A young woman in a goose-yellow gown, sheltered beneath a turquoise oil-paper umbrella, stood before a dilapidated mountain god shrine. The vibrant hue of her dress was startlingly bright against the oppressive gray sky. The shrine, long abandoned, stood on the outskirts of the city. Inside, the statue of the mountain god had succumbed to rot and decay, leaving only dust and cobwebs in the shadowy interior. It wasn't a place for a young woman like her, yet she stood there, silent and patient, having waited for five long hours.

Not far from the shrine, a carriage rested on a grassy slope. It was an unremarkable vehicle: black lacquer, bamboo blinds, and turquoise wheels. But a discerning eye, perhaps that of someone from the martial world, might recognize the subtle insignia carved into its side panels and realize with a jolt that this was a carriage belonging to the prestigious Pei Clan of Heavenly Capital.

The location, however, was remote, unlikely to attract passersby. And should any unfortunate—or fortunate—soul happen to wander within thirty miles of the shrine, they would be politely but firmly redirected by the Pei Clan's discreet guards.

Thus, within this thirty-mile radius, aside from the birds in the sky and the insects in the grass, the only living beings were the young woman before the shrine and the man within the carriage.

They waited, from sunrise to near sunset, for a single person.

Would he come? Knowing this place was heavily guarded, that stepping within its perimeter would be a trap from which there was no escape.

"He will," Pei Yan had said, his gentle voice filled with unwavering certainty. "He will definitely come."

As the drizzle intensified, a figure appeared on the horizon, his form tall and imposing, moving with an almost ethereal grace. He seemed to glide across the landscape, traversing the distance between himself and the young woman, Yao Ji, in the blink of an eye.

This was the first time Yao Ji had witnessed Ye Chonglou's remarkable lightness of foot. The effortless display spoke volumes about his profound martial arts skill. She stood before him, utterly exposed. He could end her life with a flick of his wrist.

Yet, strangely, in his presence, her anxiety vanished. With newfound composure, she presented a small chest. "The Wen Du Jing is here, Leader Ye. Please give me the antidote."

Ye Chonglou's gaze was cold. "Where is Pei Yan?"

Though directed at Yao Ji, the question was intended for the occupant of the carriage.

Yao Ji had vehemently opposed Pei Yan accompanying her to this meeting, but he had refused to yield. A voice, smooth as polished jade, drifted from within the carriage. "I apologize for my unconventional greeting, Leader Ye. I am unable to move freely."

Ye Chonglou scoffed. "You anticipated my actions, didn't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have sent a message requesting this meeting."

Yao Ji's eyes widened in surprise. Only then did she realize that Ye Chonglou had come at Pei Yan's behest.

"Since you know," Ye Chonglou continued, his voice laced with ice, "you should also understand that I will never give you the antidote." The unspoken words hung heavy in the air, his cold gaze conveying his unwavering resolve. He would pay any price to see Pei Yan dead.

Pei Yan sighed. "You hate me. I don't understand why, but I accept it. However, you've gone to such lengths… now that the Wen Du Jing is before you, you don't want it?"

Ye Chonglou didn't even glance at the chest in Yao Ji's hands. "I know the contents of the Wen Du Jing better than anyone. I only wanted it to ensure it wouldn't be attributed to someone else. If you die, I likely won't survive. Such matters become irrelevant."

Yao Ji finally understood Pei Yan's certainty. Ye Chonglou had come because he had accepted his own death. If he didn't come and Pei Yan succumbed to the poison, the Heavenly Capital would hunt him to the ends of the earth. He had come to…

"I want to watch you die," Ye Chonglou stated, his voice as cold as ever, yet beneath the icy surface, a torrent of hatred raged, chilling all who heard it. "Pei Yan," he said, a sudden, chilling laughter erupting from his lips, "my… brother."