Inside the Main Courtyard of the Shangguan Family’s main residence, Shangguan Hongzhi, who had been sound asleep, suddenly jolted awake, his clothes drenched in sweat.
He opened his eyes and stared at the carved canopy above his bed, a faint killing intent flickering in his gaze.
This was his old affliction.
Ever since the year he slaughtered an entire city in the Xiyun Ancient Kingdom, he had been plagued by nightmares like this almost every night.
Both physical and spiritual treatments barely alleviated it.
This curse clung to him relentlessly.
For those years, to avoid disturbing Lin Yayue, he insisted on sleeping in the Side Room.
It wasn’t until over a decade ago that the nightmares eased somewhat.
Although the problem still appeared from time to time, it no longer interfered with him and his wife conceiving their young daughter, Shangguan Qiu Yue.
He sat up and shook his head hard, then reached into the drawer of the wooden cabinet by the bedside and took out a small bottle made of black jade.
He poured out a few Spiritual Pressure Relief Pills and swallowed them—these were specially made to ease mental strain.
“Yayue, sorry, my old problem flared up again. I hope I didn’t wake you?”
After closing his eyes to rest for a moment, the furrow in his brow finally softened.
“Hmm… not awake?”
The room was silent, unfamiliar in its quietness.
Instinctively, he glanced down at the bed beside him.
The familiar figure was gone, leaving only the empty, sunken bedding behind.
Lin Yayue, who usually would be awake by now, was missing.
“How strange… could she have gone to Qiu Yue’s room?”
He muttered to himself softly, just then hearing the faint sound of “squeak, squeak.”
He turned to look at the half-open window—empty.
His nerves, just relaxing, immediately tensed again.
He put on his shoes, his sharp eyes fixed unwaveringly on the window, though it remained empty.
He condensed the power of the stars beneath his feet, lifting himself gently half a fist above the ground, and slowly floated toward the door.
As he neared the entrance, all the pulse points along his body burst open, his aura surging higher with every moment.
“Come out!”
He roared. With a sharp “crack,” his right hand shot forward like lightning, breaking open the door.
At the same time, he closed his fingers into a claw, feeling soft skin press into his palm.
Outside the door, a whimpering sound arose.
“Hmph! Trespassing in my Shangguan Family’s residence—you truly don’t know what’s good for you.”
He didn’t push the door open all at once but gradually increased his grip.
“Tell me, where is my wife?!”
His voice was nearly out of control, his expression darker than when he was first awakened.
There was no answer outside, only the sound of sobbing.
Shangguan Hongzhi sneered coldly.
This reaction was exactly what he had expected, since he was holding the attacker by the neck.
Talk?
That’s just wishful thinking.
But something strange caught his attention.
Although he’d caught the intruder, there was no resistance.
The fingers gripping his right hand weren’t pressing hard at all.
In fact… he felt raindrops falling onto his hand.
Just as he was about to push the door open and see what was going on, a sharp pain shot through his five fingers, then spread along his arm and throughout his body.
He instantly loosened his grip.
Raising his left hand, he pointed at his upper arm, tracing the meridians down to his palm, expelling the strange foreign sensation that had invaded his body.
“Who dares break into my Shangguan residence? You’re asking for death!”
He pushed open the door and shouted, summoning the power of the stars behind him.
But in an instant, his momentum was snuffed out.
Outside stood the eldest princess of the Lixun Ancient Kingdom—Qin Luoyi.
More unexpectedly, the Lin Family’s Lin Yayue he had been thinking of just moments ago was there, gasping heavily and supported by the princess.
On both sides of her neck were five clear finger marks.
Could it be… the one I just caught was actually Yayue?
Shangguan Hongzhi was struck like lightning.
He didn’t want to believe it, but the marks on her neck left no room for doubt.
Damn it…
I thought I could handle this quietly and not alert whoever it was, but I never expected Yayue to return so suddenly.
Luckily, I hadn’t intended to use deadly force—otherwise, everything would have been ruined.
He slapped his own face in frustration.
“Wife! Are you alright?”
“Don’t move, Shangguan Hongzhi.”
Just as he was about to step forward, the girl’s sharp command froze him in place.
He looked anxiously at the still recovering beauty, utterly at a loss.
“Sorry, wife, I didn’t expect it to be you…”
“Did I ask you to speak?”
“Uh…”
Shangguan Hongzhi tried to explain but was cut off again by the girl.
Resigned, he cupped his hands, bowed slightly, and fell silent, a dark cloud settling over his expression.
That damned woman…
Qin Luoyi raised a hand to examine the wounds on the sides of the woman’s neck, scanning her body with her star power.
After confirming no serious harm had been done, she spoke slowly.
“Head of the Shangguan Family, you’re quite something. Do you really think the Shangguan Family, one of the Four Great Families, can act with impunity? Lin Jie Jie may have married you, but she is still my Imperial Father’s cousin. The royal blood still flows strongly within her veins.”
Qin Luoyi narrowed her eyes at Shangguan Hongzhi, her tone sharp and pressing.
“Back then, marrying you was the greatest grievance she suffered. You don’t even bother to cherish her, and now you dare openly harm her? Who gave you the audacity? Speak!”
“No, I just—”
“Silence! If you interrupt me again, I’ll have Father punish you. Don’t forget, everyone’s watching the standings of the Four Great Families closely. The Shangguan Family is at the bottom right now. With your temperament, I don’t think you want to see the inheritance your ancestors built destroyed on your watch, right?”
Each word Qin Luoyi spoke was a dagger piercing Shangguan Hongzhi’s heart, but he had no retort.
Just as the princess said, although the Shangguan Family remained nominally among the Four Great Families, years of internal strife, the patriarch’s death in battle, and the lack of outstanding young heirs had left them far behind the others.
No one dared challenge them openly—not just because of Shangguan Hongzhi’s Martial Strength Seven-Turn Midstage prowess, but also because of the Lin Family’s backing behind Lin Yayue.
Seeing her husband so scolded, Lin Yayue grew worried.
Despite her injuries, after more than a decade of marriage, their bond was real.
She quickly grabbed the princess’s hand and shook her head.
“Luoyi, please listen to your sister. Don’t say such things, okay? Hongzhi was just having an old episode.”
She spun around lightly, flashing a bright smile.
“Besides, look, I’m fine.”
“Lin Jie Jie, you just clearly—”
The princess was about to continue but met Lin Yayue’s pleading gaze.
Her mouth opened and closed, then sighed in resignation and replaced her words.
“Sigh… Honestly, I don’t understand you lovebirds. Is love really that important? You were almost killed by him, yet you’re defending him.”
“Luoyi~”
“Alright, alright, I won’t say any more. You go inside and rest. I’ll go clear my head in the pavilion outside. I won’t disturb you two.”
With that, she waved her hand and left without waiting for a reply.
Watching the princess’s receding figure, Lin Yayue hurried to Shangguan Hongzhi and helped him to his feet, her expression full of concern.
“Hongzhi, how’s your body? I felt your energy fluctuate abnormally just now. Are you feeling better?”
“I’m fine. More importantly, are you okay? I thought you’d been taken by intruders and got anxious…”
“I’m fine. Although my cultivation isn’t as strong as yours, I’m still a cultivator. Don’t worry.”
The beautiful woman’s voice was soft, her eyes lowered, her tone subdued.
“I went out mainly because I was worried about Qiu Yue’s condition. You know, although Doctor Lu said she’ll be alright and her condition is stable, I just can’t help but worry…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay,”
Lin Yayue choked back tears.
Shangguan Hongzhi pulled his wife into his arms and comforted her softly.
“Doctor Lu said he’ll make sure our daughter survives. Don’t worry…”
His hand gently patted her back.
Beneath the moonlight, the two remained silent for a long time.
It wasn’t until Lin Yayue spoke again that the silence was broken.
“What about Yun Mu?”
she asked, a question both surprising and reasonable.
“What?”
“Hongzhi, will Doctor Lu really ensure Yun Mu’s survival? You know how deep Qiu Yue’s feelings are for him. We can hide it from her for now, but what about later?”
“Later…?”
“Qiu Yue is only twelve, but they’ve had feelings for each other for eight years. Do you really think she won’t notice eventually? What if guilt overwhelms her, and the one who should make amends is already gone? Are you sure she won’t do something foolish?”
“Indeed, we can’t be sure…”
“Besides, that boy was a pitiful child to begin with. Since his bone replacement treatment will strip away his talent, we should at least let him live a good life from now on, right? Not like now, where his kindness towards Qiu Yue is exploited, and others bully him without consequence.”
As she spoke, scenes of their daughter with the boy flooded her mind, pain spreading through her heart.
Feeling Madam Lin’s trembling voice, Shangguan Hongzhi gently rubbed her back and reassured her.
“Don’t worry, Yun Mu will live. And I promise… Qiu Yue will be safe.”
“Moreover, I’ll make sure Qiu Yue gradually forgets him and immerses herself fully in cultivation.”
“Mm…”
Lin Yayue looked up at the man in front of her, nodded gently, then pushed him away.
“Let’s not talk about this for now. I’ll rest first. You’re going to the pavilion, right?”
“Ah… wife, how did you know?”
“Of course I know. Though I’m just a woman and rarely involved in court affairs, I still understand these subtle hints.”
She smoothed Shangguan Hongzhi’s clothes and smiled.
“Go quickly. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Alright.”
With that, he left without looking back.