A week of tense calm had settled over the Zuì Mèng Lóu. In the serene silence of Xuán Líng's study, the core of her world was gathered: Qianyi, restored to health and radiating a new, steely composure; Yisha, buzzing with restless energy; and Li Wei, a silent pillar of watchful strength.
Xuán Líng summoned Xuán Chè. He entered, bowing respectfully to the assembled group, his surveyed the room with glances in Yisha's direction, hoping for a silent moment with her.
"Xuán Chè," Xuán Língbegan, her voice devoid of its usual languid grace, replaced by the tone of a general. "Would you like to know more about the pendant you carry?"
"Yes. Of course," he responded excitedly. "I have spent years searching but to no avail."
"Good. Have a seat for a chat. Tea?" When she said the words, someone immediately poured tea for both Xuán Língand Xuán Chè. "There is a lot we know and much we do not. So, before you react, prepare yourself."
Confused and intrigued, Xuán Chè nodded.
"The jade pendant you carry bears the crest of the fallen Yan Dynasty."
The name hung in the air, ancient and heavy. Xuán Chè's eyes widened, his breath catching.
"Your family were not mere nobles. Rumors swirled that they were somehow intertwined with the celestial clan not far from Yan Empire. And that entanglement, whether true or not, led to both Yan Empire's and that clan's demise."
She watched him carefully, studying the play of shock, confusion, and dawning understanding on his face.
He seemed kind, earnest. But she had trusted a kind heart before, with her own daughter, and it had led to a dynasty's end. She offered him the history but withheld the blood that truly connected them. That was a secret she would keep until she was certain of the man he was.
"The woman we seek, Lady Fan, is a descendant of that same line. We believe she is your kin may have fled toward what remains of the ruins of the Yan Kingdom and the Cloud Dream Marsh."
She turned her gaze to her three children. "The four of you will journey to Yúnmèng Zé. Find Lady Fan. Uncover what you can about the fall of the guardians and the truth behind the Celestial Seal."
It was a monumental task, a journey into the heart of the mystery that had defined their recent suffering.
As the others began to discuss preparations, Xuán Língcaught Li Wei's eye. With a subtle tilt of her head, she drew him aside.
Her voice dropped to a whisper only he could hear. "Protect the girls." Her eyes, dark and fathomless, held his. "But watch the boy. Test his character, his motives. I see my daughter's kindness in him. Keep him close. Keep him safe. But watch him."
It was an order layered with contradiction: treat him as both a precious scion and a potential threat. It was a duty for which Li Wei was uniquely suited. He gave a single, sharp nod. He would be their shield, their weapon, and their spy.
The journey began at dawn. By midday, the well-traveled road had led them into the heart of a vast bamboo forest. It was a place of breathtaking, serene beauty, a testament to the realm's natural abundance.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy in shifting, patterns, painting the ground in gold and shadow. The air itself was sweet and cool, carrying the clean, mineral scent of damp earth and the subtle, crisp fragrance of bamboo.
All around them, thick stems of jade-green bamboo rose like pillars of a celestial palace, their leaves whispering secrets to the wind in a soft, rustling chorus. The forest floor was a tapestry of lush ferns and velvety moss, so vibrant it seemed to pulse with a quiet, verdant life.
It was a land overflowing with Língqì (spiritual energy). A gentle, shimmering haze made the light seem richer and the colors more profound.
Yisha, her spirit attuned to light, instinctively reached out a hand as if she could gather the ambient glow. Even Li Wei's usual icy demeanor seemed to thaw a fraction in the face of such tranquil abundance.
As the sky inched closer to night, the four travelers reached the secluded inn, its warm light spilling from a tavern that was, to their surprise, packed to the rafters with a boisterous crowd. As they walked toward the opened entrance, Xuán Chè froze, his face paling slightly.
"Zěnme le?" Li Wei inquired, using the more common and natural phrasing for "What's wrong?"
"Oh," Xuán Chè answered nervously, "I worked here for about a year. I kind of... left without telling anyone."
"Oh?" The three siblings exchanged a single, synchronized look of intrigue.
"It's, well, complicated."
"I'm sure it is," Li Wei quipped, a knowing smirk playing on his lips as he walked forward, forcing Xuán Chè to follow.
Inside, they searched for a table through the press of bodies. Before they could find one, a very pretty tavern maid with hopeful eyes recognized Xuán Chè instantly. Her face lit up as if the New Year's fireworks had arrived early. She waded through the crowd, bypassing patrons to plant herself directly in front of him.
"Xuán Chè gēge!" she said, her voice bright and eager, using the affectionate term for an older brother. "Hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn!" (So long no see!)
Xuán Chè sighed heavily, a man bracing for a storm. "Màn'er."
The girl, Màn'er, reached for his hand, but he pulled back as if burned.
Trying to regain some control, Xuán Chè gestured to his companions. "Màn'er, these are my... friends. Lǐ Wèi Gōngzǐ, Qiānyí Dà Xiǎojiě, and Yīshā Xiǎojiě."
"Bà Ma missed you. I... missed you," Màn'er pressed, gazing into his eyes, searching for answers. "What happened? Why'd you leave? How long are you staying?"
"Xiǎojiě," Li Wei interjected, his voice a calm but firm blade that cut through her questioning. He had noted Xuán Chè's rigid posture, a silent scream begging to be rescued. "I can see this place is busy. Do you have any rooms available?"
"Oh," she said, momentarily flustered. "Yes. Two rooms opened not long ago. I'll have someone freshen them up for you." But her focus immediately shifted back to her lost love.
"There's a free table over there," Yisha declared, already weaving her way through the crowd. She didn't look back, issuing a simple, direct command that was both a rescue and a test. "Xuán Chè, come."
Relief washed over him. Without a second glance at the stunned Màn'er, Xuán Chè immediately complied, following Yisha's lead and leaving the tavern maid standing alone in the crowd.
Though the tavern was a roaring sea of noise, their table was an island of tense, silent amusement. Badly hidden smiles and giggles threatened to burst through. Qianyi, with a grace that made the sudden peal of her laughter even more startling, was the first to break.
"I can explain," Xuán Chè said, mortified, his ears turning red. "I was in need of work, and the family who owns this tavern was kind enough to take me in. And then one night while I was cleaning, Màn'er... she confessed her feelings."
"And you rejected her?" Qianyi asked, still smiling. "But she's so cute."
Li Wei shook his head in playful disapproval, his face a mask of solemn judgment that only made the situation funnier. "Rogue."
"I tried to reject her!" Xuán Chè erupted, his voice a hushed, frantic whisper. "But then, she tried to—" He couldn't say the words aloud. Instead, he shyly, quickly, mimed a kissing motion with his lips.
The table erupted. Even Li Wei's stern face could not contain its laughter.
Xuán Chè continued, the story pouring out. "I avoided her for days, and then her father cornered me. He said he had a 'gift' for me. She had told him we were in love and that I was too shy and embarrassed to propose! He wanted me to marry into their family." He finished with a desperate, final whisper: "Bù kěnéng!" (Impossible!)
"I could sense something off with that girl," Yisha contributed, a knowing look in her eye. "And speak of the devil..."
Màn'er appeared as if summoned, carefully balancing a tray with a jar of wine and cups. She placed the wine specifically in front of Xuán Chè, her smile radiant.
"Xuán Chè gēge, I brought your favorite wine and asked the kitchen to start your favorite dishes."
"Thanks, Màn'er," he mumbled, not meeting her eyes.
Seemingly oblivious to the tension she caused, she turned her bright, efficient smile to the rest of the table. Placing her hands on her hips, she addressed them in the classic, straightforward manner of a busy tavern maid:
"Jǐ wèi, chī diǎn shén me?"
(Honored guests, what will you be eating?)
"Xuán Chè gēge," Li Wei said slowly, mockingly, still unable to contain his amusement. "What would you recommend?"
"Yes, what would you recommend, Xuán Chè gēge?" Yisha and Qianyi echoed in unison, their eyes sparkling with glee.
Xuán Chè's beautiful, tanned face flushed a deep red with shame. Before he could counter, the roaring noise of the tavern died down to a nervous hush.
Li Wei's attention, along with everyone else's, homed in on the tavern's doorway, where six rough-looking men blocked the entryway. They looked intent on causing trouble not know trouble was waiting for them.