207: A storm is brewing

Inside the storehouse, the selection of fabrics was nearly complete.

Shen Xingwan's fingertips brushed over the last bolt of Cloud-patterned Brocade, yet Situ Jun's figure lingered in her mind. She then walked out together with the Embroiderer.

The two stepped onto the bluestone path toward the main courtyard. Their moon-white skirts shimmered with a gentle luster under the sunlight. As the hems swept past the clumps of orchids under the corridor, they stirred a faint fragrance, like crushed moonlight mixed with the fresh scent of vegetation.

As they walked, the Embroiderer chattered about the intricacies of tailoring—how the stitches should be finished and how the waistline should be taken in to accentuate the figure. Shen Xingwan responded with a smile, but her gaze couldn't help but drift toward the study. Behind those tightly closed window lattices, she wondered what he was busy with at this moment.

Inside the backyard study, the atmosphere was entirely different from the elegance outside.

Situ Jun had just finished imprinting the instructions. The runes on the Jade Slip flickered with a ghostly light, like cold stars tempered in ice, radiating a piercing aura.

He handed the Jade Slip to Shadow Nine, his voice low and raspy like stone grinding against stone:

"Deliver this immediately to Shadow's hands in the Southern Border. There must not be the slightest error. Furthermore, command Wang Cheng to fully cooperate with Bai Yu in investigating Tu Xiong's whereabouts and everything related to the Legacy. The reception must be thorough. If necessary... you may use your own discretion; preserving the clues to the Legacy is the top priority!"

"Yes!"

Shadow Nine took the Jade Slip, and with a flicker of his figure, he merged into the Shadows of the corner as if he had never appeared, leaving only the spots of light filtering through the window lattice to sway slightly on the floor.

Situ Jun walked to the window and looked toward the courtyard where the women were. A trace of warmth flickered through his eyes, as fleeting as a pebble tossed into a lake, before being instantly replaced by coldness.

He lightly tapped the windowsill with his fingertips and whispered to himself:

"It seems it's time to thoroughly stir the waters of the Capital."

The curve of his lips was colder than the bluestone outside.

Turning back to the desk, he picked up a secret report.

The few lines on the paper regarding the State Preceptor said that he was not the Li Family's Old Ancestor, yet for some reason, he had become the guardian of the Tianqi Dynasty. His Cultivation was unfathomably deep, and he spent the entire year in seclusion within the Imperial Forbidden Ground.

"This State Preceptor... what exactly is his background? Does he have a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation?"

Situ Jun tapped the secret report with his fingertips, his brow furrowed, and his knuckles turned pale from the force.

"Shadow Ten."

He called out softly to the empty air.

Another figure, almost merging with the Shadows, silently emerged. It was another Shadow Guard assigned to him by Shadow.

"Go back to the Capital and investigate the State Preceptor's true Cultivation, the characteristics of his Cultivation Technique, his weaknesses, and his patterns of movement... do not miss a single detail!"

"As you command!"

Shadow Ten bowed to receive the order, and his form became like a brushstroke of ink scattered by the wind, completely vanishing into the Shadows of the pillars... On the other side, as Shen Xingwan followed the Embroiderer around the corridor, a waft of elegant lotus fragrance suddenly hit her nose, like a jade hairpin soaked in morning dew, coolly seeping into her heart.

She instinctively stopped and looked past the pink wall covered in climbing roses toward the lotus pond not far away. The summer afternoon sun was intense, but the lotus leaves in the pond were a brilliant green, as if dyed by emerald. Several pinkish-white lotus flowers stood gracefully, the edges of their petals tinged with a faint rouge color, appearing even more charmingly beautiful than usual.

The Embroiderer followed her gaze and teased with a smile:

"Mei Shuang was just muttering this morning about going to the lakeside outside the courtyard to see the lotuses. I didn't expect the pond in this courtyard to have a few blooms first. Look at these lotuses; just like Sister Xingwan, they are pure, elegant, and captivatingly simple."

"Sister Embroiderer is teasing me again."

Shen Xingwan chided softly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, yet her feet involuntarily followed the Embroiderer a few steps closer to the lotus pond.

The bluestone slabs by the pond were heated by the sun. Just as she stood still, she saw a circle of ripples spread from the center of the pond. A white waterbird flapped its wings and skimmed across the surface, sending droplets of water splashing onto the lotus leaves. They rolled twice before suddenly vanishing into the pond, startling the red carp hidden under the leaves into swimming away. The ripples carved by their tail fins spread out in circles, shattering the light and Shadows across the pond.

The Embroiderer's eyes curved into crescents as she said affectionately:

"When we bought this courtyard, I heard from the previous owner that this lotus pond was planted last spring with diverted running water. I didn't expect it to bloom so well this year. A few days ago, it was just patches of lotus leaves spread on the water, but after a few days of sun, they've all popped out as if they're in a race."

Shen Xingwan reached out to brush down her skirt hem lifted by the wind, her gaze still lingering on those few lotus flowers.

The pinkish-white petals, carrying crystalline water droplets, appeared cool and translucent under the blazing sun. This caused her anxious mood from worrying about Situ Jun to slowly calm down, as if it had been immersed in cool water.

The Embroiderer covered her mouth and chuckled:

"If Sister Xingwan likes them, I'll have Little Lotus pick two fresh ones later so you can take them back and put them in a vase to enjoy."

Shen Xingwan quickly waved her hand:

"Thank you, Embroiderer, but there's no need. If they stay in the pond, everyone can see them. Sister Mei Shuang even suggested going to the lakeside outside the courtyard to see the lotuses this morning; if she knew they were blooming in the courtyard too, she would be overjoyed."

...At the same time, deep within the Capital, inside an Imperial Forbidden Ground shrouded by layers of Formations. Year-round, Spiritual Qi lingered like clouds and mist, with pavilions and towers hidden within, appearing like an immortal's blessed land.

In one pavilion, an old man dressed in a black Daoist robe sat cross-legged.

His hair and beard were entirely white, his face lean and refined. His aura was harmonious and restrained, as if he had merged with the mountains, waters, mist, and plants of this Forbidden Ground. Between his breaths, Spiritual Qi seemed to follow his respiration.

He was the guardian of the Tianqi Dynasty, the State Preceptor known as the stabilizing force—Mysterious Clarity Master.

Sitting opposite him was the Sovereign Li Xuan, who was lifting a teacup to take a small sip. Tiny water droplets condensed on the rim of the cup.

Setting down the teacup, he said softly:

"The State Preceptor has been guarding Tianqi at the Old Ancestor's request for sixty years now, hasn't it? Li Xuan is truly grateful and thanks the State Preceptor on behalf of the people of the entire nation."

Mysterious Clarity Master glanced at him, smiled slightly, and continued to unhurriedly brew the spiritual tea. The sound of the tea boiling in the pot was exceptionally clear in the pavilion.

After a good while, he finally spoke leisurely:

"Your Old Ancestor showed me kindness; it is only right to look after his family business for him. It is just a pity he fell on the Imperial Dynasty Battlefield. Otherwise, I wouldn't have to sit here in isolation."

Li Xuan stood up and gave a solemn bow to Mysterious Clarity Master:

"It is precisely because the State Preceptor is here that my Tianqi has enjoyed sixty years of stability. The weather has been favorable, the country is prosperous, the people are at peace, and they live and work in contentment... All of this was brought by the State Preceptor. Li Xuan thanks the State Preceptor once more on behalf of the people of Tianqi."

Mysterious Clarity Master smiled slightly and gestured for him to sit:

"I am merely someone who clings to the mortal world, seeking a bit of leisure."

After a pause, he set down the tea set and looked at Li Xuan:

"It's rare for you to come here even once a year. You didn't come today just for small talk, did you?"

Li Xuan had just sat down. Hearing this, he gave an embarrassed smile and waited a moment before saying:

"I hope you won't blame me for disturbing the State Preceptor's quiet Cultivation."

He hesitated for a moment, as if having made up his mind:

"The State Preceptor's Cultivation is profound, and you have dabbled in many schools, especially having great research into divination and fortune-telling. You can capture future events from the Heavenly Dao to seek luck and avoid calamity. This King wishes to ask the State Preceptor to perform a divination on whether the situation in the Southern Border will shake the rule of this nation."

Mysterious Clarity Master took a shallow sip of tea and glanced at him helplessly:

"You want to ask who will seize Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy, don't you? When you sent me the message, didn't I warn you not to compete for it? That Opportunity has no fate with you, nor does it have any fate with me. Don't harbor any designs on it."