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Chapter 29 - Chapter 28: Brewing Conspiracy.

Draco's gaze turned sharp as he stepped toward the two kneeling captives, the weight of his cultivation pressing down like a mountain. "Speak," he commanded, his voice low and thunderous, promising pain for silence. But before the trembling men could answer, Drake took a step forward, raising a hand calmly.

"There's no need, big brother," he said, his tone grim. "This stinks of Prince Caleb's scheming. I was warned this might happen."

Draco arched a brow. "Warned?"

Drake nodded. "By Adler Heart."

The name dropped like a stone into still water.

Kieran's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening. Roulan, too, drew in a sharp breath, her hand tightening around his arm. The name carried a storm of memories. Adler Heart—the man who had once guided Kieran's mother with quiet devotion, the man who had become her master, protector, and friend. And after her death, he had taken Roulan in and raised her like his own, shaping her path with wisdom and care.

Now, even from afar, it seemed Adler Heart was still watching over them, his warning saving their lives.

Draco narrowed his eyes, gazing toward the distant horizon where the Vir Kingdom's border lay. His voice was cold and resolute. "We might catch him before he leaves our borders."

Drake gave a firm nod, his expression mirroring the same resolve. "Yes, big brother."

Without another word, the two vanished into the air, streaks of white and black light cutting across the twilight sky.

Kieran watched them go in silence, a flicker of admiration in his eyes before turning to his wives. Roulan slipped her hand into his, and Baixue gave a slight nod. Without further delay, the three stepped back into the carriage. The servant cracked the reins, and the carriage resumed its steady roll down the moonlit road, heading back toward the Long Clan.

As the carriage rumbled softly beneath them, Kieran leaned back against the seat, his gaze fixed on the fading streaks of light where the two elders had vanished. A quiet warmth stirred in his chest. He realized now that the patriarch, his granduncle, Draco, had always been watching over him from the shadows. Even when he was dismissed as a waste, someone the clan had little reason to hope for, they had never truly abandoned him. The quiet support, the unspoken protection… it had always been there. Touched by this realization, Kieran's fists clenched gently in his lap. No matter how far I rise, I'll never forget this. I'll protect the Long Clan—always.

As the carriage rolled through the gates of the Long Clan estate, Kieran was surprised to see both Drake and Draco already waiting for them, their expressions calm and composed. The sun had long dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow over the rooftops. Kieran stepped out with Roulan and Baixue at his side, and before he could say a word, his grandfather gave him a reassuring nod.

"It's been taken care of," Drake said firmly, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "You don't need to worry about it anymore."

Draco stood silently beside him, arms folded behind his back, eyes as sharp as ever. Kieran felt a strange sense of awe, how quickly they moved, how decisively they acted. In that moment, he truly understood that the power wielded by an emperor realm cultivator was beyond anything he could imagine.

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In the opulent capital of the Qiran Kingdom, the moonlight shimmered across the marble steps of Prince Caleb's mansion. His carriage rolled to a graceful stop at the entrance. Guards stood at attention, and servants rushed forward to open the doors—only to recoil in horror.

Inside, Prince Caleb sat unnaturally still, eyes wide open in a frozen expression of disbelief. Blood stained the front of his robes, and a faint trace of smoke curled from a thin, precise wound over his heart. He was dead.

Elsewhere, deep within the emperor's mansion, torches flickered along the golden hallways as a breathless servant stumbled into the study of Zayen Vir, the First Prince. The servant dropped to his knees, trembling, and cried out, "Your Highness! Prince Caleb's life jade… it has shattered!"

Zayen, seated behind a table adorned with scrolls and maps, stiffened, his eyes narrowing as the news sank in. A dark storm began to gather in his heart. "So it has begun," he muttered coldly.

Zayen Vir stood before the towering doors of the imperial audience chamber, his expression cold and composed. At the soft creak of hinges, he stepped inside, bowing respectfully before the man seated upon the golden throne—Emperor Arkan Vir, ruler of the Qiran Kingdom. The chamber was silent save for the crackle of the sacred flame that burned beside the throne, its light dancing across the emperor's sharp features.

Zayen dismissed the attendant trailing behind him with a wave. "Your Majesty, I bring urgent news," he began, voice calm but edged with tension. "Prince Caleb is dead. His life jade shattered earlier tonight. His body was found in his carriage upon returning to the capital."

The emperor's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, waiting for more.

Zayen continued, "There's more. Intelligence reports confirm that the Saintess of the Frozen Lotus Palace, Baixue, and Roulan, widely regarded as the personal disciple of Adler Heart, the greatest alchemist on the planet, are both engaged. Both of them… are marrying into the Long Clan."

The emperor raised a brow, clearly intrigued. "To whom?"

"Kieran Long," Zayen answered, pausing to let the name sink in. "The son of Haruki Long."

Emperor Arkan leaned forward, surprise flickering across his normally impassive face. "The waste?"

Zayen shook his head. "He can cultivate now. Not only that… he has stepped into the Viridian Realm in a short time. Something is happening in the Long Clan—something worth watching closely."

The emperor stroked his beard, deep in thought, before his eyes glinted with cold resolve. "Then we shall place our eyes among them." He looked at Zayen. "Send Cindria. She is of royal blood and has no choice but to comply. She will be wed to the Long Clan's rising star."

Zayen bowed. "As you command. She will act as our eyes and ears within the Long Clan… and should the opportunity arise, more."

The emperor's expression turned unreadable as he dismissed the first prince.

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