After the brief meeting, Gemhill seemed calm and back to normal.0

Inside the main hall of the Hundred Lotus Manor, Pang Yuanhua observed a young girl with a warm smile. She was quite fond of this girl, especially the way she became so absorbed in her work that it was as though her entire world narrowed to the task in her hands. Strangely, the scene brought to mind a terrifying woman surnamed Long.0

Meanwhile, atop the high roof of Silver Creek, a blackbird crouched in silence.0

Li Yuan wanted to avoid alarming any hidden threats, so he decided to watch for signs of trouble on his own. It was a bit more work, but sealing off potential dangers now was far better than racing to contain them after they erupted.0

Seated in his study, he lifted his brush and began writing out lines of poetry he remembered from a time before he crossed into this world. Creating a visualization aid, he had realized, required a certain mood—one conjured from poetry, then expressed through ar...0