บท 14: The Shadow Palace
Far far away from the meadow of the Caili Mountains, in the north sector of the continent, arguably the strongest sector of the continent, a shadowy figure stood in an expansive mansion. The mansion itself was grand and likable to the eye, if it wasn't for the gloomy and dangerous aura that hung over it. The core of this danger laid in a single man, Sima Moying of the Shadow Palace.
The Shadow Palace was considered one of the most open and dangerous sects within the continent. Although it was often argued to not be a sect, one had to agree that it really was. It controlled the movements of nearly a million cultivators, all of whom are either mercenaries or trained assassins. If the Shadow Palace wanted you to disappear, you only had two ways of survival. One, hope for a miracle from the Jade Emperor in the heavens, or two, persuade the Ruan Clan to take you in. After all, it was common knowledge that the Shadow Palace would always bend to the will of the Ruan Clan.
Inside the mansion, Sima Moying sat in the dark peacefully. Only the faintest of lights illuminated his silhouette. If one squinted into the darkness, the first thing they would see was a flawless face that put even the most beautiful of women to shame.
"Your Highness," a guard clothed entirely in black approached.
"Yes?" he responded without opening his eyes. Even then, the guard shivered slightly at the pressure.
"The Xinghe Kingdom has annihilated the main branch of the Ruan Clan."
"Is Ruan Huaiyang alive?" he asked calmly.
"No."
"What about Han Meilan?"
"No…"
"And what about Ruan Jirong?"
"no," the guard's voice grew softer with each response.
"What about their daughter, Ruan Shanqiao?"
"..."
"She's not alive either?" his voice grew sharp as he turned an intense glare towards the guard. The guard trembled in fear, barely clenching his teeth from chattering.
"Don't torture the innocent," a voice said from the doorway. An elegant man dressed in gray responded instead of the guard. "We couldn't find a corpse during our search."
"You're dismissed," Moying waved his hand impatiently.
Without a moment of hesitation, the guard scurried away.
"This is why you're always alone."
"Don't scold me, Sima Liyou."
"I managed to find Ruan Huaiyang, Han Meilan, and Ruan Jirong's corpses for proper burial. However, not a single one of the remaining corpses belonged to Ruan Shanqiao."
"So, she's alive?"
"Most likely, are you going to search for her?"
"Yes-"
"Your Highnesses," the guard approached once more. "There's someone here to see you."
"Tell them we're busy," Liyou frowned.
"I'm here to give you a message about Ruan Shanqiao," a lofty voice said from the other side of the hallway.
In a matter of seconds, a beautiful young girl appeared at the doorway next to Liyou and the guard.
"Han Anzan," Liyou growled as his brother, Moying, narrowed his eyes at the intruder.
"I'll leave now…." the guard sneaked away.
"My first sister sent me to deliver a message," the girl smiled brightly despite the hostility charged air in the room. "It's about the woman you seek. I wonder if you want to hear it." She walked into the room and started poking the various objects in the room. "You also need a lesson in fashion. What's your obsession with black?"
"You-"
"I agree on the last line," Liyou interrupted Moying. "You're so dull when it comes to colors."
The two brothers stared each other down. "Anyways, what was the message?"
"Well, I give you the actual words and the preferred interpretation," Anzan raised an eyebrow. "My sister says, 'Ruan Shanqiao is alive and she is under my protection.' In other words," she walked over to Moying and leaned in till their noses were touching, "don't interfere, Sima Moying."
A heavy silence descended in the room as Anzan moved away. She looked down arrogantly at the man in front of her. "It's for your own good. You don't want to start a war within the Sima Clan, do you?"
"..."
"Don't glare at me. Your abnormal interest in Ruan Shanqiao is apparent to most people. It's unhealthy. Don't you agree, Liyou?"
"Don't pull me into this!" Liyou shook his head.
"Regardless, wait for Ruan Shanqiao to come to you, and don't mess with her already chaotic life," the girl narrowed her eyes at Moying before she disappeared.
"Anzan's right, you need to be careful of the rivalry between the Sima Clan and the Ruan Clan," Liyou said quirking an eyebrow up.
"Go away!" Moying sent him a glare.
"Okay, sheesh!" he scurried away.
***
"Thank you," Anzan said warmly to the guard from earlier as she left.
"No, it's my job," the guard smiled and bowed.
"I'll give you a piece of advice. Don't go near your master for the next couple days."
"..." the guard's face looked as if it had just swallowed a scorpion.
Anzan merely smiled and went on her way.
"Han Anzan!"
Just as she stepped away from the mansion, a shout called her back.
"Sima Liyou," the girl looked at him lazily.
"Are you still supporting your first sister, Han Ruoxi, in the succession battle?"
"Shouldn't you be worrying about your own household?" Anzan frowned. "Nevertheless, I wouldn't allow myself to be used as a messenger if I didn't support them."
"Are you sure that's the right choice?"
The look in the girl's eyes grew dangerous. An immense pressure appeared on Liyou and he gritted his teeth.
"Don't you dare challenge my decisions."
"Guh!"
The pressure disappeared and Anzan smiled warmly. "Well, my first sister is still young, but she is definitely the correct choice to make. I don't know what that brainless Han idiot told you, but I won't be coaxed away from Ruoxi."
He turned to leave, but turned back to Liyou who was still recovering.
"You should be glad that I'm not Ruoxi. She's not as merciful. Heheh!"
Then, without another word, Anzan disappeared from sight.
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