Chapter 48: Early Departure

Tang Chun Xi moved cautiously yet swiftly, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Her body still bore the fatigue of battle, though her wounds had already healed. Only her arm remained slightly sore as it continued to mend under the influence of lunar energy.

'With a little more lunar energy and healing medicine, my injuries are almost recovered. But now that I've learned to control when it's used, I must ensure I don't waste it unnecessarily. It's always best to save it for an emergency,' — she concluded, halting the flow of lunar energy once her arm had sufficiently improved. The rest would heal naturally.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on the resource ahead.

The guidance of the Lunar Umbrella led her directly to the ordinary-looking bush where the feline had slain the rabbit.

Tang Chun Xi stepped lightly on the muddy ground and, without hesitation, pushed aside the branches of the thicket.

What she saw made her eyebrows furrow.

'What exactly is this plant?'

She knelt to examine it more closely, searching her memory for any information that might match this peculiar sight.

The flower bud before her exuded a faint aura of fire, yet its structure resembled an incomplete lotus. There was no visible stem—only the bud emerging directly from the dark, damp earth.

Tang Chun Xi felt a twinge of frustration.

Despite all the books she had read about spiritual plants, she couldn't identify this one.

'Its aura fluctuation is so weak... If not for the Lunar Umbrella and the Crimson-Spotted Feline guarding it, I would never have noticed it.'

Not knowing what it was, she dared not touch or consume it.

'If I don't know what it is, then it must be precious. My father will know.'

With that conclusion, she activated her storage ring and, with careful precision, removed the plant and stored it in the spatial compartment.

The process required some mental effort, as she also took a portion of the firm, stable soil surrounding it—just in case. Moments later, only a hole remained, twice the size of her hand.

Tang Chun Xi wasted no time.

She needed to leave before something—or someone—arrived.

Leaping into the trees once more, she vanished into the forest's shadows, seeking a safe place to recover.

However, she would soon learn a valuable lesson: leaving enemies alive in this world was a mistake that could come at a great cost.

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Moments Later...

It didn't take long for other spiritual beasts and cultivators to arrive at the scene.

Following the traces of battle, they expected to find something valuable...

Yet, upon arrival, they found nothing but footprints in the mud and the lingering scent of blood.

The fight was over.

And the only victor was long gone.

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Shang Manor – The Next Morning

The morning breeze drifted softly through the halls of the Shang Manor. The scent of aged wood and incense lingered in the air, mingling with the rustling leaves of the inner gardens.

Shang Hua-Ren walked slowly, a serene expression and a gentle smile adorning her face—the same one she always displayed to others.

But behind that mask of tranquility, her thoughts swirled in turmoil.

'Soon, I'll leave this city behind... and my sister will come with me.'

The thought of her sister stirred something close to regret. She had been raised to be pampered and sheltered, acting almost recklessly.

Part of that was their mother's fault. Part of it was hers.

By the time Shang Hua-Ren realized her mistake, it was already too late to correct it.

She had tried to harden her sister, to better prepare her for the cruel realities of the world, but she lacked the heart to be ruthless.

The result?

Her sister grew up naïve, only seeing the surface of things—though she feared their father.

And that needed to change.

Shang Hua-Ren knew their mother had realized it too.

The patriarch, Shang Wei-Liang, had made his intentions crystal clear.

Ever since she became an inner disciple, he had started including her in discussions as if he truly valued her opinion. But she wasn't fooled.

What he wanted was to prepare her for something.

And now, she knew exactly what it was.

"My marriage to the City Lord's son."

The thought made her fingers tighten discreetly inside the sleeves of her robe.

The City Lord would soon leave for a prosperous local. But with the marriage alliance, he would ensure his influence remained in the city—further strengthening her father.

Wei-Liang wanted absolute control over Moonlit Grove.

And her marriage was the key piece in his rise.

But Shang Hua-Ren no longer called him father.

He didn't deserve that title.

Since she was four years old, he had abandoned them.

When their mother lost favor, he hadn't lifted a single finger to help them.

On the contrary... he had aided the concubines in harming them.

Three years of hell—where her mother, her sister, and she had survived by slipping through the cracks of the manor's structure.

And then, when her talent was discovered, he returned, pretending to be a loving father.

But Shang Hua-Ren never forgot.

She always knew that, to him, a person's value was tied to their usefulness.

And now, he wanted to sell her off to strengthen his own position.

But she was not a passive piece on this board.

If there was one thing she had learned over the years, it was that marriage could be a prison... or a weapon.

"Feng Lian..."

The name of the City Lord's son echoed in her mind.

He was promising. A good candidate.

But was he worth betting everything on?

If she married him, she would gain his family's support and access to their alchemical secrets.

But she would also lose her freedom.

Her value, for now, was high.

But she knew that the moment she lost her usefulness, she would be discarded.

Shang Hua-Ren would never allow that to happen.

If she was forced into this game, then she would play to win.

Her fate would not be dictated by Shang Wei-Liang's whims.

Her steps led her to Elder Ki's courtyard.

The place was luxurious, built from century-old cedar wood, resembling her own and her sister's courtyard—but with an imposing yet harmonious air.

The elder had summoned her presence.

She took a deep breath before stepping inside, shifting her expression to one of solemnity.

But before she could announce her arrival, she heard something from within.

— "Enter."

Elder Ki's voice resonated through the courtyard.

Shang Hua-Ren did not hesitate. With a straight posture and a serious expression, she stepped inside with respect and composure.

Elder Ki sat before a dark wooden table, his sharp eyes fixed on her, assessing her. His presence filled the room—not just because of his strength, but due to the sheer authority he exuded.

He did not like wasting words.

— "Prepare yourself. We depart at noon. Make the necessary arrangements. And as we agreed, you will lead this training."

Shang Hua-Ren kept her expression calm, but her mind immediately caught the discrepancy.

'An early departure? Why?'

She simply nodded, not questioning it. Something had changed, and instinct told her the elder would not entertain inquiries.

But the way he spoke those words...

The weight in his tone. The slight coldness in his eyes.

Something had shifted.

— "And remember: if anyone asks, I will always be protecting you from the shadows. I will only reveal myself if you are in danger."

Pressure.

Not just an instruction, but a statement laden with an unspoken burden.

Shang Hua-Ren understood instantly.

'He wants an alibi. And I am his accomplice.'

From the moment Elder Ki sought her out, she knew this wasn't just a simple training exercise.

There was something else behind this mission.

But she had no choice.

Since she had been assigned to lead the team's training in the Clear Water Mountains, she had accepted the role given to her.

And now, there was no turning back.

But what had changed?

That was the question echoing in her mind.

She was perceptive enough to realize that something had happened in the past few hours. Something that made Elder Ki change his plans.

What could it be?

Despite the pressure, her expression remained firm, serious, and responsible.

She agreed.

It was expected of her, and Shang Hua-Ren would not show hesitation. If everything went well, she would emerge from this situation appreciated and rewarded.

And she needed that.

Being pressured didn't mean she was being exploited without return.

She accepted without resentment, but with one question in mind:

'What is his true objective?'

Elder Ki studied her expression for a few moments before continuing.

— "And one more thing."

He paused briefly, allowing his words to settle.

— "We have another mission."

Shang Hua-Ren remained still.

But her heart beat a little faster.

— "The third elder's son perished in the Clear Water Mountains."

Shang Hua-Ren absorbed the information, and for an instant, she sensed a subtle shift in the elder's tone.

This was not just a report.

There was resentment.

Contained anger.

— "We must find out what happened and, if possible, bring the culprit back—dead or alive."

Dead or alive.

That part made her narrow her eyes. The tone left no doubt. This was not a request.

It was an execution order.

The responsible party would be eliminated, whether a cultivator or a spirit beast.

Elder Ki's resentment was palpable.

He did not like this mission.

But Shang Hua-Ren noticed something even stranger.

If Zhai Li, the third elder's son, had been killed, why was there no detailed information?

This was the general rule in most sects.

Whenever an important disciple was eliminated, the circumstances of their death were immediately reported.

But this time?

Nothing.

No report. No image of the death. No information about the state of the body.

That was strange.

Very strange.

"Who—or what—killed Zhai Li prevented the information from being sent."

Elder Ki knew that.

And he did not like the uncertainty.

The retrieval mission had been announced throughout the sect's sphere of influence.

Anyone could accept it.

The rewards were high, and that meant one thing:

The Clear Water Mountains would be overrun.

Cultivators from all over would be entering, searching for the culprit and anything else of value.

This disrupted his plans.

And he knew it.

Shang Hua-Ren noticed the subtle irritation emanating from the elder.

He had received the notification about this mission because he was in the area, and now he had to deal with it.

If he could, he would probably ignore these murky waters.

But the sect would not allow this incident to be forgotten.

And now, Shang Hua-Ren was caught in the middle of it.

Training. Investigation. Execution.

Multiple layers of a dangerous game.

And she had no choice but to move forward.

She took a deep breath and lowered her head slightly in acknowledgment.

— "Understood."

Elder Ki nodded, satisfied.

— "Prepare yourself. You cannot fail."

Shang Hua-Ren turned and left the courtyard with controlled steps.

But inside, her mind was racing, searching for ways to take advantage of the situation.

Something big was happening in the Clear Water Mountains.

And now, she was at the eye of the storm.