Han Yu reckoned once curiosity was sparked, once an elder reached out first, the balance of power would shift. Han Yu would no longer be a petitioner. He would be a resource.
And when that moment came, the Cold Silk Orchid would no longer be a risky bargaining chip. It would be the final confirmation.
Han Yu exhaled slowly.
This was dangerous. Every step would have to be calculated. One wrong move and he would alert the very people he was trying to avoid.
But this was the path.
Not force.
Not haste.
Precision.
He straightened his posture, his expression returning to its usual cold calm. Tomorrow, he would return to the Puppet Peak. He would continue his work. He would continue his studies. And quietly, carefully, he would begin laying the groundwork for something far bigger than a single mission.
The mine was not his goal.
It was merely the door.
And Han Yu intended to open it on his own terms.
A few days later...
