Soon, people began to leave Snowvale one after another. It was clear what they were thinking: "Harvest Moon Night" obviously referred to the fifteenth day of the ninth lunar month. After some discussion, everyone agreed this was the time to unlock the treasure. With two months left until the fifteenth, they all wanted to return and quickly decipher the meaning of the clue, hoping to search for the treasure alone—no one wanted to share it.
But not everyone was in a hurry. Liam Duanmu and Noah Duanmu, for example, as well as a few others, lingered with their own motives.
That night, the wind and snow howled, the weather foul and unforgiving. Yet Morgan Shangguan was in excellent spirits, lazily curled up in Damien Gray’s arms, gazing out the window. Such a night was perfect for doing things best kept from prying eyes!
So, without a trace, the gold and silver treasures slipped into Morgan Shangguan’s pocket. Damien Gray caught the faint smile at her lips, and with a pampering shake of his head, gently stroked her hair and said, “Go to sleep. I won’t fight you for it!”
Morgan Shangguan lifted her eyes to him, arching a brow. "I’m not worried you’ll fight me for it!" With that, she closed her eyes and nestled deeper into his arms. Damien Gray’s arm tightened around her waist, a soft smile on his lips. With a flick of his hand, the window closed by itself.
Though it snowed all night, the next day’s weather was surprisingly pleasant. Neither Morgan Shangguan nor Damien Gray planned to leave so soon. After all, it wasn’t often they came to Snowpeak Mountain—they might as well enjoy the scenery a few days longer!
Trouble surely awaited them ahead, so while they had a moment of peace, they might as well relax.
After breakfast, the two sat in the courtyard drinking tea, saying nothing. After all, they were rivals now—too much closeness would be inappropriate, especially with other martial artists still lingering nearby!
Violet Snow, dressed in purple, passed through the courtyard. Against the pristine white, her vibrant violet was especially striking.
Maxwell Jing’s steps faltered as he approached, his gaze never leaving Violet Snow. Ethan Gu narrowed his eyes at him and said in a low voice, “Don’t tell me your lovesickness is acting up again!”
Maxwell Jing twitched his lips. What was wrong with admiring a beauty? If he couldn’t touch, at least let him look—anything else was just unreasonable! Though he grumbled inwardly, he said aloud, “Don’t you think Violet Snow’s attitude toward the Sect Master is odd? She used to be so attentive, but now she barely acknowledges him!”
Only then did Damien Gray recall Violet Snow seeking out Morgan Shangguan earlier. The topic had shifted, and he’d forgotten about it, though he was curious. What had Morgan done to make that woman keep her distance so obediently, without a trace of resentment? “Mo’er…”
Maxwell Jing quickly sat down at the stone table, teacup in hand, looking as if he was ready to listen intently.
“Didn’t you ask me to help you train her?” Morgan Shangguan took a sip of tea, her expression calm. “I just told her: Men are all fickle. The less you pay them attention, the more they want to chase after you.”
“Pfft…” Maxwell Jing spat out the tea he’d just sipped.
Damien Gray, on the other hand, remained composed, a look of sudden realization on his face. “So when Princess Consort ignored me back then, it was to make me pursue you! Good thing I’m persistent—if I’d given up, your plan would’ve failed!” His eyes sparkled with flirtatious amusement.
Maxwell Jing wiped his mouth and glanced at the two of them, unsure whether to laugh or not. He picked up his teacup and took another sip.
Morgan Shangguan shot Damien Gray a look and added coolly, “I said men—you don’t count.”
“Pfft…” Maxwell Jing spat out his tea again, this time choking on it. “Cough, cough…”
Ethan Gu reached over and patted him on the back, while Maxwell Jing snuck glances at Damien Gray. His expression was odd—was the Sect Master not a man?
Damien Gray’s smile was gentle as he suddenly pulled Morgan Shangguan into his arms, whispering, “So Princess Consort is secretly so dissatisfied!”
Morgan Shangguan pushed him away and returned to her seat, reminding him, “Don’t forget, we’re still rivals!” Though few people were around, it wasn’t completely deserted.
Damien Gray raised his brows. “Then let’s go back to our room!”
Maxwell Jing watched the two of them, thoroughly entertained. Ethan Gu quietly warned, “Careful, or you’ll get burned!”
Maxwell Jing glanced at him, unconcerned. He was just watching, not doing anything—how could that get him burned?
Morgan Shangguan laughed softly and brushed off Damien Gray’s hand. “You know exactly what I mean!” Damien Gray was half alive, half dead—a man and a ghost, not truly human. So saying he wasn’t a man wasn’t wrong!
Damien Gray curled his lips, about to say something, when Morgan Shangguan suddenly said, “Maxwell Jing, if you have something to say, just say it!”
Maxwell Jing froze—was the trouble really coming his way? Seeing Damien Gray frown, he quickly replied, “Nothing, nothing. I’ll just leave!”
He had just stood up when Ethan Gu pressed him back down. Maxwell Jing looked at him in confusion. Ethan Gu said, “There’s serious business!”
At this, Damien Gray glanced at him, signaling him to speak.
Ethan Gu frowned. “Sect Master, there are few in the martial world who dare challenge the Ghost Guild and Cloud Guild now. And the Blood Curse Poison disappeared fifty years ago—its sudden return is a bad omen!” The Blood Curse Poison, a legendary toxin, had vanished for half a century and become a myth. Its reappearance signaled chaos: the Treasure Map’s emergence, the secret of the Grandmaster’s Treasure, and the onset of turmoil. It all felt orchestrated.
Damien Gray pondered for a moment. “I understand.” That was all he said in response to Ethan Gu’s warning.
But Ethan Gu was reassured. If Damien Gray was aware, it meant he had a way to deal with it. Even if he didn’t have a plan now, he would never be caught off guard when trouble struck—that was Damien Gray. Nothing could ever control him!
Morgan Shangguan didn’t say much. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself out. Even if there are greater powers and more formidable people out there, she believed that she and Damien Gray would never be mere punching bags!