The courtyard echoed with the controlled release of energy. Gen circulated his Qi from his **Root Acupoint**, the warm, golden flow of Jingdao fortifying his muscles and bones. He then guided it seamlessly to his **Sea Acupoint**, where it transformed, weaving threads of intent to manipulate the air around him, practicing the principles of **Shidow** with a focus he hadn't possessed months before. He did not try to force open the **Heart Acupoint** for Zhidow (Creation). He had seen with Varja the profound, soul-deep mastery required for such power. He would not rush. He wanted his foundation to be unshakable.
Beside him, Liang trained with a quiet, desperate intensity. Sweat beaded on his brow as he worked. His path was harder, his opened Acupoints not in the linear order preached by most—** Heart (Zhidow)**. first, then a forced, painful awakening of the **Root (Jingdao)**. Trying to use Creation from a foundation of reinforcement was like building a palace on shifting sand; it required constant, exhausting reinforcement. He pushed anyway, his jaw set.
After a while, Madame Su called them to stop. "Do you know which month it is today?" she asked.
Gen and Liang moved closer, wiping their faces. They shook their heads.
"It is the fifth month. The period of the Love Moon," she explained. "When the most beautiful flower in the world, the Elysium, blooms. It is customary for cultivators, especially those engaged, to show their commitment during the traditional feasts held at this time."
Gen blinked. "I never heard about that."
Liang shrugged. "It's normal. We were in the Jiang Capital, on the mountain to be precise. Almost all our lives. The only thing that was important was training and growth."
Madame Su's smile was thin. "That is not the reason I am telling you this. The issue is that Prince Juo Si plans to hold his coronation ceremony on this particular day. He is making use of the fact that the young masters and ladies of every noble sect will already be gathered, to consolidate his power over the Four Kingdoms in one public stroke."
Hearing the plan, Gen's face darkened. He had already explained all the details of Varja's poisoning to Madame Su and the others. They all knew the sordid tale. While it was still unclear if the Kang, the Li, or Juo Si himself had administered the final poison, one thing was sure: they were all inside the plot. Gen was slightly less suspicious of the Doom College, as they had the least to gain directly, and Duo Yi's death certainly hadn't been part of their design.
"There is nothing that can be done to stop Juo Si now," Madame Su said, her voice low. "And it will be best to be extremely careful about anything you say or do, Gen. I hope you understand."
Gen balled his fist, the motion tight with controlled fury. "I understand." He was strong, but he was still one person. How many powerful cultivators could Juo Si mobilize? Furthermore, he had no clear proof, no certainty, that it was indeed Juo Si who did the poisoning. But he definitely knew something. "We understand, Madame Su. I will keep track of every word from his mouth during the ceremony," Liang promised.
She nodded. "Good. Now, on another occasion, I would not require you to attend such a frivolity. But since Lorel is here, you might as well honor her and go. Plus," she added, a hint of steely pride entering her voice, "this will be a good way to announce to the world that Gen Jiang is back."
Gen scratched his head slightly as he looked over at Lorel, who was in the corner instructing Chubbs on adjusting his stance. Madame Su smiled at them. "Get ready. It's tonight. I will prepare the Elysium flower for you." Then she left.
Liang nudged Gen. "Hey, Gen. It's time to take things seriously. When are you two getting married?"
Gen punched Liang lightly on the shoulder. "You need to train harder instead of playing the fool, otherwise you'll be left in the dust." He said it in a joking tone.
But for Liang, something in his heart tilted. It was brief. Knowing how Gen was, he didn't take it to heart. "You've become too boastful these days. I need to humble you. Come over here!" The duo laughed, the serious mood broken as they chased each other around the courtyard, their laughter a fleeting echo of simpler times.
***
That evening, Gen and Liang stood in the main hall, dressed formally for once, about to leave. Gen wore beautiful, pristine white robes that seemed to drink the lamplight. His hair was cut back short again, sharpening his features. His demeanor and presence were like that of a young king—contained power and unavoidable authority. Liang, to the side, didn't pale in comparison; he was elegant in deep blue, his usual dishevelment replaced by a quiet, sharp dignity.
"Tied up like a sardine," Gen laughed, tugging at his high collar.
"You can't go in there looking like we want to brawl. What are we waiting for?" Liang said, adjusting his own sleeves.
Gen was about to reply when Lorel and Chubbs entered the hall from the opposite corridor.
Gen and Liang fell silent for an instant, their breath caught. All attention was instantly drawn to her.
Lorel had her hair tied up with a simple silver pin, a few artful strands framing her face. She wore an elegant, flowing robe of layered blue that shifted like a calm ocean under the light. Chubbs, loyal behind her, wore a fitted formal robe he endlessly fidgeted to adjust to his broad frame, but an undeniable, solid elegance clung to him.
"Sorry for the wait," Lorel said, her voice soft. She was slightly embarrassed by the intense stares of Gen and Liang. "I hope it's… fun there, because this thing is killing my stomach," Chubbs complained from the side.
Gen took a deep breath as Liang nudged him sharply in the ribs. Annoyed, Gen glared at his friend, then walked slowly towards Lorel, whose blush deepened with every step.
Without looking directly at her—his own ears turning pink—Gen held out a single flower.
Lorel took it, and a true, breathtaking smile bloomed on her face.
It was the **Elysium Flower**. One of the most striking flowers in their world. It didn't shine or glow. It was crafted from a deep, shifting caledoscope of colors—indigo bleeding into violet, touched with veins of impossible gold—that made the eyes want to look at it forever, falling into its silent depths.
"Thank you," Lorel said, her voice almost choked.
Feeling how things were getting unbearably awkward, Liang clapped his hands. "Time to go! The fun awaits! Lia has already left, and we'll be meeting her there. Go, go!" He practically pushed Gen towards the door.
***
The central palace of Heaven's Gate was a spectacle of controlled opulence. Grand pavilions lined the vast courtyard, each hosting young masters and mistresses from different corners of the Four Kingdoms. The air hummed with murmured politics, soft laughter, and the clink of jade cups. Silks of every hue flowed like liquid gemstones under the light of a thousand floating lanterns.
The arrival of Gen and Lorel sent a shockwave through the gathering.
Their appearance caused a ripple over the crowd. Heads turned. Conversations died mid-sentence. Chubbs had already gotten lost, beelining for the buffet tables with single-minded purpose. Liang had excused himself to find Lia Kai. Only Gen and Lorel stood at the entrance, a pair of stunning, silent figures framed by the grand archway—the center of the world for a few, breathless seconds.
The murmurs rose like a tide.
"I heard they killed the Divine General…"
"Are you sure it's true? Weren't you there? Duo Yi was also there, maybe *she* did it…"
"Look at her. Isn't she older than him? Why is he even with her?"
"Gen Jiang should be looking at *me* right now."
"Who cares about what you look like anyway…"
The murmured judgments of the gathered nobles were disturbing in their lack of discretion. They didn't even try to hide their thoughts, their eyes dissecting Lorel's age, her demeanor, the simple flower in her hand.
Lorel fell half a step behind, her head tilting instinctively downward. The old, cold insecurity, the feeling of being an inadequate, imposed burden, resurfaced with a vengeance.
Gen simply glanced at her. "Don't take their words seriously," he said, his voice low but clear. "They don't have anything better to do. That's all."
Lorel glanced around, her young heart fluttering at his defense. She could see Madame Su had been right. Many pairs present were linked by similar arrangements, though not all looked so stiff. Some young women held their companion's arm, laughing freely. A bold, desperate hope bloomed in her chest.
*Maybe… maybe I could, too.*
Hesitantly, almost imperceptibly, she raised her hand, her fingers brushing the air near his sleeve. Her voice was timid but full of fragile courage. "Well, Gen… come over. Let's meet the others."
But Gen was feeling annoyed. The stares, the whispers, the suffocating atmosphere of the political snake pit—it grated on him. His focus was on scanning the crowd for threats, for Juo Si, for any sign of the Kang or Li families. He missed the subtle gesture, the silent plea in her touch. He ignored the rising hand and walked past her, his white robes brushing against her outstretched fingertips.
In that instant, Lorel's body tensed. The world seemed to narrow to the moving back of Gen Jiang, walking ahead without her. The beautiful Elysium flower in her hand felt suddenly heavy, its colors dull. For the first time in a long while—since the Forgotten Realm, since their quiet understanding—Lorel felt something inside her crack. A tiny, painful fracture in the warmth they had built.
"Lorel, are you coming?" Gen asked, turning back with a smile, oblivious to the storm he had just unleashed in her heart.
Lorel forced a smile, brittle as ice, and followed him.
The very first, hairline rift between them had been created, not in battle or betrayal, but in the crowded, perfumed silence of a palace courtyard.