The envoy from the Heavenly Law Sect arrived at noon.
The Xu Royal City's main gates were draped in ceremonial banners, white and gold, the colors of "purity" and "order." Drums beat in slow, solemn rhythm as a procession of robed figures advanced along the main avenue, their steps perfectly synchronized, their faces expressionless.
At their head walked a middle-aged man in pristine white robes, embroidered with faint patterns of chains and scales. His hair was bound in a high crown, his posture straight as a sword.
A silver token hung at his waist, shaped like a vertical eye.
The watching crowd murmured.
"Heavenly Law Sect…"
"They say they can judge sins with a single glance."
"Anyone they condemn, heaven itself will not save."
Xu Yuan watched from the palace steps, flanked by guards and ministers. His robe today was a subdued blue, his expression calm, his hands folded behind his back.
To the people, he looked like the picture of a benevolent prince welcoming honored guests.
Inside, his thoughts were ice.
*They come draped in righteousness, but their purpose is always the same: control. First they 'inspect,' then they 'guide,' then they devour.*
A faint ripple passed through the depths of his mind.
Fang Yuan's awareness stirred, wordless, then settled again—like a predator opening one eye to check new prey before drifting back into silent watchfulness.
The procession halted at the base of the palace steps.
The middle-aged man stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed.
"Heavenly Law Sect's Inner Law Elder, Shen Zhen, greets His Majesty of the Xu Kingdom and its esteemed Crown Prince."
The King rose from his throne at the top of the steps, smiling with the cautious warmth of a man greeting a tiger on his doorstep.
"Elder Shen, your honored sect has long upheld order in these lands," the King said. "Your presence here today is a blessing to our small kingdom."
Shen Zhen straightened.
His gaze slid past the King and landed on Xu Yuan.
For a fraction of a heartbeat, something sharp flashed within that gaze—cold assessment, weighing, measuring. Then it was gone, replaced by formal politeness.
"So this is Crown Prince Xu Yuan," Shen Zhen said. "This one has heard many praises of your wisdom and virtue."
Xu Yuan stepped forward and bowed.
"Elder Shen flatters me. I am but a junior who strives not to shame my father's name."
The words were humble.
The tone was perfect.
Shen Zhen's lips curved slightly.
"A modest prince is a rare sight in these troubled times."
*You test with honey first,* Xu Yuan thought. *The blade will follow.*
***
The reception hall was cleared.
Only the King, Xu Yuan, a handful of key ministers, and the Heavenly Law delegation remained. Incense burned slowly, its smoke coiling upward like pale shackles.
Shen Zhen did not sit immediately.
He walked to the center of the hall, turned, and looked up at the shattered sky visible through the high windows.
"The heavens here," he said mildly, "are thinner than in the Central Continent. The cracks are wider. The will above… leaks."
The King's face tightened.
"Our land is humble," he said. "We lack the deep foundations of the Central Continent. That is why we must rely on righteous powers like your honored sect."
Shen Zhen turned back to him.
"You have done well to request guidance in dealing with the drought and the bandits," he said. "The Heavenly Law Sect values rulers who know their limits."
Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
*Request?*
The King shifted uncomfortably.
"We merely sent a report of our difficulties," he began. "We did not dare—"
Shen Zhen raised a hand, stopping him with polite firmness.
"Semantics, Your Majesty. Whether you 'requested' or not, we have come. The heavens see all. When a kingdom begins to tilt toward chaos, we must intervene before rot spreads."
His words were light.
Their meaning was not.
*We came because we decided you are questionable. From this moment, you stand under our judgment.*
Xu Yuan's smile did not change.
"Elder Shen," he said mildly, "our kingdom has indeed faced hardship. But we have also acted swiftly. Grain has been distributed, corrupt officials investigated, bandit movements tracked. Surely your honored sect has seen this as well?"
Shen Zhen's gaze shifted to him.
"The heavens see many things," he said. "Yet mortal eyes see only what they wish to see. That is why we are here—not merely to advise, but to verify."
He reached into his sleeve and withdrew the silver token shaped like an eye.
A faint, cold pressure filled the hall.
Ministers stiffened.
The King's hand clenched on the armrest of his throne.
"This is the *Eye of Measured Sin*," Shen Zhen said calmly. "It allows us to glimpse the weight of karmic burden on a person's soul. We do not ask for faith. We simply show truth."
He glanced at the King.
"With your permission, Your Majesty, we would like to conduct a brief… evaluation. Of key figures in this kingdom."
The King hesitated.
His gaze flicked to Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan stepped forward first, bowing toward the King.
"Father," he said gently, "since our kingdom requested the Heavenly Law Sect's guidance, it would be hypocritical to shrink back now. If Elder Shen wishes to evaluate, let him begin with me."
The King started.
"Yuan-er, that is not—"
Xu Yuan met his eyes.
Soft. Steady.
*Trust me.*
The unspoken plea struck exactly where it was meant to.
The King exhaled slowly.
"…Very well. I believe in my son. If he has no fear of such an evaluation, why should I?"
Shen Zhen smiled, as if pleased by this display of "righteous courage."
"Admirable. Crown Prince, please step forward."
Xu Yuan walked to the center of the hall.
The *Eye of Measured Sin* hovered up from Shen Zhen's palm, spinning slowly. A thin beam of pale light descended, falling upon Xu Yuan like a silent verdict.
The hall held its breath.
Ministers exchanged nervous glances. Some who had plotted in shadows felt cold sweat trickle down their backs. Even the King leaned forward unconsciously.
Xu Yuan stood still.
Not a muscle twitched.
Inside, he extended his awareness. The beam of light slipped past his flesh, brushed his soul, skimmed against the layers of calm, ruthless will he had forged—and then struck something else.
Something buried deeper.
Something that did not move, did not resist, did not hide.
Fang Yuan's seed.
A presence like a smiling abyss.
For an instant, the light touched it.
The hall remained silent.
But in Xu Yuan's mind, something… *clicked*.
A flash of alien memory surfaced: Fang Yuan standing before a tribunal of so-called righteous experts, their magic tools blazing, their eyes filled with certainty. One by one, their expressions turning to disbelief. Then horror. Then despair.
The light from the *Eye of Measured Sin* wavered.
Just a fraction.
Shen Zhen's pupils shrank.
A hairline tremor ran along the token's surface, like a spiderweb crack in glass.
Xu Yuan lowered his gaze, hiding the faint amusement in his eyes.
*You tried to weigh a blade that does not acknowledge your scale.*
The light snapped back into perfect focus.
The token steadied.
But Shen Zhen's expression had changed—subtly, almost imperceptibly. The polite confidence in his gaze had acquired a new edge. Wariness.
He forced a smile.
"Astonishing," he said lightly. "Crown Prince Xu's karmic record is… remarkably clean. Far cleaner than most rulers' heirs. It seems the rumors of your virtue did not exaggerate."
The King let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"My son has always acted with care," he said proudly. "He would never betray the people."
Xu Yuan bowed modestly.
"I merely do what I can, guided by Father's example."
Shen Zhen's fingers tightened around the token.
Just for a moment.
Then he laughed softly.
"How reassuring. In that case, I am certain the rest of this evaluation will go smoothly."
His gaze slid past Xu Yuan.
Landed on someone else.
"Next," he said, "let us invite… Prince Xu Feng."
The eldest prince stiffened.
"Me?" he asked sharply.
"Of course," Shen Zhen said. "An elder brother sets an example for his siblings. The heavens will be pleased to see your righteousness."
Xu Feng glanced at the King.
The King hesitated, then nodded slowly.
"Go," he said. "We are all family. There is nothing to fear."
Xu Yuan stepped back to his previous place, hands folded calmly.
Inside, his thoughts were razor-sharp.
*Good. Show me how deeply you've dirtied your hands, Brother Feng.*
Xu Feng walked to the center of the hall, face tense.
Shen Zhen lifted the token again.
The *Eye of Measured Sin* rose, spinning, its pale light gathering.
As the beam descended, Xu Yuan felt a faint movement in his soul.
A slight stir.
Fang Yuan's presence.
This time, it did not remain entirely still.
A low, amused thought brushed the edges of Xu Yuan's mind:
*They bring a toy scale to weigh rot in a slaughterhouse.*
The light touched Xu Feng.
The hall fell utterly silent.
For one heartbeat.
Two.
Three.
Then, with a sharp, brittle *crack*, the silver token split down the middle.
The beam of light shattered.
The *Eye of Measured Sin* exploded into a spray of fragments, each piece burning with ghostly flame before vanishing.
Shen Zhen staggered back, blood spraying from his lips.
The ministers cried out.
The King lurched to his feet.
"What—?!"
Xu Feng stood frozen, eyes wide, face drained of color.
Xu Yuan's expression changed at last.
He let his eyes widen, let shock bloom across his features, perfectly mimicking everyone else's horror.
Inside, his mind moved like a cold storm.
*Either Xu Feng's sins reached a level this toy couldn't measure…*
*Or something—someone—interfered.*
Deep in his soul, Fang Yuan's presence had already gone still again, as if it had never moved.
Shen Zhen wiped the blood from his mouth, face ashen.
He stared at Xu Feng.
Then slowly turned his head.
His gaze locked onto Xu Yuan.
Not on the King.
Not on the ministers.
On Xu Yuan.
His voice, when he spoke, was calm again.
But there was a different weight to it.
"Your Majesty," he said softly, "it appears this kingdom's situation is… worse than we anticipated."
The King's hands trembled.
"Elder Shen, what does this mean? Why did the Eye—"
Shen Zhen cut him off with a small gesture.
"We will, of course, explain," he said. "But not here. Some truths should not be spoken before too many ears."
His eyes never left Xu Yuan.
"As for you, Crown Prince Xu… I hope you will not mind if, after this, we have a more… private conversation."
For the first time that day, Xu Yuan allowed a tiny pause before answering.
Just enough for everyone to feel the tension.
Then he smiled.
Soft.
Filial.
Perfect.
"Of course, Elder Shen," he said. "I will cooperate fully."
Inside, where no one could see, his thoughts were as sharp as broken glass.
*A private conversation?*
*Good.*
*Come closer, righteous dog.*
*Let us see who judges whom.*
Outside, the shattered sky's cracks seemed, for a brief moment, to widen just a little more.