When there was a search party within the bamboo grove, Han Xiao and Han Xue reached his quarters—a grand pavilion styled after antique Chinese architecture. The intricate design featured elegant housing connected by winding corridors, all-encompassing a large, serene area. As a prince of the Han nation, Han Xiao enjoyed the privilege of staying in such a magnificent place. However, the pavilion held bittersweet memories. He once shared it with three former comrades, whom he had killed in the Willow Tree Forest. Now, he was left to live here alone.
Han Xue followed him, gently feeding the pup in her arms. The atmosphere was a mix of tranquility and underlying tension, as the recent encounters and revelations weighed heavily on their minds.
Han Xiao glanced around the familiar surroundings, his expression a blend of nostalgia and resolve. “It’s strange, being here alone,” he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy.
Han Xue looked at him with understanding eyes. “You’re not alone, Xiao Ge. You have me and Little White. We’ll face whatever comes together.”
He smiled, appreciating her presence and support. “You’re right, Xue Er. We’ve come this far, and we’ll keep moving forward.”
They made their way through the corridors, the pup occasionally yipping happily as Han Xue fed it small morsels. The tranquility of the pavilion provided a stark contrast to the chaos of the earlier battle. It was a momentary respite, a chance to regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead.
As they reached the main hall, Han Xiao paused, taking in the surroundings. “This place holds a lot of memories,” he said softly. “But it’s time to create new ones.”
Han Xue nodded in agreement. “Yes, new memories and new beginnings.”
With that, they settled into the pavilion, ready to face whatever the future held, knowing they had each other for support.
Han Xiao showed Han Xue to her room, a cozy space not far from his own. A beautiful garden lay between their quarters, providing a serene and picturesque view. After ensuring she was settled in, they gathered for a tea ceremony, with Han Xue preparing a kettle of fragrant lotus tea.
As the steam from the tea filled the air, Han Xue poured two cups and placed them on the table before them. She looked at her brother with a mix of concern and curiosity. “Now, explain yourself. Why was there a hit on your head? Is this your first time? Does the academy have anything to do with this?”
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Han Xiao sighed, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. He sipped his tea, eyes closed, savoring the calming effect of the lotus, making it clear he had no intention of answering right away.
As the silence stretched on, Han Xue’s frustration grew. She asked again, her tone colder, “There’s no point in keeping me in the dark. My job is to send all your information back to the Han Palace. If I omit an assassination attempt, I'll face severe punishment. And sooner or later, Royal Father will hear about this. So, please, just tell me what happened. I’ll only report what’s necessary.”
Han Xiao weighed the importance of involving the Han Palace in this matter. ‘If this reaches Royal Father, my movements might be monitored by experts, which isn’t good. But, they sent a Houtian Realm expert to take notes on me today. I can’t risk them sending someone of that caliber next time to take my head. Fine! Let’s risk everything and see how the academy and the Han Palace view me, the Seventh Prince of Han.’
Taking another sip, Han Xiao placed the cup back on the table and finally responded, “Alright. This is the second time. The first attempt was in the Willow Tree Forest when my former three comrades were bribed to stab me in the back. Unfortunately for them, I was their opponent. And I found this.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out an envelope, and tossed it to her. “This is all I got.”
Han Xue picked it up, opened it, and her eyes fixed on the crimson ouroboros seal, a snake eating its tail. Her grip on the paper tightened as if recalling something significant.
Han Xiao observed her reaction and asked, “You seem to recognize this?”
Han Xue placed the letter back into the envelope and slipped it into her sleeve, replying, “Not much, but it's from an outlaw organization called ‘Perpetual Nirvanic Alliance.’ We had conflicts with them three decades ago when they first set up their headquarters in a remote village within our territory. Our elders defeated them and drove them out. This is serious. I’ll keep this.” Without another word, she walked out, heading towards her quarters.
"Perpetual Nirvanic Alliance," Han Xiao repeated thoughtfully. "Interesting. So, there’s a political agenda behind the attempt on my life. It seems influential figures within the Outer Court are also entangled in this affair."
He murmured, "Xue Er, you've been a steadfast supporter of the old Han Xiao. Another ally I can count on. But she didn’t even say good night—her mind must be fixed on reporting to the Han Palace. This could escalate matters unexpectedly. Well, it’s a turbulent time—I'll harness this pressure to carve out a new path."
"For now, let's focus on cultivating and increasing my strength," Han Xiao decided. With a thought, the old book appeared on the red interface, flipping its pages until it revealed a drawing of a dragon. He reached out his right hand, dipped it into the page, and magically retrieved three large cadavers of beasts, which he then threw onto the floor. "This will do for tonight."
He sat cross-legged and began chanting the special text of the Devouring Curse Body Technique. The three corpses levitated into the air, dissolving into a foul-smelling gray mist that gradually absorbed into his body.
Meanwhile, Han Xue was busy writing an official report. She wrote, "The Seventh Prince has grown significantly within this week. He would become a great asset for the Han shortly. Following are his achievements— due to a verbal insult to the House of Han Royal in front of classmates, he killed Prince Yue Zhi of the Yue Nation in a challenge. On a larger scale, I suggest teaching the Yue a good lesson to not take Han lightly in the future. Most importantly, there have been two assassination attempts on the Seventh Prince, the latest occurring in my presence. The assassins appeared to be affiliated with the ‘Perpetual Nirvanic Alliance’. The academy remains unaware of this, despite the last attempt taking place within the Outer Court premises. I recommend confronting the authorities and applying pressure to turn the situation in our favor."