The air in Orchid City was fresh and fragrant, but Lan Tianhua did not share that calm. He walked silently beside his daughter, descending the steps of the restaurant.
"That young man..." he murmured just after crossing the threshold, without looking at her. "He's not an ordinary mortal. He doesn't speak like one."
The young woman nodded gently. Her steps were elegant, measured. But her eyes still reviewed every detail of the encounter, as if replaying the conversation in her mind.
"He didn't flinch," Lan Tianhua said in a low voice. "He didn't try to flatter us, nor seek approval. He simply evaluated us... as if he knew we stood to gain more than he would lose."
He sighed, deeply.
For years, he had been the manager of the Blue Lotus Chamber of Commerce in Black Rock City. He had negotiated with elders of sects and cultivators who demanded more than they were worth. But that man, hidden behind a white robe and a mask, had given them a lesson in control.
"Do you think I overdid it with the offer?" he asked, though he already sensed the answer.
"Yes," Yueqing replied without hesitation. "And he noticed from the beginning. You asked for the formula as if it were a simple courtesy..."
Lan Tianhua tilted his head slightly, thoughtful.
A long silence followed. The wheels of their minds kept turning. The deal was closed, yes... but what came next would be a much more delicate dance.
After leaving the restaurant behind, Lan Tianhua gave a slight smile. His voice came out low, almost a whisper to himself.
"Did you feel it?"
Lan Yueqing, her gaze fixed on the horizon, responded quietly:
"Hmm... someone seemed to be watching us, but I'm not entirely sure," she said, frowning in thought.
"Close... but not quite right. The entire place was under surveillance. At least twenty people," he added, now with a more serious expression.
"What!?" exclaimed Lan Yueqing, incredulous.
Upon entering the room, she had felt a fleeting gaze and an oppressive pressure, as if her life were in danger... but that sensation quickly faded.
Lan Tianhua continued, with a deep expression:
"Not counting the people waiting outside the door, with my spiritual sense I counted about twenty, scattered around."
"All gave me a slight sense of danger... but there were four," his voice grew graver, "that made me feel a true threat of death."
"What!?" repeated Lan Yueqing, more alarmed. "Even you felt danger, Father!?"
"Hmm... in front and behind the restaurant. Disguised as merchants. I don't know why, but their positions made me feel that if I tried anything... I could die," he said, narrowing his eyes.
Lan Yueqing remained silent, shocked.
She should know better than anyone: her father was one of the strongest in the Lan family. He was at the high level of Foundation Establishment.
"Were they hiding their cultivation?" Lan Yueqing asked, incredulous. She hadn't sensed any trace of spiritual energy in the young man.
Lan Tianhua shook his head. His brow furrowed even more.
"I didn't feel a shred of cultivation from any of them. Either they're all stronger than me, or they carry very high-level spiritual treasures. But it didn't seem to be either."
He remained silent for a moment, as if weighing his own words.
"I'm ninety percent sure... they were mortals. Mortals without cultivation."
Lan Yueqing frowned. Her mind reviewed a memory, a line in a document.
"Could they be... the ones from the report?"
Lan Tianhua nodded slowly. He had read it too, a few days ago.
"It could be. Mortals... capable of facing cultivators."
A dry wind blew from the east, rustling the folds of their robes. Neither spoke for a moment.
After the meeting, Ethan didn't waste time and departed without delay. As they advanced, the distant trees and mountains blurred like shadows on both sides of the road.
Halfway through, Ethan gently tapped the frame of the carriage.
"Stop the carriage," he ordered.
Ethan opened the side window, and his gaze locked on Ye Han, who rode at the front. His voice was cold as he commanded:
"Gather four operators from your squad. I have a mission for you."
Though puzzled by the sudden stop, Ye Han responded efficiently. Without asking questions, he turned on his mount and selected four of his best-prepared men.
Minutes later, five figures stood firmly in front of the carriage. Ye Han stepped forward.
"Squad ready, awaiting orders, sir."
Ethan nodded, pulled out a scroll, and extended it toward him.
"This is your target. You will head immediately to Black Rock City."
Ye Han took the list and unrolled it with discipline. Written in black ink were the following targets:
"Xuan Smithy, main workshop for spiritual weapon manufacturing under the Xuan family."
"Xuan Fei, Patriarch of the Xuan family. Cultivator of the Seventh Level of Qi."
"Xuan Rong, Son of Xuan Fei. Possible successor. Cultivator of the Fourth Level of Qi, Genius of the Xuan family, Grade 3 Spiritual Roots."
The targets had been carefully selected.
Top priority: the Xuan Smithy. Their main source of income. Without it, their economic backbone would collapse.
The second target: Xuan Fei, patriarch of the family. A veteran cultivator of the Seventh Level of the Qi Realm, a key figure in his clan's decisions. However, the squad was to prioritize the third target.
The patriarch's son. A young master with a rising trajectory and real potential to become the new head of the family. A rare talent... and an even more valuable weakness.
Spiritual roots were classified by grades, with Fifth Grade being the most common among cultivators. With them, going beyond the Qi Realm was unlikely. Only a few exceptional individuals managed to reach Foundation Establishment.
But Third Grade… was another story. In minor regions like the Yun dynasty and surrounding areas, someone with roots of that level was automatically considered a genius. Reaching Foundation Establishment was almost guaranteed, and there was even a real possibility of stepping into the Golden Core Realm, albeit with great difficulty.
Xuan Rong was that kind of genius.
Eliminating him would mean more than a casualty: it would be a direct blow to the future of the Xuan family. A loss they could not replace.
Ethan knew it. And that's why he was on the list.
After seeing Ye Han finish reading the scroll, Ethan continued, without changing his tone:
"The Xuan family has crossed the line too many times. Until now, we've tolerated their attacks and maintained a defensive posture."
He paused briefly, then his eyes took on a glacial coldness.
"It's time to send them a gift. Destroy the targets. Neutralize all resistance. No exceptions."
Ye Han straightened his back and replied in a firm, emotionless voice:
"Order received, sir."
Without another word, he and his squad dispersed, vanishing among the trees toward Black Rock City.
Ethan watched them leave in silence. His expression was as unshakable as a statue, but a slight smile formed at the corner of his mouth.
"They attacked us at the mine. Then, in the city. Always waiting for the next strike. Always holding back the response."
He fixed his gaze on the horizon, as if speaking to an invisible enemy.
"If you choose to strike again and again... then you should be prepared for the consequences."
The carriage resumed its journey.
And inside the carriage, silence returned. A cold silence.