Inside the Nalan Family's hall in the Imperial Capital, its beams carved and painted, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed water could be wrung from it.
A few shafts of sunlight filtered through the exquisite carved window lattice, yet they could not dispel the gloom filling the room.
Nalan Su's brows knotted into three deep furrows. Anxiety covered his face as he paced back and forth, his hurried footsteps echoing through the cavernous hall and betraying his unease.
Every step seemed to land on a taut heartstring, producing a heavy, muffled note.
Nalan Yanran sat to one side, utterly agitated.
She angrily tossed her signature long ponytail, which traced an arc through the air, mirroring the foul mood she could neither vent nor soothe.
"Yanran, this is Master Gu He we're talking about. How exactly did you offend him?" Nalan Su stopped pacing and fixed his blazing gaze on Nalan Yanran, his eyes full of confusion and anxiety.
He simply could not understand what his daughter had done to fall afoul of an alchemist so highly respected in the Jia Ma Empire.
"I've told you so many times! It has nothing to do with me! That Liu Ling is acting completely out of nowhere!" At those words, Nalan Yanran went off like a lit firecracker, springing to her feet and shouting at the top of her voice.
Her little face flushed crimson with anger, and hurt mingled with fury in her beautiful eyes, like two little volcanoes ablaze.
"If you hadn't done something out of line, why would Liu Ling, Master Gu He's disciple, go after you like this?!" Nalan Su raised his voice as well, his tone accusatory.
He felt certain Nalan Yanran must have mishandled something to stir up such a huge mess.
After all, Liu Ling