At dusk, a single candle cast a hazy glow across the room.
Meng Zhao sat cross-legged on the bed, his lean, bare upper body exposed as he applied a snow-white ointment to his arm. Cool streams of air rose from the salve, swiftly nourishing his long-exhausted, depleted body.
His skin was fair and smooth, his muscles sleekly defined and brimming with explosive power.
His face was expressionless, his gaze somewhat rigid and vacant. Clearly, his mind had wandered elsewhere.
After a burst of hurried footsteps outside came a slightly grating knock on the door, pulling Meng Zhao's thoughts back to reality. He said softly,
"Come in."
At this hour, there was no one besides Lü Yue who would dare disturb his rest.
These past few days, Lü Yue had often found chances to urge him to take better care of himself, reminding him that cultivation, too, required a balance between exertion and rest.
Meng Zhao had listened but continued to do as he pleased. He had assumed Lü Yue had come again tonight to lecture him.
Yet to Meng Zhao's surprise, Lü Yue entered with rare anger written across his round face. His aura was extremely unstable.
A bone-piercing, icy killing intent seeped faintly from him. His emotions had clearly reached an extreme.
Meng Zhao set down the ointment in his hand and frowned. Lü Yue's expression gave him a bad premonition.
Sure enough, Lü Yue brought him news that was far from good.
"Young Master, word has come from my adoptive father. Bai Yang has been found.
"But that man has now attached himself to a powerful figure, who is protecting him with all his might. My adoptive father tried negotiating several times, but nothing came of it.
"Three days ago, my adoptive father intended to secretly seize Bai