"You're always so busy with cultivation, Brother," Ling'er pouted, her grip on my sleeve tightening for a brief second before she let go. "Don't overwork yourself. Father says the upcoming Sect Trial is just a formality for someone of your talent."
I looked down at her—the girl whose very essence was currently fueling the marrow in my bones. If I had a conscience, it would be screaming. Instead, all I felt was the cold, clinical calculation of the System.
"I know, Ling'er," I said, my voice dropping into a gentle, melodic tone that I hadn't known I was capable of. I reached out and tucked a stray silver hair behind her ear. "Everything I do... I do it to ensure our family stays at the peak. Go back and rest. I have some 'minor' clan affairs to oversee."
She beamed, her Cyan luck shimmering with a warmth that felt like a mockery. "I knew I could count on you! See you at dinner!"
She skipped out of the pavilion, the bells on her belt jingling cheerfully. The moment the doors clicked shut, the warmth in my eyes vanished, replaced by a gaze as cold as a frozen tundra.
I wiped my hand with a silk handkerchief and tossed it into a nearby brazier.
[DING! Heart of the Villain: 100% Simulation Success.
] [You have successfully deceived a High-Providence Target (Gu Ling'er).]
[Reward: 300 Villain Points!]
'System,' I thought, my mind sharpening. 'Where is our little 'Mandate Bearer'?'
A holographic map flickered into existence, glowing with a sickly violet light. A pulsing green dot was moving rapidly toward the outskirts of the Ancient Clan's territory.
[Target Identified: Lin Tian]
[Status: Escaping toward the 'Cursed Bone Valley'.]
[Current Event: Triggered a 'Fated Encounter'. The Remnant Soul in the ring is guiding the Target toward a 'Sage-Grade Earth-Spirit Milk' pool to heal his broken meridians.]
My lips curved upward. It started as a small twitch, then grew into a wide, predatory grin that would have sent Ling'er running in terror.
"Cursed Bone Valley? An abandoned, death-filled ravine where only the 'lucky' can survive?" I chuckled, the sound echoing off the jade walls. "How predictable. He thinks he's escaping to a sanctuary. He doesn't realize he's just acting as my personal treasure hunter."
The Sage-Grade Earth-Spirit Milk was a legendary resource. Even for someone of my status, it was a rare find that could stabilize my Grafted Divine Bone. Lin Tian was going to do all the hard work—fight the guardian beasts, solve the ancient puzzles, and bleed for every inch—only for me to step in at the final second.
"Elder Mo!" I called out.
The shadow in the corner of the room rippled, and the old man from the Great Hall appeared, kneeling instantly. "Young Master, your command?"
"Prepare the Nine-Dragon Carriage," I commanded, my voice laced with an undeniable authority. "And bring the Heaven-Sealing Array flags. We're going for a stroll in the mountains."
"The Cursed Bone Valley, Young Master? That place is beneath your status," the Elder remarked, though he dared not question me.
"On the contrary," I said, standing up and adjusting my dragon-embroidered sleeves. The violet light in my eyes flared. "I've heard the scenery there is particularly... fortuitous this time of year."
I walked toward the balcony, looking out over the sprawling, mist-covered mountains of my clan. Somewhere out there, Lin Tian was probably thanking his lucky stars for his narrow escape.
'Keep running, little leek,' I thought, my smile widening until it felt like a blade. 'Grow tall. Grow strong. I'm coming to harvest every last drop of juice you have.'