008 The Mysterious Organization

“Mother always said, ‘no zuo no die! Why you try!’” Little Mumu gazed helplessly at Yun Feiyue. Whenever mother saw a handsome man, she even forgot her own beliefs!

“Mother also said, ‘no try no high! Give me five! Child, what do you know!’” Yun Feiyue shot Mumu a glare, feeling her heart weighed down with frustration.

Mumu crawled onto Yun Feiyue’s shoulder, his chubby hand gently stroking her head. “There, there, Mother. I just feel he’ll come back.”

But Yun Feiyue could not shake her gloom.

“Mother, even if he doesn’t return, it doesn’t matter. Without the Red Lotus Token, I’ll protect you!” With that, Mumu gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Warmth spread through her. In an instant, Yun Feiyue felt completely healed.

“That’s true! I still have you, my child! But lately, if we see Grandmother, let’s keep our distance. I have a feeling she’ll be irritable for three or four days. Let’s go home and get some sleep first.”

Gazing at the distant flames of battle, Yun Feiyue sighed and hurried away to hide.

The moment she set foot inside Crimson Blossom Pavilion, the maids and matrons knelt in greeting. “Welcome home, Young Lady!”

Yun Feiyue waved her hand. “You may go. Chunhua, stay.”

Chunhua had been Yun Feiyue’s personal maid since her days in the Yun family, and their bond was the closest. Yun Feiyue disliked being surrounded by too many people—one or two to speak with was enough.

The maids and matrons quickly dispersed. Chunhua approached Yun Feiyue. “Miss, you must be tired from your journey. I’ve already prepared your bathwater, scented with phoenix grass as you prefer. Does Little Master need my help with his bath?”

Mumu shook his head. “No, I want Feiyue or a beautiful lady to bathe me.”

Yun Feiyue rubbed Mumu’s head. “Don’t mind him, Chunhua. The child simply speaks his mind.”

Chunhua felt her loyal heart nearly shatter, but, fortunately, the ancient values of fidelity ran deep. She knew she wasn’t beautiful and soon regained her composure.

“Young Lady, I’ve prepared your favorite pastries. Please have a taste.”

Yun Feiyue picked up a piece and tried it. The flavor was exquisite! She nodded approvingly. “Very good! Chunhua, your skills are as excellent as ever.”

Chunhua beamed with pride—her skills were beyond imitation!

“Thank you for your praise, Miss. If you like them, please have more.”

Yun Feiyue nodded, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Chunhua, how have you been these three years I was away? Has anything significant happened in Chu Capital?”

Chunhua replied with a smile, “I’ve been well, but there have been some events in Chu Capital. King Chu passed away last month, and the new emperor, Beichen Yi, has ascended the throne. He has announced that next month he will marry Gongsun Ziyan as his empress.” At this, Chunhua grew indignant. “Everyone knows the Northern King favored you, Miss. But that Gongsun Ziyan clung to him while you were away, and because her family helped him seize the throne, he was forced to marry that little wretch.”

Mentioning Gongsun Ziyan, Chunhua grew animated. “Miss, you have no idea! That shameless girl has been spreading nasty rumors about you, saying you’re dead, that you died with all your meridians shattered, and that your reputation was nothing but empty fame, unworthy of topping the Qingwu Ranking… She’s been spouting all kinds of vile things! Whenever I go out, I hear Gongsun Ziyan’s maids slandering you everywhere.”

Chunhua lifted her chin in pride. “But what is the Yun family? Old Master was furious and had Young Master Yun Hai send people to put a stop to the rumors. And the way Young Master Yun Hai can talk—he had them hurl insults back at the Gongsun estate until they were left speechless. Ha!”

“What did you say?” Yun Feiyue asked urgently.

Chunhua, thinking she’d misspoken, replied cautiously, “I said… Young Master Yun Hai scolded the Gongsun family thoroughly.”

Yun Feiyue shook her head. “Not that. Did you say Gongsun Ziyan’s been spreading news that I died with all my meridians shattered?”

Chunhua nodded, full of contempt. “She’s making things up!”

Yun Feiyue frowned. How did Gongsun Ziyan know about her shattered meridians? Only her assailant, a few family members, and people from the Zhan Yun Sect should have known.

The Yun family and the Zhan Yun Sect would never leak such news. That left only her attacker. Did Gongsun Ziyan know those people? They were all highly skilled; the weakest was already at the fourth level of Martial Dao, and one had even reached the pinnacle of the fifth level—a match for her father, Yun Hen, and they all wore masks.

Back then, Yun Feiyue was never one to stir trouble, only appearing on the martial rankings. Other than those she had defeated, she had no mortal enemies. She truly couldn’t imagine who had orchestrated the attempt on her life. The Gongsun family? Unlikely. She was familiar with all their martial arts techniques, and they simply didn’t have so many experts at once. But… for Gongsun Ziyan to know she’d died from shattered meridians, she must have heard or seen it with her own eyes.

“Miss, what are you thinking?” Chunhua asked, seeing Yun Feiyue deep in thought.

Yun Feiyue shook her head. “It’s nothing. Let’s bathe. Tell me about recent events.”

Chunhua smiled and attended to Yun Feiyue’s bath, while Little Mumu was carried off to the adjacent bathhouse by a beautiful maid.

“Recently… Ah, Miss, you’ll soon be attending the Dragon Banquet. It’s the first grand feast since the Northern King’s ascension, where he’ll receive the formal investiture from the Lord of Divine Veil, thus becoming the Emperor of Chu in name and deed. The Seventh Princess of Jing Kingdom will also be present! And I’ve heard that all twelve Lords of the Divine Veil will gather—the rumor is that Chu has produced someone truly extraordinary.”

The Seventh Princess of Jing and the Twelve Lords of the Divine Veil were not ordinary people. For them all to attend this banquet… The one they wished to meet must indeed be a figure capable of shaking the entire Golden Spear Continent.

The Lord of Divine Veil was the leader of a special organization called the “Eye Circle.” It was said that the “Eye Circle” acted as the eyes of the gods, manipulating the rise and fall of emperors, war and peace, on the Golden Spear Continent. Their power was unfathomable, and countless warriors longed to glimpse their secrets.

He represented awe, strength, authority, and mystery… The twelve lords, including the Lord of Divine Veil, were the twelve supreme figures, each overseeing one of the continent’s twelve regions.

It was said the Seventh Princess of Jing could commune with the gods themselves—true or not, her might was enough to inspire fear in all who heard her name.