These fairies want me to deal with them every day.

The wine glass fell over onto the table, and drops of wine dripped onto the ground, as if they were about to form a river.

The brightly colored carpet on the floor was damp.

The silence was like the deathly stillness of the apocalypse, and it was unclear how long it lasted.

The dripping sound continued.

until……

"boom!!"

Dugu Ming suddenly stood up and overturned the entire table, the loud crash silencing the servants waiting outside.

They didn't know what the man would do in a fit of rage.

But surprisingly, that was all. Dugu Ming overturned the table, turned around, and quickly left the hall.

They didn't know why their master had suddenly changed his personality. They could perhaps understand why Dugu Ming had suppressed his emotions at the beginning, because that's how their master was. In the arena of interests, there are too many things that are beyond one's control. Not only him, but most big shots seem to have no choice but to do the same. When facing a more powerful behemoth, they have to hide their thoughts and put on a smiling mask to conceal their truest emotions.

However... in private, they will reveal and unleash their darkest side.

Anyone around me might not even have a tomorrow, but right now... nothing happened, just overturned a table, it's practically... a huge blessing.

On the surface, the sea appears calm, but beneath the surface, a turbulent undercurrent is raging.

On this day, Dugu Ming got into the carriage early and had the driver drive it to an alley. He sat quietly until there was movement outside.

The curtain was lifted, and Dugu Ming saw a person sit down in front of him.

He looked at the other person.

The other party spoke directly and decisively.

"Can you convince them?"

Dugu Ming shook his head.

“That person won’t cooperate, so… we’ll stick to the original plan; this path won’t work.”

The other person nodded.

"Alright, I will tell Master. You still have some things to do these days, understand?"

Dugu Ming nodded.

Those cloudy eyes seemed to reveal a fierce intent.

“I know what to do, and please tell him… I have a son…”

The other party interrupted Dugu Ming directly.

"Don't worry, Master said that losing a hand or foot is no big deal. It's not like you're dead. With the help of a master, it's not a problem. But none of these are things to be dealt with right now. Just remember what you need to do."

Dugu Ming sighed, then looked at the other person.

"Then... when can we begin?"

The man opposite him simply gave a mysterious smile.

"Don't worry, once that person receives him... it'll be about time to begin. The master said that the storm is brewing, and when it comes, it will be a fierce and violent storm. You will be honored to experience this upheaval, and if you do well, you will leave a lasting mark."

After saying this, the man opposite him immediately got off the carriage.

He quickly left the alley, his pace quickening as he passed through the streets and alleys.

He came from the quiet alleyways to the bustling streets, then wandered through one large and small alley after another, until finally, he entered a large gate.

In the same courtyard, he went straight through the front hall and knelt down in front of a door in the back courtyard.

Then a note was passed inside.

He waited quietly at the door until he heard a sound from inside.

"Hehehe... That's pretty much what I was thinking. Alright, have your people prepare. Once this is done, he'll be useless..."

The simple, seemingly uninformative words sent chills down the spine of the kneeling man.

At the same time, a hand inside the door grabbed a note and threw it into the brazier at the foot of the door.

The firelight illuminated the face of the only person inside.

All that could be seen were a pair of bloodshot, fanatical eyes.

He watched the flickering flames and gradually a smile spread across his face. Outside, the flowers were falling in the quiet courtyard, and the birds were chirping on the wall.

After waiting for the people outside to leave, he watched the note burn to ashes before straightening up and leaning back in his chair with satisfaction.

It sounded like a murmur, as if talking to oneself.

"Some people's greatest value is simply to die."

-

"Senior brother, that person looks really strange."

Back in the inn, the window was open.

Wei Tu found himself increasingly enjoying sitting by the window, quietly watching the bustling streets and alleys, observing the myriad aspects of life, even though the lives and expressions of these people had nothing to do with him.

Even if someone suffers the most, he cannot feel compassion for them, because the world is the world, life and death are governed by laws, and destiny is predetermined, which he cannot interfere with.

The girl, back at the inn, looked at the boy's figure and said this.

Wei Tu turned around and chuckled, "Who?"

“Dugu Ming,” Su Mi recalled everything that had happened today, and then analyzed it in a serious manner, “He seemed to want to say something to his senior brother, but in the end he didn’t say it. As for getting along well with you, senior brother, I also feel that he wasn’t sincere enough, and it seemed like he had other ideas.”

Wei Tu smiled and looked at Su Mi.

Although the other party saw a layer of truth through appearances, it was not the whole truth and was still somewhat naive.

He simply said, "Because he never intended to please me or build a good relationship with me."

"Then why bother making such a grand gesture to invite you, Senior Brother... He endured what you said, so why bother?"

Su Mi did not understand the other party's behavior.

Of course, no one could have imagined how far Wei Tu had already come to understand this matter.

The boy whispered, "It's all just a formality, just for show."

"Putting on a show...for whom? For that empress?"

Su Mi felt that the only explanation for having an imperial brother-in-law act as a figurehead was Ye Bingluan on the dragon throne.

Wei Tu did not give Su Mi a definite answer, but instead said ambiguously, "Maybe, maybe not."

"Could it be... that he has other plans?"

Wei Tu nodded with a smile, "Of course there was. For example, when I was about to leave, he didn't try to stop me. If he was really eager to get on good terms with me and was afraid that I would say something bad about him in front of the Empress, he should have shown more sincerity. But he didn't do that. He just said some inexplicable things. He did make it seem like he was giving me a grand invitation in front of everyone, not wanting to cause too much trouble for the Empress, like any discord among ministers or anything like that... but he didn't actually do it."

"What was the reason for that?"

Su Mi asked, puzzled.

This time, Wei Tu didn't tell the girl any more.

He simply shook his head and took a sip of water.

The girl rested her smooth chin on her hand, seemingly aware that the boy had some things he didn't want to tell her right now.

But I've gotten used to it. He's always acting strangely, yet he always manages to escape danger in the end.

If there's only one thing to worry about, then worry about it...

"By the way, why hasn't the Empress come looking for you yet? Even Dugu Ming knows you're here, she couldn't possibly not know, right?"

Wei Tu walked over and sat down in front of the girl.

He reached out and pinched her nose, saying indulgently, "Your little jealousy is flaring up again?"

Su Mi grumbled and complained, "How could I dare? I'm yours now. You can't stop me from doing what I want. Wouldn't it be unchaste to stop me? Sigh~ I'm just worried about you."

Wei Tu looked at Su Mi's theatrical expression with amusement, "What are you worried about?"

"I'm worried that you might have fallen out of favor. That empress... might have already stopped liking you. What if she neglects you and you feel terrible?"

Wei Tu laughed heartily, then shook his head.

Looking into Su Mi's eyes, he spoke with unexpected seriousness.

"I do hope... she won't send anyone to find me."

"why?"

Wei Tu simply shook his head.

Seeing the boy's appearance, Su Mi's heart softened. She gently grasped the boy's broad hand and asked softly.

"So when are we leaving?"

"Wait a little longer, until... she comes to find me."

Su Mi couldn't understand these words, and wondered why they seemed contradictory.

But the boy's eyes were as clear as darkness and mist that could see through everything.

He didn't have to wait long; Ye Bingluan summoned him three days later.

22 Bloodstained Night

"Son...have some water."

"Son...have something to eat."

"son……"

The room, with a brazier burning, was warm and quiet. Dugu Ming, sitting on the edge of the bed, looked down at the man on the bed.

This is his only son.

Perhaps it was fate that made him pay the price for his eccentric nature, not only allowing him to have only one son, but also ensuring that this child inherited a personality similar to his own.

So, with a hint of resignation, he always turned a blind eye to certain things.