A frog at the bottom of a well

Capital City, the Zhao Clan.

Zhao Ming was practicing his lance techniques in the training room.

A silver lance moved like a living thing in his hands, faint thunder rumbling as its tip flicked.

This was his bloodline technique, the Battle Lance Art.

Combined with his thunder body, each thrust brought lightning in its wake, its power unmatched.

Suddenly, the phone lying nearby rang.

He withdrew his lance and picked up the phone.

"Speak."

"Young master, the approach failed," Zhao Cheng's voice came through the phone. "Lin Jin refused to join the Zhao Clan or become your follower."

Zhao Ming raised his brows slightly but did not get angry.

"As expected," he said indifferently. "Bloodline inheritors inevitably have a little pride. Having never seen truly powerful people or the vast world, they always think their little bit of talent is something extraordinary. Just a frog at the bottom of a well."

Zhao Cheng fell silent for a second, then said, "Young master, there's something else."

"Speak."

"As you instructed, I warned him to keep his distance from Miss Su." Zhao Cheng paused. "But his response was very forceful. He said he was free to associate with whoever he wanted, and Miss Su was free to be friends with whoever she wanted. He also said..."

"What else did he say?"

"He said that if you had a problem with it, you should go see him yourself. Sending nobodies to deliver messages would only make him think... even a direct descendant of the Zhao Clan was nothing special."

There were a few seconds of silence on the other end.

Then Zhao Ming laughed.

His laughter was quiet, but carried a hint of coldness.

"Interesting." He put away his lance and walked to the window. "An unaffiliated bloodline inheritor actually dares to say something like that. It seems he truly has no idea how many people in this world he can't afford to offend."

He turned toward the black-clad men kneeling off to the side.

"Have people keep watching him."

The black-clad leader bowed his head. "Yes."

"If he continues associating closely with Qianxue..." A glint of lightning flashed in Zhao Ming's eyes. "Then give him a little warning. Let him know that he isn't qualified to approach just anyone."

The black-clad leader accepted the order and withdrew.

Zhao Ming picked up his lance again and pointed its tip out the window. A bolt of lightning coiled up its shaft.

"A frog at the bottom of a well, with no idea of his own limits."

"Very well. There will be a chance to show you what a true bloodline inheritor is."

Meanwhile, at the Jiangcheng Paranormal Bureau.

Su Qianxue sat in her office, reading a report in her hands, her brows tightly furrowed.

The report stated that supernatural activity around Jiangcheng had increased over the past few days, but this was not a good thing. Past experience suggested that frequent supernatural activity often meant they were preparing for a larger operation.

What unsettled her even more was that all traces of Dark Moon's activities had suddenly vanished.

Those people seemed to be waiting for something.

She rubbed the space between her brows and suddenly thought of Lin Jin.

What was that man doing now?

She hesitated, then picked up her phone and sent him a message.

[Be careful lately. Dark Moon may be planning something big.]

Soon after sending the message, she received a reply.

[Okay.]

Just one word.

Su Qianxue stared at the reply on her phone and couldn't help smiling.

He really did treat every word like gold.

Just then, someone knocked on her office door.

"Come in."

Chen Mo walked in with a somewhat odd expression. "Team leader, someone outside is here to see you."

"Who?"

"He says his name is Zhao Cheng, from the Zhao Clan." Chen Mo paused. "He also says he's here to deliver something on Young Master Zhao Ming's behalf."

Su Qianxue's expression changed.

Zhao Cheng.

Someone from the Zhao Clan.

Sent by Zhao Ming.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her irritation, and told Chen Mo, "Have him wait in the reception room. I'll be right there."

Chen Mo hesitated. "Team leader, should I call a few people over?"

Su Qianxue shook her head. "No need. He's just a retainer of the Zhao Clan. What could he possibly do to me in the Paranormal Bureau?"

Chen Mo nodded, turned, and left.

Su Qianxue sat in her chair, staring silently at her desk for a few seconds.

Zhao Ming had sent someone to deliver something?

What was it?

She had a vague sense of foreboding, but she still stood, straightened her clothes, and headed toward the reception room.

Inside the reception room, Zhao Cheng was sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea in his hands, looking relaxed.

When he saw Su Qianxue enter, he set down his teacup, stood, and bowed slightly in greeting.

"Miss Su, it's been a long time."

Su Qianxue sat down across from him, her face expressionless.

"Retainer Zhao, get straight to the point."

Zhao Cheng smiled, unbothered by her coldness. He took an exquisite sandalwood box from inside his clothes, set it on the coffee table, and pushed it toward Su Qianxue.

"The young master asked me to deliver this to you, Miss Su."

Su Qianxue looked at the box without reaching for it.

"What is it?"

"The young master said this was something you wanted when he first met you all those years ago." Zhao Cheng opened the box. A jade hairpin lay quietly inside, green throughout and finely carved, clearly worth a great deal. "The young master went to considerable trouble to find one of the same design. He hopes you'll accept it."

As Su Qianxue looked at the jade hairpin, her gaze wavered slightly.

She did remember this.

It had been three years ago, when the two families first brought up a marriage alliance. Her parents had taken her to a banquet at the Zhao Clan.

At the banquet, she had happened to notice a jade hairpin worn by one of the Zhao Clan's women and casually remarked, "That's quite pretty."

She hadn't expected Zhao Ming to remember something like that.

Much less that he would send someone specifically to deliver it.

But she quickly suppressed the stir in her heart, raised her head, and looked at Zhao Cheng.

"Please thank Young Master Zhao for his kindness, but I can't accept this hairpin."

The smile on Zhao Cheng's face stiffened slightly.

"Miss Su, this is a heartfelt gesture from the young master..."

"I know," Su Qianxue interrupted. "But that's precisely why I can't accept it. Young Master Zhao and I aren't close enough to exchange gifts."

Zhao Cheng fell silent for a second, then dropped his smile, his tone turning serious.

"Miss Su, there are some things I'm not sure I should say."

"Then don't."

Zhao Cheng: "..."

He was momentarily at a loss for words, but quickly recovered and continued, "Miss Su, your engagement to the young master was decided jointly by both families. This isn't something you can change simply by being willful."

"When you came running to Jiangcheng, the young master said nothing and let you have your way. You wanted to gain experience, and he supported that too. But you should understand that there are some things you'll have to face sooner or later."

Su Qianxue said nothing, but her fingers tightened slightly.

Zhao Cheng stood and walked to the window, his back to her.

"The young master asked me to tell you that he is very satisfied with this marriage arrangement. He will also respect your wishes and give you enough time. However..." He paused, turned, and looked directly at Su Qianxue.

"The young master also hopes you understand your position. With certain matters and certain people, you must keep your distance when you should."