'That guy..although he is ruthless and cunning; he is reliable. He has been eying Huiqing for too long. That green-eyed wolf..humph. If not for him having to urgently enroll in the academy, he wouldn't have agreed so readily to let his sister go to his camp.'
'And that woman. Forget it. She had already compensated by handing him the last element of the formation. He won't hold it against her anymore.'
Changmin took a deep breath to regain his composure.
"Crown Prince!"
Shaoming almost tripped while greeting in a hurry.
"What's the matter? Did grandmother give any order?" Yan Changmin furrowed his brows in concern.
Shaoming was his right-hand underling. One of the best trainees in the elite camp. It was rare for him to be so flustered.
"Crown prince, the core element has been found."
Changmin looked around. Although it was a deserted street, it was still not the best place for a private conversation.
He gestured Shaoming to follow him and entered a desolate shop at the corner.
The interior was well-lit, with the racks filled with incantation materials. Despite being with the crown prince for such a long time, he had no idea about this storefront.
"Speak."
Changmin rested his eyes on Shaoming gravely.
"The fallen An clan have a hidden reserve at the east of Tranquil Bamboo River. An Feng, the An family's head, finally gave in when threatened with the ancestral heirloom. As long as we promise to return it to him, he promised to share the location of the core element with us."
The prince had a hint of an amusing smile at the corner of his lips.
"Say, how special is this pair of anklets, to be able to make him spit out the information? A man who could stay silent faced with years of physical torment, mental torture, and even the infamous phoenix searing flames, gave in just like that for a mere heirloom?"
Gently caressing the carvings on the delicate silver anklets, he let them slip through his fingers until only the tips were held in his hand. The dim rays of the setting sun entering through the ornate window fell on the ornament. The crystal gemstones glowed vibrantly.
For a second the face of that woman with soft brown curls passed in his mind.
'How would she look if she was adorned in this?' He couldn't help but wonder for a split moment.
"He merely said it would be of no use to us. Only someone from the An's bloodline can inherit it."
"Young master, why don't we send it to the research team to analyze it once we get our hands on the core element? It's not like, the An Feng now is capable of standing against us." Shaoming suggested after a brief pause.
"You think he hasn't already thought about it? He was one of the closest strategists to father for more than five years. To be able to gain his trust and access to the royal palace, he is not a mere simpleton. Return the heirloom to his family tomorrow and bring me to him."
Changmin handed the anklets back to him.
—----------------------------------------------------
Inside the torture dungeon,
A man was chained to the icy cold wall. His slender body was filled with deep jagged scars. Some were yet to fade. Years of unkempt hair covered his face. His unshaved beard had reached his chest. His head hung low with tiredness. The lower half of his body was submerged in the Cursed Serpent's cistern.
"Guide us to the core spirit essence, and we shall end your torture."
"Huh, end my torture? You mean kill me right?"
"Are you going back on your words perhaps? An Feng, you don't really have any other choices." Changmin spoke slowly. Since he had already agreed to show them the way, there's no hurry. He has waited for a long time. A bit longer won't hurt him.
"You have indeed left me with none. I agree to show you the way as long as you hand the anklets over to my younger child."
"Rest assured. I happen to be a man of my words."
Changmin turned his head towards Shaoming, gesturing at him to free An Feng.
—--------------------------
"Are you sure this is where it is?"
Changmin frowned. Was he trying to deceive them? They were currently standing in front of the Ancestral house of the An Family. It was in ruins. After the fall of their clan the An family members were quick to abandon this place and move separately.
This was the very first place he searched for. He made sure to investigate it by himself numerous times with no results.
An Feng stopped in front of the innermost room.
He had a sorrowful smile on his face.
'Meifeng, I am sorry.'