Iy of Moonlit Grove

  The air ihe office of the Tang residence was heavy. The m breeze drifted in through the open window, carrying the distant st of trees and the murmur of the city, already bustling with the day. Taood before the window, his hands csped behind his back, his gaze fixed in the dire of the Clear Water Mountains. His dark eyes, which usually held a quiet kindness and a hidden sorrow, were now calg and filled with silent .

  He knew his daughter was there. And he knew how ruthless that pce could be.

  — " Kai, please give me the report." — His voice echoed in the room, low but firm.

  Kai, always wearing a mask but maintaining a rigid posture, nodded before he began speaking.

  — "The batch of pills that arrived yesterday has already started selling in our stores. As for the Shang family, though they tinue pressuring our allies, they haven't made any direct moves regarding this. But… it's uhey'll remain idle for long."

  Tang Wei remained silent, processing every word. Beside him, seated on a small carved wooden sofa, Liao Wei drummed his fingers on the armrest, his gaze casually distant, as if lost in thought. But Tang Wei knew he aying attention to every detail.

  — "What about the other fas?" — Tang Wei shifted his gaze from the window and sat on the sofa opposite his friend.

  Kai cleared his throat before tinuing.

  — "The City Lord's Manor is busy preparing for Feng Lian's birthday, but rumors suggest he is ined to favor the Shang family. If true, this could further unbahe city's power."

  Tang Wei let out a quiet sigh.

  — "And the Xing family?"

  — "They seem particurly ied in the rumor about Feng Lian's possible marriage. In fact, internal information suggests that it was Xing Yue who started spreading it." — Kai hesitated slightly when he mentioned 'Xing Yue'.

  — "Hmph." — Liao Wei let out a shh. — "The Xing family is clearly ied, but their eldest daughter doesn't seem to be. Spreading the topic across the ey like that… If the Shang family and the City Lord's Manor form a marriage alliance…"

  He paused, then tinued, his sharp eyes hiding a dangerous glint.

  — "If that happens, it will only be a matter of time before the Shang family takes trol of Moonlit Grove."

  Tang Wei closed his eyes for a moment. He already khis, but hearing it out loud made it all the more real.

  — "You're oversimplifying things, Liao." — He opened his eyes, his expression grim. — "There are still variables in py. This apparent calm iy won't st long. When Feng Lian and Shang Hua-Reurn, everything will be put to the test."

  Silence lingered for a moment before he ged the subject.

  — "What about the preparations to transfer our people out of the city? And the hunting groups? I recall some of them were heading to the Clear Water Mountains soon." — He asked, thinking of his daughter.

  Kai gave a small nod.

  — "We are dug the operation with all the discretion you ordered. Everything should be pleted before the tour begins. The only thi is to decide to whom we'll trahe remaining businesses iy."

  He paused briefly before tinuing.

  — "The Treasure Pavilion is operating as usual. Among the three most important hunting groups iy, Moonlight Cws aial River Spear remain loyal to our business. However..." — His voice grew heavier. — "... the Mist Shadows group seems to be aligning with the Shang family."

  Tang Wei frowned.

  — "And what about the Celestial River Spear group?"

  — "They will leave for a hunt tomorrow."

  Tang Wei narrowed his eyes.

  — "Then invite Captain Wu Jian to discuss business. I want to see him personally."

  — "Yes, sir!" — Kai gave a slight bow before leaving the room.

  The door closed with a muffled sound.

  Liao Wei leaned ba the sofa, Tang Wei with a scrutinizing gaze. He had known this man for years and could clearly see the weight pressing down on his shoulders.

  — "You don't o worry so much. You gave your daughter several protective artifacts, including the guardian bracelet. If anything happens, you'll know immediately."

  Tang Wei let out a long sigh.

  — "I know that. But uanding is ohing… accepting is another."

  His voice carried a mencholic weight. He raised a hand to his temple, massaging it lightly.

  — "You don't uand, Liao. I watched that girl grow up. I ged her diapers as a baby, how to read…And now she's out there, fag a world that will show her no mercy."

  His heart ched at the thought that he wouldn't be able to protect her forever.

  Liao Wei observed him for a moment before letting out a tired sigh.

  — "That's true. I don't uand that." — He admitted, crossing his arms. — "I never had children. But I know you've already accepted this reality a long time ago."

  His gaze turned more serious, pierg.

  — "The problem isn't letting your daughter grow up, Tang. The problem is that your time is running out. If you don't rid yourself of the poison soon, you'll never have the strength to take revenge for your wife. And if that happens…" — He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the room. — "... these people will bee a threat to your daughter as well."

  Silence fell between them.

  Tang Wei closed his eyes for a moment. He already khis.

  He had always known.

  Slowly, he opened his eyes again. His previously mencholic expression shifted into something resolute.

  — "You're right."

  His voiow carried an unshakable determination. The hesitation in his gaze vanished, repced by pure, cold resolve.

  He turned back toward the window, staring at the horizon.

  The sky was dark, clouds gathering like omens of an impending storm.

  He o act.

  --------------------------------------------

  In a Courtyard of the Shang Family

  The sound of shattering gss echoed through the luxuriously decorated courtyard of the Shang Family. Fine por vases, ornate mirrors, and spiritual wooden boxes were hurled against the walls or smashed onto the floor. Each impact resounded like thunder in the minds of the maids rushing by, trying not to attract attention. Some shrank behind the ns of a cedar, hoping their presence would go unnoticed.

  Ihe room where the otion came from, Shang Hua-Yen was furious.

  Her eyes were red with rage, her ched fists trembling as her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. Her hair, usually immacute, was now disheveled, and her makeup was smudged with sweat and frustration. Her gaze was sharp, filled with hatred ament.

  And then, another crash.

  A mirror was thrown violently against the wall, shattering into a thousand pieces. A sharp crag sound filled the air as she grabbed a thiher whip and shed it against the floor.

  — "How dare that bitch?!" — she roared, her eyes bzing with pure indignation.

  Her hands trembled, not just with fury but with frustration. Ever since her sister had provealent, no one dared oppose her. No one. All those maids and es had been like a flock htened quails, not daring to utter a single sound in her presence. But now that her sister had left, they had bee as arrogant as before… now they dared to spire against her?!

  Hua-Ye humiliation burning in her chest. And the worst part? Her father had punished her after the au. He had never punished her before. Not once since her sister had revealed her talent. The only reason her situation wasn't even worse was that her sister loved her, and her father didn't want to upset her.

  At that thought, a shiver ran down her spine.

  She had long abandoned any illusions about her father, Shang Wei-Liang. He was a man of appearances. Kind and attentive when he saw value in someone, but ruthless when he no longer did. He had ruly cared for her or her sister. His i urely pragmatic.

  If not for her sister…

  Her body trembled at the thought of what might have happeo her if she hadn't held value in her father's eyes.

  But what ate away at her even more was the memory of Tang Wei and his daughter.

  Tahat damned old man, openly showed unditional love for his daughter, Tang Xi. A love that Shang Hua-Yen had always longed for but never received.

  Why?

  What was so special about that useless girl that she deserved something so precious?

  Jealousy and bitterness burned inside her, and her rage swelled. She grabbed a jade vase and hurled it against the wall with force.

  — "Damn you, Tang Xi!"

  Once again, she vented her frustration ohing around her. Until—

  — "Enough! Breaking things won't solve anything."

  A firm voiterrupted her fit e.

  Shang Hua-Yen froze for a moment before slowly turning to face her mother, Liang Yu-Mei.

  The woman stood at the entrance of the room, apanied by a few servants. Her posture was imposing, her robes perfectly aligned, and her gaze severe.

  Hua-Yen ched her teeth, trying to steady her breathing.

  — "But mother! That e has gooo far!" — her voice was filled with anger and indignation. — "She dared to ask father to be pced in the Valley of Spiritual Herbs! And the worst part... he agreed! He will surely ask my sister to help with it!"

  There was a faint trace of jealousy in her voice. She didn't even realize it.

  Liang Yu-Mei approached slowly, pig up a cloth aly wiping her daughter's face, removing the smeared makeup.

  — "You don't o worry about that." — her voice was calm but carried authority. — "Your sister sent me a unication talisman. As long as you perform well iour, you will be admitted to the Valley of Spiritual Herbs."

  She carefully adjusted her daughter's disheveled hair and tinued, her tourning colder:

  — "That is all you o focus on. As for that little whore... when your sister returns, your father will no longer protect her."

  The servants behind Liang Yu-Mei began ing up the wreckage in the room.

  — "But mother..." — Hua-Yeated.

  — "No buts." — her mother's voice grew firmer. — "You know as well as I do hmatic your father is. He may spoil his es all he wants, but when it es to power... he will discard them without hesitation."

  She paused, her gaze growing even more serious.

  — "You o uand that you ot depend on him. You 't afford to be reckless anymore."

  Hua-Ye a chill run down her spine.

  — "I took these resources from your father." — Liang Yu-Mei handed her a small spatial ring. — "Use them wisely and fet everything else. You will not leave the mansion until you reach the fifth level of Body Tempering."

  Hua-Yen ched the ring in her hand, feeling a weight far heavier than mere resources.

  — "Okay." — she murmured, relut but knowing she had no choice.

  ----------------------------------------

  In a Courtyard of the Xing Family

  Xing Yue y on her bed, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes.

  Ever since she had received the hat she would have to marry Feng Lian, she hadn't been able to gather the strength to get up.

  She knew, rationally, that it was iable. After living off the family's resources, she would eventually have to repay them in some way. But she had never imagi would be so soon.

  Her heart screamed a desperate "No," but her mind khat resisting would only make her father's position within the family even more humiliating.

  She felt trapped. Without a way out.

  For a moment, a forbidden thought crossed her mind: running to the Tang Family and begging Kai to save her.

  But she immediately discarded it.

  He would refuse.

  Perhaps not out of a ck of feelings, but because to marry her, he would have to prove his worth to the Xing Family. And that would mean giving up his own principles and independence.

  He wouldn't do that.

  Xing Yue felt a suffog pain in her chest.

  After receiving the news, she had locked herself in her room for days. Her mind told her to accept her fate, but her heart refused.

  She o talk to her friend… but she knew she was in seclusion.

  When she spread the rumor about Feng Lian's possible marriage—something she had overheard from the elders—perhaps, deep down, she had already sehat something was wrong. But she had refused to accept it.

  Now, more than ever, she hoped that this marriage wouldn't happen.

  For the first time… she wanted Shang Hua-Ren to win.

  The idea of depending on her made her unfortable, but she couldn't help it.

  She felt alone. pletely alone.

  And all she could do was wait…

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