The city buzzed with the echoes of the previous day's events, ripples spreading outward to reach every corner of the Liu Clan. For Xuefeng, those ripples followed him in the form of hushed whispers and bowed heads as he and Wuying made their way to the Clan Leader's mansion. Once just a young master by name, Xuefeng now walked with a different weight on his shoulders—the highest Spirit Talent in the Clan's history.
"Good afternoon, Young Master, Miss Wuying. The Clan Leader is expecting you in his study," Elder Ming greeted as they stepped into the sprawling courtyard, his voice laced with a reverence Xuefeng wasn't yet used to.
"Hello, Elder," Xuefeng replied, a slight bow accompanying his words. "I apologize for yesterday. Things got... out of hand."
Elder Ming waved off the apology, a grandfatherly smile breaking across his face. "Nonsense. It's a good thing you advanced safely. Go on, meet with the Clan Leader. When you're done, I'll personally escort you to the Spirit Treasury for your selection."
Xuefeng nodded, murmuring his thanks. As he glanced at Wuying, she offered a faint, approving tilt of her head, her usual stoicism unshaken. Together, they moved toward the mansion, its towering walls looming above like a silent witness.
The air inside was thick with quiet, the kind of quiet that carried an unspoken tension. It reminded Xuefeng of the stillness before a storm, when the wind holds its breath and the world teeters on the edge of something inevitable. As they walked, Ling stirred in his mind.
I can feel the Fate Fragment in this building! she said, her excitement radiating like static in his mind.
Good. Let me know the moment you pinpoint it, Xuefeng replied, his own nerves tempered by a flicker of hope. A solution to his growing list of problems might be closer than he'd imagined.
When Xuefeng arrived at Liu Xiaobei's study, he paused, his hand hovering over the door. The muffled voices inside carried a light, almost playful tone—so unlike the usual businesslike demeanor of his parents. He knocked softly. A brief, somewhat flustered response followed, prompting him to push the door open.
Inside, his mother, Mu Lan, sat casually in his father's armchair, her posture a touch too relaxed for someone in the middle of serious clan matters. Liu Xiaobei stood nearby, his lips faintly reddened as if a trace of stolen affection lingered there.
Xuefeng's eyes widened slightly. Caught in the act. He hid a smirk. "Apologies for the interruption," he said with deliberate politeness, masking his amusement.
Liu Xiaobei cleared his throat loudly, his usual composure snapping back into place. "Ahem. You took your time," he said, redirecting the moment. "Did you rest well?"
"Yes, I feel great today," Xuefeng replied, settling onto the sofa. "I haven't cultivated yet, but everything seems stable."
"That's good to hear," Liu Xiaobei said, pride evident in his tone. "Your achievement is worth rewarding. When you visit the Spirit Treasury, take whatever you like. It's time you started equipping yourself properly."
Xuefeng raised an eyebrow. The offer was no small gesture. Spirit Artifacts weren't just tools—they were lifelines, often paid for in blood or fortune. Yet here he was, being granted unlimited access without effort.
"Thank you," he said simply, the weight of the opportunity sinking in.
"For your training," Liu Xiaobei continued, "Wuying will be your teacher. Her expertise in cultivation, Spirit Arts, and beast hunting will be invaluable. You two are already close, so it should be a seamless arrangement."
Xuefeng glanced at Wuying. She gave a composed nod, though a hint of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
"I'll make sure to train him well," Wuying promised, bowing slightly.
"I trust you will," Liu Xiaobei replied before turning back to his son. His tone shifted, becoming more deliberate. "Now, about your talent… is there anything you'd like to share?"
Xuefeng tensed, the question hitting like a strike to the chest. He knew better than to spill the truth. Revealing Ling and the Fate Fragments could paint a target on his back.
You could tell them some of it, Ling suggested in his mind, her voice calm and measured. Explain that your talent can improve through certain means, but don't reveal me or the fragments. Keep it vague. You're already drawing enough attention.
Xuefeng took a slow breath. "If you're asking whether I used a method to raise my talent, the answer is yes," he admitted, carefully choosing his words. "But it's not something I can replicate easily. My master insists I grow stronger before sharing her techniques."
"Master?" Both Liu Xiaobei and Mu Lan straightened, their eyebrows shooting up in unison. Even Wuying's composure cracked, her curiosity breaking through.
Xuefeng nodded. "She appeared to me in a dream," he explained, weaving his story. "She healed my dantian and offered me guidance in exchange for becoming her disciple. The story about meeting a beggar? That was a cover to protect her identity."
His parents exchanged a glance before exhaling in relief. "That makes more sense than the story about the Six Petals Lotus Flower," Mu Lan said.
"Six Petals what now?" Xuefeng asked, genuinely baffled.
"Manager Wu," Liu Xiaobei explained, "claimed she gave you a rare Spirit Herb to justify your sudden increase in talent. She made it up to shield you from suspicion. I assume this 'master' of yours performed some kind of secret art?"
Xuefeng nodded, thinking quickly. "Yes. It's a rare ability she possesses. Unfortunately, it requires a tremendous amount of energy, so it's not something she can perform lightly."
Can you use your ability on others? Xuefeng asked Ling silently.
Yes, but only if you gather two more fragments, Ling answered, her tone matter-of-fact.
"My master said she could use her technique on others," Xuefeng added aloud, gauging his parents' reaction. "She promised to raise your talents, too, once I'm strong enough."
Liu Xiaobei's eyes widened, his composure faltering for a moment. "Xuefeng, are you serious?" he asked, his voice tight with disbelief. "Tell your master there's no need. Healing you alone is more than enough."
"I already spoke to her," Xuefeng said, improvising. "She said it wouldn't be an issue. The only concern is keeping it secret; we can't risk attracting the wrong kind of attention."
Mu Lan nodded, her expression resolute. "Then we'll stick with Manager Wu's story about the Six Petals Lotus Flower. As for your training, does your master plan to guide you further?"
Wuying stiffened at the question, but Xuefeng shook his head. "No. She said I should focus on learning from Wuying for now. There's nothing more she can teach me until I reach higher stages."
"Then work hard," Mu Lan said, her tone firm yet encouraging. "If she healed your dantian, she must see great potential in you."
Xuefeng glanced at Wuying, catching the faintest hint of discontent in her expression. She didn't like being sidelined, even in a fabricated narrative. Still, she remained professional.
"Wuying," Liu Xiaobei added, his voice tinged with amusement, "be lenient. He's just starting out."
Wuying's lips curved into a slight smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I already have a plan in place. Don't worry, Clan Leader."
He's doomed, Liu Xiaobei and Mu Lan thought simultaneously.
Shifting gears, Liu Xiaobei cleared his throat. "There's another matter. Manager Wu proposed a partnership with the Trade Union after covering for you. She requested your involvement, and I agreed."
Xuefeng frowned. "Why me?"
"Why did she ask for me?" Xuefeng asked, frowning. The golden card Manager Wu had handed him was already puzzling enough, and now this sudden request only deepened the mystery.
"I don't know," Liu Xiaobei admitted. "You'll have to ask her yourself. But the deal benefits the Liu Clan greatly. We'll be able to sell our resources at twenty percent above market price and purchase from their shops at a significant discount. It's an opportunity that will help us grow tremendously." His excitement was evident, his tone bordering on jubilant.
Isn't that basically handing the clan a golden card? Xuefeng thought, skepticism shadowing his expression. "Won't they lose money offering such terms?"
"No," Liu Xiaobei clarified, shaking his head. "At most, they'll sacrifice a small portion of their profits. It's a strategic move for them, not charity."
"Well, if it's that beneficial, I'm fine with it," Xuefeng agreed, though his thoughts lingered uneasily. Manager Wu had been generous, almost unnervingly so. She wouldn't ask for something absurd, right?
"Good," Liu Xiaobei said, his satisfaction clear. Then his tone shifted, gaining a note of intrigue. "There's one more thing. Someone wants to meet you. I'll call her now."
From within his robes, he retrieved a medallion, infusing it with his Spirit Qi. The faint hum of energy resonated through the room as he placed it back in his dantian. "She'll be here in a moment."
At the mention of "her," Wuying stiffened visibly. Her sharp gaze flicked toward Liu Xiaobei, who offered a helpless smile in return. Her instincts as a Shadow Guard kicked in, her posture taut with suspicion. A flicker of jealousy crossed her face, too brief for anyone but Xuefeng to catch.
Inside his mind, Ling's voice chimed in, her tone almost conspiratorial. Xuefeng, the Fate Fragment is nearby. I think it's with the person your parents are bringing to meet you.
Relief washed over him. After all his worries about survival, here was a potential solution, delivered right to his door.
A knock interrupted his thoughts, and Liu Xiaobei called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Xuefeng's world momentarily tilted.