First Meeting with Langya Xing

The next morning, Mu Bai was woken by a clamor.

He sat up in bed, feeling that after a night's rest and the Carefree Prince's Estate's cost-no-object elixirs, his injuries had improved significantly. At least his chest didn't hurt as much as it had yesterday.

Urgent footsteps and hushed conversations drifted in from outside the window. Mu Bai frowned.

The Carefree Prince's Estate had always been strictly governed; the servants would never dare to be so noisy unless something major had happened.

"Ling Meng?" he called softly.

The door was immediately pushed open, and Ling Meng, the maid who had been guarding the door, hurried in.

She wore a light cyan maid's uniform, her hair simply tied up, a hint of exhaustion on her face. She had clearly not slept all night.

"Young Master, you're awake," Ling Meng quickly stepped forward to help Mu Bai. "Are you feeling any better?"

Mu Bai nodded and stood up with her support.

A dull ache pulsed in his chest, but it was far better than the heart-wrenching pain he'd felt yesterday.

"What's going on outside? So noisy this early in the morning."

Ling Meng skillfully helped Mu Bai change clothes while whispering, "I heard a Minister of War is coming to the Capital City today, and the estate is preparing."

Mu Bai's fingers paused. The conversation he'd had with his father, the Carefree Prince Mu Rongyi, yesterday immediately flashed through his mind.

Liu Yi, the Minister of War and a core figure of the Crown Prince's faction, visiting the Carefree Prince's Estate so suddenly was no coincidence.

"When did the preparations begin?" Mu Bai asked in a deep voice.

"We received the news before dawn this morning. His Highness immediately ordered the entire estate to prepare."

Ling Meng tied Mu Bai's sash and fetched a deep blue outer robe, draping it over him. "His Highness said to see him in the study as soon as you woke up."

Mu Bai nodded and quickly tidied his attire.

The young man in the mirror looked slightly pale, but his eyes had regained their usual sharpness.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort in his chest, and strode towards his father's study.

Along the way, Mu Bai saw servants rushing back and forth. Some were cleaning the courtyards, others were preparing a banquet. The entire estate was enveloped in a tense and busy atmosphere.

Outside the study door, the estate's steward, Old Zhou, paced anxiously. Seeing Mu Bai, he immediately stepped forward. "Young Master, His Highness has been waiting for you for a long time."

Mu Bai nodded and pushed the door open.

Inside the study, Mu Rongyi stood with his back to the door, by the window. Sunlight cast dappled shadows on him through the window lattice.

Hearing the door open, he turned around. His face held the familiar calm expression Mu Bai knew, but his eyes flickered with a guarded light.

"Father," Mu Bai bowed.

Mu Rongyi appraised his son from head to toe. "How is your injury?"

"It's no longer a major concern," Mu Bai replied, then got straight to the point. "When will Liu Yi arrive?"

Mu Rongyi gestured for Mu Bai to sit down, then walked to the desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface. "They have already reached Xiaoyao City. They will likely arrive at the estate in less than an hour."

He then looked at Mu Bai and said gravely, "I have ordered the highest level of reception. We must put on a proper show."

Mu Bai nodded in understanding.

The relationship between the Carefree Prince's Estate and the imperial court had long been extremely delicate. They appeared obedient on the surface, but were wary of each other.

Liu Yi's sudden visit this time undoubtedly added more tension to this already taut string.

An hour later.

Outside the main entrance of the Carefree Prince's Estate, Mu Rongyi led the estate's members in a waiting formation.

Mu Bai stood beside his father, his gaze fixed on the dusty official road in the distance.

Soon, a group of people appeared in their sight.

Leading them was the Minister of War, Liu Yi, dressed in a scarlet official robe, his face solemn.

However, Mu Bai's attention was immediately drawn to a slender figure behind him—a young man, about twenty years old, dressed in snow-white robes, with a handsome face that was almost ethereally beautiful.

A faint smile played on his lips, but his eyes were as cold as ten thousand years of ice.

What shocked Mu Bai even more was the aura emanating from that person—the aura of a Martial Dao expert!

The convoy stopped before the estate's gate.

Liu Yi dismounted and cupped his hands in greeting. "Your Highness the Carefree Prince, forgive my intrusion."

Mu Rongyi stepped forward and returned the gesture. "Lord Liu, you have traveled a long way. We are honored by your presence."

His gaze, however, involuntarily flickered towards the young man in white.

Liu Yi noticed Mu Rongyi's gaze, and a hint of unnaturalness flashed across his face. "This is my... distant relative, surnamed Liu, given name Xing. He is accompanying me on my travels to broaden his horizons."

Mu Bai keenly noticed that when Liu Yi said "distant relative," his eyes kept darting towards Liu Xing, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead.

The young man, Liu Xing, seemed not to hear the introduction. He merely swept his indifferent gaze over the estate's people, finally settling on Mu Bai.

The moment their eyes met, Mu Bai felt an icy chill run down his spine.

This person is definitely not simple!

"You must be the Young Master Mu Bai?" Liu Yi smiled, breaking the silence. "As expected, a hero emerges from youth."

Mu Rongyi said humbly, "Minister Liu overpraises me."

Liu Yi continued meaningfully, "An eighteen-year-old Grandmaster of Martial Arts, who also defeated Master Dehua. If this isn't a hero, then Great Yan has no heroes left."

Mu Bai's heart tightened.

It had only been two days since he defeated Master Dehua, and he hadn't expected that not only the royal family but even Liu Yi already knew.

He showed no outward reaction, merely standing with a smile, his peripheral vision constantly locked onto that Liu Xing.

Liu Xing seemed to sense Mu Bai's gaze and suddenly spoke, "Young Master Mu Bai, this is my first time in Xiaoyao City as well. Would you mind showing me around?"

His voice was faint, carrying a sense of indifferent condescension.

Mu Rongyi's expression changed—that tone wasn't how one spoke to a Young Master of an estate!

It was clearly the tone of a superior ordering a subordinate!

Just as he was about to speak, Mu Bai raised a hand to stop him.

"I was just thinking the same thing, Brother. Please, lead the way." Mu Bai wore a polite smile, but his mind was on high alert.

The two left the Prince's Estate as if no one else was there.

Mu Bai noticed that as they turned to leave, Liu Yi let out a sigh of relief, as if he had completed an important task.

Outside the estate, the two walked through the bustling market, one after the other.

Liu Xing walked ahead, his white robes fluttering, drawing the attention of passersby.

Mu Bai followed behind, secretly regulating his breathing, preparing for any potential emergencies.

They traveled in silence, passing through the city gates and arriving at a secluded pavilion by a mountain outside the city.

The pavilion was built on the edge of a cliff, with rolling mountains and swirling clouds in the distance.

Liu Xing stood by the pavilion, gazing at the scenery, and suddenly said, "A beautiful view. So, this is the place you've chosen to die?"

As he spoke, a terrifying Martial Dao aura spread out from him.

Mu Bai gave a wry smile.

His senses hadn't been wrong; this Liu Xing was indeed a Grandmaster of Martial Arts, and his cultivation was unfathomable.

With his current injuries, he was no match for the opponent.

"May I ask your name?" Mu Bai asked, feigning calmness.

Liu Xing withdrew his gaze, his indifferent eyes looking directly at Mu Bai, a mocking curve on his lips. "You killed two of my household servants, and you still don't know who I am?"

Mu Bai's pupils contracted: "Young Master Xing?"

The man nodded slightly: "I am Langya Xing."

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

Mu Bai finally understood why Liu Yi had been so respectful to this young man—the Langya Aristocratic Family, that was a reclusive family that even the royal family had to be wary of!

"So those two black-clothed men who attacked me were Young Master Xing's household servants." Mu Bai forced himself to remain calm. "I just don't understand why someone of Young Master Xing's status would cooperate with that Prince Yan?"

Langya Xing chuckled, his voice indifferent. "Prince Yan has something that belongs to the Langya Family, and I wanted to retrieve it. Unfortunately... the mission failed."