Shen Yu rode in the clan's private carriage, the wheels clattering rhythmically against the stone-paved streets. Emblazoned on the side of the lacquered wood was the golden insignia of the Shen Clan, a Jade Spring rising from the earth, a symbol of purity and endless potential that now seemed ironic given the clan's fallen state.
He pushed the silk curtains aside and gazed out at Thousand Waves City.
The city was a sprawling tapestry of life and cultivation. Unlike the quiet, solemn atmosphere of the clan estates, the streets were bursting with vitality. Rows of spirit-lanterns were beginning to flicker to life as twilight approached, casting a warm, amber glow over the bustling markets.
Hawkers shouted the prices of low-grade spirit herbs, mercenaries with massive broadswords on their backs laughed in open-air taverns, and mortal children ran through the crowds holding sugar-glazed fruits. It was a place where the mundane and the magical coexisted in a chaotic, vibrant harmony.
Twenty minutes later, the carriage came to a halt.
Shen Yu stepped out and looked up. Before him stood the Golden Leaves Pavilion.
It was a magnificent architectural marvel, a seven-story pagoda that pierced the skyline like a spear of wealth. The structure was built from Red Ironwood, which was as hard as steel, and the roof tiles were made of glazed gold that shimmered even in the dying light. Each corner of the pagoda hung with wind chimes made of spirit crystals, creating a soft, melodic symphony whenever the breeze blew.
This was the crown jewel of the Jin Clan.
The Jin Clan's business empire spanned inns, restaurants, and real estate across three cities, catering to everyone from lowly mortals to high-ranking cultivators. As the Matriarch of such a wealthy clan, it was only fitting that Meng Yan would choose this fortress of luxury for their meeting.
Shen Yu straightened his robes, his expression shifting into a mask of calm elegance. He walked toward the entrance.
"Greetings, Young Master Tang!"
The two guards at the door, both at the peak of the Body Tempering realm, bowed deeply. They didn't dare show disrespect; despite the rumors of his crippled body, his status as a Young Master and his recent engagement to the genius Mei Lixue demanded courtesy.
Shen Yu stepped inside.
The interior was even more opulent than the exterior. The floor was paved with white marble that reflected the light of floating spirit pearls. The air smelled of expensive sandalwood and jasmine tea. In the center of the lobby, a small artificial pond housed golden koi fish that swam in lazy circles, their scales glowing with faint spiritual energy.
A receptionist, a beautiful young woman in a form-fitting red dress, walked towards him with a practiced smile.
"Greetings, Young Master Tang. Please come with me. The Matriarch is expecting you on the Seventh Floor."
Shen Yu nodded silently and followed her.
They ascended the stairs, passing floors filled with wealthy merchants and cultivators enjoying expensive spirit wine. The higher they went, the quieter and more exclusive the atmosphere became.
Finally, they arrived at the seventh floor.
The entire floor was a private suite, housing only a single, ornate double door at the end of a long corridor. Standing guard in front of it was a woman with tanned skin and an athletic, powerful build.
It was Li Na, Meng Yan's personal driver and bodyguard, whom Shen Yu had seen in the Mist Forest.
As Shen Yu walked down the corridor, the air grew heavy. He felt a sharp, prickling sensation on his skin, hostility. It wasn't the killing intent of an assassin, but a sheer, unmasked dislike radiating from the woman like heat from a furnace. Her face remained cold and neutral, a professional mask, but her eyes burned with suspicion.
Shen Yu didn't know why she was hostile, nor did he care. To a dragon, the glare of a guard dog was meaningless.
He stopped in front of her.
Li Na stiffened, her jaw clenching slightly before she bowed stiffly.
"Greetings, Young Master Tang," she said through gritted teeth, struggling to keep her tone respectful. "Si—, Matriarch Meng is waiting for you inside."
Shen Yu offered her a polite, inscrutable smile. "Thank you."
She opened the heavy doors, and he stepped through into the lioness's den.
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— Half an Hour Ago —
Inside the luxurious suite of the Seventh Floor.
"Sister Meng, are you really sure about this?" Li Na paced the room, her voice rising in agitation. "Are you sure he actually has a cure and isn't just a boasting, crippled brat looking for attention?"
Meng Yan sat gracefully on a velvet chaise lounge, sipping a cup of spirit tea. Her movements were elegant, but her face was pale, the hidden pain of the Lunar Fire Stagnation etching fine lines around her eyes.
"Li'er, haven't we discussed this?" Meng Yan sighed, rubbing her temples.
"But—"
"Li'er," Meng Yan cut her off gently but firmly. "You know how many 'divine doctors' and 'grandmaster alchemists' I have consulted over the years. They took my spirit stones, felt my pulse, and told me I was fine. Or worse, they told me to just 'cultivate harder.'"
She set the cup down with a clatter.
"This boy... this Tang Wei... took one look at me in a carriage and diagnosed the Lunar Fire Stagnation instantly. He knew the symptoms, the pain, everything. How can I ignore that?"
"B-But, that 'cure' is just too ridiculous!" Li Na sputtered, her face flushing with protective anger. "Why does he have to touch you? A massage? It's indecent!"
She clenched her fists, her voice dripping with disgust. "I know how men think. He just wants an excuse to put his hands on you. He wants to feel up the famous Matriarch of the Jin Clan. All men are the same, lecherous dogs."
Meng Yan looked at her loyal bodyguard and softened. She knew Li Na's anger came from love and worry.
"It's merely a medical procedure, Li'er," she soothed, her voice softening. "Think back to our encounter in the carriage. When he was checking my pulse, tracing the veins on my wrist... I was watching him closely. Even through the haze of the fire poison, I looked directly into his eyes."
Meng Yan's gaze drifted to the moonlit window, a rare look of absolute trust crossing her weary features.
"There was no lust in them. No greed, and no hidden agendas. They were the eyes of a true physician looking at a patient. Cold, professional, and perfectly clear."
Had Shen Yu been standing in the room to hear this, the four-hundred-year-old demon would have thrown his head back and laughed aloud at the sheer brilliance of his own acting. She had stared directly into the abyss, and the abyss had simply smiled back with a saintly face.
Completely oblivious to the trap she was willingly walking into, Meng Yan stood up and walked over to Li Na, placing a comforting hand on her bodyguard's tense shoulder.
"Besides, my condition is worsening. I feel the fire burning my meridians every night. If I don't try this, I might not survive another year."
Li Na bit her lip, looking away, defeated by the truth.
"Anyway," Meng Yan continued, "he will be here in a moment. I promise you this: if, during this first session, I don't feel any relief, I will end it immediately and throw him out. Okay?"
Li Na let out a long breath and nodded reluctantly. "Okay. But I'm staying right outside the door. If he tries anything indecent, I'm breaking his legs."
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A/N: For the coming week, updates will be one chapter per day instead of two. I have some responsibilities to take care of at home and need a little time to sort things out. Thank you for sticking with the story. Your support truly means a lot..