Sole-Self Heart, Li Xian Turns the Tables, Madam Miscalculates, Loses Her Composure

Dugu Boyuan had made his name through the "Sole-Self Heart Technique." This art was deeply tied to "intent"; if one's intent were damaged, one's fate would likewise wither away. He had three great treasures in his life. The first: the Imperial Jade Seal of the You Kingdom. The second: the Sole-Self Heart Technique. The third: the totem of the You Kingdom.

Pushing open the stone door of the secret chamber, they found darkness within. Li Xian lit his firestarter and ignited every oil lamp in the room. Candlelight spilled forth, and the chamber instantly became bright.

All three treasures were here. Wen Caishang said, "Li Lang, if I have guessed correctly, this room is the 'Hidden Hall.' The You Kingdom had a strange system: one dynasty had two sovereigns. One was the 'Bright Lord,' while the other was the 'Hidden Lord.' The Bright Lord stood before the world and met all under heaven. Though wealthy and honored, he held no real power. The Hidden Lord concealed himself in secret chambers, wielding great authority while remaining far from sight. Dugu Boyuan's tomb hoard must have followed this arrangement."

"Everything he collected in his life should be inside the Hidden Hall! Others neither knew Dugu Boyuan's origins nor understood the strange system of the You Kingdom. They passed by priceless treasures without realizing it. They lacked both the fortune and the luck."

Li Xian smiled. "To have such a wife is truly my greatest blessing." Wen Caishang was poised and ethereal, dignified and composed, gentle and proper. She was like both his wife and his teacher, always surpassing him in so many ways. When they relied on and loved each other, they were like an immortal couple, with endless joy between them. But when her temper flared, she was terribly difficult to