Senior Edina woke up in her room, her gaze immediately falling on the letter left behind by Junior Edina. She picked it up and began to read, a faint smile appearing on her lips. The news was good—Chuang Chi had agreed to join her side as the figurehead, a crucial step in their plans. The letter also mentioned that the effort to gather the lower-ranking members of the Beggar Sect was progressing well, although it would take a few more weeks to complete. This was expected, but it was reassuring to know things were moving forward.
What truly impressed Senior Edina, however, was something unexpected. Last week, she had advised Junior Edina to use a secret code in Leonese to communicate with Princess Huangshu. She knew the princess had some basic knowledge of the language, which meant she likely had a Leonese teacher who could assist in translating their correspondence.
But Junior Edina had completely dismissed this idea, choosing instead a far more creative and subtle method of communication—romance novels. Both Junior Edina and Princess Huangshu shared a passion for romance stories, and Junior Edina had devised a secret code that revolved around their mutual interest during their stay in Dongu Village.
The two of them would begin their letters by discussing actual romance novels they were reading. However, after a few paragraphs, if either of them mentioned Hidden Love by Xi Kong—a book Junior Edina still hadn’t finished reading—it signaled that the content from that point onward carried the hidden message. The references to the novel would serve as a coded communication, decipherable only by the two of them.
Senior Edina was genuinely impressed by this clever approach. Though Junior Edina hadn’t disclosed the specifics of how the code worked, she had reassured her that it was an effective system. Both Edinas believed that Senior Edina should allow Junior Edina to maintain her friendships and enjoy her own life. Senior Edina didn’t want Junior Edina to become a puppet, always pulled by the strings of political maneuvering. Instead, she wanted her to have the freedom to think for herself and pursue her own relationships as such she didn’t ask for the specifics of the communication method.
This clever form of communication was just another sign that Junior Edina was finding her own way in a complex world, and Senior Edina couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. She was content to let her younger counterpart have this piece of independence, knowing it would make her stronger in the long run.
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Wei Cha Mu’s Room, Left Wing, Mu Mansion, Blazing Dawn Sect
A sudden explosion reverberated through the corridors of Mu Mansion, causing a massive qi shockwave that surged from the young master Wei Cha Mu's room. The force of the energy was palpable, sending waves of alarm throughout the mansion. Lin was the first to respond, rushing toward her brother’s quarters with fear in her heart. She knew how hard Wei had been pushing himself to break through to grade 1 recently, and her immediate concern was that he had overexerted himself, possibly falling prey to qi poisoning.
She knocked on his door once, urgently, but no response came from within. Her anxiety deepened, and without hesitation, Lin activated the Blazing Blade technique. With a sharp, sizzling sound, the door was cleaved cleanly in half, its smoldering edges glowing from the heat of her attack.
Servants fled the scene in panic, the oppressive waves of uncontrolled qi driving them away. Lin dashed inside, her eyes scanning the room, and there, on the floor, she spotted Wei. His dark hair was disheveled, and his shirtless body lay prone, his eyes wide open, staring up at her with a desperate plea for help.
"Wei!" she gasped, dropping to her knees beside him. She checked his pulse and immediately sensed the erratic, dangerously unstable flow of qi within his body. Her heart raced as she realized the severity of his condition. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lin raised her hand, preparing to press two fingers against a key pressure point on Wei’s neck to knock him unconscious. In his current state, it would be the only way to stabilize him so she could get him the help he desperately needed.
But just as her fingers were about to make contact, her hand was caught in a firm, unyielding grip. She turned, startled, only to meet the stern but calm gaze of her father, Han. He said nothing, merely shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with quiet authority.
Lin swallowed her protests and nodded in return, lowering her hand as she stepped back. Their father was far more experienced and skilled; if anyone knew how to handle this, it was him.
Moments later, a figure rushed into the room—her mother, Li Mei. Her long, dark hair flowed behind her as she hurried to Wei's side. Li Mei knelt beside Wei with a look of deep concern etched into her face, but beneath that worry was a steel-like resolve. She moved her hands over her son's chest, guiding the chaotic energy, trying to assess the damage. Her eyes briefly met Han's, and though no words were exchanged, they both understood the severity of the situation.
Suddenly, Li Mei’s expression shifted. The warmth and motherly concern that had been in her gaze vanished, replaced by an iron-hard intensity. Without warning, she grabbed Wei’s limp body, her grip firm yet precise. In one swift motion, she hoisted him up and hurled him through the doorway and out into the training field.
The sight was jarring. Her calm, loving demeanor had completely shifted, replaced by an unyielding sternness. As Wei's body hit the ground with a thud, Lin gasped, stunned by the abrupt change in her mother’s attitude. The air between them grew heavy as Li Mei stepped out onto the field, her eyes burning with a mixture of frustration and anger.
"What have you done!?" she shouted, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. The sharpness in her tone reverberated across the training field, and even the nearby servants who had lingered to watch scurried away in fear.