Locking Sun

The heavy snowfall had just let up. Great swaths of rosy clouds drifted across the western sky, slanting down over the snow-covered summit of Futuo Mountain.

Xu Yi stood on Green Flat—or perhaps it was no longer right to call it that. The once-lush terrace had been dug nearly three feet deep, exposing bare apricot-yellow earth here and there beyond the snow.

"Mr. Xue, everything inside has been arranged. There's wine, meat, and fruit—everything you could need. If there's anything else, just say the word."

Cao Er emerged from the cave dwelling. Before long, a line of pretty maids in green followed him out.

Before Xu Yi could answer, a portly old man dressed in red also stepped out of the cave, followed by several burly men in fitted clothes. From a distance, they bowed to Xu Yi. "Sir, everything has been inspected. Anything missing has been replaced, and both refining rooms have been completely renovated. You can use them without worry. If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to ask. My master gave me strict orders, and I'm just waiting for you to put me to work."

The portly old man was the steward of Marquis Anqing's household, sent to serve Xu Yi.

The place where Xu Yi now stood was the very cave dwelling he had once occupied on Futuo Mountain.

After resting at the Third Prince's Mansion for two days, Xu Yi had firmly refused the Third Prince's kind offer to stay when Marquis Anqing came to visit again. He insisted on returning to Futuo Mountain.

Because of the Battle of the Imperial Arena, he had become a demon who had brought ruin upon his nation, and the "treatment" he received was naturally extraordinary.

Not only had everyone he knew been implicated and captured, but