Within the Deep Palace, some were at their wits’ end, some plotted every step, and some lived in constant peril.
On the grand chessboard, the pieces were falling, one by one, into their predetermined positions. Even Xia Shengming, one of the three great Emperors in the world, believed himself to be a player, yet he was unknowingly becoming a piece himself.
In White Jade City, the plum rains had just ended, but the sky remained a dreary gray. Heavy clouds hung low, threatening to unleash another downpour at any moment and wash away all the filth.
The water level of the White Dragon River rose and fell, then rose again, leaving behind murky water stains on the ancient stone embankments.
Mixed within were withered branches and dead leaves washed down from upstream, broken river lanterns, and even a few pieces of rouge-colored gauze that had likely drifted from some painted boat.
These days, the people of White Jade City were in a state of panic.
News of the defeat in the Northern Territory had spread like a plague, and many were already aware of it.
In teahouses and taverns, everyone whispered amongst themselves, their faces etched with unconcealable worry, fearing the day the Da Kuo Iron Cavalry would arrive at the city walls.
Although White Jade City was thousands of miles from the Northern Territory, everyone knew that if the Da Kuo Iron Cavalry broke through the defensive lines and charged southward, this prosperous and bustling Capital City would be nothing more than fresh meat for the Barbarian Race’s iron hooves.
But amidst this widespread anxiety, a certain group of people was quietly reassembling.
In the southern part of the city stood an inconspicuous three-courtyard residence.
The courtyard gates were shut tight. An old plaque reading "Song Residence" hung above the door, its paint mottled and peeling. It looked like the home of any ordinary wealthy family, with nothing to distinguish it.
But if one could see through the courtyard walls, they would witness a completely different scene, a world apart from the outside.
In the front courtyard, a dozen or so women were practicing martial arts, each one of them incredibly focused.
Their ages varied greatly. The youngest was barely in her twenties, while the oldest was over a hundred years old.
They wore uniform, light-cyan martial attire and wielded weapons of various lengths. Some practiced with swords, some with sabers, and others with hidden projectiles... all training with diligence and dedication.
Though their movements were not perfectly synchronized, every woman had a sharp gaze and ruthless techniques. It was clear they all possessed true skill, and the Martial Arts they cultivated were of the highest caliber.
And these women all shared a common identity: they were the former members of the Qinhuai Building, once under the command of the Crown Prince’s Mansion.
Decades ago, during the height of the Crown Prince’s Mansion’s power, an all-female intelligence organization called the Qinhuai Building was secretly formed. In its day, it was renowned throughout the world.
The women of the Building came from various backgrounds—some from brothels, some were orphans, and others had been abandoned by their families. All were taken in and trained by the Qinhuai Building, taught skills such as martial arts, Disguise, the Poison Technique, and intelligence gathering. Many among them were Grandmasters of various ranks.
They were spread throughout the Great Xia, weaving a vast intelligence network for the Crown Prince’s Mansion and providing great assistance to Xia Wuyang.
But after the fall of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, the Qinhuai Building was also purged.
Most of the sisters were killed, imprisoned, captured, or disappeared without a trace. Some even pledged allegiance to other powers. Only a few managed to escape, hiding their identities and scattering across the land.
Now, Song Yuyan was finding them one by one and gathering them together. Their numbers were still growing.
"Your hands must be steady, and your eyes must be true!" Song Yuyan stood under the covered walkway, her voice as cool and clear as jade. "All these years you’ve spent hiding have made your skills rusty. Now that you’ve decided to return, you must reclaim what you’ve lost. You must not only recover your former strength but surpass it."
She wore a moon-white martial uniform today, her long hair tied up high. She wore no makeup, yet her beauty was still enough to topple nations.
On that face, a mix of the enchanting and the sacred, there was now only seriousness and resolve.
Her aura was restrained, yet it naturally emanated the pressure unique to a Super Grade Celestial Human. It filled the women in the courtyard with awe, but also gave them an unprecedented sense of security.
A woman with fine lines at the corners of her eyes sheathed her sword and walked over. She was the former second-in-command of the Qinhuai Building, known by the name Hong Shao. Her cultivation had already reached the level of a First Grade Grandmaster. "Sisters, we’ve gathered thirty-seven people so far, and more are on their way. But... are we really going to rebuild the Qinhuai Building?"
Song Yuyan turned to look at her. "What, are you afraid?"
"It’s not that I’m afraid. It’s just that with the state of the world today—the Great Xia facing threats from within and without, the Princes and Princesses fighting to the death—if we emerge now, won’t we become a target for everyone?" Hong Shao said with a wry smile.
Song Yuyan gazed north, a complex look in her eyes. "It is precisely because the world is in chaos that we have this chance. If the world were at peace, people like us could only ever hide in the shadows, surviving like rats. But now, with the Northern Desert invading, the Southern Barbarians causing trouble, the Imperial Court in turmoil, and the princes vying for power... it’s easier to fish in troubled waters. This gives us the opportunity to rise again."
She paused, her voice lowering. "Besides, there are still many old hands from the former Crown Prince’s Mansion who are currently rising through the ranks. They might provide us with unexpected help."
Hong Shao was taken aback. "Old hands from the Crown Prince’s Mansion? Big Sister, are you talking about people like Yun Liyue, Yan Jiuge, and Mo Qianqiu?"
"Mm, if I’m not mistaken, they will help us." Song Yuyan didn’t mention Xia Wuyang, worried that if the news leaked, it would cause trouble for him.
"But even so, the Crown Prince is already in his twilight years. Sooner or later, they will have to leave him," Hong Shao said, then trailed off.
Song Yuyan cut her off. "I know what you’re going to say. But even if they leave, the rest of us still have to live. What if something unexpected happens?"
Hong Shao fell silent. She had also investigated the Crown Prince’s current situation and concluded that he truly didn’t have long to live. There was basically no chance of recovery, let alone a comeback.
Song Yuyan said softly, "We aren’t rebuilding the Qinhuai Building for that possibility. It’s mainly for our sisters. We can’t spend our whole lives hiding, being hunted down like rats in a sewer. We have to forge our own path."
Hong Shao nodded emphatically. "Big Sister is right. The sisters have been suppressed for decades. We can’t live like this forever."
Hearing this, the eyes of all the women in the courtyard lit up with a long-lost spark.
It was the light of hope, of unwillingness to yield, and of a resentment that had been suppressed for decades but had never once died.
They were once the sharpest hidden blades of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, but they were broken and buried in the storm decades ago.
Now, the blades would be re-sharpened, their edges honed anew—not for the Crown Prince, but for themselves.
What they didn’t know was that at this very moment, deep within White Jade City’s Deep Palace, another blade was silently being aimed at their former master.
「Wenhua Hall, at dusk.」
A storm was imminent. The sky had darkened earlier than usual, as if night had already fallen.
Inky clouds churned across the heavens, and muffled thunder rumbled. The occasional flash of lightning illuminated the palace’s silhouette in a ghastly white.
Inside the hall, however, it was as warm as spring. Although the Underfloor Heating had been extinguished, the Icebergs placed in the four corners radiated a chilling air that dispelled the summer heat.
Twelve Cat Girls, dressed in light gauze, were playing about in the hall.
Some chased after rolling embroidered balls, some groomed each other’s hair, while others curled up on soft cushions for a nap, their fluffy tails swaying gently... It was a scene of indescribable beauty.

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