The morning mist was still clinging to the ancient willow trees of the Xiao estate when Evangeline made her final decision. The strategic alliance with the Hall of a Hundred Herbs was no longer a mere possibility; it was a necessity forged in the fires of the recent market crisis. Marcus, upon receiving the official confirmation, felt a literal weight lift from his shoulders. He arrived at the estate not as a humble petitioner, but as a formal partner, accompanied by Leonard, the Vice-President of the Apothecary Guild. Leonard, a man known for his bureaucratic rigidity, moved with uncharacteristic speed. He understood the shifting winds of power in Silverstream. He and his team spent the better part of the morning scrutinizing every clause of the contract, ensuring that the legal foundations of this partnership were as impenetrable as the city walls. When the final seals were pressed into the hot red wax and the signatures were exchanged, a new era for the Xiao family’s medicinal emp

Caelum shared a few more lighthearted words with the crowd, ensuring the atmosphere remained vibrant, before pulling Louis aside to give him the final accounting instructions for the evening. Following his usual schedule, as the hour of the Monkey approached, Caelum prepared to depart for the family estate. The artisans waved him off with genuine warmth, finding his approachable nature a stark contrast to the typical noble arrogance.Stepping out onto the covered porch, Caelum cast a long, calculating glance toward the Linlan Pavilion next door. The rival manager, Guy, was standing near his entrance, a forced, incredibly strained smile plastered onto his face as he offered a stiff bow. Caelum simply offered a minimal, passive nod of acknowledgment before stepping into the carriage where Eric was waiting with the horses.Guy watched the ornate carriage dissolve into the thick, grey curtains of the unrelenting storm. He turned his gaze back toward the Jishi Pharmacy, where the echoes of

Hazel shared this conclusion; if the goal of the Hidden Guards were limited to the Shaw family alone, they would have preferred to sit on the mountaintop and watch the tigers tear each other apart, rather than intervening directly and stabbing parties from behind. She asked him, "What does the Young Master intend to do now?"Ryan replied coldly, "I will do absolutely nothing. Let them destroy each other as they please, and I will continue to enjoy my life."With the end of his words, Ryan's palm shook with a slight internal movement, and the small paper instantly turned into fine powder and delicate crumbs swept away by the rainy wind outside the office. He looked out at the rainy night and said mockingly, "Do these Hidden Guards think they possess the qualifications to issue orders to me and direct my movements?"Hazel opened her mouth to speak but failed to find the right words to respond, swallowing the words she intended to use to convince him to intervene. Ryan

A short while later, Caelum returned to the Residential Villa.He fetched a basin of hot water, quickly washed the grime and rain from his skin inside his inner chamber, and changed into a fresh, clean robe. Only then did he finally feel refreshed.This violent rainstorm was far more ferocious than the downpours experienced at the beginning of summer. If he hadn't possessed advanced martial arts cultivation to protect his body, walking through such a stormy night for nearly an hour would have undoubtedly left him with a severe cheat chill.After taking a brief moment to rest and catch his breath, Caelum walked into The Study. He lit two candle stands inside the room, used their flames to ignite the oil lamp resting upon the desk, and then quietly seated himself before it.He poured a splash of water onto the inkstone and began grinding the ink stick.At this moment, the deep night pressed heavily against the windows while a warm, dim yellow glow filled the quiet room. Though the relent

Previously, when the various underlying threads of conflict had been completely obscured, Caelum had been entirely content to bide his time, dedicating his days to cultivation, playing chess, and studying the medical arts. But now that he had successfully mapped out the general crisis enveloping the family, he understood that the sooner these problems were thoroughly uprooted, the better."It is a pity my wife, Celeste, isn't present in the mansion. Otherwise, how would these insignificant stray dogs and thieving cats ever dare to crawl out from the dark?"As Caelum pondered these matters, he quietly accompanied Leo and Butterfly as they finished up their breakfast. Then, looking directly into the twin expressions of pure disappointment pulling at their faces, he calmly informed them that he had to go out to attend to a few pressing matters but would return shortly.Caelum spread his hands with a helpless smile. "After all, I am currently the official manager of the medicine hall. If