Mingyi had been born with everything—fine clothes, spirited horses, the vigor of youth—never once troubled by matters of silver and coin. It wasn’t until she fled Sunspire City in disgrace, left with no support in Star Yearn City, that she realized how expensive a scallion pancake could be.
At that time, Twenty-Seven had gotten separated from her, and with her meridians completely shattered, she couldn’t muster even a trace of Essence Power. She had gone hungry for days until a little beggar on the street told her there was food in the inner court. That was how she ended up applying to be a Dancing Girl.
Among those delicate dancers, she learned the ways of women and the art of seduction. Then, by sheer coincidence, she met Ji Bozhai when he went to see Da Si, and that was when other thoughts began to stir in her mind.
But thoughts aside, she still couldn’t be without money. The more of that good stuff, the better. If she could store it in her meridians, she’d happily carry ten thousand taels of gold every day.
Situ Ling stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at her.
“Ah, I’m not saying this to fish for your sympathy, young master. I just want to remind you—no matter when, always remember to keep some extra silver for yourself.” She waved her silk fan and patted his shoulder like an elder sister.
Situ Ling sighed, then perked up and changed the subject. “Sister, since you didn’t leave the manor yesterday, you probably don’t know all the exciting things that happened outside.”
At this, Mingyi’s interest was piqued. She quickly found a stone table to sit with him and pushed a dish of melon seeds his way. “Go on, tell me.”
“As per tradition, the envoys stay in Star Yearn City for half a month to tally the tributes before taking them back to their respective cities. So, the envoys from the Upper Three Cities were all housed in Prince Ping’s grand residence at the end of Changrong Street.” Situ Ling cracked a melon seed. “But yesterday morning, for some reason, Bo Yuankui seemed to have learned something. He charged out of Prince Ping’s residence on horseback like a madman, straight for the inner court, and nearly injured Da Si.”
Mingyi’s eyes widened. “The inner court’s guards are that weak?”
“Not at all. He entered the inner court as usual—once he presented his credentials, no one would stop him. Everyone thought he was there to discuss matters with Da Si. But the moment he stepped into the inner hall, he unleashed the Nether Domain.”
Every city’s Da Si had once been its strongest Fighter, but burdened by administrative duties, few could continue honing their Combat Skills. With age, their Essence Power naturally waned—how could they be a match for Bo Yuankui?
“Lord Ji was severely injured, and no one in the inner court could stop him. By the time a large contingent of guards arrived, Da Si was already coughing up blood.” Situ Ling clicked his tongue and shook his head. “This is serious—it might even sour relations between us and Moonchase City.”
Mingyi listened with relish but couldn’t help wondering, “Is it a good thing for Star Yearn City to be at odds with Moonchase City? Why don’t you look the least bit concerned, young master?”
“I wouldn’t call it good, but I find it interesting.” Situ Ling met her gaze with a smile. “Aren’t you curious, Sister Ming, what could have driven Bo Yuankui to such a state?”
Star Yearn City had produced a Ji Bozhai, and Bo Yuankui had initially leaned toward friendly relations, even voluntarily reducing the tribute. Yet overnight, he suddenly turned hostile and committed such an absurd act. The reason behind it was hard not to speculate about.
Mingyi understood now—this child was simply fascinated by all things secret and peculiar.Recalling what she had placed in Bo Yuankui's carriage the night before, Mingyi felt a twinge of guilt. But then she dismissed it—what could a simple bamboo hairpin possibly reveal? Unless Ji Bozhai had coated it with some madness-inducing drug, but if that were the case, she would have been the first to suffer its effects.
"Star Yearn City once had an alliance through marriage with Moonchase City," Situ Ling mused, stroking his chin. "But because Star Yearn City proved incompetent, losing year after year, Moonchase abandoned the alliance. I wonder if this is related, considering the bride sent by Moonchase was a daughter of the Bo family."
Mingyi considered this but shook her head slightly. In the Azure Cloud Realm, women were often treated as commodities. A daughter sent for marriage who failed to bring benefits was usually discarded by her family. Since Bo Yuankui had initially sought to reconcile with Star Yearn, his daughter would have been a valuable link—hardly a reason for him to retaliate.
This move seemed more like a personal grudge. If it were a public feud, Bo Yuankui would have acted during the welcoming banquet days ago.
"There's another odd one," Situ Ling added, swinging his legs. "Though he hasn't done anything outright, you should be careful, Sister Ming. The envoy from Sunspire City, Dan Er—he kept glancing at you and Lord Ji during the banquet, and his gaze wasn’t exactly friendly."
At the mention of him, Mingyi’s heart skipped a beat.
Dan Er had obtained a map of Ji Bozhai’s residence but never explained his intentions. Now, with Ji Bozhai severely injured and bedridden, such a perfect opportunity—if she were in his place, she wouldn’t let it slip either.
Ji Bozhai was formidable, but even he couldn’t withstand betrayal from within his own household. What if something really happened?
Abruptly standing, Mingyi spoke hastily, "Young Master, there’s a guard named Twenty-Seven in Ji’s residence who’s been locked away in some unknown villa. I’d like to ask you to retrieve him and send him to Master She."
Situ Ling nodded and rose with her. "Sister, you’ve barely sat down—the maids haven’t even woken yet. Are you leaving already?"
"I just remembered something I left behind. I need to fetch it and will return shortly." She headed for the back door, pausing halfway to glance back at him. "If I don’t return after a while, please take some men to check on Ji’s residence."
Before Situ Ling could respond, she was already gone like a gust of wind.
He clicked his tongue, watching her retreating figure before turning to Fu Yue beside him. "Sister Ming is incredible. Even with such severe Meridian damage, she’s still swift as lightning."
Fu Yue shook his head lightly. "I don’t know what method she’s using to continue training, but with her Meridians shattered, she’s merely a spent force."
The current Mingyi was but a shadow of her former self—barely clinging to life.
...
"Who would cling to life unless they saw something unfinished yet imperative?" Dan Er stepped onto a mossy stone slab, gazing at the blazing inferno that was Ji’s residence.
Amid the flames, figures clashed, blood gushing, silhouettes ragged in the chaos.
He watched calmly, folding the map in his hands. "What she left unfinished and must complete is what I left unfinished and must complete."
A hesitant voice spoke beside him, "But, my lord, Ji Bozhai’s Essence Power is immense. If he survives..."
"If he survives, he’ll become the second Ming Xian." Dan Er turned to the speaker. "Would you want that? To live forever in someone else’s shadow, never stepping into the light?"The firelight illuminated a face with tightly knitted brows, young and flustered. He thought for a moment, the hesitation in his eyes gradually settling before he slowly shook his head. "I refuse."
"Then watch, Your Highness," Dan Er turned away, his gaze fixed once more on the flames engulfing the Ji residence. "Watch as those above you perish in the fire, and witness Sunspire City unify the Azure Clouds, claiming the fertile lands of fish and rice, ending all suffering."
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