Ning Family – Ancient Mansion
The Ning family's ancient mansion stood tall and magnificent, its architecture both grand and graceful. Inside the main hall, almost the entire Ning family was gathered.
At the center, seated on the throne, was a middle-aged man with brown eyes and matching brown hair—Chang-Pu, Bai-Xue's father.
On his right sat his concubine Jing-Yi, her navy-blue hair flowing softly around her pale face, her blue eyes filled with worry. Beside her were her two daughters, Ya-Ting and Hai-Rang.
On Chang-Pu's left sat Mei-Lin, his second concubine, a woman with light pink hair and gentle brown eyes. Her daughter Shu-Fen sat by her side, her light pink hair and pale blue eyes making her look delicate and graceful.
The entire Ning family sat proudly in their positions, but before them—kneeling on the floor—was a skinny, trembling courtesan boy, head bowed.
Chang-Pu glared at the boy.
"You couldn't even look after a trash! What kind of servant are you?" he shouted. "That useless girl can do nothing but bring shame to me. It would have been better if she had died before she was born!"
Jing-Yi's eyes filled with tears.
"Please don't say that, my lord. She is our daughter... We don't even know where she is or what condition she may be in..."
Chang-Pu "Dear, you are far too kind. Why upset yourself over such a useless child? Since the day she was born, what has she ever given me except humiliation?"
Ya-Ting spoke softly, "Father, please don't say that... She is weak, but she is still our sister. I... I am very worried about her."
Mei-Lin narrowed her eyes at Ya-Ting.
"My lord is absolutely right. Ya-Ting, if she had even a little of your talent, this would never have happened. If she had been a cultivator like you, she could have protected herself. Because she is weak, the entire Ning family must bear this humiliation."
Hai-Rang added sharply, massaging Chang-Pu's shoulder,
"Sister Ya-Ting is kind like mother, yet we all must suffer because of that useless girl."
Shu-Fen offered her father a cup of water.
"Father, please don't stress yourself too much. Your health will worsen."
Just then, a soldier ran inside breathlessly.
"My lord! My lord—!"
"What is it? Why are you running like this?" Chang-Pu demanded.
"Umm... Third Prince—His Royal Highness Min-Sheng—is here!"
Chang-Pu shot to his feet. "WHAT?!"
Min-Sheng entered through the great doors, his presence dominating the hall. Chang-Pu rushed forward.
"Greetings, Your Royal Highness, Third Prince Min-Sheng!"
Ya-Ting quickly adjusted her clothes, smoothing her hair. She looked at him with admiration and soft affection.
"Greetings, Your Highness... the strongest warrior of our kingdom," she said sweetly. Min-Sheng only nodded coldly in acknowledgment.
Chang-Pu bowed deeply.
"Your Highness, you shouldn't have troubled yourself to come here personally. I would have come to you instead."
(After all, the Ning family was one of the largest and strongest families in Wang-Jin Country, governing the entire Gunji-Mu state.)
Min-Sheng's eyes swept across the room before he calmly sat in the chair prepared for him.
"I see... the entire Ning family is present." His gaze sharpened. "Where is Princess Bai-Xue?"
At his question, sweat immediately formed on everyone's foreheads.
Chang-Pu stammered, trying to form words. But Min-Sheng spoke first, voice cold and unwavering.
"So it's true. The princess is missing."
Chang-Pu and the entire family dropped to their knees in fear.
"We... we are doing our best to find Bai-Xue..." Chang-Pu said anxiously.
Ya-Ting stepped forward, pretending to cry.
"Your Highness, I am heartbroken. My little sister is missing... I'm so worried. My poor little sister... hu... huhu..."
(Fake tears, full acting.)
"We are doing everything we can to find her," she continued dramatically. "She is weak and knows no martial arts. We do not know where she is or what danger she may be in..."
Min-Sheng's expression turned sharp as a blade.
"Ning Family—one of the strongest families in the country—and this is the excuse you give me? Pathetic."
He turned his icy gaze to Ya-Ting.
"And you... the First Lady of the Ning Family, a Level 3 Summoner... yet you couldn't even protect your younger sister."
Ya-Ting's breath froze. She had never expected Min-Sheng—the man she admired—to criticize her for Bai-Xue of all people. She stared at the ground, her heart burning with anger and humiliation.
Maya-Vi Market, Dalion City
Bai-Xue sat quietly at her table, enjoying her steaming dish while chaos brewed all around her. Several mercenaries and warriors from different squads were arguing loudly in the middle of the street, each desperate to prove that their squad was the strongest.
What began as a simple disagreement quickly escalated into a full-blown competition. Rank Eight and Rank Nine warriors clashed, their silver-rank commanders standing proudly behind them. The streets grew louder and more crowded by the second.
Even the food stall owners abandoned their shops to watch the spectacle.
But Bai-Xue wasn't interested.
She continued eating calmly, still seated in the same spot as if the world around her had gone silent.
Meanwhile, those warriors—along with their summoned beasts—fought recklessly in the middle of the street, forcing the flow of people to halt.
Suddenly—
ROOOAAAR!!
A thunderous cry shook the sky.
A massive black eagle descended from above, accompanied by several elite warriors and academy chief instructors.
Three other beasts circled in formation around the eagle as it flew.
The black eagle was enormous and awe-inspiring—its wings spanning wide like a war banner. A dark, crackling aura glowed around its massive body.
This was no ordinary creature.
It was a Godly Thunder Eagle, ranked sixth among the most powerful beasts in the world.
His rider was equally striking—long, flowing black hair, piercing grey eyes, and sharp features that marked him unmistakably as a warrior born from royal blood.
He descended at the speed of a storm.
The instant his feet touched the ground, the pressure of his aura exploded outward.
People gasped.
Many collapsed onto the street, clutching their throats as the suffocating weight bore down on them.
"P-Please... forgive us, Your Highness... Crown Prince..." they choked out.
Under the crushing pressure, everyone trembled.
Everyone—except one.
The Crown Prince's eyes narrowed slightly.
Across the marketplace, someone sat wearing a shining silver cloak and a white mask.
Calm, relaxed, unbothered.
Continuing to eat as though nothing at all was happening.
His aura crushed hundreds, but this masked figure remained absolutely unaffected.
Intrigued, the prince lifted his hand and dispelled his aura.
"Greetings, Your Royal Highness, Crown Prince!"
Everyone bowed deeply.
This was the Crown Prince of Wang-Jin—Kang Wang-Wei, the kingdom's most powerful young warrior. Only eighteen years old, an Eight-Rank Summoner, and master of a beast born once in a thousand years.
Bai-Xue stared at him from behind her mask as the academy chief approached the prince.
"Greetings, warrior," the chief said respectfully to Bai-Xue, misjudging her identity. "You must be new here. I can sense your strength. You are no ordinary fighter."
Wang-Wei also observed her closely, interest flickering briefly in his grey eyes.
But before anyone could speak further—
ROAAAR!!!
A terrifying beastly roar echoed from the west side of the market.
Instantly, the crowd burst into panic. People and beasts alike ran toward the source of the sound.
Bai-Xue rose from her seat and followed.
Halfway there, she saw injured warriors lying on the ground, their beasts wounded and breathing heavily.
When they saw the Crown Prince approaching, they tried to stand, but Wang-Wei raised his hand.
"Rest," he commanded firmly. "Tell me what happened."
A wounded warrior, trembling, stepped forward.
"Y-Your Highness... we went to slay a Rank Seven Four-Eyed Scorpio... but... but something else was there."
His eyes widened with fear.
"A terrible, elusive beast. He became enraged when we disturbed his territory. He wasn't just any beast, Your Highness... he was a Fire Phoenix."
"What?!"
A collective gasp spread through the crowd.
A phoenix.
A creature from legend.
A beast above all ranks—neither divine nor mortal—existing only among the beasts of the gods themselves.
One that no human in the current world had ever tamed.
If a phoenix was truly angered...
The entire city was in danger.
The Crown Prince immediately leapt onto his Thunder Eagle and shot toward the west at frightening speed.
From a distance, Bai-Xue listened to every word.
A slow, chilling smile curved across her masked face.
A smile filled with something dark.
Something dangerous.