Chapter 4 — The Locked Room

Two months had passed since they lost their mother. Yi Xuan had tried, secretly, to search for her without his father knowing—but it had been in vain. She was gone, vanished without a trace, leaving him confused and hollow.

Every night, nightmares plagued him. In them, he could hear her cries, see her calling for help, or feel her sorrow echoing through the palace. And always, she would lead him toward a room—one he could never enter.

“Why can’t I go in?” he would ask his father.

“Only those with great cultivation can,” his father’s voice would reply, stern and unyielding. “No one else may enter. Weapons with evil spirits are kept there—dangerous to the unprepared.”

Yi Xuan would nod silently, powerless as always.

Now, after those two long months, he wandered the palace corridors at night, lost in thought. The moonlight painted silver patterns across the walls, and for a brief moment, he felt alone—but then he heard it.

A soft, agonized crying.

His heart skipped a beat. The sound came from inside the palace. He froze, eyes wide. Slowly, he began to move toward it, each step heavy with fear and anticipation.

Then, a sharp pain stabbed his head. He staggered, closing his eyes. The crying grew louder, unbearable, filling his mind. In the darkness behind his eyelids, the locked room appeared vividly.

His eyes shot open. The room… could it be? Could the sound be coming from there?

He breathed faster, driven by a mix of fear and hope. The locked room loomed before him. He reached for the door, testing its strength. It wouldn’t budge—no matter how hard he pushed.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from nowhere, low and firm:

“You cannot go there.”

Yi Xuan froze, the cold grip of fear wrapping around his chest.

Yi Xuan spun around and froze. A handsome young man stood there, dressed in black hanfu, his face cold yet strikingly beautiful.

“W-who are you..?! What are you doing in my palace?” Yi Xuan stammered, taken completely off guard.

The man’s gaze was calm, almost detached. “I thought your father told everyone that no one is allowed near that room. I’m sure he explained the reason too.”

“I’m asking you—who are you?” Wang Yi Xuan demanded.

“I’m Wu Yi Zhen,” he bowed and replied smoothly. “I used to come here with my mother back then. You weren’t here at the time; your father said you were away for your cultivation studies.”

Wang Yi Xuan narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“Just accompanying my mother,” Yi zhen said lightly, then began walking away—but paused before leaving. His voice, low and firm, warned, “Stay away from that room.”

Yi Xuan’s mind raced. Accompanying his mother…? So she’s meeting my father?

He stormed toward the living room of the castle, and there he saw them: his father and Yi Zhen’s mother, sitting together, talking intimately. A pang of jealousy and confusion twisted through him. Yi Xuan’s face darkened as he turned and walked out, only to spot Yi Zhen outside.

Yi Zhen met his glare calmly, unbothered, almost indifferent. Yi Xuan seethed silently—there was something about the way his father and that woman looked at each other that felt… wrong, like a secret he wasn’t allowed to touch.

⸻

One week later, Wu Yi Zhen’s mother kept visiting. Then, one day, Wang Yi Xuan’s father summoned him.

“Yi Xuan, come. There’s something I need to discuss.”

He entered and found Wu Yi Zhen and his mother already there. His father’s voice rang clearly:

“I’ve decided—Wu Yi Zhen’s mother and I will be married this week.”

Yi Xuan froze. His eyes widened, heart thudding. Everything inside him screamed—but he couldn’t say a word. His family… was falling apart. Silence was all he could afford.

“Yi Xuan? Do you agree with this?” his father asked.

Agree? Do I even have a say in this family? Who am I to stop this? What’s the point of asking me?

He clenched his fists, forcing his thoughts down. “Huh? …Yes, of course, Father. I agree, as long as you’re happy,” he said aloud, bowing stiffly. Wu Yi Zhen’s mother smiled warmly, but his eyes drifted to Wu Yi Zhen.

The man remained unreadable, cold, inscrutable. Did he approve of this? Did he even care?

Yi Xuan didn’t know—and frankly, he didn’t want to. They were just… a headache.

He straightened, trying to collect himself. “Alright, if there’s nothing more, I will take my leave.” Bowing once more, he turned and walked away, leaving the room filled with their surprised—and perhaps triumphant—gazes.

⸻

• Wu Yi Zhen

Wu Yi Zhen is the eldest son of Clan Leader Wu Haoran of Clan Wu, one of the most respected and feared leaders among the great clans. He also has a younger brother, Wu Yi Chen.

Wu Haoran was a man honored for his strength, but he carried an endless hunger for greater power. Never satisfied with what he had, he turned to a forbidden path. He forged a bond with a cursed sword that held an evil spirit within it. That sword was said to be invincible — once it struck someone, there was no chance of survival. Many tried to steal it, but none lived to tell the tale.

With this sword, Wu Haoran never lost a battle. But the price was steep: the sword constantly demanded blood. If a day passed without a life taken, the spirit inside it would torment him. At times, to silence the sword’s hunger, he even killed innocent people without realizing what he had done.

But soon — one night, Wu Yi Zhen awoke to his mother’s screams. Rushing to his father’s chamber, he found Wu Haoran dead… stabbed by his very own sword.

By right, Wu Yi Zhen should have inherited the position of Clan Leader. But still young, and unwilling to be bound by the heavy responsibilities, he made a decision before the clan elders:

“I am not ready. Please let my uncle take the position for now. When the time comes, I will shoulder the duty myself.”

His uncle, Wu Haoran’s younger brother, who loved Wu Yi Zhen like his own son, agreed without hesitation. The elders accepted.

Since then, Wu Yi Zhen has remained the Young Master of Clan Wu — respected and admired, yet free from the burdens of leadership. The clan awaits the day he is ready to inherit his father’s mantle, but until then, Wu Yi Zhen walks his own path.

⸻

When Wu Yi Zhen’s younger brother, Wu Yi Chen, turned eighteen, he began to secretly walk down the same dark path their father once took. At night, he performed forbidden rituals to gain power from demons.

Wu Yi Zhen discovered this and scolded him, warning him of the danger, but Yi Chen refused to listen.

When their mother found out, her heart broke. She gave Yi Chen a harsh warning:

“If I ever see you walk this path again, you will no longer be part of this family or this clan.”

But Yi Chen could not stop. He believed the demonic path gave him freedom and strength. Finally, he chose to leave on his own.

Before walking away from Clan Wu, he told Yi Zhen:

“I don’t want this boring life. With this power, I can achieve something greater.”

People outside the clan whispered his name with mixed feelings. Some admired his talent and striking looks, others feared the darkness he carried. A few knew the truth of his past, but most were too afraid to speak of it.

From then on, he was no longer called Wu Yichen, but simply Yichen.

People outside the clan whispered his name with mixed feelings. Some admired his talent and striking looks, others feared the darkness he carried. A few knew the truth of his past, but most were too afraid to speak of it.

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