Shen Jue's fist clenched, and in an instant, he lunged at Atlas, fury flashing across his face.
But before he could strike, a shadow moved.
A cold blade pressed against his throat.
Xiuying's brother, Qiguang, emerging from the darkness, smirked.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Your Highness."
Before Shen Jue could react, Atlas reached into his robes and pulled out a folded parchment. He flicked it open with practiced ease, revealing meticulously inked words sealed with the insignia of Ryl Trading.
He extended a quill toward Shen Jue.
"I took the liberty of drafting up a little agreement for you" Atlas said smoothly.
"Go on, read it. I wouldn't want you signing something without knowing what you're getting into."
Shen Jue hesitated before snatching the parchment. His eyes scanned the contents, his expression darkening with each passing second.
By order of this agreement, Shen Jue, acting under the guise of Jian Ren, acknowledges the oversight of Ryl Trading and its affiliates. He shall ensure the cessation of noble interference in their affairs and, in turn, be granted protection from imperial repercussions. Silver Lotus Sect shall be informed of his true identity whenever Ryl Trading deems it beneficial to the sect. Any breach of this contract will result in immediate retaliatory measures, to be determined at the sole discretion of Ryl Trading.
Shen Jue's grip tightened around the quill. "And if I refuse?"
Atlas grinned. "Then you might find yourself running out of choices very quickly. For example, I could be holding your little sister—the one not even the public knows about—and right now, my assassin is waiting for my signal to finish the job. But, of course, I could be bluffing."
Atlas leaned back with an exaggerated sigh. "Ah, the art of negotiation. Such a delicate thing, wouldn't you agree?" he ended with a laced of venom
Shen Jue studied Atlas closely, searching for the slightest micro-expression, a twitch, anything that could give away whether the man was bluffing. But Atlas' face was unreadable. His posture remained casual, his grin playful, yet every movement felt deliberate. His eyes, sharp and calculating, betrayed nothing.
Was this a game to him, or was he truly holding all the cards?
For the first time in a long while, Shen Jue couldn't tell.
With a slow, measured breath, he signed the document, the quill gliding over the parchment in smooth strokes. The moment the ink dried, Xiuying stepped forward, taking the severed pinky from the ground. Placing the piece back onto the informant's hand, she exhaled softly, and a faint glow of Yin and Yang Qi surged between her fingers. The wound closed, flesh knitting itself back together as if the injury had never happened.
Atlas, watching the display with a satisfied smirk, turned toward the window. With an almost lazy flick of his wrist, he waved his hand—an imperceptible gesture to those unfamiliar, but a clear signal to someone watching from the shadows outside.
If an assassin had been waiting, they no longer had a target.
Atlas stretched, letting out a dramatic yawn. "Well then, goodnight, gentlemen. Try not to lose sleep over this."
He gave them a lazy wave before strolling toward the exit, as if their lives hadn't just been hanging in the balance.
Qiguang disappeared into the shadows, vanishing as effortlessly as he had appeared.
Xiuying lingered a moment longer, arms crossed. "By the way, Master Atlas," she said flatly, "there was no assassin right?"
Atlas shrugged, not even turning around. "Obviously. I don't think anyone could see that handwave. It was a bluff and Shen fell for it so Shen isn't as smart as he thinks he is. Sure, he's resourceful, but he's still dumb to me."
Shen Jue, still holding the signed document, clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Alone with his thoughts, Shen Jue allowed himself a rare moment of vulnerability. The candlelight cast long shadows across the room, distorting the edges of reality. He stared at the parchment in his hands, the ink gleaming ominously under the dim light.
What have I done? he thought bitterly.
Signing the agreement wasn't just an act of submission—it was a declaration of war. Not against Atlas directly, but against the empire itself. By aligning myself with Ryl Trading, even covertly, I have effectively placed a target on my own back. And yet… there was no other choice. Refusing would have meant death—or worse, exposure.
His mind raced through possibilities. Could he turn this situation to his advantage? Use Atlas's resources to strengthen his position within the imperial court? Or perhaps… find a way to undermine Ryl Trading from within?
But first, he needed allies—people he could trust implicitly. And unfortunately, those were in short supply.
As dawn approached, Shen Jue left his quarters, moving silently through the halls of the Silver Lotus Sect. His destination was clear: Lin Wuye's private study. If anyone could help him navigate this treacherous path, it was the man whose teachings had already pushed him to his limits.
When he arrived, Lin Wuye was seated cross-legged on the floor, meditating. The elder didn't open his eyes as Shen Jue entered, but his voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"You're up early" Lin Wuye said calmly, not bothering to look up.
"Or should I say… you didn't sleep at all?"
Shen Jue hesitated before kneeling opposite him. "Master Lin, I need your counsel."
Lin Wuye finally opened his eyes, studying the younger man with a piercing gaze. "Counsel? On what? Your training has barely begun, and yet you carry the weight of someone far older than your years."
"It's not about my training" Shen Jue admitted, his voice low. "It's about survival."
For a moment, Lin Wuye said nothing. Then, with a sigh, he gestured for Shen Jue to sit closer.
"Speak plainly. Secrets have a way of festering if left unspoken."
And so, Shen Jue recounted the events of the previous night—the confrontation with Atlas, the signed agreement, and the realization that he was now caught in a web of alliances he neither fully understood nor controlled. As he spoke, Lin Wuye listened intently, his expression unreadable.
When Shen Jue finished, Lin Wuye leaned back, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"You've made a grave error" he said finally.
Shen Jue frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You assumed Atlas was merely a merchant playing at power" Lin Wuye explained.
"But he is something far more dangerous: a man who thrives in chaos. He doesn't play games—he creates them. And now, whether you realize it or not, you are a piece on his board."
The words hit Shen Jue like a punch to the gut. "Then what do I do?"
Lin Wuye puts his hand on the table ''Atlas has met Master Daokan, I know you know who that is''
Shen Jue frowned, his brow furrowing as he processed Lin Wuye's words. Then, after a moment, he hesitated and spoke up.
"Wait… you mean Atlas was at Shrouded Peaks?"
Lin Wuye raised an eyebrow but nodded slowly. "Indeed. He spent some time there during his… travels."
Shen Jue leaned forward, curiosity overtaking caution. "I've met Master Daokan before. Briefly. If Atlas managed to leave an impression on him , then—"
"Oh, he did more than leave an impression,"
Lin Wuye interrupted, his tone dry but tinged with reluctant admiration.
"Atlas didn't just walk into Master Daokan's grandhall—he turned the entire place upside down. The man has a peculiar talent for creating chaos wherever he goes, yet somehow, people still find themselves laughing along with him by the end of it."
Shen Jue blinked, taken aback. "Laughing? After what happened?"
Lin Wuye chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Atlas made Master Daokan laugh so hard that even Yan Shuren—a disciple who rarely cracks a smile—was stifling giggles behind his hand. And if that wasn't enough, he somehow convinced Master Daokan to sign a trade agreement right there in the middle of all the madness." half lying to him like it was breathing air.
Shen Jue stared, incredulous. "A trade agreement? In the middle of… whatever chaos he caused?"
Lin Wuye nodded. "Exactly. But the real kicker came later. During a sparring session arranged as part of their negotiations, Atlas nearly beat one of Master Daokan's strongest disciples. Nearly. It was close enough that Daokan himself stepped in to intervene, claiming it wouldn't be wise to let things escalate further." once again half lying to him.
Shen Jue sat back, his mind racing.
This wasn't just a merchant playing games; this was someone who could hold his own against the most powerful figures in the land—and make them like him while doing it.
Lin Wuye's expression hardened again, pulling Shen Jue back to reality. "So, when I say learn the rules of his game, understand this: Atlas doesn't play by anyone else's rules. He writes his own. And if you think you can outmaneuver him without understanding how deep his influence runs…"
Lin Wuye trailed off, letting the implication hang heavy in the air.
Shen Jue clenched his fists, resolve flickering in his eyes. Whatever Atlas Ryland was capable of, Shen Jue knew one thing for certain: underestimating him would be fatal.