Unlike rumours surrounding the Noble Consort, Anji and Yihao came to learn just how different Liu Guiya was as a person. Even Mingshen, who had been acquainted with her for a while, was surprised to learn new things about her. Apart from being the previous leader of the Heavenly Phoenix Sect and the secret sworn sister of Hong Nian Niang, Liu Guiya was a woman who wore many skins.

"Why would the emperor need a secret bodyguard?" Yihao raised his brow after listening to her introduction and story. "Did he marry you because you were a cultivator and a bodyguard better than the emperor’s secret guards?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

In a way, it was not wrong. There was a sacred rule that the murim world cannot interfere with the common world. The moment Liu Guiya decided to pursue power in the mortal world, she had to give up her identity as a cultivator. It was the reason why she trained her niece and pushed her into the position to inherit the Heavenly Phoenix Sect even before it was ready.

"My Sect had already been rotten from the inside," Liu Guiya admitted. "Yanxia must have been suffering this whole time alone, and I am a terrible aunt, unable to help her. But it is only thanks to Hong Nian Niang and your father, war hero Zhao Mingfeng, that I can leave my past life behind. It is all for a grander plan since the last murim war."

A grander plan? All three pairs of curious eyes darted towards Hong Nian Niang. It sounded like a story even their father did not know about.

"Why are you telling us this?" Mingshen asked. "You had plenty of chances to reveal this before. Why now? And in front of my siblings?"

Part of him felt salty at not finding this out beforehand. He was glad for the trust Liu Guiya was showing them. However, he also doubted the intentions behind her disclosure. Why did she decide to involve his younger siblings? There was something the Noble Consort needed, and he doubted it was from Zhao Yihao. The protective older brother in him hissed. Nobody could dream of harming his younger sister in his presence.

No matter how mature Zhao Mingshen was, it was reassuring to know the youth still had glaring weaknesses. It was not a bad thing. Even Hong Nian Niang had a soft spot for Anji, and Liu Guiya could understand why. Although the girl was as wise as her teacher, there was a charm that made others want to protect her just as much. She must be her parents’ favourite child, not that her siblings minded. If Liu Guiya had a daughter like Anji, she might not be able to do the same thing she did to Yanxia.

"The right person has arrived for me to reveal it," Liu Guiya replied cordially. "Isn’t that so, Anji?"

Boiling with murderous intent, Mingshen’s glare was so poisonous that even Yihao noticed it. However, unlike his older brother, the martial artist shrugged it off and even sneaked a piece of stir-fried beef off Mingshen’s bowl while he was distracted.

Surprised that she was being called on, Anji hiccuped and almost choked on the vegetable she was chewing. Why her?

Rushing to pat Anji on the back, Hong Nian Niang offered the child a cup of cooled tea. Was it that surprising? If not for the successor of the Mystical Qilin Sect, who was also known to be an expert in reading energy flow, why would such an important person come out of hiding and risk meeting them outside the most protected place in Chang’an?

Cutting to the chase to reassure Anji and her overly protective brother of her motives, Liu Guiya explained the origin of her mission in the capital city.

"The murim war ended several decades ago. However, it was only the beginning. Because the Heavenly Phoenix clan was deeply corrupt, tracing its roots was difficult. While I was still the sect leader, I tried to rectify it, but it led to Sect Leader Hong finding it in this city. In particular, the imperial palace."

Hearing this for the first time, Mingshen’s curiosity won his grudge, and he listened sceptically. Anji nodded, trying to understand why she was needed while Yihao continued to polish off food from the table.

"Ordinarily, murim feuds are common but only exist between cultivators and martial sects. However, this latest murim war that your father became a war hero in was created by a collusion between the criminal syndicates of the common world in the capital. Such guilds exist in the grey area of martial artists and commonfolks."

Hearing this, Mingshen suddenly had a bad feeling. Likewise, a chill went down Anji’s spine. Of the three children, Hong Nian Niang noticed the silent communication two of them shared. Although she had no idea if they were communicating telepathically, it was reassuring to know that the only unknown factor in this collaboration was Yihao.

"All the leads point towards such a guild that not only had spies planted everywhere but was also the true masterminds inspiring demonic cultivation. The murim war was a side effect to distract others from their true motive. Back then, I was too slow to understand what they were aiming for. However, the palace and this organisation had many shady dealings. This organisation has also infiltrated and corrupted the once prosperous Heavenly Phoenix Sect. We don’t know what they want, and the only way I thought I could preserve the lineage of my faltering sect is to uncover their goal from within the imperial palace."

The more surprising twist came from Hong Nian Niang instead of Liu Guiya.

"The Empress was the one who posted out secret requests for secret mecenaries. As someone dealing with sensitive information, it came to my attention, and I recommended her to the palace as a backer. It’s how Noble Consort Liu came to power very quickly, even if nobody truly knew her background in the palace."

Agreeing with her sworn sister, Liu Guiya smiled. Anji noted how it was a smile that could charm just about anyone. Did the Heavenly Phoenix Sect also practise beguiling arts?

"Although it took many years to secretly investigate, the most tiring part of being a secret bodyguard is getting rid of the assassination attempts on the Emperor subtly. In return for my service, the Empress gave me special access to secret routes and a list of traitor names. My sworn sister has used those leads to uncover an even deeper plot within Chang’an."

Yihao blinked. So far, he only understood that the Empress employed Sect Leader Liu as the Emperor’s secret bodyguard because there were many assassination attempts and they needed someone powerful. Adult matters surely are complicated.

Pulling out a small pouch from her sleeve, Liu Guiya pushed it towards Anji.

"For years now, the emperor kept having recurring nightmares about a doomsday. The imperial palace has recruited all the spiritual monks and masters. However, there is nothing more that they can do apart from physically inspecting and guarding the four guardian beast totems and gates. I once consulted Sect Leader Yan about this, but she told me the vision is clouded and only the next prophet marked by a death star can tell me more about it."

Freezing, Anji finally understood why she was being spoken to. The small pouch on the table suddenly seemed ominous, even if there was no demonic energy emitting from it.

The wheels of Karma have finally started to turn. This time, she had to find it before Song Min did.