2026-04-13 02:25:41
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145
The night air was heavy with an oppressive dampness, and the narrow, winding alleys behind the 'Hotel of the Immortals' seemed to swallow the moonlight. While listening to the conversation drifting from the distance, Caelum knitted his brows slightly, his mind racing with possibilities. Despite the tension coiling in his gut, his feet did not stop following. He moved with a practiced, feline grace, his steps making no sound against the uneven cobblestones. As he walked, he shed his heavy outer robe, tucking it securely into his clothes to reduce his silhouette."There are only a few houses behind the 'Hotel of the Immortals'," Caelum mused internally, his pulse steady. "If there was anyone nearby that night, they would certainly have heard the sounds, or seen those people, and... they would have seen me."If the witnesses were merely gullible citizens, there would be no cause for alarm. The true danger lay elsewhere. The greatest fear was that they might be plants—agents with maliciou
144
Following the conclusion of Neil’s report regarding the initial phases of their counter-conspiracy, Caelum received the news with a strange, unnerving stillness. He did not celebrate, nor did he exhibit the relief of a man who had narrowly escaped catastrophe. Instead, he waved a hand with a dismissive, performative nonchalance, as if he were discussing the fluctuations of grain prices rather than the preservation of his own life. "Neil," he murmured, his voice laced with a subtle, mocking fatigue, "do not burden me with such grand titles. We are not architects of destiny; we are mere middlemen in a game far larger than our modest ambitions. The transactions between the Herb Pharmacy and the Xiao estate are matters for you and the Lady of the house. I am merely a glorified errand boy, ensuring that the ledger remains balanced, nothing more."In the dimly lit common area below, Silas, known across the lower levels of the criminal underworld as the 'Blade Maniac,' lay motionless. His bo
143
The morning after the long-awaited cessation of the rain arrived with a brilliance that made the world feel anew. As the sun climbed higher, the eastern sky was painted with a fleeting, kaleidoscopic array of clouds that soon dissolved into a pristine, cloudless azure. It was a day for new beginnings, yet within the walls of the Xiao estate, the atmosphere remained as thick as the morning mist.Butterfly and Leo were already in the thick of their daily duties. Beatrice, the mountain-born girl, moved with a grace that belied the rugged terrain she once called home. Her golden anklets tinkled with every step, a sound that Butterfly gently shushed, casting a protective glance toward the upper floors where Caelum was still lost in a deep, necessary slumber. Caelum had been stretched thin by his recent responsibilities at the academy, and sleep was a luxury he had earned.Beatrice sat at the table, her breakfast a testament to her heritage—spiced and fie
142
Under the shroud of heavy, leaden clouds, the city of Silverstream settled into an uncharacteristically early night. Long before the designated hour had passed, darkness had already swallowed the horizon. On either side of Canning Street, the storefronts began to glow with the warm, pale light of paper lanterns. Some were simple, blank, and pristine, while others bore the elegant script of "Herbs," "Books," or "Textiles." Regardless of their markings, they served their purpose, casting flickering beams of light to guide the weary traveler through the damp gloom.Caelum walked slowly along the edge of the blue-stone path, his movements deliberate. He held an oil-paper umbrella, tilting it slightly to ensure he did not obstruct the passage of the occasional carriage rumbling toward the city gates. The soft, incessant drizzle drummed against the taut oil-paper, a rhythmic patter that blended into the symphony of the city—the screech of wheels against stone, the distant chatter of merchant
141
As Caelum walked away, Ge Laosan watched him disappear into the ornate entrance of The Spring Pavilion. He felt a fleeting sense of relief—a weight lifted from his shoulders—but the peace was short-lived. In its place, a seed of doubt began to sprout, growing rapidly in the fertile soil of his suspicious mind. The subtle, almost imperceptible hints Caelum had dropped earlier clearly suggested a desire to return to the estate with them. Why, then, had he suddenly shifted gears and chosen to stay? While this unexpected independence perfectly aligned with what he and Tony secretly desired, Ge Laosan couldn’t shake the nagging sensation that Caelum had been acting entirely out of character of late. There was an enigma surrounding the young man, a calculated mystery. Coupled with the distinct, sharp, and metallic scent of dried blood he had caught on Caelum’s robes the night before last—a smell that had lingered in the air like a warning—his unease deepened into a cold knot in his stomach.
140
After Lee departed, Caelum found himself "compelled" to compose two additional calligraphy sets under the watchful, expectant gaze of Master Julian. One was in the Classical Serif style, the other in a Fluid Script. Every stroke seemed to radiate a faint, ethereal glow, illuminating the otherwise dim and clouded study room. It was a spectacle that left Master Julian utterly speechless with delight; he couldn't stop praising the work, his face a map of pure, unadulterated joy.However, his appreciation was short-lived. No sooner had he finished admiring the work than he hurriedly rolled up the scrolls, guarding them like a dragon protecting its hoard. He tucked them into a box, then deliberately hid it at the very bottom of his desk, tucked away in the shadows. When he caught Caelum’s perplexed look, Master Julian leaned in and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, "Do not mistake my actions, Caelum. The other masters in this acade
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