Internal Turmoil, Becoming the Hidden Manipulator
Skyvault Palace Sect
The Master of the Mystic Healer Valley held a black stone in one hand and a white stone in the other, playing go against himself. When he heard footsteps approaching, he did not raise his head; he simply placed a white stone with steady precision.
The Skyvault Palace Master sat on the other side, silent, simply waiting patiently.
The Skyvault Palace Master’s surname was Xuan, given name Li. Nearly forty years old but well preserved, he looked closer to his mid-thirties. His authority was restrained yet commanding. Sienna was his only daughter, and she was the very image of his late wife—he cherished her as a priceless treasure. When news arrived that Sienna had been injured, he immediately sent agents to bring the Master of the Mystic Healer Valley to Skyvault.
There were few people in this world whom Skyvault Palace would treat with such courtesy—the Master of the Mystic Healer Valley was one of them. Xuan Li had no choice but to humble himself now, hoping that the Valley Master could restore his daughter's beauty.
Half an hour later, the go match was settled—the black stones had won by a narrow margin. Only then did the Skyvault Palace Master speak: “Valley Master, have you considered that matter?”
“No need to consider. I will not do such a thing,” the Valley Master replied, lifting a cup of fine tea and savoring it leisurely, though his furrowed brow betrayed the worries on his mind.
Anyone whose freedom was restricted would hardly feel cheerful.
“Valley Master, this matter is just a small favor for you. Afterward, Skyvault Palace will certainly reward you generously. Whatever medicinal servants and herbs you require, just name them.” Xuan Li promised readily, accepting the cup of tea but not drinking, letting the curling steam veil his eyes so that no one could read his thoughts.
“Palace Master, I have already written the letter as you wished, sowing discord between the brothers. Are you still not satisfied?”
“He ruined my Sienna’s face. That is the punishment he deserves.” Xuan Li’s eyes flashed with menace. There was no need to guess—“he” meant the Ninth Royal Uncle.
“I am fully confident I can restore the young lady’s looks, Palace Master. There’s no need for you to be so fixated.” The Valley Master sighed.
What misfortune had he brought upon himself? He could have stayed peacefully in Mystic Healer Valley, but instead he’d gotten entangled in the Eastlyn crown prince’s succession and now in the feud between Skyvault Palace and Eastlyn’s Ninth Royal Uncle.
“Even if Sienna’s face is restored, it cannot erase what she suffered. I will never spare Eastlyn’s Ninth Royal Uncle, and I will not let that woman go either.
My daughter may not have the title of princess, but she is far more precious than any princess. She is the jewel in my palm. They dared to strike her—if I don’t teach them a lesson, the whole Nine Provinces Realm will think Skyvault Palace can be bullied by anyone.” No matter how much Xuan Li ranted, it did not change his resolve for personal vengeance.
Sigh... The Valley Master didn’t know what to say. He had dealt with both the Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng, and he knew their characters well. If Sienna hadn’t provoked them first, those two wouldn’t even have looked her way, let alone gone out of their way to trouble her.
“Palace Master, your Second Young Master must have told you: that woman named Serena Feng looks seventy percent like your daughter.”
“So what? There are plenty of lookalikes in this world, but no one should resemble Sienna. My Sienna is unique. I will never allow another woman with a similar face to exist. What, Valley Master—you know her too?” Xuan Li clearly did not care about Serena Feng’s resemblance.
His wife had never stepped outside Skyvault Palace since marrying him; any resemblance was just coincidence.
“I met her once.” Cold on the outside, warm at heart—a doctor with true medical ethics. He himself was a rather unscrupulous physician, but that didn’t mean he liked others of the same ilk.
“So that’s how it is. It seems you won’t help no matter what. I won’t force you, Valley Master—just pretend I never brought it up.” Xuan Li’s words carried a hidden warning. With that, he rose and left.
The Valley Master could only sigh helplessly. Seeing Xuan Li so determined to destroy Serena Feng, he couldn’t help but add, “Palace Master, I urge you to handle this matter carefully. In my view, such resemblance never happens without reason. You’d best meet her and understand the situation before making a decision—otherwise you may regret it.”
“I will never regret it. If you’re not in a hurry, stay at Skyvault Palace a while longer.” The implication was clear—until matters were settled, the Valley Master was not free to leave.
Serena Feng—he absolutely had to destroy her. He would not allow anyone who harmed his daughter to live. As for the Wang clan’s Grand Heir, since his daughter liked him, he would spare his life.
Xuan Li strode away without a backward glance.
No one could change his decision.
The Valley Master’s old face darkened instantly as he stared wordlessly at the go board.
What a mess this was!
The Valley Master regretted sending that reply to Eastlyn’s Ninth Royal Uncle. If, after he returned, a fight broke out between the Ninth Royal Uncle and the Emperor, both sides would suffer—and wouldn’t that give Skyvault Palace the perfect opening?
What a headache!
Forget it—he couldn’t interfere in the affairs of these powerful figures. Better to focus on healing Sienna’s face; otherwise, with the Palace Master’s crazed devotion to his daughter, he might just destroy Mystic Healer Valley.
His status might be lofty, but he didn’t have the strength to contend with Skyvault Palace.
The fool fears the reckless, the reckless fear those who don’t care about dying—that pretty much described the current situation. He was the fool; Skyvault Palace was reckless; and as for the Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng?
In the Valley Master’s eyes, those two absolutely didn’t fear death. If Skyvault Palace went up against them, the outcome was anyone’s guess.
Hahaha... Suddenly, the Valley Master felt much better.
Why worry? He might as well sit back and enjoy the show—one way or another, the fire wouldn’t reach him.
Ninth Royal Uncle received the Valley Master’s signal and, not bothering to torment Wang Jinling further, quickly notified the Warren clan to fetch their heir. As for Felix Fuller, without hesitation, he brought him back to the capital. Dangerous people like Felix were safest kept close.
Handing the army back, Ninth Royal Uncle sped toward the imperial city with Serena Feng and Felix Fuller under the protection of his personal guards.
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Ten days—the Valley Master’s letter said that, given Serena Feng’s injuries, if a thousand-year Everfrost Lily could be obtained and made into ointment within ten days, there was a seventy percent chance she wouldn’t be left with scars.
Judging by the date in the letter, five days had already passed—which meant he had only five days left.
A thousand-year Everfrost Lily—if it were before, finding one in five days would have been impossible. But now?
The Emperor just happened to have one!
Was this coincidence, or someone’s design?
The Valley Master had specified that only a thousand-year Everfrost Lily would work. Nolan didn’t think this was mere coincidence. It had been half a month since Sienna was injured; he had been traveling slowly, partly for Serena’s wounds, partly to annoy Wang Jinling, and partly just waiting—for Skyvault Palace’s revenge.
Yet after half a month, Skyvault Palace acted as if nothing had happened, not a ripple of movement. Such calm made Nolan even more suspicious.
Sending the letter to the Valley Master was also a test—Sienna’s injuries could likely only be treated by him, and Nolan was almost certain the Valley Master was at Skyvault Palace.
Knowing full well the Everfrost Lily was bait, Nolan still jumped in without hesitation. He trusted the Valley Master’s word—in some ways, that old man was as stubborn as Serena, never gambling with his medical skill or reputation.
He was determined to get the thousand-year Everfrost Lily.
Someone wanted to see him fight his imperial brother? Fine—he would give them a life-and-death struggle to watch. But anyone who wanted a “good show” would pay the price!
A cold killing intent flashed in the Ninth Royal Uncle’s eyes. Serena Feng shivered all over, quietly pulling her clothes tighter.
If she guessed right, someone was about to be very unlucky. She’d been away from the capital for nearly a month—the imperial city must have gotten lively!