“Here we are,” Sun Yu said, yet Qin Yun noticed a hint of uneasiness in her voice despite trying to hide it before she added, "Are you sure you wish to see my father? Now isn't the best time after all that happened recently. Why don't you come back another time?"

"And live with the thought that you all could keep interfering with my life?" Qin Yun replied, slightly exasperated. "I'd rather not. Let's just finish this so I can return to my wife. This has taken too much of my time already. Besides, why are you trying to stall? What is it that you are trying to hide?"

Qin Yun's gaze pierced through her as if to uncover her secret. He noticed that his words shook her slightly, yet she remained silent, unwilling to divulge whatever was in her heart. Qin Yun shrugged and stepped beyond the threshold of two large intricate doors, knowing he would have the answer soon enough.

Beyond was a large room adorned with countless treasures and intricate works of art. The room was splendidly decorated, displaying the Sun clan’s wealth. It seemed more like the clan’s treasury than anything else. Qin Yun also noticed countless dim runes blending into the structure, more likely the room’s security system.

Still, Qin Yun frowned, seeing no traces of the man within. In fact, no one was waiting beyond those doors. He turned to the woman at his side; his look was all the evidence that Sun Yu needed to know his thoughts.

“This is only the main hall,” Sun Yu replied. “My father’s chambers are further in. Follow me.”

She then walked away, showing none of the reluctance she once had. It seemed she had resolved herself that this meeting was inevitable. Still, Qin Yun felt something was wrong. How could a man of the city lord's status be willing to meet another within his private chambers, especially when there was such a splendid hall for just such an occasion?

Furthermore, on their way here, Qin Yun noticed the uneasiness within the clan, as if a huge secret hung over them. He wondered if this had anything to do with the recent invasion of those grey creatures. In fact, Qin Yun was confident they were related.

With a slight apprehension, Qin Yun followed after Sun Yu. They didn't have long to walk as her father's chambers were just behind the large throne that took most of the space at the end of the hall.

The throne was made of gold and crystal, inlaid with precious spiritual stones. It emitted waves of pressure akin to a living being. Its majesty permeated the hall, bathing the countless marble columns that supported the ceiling in its glory.

Qin Yun had no doubts this wasn't something he was meant to see. In fact, he was sure this room was the eye of the city's formation. Countless groves carved into the stone pillars directed the flow of the spiritual veins beneath the city. By harnessing their power and directing it toward the throne, one could control this colossal formation, becoming the master of Jin City.

This was one reason why the three other great clans acknowledged the Sun clan's supremacy over Jin City. If the city were a living being, this would be its heart, and only the city lord had the means to make it move.

Qin Yun's gaze would only linger a few moments on the crystal throne. While the city-wide formation intrigued him, he knew he would have no chances of probing its depths. This, after all, was the pillar supporting the Sun clan. Simply, the fact that he was allowed into this room was already momentous.

In fact, Qin Yun could feel numerous eyes on him coming from the countless shadows present in the room. Furthermore, he could feel endless divine senses probing his depths. They didn't even bother to hide themselves; therefore, Qin Yun didn't either. He walked, head held high, toward the back of the room, following Sun Yu.

And yet, once he reached the door hidden behind the throne, what he saw left him stunned. A woman he knew well waited for him. Her long black hair fell like a waterfall over her light blue dress. Her dark eyes pierced through him as if trying to uncover his secrets, yet her expression was filled with nothing but indifference. This was Qin Lihua, his grand-aunt and one of the Qin clan's elders.

Qin Yun's mind raced, attempting to make sense of her presence here. Could it be she was waiting for him? Qin Yun found that ridiculous. How could she know when he had only decided to come here an hour ago? Was she acquainted with the city lord? Of that, he had no doubts. How could she not be? However, was she close enough to be allowed near the crystal throne? Qin Yun couldn't help but wonder what their relationship was.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Aunt Lihua," Qin Yun said as he bowed, clasping his hand. While the clan had repudiated him, Qin Lihua was nonetheless family. Qin Yun wouldn't be that petty. He knew all that happened stemmed from his own choices.

Qin Lihua only gave a slight nod to Sun Yu before walking away. She didn't even deign to address him. Qin Yun wasn't offended; he had expected such treatment, yet he wouldn't let her leave like that. He had many questions and sought answers.

“Should I thank you for fighting on our behalf within the clan?" Qin Yun asked while Qin Lihua was leaving, only for her to stop abruptly, her last step echoing off the room's stone walls.

She turned and eyed Qin Yun, showing no signs of emotions. Qin Yun did the same, waiting for her to take the first step. While this was but a guess, Qin Yun was sure she was the one who protected them from the Qin clan's retaliation. After all, there was no one else but her.

“How would you know?” she finally said, only confirming Qin Yun’s earlier assumptions.

“Inferred from your own words. After all, didn't you say you were acquainted with Jingfei's master?"

“So you were listening,” Qin Lihua replied, her expression softening somewhat.

“What I don’t understand is why bother? This isn’t like you to get involved in the clan’s politics even if it concerns your friend’s disciple.”

“I owe a favour," she replied softly, her gaze wandering slightly as if lost in memories.

Qin Yun remained silent, waiting for her to continue, yet she didn’t elaborate. Therefore, he had no choice but to ask, yet he couldn’t bring himself to. After all, this was between her and his wife. But then, Qin Lihua addressed him again.

“I owed your mother, too," she said, which only made Qin Yun frown.

Time and again, he had been jerked around by people involved with his mother. He wondered if her existence had been a boon or a curse. While he never held great interest in that woman, things were beginning to change. She had been much more involved in his life than he once thought. He would have to seek answers from her in the near future.

“Are you even?” Qin Yun asked, his gaze fixated on his aunt, masking the thoughts swirling in his mind.

"Who knows? I owe her too much. I don't know if I could ever repay her," she replied before falling silent.

Both looked at each other. Qin Yun had never been close with any of his family except for Meihui. Yet now, it seemed there was someone who cared about him, even if only to repay a debt. This warmed his heart much more than he thought possible, considering Qin Lihua's cold personality. It seemed not all his clan members were beyond hope.

“You’ve changed,” Qin Lihua finally said, her gaze somewhat gentle.

“How so?” Qin Yun replied, frowning slightly.

“I used to think you were nothing more than a walking corpse. You never possessed any of the drive that spurs humans to survive. Yet, you hid it all behind a facade. It felt like an outsider trying to mimic others and blend in. However, your disguise felt superficial, as if you couldn't be bothered to perfect it. Or maybe you simply wanted to be found out? Either way, your behaviour made many uneasy within the clan. At first, many thought you might have been replaced by some creatures. After all, many demons are known to possess these talents. However, your grandfather quelled those rumours down.”

“I wasn’t aware...” Qin Yun said, his mind spinning.

“Of course. How could you when you never took an interest in others? I warned you multiple times, yet you never heeded my words. Now, look where you ended up.”

Qin Yun could only sigh. Indeed, she was right. His apathy had led him to this debacle. If he had bothered to play along, none of this would have happened, yet regrets never solved anything.

“Why tell me this now?” he asked.

“You feel different, finally like a human being, or at least an embryo of it. I don't know what changed you, but I'm glad you did. I can only attribute this to your encounter with Jingfei."

Indeed, this had been the trigger. Without her existence, Qin Yun would probably have remained within the clan, testing how far he could go before they got fed up with him. Then, he would have simply left and never looked back. After all, nothing was tying him down to Jin City. Yet now, things were different. He couldn't simply run away as he had been.

“Indeed, her existence is special.” Qin Yun replied absentmindedly, almost as if he was talking to himself. “Not in the sense that the world considers her unique, but special only for me. After all, I chose to marry her. She is my wife.”

Qin Yun could finally feel desires welling at the bottom of his heart—not superficial desires like greed or lust, but something more tangible, something more real. He finally felt eager for life, if only to be with his wife and to go through life together.

Reaching this undeniable conclusion, Qin Yun could only laugh at himself and how stupid he had been. He knew the answer all along, yet he refused to take the first step himself, claiming he was apathetic. In fact, he might have never been. He was only lazy and too self-important to try and change himself.

In his laziness, he had put the burden on his wife when he was the one who needed to make an effort. While this wasn’t some sort of miracle solution, as he couldn’t change that easily after all he had experienced, this was the push he needed. Qin Yun now knew he couldn’t rely on others to cure him of his ailment. He was the only one able to do so.

Qin Yun genuinely smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever. This wasn't the usual smile he used to fool others, but a true smile from the bottom of his heart.

“Thank you, Aunt Lihua," Qin Yun replied after his laugh receded. "I won't forget what you have done for me."

Qin Yun then bowed deeply to her, leaving her quite perplexed. She hadn’t expected such a quick change.

In fact, even Sun Yu, who had witnessed this whole conversation, was bewildered. Once again, she couldn't recognize this man. Yet, the dread she felt slowly subsided. She thought he had mellowed out somewhat, yet he now possessed a drive that was once absent. She couldn't help but wonder how such few words could change a man that much. She also wondered if she could do the same for another man she knew.

Qin Yun then rose, flashing Qin Lihua a smile before turning around and reaching for the door.

“Let’s go,” he said to Sun Yu. “I’m sure your father is tired of waiting.”