As June arrived, the lands of Silverstream were embraced by relentless rain. For ten days, the downpour had not ceased. While it washed away the sweltering heat of the early summer, it caused the waters of the Red River, north of the provincial capital, to rise by a full foot, reaching the "Peace" line on the water-level monument. Although it had not yet crossed the danger zone of previous floods, the administration of Silverstream was on high alert. The Right Minister, Arthur, personally led a team to inspect the embankments and assess the water levels. Beyond ordering a day-and-night watch, he issued strict commands to the local magistrate's office to prepare resources, deploy personnel, and implement preventive measures. Soon, the streets were filled with officials clad in straw raincoats, hurrying through every alleyway to notify residents in low-lying areas to clear the drainage channels in front of their homes.Even the Medicine Hall saw officials at its door. However, unli

At a post station located fifty miles north of the Silverstream provincial capital, the thick, heavy clouds that had dominated the sky for days finally began to part by the hour of the Rat. The moon, bright and silver, cast a brilliant glow over the landscape of Silverstream, which had been thoroughly washed by the relentless rains. In the stillness of the night, the world seemed to glisten, and for those who had trained in the internal arts of martial power, the darkness was no hindrance to their vision.Beatrice was dressed in her signature flowing green robes, her long dark hair tied neatly behind her head to stay out of her way. She sat perched high on a sturdy branch of a tree overlooking the post station, her arms cradling her long sword, Pine Moon. From her high vantage point, she could oversee the entire layout of the station below. Although they were only two miles away from the Red River and a nearby garrison of the provincial guards, Beatrice remained deeply vigilant. Outsi

 Evangeline proved to be far more resilient than Caelum had initially anticipated. In the agonizing moments following the revelation that the medicinal herbs had been stolen, she did not succumb to a fit of hysteria or a physical collapse. Instead, after a brief, paralyzing lapse of shock where the world seemed to stand still, she regained her composure through a sheer, agonizing effort of will. She stepped forward, her movements deliberate, and took Beatrice’s cold, blood-stained hands into her own. With a silent strength that surprised even the watching servants, she led the broken warrior into the inner chambers, away from the prying eyes and rising whispers of the estate workers, to begin a relentless interrogation of the night’s tragedy.Caelum remained in the background, a silent observer shrouded in the shadows of the villa’s corner. He listened intently to every jagged breath and every fractured sentence that escaped Beatrice’s lip

The province of Silverstream appeared to settle into a state of deceptive tranquility over the following days, a stillness that felt more like a held breath than true peace. To an outside observer, the bustling markets and crowded streets suggested that life was continuing as usual, yet beneath this mask of normalcy, a dark undercurrent of tension was beginning to stir. The news regarding the theft of the Shau family’s massive medicinal shipment had spread like wildfire, carried by the frantic whispers of travelers and merchants who had witnessed the grim aftermath at the mountain inn. Public opinion was sharply divided into distinct camps, fueling a climate of uncertainty and fear. The members of the martial arts community were convinced that the stolen crates held legendary artifacts or ancient spiritual herbs, far beyond the monetary value of common medicine. Some went as far as to claim that a mythical ginseng root, intended to save the ailing Old Marquis of the Shau family, had b

In truth, Caelum had no desire to exert himself more than necessary, let alone plunge into the murky waters of political and business intrigue. His natural inclination leaned toward a life of quiet observation, a peaceful existence where the world’s troubles remained at a comfortable distance. However, the current precarious state of the Shau family left him with little choice but to begin laying the groundwork for a more stable future. He needed to be prepared, not just for the family's sake, but for his own survival in a city that was becoming increasingly hostile.The establishment of the "Hundred Herb Hall" was the first pillar of his strategy, a hidden reserve intended to safeguard their interests. The second pillar was himself—his own skills and influence, which he needed to cultivate with more urgency than he cared to admit."When did a son-in-law ever have to rely on his own hard work like this?" Caelum thought to himself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "At t