Meantime, Zhao Li Xin back to his courtyard at sanguan Manor, his courtyard is very quiet because he only has Mong Liu to serves him, he told Sanguan Jin sheng that he didn't need too many servants since it bothers him than help him, Zhao Li Xin quirkiness already famous inside the manor, so no one bothers him.

The room is illuminated with dimmed light even so anyone could see how spotless and clean the room is, even the sheet on the bed didn't wrinkle at all, the furnace was left unlit as a result the room becomes quite cold because the rain pouring heavily outside and the chilly wind knocked on window repeatedly like an anxious neighbor still the room remain quiet it almost feel like no one is there, however on the corner there is two black figure sitting on the arhat chair, playing chess in the dark accompany only with one candle on the side.

​​

Because of their high cultivation, they got no problem with sight and cold didn't bother them so it's to be expected that they didn't care with surrounding them, bright or dark, hot or cold remain the same for them. The two of them have almost similar temperaments and aura, cold, distant, and intimidating.

"The map examination almost complete, but Wu San Bo guest the location would be in a furthest continent" Jin Hao Long finger place the stone chest gently on the board.

"Doesn't matter…." Said Zhao Li Xin while twiddling his winecup as his eyes fixed on the chessboard.

"I know you gonna say that" he mutters, after he make his moves he lean his back on the chair back then sip his wine calmly "Zi Quan Mei finally out from her close door training, they say she reaches Saint-level in the peak stage, one more step to reach perfection stage…"

"Meaning she didn't get there yet…" Zhao Li Xin sneer, he moves his black stone to stop Jin Hao movement.

Jin Hao give him quick glance, his chance of winning from Zhao Li Xin is three to one so is no wonder his position tight again, Jin hao tapping his winecup while calculated his next move.

"Is no use to worry for someone who used the pill to get their breakthrough, soon or later she will hit the bottleneck, I've guessed she unable to reach further cultivation from here on that's why she stop cultivated" Zhao Li Xin leans his head on the chairback lazily.

Jin Hao chuckles lightly "If only she knows…." He places another white stone on the chessboard "Btw the Ying clan make another move, it says they start making a contact with Misty lake clan, perhaps it got something to do with the hybrid beast that Lao Min Na breed"

"Is no surprised consider how bad consort Ying position right now" Zhao Li Xin said indifferently

"The Emperor has to make Zhao Yi Chen as the crown Prince he also married the left prime minister daughter, he able to preserved the Emperor life with my pill but now the Emperor is nothing more than just lifeless doll right now, it won't be too long before we heard about his death" Jin Hao speak coldly despited how horrible his words sounds was.

"If the emperor dies today then no doubt Zhao Yi Chen would become the next Emperor, there no time to wasted for Consort Ying and Zhao Qin Feng, if they want to fight for the throne they better act now" he smiles wickedly as he imagines the chaos happen at Jiang Wei kingdom.

On the contrary, Zhao Li Xin's face remains indifferent, he doesn't sad or overly excited. For him whatever happens to Jiang Wei kingdom it got nothing to do with him, they can burn the whole city if they like and he wouldn't give it a damn about it.

"Keep an eye to anyone who contacts Lao Min Na subordinated, and catch any living hybrid beast, I want to know what their weakness is, we can depend on my wife graciousness all the time…" Zhao Li Xin place another black stone in front of the white stone to stop Jin hao movement.

Jin Hao squints his eyes, his moves were blocked again, he peek a glance at Zhao Li Xin and his blank look only make Jin Hao upset even more, at least try to smile when you win "I'm done!" he snorts then throw his white stone to the floor angrily.

Zhao Li Xin's face remains placid as nothing happens, he pours himself a cup of wine then calmly sip his wine.

Jin Hao raises from the arhat chair "Madam said the beast is allergic to heavenly power, so I think is something pure and divine power or something that could mimic the same power" after spent hours playing chessboard he finally realizes the room is too dark.

He doesn't mind with darkness but two men in the darkroom make him feel uncomfortable, he lit one candle then he flicks the fire on the candle and the fire leap to other candles and the room lit up simultaneously.

"San Bo said there was this rare material immerged mysteriously on the north, that might suit what we want but we need more time to test it out and see what happens…." Jin Hao slump into the chair and huffed, he feel tired but excited at the same time.

"Just make it as soon as possible, we don't want La Min Na to take a step ahead of us," said Zhao Li Xin.

"En, I know" he replies briefly "By the way, our source said Zi Quan Mei would come here sooner than expected because of Zi Yi Ru's invitation, I believe she wanted to know how you still alive and well?" he smirked while raising his eyebrows.

"We already got the map, so it doesn't matter when she comes, the matter of Qin Mu Yi could be solved in another way" Zhao Li Xin rests his head on the back chair, his eyes slowly shut as if he's about to go sleep.

"What about Bai Xue?" Jin Hao suddenly asks.

"What about her?" his eyes remain shut, he does not even flinch.

"You know, love is a fragile feeling, do you think you can control her if she knows about miss Lory"

"That's why I'm not controlling her love, I just make her think she love but we both know that did not love that drive her – it was greed, and if she thinks she can hurt my Lory?" Zhao Li Xin cackle "If my Lory fight with a dragon, pray for the dragon"

"True…."Jin Hao nod in agreement.

When he heard Lory story he can't imagine a woman who barely in her twenty able to sustain so much heartbreak and loss in a short time but still able to keep her mind and heart clear, unlike most people, she's not weeping on the corner or she blames the world of what happened to her? she not even ask 'why' - why her? No, she rose from her feet, she picks up the pieces and carries on – stronger and braver than before.

Jin Hao never admires women before but now she admires Lory from the deepest of his heart.

______________________________

The rain finally over, but the grey sky refused to move to leave the starless sky hanging in the gloom, water drop from the roof tiles to the puddles below, and the air getting colder.

Lory was alone in her room after her friends return to their respective courtyard, she took out a knitted shawl from her drawer, she put her shawl around her shoulder then she puss her bedroom door however Girsha suddenly perch on her shoulder and Lory faintly smiles.

She walks across the wet garden, usually noble ladies in this world avoid water because they don't want to wet their feet or stain their dress, if only they lived the way she did and they saw what she had seen.

If only they know, rain, sun, soil, grass, and fresh air are the most precious things in the world, something that you cannot buy with money more precious than gold and diamond, she looks heavenward and taking a long deep breath then the smell of grass and rain mixed on the air, she shut her eyes to feel the scent fill her lungs.

Her eyes slowly open, she looks at the sky and white smoke came out of her mouth, she turns around in motion then calmly says: 'Show yourself…"

From a thin air, thousand of white flicker light like a firefly merged into one and transform into a woman silhouette then gradually the silhouette become clearer, her silver hair flow gently behind her back, her clear grey eyes stare at her and she smiles warmly "It's been a while Lorient…"

"Arthea…" the shapeshifter spell disappear, her disguised wash off automatically, her wavy bluish dark hair blown away by the cold wind, her purple eyes filled with determination and strength that very few humans could poses.

Girsha's body enlarged from the size of a swallow bird into the size of a gray hawk, Gitsha blatantly shows his hostility towards the seeress who only bears bad news every time she appeared.

"You can feel me, your power has slowly return…" she softly smiles.

"Only a half of it….if u really want to help me, why don't u tell me where the other fragments" Lory cynically ask.

Arthea smiles grew bigger "What' belongs to you, would never run from you….it just matters of time, be patient"

Lory stifles "You know I'm an impatient woman beside….Lazarus is getting closer, I can almost feel his toxic breath on my nape, I wonder if I have time…?"

"You have…."Arthea chime in.

Lory narrows her eyes as she looks at her suspiciously "Tell me what you know Arthea!"

Arthea lowers her head the smile on her face turns bitter "I can't….."

"WHY?" Lory shouted as her anger flared "Why there so many riddles, why so many questions unanswered, what do you want me to do, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"