Scene 1 – Seeking the Soul Stone
The Lin courtyard was quiet and orderly, stone tiles swept clean and bamboo planted in neat rows. A single peach tree stood at the center of the courtyard, its branches still and unremarkable. The air was calm.
Under the pavilion, Lin Xian sat in tranquil silence, a porcelain teacup resting between his slender fingers.
His gaze lowered as he murmured:
> "Soul Stone…"
His voice was soft,
Soul Stones — rare formations of crystallized soul essence — were only talk about more often than actually seen. They were formed deep within spirit-rich mountains, slowly compressing centuries of energy into a single gem.
One could journey from the edge of heaven to the depths of the earth and never lay eyes upon a single stone. They were only rumours in the world of cultivators, seldom seen in the realm of men.
But Lin Xian's expression carried not the slightest doubt.
> "Spiritual resources with such rarity… They don't simply disappear," he said faintly. "It is preserved—guarded by the world itself from unworthy hands."
His gaze flickered with calculation for a split second.
> "And in a small city like this, even if someone possessed one, they likely wouldn't understand its worth of usage."
He leaned back, letting the breeze stir the edge of his robe.
A quiet hum rose from beside him.
Xiao Jin, grooming his golden fur with his tongue, lifted his head. His eyes seemed to say, You're plotting again.
Lin Xian tapped the feline lightly on the head.
> "Of course I am. But today… we're looking for something special."
He stood up gracefully
> "If there's any place that deals in rare spirit resources, top tier mortal realm elixirs, or rare beast core—"
His pale lips curved into a sharp yet elegant smile.
> "—it would naturally be the Thousand Veil Chamber."
Xiao Jin blinked, then hopped onto his shoulder with effortless ease.
The kitten meowed — a soft, almost sighing
Lin Xian's chuckle with amusement
> "Relax. It's only a transaction."
The kitten squinted at him.
Even a cat knew "transaction" meant something dangerous when it involved him.
Lin Xian stepped into the sunlight, a faint glow tracing the outline of his white hair.
> Today will be interesting.
---
Scene 2 – The Woman Behind the Chamber
The private pavilion in the Thousand Veil Chamber was a quiet, enclosed room. It smelled of sandalwood incense, and soft golden light came from the lanterns hanging in the corners. Tall jade screens divided the space and blocked direct views from the entrance. Beneath the floor and walls, faint spiritual formations hummed steadily, providing protection and privacy.
Yue Lan sat behind her carved jade desk, every motion elegant yet controlled.
Her slender fingers drummed lightly against a stack of scrolls— reports, intelligence informatios, and secret ledgers few in the city ever knew existed.
When Lin Xian entered, she lifted her gaze.
Her crimson lips curved, her eyes shimmering with something between admiration and caution.
> "Young Master Lin," she said smoothly. "I must admit… you've managed to kill five birds with a single pill."
Lin Xian raised a brow.
> "Five birds?"
Yue Lan nodded, her tone turning razor-sharp despite her gentle smile. She counted on her delicate fingers:
> "First — Zhao Clan's trade business crumbled."
> "Second — your Great Elder's political foundation shattered."
> "Third — your father rose as Patriarch unchallenged."
> "Fourth — the pill market has effectively become your playground."
She leaned forward, voice dropping dangerously soft.
> "And fifth… you made a fortune while tying the Thousand Veil Chamber to your side."
She placed her hand over her heart in mock admiration.
> "You act with ultimate precision, Young Master Lin. I mean that as a warning and a compliment."
She maintained her calm mask without a flicker, though her pupils tightened as the truth sank in—she knew exactly how dangerous he was.
> "Men like you can build empires… but they can also erase them overnight."
Lin Xian chuckled, serene as moonlight.
> "Such dramatic words, Manager Yue. If you keep praising me like this, others will think you are bootlicking me, and I would have to pay you for your compliments."
> "If you had," Yue Lan said dryly, "I would have charged more."
He chuckled
She watched him carefully — the calmness in his tone, the unreadable depth in his silver eyes.
He felt like a storm wrapped in a human form
At his age, no one should be this composed. His unnatural calm marked him as far more dangerous than he appeared.
---
Scene 3 – The Offer of Shadows
Silence hung between them — not awkward, but anticipatory.
Yue Lan's gaze sharpened with an agenda.
> "Young Master Lin," she said slowly, "I have a proposal."
Lin Xian placed his cup down.
> "I'm listening."
Yue Lan inhaled softly, then spoke, each word carefully chosen.
> "I want an exclusive partnership with you — all your pills sold solely through the Thousand Veil Chamber."
> "We provide distribution, protection, reputation, secrecy. In return, you supply us your refinements."
She spoke with absolute confidence.
> "Together, we can monopolize the market and shape the city."
A faint, knowing smile touched his lips.
> "You are an exceptionally intelligent woman, a cunning one at that."
Her laughter was soft, but her eyes glinted.
> "Compared to you? I'm still a thousand years behind."
Lin Xian set down his cup, fingers brushing lightly against the jade surface.
> "An exclusive partnership is a bond. And I don't bind myself unless the other end is worth holding."
Yue Lan leaned forward.
> "Then I shall sweeten the deal."
She spoke quietly, her tone serious.
Her voice was soft, but her meaning was clear.
> "I offer you access to the Thousand Veil Chamber's intelligence network."
Lin Xian's eyes narrowed.
Yue Lan continued:
> "Our web of information reaches across half the continent. Sects, dynasties, wandering cultivators, city officials, clan elders, and those living beneath them. Nothing of significance happens without our knowledge."
For the first time in their conversations, Lin Xian's calm expression faltered— but just for a second.
Information.
The true backbone of power.
Even divine arts failed before perfect intelligence.
Yue Lan caught the change instantly. She pressed on.
> "Tempting, isn't it?"
Lin Xian got to his feet and made his way to the window. He turned slightly, his eyes cold yet strangely nostalgic.
His gaze settled on Yue Lan.
"Your brilliance reminds me of someone I once knew… someone called Pride."
The name left his lips like a bitter truth.
The name hung in the air, heavy with memory.
Someone brilliant and masterful
Someone merciless.
Someone he once commanded — or perhaps once fought beside.
Yue Lan felt a chill run down her spine.
Lin Xian's voice was calm and precise, each word deliberate.
> "Your proposal is interesting. Very interesting."
He stepped forward, the air shifting with quiet authority.
> "But I believe this partnership deserves something even more… profound."
Yue Lan's hand tightened around her teacup.
Whatever he was about to say... she knew instinctively it would redefine the terms of their alliance
It would decide the future of the city.
Perhaps even the continent.
> "Then… what do you propose, Young Master Lin?" she whispered.
Lin Xian smiled, a cold, elegant curve of his lips.
> "Let's begin rewriting the balance of power."
His words were soft.
But in Yue Lan's ears — they roared like destiny.