Chapter 41: Web of Deceit
A thick silence lingered in the hall, stretched taut with unspoken agreements and hidden motives. The dim candlelight flickered, casting long, shifting shadows across the room, as if the very walls bore witness to the treacherous conversation unfolding within.
Xiao Yang finally leaned forward, his fingers tracing the rim of his untouched teacup. His voice was calm, yet beneath it lay a steely resolve.
"First, let us conclude matters regarding Xiao Chen."
Luo Xuan's smirk deepened, his gaze sharpening with interest. He already knew where this was headed.
Xiao Yang's expression remained unreadable as he continued. "In your letter, you mentioned an old acquaintance who would handle him."
Luo Xuan let out a quiet chuckle, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of his chair.
"Kaelin Darkhaven."
The name settled into the air like a whispered omen.
Perched upon Luo Xuan's shoulder, Nyx, the Blood Shadow Raven, let out a low, guttural caw, its crimson eyes pulsing faintly in the dim light.
Luo Xuan's tone remained light, almost conversational, but there was an unmistakable weight behind his words. "A Half-Step Martial Grandmaster. A man well-versed in the art of killing. Ruthless, efficient, and thorough. He has agreed to handle the matter personally."
Xiao Yang nodded slightly, his gaze cold and unyielding. "And you are certain he will succeed?"
Luo Xuan laughed softly. "Xiao Chen may be a prodigy, but he is still a child in the eyes of true power. A cub that has yet to grow its fangs. And according to Nyx, he is accompanied only by a girl and a wolf."
Xiao Yang's eyes darkened. "Xiao Rongyu…"
At the mention of her name, Elder Xiao Feng, who had been silent for much of the conversation, suddenly tensed. His fingers tightened subtly around the wooden table, his expression unreadable.
He exhaled slowly. "No. You cannot do anything to her."
Luo Xuan's brows lifted slightly in mild surprise. "Oh?"
Xiao Yang's expression remained impassive, but his voice carried an unmistakable weight. "That girl's background is not simple. The power behind her is not something even the Royal Family of Lingshui Country can afford to provoke." His gaze sharpened. "I will say no more."
A brief silence fell upon the hall.
For the first time in the conversation, Luo Xuan's smirk faded slightly. He studied Xiao Yang for a long moment, the flickering candlelight reflecting in his calculating gaze.
"How amusing." His fingers tapped against the table in a slow, thoughtful rhythm. "Now I'm even more curious."
Nyx let out another low caw, as if sensing its master's shifting mood.
But Luo Xuan did not press further. He was many things—cunning, ambitious—but reckless was not one of them. If Xiao Yang, a man who rarely spoke without reason, deemed it necessary to warn against targeting Xiao Rongyu, then there was merit to his caution.
Elder Xiao Feng finally broke the silence. "When is Kaelin Darkhaven expected to arrive?"
Luo Xuan's smirk returned, languid and assured. "One week from now."
Xiao Yang exhaled softly, his lips curving into an almost lazy smile. "Ah… so that brat gets to live for another seven days." His voice carried an eerie finality, as if he were already watching Xiao Chen's fate unravel before him.
"Let him cherish life while he still has it."
A frigid wind seemed to pass through the hall, though no doors or windows had been opened. The flickering candle flames wavered, casting long, distorted shadows across the walls.
Luo Xuan's smile never wavered. He leaned back into his seat, his fingers tracing slow, idle patterns along the armrest.
"As for Xiao Hao's matter, we can discuss it once Xiao Chen is gone. Until then… good day, my friend."
Xiao Yang and Elder Xiao Feng rose from their seats, offering brief bows before turning to leave. Just as they reached the door, Luo Xuan's voice echoed behind them, smooth yet laden with an unmistakable weight.
"Remember, you swore to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal. And as for what I want you to do for me… let's keep that for when you're useful enough."
His voice carried a mischievous edge, but his golden eyes gleamed with an Emperor's dominance as he lounged upon his throne-like seat, gazing down at them as though they were mere pieces on his board.
Xiao Yang's fists clenched at his sides, his teeth grinding together. Without turning back, he strode out of the hall, every step laced with barely restrained frustration.
Powerlessness.
A feeling that haunted him ever since he lost to Xiao Hao for the Patriarchy.
Behind him, Elder Xiao Feng followed, beads of cold sweat trailing down his face. He gulped. "Ah… I'm already caught in this web of deceit. I must make sure Xiao Lan and Xiao Li stay out of this."
The heavy doors shut behind them, leaving the grand hall draped in silence. Moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows—Elder Jinyu. He approached Luo Xuan and, with a respectful bow, asked,
"Patriarch, are you truly considering helping them?" Luo Xuan chuckled, absently stroking his mustache.
"Elder Jinyu, acquiring a valuable chess piece for such a trivial matter… isn't that a fair trade?"
Elder Jinyu frowned slightly. "But what can they possibly offer?"
Luo Xuan shook his head, his gaze turning contemplative.
"It's not about what they can offer now, but what they will offer in the future." He paused, his voice growing softer yet carrying an undeniable authority. "If Xiao Yang becomes Patriarch, he will be nothing more than my pawn. Imagine that—a Xiao Family Patriarch under our control. The entire Xiao Family would be ours to manipulate."
Elder Jinyu's eyes widened in realization.
Luo Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile as he twisted his mustache between his fingers. His golden eyes flickered with a cruel glint.
"The Xiao Family may have fallen to a peak Grade Two influence, but never forget the legacy they carry. They were once a Grade Four power—so feared that even the royal factions hesitated to move against them." His fingers drummed rhythmically against the armrest. "And now… we will seize that legacy. Xiao Yang is already walking into my trap."
Elder Jinyu's expression shifted into admiration. He let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! As expected of the Patriarch! You truly have great vision!"
Luo Xuan's sharp gaze swept over the dimly lit chamber. His fingers intertwined, his posture one of absolute control. His words, spoken with quiet intensity, seemed to ripple through the very air.
"With the Xiao Family's legacy and control in my grasp, I will be one step closer… one step closer to raising our family to Grade Three."
The weight of his ambition settled heavily over the room. No one dared to speak. No one dared to question. Luo Xuan's vision was absolute. The path had already been paved—all that remained was execution.
And in the depths of the Mystical Beast Forest, far from the machinations of men, fate was already in motion.
—
The dense foliage of the inner region blurred past as Xiao Chen and his companions surged forward like shadows weaving through the wilderness. The air was thick with moisture, the scent of damp earth and ancient wood clinging to them as they pressed deeper into the untamed lands.
Yet, not a single beast had dared to cross their path.
Xiao Chen's draconic aura pulsed faintly, an invisible force that rippled through the surroundings. Even without consciously expanding it, his very presence exuded a dominion that the lesser beasts could not defy. They had fled before him, their instincts whispering warnings of an overwhelming predator.
It wasn't until Xiao Chen abruptly stopped that the silence shattered.
Mistshadow skidded to a halt instantly, her silver fur bristling as she lowered her body in alertness. Xiao Rongyu, who had been following closely, took an extra moment before catching up.
"Why did you stop, Brother Chen?" she asked, slightly out of breath.
Xiao Chen's lips curled into a smirk. His eyes gleamed with an eager sharpness.
"There's a beast ahead," he said, his voice steady yet laced with excitement. "A Grade Four beast. We finally meet one."
Xiao Rongyu exhaled, a wry smile forming on her lips. "I was wondering why we didn't encounter any spirit beasts along the way… It felt like they were avoiding us entirely."
Mistshadow tilted her head, her silver eyes flickering with curiosity as she stole a glance at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen turned to Xiao Rongyu with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I wonder why…" he mused playfully.
"Eh?" Xiao Rongyu blinked, puzzled by his cryptic expression. But before she could press him for an answer—
"ROOOOAAAARR!!"
The deafening roar shattered the tranquility of the forest, sending tremors rippling through the trees. Birds scattered from the canopy in a frenzy, their panicked cries swallowed by the sheer intensity of the beast's presence.
Xiao Chen's grin widened. "Looks like our friend is here."
Mistshadow let out a low growl, her body tensing in instinctual readiness. Xiao Rongyu took a step back, her amber eyes sharpening as the air grew heavy with danger.
The ground quivered beneath them, each impact a forewarning of the approaching predator.
And then—emerging from the shadows of the towering trees—a massive figure loomed, its aura crackling with raw, untamed power.
The true hunt was about to begin.