"As far as I believe, this gathering is to resolve that kind of problem, right?" The night was still, a hush falling over the moonlit garden as Ji Wuye stirred the contents of his ceramic cup.

The gentle clinking sound mingled with the faint whispers of a cool breeze rustling through the bamboo trees. He brought the rim to his lips, the fragrant green tea carrying hints of smoky charcoal and a subtle grassiness.

As he sipped slowly, the liquid's verdant shade reflected his nonchalant expression against the backdrop of the luminous silver moon hanging serenely in the inky sky.

His crimson eyes, shimmering like ruby gemstones, carefully scanned Ye Yujin's delicate features. Her porcelain brow furrowed into a pensive frown, eyes narrowing at him with scrutinizing intensity.

"That's right, the purpose of this gathering is to discuss the problem. However..." She slammed her slender hands against the rounded stone table with a resonant thud. Her gaze softened as she tilted her head back, raising one elegant hand as if to grasp the glowing orb of the moon.

"In Qinhai, where a hundred vibrant blossoms bloom amongst the warring factions, self-proclaimed heroes claim to defend the downtrodden folk. Yet, while we argue over the subtleties of the plum's flavor, another innocent life in far Gansu has already ebbed away, returning to the yellow springs," she spoke, her voice tinged with melancholy. Her delicate eyebrows arched upwards, gaze distant and unfocused, lips pressed into a taut, pensive line.

At the same time, Lin Fang, standing behind his young lady, averted his eyes and lowered his head solemnly as Ye Yujin's poignant words triggered painful memories long buried.

Ye Yujin then lowered her head once more, her distinctive eyes - an enigmatic kaleidoscope of azure and earthy sienna hues - meeting Ji Wuye's crimson, indifferent stare as he continued observing her with unreadable curiosity.

Then, her soft, slender hand extended forward, open palm revealing a singular strand of her own silken white tresses - the same ethereal shade as Ji Wuye's hair.

"Choosing you over the Kunlun is not just to safeguard my family, but for the prosperity of all Gansu's humble commoners. The Ye family's favor shall be as vast and unfathomable as the depths of the ocean itself, and as weighty as the loftiest mountain ranges," she spoke, voice hushed yet resonant. Her unique, mesmerizing eyes slightly widened, lips parting into the faintest of smiles, tinged with an indecipherable subtext.

"Hmm..." Seeing the intensity of her expression and hearing the weighted resonance of her words, Ji Wuye's crimson eyes slightly narrowed, glinting like smoldering embers.

His chin, which had been leaning nonchalantly on the back of his palm, withdrew as his long fingers began tapping an idle rhythm against the cool, rounded stone of the table.

"The Imperial Court..." Ji Wuye began to speak, his deep voice carrying notes of pensive reflection, but the words trailed off as he noticed Ye Yujin's eyes widen in shock.

Her delicately arched eyebrows shot upwards briefly before relaxing again, and her full lips, previously pressed into a taut line, parted fleetingly before sealing once more in an inscrutable expression.

After observing her subtle yet telling reaction with calm appraisal, Ji Wuye continued, "It looks like the trees wish to remain still and undisturbed, yet the winds of change keep blowing."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

However, at that contemplative moment, he no longer watched her intently. Instead, he brought the cup to his lips once more, sipping the last few vibrant droplets of verdant tea.

By now, the atmosphere had settled into a tranquil hush on this serene night. A whisper of a cold breeze stirred, rustling through the towering bamboo with faint susurrations.

However, thanks to this brief, poignant pause, which allowed Ye Yujin to gather her composure.

"I understand your meaning well, Young Master Ji. Please, allow me the opportunity to demonstrate the true depths of my sincerity," she implored, deftly pouring the fragrant liquid from the clay teapot to replenish his empty ceramic cup.

Simultaneously, Lin Fang, who had been standing sentry behind his young lady, suddenly moved forward to clear away the empty plates Ji Wuye had used.

However, Lin Fang's expression was unreadable - a complicated blend of emotions flickering across his features as his gaze alternated between Ye Yujin and Ji Wuye for the briefest of moments before settling once more when he noticed his Young Lady's subtle nod of acknowledgment.

Meanwhile, Ji Wuye's piercing crimson eyes flicked towards the periphery, noting how Lin Fang and the watchers had also truly dissipated, leaving only the two of them present in this secluded realm.

"A written 'Skill' from the Tower of the God, an herb rare and potent enough to heighten one's powers of concentration, and another tonic to enhance the development of muscle and physical abilities," Ye Yujin stated plainly this time, her voice low and tempered like sharpened steel.

By now, her eyes were chips of arctic ice as she watched him, while Ji Wuye's eye brows faintly raised at the word of 'skill.'

'Interesting...' Ji Wuye thought inwardly as a faint smile played across his lips. He had never imagined that the previously unknown Ye family possessed such knowledge about Tower.

"And lastly, the detailed information regarding the Ji family's downfall - secrets that even the Beggar Sect remains unaware of," Ye Yujin added, her tone clipped. By the time she noticed the subtle upturn of his lips, her expression had only grown more glacial.

The man before her appeared to possess no semblance of a human heart - no glimmer of chivalry or honor burned within. In Ye Yujin's eyes, Ji Wuye was akin to the unorthodox martial artists who valued personal gain above all else, eschewing any virtuous code. 'A deplorable bastard that I despise!' she inwardly sneered.

On the other hand, Ji Wuye's perspicacious gaze did not miss the marked shift in her demeanor toward him, causing his eyes to narrow in faint amusement. "You make it seem as though I am the villainous one in this tale, Young Lady Ye," he remarked, his deep voice carrying an undercurrent of wry humor.

The truth was, he had never intended to involve himself in the affairs of far Gansu despite the generous rewards Ye Yujin now dangled before him. The reason was simple...

'As far as i remember, in the previous timeline, Gansu province was the first to receive aid from the Kunlun. And to think that region was actually where the Ye family located - what an intriguing coincidence,' he mused.

This meant Ye Yujin had not even initiated proper discussions with Kunlun yet, which mean...

"I refuse," Ji Wuye stated flatly. As the words left his lips, Ye Yujin's expression flickered from shock to outrage as she leveled a withering glare at him, the delicate skin of her forehead furrowing into deep creases. A faint, bluish Qi began enveloping her lithe form, crackling with scarcely restrained power.

"You cannot be serious, Young Master. There is no way..." she said, her voice deceptively calm even as her piercing stare felt akin to razor-edged icicles that could cleave one's heart asunder.

"No. As I said, try opening discussions with Kunlun first, then perhaps you may approach me later," Ji Wuye stated casually.

Rising from his seated position, he waved his hands in a dismissive gesture as he turned and strode away, disappearing through the doorway into the living quarters and leaving a visibly confused and dumbfounded Ye Yujin in his wake.

"My lady!" No sooner had Ji Wuye taken his leave than a concealed contingent of bodyguards - hooded figures clad in plain blue hanfu - immediately materialized, surrounding Ye Yujin as they half-knelt in deference before her. "There was no need to extend such overly generous terms to that arrogant ingrate!"

"I never could have fathomed witnessing the pride of our noble Ye family falter in such an unseemly manner!"

"My lady, grant us the permission to punish that uncivil bastard for his insult. His insolence must not go unanswered!"

However, their impassioned pleas fell upon seemingly deaf ears, for Ye Yujin herself had become entranced - her piercing gaze remaining fixated upon the now-closed door to the living quarters even as her mind whirled with a tumult of complicated thoughts.

'W-what in the heavens is wrong with that insufferable man!' she raged inwardly. Her head lowered slowly, the intensity of her glare softening as the creases in her brow gradually eased and unfurrowed. Yet the underlying meaning behind Ji Wuye's cavalier dismissal was transparent to her now.

He knew. He had discerned that she had not even initiated diplomacy or formal discussions with the Kunlun yet.

This was because - would the famous Kunlun truly entertain the request of her comparatively minor family over the overtures of other greater powers? Would they even deign to consider rendering aid to their region?

These nagging doubts had haunted Ye Yujin from the moment she had arrived. When the Kunlun had issued the call for discussion just yesterday, she had steadfastly refused for myriad personal reasons, only to be gripped by regret upon learning that the talks pertained to the recent attack on Tianji Village.

'But to think he was neither swayed nor even tempted by the rewards I dangled...' she pondered, shame creeping in as she covered her face, recalling the faint, knowing smirk that had played across Ji Wuye's lips and the piercing look in his eyes that seemed to see straight through her bravado.

For the first time, Ye Yujin was forced to confront the reality that she had been utterly, shamefully wrong in prejudging the true character of this man.