Qianshi Market.
The market buzzed with noise—shouts, whispers, clinking coins, armor rattling, and someone calling out to a woman in the distance.
"Hey madam! Come take a look at this divine stone! It's real, it grants wishes!"
"I see. May I hold it?"
"Of course. Why not?"
Bai Ruihua had been eyeing the stone from the moment she arrived. She wanted to steal it, but the chance never came. So instead, she decided to twist the situation in her favor.
"Hey, old man! You think I'm that easy to fool?"
"Miss, is there a problem?"
"Problem?" Her voice rose loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. "This divine stone is fake!"
People stopped what they were doing. Sellers turned their heads, buyers went silent, even patrolling soldiers paused mid-step. All eyes locked on the scene.
The old man holding the stone began to tremble. He couldn't get a word out, panic all over his face. But he knew what he held was real.
"M-Miss, I swear... I found it at the Toll Temple. I'm not lying."
Ruihua spat on the ground and stepped closer. Her expression cold, threatening.
"You calling me a liar? Do you even know who I am?"
The man dropped to his knees, begging. As the crowd, now stirred by anger, began closing in, weapons in hand.
Qianshi wasn't the kind of city where fakes were tolerated. The rules here were firm. No fake treasures. No fake artifacts. No fake business. It was the culture. This was a city held in place by six ruling families: Li, Chen, Bai, Feng, Long, and Mo. Among them, the Bai and Chen families were the most bitter of rivals.
"Please, miss... it's not what you think..."
His words just made her more annoyed. Ruihua decided to take it one step further.
"You think I'm going to believe you? You think the rest of these people will? No chance."
The crowd chimed in without hesitation.
"Yeah!"
"It's fake!"
Ruihua didn't even flinch. No pity in her eyes. She smiled faintly—just enough to hide it behind calm.
"Sorry old man. I need that stone."
She said it in her head, and slowly backed away from the crowd.
The mob turned on the man. He kept apologizing, begging for mercy, while fists and weapons rose around him.
That was when Wei Chen, the head of the Chen family, entered the scene. He walked through the market with three of his elders, laughing and talking. But the moment he saw the crowd gathered with drawn weapons, his smile dropped.
"What's happening over there?" he asked Tianyang, the elder by his side.
Tianyang squinted ahead, stepping forward. "Looks like more trouble."
Without waiting, Wei marched straight into the crowd.
"Enough!" His voice cut through the air.
He pushed his way in until he saw the old man kneeling on the ground, surrounded.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
One of the merchants stepped forward, face smug like he owned the truth.
"Mr. Chen, this old man was trying to sell a fake divine stone."
Wei stiffened. Selling fake goods? That was a serious accusation in Qianshi.
"A fake artifact? Are you sure? Who was he selling it to?"
"He tried to sell it to Mrs. Bai Ruihua—the daughter of Master Bai."
Wei's face tightened the moment he heard the name.
"Bai Ruihua... that coward again."
He muttered it low, remembering. This wasn't the first time she'd pulled something like this. She had lied once before—to a visitor from Beijing. That lie had ended in the man's death, all for an ancient scroll said to reveal the secrets of the Seven Deadly Swords.
His hand clenched as his eyes searched the crowd, but Ruihua was gone.
"Mr. Wei, are you alright?" Tianyang asked quietly.
"I'm fine."
Wei walked over to the old man and extended his hand. Then turned to the others.
"All of you—leave. Now."
No one argued. The crowd backed off, mumbling rumors as they left.
"Did Wei Chen just help that man?"
"Maybe he's tied to the fake stone..."
"Strange guy, that Wei Chen..."
He ignored it all. The man was safe, and that was what mattered.
"Thank you, Mr. Wei. Thank you so much. May the heavens bless you."
Wei nodded silently. The man quickly gathered his things and hurried out of the market, still shaken.
Tianyang stared at Wei, mouth half open.
"You just helped a liar. You know that's breaking the law, right?"
"I know, Tianyang. But that man wasn't lying. It's the same trick Bai Ruihua used back then. She's doing it again."
Tianyang finally understood. He gave a small nod.
"Let's get out of here."
Bai Clan:
"Sister Ruoxue... if Ruihua sees this mess, we're finished," Meihua whispered, her voice trembling. She was the youngest daughter of the patriarch, Liang Xiao, and her nerves were already on edge.
Ruoxue, her older sister—well, not the oldest, since Ruihua held that title. She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.
"She's not even here, Meihua. I'm just getting back what she stole from me the other day. Those heels were mine."
"But... but if she finds out we went through her room and left it like this... we're in real trouble."
"I didn't ask for your help," Ruoxue shot back. "You can leave if you're scared."
Meihua pouted. "Fine, but I'm still helping you look. I want to find the heels too."
Ruoxue gave a small nod, and they continued digging through the scattered mess.
"Hey—Meihua, come here. Something's glowing over here."
"What is it?"
They spotted a scroll tucked deep in the drawer of the mirror stand. As Ruoxue pulled it out, its glowed between ashen gray and faint green.
"What... is this?"
Before either could figure it out, they froze. Footsteps echoed outside, and getting closer.
Panic hit them. Ruoxue dove under the bed. Meihua scrambled, choosing the space beneath the couch just as the door creaked open.
Ruihua stepped inside. Her eyes narrowed instantly, her anger flaring as she saw the chaos left behind.
"What the hell...?"
She walked over to the mirror, noticing the drawer left wide open and the scroll missing. Her expression darkened. Her breathing grew sharp, controlled only by a heavy sigh. As her eyes scanned the room, they landed on the couch, and a bit of fabric sticking out.
Underneath, Meihua held her breath, shaking. She covered her mouth with both hands, praying not to be seen. But it was no use.
Ruihua's steps suddenly stopped. Then, she grabbed Meihua by the ankle and yanked her out.
Her grip was furious.
"You little brat," she growled. "How dare you break into my room and rob me?"
If Meihua hadn't been her younger sister, Ruihua might've done worse. Her face was twisted in rage as she lifted Meihua off the floor, holding her up as if weighing her sins.
"You're just five years old and already stealing. Do you know what that makes you?"
Ruoxue, still hidden under the bed, stayed silent, clutching her hands together in prayer. She hoped Meihua wouldn't say anything.
Ruihua flung Meihua aside like she was nothing, then stepped forward, her voice sharper than before.
"Where's the scroll? The one you took from the drawer. Where is it?"
Meihua's face crumpled as tears spilled down her cheeks. She couldn't even get a word out.
"I said—where is it!"
Still, Meihua only cried harder. Ruihua's patience snapped.
"You want to be quiet? Fine. But if I find out you've seen that scroll, I'll leave your door open tonight."
Meihua's sobbing stopped instantly. Her body froze.
Ruihua's voice dropped. "And the beast will come for you."
The threat worked like magic.
"N-No! Please, sister Ruihua! Don't let the beast in!"
"Then tell me. Where. Is. It?"
Meihua sniffled, terrified.
"O-Okay... okay... Uh... Sister Ruoxue... she's under the bed."