Chapter 4: The Crown Prince’s Envoy

Silence filled the grand hall.

No one dared breathe too loudly.

Because the royal envoy had stopped walking.

Stopped speaking.

Stopped moving entirely.

His gaze remained fixed on one person.

Lu Yinyin.

At his waist hung a jade artifact carved with ancient runes. It had remained quiet since entering Lu Manor—

Until now.

A faint pulse.

Then another.

The jade trembled.

Very slightly.

The envoy's pupils contracted.

Impossible.

He subtly pressed his hand against the artifact.

Spirit-detecting jade could identify unusual constitutions, spiritual roots, bloodlines, and hidden qi fluctuations.

Yet this...

This feeling was unlike anything he had sensed before.

Not strong.

Not oppressive.

Rather—

Empty.

As though something should have been there... but wasn't.

Like staring into endless darkness.

For a moment, coldness crept along his spine.

Meanwhile, Lu Yinyin stared back.

Silence.

Then:

"...Why are you looking at me?"

The entire hall froze.

Several guests nearly dropped their wine cups.

Xiao Qing turned pale.

Lord Lu almost crushed the armrest of his chair.

This girl—

This disaster—

Did she know who she was speaking to?!

That was a royal envoy!

But Lu Yinyin simply looked confused.

Because everyone kept staring at her today.

She genuinely wanted to understand why.

The envoy blinked.

Then slowly laughed.

Not mockingly.

Rather—

Surprised.

Very surprised.

For years, people either feared him or desperately tried to flatter him.

This was the first time someone looked at him as though asking an ordinary question.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

He smiled lightly.

"You are Lu Manor's eldest daughter?"

Silence.

Lu Yinyin thought for a moment.

"...I think so."

Lord Lu nearly coughed blood.

What did she mean I think so?!

The surrounding guests exchanged strange looks.

Meanwhile Lu Meirong's expression became uglier with every passing breath.

The envoy was supposed to notice her.

Not this cursed girl.

Not the illegitimate daughter hidden in Ghost Yard.

She suddenly rose gracefully.

"Sir Envoy."

The man turned.

Lu Meirong smiled beautifully.

"This humble one is Lu Meirong, Second Young Lady of Lu Manor."

Her voice was soft.

Gentle.

Perfect.

Countless young masters had fallen for that smile.

Yet the envoy merely nodded politely.

Then—

Turned back.

Toward Lu Yinyin.

Silence.

Crack.

Beneath the table, Lu Meirong's nails dug deeply into her palm.

Hatred flickered across her eyes.

For years.

For years no matter how much they isolated Lu Yinyin...

Something always happened.

Somehow attention still found her.

Why?

Why?!

At that moment—

The jade artifact trembled again.

Stronger.

The envoy's expression subtly changed.

Because this time he felt something else.

A strange fluctuation.

Very weak.

Very distant.

Like invisible threads moving through empty air.

His gaze slowly sharpened.

For a brief instant—

He saw it.

Behind Lu Yinyin.

Red.

Countless thin crimson lines flickering around her silhouette.

Then gone.

His breathing stopped.

Because those weren't spiritual threads.

They resembled...

Fate.

Immediately the image vanished.

As though it had never existed.

Silence.

The envoy's fingers tightened.

No.

Impossible.

No cultivator below the Heavenly Realm could touch destiny itself.

He must have seen wrongly.

He had to.

Across the hall, Lu Yinyin blinked.

"...You look frightened."

The envoy froze.

"What?"

She tilted her head slightly.

"Your heartbeat changed."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Everyone stared.

The envoy stared.

Lu Yinyin looked puzzled.

"...Did I say something strange?"

Because she truly didn't understand.

The moment she looked at people, she often noticed things.

Breathing.

Pulse.

Movements.

Changes.

She simply said what she observed.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Yet the envoy suddenly felt chills.

Because she was right.

Perfectly right.

And before anyone could speak—

BOOM!

The sky outside darkened.

Clouds gathered instantly.

The bright afternoon sunlight disappeared beneath black skies.

Wind roared through Lu Manor.

Lanterns swayed violently.

Guests cried out in alarm.

"What happened?!"

"Heaven changed!"

Lord Lu abruptly stood.

Outside, servants screamed.

Several birds suddenly fled into the sky.

An unnatural pressure descended.

Far beyond Cloud River Village—

Within the distant military camp—

The War God slowly rose to his feet.

Golden dragon markings surfaced beneath his skin.

His eyes narrowed.

Because this time—

That foreign aura had erupted.

Clear.

Undeniable.

He finally found it.

His gaze shifted toward the south.

Toward Lu Manor.

Toward her.

And for the first time—

The Heavenly War God smiled.

Very slightly.

"...Found you."

Meanwhile, inside the grand hall—

Lu Yinyin quietly looked out the window.

The dark clouds reflected inside her eyes.

Deep within her pupils—

Ancient crimson symbols flickered once more.

And vanished.

Unseen.

Waiting.

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