The afternoon sun colored the sky with gradations of orange and purple when Bai Xuanqing returned to the Ice Moon Pavilion. The building's architecture itself was a masterpiece, built entirely from eternal crystal ice that would never melt even under hellfire, with gardens filled with rare ice flowers that could only grow in environments with extreme cold aura.
He stepped through the pavilion gate, passing a pond whose surface was covered with a thin layer of ice that reflected light like a mirror. Silvery-white spiritual fish swam beneath the ice layer, undisturbed by cold that could kill ordinary creatures in an instant.
"Like them," thought Bai Xuanqing while staring at those fish with an empty gaze. "Swimming in a beautiful ice cage, unaware that they are merely ornaments for my pleasure. How simple their lives are."
"Young Master," greeted a middle-aged male servant who had been waiting at the main veranda. His name was Bai Feng, one of the trusted servants who had served the Bai family since Bai Xuanqing was a baby. "There is a guest waiting for you in the reception room."
Bai Xuanqing raised his eyebrow slightly, a movement perfectly calculated to show light interest without losing composure. An art he had mastered until it became reflex.
"Who?"
"Young Lady Yue Qingwu from the Yue Clan."
That name made something in Bai Xuanqing's brain spin at high speed, accessing Zhang Wei's memories about the novel. Yue Qingwu. One of the heroines in the main plot, a former fiancée who eventually became an informant for the protagonist after being treated coldly by the original Bai Xuanqing.
"Ah," he thought inwardly with a dark internal smile. "A little servant coming on her own to the wolf's den. How delightful."
However his face remained flat, only displaying the composure of a high-level cultivator who was not easily shaken.
"How long has she been waiting?"
"About half an hour, Young Master."
"Half an hour," thought Bai Xuanqing, calculating with precision. "Long enough to make her slightly anxious, but not so long as to be offended. Perfect timing to enter the room with a higher psychological position."
But he would not take that advantage. Not this time. A better strategy was to make Yue Qingwu feel valued. Make this naive girl believe she was important.
"Bring top-grade tea and osmanthus cakes to the reception room. I will go there shortly after changing clothes."
Bai Feng bowed and went to carry out the order. Bai Xuanqing walked to his room with calm steps, but behind his cold blue eyes, a far more complex gear was spinning inside his head.
"Yue Qingwu came without notice. In the novel timeline, our relationship should already be cold. But she's here... which means she still has emotional attachment. Perfect. Emotion is the best binding rope for puppets," thought Bai Xuanqing.
He stared at his reflection in the crystal ice mirror in his room. A perfect face with sharp yet captivating features, blue eyes like a frozen lake, long white hair flowing like a snow waterfall. A face that could make people believe in goodness, in honor.
"The perfect mask for a monster."
"In this world, those who wear the best masks are those who have forgotten their own true faces," he murmured softly, a quote he created himself, feeling the irony of its truth. "And I... I am the master of this theater."
After changing robes to more formal ones, clean white robes with intricate cloud and phoenix embroidery, Bai Xuanqing walked to the reception room. Each of his steps was calculated, his posture perfect, the aura around him arranged with precision to radiate subtle warmth while still maintaining the majesty of a young master.
"The performance begins."
In the middle of the room, sitting with perfect posture on a silk cushion, was a young woman who could be called beautiful by any standard. Her long black hair was tied with a green jade hairpin, her skin white as snow, and her large black eyes radiated sharp intelligence. She wore a light green hanfu with maple leaf motifs, and her cultivation aura, though not as strong as Bai Xuanqing's, was impressive enough for a woman her age.
Nascent Soul Realm Level Seven.
"Not bad," Bai Xuanqing assessed while analyzing her strength in a fraction of a second. "Strong enough to be useful, weak enough to be controlled."
Yue Qingwu rose from her seat when Bai Xuanqing entered, bowing politely. "Qingwu greets Young Master Bai."
Bai Xuanqing returned it with a light nod and a hand gesture inviting her to sit back down, a movement he calibrated perfectly to show respect without eliminating status hierarchy. "Young Lady Yue need not be too formal. Please sit."
He sat across from Yue Qingwu with a graceful movement while maintaining the right distance. Not too close to seem intimate, but not too far to seem rejecting. Every centimeter of distance was psychological calculation.
Bai Feng entered with a tray containing tea and cakes, placed it on the small table between them, then retreated politely and closed the door, providing privacy for the conversation.
"Rare Ice Flower Tea from the Northern Mountains," said Bai Xuanqing while pouring tea with trained and elegant movements, a display of upper-class elegance calculated to give an impression of personal attention. "I hope it suits Young Lady Yue's taste."
"A small gesture that means nothing to me, but will feel very meaningful to her. Minimal investment, maximum results," thought Bai Xuanqing inwardly.
Yue Qingwu's eyes widened slightly, a micro-expression response that did not escape Bai Xuanqing's observation. She accepted the tea cup with both hands, clearly not expecting this treatment.
"Perfect. She's already starting to be surprised. The psychological foundation is already beginning to shake," thought Bai Xuanqing.
"Thank you, Young Master Bai." She sipped her tea slowly, tasting the calming ice flower aroma. "Qingwu came today without prior notice. Please forgive this rudeness."
"No problem." Bai Xuanqing looked at her with calm blue eyes, eyes trained to show composure and wisdom, while behind them was cold calculation about how to maximize value from this meeting. "I'm sure Young Lady Yue must have an important reason to come."
Yue Qingwu bit her lower lip for a moment, appearing hesitant.
"Nervous behavior. She came with information she considers important. Good. The more important her information, the more valuable she is as an asset," thought Bai Xuanqing.
Finally she took a deep breath and spoke in a more serious voice. "Qingwu came to warn Young Master Bai about something important."
Bai Xuanqing did not immediately respond, only raised his tea cup and sipped calmly, a tactic to give space for Yue Qingwu to fill the silence, while simultaneously showing he was a patient listener.
"Let her talk. Those who talk more always feel more heard. And those who feel heard are the easiest to manipulate," thought Bai Xuanqing inwardly.
"A few days ago, Qingwu's father attended a secret meeting with several other clan heads affiliated with various major factions. Qingwu accidentally overheard their conversation." She paused for a moment, making sure no one was eavesdropping from outside. "They talked about plans to weaken the position of the Nine Heavens Sky Sect at the upcoming Peak Tournament."
"Ah, they've already started moving against the sect. Predictable. But this information is still valuable," said Bai Xuanqing inwardly.
On the surface, Bai Xuanqing only put down his cup slowly, his expression changed to slightly more serious, but not panicked, not angry, just focused. "Continue."
Give her validation. Make her feel her information is important. Make her feel she is important.
"Qingwu did not hear the complete details, but what is clear is that several factions, including the Eternal Heaven Sword Academy and the Golden Dragon Clan, plan to sponsor a mysterious young cultivator who supposedly has extraordinary talent. They want to use this person to defeat Young Master Bai at the tournament and humiliate the Nine Heavens Sky Sect."
Upon hearing Yue Qingwu's words, a name immediately flashed in his mind.
"Feng Tianyu. My poor little protagonist. They've already started gathering resources for you even before you realize it. How ironic, you think you're a hero fighting alone, when you're just a war tool for larger factions," thought Bai Xuanqing.
Inside, Bai Xuanqing felt something similar to anticipation. The shadow of Feng Tianyu, the arrogant protagonist with his thick plot armor, falling to his knees, losing everything one by one. His opportunities stolen. His allies hijacked. His women taken. And in the end, lamenting his fate while wondering why heaven betrayed him.
"How beautiful that scene will be," thought Bai Xuanqing while imagining that scene.