I alone am the Honoured One!

Zhao Tian leaned back slightly, his eyes sharpening as he looked at Rui Lian's expression.

"How long do we have?"

Rui Lian hesitated "The preparations are still ongoing. They said… the ceremony will begin during the next full moons. Twelve days from now."

Yan Zijin clenched her jaw "So we have time."

Zhao Tian glanced at her, then at Rui Lian. "Where is this soul being kept? The urn."

Rui Lian's eyes shifted nervously. "In the ancestral sanctum. Deep underground, guarded day and night. Only the High Priestess and a few elders have access."

Zhao Tian's gaze grew distant "And this urn… has it ever reacted before? Or only after you came of age?"

"...They said the Matriarch stirred the moment I performed my first bloodline awakening ritual,"

Rui Lian murmured, guilt flashing in her eyes. "I… I didn't know what it meant at the time. Everyone just kept congratulating me."

Yan Zijin's expression darkened "They were preparing you from the beginning."

Closing his eyes for a moment, Zhao Tian fell into a deep thought 'Hmm, should I just barge in and ask them?'

Yan Zijin patted Rui Lian's head "Don't worry, Lian'er. Now that we are here, no one can harm you."

As she spoke, she looked at Zhao Tian and he gave a faint nod.

He stood up and left the room while Yan Zijin stayed in to comfort her.

---

The courtyard was quiet, touched by the faint rustling of leaves stirred by a lazy breeze.

Zhao Tian stepped out beneath the covered walkway and leaned against one of the stone pillars, crossing his arms and tilting his head back slightly to let the wind brush across his sharp features.

His gaze swept over the outer court before settling on a young maid sweeping the area not far from him.

She was petite, with her hair tied in a simple braid, dressed in the pale-green servant robes of the Rui Clan.

When she looked up and caught sight of Zhao Tian, she blinked in surprise looking at his handsome face.

A flush rose to her cheeks, and she quickly dipped her head, sweeping more earnestly trying to hide her embarrassment.

Zhao Tian watched her a moment longer.

Then, with a faint, almost lazy motion, he raised his hand and beckoned her to come over.

The maid froze in confusion.

"Eh?"

She looked left and right as though unsure who he meant.

But when Zhao Tian's eyes remained fixed on her and his gesture repeated, she approached timidly with her broom still in hand.

"Uh… L-Lord, do you need something?" she asked, trying to keep her tone formal, though her voice wavered just slightly.

She bowed her head with modest respect, unsure whether to speak or flee.

Zhao Tian showed a charming smile "No, nothing urgent. I just have a few questions about the Rui Clan. Thought I'd ask someone who knows the place."

The maid blinked in surprise, then straightened proudly, placing a hand on her chest. "Of course, my Lord. I've served here since I was a child. Ask anything... anything about the clan, and I can answer."

Zhao Tian gave a slow nod, still leaning lightly on the pillar, as if making idle conversation.

"The Clan Head… what's his name again? Rui…" he trailed off as though forgetting.

"Rui Guzhi," the maid supplied quickly.

Zhao Tian nodded as if the name only vaguely mattered.

"And he's Lian's uncle, correct?" His voice remained casual, almost lazy... but his eyes never left the girl's.

"Yes, my Lord. Lady Lian's father's elder brother."

Zhao Tian clicked his tongue softly, as if in thought. "And the elders? How many of them are right now?"

The maid tilted her head slightly, "Six elders, my Lord. Not counting the retired ones who've entered closed seclusion."

Zhao Tian's smile didn't falter, "Six. I see."

As he fell silent, he slowly turned his head to the side, just in time to catch a flicker of movement at the corner of the hallway ahead.

A shadow ducked behind a wooden pillar and his eyes narrowed slightly.

'Hmm… so they've placed eyes on the outer courtyard too. Makes sense. No outsider gets to visit their sacrificial lamb without being watched.'

Zhao Tian turned back to the maid, whose expression had brightened slightly under the attention.

"Thank you. You've been very helpful,"

The girl smiled heartedly "It's my honor, my Lord. If you need anything, I serve in the north quarter. Just ask for Xiaomei!"

Zhao Tian nodded and dismissed her with a slight wave.

As she scurried off, he remained leaning against the pillar.

He stared into the distance, toward the ancestral hall that loomed like a sleeping beast beyond the inner gate.

'Hmm... I need to have a talk with Master on how to handle this situation.'

At this time, Yan Zijin also stepped out of the room and glanced at Zhao Tian leaning on the pillar.

She stopped beside him and gently reached out, her slender fingers wrapping around his hand.

"Come with me, Tian," she said softly.

As she pulled him slightly, he went with her as they made their way back to the quarters.

Entering her room, Yan Zijin closed the door and created a noise barrier around them.

With a soft sigh, Zhao Tian sat on the bed, and Yan Zijin walked to him, sitting beside him on the bed.

"Any ideas?" she asked quietly.

He looked at her and replied "I am thinking of barging in and stopping them from doing this so called 'ritual.'"

Yan Zijin's gaze narrowed slightly "That would make us the Rui Clan's enemy. How about we just leave this place and take Rui Lian with us back to Jade Eclipse Star?"

"Well, there should surely be tight protection around here. But we can escape."

Zhao Tian's eyes condensed 'But the technique to transfer a soul into a body...'

Shaking his head, he replied "That will only temporarily stop the problem. The Rui Clan would surely pursue Sister Lian."

"She would have to live in fear and always be running away. She is not just the daughter of the Rui Clan anymore; she is like the hope of salvation, and the clan members won't let her go easily."

Hearing this, Yan Zijin said nothing for a while.

She leaned back and fell on the bed "What to do with this..."

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I hope you guys liked this chapter!