Chapter Eighty-Six: Then He Must Still Make His Move

The master learned that members of the Shadow Alliance had also arrived here. They had framed me. Could it be connected to this jewel?

Qi Li suddenly recalled what Ye Xuan had told her. Could it be related to this?

"What? The Shadow Alliance has come here too?" Bai Ming was startled and rose from his chair. Ye Xuan nodded.

"I investigated this matter myself. The Shadow Alliance killed fifteen people and pinned the blame on us, making Xuan Yuan Jue Si suspect Qi Li. But Xuan Yuan Jue Si is not a fool. Everything was arranged too neatly. When Sinuo Sang and I went to look into it, we found the Shadow Alliance's mark."

Ye Xuan recounted the matter in careful detail so that Bai Ming would believe him. Otherwise, Bai Ming would think the two of them were lying.

"Is that so? The Shadow Alliance has come here? Hah, trying to snatch things from me? They must be tired of living. Spread the word: if anyone encounters the Shadow Alliance, kill them without mercy."

Bai Ming had a grudge against the Shadow Alliance; they all knew that. So a fight to the death was inevitable. Yet there was nothing to be done. The Shadow Alliance would move against them as well. They had already fallen into a passive position, with the Shadow Alliance targeting them, while their own Myeong Tower had found no trace of the Shadow Alliance at all.

"Yes." Qi Li hurried outside to issue the order. Only Ye Xuan and Bai Ming remained in the room.

"Ye Xuan."

Bai Ming looked at him and motioned for him to sit. Ye Xuan, ever obedient, sat down at once.

"Master, do you have any further instructions?"

"I hear you've grown very close to Sinuo Sang."

It was not something he had merely heard; it was the truth.

"Yes, Master."

"Does she trust you?"

"Completely."

Ye Xuan had every confidence in that. Sinuo Sang trusted him deeply. There could be no mistake about it.

"Good. Then I have a separate task for you."

"What task?"

"Take her from him. Take her away from Xuan Yuan Jue Si."

No one knew what Bai Ming was thinking. To send him to seize Sinuo Sang—what sort of scheme was that?

"But they love each other deeply. I'm afraid it will be hard for me to make a move."

In truth, Ye Xuan did not want to take her, because he did have feelings for Sinuo Sang. He did not want to use underhanded or rash means to do anything. If Sinuo Sang were to discover it, would it all not be too late?

"Then you must still do it."

Bai Ming's voice suddenly turned harsh. On this matter, there was absolutely no room for negotiation. He had to do it.

"Yes, Master."

Ye Xuan rarely saw his master lose his temper at him like this. It seemed Bai Ming took this matter very seriously. Though he did not know why, he could not refuse. That was his current predicament. In any case, whatever happened next, he had to carry it out. That much was certain.

"That's better. Don't force me to lose my temper. Rest assured: if you do this well, you will truly be second only to me in Myeong Tower. No one will stand on equal footing with you. No one will be able to restrain you."

The meaning was clear enough. If he succeeded, that woman Qi Li would no longer threaten him or hold him back. Though in truth, even now it was much the same. Still, the two of them stood on equal ground. Both took orders from Bai Ming. Both carried out his commands.

"Thank you, Master."

For him, even rising one rank above Qi Li was not especially important. But being able to command Qi Li in the future was another matter entirely. Perhaps he could work toward that. He still had many aims in life—for instance, never having to answer to anyone again, and building his own career. Being at another person's mercy was hardly desirable, especially when that person was so unpredictable.

So Ye Xuan agreed. Soon Qi Li came back in, not having the slightest idea what they had discussed.

Yet Ye Xuan understood that Bai Ming had very likely said those words to Qi Li as well. No wonder Qi Li had been acting so differently these past two days. It seemed she too had her own ambitions. Everyone wanted to climb higher. They did not wish for others to decide their fate, but to truly hold the reins themselves.

Perhaps the future was shrouded in uncertainty. Perhaps that was all it was.

"You two will act separately from now on. But if you encounter anyone from the Shadow Alliance, report it at once. Be careful in all things. That will help matters proceed smoothly."

"Yes, Master."

"Yes, Master."

Qi Li and Ye Xuan answered in unison. It seemed this Liang City was becoming increasingly unsettled.

On the other side, Sinuo Sang was not worrying about whether she had already become someone else's target. Her mind was fixed entirely on Xuan Yuan Jue Si.

Perhaps some things were not going smoothly for her now, and might never go smoothly in the future. She kept waiting for Xuan Yuan Jue Si to appear, but he never did. The day passed like this, and Sinuo Sang looked rather weary. Sitting all day was tiring. So she returned to her room. A maid came to light the lamp. By its glow, she ate her supper.

Alone and solitary, despite the many people in the manor, it felt as though she were the only one left. She lay on the table, utterly bored. Suddenly, she truly feared loneliness, and feared the dark. She was afraid the darkness would swallow her whole.

Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep with her head on the table. In the middle of the night, Xuan Yuan Jue Si came to her side again. He had stood on the city wall in the wind all day, trying to keep himself clear-headed. Yet he still could not do it. For him, perhaps this world was truly cruel.

And yet he had never managed to become truly cold.

Someone once told him that the greatest sorrow in this world is having too good a memory and too deep a love, for those two things alone can destroy many things.

Only coldness is the sharpest weapon. Yet at this moment, he seemed still far from that realm.

He could never attain such a height. Perhaps, deep in his heart, there was too much tenderness, preventing him from becoming a man of ice. Though he knew that coldness could make him stronger.

"Xuan Yuan Jue Si? You came?" Sinuo Sang half-opened her eyes and looked at the person before her. Was she dreaming?

"Am I dreaming? Where did you go!"

"Mm, you're dreaming. Why are you resting here? Come lie down on the couch and sleep properly."

So saying, he lifted her up and gently laid her on the couch. Then he covered her with a quilt.

"Mm, I really am dreaming. Because Xuan Yuan Jue Si could never be this gentle—he always looks so fierce. He could never be this gentle. Impossible. Absolutely impossible."

She was talking to herself, and Xuan Yuan Jue Si, standing beside her, did not expose the illusion. Let it be a dream, then.

"Don't go." Seeing him turn away, Sinuo Sang reached out and grasped his hand.

"I won't go. I'm going to put out the lamp."

Xuan Yuan Jue Si shook his head, his heart growing warmer still. Those words—don't go—were truly deadly. They made it impossible for him to move his feet.

After extinguishing the lamp, Xuan Yuan Jue Si lay down and held her in his arms as they slept.