The carriage cut across the skies, eventually gliding down over a sprawling estate that seemed to stretch endlessly across the land.
The moment the protective formation opened with a ripple of golden light, the Bai Clan manor revealed itself.
The sheer grandeur of it made Jin Yuelin’s breath catch in her throat.
Her pale face pressed closer to the window as her lips parted in awe.
"Brother... this... this place is enormous..."
When she stepped down from the carriage, her thin frame wobbly but upright, her eyes sparkled like a child’s.
Before her stretched manicured gardens lined with spirit bamboo, koi ponds where golden-scaled fish swam lazily, and bridges arched gracefully over streams that gleamed with soft, luminous qi.
She had grown up in pain, confined to a courtyard no larger than a corner of this estate.
For her, the Bai Clan’s main residence was like a world from a fairy tale.
"Wah..."
Her voice trembled, her eyes darting everywhere as though she feared blinking would make it disappear.
"Brother, Young Master Bai’s family must be very... very rich!"
Jin Yuanzhan’s lips tightened.
He opened his mouth but found no words. Rich?
The Bai Clan wasn’t simply wealthy.
Their influence and resources rivaled empires.
The young man walking before them—calm and aloof—wasn’t just "rich."
He was perhaps the single most terrifying figure of their generation, one who held power, talent, and background beyond prehension.
But... what was the point in explaining any of that to his innocent sister?
"...Yes." He said softly. "They are... wealthy indeed."
***
"Young Master!"
A clear, gentle voice rang out the moment they entered through the courtyard.
A young woman in pale green robes approached, her movements graceful, her beauty refined in a quiet, soothing way.
Luo Qing!
She bowed deeply, her smile soft yet respectful.
"I heard word of your arrival. Forgive me for not preparing sooner."
Bai Zihan waved his hand casually.
"Ah, yes. This was somewhat unplanned."
His gaze flicked briefly toward Jin Yuanzhan and his sister.
"Help find rooms for these two. Make sure they’re settled."
"Yes, Young Master!"
Luo Qing inclined her head.
Jin Yuelin blinked in surprise, whispering in a low voice to her brother, "Brother... she’s... she’s so elegant..."
Jin Yuanzhan only smiled faintly, not daring to ment.
As for Kong Zhanghong, Bai Zihan’s voice carried toward him without even looking.
"Kong Zhanghong, you can also go and rest."
Kong Zhanghong already had his own room in the Bai Estate.
Kong Zhanghong bowed slightly.
"Yes, Young Master!"
With that, Bai Zihan did not linger.
His hands clasped behind his back, he turned and strode down the jade-tiled path that led deeper into the estate, his footsteps calm but unhurried.
He did not head to his own courtyard. Instead, he walked directly toward the grand pavilion at the very heart of the manor—his father’s study room.
***
Knock! Knock!
A low, steady voice came from within the study.
"Who?"
"It’s me, Father."
There was a pause, then Bai Tianheng’s deep voice replied, "e in!"
Bai Zihan pushed the doors open and stepped inside.
The study was vast, its shelves lined with jade slips and scrolls, while incense smoke curled lazily upward, carrying the faint fragrance of sandalwood.
Behind a heavy desk of black spiritwood, Bai Tianheng sat in silence, a brush in his hand, though his sharp eyes immediately lifted from the document before him.
"You,"
His tone carried a faint surprise.
"When did you return?"
"Just now."
Bai Zihan bowed slightly, his expression calm.
Bai Tianheng’s brows furrowed ever so slightly.
"I thought you would remain in the Capital until the Dragon and Phoenix petition concluded."
"That was the plan," Bai Zihan admitted, "but something came up."
He clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze steady as he continued, "I brought two people with me to the clan. One of them is someone you may have heard of—Jin Yuanzhan."
The name made Bai Tianheng’s eyes flicker with recognition. He leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.
"Jin Yuanzhan... Yes, I have heard of him. The Azure Sun Holy Sect’s rising genius, the one who successfully fused with the Sun Dao Stone."
His tone was measured, but curiosity laced his words.
"An impressive achievement, and one that places him among the most watched youths of his generation."
His gaze sharpened slightly, focusing on his son.
"But why bring him here?"
For Bai Tianheng, who had long grown accustomed to hearing of young geniuses across the realm, Jin Yuanzhan was remarkable—but not someone worth personally involving the Bai Clan.
"Well, he will be staying here for a while."
Bai Zihan said.
"Oh? Did he quit the Sect? So, you recruited him?"
Bai Tianheng saw nothing wrong with it, considering that Jin Yuanzhan was a very talented person and the clan would love to gain another genius.
Bai Zihan shook his head.
"He was expelled after losing the petition and having his core shattered. He is more of a mortal than the genius he once was."
Bai Zihan revealed.
"Oh!"
Bai Tianheng didn’t know about this. After all, it had only been about a day since that happened, and this news wasn’t known to many.
But he didn’t think much of it, because in the path of cultivation such occurrences happen all the time.
Once a genius, another time buried by fate.
"So, then why did you bring him here? I don’t suppose it’s because you pity him?"
Bai Tianheng asked. Well, if Bai Zihan did bring him out of pity, that in itself would be a big acplishment.
"No. It is because of his sister."
"Sister?"
Bai Tianheng hadn’t expected the reason to be that.
"What’s so special about her? Don’t tell me that you’ve fallen for her."
Bai Tianheng asked.
"Of course not."
"Then?"
"She has a similar constitution to Bai Xueqing."
Bai Zihan answered.
"..."
Bai Tianheng’s eyes widened for a second, taking in what he had just heard.
"When did you find out?"
"Recently!"
"Mmm... "
Bai Tianheng took a deep breath and then looked at Bai ZIhan asked.
"So, what do you want to know?"
"Everything!"
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