The morning sun filtered through the warded windows of the master suite, casting a soft, golden glow over the wreckage of the night before. Torn silks and discarded robes littered the floor, but the bed itself was a sanctuary of quiet recovery. Shen Yu was the first to stir, his Primordial Bloodline ensuring he woke with a mind as sharp as a blade, despite the hours of exertion.

After waking Lixue and Meng Yan, the trio moved to the expansive en-suite bath, where the steam from the heated spirit-springs curled around their bodies.

Lixue and Meng Yan worked in tandem, their movements efficient and reverent as they cleaned the lingering marks of the night from Shen Yu’s skin. They scrubbed his broad shoulders and massaged the tension from his corded muscles, their hands moving over him with the silent understanding of women who had been thoroughly conquered. Shen Yu sat with his eyes closed, the steam opening his pores as he absorbed the last lingering fragments of their Yin energy.

Once they were cleansed, they dressed in silence. Shen Yu donned a sharp, obsidian robe embroidered with silver threads, while Lixue chose a modest but elegant azure dress. Meng Yan returned to her persona as the Iron Matriarch, her violet silks perfectly pressed, her hair pinned up in a dignified style that betrayed none of the wildness from the dark hours.

The dining hall was peaceful, the morning air carrying the scent of jasmine tea and fresh pastries. Mei Yilan was already seated at the head of the table, sipping her tea while reviewing several trade ledgers. She looked up as the three entered, her eyes warm but professional. She knew nothing of the carnality that had transpired just a few hallways away.

"Good morning," Yilan said with a smile, gesturing to the spread. "You three look... well-rested. How was the night? I hope the guest suite was to your liking, Matriarch Meng."

Meng Yan took her seat, gracefully pouring herself a cup of tea. She felt a slight ache in her core, a delicious reminder of Shen Yu’s power, but her face remained a mask of polite composure. "It was quite... illuminating, Matriarch Tang," Meng Yan replied, her eyes flicking toward Shen Yu for a fraction of a second. "The hospitality of the Tang Clan is much deeper than I originally anticipated. I found myself fully engaged with the ’environment’ until the very break of dawn."

Lixue hid a small smile behind her teacup, while Shen Yu hummed in agreement. Yilan, taking the comment at face value regarding the estate’s security and luxury, nodded. "I’m glad. We aim for nothing less than perfection."

As the breakfast continued, Shen Yu set down his chopsticks, the atmosphere at the table instantly shifting to business. "Before we finalize the logistics for the Crimson Iron City expansion, there is a more pressing matter we must settle within these city walls," he said.

He pulled out a small, translucent jade bottle along with a single sheet of parchment from his storage ring.

Yilan’s eyes widened. She remembered the last time her nephew had produced such items; the Body Tempering and Qi Gathering pills had effectively turned the local market upside down and established the Tang Clan’s dominance. "Are these new pills, Yu’er?" she asked, her voice hushed with anticipation.

"Not exactly," Shen Yu replied, a cold, predatory smirk playing on his lips. "These are the cure."

"The cure?" Meng Yan asked, leaning in.

"Yes, the cure for Peng Clan’s flawed pills."

"The Peng Clan’s greatest mistake will be our greatest opportunity," Shen Yu explained, tapping the jade bottle. "Their flawed pills have left thousands of cultivators with unstable foundations and lingering toxins. The public is currently living in fear of the side effects. These pills, which I’ve termed the Peng Purging Pills, are designed to strip away those specific impurities."

"I like the name," Lixue smiled and said as she sipped the tea.

He leaned back, his golden eyes flashing with a sharp, predatory brilliance. "However, the damage caused by the Peng Clan’s incompetence is not easily undone. To fully purge the toxins and stabilize the meridians, a cultivator must consume one of these pills every month for a full year, twelve doses in total."

In truth, it was absolute bullshit. With his alchemical mastery, Shen Yu could have easily refined a single pill capable of scouring the side effects in a matter of hours. But a quick cure was a poor tool for a slow execution. He didn’t just want to heal the city; he wanted to bleed the Peng Clan dry, month by month, turning their own victims into his most loyal, long-term customers while the Pengs were forced to foot the bill.

Mei Yilan’s mind immediately began to calculate the logistical and political implications. "If we launch this now..."

"Precisely," Shen Yu interrupted. "We position the Tang Clan as the righteous saviors of the city. We will publicly announce that we developed this cure out of ’compassion’ for our fellow cultivators. The public will adore us. But here is the beauty of it: once the people realize they need a year-long treatment, they will turn their fury toward the Peng Clan once again, demanding compensation for the cost of the cure."

Meng Yan chuckled, the sound low and appreciative. "So the Peng Clan will be forced to pay their victims, and those victims will bring that same gold directly to us to buy the pills. You’re making the Peng Clan fund our treasury while we destroy their reputation."

"Exactly," Shen Yu said, his smile widening. "We will be the heroes, and the Peng Clan will eat dirt while paying us for the privilege. By the time the twelve months are up, there won’t be a Peng Clan left to speak of."

Yilan looked at the jade bottle with newfound awe. "It’s brilliant. Truly shameless... and brilliant."

"Good," Shen Yu smiled, his gaze turning toward the window. "Prepare the announcement. It’s time to show this city who really holds the mandate of heaven."

Following the breakfast briefing, the Tang Estate erupted into a flurry of activity. Messengers were dispatched like arrows to every corner of the city, carrying the weight of a monumental decree: An announcement of vital importance to every cultivator in the region would be made at the Jade Spring Hall as the sun touched the horizon.