"To Butler Oda," Ling Li said. "Send the First and Second Shah. And their subordinates. I want Lily guarded at all times. Secretly. No one outside this room must know."

Leeroy bowed. "Understood."

Ling Li turned back to Lily, her voice softer now. "You're not alone. Not ever."

Lily nodded, her eyes fierce despite the tremble in her hands. "I won't stop training."

Ling Li smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Good. Because he won't stop hunting."

At Peonies Mansion, the peonies swayed violently, though the wind had died.

And far beneath the city, Solaris whispered to the dark.

'She blocked me once. She won't block me again.'

The First and Second Shah arrived just after noon, cloaked in silence and authority. Their presence was unmistakable — two figures wrapped in ceremonial black and silver, their eyes sharp, their movements fluid with centuries of discipline. Behind them, their elite subordinates followed like shadows — silent, lethal, loyal.

Ling Li met them at the gym's private entrance, her expression composed but urgent.

"Lily was marked," she said without preamble. "Solaris attempted a spiritual strike, but he failed. However, he won't stop," she added.

The First Shah bowed, his voice low and resonant. "Then we shall not sleep."

The Second Shah nodded. "Lily shall be guarded in layers. No one will see us. But we will see everything."

Ling Li turned toward the training floor, where Lily was stretching beneath Coach Carlos's watchful eye. "Lily must not feel caged," she said. "She must feel supported."

"She will," the First Shah replied. "We are not walls. We are wind."

Ling Li's gaze lingered on Lily for a moment longer. Then she turned, her decision made. "I trust you. I must return. The others are arriving."

—

Far beneath the city, in the catacombs carved from silence and spite, Solaris stood before the cracked altar, his cloak billowing with residual heat. The failed strike had left him drained — but not defeated.

Solaris paced slowly, his fingers trailing across the bone-marble walls. "Ling Li blocked me," he murmured. "Again."

The Ironsworn knelt nearby, heads bowed, awaiting instruction.

Solaris's eyes burned. "Ling Li is near. Her presence fouls the air. But she will leave. And when she does…"

He turned to the second recruit — the girl with soot-rimmed eyes and a leotard stitched with runes. "You will shadow Lily. Not her form. Her rhythm. Her breath."

The girl nodded, her voice barely audible. "I will learn her soul."

Solaris smiled, cruel and quiet. "Good. Because when she falls, it must look like fate."

He raised his hand, and the bell above the fireglass cried once more.

—

Back at the gym, Lily resumed her training. The atmosphere had shifted — subtly, but unmistakably. The First and Second Shah had positioned themselves in unseen corners, their subordinates blending into the architecture, the crowd, even the staff. Their presence was invisible to most, but Lily felt it — a quiet pressure, a shield she hadn't asked for but now welcomed.

Coach Carlos barked commands, pushing her harder than ever. "Again! Your dismount was half a breath late!"

Lily nodded, sweat dripping from her brow. Her body ached, but her spirit was steel. She mounted the beam again, her movements sharper, her focus deeper.

She knew Solaris was watching.

She knew he would try again.

But she wasn't alone.

—

By mid-afternoon, Peonies' Castle was alive with arrivals.

Shi Min from Manila stepped out of his car with a radiant smile. Despite working day and night to finalize important matters, review, and approve proposals and projects, his energy remained vibrant and grounded. Shi Min was in the process of turning over his responsibilities to Wushing, who would become the deputy manager of all his businesses. Shi Min was preparing to enter a period of seclusion as per his mother's demand, making him helpless.

"Mom," Shi Min called as he entered the castle and saw Ling Li coming down the stairs.

"Shi Min, you've lost so much weight," Ling Li said, her brows furrowed with concern.

"Um," Shi Min replied quietly. He hugged his mother and kissed her lovingly on the forehead.

"You've put in a lot of hard work," Ling Li said.

Not long after, Shun and Ren arrived from Beijing, accompanied by their security team led by the ever-stoic Reginald, whose eyes scanned every corner before allowing the twins to step forward.

"Mom, Big Brother!" Ren called excitedly as he entered, giving both a big hug. "Where are Dad and the twins? Is Lily still in training?"

Shun, following closely behind Ren, also called out to Ling Li and Shi Min.

"Dad and the twins are in the back garden, and Lily is still training and will be back later. Are you both alright?" Ling Li asked, turning her attention to Shun.

"We're both well, Auntie," Shun replied politely.

Fatty from Belgium arrived next, his laughter booming like a festival drum, echoing through the grand courtyard of Peonies' Castle. His presence was impossible to miss — broad-shouldered, radiant with joy, and dressed in a vibrant embroidered jacket that clashed delightfully with the muted elegance of the estate. His arms were laden with boxes, each one steaming faintly, the unmistakable scent of dumplings wafting through the air like a culinary spell.

Behind him, Goldie trailed with quiet grace, her long coat fluttering in the breeze, his eyes scanning the perimeter with practiced precision. He gave a subtle nod to the staff and security, though she said nothing; his presence was a silent promise: Fatty was safe.

"Hello, family!" Fatty bellowed, his voice full of sunshine. "I brought a mountain of dumplings for everyone to enjoy!"

The staff lit up at his arrival, some bowing, others clapping softly. The scent of pork, chive, and mushroom filled the air, mingling with the perfume of peonies and the distant sound of wind chimes.

Just then, the garden doors burst open.

Kim Kim and Chin Chin came hopping in, their cheeks flushed, their ponytails bouncing, slingshots still dangling from their wrists like trophies of mischief. Behind them, Four Eyes followed at a leisurely pace, his shirt slightly rumpled, a faint grass stain on his sleeve, and a bemused smile tugging at his lips.

"I want to eat a lot of dumplings, Uncle Ye!" Kim Kim shouted with glee, launching herself into Fatty's arms with the precision of a gymnast and the enthusiasm of a rocket.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.