After finalizing his plans, Shen Yuan summoned one of the Shadow Guards of the Shen Family — a tall figure dressed in pitch-black robes who appeared silently behind him, kneeling on one knee.
"Master Yuan," the shadow greeted respectfully, his voice low and steady.
Yuan's gaze was calm. "You are to follow Xiao Chen. Observe him from the shadows and report every movement back to me. Do not engage or interfere unless I personally command it."
The shadow's tone carried a hint of confusion. "Young Master, why not kill him directly? If we end it now, there will be no trouble later."
A faint smile touched Yuan's lips, eyes gleaming with quiet sharpness. How can he tell him that if we kill him now, fate will shift to protect him. Those chosen by heaven are like roaches that refuse to die — protected by destiny itself. "Patience, Shadow. I'll decide when to kill him."
"Yes, Young Master."
Yuan handed over a small, glowing jade talisman. "Crush this if you need to contact me. Remember — observe, do not act."
"As you command." The shadow vanished without a trace, leaving only a faint ripple of energy behind.
When Yuan returned to the grand halls of the Shen Estate, the familiar scent of incense and blossoming spirit herbs greeted him. As soon as he stepped inside, a voice filled with warmth and irritation called out:
"Yuan'er! Just where have you been these past few days?"
His mother, stood with her hands on her hips, her beauty undiminished by time. Though gentle in presence, she carried the commanding air of a matriarch.
Yuan smiled faintly, scratching his cheek. "Just out handling some minor matters, Mother."
"Minor matters?" she repeated, raising a brow. "You disappear for days, come back with your robes singed, and call that 'minor'? Sit down before I ground you for a month."
Yuan could only laugh softly. "Yes, yes. As you command, Mother."
Shen Yue rolled her eyes but her expression softened. "Hmph, always that mouth of yours. Come, dinner's ready."
The dining table glowed under the warm lantern light. Dishes of fragrant spiritual rice, flame-grilled beast meat, and lotus soup were laid out neatly. A young maid in pale blue robes moved gracefully as she served each plate.
Her name was Lan Xue — the name Yuan had given her years ago when he rescued her from the slums. Back then, she was only known as "Little Girl." When he'd asked her name, she had answered shyly, "Everyone calls me that." So he smiled later he took her to his home and said "How can be someone so innocent from now on, your name will be Lan Xue — pure as winter's snow. Do you like it" and she happily said" yes"
Now she stood before him, her figure slender, her eyes as clear as frost. The soft glow of spirit light reflected in her pale-blue irises as she set a bowl before him.
"Welcome home, Young Master," she said gently, her voice like snow falling on water.
Yuan nodded with his usual calm. "Thank you, Xue'er"
Madam Shen Yue smiled knowingly, resting her chin on her hand. "Lan Xue, you've grown more beautiful again. I'm starting to worry my son might get distracted during dinner."
Lan Xue's hands trembled slightly as she set down the cup. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. "M-Madam , please don't tease me…"
Yuan looked between them, slightly confused. "Distracted? hmm maybe a little" he said after winking at Lan Xue
His mother gave him a look. "Oh heavens."
Lan Xue covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. The sound of her giggle brought a rare smile to Yuan's face — soft, genuine, unguarded.
After dinner, as Lan Xue cleared the table, Yuan's gaze lingered on her for a moment. Out of mild curiosity, he quietly activated the Fate Defier System and glanced at her panel.
Name: Lan Xue
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Peak
Physique: Pure Yin Physique
Innate Ability: Charm (Unawakened)
Luck: 1480
Yuan's pupils contracted slightly. "Pure Yin Physique… and even an Innate Divine Ability? There are only one in a million who awaken an innate divine ability, it is even rarer than physique, of course if we exclude celestial and primordial physique. To think she had one and even a dual cultivation physique. Mother must have known about it…"
He looked up at her — the shy, gentle maid who still blushed whenever he looked her way — and felt a faint wave of disbelief. "If I hadn't changed her path, she might have become the heroine of some protagonist or maybe in future she will be, but of course I won't let that happen."
But he said nothing, choosing instead to let her be as she was — a small, precious warmth in a world that burned with ambition and power.
As they sat together, Shen Yue poured tea and smiled at her son. "You've grown stronger again, haven't you?"
Yuan nodded slightly. "A bit."
"Don't be humble," she chided.
Lan Xue giggled softly as she poured him another cup. "Young Master should listen to Madam Shen."
"You tooo, Lan Xue? Are you my mother's side now?" Yuan replied with a small smirk.
Her cheeks reddened again, and Shen Yue laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Look at her face, Yuan'er — you really should learn when to stop teasing girls."
For the first time in days, Yuan relaxed completely. He smiled, not the cold, calculating smirk of a schemer, but the genuine warmth of a son and a brother figure surrounded by people who cared for him.
In that simple moment — laughter, teasing, warmth — the shadows of fate felt distant.
But deep within his eyes, He knew He has to keep fighting so he could have these moments again Even as he smiled, plans were already taking root in his mind. The game has already began.