We all sat down at the dining table in Xu Yansheng's estate for his birthday gathering. He stood and raised his cup. "Welcome, everyone. Thank you for attending my birthday today, and thank you, Father, for taking the time to come, even though you've been busy of late. For those who don't know, the Zhang family were nearly eradicated by an unknown force and betrayed from within. We may no longer be an empire, but as the nine families of the fallen Genesis dynasty, we must still stand together."
He turned to his sister, voice soft but deliberate. "Yunfei, your fiancé Zhang Lin will be attending shortly. His sister and mother are here as well. I hope that's alright. Father wants you to get to know him better."
"Of course, big brother. Thank you—and thank you, Father, for this opportunity. I won't disappoint you. I promise."
"I'm glad you're fine with my decision, daughter. He's gifted in cultivation. Their family may be facing hard times, but as your brother said, we must still stand together. After all, Empress Lingxi may return someday—even if no one knows where she went after ascending to the divine realm in her cultivation."
I looked toward the door. Zhang Moyan had arrived with her two children. She sat opposite me and smiled—warm, composed, but not without weight. The last time we met, I'd worn a mask. She recognised Lingxue beside me instantly.
"Thank you for allowing us to attend your birthday party, Xu Yansheng," she said, her voice steady despite the strain beneath it. "Even though my family is facing difficult times after what happened to my husband… and to our clan."
"It's good to see you again, Xu Tianren. It's been some time since we last met—one hundred years ago, if I remember correctly?"
"Yes," he replied. "That is correct."
"May I ask who this boy is—or should I say, man? How old is he, if you'll excuse my bluntness?"
"That is Shen Wuyin," replied Xu Yansheng. "The number one disciple of the Blackdragon Sect."
"That's not important. Let's return to what matters—your son Zhang Lin and my daughter's wedding. We might as well discuss it now. It should happen sooner rather than later, don't you agree?"
Zhang Moyan looked at the girl across from her—her son's fiancée. Xu Yunfei seemed distracted, her gaze drifting toward Shen Wuyin, while Zhang Lin chatted idly with his sister, unaware.
Moyan smiled and addressed her directly. "What do you think, my future daughter-in-law? Do you agree to marry my son—sooner, or later?"
She replied, "If it's what my father believes I should do, then I will. I do wish to get to know my future husband."
She looked at Zhang Lin. He looked back at her and nodded.
"It's the same for me," he said. "Whatever helps my family—I'll do it."
Zhang Moyan spoke again. "I see. Then be sure—think carefully before you make a decision you might regret. That applies to my son as well."
Xu Yunfei didn't speak for a moment. Then, quietly: "As I said, I wish to get to know your son. If it doesn't work… then I hope my father won't force me to marry him. Right, Father?"
Her father looked at her for several seconds, his gaze unreadable. Then he spoke.
"Is there another man in your eyes, daughter?"
A few heads turned. The room fell quiet. All eyes waited for her reply.
Xu Xiao spoke in her stead.
"Come now, Father—this is my little sister we're talking about. All she's ever done is focus on her cultivation and training."
He turned to Yunfei with a smile, his eyes full of warmth.
"Isn't that right, little sister?"
Xu Yansheng looked at his sister, then at Shen Wuyin.
"If there is someone in your heart, Yunfei… speak it now. Silence serves no one."
She was quiet for a few moments. Then she spoke.
"I am willing to marry Zhang Lin. But… I do have someone I'm interested in. I don't know if he feels the same."
Xu Xiao's hand slipped. His glass shattered against the floor.
"My apologies," he said quickly. "That surprised me, Sister. Who is this man you're talking about?"
"I don't want to say, Big Brother. That's my business."
"I see. Then—as you wish."
Their mother looked at Xu Xiao. Her eyes revealed nothing. Then she looked away.
Zhang Moyan spoke to her son. "Zhang Lin, is there another woman in your heart as well?" "Yes, there is. But not of the Xu clan."
Lingxue spoke to Shen through transmission. "This has become an interesting conversation, don't you think?"
I replied, "I suppose it has. I just didn't expect to see the Zhang family so soon. Did you?"
"No, I did not."
I stood up. "I'm sorry, but I'll be leaving for a moment. I'm going outside—please excuse me," I said.
It was night-time. As always, I looked at the moon.
"So that's what you look like under the mask. Interesting—I can work with that."
"I didn't expect to see you so soon, Zhang Moyan."
"Well, I did. After all, I already know what you two came here for. I thought I'd give you some news—the Serpentines are still going to try to kill Lingxue. I tried to stop it, but the assassins' leader wouldn't have it. She seemed to know you well. That's what I gathered from my intuition."
"I can tell there's more to you than what I can see or sense. Don't worry—I won't let my son marry Xu Yunfei. She seems more interested in you than in him. I'd prefer my son to marry a woman who has eyes only for him, and is loyal. The same goes for my son."
"That's all I have to say to you—until I see you again, Shen Wuyin. I'll wait until you come back for our daughter."
I returned to the dining hall.
"Fine then—we cancel the marriage. Neither of them is interested, and neither are you. So be it. Just enjoy my son's party gathering tonight."
He looked at his daughter for a moment, then drank his wine.
Lingxue spoke to me again through transmission. "What did you talk about, Shen?"
I replied, "The Serpentines. They're still planning to assassinate you."
"I see. I thought it would be cancelled after the death of the Zhang family patriarch, and that Zhang Moyan would deal with it. How irritating. I don't particularly want to see that woman again—the one who leads them."
"Either way, Shen, we should try to convince Xu Yansheng and Xu Yunfei to join our side—and eliminate at least some of the Xu family members they aren't close with. It would please both our sect and the Sun and Moon Sect."
I approached Xu Yansheng, who stood beside his second wife. His first wife was elsewhere, mingling with other guests.
"Shen, hello. Is there something you wish to speak to me about?"
I smiled. "Yes—something in private, unless you're comfortable with your wife hearing it as well."
"Come, walk with me. My wife can come along."
"I'll cut it short. Lingxue and I came here to convince you to join our sect. With our support, you'd have a far stronger chance of becoming the next patriarch of your family. Your brother—Xu Xiao—is planning your downfall. But you already know that. He's building his own force to take your claim."
"Enough. Stop there. If you know about my elder brother's scheme, then you must also know about my first wife's affair with him—and that she's bearing his child, not mine. She's always been an attention-seeker. I loved her in my own way, but she was constantly jealous—especially of Lianyi, my childhood sweetheart and now my second wife."
"I won't lie—I love my elder half-brother. But he has his problems. He's a liability, and dangerous. You don't need to convince me, Shen. You can kill him, and her, and the others who've betrayed me—those who've gone behind my back.
I'll join you, because it keeps my family alive. I know the power your sect holds. I also know it had something to do with the Zhang family's downfall. The Nine Families have long had problems with the Sun and Moon Sect. We've made many enemies—we just didn't know who would strike first.
Looks like it's your sect."
"I knew there'd be risk in allowing you two in—being from the Blackdragon Sect. Especially now that your sect and the Sun and Moon Sect have become allies. Still, I was hoping we could reach some kind of agreement if I chose to join you.
Anyway, enjoy yourself, Shen. It is my birthday party, after all."
I simply smiled and left. He'd already decided to join us. Now only Xu Yunfei remained—and convincing her would take more time than it had with her elder brother.
I saw Xu Yunfei with her friends. She noticed me approaching and smiled.
"Shen, are you enjoying my brother's party? There's so much to take in—so many drinks, and all kinds of games."
"I haven't had the chance to enjoy them yet. Would you like to join me?" I smiled at her.
"Really? I'd love that—let's go right now. Sorry, everyone, I'll be heading off with Shen. Please enjoy yourselves! We'll gossip next time, I promise."