"Heh heh..."
Yu Huafeng had seen right through Li Yun's little scheme, leaving him rather sheepish.
"No wonder they say Steward Yu has such keen eyes. I can't hide a thing from you."
"To tell the truth, besides sincerely wanting to share a drink with you, I also came to ask about cultivating in Chaos Heaven Cave..."
Yu Huafeng couldn't help laughing.
"I figured Chaos Heaven Cave was what brought you here."
"What's wrong? Did you run into trouble comprehending the Saint Venerable's Saint Art during your two months in seclusion? Hoping to find some inspiration in Chaos Heaven Cave?"
"I'd advise you to set that idea aside for now."
"Chaos Heaven Cave can't be opened whenever we please. You have to enter through the Teleportation Array in Man Yue Palace, and only the Ninth Princess holds the Secret Key that activates it. Even I can't start the array."
"But the Ninth Princess is in seclusion right now. Even by the most optimistic estimate, she won't emerge for at least another three months... Hm?"
Yu Huafeng was still speaking with a smile when he abruptly raised his head and looked behind Li Yun.
Li Yun turned to look as well.
A black-armored guard rushed into the garden, his steps swift as the wind and his expression grave. Something urgent had clearly happened. He did not even stop to salute before reporting,
"Steward Yu, something's happened!"
"One of our men was making his usual patrol of the city when he found this in an empty house..."
The guard produced an ancient scripture, black from cover to cover, marked with strange patterns and steeped in a chilling Evil Aura. He handed it to Yu Huafeng.
The moment the scripture appeared, its cold, dark, corrosive power scattered the courtyard's gentle breeze and spiritual