Chapter 26: Under the Blooming Peony
Far on the other side of the city, tension simmered quietly—ready to erupt.
In the secluded courtyard of the Abe Family estate, Abe Youran stood beneath a blooming white peony tree. The petals drifted down, swaying with the cool night breeze. His pristine white robe fluttered gently, stark against the deep charcoal sky above. His gaze pierced through the horizon, as if attempting to unravel the secrets hidden behind the thick clouds. His expression was serene, yet a glint of destruction danced within his eyes—the gaze of a man who'd long mastered the art of manipulating fate.
The scent of moist earth and flowers filled the air, carried on the wind that tousled his long hair. In that stillness, Youran seemed like a spirit—something not born of this world, but sent to govern it from the shadows.
In front of him knelt three men: Abe Ishi and two of his cousins. Their backs were straight, but their clothes clung to their sweat-soaked skin. None dared to lift their heads. They remained silent, awaiting the sentence that would fall upon them.
"There's no need to say another word," Youran said quietly, his voice even and emotionless. A faint smile touched his lips—cold, lifeless. "Let's just call today Hideo Takumi's lucky day. But as for you three…"
Their bodies stiffened in unison.
"…forty lashes each. And your pay will be docked for the next six months."
No fury laced his tone. Instead, it was that calm indifference—like he was commenting on the weather—that sent chills down their spines.
Still, none of them protested. In the Abe family, discipline was absolute. They bowed their heads lower and said in unison, "Understood, Young Master."
"Tomorrow morning, you'll return to your duties as usual. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Young Master!" they replied, voices cracking with relief. Though punished, they felt as if they had just been granted mercy from a death sentence. The three quickly retreated, grateful expressions still lingering on their faces.
As soon as they disappeared, Youran clapped his hands once.
From the shadows, two figures emerged, dressed in jet-black cloaks. They moved like wraiths, silent and smooth.
"Investigate thoroughly," Youran ordered. "How did Hideo Takumi win today? Why didn't the potion work on him? And Liu Yufei's sudden appearance… was it truly a coincidence? Or part of something greater?"
"We understand, Young Master," the figures responded, ready to vanish.
But before they could turn away, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the estate gate. A guard in green uniform sprinted in, breath ragged, sweat dripping down his temple.
"Urgent report, Young Master! Duke Dai Wanli is here—along with Dai Izuma and their full retinue! They're demanding justice for what happened today!"
"Oh?" Youran raised a brow, a small smile curling at the corner of his lips. "So, Dai Izuma has finally learned to play dirty…"
He strolled calmly toward a stone bench beneath the tree and sat down, lifting a cup of tea that had somehow appeared without anyone noticing. The world fell into a quiet hush. Only the soft rustling of leaves and the first whispers of rain broke the silence.
"Tell Abe Ishi and the others to stick to the narrative we agreed upon. Once their punishment ends, allow Old Man Dai to interrogate them. I want to see Wanli's expression when he hears their 'confessions.'"
He let out a quiet laugh—light, yet chilling. It held no warmth, only a twisted delight in the unraveling game.
"By the way," he added, without turning, "among the Dai Family soldiers… any targets we've been tracking?"
"Yes, Young Master. Three names matched our list. One of them is their lead defense lieutenant."
Youran closed his eyes briefly, letting the pieces fall into place in his mind. "Excellent... Very good."
He stood slowly. The wind picked up, swirling the white petals around him in a haunting dance.
"Send word to Kagura," he said softly, his voice like a hammer striking jade. "Now's the time. With the Dai estate left unguarded… she must retrieve the Stellaris Aegis. Failure is not an option."
The black-cloaked shadows vanished without a sound, melting into the night like mist under moonlight.
Youran looked up one last time. The clouds above swelled with weight, the wind shifting eastward.
"It's going to rain," he murmured.