The afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of her study, casting delicate patterns over Ling Feng's flawless features. Even alone, she seemed to radiate an aura that could silence a crowd. Every movement, every subtle tilt of her head, carried an elegance and sharpness that hinted at both nobility and untouchable authority.
Ling Feng sat gracefully at her desk, hands resting lightly on the lacquered wood, eyes gazing absentmindedly at the distant city streets. Despite the grandeur and distractions around her, a single thought took root in her mind.
If it is him… Ye Tian… perhaps he could solve my mother's case. Even if he can't… at least it would be better than the countless sycophants who flock around me, pretending to care, all vying for my attention. He… he is different.
A faint smile crossed her lips. Unlike the others, he did not treat people like chess pieces for display or personal gain. There was an honesty in the way he acted, even in chaos. A strange warmth stirred inside her—a mixture of admiration and cautious intrigue.
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Meanwhile, Ye Tian sat in the royal cart, his wives flanking him, their presence a calm yet potent contrast to the chaos of the banquet hours before. The wheels rolled smoothly along the cobblestone roads, the city receding behind them. His disciple, seated near the front, watched the streets, still awed and tense from the events that had unfolded.
"How was it?" Ye Tian asked softly, his voice carrying both curiosity and warmth.
Lan Yuhua met his gaze, a small smile playing on her lips. "It was… frightening, yes. But also… the perfect stage. Everyone saw what needed to be seen. You saved us without hesitation."
Mu Qingyao nodded in agreement, fingers lightly brushing his arm as she leaned closer. "Even though I was terrified, I never doubted you would protect us. It was flawless—your presence, your control… it made everyone understand the stakes."
Ye Tian's lips curved gently. "There will be no repeat of this. Not with anyone, ever again." His hand moved to rest lightly on each of their shoulders, a subtle reassurance, intimate but not overbearing. "You are safe. Always."
Both wives let out soft sighs, comforted by his words, the tension in their bodies easing. Yet even as they relaxed, Ye Tian's mind was already calculating, scanning the ripple effects of the night's events.
"News will spread quickly now," he murmured, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Even my own clan… they will not be untouched. But that is only the beginning. A small move in the grand design, a hint of what is to come."
The disciple shifted slightly, uncertain. "Patriarch… is it wise to let the news spread so widely?"
Ye Tian chuckled softly, a dangerous and confident sound. "Wisdom is knowing which stones to displace, and which to leave. Every ripple I create tonight strengthens the web tomorrow. This is not reckless chaos—it is deliberate. Continent-wide… every noble, every influential family… they will learn that the Nightlord moves, whether they notice or not."
Lan Yuhua leaned against him slightly, resting her head near his shoulder. "And all of this… you will handle it?"
Ye Tian glanced at her, his eyes softening, yet carrying the weight of command. "Of course. But this… this is the first thread pulled. The world is changing, and we are the ones guiding it. You need not fear—tonight, you are mine to protect. And tomorrow… the rest of the continent will simply follow."
Mu Qingyao smiled, her eyes reflecting admiration and trust. "Then we will follow too, wherever you lead."
Ye Tian's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. Because no one else will."
The cart rolled silently through the city, leaving the echoes of the banquet and the chaos behind. In their wake, unseen by the masses, the seeds of influence, fear, and authority had been planted. And somewhere in the distance, Ling Feng's mind lingered on him, considering what it might mean to bring such a force into the tangled web of her family's struggles.
For now, she only thought, If it is him… perhaps things can finally change.