A week had crawled by since the last clan meeting.
Now, within the quiet stillness of his study, Fang Yuan let out a long, weary sigh.
Before him loomed a mountain of scrolls stacked like a fortress of ink and obligation.
His gaze swept across the paper walls rising on either side of his desk.
It felt less like administration and more like siege warfare.
Despite everything, one sliver of good news remained.
The Tharz Kingdom had yet to make any move against the Fang family.
No messengers from their side had arrived and not a single inquiry about Fang Tian and the kidnapped princess.
On the surface, it seemed like a blessing.
But in truth, it was a curse wrapped in silence.
Because when your enemy made no sound, you couldn't measure their intent.
In times like these, open confrontation would have been almost comforting.
At least it would reveal their hand.
This silence, however, was a coiled serpent in the grass... unseen, unreadable, and infinitely more dangerous.
