You can fool someone for a time, but you can’t fool them forever.

The plan had been to keep the conflict between Fang Yang and Sen You a secret from Sen Hui.

But that was never a long-term solution.

Rumors about the matter had already spread throughout the army in private.

So, eventually, Sen Hui learned of it as well.

The silver flowers and fiery trees grew lush and luxuriant, their branches and leaves as brilliant as fireworks about to explode.

At this moment, Sen Hui’s brows were knitted in fury, her fair, lovely face flushed with anger.

She had never imagined that Fang Yang would be treated so unjustly.

And worse, this injustice was delivered by none other than her own cousin, Sen You.

Didn’t this send a clear message to Fang Yang... that the Sen family line did not welcome him?

But that wasn’t what she, Sen Hui, thought at all!

Sen Hui’s green robes fluttered. Mustering her courage, she asked with a tremor in her voice, "Sister, sister, does Prince You look down on Ah Yang? Does he look down on me?"

Hearing the tremor in her sister’s voice, yet also the determination to state her feelings, a flicker of heartache crossed Sen Wei’s eyes.

Sen Wei’s black hair fell loosely around her, her Dragon Robe swaying in the wind. Her grace was unparalleled, her beauty almost illusory.

She watched her younger sister, Sen Hui, with a look of deep concern.

"Sen You’s handling of the matter was indeed improper. It was contemptible."

"If he dares to look down on you, he dares to look down on me. I will make him understand his mistake."

Sen Wei spoke coldly, moving to embrace Sen Hui, but Sen Hui subtly avoided her touch.

The truth was, Sen You did look down on Fang Yang, and by extension, he also looked down on Sen Hui.

And to look down on Sen Hui was to show disrespect to her, Sen Wei!

Of course, the most important thing was that Sen You was utterly useless.

He had resorted to underhanded tactics, yet he still couldn’t suppress Fang Yang’s brilliance, allowing Fang Yang to soar in a comeback.

He had even created this mess for them to clean up.

’That Sen You is truly a useless thing!’

...

Disrespecting Sen Hui and Sen Wei was the same as disrespecting Sen Yue.

Although Sen Yue had not made their position public, the four Pavilion Elders—Hua, Bird, Yu, and Chong—all understood Sen Yue’s attitude.

To give an explanation to Fang Yang, and especially to Sen Hui, Sen You, who had been sleeping peacefully in his palace, was dragged out under guard.

Disheveled and dressed in prisoner’s robes, Sen You was a pathetic sight.

Nominally, Sen You was thrown into the dungeons for confinement, but in reality, he was transferred to the back mountain for secluded cultivation.

Until the day he forged a Sacred Body, he would not be allowed to leave.

Elder Hua shook his head lightly. "The boy’s heart is in the right place, he was just too hasty and didn’t know his place."

"Too hasty and didn’t know his place? Then he can just quietly reflect on that. We poured so many resources into him. I’m not saying he should have a third of the ’Monarch’s’ strength, but he should have at least reached the Dao Seed Level. And what’s the result?" Elder Bird’s gaze was cold as ice.

"Alright, alright," Elder Yu and Elder Chong said, playing the peacemakers. "Some things must be handled indirectly. Let’s have Sen You focus on his cultivation for now. Tell him to strive to condense his Dharma Aspect, forge a Sacred Body, and enter the ranks of the Dao Seed Level as soon as possible."

To be honest, if this incident hadn’t caught Sen Yue’s attention, they wouldn’t have cared whether Sen You was punished or not.

The bad blood between Fang Yang and Sen You wasn’t really worth talking about.

Fang Yang had been compensated afterward. That should have been the end of it.

Their only miscalculation was that Fang Yang’s place in Sen Hui’s heart was far more important than they had anticipated.

That point, however, was worth paying attention to.

...

A sliver of red light appeared on the horizon as the sun broke free from its bonds and slowly climbed into the sky.

The grasslands were misty with morning dew, but it gradually dissipated under the rays of the crimson sun.

"HYAH—"

Suddenly, the sound of hooves thundered across the grasslands, a figure flashing past at incredible speed.

It was Fang Yang, happily letting loose with the Small Frost Horse on the fields.

Perhaps it was because the Small Frost Horse had witnessed the White Feathered Eagle’s fearless, invincible dominance at the Guan River Festival.

Inspired, the Small Frost Horse had also developed an interest in training and becoming stronger.

In between eating, drinking, and sleeping, it began to follow the guidance of its bloodline, running everywhere to burn off excess energy and temper its body.

Under these conditions, it displayed astonishing talent. Its own aura grew stronger by the day, rising steadily.

"It’s only been a short while since it started absorbing Primordial Qi into its body, and it’s already about to advance to the middle stage of Tier One." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Compared to the White Feathered Eagle, who desperately tempered itself and even flirted with death just for a chance to break through, the Small Frost Horse’s path is much simpler."

"But considering the tens of thousands of Yuan Stones it has consumed, the Small Frost Horse is the type to build up a deep foundation for a later burst of progress. You should be prepared for that."

Second Uncle Fang offered his commentary.

As the master of a Frost White steed, Second Uncle Fang was clearly very familiar with the habits and growth patterns of this type of Fierce Beast.

Fang Yang listened and nodded silently.

He was, of course, mentally prepared and didn’t rely on his elders for everything.

Now, however, though Fang Yang’s eyes were still on the Small Frost Horse...

...his thoughts had drifted to the letter Sen Hui had sent last night.

In that letter, Sen Hui had explained her apology and the measures taken to make amends.

Honestly, Fang Yang had never expected Sen Hui to defend him so staunchly.

In his memory, although Sen Hui had become much more lively, she was still the sensitive and slightly insecure girl, especially in front of people like Sen Wei.

Sen Hui’s transformation surprised him, stirring up complex feelings.

Once again, the image of Sen Hui entered his heart, creating ripples.

...

"For Fang Yang’s sake, Sen Hui made a move, which resulted in Sen You being put in confinement..."

Faced with another attempt at persuasion from her cousin Chen Qingnian, Chen Ying was not the least bit discouraged.

Others might not understand Fang Yang, but she, Chen Ying, knew him perfectly well.

Yes, she admitted that there was a high probability Fang Yang and Sen Hui would end up together.

But given Fang Yang’s temperament, he would absolutely clash with the Sen family line again and again.

Sen Hui might be able to smooth things over once or twice, but could she do it a third time, or countless times?

Fang Yang would never be content to submit to others.

And the Sen family line would never allow Fang Yang, who relied on their cultivation resources, to ultimately transcend their authority.

So, if things continued on this oppressive path, a massive and intense conflict was bound to erupt between Fang Yang and the Sen family!

That would be her chance.

"Sixth Sister, I once heard Third Grandpa talk about some secrets concerning the Fang and Sen families."

"Oh, you know about that? Tell me."

"The Fang family’s heritage is aligned with the Daoist Pill Cauldron methods because of an elder named Qing Rushang. And this Elder Qing, just like you, contended with a woman from the Sen family for a disciple of the Fang family—"

"Enough! Shut your mouth, not another word. I will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not lose to Sen Hui!"

Chen Ying cut her cousin off.

She refused to hear more, turning and leaving only her back in view.

Seeing this, Chen Qingnian sighed to herself again. ’Sister, maybe you truly can’t let go of Fang Yang. But more than that, I’m afraid it’s your own selfish desire. You want to defeat Sen Hui, to stop living in her shadow!’

In the Medicine Hall, the most outstanding young woman of their generation was Sen Hui, with Chen Ying as a close second.

Sen Hui was like an enhanced version of Chen Ying, outshining her in every respect.

Whether it was family background, Spirit Body, or her cultivation as a Pill Master.

Even when it came to their rumored romantic interests, Sen Hui was far ahead of Chen Ying.

How could Chen Ying, who had lived in the spotlight and been adored her entire life, possibly endure such a thing?

With her pride, there was no way Chen Ying would be content to live in Sen Hui’s shadow!