While the leaders were happily conversing, Ye Yubao suddenly entered, clapping his hands to grab everyone's attention. The moment they saw him, the atmosphere inside the Baoli Zhong Hall instantly shifted.
With a mocking grin, Ye Yubao said, "Oh, there's a celebration here? And you didn't even bother to invite me."
Master Yue clenched his fists. "Ye Yubao! You have the nerve to show your face here!" he spat angrily.
Mr. Xie stood up, pointing at Ye Yubao. "How did someone like you get in here?! Who are you?!" he asked, irritated.
"Don't you dare point your finger at me, or I'll cut it off," Ye Yubao retorted, making some people flinch in fear. "I got in because your guards are weak." He straightened his posture, smirking. "Allow me to introduce myself—Ye Yubao, son of the powerful Ye Xuan, brother of the former leader of the Ye Clan," he declared, shocking everyone who had never met him before.
Yuming, glaring at him, muttered under her breath, "Ye Yubao? What a filthy name." She thought he hadn't heard her, but he did.
Ye Yubao turned to her. "What did you just say?!"
"Hmm? Did you hear something?" Yuming replied sarcastically.
"MO YUMING!" her brother, Master Mo Xiang, snapped, scolding her.
"Attention-seeker," Chengxing muttered from where the Bai family was standing. His siblings merely glanced at him, and Wu Ziyi nodded in agreement.
"Yuming really has no brakes," Yang remarked.
"Why is Yijun the only one with her? Where's Yuxi?" Ling asked.
"Stop whispering. Stay alert," Xiao warned them.
A sly smile curled on Ye Yubao's lips. "You've got guts. You're pretty, but you've got a filthy mouth," he sneered.
Yuming straightened up and replied sharply, "And who's filthier between us?" Yijun glanced at her, silently telling her to stop, but Yuming wasn't backing down. "You're filthier—barging in here, hurting people, when you weren't even invited! Trying to rub elbows with clean people like us. Are you that tired of your filthy kingdom?!" she shot back, her words making Ye Yubao furious. He immediately attacked her with his power, but Yuming dodged, causing the strike to hit the wall instead. He unleashed another attack, but this time Yijun countered it with his own power.
Yijun pulled Yuming behind him. "Stay there. You're reckless," he said firmly.
Ye Yubao fumed at Yijun's interference. "So you want trouble?!" he roared, preparing to attack them again, but Mo Xiang stepped forward to stop him.
"Don't you dare lay a filthy hand on my sister unless you want blood to be spilled here," Mo Xiang threatened coldly.
Ye Yubao smirked. "No wonder she's so bold—she takes after someone," he taunted, then straightened his posture and clasped his hands behind his back.
"What exactly is your purpose here, Ye Yubao?!" Master Lei demanded, his tone serious.
"Oh, Master Lei, so you can speak. I'm only here to tell you to stop interfering with our affairs. Release the soldiers and spirits you've captured. We won't hurt you as long as you stop meddling," Ye Yubao warned.
"Are you out of your mind? Why would we ever allow you to commit acts that will bring disaster to everyone?" Master Jian snapped.
"Just do as I say!" Ye Yubao shouted defiantly.
"The audacity! Who do you think you are to order the leaders around?!" Chengxing barked angrily, drawing his sword. The others followed suit, and chaos erupted in the hall. Ye Yubao released his spirits, aware that his men were outnumbered.
"Protect the leaders!" Yujing commanded. " take the women out of here," he ordered her sister, Bai Linyan.
Yangguang unsheathed his sword as well. "Stay here, sister. Don't get involved," he told his sister.
"Be careful," Xiao said in concern.
In the mountains, Feng Mei'yin woke up with a sharp pain in her back and a throbbing ache in her head from dizziness. When she opened her eyes, she saw five people a short distance in front of her and two guards at her sides. She was tied to a tree.
"She's awake," one of the guards said.
Su Yeng stepped closer to her. "Good, you're still alive! Now tell me, who are you? Did the Ye siblings send you to spy on us?!" Su Yeng bombarded her with questions that Mei, still groggy and tipsy, couldn't fully process.
"Speak! Who are you?!" Su Yeng repeated, more firmly this time.
"F… Fe… Feng Mei'yin," Mei answered weakly, surprising Su Yeng.
"You're Master Lei's daughter," Su Yeng muttered before turning to the two guards. "Watch her. I'm going to see Young Master Ye Yubao." Then he stormed off.
Mei'yin tried to steady her thoughts and calm herself. Two guards sat across from her, keeping a close eye.
"Hey! I'm thirsty. Give me some water," she demanded.
"We don't have water for you," one of the guards said mockingly, followed by laughter.
"Give me water now, or you'll answer to my father when he finds out what you've done to me," Mei warned.
"That's only if you live long enough to tell him," the other guard sneered.
Mei noticed her flask nearby and knew there was still some liquor left in it. "Hey! That's my flask—it's got water in it! Hand it over!" she snapped, but they ignored her.
Slowly, Mei began loosening the rope around her wrists. She had been captured in the forest more than once—something her parents never knew about—so she already knew how to slip out of restraints.
When she finally freed herself, she stood up quietly, unnoticed by the guards. She grabbed the knife lying near her and shouted, "Hey!" The moment they turned toward her, she struck—swift and precise. In just a blink, both guards were down. "Pathetic—and you smell disgusting," she muttered, removing the cloth covering her face. She gathered her belongings, especially her liquor, took a swig, and began walking away.
As she walked, she sensed movements in the air—currents with direction, a sign of spirits nearby. She could feel them. Then, sensing a presence behind her, she quickly turned and lunged, only to stop when she recognized the person. "Y… Yuxi? W… why are you here?"
Yuxi's eyes darted briefly to the flask and knife in her hands before his expression hardened upon noticing the cuts and bruises on her body. "What happened to you?" he asked, his voice serious but tinged with concern.
Mei'yin smiled lightly. "It's nothing. Just got into a fight because I was drunk, hehe," she said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Are you heading back?" Yuxi asked. Mei nodded while taking another swig from her flask.
"Come with me," Yuxi said, his tone calm but firm, making Mei'yin's cheeks flush. "Throw that liquor away. You shouldn't be drinking—it's forbidden," he scolded. Mei sighed but obeyed, tossing the flask aside.
As they walked, Mei'yin couldn't shake the flutter in her chest. Being with the man she admired felt like a dream. Would he worry if I told him he's the reason I drink? she wondered silently.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt another disturbance. "Yuxi, wait. Stop for a moment. Do you feel that?" she asked, but Yuxi shook his head.
Mei straightened up and carefully scanned the path ahead. After a few seconds, she stepped closer to Yuxi.
"I need to tell you something. And no, this isn't the alcohol talking—it's one of my abilities," she said, giggling nervously, which made Yuxi frown in confusion. "Up ahead, near that rock, there's a spirit hiding behind it. On the tree next to it, another one's waiting. And the tree right in front of that—there's one more. So, three spirits in total." She turned her gaze forward again. "And about three trees beyond that rock, there are two people—they're enemies."
Yuxi studied her, impressed but silent. Mei'yin, catching his gaze, realized how close their faces were and quickly stepped back, straightening herself.
"Ah, I just said that because… I don't really know how to fight spirits," she stammered, blushing.
Yuxi unsheathed his sword with a calm but sharp motion, his eyes narrowing. "Stay close. I'll handle the spirits—you focus on keeping track of their positions."
Before Mei'yin could reply, the first spirit darted out from behind the rock with a sharp, screeching wail. Yuxi met it mid-air, his blade glowing as he slashed clean through the apparition, dispersing it into pale, vanishing mist.
The second spirit lunged from the tree to their right. "Yuxi! Right side!" Mei shouted. Without hesitation, Yuxi spun, striking upward and pinning the spirit against the trunk with a burst of spiritual energy.
But the third spirit was faster, rushing straight toward Mei'yin. Her breath caught in her throat, but her instincts kicked in—she ducked, rolled, and flung her dagger forward. It wasn't enough to destroy it, but it slowed the spirit just long enough for Yuxi to finish it with a swift, precise strike.
"Stay alert," Yuxi said firmly, his voice calm but edged with concern.
Before they could catch their breath, rustling echoed through the trees ahead. Two armed men appeared from the shadows, their auras dark and hostile. Mei'yin gritted her teeth. "You two picked the wrong people to mess with."
The first man lunged, but Yuxi intercepted him, their swords clashing with a ringing clang. The second attacker charged at Mei'yin. She dodged, using her light footwork to evade his strikes, though she could feel the tension in her muscles with every move.
"Focus!" Yuxi called out as he parried a heavy strike and countered with a clean cut to his opponent's arm, forcing the man back.
"I am focused!" she shot back, ducking under another blow and driving her knee into the second man's stomach, stunning him long enough for her to slash at his leg with her dagger.
The fight was quick but brutal. Yuxi moved with sharp precision, disarming his opponent before knocking him unconscious with the flat of his blade. Mei'yin, panting but steady, managed to sweep her opponent to the ground, pressing her dagger against his throat until he dropped his weapon and passed out from pain.
Yuxi glanced at her, slightly surprised. "Not bad… for someone who claims she doesn't fight spirits."
Mei'yin smirked, trying to hide the way her heart raced under his gaze. "I told you, I improvise."
Yuxi's lips curved slightly—almost a smile—as he wiped his blade clean. "Let's keep moving."
Mei'yin nodded, tucking her dagger away, though the rush of adrenaline lingered in her veins. Deep down, she couldn't help but think: If I stay by his side… maybe I'll get stronger too.
The forest fell silent again, broken only by the rustle of leaves in the wind. Mei'yin wiped the sweat from her brow, breathing hard, her heart still racing from the fight.
Yuxi stepped closer, his sword already sheathed, and gently brushed a stray leaf from her hair. "You did well," he said softly, his voice calm but warm.
Mei'yin blinked, startled by his sudden closeness. "I… I just followed your lead," she murmured, her cheeks warming.
Yuxi's eyes softened as he met hers. "Even so… you were brave. Reckless," he added with a faint sigh, "but brave."
For a moment, the world seemed to still around them. Mei'yin lowered her gaze, biting her lip to keep the smile from spreading too wide. "Thanks… " she whispered.
"Stay close to me, A-yin," he said, his tone quiet but steady. "I'll make sure you're safe."
Mei'yin froze for a moment, her steps faltering. A-yin?
Mei'yin bit her lip, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. She didn't know why, but hearing her name like that—soft, familiar, just his—made her wish the path they were walking would never end.
The Baoli Zhong Hall erupted into chaos. Cracks split the marble floor as Ye Yubao's dark energy surged, swirling violently like a storm contained within the hall. The three spirits he summoned—each with jagged, beastly forms and glowing crimson eyes—hovered above him, their chilling screeches echoing through the chamber.
"Spirits?!" Feng Ling hissed, tightening her grip on her weapon.
"Not just ordinary ones," Yangguang muttered, eyes narrowing. "These… these are soul-bound."
"Stay together!" Yujing barked, pushing two younger disciples behind him as he dashed forward, his sword clashing with the first spirit's sharp claws. Sparks lit the hall, ringing metal against the creature's bone-like armor.
Yuming, refusing to back down, pulled her dagger free. "Don't tell me to hide," she snapped when Yijun reached for her wrist. "I'm not leaving you."
"You'll just get yourself killed!" Yijun growled, blocking another incoming strike from a second spirit. The force sent him skidding back, his boots scraping against the floor.
Master Yue moved forward, his spiritual energy flaring brightly, shielding the elders behind him. "Enough, Ye Yubao!" he thundered. "Do you truly wish to turn this into war?"
Ye Yubao only laughed, his mocking tone cutting through the noise. "War? Oh, Master Yue, this is just a taste of what's coming. Consider this… my warning."
Ye Yubao's grin widened, his hand glowing with raw power as he aimed it straight at Master Lei. "Old man," Yubao sneered, "I'll make an example out of you—"
TWANG!
A sharp whistle cut through the hall. An arrow sliced the air, its force so precise it hummed with spiritual energy. But before it could reach him, Ye Yubao tilted his head slightly, catching the arrow between two fingers with ease.
The entire Baoli Zhong Hall froze. Gasps rippled through the leaders and disciples as they stared at the arrow trembling in his grip.
His smirk faltered, irritation flashing in his dark eyes. "Who," he growled, his voice low and dangerous, "dares to—"
Before he could finish, a dull thud echoed behind him—someone had struck him lightly in the back, just enough to mock. His head snapped to the entrance, his jaw tightening.
From the shadows of the wide doors, two figures stepped forward.
Yuxi moved first, calm and unhurried, his cold, unreadable gaze fixed on Yubao. His hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. Beside him, Mei'yin strolled in, a second arrow already notched and drawn, the sharp point aimed at Yubao's chest.
"Didn't anyone tell you," Mei'yin said lazily, her voice sharp and dripping with disdain, "that crashing other people's gatherings makes you look pathetic?"
The hall erupted in whispers.
Yubao's glare hardened. "You—"
"What?" Mei'yin cut him off, stepping forward without an ounce of fear. "Upset because someone finally put you in your place? You think you can throw your weight around in here, bark your orders, and everyone will kneel?" She tilted her head, smirking, her eyes gleaming with challenge. "Pathetic."
Gasps rippled through the hall. No one — no one — talked to Yubao that way.
From the corner, Feng xiao's eyes widened as she grabbed Ling's sleeve. "Oh no… tell me I'm imagining it. Is Mei… drunk?"
Feng Ling narrowed her eyes, studying her youngest sister. The faint stagger in her step, the way she was glaring with that extra spark — it was obvious. She exhaled through her nose. "She's drunk. Definitely drunk." Ling groaned softly. "I knew it. I saw the signs… Yang, you knew too, didn't you?"
Yang, who had been standing silently near their parents, pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I told her to stay in her room," he muttered under his breath. "She swore she wasn't drunk."
"Well, she lied," Ling whispered sharply, eyes darting nervously between Mei'yin and Yubao. "This is going to be a disaster."
Up on the side, Yang muttered to his sisters, "If she survives this without Father finding out she's been drinking, it'll be a miracle."
Xiao speak up, "Relax. That's Mei. Drunk or not, she always lands on her feet. Wait,,, she has bruises."
Back near the center, Mei'yin tilted her head and added with a mocking grin, "What? Did the arrow hurt your pride more than your hand? Don't look at me like that — it's not my fault. "
Yubao's jaw tightened, a dangerous flicker in his eyes. But before anyone could speak, Yuxi stepped slightly in front of her, his calm presence shielding her from Yubao's growing temper.
"Enough," Yuxi said, his voice cold but even.
The atmosphere shifted sharply, thick with tension.
Yubao clenched his jaw, clearly caught between rage and the realization that these two were not people to be underestimated.
But then — Mei'yin moved.
Her playful smirk vanished, replaced by an icy stillness that made the air in the hall drop a few degrees. Her dark eyes sharpened, cutting through the space between her and Yubao like a blade. The faint flush on her cheeks remained, but her presence shifted — from tipsy mischief to terrifying clarity.
"You think you're untouchable?" Her voice, steady and low, carried across the room with a weight that silenced every whisper. "Strength means nothing when your heart is weak. And right now…" She took one step forward, her boots echoing softly against the polished floor, "...you're trembling."
A collective shiver rippled through the crowd.
Even Yubao froze, his hand still gripping the arrow — but now his knuckles whitened. He opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out. The sharp edge in Mei'yin's tone pinned him in place like a cornered animal.
From the side, Feng Xiao's eyes widened in rare shock. "...Mei…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ling swallowed hard, grabbing Yang's sleeve. "Did you feel that? She's… serious."
Yang, unfazed but visibly tense, nodded. "This… this is the Mei everyone forgets about. The one you never want to cross."
Mei'yin's gaze didn't waver as she closed the remaining distance, standing toe-to-toe with Yubao. Her expression was unreadable, her tone calm but cutting.
"You can glare at me all you want. But if you think you can lay a hand on Master Lei… or anyone here…" She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper that everyone somehow heard, "…I will end you before you even realize you've fallen."
The room was silent. Not even the wind dared to stir.
Yubao, usually smug and unshakable, took a deliberate step back. His grip on the arrow loosened, the wood creaking under the pressure of his fading defiance.
Yuxi, still beside her, didn't move — but the faint curve of his lips hinted at pride and quiet acknowledgment of her strength.
Master Lei, from his place among the elders, exchanged a knowing look with Feng Xiao. "She may be the youngest…" Madam Yan murmured softly, "…but when she's like this, she carries the entire Feng bloodline in her stance."
No one dared to speak again — not until Mei'yin, satisfied with Yubao's silence, finally turned on her heel, her serious expression slipping back into the faintest smirk.
Ye Yubao's face darkened, a mix of fury and disbelief flashing in his eyes. He had never been met with such audacity — let alone from someone so young and seemingly intoxicated. His usual smirk faltered, and his fingers twitched, longing to strike back, but the sheer weight of Mei'yin's presence froze him in place.
"...This isn't over," he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice low but trembling slightly with restrained anger.
Without another word, he pivoted sharply on his heel. His guards hurried to keep pace as he stormed toward the exit, the echo of his boots loud in the tense hall.
From the doorway, he shot one last venomous glance at Mei'yin and Yuxi. "You'll regret this… mark my words!"
The crowd remained silent, eyes fixed on the retreating figure. Even the most confident disciples dared not move.
As the heavy doors swung shut behind him, Mei'yin's smirk returned, subtle but victorious. Yuxi's calm eyes met hers, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.