscribed that ensured that this three Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flowers stayed in its perfect state from the moment it was harvested, ensuring that none of it''s medicinal properties were lost! Now, this is sold as a whole with each of the Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flower priced at ten thousand gold, totalling to thirty thousand gold which is the starting price. Now would anyone like to bid?" Despite of known difficulty in refining it, quite a few people called out their bids, quickly elevating the price by several thousands. This made Fan Zhu Xia frown slightly especially when she heard a familiar voice call out. "Sixty thousand gold!" Startled by the voice, Chun Hua''s brow furrowed deeply and asked the question in her mind, "Is that the Spirit Valor princess?" "I''m afraid it is." Min Sheng replied with a grimace. Apparently, Ning Yan Mei already had a room assigned to her and had only gone to the front hall of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion earlier to look around while she waited for some time to pass as she waited for the auction to start. She just had the misfortune of bumping into Fan Zhu Xia which brought her nothing and had instead caused her to suffer a great loss of face. Feeling smug, Ning Yan Mei felt as though no one would be bidding anymore when she suddenly heard a voice that made her want to grit her teeth in annoyance. "Seventy thousand gold." Fan Zhu Xia called out calmly, breaking the lull in bidding. Not wanting to be defeated by her, Ning Yan Mei then shouted out, "Eighty thousand!" "Ninety thousand." "You wench, you better stop bidding and just let this princess have this Ice Heart Imperial Lotus flowers! A hundred thousand gold!" Feeling her annoyance rise, Fan Zhu Xia then loudly called out, "Two hundred thousand gold!" Indignant, Ning Yan Mei was about to open her mouth to bid again when the old servant who accompanied her coughed slightly before saying quietly, "Princess, this servant knows you are angry but please do remember that the Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flower is extremely hard to refine and we would be hard-pressed to find an alchemist that could make a pill out of it. Why not just let it go?" "Let it go? This princess will not! If she really wants it then I must absolutely have it, no matter what!" Ignoring her servant''s advise, Ning Yan Mei called out, "Two hundred and fifty thousand!" Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia shook her head before calmly calling out, "Three hundred thousand!" "Three hundred fifty thousand gold!" "Five hundred thousand gold! Princess would you like to continue?" Fan Zhu Xia mockingly called out, despite feeling aggrieved, reason finally prevailed with Ning Yan Mei and she no longer called out a bid and stayed silent. Upon hearing no more response, Old Ma then asked loudly, "Will there be no more bids?" Scanning the crowd, Old Ma smiled slightly before announcing, "Then the Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flowers is now sold to our esteemed guest! Please prepare your payment as an attendant will bring the item to your room in exchange for it!" With fast and efficient orders, Old Ma quickly instructed an attendant and handed over the box of Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flowers then proceeded on with the auction. Meanwhile, in Fan Zhu Xia''s auction room, Chun Hua and Min Sheng was congratulating her successful bidding making Fan Zhu Xia laugh when a knock sounded from the door. Fan Zhu Xia excitedly turned to it before calling out, "Come in." As soon as the attendant heard her give permission, he respectfully entered and immediately presented the small jade box to her. Opening it, the room was filled with a gentle calming scent and all of them felt the large concentration of spiritual qi inside the box. Seeing this, Fan Zhu Xia let out a delighted laugh before turning to the attendant and handing over a pouch that appeared in her hand with a gentle flick of her palm. "Please take it, you may check it''s contents to see if it is lacking." Fan Zhu Xia said with a smile. Taking the pouch, the attendant realized that it was a spacial pouch and once he directed his consciousness inside, he quickly took count of the gold before pulling an amount out and placing it on one of the small end tables as he hurriedly explained, "My lady, the amount inside exceeds the amount you have to pay. Since you hold a Essence Spirit Card, you have a discount of thirty percent in all transactions with the Thousand Treasures Pavillion and this gold is your discount." A wave of understanding came over Fan Zhu Xia, then with a nod of thanks, she dismissed the attendant who quickly left in a respectful manner before she turned to Min Sheng. "Min Sheng, use the gold I have left over to bid for all the herbs and rawmaterials for weaponsmaking. There should be around a hundred and fifty thousand there, if it isn''t enough, I shall provide more." "Understood." Letting Min Sheng bid for her would lessen the chances of Ning Yan Mei from entering another bidding wae with her and thus, Fan Zhu Xia just laid back and relaxed. Several items were further auctioned out but nothing more piqued Fan Zhu Xia''s interest and most that drew her attention were a couple of hard-to-find herbs and ore that were successfully acquired by Min Sheng, that is until one particular item made Fan Zhu Xia actually pay attention. On the stage, Old Ma revealed a High-level Heavenly Grade Weapon; an extremely long sword as thin as a cicada''s wing and has a deep green color that subtly shimmered the moment it was uncovered. According to Old Ma, this long sword was made of a high-grade metal ore, Emeranite which can only be found and harvested in places with large quantities of natural spiritual qi and from what Old Ma explained, this long sword was made using all the Emeranite that the Thousand Treasures Pavillion was able to harvest. When most of the audience heard Old Ma''s explanation, they were already in awe but amongst those who actually had some knowledge in weapons, especially in how to forge it, they felt their heart''s quake in shock. To think that Emeranite, an ore that has one of the highest rates of efficiency in conducting and amplifying the user''s spiritual qi two-fold while creating a balanced harmony between the wielder and their natural surroundings was used to make such a weapon! It can already be said that due to the scarcity of this type of material, most that are harvested were usually made into small little trinkets like a necklace, ring, bracelet or even an ornament that one can hang on their belts and this little ornaments and accessoriesare usually items which they can use to help aid and hasten the pace of their cultivation, but instead of going the normal route, the Thousand Treasures Pavillion actually had it made into a weapon and a long sword at that! In addition to that, one of their inscripters even inscribed runes to the weapon, magnifying its strength and effects to over five times! Just this item already stirred the crowd and Fan Zhu Xia was no exception! With a look of anticipation in her eyes, Fan Zhu Xia''s lips tugged up slightly into a small smile behind her veil as she awaited for Old Ma to start the bidding on the stage. "This beautiful sword was crafted by one of the esteemed weaponsmaster of our Thousand Treasure Pavillion and the runes were inscribed by yours truly! Of course, before we start the bidding, we would like to show you a brief demonstration to affirm the sword''s strength and qualities and prove that the words I used to describe this magnificent weapon earlier was nothing but the pure truth!" After his righteous speech, several attendants immediately brought forth a large clear crystal boulder that was commonly used to measure the strength of an attack as well as the cultivation level it corresponds with. Along with the attendants, one of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion guard came up on the stage and was left to stand just a step behind Old Ma. Turning to the guard, Old Ma gave a nod before the guard swiftly turned to the crystal and gave a resounding punch to it''s surface. Just as the guard''s attack hit it''s surface, a loud resounding boom and a gust of air rushed around the auction hall as the clear crystal then brightly lit up and shone a deep blue light making everyone that saw it let out a gasp in surprise. Early Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm! Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. To think that the Thousand Treasures Pavillion actually had a cultivator at the early stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm as a mere guard, it truly brought a whole new level of respect to their prestige and power. Seeing the mixture of surprise and shock on the crowd''s faces, Old Ma let out a small chuckle before saying, "This was just to show everyone the base power of this branch''s leader of our guards and also to let you establish a point of reference so that you yourselves can determine the weapon''s amplification. Now if you will..." As soon as Old Ma let his sentence trail off, he handed the weapon to the guard captain who deftly took it in his hand before turning to the crystal which has once more turned to it''s clear, normal state. Without another word, the guard captain dashed forward again and swung the long sword in an arc and hit the crystal without a single sound yet the air that was generated from that simple attack was even more violent than the previous one and the moment the attack hit the crystal, it lit up and shone a bright sky blue, leaving everyone slack-jawed. Even Fan Zhu Xia was astonished and her icy blue eyes widened in surprise before she smiled widely, making her eyes into a pair of beautiful smiling crescents. The bright sky blue light that the crystal emitted symbolized one thing and this is the fact that shocked everyone the most. Advanced Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm! This was something that the people who attended today''s auction certainly did not expect! Seeing the display, Fan Zhu Xia looked deep in thought before she turned to Chun Hua and Min Sheng and asked a question with a serious look on her face. "Do you think Big Brother Li Jie would like that?" 43 Gifts and Favors - 13.1 An outburst of surprise and excitement ran through the awestrucked crowd before all of them almost immediately fell silent the moment Old Ma cleared his throat to get their attention. "Please esteemed guests, this is just a prelude of the best that is yet to come! But of course despite saying that, this old man understands where all of you are coming from so let us get back to this exquisite weapon that I have in my hands. The Thousand Treasures Pavillion has decided not to give this weapon a name and even our esteemed weaponsmaster has agreed that this weapon shall only be named by it''s new owner. Now, let''s get to the auction and the bidding for this one-of-a-kind long sword with a blade made entirely out of Emeranite starts at thirty thousand purple crystals!" As soon as they heard the starting price, the crowd collectively let out a hiss in reaction to it. Just as everyone expected, a weapon that can amplify the wielder''s power up to five more levels and can even help them advance their cultivation at five times the normal speed, of course thos sort of treasure will also have a correspondingly high price! Seemingly unaffected, Fan Zhu Xia smiled delightedly as she wondered out loud and admiringly said, "Truly the Thousand Treasures Pavillion is quite generous and even setting the starting bid at such a low price. What a steal!" Ignoring the dumbfounded looks that Chun Hua and Min Sheng shot her, Fan Zhu Xia patiently waited with twinkling eyes and before long, several voices simultaneously called out jaw-dropping prices effectively stunning the rest of the crowd. "Thirty thousand purple crystals!" "Fourty thousand crystals!" "This master bids fifty five thousand purple crystals!" And so a bidding war began. From the original sky-high price of three thousand purple crystals, the price climbed up at an increasingly scary pace, from the original three thousand purple crystals to a whopping price of sixty thousand purple crystals with no sign that the bids will stop anytime soon. This shook the general population in the crowd, after all, the only ones that were still calling out bids were the people from the private rooms and the amount of purple crystals they were constantly raising was even more than half of the fortune for some of them! Just as things were slowly calming down and the bidders dwindled down to two then one, Old Ma finally stepped in and calmly asked in a loud voice, "Anyone who would like to top the current bid of one hundred fifteen thousand purple crystals?" A short silence swept through the auction hall and just as everyone thought that the bidding was done and Old Ma was about to announce the item as sold, a soft and alluring voice called out amidst the pin-drop silence. "One hundred thirty thousand purple crystals." Annoyed, the young man who was expecting to have the let out an annoyed huff before calling out another bid. "Hundred and fifty thousand crystals!" Raising an elegant brow, Fan Zhu Xia eyed the private room directly across from hers where the man''s voice came from before lowly chuckling and saying in a voice filled with amusement, "Three hundred thousand." "What?! You can''t just double the bid like that! It''s unfair to other bidders!" The man suddenly exclaimed in an irritated voice which only drew a string of melodious laughter from Fan Zhu Xia Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. This made the man even more exasperated before he protested in an indignant manner, "Stop laughing, it''s not funny!" The man''s one-sided bickering and the other party''s amused laughter made the original tense atmosphere disappear and even appear slightly ambiguous because the two parties seemingly knew each other and this made people all the more curious as to the identities of this two people. Still giggling slightly and totally ignorant of people''s thoughts, Fan Zhu Xia good-naturedly said, "If senior would kindly let me have this sword, this miss will definitely make it up to you." "Oh really? And how will you make it up to me then, hmm?" After thinking for a second, Fan Zhu Xia then seriously replied and asked, "Well what do you want then?" "I want that sword!" The young man stubbornly retorted back. Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia shook her head and said, "Then senior will have to outbid me then." "Fine! I bid three hundred fifty thousand purple crystals!" "Five hundred thousand purple crystals!" Fan Zhu Xia calmly called out as she eyed the private room with an enterained look on her face. "Ugh, no fair! Why do you always add so much to your bid?!" The young man complained in such an aggrieved manner making Fan Zhu Xia struggle to not laugh at his expense again. "Pffft... Ehem. Well of course it''s because I want to win." "Dammit, fine you can have it! This young master may not have anything left if I continue trying to outbid you." the man disgruntledly replied. Hearing his words, Fan Zhu Xia smiled brightly, looking dazzling despite the veil covering half of her face. "Many thanks!" "Yeah yeah, I know, I know... This young master is such a generous and big-hearted person, just letting you have this sword." Feeling her eye twitch slightly, Fan Zhu Xia decided not to reply and let Old Ma who cleared his throat commence with the auction. "Will there still be any bidders?" Old Ma asked loudly with a smile and after a moment of hearing no one, he then declared Fan Zhu Xia as the winner of the sword before sheating the sword in an intricately made scabbard and gesturing for the attendant to bring it away. Before long, a knock sounded and just like before, an attendant opened the door and presented the sword before her. "Will our esteemed guest please take a look." Standing up with slow and graceful movements, Fan Zhu Xia arrived in front of the attendant before taking the sword and unsheathing it with one move before inspecting it. Her movement while doing that looked smooth and flawless, as if it was a beautiful dance and not someone unsheathing an extremely sharp and deadly blade. "Is it to your satisfaction Young Miss?" the attendant queried. Nodding, Fan Zhu replied, "Yes, very much." With a flick of her wrist, Fan Zhu Xia brought out her Essence Spirit Card and handed it over to the attendant. "You should be able to get the payment from the card right? I''m pretty sure that I have more than enough there." Taking the card, the attendant respectfully answered, "This servant would have to bring it to iur branch head first since he''s the only one who can access the cards provided by our pavillion. This one would like to ask for your permission to leave first?" "En, go ahead. Just come back after you are finished." "Oh before you go, could you also help this miss send a message to the person in the private room across from mine?" Fan Zhu Xia asked while pointing at the room across from hers in the auction hall. "The young miss would like to send a message to the guest who was bidding against you for the long sword?" the attendant questioned Fan Zhu Xia to make sure. "En. Kindly tell him that the daughter of Lei Wangye is grateful for letting her have the sword and would like to invite him to visit the Lei Palace should he ever need assistance with something that this miss can help with." Hearing her words, the attendant''s eyes widened in surprise and was momentarily in a daze before he nodded in confirmation and excused himself to carry out his tasks. Who knew that the mysterious young lady was actually the daughter of the extremely prestigious Lei Wangye of the Thunder Vale country? The attendant then hurriedly called one of his colleagues over and had her go to and inform the guest of Fan Zhu Xia''s words before quickly going off to talk with the branch leader, completely oblivious as to the reaction of the guest who heard the message. "Wait, how come I didn''t know Lei Wangye has a daughter?!" 44 Gifts and Favors - 13.2 Looking at the long sword admiringly, Fan Zhu Xia let out a sigh in appreciation as she stared at the undeniably high level of craftsmanship. Truly the sword not only has a great amount of destructive power and benefits but also exuded an aura of elegance with its dark green blade that gleamed subtly as if mimicking the small shafts of light that peeks through the leaves of dense trees in a forest. "Hey, do you two think Big Brother Li Jie would like it?" Surprised at the sudded question, Min Sheng was the first one to recover to reply. "The eldest young master would surely like it. Young Miss may not know this but your gift is actually perfect for the Eldest Young Master since he specializes in wielding long swords." "That''s right Young Miss! Eldest Young Master would definitely appreciate your gift, especially since you put so much effort on acquiring it!" Chun Hua also added enthusiastically while giving Fan Zhu Xia a smile of assurance. "Really? That''s great then! Now all I need is to look fo-" stopping mid-sentence, Fan Zhu Xia glanced at the door a second before a loud knocking was heard before the door slid open to reveal a young man who had extremely familiar features open his mouth before suddenly freezing at the sight of the people inside the room. An unusual atmosphere enveloped all of them with only the sound of the attendant apologizing to Fan Zhu Xia which was the only thing preventing the room from descending to complete silence. Confused, Fan Zhu Xia''s brows unconsciously furrowed as she waved a hand to dismiss the attendant who uttered one last apology before hurriedly making her way out while sparing a glance to the young man who was still rooted in his place. Just as Fan Zhu Xia was about to ask the newcomer his identity, bothMin Sheng and the young man suddenly exclaimed out in shock at the same time. "Min Sheng, what under heaven''s name are you doing here?!" "Second Young Master! Where were you? Senior Guo ha been looking for you since yesterday!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. "What? Grandpa Guo is looking for me? What for?" the young man asked in surprise, completely not noticing Fan Zhu Xia who was sitting just a few feet behind Min Sheng with Chun Hua just beside her. Her curiousity piqued, Fan Zhu Xia leaned towards Chun Hua and asked in a whisper, "Chun Hua, that young man over there is the second young master of the Fan Family? Is he Yong Rui? Father did mention him to me before we got here but I didn''t get to meet him yesterday." "Yes Young Miss, that''s definitely the Second Young Master. Senior Guo Ji was actually looking for him yesterday since there was supposed to be a family dinner arranged to introduce the young miss to everyone but the second young master couldn''t be found and an uninvited guest also arrived so the patriarch decided to just reschedule everything." "So that''s why he looks so familiar! He looks so similar to Big Brother Li Jie and Brother Xian." Fan Zhu Xia mused quietly. Just as she was about to ask Chun Hua if she knew who the guest was that unexpectedly came last night, Fan Yong Rui finally remembered why he came here in the first place and he hurriedly scanned the room until his eyes landed on Fan Zhu Xia who was also gazing at him with a pondering look in her eyes. Looking straight at her, a flash of bloodlust was felt by Fan Zhu Xia before it quickly disappeared that even Min Sheng didn''t pick it up before Fan Yong Rui suddenly spoke in a cold voice, "Uncle doesn''t have a daughter and he never even mentioned an existence of one, so who the f*ck are you and why are you pretending to be Uncle Hui Zhong''s daughter?" "I''m not pretending, I am his daughter!" Fan Zhu Xia declared defiantly as she returned Fan Yong Rui''s frosty gaze, annoyed. "Bullsh*t!" Momentarily stunned at Fan Yong Rui''s unexpectedly hostile words and demeanor, Min Sheng wasn''t able to react in time to stop the second young master of the Fan family from suddenly rushing towards Fan Zhu Xia with intense coldness in his eyes. As he opened his mouth to warn Fan Yong Rui that everything was a misunderstanding, he was horror-stricken when he saw the young miss quickly yet fluidly stand up from the sofa and meeting Fan Yong Rui halfway and raise her dainty snow-white hands as if to meet Fan Yong Rui''s incoming fist. Seeing her move, Fan Yong Rui let a cold, amused smile grace his lips. Almost everyone here at the capital knew that even though he was a well-known silk pants due to his leaner, pretty boy looks making him look somewhat less masculine than his two brothers and his notorious playboy and laid-back demeanor, among the three young masters of the Fan Family, he, Fan Yong Rui was the strongest and most dangerous when it comes to close combat quarters and Fan Zhu Xia''s decision of meeting him head on just assured him of his favorable outcome. Just as Fan Yong Rui''s fist was about to reach Fan Zhu Xia, her soft lily-white hand moved quickly in a waving pattern before bypassing his fist and landing at the back of his wrist with her fingers closing to wrap tightly around it while her other hand landed on his elbow as she twisted her body and dodged until they were standing side by side yet she kept taking steps back in a a circular pattern while pulling his wrist and adding pressure to his elbow in a downward fashion making him lose his balance as the force of his attack was suddenly used against him. With eyes wide in shock, Fan Yong Rui felt his body land on the ground while his elbow was painfully twisted to his back before a heavy pressure landed on his prone form, making him realize that aside from deflecting his blow, the damned girl actually sat on him! It wasn''t that big of a deal to him since he could still easily overpower her, after all, Fan Yong Rui severely underestimated the young lady sitting on his back which was why he was caught completely unprepared yet he did have to commend the speed with which she executed her moves. The moment he was about to take action, he felt a slight prick at the back of his neck before his whole world became dark. All of this happened in a few mere minutes and both Min Sheng and Chun Hua stared slack-jawed at their young miss who was sitting comfortably on top of their knocked-out second young master as if everything she did was nothing out of the ordinary when in fact that''s the complete opposite! Fan Yong Rui had a fearsome reputation when it comes to his fighting skills and destructive power, even greater than Fan Li Jie if it was purely hand to hand combat and yet their fragile-looking young miss was actually able to counter him and render him unconscious! Poking Fan Yong Rui''s cheek, Fan Zhu Xia frowned slightly before muttering, "I may have used too much..." Too much? The mere recollection of what she did earlier was enough to blow Min Sheng''s mind while Chun Hua could do nothing but stare wide-eyed. Chun Hua an Chun Tao were maids that were especially chosen to serve Fan Zhu Xia since they had decent cultivation and good martial skills that they could use to protect their new young miss and yet from what they saw, Fan Zhu Xia could very well be way better than them in that aspect as well! Finally, Min Sheng snapped to his senses and quickly went over and helped Fan Zhu Xia stand up before turning to the incapacitated Fan Yong Rui. "Young Miss, what should I do with the Second Young Master?" "Just lay him down on one of the sofas. Make sure his comfortable." Fan Zhu Xia replied with furrowed brows as her gaze followed Min Sheng who immediately executed her instructions. After settling down Fan Yong Rui, Min Sheng turned to Fan Zhu Xia before shooting her a hesitant look, making her sigh. "Just go ahead and ask, no need to worry." Fan Zhu Xia said with an encouraging look. Gathering his courage, Min Sheng opened his mouth and asked, "How did the young miss know the second young master out? We didn''t see you hit his head or anything." "I shot him an ice needle made out of knock-out medicine at the back of his neck the moment I pinned him down." Fan Zhu Xia replied matter-of-factly. "Then when will the second young master wake up?" Hearing his question, a troubled look came over Fan Zhu Xia''s face which made Min Sheng and Chun Hua feel as if something bad just happened and this made them sweat in nervousness. "I don''t know when he''ll wake up. I think I misread his power and physique and may have used a higher dose than I should have." And there is the source of their bad feelings. Now how where they going to explain that the young miss was actually the one who knocked out their young master? Before they could even think of a solution, Fan Zhu Xia spoke again in a worried voice yet her words left them more dumbfouded than before. "Does this mean I owe him another one aside from the one I owe since he let me have the sword?" Seriously, this was the thing she wa worried about? Not the fact that she just knocked her cousin out? Just as Chun Hua opened her mouth to ask something, Min Sheng came to a realization just by hearing Fan Zhu Xia''s words andsuddenly exclaimed. "Wait, the one bidding against Young Miss was actually the second young master?!" Looking at the shocked faces of Min Sheng and Chun Hua, Fan Zhu Xia sighed and explained in a somewhat impatient tone. "Of course it''s him! After all I only told the attendant to tell my identity to the one I was bidding against earlier. How else could he have found out that I was here and who I was?" 45 Gifts and Favors - 13.3 In another part of the city, back at the Golden Pheasant Restaurant, Fan Hui Zhong was catching up with an old colleague of his, Wu Zheng He, a general of Thunder Vale Country and also the older brother of the current empress; Wu Li Hua. "I must say Zheng He, you and my brother did a good job in keeping the peace of our kingdom. You two really did give invaluable help to Old Fa Chung." Fan Hui Zhong said with a laugh and even Wu Zheng He couldn''t help but smile wryly at how casual Fan Hui Zhong was in referring to the emperor. "Of course, any help that we could provide to Imperial Brother-in-Law is something that would not only benefit us but also the citizens." "True, that is true. I''ve personally seen the effects of your efforts. Even the quality of life in the small villages in our outer territories has seen a lot of improvement." Startled, Wu Zheng He couldn''t help but ask, "I take it that you spent a lot of time in the outer territories?" Looking at the elegant man who had a more gentle and scholarly air rather than the intimidating and oppressive atmosphere of a warrior sitting across from him, Fan Hui Zhong could sense Wu Zheng He''s curiosity. "En. I actually lived in one of those small backwater villages that was right at the edge of our territory and even bordering the Abyss Valley Mountain Range. That village is so small that practically everyone knew each other and there were very few people who actually passes by there due to it''s location." Understanding lit Wu Zheng He''s eyes before he laughed and said, "No wonder no one''s been able to figure out where you went off to this past couple of years! Who would think that someone with youraura and reputation could be found in one of those small villages..." Shaking his head with a smile, Wu Zheng He shot Fan Hui Zhong an admiring look and sincerely praised, "You really are one-of-a-kind my lord. To be able to blend in and hide in plain sight is something not everyone could do!" "Speak for yourself! It''s not like you find it hard." Fan Hui Zhong retorted good-naturedly as he gave Wu Zheng He a pointed look to which Wu Zheng He only replied with a slightly sheepish smile. "It''s a gift." Wu Zheng He joked to which both of them laughed at. As they drank tea and ate, despite the amicable atmosphere and continuous conversation, there were still times that Fan Hui Zhong''s mind would appear to be somewhere else which only made Wu Zheng He think of one thing. "Is Lei Wangye thinking about his daughter?" Wu Zheng He asked when Fan Hui Zhong drifted off again. In response to this, Fan Hui Zhong only smiled slightly before nodding and replied, "En. I was just thinking about what she was doing right now. I just can''t help but feel worried since I know that this is Xia''er''s first time at the capital." "I''m sure she''ll be fine. I did see Min Sheng accompany her and I also sensed that the guards you had escort her where all top-notch." "I know that nothing life-threatening could possibly happen to her without me finding out but what if she gets bullied? You know how some brats are, always thinking that they''re high and mighty just because of their families and backgrounds! People don''t know who she is yet! What if they do something? Or worse, what if my precious daughter attracts unnecessary flies? I should have asked Li Jie or Xian Liang to accompany her..." Fan Hui Zhong said in a voice filled with worry as he trailed off while a dark gloomy look showed on his face, especially at the thought of the line of potential suitors. Stiffling a laugh, Wu Zheng He remarked, "I can now truly say, just based on your behavior that having a daughter is way harder than having a son." "Damn right it is! Half of the time, even I don''t understand the things that run through my daughter''s mind!" Fan Hui Zhong grumpily complained with furrowed brows. At that, Wu Zheng He let go and laughed to his heart''s content, ignoring the annoyed look Fan Hui Zhong shot him. "Oh shut up, will you? You''re lucky that the son you adopted is pretty independent and quite low-key from what I know." "Please, he''s only low-key because he hasn''t stayed for a long time at the capital and didn''t bother attending any social events! I''m pretty sure I''ll be getting headaches induced by him soon." Wu Zheng He replied with a grin. "You sure about that? Then why do you look so happy about it?" Fan Hui Zhong drawled out with a raised eye brow. "Well that''s because I finally managed to convince him to stop travelling around, causing me to worry when I lose track of him. from time to time." Hearing his words, Fan Hui Zhong gave him a look filled with understanding. "Speaking of, now that we''re at my son''s topic, I would actually like to ask if it''s okay to sell your old home to me? It''s the one that''s currently neighboring my estate and my son asked me about it." Wu Zheng He said as he remembered his and Wu Jun Qiao''s previous conversation. "Personally, I don''t see why not since no one is really using it but I would advise you to talk to my brother about it since he is the one handling that." Hearing Fan Hui Zhong say that, Wu Zheng He was ecstatic since he already sent a message to ask Fan Hui Liang about it and he said that he''ll discuss it with Fan Hui Zhong first. Now everything is going well and he might be able to gift this to Wu Jun Qiao to give him some good news. Thinking of Jun Qiao, Wu Zheng He couldn''t help but wonder were he is exactly since he just received word that he ditched the servants he gave him earlier this morning and disappeared. Unknown to Wu Zheng He, the young man he was thinking about was actually also at the Thousand Treasures Pavillion in a private room of his own, watching the Old Ma reveal the last thing that''s up for bid with an excited gleam in his eyes as if already knowing that everything was about to fall into place, just like he planned. "Ladies and gentlemen, for the moment you''ve all been waiting for, the last item we have up for auction is an item that the owner of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion has personally added into today''s auction which makes it quite unique as well. Along with this item, the owner has instructed that whoever wins this item will be able to ask for anything from the Thousand Treasure Pavillion for one time and one time only. This is only being done because of the rarity of the item and also because of how the bidding for this particular item will be done." Old Ma then paused for a second as if letting the audience digest his words, after all, this was quite different from the previous auctions they''ve held before. After he''s given them a moment, Old Ma continued his explanation as if he never stopped. "Each and everyone that is present, whether here among the crowd or those in their private rooms, they will be given a jade slip where they can imprint their bid. Only the owner will be checking it and once he finishes picking the bid he likes the most, we shall let everyone know his choice. As most of you have come to realize now, you an only bid once and this applies to everone. Now if you have any questions, please voice them now while our attendants are distributing the jade slips." Murmurs and discussions immediately erupted in the crowd before several people voiced their concerns. "The bids, do they still apply to monetary amount or we can also offer some sort of deals or services as well?" a man asked. "All types of bids are welcome, whether an exchange of deals, contracts, treasure or just plain old money would do. Anything goes dear guests." Old Ma jovially replied. "You said the owner will pick, how long will we wait for the results then?" another asked. "You''ll get your results within the day since our Thousand Treasures Pavillion''s owner is actually here and is being entertained by our branch leader this very moment. In fact, he is in his own private room watching over the auction." Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. Stunned, the crowd''s gazes quickly turned to scan the private rooms where voices sounded from earlier, as if trying to guess which one belongs to the owner after all, no one even knew if the owner was even a male or female, however if rumors were to be believed then they would imply that the owner was a man. Amidst the turmoil caused by Old Ma''s words, someone spoke out in a loud voice and asked a question that all of them were asking in their minds. "What''s the item?" 46 Exchange of Favors 14.1 Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit! The finale item for the auction was actually a Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit! It''s appearance simply shocked people''s souls beyond belief! It can be said that whoever finds this immensely rare spirit fruit is someone who doesn''t just have unbelievably good luck but someone who is just practically blessed by the heavens! To think that this fruit was actually put on auction, it just blew everyone''s mind. This spirit fruit after all isn''t like any other rare and difficult to find spirit fruit but is actually a fruit that is just simply impossible to come across with in one''s lifetime and to think that a chance to acquire this came by today, it can be said that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit could be said to be one of the greatest medicinal panaceas there is! If simply judging with it''s outer appearance, it''s already a marvel to look at! It''s like a fragile and perfectly carved crystalline fruit figurine with the peel having a glass-like crystal appearance with a golden sheen to it, looking more like a sculpture than a fruit but when one thinks of it''s effects, one just can''t begin to measure it''s worth! Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. The effects of the Golden Crystal Spirit fruit depends on which part of the fruit you''ll be using. From the peel to the seed inside, all had varying yet amazingly potent effects! The peel has a very strong medicinal property that cleanse the body of any possible impurities, this includes any harmful substances that is detrimental to one''s health which includes poisons, impure or negative qi such as death qi or demonic qi as well as potential substances picked up in a person''s environment that affects one''s physique in a negative way. This results in the overall improvement on the body''s physical state an tempering everything from the muscles, bones, veins and meridians to it''s utmost peak while at the same time causing their spiritual qi to have a drastic rise in quality and purity which can improve the speed in cultivation as well as make one''s foundation even more stable and stronger than before. As for the flesh of the fruit, it can directly affect a person''s cultivation rise in power and immediately help them break and push through bottlenecks no matter what level they are on while stabilizing their qi and ensuring there is no backlash from the sudden breakthrough while stablizing a person''s foundation once they rise in rank. As for the juice or as an alchemist would call it; the spirit fruit essence, this has a direct effect on a person''s mind and soul, nourishing it and helping mend and treat injuries caused by spiritual and soul attacks and even improving one''s divine sense which are both incredibly hard to do. As for the seed of the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit, it is pretty straightforward and has no medicinal propeties. What''s special about the seed is that once you plant it, given enough time, it should grow into a two-stemmed flower which will produce two more Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit once it blooms but of course this is only if the extremely harsh and strict conditions for cultivating it was met which is actually very challenging since it depends on a very wide-range of factors, especially with it''s environmental requirements to even survive the seed''s germination yet despite of the difficulties in cultivating it, having one in the first place is enough to help a large family cement their family''s foundation and strength since the benefits still outweighs the difficulties and could have a huge impact in their and their families'' future. Anyone who''s anyone all felt their blood boil as a fierce determination appeared on their faces with only one thought on their minds. They must acquire this spirit fruit! Even Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes burned with a scorching fervor as she stared at it while her mind whirled with thoughts on how to get it. It was at this moment that Fan Yong Rui stirred and let out a pained groan which immediately snapped Fan Zhu Xia out of her thoughts before she hastily stood up and made her way over to where her cousin laid with a worried look on her face. Despite the pounding headache and feeling of extreme sluggishness that made him feel unbearably weak, Fan Yong Rui felt a pair of soft hands gently lift his wrist and a delicate finger press against his vein to take his pulse. Struggling to open his eyes, Fan Yong Rui blinked a couple of times to make out the blurry silhouette of a young lady in front of him giving him a worried and apologetic look. "Second Brother, Xia''er is sorry!" Second brother? Since when did he have a little sister? Groggily shaking his head, Fan Yong Rui tried to clear his mind and remember how he lost consciousness in the first place. When he finally did, his eyes widened slightly as his incredulous gaze snapped back to the girl who still held his hand in hers. Just as Fan Yong Rui opened his mouth to speak, the young lady beside him suddenly lifted one of her hands and flicked her finger, shooting something into his mouth, almost making him choke. Her actions not only surprise Fan Yong Rui but also Min Sheng and Chun Hua. "Young Miss, what did you just flick into Second Young Master''s mouth?" Min Sheng asked in surprise as he saw Fan Yong Rui give Fan Zhu Xia a flabbergasted look as if he just couldn''t believe what she had done. And yes, it was true! Fan Yong Rui''s face reflected what his wxct thoughts were as of the moment! He just couldn''t believe that a small, delicate-looking girl could first, knock him unconscious with ease and then actually feed him an unknown pill the moment he woke up! It was just unbelievable! The only reason Fan Yong Rui didn''t retaliate was because he initially felt incredibly weak but the moment that he swallowed the pill, albeit almost choking on it, he felt his raging headache slowly disappear and his body feel as if it''s just woken up from a refreshing rest while the qi energy in his body felt more dense and vigorous that it even felt like the pill was acting like a stimulant to boost his cultivation. Unaware of his thoughts, Fan Zhu Xia absent-mindedly answered Min Sheng''s question and told him that it was just a pill to help Fan Yong Rui recover and despite knowing all about the pill''s effects, Fan Zhu Xia misunderstood Fan Yong Rui''s stunned stillness and believed that something was wrong. "Second Brother are you feeling okay now? Are you still feeling unwell?" Fan Zhu Xia asked in a worried tone but since Fan Yong Rui still felt shock from what he observed in the changes that''s happening in his body, he remained silent and didn''t answer which not only made Fan Zhu Xia worry but also think that he was mad for what she did to him earlier. Sighing sadly, Fan Zhu Xia let go of Fan Yong Rui''s hand and said in a forlorn yet firm tone, "Xia''er really is sorry about how I acted earlier...it''s just that I got angry when you kept saying that I wasn''t father''s daughter since that''s a sensitive topic for me, after all, Xia''er is only adopted but nevertheless Father is Father! He''s the only one who was there for me for these past years and I owe him my life! Xia''er understands if you don''t want to acknowledge me since that is within your rights and you are correct in some way since I do not have Father''s blood running in my veins but despite of this, Fan Hui Zhong is someone very dear and important to me and nothing can change that! So I hope that you can forgive my earlier offense and can only make it up to you in the future." Taking a deep breath to gather her composure, Fan Zhu Xia then added and vehemently said, "I just want you to know and understand that everything I did was because I dislike people questioning my relationship with him and accusing me of using him. I, Zhu Xia had never once thought of using Fan Hui Zhong! The day I met him, I thought that he was nothing more than a hermit blacksmith who luckily found me and saved my life even when I didn''t want him to... He is the reason I was able to see reason in living again and the fact that he took me in and gave me a feeling of having a family again is a favor that I can never repay him enough in this lifetime!" Realizing that his silence was misinterpreted by the girl in front of him, Fan Yong Rui became flustered and hurriedly tried to explain while waving his hands in panic at what he''d done, especially when he saw the imminent threat of a woman crying when he saw the glimmer of crystalline tears in Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes. Seeing that Fan Zhu Xia was about to move away, Fan Yong Rui''s hand reflexively shot out to catch her''s to stop her movements and hold her in place. "No wait, you don''t have to apologize, this is a misunderstanding and a huge mistake on my part and if anyone should apologize and owe you a favor should be me! I acted to rashly and let my emotions cloud my judgement and for this, I am deeply ashamed. I may not understand who exactly are you but having Min Sheng here escorting you can only mean that the Fan family has already acknowledged who you are. I really do hope you can forgive my previous actions." "So you''re not mad at me for knocking you out?" Fan Zhu Xia asked as she guiltily looked at him. Feeling a bit of embarrassment at her words, Fan Yong Rui heaved a sigh and can only curse himself for slacking off in his training before he lightly shook his head and replied, "No I am not mad, it is only my fault for being too weak." "It''s not your fault! Xia''er can clearly sense that you held back and I only took you by surprise and the only reason you even lost consciousness was becaused I drugged you!" Hearing her say those words with a sincere and straight face, Fan Yong Rui didn''t know whether he should laugh or cry. This was the first time he met a girl who could bluntly say without shame that she drugged a man! Before he can open his mouth to reply, a knock sounded on the door before the voice of an attendant was heard asking for permission to enter. This made all of them turn towards the door''s direction whilea look of sudden realization manifested on Fan Zhu Xia''s face before she hurriedly granted permission to enter. Upon entering the room, the attendant noticed the ambigous atmosphere in the room and shot a a look at the Fan Yong Rui''s hand which still held on to Fan Zhu Xia''s before coughing lightly before speaking. "Please pardon the intrusion but we would just like to ask if these two esteemed guests would like to bid for the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit?" Hearing the question, Fan Zhu Xia immediately nodded in assent before opening her mouth to say, "We would like to participate but will you give us a little bit more time to think of what we can bid?" "But of course, feel free. We shall wait for your decision and come back in half an hour if that''s alright?" "Yes, that is more than enough. Thank you." Fan Zhu Xia replied with a smile while Fan Yong Rui stayed silent. Giving them one last look, the attendant then bowed and respectfully excused herself. Frowning slightly, Fan Yong Rui cleared his throat slightly then asked Fan Zhu Xia who''s hand he still held, while giving her an inquisitive look as he met her gaze. "Now that she''s gone, what was your name and what''s being auctioned again?" 47 Exchange of Favors 14.2 "Zhu Xia is my given name while Fan is the surname I adopted and the item currently being auctioned is the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit." "Nice to meet you Zhu Xia. So I want to ask, the only item being auctioned now is the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit? That''s all?" Fan Yong Rui queried and upon seeing Fan Zhu Xia nod in confirmation, Fan Yong Rui''s face fell as a look of disappointment spread across his face as he lost interest. "Ahh nevermind then! I have no use for that." Fan Yong Rui dismissively said with a nonchalant wave of his hand, sparking curiosity in Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes. "You''re not even going to try?" she queried while giving Fan Yong Rui an inquisitive look. "Nope. Why should I even bother? It''s not like this young master even has any means of fighting for it." Thinking that it was the end of that particular topic, Fan Yong Rui was about to question the young lady in front of him when she beat him to it and spoke first. "I don''t believe you don''t have a way to bid for it, after all, you yourself is a holder of a Essence Spirit Card, so how can you possibly not have any means of fighting for the spirit fruit? You just don''t want to bother!" Hearing her say that, Fan Yong Rui didn''t show any reaction other than his signature frivolous smile that was on his face, making him look charmingly mischievous. "Now, now... how can that be? I am after all just a normal young master!" Fan Yong Rui replied with a laugh yet there was a glint in his eyes that Fan Zhu Xia noticed, making her come to a realization herself. Directing her attention to Min Sheng and Chun Hua, Fan Zhu Xia instructed, "Both of you go out and stand just outside the door and knock twice once the attendant arrives before entering." Startled, both still nodded in acknowledgement despite Chun Hua''s curiosity, she followed obediently behind Min Sheng who led the way out before closing the door behind them and standing quietly to one side. Looking at the door, Chun Hua asked Min Sheng if he knew why the young miss made them leave the room, to which Min Sheng gave her a pointed look and replied, "Of course it''s to discuss something with the Second Young Master! We just have to keep quiet and make sure that no one disturbs them." Meanwhile, inside the room, an ambigous atmosphere enveloped the room as both Fan Yong Rui and Fan Zhu Xia sat facing each other. "Now why would you go and make those two servants of yours go out? After all, you never know if their presence is the only thing deterring me from making a move against you." Fan Yong Rui drawled playfully in an almost teasing manner yet the tone of his voice and the way he spoke belied dangerous, predatory light in his eyes which was extremely contradicting with his delicately refined pretty boy looks. Despite of this, Fan Zhu Xia just chuckled softly before waving her hand dismissively. "Whether or not they''re here or not, no one would be able to stop you should you choose to seriously act, of that I am certain. The reason this young miss made them go out is because proper introductions arr in order and I can tell that there is something that you don''t wish to let other people know." "You must be mistaken, I, Fan Yong Rui, am an open book! Everyone knows who I am." "Of course not! Everyone knows what you want them to know, isn''t that right?" "Hmm? And what made you say that?" Fan Yong Rui asked in a casual manner, yet the extremely subtle, reflexive split-second tensing of his muscles before he immediately relaxed them didn''t escape Fan Zhu Xia''a eyes, after all she was paying close attention to his reactions. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please clickfor visiting. "Please, let''s drop the act, I can tell that you are not an ordinary type of person. Although I can understand why you won''t admit it, after all you don''t know anything about me, so how about we make a deal?" Fan Zhu Xia suggested with a sly smile. "What do you have in mind?" "You tell me what you''re hiding and I''ll do likewise." "And if I don''t?" "I wonder if there are others who know what kind of influence you actually carry?" Fan Zhu Xia innocently asked yet the deceptively angelic looks belied the words she said and it''s implications. With eyes turning cold, Fan Yong Rui lowly rebuffed, "You wouldn''t dare..." "Hmm... maybe not to outsiders but how about to Uncle Liang? or perhaps Big Brother Li Jie?" Incredulous, Fan Yong Rui stared at her with disbelief plainly written in his face before he asked with a disbelieving tone, "You''d actually tattle on me? To my father and eldest brother of all people! What kind of play is that?" "It''s called playing dirty! Besides, if it gets me results, who cares?" Fan Zhu Xia replied breezily, looking completely carefree. "You are just shameless, you do know that right?" "There''s nothing wrong with being shameless from time to time. It''s completely normal." Shaking his head, Fan Yong Rui chuckled before bursting into full out laughter before composinh himself once more and shooting an appreciative glance towards Fan Zhu Xia. "Well played. I like that. I would do the same thing myself if it gets me what I want." "So does that mean we have a deal?" "Only if you go first." Fan Yong Rui replied with a mischievous grin. "Alright then, to be completely honest with you, my identity is what I''m banking on to win the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit, after all, having someone of my background owe a favor is quite a big deal." "And why is that?" Fan Yong Rui probed with a curious look in his eyes. "Because I am the only daughter of the patriarch of the Cong Family from Mystic Terra Mountain; Cong Zhi Qiang and Zhan Mei Ling who was nicknamed the Poison Fairy due to her profound knowledge in poisons and peerlesly beautiful looks and to my knowledge, the only surviving member of the main family, with the family name of Cong and Zhu Xia as my given name." "Well I''ll be damned, you are the Cong Family''s princess? Are you sure?" Fan Yong Rui asked, looking incomparably excited, making Fan Zhu Xia baffled. "Well that was before, but I have let go of the family name; Cong and have taken up Fan." "Doesn''t matter! I believe you''ll know my identity as soon as I explain." Fan Yong Rui said before standing up abd started pacing. "I''d like to ask first if your family received a request about three to four years ago, requesting for your family''s assistance in treating a comatosed old man here in the Thunder Vale Country." Frowning, Fan Zhu Xia warily answered, "We did. I wa actually the one my father sent over to help but we weren''t able to get here due to..." Trailing off, Fan Zhu Xia''s expression darkened and a dangerous light glinted in her icy blue eyes before she continued and said, "...due to unforeseen circumstances that I still need to rectify." "Is it related to the sudden attack on the Cong family?" "En... That''s besides the point. What you mean to say is that you were the one who sent the request that time?" "That''s right." "Then the old man that you need treated is?" "My grandfather." Fan Yong Rui replied while Fan Zhu Xia fell silent with a troubled look on her face. Seeing this, Fan Yong Rui couldn''t help but ask, "Something the matter?" "Let''s talk about it later, what''s important now is acquiring the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit. If I manage to get it then providing treatment to father and possibly grandfather would be much less complicated." "Then in that case, add me to your bid." A bit confused, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but ask, "Meaning?" "Oh please my dear, I''m sure you realize that a favor from the both of us, the supposedly dead yet extremely gifted Cong Family Princess who was said to be as talented as the patriarch along with the promise of the elusive leader of the Hundred Flowers House which has a widespread and profound underground information network is a pretty good bid offer, don''t you think so?" 48 Exchange of Favors 14.3 Coming to an agreement, both Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Yong Rui smiled amiably at each other just as a knock sounded on the door before it opened to let Min Sheng in, leading Chun Hua and an attendant of the Thousand Treasures Pavillioninside the room. "Esteemed guests, may we ask if you have already thought about what you will be bidding? This is the last call for those who would still like to participate in bidding for the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit." "Ah yes, we''ve already decided." Fan Zhu Xia replied with a smile and hearing her answer, the attendant immediately presented a jade slip to her which she gracefully took. After recording their bid in the jade slip and handing it to the attendant who quickly gave thanks and left the room after excusing himself to submit her bid, leaving Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Yong Rui who were now chatting pleasantly as if there was no animosity just earlier and now acted as if they were very good bosom friends from childhood leaving Min Sheng and Chun Hua baffled and unable to follow the quick changes in their masters. Meanwhile in a separate room, several jade slips were being delivered and carefully placed in a small table in front of a devilishly handsome-looking man attired in elegant obsidian-colored clothes with beautiful purple and gold embroideries who was partially hidden from view with only his silhouette visible behind a curtain made out of precious jade beads while he passively watched without saying a single word as the jade slips were placed in front of him. He only reclined languidly against the sofa, the sound of his rhythmic tapping against the arm rest being the only sign indicating his increasing impatience. "Ho You, where''s her slip? Don''t tell me that she isn''t participating?" the good-looking man asked while his sharp sword-like brows furrowed into a displeased frown. "Calm yourself my lord, she already said she''ll be bidding on the spirit fruit, the young miss just asked for some time to think about what she''ll be bidding." "Then have you sent someone to follow-up on her?" "Yes and I also received some information that might interest youfrom the attendant I sent earlier." "Hmm... Really? Please elaborate." Nodding, Ho You started to relay what he found out in a calm manner yet there was an amused twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. "My lord, if you recall, one of out guests was bidding against the young miss earlier for the Emeranite long sword right? Well, after she won the bid, the young miss sent thanks to that particular guest for letting her win and she told one of our attendants that she will help him fulfill one request should he need it. Afterwards, that guest of ours went to see the young miss in her private room and has been staying there ever since." "Who is that guest again?" the young man icily asked. "We suspect that he''s a major figure, if not the leader of the information network that is being controlled by the Hundred Flowers House." Upon hearing that, the young man''s voice became frostier than before while as he asked, "Then why is that man staying with her?" "It would seem that they know each other, my lord." Ho You said slowly, as he watched the man''s reaction from the other side of the beaded curtain. "What?! How under heaven''s name would she know anyone from that organization? Preposterous!" the man thundered out as a shockwave of murderous aura flooded out from the young man. Although unperturbed by the pressure generated by the man''s aura, Ho You couldn''t help but feel glad that the room they''re in had various seals and talismans that ensured no fluctuation of power and sound could leak outside of the room no matter how strong or loud it is. Ignoring his worsening mood, Ho You even teasingly said, "They seemed to be pretty close for new acquaintances. When one of our attendants entered the room earlier, she saw them sitting pretty close to each other and at what point, had even held hands. Apparently, the young miss even told him of her identity and where to find her." "And that is?" "The daughter of the infamous Lei Wangye, the mighty General Fan Hui Zhong. She is also currently residing at the Lei Palace." Surprised, the young man momentarily forgot his anger and couldn''t help but question Ho You further and asked, "Are you sure of this information? The identity of the daughter of Lei Wangye is not something just anyone can use and casually throw out and also why would she be " "We are quite sure that the information is sound. I was actually there when the young miss first arrived and was able to welcome her personally and I witnessed how she disembarked from a carriage bearing the symbol of the Lei Palace and if that''s not enough, the carriage was even being escorted by several of the elite guards of the Lei Sha Di Army which is directly under the control of the patriarch of the Fan Family when General Hui Zhong isn''t present." With a thoughtful look in his eyes, the young man wondered and voiced a question that was floating on his mind. "I wonder how she ended up there?" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Just as Ho You was about to respond, another knock sounded by the door, drawing both of their attention towards it and upon hearing it, the young man behind the beaded curtain motioned for Ho You to let the person in. "Enter." Upon hearing Ho You''s voice echo and grant permission, an attendant entered and respectfully greeted the two people inside. "Lord Owner, Branch Leader; this lowly one has brought the jade slip from the room you instructed us to pay special attention to." "Ho You, give it to me." a low magnetic voice sounded from behind the curtain, startling the attendant to almost dropping the jade slip. Luckily, Ho You caught it in time but this did not prevent the strong oppressive presence that bursted out from the young man behind the curtain as he became annoyed. Seemingly unaffected, Ho You released his own aura and covered the poor attendant who had paled and who''s back instantly became soaked with sweat as fear overwhelmed her while under the oppressive presence before dismissing the poor girl who hurriedly apologized and excused herself. "Please my lord, don''t scare our people." Ho You said with a laugh while handing the jade slip to the man behind the curtains. Taking it with long elegant fingers, the man just snorted in reply and focused his divine sense to read it''s contents. Finishing it, his eyes immediately lit up, happiness and relief filling his deep, midnight-colored eyes while his lips curved in delight. "Ho You, go and send word that they won the bid and also inform them that I have a request as well for the Cong family princess." Hearing his lord confirm their suspicions, even Ho You felt happy for him. "What''s the request my lord?" "I want to meet her. Now. Alone." 49 Confirmations - 15.1 "The owner wants to see me? Now?" Fan Zhu Xia asked blankly as she stared at Ho You who had just arrived to inform them that they won the bid for the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit and that the owner has one particular request; and that is to personally meet her. Looking at the flabbergasted expression on Fan Zhu Xia''s face, Ho You couldn''t help but lightly chuckle as he replied, "Yes Miss Xia''er, that''s right." "But why?" "This lowly one isn''t exactly sure of the reason, after all, Ho You is but a servant here in the Thousand Treasure Pavillion but it is the Lord Owner who was the one who specifically ordered me to inform you of his request." Falling silent, Fan Zhu Xia mulled things over before she felt a hand clamp over her shoulder and give her a reassuring squeeze. "Little Xia, you should go ahead and meet this mysterious owner. Besides, if something happens, wouldn''t I still be here to help you out?" Fan Yong Rui said with a grin. "That won''t be necessary, I don''t think the Thousand Treasures Pavillion will do anything to harm me." "Of course not! The Thousand Treasure Pavillion prides itself with our fair and unquestionable treatment of our patrons, we would never do any underhanded tricks, especially to our esteemed guest such as yourselves. Our Lord Owner would just like to make your acquaintance." Sharing a look with Fan Yong Rui, Fan Zhu Xia remained puzzled yet she could do nothing but nod and say, "Very well. This miss will do as you say." Meanwhile, Fan Yong Rui seemed to have thought of something and gave Ho You a pondering look with curiosity and amusement blooming in his eyes before he just chuckled and shook his head when Fan Zhu Xia gazed at him inquiringly. "Then do you mind if I go on ahead? People are looking for me and this young master shouldn''t keep them waiting. Will you just have someone come and inform me once you reach home?" "En. I''ll have someone do that. You go on ahead, I''ll see you later." Then with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Fan Yong Rui sidled up closer to Fan Zhu Xia before suddenly pulling her into his embrace and lowering his head to kiss her cheek before letting her go and lowly telling her in an ambigous tone, "Hurry back, I''ll be waiting." Momentarily shocked by his actions, Fan Zhu Xia did nothing but stare at him dumbfounded, not even moving even an inch away from Fan Yong Rui, making Ho You''s brows frown slightly in concern before he managed to mask it, yet despite his speed, Fan Yong Rui still noticed, making him laugh as he got the answer to one of the questions on his mind, making him laugh. His laughter brought Fan Zhu Xia made Fan Zhu Xia''s face blush adorably as she stomped her feet before pushing Fan Yong Rui to the direction of the door, shooing him away. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "Remember, don''t take too long, I might get jealous." Fan Yong Rui teasingly drawled with a smirk on his face, making Fan Zhu Xia so annoyed that she felt a vein would burst in her temple all because of Fan Yong Rui''s annoying antics. "Ehh, you jealous? What are you talking about? Just go already!" Fan Zhu Xia snappily replied to which Fan Yong Rui just laughed off as he waves goodbye before exiting the room, leaving the occupants in an awkward silence. Everyone was stunned by what Fan Yong Rui had done and even Fan Zhu Xia was flabbergasted. She just didn''t know what came over him, but she sure as hell going to find out later! Clearing her thoughts, she cleared her throat before she spoke to get Ho You''s attention. "Ehem... Brother Ho, shall we go now?" After that scene he just witnessed, Ho You''s mind was a mess. What he just saw was a blatant display that Fan Yong Rui enacted in front of him to showcase his and the young miss'' relationship but what bothers him is that he had no way of knowing just how much of it was a show and how much is the truth. His head ached at the mere thought of what might happen if he reports this, after all, he can''t just ask to verify the authenticity of what he just saw since that would be overstepping his line. Ho You knew that this would be very quite difficult to report to the Lord Owner, after all, who knows how that guy might react! "Brother Ho? Am I allowed to bring Min Sheng and Chun Hua when I go and meet the Lord Owner?" Seeing the lack of reaction, Fan Zhu Xia''s mouth twitched wryly, before she tried again and called out, "Brother Ho?" Finally snapping out of his daze, Ho You coughed and gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry Miss Xia''er. It''s just that Ho You was taken aback by what he just saw." Returning his smile with an exasperated one of her own as she shook her head softly and replying with a voice filled with resigned amusement. "Just ignore him, he''s just teasing. Anyway, shall we go?" Fan Zhu Xia smoothly asked, shifting the topic, leaving him no chance to query it further. "Yes, let me go and bring you to meet him. He is the one who will be giving the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit to you." Nodding, the three of them; Fan Zhu Xia, Min Sheng and Chun Hua followed Ho You''s lead until they were brought to a door of one of the private auction rooms that based from Ho You''s explanation was the personal private room that the owner of Thousand Treasures Pavillion usually uses if he''s here and wants to check out the auction. Upon arriving just outside, Fan Zhu Xia noticed that the door to the room was being guarded by muscular, stoic-looking men who both respectfully nodded and greeted Ho You quietly. "Branch Leader." "Branch Leader." Hearing the simultaneous greetings, Ho You felt his eye twitch in slight annoyance, not at the guards but more at himself. How could he forget to instruct these two not to address him as such? Looking at the problematic expression on Ho You''s face, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but cock an elegant brow in amusement as she playfully asked, "Branch Leader? Are they referring to you, Brother Ho?" "Please, Miss Xia''er, you jest... Compared to you''re impressive background, how can this lowly one compare?" Laughing, Fan Zhu Xia just waved a dismissive hand before responding with light tone. "Ahh, details. What''s status got to do with friends, right?" "But of course haha... Then shall we proceed inside then?" Ho You said with a laugh, moving on from his slip. "Lead the way, Brother Ho." After seeing Fan Zhu Xia nod in agreement, Ho You made his way to the door and one of the guards opened it for him as he gestured to Fan Zhu Xia to follow him in. "Min Sheng, Chun Hua, wait for me here. I''ll be right back." "Very well Young Miss." "Of course, my lady." The two simultaneously replied before stepping to stand on one side. Seeing this, Fan Zhu Xia made her way to Ho You''s side who was waiting just inside the open door. Once she entered, Ho You raised his hand to gesture for the guards to close the door making Min Sheng and Chun Hua lose sight of them as he lead Fan Zhu Xia deeper into the room, nearer the glass wall that overlooked the auction stage where a wall was erected in the middle of the room, serving like a divider where a slightly raised platform that was concealed by a curtain made of jade beads were to stand before a low table that was just in front of it. Looking closely, Fan Zhu Xia managed to make out the silhouette of a form of a man reclining leisurely on the sofa but she couldn''t make out the man''s features due to him being partially concealed by the curtains. Tamping down on her urge to talk, she let Ho You make the introductions as she just stared curiously, not even realizing that her gaze was being reciprocated bythe man behind the beaded jade curtain''s own inquisitive look as he stared at the young lady on the other side of the curtain. "My lord, I have brought Young Miss Xia. Is there anything else that this one can assist you with?" A second of silence passed before a low, enigmatic voice sounded from behind the jade bead curtains. "You''ve done well Ho You. Go on out first. This one would like to have a moment with our guest first." Staying silent, Fan Zhu Xia just returned Ho You''s smile with a nod of her own as he went out before letting her gaze trail back to the silhouette of the mysterious owner of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion. Smiling slightly, her eyes twinkling prettily with curiosity as she eyed the man before opening her mouth that was hidden behind her silk veil and her quiet, alluringly soft voice and spoke. "May this young miss know what the elusive and mysterious owner of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion want with me?" 50 Confirmations - 15.2 The man was silent for a while before a smile slowly spread on his face, making him look devillishly seductive, it was a shame that the curtains made out of miniature jade beads partially obscured him. "This One only wanted to make the acquaintance of the esteemed young miss of the Cong family. This One has heard a lot of things about you and you have honestly piqued my interest." "Hmm? Is that so? This Young Miss is very flattered that Lord Owner would think so highly of me." Fan Zhu Xia replied with a charming laugh which trailed off when she saw the silhouette of the man stand up from the sofa and with a flick of his hand, a small trace of qi formed a gentle wave and parted the curtains as he walked through them to stand in front of her with smooth, elegant movements. Seeing him come nearer, a strong sense of familiarity struck Fan Zhu Xia especially when she raised her gaze to meet his, she was amazed when his heartstopping countenance entered her eyes, with a strong chiseled jaw, high cheekbones, straight nose and surprisingly luscious-looking lips that contrasted with his sharp features yet it oddly suited him perfectly. Letting her eyes travel up, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but suck in a breath when their eyes collided and she saw his deep, fathomless yet magnetic amber gold eyes that was studying her with a complex look hidden behind an intricately carved mask that covered the upper half of his face, making Fan Zhu Xia feel somewhat overwhelmed. Looking at the stunned Fan Zhu Xia who was quietly staring at him for several minutes already, the masked young man''s lips tilted upwards to form an amused smirk as he looked at Fan Zhu Xia''s adorable dazed expression. "Is there something on this One''s face?" he playfully drawled. His deep, husky voice sounded amazingly alluring yet it made Fan Zhu Xia realize that she had been staring unabashedly for quite some time and the realization made her blush with embarassment as her jade-white skin flushed to a beautiful vibrant red, as if blooming red roses amidst pristine snow. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. The mere sight of her was incomparably enchanting, and seeing her in such a flustered state surprised yet delighted him, making his smile even more evident which in turn, flusters Fan Zhu Xia even more. Who told the heavens to make this man so damn alluring?! Each time he smiles and looks at her with those unfathomable eyes, Fan Zhu Xia''s mind seems to take a hit and she just couldn''t gather her composure in time, even making her stutter once she tried to reply! "N-Nothing... Nothing at all! It was just that this Young Miss was just surprised is all! This miss never expected for the Lord Owner to be so young." "Is that a problem?" the man queried while raising one of his sword-like brows in question. "Of course not! This miss thinks it''s great!" Fan Zhu Xia blurted out, then as if realizing what she said, she blushed a deeper shade of red, with even the tips of her ears which peeked out from underneath her hair was also a cute adorable shade of pink. "Great? How so?" the man asked with a laugh, moving a step closer, making Fan Zhu Xia''s breath hitch and throat dry as she smelled his distinctive smell as a man which was earthy and elegant at the same time. Like sandalwood with a hint of musk and herbs. It was a scent that made Fan Zhu Xia''s brows unconsciously furrow because it was unbelievably familliar, yet for the life of her, she just couldn''t remember where she smelled it before. Unbeknownst to her, she wasn''t the only one affected by their close proximity. Even the masked man felt his control and composure waver the moment he stepped close. He could almost feel the body heat she exudes and her tantalizing scent of florals and medicinal herbs that always haunted his dreams remained the same that it took everything he had in him to take a step back before he lifted a hand and offered it to her. Seeing his gesture, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but look at him questioningly to which the man chuckled as he answered her unvoiced question. "Come, let me show you something." Feeling shy all of a sudden, Fan Zhu Xia felt her already warm cheeks grow a tad bit hotter before she took a calming breath and composed herself while placing her small hand in his. The moment she did that, his larger hand closed around hers while giving it a soft squeeze before pulling her along gently as he led her way to the back of the room, directly opposite the glass wall where a tall exquisite painting with a width of at least three people that portrayed a beautiful scene of lush verdant mountains and trees where coiling dragons could be seen rising while blazing phoenixes flew and dance about, looking particularly enchanting. "It''s beautiful!" Fan Zhu Xia exclaimed as she admired the painting. Hearing her praise, the masked man couldn''t help but smile as he replied, "Thank you. I''m glad you like it. I''ll paint a smaller one then have Ho You send it over." Surprised, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes widened as quickly faced him and excitedly asked, "Lord Owner painted this?" "En." Happiness spread all over her face before she nodded repeatedly while smiling, turning her eyes into charming crescents. "Thank you so much, Lord Owner!" "It''s nothing. Just tell me if you need anything else." Confused about the meaning and implication behind his words, Fan Zhu Xia had just opened her mouth to ask when he suddenly spoke and said, "Come on, this is not really what I wanted to show you." With another gentle tug, Fan Zhu Xia fell silent as the masked man waved his hand towards the painting and a stream of qi flooded it before a soft yet audible click sounded as the painting shimmered slightly before it parted itself in the middle and swung open, revealing a hidden office inside to which the masked man pulled her in to before leading her to sit in one of the chairs in front of the huge desk. "Sit here for a bit. This One will just get something." Sitting down, Fan Zhu Xia studied the room she was in and noticed that almost all the furnishings were made of rare and high-quality materials ranging from Spirit Wood to Blood Jade which is a type of jade, imbued with concentrated spiritual energies that naturally convalesced to form the jade after the stone and it''s surrounding grounds within at least five meters has been soaked with blood of countless high-levelled spirit beasts. Just judging from the materials used in the room, Fan Zhu Xia could already tell that this room''s value is already immeasurable. Appearing beside her, the masked man placed two small jade chests and said, "Please accept this. One contains the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit and the other is another rare herb that this One has personally come across with during my travels. Consider this as a token of good will." Seeing her hesitate, the man pushed the two chests into her arms decisively, while giving her a insistent and determined look. "B-But this is too much! This Young Miss can''t possibly take advantage of the Lord Owner." Smiling, the man just shook his head before gesturing for her to leave. "Please, Young Miss is not taking advantage of this One. As I mentioned earlier, if you need anything, you only need ask. Now of you go." the masked man reiterated before waving her off. "But-" "No buts. It was I who insisted so there is no need to think otherwise, after all, this One still has your favor to claim." Seeing her reluctant to leave, the man strode over and wrapped an arm over her shoulders, surprising her which made it easier for him to lead her out of the hidden office and nearer to the room''s exit abd left with no choice, Fan Zhu Xia then nodded resignedly and said, "Then should Lord Owner need any help, please do let this Young Miss know." "Of course." Just as Fan Zhu Xia was about to leave the room, she stopped and let the hand that held on to the door fall before she turned back and tentatively asked, "Before this Young Miss goes, may I ask if I may know the Lord Owner''s name?" Seeing her stare up to him with the same uncertain look she had before with her big, icy blue eyes that always seemed to seek something from him yet at the same time calms and excites him, the little control he tightly held in check cracked and he couldn''t help the actions he did next. Sensing his swift movements, Fan Zhu Xia reflexively stepped backwards, her back hitting the door making her realize that there was no room to move and before she could do otherwise, the masked man''s arms were planted against the door on either side of her head, trapping her effectively as the man lowered his head near hers, their noses nearly touching before he slowly, almost teasingly moved his face to the side to the point that each breath he exhaled brushed against her ear, making goosebumps erupt in her flesh as her face flushed an enchantingly alluring red, as her breathing lightly sped up. "Please little one, no need to rush. We''ll meet each other again and you''ll know my name by then." 51 Confirmations - 15.3 Heart pounding and feeling stunned, Fan Zhu Xia''s whole body froze as she listened to the masked man whisper lowly in her ear. What under heaven''s name did he mean by his words? What''s the difference between knowing now or later? He could just tell her that it was none of her business if he didn''t want her to know! What''s with all his act of acting all ambigous and mysterious?! Feeling flustered and somewhat aggrieved, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t decide what to do when thankfully the masked man retracted his arms from either side of her and took q step back as he straightened up while staring at her with an amused smirk on those enchanting lips of his. "Go on now, hurry off. You wouldn''t want to keep your lover waiting." the man drawled, his eyes flashing dangerously at the thought of the man who submitted the bid with her. Ho You, after all had already sent him a voice transmission just before he left earlier and what he told him incensed him to the bone. How dare that man put his dirty paws around his little flower?! Just who gave him the guts to do that?! Unaware of his tumultous thoughts, to Fan Zhu Xia, only blatant confusion was showing on her face since even she missed the dangerous gleam reflecting on the man''s eyes. Since when did she have a lover? "Uhhh... Lord Owner must be mistaken. This Young Miss has no ambigous relationship with anyone, let alone a lover!" Fan Zhu Xia hurriedly explained, wanting to clear up any misconceptions that this man in front of her had. Hearing her words, the masked man felt an intense satisfaction fill him and this time, Fan Zhu Xia noticed since he didn''t make any effort to hide it which made Fan Zhu Xia baffled as to why he would react that way just because of what she said. Before she can say anything else, the man spoke in a deep voice, coupled with a small playful grin as he reached out to tilt her chin upwards until she had no choice but to meet his burning gaze. "Well if you don''t have one, then why not take this One as your lover instead?" Dumbfounded, an expression of not knowing whether she should laugh or cry was written all over her face as she processed what he just said and just as soon as his meaning sank in, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but blush a deeper shade of red, that she even felt like her cheeks were heating up so much that steam must be coming out on top of her head. The sight of her deeply flushed skin made her enticingly charming, as if just pinching her cheeks would squeeze out ruby-colored wine while her eyes glimmered like precious crystals. It truly tested a man''s control even if the lower half of her face was covered by a thin silk veil. Before he was able to do or say anything else, Fan Zhu Xia snapped back to her senses and despite her jumbled thoughts and blushing cheeks, she managed to react before him. "Lord Owner must be joking! This Young Miss is not worthy. Now if you''ll excuse me, I shall take my leave. Please feel free to send someone to inform me should you need me to fulfill my end of the bargain." After talking, Fan Zhu Xia swiftly turned around and slid the door open and went out of the room, leaving no chance for the man to reply or say anything further. Her rushing figure startled the two guards standing just outside the door and immediately drew the attention of Ho You, Min Sheng and Chun Hua who were casually conversing with each other as they waited. Seeing her flushed and flustered, all of them couldn''t help but feel startled especially Min Sheng and Chun Hua when Fan Zhu Xia didn''t spare them any glances and just nodded to Ho You as she briskly made her way down the hall before she called out and said, "Min Sheng! Chun Hua! Come along, I wish to go and see father!" "Right away Young Miss!" "Yes Miss!" Despite the surprise and curiosity in their hearts, the two immediately followed their young miss after they bade a quick goodbye to Ho You. Meanwhile, inside the room, the masked man was sitting behind the desk in the hidden office with an amused yet satisfied look on his face. This was what Ho You saw when he came in and this cleared up some of his suspicions about Fan Zhu Xia''s unusual behavior. "My Lord, I take it that Miss Xia''er is the one that we''ve been looking for?" "En. She is." "Then that''s great! Ho You must congratulate my lord for finally locating the young miss although I must ask, what did you do for her to rush out like her heels were on fire?" Hearing Ho You''s description and question, the man just laughed before gleefully replying with a grin on his face. "Oh nothing, nothing. This One just asked her to be mine." Nodding, Ho You bobbed his head approvingly before he froze as he realized what the man in front of him just said. "What?! You did what?!" Grinning, the man just waived off Ho You and said, "Old friend, calm down will you? This is nothing but a trivial matter." Hearing his carefree response, Ho You felt a vein ticking dangerously, before taking several deep breaths to calm himself. It didn''t help that the man in front of him was staring at him with pure amusement. "Tell me what you said. Exact words!" "You know Ho You, I really don''t see what the big fuss is about." "For heaven''s sake Jun Qiao, just answer the damn question!" Ho You snapped as he stomped over and sat in one of the chairs. Shaking his head, the masked young man who some people would actually recognize as the adopted son of Wu Zheng He; a respected general of Thunder Vale Country and also the older brother of the current empress; Wu Li Hua. "You know, you''re lucky you''re my friend or you''re head will already have flown off your shoulders." "Please, spare me the details. Now tell me what you said to Miss Xia''er." Ho You sarcastically retorted while prompting the masked man named Jun Qiao to answer his question. Sighing at Ho You''s persistence, Wu Jun Qiao felt a bit helpless. It wasn''t like he couldn''t do anything to Ho You, but rather he didn''t want to do anything! Ho You was after all, an old childhood friend of his that always remained loyal to him and worried about his welfare despite being separated for several years. This left him feeling resigned as he finally answered his question. "I just told her what I''ve felt all those years ago." Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "And that is?" "I want to be hers and for her to be mine." "Did you tell her who you are then?" Looking sheepish all of a sudden, Wu Jun Qiao then said, "About that... Realizing what he did, Ho You shot his friend an incredulous look as a thought emerged on his mind. "You didn''t!" "I didn''t." Wu Jun Qiao confirmed. His answer made Ho You slump back on his chair and sigh out and exclaim, "Now what under heaven''s name should we do now?!" "Old friend, why are you so worried? There are still plenty of opportunities that I can introduce myself! Now just isn''t the time yet. Meeting her today was just to confirm my suspicions about her." "Then have you confirmed it?" "I have." "Then what do you plan on doing now?" Ho You queried. Pausing for a moment, a devillish smile slowly etched itself in Wu Jun Qiao''s lips as he said, "I''ll be attending a banquet." 52 Leaving the Thousand Treasures Pavillion - 16 After hurrying out, Fan Zhu Xia finally calmed down and regained her composure as she waited for her carriage to come around from the Thousand Treasures Pavillion''s stables. She struggled to place the Lord Owner''s confusing and ambigous actions at the back of her mind and focused on thinking of the best time to start refining the medicinal pill for her father; Fan Hui Zhong. Standing absent-mindedly and completely oblivious to her surroundings by the entrance of the building, she didn''t realize the attention she garnered just because of her prestigious bearing, alluring figure, obvious breathtaking countenance which was partially hidden by her silk veil as well a her entourage since she was surrounded by a small of group of stalwart-looking men who wore the uniform of elite guards from the Lei Sha Di Army which is widely known as the personal army led by the Lei Wangye and governed by the Fan family in his absence. Such a sight caused many whispers and speculations among the crowd of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion''s customers and patrons. All of them were wondering about the same thing and that is who exactly is this young lady and what''s her connection to the Fan Family? Or, heaven forbid, what identity does she have to warrant the Lei Palace''s protection? The distinct clip-clopping of hooves echoed and grew louder until the sight of two massive Stallion Drakes leading an elaborately decorated carriage with the crest of the Lei Palace, followed by several more riders on Stallion Drakes that led a couple more of the horse-type spirit beasts behind them that was coming from the direction of the stables of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion effectively stunned the crowd into silence as they stared dunbfounded at it. Everyone there knew that only the infamous Lei Wangye can authorize the use of that carriage and not even the Fan family patriarch can use it without his permission which just shows how heavy the implications of this carriage appearing here is! Just as the crowd thought nothing more could top this, the elite guards surrounding Fan Zhu Xia assembled themselves to form two straight lines on either side of her as Min Sheng led the way to open the door to the carriage before respectfully calling out to Fan Zhu Xia. "Young Miss, if you please." Min Sheng said while gesturing for her to enter after Chun Hua placed a small circular stool for her to step on. Sighing at such ceremony caused by the escort her father provided, Fan Zhu Xia mentally shook her head and just accepted Chun Hua''s extended hand that assisted her in climbing up the carriage before Chun Hua also entered and helped her settle in comfortably inside while Min Sheng closed the door. Remembering something, Fan Zhu Xia''s soft voice carried out of the carriage, barely heard by the crowd but some with higher cultivation bases that heard her and Min Sheng''s hushed conversation felt as if a thunderclap hit them. "Min Sheng, did you find out where father is?" "Answering Young Miss, from what my subordinate told me, Lei Wangye is still at the Golden Pheasant Restaurant with General Wu Zheng He." "Hmm, is that so? Then this miss shan''t disturb them. Let''s go back." "As you wish." Heavens did they just hear that right?! That veiled fairy was calling Lei Wangye father?! Since when did the elusive and infamous Lei Wangye have a daughter and how come no one ever got a whiff of this news?! A daughter for gods'' sake! This is a chance for other families with eligible and promising sons to make a connection to not only the Lei Palace but also the Fan family which can serve as another opportunity for those who also has daughters! Before anyone could make a move towards Fan Zhu Xia''s direction, Min Sheng already let out a low shout and the carriage swiftly left the front courtyard of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion while being surrounded by the mounted elite guards that were divided into two groups that sandwiched the carriage in between; with one group in front and the other at the back. Trying to stop them just to make Fan Zhu Xia''s acquaintamce was no longer possible but making preparations at home certainly isn''t! As swift as the wind, the Thousand Treasure Pavillion''s patrons had also quickly scattered and left to return and relay the information they got, leaving only those who have not realized Fan Zhu Xia''s identity or those who could only smile wryly in regret since they have no means to make a move. Seeing the aftermath of people hurrying to leave as if their feet were being chased by fire, Ning Yan Mei who had just left her private auction room in a bad mood after finding out that she did not win the bid, felt that something was amiss with the crowd yet she couldn''t bother herself with it. To her, all of them were just ants and she didn''t want to waste a single breath on them therefore missing out on finding such important news. In a lousy mood, Ning Yan Mei snapped at the old man that was escorting her and said in a rude, arrogant manner, "Go make yourself useful and fetch this princess'' carriage! This princess wants to go back!" "Right away princess." the old man said as he disappeared with just a step as if he was just fleeting wind, indicating that he had formidable might and prowess in both martial arts and cultivation. It was just a shame that the person who he faced off earlier was Min Sheng who was just leagues stronger than him, after all, even though he was already quite formidable, the disparity of an Early Stage to the Practioner Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm was as immense as the sky and the earth, especially since one was just at the elementary level of the early stage while the other is at the peak level of the practitioner stage. A few minutes passed and another carriage appeared before the crowd. Although it''s appearance was still quite intricately elegant and indicated that it was of high quality that could only be used by someone of great background, it still couldn''t compare to the carriage of Fan Zhu Xia earlier which practically stirred the crowd into a frenzy just by the mere sight of it. Noticing the weird looks and some gazes that seemed like they were looking down on her carriage, Ning Yan Mei let out an annoyed humph before she let out her cultivation to pressure the crowd and since she was at the Peak Level of the Intermediate Stage of the Void Advancement Realm, of course her presence pressured almost everyone there aside from thos of equal and higher cultivations who quickly let out their own presence to shield the commoners. Ignoring the angry gazes directed towards her, she arrogantly tilted her head up and swept the crowd with a derisive look before climbing up on her carriage with the help of her old servant and quickly left the Thousand Treasures Pavillion. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Meanwhile, in her carriage, Fan Zhu Xia was calmly drinking tea that was poured by Chun Hua when the sound of a child wailing and a man angrily shouting sounding from outside before her carriage came to a halt and Min Sheng opened up the carriage window as he calmly told her what was happening. "Sorry Young Miss, there is a small commotion up ahead and it''s blocking the carriage''s path." "What is it about?" "From what we''ve gathered so far, it''s a pair of two children who is complaining about the medical services of one of the store''s physicians." "And?" "They said that they were swindled, and that the medical treatment the physician provided only made the younger one''s condition even worse." Just as Fan Zhu Xia was about to reply, the pained scream of one of the kids loudly echoed out, making Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes narrow dangerously while an icy glint could be seen in her eyes as her whole aura turned menacingly colder. "Come. Let us go and see what all of this commotion is about!" 53 Fraud or Not? - 17.1 Following the pained scream, a man''s angry shouting could be heard cursing could be barely heard even through the noise of the crowd, as muffled groans followed. Fan Zhu Xia who disembarked from the carriage with the assistance of Min Sheng and Chun Hua drew some attention especially with her fairy like appearance, with a beautiful, alluring figure, jadeite skin and a half-hidden face that hinted at a breathtaking countenance that could ruin cities and make kingdoms fall. Her graceful movements were like flowing water; soft and fluid, while her pale blue robes skimmed the ground lightly with each step as the layers and folds of her gown shifted gently with each movement, like warm, tranquil clouds moving through the bright sky. When she started making her way to the commotion, Min Sheng immediately took the lead as he ordered several of the elite guards to surround Fan Zhu Xia in a protective circle as they moved through the gathered crowd. Seeing their intimidating group, they didn''t face much resistance and the crowd parted willingly, as if running water in a river being faced with a solid rock. As soon as they arrived at the front, Min Sheng stepped aside to let Fan Zhu Xia see what was happening and what she saw made her blood boil as the temperature around her dropped and her already menacing aura grew even more intense. "Min Sheng, restrain that man." Fan Zhu Xia ordered icily, her pale blue eyes looking extremely cold, as if there was a layer of frost covering them that just by meeting her gaze, one would instinctively shudder. Upon hearing her order, Min Sheng gave a nod of acknowledgement and said, "Right away, Young Miss." before he shot out from where he was standing and in just merely a couple of seconds had passed when he already had disarmed the raging man who was beating the two children with a bamboo stick and had both of the man''s hands restrained behind his back. Seeing her order carried out quickly and efficiently, satisfaction filled Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes yet the cold fury that was there still had not left as he shot the man who wa shouting indignantly a cold look. Seeing the icy gaze directed at him, the man couldn''t help the chill that ran down his spine as he shuddered while cold sweat dotted his back. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Who on earth was that blue-robed young lady?! Ignoring the man''s apprehensive look as he stared at her while quieting down, Fan Zhu Xia made her way to the two children who were lying down in the middle of the encirclement of the crowd, just a few steps away from the entrance of what seemed to be a medicinal store. As she neared the two kids, she noted how the two wore tattered and ill-fitting clothes with a lot of patches, indicating how it''s been sewed up and repaired countless times. Fan Zhu Xia also noticed how the older child, a young boy of around eight to ten years old had draped his body over the little one to shield and protect the other from further injuries. His actions, however resulted in him suffering from serious injuries, especially the ones that got inflicted on his back since his already tattered clothes were torn apart and his wounded flesh could be seen as blood poured out from his skin that was split open after being hit so hard. Seeing it filled Fan Zhu Xia with so much rage that her hands faintly trembled. Her whole person was like an ice fairy emitting cold frost, both enchanting yet untouchable. Her deceptively gentle and alluring voice that spoke softly was dripping with ice as she ordered, "Chun Hua, slap him for this Young Miss." Before anyone could react, Chun Hua quickly went to the man that Min Sheng held and delivered a strong, vicious slap that made the man''s whole head turn to the side with the force as his lips was split and blood leaked out his mouth while the imprint of a hand was left on his cheek that had immediately started to swell. This filled the man with righteous fury as he started screaming out abuse once more. "How dare you slap me?! A mere servant! I''ll have your head!" "Young lady, you don''t know who you''re messing with! Do you even know who owns this Medicine Hall?!" "Ha! You''ll f*cking regret your actions, mark my words!" Annoyed, Fan Zhu Xia waved her hand and said, "Gah! So noisy! Chun Hua, shut him up!" "Yes miss." With her simple reply, Chun Hua then clenched her hand to a fist then sent it smashing to the man''s face, knocking several of the man''s teeth out while leaving the man dazed, effectively quieting him down. The series of fast and merciless actions stunned the crowd and made them collectively gasp in shock. Just who was this ruthless young lady?! Ignoring the people around them, Fan Zhu Xia lowered herself down beside the two kids when she noticed that the older one was barely conscious yet when she reached out, the young boy tightened his hold on the little one protectively. This made her heart clench, and as if spring had come, all her icy demeanor melted away and nothinh was left except warmth and gentleness in her gaze. While everyone was focused on Fan Zhu Xia and the two kids, nobody realized that one of the attendants of the medicine hall had quietly gone out of the back of the store to go ahead and report the incident and get help and reinforcements. Even though this happened, even if they knew that someone slipped away, neither Fan Zhu Xia nor her entourage would care, after all, all of them were quite secure with their strength and backing since each one of them knew that in this kingdom, there were only a select few that could trump them. Meanwhile, Fan Zhu Xia''s attention was wholeheartedly focused on the young boy and speaking softly, Fan Zhu Xia gently crooned and comforted the young lad and with agracefuly flick of her hand, a medicinal pill with a bloody-red color appeared in between her fingers before she swiftly placed it in the boy''s mouth and used her qi to help him swallow it. Those who saw it felt disbelief while their eyes widened in shock! That deep red pill fit the description and resemblance of a hard to concoct, Blood Enhancing Pill! The thing that shocked them more was that the young lady just nonchalantly gave it away to a random person with no qualms whatsoever. A spectator finally got enough courage and asked, "Young Miss, was that a Blood Enhancing Pill?" Glancing up, before looking away dismissively and focusing her attention on gently shifting away the young boy to lie down belly-first on the ground, she nonchalantly replied, "What of it?" What of it?! What of it?! Does this young lady know how extremely precious that pill was?! A lot of families will pay no matter what amount of gold just to get their hands on it! "Young Miss, t-that...that pill, you shouldn''t give it out indiscriminately!" Without even looking, Fan Zhu Xia just coldly replied, "Whoever this miss gives it to is this miss'' and no one can say otherwise!" "But that''s the Blood Enhancing Pill! It can improve the overall quality of one''s blood and body and even detoxify it from it''s impurities, that pill is too precious and hard to come by!" "Pah! If this miss runs out then this miss will just make more! Now shut your trap and let me work!" Fan Zhu Xia snapped angrily before decisively ignoring the man not knowing that the words she just spoke, collectively blew the minds of everyone there. Make more? This young miss can actually concoct those pills and make more?! Heavens! Should this be true, then this was great news! Unaware of the crowd''s thoughts, Fan Zhu Xia also brought out a small jar that once she opened it, a strong smell of herbs permeated the air and brought a feeling of coolness and relaxation, surprising the surrounding people. Peeling off the boy''s torn clothes gently off his back while making soothing noises, Fan Zhu Xia used her qi to slowly clean the wounds while the mere sight of it blew the surrounding spectators mind! The manifested qi the young miss was showing had a pale blue color, indicating one thing! She was at the elementary level of the Early Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm! Oblivious to the shock she gave the crowd, Fan Zhu Xia applied the medicated cream to the young boy''s back before bringing out a medicated plaster made out of silk with a interwoven spiritual grass which had soothing and numbing properties sewed on to it. Placing the plaster, herb first against the wounds, before tying the silk ribbons around the young boy''s torso and chest, Fan Zhu Xia then directed her gaze towards the little one that the boy was protecting. Bringing the child closer, Fan Zhu Xia was faintly surprised to see a little girl of around six or seven years old with delicate features yet her surprise quickly turned to concern when she noticed how pale the little girl was and how her lips had a tinge of purplish blue. With eyes flashing dangerously, she cradled the little girl against her chest and turned to the man that Min Sheng still held and coldly stared at him before asking in a low, furious voice that made everyone who heard, involuntarily shudder. "What did you do?!" 54 Fraud or Not? - 17.2 "What did we do? Ha! We did nothing! It was this two brats who maligned and slandered us, spouting nonsense about us being frauds and swindlers!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. A woman''s light and airy yet arrogant voice sounded out from behind Fan Zhu Xia and turning around to look at the source, she saw a young lady of around fourteen or fifteen years of age with delicate features in pale green robes coming out of the medicinal hall. "Now this lady''s people has been beaten under your orders, who gives you the right? This lady''s people has been handling the affairs and treating patients in my family''s Jade Herb Medicine Hall for years and this is the first time this has happened!" Staring at her without getting up from the ground, Fan Zhu Xia acted as if she didn''t hear a word of the complaints that the young lady uttered and just repeated her question as her eyes stared at the indignat girl with a cold penetrating gaze. "This young miss asked; what did you do? Are you going to answer or not?" The moment Fan Zhu Xia spoke, the whole atmosphere got heavier and tenser. The young lady in pale green robes couldn''t help but feel a shiver run down her spine as she endured Fan Zhu Xia''s cold, intimidating stare which made her lost her composure and stutter in nervousness as a seed of fear manifested inside her. "W-We did n-nothing wrong! We provided treatment, what''s wrong about that?! I-It''s those two kids who made trouble for my family''s medicine hall!" the young girl loudly explained with an expression of looking extremely aggrieved as if she was about to cry at any moment. Seeing her this way, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but believe what the young lady was saying but still she eyed the girl suspiciously until the poor young lady couldn''t take it anymore and burst into tears. "What?! Still don''t believe this lady? This lady already told the truth but you still want to bully me... boo hoo boo hoo..." the young girl sobbed out as her tears fell like precious crystals, making everyone who looked at her feel a sense of pity and protectiveness to the fairer sex. A touch of exasperation flitted in Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes as she snappily said, "Who is bullying who?! This miss asked what you did to this child because this miss wants to know what treatment your medicine hall gave this little girl for her to end up this way!" Hearing Fan Zhu Xia''s response, the young lady was momentarily stunned into silence as she stared wide-eyed at Fan Zhu Xia before glancing at the little girl in her arms. Once her eyes landed on the little girl, the young lady''s eyes widened in alarm and her feeling of being wronged was quickly forgotten as she rushed to the Fan Zhu Xia''s side before she noticed the young boy''s unconscious form. "What happened to them?!" the young lady exclaimed with eyes filled worry and alarm. Hearing this, a vein almost burst out on Fan Zhu Xia''s head due to extreme annoyance and exasperation with the young lady in front of her. "Your medicine hall happened to them! If this young miss'' carriage didn''t happen to take this path an get blocked, this two children would have been beaten to death!" "What?! We wouldn''t-" "What wouldn''t?! If this miss didn''t order her servants to stop that man from your medicine hall from using a bamboo stick to hit this boy, he would''ve been dead!" Disbelief first filled her face before anger slowly set in. At first everyone thought that the young lady will flip out on Fan Zhu Xia but then to everyone''s surprise, the young lady whirled around and stomped her way to where Min Sheng and Chun Hua where standing before angrily slapping the man in restrained in Min Sheng''s hands. Seeing her actions, Fan Zhu Xia gave a subtle nod and right after that, Min Sheng releases the man who staggered down to fall on his knees and stepped back while Chun Hua made her way to Fan Zhu Xia. "Chun Hua, monitor that boy''s condition, tell me if there is any changes." "Yes miss." Seeing her quickly comply, Fan Zhu Xia waived her wrist and a silk pouch appeared in her hands which she placed beside her before unfolding it and rolling it open to reveal a set of needles made out of precious ore called Pure Spirits Silver which is a type of metal that can only be found in extreme environments, regardless whether it is extreme cold or extreme heat. This ore has absolutely no impurities and has a property of helping stabilize the body and preventing and impurities or harmful substances to spread even more which is why this is the perfect material for a doctor''s tools, especially accupuncture needles. To the crowd, they were only shocked that the set of accupuncture needles were so many and of varying lengths and sizes, while some with fast eyes were amazed to cound a total of three hundred sixty-one needles in total, while others with sharper observation skills could tell that the material used to make the needles were of quite the special origin yet they weren''t able to determine what it was which is completely understandable since Pure Spirits Silver is quite scarce and rarely seen in public. The needles which were like silvery crystals which glimmered with a faint blue sheen as Fan Zhu Xia enveloped the needles with her qi were gently yet swiftly stabbed into the little girl''s body, easily piercing through her clothes. The swiftness of her movements brought a gasp to some of the onlookers, as each needle was placed with movements that were as fluid and natural like moving clouds and flowing water. Each needle that were placed glittered slightly and as one after another was added, the pained expression on the little girl''s face was slowly eased and although her pale complexion stayed, her lips no longer had the purplish blue hue it had before but rather just appeared as if she was as white as a sheet, with no hints of rosiness or blood underneath her skin could be found. While Fan Zhu Xia was performing accupuncture to stabilize the condition of the little girl, the young lady dressed in pale green robes was standing before the man who was previously raging and beating the two children. "You dog! Who gave you the right to hit children?! Is this what my family taught you to do?! Why, this lady should just beat you to death to save my family from scum like you losing us face!" "Young Miss please have mercy! This servant can explain!" "Explain? Explain?! How under heaven''s name can you explain what you just did to that poor boy?!" the young lady raged as she sent a kick towards the kneeling man who immediately fell before scrambling up and kowtowing to the young lady. "It wasn''t this servant''s fault! That boy wouldn''t stop hurling out abuses and screaming that we poisoned the little girl instead of treating her in spite of me telling him to stop speaking nonsense!" "So you decided to hit him?! Watch how this miss hit you!" the young lady burst out before kicking the man harder this time, sending the man sprawling down the ground, surprising even Fan Zhu Xia who had glanced over after she heard what the man said as she finished her acupucture treatment on the little girl. "Young Lady, you heard what your servant said about the boy complaining that they maltreated this little girl, why don''t you stop kicking the man and find out which one of your doctors provided treatment?" Fan Zhu Xia said in a soft yet firm tone that brooked no argument. Seemingly spacing out for a moment, the young lady stared blankly at Fan Zhu Xia before she nodded like a bird pecking seeds on the ground. "En!" Now acting as if a subordinate with more bandit-like tendencies, the young lady threateningly made her way to the man she just kicked down and questioned him with both hands on her hips as she stared at him with eyes shooting fire. The sight of her made Fan Zhu Xia not know if she should laugh or cry. Before, that young lady first acted spoiled and arrogant, then pitiful like a wronged delicate flower and now like a female tyrannical bandit as she mercilessly threw question after question at the man who she was continously kicking, albeit not as strong as earlier but enough to still cause pain as the man tried to pitifully answer. While this was happening, neither the young lady nor Fan Zhu Xia knew that two groups of people had arrived at the scene, one group was called by a concerned onlooker while the other was called by the attendant from the medicine hall that had slipped away earlier. 55 Fraud or Not? - 17.3 One of the groups that arrived was led by no other than Bai Nian Zu, who received a report about a big commotion involving the Jade Herb Medicine Hall. This inadvertantly gave Bai Nian Zu a headache just thinking of the family that was backing the Jade Herb Medicine Hall. The Fu family was an affluent and influential family that had their hands dipped into various businesses and trades and the Jade Herb Medicine Hall was their main business since their family specializes in alchemy and medicine. At first Bai Nian Zu thought that he could still go and quickly resolve the issue involving the Jade Herb Medicine Hall but just as he and the group of soldiers got to the street where the medicine hall was located, he ran into another group of people that was being led by no other than the young master of the Fu family; Fu Qing Tian! Seeing the handsome and scholarly youth that was clothed in pure white robes, sitting atop a large horse, the image he presented was particularly heroic with a touch of serene gentleness, exuding a pure and calming charm making those who saw him sigh in appreciation yet to Bai Nian Zu, the effect of seeing him was just the opposite! Bai Nian Zu can''t help but lament and sigh internally the moment he saw Fu Qing Tian yet outwardly he could only give the young master of the Fu family a cordial smile and a nod in acknowledgement. "Young Master Fu, what brings you out here today?" "Oh, just some trivial things. Commander Bai need not worry." Not knowing whether he should laugh or cry, Bai Nian Zu can roughly guess what the reason is for this prominent young master to be here today. Smiling wryly while inside he is sighing in resignation, Bai Nian Zu then straight-forwardly said, "Is it due to the commotion that involved your Jade Herb Medicine Hall?" A look of surprise appeared on Fu Qing Tian''s face before understanding quickly donned on him as he gave an affirmative nod. "Commander Bai sure is well-informed. Indeed, that is the reason I am here today." "If that''s the case then let this old commander accompany you. It so happens that I am also on my way to your Jade Herb Medicine Hall." Upon hearing that, Fu Qing Tian sent a small grateful smile to Bai Nian Zu as he said, "Then this young master would like to thank Commander Bai for the help in advance." "Ahh... Small matters, no need for thanks." Bai Nian Zu replied good-naturedly as he waved his hand off to dismiss the formalities. "Shall we?" "Lets." Together, the two groups which were respectively led by Bai Nian Zu and Fu Qing Tian, made their way towards Jade Herb Medicine Hall where they happened to see a large crowd surrounding the vicinity and after some effort of clearing a way, the sight they came upon stunned them in their spots. While Fu Qing Tian stared in disbelief at the extremely familiar silhouette pale-green robed young lady who was acting like a lawless bandit beating up what seemed to be the head steward of the Jade Herb Medicine Hall, Bai Nian Zu on the other hand had his eyes glued to the girl clad in light blue robes that was still crouched by two unconscious children while being flanked by a pretty young maidservant and a familiar looking man in very familiar looking uniform and just the sight of that brought a jolt of shock to Bai Nian Zu before he came back to his senses. "Little Xia!" Hearing the familiar low and gruff voice, Fan Zhu Xia''s brows furrowed slightly as she lifted her head to face the direction where the sound came from and just like her, almost everyone''s attention were drawn to the source of the voice and this includes not only the crowd but also Fu Qing Tian and the young lady that was beating the man as she asked a torrent of questions which ultimately made her stop as her curiousity was piqued, much to the man''s immense relief. "Uncle Zu! What brought you here?" Hearing her exclamation, everyone who was there felt as if thunder struck them. Did that girl just seriously call Bai Nian Zu; the renowned commander of the imperial capital''s city and royal guards, Uncle Zu?! Just who is that girl?! "Xia girl, what are you doing here? Don''t tell me that you''re involved with this mess?" Bai Nian Zu questioned Fan Zhu Xia as he crouched down to her level while reaching out to a stray strand of hair that fell to the front of her face and tuck it behind her ear, surprising the all who watched his actions even more but instead of feeling touched, Fan Zhu Xia felt wronged which made her sent an accusing look at Bai Nian Zu. "Mess? Isn''t Xia''er the one trying to help fix this fiasco in the first place? It was this medicine hall''s people that caused this two children harm!" Fan Zhu Xia complained angrily while her words spurred the pale-green robed miss to make a sound of protest. "Hey! Isn''t this young lady already trying to help you get to the bottom of this matter and find out who really caused it?!" Eyeing the protesting girl with a crossed look, Fan Zhu Xia retorted, "How under heaven''s name will you be of any help if you just keep beating up that man without even giving him a chance to answer?" "I... ahh..." Seeing the girl speechless, Fan Zhu Xia shook her head in exasperation and shot a look at Bai Nian Zu with her eyes looking as if it''s sending him a silent message and saying; "See?". Still feeling slightly confused, Bai Nian Zu questioned Fan Zhu Xia on the situation there and while Fan Zhu Xia explained, Fu Qing Tian took the opportunity to approach the young lady who was now huffing in anger with an aggrieved look as she stared at Fan Zhu Xia with teary eyes as if Fan Zhu Xia was her sweetheart who left her for another which made Fu Qing Tian not know whether he should laugh or cry at seeing such an expression on her. Approaching her, Fu Qing Tian pets the green-robed young lady''s head comfortingly as he said, "Little Zhenzhen, what happened here?" Having gotten her attention, Fu Zhenzhen then turned her teary-eyed gaze at Fu Qing Tian before she ran into his arms and explained everything in a rush but still with a wronged expression on her face as her small, dainty mouth trembled. "Big Brother! It''s good that you''re here, now nobody will bully Zhenzhen!" Fu Zhenzhen cried loudly and pitifully as she buried herself in her brother''s arms while shooting a covert look at Fan Zhu Xia to sew her reaction yet much to her dismay, even upon hearing her cry and complain, Fan Zhu Xia only rolled her eyes and ignored her. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "Bully you? Who bullied you?" Fu Qing Tian asked gently yet a flash of coldness appeared in his eyes before he quickly hid it. His sister didn''t notice it yet it couldn''t escape the eyes of the multiple experts who had their eyes trained on him. Seeing it, the group of guards with Fan Zhu Xia made their way closer to stand near where Fan Zhu Xia was, half-surrounding her. Their actions confused some of the onlookers but those who were more aware understood that things may just eacalate from here. Even Fan Zhu Xia and Bai Nian Zu were a bit surprised at the sudden turn of events yet once they thought about it, there wasn''t much shock in their hearts since they were perfectly aware on the direction where this situation is heading to. Sighing, Bai Nian Zu quietly asked Fan Zhu Xia, "Did you really bully the Fu family''s young miss?" "Does Uncle Zu mean that pale-green robed young lady there?" "En. She is Fu Zhenzhen. She comes from the Fu family, quite an influential family and a troublesome background to deal with." "Sorry to trouble you then Uncle Zu but rest assured, I did not hurt her unless you count teaching that scum of a man over there a lesson." Fan Zhu Xia replied while nodding to the man who was lying down in the ground after being kicked and beaten repeatedly by Fu Zhenzhen. "As long aa you didn''t harm her theI''ll be able to deal with it. Besides, based from what you told me you just need to know who gave the original treatment to this little girl, isn''t that right?" "En. I need to know what method he used or what prescription he gave so that I can accurately determine what caused this girl''s condition to decline to this degree. If this little boy was conscious, I would have just directly taken them instead of dealing with this mess." Sensing her frustration, Bai Nian Zu shot a comforting smile towards Fan Zhu Xia and said, "If that''s the case the let your uncle here take care of it for you!" "Many thanks, Uncle Zu." Straightening up, Bai Nian Zu shot a glance at the man who was lying prone on the ground before directing his gaze up to meet Fu Qing Tian''s stare. Knowing that the Fu Young Master''s anger was already ignited, Bai Nian Zu still had a calm expression on his face. "Young Master Fu, it would seem that there was just a misunderstanding here that got blown out of proportion." Hearing his words, Fu Qing Tian''s eyes narrowed slightly yet the gentle and calm expression on his face didn''t change one bit, actually earning Fan Zhu Xia''s admiration since she very well knew that this young man in front of her was very mad and his anger was all directed at her ever since Fu Zhenzhen ran into his arms which to Fan Zhu Xia was completly understandable after she heard Fu Zhenzhen address him earlier. "Is Commander Bai sure? The report that this young master received was that our Jade Herb Medicine Hall is being accused of fraud!" 56 Fraud or Not? - 17.4 Despite the seemingly hostile words directed at her, Fan Zhu Xia just calmly looked up and returned Fu Qing Tian''s gaze, unperturbed. "Accusing this medicine hall of fraud is something that this Young Miss did not do, nor has this Young Miss bullied that young lady-" "This lady''s is called Fu Zhenzhen!" Blinking at Fu Zhenzhen, a bit surprised at her sudden outburst, Fan Zhu Xia then nodded in acknowledgement before continuing. "Very well, Young Miss Fu... As everyone here can attest that this Young Miss has not once bullied you, unless of course you count ne having my subordinate teach that man a lesson." Hearing her words, Fu Qing Tian shot an inquiring look towards Fu Zhenzhen who gave a small nod in agreement, making Fu Qing Tian frown slightly before turning back to the group of people who accompanied him and motioned for one of them to step forward. Seeing that it was an attendant of the Jade Herb Medicine Hall, the crowd burst into murmurs and whispers as they speculated on what''s about to happen while the parties involved paid no heed and just directed their attention to the attendant. "You there, when you went to the manor, you said that someone was accusing and slandering the Jade Herb Medicine Hall while bullying my sister, is this true or not?" The attendant who was initially smiling smugly in the background when he saw Fu Qing Tian becoming hostile towards Fan Zhu Xia''s group, felt extremely nervous now that their young master''s gaze was trained upon him. It must be known that despite their young master; Fu Qing Tian''s gentle, scholarly appearance and benevolent and kind good-looks, he is actually quite strict and can be extremely harsh when it comes to meting out punishments. Now regretting his earlier actions of sneaking out and seeking to get reinforcements, the attendant felt his back soaked out in cold sweat as he stammered under Fu Qing Tian''s cold yet smiling gaze. "Y-Young Master everything this servant said is true! People r-really were slandering our Jade Herb Medicine Hall and... and t-the Young Miss was being pressured by this group of people who just suddenly came and hit the manager!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "Is that so? Then why would this Young Master''s sister hit the manager then?" At a loss of what to say, the poor attendant just opened and closed his mouth, speechless. Shooting him a cold look, Fu Qing Tian then turned to Fu Zhenzhen and raised an eyebrow in question. "Older Brother, Zhenzhen thinks Commander Bai may be right, that everything is all a misunderstanding that got blown out of proportions." Fu Zhenzhen timidly said as she shot a look at her brother who was looking at her and making her feel as if she was in a lot of trouble, making her feel extremely aggrieved inside. On the other hand, upon hearing her words, Bai Nian Zu couldn''t help but internally sigh in relief while Fan Zhu Xia just raised a brow before coughing out slightly and shooting a pointed look towards Fu Zhenzhen who''s eyes widened as she immediately understood the meaning of her gaze. "Older Brother, now isn''t the time to be concerned about the issue with the Jade Herb Medicine Hall, what''s important is those two children!" Fu Zhenzhen exclaimed as she pointed towards Fan Zhu Xia''s direction before hurriedly dragging Fu Qing Tian towards them. As they neared, Fu Qing Tian first recognized the man standing just behind Fan Zhu Xia who was once a known captain from the Thunder Vale Army that was directly under Lei Wangye''s command; Min Sheng. His appearance beside the young lady in blue who was still crouched on the ground already made Fu Qing Tian cautious, especially with how familiar Bai Nian Zu had greeted and treated the young lady earlier. Focusing his gaze on the girl, Fu Qing Tian noticed how the blue-robed young lady had a small little girl''s head resting on her lap while another unconscious young boy was cradled on the lady''s maidservant''s arms. Realizing that this two children were the ones his sister was referring to, Fu Qing Tian opened his mouth and asked, "What happened to them?" Feeling that there was no more need for any more discord and hostilities since it would just be detrimental to the two unconscious kids, Fan Zhu Xia calmly replied and gave Fu Qing Tian an explanation using a matter-of-fact tone. "To sum everything up, Young Master Fu, this Young Miss came upon the scene of that man beating up this boy with a bamboo stick until he was wounded and unconscious since the boy was complaining that the treatment that your medicine hall gave this little girl made her condition worsen. Now, this Young Miss has admittedly hit your medicine hall''s manager but only to teach him a lesson which Young Miss Fu can attest to and as for the reason the Young Miss Fu was beating the man was because this Young Miss needs to verify and find out what treatment was given so that this Young Miss can give proper treatment to this little girl." Hearing her explanation, Fu Qing Tian was silent for a moment before he crouched down beside Fan Zhu Xia and asked softly, "May I?" Shooting him a measuring glance, Fan Zhu Xia then nodded and said, "Feel free." Looking at the two immortal-looking deities staring with gentle and concerned looks at the little girl, the surrounding people couldn''t help but think that they resembled a pair of benevolent immortal couple looking after the weak and poor, making the people sigh in appreciation. Meanwhile, the two said individuals were completely ignoring the crowd and whole-heartedly focusing on the little girl. Fu Qing Tian who was feeling the pulse of the little girl had a face that was originally calm and collected that slowly changed to first a shocked and concerned look before a thunderously angry expression appeared on his usually gentle and serene face. Seeing the acupuncture needles that were still inserted in the little girl''s body, Fu Qing Tian turned to Fan Zhu Xia and queried, "Were you the one who performed the acupucture?" "En." Giving her a small smile in appreciation, Fu Qing Tian nodded and said, "Nicely done." Without waiting for a response, Fu Qing Tian then straightened up from his crouch and turned to the crowd with a grim and serious expression and spoke in a loud voice. "The issue regarding Jade Herb Medicine Hall will be settled today! I, Fu Qing Tian would like to announce that the Jade Herb Medicine Hall will be closed for an indefinite time as we will review our staff and doctors and investigate how this came about since what this poor young boy had said in complaint was nothing but the complete truth! The treatment that was given to this little girl made her condition not only worsen but deteriorate to the point of it becoming extremely detrimental to her body''s state. I, as the young master of the Jade Herb Medicine Hall will take responsibility for this and will provide everyone with a satisfactory explanation in the coming days. Now we would like to ask for everyone to tale their leave first so that we can settle the matters here and focus on treating the patient." 57 Treating The Patient - 18.1 As soon as Fu Qing Tian finished speaking he immediately gave an order to his men to go and disperse the crowd while both Bai Nian Zu and Fan Zhu Xia gave a signal to their group to help and assist in accomplishing the task. With the combined efforts of the three, the gathered crowd of onlookers were efficiently scattered off without any incident while Fu Qing Tian turned to Fan Zhu Xia with a serious look on his face. "Young Miss, will you go along with us inside the Jade Herb Medicine Hall to provide treatment for this little girl? You have already stabilized her condition perfectly and I really do believe that once we determine what kind of treatment or prescription was given to her previously, you''ll be able to quickly address the problem and be able to cure her. We from the Jade Herb Medicine Hall would just like to get this opportunity to apologize through actions and provide you with any necessary help, whether it be pills, herbs or medical assistance while treating the girl." Seeing the sincerity on his face, Fan Zhu Xia paused for a moment and taking her silence as a sign of hesitation, Fu Zhenzhen became worried and flustered as she hurriedly spoke and explained in a fast manner. "Please Young Miss, don''t let my actions and my brother''s earlier anger affect your judgement! It wasn''t that Older Brother was mad at what you did! He just misunderstood things because of what I said, please don''t blame him! Older Brother is just extremely protective of me and gets easily mad whenever he finds out that Zhenzhen is being bullied." Seeing the weird look on Fan Zhu Xia''s face, Fu Zhenzhen''s eyes widened before she waved her hands worriedly and hurriedly added and said, "Not that you were bullying me! Of course you''re not! Young Miss is definitely not a bully... You''re more like an elder sister reprimanding me... did I say that right? Ehh...why does Zhenzhen feel like it''s wrong? I... uhh... Brother, Zhenzhen is confused!" Fu Zhenzhen then said with a troubled and teary look in her eyes. Her whole state, looking worried and panicked and very much confused left the three; Fu Qing Tian, Bai Nian Zu and Fan Zhu Xia, not knowing whether they should laugh or cry at her expense. Feeling pity for her, Fan Zhu Xia then gestured for Min Sheng to carry the little girl before straightening up and patting Fu Zhenzhen''s head in a reassuring manner. "Enough of that. This Young Miss knows what you mean. No more need to worry." "Really?" Fu Zhenzhen asked timidly. "En." nodding, Fan Zhu Xia replied first before turning to face Fu Qing Tian and giving him a look before speaking. "This Young Miss knows and understands where you are coming from. On behalf of this two children, this Young Miss thanks you. Now will Young Master Fu lead the way?" Sending Fan Zhu Xia a grateful look, Fu Qing Tian nodded before gesturing for them to follow him in as he said, "Come." Following his lead, Bai Nian Zu and Fan Zhu Xia followed Fu Qing Tian and Fu Zhenzhen inside while bring four escorts each while Fu Qing Tian''s men dragged the beaten manager of the Jade Herb Medicine Hall behind them. Upon entering, all the attendants of the Jade Herb Medicine Hall stood in attention while several doctors and alchemists came forward and gave a respectful bow to Fu Qing Tian and company. Eyeing them, Fu Qing Tian then asked, "This Young Master sees that not everyone is present which is still understandable but now this Young Master asks all of you if you know who is the person responsible in the treatment of this little girl?" Looking at the pale as a sheet little girl being gently carried in Min Sheng''s arms, no one spoke and practically every single one of them kept their eyes lowered in apprehension. Only some of the more senior doctors and alchemists kept their heads up while one of the old men stepped forward and spoke his thoughts. "Young Master, this old man has been making pills and elixirs for Jade Herb Medicine Hall for years now yet this is the first time that a patient has come back with a complaint." Looking at him, Fu Qing Tian neither denied nor validated his words and just replied in acknowledgement. "That may be so but that does not mean that the Jade Herb Medicine Hall is blameless in this incident." "What if this two children weren''t treated here?" another old man asked and hearing the implications, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help the smile of wry amusement from tugging the corner of her lips upwards. "Are you saying that this Young Miss orchestrated this and deliberately made trouble?" Alarmed that Fan Zhu Xia would actually tell everyone his inner thoughts in such a blunt and straightforward manner, the old man hurriedly shook his head as he quickly replied, "Of course not, Young Miss! It''s just that-" "Enough! We don''t need excuses, we need facts and answers! Do you really think that someone that Commander Bai can and will vouch for would really have the need to do this kind of play?" Fu Qing Tian asked coldly, cutting the old man''s excuse off mid-sentence. "Just because this Young Master just arrived doesn''t mean I didn''t hear the crowd talking about today''s incident! This Young Master can assure you that there were a lot of people who saw this two children ask for treatment yesterday afternoon in exchange for a medicinal herb that the boy said he got from the outskirts of Abyss Valley Mountain Range. Now is anyone going to tell me who provided the treatment or will all of you just equally share the punishment that this Young Master will be doling out?" Frozen in place, everyone remained stunned and speechless before one of younger male attendants gathered enough courage and stepped out before hesitantly speaking with a slightly shaky voice. "Y-Young Master, if you''ll please calm down and pardon us lowly servants. This lowly one knows that none of the esteemed doctors and alchemists present here were involved in the little girls treatment yesterday since most of the alchemists were refining pills and medicine yesterday while the doctors and physicians were all handling individual cases." "Is that so? Then do you know who treated the little girl?" "If this servant''s memory serves right, it should be Old Doctor Gu who treated her. This servant remembers because Manager He told me to bring the boy to a waiting room to wait for the treatment to be over then he took the little girl and the small wooden box where the herb was and left to go to Old Doctor Gu''s refinery room." After the attendant finished talking, there was a moment of silence first before Fu Qing Tian then spoke out and asked, "Where is Gu Lang?" "He''s in his refinery room, Young Master. He said he was going to try refining something new today." the attendant answered respectfully answered. "Very good, the rest of you, go and fix your assigned rooms and follow my escorts back to the Fu Manor." Fu Qing Tian ordered before pointing to two guards and a couple of attendants and saying, "You two, go and fetch Old Doctor Gu while some of you stay behind to assist us later." The people Fu Qing Tian pointed to, inmediately straightened themselves and gave him respectful nods as they simultaneously said, "Yes, Young Master!" As the two guards were leaving, both Fan Zhu Xia and Bai Nian Zu also gave a low order and one from each of their escorts quickly followed the two guards in fetching Old Doctor Gu Lang. Despite seeing their actions, neither Fu Qing Tian nor Fu Zhenzhen gave any comment, making the leaving attendants, doctors and alchemists look at each other with meaningful gazes as they hurried their pace to leave the Jade Herb Medicine Hall. Just a short moment has passed after almost everyone left with only the people brought by Fu Qing Tian, Bai Nian Zu and Fan Zhu Xia were left, along with Fu Zhenzhen and a handful of attendants when they heard a muffled shout and a small scuffle before a couple of minutes passed and the people who went to fetch Old Doctor Gu appeared with an old man wearing charcoal black robes with white hair tied back with a ribbon made out of a strip of cloth that''s the same material as his robes and a long beard in tow, looking slightly haggard and very much indignant. Seeing them arrive, Fu Qing Tian asked, "What happened?" "Answering Young Master, Old Doctor Gu did not want to follow us earlier so we had to convince him to come." After hearing how the guard dismissively explained the incident, an affronted look appeared on Gu Lang''s face as he snorted and angrily exclaimed. "Young Master Fu, you of all people know that an alchemist cannot be interrupted in the middle of refining yet these bunch of guards actually burst into my refinery room and demanded for me to stop half-way the refining process! One of them even snatched away one of the herbs that this old man was about to place in the pill furnace!" Glancing at the guards, the guard who Fan Zhu Xia sent stepped forward and presented a small wooden box from his chest and said, "This was where he took the herb he was going to use and from the description that the attendant told us earlier, this one matched so this servant took the initiative to take it and prevent him from using it." Seeing the wooden box, the attendant nodded with a sure lool on his face and exclaimed, "That''s it! That''s the exact box that the boy brought in yesterday, Young Master!" Hearing the attendant''s outburst, Fu Qing Tian, Bai Nian Zu and Fan Zhu Xia all gave approving nods while Fan Zhu Xia spoke. "Good job. Keep the box first and we''ll return it to the boy later when he wakes up." Fan Zhu Xia said before turning to Fu Qing Tian after some thought and asked, "That is, if that''s alright with Young Master Fu?" "Of course, it shall be done according to what the Young Miss deems is fit." Smiling slightly in appreciation, Fan Zhu Xia then replied, "Many thanks." Hearing the two''s conversation, Old Doctor Gu felt his feeling of indignation rise to a whole new level until he finally burst out, full of complaints and loudly voiced his thoughts of injustice. "Young Master Fu, why would you side with this unknown young miss and just give her the herb that this old man obtained as payment for a treatment this old man performed? Isn''t it this old man''s right to own that herb that this old man got through proper means?!" Scoffing disdainfully at the old man, Fan Zhu Xia spoke in a cold tone, her soft, gentle voice, surprisingly chilling and filled with contempt. "Proper means? Is the treatment you gave the little girl yesterday even qualified to be called the correct way of treating a patient and curing their illness? Don''t make me laugh!" Furious at the insult, the old man felt his blood pressure rise as fast as his anger that he almost spat out blood! "How dare you insult this old man! Don''t you know that, I, Old Man Gu Lang is well-known and well-respected as a renowned alchemist and one-of-a-kind medical practitioner?! On what basis did you have the right to accuse me of malpractice?!" Equally angry, Fan Zhu Xia snapped and angrily retorted back without qualms as if hearing everything Gu Lang said didn''t matter one whit with her. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "On the basis that you''re treatment ended up in poisoning this little girl!" 58 Treating The Patient - 18.2 Shocked at the accusations, Old Man Gu Lang was stunned into silence as disbelief overwhelmed him yet seeing the accusing look that Fan Zhu Xia was giving him and the grim expressions on the young master and young miss of the Fu family, Old Man Gu Lang had to face reality that they were truly not kidding. "Don''t jest! This is a serious matter! How can you accuse this old man of doing such a despicable act as to poison a little child?!" "Do you honestly think that this Young Miss would make such a crass joke like this?" Fan Zhu Xia asked coldly. "I-I...it''s not that, b-but can you at least let this old man check the girl''s condition and see if she really is poisoned?" Shooting Gu Lang a measuring glance, Fan Zhu Xia noiselessly nodded and indicated for Min Sheng to approach the old man so that he can check the condition of girl in his arms personally. Without a further word, Old Doctor Gu quietly stared at the pale little girl and studied her complexion and breathing before he reached out to take her pulse. A couple of moments passed and while everyone watched him, they saw his expression morph from intense focus to grave concern before turning into pure and utter confusion. Gu Lang''s myriad of changing emotions didn''t escape the gazes of the people who were watching him yet even they felt that this wasn''t just a desperate attempt at acting, especially when they heard him start to mumble lowly under his breath. "This doesn''t make sense! How can this possibly happen? I''m absolutely sure that I didn''t make any mistakes..." Confused, Fu Qing Tian was about to ask when Gu Lang suddenly spoke as he gestured for Min Sheng to follow him. "You, come come... There''s no time to waste! Follow me back to my refinery room." Taken a bit off guard, Min Sheng shot a questioning glance towards Fan Zhu Xia but before any of them can speak, Gu Lang interrupted them again as he turned to them with a measuring gaze. "This old man dares to ask, who performed the acupuncture on the child? Is that person still here? If they are, they should be able to help me solve the child''s issue." Frowning slightly, Fan Zhu Xia asked in a probing tone, "What do you need that person to do?" "This old man needs them to continue performing the acupuncture treatment to purge all the foreign substances in the child''s body while this old man prepares the correct medicine! The child is in fact poisoned just as you said and that is indeed a result of this old man''s mistake but I, Gu Lang can swear to the Heavenly Dao that this was a mistake that I never meant to happen and should this old man be lying, may I be struck down by heavenly lightning and my soul be scattered like ashes in the passing wind." Hearing him utter such a solemn vow and even swear under the Heavenly Dao which is more binding than anything, after all, breaking this oath can result in one''s soul to be scattered and dispersed into nothingness, resulting in no longer being able to reincarnate; this action of his completely took everyone present by surprise. "Very well, this Young Miss will help you but this Young Miss still wants to know what happened yesterday and what treatment you gave that resulted in this." "Of course, of course. Follow me first, this old man can explain while we walk." Looking at each other, everyone present then quickly followed Gu Lang''s form that was hurriedly walking with Fan Zhu Xia right behind him, listening intently as he talked. "That child''s condition was actually very complex and not that easy to treat. When this old man saw the girl yesterday, her condition was already not very good." Gu Lang started gravely. "How so? What were the symptoms she was exhibiting?" "Dizzyness, nausea, pallor of the skin, weakening of the body, loss of consciousness, and coughing out blood." Frowning, Fan Zhu Xia then asked, "Is that all?" "No, that was just the most obvious ones! When this old man looked at her yesterday, this old man noticed that not only was she extremely weak to the point that she practically had no more strength to move but her internal organs also seemed to be affected which could be one of the reasons why she was coughing out blood repeatedly." "Then may this Young Miss ask, what did you do yesterday to alleviate the symptoms and treat the patient?" "This old man gave her one of the most recent pills that I was able to concoct; the Vitality Returning Pill." Hearing the old man''s words, almost everyone who heard it was shocked and surprised! It can be said that the Vitality Returning Pill was just as precious as the Blood Enhancing Pill that Fan Zhu Xia fed the boy earlier! Even Fan Zhu Xia was surprised when she heard Gu Lang say that since the Vitality Returning Pill is a very hard and complex pill to concoct with a low success rate yet the effects of a successfully concocted pill was beyond amazing! Just feeding a Vitality Returning Pill to a fatally wounded individual will increase the rate of their survival from a measly fifteen percent to an astonishing seventy-five percent chance of making a full recovery! This information made Fan Zhu Xia fall silent as her mind raced as she thought about what could possibly cause such a negative reaction with girl then, after all, if she was fed with the Vitality Returning Pill, then her condition should have only improved and not declined so drastically to this degree just after one night. Arriving at Gu Lang''s refinery room, it can be said that the Fu family''s Jade Herb Medicine Hall treats their doctors, physicians and alchemist quite well. Although the room wasn''t that large, it was quite reasonably sized with it being divided into two parts, on the smaller side was a wooden bed, large enough to fit one male adult, along with two wooden cabinets, a chair and a couple of built-in shelving filled with various jars, pill bottles and other medicinal instruments and equipment like strips of gauze, a couple of basin and the like with a small bucket for what seemed to be trash and waste on one corner while on the other slightly larger side was more centered on pill and medicine refinement which could be seen as there was a medium-sized medicinal cauldron right in the middle with a small, slightly rectangular table to one side and other than that, there was no more furniture aside from more built in shelves that was obviously filled with all things related to refining, from various smaller equipment to countless jade, glass and wooden chests, jars and bottles filled with different medicinal herbs and elixirs along with two more, slightly larger cabinets which is serving as extra storage space for herbs. Without any need for further instructions, Min Sheng gently placed the little girl on the wooden bed, her small form looking quite pitiful when compared to the size of the bed. All this while, Fan Zhu Xia remained silent, as if lost in thought when Gu Lang noticed and beckoning out to her, he called out and said, "Young Miss, it''s time for you to administer the acupuncture treatment to expel all the foreign substances on the child''s body." Despite Gu Lang calling out, Fan Zhu Xia acted as if she heard nothing but still stood there unmoving, with a frown between her brows. "Young Miss?" worried, Chun Hua asked softly, moving nearer to Fan Zhu Xia but still not getting any response. Confused by her actions, Fu Qing Tian was about to call out to her as well when Fan Zhu Xia suddenly spoke in a grave tone. "Where is the herb that the two children gave as payment?" Fan Zhu Xia asked. Though baffled, Fu Qing Tian signaled to the guard holding the wooden chest to show it to her and upon opening it, Fan Zhu Xia sucked in a breath and her pale blue eyes had a hard glint as she stared at it before she slowly closed her eyes and exhaled softly, looking somewhat resigned. Before anyone can ask, Fan Zhu Xia then opened her eyes and resolutely made her way to the girl''s bedside and took the girl''s wrist without saying a word. Heaving another sigh, Fan Zhu Xia then turned to them and then quietly said, "Can everyone please leave the room?" A moment of stunned silence enveloped the room before Fu Qing Tian managed to gather his wits together and ask, "Why?" Looking at him directly, Fu Qing Tiam saw the determination in Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes as she said, "Because I don''t want any of you here when I start my treatment." Seeing that she no longer put on any airs and simply referred to herself as "I" with her tone filled with such gravity, Fu Qing Tian couldn''t help but feel that there was something that he wasn''t getting. "But wouldn''t the Young Miss just be performing acupuncture? Young Miss did outside with so many people in attendance, why not let is watch? Even if you want to make all of us leave, why not let my brother and Old Doctor Gu stay? They are quite knowledgeable in medicine and alchemy and Zhenzhen knows they would be of great help." Looking slightly troubled, Fan Zhu Xia took a moment to respond and say, "It is not that I do not need nor appreciate their help nor am I underestimating their skills but the method that I need to use is something I cannot show just anyone. If it was only acupuncture then that is fine but alas..." Gu Lang who remained silent now spoke up and ask, "Can the Young Miss at least tell us what conclusion the Young Miss came up with?" Glancing up at him, Fan Zhu Xia then nodded and slowly started to explain. "The little girl is indeed poisoned but this was something that you did not cause. When the boy brought her here, she was already poisoned and the explanation for that is the herb that they brought." "The herb? Let me take a look at it." Fu Qing Tian then said when he saw Gu Lang''s eyes widen with understanding. Upon seeing it up close, Fu Qing Tian couldn''t help but be stunned. At first, he thought that it was just a herb that can be found at the outermost perimeter of the Abyss Valley Mountain Range but upon closer inspection, he realized just how wrong he was. "This is..." unable to find the right words, Fu Qing Tian shot a look at Fan Zhu Xia who nodded at him, confirming his suspicions. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "It''s the Abyss Void Grassweed and as I''m pretty sure you have already realized, is not found at the outskirts of Abyss Valley Mountain Range but found further inside where the poisonous miasma starts to convalesce." Hearing her words, everyone fell silent as they realized the gravity of the situation and none of them even realized that the young boy that Chun Hua was carrying has actually regained consciousness and heard what Fan Zhu Xia said. "I-Is what you say true, Miss? Is m-my friend g-going to d-die?" The hoarse young voice was filled with so much pain and despair as it shook when the boy softly stammered out. Hearing it, everyone was surprised and turned to stare at the source but the young boy''s watery gaze never wavered from Fan Zhu Xia''s form. Seeing the turbulent emotions on the boy''s deep, soulful brown eyes as they were filled with concern and fear, Fan Zhu Xia felt her heart clench as she made her way over and gathered the boy in her arms before gently replying in a soft reassuring tone. "With me here, even if she is knocking at door''s death, I will not let her die." Staring up at her, the boy unconsciously clenched his fingers, weakly holding on to Fan Zhu Xia''s robes as hope filled his eyes. "Really?" "This miss swears it with the Heavenly Dao as my witness." Alarmed at the oath she just swore, numerous people reacted, from Gu Lang, Min Sheng, Chun Hua, Bai Nian Zu and the Fu siblings. "Young Miss!" "Why would you do that?!" "Miss! How could you swear so easily like that! What would your father say?!" "Miss! How could you?!" Yet despite their concerned outbursts, Fan Zhu Xia paid them no heed and just warmly met the gaze of the young boy in her arms and softly asked, "Do you believe me now?" Hearing such a life-binding promise from a complete stranger who''s eyes were filled with nothing but warmth and concern, the young boy who''s tight control on his emotions finally let go as tears welled up on his eyes and overflowed as he sobbingly nodded his head before burying his face in Fan Zhu Xia''s neck, crying. Rocking him softly while gently stroking the back of his head, Fan Zhu Xia made comforting sounds and slowly calmed the young boy down while ignoring the distressed looks that everyone was giving her. After the boy''s sobs subsided and only a couple of tearful hiccups remained, Fan Zhu Xia then finally spoke. "No more need for crying, alright? This elder sister will take care of everything, okay?" "Okay..." Smiling, Fan Zhu Xia ruffled his hair and asked, "Would you like me to hand you over to my maid while I treat your friend or can you sit on the chair by yourself?" "C-Can I sit?" "Of course." As if they were the only ones in the room, Fan Zhu Xia just calmly walked to the chair near the bed and gently placed the boy there and helping him settle down before finally turning to Chun Hua and gesturing for her to come nearer. Still distressed, Chun Hua lowly called out in a worried tone, "Young Miss..." "Oh hush, Chun Hua. Have more faith in your Young Miss! If I have the courage to swear under the Heavenly Dao then of course I have the confidence to cure the girl." "But-" Sighing a bit, Fan Zhu Xia then affectionately smiled at Chun Hua before pinching her cheek and saying, "Have you forgotten what your Young Miss went to do earlier this morning? Your Young Miss luckily already has what she needs to administer the treatment so stop worrying." As if just remembering, Chun Hua staref dumbstruck while Min Sheng suddenly realized that they got several rare and precious herbs earlier at the Thousand Treasures Pavillion. "So does the Young Miss mean-" "Yes Min Sheng, so no more need to worry." Fan Zhu Xia reassuringly replied, making her escorts heave a sigh of relief. Seeing the people that Fan Zhu Xia brought exhale with relief, the people there can''t help but feel their worries lessen but Bai Nian Zu still felt worried. "Xia girl, are you sure you''ll be alright?" Looking at Bai Nian Zu''s concerned and worried face, Fan Zhu Xia nodded seriously and assured him. "En. I am sure Uncle Zu." "Very well, then what do you need?" "As I mentioned earlier, I need everyone to leave the room. The boy can stay and so can Chun Hua so that she can look after him but the rest will need to go out." Giving her a deep look, Bai Nian Zu then drew her to a quick, one-armed hug before quickly letting her go and turning towards the other and saying, "Well everyone heard her! Come, let us all wait outside." Seeing that they wouldn''t be able to do anything to help, Fu Qing Tian then just shot a meaningful look towards Fan Zhu Xia and just said, "Good luck." Hearing his words, the others quickly echoed it back as they filed out of the room after Fan Zhu Xia thanked them all. Once the door closed, Fan Zhu Xia then turned to the boy and Chun Hua and spoke in a soft yet serious tone. "Whatever you see me do today shall not be spread around, do I make myself clear?" "Yes Miss." Chun Hua promptly replied. Turning to the boy, he then spoke and solemnly said, "Miss, you saving us today, we owe you our lives. From this day forward, I, Cong Shi Hong promise to follow you and do whatever you ask as long as I shall live. I only request that you let my friend, Mu Lan Fen live freely for I owe her and her family my life and it was my fault that she got lost when we went to gather herbs from Abyss Valley Mountain Range to use and sell for some money." Hearing him talk, Fan Zhu Xia felt as if she was struck by lightning as one thing he said stuck to her mind as she shakily asked, "Y-You said your surname was Cong? Is it from the same Cong family in the Mystic Terra Mountain?" "Yes Miss, the one and the same. I was an orphan who taken in by one of the travelling disciples that the Cong family sent out to be taught medicine but after a year, Master decided to adopt me and gave me my name." Tearing up slightly, Fan Zhu Xia fell down to her knees in front of the seat where the young boy sat and gently hugged him tight, startling both Cong Shi Hong and Chun Hua. "Miss?" Cong Shi Hong hesitantly asked with concern when he felt his shoulder get wet as he heard Fan Zhu Xia sniffle. "Hush, don''t call me ''Miss'', call me Elder Sister." Fan Zhu Xia muffledly replied. "Huh?" Gathering herself, Fan Zhu Xia slowly let go and wiped the stray tears from her eyes before taking off her veil and giving Cong Shi Hong a soft and gentle smile filled with nostalgia and happiness and the moment Cong Shi Honh saw the face underneath the veil, he was stunned for he recognized it even though he only saw that face once when he was still six years old at the time that his Master had first taken him back to Mystic Terra Mountain. Seeing his reaction, Fan Zhu Xia then laughed and playfully ruffled his hair once more before sighing softly as her smile slowly dimmed yet the look she gave him was still as warm as ever. "I never thought I''ll bump into one of my family being bullied like this. Don''t you worry, Elder Sister will take care of everything." 59 Treating The Patient - 18.3 Unable to follow, Chun Hua chose to remain silent and just waited for Fan Zhu Xia to tell her what to do next but the next words Fan Zhu Xia told her surprised her. "Chun Hua, I want you to go out and have Min Sheng tell father something." "Of course, Miss. What is your message?" "Tell father that I found a boy that I would like as a younger brother." Feeling as if she''s missing something, Chun Hua didn''t know what to say and seeing her confused state, Fan Zhu Xia then added, "Ask him if he wants a new son." As if thunder exploded in Chun Hua''s head, she stared blankly at Fan Zhu Xia who then just smiled at her and made shooing motions. "Go on, go and tell Min Sheng to personally send the message and then just wait outside for me to finish since I''ll start the treatment once you leave the room and I don''t want anyone seeing anything if you open the door again to enter." Still feeling at a loss, Chun Hua had no choice but to nod and say, "Then I shall take my leave now, Miss. Good luck." "Thanks." Fan Zhu Xia replied with a smile and with one more shooing motion, she then ignored Chun Hua who slowly left the room, looking slightly dazed. Outside, seeing the door open and Chun Hua coming out looking absent-minded, the people waiting were concerned yet she paid them no heed and directly when to Min Sheng before pulling him down slightly so that she can lowly whisper directly to his ear, preventing anyone from hearing what she''s saying. Although based from Min Sheng''s dumbfounded expression, whatever Chun Hua told him was quite surprising and unexpected. Straightening up, Min Sheng sent one last questioning look towards Chun Hua who then helplessly nodded and then said, "It''s what the Young Miss told me to tell you to tell her father." Hearing that Fan Zhu Xia wanted to send a message to her father, everyone was curious, especially Bai Nian Zu. What would Fan Zhu Xia want to tell her father; Fan Hui Zhong at this time? Despite the others curiousity, Min Sheng just nodded and excused himself before leaving in haste while Chun Hua then just stood there with her head bowed, as if deep in thought. Unable to contain her curiousity, Fu Zhenzhen then turned to Bai Nian Zu and asked, "Commander Bai, may I ask who that Young Miss is and which family she came from and just who is her father?" Caught completely off-guard, Bai Nian Zu then stared at Fu Zhenzhen in surprise and his expression was being mirrored by her older brother, Fu Qing Tian as well, making her uncomfortable so ended up asking, "Why are all of you looking at me like that? Isn''t my question completely normal to ask if you don''t know a person?" Looking exasperatedly at his little sister, Fu Qing Tian then said, "Zhenzhen, those questions are normal if you just met but when we got here earlier, you acted as if you knew her, even to the point of you following her instructions!" Realizing that point, Fu Zhenzhen first stared blankly at her brother before she suddenly exclaimed, "Brother, you''re right! How can Zhenzhen do that?! Zhenzhen just assumed from the start that she was someone important because of her escort that Zhenzhen completely forgot to even ask her who she was and she didn''t even introduce herself, how rude!" Looking at the indignant and wronged expression on the young girl, Bai Nian Zu couldn''t help but chuckle, especially when Fu Qing Tian spoke to remind his sister. "Zhenzhen, you can''t just say that. Didn''t you forget to introduce yourself as well and only remembered it when I was already there?" "I-uhh... huh..." Fu Zhenzhen opened her mouth to retort but she couldn''t think of anything so she just ended up closing it and pouting, looking extremely aggrieved which made Bai Nian Zu burst out in laughter. "Ahh... Don''t feel down, Young Miss Fu. You actually did the right thing and your insight on thinking that Xia''er is an important person is quite an understatement, you should be proud!" "Really? Is what Commander Bai saying the truth?" "En!" Bai Nian Zu answered firmly making Fu Zhenzhen feel better. "Then will you tell us who she is?" Fu Qing Tian then curiously asked, his question making Bai Nian Zu scratch his head sheepishly before shaking his head apologetically. "I have to apologise Young Master Fu but I can only tell you that that girl is the daughter of one of my sworn brothers. Aside from that, you would have to ask her or her father should he come here." Bai Nian Zu replied as he shot a glance at Chun Hua who met his gaze and helplessly shrugged." "This servant isn''t sure if Young Miss'' father will come and pick her up since he is currently catching up with Lord Wu." "Lord Wu? As in, General Wu Zheng He? The older brother of the empress?" Fu Zhenzhen questioned in a high voice, extremely surprised. Looking at her, Chun Hua just nodded and answered and leaving them dumbfounded with just one word, "En." Shaking his head in slight amusement, Bai Nian Zu then ignored them and just stared at the closed door with worry feeling him as he wondered what was happening inside. Meanwhile, oblivious to the commotion outside, Fan Zhu Xia already started the treatment as she brought out her set of acupuncture needles made out of Pure Spirits Silver again before quickly removing the needles that was stabilizing the little girl''s condition which surprised the watching Cong Shi Hong. Not paying attention to his reaction, Fan Zhu Xia then stripped the little girl of her outer clothes until only her inner garments remained before quickly picking up one needle at a time and piercing the little girl''s acupuncture points at lightning speed until all three hundred sixty-one needles where inserted into the girl''s acupuncture points, making her look like a human pin cushion. Awed, the young boy just silently watched, trying to absorb and understand as much as he can as he focused and ignored the pain in his body. Without missing a beat, Fan Zhu Xia then made several hand seals before swiftly extending her fingers above the Mu Lan Fen''s body where countless streams of pale blue qi that resembled thin and delicate strings connected with the needles, giving them a faint blue sheen. As she did so, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes was narrowed slightly as her brows furrowed in concentration. Using her the needles as a medium for her qi to enter each and every single one of the girl''s acupuncture points, she then focused on checking each one of them to see how much they''ve been affected by the poisonous miasma in the Abyss Valley Mountain Range, after all, she was quite familiar with this since this is also the exact same poison that plagued her father, Fan Hui Zhong. Seeing that most of the acupuncture points in the girl''s meridian''s are still unaffected and only around fifteen percent is in an extremely delicate state while another twenty percent has been slightly damaged due to the prolonged exposure of the poison in her system while the rest are suffering from shock from the intense medicinal properties of the Vitality Returning Pill when it tried fighting against the effects of the poisonous miasma. Checking to see the state of the rest of Mu Lan Fen''s body, Fan Zhu Xia let out a small relieved sigh the moment she noticed that although her internal organs are severely affected, it was nothing too serious that she cannot save. Mustering her qi, she slowly led it to roam inside the girl''s body, letting it lead the poisonous toxins out of the affected organs and muscles as well as the tainted blood which has already mixed with the poison for too long, to the point that it can no longer be separated and let it seep out from all three hundred sixty-one points that were pierced with the needles as her needles helped and reinforced her qi in purifying Mu Lan Fen''s body from the poison while helping Fan Zhu Xia stabilize the little girl''s condition. She didn''t even realize that she had already taken almost two hours in just doing this alone! As soon as Fan Zhu Xia saw that she was able to pull out all the remaining poison inside Mu Lan Fen''s body, she then withdrew her qi swiftly yet gently and soon after, she then pulled out a jade chest from her spacial ring and opened it, filling the room with intense yet extremely gentle and calming medicinal smell. Taking a small piece, about the size of a fingernail from a petal of one of the three Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flowers, she then condensed a small vermillion red flame that was exuding such an intense spiritual energy underneath it and slowly drew out the medicinal essence of that petal and condensed it to resemble a translucent bluish-white dewdrop which she then used her qi to deposit it into Mu Lan Fen''s half-opened mouth where it quickly dissolved. After that, Fan Zhu Xia then took in a deep breath before she executed several more hand seals and extended her hand towards Mu Lan Fen''s unconscious form, but instead her qi transforming into the previous string-like form, it instead became a cocoon of pale blue light that enveloped the little-girls body for several minutes as Fan Zhu Xia helped the unconscious Mu Lan Fen absorb the medicinal properties of both the Vitality Returning Pill as well as the condensed essence of the Ice Heart Imperial Lotus Flower. As soon as she was done, Fan Zhu Xia withdrew her qi which at the same time, cleaned up most of the blood that covered Mu Lan Fen''s body before she took a couple of steps back with unsteady and shaky legs which made her fall unceremoniously on the floor, her back, leaning against one of the wooden cabinets. Concerned, Cong Shi Hong struggled to get up from the chair and shakily go to Fan Zhu Xia''s side, seeing that she needed more help than his friend. Upon reaching her side, Cong Shi Hong worriedly yet timidly asked, "E-Elder Sister, are you alright?" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "Ahh, is Little Hong worried about your big sister?" Fan Zhu Xia tiredly teased. Looking at her with an expression of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Cong Shi Hong then nodded with a solemn gaze that stared at her with eyes that suspiciously glistened with the sheen of tears. Sighing with a small smile on her cherry red lips, she motioned for Cong Shi Hong to come closer. Lifting her arm, she pulled the young boy to her gently and enveloped him with a one-armed embrace before letting her qi cover his injuries, helping numb the pain a little. Realizing what she was doing, Cong Shi Hong protested and said, "Sister, please stop! You''re already tired enough as it is, don''t waste anymore energy with me, I can handle my injuries, the pain doesn''t bother me, really!" Flicking his forehead with her free hand weakly, Fan Zhu Xia just shook her head and laughed as she said, "Silly boy, this is what elder sisters are supposed to do!" Before he could say another word in protest, Fan Zhu Xia pressed one of his acupuncture points, promptly making him lose consciousness and falling limp to lean into her. Adjusting him slightly to a more comfortable position, Fan Zhu Xia then turned to the door and tiredly called out. "Chun Hua!" 60 Resolving the Matter - 19 As soon as Fan Hui Zhong received Min Sheng''s report and Fan Zhu Xia''s message, he quickly excused himself from Wu Zheng He and under Min Sheng''s lead, they arrived at Jade Herb Medicine Hall. Quickly dismounting his Stallion Drake, Fan Hui Zhong quickly made his way inside the Jade Herb Medicine Hall along with Min Sheng and soon came upon the scene of several people waiting outside a closed door. Recognizing a familiar face, Fan Hui Zhong quickly made his way forwards as he called out. "Brother Nian Zu! Min Sheng forgot to tell me you''d be here." Fan Hui Zhong cordially greeted with a smile which Bai Nian Zu returned with a grin. "Ah, details, details. I am but a minor character here today." Bai Nian Zu replied which promptly reminded Fan Hui Zhong of his purposr here. Spotting her daughter''s maidservant, he then shot her a pointed glance and asked, "Where is your Young Miss?" "Answering Lei Wangye''s question, the Young Miss is inside providing treatment to the injured child. This servant only came out since the Young Miss ordered this servant to come out and have Captain Min here go out and send you a message." Hearing how Chun Hua addressed the newly arrived man, everyone present was struck dumb with surprise aside from the people that Bai Nian Zu brought and Fan Zhu Xia''s escorts who knew immediately knew and recognized Fan Hui Zhong. A contemplating look crossed Fan Hui Zhong''s face before he gave a dismissive nod towards Chun Hua. "Alright, then let us wait for my daughter to call us in." Hearing him confirm his identity and relationship towards Fan Zhu Xia, they felt as if one surprise after another was popping out at them. Meanwhile, Fu Zhenzhen who was initially nervous felt immensely proud of herself as she thought of how she acted accordingly earlier and actually followed Fan Zhu Xia''s lead while her brother, Fu Qing Tian felt immensely relieved that neither he nor his sister didn''t irrevocably offended that particular young lady earlier, after all, who would have thought that she was actually the daughter of Lei Wangye?! That is not an existence that even his influential Fu family can just go around offending! Oblivious to their thoughts, Fan Hui Zhong just focused his attention towards the closed door and it was just at this moment that he heard a weak voice call out and say, "Chun Hua!" Recognizing it, Fan Hui Zhong stiffened for a second at hearing how weak that voice sounded and just as the others were about to react to that voice, Fan Hui Zhong already moved and was already by the door and pushing it open. The first thing that greeted them was a strong yet calming medicinal smell that was almost being overpowered by a strong stench of blood that had a more pungent decaying smell than usual. Quickly scanning the room, everyone''s eyes first landed on the wooden bed where they saw the little girl''s unconscious form which was just haphazardly covered with her outer robes and the blood that was slowly dripping down the bed and on to the floor. Seeing such a gruesome scene, everyone was quite alarmed and both Fu Qing Tian quickly made their way to the child to check her status while Fan Hui Zhong and Bai Nian Zu who noticed Fan Zhu Xia looking extremely pale while sitting down on the floor with her back leaning against a cabinet with a young boy tucked protectively under her arm hurried over to her side. "Xia''er are you alright?" Fan Hui Zhong worriedly asked as he reached out and gently wiped the sweat away from her brows and brushed her hair back and away from her face. "Xia''er is fine... Xia''er is sorry for troubling Father." Looking at her pale complexion, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but frown in concern while Bai Nian Zu asked gruffly in concern, "Are you sure you''re alright, girl?" "Yes, Uncle Zu, Xia''er is sure." Glancing over their shoulders, Fan Zhu Xia saw both Fu Qing Tian and Gu Lang already checking up on the little girl and as if feeling her stare, Fu Qing Tian looked up and met gaze before he suddenly froze up. Right in front of him was the same young lady he was talking to earlier but now the veil that covered the lower half of her face was nowhere to be seen, leaving her impossibly beautiful and breathtaking countenance out for everyone to see. Fu Qing Tian already surmised earlier that she is a heart-stopping beauty underneath but he didn''t expect that it would be to this extent! He''s seen his fair share of beauties among his travels but this girl in front of him was like an incomparable fairy amongst the flowers, totally beyond compare! It was a good thing that despite his momentary shock, he was able to catch himself and understand the questioning look that she was sending towards him. "No need to worry, Young Miss. The little girl is fine, she just needs to get plenty of rest and eat some nourishing food to help her recover faster." Given Fu Qing Tian''s reassurance, Fan Zhu Xia then shot him an appreciative smile filled with relief, momentarily making him starstruck before he managed to return it. Shifting her attention towards the young boy in her embrace, Fan Zhu Xia''s hold on him tightened as he shot a look towards her father who met her gaze as an unspoken conversation passed through them with just a look. "So this is the young boy that Min Sheng told me about?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with a start. "En. He is called Shi Hong. Apparently he''s an orphan but Father, it''s as if we''re fated to meet! His late master''s family name is coincidentally the same as my first master''s family name!" Fan Zhu Xia conversationally said. In an instant, Fan Hui Zhong got her whole meaning and shooting the boy a more pondering look. Fan Hui Zhong then gently reached out and took the boy and cradled him with one arm before reaching out to help Fan Zhu Xia stand up to her feet with Chun Hua''s assistance. "Let us go back, I think you had enough excitement for today." Looking slightly sheepish, Fan Zhu Xia laughed and smiled as she replied, "En. A good rest would be nice about now." With her father''s assistance, Fan Zhu Xia was able to stably stand as long as Fan Hui Zhong keeps his hold on her. Turning her head back to Fu Qing Tian, she then asked, "Young Master Fu, is it alright if I bring the two children with me? Shi Hong might get worried if he wakes up without his friend there." "Of course. No need to ask for permission, you are after all the children''s benefactor." "Many thanks." Fan Zhu Xia replied gratefully before meeting Gu Lang''s gaze and saying, "This Young Miss wishes to apologize for her earlier offense. I do hope that you can forgive me, Venerable Doctor Gu." Waving her apologies off, Gu Lang just said, "No need for apologies. This old man would just like to ask for the opportunity to come and have tea with the Young Miss and be able to exchange some pointers about alchemy and medicine if given the chance." Just as she was about to reply, Fan Zhu Xia noticed Fu Zhenzhen hopeful look directed towards her making her the corner of her lips tilt up slightly. "Of couse, please feel free to drop by and pay me a visit at the Fan family residence and look for me. Just say that you are a friend of Zhu Xia." Gladdened, Gu Lang quickly cupped his hands together and expressed his thanks but the crest-fallen look on Fu Zhenzhen''s face didn''t escape Fan Zhu Xia, almost making her laugh. Feeling a bit sorry for her, Fan Zhu Xia coughed slightly to draw their attention before she said, "Of course, the invitation is for all of you so please do not hesitate to call on me, after all, there isn''t many people who I know here in the capital." Immediately perking up, Fu Zhenzhen brightly smiled at her as she spoke and said, "Zhenzhen will be sure to drop by and play then!" Smilingly, Fan Zhu Xia just nodded then bid them farewell before turning back to Fan Hui Zhong and saying, "We can leave now, Father." "En. Come along." After they left, Bai Nian Zu also bid his goodbye before leading his group back and leaving just the few Jade Herb Medicine Hall''s and Fu Qing Tian''s people there behind and after quickly closing the Jade Herb Medicine Hall up, Fu Qing Tian led them back to the Fu Manor where the rest of the people from Jade Herb Medicine Hall were waiting in one of the main courtyards. Gathering everyone before turning to them, Fu Qing Tian then spoke in a loud, crystal clear voice as he addressed them. "Everyone, though the matter today has been resolved and it was proven that our Jade Herb Medicine Hall did not purposefully provide the wrong treatment, our Jade Herb Medicine Hall still made a mistake, though it isn''t entirely the fault of just Venerable Doctor Gu Lang, what I, Fu Qing Tian is most disappointed about is how our Jade Herb Medicine Hall handled the complaint that we received today! If that Young Miss did not arrive today, our very own store manager might have beaten those children to death yet despite of that, not one of you called a stop to it or even sent someone to inform me of the incident. Instead, this Young Master only received the news that someone was making trouble for our medicine hall, yet not once did anyone mention to me what caused it in the first place! Just because it seemed like our medicine hall is in trouble and has a conflict doesn''t give us the right to bully those who are weaker. We don''t have the right to manipulate the situation just because my Fu family is strong and influential! This Young Master expects that should this ever happen again, the matter should be properly investigated before actions are taken accordingly, am I understood?" "Yes, Young Master." everyone at courtyard simultaneously answered. "Good, now you guards, this Young Master wants you to take the old manager and throw him out! We don''t need people like that in our medicine hall. Just have someone treat his injuries and give him his last pay and have him begone. As for the one who came and gave me a misleading report, have that person caned twenty-times and cut his salary by half." "Right away, Young Master." Hearing his words, two voices loudly wailed and begged for mercy with the old manager being the loudest among the two yet Fu Qing Tian turned deaf to their pleas and ignored them as they were dragged out. "Now all of you better remember this clearly, should this happen again, the punishments will only be worse. See that none of you make my Fu family lose face once more and disappoint me!" Without another word, Fu Qing Tian then led the quiet Fu Zhenzhen out of the courtyard and left them there to talk and quietly discuss what happened. Those that were left behind earlier at the Jade Herb Medicine Hall then started to share what they witnessed occur, especially Gu Lang who was questioned by his colleagues as to why he escaped punishment when he was the one who treated the girl yesterday. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "Old Gu, tell us what happened!" "Why did Young Master Fu not say anything? Did he already hand down his punishment to you earlier?" "What even happened with the girl anyway? How come that child''s condition was so complicated?" "Did that Young Miss make so much trouble to make our Young Master that furious?" "Come on, Old Doctor Gu! Do share with us how thing went back at the medicine hall!" "Is it true that the Young Miss actually treated that child?" "Was it all a play? Is that why the Young Master was so angry?" "Spare us some details, would you old friend?" Amidst the myriad of questions, Gu Lang waved his hand and called out several times to calm down his colleagues and stop the torrent of questions from falling on him before finally answering. "My friends, none of it was a play and the main reason that I wasn''t punished was only because after further examining the child it was actually that Young Miss that vouched for me and told our Young Master that I did not make any errors, the only problem was that I failed to realize that the girl was already poisoned when she came in and the treatment I gave her could only help supplement a person''s recovery but not remove the poison which was way too potent that it overpowered the pill I gave her." "What pill did you give her then?" one of the alchemists asked curiously. "I gave her the Vitality Returning Pill." After hearing Gu Lang''s response, a collective gasp of surprise was heard before another one suddenly exclaimed and asked, "Heavens! Of you gave the child such a pill then what kind of poison could even overwhelm the medicinal properties of the Vitality Returning Pill?" Looking at them gravely, "The child was actually poisoned by the poisonous miasma in the Abyss Valley Mountain Range when she got lost. It was no wonder my treatment didn''t work, the poison was too potent!" "Poor child! What happened to her then?" "Friends, that child is already in the path to making a full recovery! It would seem that the heavens had pity on her which even gave her the chance to bump into a divine doctor! As all of you know, the chances of curing that poison is next to nil, yet despite of this, the Young Miss who interfered actually has such heaven-defying skills and has managed to purge out the poison from her body so that my Vitality Returning Pill''s medicinal properties could be circulated and absorbed! It was just such a shame that I wasn''t able to witness the whole treatment since the Young Miss made us leave the room." "Is what you say true, Old Gu?" "As serious as I can get that I am even willing to make an oath." Countless murmurs erupted from around them. They all saw the supposed young divine doctor and she really was such a young lady that it was just that hard to believe yet with Gu Lang who was obsessed with alchemy and medicine vouching for her, they had no choice but to believe! After the multiple discussions regarding the matters that happened today, everyone then went on their separate ways in the Fu manor and while the Fu siblings were narrating what happened in the Jade Herb Medicine Hall to their father; Fu Qing Jue, it was also around this time that Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia arrived back at the Fan residence along with the two still unconscious kids and their escorts. 61 Going Back - 20 Inside the carriage, Fan Zhu Xia was leaning tiredly into Fan Hui Zhong''s embrace as she gently cradled the young boy in her arms while Chun Hua was taking care of the still unconscious little girl. Her actions weren''t missed by her father, instead, Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed deeply at the boy''s unconscious form yet he chose not to speak about it at this moment, instead, he just gently tucked a stray lock of hair that fell across Fan Zhu Xia''s face before softly murmuring, "Sleep. I''ll wake you up when we''re back." Making a tired yet affirmative sound, Fan Zhu Xia shifted around for a bit until she found a comfortable position and then promptly went to sleep. Her soft and even breathing soon melded with the two children as the carriage fell into silence. Shooting a meaningful glance towards her daughter''s maidservant; Chun Hua, Fan Hui Zhong then spoke in a low, quiet voice, careful not to be too loud so that Fan Zhu Xia''s slumber won''t accidentally be disturbed by his talking. "Girl, tell me what happened with my daughter ever since we separated this morning." Hearing his order, Chun Hua wasted no time and promptly replied in a clear yet equally quiet voice and said, "Reporting to Lei Wangye, the Young Miss arrived at the Thousand Treasures Pavillion without any incident and was able to acquire all that she had bid for during the auction. The only thing worth being concerned about is an incident where the Young Miss had an argument with the visiting princess from Spirit Valor Country." Hearing that, Fan Hui Zhong immediately frowned before speaking one word in a much icier tone, making Chun Hua feel a chill run down her spine. "Elaborate." With just that one word, anyone can tell that Fan Hui Zhong was extremely vexed, the only question left to ask was not if he''s angry but just how mad he was! Feeling nervous, Chun Hua took a calming breath and started to relay what happened earlier today. "As Lei Wangye knows, it''s the Young Miss'' first time here at the capital which is why it''s perfectly natural for the Young Miss to have not had the opportunity to visit the Thousand Treasures Pavillion here and since the Young Miss is unlike the other young noble misses and doesn''t treat the servants as if they were below her, she drew the attention of the visiting princess and was scorned for fraternitizing and being friendly and polite with the attendant that was showing us around and explaining how the Thousand Treasures Pavillion worked." Pausing to take a breath, Chun Hua shot a glance to the silent Lei Wangye and was just met with a cold gaze. Flustered, she just hurried on and continued explaining. "At first, when the princess started throwing insults at the Young Miss, the Young Miss paid her no mind and just continued ignoring her but this just infuriated the princess which then made her insult an start demeaning all the servants and attendants present." Remembering what happened earlier, Chun Hua once again felt warm and touched as she thought back to what her Young Miss did and say on their behalf. Continuing on, Chun Hua didn''t even realize that the way she spoke had a hint of pride in it as she smiled while speaking. "The Young Miss just ignored the princess and to top it off, she even called the princess a mad dog because of how loud and annoying she was! Heavens, Master should have seen the expression on the princess'' face!" Chun Hua said with a laugh before she quickly quietened down once her glance landed on Fan Zhu Xia''s sleeping form. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "Then what happened?" "Well, everyone was shocked at the Young Miss'' words, of course. However we didn''t expect that just because of that one insult, that visiting princess would order her servant to attack the Young Miss! It was a good thing that Captain Min Sheng was quite fast and stronger so he was able to deflect the blow and protect the Young Miss!" "She dared?!" Sensing Fan Hui Zhong''s rising anger with the rising voice he just used, Chun Hua realized what she just said that she ended up speechless before meekly nodding under Fan Hui Zhong''s burning gaze. Seeing Chun Hua''s confirmation, Fan Hui Zhong''s anger rose to a new level as he thought back to his meeting the previous night during dinner with the visiting princess; Ning Yan Mei. Remembering how Ning Yan Mei was acting all nice and well-mannered last night, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but sneer as he spoke in an icy voice that brook no objections. "Heed my order and pass it down to the other servants. No one and I mean no one from Spirit Valor Country is allowed to enter the Fan Estate and especially my Lei Palace!" Hearing his order, not only Chun Hua but also Min Sheng and all their escorts who heard it simultaneously replied in a solemn and respectful voice. "Yes, Lei Wangye!" After receiving their response, a satisfied glint appeared in Fan Hui Zhong''s cold eyes before he acknowledged them with one word. "Good." Seeing that Fan Hui Zhong was calming down slightly after a few moments, Chun Hua internally sighed in relief and kept her head down until she heard Fan Hui Zhong''s voice asking her a question. "Aside from that, did anything else happen?" Thinking for a second, Chun Hua then remembered something and immediately told Fan Hui Zhong. "Master, we met the Second Young Master at the Thousand Treasures Pavillion earlier and Captain Min informed him that the Patriarch has been looking for him." "Is that so? Good, good. Liang has been searching for that son of his. That brat has been out playing for too long." Fan Hui Zhonh said with a small shake of his head yet his tone held no anger but had a hint of humor instead. Thinking that there was no appropriate response, Chun Hua just chose to remain silent and let Fan Hui Zhong alone as he sank into his thoughts. After a some time, they heard Min Sheng''s low voice sounded from outside the carriage, informing them that they have just arrived at the Fan Residence and after ordering him to have the carriage proceed directly towards his daughter''s courtyard, Fan Hui Zhong lifted his free hand and started petting Fan Zhu Xia''s hair gently in order to wake her up. Feeling his movements, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes fluttered softly before blinking it open as she stared at her father in a sleepy daze before she managed to speak in a slightly hoarse voice. "Father, are we back already?" Smiling gently at her, Fan Hui Zhong tapped her nose affectionately as he nodded. "En. We just got back. The carriage will drop us off near the vicinity of your courtyard and we''ll walk from there." "Xia''er will do as Father says." Fan Zhu Xia acknowledged before settling down against Fan Hui Zhong once more. Just as Fan Zhu Xia was about to drift off to sleep again, she felt Fan Hui Zhong shift and sigh, drawing her attention. "Xia''er, are you sure about this boy?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with his deep, gravelly voice, expressing the doubts he had in his heart. Sensing something else in Fan Hui Zhong''s words, Fan Zhu Xia shifted a little, enough to lift her head from her father''s shoulder and meet his furrowed gaze. Tilting her head slightly, Fan Zhu Xia looked at Fan Hui Zhong with a questioning gaze before she spoke softly, careful not to wake up the unconscious children. "Is something the matter, Father?" "It''s the boy. There''s several seals on him and it''s preventing me from examining him clearly." "What do you mean? I was able to fully inspect him earlier when I was checking his injuries." Fan Zhu Xia asked. Looking at her confused expression, Fan Hui Zhong could only sigh before explaining. "Girl, you only looked at his surface, his body but the one I mean is his core existence, his mind, his dantian, his cultivation!" Looking stunned, Fan Zhu Xia stared at Fan Hui Zhong for a second before her brows slowly scrunched up into a small frown before she gave a small nod and said, "Then maybe daughter has been a bit hasty but I do hope that Father gives Shi Hong a chance and investigates first before coming down with any conclusions." Flicking her forehead, Fan Hui Zhong gave her a pointed look before giving her a small but reassuring smile. "Daft girl! Of course Father will look into this more before coming to any decision. Luckily we have your Uncle Liang since he is much more skilled than me in seals and inscriptions and could probably figure out what''s been placed on this boy." "Alright..." 62 Seals - 21.1 Finding out that there were seals on Cong Shi Hong, Fan Zhu Xia''s mind couldn''t help but ponder about it. Her mind wandered and thought of countless possibilities. Was there something he was hiding? Did she make a mistake in trusting him? Was he a spy? But then if he was, then why would he get himself beaten up so badly in the first place? Or was it just nothing but an intricate ploy? Or maybe the seal served an entirely different purpose. Maybe it was placed on him to conceal his identity and protect him from harm. But then, why didn''t he tell her in the first place? If he knew there was a seal on him, anyone who thought more deeply upon it would think that it was suspicious. Thinking further on it, Fan Zhu Xia also wondered on who placed the seals on him in the first place. After all, though she may not be good at it, she could at least detect the basic seals of concealment and transformation but the fact that she didn''t was just a testament on how high the level the seal was. As her mind whirled, Fan Zhu Xia felt the carriage''s movements come to a gentle stop and before long, they heard Min Sheng''s voice echo from the outside. "Masters, we have arrived. You may now disembark and make your way to the Young Miss'' courtyard by foot or would you like this servant to have a palanquin be prepared?" "That won''t be necessary, we can walk." After responding, the carriage door swung open and Fan Hui Zhong alighted from the carriage before he turned back and reached his arms back in and carefully took the unconscious boy from Fan Zhu Xia before handing him to Min Sheng who was waiting just a step away from him and as soon as he was done, he then turned around again and helped Fan Zhu Xia go down, making sure that she doesn''t accidentally fall or slip. As soon as her feet were planted stably on the ground, Fan Zhu Xia gave a murmured thanks and gestured for one of the guards to help Chun Hua come down as well before she was led away by Fan Hui Zhong. Before long, they arrived at Fan Zhu Xia''s courtyard and the two children were settled into one of the previously empty rooms which was quickly setup to contain two beds separated by a silk screen as well as a dresser, a small table with two chairs on either side as well as a couple of braziers to keep the room warm. Seeing them peacefully resting, Fan Zhu Xia nodded in approval and gave Chun Hua some instructions before following Fan Hui Zhong out of the room. "Father, what do we do now?" Looking at his daughter fondly, Fan Hui Zhong then replied, "You, my dear daughter, are going to take a rest first. Father will go and make arrangements to have someone send some food in for you and after that should go and take a nap. Leave the rest to Father. Father will take care of everything." Seeing the look that Fan Hui Zhong was giving her, Fan Zhu Xia felt her heart warm. The concern and worry in his eyes was obvious and any thoughts of disagreeing with him left her and all she could do was give him a small smile and nod meekly. After all, Fan Zhu Xia knew that if she had to trust anyone to help her with taking care of things, it would be her father; Fan Hui Zhong. Letting out an inward sigh of relief at seeing his daughter acquiescence so quickly, Fan Hui Zhong then escorted Fan Zhu Xia to her room and had someone her other maidservant; Chun Tao who was currently overseeing the renovations to the small outer building in her courtyard. As soon as she arrived, Chun Tao immediately gave a bow of respect and greeted Fan Hui Zhong. "Greetings, Lei Wangye. Is there something this humble servant can do to assist you?" "You are my daughter''s other maidservant right? Chun Tao, was it?" "Yes, Master." Nodding, Fan Hui Zhong then spoke in an authoritative voice and said, "Now that you''re here, go and take care of your Young Miss. Also have someone prepare some food for her, I don''t think she''s had any lunch yet." "Right away, Lei Wangye. Any other orders aside from this, Master?" Chun Tao queried. "No, that''s all for now. You may go. You''re Young Miss is inside her room." "Then please excuse this servant." With another low bow, Chun Tao then hurried off to go to Fan Zhu Xia. After making sure that Chun Tao knows what to do and will serve Fan Zhu Xia properly and make sure to take care of her needs, Fan Hui Zhong then made his way to the outer room which was serving as the receiving hall for guests and started giving out orders. The few servants who was there for the ongoing renovations on the courtyard''s small side building had to halt their work and execute Fan Hui Zhong''s instructions first. One of the servants who was quite fast on his feet was assigned the task of informing the current patriarch of the family and asking him to come. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Of course, the moment Fan Hui Liang heard that his older brother was asking for him, he quickly disregarded whatever he was doing beforehand and hastily went to the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard. Arriving at the receiving hall, he saw his older brother alone, sitting at the main seat while calmly drinking tea with his eyes closed. Feeling curious as to why his brother summoned him, Fan Hui Liang asked, "Brother, is there anything you need from me?" Seeing that his younger twin took the initiative to ask, Fan Hui Zhong started explaining. "Fan Zhu Xia helped two children while she was out earlier, a young boy and a little girl. Brother, I want you to take a look at the boy. I found some seals placed on him when I first checked." Hearing that, Fan Hui Liang''s brows furrowed into a frown before giving a serious nod as he said, "I understand. Where''s the boy now?" "Follow me." Arriving at the room where the children are, the two brothers immediately made their way to where the boy was with Fan Hui Liang standing just beside the bed while Fan Hui Zhong stood a couple of steps back, leaving his brother ample room to move. Looking at the sleeping boy, Fan Hui Liang took a moment to gather himself before he reached his hand out to hover on top of the boy''s body and let his qi flow down and envelop the boy. Watching his brother examine the boy, a look of pleasant surprise shone in Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes the moment he saw the the color of his brother''s qi which was a deep blue with hints of vibrant navy. So his brother was already at the peak level of the Heavenly Sky Realm! A proud and satisfied smile slowly spread in Fan Hui Zhong''s face as he thought of how much his brother has grown. Before when he had taken over as the patriarch after their father got seriously injured, his brother; Fan Hui Liang wasn''t motivated with cultivation. He was more of a scholar than a military man, preferring to wield a brush rather than a sword even though he was just a talented as Hui Zhong in it. It would seem as though his decision to leave and put his brother in charge was the right thing to do after all. Caught in his musings, Fan Hui Zhong almost missed the changes in Fan Hui Liang''s expression if he didn''t hear his brother''s sharp intake of air. Concerned, his eyes narrowed as he took a couple of steps forward to stand beside the stunned Fan Hui Liang. "Brother, what is it? Is something the matter?" With a complicated look in his eyes, Fan Hui Liang stared at his older brother for a minute, trying to organize his thoughts before he opened his mouth to speak. "Older Brother, do not be alarmed, there isn''t anything wrong but there is something strange about the boy." Seeing that there wasn''t anything wrong based from his brother''s calm expression, Fan Hui Zhong let his worries go and instead curiously asked, "Then what made you so startled?" "Well about that, it''s because when I started examining the seals on the boy I noticed that the qi signature on it seemed a bit familiar..." "Then do you know who it belonged to?" Just as Fan Hui Liang was about to open his mouth to answer, the expression on his face suddenly morphed into one of alarm and horror as he turned around to look at a certain direction as he burst out and said one word that shook Fan Hui Zhong''s core. "Father!!!" 63 Seals - 21.2 Before Fan Hui Zhong could even ask, his brother turned to him in a panic and hurriedly spoke. "Brother, the stasis seal that I placed on father when he fell into a coma was broken! The wards that I placed to monitor his condition and surroundings indicated that there was an assassin who managed to sneak past the guards and break my seal but before he could do anything else, the protection seal I left activated, giving the guards enough time to incapacitate the assassin. Unfortunately they were a second too slow and the assassin managed to swallow a poison pill hidden in one of his teeth." Sensing the gravity of the situation, Fan Hui Zhong''s expression turned grave. "Liang''er go to Father and check to see if you can delay the effects of the poison on the assassin, I''ll get Xia''er!" A look of understanding spread across Fan Hui Liang''s face before he nodded once and quickly left the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard. Turning on his heel, Fan Hui Zhong made his way to his daughter''s room and also happened to bump into Min Sheng who just came back. Seeing the dark expression on his face, Min Sheng immediately felt something amiss, as he hurriedly turned to bow but his movements were stopped mid-way. "Min Sheng, an assassin has made a move against Father, go and have several of our elite groups of soldiers from the Lei Sha Di Army secure out estate and make sure that no one gets in or out at this time, no exceptions! If Xian''er comes back, have him proceed to his mother''s courtyard and stand guard there. As for Li Jie, have him help you in finding any intruders and taking control of the estate as well as the servants, also, go find Yong Rui and have him come to his grandfather''s courtyard, understood?" "Affirmative, Lei Wangye!" Departing quickly, Min Sheng disappeared like a gust of wind, and resuming his earlier plans, Fan Hui Zhong quickly arrived in fromt of Fan Zhu Xia''s door and gave it three sharp knocks. Hearing it, Fan Zhu Xia''s gaze was drawn to the door and instead of sitting down at the table where a light lunch of snow lotus congee, steamed fish and pickled vegetables were arranged, she immediately walked towards the door and pulled it open. Seeing his daughter''s familiar face devoid of any traces of makeup, making her look younger yet also more delicate because of her pale countenance due to her fatigue, Fan Hui Zhong felt a tinge of hesitation before his eyes took on a determined glint. Fan Zhu Xia who had just finished changing into a plain white dress that was cinched at the waist by a wide, bamboo-green belt and had half of her hair pinned up by a single hairpin made of white jade with the rest cascading down her back softly was preparing to eat some food first before taking a nap immediately realized that there was something wrong the moment her eyes met Fan Hui Zhong''s. "Father, is something the matter?" "Zhu Xia, something happened with your grandfather. We need your help." Hearing her father''s words and seeing such a grim look on his face, Fan Zhu Xia quickly spoke and said, "Let''s go then! I''ll see what I can do to help." Giving her a small tense yet grateful smile, Fan Hui Zhong then bent down and took Fan Zhu Xia into his arms and carried her princess-style and swiftly left her courtyard. His speed was extremely fast with the use of his qinggong and they arrived at a large courtyard that was heavily guarded by armored guards who gave a respectful salute towards Fan Hui Zhong before going back straightaway to their duties. Wasting no time, Fan Hui Zhong proceeded inside with Fan Zhu Xia still in his arms this giving her no time to look around and appreciate the simple yet elegantly decorated courtyard but was instead promptly brought to the courtyard''s main master''s bedroom where her uncle; Fan Hui Liang was standing beside a bed as he made several hand signs as a seal was manifesting on top of the bed where a person was lying unconscious. Catching her curious look, Fan Hui Zhong softly murmured in her ear and told her, "That''s your grandfather." A look of understanding appeared in Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes as she nodded while Fan Hui Zhong set her gently down her feet before he turned around and shot a furious look towards a corner where two guards held a man in all black clothes down while another two had their spears pointed at him. Following her father''s gaze, Fan Zhu Xia asked, "That is?" "An assassin that tried to kill your grandfather." Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Looking at the man''s pale and sweaty face and noting that he has bloodshot eyes while his lips had taken on a purplish hue, Fan Zhu Xia frowned and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "He''s poisoned." "En. He tried to commit suicide the moment he got caught, luckily they were able to stabilize him." Staring at the man closely, Fan Zhu Xia sighed and shook her head as she turned to Fan Hui Zhong and told him, "He''s not going to last any longer. If Father intends to interrogate him, then the sooner the better." "I agree, but..." Just as Fan Hui Zhong was about to reply a familiar voice spoke up from the door, drawing the gaze of both father and daughter as they saw a familiar figure walked in. "Yong Rui!" "Cousin!" Giving them an indolent smile, Fan Yong Rui called to both of them respectively with a nod in their directions. "Uncle. Little Xia. Sorry for being late." Shaking his head, Fan Hui Zhong waved his hand and nodded towards the assassin. "Go and take him. Make sure you get all you can from him and try to find out who sent him to kill your grandfather." A sharp and ominous glint shone in Fan Yong Rui''s light brown eyes and his softer, slightly effeminate features was arranged into a dangerous smirk as he nodded. "Rest assured, I''ll do my best to meet Uncle''s expectations!" Snapping his fingers, two masked men appeared beside him, respectfully kneeling as they waited for his orders. "The both of you go and bring this man away. One, you''re in charge of guarding him until I get there and Two, you''re to escort One there before coming back with Three and Four and helping Older Brother secure the estate while Three and Four scouts the surrounding for any suspicious activity and clues." Nodding, the two masked men immediately took the assassin into their custody and just as they were about to disappear, Fan Zhu Xia suddenly called out and grabbed Fan Yong Rui''s arm. "Cousin wait! That man is poisoned, he may not last the hour. Take this first." Hearing Fan Zhu Xia''s words, Fan Yong Rui''s eyes narrowed and the same went for One and Two. Looking at the two jade bottles that Fan Zhu Xia brought out, Fan Yong Rui took them in his hands before he turned to ask, "Cousin, this is?" "This one is a potent antidote that should work on most poisons and should be able to delay his dying for at least a couple of hours to a day even if the poison he ingested is rare and fast-acting." A gleam of satisfaction flashed through Fan Yong Rui''s eyes before he directed his attention to the other one and inquired about it. "How about this one?" "Well that one is a truth elixir. Three drops diluted with half a glass of water makes the consumer of it have no choice but to tell the truth unless that person has a seal on their mind or memories, in which case, having them ingest that and questioning them can result in extreme torture if the seal is activated and in the worst case, death." Delighted, Fan Yong Rui pinched Fan Zhu Xia''s cheek affectionately and said, "Little Xia really is the best! Second Brother owes you." Beaming, Fan Zhu Xia just shook her head and said, "This is the only thing Xia''er can do to help Second Brother as of now so please just accept it." "En." After determining it''s uses, Fan Yong Rui tossed them towards One who easily caught it and waved them off making the two of them disappear along with the assassin in flash. Seeing that the assassin has been taken cared of, the four guards excused themselves and exited the room to stand guard by the door while all three of them; Fan Hui Zhong, Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Yong Rui turned to look towards the bed''s direction. Stepping forward, Fan Hui Zhong neared his brother and asked in a low voice, "How is it?" "Father''s condition worsened quite fast considering that the stasis seal was only lifted in such a short while. I''m afraid that..." As if sensing his brother''s turbulent emotions, Fan Hui Zhong placed a hand on his shoulde and gave a reassuring squeeze. "Is the stasis seal done?" "Yes it is." "Then let us step back and let Xia''er take a look." Hearing his brother''s words, a flash of hope lit up within Fan Hui Liang''s eyes, especially when he thought back to what his older brother told him of his niece''s past. Turning to look at Fan Zhu Xia, Fan Hui Liang gave her a strained yet hopeful smile before speaking. "Xia''er, just do your best. No matter what happens, Uncle is still grateful for all your help today." Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Fan Zhu Xia felt his heart warm and determination filled her as she gave a resolute nod. "Don''t worry, Uncle. Xia''er will do her best!" 64 Treating Fan Song Xue - 22.1 As she made her way closer, Fan Yong Rui trailed behind her with a similarly serious expression as the others with concern in his eyes. Before anyone could say anything, Fan Hui Zhong spoke up in a voice that brooked no complaints. "Since Xia girl will treat Father then let us leave her in peace. Our presence here may just prove a hindrance to her." Seeing the reluctance in Fan Hui Liang''s eyes, Fan Hui Zhong turned to his daughter and asked, "Do you need our assistance? Or is there anything you''ll require?" Understanding her uncle''s reluctance yet grateful for her father''s thoughtfulness, Fan Zhu Xia then spoke carefully as she studied the unconscious form of the old man on the bed. "May I check on Grandfather first so that I can determine if there is anything I might need?" "Please." Fan Hui Liang said as he took a step backward to give her some room. Reaching out, her fair slender hand gently lifted the old man''s wrist and took his pulse with a serious expression on her face and after a minute passed, her brows furrowedbefore she let down his wrist and put both her hands over his body and closed her eyes as she let her qi envelop his unconscious form. Thousands of pale blue thread-like qi gently wove themselves together and encased the unconscious Fan Song Xue until it looke like he was inside a glowing pale blue cocoon that pulsed intermittently as if in the rhythm of a heartbeat, looking serene and mesmerizing to those who were watching silently. Meanwhile, as Fan Zhu Xia''s qi seeped into Fan Song Xue''s body, she suffered a severe shock to her system that caused her to almost spit out blood! Her closed eyes snapped open as she bit her lips to prevent the blood she coughed up to spill out as she focused on slowly retrieving her qi from inside Fan Song Xue''s body until she almost staggered back and had to lean weakly against the bed. A trickle of blood could be seen trailing down from the corner of her lips. The dark ruby red of blood was a vivid contrast to her pale snow-white countenance which had paled considerably more to the point that her translucent skin almost seemed bloodless. Alarmed, all three of them, from her father; Fan Hui Zhong, to her uncle; Fan Hui Liang and down to her cousin; Fan Yong Rui rushed towards her but before any of them could reach her, Fan Zhu Xia spoke in a strong yet quiet murmur. "I need to know what happened. How Grandfather got injured in the first place and if the people responsible are still alive." Seeing the seriousness in her otherwise pallid face, Fan Hui Zhong quickly answered. "The people responsible worked in a group and though I managed to arrive in time to support your grandfather, between your grandfather and I as well as in cooperation with the hidden imperial shadow guards, we managed to kill most of them but unfortunately a small handful managed to escape, albeit they didn''t leave unscathed." Alarmed, Fan Zhu Xia immediately turned to her cousin; Fan Yong Rui and burst out, "Second Brother, you have to go! Don''t let your men keep the assassin!" With just a shared look, he understood the urgency and without hesitation he nodded and vanished in a blink of an eye. Seeing the gravity of the situation, both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Hui Liang stiffened before grave expressions both came over their faces. "Xia''er, can you please give us an explaination?" Shooting her father a grim look, Fan Zhu Xia nodded and started talking. "When I was examining Grandfather''s condition, I could see that his injury was not supposed to be a fatal one if it wasn''t for the poison that entered his bloodstream through his wound but I''m sure you already know this. What I''m most concerned about is the origin of the poison. It came from a small, hidden clan of assassins that is quite talented with the use of poisons. The only reason that I managed to recognize the poison was because my mother had come from the same clan and ever since she left them to marry my father, they''ve sent numerous assassins to eliminate her just to keep the secrets of their clan, especially on how to cure and concoct the poisons they use." "Then the assassination attemp today..." "It''s probably their work as well. Their clan is extremely petty and since you told me that you did not manage to kill all of them then they probably reported it back which is why they are taking actions against you." With brows furrowed, Fan Hui Liang then asked, "But why now all of a sudden? It''s been more than a decade since that incident!" "Are you sure this is the first time that they''ve moved against you?" Fan Zhu Xia questioned. With a start, Fan Hui Zhong started to tremble as he came to a realization and seeing his brother go to such a state, Fan Hui Liang managed to end up with the same conclusion. "You don''t think..." Fan Hui Liang started to mutter, his expression turning ugly as he felt a wave of sympathy for his older brother. "What do you think?! My Man-Man didn''t have any problems during her pregnancy. If it wasn''t for the sudden attack during our absence then nothing would have happened to her!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia straightened herself up and placed a comforting hand on her father''s shoulder. She knew that the death of his late wife; Pan Ai Man and child had haunted Fan Hui Zhong for such a long time that a sudden revelation like this poured salt all over his old wounds. "Father, I know this is a shock but now isn''t the time to dwell on the past but focus on the present. You and Uncle Liang still need to keep calm and focused since they might have do something again. As for Grandfather, leave him to me. I can treat him, although it may take me some time so please have the security on this courtyard heightened." Getting himself together, Fan Hui Zhong nodded and with a shared look with his brother they both turned to leave. "Xia girl, don''t push yourself too hard." Fan Hui Zhong told her as they reached the door. Upon hearing his words, Fan Zhu Xia nodded and gave him a gentle and reassuring smile as she said, "Don''t worry, Father. Rest assured I''ll be fine and so will Grandfather." After returning her smile, both her father and uncle bade her goodluck before exiting the room and seeing them leave, Fan Zhu Xia then turned back to face the bed. "Let''s start..." 65 Treating Fan Song Xue - 22.2 Taking a deep breath to prepare herself, Fan Zhu Xia then waved her hand and several objects appeared beside her. A refinery cauldron that was half her size with intricate, life-like carvings of phoenixes in flight throughout it''s body while the four corners where pillars held the cauldron up had four dragons with different appearances that wounded up and had their claws extended that seemingly held the cauldron up by it''s brim while their jaws opened up towards four individual openings as if about to breath fire while the rest was covered with a lid that had flowing clouds engraved on it with a lone phoenix with it''s wings spread majestically before curving forward, stood perched just at the edge of the cauldron with it''s head bowed and beak slightly open as if about to sing a beautiful song. This was actually a high-grade, transcendent level artifact that was passed down generation after generation to the most promising individual who would most likely be the future head of the Cong Clan and just before she left for her last journey back then, her father; Cong Zhi Qiang who was the current head and patriarch of their clan had passed it down to her and told her to use it well and familiarize herself with it. The first time she used it was before she left the clan with her father watching over her. What he didn''t tell her was that the refinery cauldron which was aptly called; Gods Amidst Floating Clouds Cauldron, has actually developed a form of sentience that before a person can use it, they must undergo a test and this test has been taken by all the previous heads of the clan, all the way to their ancestors. This is actually why there isn''t a fixed first family and why there is no such thing as internal strife since every generation gets an equal chance to try the test. Before her, several youths had already tried their hands with it to see if they could pass the test when they turned sixteen but although some came close, they still failed at the end. The only consolation they got was that those who showed promise were given more resources and nurturing from the clan before all were sent off to travel with elite escorts of their own. Looking at the other items she brought out, she then placed them on a nearby table and carefully laud them out. Most noticeable was her set of acupuncture needles as well as several jade chests that contained rare spirit and medicinal herbs. Pausing for a second, Fan Zhu Xia thought deeply on her findings when she examined Fan Song Xue. The poison that was used was almost the same as the poison that her clan was feared for; ''The Immortal''s Decline''. There is only a small difference with the effects of ''The Immortal''s Decline'' and this particular poison which is; if what she remembers is correct, then it would be the most vicious poison that her mother''s clan; The Zhan Clan is known for which is called ''The Eternal Damnation''. With ''The Immortal''s Decline''; it would slowly eat at one''s cultivation until it turns the person into a total waste, destroying even the person''s dantian once it reaches it''s late stages and it''s at this stage that curing the poison would practically be impossible and the worst part is that it doesn''t stop there. Once the dantian is crippled and destroyed beyond repair, the poison will then move on to consuming every last traces of qi in the body and as a side effect, this will cause premature aging on the poison''s host thus accelerating the body''s deterioration which will inevitably result with death. On the other hand, ''The Eternal Damnation'' which works in a somewhat similar way to ''The Immortal''s Decline'' in such that it also eats away at the person''s cultivation but it''s effects are wholle different. The higher the individual''s cultivation is, the more painful the poison will be for them since it uses the person''s qi as an anchor and the level of purity and power to strengthen the potency of the poison. In a prolonged state, the poison will slowly seep into the person''s body; into their bloodstream, their muscle, bones and at the most painful and dangerous place; their meridians and dantian. The only positive thing about this is that although the poison has no cure, her mother; Zhan Mei Ling managed to develop a way to extract the poison from the body of the person afflicted with it. The only down side to it is that the treatment involved is quite taxing and painful which applies even more so if the poison has been left untreated in the body for a longer time since it would be harder to extract and harder to cure since during the course of the treatment, succumbing to death due to the immense pain and torture of the extraction process is quite probable. This was her main concern with Fan Song Xue right now. Even though he was placed under the effects of a stasis seal and his bodily functions had slowed down to the barest minimum, the poison still resided in his body for over a decade and when the seal was broken earlier, the poison immediately reacted as if a bloodthirsty beast going on a rampage. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Right now, all she could do was try to supplement and reinforce the strength of Fan Song Xue''s body and try to wake him up since she will need him conscious to help her during the treatment, with him fighting against it''s effects despite the pain that will cause while she slowly extracts them from his body. First things first, she made her way towards her refinery cauldron and started opening the jade chests were the herbs were. What she planned to do first was refine a pill called Absolute Purging Pill. As the name suggests, the Absolute Purging Pill will purge all harmful substances in a person''s body and this includes poisons, impure or negative qi such as death qi or demonic qi as well as substances imbibed by the body due to a person''s environment that affects one''s physique in a negative way. With this pill, extracting the poison should be easier, her only problem as of now whas if Fan Song Xue can actually survive it. 66 Treating Fan Song Xue - 22.3 After taking a mental stock of all the herbs she had in her space as well as looking at the ones she already brought out, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes lightened up in delight before she brought out a small wooden chest. This was the same exact chest that Cong Shi Hong placed the herb they gathered in Abyss Valley Mountain Range; the Abyss Void Grassweed. She knew that she said that she''ll return it to Shi Hong once he wakes up but the Abyss Void Grassweed is perfect for refining the Absolute Purging Pill especially with it''s medicinal property that can repel and purge out any kind of poison no matter how potent the poison is as long as it''s medicinal effects linger and is still in effect. Coupled with the Thousand Year Old Blood Root that the Lord Owner of the Thousand Treasures Pavillion gifted her that due to it''s age, it''s effects are amplified and it can boost the medicinal efficacy, potency and duration of the Absolute Purging Pill''s effect last in Fan Song Xue''s body due to it''s unique property as a support herb for a much longer time than just a regular Blood Root. Fan Zhu Xia just resolved to make time and go and get more of the Abyss Void Grassweed in the future to replace the ones she''ll be using today. After bringing a couple more supplementary herbs along with scraping off some rind off the skin of the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit about the size of a fingernail, Fan Zhu Xia then started the preparations for the herbs to be used in refining the Absolute Purging Pill. Using her qi, she concentrated it until it manifested into her own alchemic flame which was a vivid, vermillion-red color in her left hand. Taking another cursory glance at the herbs, she then started throwing the herbs in one by one and let he flame envelop them until they all hovered inside individual balls of flame, illuminating the room brightly and bringing the temperature up until even the guards outside had beads of sweat dotting their foreheads. As if oblivious to the rising heat, Fan Zhu Xia concentrated on the herbs inside her flames and focused on purifying each one and removing it''s impurities in varying degrees of heat. To anyone witnessing the scene, they would be astounded at the level of control that Fan Zhu Xia had over her flames because looking at each ball of fire, one could still clearly see each medicinal herb perfectly intact and was just being partially obscured by a ruby red haze due to the flames. After about an hour, Fan Zhu Xia who''s brows were faintly glistening with sweat then opened the lid on her refinery cauldron and placed the balls of fire inside in such a way that all the supplementary herbs formed a circle while the Abyss Void Grassweed sat in the middle then flanked by the Thousand Year Old Blood Root and rind of the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit on either side before closing the lid and placing both her hands at the front side of the cauldron and with a low shout, flooded it with her qi. The moment her pale blue qi made contact with the cauldron, it instantly shone a deep red while the engravings lit up a beautiful shade of amber gold. After feeding it with her qi, the four dragons slowly shifted as if coming to life with their snouts going closer to the openings while their previously colorless eyes lit up in different colors. Emerald for earth or as some would call it; nature element, red for fire, blue for water and white for the air element. The moment the eyes lit up, different colored energies flowed from the dragons'' mouth towards the openings, mixing inside the cauldron and flowing in between the balls of flame that still contained the medicinal herbs. With a deep exhale, Fan Zhu Xia then started making different handsigns with her eyes closed as she focused and used her divine sense to see and monitor what''s happening inside the refinery cauldron. One by one the herbs were released from the ball of flames and were swallowed up by the different-colored energies that had somehow melded together to reflect a rainbow-like river that flowed gently between the orbs of fire. With the multi-colored energy serving as a medium, the medicinal effects of the different supplementary herbs merged together flawlessly, laying down a perfect foundation for the three main herbs. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. The Abyss Void Grassweed was the first to be released, closely followed by the housand Year Old Blood Root and topped off with the rind of the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit. As soon as the three herbs were dropped into the mix, the rainbow-colored energy slowly condensed until it turned a deep black with a bright golden sheen to it. With a huff, Fan Zhu Xia pulsed her qi into it as soon as she felt it condense and with a low ''heng'' sound, the perched phoenix on the lid lit up with a brilliant aray of colors as it opened it''s beak and a rainbow-colored cocoon was spat out to land on one of the largest clouds on the lid before the whole refinery cauldron slowly dimmed as if loosing it''s luster and turning a deep gray once again. The only proof that the pill refining was a success was the hot temperature of the room and the strong medicinal scent that pervaded the room once the rainbow-colored cocoon slowly dissipated to reveal six plump bills with a midnight-black color that shone subtly with a golden sheen. Smiling tiredly, Fan Zhu Xia brought out a small jade bottle and with a gesture, the black pills flew inside before she topped it with a cork. Flicking her fingers, a gold pill withjade green swirls on it appeared and she popped it into her mouth, swallowing it immediately. Soon, she could feel the effects of the Vitality Returning Pill that she personally refined spread through her, making her feel refreshed and helping her recover from her fatigue. Of course, the effects of her Vitality Returning Pill vastly differed from the one refined by Gu Lang an even the appearance had some differences due to it''s quality. While hers were plump with a beautiful golden color and delicate jade patterns, Gu Lang''s was purely jade green in color with just a hint of golden sheen to it which is still a pretty impressive result for a first successful try. Wiping the sweat that gathered on her forehead with her sleeve, Fan Zhu Xia took a deep breath and softly murmured to herself. "Now that the Absolute Purging Pill is done, time to refine the pills to supplement Grandfather''s body." 67 Treating Fan Song Xue - 22.4 Almost collapsing from exhaustion, Fan Zhu Xia popped another Vitality Returning Pill into her mouth before bringing out another jade bottle and placing the last batch of pills inside. Aside from the Absolute Purging Pill, Fan Zhu Xia had to refine four more pills and a medicinal elixir to add to the other pills she already had in her possession before she can start her treatment. The Marrow-cleansing Pill which was bone white in color and has a great effect of refining and reinforcing the whole skeletal system, removing any impurities while strengthening it, making the person''s bones as strong as metal. Fan Zhu Xia thought to refine this since she noticed upon examining Fan Song Xue earlier that some of the poison has also seeped into her grandfather''s bones which can prove problematic if not addressed quickly. The Meridian Revitalizing Pill was another one she refined, which was a pale amber in color with a visibly greenish sheen to it and as the name implies, it revitalizes damaged meridians while purifying and removing any impurities while also reconstructing and reinforcing it to another level. This will be useful in reparing the damage that the poison caused when it burrowed in Fan Song Xue''s meridians. Fan Zhu Xia also cococted the Spirit Reinforcement Pill which had a color of pale blue in with a barely visible white pattern and a slight silvery sheen to it. This particular pill helps strengthen the mind and soul and is especially effective in treating injuries to the mind and spirit. It can also give a boost to one''s mental fortitude, soul strength and helping in calming the mind which will be especially useful and helpful to her grandfather once the treatment starts since it''ll help with facing the initial onslaught of pain. To support the Spirit Reinforcement Pill, Fan Zhu Xia also concocted the Pain Nullification Elixir which is a medicinal concoction that helps numb the pain receptors and lessens the sensation of pain that the person feels. This way, despite the agony that Fan Song Xue might experience during the course of the treatment, he will have a higher chance of enduring and holding on. To avoid any backlash, the last batch of pills that Fan Zhu Xia refined was the Energy Stabilizing Pill which was a vibrant yellow in color with hints of jade. She refined this since consuming this pill helps calm the flow of qi in the body and also helps treat qi deviation. In the case of the poisoning of ''The Eternal Damnation'', since this poison feeds on the individual''s qi and cultivation, once it is extracted from the body, it might cause a recoil that could cause a significant amount of damage and the Energy Stabilizing Pill is a good counter-measure against it. Bringing all the pills she refined with her along with a bottle of Vitality Returning Pills that she refined which can help her recover her energy as well as Fan Song Xue''s, she also brought out a bottle of Blood Enhancing Pills which can also detoxify impurities and improve her grandfather''s blood quality and purity which was most likely affected due to the poison while at the same time helping Fan Song Xue regenerate it faster. Since this was still a case of severe poisoning like the little girl; Mu Lan Fen, the only difference was their bodies'' state of decline so she decided on using the same procedure as a start so that she can accurately see the changes inside Fan Song Xue''s body during the treatment. Flicking her finger, a pill that was pure white in color with silvery blue patterns and was visibly giving a subtle pulsing glow appeared in between her slender fingertips while exuding a gentle, calming medicinal scent that almost had floral undertones to it. This was the Mind Awakening Pill; a pill that can only be concocted by the Cong Clan and their disciples which increased in rarity ever since the clan was wiped out. It has the potent effect of calming the mind and soul while strengthening it and if applied to a person suffering from injuries to the mind or soul or people in a deep coma then it can help them recover and give a jolt with it''s medicinal effect which can result in the person waking up. Gently reaching forward, Fan Zhu Xia leaned forward and slowly pried Fan Song Xue''s mouth open and place the pill inside and let it dissolve on his tongue while at the same time moving her hands on to Fan Song Xue''s temples and letting her qi seep in to help regulate the medicinal effects of the Mind Awakening Pill while stimulating Fan Song Xue''s brain activity with precision and extreme care. A short moment passed and Fan Zhu Xia heard a soft, almost inaudible groan making her eyes which had fluttered close the moment she concentrated snap back open to meet clear brown eyes staring at her. Surprised, it took Fan Zhu Xia a moment to gather herself but before she could open her mouth to speak, a rough and hoarse voice spoke before her. "Who are you?" Although startled by the question, Fan Zhu Xia managed to answer as she removed her hands from Fan Song Xue''s temples and instead stoop up and poured a cup of water as she talked. "My given name is Zhu Xia and I am Fan Hui Zhong''s adopted daughter. He took me in after finding me unconscious at a riverbank." Seeing his still questioning glance, Fan Zhu Xia took a seat just at the side of the bed and continued explaining. "The reason I am here is to treat you and help stabilize your condition. An assassin came and tried to finish you off but the guards that Uncle Liang put in charge of protecting you managed to detect it in time, coupled with the protective seals surrounding you, they were able to capture the assassin." Before Fan Song Xue could prompt her to explain further, Fan Zhu Xia already resumed talking. "I was from the Cong clan. To give you the gist of it, I am one of the few remaining survivors of my clan which I am sure you know is quite renowned for our medical expertise." "As for the pill that I just fed you, it''s the Mind Awakening Pill that out clan specially makes. If you circulate your energy now, you''ll be able to absorb more of the medicinal effects and we can start the treatment." With understanding dawning in him, Fan Song Xue wasted no words and decided to follow what she said. After all, it wasn''t like he had any choice! The moment he regained his consciousness, he sensed that his body was incredibly weak and his qi was an absolute mess as well something was draining his already meager strength so even if this girl was lying and she was actually the assassin that she spoke of, there isn''t anything he''ll really lose. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. The worst thing that can happen is that he will just be hastening his death! Circulating his qi, Fan Song Xue felt some pain but at the same time he felt his mind grow increasingly clearer and can even faintly feel his divine sense''s strength rise. Opening his eyes, he then hoarsely spoke in a matter-of-fact manner as he stared at the young lady in front of him. "You were telling the truth." "Of course. I wouldn''t lie about anything this serious... Now that you believe me, would you like to take a sip of water before we proceed with the treatment? Or would you like to get straight to it?" "Water first please..." Lifting his head up gently, Fan Zhu Xia brought the cup of water to Fan Song Xue''s chapped lips and let him sip water in small amounts, quenching his thirst before she brought the cup away despite his weak protests. "Please you must understand, too much water isn''t good for you at the moment. Wait after we finish the treatment and I''ll have someone arrange something suitable for you to eat." Fan Zhu Xia told him coaxingly. "Very well." "Alright then. Before we start, I''ll explain everything first if that''s okay? That way you''ll know what to expect." "En." Fan Song Xue said as he nodded in assent. "You have been poisoned using poison called ''The Eternal Damnation'' by the assassin clan who specializes in poison with the clan name ''Zhan''. This poison is almost like our Cong clan''s ''The Immortal''s Decline'' but is more focused on causing agony and torture while viciously eating away at the body. Only good thing about this poison is that it can still be cured, unlike ''The Immortal''s Decline'' which can only be cured by people from the Cong clan." Pausing for a brief moment to let all the information sink in, Fan Zhu Xia then added in a serious voice and told him, "This means that based on the poison alone and how long it has been incubated in your body while feeding on your qi. Thus the process of removing it will be extremely agonizing and in order for the treatment to succeed and for you to survive without any lingering effects from the poison, you''ll have to stay conscious and follow my instructions to the letter and not let the pain overwhelm your senses or else it can leave lasting damage." "Understood. When do we start?" "Now." Opening several jade bottles, Fan Zhu Xia used her qi and drew out pills from each and it flew to her hand, totalling to six pills. "This is the Vitality Returning Pill, Blood Enhancing Pill, Meridian Revitalizing Pill, Marrow-cleansing Pill, Spirit Reinforcement Pill and Energy Stabilizing Pill. This pills will help supplement your body throughout the treatment and I will be feeding you these pills intermittently, alright?" "En." "Okay then. Now this one is the Absolute Purging Pill. Once you ingest this, the extraction process will immediately start and so will the pain. This pill will start separating the poison from your qi, body and most importantly your dantian and meridians. That''s the time that you''ll also have to drink this; the Pain Nullification Elixir that I just refined since it is that moment that the level of pain you''ll be experiencing will increase." Fan Zhu Xia said while flicking her wrist and drawing out another jade bottle and a black pill with a soft golden sheen to show it to him. Nodding, Fan Song Xue took a deep breath to mentally prepare himself then resolutely said, "Alright, we can start now." Giving him a look, a slightly awkward expression showed on Fan Zhu Xia''s face before it quickly disappeared as she said, "Before we start, I''ll have to take off your outer garments so that I can insert my acupuncture needles and monitor your body''s changes more accurately." A bit surprised, Fan Song Xue couldn''t help but chuckle slightly especially when he thought back to her unsure expression a moment ago. "Girl, it''s fine. With just your age, you''re young enough to be my granddaughter! No need to be embarrassed, go ahead. Consider this as Grandpa owing you." "Grandpa?" Fan Zhu Xia asked disoriented, making Fan Song Xue bark out a laugh. This girl was so young with a somewhat naive innocence based from he can see so far that despite her breathtaking countenance and fragile beauty, all he could see was a young girl who seemed to have quite an interesting yet airhead personality which in his point of view is looking to be a very promising granddaughter, one that he had longed to have since he already had enough grandsons as it is. "Well of course! Didn''t my son adopt you?" Fan Song Xue ask with a smile. "En! Then this granddaughter will promise to do her best!" Without anymore hesitation, Fan Zhu Xia then excused herself before briskly starting to remove Fan Song Xue''s outer clothes. Her initial embarrassment already forgotten and her movements became fluid as her face only showed a focused expression. The only thing that betrayed her emotions is when the rims of her eyes reddened as she saw the emaciated body underneath the clothes making her heart clench. Fan Zhu Xia can only imagine how long this grandfather of hers struggled in pain and how strong his willpower was to keep holding on even after a decade. Seeing her expression, Fan Song Xue felt his heart warm and felt that the more he looks at this new granddaughter of his, the more she seems appealing! After all, the deep concern and worry on his behalf that flashed in Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes didn''t escape Fan Song Xue''s notice. Taking a deep calming breath, Fan Zhu Xia softly murmured, "Grandpa, please prepare yourself." Nodding calmly, Fan Song Xue laid his head back and just let his eyes watch her movements. The moment she saw him nod, Fan Zhu Xia started pulling out her acupuncture needles and accurately stabbing them one by one with astonishing speed until all three hundred sixty-one needles of various lengths and sizes were in Fan Song Xue''s body, not sparing even one and making look like a human pin cushion. Amazingly, throughout the process, Fan Song Xue didn''t feel any pain, instead a cool, comfortable sensation permeated his body but just as he was about to rejoice, Fan Zhu Xia''s words brought him back to reality. "Prepare yourself, the pain is about to start." With that, Fan Zhu Xia popped the Absolute Purging Pill into Fan Song Xue''s mouth and then made him drink the Pain Nullification Elixir immediately right after. Before long, a slight tingling started to spread in his body which slowly started to change from a slight prickling to the feeling of a thousand needles going through his veins then morphing into the feeling of his flesh being cut open by hundreds of blades. The pain started escalating from there, almost as if his entire body, both inside and out were being slowly torn then shredded into tiny pieces and Fan Song Xue had to close his eyes and grit his teeth just to get through it and avoid accidentally biting his tongue off. Meanwhile, Fan Zhu Xia continously flooded Fan Song Xue''s body with her qi and guided all of it to circulate gently while Fan Song Xue subconsciously followed her lead. While she''s doing this, she''s letting her needles draw out the poison that comes into contact with it, along with any impurities there is. From time to time, Fan Zhu Xia will lowly call out and Fan Song Xue will automatically open his mouth in response and as soon as he does, several pills will be tossed in which he would quickly swallow, providing him with much needed help and enabling him to cope and remain conscious despite the intense torture he is feeling. This treatment went on for such a long time and since Fan Song Xue had his eyes clenched tightly close, he failed to see the increasing pallor on Fan Zhu Xia''s face as beads of sweat formed and glistened on her forehead like pearls while a small trickle of ruby red blood seeped out from the corner of her mouth, dyeing her lips a striking vermillion color against her impossibly ashy white skin Biting her lip, Fan Zhu Xia pushed herself and focused on drawing out as much of the poison as she could while ensuring that this doesn''t put as much pressure on Fan Song Xue''s already weak body. The consequence of doing this is that the stress and pressure on her increases as well as the level of difficulty of the treatment is just the start but the toll she is placing on her body could only be imagined. Unbeknownst to them, hours passed by and the treatment which had started at just the early hours before dawn had already gone well into the night, almost making it a whole day. Just as Fan Song Xue felt that the level of pain he was feeling was beyond what he could handle, he heard Fan Zhu Xia softly call out as another batch of pills were delivered into his mouth and as he swallowed them, he fauntly felt that the pain was slowly fading in an almost negligible pace. While he felt this, Fan Zhu Xia was using the last dregs of her qi and making a final push and drawing tr last remnants of poison to her needles and with a low shout, she used her qi which were like pale blue threads to coil around her needles an simultaneously pull them out, even surprising Fan Song Xue and making his eyes snap open at the sudden sensation of something being forcibly drawn out of his body while it still desperately clung on to his qi, only to be yanked and separated in a split-second. The moment his eyes opened, he let out a hiss of pain before he felt a sense of calm and unbelievable comfort spread through him, soothing all the pain he felt from earlier as if trying to erase any vestige of his earlier suffering. Just as Fan Song Xue turned to face his granddaughter to thank her and give her praise, he saw her cough out a large amount of blood and stagger backwards while her acupuncture needles clattered to the ground around her as she lost consciousness therefore losing control over her remaining qi and slowly fell to the floor in a dead faint with a thud. Alarmed, Fan Song Xue struggled to his feet as he shrugged his overcoat on and stumbled to Fan Zhu Xia''s unconscious form, accidentally knocking the jug of water by his bedside which also fell to the floor with a crash. The guards who were already contemplating whether they should enter or not ever since they heard the low thud and clattering sounds lost any doubts they had when they heard the loud crash. Bursting into the room, they saw the old patriarch who cleared the floor beside Fan Zhu Xia''s prome form and was kneeling there as he tried checking her condition and waking her up. Seeing him conscious and out of his bed, the guards were stunned and only came around when they heard the old patriarch roar in anger. "GET A PHYSICIAN NOW!!!" 68 Dealing With Loose Ends - 23 After leaving the Fan Estate, Fan Yong Rui immediately rushed into an abandoned location just outside the Imperial Capital and into it''s surrounding woods where a dilapidated cabin was located just beside a small serene lake. Barging inside the small cabin, he quickly made a few seals using his hands and stretched his hand towards a cracked and damaged fireplace and pulsed his qi towards it''s location. With a quiet, groaning sound, a small light appeared before it expanded and the fireplace slowly opened up to reveal stairs that led underground. Immediately entering it, Fan Yong Rui flitted quickly through the corridors, like a phantom before he came in front of a cast iron door which he quickly injected with his qi to unlock it before pushing it open. Seeing One standing guard over the assassin, Fan Yong Rui let out an internal sigh of relief before swiftly walking to stand in front of the assassin. Just as the assassin raised his head to stare at him, he felt a jolt of pain go through his chest before he tasted a sweet, fishy taste in his mouth as he coughed out blood. Looking down, his movements sluggish, he saw an arm dressed in high-quality and elaborately embroidered purple robe protruding through his chest, his blood slowly soaking into the fabric. "W-What are y-you d-doing?" the assassin sputtered out in disbelief. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. "What does it look like?" Fan Yong Rui sneered with a cold smirk on his face. Before the assassin could reply, Fan Yong Rui twisted his arm and then yanked something out before holding it in front of the assassin with a smile as Fan Yong Rui saw the assassin''s eyes widen as he stared disbelievingly at the object that''s in Fan Yong Rui hand. A deep coldness spread from the assassin''s chest as he slowly felt numbness consume him while the last remaining qi in his body fought to help him stay conscious yet he still felt his vision go hazy at the edges yet his eyes remained focus on one thing as he struggled to talk. "T-That''s my h-heart!" "Not anymore." Fan Yong Rui replied before crushing it with his qi and flicking his hand downwards as bits of flesh and blood were spattered into the floor. All this while, One never uttered a word despite his surprise over his master''s actions. The assassin then slumped over, his eyes still open as his empty gaze stared blankly ahead, unseeing as the last traces of life left him while Fan Yong Rui watched on with an unreadable look on his face. This lasted for several minutes before Fan Yong Rui coldly called out and said, "One." "Here, Master." "Search his body carefully and bring anything you find to me. I''ll just go and change out of this clothes." "As you wish, Master." After a short while, Fan Yong Rui was dressed in new robes and was sipping tea when One appeared in front of him and placed several items before him on the small table. "This are?" "All the things we were able to get from the assassin''s corpse, Master." Picking them one by one, Fan Yong Rui saw quite a variety of weapons and several small vials as well as a small jade stone. Picking it up, Fan Yong Rui studied it carefully before he finally realized what it was. "This is a Communication Jade. A very high-quality one at that." Fan Yong Rui mused out loud as twisted it around his fingers and played with it before throwing it over to One who caught it. "This Young Master wants you to go investigate all of this items, especially this Communication Jade and try to get as much information as you can. You have a day before I return. Understood?" "Crystal." Without another word, One disappeared along with all the items that he brought as well. "Five." "Here, Master." a soft female voice answered as the silhuoette of a slim, graceful woman melted off from the shadows to reveal a beautiful woman wearing a pure black dress that was opened seductively to reveal her collarbone and shoulders while also giving a tantalizing view of the tops of her bountiful breasts and the valley it created. The only thing missing is a view of her face but unfortunately she was wearing a hat that also had a black curtained veil that concealed her face. Seductively swaying her hips, she went to bow to Fan Yong Rui, revealing more of her tempting cleavage yet Fan Yong Rui acted as if he didn''t see it and just stood up and straightened his robes before speaking. "You''ll come with me to check how someone managed to sneak into the estate and who had the audacity to help them, after all, even if there are traitors inside, it doesn''t mean that there aren''t any wolves lurking outside." "Very well said, Master!" Five exclaimed with a flirtatious laugh. Ignoring her overtures, Fan Yong Rui just turned his back on her and said one word before disappearing. "Come." Seeing him disappear, the lady just laughed before she quickly disappeared into the shadows as if a ghost. Meanwhile, back at the Fan Estate, five people were kneeling in front of Fan Hui Zhong, Fan Hui Liang and Fan Li Jie while five armored soldiers from the Lei Sha Di Army stood behind them. "What do you have to say for yourselves?" Fan Hui Liang coldly asked. "Masters please, we did nothing wrong!" "We''re innocent!" "We''ve been framed!" "We would never do something like this!" "We''ve been wrongly accused!" With his fury boiling over, Fan Hui Zhong roared, "ENOUGH!" Subsequently, the cries of the five people quieted down. Two of them were guards, one was a maid with a pretty face and slim figure, another was a soldier from the Lei Sha Di Army and the last was just a stable boy. Looking at them with an impenetrable gaze, Fan Li Jie then opened his mouth and spoke in his usual aloof tone yet the glint in his eyes belied his anger. "All of them are lying." "Are you sure?" Fan Hui Liang asked. "En." Hearing his nephew''s response, Fan Hui Zhong raised his eyes and met the gaze of one of the soldiers and with a nod, the soldier drew his sword and swung it. Silence enveloped the courtyard as the head of the captured soldier went flying before rolling a couple of feet as the head and headless body spurted blood as it tumbled down the ground. The remaining four paled considerably as they stared with shock and horror at what just happened before them. "Now are you going to talk or not?" Fan Hui Zhong asked icily before he let his aura loose and used it to pressure the four that were still kneeling. The instant it touched them, the stable boy spurted out blood from his mouth and dropped unconscious while the maid coughed out blood which was the same as the same with the two guards. Seeing this, Fan Hui Zhong raised a hand and immediately the two guards and the stable boy were beheaded while the maid was wrapped in chains and knocked out. "Li Jie, you''re in charge of getting answers from that girl, understood?" Fan Hui Liang said. "Yes, Father." With that, Fan Li Jie went off with several guards accompanying him and bringing the unconscious maid along as well. After Fan Li Jie left, Fan Hui Liang then turned towards Fan Hui Zhong who still had a dark expression, Fan Hui Liang then said, "Brother, I''ll handle the rest of the matters with the infiltration and the estate." "En. That would be for the best." Fan Hui Zhong nodded in assent but to Fan Hui Liang, he could tell that there was still something bothering his twin brother and before long, Fan Hui Zhong then sighed and spoke in a grave voice. "Go on ahead, Liang''er. I still have to go and sift through the Lei Sha Di Army." Knowing that the task his brother took was quite challenging as well as disheartening especially when traitorous spies are found amongst their most trusted men, he can only sigh before clamping his hand onto his brother''s shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Alright then. Good luck, Big Brother." "Thanks. You as well, Liang''er." With that, the two then separated and headed off to two different directions. As the three went off to do different yet similarly important tasks, it was at this time that Fan Xian Liang arrived with the Crown Prince; Jin Meng Yao. When the two who had gone around shopping for wine returned to the Fan Estate and was greeted by a heavily guarded front gate, both immediately realized that something was wrong. Min Guo Ji who was specifically waiting for the Third Young Master to arrive quickly stepped forward and paid respects to Fan Xian Liang and Jin Meng Yao before shooting a meaningful look towards Fan Xian Liang. Seeing it, although bewildered by the situation, Fan Xian Liang could only turn to his friend and say, "Meng Yao, I''ll introduce you to my cousin some other day, alright?" "En. Just send word if there''s anything you need Xian. I''ll go on ahead now." Jin Meng Yao said in reply, not wanting to make things more difficult for his friend, while taking note to mention this to his father in private later. After all, for something to happen at the Fan Estate is quite a big deal, especially since this family is not just any ordinary noble family! After seeing the crown prince off, Min Guo Ji ushered Fan Xian Liang to his mother''s courtyard where his mother; Wei Rou Xiang was waiting for him with a grave expression on her face. Seeing it, Fan Xian Liang rushed forward and his mother welcomed him with a short yet tight embrace before leading him inside and having one of her servants immediately serve tea and pastries. Ignoring the refreshments in front of him, Fan Xian Liang asked, "Mother, what happened?" "Drink first, then we''ll talk." Wei Rou Xiang urged as she took a sip of tea calmly. Seeing the look that his mother gave him, Fan Xian Liang then took a small sip before saying, "There. Now please tell me what happened, Mother." Sighing, Wei Rou Xiang slowly lowered her cup and shot a serious look towards her youngest son before she spoke. "There was an assassination attempt on your Grandfather. Your father, uncle and older brothers are now taking care of things. In the meantime, your uncle ordered for you to stay here with me as we wait for updates." Stunned, Fan Xian Liang nodded numbly before he slowly sat down since he inadvertantly stood to his feet when he heard the news. "Then what about Cousin?" Fan Xian Liang then asked worriedly when he thought of Fan Zhu Xia. "No need to worry, she''s helping look after your grandfather since she has some medical background." "Alright then..." Several hours passed and the afternoon turned to night and they received reports that various medicinal smells were coming from Fan Song Xue''s room which they then informed by Fan Hui Zhong that it was probably Fan Zhu Xia''s doing and that they should not disturb her. During the night, practically no one rested since all were tense and waited for updates and news from each other. Regarding the matters handled by Fan Hui Liang, two more stable hands were apprehended along with a low ranking steward and a patrol guard captain. Upon capture, the guard captain immediately commited suicide while the rest were interrogated and upon getting no useful information, were thereby executed. On Fan Hui Zhong''s end however, things progressed smoothly since he was in possession of the same kind of truth elixir gave to Fan Yong Rui. With the help of this elixir, twenty-eight people were found out to have ulterior motives although none of them were related to the assassin anymore, despite of this, Fan Hui Zhong still ordered for them to be executed and their heads be sent to their employers with a message not to mess or meddle with the Fan family or they will be facing the wrath of the Lei Palace with him at the helm. It was a night that several heads of clans confirmed the return of the infamous Lei Wangye yet most who received this return gift from the Lei Palace could only feel cold sweat run down their backs. Most of the nobility grew complacent in Fan Hui Zhong''s absence and since Fan Hui Liang preferred to be more diplomatic and hasn''t been seen in action as much due to a lack of conflict within the kingdom, many assumed that the Fan family, along with the Lei Palace had deteriorated. This was something that Fan Hui Zhong dealt with overnight. It also helped him in deciding whether or not he and his daughter will be staying here or if they will continue to travel. While this was happening, Fan Li Jie was just about to finish interrogating the young maid who was chained up inside a damp, cold and moldy cell. The young maid who originally looked like a young flower about to bud now looked wilted and almost beyond recognition. The light colored uniform dress she wore earlier was now torn and bloodstained, while her hair that she had tied up prettily was looking extremely disheveled and almost resembled a bird''s nest. One of the guards who was inside the cell with Fan Li Jie held a bloodstaine whip and was looking at the Eldest Young Master and waiting for his instructions. "Wake her up." Fan Li Jie ordered in an aloof manner yet the gaze he used to stare at the young maid, even made the guard feel chills run down his spine. Stepping forward, the guard splashed ice cold water towards the unconscious maid who was immediately drenched and startled awake. Seeing Fan Li Jie who was making his way closer to her, the young maid was filled with fear and terror. Who knew that the usually cold and aloof young master that seemed above mundane and wordly matters had such a cruel and terrifying side? "Y-Young Master, p-please l-let this servant g-go! This s-servant already t-told Young M-Master e-everything, please b-believe me!" the maid cried out pitifully. Crouching down, Fan Li Jie grasped her chin in his hands. His long, smooth fingers clenched tightly on her jaw to the point that he almost crushed it with his strength. As the maid cried, Fan Li Jie remained expressionless and just continued tightening it before his lips suddenly tilted into a cold smile before he abruptly pushed and let go of the maid. Straightening up from his crouch, he took out a silk handkerchief and wiped his hands clean before throwing it away. Glancing at the maid who was sobbing pathetically, Fan Li Jie then said, "I believe you." Hearing his words, a glimmer of hope appeared in the young maid''s eyes as she stammered out, "R-Really?" "En." Overjoyed, the maid started stuttering as she tried expressing her grattitude. "Young Master is benevolent! This servant swears to always be loyal and never do anything to betray Young Master''s trust!" Turning to her, Fan Li Jie spoke in a voice filled with contempt. "Who said I''m releasing you?" Confused, the maid stared at Fan Li Jie dumbly and watched as Fan Li Jie gave a nod to the guard who immediately acted upon receiving the signal. As if realizing the truth, the maid then struggled violently against the chains that held her back and started begging and wailing but the guard paid no heed and just drew his sword and beheaded the maid while Fan Li Jie just stood there looking at the scene apathetically. Seeing that the matter has been settled, Fan Li Jie turned to leave while instructing the guard. "Make sure to clean everything up." "Yes, Eldest Young Master." Going out of the underground detention cells of the Lei Palace, Fan Li Jie was met by Min Guo Ji who then told him that his father and uncle were waiting for him at the Xiong Jia Courtyard along with hs mother and his younger brother. Upon realizing that almost a day had passed, Fan Li Jie hurried along with Min Guo Ji and soon arrived at Xiong Jia Courtyard where a spread of light dishes and some porridge was served on the table. Seeing her eldest son arrive, Wei Rou Xiang quickly stood up and dragged him to the table and urged him to eat. Fan Li Jie was about to say something when he recognized a guard from his grandfather''s courtyard rushing towards them. Both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Hui Liang also noticed this and slowly got up to their feet. "Patriarch! Lei Wangye! The Old Patriarch has woken up and is urgently summoning you." The guard immediately said as soon as he was near. Not wasting time, everyone there abandoned their meal and hurriedly went to follow the guard who was rushing them along. This alone made them apprehensive and worried that something might have happened. The moment they arrived at Fan Song Xue''s courtyard, they rushed to the main bedroom where they saw Fan Song Xue reclining on the bed which was recently cleaned and wearing new robes, still looking pale yet very alert. The sight made them collectively sigh in relief and at the same time marvel at Fan Zhu Xia''s expertise. "It''s great to see you awake and well again, Father." Fan Hui Zhong said gruffly, his joy shining through his eyes while Fan Hui Liang nodded his head in agreement with a wide grin filled with happiness as he hurried close and clasped their father''s hand in his own. Seeing his two sons in front of him along with their family, Fan Song Xue almost felt overwhelmed with happiness that he couldn''t help but smile but then as soon as he remembered his granddaughter''s state, his smile slowly faded. It was at this time that Fan Hui Zhong then looked around and ask, "Where''s Xia''er? 69 Days Before The Imperial Banquet - 24.1 "Ru Wen Cheng and his disciple Ying Xiao Li is with her." Fan Song Xue said in reply to Fan Hui Zhong''s question. Hearing his answer, Fan Hui Zhong calmed down and nodded before he thought to ask, "But why isn''t there anyone accompanying you? what about that boy, Xiao Dan?" "Wen Cheng sent Xiao Dan out personally to procure some herbs discreetly to avoid any mishaps since he has higher cultivation than our family''s servants. Besides, his sister Xiao Li stayed behind to help Wen Cheng out." "Your son understands. If you''ll excuse me, I would just like to check up on my daughter." "Go. Once you get an update on her condition, come back and inform me how she''s doing." Nodding his head, Fan Hui Zhong then left while Fan Hui Liang shot a questioningly look towards the old patriarch. Sighing, Fan Song Xue started explaining what happened, meanwhile Fan Hui Zhong arrived at the room where Fan Zhu Xia was at and saw Ru Wen Cheng checking up on her while Ying Xiao Li was at the side cleaning up what seems to be leftover medicine. His abrupt entrance drew the two''s attention while Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes remained glued on to Fan Zhu Xia''s wan face and closed eyes. "Lei Wangye, You''re here!" Ru Wen Cheng exclaimed the moment Fan Hui Zhong entered. "What happened?" "Answering Lei Wangye, the Young Miss pushed herself too much when treating the Old Patriarch and caused her to suffer some side effects." Frowning at the words he heard, Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes narrowed slightly as he turned his face to look at Ru Wen Cheng. "What side effects?" "For starters, she had exhausted her qi too much and even her high cultivation couldn''t keep up with the rate of consumption which is why her body''s having trouble coping with it and to make matters worse, whatever treatment she did had placed tremendous pressure on her not only physically which was already quite evident with the internal injuries that I saw she suffered but also on her mind and soul! For now, I''ve already stabilized her condition but it is best to let her rest while we keep a close eye on her state before doing anything just to try to wake her up." Coming close to the bed, Fan Hui Zhong sat beside it and gently held Fan Zhu Xia''s limp hand with his own before he spoke. "Then what should we do?" "I''ve already addressed the mattet of her internal injuries and there shouldn''t be any problems arising from that. Now we should wait for my disciple; Xiao Dan to come back first. I''ve sent him to go and get a list of herbs that I could refine to make pills suitable to adress her qi deficiency and also to lessen the damage her mind and soul suffered." "So there isn''t anything we can do for her right now?" "I''m sorry Master but no... All that needs to be done and can be done, this one has already finished doing it." Ru Wen Cheng replied helplessly. "Very well then. What about father''s condition? Can you tell me more about it?" Hearing his question, a complicated expression appeared on Ru Wen Cheng''s face as he said, "About that... the Old Patriarch wouldn''t let me check up on him until I finished checking up on the Young Miss so I am unable to tell Master anything about the Old Patriarch''s condition." Hearing that, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but let out a low chuckle as he shook his head. "Stubborn, old man... Wen Cheng, go on and check up on my father first. Since nothing can be done until your disciple comes back then go on and make sure my father is okay. I''ll stay here with my daughter for now." "This lowly one understands." Ru Wen Cheng said in reply before shooting his disciple, Ying Xiao Li who had remained quiet and unobtrusive from start to finish a look before the two of them excused themselves and left quietly, leaving the father and daughter alone. Meanwhile, outside the estate, Ying Xiao Dan was facing troubles of his own. "Sir Ying, please go on ahead and escape once you see a chance!" a guard clad in Lei Sha Di Army''s armor lowly said to him in an urgent manner making Ying Xiao Dan''s expression turn ugly. "I can''t just leave you guys here to die!" he bit out frustratedly as he parried an attack from a black clothed man. Currently they were on a desserted street and since it was still quite early in the morning, the commonly bustling street was empty and adding on the drizzling rain that made the skies overcast and gloomy, even the usual early risers had chosen to sleep in and linger in their homes. The only reason that they were out here was because Ying Xiao Dan had to call upon some of his acquaintances to procure some high-quality herbs that he heard they had in their possession. Who knew that they would meet with an ambush along the way? It was a good thing that he had thought to ask a group of soldiers from the Lei Sha Di Army to accompany him or else he would have been dead meat by now. The only thing he regrets is that the group of soldiers he asked where all his friends and fairly young new recruits. The only one who can be considered a veteran was their squad leader and trainer, the same person who told him to run; Luo Yang. Luo Yang was an old friend of Min Sheng from the time he was still in the Thunder Vale Army under General Fan Hui Zhong. Luo Yang only followed his friend''s example and joined the Lei Sha Di Army when he retired due to a leg injury. If it wasn''t for this old injury then Luo Yang wouldn''t be assigned to training new recruits but would be one of the few captains of the elite guards. Little by little, Ying Xiao Dan can see how their group was being pushed back into a proverbial corner. "Brothers I''m sorry for dragging everyone into this..." Ying Xiao Dan said in a low voice filled with guilt and regret. "What are you saying? As brothers, we help each other even in the face of death!" "Nicely said, Little Bo!" "See Brother Xiao? Even Brother Chen agrees with Little Bo, what more of I when my father is here with us?" Looking at his three friends, Bo Jian, Chen Shu and Luo Ming, Ying Xiao Dan couldn''t help but tear up at their sincerity but because of this, he felt even more unreconciled and unable to accept their impending deaths. It was at this moment that one of the assassins suddenly collapsed to the ground where a puddle of blood pooled under him which was then slowly washed away by the rainwater. Seeing this, the assassins were surprised and half of them quickly diverted their attention to search for the one responsible. In the next instant, two figures appeared on top of one of the nearby roofs. A handsome man clad in elaborate and attention-grabbing robes and awoman with an alluring willowy figure clad in a black dress and a veiled black hat that covered her face. Seeing the man, Ying Xiao Dan couldn''t help but call out in surprise. "Second Young Master!" Hearing that, the remaining nine assassins killing intent soared and four immediately turned their attention towards the two new arrivals and simultaneously attacked while the remaining five resumed their attack on Ying Xiao Dan''s group. Unperturbed, Fan Yong Rui nomchalantly said, "Little Five, go and help them. This Young Master would take care of this four." "As you desire, Master!" the black-clothed lady replied in a low seductive purr before she disappeared in place and reappearing near Luo Yang who had just parried an attack and pushed an assassin away from him. Just as the assassin was recovering his center of gravity, he felt something pierce his chest from the back and just as he looked down, he managed to see a faint shadow before it fully dissipated and he breathe his last. Not only the opponents were surprised at her strength but also Ying Xiao Dan''s group was shocked. Seeing the looks directed her way, the lady in black giggled bewitchingly while the revealing front of her dress showed her cleavage which jiggled as she laughed in delight. "Please, keep your eyes on me and let me show you a great show!" she coyly said before she suddenly moved in fast, phantom-like steps to arrive in front of one of the assassins who barely had any time to react before he felt a single finger poke his head and his head exploded with shadows coming out. The sight alarmed every single one of their attackers so much that the two out of the four assassins who was about to deal with Fan Yong Rui was about to split off to help their comrades when Fan Yong Rui finally moved. "Where do you think you''re going?" Fan Yong Rui asked with a smirk before he launched a fist straight towards the masked face of the assassin causing it to cave in with the force and blood spurting out as the assassin unceremoniously fell to the ground causing the remaining three to immediately be on guard. Rolling his shoulders back, Fan Yong Rui flicked his hand to remove any remaining blood from his fist before turning to the remaining assassins in front of him. "Now, why don''t you three tell this Young Master who sent you and maybe that would put this Young Master in a good mood and might even decide to let you go." Angered, one of the assassins furiously said, "Courting death!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. With a signal, the three simultaneously rushed towards him while brandishing their weapons aggressively. On the other hand, Fan Yong Rui was parrying their attacks left and right as if swatting flies as he launched attacks of his own making his opponents suffer countless internal injuries. Just a short moment passed when a soft yet alluring voice echoed out and said, "Master, I''m finished!" Upon hearing that, Fan Yong Rui smirked and then lazily spoke which was in total contrast to his sudden change of pace as he launched one furious attack after another, pummeling the three assassins to the ground one by one. "Too bad no one spoke, now no one can go." With his eyes glinting dangerously, he kicked the last one standing in the midsection so hard that the assassin''s front practically exploded with only his spine and remaining muscles in the back kept his body from splitting in half. Using his qi to coat his body, Fan Yong Rui pulsed it outward and all the blood and gore was washed away by the ongoing downpour of rain before he made his way to Luo Yang and Ying Xiao Dan''s group. "Luo Yang, Xiao Dan, what are you guys doing out here?" Fan Yong Rui questioned. "Second Young Master, we were accompanying Sir Ying to get medicinal herbs needed to treat the Young Miss." Luo Yang answered in reply. "Young Miss? Wait a minute, something happened to Little Xia?!" 70 Days Before The Imperial Banquet - 24.2 With the help of Fan Yong Rui, the group were able to safely return back to the Fan estate and after sending Five away to investigate the source of those assassins who set up the ambush, Fan Yong Rui went with Ying Xiao Dan to Fan Song Xue''s courtyard while the rest went and followed Luo Yang''s lead and went to the their quarters where one of the physicians of the Lei Sha Di Army will come to treat their wounds. Once they arrived, the herbs were inmediately taken away by Ru Wen Cheng and Ying Xiao Dan was then led away by his younger twin sister; Ying Xiao Li so that his injuries will be treated as well. Left alone, Fan Yong Rui made his way to a bathing room he knew was in the courtyard where he quickly cleaned himself up and changed robes before he made his way to his grandfather''s room where he heard voices coming from there. Giving the door three sharp knocks, he then pushed it open and entered, drawing the attention of all the people inside. "Yong Rui!" A female voice exclaimed in surprise before he felt a strong force barrel into him as he reflexively hugged the small, soft body in his arms as he caught a whiff of a familiar scent along with it. "Mother!" "Yong Rui! You unfillial child, where have you been? So many things has already happened here at home and not even a trace of your shadow could be found here! Do you even know how worried I was?! There were assassins, Yong Rui! Assassins!" Wei Rou Xiang cried out as she squeezed her son to her as if worried that he''ll disappear into a puff of smoke any second. Feeling helpless, Fan Yong Rui just rubbed his mother''s back gently while comforting her and reassured her in a soft voice. "Mother, I''m fine! Really! I actually came home yesterday and heard about the assassination attempt on Grandfather. I just went out to help track some leads on who might be responsible for it. Blame this unfillial son of yours for not dropping by and letting you know..." Seeing the expression on his wife''s face, Fan Hui Liang stepped in and pulled Wei Rou Xiang to his side who reluctantly let go of Fan Yong Rui before directing an accusing look towards her husband. Sighing, Fan Hui Liang said, "Little Rou, now isn''t the time. It was Brother and I who told him to go and make haste." Knowing that it truly wasn''t the time to make a fuss, Wei Rou Xiang just let it go and sighed as she said, "Fine." Looking over to his son, Fan Hui Liang then turned serious and asked, "Did you find anything?" "Some but I''m still having it doubled checked to see if the information we got was indeed credible. Aside from that, when I ran into Ying Xiao Dan earlier, there was a group of people that were attacking them and from what we saw and what they told me, they were ambushed on their way back." "Was it from the same group?" "Of that, I''m not sure although I think it''s highly unlikely." Fan Yong Rui answered solemnly in reply after some thought. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.comfor visiting. Hearing that, Fan Song Xue who had remained silent until now finally spoke up in a strong, authoritative manner. "If that''s the case, all of you must go and make some preparations while also limiting the number of servants who go out... Liang''er, I''m sure you know what to do regarding this matter. As for your brother, tell Zhong''er to step up. Both of you must do what needs to be done, immediately! Am I understood?" "Yes, Father! Please leave it to us." Waving his hand, Fan Song Xue dismissed all of them and as they were leaving, Ying Xiao Li came in to give a medicinal drought to Fan Song Xue before excusing herself once more and upon seeing that after drinking the medicine, Fan Song Xue seemed a bit out of it, Fan Hui Liang just told him to have a good rest before ushering his family out. As they exited the room, they saw Fan Hui Zhong just outside, staring quietly at the water that was falling softly from the roof''s edges, not moving a muscle. It was almost as if he was frozen in time like a hard and stoic-looking statue. "Brother..." Hearing the familiar voice, Fan Hui Zhong was jolted from his reverie as he turned to look at the direction where the voice came from and seeing his younger twin brother making his way towards him. "Liang''er, how is Father?" "He''s alright now, Brother. He is just currently resting." "Is that so? That''s good to hear." Seeing that his brother seemed to be a bit absent-minded, Fan Hui Liang felt powerless to help him and even felt some guilt in what he has to ask of him. Noticing the torn look on Fan Hui Liang''s face, Fan Hui Zhong just shook his head as he let out a deep, weary breath. "No need to say anything, Liang''er. I know what to do." "Brother..." Shooting him a wry smile, Fan Hui Zhong waved him off and said, "Go on first. I''ll be taking care of the Lei Sha Di Army and will be busy making several changes with Lei Palace. I''ll let Min Sheng tell you if there is anything that I need your assistance with, after all, I know that you also have your hands full." "It''s okay, Brother. I understand." Nodding his head, Fan Hui Zhong no longer spoke and taking it as a sign, Fan Hui Liang led everyone away. Sinking into his thoughts, Fan Hui Zhong thought of all the things he needed to do and just stood there unmoving like a block of ice until he felt someone''s presence approaching him. "Master." Recognizing the owner of the voice, Fan Hui Zhong didn''t even turn around and just spoke in a low voice. "Min Sheng, are you already finished with the tasks that I gave you?" "Yes, Master. All that awaits is your further instructions before we start moving and making all the necessary preparations." Min Sheng replied. "Good. Let us go then." After that, despite the dreary weather, a lot of activity could be seen inside the entire estate. From numerous groups of soldiers patrolling and keeping strict security to countless servants and laborers who were setting up an inner perimeter by laying down foundation to form a tall inner wall to divide the estate to an outer court for guests, servants, workshops and places for social events as well as the inner court where the members of the family who had courtyards that were placed more to the front where transferring to more suitable courtyards which were also being refurbished to suit their tastes. While Wei Rou Xiang was in charge of overseeing the repairs and moving of courtyards, Fan Li Jie overlooked the matters of the estate while Fan Yong Rui kept an eye on the estate''s security and leaving Fan Xian Liang to oversee the building of the inner wall to make sure nothing goes wrong. Everything was being rearranged and tightened inside, making all the masters of the house quite busy yet despite of this, Fan Hui Zhong decided to come with his brother; Fan Hui Liang and accompany him to attend the morning court. Surprised with his decision, Fan Hui Liang couldn''t help but ask what made Fan Hui Zhong decide the moment they climbed inside his carriage. "Brother, can you tell me what you''re plans are?" Fan Hui Liang asked in a probing manner. Smiling wryly, Fan Hui Zhong casually replied and said, "It''s quite simple really... I plan to announce that I''m back and will be staying. As such, I''d like to express my goodwill and express my willingness to once again serve as a sword and shield to our kingdom." Hearing those words, Fan Hui Liang''s eyes noticeably widened as he stared at his older brother with his mouth agape. "Y-You''re serious?!" "Of course I''m serious! Why on earth would I joke about something as serious as that?" "B-But you''ve retired and...and you said that you would rather live like a hermit than be back in the limelight! Are you sure about this?" "En. It''s true that I would rather leave a quiet and peaceful life but ever since coming back here to the capital, the things that have happened... I realized that just because I want to do something doesn''t mean that it''s the right thing to do." Feeling guilty, Fan Hui Liang bleakly murmured, "I''m sorry, Brother..." Shaking his head, Fan Hui Zhong clasped Fan Hui Liang''s shoulder and gave a reasssuring squeeze. "No, Liang''er... I''m sorry. I know that it''s been hard for you this past few years." "Well it hasn''t really been easy for you as well." With their gazes meeting, both smiled wryly at each other, dispelling the dark and sombre mood that they''ve fallen into when they heard the voice of the carriage driver echo from the outside. "Patriarch, Lei Wangye. We have arrived." 73 Days Before The Imperial Banquet - 24.5 Aside from the calmness the Blooming Phoenix Courtyard exudes, this particular courtyard was undoubtedly the most protected an dwell-guarded one as well. Not because it was the courtyard of the only Young Miss of the family but also because the Old Patriarch ha decided to move into one of the guest bedroom here temporarily therefore making it the courtyard with the most significant importance. Inside, Fan Song Xue was in a tranquil state wherein his whole consciousness was sunk into deep meditation with his body''s recovery the main focus. He continously circulated his qi in his body, refining the remaining traces of medicinal power from all the pills he''d ingested during his treatment before it goes to waste. He knew that time was of the essence, not only with his recovery but with everything that has happened with their family as of late. It also doesn''t help that his newly-found granddaughter has pushed herself too much to the point that in order for Fan Song Xue to recover and fully maintain his consciousness, resulted in Fan Zhu Xia falling into an unconscious and almost comatose-like state. This filled practically all of the members of the family especially Fan Song Xue with a lot of guilt and worry. This is why Fan Song Xue had immersed himself into a closed-door cultivation just so that he can enhance his consciousness and help his granddaughter wake up since he was informed that her condition was a result of her losing much of her consciousness power or much commonly known as divine sense because of using it and pushing it past her current limits in the last leg of his treatment. From what was told by Ru Wen Cheng who had checked Fan Zhu Xia''s status and diagnosed the root of the problem, aside from letting her ingest the pill he''d concocted which is call the Holy Divining Pill which can boost a person''s consciousness power three-fold, thus strengthening one''s strength and control of their divine sense; Fan Zhu Xia also needed a strong source of consciousness power to jumpstart the process. She already ingested the pill and now all that she''s missing is that single push for her body to naturally start refining the pill on it''s own. Of course news of this was only known by a small handful, meaning aside from Ru Wen Cheng who made the diagnosis, only the Old Patriarch, Fan Song Xue and his two sons; Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Hui Liang knew of the matter. This wasn''t because they didn''t trust the rest of their family but because of how delicate and sensitive the situation was and telling the others wouldn''t rrally be og any help since the younger generation of their family had no way of remedying the situation they chose not to tell them. Furthermore, the more people know, the higher the risk. After all, Fan Zhu Xia was in an extremely vulnerable state right now and the Old Patriarch wasn''t far behind her since he still wasn''t fully recovered. The good thing was that despite her precarious state, Fan Zhu Xia was still stable. Still they couldn''t relax their guard, hence the big moves made by Fan Hui Zhong. It was all done purely to deter anyone''s wayward thoughts of causing trouble with them. All of them knew that their actions would draw attention to them as a whole but this was something that must be done. They could only be thankful that it was a blessing that the relationship between the Fan Family and Lei Palace is incomparably strong due to the close relationship of the two current masters who were such close brothers. Thus they have no worries of internal strife on their camp, which can''t be said with the other powers here at the capital. Knowing that they were under close scrutiny, nothing could be done except for tightening the security and being strict with keeping any news underwraps which were all handled splendidly with everyone''s cooperation. In spite of their efforts however, just because everything was being closely monitored with an iron fist doesn''t mean that water still couldn''t trickle out. Only difference is that no one can verify if the news is reliable or where it came from. Of course there are a few exceptions to that rule. In a different location, inside a private, luxurious residence, a young man opened a scroll and quickly read it''s contents before a frown subtly contorted his handsome features before he crumpled the paper in his hand and let it combust into flames before closing his fist to extinguish it with a flourish. Seeing his actions, his subordinates only watched silently and made no comment. No one knew what this young man was thinking and they have been with their young master long enough to be familiar with his moods and witnessing how reacted, each one of them knew that now isn''t a time to take things lightly, else they incur their young master''s ire. "Is this news accurate?" the young man asked coldly as his piercing stare landed on the body of the person who delivered the news. Despite the apparent discontent in their young master''s voice, the man showed no fear and just nodded and said, "It''s definitely accurate, Young Master... We have kept tabs on them since they left the Thousand Treasures Pavillion several days ago so we were able to gather this information before their overall security tightened." "Hmm... Is that so? Fine then, all of you leave." Hearing their young master''s dismissal, everyone departed with a respectful bow except for one. The very same man who brought the news still stood there with a solemn expression on his face. "What is it?" the young man asked as he flicked a gaze towards the other before turning his back on him. "Young Master, may this lowly one know what you are planning?" "Is it of any concern of yours?" the young man asked as he laughed derisively. His anger still clearly present underneath his icy expression. "It is not but this lowly one is just worried..." "Don''t be! Even though this Young Master is beyond furious right now, this Young Master still knows that now isn''t the time to do something out in the open. After all, if we act now, our actions may be noticed by those scum." Upon hearing his reply, his subordinate fell silent with a slightly troubled look on his face and after a second or so, he opened his mouth and spoke, "Then please instruct this one on what to do." "Hmm... For now, just keep observing. Keep your ears and eyes open for any hint of news. If there are rumours floating about, look into it! After all there is no smoke where there is no fire! Make sure to keep me posted should there be any changes. Am I understood?" "Crystal." While an obvious turmoil was brewing in the imperial capital, Fan Zhu Xia remained oblivious to all the new changes that were happening ever since she lost consciousness. She was unaware of the state of things within the Fan family and the Lei Palace and what that her falling into a comatose state ignited the fury of not only her father; Fan Hui Zhong but also the rest of her new family which prompted them to take such a hard stance. It was a good thing that the emperor showed favor towards her father lest his high-handed action of killing and decapitating the traitors as well sending their severed heads back might bring him a lot of censure and trouble. Although she was unconscious and unaware of the outside world, her mind has been drifting along. Her consciousness submerged in a constant replay of scenes she had long since tried to repress and while her physical body showed no signs of pain, her mind and soul was on the verge of breaking due to the constant onslaught of trauma and attacks from her inner demons. Despite her physical condition being stable, nobody knew how grave her situation truly was.Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. Inside the recesses of her consciousness, she was constantly reliving through her worst fears as her inner demons tortured her. The inner demons that stemmed from all the hatred and fear she felt when she thought of what happened to her Cong family almost drove her insane. The haunting words of that vile man; Dong En Lai who taunted her and told her that he was the man who commited genocide on her family and how he made them beg for their lives. Fan Zhu Xia felt fury and rage boiling over as well as overwhelming grief and guilt of how she wasn''t able to do anything to prevent Dong En Lai''s atrocious acts yet not a hint of all these turbulent emotions showed on her face. Instead, only a calm and serene expression could be seen reflected on her sleeping countenance. Throughout the day, everything passed by in a relatively uneventive manner albeit a bit hectic before things settled down somewhat when the night fell. 74 Days Before The Imperial Banquet - 24.6 As the estate fell silent with almost everyone turning in for the night and leaving only the patrolling guards awake, nobody noticed a shadow flit by quickly without even making a sound as if it was just a passing breeze. Those who may have felt that something was amiss quickly dismissed the idea since all of them knew that the current patriarch; Fan Hui Liang had laid down a lot of high-level formations throughout the day that could be easily triggered should an intruder try to get inside and besides that, after what their Lei Wangye did recently, it was highly improbable that someone would try to infiltrate the estate. It was this misconception and sense of complacency that enabled the shadow to navigate through te formations and strict security with relative ease until he finally arrived near one of the heavily guarded courtyards. Surveying it, the shadow stood still in one of the larger plum trees, blending in seamlessly with the numerous branches as he surveyed the area. He patiently studied how the guards maintained their security; how they maid their rounds, kept their lookout and how they took intermittent breaks with other people replacing them so that no one felt tired and everyone stayed alert at all times that even he who was looking for any weaknesses to exploit was impressed. The level of security in this particular courtyard was extremely high and even he is finding it a bit troublesome to get in, let alone any of his subordinates! If he had let his people infiltrate instead of him then his subordinates would inevitably be captured sooner or later. Observing the courtyard once more, the shadow sighed quietly before turning around to leave and take the same route from where he came with no one the wiser. He knew that if he didn''t want to be discovered, he should take a different approach and thus he left in a resolute and swift manner. The next day, things were evidently much more busier than the day before. Large groups of people were dispatched to the other three plots of land surrounding the Dark Flames Mountain. The former estates on the three lands were quickly taken cared of and since they used to belong to the royal family, they weren''t taken down an demolished since it would be such a shame to destroy the excellent worksmanship present. Instead, they were left intact and only the boundaries of the estates were modified. Walls were torn down while others were built up then some buildings were converted and new pathways were laud down to connect the estates into a whole. In the meantime, while Fan Hui Liang was behind organizing all the manpower to take care of all the neccessary construction, it was his older brother; Fan Hui Zhong who made the decisions on what to add, change and tear down. While all of this was happening, Fan Li Jie was placed in charge of the recruitment of new servants and of course, the people who had heard that the Lei Sha Di Army was open for new recruits. By Fan Li Jie''s side was Fan Xian Liang who was helping him with whole process by bringing those who passed the initial stages of testing an recruitment to either their mother; Wei Rou Xiang if it was a batch of new servants so that she can review them to see if they pass or if they were a group of potential recruits for the army, Fan Xian Liang would then send them to their uncle; Fan Hui Zhong who had the final say when it came to those who can join the Lei Sha Di Army. To those who thought that this was a chance that they could take advantage of to infiltrate their ranks or get information from either the Fan family or Lei Palace, they were sorely mistaken. The new army recruits who were found suspicious were subjected to strict questioning and with the aid of Fan Zhu Xia''s truth elixir, any moles that were placed were immediately tossed out after being beaten badly with a severe warning to stop meddling in their business, else the Lei Palace would take more serious actions against them. This of course deterred those who took action and made those who were still planning be wary of their actions, ultimately deciding that it won''t be in their best interest to interfere. As for the servants, those who thought that it would be way easier and much more safer to get in this way was in for such a big surprise. Since people found out that Madam Wei was the one who had a final decision on the servants, they became a lot more confident but the actions she took next threw everyone for a loop. During the first couple of people who were discovered to have ulterior motives were found, Wei Rou Xiang was still pretty calm about it but as the day went on, Wei Rou Xiang finally erupted in anger before storming into the recruitment hall with servants in tow before making every applicant there that was applying aside from the potential army recruits, drink tea that was spiked with the truth elixir. After that she took all of them away and led them into one of the large halls in Na Huan Pavillion before giving all the applicants a cold stare and asking who amongst them had ulterior motives. At first, the majority thought that it was a bit naive for Madam Wei to just ask them as a group. After all, wouldn''t it be better for them to be questioned carefully?Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. Despite their doubts, Wei Rou Xiang had remained calm throughout and to their immense surprise, several people started admitting one by one before horrified looks of shock reflected on each of their faces. As they were then dragged away despite their pleas and as soon as all guilty parties were gone, Wei Rou Xiang then placed down thr tea that she was sipping calmly before speaking in a soft yet strong voice. "Give those despicable people all a punishment of sixty strikes of the rod before throwing them out, regardless of age or gender!" Wei Rou Xiang ordered sternly before one of the stewards by her side quickly nodded and scurried off. Before long, loud wails of pain echoed out from the outside as they begged for mercy yet Wei Rou Xiang ignored their shouts as if it was just passing air. Everyone there then understood that despite Madam Wei''s reputation of being a soft and kind-hearted person, she still wasn''t someone that should be offended and her actions, punctuated by the number of beaten and bleeding people that were thrown out one after the other sent a clear message that it wasn''t just the Lei Palace that they should be wary of offending but the Fan family itself was certainly no joke and should also be taken seriously. While rumours and gossips were spreading out luke wildfire due to the commotion being caused by both Fan Hui Zhong and Wei Rou Xiang''s actions, Fan Yong Rui was left unnoticed by the masses as he quietly focused on gathering more information and widening his network to prepare for any eventualities. With the recent events put several powers in the capital on edge, most were waiting curiously on what''s to happen since everyone there knew that less than a week from now, the empress had arranged a special imperial banquet to be thrown with all the nobilities and people of influence were invited. There were countless rumours and speculation on the reasoning behind this particular banquet but one thing is for sure, this banquet would certainly be eventful and one to remember. 75 Developments Inside The Imperial Palace - 25.1 As the commotion caused by the combined actions of the Lei Palace and Fan family put the people in a state of turmoil and uneasy anticipation, a lone silhouette that was observing everything that was happening seemingly came from the shadows flickered and disappeared with no one the wiser. Those who were staying just a short distance away from the current shared gate of both the Fan Estate and Lei Palace to witness the spectacle of people being constantly thrown out in various states of wear with only a few being able to exit unscathed, a few of them thought they saw something rubbed their eyes before shaking their heads and ended up dismissing it as a trick of the light since the figure just vanished within seconds, without a sound while leaving no trace behind. On the other hand, while everyone was focusing on the Fan family and Lei Palace, there was a carriage that leisurely made it''s way to the imperial palace and smoothly gaining entry by presenting a token to the guards. To those who witnessed it, it sparked a small chatter and speculation especially amongst the palace servants and eunuchs, although after a short while they decided to keep what they saw to themselves before dispersing. After all, anyone with a token that will enable tjem to gain entry to the imperial palace unhindered is certainly someone of great influence. As the palace maids and eunuchs scattered, they missed the two figures that alighted from the carriage. One was older, albeit still youthful looking middle-aged man wearing pale green robes with silver detailings while the other was a handsome looking youth wearing dark blue robes with gold embroideries on it with a matching half-mask hiding his breathtaking countenance. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. The two men shared the same traits in terms of bearing, noble aura and dashingly good looks. Like two immortals on earth. Those who had the fortune of crossing paths with them couldn''t help but give an internal sigh of appreciation as the two leisurely made their way deeper inside the imperial palace. Just a short while later, deep within the opulent walls of Thunder Vale Imperial Palace, inside the Empress'' Hall, or more widely known as the Jin Feng Palace which means Golden Phoenix Palace, which is the residence of the Empress, a small group of people were gathered in one of the receiving rooms while amiably chatting as they drank and enjoyed tea that Empress Wu Li Hua was personally preparing. The group of people consisted of three males and one female, including the empress, while the males where her Imperial Husband; Emperor Jin Fa Chung, her older brother; Wu Zheng He and her nephew; Wu Jun Qiao. Gazing fondly at the handsome-looking young man, the empress; Wu Li Hua smiled gently as she poured the tea before passing it to him. "Here, try some of this tea that I''ve prepared. The palace just recently acquired this particular blend of tea leaves." Accepting the proffered tea cup, Wu Jun Qiao nodded in thanks before he took a sip of the tea. As soon as he took a sip of it, a light of recognition flashed through his eyes at the familiar taste of it. "This tea is quite good... May I ask where Imperial Aunt got it?" the young man asked with a cordial voice yet there was something in his tone that hinted that something was amiss which the empress faintly sensed. "The palace got it as one of the gifts from the visiting princess. Is something the matter with it, Nephew?" Empress Wu Li Hua asked, showing a bit concern as she saw the frown that slowly showed on her nephew''s face after she explained. "There''s no need to worry about it, Imperial Aunt... there isn''t really anything wrong with the tea." the young man answered with a smile that didn''t really reach his eyes making his aunt frown. Looking at the young man, the emperor couldn''t help but sigh a bit before finally speaking. "Then can Nephew elaborate on it then? It''s quite obvious for us to see that something about the tea is troubling you so that we can understand and it will be a great help in easing your aunt''s worries." "Since Imperial Uncle has asked, then this junior can''t leave you in the dark. The main reason I asked is because I was fortunate enough to be able to drink this tea in the past... albeit it was quite a long time ago." Hearing that, even Wu Zheng He couldn''t help but feel surprised, let alone the emperor and empress who both wore similar expressions as him. "Jun Qiao, are you sure that it''s the same tea?" Wu Zheng He questioned seriously. "En. It is a very unique type of spirit tea and it''s recipe was personally created by the matriarch of the Cong family and even there, this tea was only served during special occasions due to the rarity and the high cost of it''s ingredients." Hearing that, they all fell silent and judging from their complicated expressions, Wu Jun Qiao felt like he was missing something. "What is it?" Noticing the look the Wu Jun Qiao was giving them, it was the empress who finally opened her mouth to speak. "When we first received this, I was won over by the taste and so I asked Princess Ning if it would be possible to acquire more of it in the future." "And?" Wu Jun Qiao asked, prompting her aunt to continue when he saw the complex look in her eyes. "And after that, Princess Ning said that she would bring it up with her father since he was the one who brought it out for her to bring. When This One asked her to explain, she said that this spirit tea came from her father''s private collection and that he had her bring this as one of the gifts as a show of sincerity." "So she doesn''t know where her father got it from?" "I''m afraid not..." Falling silent, Wu Jun Qiao had a serious and grim look on his face before sighing and shaking his head. Just when they thought that he wasn''t going to speak, a figure materialized beside Wu Jun Qiao from the shadows who then proceeded to whisper to him in a quiet yet hurried manner while also deploying a sound barrier that even with their high cultivation, none of them heard what was spoken clearly before the man left as abruptly as he appeared, seemingly disappearing into thin air plunging the room into a tense silence filled with questions. It was at this time that Wu Jun Qiao then spoke in a somber tone. "I do apologize for mylthough the true origin of this tea is questionable since I am positive that the Cong family never gave out this particular tea to anyone outside of Mystic Terra Mountain, this still isn''t my main concern as of the moment. Right now, I am wondering if I can ask Imperial Aunt and Imperial Uncle for some help?" "What is it that you need help with?" Jin Fa Chung asked this nephew of his curiously. "I wonder if you''ve heard the rumours about the new young miss in Lei Palace?" 76 Developments Inside The Imperial Palace - 25.2 After Wu Jun Qiao left with Wu Zheng He, both the emperor and empress were left in a contemplative mood. After some time, Wu Li Hua lowered her tea and spoke in a quiet and measured voice. "What does His Majesty think we should do?" Taking another sip of his tea, Jin Fa Chung stayed silent for a minute longer as he contemplated on what the best course of action was before finally opening his mouth to speak. "My dear empress, to tell the truth the task at hand may seem simple but the reality is entirely the opposite." Sighing, Jin Fa Chung then added, "What he wants us to accomplish is something that still needs careful consideration. After all, he wants us to help him find a way to get inside the Brother Zhong''s territory and with the current precautions he is taking, the entirety of Lei Palace and the Fan estate is nigh impenetrable." "Then is there no other way?" Wu Li Hua asked disappointedly. "I''m not saying there is no way this can be done, my dear... I am just saying that there are thing we must first do before we can take such action." Hearing her husband''s words, Wu Li Hua''s face noticeably brightened up, making Jin Fa Chung smile wryly as he affectionately shook his head at her. "Li Li, you never change haha... Now now, don''t get your hopes up! As I mentioned earlier, there are still some things that we must do first." Pouting slightly, Wu Li Hua waved a dismissive hand before prompting Jin Fa Chung to continue. "From what you told me before, this nephew of ours still does not want to reveal himself until after the banquet is that right?" the emperor asked to which the empress nodded in answer. "If that''s the case then to be completely frank, he would not be able to enter even the estate''s gates, even with our help." "Then what must we do?" "If your nephew is willing to make a couple of tweaks to his plans then this would be the best time to arrange a meeting for him to get acquainted with his cousins. That way, we''ll have more legitimate reasons to have him visit... Like accompanying Meng Yao when I have him go send my regards to Brother Zhong." Seeing the emperor''s logic and reasoning behind it, Wu Li Hua smiled as her gaze met his as they nodded to each other in understanding. "Excellent idea Your Majesty! I''ll go and have one my trusted servants send word." "Very good... Then I shall wait for the good news, my empress." After their conversation, the two spent a few more moments with each other before the emperor took his leave while his empress immediately got to work. Not long after they left, a palace eunuch arrived at the residence of Wu Zheng He bearing a message from the empress and right after he received it, the eunuch discreetly left. After opening the sealed letter and reading it, Wu Zheng He''s brows raised slightly in surprise before slightly smiling as he got one of the servants to summon Wu Jun Qiao to his study. Soon after, a knock sounded before the door opened and Wu Jun Qiao walked in and greeted him then asking, "You called for me?" "Ahh, yes yes... Take a seat Jun Qiao." As soon as he sat down, Wu Zheng He handed him a letter which he quickly read. Learning the contents of the letter, Wu Jun Qiao''s initial surprised expression turned into a pondering look as he tapped the letter against his hand while thinking. "So what do you think?" "To be honest, this is a good plan. I do wonder how we should go about it though?" Wu Jun Qiao musingly asked. "Well since you said you were in a hurry, then we can go ahead and proceed with it by tomorrow morning during morning court. You may accompany me to the palace and while I attend court, you can visit your aunt and from there on, she can take care of the rest, is that alright with you?" "En. It is fine... The sooner it is, the better. We shall do as you have said." "Alright then... I''ll go make the necessary arrangements. You better go and prepare yourself as well." "Of course. If you''ll excuse me then." With a nod, Wu Jun Qiao stood up to leave when Wu Zheng He suddenly spoke up and said, "Jun Qiao, since this is the first time you''ll actually be going in public, do remember what your identity is right now." Pausing slightly, Wu Jun Qiao''s alluring lips curved into a small yet amused smile before opening his mouth to speak his reply. "No need to worry, I know who I am... I am the current heir and only young master of the Wu family. General Wu Zheng He''s adopted son who only recently came to the capital; Wu Jun Qiao." "Good. As long as you know." Wu Zheng He retorted, albeit without any malice in his voice but a hint of pride instead. Laughing, Wu Jun Qiao then playfully asked with an amused voice. "Anything else that I can help you with, Father?" Hearing the amusement in Wu Jun Qiao''s voice, Wu Zheng He rolled his eyes at him before throwing a silk pouch at the young man. Catching it easily, Wu Jun Qiao shot him a curious look before asking, "And this is?" "It''s the deed and all the necessary documentation and requirements to the estate beside this one, the one that you asked for." "The one that previously belonged to the Fans?" "En. The same one. A messenger came this morning while we were at the imperial palace to deliver it. Luckily Granny Fang was present so she was able to handle the transaction despite our absence." Pleased with the news, Wu Jun Qiao quickly expressed his gratitude and said, "Many thanks!" Waving a dismissive hand, Wu Zheng He just smiled and shook his head before shooing him off, making the young man laugh in amusement as he left. After leaving, Wu Jun Qiao returned to his current courtyard where the sight of a travel-worn man greeted his eyes. "Ting Zhe! It''s good that you''re back, This Young Master knows that it''s been hard for you outside." Hearing the familiar voice, the haggard man''s expression noticeably lightened as he quickly turned and bowed to Wu Jun Qiao while greeting him. "Please don''t say that Young Master! It is this servant''s fortune to be able to offer his meager help and be of use to Young Master." Striding towards the still bent over man, Wu Jun Qiao placed a hand on his shoulder before helping him straighten up with a smile, surprising the older man. Seeing the happy look on his young master''s face, Yi Ting Zhe felt his face flush with shame as he was filled with guilt. Seeing the look on his face, Wu Jun Qiao''s brows furrowed as he asked, "What''s wrong?" "To see Young Master happy fills this lowly one with joy but this incompetent servant is ashamed to come before Young Master since this lowly one once again failed in his task." Realization filled Wu Jun Qiao before a wry smile slowly made it''s way to his face. Shaking his head, Wu Jun Wiao opened his mouth and said, "Ting Zhe, enough of this... There''s no need to feel anymore shame nor guilt. Your Young Master has already found her! This Young Master is only glad to see your familiar face, after all, despite not being able to find her this past years, all other tasks this Young Master gave you was done and completed by you splendidly which is why this Young Master has something else in mind for you to do."Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. 77 Developments Inside The Imperial Palace - 25.3 The next day, Jin Meng Yao was making his way to the main palace hall to once again attend morning court albeit still a bit absent-minded since he was still thinking about his friend, Fan Xian Liang. He knew that a lot of things have been happening within the Lei Palace and the Fan estate ever since his master; Fan Hui Zhong returned to the capital. In fact, Jin Meng Yao has been planning on paying his master a visit since he still hasn''t gotten the chance to see him ever since he came back and this caused him to feel slightly frustrated with himself especially when he heard that the one time he decide to sneak out and ditch attending morning court the other day was the very same day that Fan Hui Zhong decided to surprise everyone to attend morning court and even let everyone know what his plans were! This was actually the main reason he was attending today. It was because he was hoping that Fan Hui Zhong will once gain act out of his usual norm and attend court once more! As he neared the vicinity of the palace''s main hall, a eunuch could be seen hurrying towards him as if worried that Jin Meng Yao would disappear right in front of him. Despite the eunuch''s hurried actions drawing a relatively small amount of attention, no one really paid heed to it until the eunuch blocked the crown prince''s path, startling him in the process. "Please excuse this lowly one, Your Highness; This servant comes on behalf of Her Highness; the Empress to request for Your Highness'' presence." Surprise, Jin Meng Yao couldn''t help but open his mouth and ask, "Mother? Did she tell you what she needs This Prince for?" "No, Your Highness. This lowly one was just tasked to find you and deliver Her Majesty''s message and to bring Your Highness to visit her as soon as possible." Seeing the urgency in the eunuch''s face while being clearly reflected in his voice as well, Jin Meng Yao couldn''t help but let out a resigned sigh as a helpless smile formed on his face as he nodded and spoke. "Very well then, lead the way." A bit puzzled as to why he was summoned, countless thoughts ran through Jin Meng Yao''s mind and while he kept mum about it, his expression still showed an inkling of it and when they entered the empress'' he heard his mother''s tinkling laughter sound from inside and just as he was about to call out, a deep, enigmatic voice could be heard lowly speaking before the empress laugh once again sounded. Hearing that voice, it certainly didn''t trigger any memory or sense of familiarity from him which in turn made him feel small seed of doubt. Just who was there inside that would make his mother indiscriminately laugh like that? For crying out loud, he was her son yet the only time Jin Meng Yao heard his mother laugh like that is when they were in a private settinh with only close friends, trusted confidantes and family around! No longer could Jin Meng Yao hold his curiousity back so instea of letting the eunuch announce his presence, Jin Meng Yao himself strode forward and pushed the door open to let the people inside know of his arrival. Hearing the door swing open unannounced, everyone''s gazes were instantly drawn to it and to Jin Meng Yao who just entered, surprise clearly reflected on his handsome face. Seated inside was not only his mother, the empress; Wu Li Hua but also his younger sister; Mei Rong who was giggling happily. Despite of his initial bafflement, Jin Meng Yao''s attention was wholly focused on the young man dressed in immaculate clothes with an exquisite half-mask partially covering his face since this man was the only one who was unfamiliar to him. Noticing this, Wu Li Hua covered her smile before she gently coughed to draw her son''s attention. "I''m glad you''re here, Yao''er! Come, come and take a seat..." Wu Li Hua called out gently as she motioned the stunned crown prince to come over. Nodding his head, Jin Meng Yao made his way towards his younger sister who beamed at him as she motioned the seat beside her and as soon as he sat down, Meng Yao shot a questioning look at his mother as he said, "Care to introduce me, Mother Empress?" Laughing at her son''s obvious discomfort and curiosity, Wu Li Hua then opened her mouth and proceeded to explain. "Ahh yes, yes of course! Meng Yao, meet your cousin, Jun Qiao." Cousin?! Watching Jin Meng Yao''s face morph into an expression of surprised shock as he stared at Wu Jun Qiao. "You''re my cousin?" "En." Wu Jun Qiao answered back with a small amused smile. He was the cousin their mother just recently told them about?! Looking at him with a dumbfounded expression, Jin Meng Yao only had one word to say and that was, "Wow..." Hearing that, Jin Mei Rong burst out into a fits of laughter at seeing her ever-talkative brother so speechless and at a loss on what to say. Before long, the originally awkward atmosphere turned harmonious and even Wu Jun Qiao let out a couple of amused chuckles. Feeling a tad bit embarassed, Jin Meng Yao''s face blushed slightly making him look endearing before he shook it off and let out a laugh himself. "Alright, alright! Enough already! I was just taken by surprise...I mean, I wasn''t expecting to meet our cousin just now and was shocked to see his astonishingly good looks!" Jin Meng Yao jokingly whined as he shot a playful grin towards Wu Jun Qiao who''s turn came to look dumbfounded at Meng Yao, prompting another round of laughter. After a few more exchanges of light banter between them, the three cousins who only just met were getting along swimmingly and watching the sight of the three youngsters getting along so well brought a smile to the empress''s face. As time passed, Jin Meng Yao then remembered something and with a regretful tone, he said, "As much as I''d like to stay, I need to take my leave first... I still need to catch up with Xian and maybe even Master Zhong!"Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. "Oh, alright then Yao''er... you may go but do bring your cousin with you! Jun''er told me that he just moved into the old Fan Estate located beside your uncle''s estate and he wants to express his thanks since it was your master, Hui Zhong who helped your uncle acquire it for him." Wu Li Hua said as she smiled at the two young men. Giving his cousin Jin Meng Yao an apologetic look, Wu Jun Qiao said, "Cousin, if it''s inconvenient for you, then there''s no need to bring me along, I would understand since I have heard of the recent happenings..." Hearing and seeing Wu Jun Qiao''s sincerity, the initial misgivings Jin Meng Yao had lightened considerably and after a moment''s thought he opened his mouth and said, "Thinking about it, it should be okay... It''s also q good time to introduce you to a brother of mine! Don''t worry cousin, leave it to me!" Meanwhile, in another part of the imperial palace, an old man could be seen speaking quietly to a resplendent young lady. "The empress had intercepted the crown prince on his way to court and had him go to her palace hall. Apparently, aside from the crown prince, the princess was also in attendance along with another young man..." "And? Where you able to get any information as to why and who that young man was?" the young lady asked impatiently. "Unfortunately not, Your Highness..." Looking displeased, the young lady shot a harsh look at the old man before finally shaking her head in annoyance as she opened her mouth to say, "Keep an eye on them, This One wants to know of any more new developments... Make sure our plans aren''t affected!" "Yes, Your Highness!" 79 Respect And Goodwill Is Shown Through Actions - 26.2 Not long after, several men atop majestic spirit beast mounts were seen riding through the city before finally stopping just in front of the Fan Estate''s gates patiently waiting as the gates were opened and the Fan family guards respectfully saluted them as they proceeded to let them enter. Those familiar with the people in the entourage would immediately recognize their nation''s crown prince; Jin Meng Yao along with his close friend and confidante; Fan Xian Liang and of course, his father; Fan Hui Liang who was also a renowned genral in his own right. As for the other two, it would still cause some puzzlement for others but to those who has attemded morning court these past few days, they would recognize tho older of the two as the infamous Lei Wangye; Fan Hui Zhong. As for the alluring young man beside them, that still remained a mystery however seeing how well Jin Meng Yao treated this youngster, then this young man surely can''t be simple! Those who saw them immediately rushed to get to the bottom and find out the mysterious young man''s identity but what they didn''t realize is that they''ll find out sooner than they think! Meanwhile, inside the Fan Estate, the recently arrived group had just settled down to drink some tea and refreshments when they heard a commotion break out just outside the front gates. Having drawn their attention, the group decided to go closer to investigate when they heard a girl''s familiar voice echo out angrily. "What do you mean This One can''t enter? This One has merely heard of the troubles that the Fan family has endured as of late so This One has come to provide Brother Li some support during this time!" Hearing this, all the men present faces'' darkened and it was only Wu Jun Qiao who looked mildly puzzled. Fortunately, his confusion was resolved when he heard his cousin curse angrily under his breath as he directed a question towards his friend, Fan Xian Liang. "What is that damned woman doing here, Xian?"Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. Replying with an equally annoyed voice, Fan Xian Liang replied and said, "I don''t know what she''s doing here but I have a pretty good idea on the reason why." Scowling, Fan Hui Zhong turned to them and said, "You all go on ahead, I''ll handle this first then follow." "Are you sure brother?" "En. No need to worry, I''ll be quick." Nodding his head, Fan Hui Liang shot an appreciative look towards his older brother before turning to the rest of them and motioning for them to follow him as he turned to leave. Watching their backs disappear from sight, Fan Hui Zhong nodded once before turning around to make his way to where the ruckus was all coming from. Walking slowly, his face turned increasingly darker with each step he took, the same with his frown which grew even more pronounced as his annoyance and displeasure progressively increased. Arriving at the gates, he saw Min Guo Ji who was trying to explain when he was repeatedly, rudely cut-off. "My Lady, this servant does apologize but the masters has given out the order that none of them will be receiving any guests for the time being and that they do not wish to be disturbed. This old one d "Old Man, who are you to deny me entrance? You''re just a steward here that I can easily have replaced with just a word to Brother Li! How dare you get in my way! Move or I''ll-" "You''ll do what exactly?" Fan Hui Zhong condescendingly asked, his voice chillingly cold which totally contrasted with the simmering rage he was feeling inside that threatened to erupt at any moment. Offended by the icy tone that was used against her, Ning Yan Mei whirled around to face the owner of the voice and when she saw who it was. Any insult she wanted to hurl back was instantly swallowed back down her throat as she closed her mouth nervously. On the other hand, Min Guo Ji who was caught of guard still managed to compose himself faster and spoke first to ask, "Lei Wangye!" "Uncle Guo, you go on ahead. Check if Li Jie or Rou''er is in need of any assistance." "Right away, Master. If you''ll excuse me then..." With a respectful bow, Min Guo Ji then walked away briskly, with only a polite nod of acknowledgement towards the now-silent princess. Now with only her servant as well as the guards of the estate left behind, Ning Yan Mei could feel the intense stare that Fan Hui Zhong was levelling on her. Due to the small amount of aura that Fan Hui Zhong was intentionally releasing, Ning Yan Mei felt her hair stand on end as she felt an invisible pressure pressing down on her. Small beads of sweat started forming on her forehead, glistening against her fair white skin which had noticeably paled in comparison to when she first got here and as the pressure on her slowly built up, Ning Yan Mei couldn''t find the strength in herself to speak up as she had to focus on maintaining upright. As she bit her plump red lip between her teeth, she was the perfect picture of a fragile beauty with the tell-tale signs of tears glimmering on her lashes that any passerby would instantly be moved at the sight yet Fan Hui Zhong acted as if he saw nothing and just pinned her under his cold, piercing gaze. "Well? Is there anything else that this Fan can help you with?" Unsure of what to say, Ning Yan Mei started acting timid and speak in a much softer tone which was the complete opposite of what she was doing before and even tried to be more amiable and demure now that Fan Hui Zhong was here to present a better image. "Mei''er just wanted to drop by and show her support. Mei''er was really worried ever since heard the news..." "Mei''er even heard that Brother Li has been working non-stop the past couple of days and just wanted to see if there was anything that I can do to help." Ning Yan Mei added hurriedly when she saw Fan Hui Zhong''s still cold gaze. Unfortunately for her, Fan Hui Zhong''s expression remained unchanged and instead, his eyes narrowed dangerously for a split-second before he quickly masked it and only his stare turned icier and more aloof as he opened his mouth to speak and say, "We appreciate your concern and your intentions but I would like to respectfully ask you to leave." Hearing his words, Ning Yan Mei''s eyes widened while disbelief and discontent filled her that she inadvertantly asked and blurted out the one question in her mind. "But why?!" "Weren''t you already told before that neither the Fan Estate nor my Lei Palace are receiving guests?" "Yes, but then why was Crown Prince Meng Yao allowed to come?" With his patience wearing dangerously thin, Fan Hui Zhong angrily retorted and said, "Meng Yao is my student and it was I who personally brought him here! Anything else?" Though intimidated, Ning Yan Mei gritted her teeth and pushed on to voice out her complaints, after all she needed to get in first before she can foster any kind of relationship with them and especially with the eldest young master of the Fan Family; Fan Li Jie! "What about that other man? He got to enter and-" Fed up with all the questioning and already growing suspicious of her intentions, Fan Hui Zhong snapped, "That young man is my guest! Now if you''ll excuse me, please leave! Neither the Fan Estate nor the Lei Palace has the time to welcome you!" Inwardly outraged at being so blatantly turned away that there was practically nothing left of her face, Ning Yan Mei wanted to lash out yet logic still prevailed so instead of arguing back, she just put on a pitiful expression and mumbled a few sentences to excuse herself before tearfully leaving, making it look as if she was being bullied. Unluckily for her, due to the recent recruitment done by both the Fan Estate and the Lei Palace, there was a small yet sizeable number of people present who witnessed this happening and while the ones who just recently arrived initially felt sorry for her, the ones who were watching from the start quickly explained to them what happened. Any sympathy Ning Yan Mei got instantly vanished and with the hushed whispers of the crowd, her already boiling rage threatened to explode yet the presence of the numerous guards and Fan Hui Zhong''s piercing stare on her back prevented her from exploding, leaving her feeling immensely aggrieved as she boarded her carriage. Just as her coachman was about to depart, the familiar voice of the young man she wanted to see was heard from the outside, tempting her to take a peek yet what she heard only made her anger rise a notch. "Uncle Zhong, I heard about the commotion from Old Man Guo. Is there anything I could do to help?" Fan Li Jie asked with his deep, clear voice. "No need, my boy. You may go on ahead and get back to your tasks. It was just a little girl causing some trouble." "Is that so?" "En...Such a shame that most people think that with their reputation and background alone, they can immediately demand respect when the truth is, respect and goodwill is earned not through words but through actions and will always be reciprocated in kind!" Shrugging, Ning Yan Mei saw Fan Li Jie turn around to go back inside and clearly heard him speak before disappearing from her view and say, "You should get used to it Uncle. Not everyone uses their brain." Incensed, Ning Yan Mei furiously threw down the carriage''s curtain which she held up to peek before giving a pointed look towards the old servant she brought who immediately signalled the carriage driver to depart. 81 Taking Action - 27.2 The moment the mist disappeared, Wu Jun Qiao''s consciousness felt as if it was submerged in ice, enveloped by an unfathomable darkness. As if opening his eyes and using his divine sense to see, he couldn''t help but internally grimace at what he saw. Right now, his soul had seeped and stealthily infiltrated into Fan Zhu Xia''s mind and based from what he observed so far, her state was far worse than he thought. Initially, he thought that Fan Zhu Xia was just mentally exhausted and might have pushed her body a little bit too far but from what he could see, that wasn''t just the case. Since it wasn''t just Wu Jun Qiao''s divine sense that infiltrated Fan Zhu Xia''s innermost thoughts and psyche but also his soul, this in turn enabled him on sensing the state of her soul as well by using his own to attune and resonate with hers and based on what he''s feeling, her soul was incredibly weak. Although this state of her soul can be caused by a variety of reasons, ranging from low cultivation, lingering effects or damage from soul-based attacks, the most common which almost all cultivators can suffer from, albeit varying degrees of seriousness is caused by an inner demon. Right now, all that he could feel and sensefrom her soul was an unimaginable frailty and despair giving him a sense of impending crisis as if one wrong move can cause her soul irrevocable damage. This almost threw Wu Jun Qiao into a state of panic before he calmed down and tried to make sense of what caused Fan Zhu Xia''s soul to come to such a wretched state. Obviously, losing her qi while pushing her mental state and soul to finish the treatment was not the only contributors to this. Now all he could hope to do was to find a strand of Fan Zhu Xia''s consciousness that he can latch on first before he makes any more moves. Of course this is a monumental task in itself since all he can sense right now was nothing but a swirling, suffocating abyss-like darkness. Meanwhile, unaware that someone has infiltrated her mind and soul''s innermost sanctum, Fan Zhu Xia only felt a sluggish heaviness weighing down on her as if threatening to swallow her consciousness back into that dark oblivion that she had struggled to get out from. As she was trying to orient herself, her head was struck with such an overwhelming pain that made her double over in attempt to catch her breath as she breathe in frantic gasps. Struggling to open her eyes, Fan Zhu Xia saw nothing but dark shadows enveloping her and throwing her surroundings into darkness without a speck of light in sight. Before she could even wonder where she was, her mind was bombarded with numerous images. Images that she tried to not think about and push to the very back of her mind. Images that brought her nothing but excruciating pain. Images that would always and forever remain as the cause of her countless nightmares. Images that no matter how hard she tried to run away from would always haunt her and never leave her. Only because this images were facts that couldn''t be ignored and changed. For a long time she tried to numb the pain by trying to drown it away with drinking yet now it sucked her in, not letting her escape as it forced her to relive it over and over again. Voices shouted in her head. Drowning out her thoughts. Only leaving the dark ones behind. The memories of that night. The words that man said. The things that man implied. Her imagination filling in the blanks so vividly that it was as if she was there when it happened. When her whole clan and family was wiped out. Pushing her to the brink and tipping her over as countless scenarios of what happened to everyone she once knew crashed over her again and again, drowning her. Leaving her floundering as it submerged her whole, making her feel nothing but an icy coldness as a storm of emotions hit her. At the back of her mind, she knew what was happening. She knew that she was suffering from a backlash which resulted in her inner demon acting out and spiralling out of her control yet she did nothing to stop it. She knew that whatever she''s seeing isn''t entirely true but her guilt prevented her from fighting against it just because of one thought. What if what she was seeing really happened? And so she let herself lose herself in it. Lose herself within the illusions caused by her inner demons and made herself witness everything as if a spectator. Starting with that night. His scream. His order to leave. Her utter weakness making her helpless to even help. She rationalized to herself that her running away was due to her doing what was told and preventing herself from being used as a way to blackmail the others and maybe even lure some attackers away but what if it wasn''t really that? Seeing it all over again made her think of how spineless her actions were. She wasn''t brave. Nor was she strong. No. She wasn''t any of that. She was a coward. A selfish and craven person who only lived at the expense of other people''s lives. Pathetic. Slowly, her inner demon gained more and more influence on her mind and psyche. With her guilt and despair feeding it, it grew stronger. And she didn''t do anything to stop it. It was as if it wasn''t even her own life that was in danger but someone else''s and she''s just a mere passerby who was just enjoying the show. And enjoy she did. It wasn''t because she was a masochist. No. She was nothing like that. It was because even if this inner demon of hers was doing its best to consume her, it still gave her the very thing she longed for the most. A chance to see her friends and family again. As if an unseen phantom in the sky, Fan Zhu Xia watched from overhead the memory of the last time she was at Mystic Terra Mountain. It was when she left to journey throughout the lands to gain experience, only accompanied by her group of guards and Ning Jun Qiao who was her father''s and uncle''s student. Immersed in what she was watching, she didn''t even realize the silent tears that unceasingly fell as she watched with rapt attention as if afraid of missing anything. She watched as their group left under everyone''s well wishes of safe travels despite their worries. She saw herself visit numerous places as she laughed and bonded with everyone while Ning Jun Qiao watched over her with a smile that never left his handsome face despite the times she caused trouble. She watched and watched until she was pulled away from the scenes of her fondest memories to rewatch that fateful night. The night she ran away from the group of guards who had become her close friends due to their long time together when Ning Jun Qiao told her to run and leave them. She watched as she saw her figure jump off the cliff and get swallowed by the raging river below. The rapids pulling down any traces of her into its cold, harsh depth and still she watched emotionless and numb. Instead she stared at the figures left by the edge of the cliff top, imprinting their faces and features deep into her mind as burning rage and hatred filled her. Fan Zhu Xia then felt the increasingly familiar tug on her soul as a new scene unfolded on her. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. What she saw was not a scene from any of her memories but was still something that she''d seen countless times from her nightmares. It was like a scene straight out from pits of hell. Blazing flames ravaged the area filling it with the acrid scent of smoke and the nauseating smell of burning meat and the moment she looked around, Fan Zhu Xia was filled with nothing but horror as she realized that the burnt meat smell was actually the scent that was emitted by the countless corpses with most bodies barely recognizable due to missing limbs and other forms of disfigurement were being devoured mercilessly by the fire. Looking closer, she felt the last shred of awareness she had abruptly shattered as heartrending grief consumed her as a howl of pure and utter sadness and despair escaped her. As her eyes wandered, it continuously landed on familiar faces, statures and features all entered gaze. This time, she wasn''t a phantom floating above and witnessing everything unfold in front of her like before. No, this time she was very much there. She saw everything up close, felt the scorching heat of the blaze as the wind blew that horrifying smell of blood, decay and burnt flesh to her as of enveloping her with an embrace filled with nothing but the essence of death. Deeper and deeper she walked in as more and more of her clansmen''s brutalised corpses she passed until finally she appeared just in front of the family courtyard of the head of the clan. This was her home and yet the moment she entered she saw nothing but the glaring color of red splattered everywhere and pieces of something scattered about. It was as if she was seeing something that she shouldn''t have yet she just couldn''t pry her eyes away until finally it landed on something that made her freeze and her blood run cold. This is what snapped her out of it and made her scream and wail until her throat went hoarse then mute. Even with her eyes clenched tightly close, the image she saw still isn''t something that could be erased. So she screamed until nothing was left in her. She screamed until she felt her energy be depleted. She screamed until she felt that even her very being that strove to survive and keep pushing forward for the sake of getting her revenge and justice from the people responsible as well as the will to live beside her newfound family slowly eroded away until she was left with absolutely nothing. Her screams echoed out silently around her as her mind finally succumbed to darkness when she faintly felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and pull her to a warm, hard chest as a soft voice whispered to her. "Hush now little one, I''m here now... Everything will be fine..." 82 Authors Note Hey guys, I know that I completely went MIA and it took me months to update again and for that I really do apologise. I don''t post updates like this particular one where all you''ll be able to read is my author''s note but I felt like I owe you guys an explanation and it can''t fit in just the note at the end of the chapter. First of all thank you. Thank you so much for all the love and support you''ve given me and my story. You guys have no idea how much that meant to me. From your comments, reviews, suggestions and constructive criticisms, I love them and they inspire me to improve and push myself. When I first started writing this novel it was a way for me to cope through my depression. I was not in a good place mentally, physically and emotionally and writing became my outlet. I never expected that people would actually read and even like what I wrote and this came as a total surprise. Your words, the love and support I got from everyone helped me push through my struggles and gave me a new purpose. Some of you may think or say that writing this novel isn''t all that big of a deal but for me, it meant the world because at the time that I started writing this was the same time that I had to let go of all the dreams I had ever since I was a kid. Writing was only ever a hobby of mine but when my whole life came crashing it became the only thing I could let my emotions come out on. Please know that during the time that I wasn''t able to update, I always had this story in my mind and because there were some things that I''ve been going through the past couple of months, my mind wasn''t in the right place to even write. It''s not like I didn''t want to write but it''s just that everything I wrote just didn''t seem right. Yes I know the direction I want the story to go to but I just can''t seem to get it there. I didn''t want to just update a chapter haphazardly because I want to maintain the same quality of writing and creativity that I had with the others and I don''t want to disappoint any of you. I swear that I''ve read all of you comments and reviews and suggestions and I''ve taken note of everything and will try to improve on my storytelling and writing as best as I can. Now that I''m in a somewhat okay headspace, I will be updating again. As much as I want to keep a regular update schedule, I don''t want to make any promises that I can''t keep.Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. I''ll update a chapter as soon as I finish one, so updates will be erratic. There may be multiple updates in a day or an update or two in a month but nevertheless I will continue writing. Thanks again for everyone''s love and support and I hope that everyone keeps safe during this time and be very careful when you go out especially if you''re in a quarantine zone like me. I love you guys! Rina <3 83 Taking Action - 27.3 Fan Zhu Xia felt the darkness engulf her within its icy embrace when she faintly heard a soft voice filled with a calming tenderness that soothe her trembling soul murmured something unintelligible to her before a gentle silvery light enveloped her and a very comfortable warmth surrounded her, chasing the chill of the darkness away. The suffocating heaviness she didn''t even realize was there slowly faded away and she gradually regained the feeling of her body before pain assaulted her making her moan out loud with her eyes still tightly clenched shut.Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. It was at this split second in time that she missed seeing the extremely hazy mist that faintly pulsed with a gentle white light disappear from her room to reappear at another very distance courtyard. Wu Jun Qiao whose soul had just returned to his body slowly opened his eyes showing amber gold eyes that flashed with satisfaction yet exhaustion still faintly showed from it. Despite this, an alluring smile slowly curved his lips upwards into a very attractive smirk before he suddenly frowned and lifted his sleeve just in time to cover his mouth as a harsh cough escaped him. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth and as he removed his hand from his mouth a small bloodstain could be seen just at the edge of his sleeve, making him grimace before he let out a resigned sigh as he slowly got up from the bed and walked to the door. Just outside, a manservant was dutifully guarding and waiting for him to awake when the door suddenly opened and Wu Jun Qiao''s half-covered countenance appeared, the manservant was immediately alarmed seeing the deathly white pallor on his face. "Young Master Wu, are you alright?" the servant quickly asked as he went closer to assist the pale-looking young man. With a tired smile, Wu Jun Qiao waved off his concern before opening his mouth to speak. "Ahh, this young master would actually like you to ask where my cousin is? If he is still busy, will you go and inform him that I need to go back to the Wu Estate first and if you can, please have someone arrange a carriage for me to borrow for my use. As for my mount, this young master will have someone fetch it later." "Of course, this servant will arrange for everything and send your message to the Crown Prince. As for Young Master Wu, would you like to stay in your room and rest while I make the arrangements or would Young Master like some tea be sent in?" "No need, this young master will just wait for you to finish. Just knock on the door once everything is done." "As you wish... If Young Master Wu would excuse me then..." With a wave of his hand, Wu Jun Qiao then returned inside and reclined on the bed with his eyes closed as he waited. Meanwhile, Jin Meng Yao who just received the message of his cousin from the servant was surprised before worry filled his face. This was clearly seen by his master, Fan Hui Zhong who was talking with Min Sheng just a couple of steps away from him. "Little Yao, what''s wrong?" Fan Hui Zhong asked after halting his discussion with Min Sheng. "Master, I have to go. It would seem as though my cousin''s old illness flared up and I don''t want him to go back alone." "Is that so? Go on then, I''ll arrange for both of your mounts. Has a carriage been prepared then?" "Yes Master. The servant before said that he already arranged for it to be prepared." "Mm, very good then." Fan Hui Zhong said with a nod before turning to Min Sheng and saying, "Min Sheng, go and escort them back. We can talk later when you get back." Giving a respectful nod, Min Sheng quickly acknowledged his order before excusing himself to make sure the carriage they''ll be taking is prepared properly. Seeing his master''s thoughtfulness, Jin Meng Yao felt touched as a wave of nostalgia swept through him. Truly his master hasn''t changed a bit! "Thanks for your help Master." "Enough of that, no need to dwell on the little things. Go on and find your cousin, you can tell me what you''ve been doing while I was away some other time." "En!" Hurrying off, Jin Meng Yao chased after the servant and had him hurriedly bring him to where Wu Jun Qiao was residing. Inside his room, everything was quiet and Wu Jun Qiao was absorbing spiritual qi from his surroundings and slowly circulating it within his body to at least alleviate some of the fatigue he was feeling when the door suddenly burst open making his eyes snap open. "What the-" "Jun Qiao! Are you alright?!" Jin Meng Yao yelled out as he rushed inside, almost tearing the door down in the process, surprising Wu Jun Qiao who gaped at his cousin''s antics. "Meng Yao! Why under heaven''s name are you running around for?" Realizing the impact of his actions, Jin Meng Yao inadvertantly blushed and tried covering up his embarrassment by retorting hotly, "Well if someone didn''t worry this prince then would this prince even be rushing about? What an ungrateful person!" Humphing angrily, Jin Meng Yao stared daggers at his obviously pale and sickly looking cousin who even had the gall to start chuckling! How dare he?! Seeing him turn redder, Wu Jun Qiao took a deep breath, composing himself before he replied with a grin and said, "Cousin, I''m fine. You didn''t have to worry." "Nonsense! Mother told me how bad your state can get whenever your illness flares up!" Feeling warmed inside, Wu Jun Qiao just smiled and said thanks. After that, he let Meng Yao do whatever he wanted which made him not know if he should laugh or cry with his cousin acting like a worried mother hen hovering over him without stopping even when they left and arrived back at Wu Estate. For crying out loud, Jin Meng Yao wouldn''t even leave him alone until Wu Zheng He got back and assured him that he''ll take care of him. This of course amused Wu Zheng He immensely while leaving Wu Jun Qiao feeling exasperated despite being appreciative with his cousin''s concerns. Meanwhile, back at the Fan Estate, Fan Zhu Xia who finally regained consciousness chose to rest first and didn''t immediately go inform anyone that she''s awake. Instead, she took the chance to rearrange her thoughts and check her current status. As a physician, a mere inspection was nothing to her and she quickly noticed that during the time she was unconscious, someone should have fed her a revitalising elixir or pill of some sort which had stabilized her condition and prevented her from getting worse and even aiding her divine sense get a jump start. Deciding to slowly cultivate and recover, she drank the leftover Vitality Returning Pill and Spirit Reinforcement Pill she previously made to recover her strength and stimulate her mind and nourish her soul due to the injuries she incurred when she pushed past her limits in using her divine sense and mental power. Seeing that she almost succumbed to her inner demon, she checked her interspatial ring until she found the last remaining Energy Stabilizing Pill to calm her qi since her qi was moving a bit to erratically for her own liking. It was as if she was just on the verge of qi deviation and drinking the pill ensured that she won''t have to suffer from any complications. After ascertaining that she''s already mostly recovered, Fan Zhu Xia gingerly got up from the bed and stretched out her body, working out some of the numbness from staying in one position for a long time. Just as she was reaching for the door, it suddenly opened and a young lady with a delicate beauty entered with a steaming bowl of medicine in her hands. Noticing her, the young lady froze as she stared at Fan Zhu Xia with wide eyes filled with shock and surprise. Seeing her stand dumbfounded, Fan Zhu Xia gave her a soft, reassuring smile before speaking gently as if afraid to startle her even further. "Hello, I''m sorry for scaring you but may I ask if you know how long I''ve been unconscious?" Getting a hold of herself, the young lady blushed as she softly replied, "Just a little over two days, almost three days to answer Young Miss'' question." Nodding pensively, Fan Zhu Xia opened her mouth to ask another question. "And do you happen to know what medicines I''ve drank since I fell unconscious?" "Only a Holy Divining Pill that my master concocted... and well, I was supposed to feed you this revitalizing elixir as well but Young Miss is already awake." "Revitalizing elixir you say? Let me drink it then, I do still feel a bit weak." Fan Zhu Xia said slowly with a smile and realizing the meaning of words, the young lady quickly yet gently ushered Zhu Xia to sit before helping her drink. Finishing it up, Fan Zhu Xia handed the bowl back to the young lady who immediately took it before curiously asking her, "What''s your name?" Remembering that she forgot to introduce herself, the young lady blushed and shyly told Fan Zhu Xia her name. "This lowly one is called Ying Xiao Li but Young Miss may call me Xiao Li or Lili..." "Lili then... Thank you for your care this past few days." "Lili is just glad to be of help Young Miss." Smiling, Fan Zhu Xia got up again and gestured to Xiao Li and said, "Come then Lili... Please help me get to where grandfather is. I''d like to check on his condition first." "To inform Young Miss, the Old Patriarch is currently in closed door cultivation. Please rest assured that the Old Patriarch''s condition is already good. The Young Miss did a splendid job in treating him." "Is that so? Then that is very good to hear. Take me to my father then. There are some things that I need to talk to him about..." 84 Taking Action - 27.4 "Young Miss, are you sure you want to go to the training fields?" Ying Xiao Li questioned again as she worriedly looked at Fan Zhu Xia who just recently regained her consciousness as far as she knows. Looking at her worried expression, Fan Zhu Xia just shook her head and gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course I want to go there Lili. Didn''t you tell me that Father''s currently there?" "But-" "Relax Lili! I''m more than alright. I just really need to talk to Father about something." "But Young Miss, Lili could have gone and informed Lei Wangye that you''ve woken up and I''m sure he would have gone to see you immediately." "And that''s exactly what I''m trying to avoid! Didn''t you tell me that a lot has happened in the short span that I was unconscious?" "But-" "No Lili. If Father is busy then I won''t disrupt his work even more if I can help it." Seeing Fan Zhu Xia''s determined expression, Ying Xiao Li sighed and just shot her another worried look then said, "Lili understands but Young Miss must tell Lili if she feels any pain or discomfort!" "Yes, yes. Now come on... Let''s hurry!" With Fan Zhu Xia''s urging, Ying Xiao Li picked up her pace, all the while keeping an eye on any changes on Zhu Xia''s condition. Before long, they arrived at a wide training field filled with a large number of people standing in organized groups and as they looked around, Fan Zhu Xia soon spied Fan Hui Zhong''s form standing at the front. Seeing that her father''s busy giving instructions to the throng of people, Fan Zhu Xia decided to quietly wait for him to finish at the back with Ying Xiao Li. Despite trying to not draw any attention to herself, Fan Hui Zhong inadvertantly caught sight of her when he seeped his gaze across the crowd in front of him. Losing his focus, Fan Hui Zhong stopped talking mid-sentence and suddenly strode off. The soldiers who were confused by his actions turned to follow his gaze were then stunned at what they saw. Two young ladies, both delicate beauties with one who exuded a quiet shyness while the other looking coldly aloof and untouchable. Ying Xiao Li who noticed the crowd''s attention felt slightly uncomfortable and took a small step towards Fan Zhu Xia who just took her hand in hers and patted it comfortingly. "Relax. Nothing to worry about Lili." she murmured with a small smile before she let go and walked forward to meet her father halfway. Once close enough, Fan Hui Zhong immediately enclosed Fan Zhu Xia tightly within his arms and buried his face in her hair. Feeling him trembling slightly, Fan Zhu Xia felt guilty and hugged him closer as she tucked her head into his chest. "Sorry for making you worry..." Inhaling deeply, Fan Hui Zhong then slowly let go of her and pushed her gently to arm''s length to examine her closely. "Are you alright?" With just these three words, Fan Zhu Xia heard and felt his unending worries and boundless concern. It was just like back when he first found her. It made her feel choked up as unshed tears glistened in her eyes. Heavens know how terrifyingly close she was to losing herself and despite her cold and calm appearance, what she felt was totally the opposite.Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. She just got used to the habit of putting on this mask to show that everything was okay. That nothing was wrong. When the truth was that it was not. Yet she just gave him a small smile before she softly spoke and said, "I''m fine." It was a lie and both of them knew it. Yet neither spoke of it. They had a tacit understanding and despite seeing the pained look on Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes, Fan Zhu Xia just shook her head and directed a calm gaze towards him with smile. "Truly I am." she reiterated with a warm and reassuring tone. Sighing, Fan Hui Zhong just tightly squeezed her hand before deciding to change the subject. "Why did you come all the way here? You should have just let someone come and call me." "I''m sorry. I was in a rush to talk to you... and I also wanted to see if you''re alright..." "Then would you like to go back together? I should be done here soon." "I''ll wait for Father then." "En." With an affectionate look, Fan Hui Zhong then led her to one of the closest trees that provided shade and quickly produced a couple of chairs and a small table for her to sit and wait in. Seeing his actions, Ying Xiao Li whose been silently following quickly excused herself with a murmured excuse to have someone bring some refreshments. After making sure that she''s comfortable, Fan Hui Zhong left her and went back to the crowd of soldiers waiting for him while inconspicuously watching their exchange. Eyeing the soldiers, Fan Hui Zhong opened his mouth to speak. "This Lord knows that all of you are surprised and probably curious as to who that young lady is. Remember her face for she is my daughter and the young miss of Lei Palace... This Lord expects you to treat her accordingly lest you suffer my wrath. Is that clear?" "YES WANGYE!" the soldiers'' voices boomed out in unison, making Fan Hui Zhong give them an approving nod. "Alright then. As I''ve informed you all before, look at the people around you since this people will be your groups for the duration of your training. I''ve already discussed things with Min Sheng along with my nephew LI Jie and both of them should be taking turns in training you in different areas. Remember that here, we do not accept any slackers and anyone with subpar levels. This army is something I''ve personally built and I will not... I REPEAT, NOT have anyone with ulterior motives ruin the Lei Sha Di Army!" With a sweeping gaze, he pinned them under his piercing eyes, the threat in them blatantly obvious to everyone there. A short moment passed before Fan Hui Zhong felt satisfied enough at the soldiers'' reactions and felt that he already got his point across. "Remember, that from the moment all of you joined your lives belonged to us. We as your masters hold the last say on whether you live or die... It''s not like your lives are worthless. On the contrary, your lives are quite important especially since all of you here practically serves as our sword and shield." Looking at them, Fan Hui Zhong paused for a minute before he continued and said," There is no strict rule here but there is one thing that This Lord would like you to carve on your minds and souls... Your loyalty is priceless. As such, as long as you don''t have any thoughts to betray and harm us then the Fan Family and the Lei Palace will treat you the same way as close comrades whose gone through a sea of blades and blazing fires and promise to take care and shield you from any threats, no matter what it is or from where they came from." "Now This Lord knows that most of you are tired and still getting used here so you may all go back and take a rest. Follow your seniors and let them show you where you all will be staying. Dismissed!" Acknowledging him, all the soldiers gave a respectful bow as they slowly trickled out of the field and seeing them dispersing, Fan Hui Zhong made his way back to Fan Zhu Xia''s side where she was already quietly drinking wine making him frown slightly. "Xia''er..." Hearing his disapproving tone filled with underlying concern, Fan Zhu Xia just gave him a small smile in response. "Father, how about we go back to my courtyard so we can talk?" 85 Schemes And Plans - 28.1 \"How are you feeling?\" Hearing the deep and obvious concern, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help the smile that tugged her lips upwards as a feeling of warmth spread through her. \"I''m fine, Father. Truly I am... I just need to rest for a couple of days and I''ll be fine.\" \"That''s good to hear.\" Fan Hui Zhong nodded with relief at her response before his lips suddenly twitched and he let out a low chuckle. Quirking her eyebrows, Fan Zhu Xia shot a questioning look towards him to which he only shook his head with a smile before he opened his mouth to answer. \"It''s nothing much. A thought just crossed my mind.\" \"Care to share?\" \"Your cousins would be quite relieved to hear that you''re doing alright. You have no idea of your importance to them. Heavens, even that boy; Yong Rui was positively livid when he arrived and found out that you got injured!\" \"Second Brother''s mad?\" Fan Zhu Xia exclaimed in surprise. Giving her a thoughtful look, Fan Hui Zhong nodded before he slowly said, \"That''s right...He was very concerned and worried about you actually...\" Remembering their first meeting, Zhu Xia''s eyes flashed before a sheepish look showed on her face as she rushed to explain to prevent Fan Hui Zhong having any misunderstandings. \"Xia''er ran into him at the auction and we were able to chat for a bit and realized that we had a lot in common so we got along really well but he had to leave earlier than me which was why he wasn''t there when you picked me up at the Jade Herb Medicine Hall.\" \"Is that so? Well no need to explain, Father was just curious.\" Fan Hui Zhong said with an amused, teasing smile. Giving him a wary look, Fan Zhu Xia decided to change the topic and asked, \"What about the two children we brought back? How are the both of them?\" \"They''re fine, don''t worry. The boy is currently recovering from his wounds in your courtyard and the girl is stable. She hasn''t woken up yet and her body is most likely recuperating it''s strength while she''s still asleep.\" \"That''s a relief.\" \"En. Although Father would like to ask you to do something for me.\" \"What is it?\" \"Remember the boy?\" \"Yes?\" \"Remember when I told you about the seal I sensed on him?\" \"Did Father find out more information about it?\" Fan Zhu Xia queried curiously. \"Not much but your Uncle Liang did tell me something quite interesting about it.\" Giving him a look, Fan Hui Zhong continued on and explained, \"We haven''t figured out the purpose of the seal nor how to lift it but your uncle did manage to figure out who placed it on him in the first place.\" \"Really?!\" \"En.\" \"Then who?\" \"Your grandfather.\" \"I''m guessing Grandfather hasn''t taken a look at him yet?\" \"Unfortunately not. Your grandfather was in a hurry to go into closed door cultivation because he was too worried about you and since Ru Wen Cheng, our family''s physician said that in order to help rouse you from your coma, a strong soul and divine sense is especially needed to help give a jolt to your system. It''s actually why I was so surprised to see you at the training fields, awake and looking fine albeit a bit pale.\" Hearing his words, a pondering look came over Fan Zhu Xia''s face before she slowly opened her mouth to ask, \"So no one helped me wake up?\" \"If you mean, helped give your consciousness a jolt, then no. If I was back at my peak state then I would have certainly been able to help you but as of now I''m unable to which is why we were relying on your grandfather for this.\" \"En. I understand.\" Fan Zhu Xia softly replied. \"Then what is it that Father wants me to do?\" \"Keep your distance from the children for now. Especially the boy since we haven''t figured him out fully yet.\" Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia just nodded in acquiescence. Seeing her reaction, Fan Hui Zhong felt relieved before he started to relay to his daughter all that happened while she was unconscious, starting from when she passed out from treating her grandfather; Fan Song Xue, to how the traitors were uncovered and dealt with and all the way to the imperial edict that the emperor bestowed upon him that gave him not only substantial land but also showed him immense trust and favor by allowing him to build up his own private army. Surprised at the turnaround of events, FAN Zhu Xia only listened quietly to her father while occasionally voicing out her opinions on some matters before settling down with a contemplating look. Noticing it, Fan Hui Zhong lifted a questioning brow before opening his mouth to ask. \"What are you thinking about?\" \"Nothing concrete yet but I do have an idea...\" Prompting her to continue, Fan Zhu Xia went on and said, \"Since Father will be busy building and training an army, why not let your daughter help by training some doctors and physicians for you?\" Hearing her offer, a glint could be seen in Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes as a slow but delighted grin formed on his face. \"Are you sure?\" \"Positive. Father already knows my plans of building up my own power and this could be my first step. If I take a particular liking to a certain person while I''m training them then I''ll certainly keep them for myself.\" Satisfied with her answer, Fan Hui Zhong gave a nod of approval before standing up, eliciting a look of query from Fan Zhu Xia. \"Father will just go and finish some things and find your uncle on the way to inform him of your idea so we can make some preparations as well.\" \"Alright then.\" \"In the meantime, stay here in your grandfather''s courtyard and rest for a while. I already had your maidservants summoned and had them prepare something for you to eat. They should be arriving soon, also your aunt and cousins might drop by before long as soon as they hear the news that you''ve already regained consciousness.\" \"Xia''er understands.\" \"Alright then. Be good and don''t run around. You just woke up so rest and don''t make Father worried, okay?\" \"Yes Father.\" Fan Zhu Xia replied with a reassuring smile. Returning it, Fan Hui Zhong then leaned down and kissed her forehead before striding out of the room and leaving. Alone in the room she woke up in, Fan Zhu Xia softly sighed as she let her mind wander and think of what she''ll need to do and it wasn''t long before she heard a gentle knock coming from the other side of the door as a low voice called out to her before the door slid open and a head poked in to check inside the room. Seeing the familiar face, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but smile. \"Young Miss! You''re awake!\" Chun Hua exclaimed loudly before her head was knocked down with a swift reprimanding hand from behind causing her to squeak making Fan Zhu Xia giggle as she heard another mellow voice speak in hushed tones, scolding Chun Hua. \"Sis, that hurts!\" \"It was meant to!\" Chun Tao retorted as she entered the same time Chun Hua shuffled in. Looking around, her gaze landed on Fan Zhu Xia''s form and she immediately curtsied before speaking while still bowed. \"Young Miss, please forgive my and my younger sister''s ignorance. Both of us were just worried about you.\" \"Chun Tao, Chun Hua, I''m glad you two are here. No need to apologize.\" Fan Zhu Xia replied with a smile. Relieved, Chun Tao then motioned to her sister and they both simultaneously started preparing and laying out some food and refreshments to let their young miss eat. Letting them do everything, Fan Zhu Xia just calmly waited and as soon as they were finished, she picked up the chopsticks that Chun Hua offered and started to pick and eat some food. She had barely started when she heard another sharp knock with the door sliding open, even before she could open her mouth to grant entry, to much of her amusement. Looking up, her eyes landed on the person who just entered as a smile appeared on her lips. \"Little Xia! You''re awake!\" 86 Schemes And Plans - 28.2 \"Little Xia!\" Startled by his sudden entrance yet not really surprised at his visit due to her father''s warning, Fan Zhu Xia smilingly greeted him with a happy tone in her voice as she said, \"Second Brother!\" \"Little Xia, you made Second Brother so worried!\" Fan Yong Rui burst out as he gathered her into his arms while giving her a tight hug just as she managed to stand up on her two feet. Feeling warmed by his concern, Fan Zhu Xia ignored the usual customary distancing between opposing sexes and returned his hug as well while leaning her head against his shoulders with her eyes closed. Just as she opened her mouth to comfort her cousin; Fan Yong Rui, she felt a strong gust of wind enter the room before herself be pulled from his arms to another with her head being securely tucked under someone''s chin as her eyes flew open to see herself pressed against an expanse of chest dressed in dark green robes. She was about to struggle free when she heard a deep voice murmur just above her ear. \"I''m glad you''re alright, but Xia''er, never ever do that again. Do you understand? \" Hearing the familiar voice that started scolding her, Fan Zhu Xia realized who was currently hugging her and she couldn''t help the soft giggle that escaped her before she muffled it with her hand as she leaned back to look at him and give him a nod and gentle smile as she opened her mouth to say one word. \"En.\" \"Good.\" Watching their short exchange, Fan Yong Rui pouted, stood there looking at the pair as if like an aggrieved wife seeing her husband with another woman before he reached out to snatch back Fan Zhu Xia and cradle her securely against him as he shot his older brother a discontented look. \"Alright, enough with that. Eldest Brother can''t hog Little Xia all to himself!\" Fan Yong Rui grumbled, displeased at his brother''s action of grabbing their cousin from him earlier. Lifting a brow, Fan Li Jie frowned at his brother before opening his mouth to sarcastically retort back. \"Well aren''t you hogging her all to yourself right now? Shouldn''t Second Brother let go of our little cousin then?\" With narrowed eyes and scowling faces, the two started bickering back and forth and seeing the situation slowly build up, Fan Zhu Xia''s two maids inconspicuously left the room. After all, the argument involved not only their young miss but also the two young masters! This simply isn''t something that they can interfere with! Both Chun Tao and Chun Hua could only apologize to their young miss deep in their hearts and hope that someone arrives to break up the argument inside the room before it escalates any further. The only thing the two maids can do is to stand quietly just outside the door and pay close attention to the sounds inside the room. When Wei Rou Xiang arrived with her youngest son; Fan Xian Liang in tow, they saw two young maids standing on either side of the door looking anxiously at each other. \"Ehem...\" Hearing a cough, the two maids quickly turned and saw the figures of Wei Rou Xiang and Fan Xian Liang standing a couple of feet before them. \"Madam!\" \"Young Master!\" Looking at their flustered faces, Wei Rou Xiang was about to open her mouth and ask why they were guarding the door when they heard loud yet muffled voices echo from inside the room. Feeling that the voices seemed familiar, Fan Xian Liang turned to his mother and slowly said, \"Mother, I think those voices belongs to Eldest Brother and Second Brother...\" Seeming to understand what''s happening, Wei Rou Xiang sighed and nodded in confirmation. Gesturing at her son, the two of them went closer and with Fan Xian Liang pushing the door open, the sight they saw baffled them to the point of being speechless. There inside the room stood two young men standing on either side of a young woman while their hands were clasped on each of her arms, constantly tugging her back and forth between them. Looking at them, it was quite a pleasing sight, with two handsome young men, one looking aloof and cold while the other looking elegant yet frivolous that were seemingly fighting over a peerlessly beautiful young lady. Normally, Wei Rou Xiang would have enjoyed seeing this and watching the show unfold but sadly, the two young men involved were both her sons and judging by the young lady''s exasperated expression on her face, this has been going on for quite a while already. Snapping back to her senses, Wei Rou Xiang''s gaze sharpened. \"Li Jie! Yong Rui! What under heaven''s name are you two doing?!\" Hearing their mother''s usually calm and gentle voice snap at them, the two both hastily let go of Fan Zhu Xia''s arms and turned to their mother. Seeing her fearsome gaze, the two who had just opened their mouths to explain simultaneously closed them together and remained silent. Seeing their actions, Fan Zhu Xia who was the object of the tug of war looked at them with wonder before her eyes curiously landed on the woman who made her bickering cousins as meek as sheep. Meeting Fan Zhu Xia''s inquisitive gaze, Wei Rou Xiang smiled at her gently before turning to her youngest son and saying, \"Xian''er go and help your cousin sit down while I go talk to your brothers outside.\" Shooting a glance at his brothers, Fan Xian Liang then gave a nod before striding forward and giving the young lady a smile. \"Hello Cousin. I''m glad to finally meet you.\" Seeing the young man act friendly, Fan Zhu Xia returned his smile as she replied. \"Likewise. Father has told me much about you.\" Hearing her words, Fan Zhu Xia felt both Li Jie''s and Yong Rui''s gazes land on her but before they could say anything, their mother drew their attention and gestured for them to follow her outside. Sighing simultaneously, the two then shot pitiful looks at her, even Li Jie before they followed her out. With her curiosity definitely piqued, she then turned to Fan Xian Liang who was left with her and shot him a questioning look to which he then chuckled in reply. \"No need to worry Cousin... Mother would just talk to them for a bit and then they''ll be back in no time.\" \"Just talk? Really?\" Fan Zhu Xia asked with a subtle yet obviously amused grin on her lips. Laughing, Fan Xian Liang shook his head before replying. \"Fine, fine... Mother will most likely be scolding them for fighting and putting you in the middle like that but that''s it, nothing serious.\" \"If you say so...\" After that, the two of them fell into a comfortable silence which ended up with Fan Zhu Xia looking at him with a weird expression, making Fan Xian Liang uncomfortable. \"Do I have something on my face?\" \"No, not really...\" \"Then why are you looking at me like that?\" Instead of answering, Fan Zhu Xia remained silent before she opened her mouth and asked a question back instead. \"Have we met before?\" Startled at the question, it took Fan Xian Liang a minute before understanding dawned on him. \"In a way?\" he answered with a laugh making Fan Zhu Xia frown in confusion. \"What do you mean?\" \"Well Cousin, I first saw you when you were on your way here to the capital, just a short distance away when you set up camp with Uncle to rest. You were dressed in red at that time and happily drinking away at the time.\" \"Oh, so you were one of the people peeping at us...\" Fan Zhu Xia slowly said with a knowing look on her face. As her words sank in, Fan Xian Liang panicked and missed the teasing glint in Fan Zhu Xia''s pale blue eyes as he hurriedly defended himself. \"Peeping?! We weren''t peeping! If anyone was peeping it would definitely be Meng Yao and not me!\" \"Meng Yao?\" Realizing what he said, an awkward look appeared on his face as he replied in a small voice. \"Uhh, yes... my friend, Jin Meng Yao. He was the one who initially noticed you and wanted to approach you but I stopped him.\" \"Ahh, is that so?\" \"En.\" Seeing the nervous look on his face, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help herself any longer and she burst into a fit of giggles. Realizing that his cousin was teasing him, Fan Xian Liang mock-glared at her before he shook his head in resignedly as a few helpless chuckles escaped him. When, Wei Rou Xiang came back, this is what she saw, with the two cousins laughing and teasing each other harmoniously. Glancing up, Fan Xian Liang noticed his mother return alone so he couldn''t help but ask, \"Where''s Eldest Brother and Second Brother?\" \"Uncle Guo dropped by to tell them that your father and uncle was looking for them and needed them for something.\" \"I understand Mother.\" With a nod, Wei Rou Xiang then turned to Fan Zhu Xia with a soft, motherly smile on her face. \"So you must be Xia''er! I''ve heard so much about you...\" 87 Schemes And Plans - 28.3 While Fan Zhu Xia got acquainted with her new aunt and cousin, a very important discussion was happening. "Li Jie, Yong Rui, it''s good that both of you are here." "Of course. What did you need us for Father? Uncle?" Instead of answering Fan Li Jie, their father gestured for them to take a seat first. Meeting each other''s gazes, the two brothers simultaneously sat down with tacit understanding. While one looked serious and aloof, the other exuded an air of lazy frivolity. A complete contrast to each other yet oddly complementary. Seeing his sons'' different personalities clearly reflected in the aura and presence they portray, Fan Hui Liang couldn''t help but let out a few chuckles before he motioned his brother to take the lead. Nodding, Fan Hui Zhong swept a glance at his nephews before finally opening his mouth to explain why they called for them. "I am sure both of you already know that your father and I have decided to make several moves to reassert are family''s status within the capital..." With a single word, Li Jie nodded as he said "En." At the same time that Yong Rui playfully affirmed and replied, "Of course, Uncle." Nodding in approval, Fan Hui Zhong continued. "When the title of Lei Wangye was bestowed upon me and I was given authority and status to have my own Lei Palace, the timing for me was incredibly inopportune and my circumstances was not the best which is why all the pressure of both our family''s affairs and my Lei Palace was handled by your father. This resulted with the Lei Palace being inextricably linked to the Fan Estate and although I personally have no problems in regards to this, this however had an unfortunate influence on the Fan Estate." Seeing that both of them were listening attentively, Fan Hui Zhong went on to explain. "At first glance, our Fan Family benefits from it''s association with the Lei Palace and to some extent, that is true. However, due to the benefits gained will also be some unwanted attention along with some underlying schemes and plots made by those who feel threatened or envious of this. What happened happened recently is enough proof of that." "Then wouldn''t things just become harder from now on after receiving the emperor''s imperial edict?" Fan Li Jie asked. "That is indeed true which is why we summoned the two of you so that you may also share your thoughts as well as assist your father and I to ensure that our plans does not fail." Seeing Li Jie''s pondering look, Fan Hui Zhong took the initiative and further elaborated. "First of all, with the imperial edict, we have monopolized the are surrounding Dark Flames Mountain due to the newly bestowed three plots of the surrounding land to my Lei Palace in addition to our Fan Estate''s current ownership of the remaining area. As of now, you both know that the construction of the walls has already begun with the Dark Flames Mountain as the center. Things will generally stay the same with the only difference that I want to help expand the area the Fan family''s estate occupies. This is where the two of you will come in." To further explain, Fan Hui Liang then took over and said, "Your uncle and I have discussed this and I am sure your grandfather will agree to this as well. First of all, we have decided to move the Fan Estate to the eastern side of the Dark Flames Mountain and as such, it''s entrance would be much nearer to the area where most military and officials estates would be located, just a short distance away from where our old estate used to be. For this matter, preparations are already underway and you; Li Jie will be in charge of overseeing this and should you need help, you may ask your mother and young brother; Xian for assistance." Upon hearing this, Fan Li Jie just nodded silently but a small, almost imperceptible frown could be seen forming between his brows. Seeing this, Fan Hui Zhong chose to explain their reasons behind this decision. "Li Jie, we placed you in charge because we trust that you know what to prioritize during this time. It''s up to you to ensure that the newly built Fan Estate would be nigh impossible to infiltrate. The building placements along with each courtyards location as well as facilities must all be built strategically and this is what your best at. Your mother will only help you in regards to the overall aesthetic appearance of the estate, just to prevent it from being too militaristic, after all the estate isn''t a military barracks. We''re leaving you in charge of this since your father still has duties as a military official to attend to." "I understand. I''ll do my best." Fan Li Jie replied, seriousness filling him. "Good." Fan Hui Liang smiled in approval. After this, Fan Hui Zhong then turned to his other nephew who was sitting there looking relatively relaxed and without a care in the world. Towards this nephew of his, Fan Hui Zhong only had a few words to say. "Keep doing what you''re doing." "En." Fan Yong Rui acknowledged with a meaningful smile. In regards to this, Fan Li Jie shot a questioning look towards his father to which he only replied, "Your brother; Yong Rui is in charge of gathering information." "Information? Is that why he''s always out? He''s not going to all those brothels and gentlemen''s clubs?" Before their father could reply, Fan Yong Rui let out a bout of laughter before smilingly explaining to his older brother. "Eldest Brother, that is where you are wrong. I DO go to brothels... I DO spend time in various gatherings at gentlemen''s clubs! Where do you think I got my reputation as a dandy?" he said with another laugh. Seeing the confused look on his face, even Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but let out a few chuckles of his own. "Li Jie, my boy, what Yong Rui is doing is actually the best way to gather information. No one would suspect a frivolous, flower-pants, especially a dandy with a notorious reputation and even if he is suspected, he definitely wouldn''t be the first one on the list thus enabling him to gather more as well as retreat safely. Yong Rui is able to find out about things and have underground dealings more easier than any of us here all because of his reputation as the capital''s number one dandy." "Is that so?" Fan Li Jie murmured as he shot a measuring yet appreciative glance towards his younger brother. Unfortunately, any appreciation he had was tossed outside the window with Fan Yong Rui''s next words. "Don''t look at me like that brother, I can''t handle Eldest Brother''s expectations! Just because I gather information does not mean I don''t enjoy my time with the ladies and my fun excursions as a bona fide dandy, after all, this Young Master isn''t as boring as Eldest Brother!" After this, the serious atmosphere was broken with both Fan Hui Zhong''s and Fan Hui Liang''s loud, boisterous laughter that was almost drowned out by Fan Li Jie''s indignant scream. "YONG RUI!" 88 Schemes And Plans - 28.4 After that day, Fan Zhu Xia was practically left to her own devices. From her three cousins, the only one who has extra time to spare and keep her company is Fan Xian Liang with Fan Yong Rui occasionally dropping by to drink with her, usually after dinner time while she only sees Fan Li Jie occasionally when he has time to spare to join her for breakfast. All in all, her time was pretty idle. Aside from her two maids, the only new company she kept was the young lady that she met when she just woke up, Ying Xiao Li. Since she had decided to build her own force, she decided on training Ying Xiao Li first since she already had a background in medicine and so was easier to teach and train. During this time, she stayed in her grandfather''s courtyard despite wanting to go back to her own. Luckily, from what she''s sensing, her grandfather''s breakthrough isn''t far off so she just told herself to continue to be patient. Aside from teaching Ying Xiao Li and preparing for the imperial banquet with her aunt, she also managed to convince her father; Fan Hui Zhong to undergo her treatments to finally resolve his long-term illness and as luck was on their side, the treatment went on flawlessly and her father was able to make great strides in coming closer to his peak condition in the past. While all this was happening, the estate wasn''t idle. From what Fan Hui Zhong told her, as long as the old patriarch; Fan Song Xue agreed then the current estate would be handed over to her to serve as her very own manor since they''ll be moving the Fan Estate to a different yet larger area on another side of the Dark Flames Mountain. With this in mind, she threw her worries to the back of her mind and focused on the things at hand, paying no attention to everything that''s been happening outside. While Fan Zhu Xia passed her days leisurely and without worry, the atmosphere outside estate could be said to be the exact opposite! Instead, the capital seemed abuzz with hidden whispers as rumors ran amok, bringing a feverish excitement as everyone, especially those from prestigious families, officials and individuals with lofty statuses look forward to the oncoming imperial banquet. Almost all of them heard of the presence of the visiting imperial princess from Spirit Valor Country and this was inarguably an opportunity to make an impression and foster positive relations with her and indirectly her country. Just with this, a lot of people are already immersed in planning on how to get close to the Spirit Valor Princess when another piece of information circulated around which threw everyone into a frenzy. According to the so-called rumors, when the widely renowned Lei Wangye; Fan Hui Zhong returned to the capital, he didn''t return alone. Apparently, he brought back along a young maiden and this particular young lady was supposedly a daughter that he''s adopted during his travels! Heaven''s only knew what this means! A daughter for crying out loud! And based from various sources, this was young lady who was at the spring of her youth, the perfect age to be betrothed! Didn''t they have countless sons at marriageable ages back at home?! This was truly a god-given opportunity! When most heard this, almost immediately, they all rushed home to talk to their sons. While some agreed with their father''s plans and thought that it was a great idea, others vehemently opposed the idea of marrying some unknown woman despite her background while a few others remained neutral in their stance and wanted to see who this young lady was. Among the young men who was inevitably called to their father''s respective study was the young master of the Fu Family; Fu Qing Tian. "Father, you called for me?" Fu Qing Tian called out respectfully after nodding in greeting the moment he entered the room. "Tian''er, yes, I did. Come and take a sit." Fu Qing Jue gestured to his son as he sipped a cup of freshly brewed tea. Pouring himself a cup, Qing Tian shot an inquiring look before he asked, "Did Father need me for something?" A short moment passed while the two drank their tea before Fu Qing Jue finally opened his mouth and spoke. "Have you heard of the rumors outside?" "Rumors? What rumors?" "The one about Lei Wangye having a daughter..." "Oh that? What about it?" Shooting his son a measuring glance, Fu Qing Jue calmly answered and said, "Nothing really, I just wanted to know what you thought about the rumor." "Oh, it isn''t a rumor Father. It''s actually true." Fu Qing Tian replied in a nonchalant manner before serenely taking a sip, not paying any heed to how his father almost choked and spat his own tea out. "Qing Tian! You...!" Raising a brow at his father, Fu Qing Tian looked at his father cooly, prompting the other to take deep breaths to calm down. After regaining his composure, Fu Qing Jue asked seriously, "What do you mean it''s real?" Sensing the mood, Fu Qing Tian stopped teasing his father and also got serious. "Does Father remember the incident that happened more than a week ago in our Jade Herb Medicine Hall involving Venerable Doctor Gu Lang?" "En. What about it?" "Do you remember how I told you that a young lady intervened on behalf of the children and even treated the poisoned little girl?" "Don''t tell me-" "En. That young lady was Lei Wangye''s daughter." Stunned, Fu Qing Jue fell silent as he mulled over this piece of news over and understanding how his father felt at the moment, after all, Fu Qing Tian felt the same way when he first found out so remained quiet. "Tian''er, are you absolutely sure about this information?" Fu Qing Jue asked in a low voice. "Positive. That day, not only was Young Miss Fan personally escorted by Captain Min Sheng but even Lei Wangye personally dropped by to come and pick her up from our Jade Herb Medicine Hall." "If that truly is the case then a lot of things should be happening in the capital soon." "En." Meanwhile at the imperial palace, two parties had already heard of this particular piece of very interesting news and their reactions, although both are inevitably surprised, how they felt about it were wholly different. "Did you manage to gather information on the girl?" a young lady asked haughtily. "Unfortunately not, Princess... Both the people from the Fan family as well as the Lei Palace are keeping things quiet and under wraps, making it hard for us to gather information without the other party noticing." "Understandable however do make sure to keep an eye on this one. I want to know any information regarding this so-called daughter of Lei Wangye!" "This servant understands." Just thinking about this unknown woman living in the same place as her beloved Brother Li made Ning Yan Mei grit her teeth in anger. Seeing that the old cultivator her father sent with her to act as her servant hasn''t left yet, she shot him an annoyed glance before she spoke. "Anything else?" "Yes, Your Highness. It is regarding the young man you previously had me investigate." With her interest piqued, Ning Yan Mei straightened up and impatiently gestured for him to continue. "From what this old man found, the young man is apparently the adopted son of the older brother of the empress who is also a highly respected general here. Based on what this servant''s sources were able to dig out, his name is Wu Jun Qiao, a young boy who was coincidentally saved by General Wu during one of his travels who was then later adopted by him. Aside from this, the reason why your servant wasn''t able to immediately gather information about him was partly due to the fact that this is the first time that Wu Jun Qiao appeared here at the capital." "And why is that?" "To answer the Princess, this Wu Jun Qiao was apparently raised in the countryside and when he was eventually adopted, General Wu found him a master to teach him cultivation and then this master of his brought him along in his travels so aside from the rare meetings between General Wu and his adopted son, he didn''t have any chances to mingle within their social circles thus resulting in fewer people being able to recognize him." "That would a lot then as to why he appeared hear in the imperial palace... Very well then, you may leave. Just make sure to keep me updated." "Of course. If Your Highness would excuse this servant then." With a dismissive wave of her hand, Ning Yan Mei ignored her servant''s exit and instead started to think of the young lady of Lei Palace once more. Her eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint as she thought of how this unknown woman could possibly be a threat to her plans with getting close to Young Master Fan Li Jie. Even without meeting her, she already had a feeling of dislike, along with a bad impression of this young lady and so she started on thinking ahead on what she should do should this lady get in her way. On the other hand, just as morning court just finished for the day, the esteemed emperor was seen walking and conversing harmoniously with the empress in one of the many imperial gardens at the back palace. "Your Majesty, what do you think of the news spreading around the capital as of late?" Empress Wu Li Hua asked her husband, the emperor playfully. Seeing his wife act coy, Jin Fa Chung felt all his stress from morning court melt away as he teasingly remarked, "It would seem as though my dear empress is in a great mood today! Even in the mood for some good gossip..." Seeing his wife''s wide eyes, Jin Fa Chung laughed out loud before waving off the various eunuchs and maids following them. Pouting at her husband, Wu Li Hua scoffed, before she good-naturedly joined in laughing with a few chuckles of her own. "Fine then! Continue and laugh at me... I won''t share what I heard then! Hmph..." Wu Li Hua retorted angrily albeit the amused twinkle in her eyes betraying her true feelings. With a wave of his arms, the emperor swept the empress into his arms and with an apologetic smile, he hugged her to him while those servants who still had the two within view hastily averted their eyes to give their masters privacy. "Ahh, my dear Hua Hua, don''t be angry anymore... I already heard about the rumors, I believe we''ll find out more about it during the coming banquet." Jin Fa Chung coaxingly explained with a smile. "His Majesty really thinks so?" "En. I believe there would be quite a lot of surprises during this banquet." Hearing that, excitement gleamed in Wu Li Hua''s eyes. "Oh, how exciting!" 89 Schemes And Plans - 28.5 The remaining days leading to the one of the most anticipated banquets to be held at the imperial palace swiftly flew by amidst the hubbub of news and intrigue in the capital. Despite of the tangible tension and anticipation in the capital, the days remained peaceful and the only big news that happened was the reopening of the Jade Herb Medicine Hall after it was temporarily closed by the young master of the Fu family. It''s reopening drew a considerable amount of attention especially when someone from the Lei Palace along with a few guards dropped by on the opening day to present a congratulatory gift and expressed well wishes on behalf of their young miss. This of course gave everyone present at the time a huge surprise, after all, most of them there had heard of the rumored daughter of Lei Wangye! Everyone stared wide-eyed with shock at hearing the possible confirmation of this particular news. That is, until the Fu family''s young miss; Fu Zhenzhen gave an excited squeal as she rushed towards the representative who thankfully stayed calm and respectfully answered all of Fu Zhenzhen''s questions before eventually excusing themselves and went back after handing over their gift. After that, talks and speculation circulated on what the Fu''s connection was to the Lei Palace which was unfortunately left unanswered because nothing else happened after the reopening ceremony of the Jade Herb Medicine Hall. Amazingly, in spite of the increasing interest directed at not only the Lei Palace but also the Fan family, things remained peaceful on their end as they continued on closing their doors to any visitors and remained in seclusion as they focused on construction, rebuilding and rearranging both the Fan Estate and the Lei Palace. Pretty soon, people noticed that the elegant signboard of the Fan Estate along with the Lei Palace that once hanged on top of the gates has been removed and when those who were keeping a close eye on them investigated, they soon found their answer. First of all, the Fan Estate was moved to the newly bestowed property on the eastern side of the Dark Flames Mountain which means it''s entrance would be much nearer to the area where most military and officials estates would be located and was actually just a short distance away from where the old Fan Estate used to be. Aside from this, directly on the opposite side, a new estate with huge walls with simple yet elegant architecture was also constructed before a grand gate that drew attention shocked everyone when they saw that this was the new Lei Palace. All of this was actually finished quite fast and caught a lot of people off-guard. Despite hearing how both the Fan Family and the Lei Palace had hired a huge number of people to do construction as well as serve as new servants, excluding the recruitment of soldiers, the quick progress that they made was simply astounding! Those who were watching this happen, quickly figured out that the rumors stating that Fan Hui Zhong would be staying in the capital grew more and more to the point that it was practically confirmed yet what surprised them was that despite reclaiming his previous position as the Fan family head and general of the Thunder Vale Country from his younger twin brother; Fan Hui Liang, he instead only took up his formal title as Lei Wangye which is higher in rank and second only to the imperial family as well as focused on building up his own personal army; the newly reorganized Lei Sha Di Army after receiving the emperor''s permission. In doing so, on the northern side of Dark Flames Mountain, an imposing wall with sentry towers were built which obviously served as the Lei Sha Di Army''s barracks and training grounds with it''s militaristic designs and buildings. Everyone was completely in awe and some were quite curious on what will happen to the former Fan Estate, after all, all those who previously had the chance to visit knew that it was quite a beautiful estate that also had a lot of things that any prestigious family''s estate would have, from multiple courtyards, numerous gardens and other miscellaneous buildings so quite a number of people kept an eye on it yet its gates remained closed and no new signages could be seen. Meanwhile, while all of this occurred, behind the walls, in one particular courtyard, a small commotion took place early in the morning. One of the first people on the scene was no other than Fan Zhu Xia who was drinking quietly by herself in her room at the same courtyard. Sensing violent fluctuations within the surrounding spiritual energy, Fan Zhu Xia who was leisurely drinking as she reclined on her bed, looking positively alluring with an indolent air around her suddenly straightened up as a sharp glint appeared within her icy gaze. Rushing out of her room, looking quite flushed and tender, one would think she''s like a soft and innocent flower yet the aura she emitted was the complete opposite. With an icy countenance that contradicted the blush on her cheeks, she shot sharp look towards a group of guards who suddenly appeared beside her and as if she just gave an unspoken order, they all solemnly nodded before quickly dispersing to various positions to ensure that no one come there to cause any disturbances leaving Fan Zhu Xia alone as she stood just a few meters outside a particular room where a glowing dome of light pulsed brightly. Feeling a bit concerned as to whether the seal that got activated which produced the dome would hold under the strong and rapid changes as the spirit energy in the surrounding became increasingly agitated, Fan Zhu Xia frowned as she thought of what to do but just as she was in a dilemma, the sound of numerous footsteps sounded behind her when she heard her name being called. "Xia''er!" Turning around, her eyes met her father''s which twitched slightly the moment he got to her side and saw her flushed face and smelled the telltale scent of alcohol on her. "Xia''er..." Giving him a mischievous smile, Fan Zhu Xia lowly called back in the same tone as she calmed down enough to even be in a teasing mood the moment she saw Fan Hui Zhong coming with her uncle and eldest cousin with the familiar expression on his face whenever he finds her drinking. "Father..." Sighing, Fan Hui Zhong shook his head before deciding to change the subject as he glanced back at the glowing dome which his brother Fan Hui Liang was currently reinforcing with the help of his eldest son; Fan Li Jie. "When did this start?" Fan Hui Zhong asked as he kept an eye out for their surroundings. "Just a few minutes ago. I came out as soon as I felt the fluctuations and had the guards secure the surrounding perimeter of the courtyard to ensure no one unknown can come close." "Good." Sending a meaningful look towards her father, Fan Zhu Xia then slowly opened her mouth and asked, "Will there be any problems?" "There shouldn''t be. Despite both your uncle and I being here along with your eldest cousin, the others are keeping an eye on things." "Mhmm..." Seeing the unconvinced look on her face, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help the smile that crawled onto his face. "Don''t worry. Your aunt and cousin Xian is keeping an eye on the servants while Old Man Guo and Min Sheng are looking after the new soldiers and Yong Rui''s people are making sure that nothing unexpected happens and the news doesn''t get outside." "That''s good to hear then." Zhu Xia murmured quietly while her father nodded in agreement as both turned their attention back towards the glowing dome. Not long after, they felt that the disturbance in the air caused by the fluctuations in spirit energy in reaction to the violent qi that first erupted here was slowly returning back to normal making all of them there let out a sigh of relief. "It would seem as though Grandpa''s breakthrough was successful!" Fan Zhu Xia lowly exclaimed under her breath as a breathtaking smile bloomed on her face, making her look absolutely enchanting. Seeing that and hearing her words, the three men all collectively hummed in agreement with the same joy and excitement reflecting on their faces. Despite wanting to stay there, Fan Li Jie quickly left to check on the others after receiving instructions from his father, leaving Fan Zhu Xia alone with her father and uncle as they stood there and patiently waited for the door to open. Luckily, they didn''t have to wait long since it soon opened to reveal the old patriarch''s lively form. Fan Song Xue, who had just had a breakthrough in his cultivation and broke past his bottleneck quickly rushed out when he was stunned to see those standing there and waiting for him, especially his new granddaughter; Fan Zhu Xia whose condition was his main motivation to push for a breakthrough. Rushing up to her, Fan Song Xue placed his hands on her shoulders as he worriedly looked her up and down before speaking. "Little Xia, are you okay? How are you feeling?" Touched at his concern, Fan Zhu Xia gave him a bright smile. "Grandpa, Xia''er is fine. No need to worry anymore." "That''s good! Grandpa is very happy to hear that." "Well, we''re happy for you to, Grandpa! Congratulations on your breakthrough!" "Xia''er is right, we''re glad that your seclusion was successful, Father." Looking fondly at his son, Fan Song Xue shot him a smile before his expression turned serious. "Zhong''er how are things?" "Not a lot has happened, Father, but let your son update you on what you missed in the duration of your seclusion." 90 Unsealed, Unexpected Reveal - 29.1 After Fan Song Xue came out, he was greeted by his two sons along with two of his grandchildren, one of which is his new granddaughter. When his younger son; Fan Hui Liang left with his eldest grandson; Li Jie, the only ones that were left behind were his son; Hui Zhong and granddaughter; Zhu Xia. With a fond smile at his new granddaughter, Fan Song Xue then sent a look towards his son them said, "Zhong''er did anything happen during my closed-door cultivation?" "About that, how about you let this son of yours bring you up to date? Neither Liang''er nor I were really able to talk to you about what''s been going on before you went into seclusion." "Ah, yes yes... I was in a hurry at the time. Let''s go inside my study here then." With a nod, Fan Hui Zhong took a step to follow when Fan Song Xue suddenly stopped and turned to look at Fan Zhu Xia who was just about to leave to go back to her room. "Little Xia, where are you going?" "Sorry Grandpa, I was just going back to my room while you and Father talk." "Nonsense! You come with us, there are also things that Grandpa wants to talk to you about." A bit surprised to hear that, Fan Zhu Xia could only nod as she replied, "Oh, alright then." Without further ado, both father and daughter silently followed the old patriarch and was led into a comfortably-sized room with a desk, a couple of bookshelves and a table with a couple of seats. "Alright, now tell me Zhong''er, what have I missed?" Fan Song Xue asked. "You didn''t really miss a lot during your secluded cultivation since this past couple of days, Liang''er and I were all focused on our family and consolidating our power. The biggest news that happened is probably the fact that I received an imperial edict that allowed me to build up and expand my own army." "Build up your army? What exactly does that entail?" "Well first of all, I can only accomplish this if I return and actually stay here and fulfill my role as the Lei Wangye since this gives me the right as an honorary member of the imperial family. Aside from this development, I was also given all the plots of land surrounding Dark Flames Mountain so me and Liang''er decided to move Fan Estate to the eastern side of the mountain, that way, the estate''s entrance will be nearer to the district housing other military families while the Lei Palace is currently being constructed on the western side so that it''ll be closer to the imperial palace." "Mmhm, I understand... Anything else?" "The current Fan Estate which will shortly e vacated once the move is done, Liang''er left the decision on what to do with it to me." "As he should since you exchanged one of the properties bestowed upon you by His Majesty with him... Tell me Zhong''er, what are your plans for this?" "I''m planning on leaving it for my daughter so that she has room to grow on her own." Upon hearing that, Fan Song Xue''s brows raised slightly as he shot Fan Zhu Xia an inquiring look. "Grow on your own?" With a small smile, Fan Zhu Xia replied and said, "Yes, Grandpa. Xia''er wanted to train and raise her own people. Father already agreed and I also wanted to help nurture some talents that could be useful for everyone too." "Is that so?" "Yes, Father. As you have already realized, Xia''er is an extremely talented doctor and she will be helping us by providing a source of good physicians which will be quite useful for my Lei Palace and the family should you and Liang''er approve." Fan Hui Zhong interjected while explaining the reasoning behind the decision. "I understand... But are you sure you can do this, Little Xia?" "I can, Grandpa. Please trust Xia''er with this, Xia''er promises not to let you nor anyone else down." "Alright then Grandfather will leave this matter up to Little Xia." "En." Fan Zhu Xia nodded her head with a smile. Turning his head towards his son, Fan Song Xue then asked, "Is there anything else besides this matters?" "As for the things concerning our Fan family, I believe Liang''er will be better suited in explaining things to you but aside from that, there is one more matter we have to trouble Father with." Fan Hui Zhong said seriously. "What is it?" "It''s regarding a young boy who has a seal placed on him... When Liang''er checked him, he said that the spiritual qi that was used when placing the seal was extremely familiar and... and closely resembled yours, Father..." "Seal? On a boy you say?" Fan Song Xue queried absent-mindedly when his eyes widened as he shot up to his feet all of a sudden, knocking the chair he was sitting on to the floor and startling both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia. "Father? What is it?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with worry laced in his voice. "No time! I''ll explain things later, let me confirm things first. Where''s the boy? Take me to him now!" With a quick look at each other, Fan Hui Zhong quickly got on his feet and led his father out the room with Zhu Xia trailing closely behind them. As they rushed through the estate to go to Fan Zhu Xia''s Blooming Phoenix Courtyard, Fan Song Xue kept asking question after question about the boy they found and after each answer they gave, the expression on his face became darker and darker. "Everything fits! How could I have let this go on for so long... what if something bad happened before I woke up... should have told someone about this before I passed out! Stupid, stupid! Agh!" Rambling angrily under his breath, Fan Song Xue ignored Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia and practically flew into the courtyard the moment he saw it, leaving the two behind to rush after him. The scene they came upon to stunned both father and daughter when they saw the Old Patriarch; Fan Song Xue standing in a daze as he stared at the young boy who was startled into waking up due to how the Old Patriarch charged into the room, scaring the two children who now stood huddled together to one corner. Seeing them enter, the young boy''s eyes lit up with obvious relief and a hint of happiness can be heard in his voice when he called out to Fan Zhu Xia. "Elder Sister!" As if shocked out of his dazed stupor, Fan Song Xue''s eyes widened in surprise when he heard the young boy address his new granddaughter and calling her elder sister. Turning to face them, he then asked, "Elder Sister?" Knowing that her grandfather was confused, Fan Zhu Xia shot a reassuring smile towards the children before starting to explain the situation to Fan Song Xue. "Grandfather, it''s like this... The young boy over there is named Shi Hong and the one beside him is his friend Mu Lan Fen. Shi Hong happened to be adopted by his master who was a member of my late clan which is why I told him to refer to me as Elder Sister instead of Miss..." A few seconds passed as Fan Song Xue processed her words when he suddenly burst out into stunned yet joyful laughter, surprising everyone there. Feeling extremely baffled at his father''s fluctuating mood, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but hesitantly call out, "Father?" Realizing that no one there could understand his current thoughts and actions, Fan Song Xue felt a bit embarrassed but whatever embarrassment he felt completely dissipated when his eyes once more landed on Shi Hong''s form. With his gaze filled with indescribable fondness looked at the young boy and saw his small and skinny form, guilt filled him and Fan Song Xue couldn''t stop the tears that formed in his eyes. Upon seeing that, Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes met and they both sprang into action. With Fan Hui Zhong going to his father while Fan Zhu Xia ushered out the confused Mu Lan Fen and handing her to Chun Tao who was staying in the courtyard to keep an eye on the children and was drawn there due to the noise. After giving her maid instructions and telling her to look after the little girl, Fan Zhu Xia quickly returned to the room where she saw her father standing quietly to one side while watching her grandfather standing over the young Shi Hong who was sitting down cross-legged on the bed with his eyes closed while Fan Song Xue''s hands was pressed firmly on his forehead and chest. Apparently, the removal of seals has begun. 91 Unsealed, Unexpected Reveal - 29.2 Meeting Fan Zhu Xia''s questioning eyes when she just entered the room, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but slowly shake his head in a daze before turning back to look at his father who was wholly focused and concentrated on unsealing the young boy. Although he was watching them, his mind barely noticed his daughter''s presence when she moved to stand beside him because his head kept replaying the words father told him before he started the process of removing the seals. "This boy... Zhong''er this boy is your son!" Son. My son. Father just told him that the boy his daughter had just picked up was his son. How under heavens name could that be?! Didn''t he bury his son along with his wife more than a decade ago?! His father''s words threw his mind and emotions into chaos. That familiar dark abyss he''d climbed out of with difficulty felt like it was slowly creeping in, threatening to throw him back as memories of seeing his beloved wife dead with his newborn son in her arms all due to an attack by unknown assailants which also caused his already injured father to fall into a coma that he only recently woke up from. The memories he tried so hard to accept and move past from once again filled him with that familiar grief that he felt his chest tighten painfully as if an extremely heavy rock was pressing onto him making it hard for him to breathe. His eyes, although wide open seemed as if they were unseeing as his memories filled his head and it was as if he was reliving his nightmare all over again. He didn''t register his surroundings anymore. It was as if he was sucked back into that particular day once more. Fan Hui Zhong had received reports that a possible beast wave was brewing at Abyss Valley Mountain Range and since it was dangerously close to the capital, as one of the most trusted generals and as the newly appointed Lei Wangye, he had to go and check it despite of his reluctance. It wasn''t like he didn''t want to go but he was just worried since his wife; Su Yue Wan was quite close to giving birth and it made extremely anxious since this was his first child and on top of that, his wife was a frail and fragile woman, a total opposite of his sister-in-law; Wei Rou Xiang who was a pretty decent cultivator despite her petite and dainty looks. Instead, his little wife was truly a delicate, sickly beauty which is why he has been on tenterhooks ever since he found out that she was pregnant. Knowing that he had no choice, Fan Hui Zhong could only inform his wife and kiss her goodbye after telling her that he''ll just quickly check things out to make sure nothing is amiss and immediately come back. Although he was worried about his wife, he was also worried about a possible beast rampage since that can also put the capital in danger and if that happens, even his pregnant wife will be placed in danger so his only choice is to finish things as fast as possible. Fan Hui Zhong has been gone for three days and on the day he was scheduled to go back he felt a sinking feeling on his stomach, filling him with anxiety which urged him to hurry back. Among the soldiers he led to Abyss Valley Mountain Range, he left a majority there to stand guard and continue watching for any suspicious activity, with some of his trusted subordinates in charge while he only took a small group back with him. The moment he entered the gates of the capital, his uneasiness grew and since it was already evening, he hurriedly rushed back home to find the estate doors shut tight. Things seemed alright but when a breeze blew past him, it carried the faint hint of a familiar coppery-scent that made him freeze for a moment as his eyes dilated with fear for the fraction of a second before he immediately sprung into action. Dismounting his horse, he jumped over the wall and rushed inside. He focused on his surroundings and scanned his vicinity and before long, he managed to locate the source of the scent of blood. Carefully approaching it, he realized the the prone figures lying in the shadows belonged to the estate guards who was supposed to be on duty. After quickly checking to see if they were just knocked out, Fan Hui Zhong''s expression increasingly grew dark when he found no pulse. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, he stuck to the shadows and slowly made his way deeper into the estate. Since it was bestowed upon him by the emperor for just barely a year, there still isn''t too many structures that''s been built, with only a few courtyards here and there so there was only a few places where one could enter and hide which made it easier for him to dispatch of all the unwelcomed intruders he came across with. As he was nearing his wife''s courtyard, he heard a soft cry echo out before the tell-tale clang of swords clashing echoed out. Worried, he quickly made his way to where the sound originated from when he saw his eldest nephew, Li Jie looking extremely haggard as he tried fending off two assailants while his second brother, Yong Rui was trying to fight off another one as they defended their youngest brother Xian Liang. Alarmed at the sight, Fan Hui Zhong jumped in and intercepted a sword swing that Li Jie failed to parry since his two attackers had struck at the same time with one aiming at his chest while the other at his back. His unexpected arrival alarmed the three assailants and just as they wanted to take the chance and escape, Fan Hui Zhong made his move and with a burst of his qi, he pushed the two away and quickly jumped after them and swung his broad sword after them like a predator pouncing on it''s prey. The closest to him was immediately struck down, with no chance of evading as the blade sliced through his neck like a sharp knife cutting through tofu as his head was sent flying through the air as blood spurted out through the air. Ignoring this, Fan Hui Zhong concentrated on the other one who managed to black his first attack and launched one of his own. As he evaded it, Fan Hui Zhong spared a quick glance and saw his two nephews helping each other out and trying to suppres the other one so he quickly focused to deal with the one in front of him. With a push of his feet to the ground, he rushed to the assassin and launched blow after blow and after a short exchange of attacks, he finally stabbed the man through the chest. Just as he was about to rush in and attack the last assailant, he saw a familiar silhouette jump in before him and with a muffled shout, the petite figure had jumped up and delivered a killing blow towards the opponent''s head, twisting his neck with a strong decisive kick. Recognizing the person who just arrived, Fan Hui Zhong called out, the same time as his nephews. "Mother!" "Little Rou!" "Mother!" "Mother!" Gathering her children into her arms, even the fifteen year old Li Jie hugged her mother back in relief. "Little Rou, what''s happening? Where''s Wanwan?" Fan Hui Zhong hurriedly asked, worry heavily evident in the tone of his voice. "Brother-in-law take heavens you''re here! Wanwan was about to give birth when there was a sudden attack! I was just informed about it and on the way to her courtyard when I came across the intruders. Father was having tea with her and he was the one who sent the servant to notify us that sister-in-law law was in labor. I don''t know where Liang is but you must hurry and go to where sister-in-law is!" Extremely alarmed at the news he received, Fan Hui Zhong could only spare a few words of caution before running off. With his heart pounding, the only thing stopping him from descending into complete panic was his military training and experience at the battlefield. He knew that panic was definitely of no help and would only cause him to make mistakes, mistakes he absolutely cannot afford at this moment. A short distance away, a group of family soldiers were battling another group of assailants and from what he saw, the fight was neck in neck. Jumping into the fray, Fan Hui Zhong managed to cut down three attackers in one attack immediately followed by two others, quickly turning the tide of the battle on to their side and with the opening he provided, the family soldiers managed to make the most of it and managed to take down the others after a short while. Just as he was straightening up his eyes landed on a familiar face. "Uncle Guo!" "Eldest Master! It''s great that you''re here, we must quickly hurry to where Eldest Madam is! We don''t know if they''re also under attack but the Clan Head might not be able to fend all of them off!" "Come then! Hurry!" Along with the group of soldiers, all of them rushed to his wife''s courtyard to see it''s walls heavily damaged and a part of the roof caving in as dust and smoke hung heavy in the air while the place seemed eerily silent. The mere sight brought a chill to his heart and throwing caution to the wind he rushed in. With a wave of his hand, he cleared the smoke and dust in the air making things more visible and yet what appeared before his eyes horrified him more. The thick stench of blood remained and pervaded the air, it''s scent strong and cloying as more than tens of bodies lied scattered just in the courtyard''s gardens. Running inside towards the bedroom, he saw more and more bodies on the floor, from servants to guards to assassins. Reaching the bedroom, he stepped in and saw a couple more bodies, along with the body of the midwife the estate had prepared beforehand as well as the family physician as well as several of his wife''s servants making his blood run cold. Scanning the room, he noticed that one of the room''s walls were blown apart and as he stepped through the hole, he saw that the courtyard''s outer wall on this side had fallen too. Seeing that neither his father nor his wife could be found, Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes met Min Guo Ji''s and they both came to the same conclusion. They must have escaped. After that, all that Fan Hui Zhong could remember was a blur especially when they found his father''s prone form, lying unconscious and all bloody on the ground covered with injuries and surrounded by dead bodies of the unknown assassins and a couple of guards. The fact that he still hadn''t found his wife was a huge relief for him and at the same time tormented him at the thought of her injured and hurt but when they arrived where the trail ended, Fan Hui Zhong''s heart stopped. They knew that the fight that occurred there was intense and extremely violent because not many of the corpses there were complete and this goes for both the guards and assassins. Among the few who had their corpses intact was someone who''s figure has long been imprinted on Fan Hui Zhong''s mind. Su Yue Wan. His wife. She was lying there on the cold hard ground in bloodied robes with disheveled hair and a bloodless face with her eyes closed and her arms wrapped protectively around a small bundle of cloth. She looked so beautiful. Even in death she had a peaceful smile. As if she''s accepted how things were going to turn out. That her death was inevitable and yet her posture still exuded maternal love as her body slightly curled up as if shielding that bundle in her arms. He couldn''t accept it. A loud keening whine filled the air. For a moment he was startled but then he realized it came from him. He couldn''t help it. He just lost it when he gathered his wife''s body into his arms. It was also at that moment when he realized that his son who was had just come into the world was no longer breathing. No one was breathing. Not his son. Not Wanwan. Not even him. Gasping for breath, he felt like he was drowning. Choking as he tried to breathe. He couldn''t move yet he felt himself swaying. All he heard was the pounding of his blood in his ears yet beyond that he heard a muffled voice saying something but he just couldn''t make it out. Breathe it said. The voice was telling him to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Yes, this was how it was like to breathe. That darkness that filled him left him cold and yet there was a warmth around him. It surrounded him. Breathing in he smelled the familiar scent of wine mixed in with something bittersweet like a mixture of herbs and flowers. He knew that scent. Reaching his arms out, he felt someone hugging him as they swayed. Sliding down to the ground, he held on as of his life depended on it. "Zhu Xia..." Fan Hui Zhong hoarsely called out, his voice thick with unshed tears, making Fan Zhu Xia''s heart clench tightly. "Father I''m here..." "They already died... my family... my Wanwan died with my little boy but why? How? Just how? Why did father say that?! Why only now? Doesn''t that mean I failed him? I didn''t even know about him, what kind of father am I?!" Fan Hui Zhong asked, his voice muffled against her shoulder as he shook with sobs filled with grief. Seeing that her father was descending into a state of hysteria, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help the tears that slowly spilled from her eyes as she comforted him and left with no other choice, she reached up to the back of his neck and pressed on his acupuncture point making him pass out and lose consciousness. This was the scene that Fan Hui Liang witnessed when he arrived. "Xia''er what happened?!" Fan Hui Liang asked worriedly as he hauled his unconscious brother off his niece. "Xia''er will explain later but can Uncle help me get father to the spare bedroom so he can rest properly?" "Of course, lead the way." With Fan Hui Liang''s help, the two of them were able to lay Fan Hui Zhong down on the bed without any problems. Turning to his niece, Fan Hui Liang then opened his mouth and said, "Explain." "To be completely honest, I''m not completely sure what happened to Father. When I returned, he was already in a daze then he started to shake and showed signs of anxiety and difficulty in breathing so I led him out and tried to calm him down until I had to knock him out... All I know is that Grandfather told Father something but I have no idea what it is." "Are you sure? I''ve never seen your father like this. Ever." Pausing for a minute, Fan Zhu Xia thought back to the words Fan Hui Zhong mumbled before she knocked him out before she hesitantly opened her mouth to speak. "I think it has something to do with someone called Wanwan and son..." "His wife and child?! Did father tell him something we don''t know?" "I don''t know Uncle... I truly don''t know but all we can do now is wait until Grandfather finishes unsealing Shi Hong''s seals." 92 Unsealed, Unexpected Reveal - 29.3 They didn''t have to wait long. Barely an hour had passed when they heard Fan Song Xue exit the neighboring room, looking at each other, both Fan Hui Liang and Fan Zhu Xia hastily got up and quietly went out of the room as to not disturb the still unconscious Fan Hui Zhong. Seeing Fan Song Xue''s tired countenance, Fan Hui Liang couldn''t help but feel worried as he rushed over to his side to offer a helping hand. "Father, are you okay?" "I''m fine, I''m fine... it''s just the seal on your nephew was harder to remove due to some complications." Alarmed, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but ask, "What complications?" "Someone tweaked the seal a bit and tried to remove it but they weren''t successful so they modified it instead." "Is it dangerous then?" Shaking his head, Fan Song Xue replied with a thoughtful look on his face and said, "No, not dangerous... well at least not for the boy. Whoever meddled with the seal meant no harm. On the contrary, the person who made the modifications only had the best intentions base from what I can see." Sharing a look with each other, neither Fan Hui Liang nor Fan Zhu Xia was able to ask what Fan Song Xue meant before a deep, gruff voice sounded from behind them. "What do you mean?" Spinning around, Zhu Xia met her father''s bloodshot eyes. "Father!" "Zhong''er!" "Brother!" Rushing up to Fan Hui Zhong''s side, Fan Zhu Xia held on to his arm and worriedly asked, "How are you feeling?" Turning to look at his concerned daughter, Hui Zhong could only manage a wan yet reassuring smile. "I''m fine, Xia''er. Sorry for making you worry." Giving him a measuring look, Fan Zhu Xia nodded, albeit reluctantly and just quietly stayed by his side. Then, turning to look at his father, Fan Hui Zhong opened his mouth and repeated his earlier question. "Father, what exactly did you mean by that? Is Shi Hong really my son?" "Shi Hong? So that''s his name..." Fan Song Xue murmured under his breath. "Father!" Fan Hui Zhong exclaimed out lowly in frustration. "I''m sorry but yes, that boy inside is your son. Your eldest son to be exact. Your wife, Su Yue Wan had twins..." "Twins?" Fan Hui Zhong whispered out in a voice filled with incredulity and disbelief. "Yes, Zhong''er, Yue Wan had twins... When I had them leave while I held the assailants off, Yue Wan carried your younger son because he was smaller and had more difficulty in breathing while she entrusted your eldest son to the shadow guard you personally assigned to her." "Then, that boy, he really is..." Trailing off, tears started streaming down Fan Hui Zhong''s cheeks and without another word, he rushed inside the room, leaving them behind with similar expressions of understanding and joy on their faces. "Grandpa, Uncle, you both should go and take a rest. Both of you had been busy this past couple of days and didn''t have a chance to get some proper rest and sleep. I can take care of things here and I''m sure that Eldest Brother can handle matters from here, after all he does have very competent help..." After thinking for a moment, both Fan Song Xue and Fan Hui Liang nodded in agreement and bid Fan Zhu Xia farewell before heading out together. After seeing them off, Fan Zhu Xia summoned the courtyard servants and among them were her personal maids; Chun Tao and Chun Hua. "Young Miss, you called for us?" "Ahh, yes... Chun Tao, what happened to the little girl? Where is she now?" "To answer Young Miss, the little one was taken by the Young Madam when she heard what was going on here. Madam Wei said that she''ll look after her in the meantime while the Young Miss takes care of things here." "So Aunt Rou has her then? Very good... I''ll have to go and thank her personally later... For now, Chun Tao, you go and have the spare room here prepared, have some servants help you... Father might be staying here for a while so make sure things are prepared for properly..." "Yes Miss. Is there anything else the Young Miss would like us to do?" "Have someone clean up my room here, I''ll be leaving grandfather''s courtyard and moving back to here." "Of course Miss." "Alright, all of you may go... oh but Chun Hua, you stay." With a respectful nod, the rest of the servants left with Chun Tao leading them while Chun Hua stood respectfully at one side, waiting for Fan Zhu Xia to speak. "Chun Hua..." "Yes Miss?" "Has the construction and renovations on the back building finished?" "Yes Miss. The small building at the back of your courtyard has just been fully furnished and stocked today. The servant quarters were finished two days ago and the kitchen yesterday and fully stocked with all the necessary food and supplies this morning." "Hmm, is that so? Very good, then lead me there. It''s almost daybreak. I want to prepare something light and nourishing for Father and Shi Hong to eat." Ignoring the surprise she felt at hearing her young mistress wanted to cook, Chun Hua obediently showed Fan Zhu Xia to the kitchen. After surveying the available ingredients there, Fan Zhu Xia waved the rest of them off and proceeded fluttering around the kitchen. Chun Hua, along with the rest of the kitchen courtyard''s servants quietly watched from the doorway as Fan Zhu Xia washed the ingredients before moving on to chopping and slicing some herbs and vegetables then cleaning and preparing various kinds of meat to be steamed, fried and stewed. Before long, a tantalizing smell wafted out from the kitchen and while it smelled absolutely appetizing, there was an almost subtle layer of medicinal scent just beneath it. The servants nearby that were drawn over from the smell of the food were whispering among themselves couldn''t help but edge closer to Chun Hua who was their young mistress'' personal maid. "Sister Hua, what is the Young Miss cooking?" "Yeah, do you know? It smells so good!" The two servants who spoke out was quickly supported by the others with quiet murmurs of agreement until Chun Hua shot them a pointed look to silence them. "I don''t know what the Young Miss is making but all of you should just go back to prepare for your duties. It''s already morning and the masters may be coming out soon." Realizing the truth of her words, the rest of the servants scampered off towards their respective posts, leaving behind only a handful of kitchen servants. Not long after the others left, Fan Zhu Xia opened the doors to the kitchen and saw the small cluster of servants standing just outside. Albeit a bit surprised, Fan Zhu Xia just shrugged it off and shot them a small smile. "Everyone, I''ve prepared quite a lot so pack a portion of the dishes and send them to the other masters. It''s still quite early so I''m sure the kitchen hasn''t finished preparing breakfast for them yet. Just make sure to leave enough food for me, my father and little brother." "Right away Young Miss." As the servants quickly went to do her orders, Chun Hua quietly informed Fan Zhu Xia that her room has already been cleaned and followed behind her. After bathing and changing her clothes, Fan Zhu Xia finally washed away the smell of food and the faint lingering smell of wine from the night before. "Chun Hua, go and make sure that breakfast is ready to bee served. I''m sure that both Father and Shi Hong will be out soon." "Yes, Miss." The moment she was left alone, Fan Zhu Xia gracefully sat down and poured herself a cup of tea that was freshly brewed by Chun Hua while she was still dressing up. Taking a sip, Fan Zhu Xia mused before quietly chuckling to herself as she shook her head. "I wonder, just how will the capital take the news of the existence of Lei Wangye''s eldest son?" 93 Night Of The Imperial Banquet - 30.1 "Sister, is really okay for me to come with everyone?" "Of course it is! You''re a Fan and the prince heir of Lei Wangye! Why wouldn''t you be allowed to come?" "But..." "But what?" "....." Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia gently fixed the handsome young boy''s collars with a soft smile on her face. "You shouldn''t be nervous Shi Hong." "But what if someone recognizes me?" Looking at the worried expression on his still boyish face, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but squeeze his cheeks affectionately, making him blush. "Elder Sister!" Laughing gleefully, Fan Zhu Xia pulled him to her arms and hugged the young boy tightly despite his protests as she gently reassured him with a soft and doting voice. "Little Shi, no one will recognize you... this, I promise you. Just trust Sister on this..." "But, what if?" Fan Zhu Xia was extremely sure that no one will remotely recognize Shi Hong because the moment their grandfather removed the seal on his body, his whole spiritual presence, aura completely changed. Not to mention his looks and stature! Before his facial features were that of a normal, young boy with nothing that will jump out in attention. It wasn''t that he was ugly, it was just that his facial structure was as common as it can be and far from being memorable but from the moment he was unsealed, his features slowly changed and morphed into what he was supposed to originally look like. His common face was gone and in it''s place was a face of a handsome young lad with wide, limpid brown eyes framed by thick lashes, an aristocratic nose, high cheekbones and delicate lips that was framed by an angular jaw and on top of that, his original short, skinny stature has practically disappeared due to the attentive care that Fan Zhu Xia placed on him this past couple of days, after all for the former young lady of a prestigious medical family, nourishing someone back to peak condition is unbelievably easy. When the seal was removed, his height had an obvious change from his previous height that only reached up to Fan Zhu Xia''s chest which made him look younger by a few years than his actual age, now his height was just up to her shoulders. The only thing that indicated how young he was is his still somewhat short height and the good amount of weight that Fan Zhu Xia was able to put in him due to all the medicinal dishes she prepared for him and the nourishing pills she gave to not only him but to everyone in the estate which brought a raise to everyone''s physical condition. Looking at the still worried expression on Shi Hong''s face, Fan Zhu Xia let out a small, resigned sigh before she gestured for him to follow her. Leading him into her room with a confused expression on his face, Fan Zhu Xia told him to take a seat before disappearing to the inner part of her bedroom. Barely a moment passed when Fan Zhu Xia returned with an intricate, wooden box held in her hands. "Sister, that is?" "For you. I had Father prepare it just in case..." Receiving the box from her, Fan Shi Hong slowly opened to see what''s inside. The moment it landed on the item contained within the box, his eyes widened in surprise before he shot an incredulous look towards his sister, completely speechless. "You like it?" Fan Zhu Xia asked with a smile. "Like... Yes, I like it and it looks great, but isn''t it too much? Wouldn''t it fit Father more?" Inside the box was an elaborately designed gold mask with intricate details and a pendant made of deep crimson red jade that had the family crest of the Lei Wangye exquisitely carved into it, looking quite eye-catching. "Father doesn''t have a need for that, practically every family patriarch and person in power can recognize him with how he looks like now." "You do have a point." "Of course I do... now are you going to wear the mask or not? It''s up to you, it isn''t like your required to have it on." Sighing, Fan Shi Hong gave a resigned nod and pulled the gold mask out. Stepping closer, Fan Zhu Xia took it from his hands and quickly placed it on his face and carefully secured the mask to make sure that it doesn''t fall off. "That should do it... Now you''re all ready." "Thank you Sister." With a satisfied nod, Fan Zhu Xia stepped back and gave him an encouraging smile. "Alright, now go on and check to see if Father is already waiting for us. I''ll just put on my veil and then I''ll be all ready to go." "Do you really have to wear a veil?" "Unfortunately I do... or at very least I have to wear it for the time being." Sighing, Fan Shi Hong gave her a wistful look as he said, "It''s such a shame to hide your face, Sister." "Well I can say the same to you, Little Brother." Fan Zhu Xia quickly retorted with a laugh. Knowing that he wasn''t going to win any arguments, Fan Shi Hong mumbled something under his breath with his flushed with embarrassment from Fan Zhu Xia''s teasing and bid a hasty retreat. Shaking her head with an amused smile lingering on her face, she quickly hid her breathtakingly beautiful features with quick practiced movements and went out of her room to follow Fan Shi Hong out. Just as she suspected, the familiar carriage with the family crest of the Lei Wangye was the very same one, waiting just outside her courtyard and as soon as she neared, upon hearing her movements, the curtain that hid the interior of the carriage was pushed to one side and Fan Shi Hong''s masked face peaked out from within. Waving her over enthusiastically, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but giggle and with Min Sheng''s assistance, she gracefully boarded the carriage and fluidly sat down and arranged her skirts around her. "You look wonderful, Xia''er." Fan Hui Zhong complimented her with a doting smile on his handsome and freshly shaved face. "So do you, Father! Really, shaving off your beard took off at least five years from your face. You even look so young now!" Fan Zhu Xia responded. Rolling his eyes, Fan Hui Zhong just shook his head and said, "Thanks, I''ll take that as a compliment." "Well it is a compliment!" "You do look great, Father." Fan Shi Hong added sincerely. "Alright, alright... I get it you two." Stifling a grin, Fan Zhu Xia then opened her mouth and curiously asked, "Since the three of us are the only ones here, what about the others?" "If you are referring to your Uncle and cousins, they all went ahead already with your Grandfather. This way is better since this also your grandfather''s first public appearance in more than a decade." "Isn''t this a bit too much?" Fan Zhu Xia asked dryly. "What do you mean?" Seeing her father''s nonchalant expression coupled with a familiar glint in his eyes that were filled with mirth gave him away was just too rare a sight for her that Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but burst out laughing. "Ahh, you think too much Xia''er! No need to worry, Father has taken care of everything..." "Everything?" "Of course! After all, this is my two beloved children''s first time formally appearing in public! As such, Father has made all the appropriate arrangements... You two just have to relax at the banquet and enjoy the show." 94 Night Of The Imperial Banquet - 30.2 About an hour earlier... Arriving at the imperial palace, everyone was abuzz. Despite knowing that it''s a supposedly perfunctory welcoming banquet for the visiting princess from Spirit Valor Country, there were still hushed conversations and whispers of excitement amongst all the attendees, from the nobility, to the civil officials and even some military officers. This wasn''t purely caused by the banquet itself but more due to the countless rumors and unconfirmed news floating around the capital this past couple of days. At that moment, there was a small commotion erupted at the entrance to the hall before it was quickly taken cared of and just as peace was restored, a resplendent beauty dressed in gorgeous clothes the color of pale pink reminiscent of soft flower petals, giving the impression of a youthful butterfly. Despite some people''s surprise, most of them were quick to recognize the young lady who just entered. The princess of Spirit Valor Country; Ning Yan Mei. Seeing the numerous gazes directed at her, Ning Yan Mei let her lips tilt up until a sweet yet elegant smile showed attracting a mixture of looks that ranged from acknowledgement, admiration and even envy from the other young ladies who did their best to conceal their dissatisfaction yet this was caught by her despite their efforts. Instead, her smile became even brighter as she internally laughed at them for their reactions. As a princess of Spirit Valor Country, she had innate ability of the royal family wherein they are more sensitive to people''s thoughts and emotions. This has helped her countless times in the past when she faced visiting dignitaries and other official from her father''s court along with the occasional nobleman. The only downside to this innate ability of hers is that it wasn''t as strong or as accurate as her father''s. If people were on guard against her then she would still fail to feel their real emotions, let alone deduce their thoughts. Thinking about this, she gritted her teeth when she remembered her encounter with that infuriating veiled girl back at the auction house. She felt insulted at how much disregard and humiliation she experienced! That was the very first time she ever experienced that and even just thinking about it makes her blood boil. Of course, none of this can be seen in her face. Instead, she still had a calm, gentle smile on her lips that remained unchanged, even when she arrived at her seat and just as she sat down, she heard a series of surprised gasps, prompting her curiosity to find it''s source. When she raised her head, her gaze landed on a small group of people. A distinguished elder male, a middle-aged gentleman, three dashing young men and a beautiful lady. As Ning Yan Mei''s eyes continued to scan them, her gaze landed on the three attractive yet distinctively different young men. One was aloof and cold with handsomely chiseled features, the other was completely opposite and had softer features that some could say was too beautiful for a man yet he was much more alluring than the others with a mischievous little smile while the last who also seemed to be the youngest had a calm and scholarly vibe to him. After staring for them for so long as they neared the place where she was seated, recognition flashed in her eyes and her heart inevitably started to beat faster. It was them! The Fan family! As much as she''d like to stand up and greet them, due to her status, it was inappropriate for her to just suddenly stand up and approach them. Instead she settled on keeping her eyes on the coldly aloof young man who is the current object of her affections. Fan Li Jie. Despite the feeling of having such an intense gaze on him, Fan Li Jie acted as if he felt nothing and just nonchalantly averted his gaze and instead, he quickly scanned the room, searching for a familiar figure. Noticing his actions, Fan Song Xue let out a low chuckle and murmured lowly, "They''re not here yet." With a subtle nod in acknowledgement, Fan Li Jie just calmly sat on his seat and paid no more heed to his surroundings. On the other hand, his two younger brothers were a little more restless compared to himself. "Father, when is Uncle Zhong, Little Xia and Little Shi arriving?" Fan Xian Liang asked. Looking at his youngest son, Fan Hui Liang sent him a reassuring smile and replied, "Just be patient they''ll be here soon." Hearing his father''s words, Fan Xian Liang felt a bit impatient but he tamped it down and just quietly drank the tea in front of him, prompting Fan Yong Rui to laugh at his sulky appearance. They''ve been there for almost thirty minutes and most of the people had already calmed down from the shocking news they received when their family arrived. When they first got here, most of the guests who were already there were dumbfounded. It has been long known to the public that the old patriarch of the Fan family has long been in a comatosed state and this has lasted for almost a decade! To find his figure standing among his family in seemingly great health and peak condition was just an unprecedented surprise! As soon as they sat down, countless officials and noblemen hurried to their table and offered their greetings to Fan Song Xue to which Fan Song Xue good-naturedly acknowledged and greeted back in return while indulging with some idle chit-chat with his old friends and acquaintances when they came up. When Ning Yan Mei heard the various whispered words floating around her, she was shocked speechless. After gathering her composure, Ning Yan Mei took a deep breath and then gracefully got up from her seat and made her way towards them while her bodyguard, the same old servant that accompanied her at the auction house quietly trailed behind her. Seeing the princess of Spirit Valor Country making her way towards their position, the guests excused themselves one by one which let Ning Yan Mei reach them unimpeded. "Old General Fan! This junior greets you and wish you a long and prosperous life! I have long heard of your glorious might and achievements." Ning Yan Mei greeted elegantly while cupping her hands and nodding her head slightly in respect. Seeing her actions, Fan Song Xue''s eyes flashed subtly yet it was too fast and no one noticed it before he hid them. Studying the young girl in front of him, if he hadn''t heard of her bullying his new granddaughter and eyeing his eldest grandson then he might have gotten a good first impression. Sadly for Ning Yan Mei, this wasn''t the case. "The Princess is too kind. This old man isn''t deserving of your praise." Fan Song Xue replied in neither a cold nor warm manner but there was a subtle alienation nonetheless. Despite this, Ning Yan Mei shrugged it off and chalked it up to him being distant towards her due to them only meeting each other for the first time so she just shot a small smile before she turned her eyes to look at Fan Li Jie. "Big Brother Li, it''s been a while! I was looking forward to you accompanying me to tour around the capital." Ning Yan Mei said with a bashful smile that contrasted with her coquettish manner. Annoyed yet left with no choice but to respond, Fan Li Jie shot her a cold and distant look. "This Princess, please excuse me. We are not familiar and this Young Master thinks that it would be extremely inappropriate for me to accompany you as we are both unfamiliar and unmarried individuals. This Young Master suggests that you find someone else to go around the capital and play with." "But-" "This old man apologizes on behalf of my grandson and implores that the Princess understands our position, after all we wouldn''t want any unwarranted gossip hurting the Princess'' good reputation." "I didn''t mean-" "Princess please, as I said before, we are unfamiliar. Please keep your distance and I shall do the same." Fan Li Jie reiterated coldly. Tongue-tied, Ning Yan Mei could only nod stiffly and send an aggrieved look towards Fan Li Jie before she excused herself. Watching the princess return to her seat Fan Yong Rui who watched everything unfold with an amused expression sighed in dismay, drawing the questioning looks of his family to which he returned with a playful and devilish smile which caused some of the nearby young ladies who saw it too blush. "Second Brother?" Grinning at his younger brother''s confusion, Fan Yong Rui opened his mouth and turned to them with a mischievous and conspiratorial look as he subtly casted an enchantment to isolate their conversation. "Well don''t you guys think that Little Xia would''ve loved to see that annoying princess'' expression? Our poor cousin just missed a good show!" 95 Night Of The Imperial Banquet - 30.3 "Are we running a bit late?" "Not at all. We''re just missing the extra time to socialize." Fan Hui Zhong replied nonchalantly. Hearing this, both Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Shi Hong''s eyes met in mutual understanding. "You just don''t want to talk to others, that''s why you told us not to hurry didn''t you?" Fan Zhu Xia asked with a playful grin. "Of course not! I just didn''t want you two to feel pressured is all." With a resigned smile on his face, Fan Shi Hong opened his mouth and said, "Father, you do know that it''s just delaying the inevitable right?" "Be that as it may, once the banquet starts, no one can just get up and bother you two and the least anyone could do will be to greet and acknowledge you two when they exchange pleasantries with me." "And after the banquet?" Shi Hong continued. "Ahhh, well after then they will probably find ways to meet you two, especially your sister." "Sister? Why?" Fan Shi Hong asked, totally baffled which made Fan Zhu Xia giggle while Fan Hui Zhong chuckled at his son''s simple-mindedness. Seeing her little brother''s aggrieved glare, Fan Zhu Xia stifled her laughter before clearing her throat. "It''s because I''m of marriageable age so of course a lot would be eyeing me as a means to get close to Father." "What?! But, but...." Looking at Fan Shi Hong''s indignant face, both Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Hui Zhong burst out into amused laughter. "Why are you two laughing?! Aren''t you worried?" "Why should I be? It''s not like anyone can force me to marry." Fan Zhu Xia asked with a smile. Seeing that Fan Shi Hong wanted to make a rebuttal, Fan Hui Zhong reached out and patted his shoulders comfortingly. "Don''t worry about your sister, Shi Hong. Father won''t let anyone force her to do anything she doesn''t want." "Yeah, Little Shi! Just trust Father, besides, it''s not like I''m that easy to bully!" "Oh, fine! Wasn''t I just worried?" Fan Shi Hong grumbled under his breath which made Fan Zhu Xia smile and her heart warm at his concern so when Fan Shi Hong wasn''t looking, she pounced on him and hugged him to her much to his embarrassment. "Ugh, Elder Sister, let go!" After a few minutes of struggling, Fan Zhu Xia finally let him escape from her with a small laugh. "Thanks for worrying Little Shi." Blushing slightly, Fan Shi Hong murmured a low acknowledgement and decisively ignored them, making the two hide their smiles since they could clearly see that Fan Shi Hong was still feeling embarrassed. Pretty soon, they reached the imperial palace and as they made their way to the banquet hall, they actually ran into the imperial family who was also on their way there. Meanwhile, inside the hall, practically everyone of note and influence has already arrived and there was a subtle hum of excitement going through the crowd. From the old family patriarch of the Fan family; Fan Song Xue who was once an extremely prestigious general, to the rumored traveling adoptive heir of Wu Zhang He who was apparently a dashing young man who hid his face behind a mask that gave him an air of mystery, and also to the supposed adopted daughter of the infamous Lei Wangye. As for the visiting princess; Ning Yan Mei, she was actually pushed back to everyone''s minds as more of an afterthought, much to her ignorance. As everyone was chatting amongst themselves, the doors were once more opened and three figures stepped inside which drew everyone''s attention with the imposing momentum the one leading them released. They were all dressed in varying shades of red, with the one in front wearing a blood red robes with a golden dragon embroidery on it, followed by a handsome young teenager wearing a deep crimson red robes with subtle gold embroideries and a gold mask that half-covered the top half of his face while the last one was an alluring young lady wearing vermillion red robes that also had gold embroidery of hundreds of lotus flowers with a matching veil that only revealed her charming ice blue eyes and willowy brows. The moment they entered, everyone immediately recognized the man leading them. It was no other than the infamous Lei Wangye; General Fan Hui Zhong! As soon as they realized that, they turned their gazes to the two youngsters following behind him as they made their way to their seat that was only one level lower to the imperial family which was on the same level as the visiting princess and was then followed by the various high nobility, officials of high rank and military officers. Before anyone could react to their arrival and approach them, a court eunuch had announced the arrival of emperor and the royal family which had immediately cut-off their chance to approach Lei Wangye''s seat. On the other hand, contrary to everyone''s excitement, Ning Yan Mei was having a hard time keeping the gentle smile on her face as she clenched her hands underneath her sleeves as her nails painfully dug into her palms. The pain helped clear her head as she stared with hatred at the veiled woman who arrived with Fan Hui Zhong. Just as everyone figured out her identity, Ning Yan Mei also realized who she was but even if she found out, she felt unreconciled! This was the same person who humiliated her at the Thousand Treasures Pavillion! How under heaven''s name did she turn out to be the rumored Lei Wangye''s daughter?! As if sensing her gaze, Fan Zhu Xia turned her head for eyes to meet Ning Yan Mei''s hostile ones. Seeing the familiar arrogant girl that she had a conflict with back when she attended the auction and seeing her so displeased, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but smile under her veil as her eyes twinkled in amusement before she turned her head away once more to respond to a question Fan Shi Hong asked. On the other hand, when Ning Yan Mei saw how Fan Zhu Xia looked at her with amusement before dismissively turning away, Ning Yan Mei felt so insulted that for a split-second an ugly expression showed on her face before she took a deep breath to compose herself as she quickly hid her emotions that no one even noticed since she wasn''t the main focus of everyone''s attention. So despite the hateful thoughts running through her head, she returned to calmly smiling, looking like an elegant and gentle young lady with a noble air yet deep inside, countless calculations and schemes were already being directed at the unsuspecting Fan Zhu Xia. Due to Ning Yan Mei''s entire focus being directed towards Fan Zhu Xia, she was completely oblivious to the deep gaze being directed to her by none other than the mysterious and low-key young man; Wu Jun Qiao. 96 Night Of The Imperial Banquet - 30.4 Feeling the air around him become heavy, Wu Zhang He turned to glance at the young man sitting beside him. "Something wrong, Jun Qiao?" "Not really... I just found someone a tad too annoying." he drawled out lazily yet his eyes remained cold. Following his gaze, he traced it back to realize just who Wu Jun Qiao was looking at. "Ning Country Princess?" Wu Zhang He exclaimed under his breath with a surprised yet questioning tone. "I just don''t like how she stares at people..." Looking back again, Wu Zhang He managed to catch Ning Yan Mei subtly shooting a glare towards a certain direction and when he checked who were there, understanding dawned on him. "Ahh... So that''s why..." Wu Zhang He slowly murmured with an amused smile. Ignoring his teasing, Wu Jun Qiao nonchalantly shifted his gaze and turned to observe the old servant that was discreetly standing just a few feet behind the visiting princess''s table. Soon, his attention was drawn away when the emperor stood up and attracted everyone''s attention. "Welcome everyone! This One is very glad that all of you have come to celebrate this welcoming banquet that my beloved empress has worked hard on to organize. Such a happy event as tonight, there are a lot of things to celebrate. First is to welcome back my son; Meng Yao who has just returned from his studies, then there is also our guest from Spirit Valor Country; Princess Ning Yan Mei!" With that, applause sounded out and both Jin Meng Yao and Ning Yan Mei had calm and assured smiles on their faces as they both nodded in thanks. As the applause subsided, Jin Fa Chung continued on. With a knowing smile, Jin Fa Chung opened his mouth and said, "Yes yes... Among these two matters, This One is sure that you''ve noticed that there are new faces amongst us today..." Turning to Fan Hui Zhong, Jin Fa Chung nodded to him and motioned for him to rise as he said, "King Lei, if you will..." Standing up, Fan Hui Zhong cleared his throat and let his sharp gaze travel across the hall. "Yes, Your Highness." Fan Hui Zhong acknowledged as he got to his feet. "This King would like to take this opportunity to make some announcements." After a brief pause, he continued on. "As everyone can see, my father, Old General Fan Song Xue has now fully recovered and will continue on to be one of the pillars and guardians of our beloved country as will I for I have decided to formally assume my duties and responsibilities as the Lei Wangye." At his words, applause resounded while a happy and satisfied smile showed on the emperor; Jin Fa Chung''s face as he gave a regal nod. "To my right, is my biological son; Fan Shi Hong who went missing for more than a decade ago and to my left, my beloved daughter; Fan Zhu Xia who has saved me and my son countless times before... This King is introducing both of them here and now since I would also like to let everyone know their positions." "For my son; Shi Hong, I officially announce you to be my Prince Heir. The one who will inherit my position and status in the future." Listening to the announcement, everyone clapped their hands and even though they weren''t entirely sure how Fan Hui Zhong''s son survived all those years ago, there wasn''t anyone who was doubtful of his identity. "And as for my daughter... Your Majesty?" Fan Hui Zhong said as he turned and met the eyes of the emperor. With a nod, Jin Fa Chung opened his mouth to speak. "Fan Zhu Xia, come and stand before This One and receive my decree." Startled, Fan Zhu Xia shot a look at Fan Hui Zhong who only gave her a reassuring smile and motioned for her to go forward. Despite being taken by surprise, none of this reflected on the surface and instead, Fan Zhu Xia looked calm and collected, albeit the still somewhat indolent air about her as she gracefully made her way to stand before the emperor before going down to her knees and kneeling respectfully. "This Emperor has heard of the young lady; Fan Zhu Xia''s great deeds and virtues. As a talented and smart young woman that has the compassion and love for the common people with a strong sense of justice and rightousness, This Emperor hereby grants you the status of a royal princess and will be written down as a direct descendant of this country''s one and only non-blood related king; Lei Wangye and will be given the title and known as Princess Leifeng... Fan Zhu Xia, stand and accept the decree!" Shocked at the imperial decree''s content, it took Fan Zhu Xia a second to respond before she slowly stood up and walked up to the emperor. The audience was still stunned at the news yet this couldn''t stop them from watching the slender, lithe figure fluidly walk with a languid pace up the steps to stop before the emperor before bowing down elegantly. The moment the scroll containing the imperial decree was passed to her, Fan Zhu Xia straightened out from her bow and her gaze landed on the charismatic yet imposing figure of the emperor; Jin Fa Chung. As their gazes met, contrary to the imposing and solemn air that surrounded the emperor, Jin Fa Chung''s eyes had a warmth in it that made him seem more approachable which actually calmed Fan Zhu Xia''s racing heartbeat that she didn''t even notice before that very moment. It calmed her nervous heart enough for her to smile a bit under her veil before she opened her mouth to speak. "Fan Zhu Xia accepts the decree and thanks His Majesty for the blessing. May His Majesty''s life be long and filled with blessing as the country prospers!" Her voice softly echoed throughout the great hall and there was a moment of silence before the emperor burst out into laughter with a satisfied smile on his face. "Good, good. You may go back." "Thank you, Your Majesty." After giving another low, respectful bow, Fan Zhu Xia straightened her back and went straight back to their table and sat down back in her seat. Despite knowing that she wasn''t required to do anything else anymore, Fan Zhu Xia still felt a bit restless deep down inside. Reaching her hand under the table, she lightly grabbed onto her father''s robe and gave a slight tug. Feeling it, Fan Hui Zhong turned to look at his daughter and leaned a bit towards her and murmured, "Something the matter?" "I''m not sure Father... I just feel a little uneasy, as if something is about to happen." And just as she said this, the loud sound of glass shattering echoed out that was soon followed by screaming. 97 Attacks and Explosions - 31.1 As the loud noise erupted, smoke filled the room and panic set in among majority of the guests yet amidst the din, loud shouts and calm voices could still be heard shouting orders and trying to restore order. Another explosion sounded but this time it seemed nearer and the thick, acrid smoke soon reached their position. Fan Hui Zhong who was already on his feet was already clutching a large sword in his hand. "Xia''er, Little Shi, both of you stay here." Fan Hui Zhong hurriedly whispered as he pushed the two of them to hide underneath the table. "But-" "Listen to me! Stay here and stay safe, am I understood?!" Fan Hui Zhong growled, looking sharply at his children. Biting her lip, Fan Zhu Xia reluctantly nodded at the same time as Fan Shi Hong. "Yes, Father." Fan Shi Hong murmured through gritted teeth and red eyes. As Fan Hui Zhong turned to leave, he felt someone grasp his leave to see Fan Zhu Xia holding it tightly. "Please be careful." she pleaded softly with worried eyes. "En. I will." With a reassuring nod, Fan Hui Zhong turned and disappeared into the smoke leaving the two siblings behind. "Sister... will Father be alright?" "Hush, Little Shi. Of course he will... We just have to trust him." Fan Zhu Xia replied, comforting her younger brother and pulled him to a hug as they huddled quietly under the table. The sound of swords clashing and stuff crashing into the ground as tables are overturned, made the two who are unable to see anything due to them hiding and coupled with the dense smoke, their nerves were high-strung. The familiar smell of coppery blood mixed with the acrid scent of the smoke made Fan Zhu Xia stiffen. The sound of fighting didn''t stop and instead got louder and Fan Zhu Xia could sense the familiar auras of her father and grandfather erupt among with various others as they released it which actually helped thin out the thick smoke as the air around them swirled and roiled dangerously. Amidst the chaos, as the smoke dissipated, Fan Zhu Xia saw the Spirit Valor Country Princess be whisked away to safety by her old servant and she also saw her father; Fan Hui Zhong standing by the emperor who was surrounded by his personal guards that also protected the royal family along with Bai Nian Zu, the person in charge of the imperial guards who she met when they first entered the capital that was stoically standing there with a serious look in his eyes. From what she can see, the emperor''s arm was lightly wounded yet he was still calm and composed although he wore a grim expression as he said something to one of his personal guards who immediately nodded and disappeared. The empress who was standing just behind the emperor had the frail-looking princess in her arms while the Crown Prince; Jin Meng Yao also had a sword in his hand. Unfortunately for Fan Zhu Xia, the thing that hit the table was sword aura that one of the attackers had released towards Fan Li Jie who had dodged out of the way which was why it continued on to their direction. The moment she jumped out, Fan Zhu Xia looked behind her and saw the sharp sword aura coming fast towards her and knowing that they were in danger, her heart almost stopped and her body moved instinctively. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Fan Yong Rui kick away his opponent and was relatively near where they were so she quickly called out to him screaming, "SECOND BROTHER!!" This quickly drew the attention of not only Fan Yong Rui but also Fan Hui Zhong who saw his son and daughter in imminent danger making him roar in outrage as his heart sped up with worry as he dashed towards them. Sadly, he lacked time and Fan Yong Rui who was closer, also reacted at the same time but his eyes widened in horror when he saw what Fan Zhu Xia did next that he yelled out in panic. "NO DON''T DO IT!!" Knowing that there wasn''t enough time to dodge safely, Fan Zhu Xia looked at Fan Shi Hong who was still in her arms before she planted her feet firmly and resolutely threw him towards Fan Yong Rui as she turned to face the incoming sword aura. Everything happened in mere seconds and as they watched, Fan Zhu Xia let her own aura manifest to form silken threads which quickly knitted themselves to form a small barrier in front of her just as the sword aura reached her. Unfortunately for her, though her cultivation was already quite impressive for her age to reach the Early Stage of the Heavenly Sky Realm, the one who released the sword aura was obviously of a much higher level and as soon as the sword aura collided with her makeshift barrier, a small explosion sounded as her barrier shattered and the force of the clashing auras, sent her flying through the air. Wu Jun Qiao who was also fighting saw what happened and quickly attacked his opponent who got momentarily distracted because of the explosion which gave Wu Jun Qiao a chance to end him. With one swing of his sword, he managed to slice his opponent''s head cleanly off, making it sail through the air yet he paid this no attention. Instead, he quickly dashed towards Fan Zhu Xia''s direction and jumped up to catch her. The attackers seeing the development immediately took advantage of this and attacked fiercely and threw more smoke bombs to confuse them." Fan Zhu Xia who was thrown into the air felt her insides roiling that she spat out blood due to the recoil of her barrier being broken forcefully. She knew she got blasted back and she had her eyes closed as she prepared to hit the cold, hard ground when she felt a strong pair of arms catch her instead and gently hugged her body to him. Dazed and confused by the pain she was feeling, Fan Zhu Xia struggled to open her eyes, while her hands subconsciously tightened her hold on the person who caught her and Wu Jun Qiao who felt her hands tighten, his heart slightly calmed down knowing that she was still alive but seeing that the threat still wasn''t eliminated, he clutched her tighter to himself with his free hand while his other used his sword to parry attacks coming their way. Being so close to him, Fan Zhu Xia whose face was pressed against his chest faintly smelled the familiar scent of sandalwood with hints musk and medicinal herbs. It was this familiarity that pushed her to open her eyes and as her eyes fluttered open, she saw a very familiar face that belonged to the last person she could''ve imagined to come and save her. "L-Lord Owner..." Hearing the soft, trembling voice call out from his chest, Wu Jun Qiao was distracted and looked down. "You sure make me worry, Little Xia..." Before she could open her mouth to respond, an urgent voice shouted near them. "Jun Qiao, watch out!" Wu Jun Qiao who received Wu Zhang He''s warning in time, nimbly dodged to the left and managed to land a killing blow to the surprise attacker. Seeing that he was quite skilled, the attackers decided to group up on him to add pressure and despite his skill, Wu Jun Qiao became hard-pressed to defend especially with an injured Fan Zhu Xia in his arms. The thought of abandoning her never crossed his mind and as the fight went on, he inevitably suffered minor injuries. Luckily, Fan Li Jie managed to free himself from his current opponent and quickly ran over to help him fight. Just as they were able to turn over the tides, a couple of the remaining attackers reached into their robes and simultaneously threw something on the ground which resulted in various explosions. To Wu Jun Qiao and Fan Li Jie''s dismay, one of the opponents they were fighting threw one right at them which landed just between where they were standing and knowing that it was going to explode, Wu Jun Qiao let go of his sword and turned his back to shield Fan Zhu Xia as he hugged her tightly to his chest and as soon as it reached the ground, it exploded. And when that happened, Fan Zhu Xia who was already suffering from numerous internal injuries due to the backslash she experienced earlier also lost consciousness. The only thing she last remembered was seeing is those amber gold eyes filled with worry before everything went dark. 98 Attacks and Explosions - 31.2 That moment that Fan Hui Zhong saw his daughter throw his son out of harm''s way then turn to face the oncoming sword aura, his heart stopped and when he saw the barrier that Fan Zhu Xia hastily made shattered upon collision, the outrage and desperation he felt was the same as what he felt over a decade ago when he lost his wife. Seeing his daughter''s body sail through the air, he wanted so much to go and catch her but he was held back by the masked attackers who intercepted him, leaving him helpless as he parried their attacks and watch her body get knocked away due to the explosion caused by the collision of her barrier and sword aura. Fan Hui Zhong was only able to sigh in relief when he saw the figure of a young man that he recognized was his disciple''s; Jin Meng Yao''s cousin and Wu Zhang He''s adopted son; Wu Jun Qiao who rushed in and caught Fan Zhu Xia''s falling form. Now able to focus on his attackers, Fan Hui Zhong was fierce and controlled the tempo of the fight with his unrelenting attacks. His aura rose sharply and he released, one powerful attack after another as each swing of his sword coated with a sharp sword aura inflict injuries one after another. His blood boiled hotly in his veins like his qi in his meridians as he let out his anger on those in front of him. "How dare you?! HOW DARE YOU ATTACK MY DAUGHTER?!" Fan Hui Zhong roared as dashed towards his enemies like how a wolf would rush through a flock of sheep. Everywhere he went, blood bloomed and surrounded him. It has been a long, long time since he last fought but each of his movements were smooth and fluid, filled with tremendous power and momentum. It was as if each attack he released and each enemy he said was perfectly coordinated into a macabre dance of death. Seeing as how their side was slowly losing their advantage, one of the enemy leaders let out a shout to which the others quickly responded by throwing more smoke bombs to obscure their sights. When they did this, Fan Hui Zhong thought that they will use this chance to escape but contrary to what they thought, the attackers actually became more vicious in their attacks. While the attackers continued on, some of them grouped up together to assault one target. Fortunately for those who were singled out, most of them were not only highly-skilled but also had high cultivation. Looking around, Fan Hui Zhong saw that aside from him who was currently embroiled in a fight with seven people, his father; Fan Song Xue was actually being attacked by twelve men. The only reason why he wasn''t worried is because he saw his brother; Fan Hui Liang making his way towards him and even if he didn''t have any help, with Fan Song Xue''s recent breakthrough in cultivation, he would still be able to hold his own against his group of attackers. As for the imperial family, they were all very well-protected and even though Jin Fa Chung had a slight injury in his arm, he was still a pretty skilled warrior as one would expect from an emperor who ruled a country who specializes in fighting and weapons. Bai Nian Zu was also keeping close to the imperial family as he fought alongside the imperial guards to fend off most of the attackers and seeing that they could handle themselves, Fan Hui Zhong paid them no more heed. Instead, he focused on taking down his opponents one by one while trying to keep an eye on Wu Jun Qiao''s situation but due to the lingering smoke, it made it harder for Fan Hui Zhong to track them since they moved from place to place as Wu Jun Qiao evaded the attacks and focused on finding a safe place because of the injured Fan Zhu Xia. Seeing that they looked like they were in trouble, Fan Hui Zhong turned his eyes and saw his eldest nephew fighting near him. "Li Jie! Go and help out Jun Qiao, he''s got your cousin!" Fan Li Jie who''s attention was called, reacted quickly and with a nod, he dashed towards their direction while Fan Hui Zhong intercepted the attack of one of his opponents. As he ran, he noticed that those that were being fiercely attacked were mainly people who had military backgrounds and though some nobility were also fighting like the head of the Fu family; Fu Qing Jue and his son; Fu Qing Tian, they didn''t have as many attackers and thus suffered less injuries. Although he found it strange, Fan Li Jie pushed it to the back of his mind and rushed forward to parry an attack that was supposed to hit Wu Jun Qiao''s back since he focused on defending the attack coming from the front which was directed to Fan Zhu Xia''s direction. Noticing his presence, Wu Jun Qiao shot him an appreciative nod before focusing on defending once more. Pretty soon, with their combined efforts, they managed to turn the tide of the fight and control the tempo of their enemies. It was surprisingly easy for them to coordinate their movements, as if the two of them had fought alongside each other before and each of their movements, from releasing an attack to putting up a defense was done smoothly as they covered for each other''s blind spots and weaknesses. Couple this with their impeccable talent in fighting and surprisingly high cultivation since both had reached the Heavenly Sky Realm, Fan Li Jie who was at the Practitioner Stage while Wu Jun Qiao was at the Intermediate Stage. Both found the pressure on them to be lighter. Just as they were about to take the opportunity to finish them, the attackers suddenly threw something out and as both simultaneously jumped back and out of the way, when the object hit the ground, it released a massive explosion that knocked the two of them back as other similar explosions sounded out and rocked the entire great hall. To their relief, this time, the attackers took the advantage of them being discombobulated and made their escape. Of course, those who were capable immediately turned around to give chase while the others quickly pinned those attackers who were injured and got left behind. At this time, Fan Li Jie who was sent flying through the air managed to land on his feet since he was able to condense a small shield at his side as he used the long sword made from Emeranite which Fan Zhu Xia had gifted him beforehand. Clutching it tightly, Fan Li Jie immediately scanned his surroundings and looked for Wu Jun Qiao since before the explosion threw them back, he saw Wu Jun Qiao abandon protecting himself and turned his back to shield Fan Zhu Xia instead. Pretty soon, he saw the familiar deep purple robes that Wu Jun Qiao wore lying in a heap on the floor near a collapsed pillar. Panicked and worried at their state, Fan Li Jie hurriedly ran towards them and as the smoke and dust settled, he was able to see them more clearly and what he saw made his blood chill. He saw the back of Wu Jun Qiao look frighteningly torn apart with his purple robes ripped at some places as his back was soaked with blood. Wu Zhang He was already by their side when he got to them and he saw that despite being knocked out, Wu Jun Qiao still managed to successfully shield Fan Zhu Xia from most of the danger and that she was just unconscious from a head wound that she probably got when they hit the floor. "General Wu, how are they?" Fan Li Jie asked as he crouched beside them. Hearing his voice, Wu Zhang He turned to him and said, "I''m not sure yet. Quickly help me lift Jun Qiao up first, that way you can also check your cousin." "Of course." With their combined efforts, Wu Jun Qiao was gently moved off from Fan Zhu Xia and they saw that she looked mostly unscathed. It was at this time that Fan Hui Zhong arrived beside them with a couple of imperial guards in tow as well as an imperial physician. Seeing the situation, Fan Hui Zhong quickly had the guards fetch a stretcher while the imperial physician quickly examined the two. After a short while, the imperial physician turned to them and said, "Lei Wangye, the princess has suffered serious internal injuries due to a backlash of her technique as well as a head injury which caused her to faint when her head hit the floor bu as for Young Master Wu, his injuries are much more serious and needs immediate medical attention especially since it would seem as though that Young Master Wu is also suffering from another illness and due to his injuries this time, his situation is uncertain to say the least. As soon as the guards bring the stretcher, we will have to carefully move him to a safer place and provide treatment." "I see. Once the imperial guards arrive, have him brought to the palace''s infirmary. I''ll inform the emperor." Fan Hui Zhong immediately replied before his eyes met Wu Zhang He''s. "I''m sorry..." he gruffly murmured, his voice filled with guilt. "No need to apologize. This boy would still have done the same thing even if I told him not to." Wu Zhang He replied helplessly as he turned to look at Wu Jun Qiao''s unconscious form. After a short while, the imperial guards came bringing two stretchers and both Wu Jun Qiao and Fan Zhu Xia were each loaded onto them before being carried away. Fan Li Jie who was still in surprisingly good condition despite being tired and having a couple of minor scratches and injuries was sent to follow them to keep watch. I''m the meantime, Wu Zhang He who was also injured chose to be treated on the spot as both he and Fan Hui Zhong discussed what Fan Li Jie said about his observations earlier. If Fan Li Jie''s speculation was correct, then is it true that those with military power were being targeted? And if so, then why? 99 Motives and Speculations - 32.1 Inside the emperor''s personal study... "Are you sure you''re alright General Fang?" Jin Fa Chung asked as he looked at one of his oldest yet most loyal generals; Fang Ting Feng who was the most injured person in the room. Seeing that he was singled out, Fang Ting Feng couldn''t help but smile wryly. Among those present in the room, though most of them suffered from a couple of injuries, he was arguably the one in the worst condition. He was only a couple of years younger than his old comrade; Fan Song Xue and although he had improved this past couple of years, his friend has also gotten stronger to the point that he was able to fight off more than ten attackers and only suffered minor injuries and unlike him who only fought four men and was actually injured twice by blade. One, through the shoulder and another a large gash on his stomach. He was a strong fighter but his weakness is actually close-quarters combat. Instead he specializes in defensive strategems as well as long-range attacks and was extremely proficient in handling a bow and arrow. Noticing the worried look of everyone, Fang Ting Feng could only give them a reassuring nod. "I''m fine." he added gruffly seeing that some of them still looked unconvinced. Seeing that Fang Ting Feng looked extremely stubborn and would highly protest of he was asked to rest first, Jin Fa Chung sighed before he gestured to one of the nearby chairs that was still unoccupied. "Alright then, if you say so but go and take a seat. You look horrible General Fang." the emperor quipped dryly, prompting some laughter from the others which helped lighten the mood quite a bit. If anyone saw the people in the room, one would be very surprised and concerned. Any meeting or gathering wherein everyone in the room would be in attendance hasn''t happened in quite a long time. In fact, a meeting like this hasn''t happened for more than a decade! This is because aside from the morning court where most of them attend, the rest of the high military officials such as the generals has never been completely present unlike now. Of course during morning court, government and military officials alike both attend but usually, only the deputy generals are highest ranking there but now all three major military families; from the Fan Family, Wu Family and Fang Family are all here! The three families are considered as the three major military families, not only because of their high status in society but also because of their capabilities and strengths. Meanwhile, the Fang Family is the complete opposite. They specialize in defense. This not only includes their fighting style but also how they maneuver in the battlefield. All soldiers go through the Fang Family''s basic training and those who excel are cultivated further and is usually assigned in key locations in the kingdom to ensure that it will always be safe. From borders to first-tiered cities, at least a group of soldiers specially trained by the Fang Family will be there. As for the Wu Family, this family may be strong yet they don''t have as much military might as the other two families yet they can still maintain their own against the other two. This boils down to what they specialize in. Information. As some people say, information is power and the Wu Family has that in spades. The Wu Family has the vastest and most well-connected information network there is. Even news or information from other countries can be gathered by the Wu Family in due time. It all depends on the difficulty of information that you seek. No one knows how far and how deep the Wu Family''s information network extends but to those who are in the know, even if they''re not exactly sure, one thing they can be certain is that it''s already quite formidable. This is why even though currently the Wu Family is small, no one can move them. Usually only one of them would usually attend morning court and most of the time it was from the Fan Family but now, not only all are present but also their most trusted confidantes are here as well. For the Fan Family, not only Fan Hui Liang who was the current head and general of their country was here but also their old patriarch; Old General Fan Song Xue who was rumored to be dying yet he appeared here in perfect condition and is actually one of the strongest cultivators in their country as of the moment! This isn''t even counting Fan Hui Zhong who wasn''t here as a part of the Fan Family but as the master of Lei Palace, the Lei Wangye! For the Fang Family, only Fang Ting Feng was present since his only son wasn''t even at the capital as of the moment but was currently checking their borders! As for the Wu Family, Wu Zhang He actually just arrived with someone in tow. Earlier, after the unknown attackers fled and things calmed down a bit, he hurriedly left the palace after making sure his adopted son was getting his injuries treated. Now that he came back with an extra person, of course everyone''s attention would be drawn to him. As it turned out, the person Wu Zhang He brought was his most trusted aide; Han Ling. "My Emperor, I have brought Han Ling over because he had heard some information that may be useful to us finding the reason and the people responsible for the attack." Wu Zhang He quickly explained the moment he entered the room. Hearing that, the air inevitably turned heavy and the look on everyone''s face turned solemn. "Very well... What information did you manage to gather this time?" Jin Fa Chung asked. He knew that Han Ling was his brother-in-law''s confidante that usually goes out to gather intel and useful information outside their capital and country. In regards to this, Jin Fa Chung was actually very surprised to see him here back at the capital. Clearing his throat, Han Ling nodded respectfully to everyone before bowing and paying his respects to the emperor. "Your Majesty, the information this lowly servant gathered may or may not be related to what happened tonight but this servant does think that it is still a great matter which was why I rushed back to deliver this information to my master." "What is it? Speak freely..." "From what I''ve gathered, our country isn''t the only one who has suffered from attacks like this but this attacks were launched sporadically for more than a decade but as of late, the recent attacks has noticeably increased. Some clues indicate that the same group of people responsible may be related to the assassination of the previous Imperial family of Spirit Valor Country more than a decade ago. Another suspicious lead that I managed to check before the trail went cold also brought me to believe that this might also be related to what happened in Fan Family several years ago as well as another somewhat similar attack also took place about a couple of months ago at Thousand Beasts Rage Country where their emperor and crown prince was almost assassinated during their annual hunt although I wasn''t able to gather much details about that because it was kept tightly under wraps. Towering Blizzard Country has also tightened the security at the borders but I am unsure if this is related while Storm Blaze Country is experiencing a bit of of turmoil at their capital although this was also resolved and pushed down, it should be quite serious because I was able to find out that it''s one of the reasons that the Zenith Crescendo Academy which the Crown Prince attends told their students to return home for a while." A solemn silence descended upon the room as everyone there thought about what they just heard. Finally, the tension was broken when one of them spoke. "What about the people behind the attacks? Where you able to find anything about them?" Fan Hui Zhong asked. Meeting everyone''s serious gaze, Han Ling only shook his head with a grave expression on his face. "Unfortunately, all the men I sent disappeared without a trace even if I sent people to look for them. It was as if they were rocks thrown into the sea and we couldn''t find any clues nor trails to even indicate their presence." 100 Motives and Speculations - 32.2 Is the information here reliable?" Jin Fa Chung asked when Wu Zhang He handed him several scrolls after Han Ling finished talking. "It should be but I am having people confirm it and gather more information although this might take a while." Wu Zhang He replied in a serious manner. "That''s fine. Although having more information at this time would be invaluable, it''s not our top priority." Jin Fa Chung stated before his eyes landed on Fang Ting Feng. "General Fang..." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Gather your men and make sure the capital is completely secure. Make sure you''re able to quickly find any suspicious movements or individuals. You may cooperate with Bai Nian Zu should there be any need. I want this done within five days." "Understood, Your Majesty. Commander Bai and I would do our best." Fang Ting Feng nodded. "Good... Also I heard that your son was inspecting our borders? Is that right?" Startled at the sudden question about his son, Fang Ting Feng only nodded in answer to the question. "Hmm... Then also send a message to your son and have him tighten our defenses at the borders. Send him some men if need be." Jin Fa Chung ordered after some contemplation. "Commander Bai, you''ll have to divide your attention on securing the capital with General Fang as well as making sure the imperial palace is safe." "Yes, Your Majesty." Bai Nian Zu acknowledged his orders while keeping calm and serious. Shooting his friend a glance, Fan Hui Zhong opened his mouth and said, "I''ll assist Bai Nian Zu in securing the palace." Nodding his head in assent. Jin Fa Chung continued mulling things over as his fingers rhythmically tapped against the wood of the desk table in front of him. "If I may speak?" Fan Song Xue suddenly asked, drawing everyone''s attention to him. "Please, go ahead." Jin Fa Chung said as he gestured for Fan Song Xue to continue. "This old man suggests that everyone here should tighten their security as well. Based from the attack earlier, they were particularly aggressive towards us military families and military officials. Although they did target others like the Fu Family but their main focus was still a bit obvious. If the information we got earlier was accurate then the group responsible might be aiming to weaken our country''s military might. It may not be beyond them to send skilled assassins to target key people to either kill them or do something to get a handle on them. We''ve had an assassination attempt on my life recently and if we didn''t have extra precautions at the time, I might not even be standing here." "Is it done by the same group?" A lot of them wanted to ask how he managed to cure the poison and wanted to ask if he has any more antidotes just in case when a knock sounded on the door. They knew that the room had seals on it to ensure utter privacy and security to avoid any eavesdropping but they were still surprised at the sudden interruption. All of them turned to look at the emperor since he was the one in control of the seal and it was also up to him whether the person on the other side may enter or not yet when their eyes landed on his face, all they could see was a deep, heavy frown filled with dissatisfaction as he shot a look towards the door. Because of his control over the seal, this also gave Jim Fa Chung a way to find out who was standing outside his study and if one purely based it on his reaction, you would know that whoever it is, isn''t welcomed. Schooling his features, Jin Fa Chung hid his annoyance and all you can see from the emperor was his dignified and imposing momentum as a ruler and no trace of his annoyance nor dissatisfaction could be found. "Enter." As soon as Jin Fa Chung gave his permission, the door opened and an old servant walked in before bowing respectfully. This old servant was precisely the old man that usually shadows and acts as the personal guard of the princess of Spirit Valor Country; Ning Yan Mei. "Zeng Chang, what is it?" Jin Fa Chung asked him as soon as he straightened out. "Apologies for the interruption, Your Highness but this old servant is here on behalf of Princess Ning to inform you that the princess wishes to return home and would like to request His Majesty to allow an escort be arranged for her return since the princess worries about the lack of guards she has." Hearing Zeng Chang''s words, Jin Fa Chung''s calm expression had flashed slight annoyance before it quickly disappeared like a passing cloud and only those who truly knew him would have noticed. "This Emperor understands. Please convey my apologies and concern to Princess Ning. The matter about the escort can be arranged. When will you be leaving?" "If possible, within three days Your Highness." "Very well... Anything else?" Jin Fa Chung asked. Just before he opened his mouth to speak, Zeng Chang subtly darted a glance towards the Fan Family which Fan Song Xue noticed, making him frown. "Yes, Your Highness. The princess hopes that Young Master Fan Li Jie may be included in the escort since she knows him and would feel more comfortable with him around." The request of the princess seemed understandable and simple enough but Zeng Chang''s next words made the faces of the Fan Family go dark. A tense atmosphere descended in the room and everyone could feel the dissatisfaction coming from the Fan Family. "For my nephew; Li Jie, he is currently at the infirmary and might not be suitable to escort Princess Ning but since she is worried, This King will send some of my men to go along with your escort." Fan Hui Zhong stated flatly. Seeing that Zeng Chang looked as if he wanted to argue, Fan Hui Zhong shot him a cold smile. "Please understand, my nephew; Li Jie is the heir of our Fan Family and will be the next head. Should anything happen to him, it''s a loss we couldn''t possibly take but since the princess trusts in our Fan Family so much, how about sending Yong Rui?" When Fan Hui Zhong said this, his eyes met his father''s and brother''s who both nodded imperceptibly which Jin Fa Chung witnessed. "This One thinks that''s a perfect idea! Fan Yong Rui may lead the men that you''ll be sending, Hui Zhong... This One has heard that Yong Rui has spent more time traveling outside the capital than Li Jie and he is also quite skilled in fighting. He should be good enough." Knowing that they have decided and that there''s no way that the emperor will side with him over Fan Hui Zhong, Zeng Chang could only nod. "As you say, Your Majesty. If His Highness will excuse this old servant then..." "Go." When he left, the atmosphere in the room was a bit off and Jin Fa Chung was looking at the Fan Family with a curious smile. "Care to explain?" Shooting an annoyed glare at Jin Fa Chung, Fan Hui Zhong then rolled his eyes before he uttered one sentence that surprised everyone there. "That brat from Spirit Valor Country is eyeing my nephew like a piece of meat." A moment of silence settled before everyone there burst into laughter, including the emperor. "Ahhh, so it would seem as though young Li Jie has attracted a persistent butterfly." Jin Fa Chung said with a laugh. "More like an annoying fly." Fan Hui Zhong retorted, eliciting another round of laughter. After a couple of minutes everyone settled down once more and started discussing serious matters once more. The only good thing about it is that although everyone was still serious, the atmosphere wasn''t as tense and stifling as before. 101 Motives and Speculations - 32.3 A low constant hum seemed to be echoing softly through her ears. The bleak darkness that surrounded her seemed to be shifting and from unfeeling numbness, pain slowly filled her insides as if it was being stabbed constantly. With a low moan, Fan Zhu Xia, subconsciously curled her body when she felt a cool touch grab her hand before a firm pressure landed on her shoulders to stop her from moving. This made her try to open her eyes and after a minute or two of struggling, her eyes fluttered open. It took her another moment to clear her bleary sight to finally see her surroundings. At first glance, she saw that she was in a simple yet elegantly decorated room and the previous, more elaborate dress she wore to the banquet has been exchanged with simpler robes made of high-quality fabric which was much more comfortable than the one she wore before. Shifting her gaze, she finally paid attention to the familiar figures were crowded around her bed as they stared at her with eyes filled with worry and concern. "Sister, you''re finally awake... I was so, so worried!" Fan Shi Hong cried out from just beside her as his hand that lightly trembled as he clung onto hers tightened as he spoke. "I''m fine Little Shi, don''t cry..." Fan Zhu Xia comforted before turning to the others. "Is... Is everyone okay?" "Everyone''s fine, Xia''er... You''re the one we''re all worried about." Fan Li Jie replied in a low voice. "I''m fine... really!" Seeing them cast doubtful looks towards her, Fan Zhu Xia could only wryly smile. "We all know you''re in pain right now, why lie?" Fan Xian Liang pointedly asked. "That''s right Sister! The physicians told us you''re suffering from a lot of internal injuries..." Fan Shi Hong added with a look of concern. "It''s fine. I have some pills here." Without further delay, Fan Zhu Xia quickly took out a jade medicine bottle from his sleeve and quickly opened it. As soon as she removed the stopper, a distinct medicinal smell wafted out and when she saw the curious looks sent her way, Fan Zhu Xia smiled and started to explain after she swallowed a couple of pills. "It''s a pill I concocted recently for our soldiers. It has the effect of easing pain and alleviating the damage caused to the body by internal injuries. If the injury is light then one pill should help you completely recover but if it''s more serious then a maximum of three can be taken and then proper rest should be observed to fully recover and remove any possible sequelae in the future." "Then you''re injuries earlier..." Fan Li Jie murmured with a dark expression before trailing off. Realizing his feelings, Fan Zhu Xia just smiled and waved it off while nonchalantly saying, "Don''t dwell on it, this isn''t the worst thing that''s happened to me so no need to worry." Before she could open her mouth to explain, Fan Yong Rui who kept silent until now, opened his mouth to speak and helped her ease the atmosphere. "Alright, I think that''s enough. Instead of stressing Little Xia, I think there''s other more pressing matters to attend to." "You mean the attack?" Fan Xian Liang asked. "En. There was something strange about their actions... Have you guys noticed it?" "Hmm... Are you referring to how they primarily targeted military officers an influential individuals?" Fan Li Jie said with a serious expression. "Yes. They were also quite skilled and ruthless when they retreated. A lot of families sent people to help the imperial guards to capture them yet most of them still escaped while those who were caught resolutely committed suicide." A moment of silence ensued as they all pondered on what this meant and before any of them could talk about it more, they felt a familiar presence coming closer and soon opened the door. "Father!" "Father..." "Uncle Zhong!" Fan Zhu Xia, Fan Shi Hong and Fan Xian Liang exclaimed at the same time while Fan Li Jie and Fan Yong Rui greeted Fan Hui Zhong much more calmly. Nodding to them, Fan Hui Zhong''s eyes landed on Fan Zhu Xia who was still lying down on the bed, looking quite pale and frail at the moment. "How are you feeling?" "Father, I''m alright. Just a bit sore but I already ate some pills and I should be fine after some rest." Seeing the sincere look on her face, Fan Hui Zhong sighed in relief before he turned to his nephews. "Xian Liang, go and stay with your mother. She''s with the empress. While you two go and meet up with your father, he''s just outside, he has things to talk about with you." Upon hearing his words, all three nodded in acknowledgement. Shooting them a satisfied look, Fan Hui Zhong then added, "Your cousins and I will be leaving first. We''ll talk about everything tomorrow." After shooing them off, Fan Hui Zhong turned to them once more. "Shi Hong, follow me and don''t go far. We''ll be meeting up with Min Sheng and our escorts once we go out of the palace. I''ll carry your sister." "Yes, Father." Fan Shi Hong said as he nodded obediently. Giving him a nod of approval, Fan Hui Zhong gently scooped up Fan Zhu Xia into his arms who remained silent even until after they went out and met up with Min Sheng. Thinking her behavior to be a bit odd, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but shoot a worried look towards her once they were all settled inside the carriage. "Is something the matter? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" "No, no. It''s not that. I was just thinking about some things..." "What is it?" With a complicated look on her face, Fan Zhu Xia asked in a quiet voice, "Second Brother said that none of the assassins were caught alive?" "En." "Do you know what method they used to kill themselves?" "From the report we received earlier, it varies. Some made their dantians explode, others stabbed themselves in vital spots while others seemed to be poisoned." Seeing her fall silent with a contemplative look on her face, Fan Hui Zhong patiently waited for her to speak while Fan Shi Hong sat quietly beside him, looking pale yet serious. "Father... Is it possible for you to find a way for me to examine some of the corpses?" Fan Zhu Xia asked tentatively. "You still need to rest Xia''er..." "I know... But I just want to check something out." As if feeling his hesitation, Fan Zhu Xia sent a pleading look towards him. "Please..." Seeing the look of his daughter, Fan Hui Zhong could only sigh in defeat. Zhu Xia rarely asked him to do things for her and ever since coming here, this should only be the second time and the first was when she found Shi Hong. Looking at her pale appearance coupled with her watery eyes trying to convince him with her gaze, Fan Hui Zhong finally nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Very well... I''ll see what I can do." 102 Motives and Speculations - 32.4 Despite his reluctance, Fan Hui Zhong still got permission to inspect the corpses of the assassins early the next day. It was just after Fan Zhu Xia ate breakfast when he came to her courtyard to inform her that the corpses was stored in one of the underground cellars that she requested to be built nearby a large courtyard that Fan Hui Zhong had constructed to serve as her very own personal clinic, complete with a spacious reception room where she can receive guests as well as five well-ventilated rooms containing four beds per room that was large enough for each person to rest yet doesn''t take a lot of space. Aside from these rooms, a medicine room was also carefully arranged with all the things, herbs that ranged from ordinary to uncommon and storage she might need, along with ample space so that she can concoct pills and medicine in peace, as well as another room that she calls the treatment room which she personally furnished with things she had brought with her when she was left Mystic Terra Mountain to explore outside her clan''s territory. The furnishings included a rather tall, make-shift jade table that was long in length yet narrow in width which if one looked closely will be enough for a fully grown adult man to lie on. In this particular room, aside from the eye-catching table that was constructed using a precious jade called Lifeblood Jade which has the property of providing energy and strengthening vitality to those in contact with it which stems from the fact that this particular type of jade refines energies it gains via absorbing blood and the higher the cultivation of the blood owner, the more the jade improves so despite it''s pristine, white appearance which made it seem holy, most people had unfavorable opinions on it due to how this jade''s quality is cultivated despite it''s effects. Other than the jade table, there was another smaller table of the same height made out of high-quality wood just beside it which had a couple of hooks built-in on one side, three large luminous night pearls were embedded on the middle of the ceiling, just above the table, illuminating the room brightly along with the mounted lamps on each wall. In this room, there was a wall that served as a washing area where there are basins and soaps as well as a seal that served as a water source as well as a seal that ensured that the room will not be flooded. On another wall was a large shelf as well as cabinets containing unique instruments and other medicinal supplies such as strips of cloth for bandages, threads and needles of varying lengths, woven medicinal herbs like the one Fan Zhu Xia used on Fan Shi Hong when they first met. Going to one of the large cabinets in the room, Fan Zhu Xia opened it to reveal several tools and medical instruments inside. At first glance, one would see that at eye level, there were several types of blades mounted inside, from a short saw to a longer, more thicker one, to an assortment of other large knives that one would typically think to see in a butcher shop which would make people''s blood run cold if they see this inside an infirmary yet despite this, Fan Zhu Xia still had it here but for now she ignored it''s existence. Instead, she reached out and opened one of the drawers inside to pull out a roll of leather and another of cloth, both of which were obviously wrapped around multiple things. After getting these two, Fan Zhu Xia went back to stand near the jade table and started laying out the tools she took onto the smaller table. As she brought them out, small, thin knives of varying sizes and lengths were taken from the roll of leather while another set of silver needles of different lengths came from the pouch. Just as she finished her preparations, Fan Zhu Xia heard the sound of footsteps, when the door opened to reveal Ying Xiao Dan who was sent here by his master, the head physician of the Fan Family; Ru Wen Cheng to help assist her in the examination of the bodies as per Fan Hui Zhong''s request. He was followed by two guards who were holding a stretcher where one of corpses was currently being carried on. Seeing this, Fan Zhu Xia immediately waved them over and directed them to put the body on the jade table before ordering them out first, leaving just her and Ying Xiao Dan alone inside. Looking at him, Fan Zhu Xia nonchalantly asked, "I heard you''re good at poisons?" "I wouldn''t say I''m good at it but I do have some knowledge and affinity to it, Princess." Ying Xiao Dan replied humbly. "Hmm, what about your familiarity with the human body?" "It''s alright. My master has been teaching me and my sister since we were young..." "Have you had any practical experience then?" "Some. Aside from treating injuries sustained by the guards and soldiers during training, Second Young Master would sometimes have me help me treat some of his subordinates when needed." Hearing that, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes faintly flashed with a hint of surprise before they imperceptibly narrowed as she gave Ying Xiao Dan a thoughtful look. "So you know Second Brother''s business?" she queried. Ying Xiao Dan then nodded then shook his head which made Fan Zhu Xia raise her brows in question. Smiling a bit, Ying Xiao Dan opened his mouth and slowly said, "To some extent..." Nodding slightly, Fan Zhu Xia gestured towards the dead body on the table. "Since you''ll be helping me here today, I expect you to keep the results to yourself and not share it to others. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, Princess." Caught off-guard with the way she was addressed, Fan Zhu Xia smiled wryly and shook her head to clear her thoughts. Due to the sudden attack last night at the imperial banquet, the events that happened before that almost slipped her mind. That was right. She was formally conferred the title; Princess Leifeng. In this way, even though she is adopted, no one will discriminate nor look down on her but will first respect her background. Remembering this matter became nothing more than a fleeting thought. Instead, she turned to face Ying Xiao Dan and said, "Let''s start." With that, Fan Zhu Xia went to stand next to the jade table and promptly started removing the clothing on the dead body much to Ying Xiao Dan''s shock. Seeing him frozen stiff, Fan Zhu Xia shot him an impatient look. "Enough with that! Come here and get this clothes, make sure you''re careful and place them on that table by the wall neatly then come back and make sure you pay attention to what I''m doing so that you''ll be able to handle this kind of matters in the future." Pulled back from his stupor, Ying Xiao Dan flushed slightly in embarrassment before quickly doing what Fan Zhu Xia ordered and coming back to stand on the other side of the jade table. Seeing that Fan Zhu Xia fully covered the sensitive place of the man with a small piece of cloth that was hanging from the small table by her side, Ying Xiao Dan couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief yet when he noticed that Fan Zhu Xia was looking at him with amused eyes and an expression of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Ying Xiao Dan''s originally white face blushed into a deep red accompanied by an awkward look. Shaking her head, Fan Zhu Xia pushed down her amusement and calmly said, "No need to be shy nor embarrassed about this. As doctors and physicians, we would inevitably encounter situations where we''ll treat the opposite genders." "But Princess, someone of your stature shouldn''t have to do this! What would people say?!" Ying Xiao Dan exclaimed in agitation. Understanding dawned on her and Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help but send him a comforting smile to reassure him. "It doesn''t matter what people say... Before coming here, I came from a family whose life centered around medicine and was taught from a young age that in medicine, you should always have a clear path and a clear conscience. During treatments, nothing matters other than curing and saving the patient. In pill refining, focus and perseverance is key to success. As for poisons, how to use it best is what''s important because even poison can sometimes become medicine. Among this key points is something that is inherently common. No matter what age, gender or race, nothing matters other than the result we seek. To others, my clan teachings may be problematic in some ways as it can easily misguide you but we had a rule that we strictly adhered by which kept us on the right path." "What rule is that?" Hearing the obvious curiosity in his voice, Fan Zhu Xia smirked and her eyes seemed to be filled with a dangerous light. "Life is a treasure we must all strive hard to maintain but if your life is threatened, then don''t hold back." 103 Motives and Speculations - 32.5 Feeling a chill run down his spine, Ying Xiao Dan saw the cold sneer on Princess Leifeng''s face disappear quickly like ice melting and Fan Zhu Xia''s usual languid smile replaced it as if the expression he saw before was nothing more but a trick of the eye. Seeing that he was still staring at her with a dazed expression, Fan Zhu Xia decided to no longer pay heed to his thought and only gave him a small reminder before focusing on the task at hand. "Pay attention..." Fan Zhu Xia reminded briskly while her eyes were already glued on to the dead body while her hands fluttered about as she checked the cause of death. As soon as Ying Xiao Dan heard the words, he got a hold of himself and quickly paid attention. On the other hand, noticing this, Fan Zhu Xia also started explaining what she was doing. "Right now, I''m looking for any distinguishing features or marks on their bodies... I''ve heard that some organizations has those on their members..." "... Also check all of his limbs to see if there''s any..." "... Now help me turn the body over so we can check his back..." "No marks? Hmm, let''s get a sample of his blood..." Fan Zhu Xia murmured, bringing out a porcelain bottle from her space and reaching for one of the smaller knives. Curious, Ying Xiao Dan asked, "What''s the blood for? Couldn''t we just use the needles to check for poison?" "We could, but getting a sample now will make it more convenient for me to compare with the others should there be different poisons on each body. This is also much more safer to do." After collecting enough blood to fill at least half the bottle, Fan Zhu Xia handed it to Ying Xiao Dan before fluidly stitching up the slit she made on the dead man''s wrist to stop the bleeding while any stray drops of blood was taken in by the table made of Lifeblood Jade. "You put that over there for now on one of the unoccupied shelves. I''ve prepared some ink and paper there, do label the bottle as well." "How should I label it, Princess?" "According to which one we handle first so just numbering each bottle later should be fine." With a nod, Ying Xiao Dan quickly labeled it and also did the same to the folded clothes on the table before returning to watch what Fan Zhu Xia was doing. They spent the next two like this with Ying Xiao Dan learning quite a lot from watching and assisting Fan Zhu Xia. Although it was quite tiring despite the breaks they took in between, to Ying Xiao Dan, all of it was worth it. Earlier he had thought that collecting blood was already quite novel, Fan Zhu Xia then proceeded to stun him when she started cutting the body open and examining the insides of the corpse. At first, Ying Xiao Dan thought that it was unnecessary but then when Fan Zhu Xia started explaining things, his thoughts were once more refreshed. Along the way, Fan Zhu Xia also showed him the different effects of poisons on a body. Initially, they thought that only a small number of them were poisoned but as it turns out, aside from the bodies with varying signs of poisoning such as purplish blue lips, stiff blue-black tongues and darkened fingernail or blackened veins and burst arteries, several of the others who committed suicide in a different way also had a more subtle yet deadlier poisons inside their bodies. Regarding that, those bodies were immediately ordered to be carefully discarded with Fan Zhu Xia giving very specific instructions which the Second Young Master; Fan Yong Rui ended up personally handling to make sure no accidents happened since he dropped by to see them earlier. Now, they finished examining the last corpse, Fan Zhu Xia who still had some injuries felt incredibly tired that she didn''t even want to move. Both rested for a bit before she let Ying Xiao Dan who was still in high spirits due to his excitement about the new things he learned go and summon her maids to escorts her back. As soon as the two arrived, Chun Tao and Chun Hua saw their young miss who accidentally fell asleep while reclining against a willow tree near the large medicinal garden in the courtyard. When they neared her, they didn''t expect for her to suddenly wake up despite their efforts to keep quiet and not disturb her. "Chun Hua... Chun Tao..." she called out groggily. "Princess, let us help you back... You still need to rest. Master will worry and wouldn''t want you to push yourself like this..." Chun Tao said gently while Chun Hua nodded in agreement. "Yes, I know... Help me back first. I can take a bath." The two did as they were told and aa soon as they reached Fan Zhu Xia''s Blooming Phoenix Courtyard, Fan Zhu Xia simply told them to prepare some food for to eat after she finished cleaning herself up. Just as they finished setting up the food, Fan Zhu Xia came out wearing a simple yet elegant, white robes with red embroidery. It almost resembled the clothes she wore when Fan Hui Zhong first found her. Seeing the food prepared and smelling it''s mouth-watering scent, Fan Zhu Xia''s remaining sleepiness were swept away and Fan Zhu Xia ate with relish. In the past two days, her cousins would drop by from time to time but couldn''t stay long because of all the things they still had to take care of. Fan Li Jie was preoccupied with Fan Song Xue since he was being trained personally by their grandfather. It was the same case with Fan Xian Liang and only Fan Yong Rui was different. Fan Yong Rui was busy preparing because he was ordered to accompany the escorts provided by the Thunder Vale Country to the visiting princess as they sent her back home and they were due to leave tomorrow. In fact, Fan Li Jie was the one supposed to go as per request of the princess but under Fan Song Xue''s influence, it was changed to Fan Yong Rui instead. At first, Fan Yong Rui was a bit disgruntled about the whole thing but when he found out that his brothers had to go into closed-door cultivation with their grandfather, he quickly became more accepting of it, much to everyone''s amusement. On the other hand, her little brother; Fan Shi Hong was also being trained by their aunt; Wei Rou Xiang whenever she has free time to help improve his strength and stamina while both Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Hui Liang were busy taking care of official matters. This particularly applies to Fan Hui Zhong who became even busier and was practically always in a meeting with the emperor especially after Fan Zhu Xia informed him of their findings. From what she found out during the examinations, coupled with their suspicions that the Zhan Clan might be involved is highly likely. This is due to the fact of the various types of poisons found in some of the corpses as well as their previous assassination attempts on the Fan Family. As of now, this lead is currently being investigated while they are trying to figure out the motives of the people responsible. 104 Motives and Speculations - 32.6 "Nothing of much worth, Princess... We lack time and resources to dig deeper." "Useless!" she spat out angrily as she glared at her old servant with eyes filled with immense dissatisfaction. "So if This Princess understands correctly, you were not only unable to find information regarding those assassins, but you also failed to find out more about that annoying woman and where this new prince heir of Lei Palace came from?" "This servant is incompetent..." Angered, Ning Yan Mei could barely hold herself back and the urge to throw the tea cup she was using filled her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep, calming breath and once again regained her composure. Once she opened her eyes, her emotions were under control and gone was the enraged young lady and a gentle fairy remained. "Never mind it then. This Princess will inform Father Emperor of this instead... Who knows, it may prove useful so just continue paying attention but don''t force it..." "This servant understands..." Placing down the now empty tea cup, Ning Yan Mei let her thoughts wander, she knew that today was the last day she''ll be spending here in Thunder Cale Country. Thinking about this, she couldn''t help but frown. If it wasn''t for that sudden attack during the imperial banquet then she would have undoubtedly chosen to stay here longer and if her safety wasn''t compromised then she had no plans of leaving until she''s accomplished her goals. As it stands now, the task her imperial father entrusted her to befriend and get close to the Fan Family and forge good relations with them is not only left unfinished but is in a worse state than before! She wasn''t stupid. She knew that the Fan Family didn''t like her and at first, she was confused by the sudden change of treatment towards her, after all, when she first visited their home and had dinner with them, although they weren''t particularly close, they still weren''t as cold and alienated as their most recent encounters. Especially Fan Li Jie! Thinking about his recent cold and distant treatment towards her made Ning Yan Mei feel aggrieved. Before she thought that she still had a chance to get close to him and she could improve her image in front of him as long as she brushes up her sense of existence but who knew that her request to have him be a part of the group sent by the Thunder Vale Country to escorts her back will be thoroughly denied! Just thinking about this made her already sour mood darken even more. What she didn''t realize is that the reason her request was denied was simply because almost everyone in the Fan Family could see through her impure schemes towards their eldest young master so of course they''ll have their guard up against her! On the other hand, Fan Yong Rui who''s part of Ning Yan Mei''s escorts is busy with a whole other thing. "Second Brother, are you sure you should be drinking right now?" Fan Zhu Xia asked with a smirk as she looked at the young man who was sitting across from her, drinking cup after cup of wine. "You know Little Xia, I can ask you the same exact question!" Fan Yong Rui retorted back with a laugh. Smiling mischievously, Fan Zhu Xia replied playfully, "Wine helps me sleep... What''s your excuse?" "Ahh, you..." Shaking his head, Fan Yong Rui just laughed as he raised his arms in defeat after gulping down his cup of wine. "Fine, you win... That''s my last cup." "Don''t be sad, Second Brother... We''ll have a drink when you come back. I''ll make sure there''s a lot of good wine for you then." "You better!" After another round of laughter, Fan Zhu Xia broke the silence and turned to Fan Yong Rui with a serious look on her face. "Second Brother, remember to be careful, alright?" Sensing the change in her, Fan Yong Rui put away his playful attitude and turned serious as well. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine..." "Even if you tell me not to worry, I''ll still worry you know?" Fan Zhu Xia retorted crossly, as she rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Should I be touched? I truly feel warm and special with Little Xia''s words..." Fan Yong Rui asked with an ambiguous smile, reverting back to his previous self. Shooting him an apathetic glare, Fan Zhu Xia dismissed his words and ignored his antics without any hesitation. "Not at all... I would say the same thing to anyone in your position." "Cold words, Little Xia... Cold words..." Fan Yong Rui said with a laugh. Seeing him laughing, Fan Zhu Xia couldn''t help herself any longer and her lips twitched while her eyes glittered with amusement. "Ahh... Even so, I''m sure I will be fine. To be completely honest, I''m more worried about what will happen here in the capital while I''m gone." "Why is that?" "Well, my people has been going around lately and this was even before the welcoming banquet and they''ve been finding traces of a couple of people''s movements for a while now... I''m not sure if it''s related to the attack during the banquet or the attempted assassination on Grandfather but either way, someone''s making moves in the dark..." "Have you told them yet?" "Of course I did! It''s actually one of the reasons why I''ll be the one going on this escort mission instead of Eldest Brother. One reason is obviously because that annoying princess is clearly aiming at Eldest Brother but another reason is because this will also be convenient for me to gain more information along the way and investigate some matters relating to the attack during the banquet as well... " "Investigating? But isn''t that a little too dangerous? I heard from Father that there were people sent out to check a couple of leads but they lost contact and now..." "No traces of them were left." Fan Yong Rui said, completing Fan Zhu Xia''s sentence when she trailed off. "You know and yet-" "Little Xia, I told you not to worry about it, I''ll be fine! Don''t you trust Second Brother?" Instead of answering, Fan Zhu Xia only gave him a pointed look as if sarcastically asking him, "What do you think?" Shaking his head with a smile, his expression turned serious. "I will not be placing myself in any unnecessary danger so don''t worry. I''ll be bringing a couple of my people and they''ll protect me from the shadows. I''ll just be extending the reach of my intelligence network is all so it shouldn''t be that dangerous." "Fine..." "But you though... You''ll have to pay attention to your safety, Little Xia. Try not to go out alone... Better yet, just stay at home until things settle down to avoid any mishaps." "I will, I will... You don''t have to remind me." Fan Zhu Xia responded with a small pout making Fan Yong Rui chuckle. "Well you know that I don''t want to be that uptight, after all, that''s Eldest Brother''s job! I''m just saying this because I feel a bit uneasy." "You should focus more on yourself, you know? I''ll be fine since I''m staying home and I am still supposed to be resting so I won''t be going out anytime soon..." Seeing Fan Yong Rui''s expression ease a little, she knew that what she just said relieved him of some of his worries, unlike her who was still feeling concerned. Unable to help herself, Fan Zhu Xia anxiously added, "Just be careful and come back safely,that''s all I ask..." "Don''t worry, I will..." 105 Concerned - 33.1 Contrary to what she told him, as soon as their group had left mid-morning, Fan Zhu Xia had gone to talk with her father; Fan Hui Zhong about a matter that has been on her mind the last couple of days. "Sorry to intrude... Are you busy Father?" Although surprised at her visit, Fan Hui Zhong who was checking some documents sent over by Bai Nian Zu immediately put them down before gesturing for Fan Zhu Xia to enter. With a small smile, Fan Zhu Xia pressed down her urge to look around her father''s study and swiftly sat down on one of the chairs in the room to break eye contact with her father who was looking at her. "Is anything the matter?" Fan Hui Zhong asked as he eyed his daughter with concern. At any other time, whenever Fan Zhu Xia seeked him out and had the same evasive behavior as she dodged his eyes while refusing to meet his gaze, nine out of ten, there was something troubling her. From the day he found her, Fan Zhu Xia had always been a straightforward person who would usually tell things to him straight and without any filters unless she herself was feeling uneasy or anxious. "Xia''er..." Fan Hui Zhong called out again, seeing that his daughter was in a daze and had remained silent. As if snapping out of her thoughts Fan Zhu Xia mumbled out an apology before looking up to finally meet his gaze. "Father, I wanted to talk to you about something..." "En, go on..." "Uhm... It''s about that man who saved me back at the banquet. I heard from Eldest Brother that he hasn''t woken up yet..." "Oh, you''re referring to that boy; Jun Qiao? I did hear about his condition from his father. From what I heard, he hasn''t woken up yet because he has a condition that was aggravated and worsened due to the injuries he received during the attack." Stunned, Fan Zhu Xia fell silent with a conflicted look on her face as a myriad of emotions filled her. At first, she almost thought her heart stopped as she felt a familiar dull, aching pain when she heard a familiar name and as she pulled herself out of it, she was then surprised when she heard that he had a pre-existing health condition and then to top it all off, she felt immense guilt when she heard Fan Hui Zhong say that his condition worsened due to the injuries he sustained in course of helping her. In that short moment, from the time that Fan Hui Zhong spoke, her emotions tossed and turned to the point that it almost overwhelmed her before she got a grip on herself and took a deep, calming breath. Despite this, Fan Zhu Xia''s voice still had a slight tremble when she opened her mouth to speak. "H-How is he doing now?" she asked in a soft, faint voice. "Would it be fine then if I went out and check up on him?" Fan Zhu Xia asked tentatively. Looking at her troubled and worried look, Fan Hui Zhong couldn''t help but inwardly sigh. Ever since they came to the capital, he already noticed that his daughter; Fan Zhu Xia was slowly changing. It wasn''t that it was bad, in fact, Fan Hui Zhong was actually glad to see this happen. Back when they were still in that remote village where he had previously settled down, even though he was able to somewhat coax her out of her shell and help her find another purpose to find a will to live, she wasn''t as lively nor as expressive as she is now. Even now, she is worried about someone she had barely even met! If this had happened before, he was pretty sure that the moment he told her that he had already sent over some pills then she would have already deemed it fine. Before, she hardly paid attention to anyone else other than him and even though Fan Hui Zhong felt happy that she cared about him, he still felt concerned on how she was acting. Whether it was day or night, as long as she had nothing to do, he would always see her drinking with countless jugs of wine nearby or smell the scent of alcohol clinging to her as if perfume even though there was no wine nearby. It isn''t like she was always drunk out of her mind. She was still relatively sober with that drunken blush, along with the scent of wine the only indication that she even drank. She wasn''t rowdy or violent when she drank, in fact, she often became too quiet for his taste. There were a lot of times when he saw her in this state where she''ll just be staring off to distance and watching the scenery or the moon with that sad, melancholy air about her. During other times, it was only when she was with him that he saw Fan Zhu Xia faintly relax and it was only when they were at home where she could truly be comfortable but at any other time, she was always coldly aloof and indifferent. The only time she truly interacted with the other villagers was when there was an outbreak of disease that had mainly spread among the children. It was the only time where she reached out to help voluntarily and yet her reputation still invariably spread out. When nearby villages heard of her deeds, there was an influx of people who were sick who came and tried asking for her help and yet she didn''t really pay any heed to them. She only treated them if she felt like it or if she was offered something she had interest of. Some called her eccentric, others called her heartless yet she didn''t care but now, she''s different and that was when he realized, she never really changed, the only thing that was different was that before, he was the only one she cared about because he was the only one she considered family. She didn''t have friends before but now there were people she was fond of. Fan Zhu Xia was someone who was cold and indifferent to people she deemed irrelevant to her but as long as you were nice and sincere towards her then she would treat you the same way and care for you whole-heartedly. It''s also probably the reason why she was like this now. "That would be fine as long as you bring one of your maids as well as some escorts with you when you go to General Wu''s residence. I will go ahead and send a note to notify them of your visit. " Hearing him grant her permission, Fan Zhu Xia visibly brightened before nodding gratefully. "Thank you Father! I''ll go and bring Chun Tao this time and I''ll ask Captain Min to arrange for some guards to accompany me." "En." "Again, many thanks Father..." "Don''t mind it, I already knew that you''d probably come and ask me about this. To be honest, I''m quite surprised you took this long... Anyway, after you come back, come here first, there''s something I would like to discuss." "Oh, then how about I leave after we talk?" "No, no... It''s fine, it''s nothing urgent and it can wait." Nodding slowly, Fan Zhu Xia then got up from her seat and spoke. "If you''ll excuse me then, I''ll go and make the necessary preparations. I''ll come see you when I return." After going back to her side of the mountain which was the former Fan Family residence that was now considered as the Princess Manor, Fan Zhu Xia quickly found her personal maids; Chun Hua and Chun Tao. "Princess, is something the matter?" Chun Tao immediately asked when she saw Fan Zhu Xia''s hurried expression. "No, no... Nothing''s wrong but I would like you to ask Captain Min to prepare a small escort for me since I will be visiting Young Master Wu and check his condition as well as express my thanks for saving me..." "Of course, right away my lady... Anything else that this servant can do?" "Ahh, no... Oh but you also go and prepare, you''ll be accompanying me as well." "As you command Princess. If you''ll excuse me then..." After Chun Tao left, Chun Hua stayed and waited for Fan Zhu Xia''s orders obediently making Fan Zhu Xia smile slightly. "Chun Hua, come along... I need to go to the medical courtyard, I''ll be taking some supplies, just in case..." "Of course..." Not long after, Fan Zhu Xia had already boarded the carriage and was on her way to visit General Wu''s residence. 106 Concerned - 33.2 "Princess Leifeng? The young lady of Lei Palace is coming?" "Yes she is... She might be dropping by to see Jun Qiao. If that happens, make sure that Jun Qiao''s face stays covered but other than that, you may listen to any of her commands." "My Lord?!" Shu Fang or more commonly known as Granny Fang exclaimed in protest. "Just do as I say. Even if she wants to interfere in Jun Qiao''s treatment, you must listen to her. She knows what she''s doing." "But what if something happens to the young master?" "Nothing will happen, no need to worry..." "But..." worried, Granny Shu wanted to continue to voice out her concerns but she received Wu Zhang He''s pointed look leaving her no choice but to swallow back her protests and keep silent. Seeing her worry and understanding her concerns, Wu Zhang He sighed and reassured her. "Granny Fang, you should remember the medicinal pills that Lei Wangye sent the other day, right? Well, those pills were refined by the princess and from what I''ve gathered, she is an exceptional doctor so there shouldn''t be any problems..." Upon hearing that, Granny Fang''s anxious heart settled down somewhat as she murmured to herself, "Is that so?" "Very well... Please pardon my previous words then General..." "No need to apologize, I do understand your concerns... Just do what I told you before and I''ll try to come back as soon as I can. There''s just something I must take care of." "Understood. Please leave everything to my care and stay safe General." "En." With a nod goodbye, Wu Zhang He went out and swiftly disappeared from view. Once he is gone, Granny Fang turned and went back inside and started mobilizing the servants to have things in order and before long, all the things needed to be done were over. The entire manor was cleaned, the pathways were swept, the receiving hall in the outer courtyard where one welcomed guests was spotless and delicious snacks and various refreshments were being prepared and should be ready to serve once the princess arrives. All the servants who previously had a somber atmosphere ever since their young master returned unconscious and riddled with injuries were now full of conflicting emotions. This was especially felt by those servants higher up in the household and had more contact with him. During their interactions with the young master, they saw that despite his cold nature, he was actually quite easy to get along with and naturally they who experienced this passed it down towards the other servants. This made the new young master be viewed highly and appreciated by everyone in the manor. They noticed that despite being declared the successor of Wu Zhang He''s position, he didn''t rely on that alone and still worked hard for himself and cultivated his own people which can be seen by how he started to organize his own place at the old Fan Family manor just beside their own. In fact, the young master''s people were definitely quite strong and capable from what they''ve seen so far. The only reason why the young master was even staying here to recuperate was because General Wu deemed it much more safer for the time being since he was still unconscious and so that he can keep an eye on them. They also knew that their young master got injured to this extent wasn''t because he was incapable of protecting himself, on the contrary he was quite skilled! The only reason he fell into this wretched state was because their young master risked his well-being just to protect this new princess that was coming to the residence today. Some felt indignant on behalf of their young master since some of them think that he wouldn''t be in this state if he hadn''t helped the young miss of Lei Palace and while everyone acknowledged this fact, the others didn''t let this influence their opinion of the new princess, instead most of them were curious on what kind of person she is since usually the young master wasn''t someone who liked socializing with the opposite gender so him going out of his way to save her despite putting his own life at risk made them wonder if there was anything special about her that made him go through such lengths. It wasn''t long before their curiosity was answered as the carriage with the crest of Lei Palace which had a small group of guards, totaling to five was escorting it stopped in front of the Wu Family Manor. Granny Fang who was already waiting for their arrival, immediately went out to welcome them. Watching as the two of the guards while the other three panned out to surround the carriage protectively, he saw one of them knock on the carriage door before a soft voice sounded from within and although Granny Fang could barely here the words, probably due to some protective formation added to the carriage, she was still able to tell how pleasing and nice to hear the voice was. The carriage door opened and a young, pretty maid first dismounted before turning back to look inside before raising her hand as if to offer help. With a slight hint of expectation in her heart, Granny Fang calm eyes had unexpectedly shown a small ripple within it. A slender jade-white hand reached out to take the proffered hand of the maid gently as a young lady gracefully disembarked from the carriage. She was wearing deep blue robes that had some simple white lotus embroideries near the bottom which contrasted beautifully with her porcelain white skin making it seem even whiter and more luminous than it is. Her long, silky hair was pulled away from her face and pinned up by a single white jade hairpin and aside from that, no other accessories were worn by her yet this didn''t diminish her looks one bit. Unlike her visit to the auction house nor the time at the imperial banquet, she wasn''t wearing any veils now so her beautiful countenance that seemed devoid of any form of makeup could be clearly seen. Albeit, looking a bit paler than usual, Fan Zhu Xia had chosen to to forego her usual makeup and opted for a bare face and this made her look like a fragile yet aloof beauty, contrary to her usual alluring and indolent atmosphere. Seeing that someone was there to welcome them, Fan Zhu Xia let go of Chun Tao''s hand and calmly walked towards the old woman in front of her and giving her a nod of respect. "Hello there... This Princess would like to first apologize for dropping by with such short notice! I do hope you can pardon me, but may I come in?" "Ahh, of course, of course... Please, right this way Princess. Also, if you have anything you would like to know or need, please do not hesitate to ask." "Oh, alright then may I also know your name?" "Ah yes, sorry for the late introduction but this old servant is named Shu Fang but The Princess may call me Granny Fang. Everyone does..." Granny Fang replied with an amicable smile before leading her inside while also giving short descriptions of the things they passed. All the servants they passed gave them various greetings but all of them had one thing in common. Their eyes widened in surprise upon seeing her before they all expressed their respect as is due, then they all started whispering amongst themselves the moment they saw that they were gone from their sights. "Would The Princess like to have some tea and refreshments first?" Granny Fang asked once we arrived at one of the rooms located at the outer courtyard. Looking around lightly, Fan Zhu Xia gave a small, tentative smile and a hesitant look on her face which was a bit unexpected to Granny Fang since it contrasted with her impression of Fan Zhu Xia as a cold, indifferent beauty. "Granny Fang, is it possible for me to meet Young Master Wu first? It''s just that I came here for the purpose of visiting him and to see how he is doing..." With a slightly conflicted look on her face, Granny Fang then released a low breath before her face cleared and she looked at Fan Zhu Xia with a serious expression. "Unfortunately the Young Master is still unconscious as of the moment but if you really must see him, this old servant will lead you to him..." Upon hearing the news that he was still unconscious, Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes imperceptibly widened as concern and guilt filled her. "Would it really be alright to see him?" Fan Zhu Xia asked softly. "Yes Princess... General Wu had left explicit instructions to us to listen to your requests and also gave permission when it concerns Young Master before he had to leave on an important errand." "Is that so? Then I would like to express my thanks in advance... If you will, please lead the way..." 107 Concerned 33. 3 If one looked more intently, one would realize that the places they were stationed at was quite strategic and insured that no one would be able to infiltrate the courtyard without their notice. Noticing that her attention was drawn to them, Granny Fang said, "General Wu had instructed us to make sure that the courtyard where Young Master is residing to be safe and secure. Of course the manor''s security has also been tightened due to recent events but the Young Master''s courtyard is still the top priority..." "This is understandable. Even back home, Father has also made the same measures to ensure our safety." Fan Zhu Xia acknowledged as she nodded in agreement. Before long, they arrived in front of Wu Jun Qiao''s room where a single man stood outside just by the door with a cold, dangerous air. At first glance, Fan Zhu Xia knew that this man was not ordinary and despite being unable to see through his cultivation, something was Fan Zhu Xia that this was a man that shouldn''t be offended. Feeling her inquisitive yet wary gaze from the moment it landed on him, Yi Ting Zhe turned his head and met it straight on. Despite being prepared, the moment his eyes landed on her face, he still couldn''t help but feel shocked. Yi Ting Zhe has seen a portrait of the young lady in front of him that was personally made by the young master and back then, he was admittedly a bit dubious at how beautiful the young lady in the painting was and thought that the young master was seeing through colored-lenses but now that he''s seen her face to face, he could only say that the painting really did her justice. She not only had peerlessly good looks but also outstanding temperament. It was no wonder that very few people voiced out their discontent with the newly named princess because looking at her now, it was as if she really was born and raised as a carefully cultivated flower by the Lei Palace. Looking at the princess, Granny Fang shot her a kind smile before opening her mouth to speak. "Princess, please let me introduce you to Young Master''s personal attendant; Yi Ting Zhe." "It is an honor to meet you, Sir Yi." Fan Zhu Xia greeted with a soft smile. "You flatter this servant Your Highness. It is this one''s blessing to make your acquaintance." Yi Ting Zhe quickly replied respectfully. "Sir Yi, this is Princess Leifeng; the person that Young Master saved during the banquet. The princess has asked to see Young Master''s condition..." Granny Fang spoke out after they finished greeting each other and explained to Yi Ting Zhe while at the same time introducing him to Fan Zhu Xia. Upon hearing that, Fan Zhu Xia was taken a bit of guard because if one just based it on Yi Ting Zhe''s words alone, one could easily infer that Wu Jun Qiao must have suffered a lot back then and the chances of being disfigured is highly possible. Just thinking about it made Fan Zhu Xia internally sigh. From the time she first saw him, she already felt that he was extremely extraordinary based on the atmosphere he exudes and momentum alone but to think that he would feel bad and uncomfortable when people saw his face was something she didn''t expect. Before she thought that he his face behind a mask to protect his identity just like her when she wears a veil but she never thought it was because he was disfigured. Fan Zhu Xia felt distressed and uncomfortable in her heart once she thinks about it but it wasn''t as if she cared about his ruined looks but rather felt bad at the thought of him suffering back then. At this time, she didn''t think that her worry and concern over Wu Jun Qiao was anything special but rather quite normal. What she didn''t realize is that he was attracting more and more of her attention without her realizing it. Instead, she still acted as she would given the situation and just expressed a look of understanding and nothing else. "This Princess understands. As a member of Lei Palace, I give you my word that I would respect Young Master Wu''s privacy and would not do anything that may violate his wishes... This Princess is just truly worried about him since it is because of myself that Young Master Wu is in this condition..." "Since the princess gave her word, this servant is rest assured... If you will..." Yi Ting Zhe spoke while at the same time stepping aside and opening the door and gesturing for Fan Zhu Xia to go inside. With a nod towards him, Fan Zhu Xia first turned to Chun Tao and her other escorts and murmured an order for them to stay put and wait for her there before calmly making her way inside the room and letting Yi Ting Zhe close it behind her, making them lose sight of her back. The moment she disappeared inside, Chun Tao only shot a meaningful look towards Fan Zhu Xia''s escorts and with tacit understanding, the two of them simultaneously turned around and just stood guard quietly. If one didn''t pay close attention, they would think that the two guard escorts were just standing there, at ease when in truth, both were paying close attention to their surroundings as well as making sure that nothing was out of the ordinary. As for Chun Tao, she wordlessly went to stand beside Yi Ting Zhe and based from her actions, she was mimicking Yi Ting Zhe and wanted to do the same by thing as him and guard the door to ensure nothing unexpected happens while at the same time being close enough should the need arises and Fan Zhu Xia calls for her. Seeing their actions, Granny Fang excused herself and said that she''ll go and check the kitchen to see if the preparations for the tea and refreshments were done. Meanwhile, Fan Zhu Xia who had entered the room alone was standing quietly by the bed and staring at the unconscious man with an unreadable expression. Wu Jun Qiao who had his eyes closed still had his face covered by a mask made out of soft cloth. It can be seen that the people in General Wu''s manor still paid careful attention and abide by his wish to conceal his face but despite of that, the half that can be seen still looked sickly pale and his lips appeared bloodless. As Fan Zhu Xia''s eyes traveled down his body, she could see the bandages wrapped around him, only to be covered by his sleeping robes and quilt. The strong scent of medicine permeated the room which added more to the somber atmosphere. In Fan Zhu Xia''s clear, icy blue eyes ripples of complex emotions could vaguely be seen. Biting her lip, Fan Zhu Xia slowly reached out and gently touched Wu Jun Qiao''s pale cheeks while murmuring something in a soft, barely audible voice. "Lord Owner..." 108 Concerned - 33.4 After a few moments, the calm look on her face gradually turned serious until the time she let go and gently placed his hand back down to his side with a somber expression before going back to open the door, just in time to see Granny Fang coming back from the kitchens. When Fan Zhu Xia opened the door, she surprised all those outside who were waiting for her to come out especially after seeing the dark look on her face. Meeting Yi Ting Zhe and Granny Fang''s gaze, Fan Zhu Xia opened her mouth and the next words that she spoke made both Yi Ting Zhe and Granny Fang''s blood run cold. "Young Master Wu''s condition is extremely bad. The internal injuries he received recently has been partially dealt with by the medicinal pills that Father sent over but due to his previous ailment acting up and being aggravated, the pills were only able to help his situation by about forty to fifty percent... He''s not in grave danger but if he isn''t treated immediately, the sequelae he might develop in the future will be particularly painful and detrimental to his future cultivation." Stunned at her words, Yi Ting Zhe still blurted out and asked, "Is there anything we can do?!" Faced with his question, Fan Zhu Xia felt a moment of hesitation before she resolutely pushed it away. She knew that if she helped now, there might be a risk of her identity being discovered but when she thought back to it again, didn''t Wu Jun Qiao already know who she is? Besides that, even she knew that outside of his identity as the adopted son of General Wu Zhang He, he also had another identity as the mysterious Lord Owner of Thousand Treasures Pavillion; an organization that has power not restricted in Thunder Vale Country but also reaches far and deep to other countries as well. Since that''s the case then what does she have to lose? With the mentality of taking a gamble, Fan Zhu Xia opened her mouth and said, "If you trust This Princess then I might be able to help..." As Wu Jun Qiao''s trusted aide and the main person who was entrusted to find a certain girl, of course Yi Ting Zhe knew the true identity of the princess before him and upon hearing her words, a strong feeling of hope shot through him. "Princess, if you can treat our young master, we would be in your debt..." Yi Ting Zhe responded almost immediately with a serious look on his face while Granny Fang nodded in agreement. "Rest assured Princess that General Wu has also told me to listen to your words even if it concerns our young master. The only thing that he prohibits is for the Young Master''s face to be exposed..." Granny Fang added. "Fine? Of course it''s fine! More than fine! Young Master has suffered from his old injuries so much in the past couple of years, the fact there is a chance to treat it is already more than we can ask for..." Yi Ting Zhe burst out, his gruff voice slightly shaking due to a flood of his emotions which is a mixture of relief, joy, pain, concern and excitement, all at the same time. "Alright then I''ll start stabilizing his condition now and make sure he has enough strength to wake up. In the meantime, I''ll need you to prepare the following herbs and once everything is gathered, I''ll prepare a medicinal bath for your young master to soak in once he''s awake..." Fan Zhu Xia said while at the same time making her way to the table inside and bringing out a roll of paper, a brush and a bottle of ink before rapidly writing down numerous herbs that was needed for the treatment and handing it over to Yi Ting Zhe who followed her in. "How soon can you gather it? Some herbs listed are a bit rare and I do still have some of it back at my Princess Manor but it might not be enough for a long treatment..." With a quick look towards the list, Yi Ting Zhe, met her gaze and said in a serious voice, "We''ll have it done as soon as possible... Half of this herbs listed, we already have. This subordinate will strive to have at least a portion enough for one treatment within the day..." "Good enough. The preliminary treatment I''ll be doing will still take a long time so I''ll have to trouble you to guard the courtyard and make sure that no one interrupts me. Once the herbs have been gathered, just wait for me to come out and I''ll personally prepare it since this medicinal bath needs to be used as soon as it is done to ensure that it doesn''t lose any of it''s efficacy." "Understood." Yi Ting Zhe replied with a nod before bringing out a small bamboo flute and blowing on it making four dark clothed men appeared. "Stay in the courtyard and make sure Princess Leifeng isn''t disturbed during the course of her treatment of the Young Master. Stay outside and listen to Her Highness'' maid and Granny Fang for further instructions until I return." "As you command!" After the four of them simultaneously called out in acknowledgement, they quickly dispersed around the yard and filled in the gaps between Fan Zhu Xia''s own personal escorts. With a nod of respect, Yi Ting Zhe excused himself and said he''ll personally go and get the medicinal herbs while Granny Fang said that she''ll go and send word to inform the general before they left with the promise to come back as soon as they were done. Turning to her personal maid, Fan Zhu Xia just quietly ordered her and said, "Chun Tao, guard the door and don''t let anyone in without my permission." "Yes my lady..." Without another word, Fan Zhu Xia went back inside and closed the door behind her. Making her way towards the bed, Fan Zhu Xia carefully peeled the quilt back and took another cursory glance on Wu Jun Qiao''s body before placing both her hand near his chest and closed her eyes before letting her qi envelop his body. Once again, just like before, thousands of pale blue thread-like qi gently intertwined themselves together and encased Wu Jun Qiao''s prone form until it looke like he was inside a luminous pale blue cocoon that pulsed intermittently as if in the pace of a gentle heartbeat. At this time, Fan Zhu Xia examined Wu Jun Qiao''s body in depth to gain an understanding of how severe his injuries were while at the same time taking note of his body''s current condition as well as taking the chance to find the root cause of his long-term ailment. This examination was neither too long nor can it be said to be too short. Normally, Fan Zhu Xia would be fine but due to her recent injuries, she wasn''t exactly at her best state so she also had to take intermittent break in between. After determining his current state, Fan Zhu Xia was slightly relieved to find out that most of the pills that Wu Jun Qiao needed she already had. Due to her having a lot of free time before the imperial banquet, she had refined a lot of useful pills and practically everything she needed was already in her space. From the Blood Enhancing Pill which can improve one''s blood quality, purity as well help the body regenerate blood faster, Fan Zhu Xia also had the Vitality Returning Pill which has the effect of restoring the body''s strength and vitality and boost one''s life force which is particularly useful for someone who''s seriously injured or has a massive drain in their internal energies and qi in their dantian. Aside from this she has also recently refined some Bone Regeneration Pills which is good for treating broken or fractured bones which can be used by Wu Jun Qiao now since she noticed that he had several fractures on his ribcage as well as his left arm which was also broken. Fan Zhu Xia also concocted Flesh Recovery Elixir which mainly addresses flesh wounds and helps stimulate faster recovery of the muscle tissue which is also quite suitable for Wu Jun Qiao regarding several of his injuries, especially the one he received in his back when he turned to shield her from the explosion back at the imperial banquet. After a moment of thought, Fan Zhu Xia remembered that she still had two pills that were particularly suitable for Wu Jun Qiao to use. First would be the Energy Stabilizing Pill which can help calm his qi that was disrupted due to his internal injuries and the other would be the Mind Awakening Pill which will be quite effective in helping wake up Wu Jun Qiao from his coma. Originally, Fan Zhu Xia planned to use acupuncture to wake him up but when she was checking his condition earlier, she noticed that his soul seemed a bit weak so she thought it would be better to use the Mind Awakening Pill instead since it also has the effect of calming down the mind and soul while at the same time strengthening it. Taking out all the pills she needed, Fan Zhu Xia reached out and gently pinched Wu Jun Qiao''s chin and tilted it so that his mouth was slightly open. Placing one pill after the other, Fan Zhu Xia helped circulate it''s medicinal efficacy by wrapping Wu Jun Qiao in a glowing cocoon once again each time she fed him a pill and after each round, once all the medicine''s effects were fully absorbed, Fan Zhu Xia took a short break and rested briefly before repeating the process with the other pills. She started by letting her qi enter and seep into his body before taking the chance to repair the damage done with the aid of the medicine. Slowly but surely, Wu Jun Qiao''s breathing gradually eased and relaxed and though he was still pale, he didn''t look as bad as before. When she was mostly finished, the only thing she had left was the Mind Awakening Pill as well as the Flesh Recovery Elixir so without any hesitation, she once again tilted Wu Jun Qiao''s head and placed the Mind Awakening Pill into his mouth. As soon as it melted, it was immediately absorbed by Wu Jun Qiao and it didn''t take long for it to take effect and just after a couple of minutes, his lids trembled before his eyes slowly fluttered open to reveal his beautiful amber gold eyes. "You''re awake..." Hearing her voice, Wu Jun Qiao''s gaze was drawn to her and a flicker of surprise showed in his eyes but before he could speak, Fan Zhu Xia spoke before him. "We can talk later. First drink this, it''ll help you recover faster..." Fan Zhu Xia said while coming closer and unstoppering the jade bottle that contained the Flesh Recovery Elixir. With his eyes glued on to hers, Wu Jun Qiao didn''t say a word of protest and obediently opened his mouth to let Fan Zhu Xia pour the elixir in before swallowing it. Soon, he felt the tell-tale sign of the elixir that indicate that it was slowly taking effect. The areas where he still had open wounds slowly felt numb before it throbbed hotly and since he was injured all over his body, especially his back, it felt extremely uncomfortable and the pain made him grimace a little. Seeing it, Fan Zhu Xia felt sympathy for him so she gave him a small, comforting smile. "After this, I''ll go out and check if they have finished gathering the medicinal herbs r I asked for... If they have then I''ll go and prepare a medicinal bath for you. That should help boost up your recovery and condition your body as well..." "Wait..." Witg another smile, Fan Zhu Xia said, "Relax Lord Owner, I''ll be right back."