After Xu Yuanhuai asked this question, he noticed the two white-robed artificers looking at him as if he were an idiot.

This caused him to frown, and he coldly snorted, “What’s the problem?”

The white-robed artificer on the left made an “Oh” sound, suddenly realizing something. He slapped his forehead and said, “I forgot, you two joined the Celestial Observatory during Huaiqing’s ascension to the throne. It has been some time.”

The white-robed artificer on the right smiled at Xu Yuanhuai: “Let me tell you some bad news. The Yunzhou army did indeed reach the capital, but they were subdued by Xu Yinluo that very day. As for the rebel leaders, some were killed, some were captured.”

“Young man, the realm is at peace now.”

Xu Yuanhuai exchanged a glance with his sister and sneered, “Go fool three-year-old children with that.”

The reason they were imprisoned here was because the Observatory Master had been sealed, and the Great Feng dynasty was declining, with people’s hearts in chaos. Their father and uncle believed this was an opportunity to hollow out Great Feng without bloodshed.

Thus, they agreed to Qi Guangbo’s strategy of negotiation.

In other words, the situation in the Central Plains was such that Great Feng’s defeat was almost certain.

The siblings had been confined in the Celestial Observatory for less than a month, and by all trends, Great Feng should now be at its last gasp, on the brink of destruction.

Sister Yuan Shuang shared her brother’s view but remained silent, neither questioning nor arguing. She was relatively less worried, as that elder brother had grown from a mere runner into a figure who commanded the wind and clouds. While he was certainly decisive in killing, he wasn’t indiscriminate. Even if she and Yuanhuai were useless pawns, at worst they would just be confined to the Celestial Observatory.

The artificers of the Celestial Observatory had always been proud, so the two white-robed ones didn’t bother to explain.

The siblings, wearing handcuffs and shackles, were led out from underground, following the two white-robed artificers up the steps.

Along the way, they encountered many white-robed artificers who ignored the siblings, busy with their affairs.

This deliberate ignorance was itself a form of arrogance.

Soon, they arrived at the fourth-floor hall, turned into the left corridor, and stopped outside a large chamber.

Yuan Shuang peered inside and saw four people positioned in the cardinal directions: a youth with heavy dark circles under his eyes; a goose-egg-faced young woman in a yellow dress with snacks laid before her; the unremarkable-looking Sun Xuanji with his monkey; and their eldest brother Xu Qi’an in an indigo cloud-patterned robe, who seemed to be discussing something with several artificers, his face full of helplessness.

By the window stood a white-robed artificer whose face was perpetually hidden.

“Xu Yinluo, they’re here!”

After greeting him, the two white-robed artificers turned and left.

The siblings froze at the doorway, unsure whether to enter.

“Come in!” Xu Qi’an’s expression became neutral as he casually glanced at the siblings.

Xu Yuanhuai hesitated briefly before entering first, his expression cold as he said, “You want to use us siblings as bargaining chips to threaten father?”

“Then I advise you not to engage in wishful thinking. Advancing to Tier One has been their father’s lifelong wish, for which he would pay any price. My sister Yuan Shuang and I don’t carry that much weight.”

“Kill us or torture us as you please, but I, Xu Yuanhuai, would never beg you for anything – that wouldn’t be manly.”

The Observatory Master’s disciples glanced at him, somewhat surprised.

This brother of Xu Ningyuan turned out to have some backbone and integrity.

Xu Qi’an looked at Guardian Yuan and asked, “What did he say?”

Guardian Yuan’s azure eyes studied Xu Yuanhuai for a moment before honestly answering, “The same.”

Meaning that what Xu Yuanhuai said aloud matched exactly what he was thinking.

He’s a simpleton… everyone present shared the same thought.

In these times, someone whose words matched their thoughts exactly – wasn’t that the definition of a simpleton?

Guardian Yuan’s azure eyes swept across everyone, nodding to confirm: “I also think he’s a simpleton. How boring!”

The siblings on the side couldn’t understand what they were talking about at all.

Xu Qi’an said indifferently, “The Yunzhou rebellion has been suppressed. You’re free now. Wait in the outer hall; I’ll take you to see your birth mother later.”

With a wave of his hand, Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai’s vision blurred, and they found themselves back in the fourth-floor hall.

Xu Yuanhuai pondered, “He said he’d take us to see Mother. Sure enough, he wants to use us as bargaining chips to negotiate with father.”

He let out a long breath: “Father hasn’t forgotten us. We can finally go home.”

Yuan Shuang nodded.

At this moment, a white-robed artificer approached from the other end of the corridor.

Yuan Shuang’s heart stirred, and she went to meet him with the shackles clanking.

Xu Yuanhuai followed closely behind her.

“Fellow Daoist,” Yuan Shuang said softly, “I’d like to inquire about something.”

Seeing it was a beautiful young woman, the white-robed artificer suppressed his impatience and smiled, “Please speak, miss.”

Yuan Shuang asked, “Did the Yunzhou army reach the capital?”

The white-robed artificer nodded with an “Mm.”

So it’s true… the siblings understood in their hearts that Xu Qi’an indeed wanted to use them as bargaining chips to negotiate with their father.

So when he mentioned seeing their birth mother earlier, he meant letting father ransom us back… Yuan Shuang felt relieved. The fact that Xu Qi’an had said this meant his negotiation with his father wouldn’t involve the bigger picture, so Father would be willing to ransom them back.

Xu Yuanhuai said in a deep voice, “How’s the situation? Has Great Feng reached the end of its rope?”

They’ve probably nearly taken the capital… he added mentally.

The white-robed artificer examined them: “The rebellion was suppressed long ago. You two just came up from underground, right?”

“That’s impossible.” Yuan Shuang’s voice grew slightly shrill.

“What’s impossible about it?” the white-robed artificer countered.

“Yunzhou has two Tier One experts. Even if we disregard everything else, just those two could reduce Great Feng to ashes,” Xu Yuanhuai said gravely.

“Oh, Xu Yinluo and the National Preceptor have also advanced to Tier One,” the white-robed artificer said with a smile. “As for the Yunzhou rebel leadership, some died, some surrendered. That all happened several days ago.”

Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai stood frozen in place.

If Yunzhou was defeated, then what about Ji Xuan? What about father? What about the two Tier One experts, the Garuda Tree and the White Emperor?

Yuan Shuang voiced these doubts.

The white-robed artificer shrugged: “How would I know? Don’t care, don’t care. If you want to know, ask someone else. I still have alchemy experiments to do. Farewell.”

After the white-robed artificer’s figure disappeared down the corridor, Xu Yuanhuai muttered, “T-Tier One?”

If the two white-robed artificers earlier were just teasing them, this artificer had no reason to lie.

This might all be true.

Yuan Shuang said softly, “Tier One! Yuanhuai, father’s grand ambition of twenty years, all his painstaking calculations, his step-by-step development – in the end, it was all destroyed by Xu Qi’an after just two years of cultivation.”

The siblings looked at each other, four words flashing through their minds:

Karmic retribution!

…

In the chamber, Xu Qi’an examined the Observatory Master’s disciples and said, “Alright, let’s continue.”

“I understand your eagerness to replace the old fox Observatory Master. Yongxing and Prince Yan down in the basement understand too, but aren’t you being too hasty?”

“The Observatory Master’s body isn’t cold yet – no, the Observatory Master hasn’t truly fallen. Isn’t it too soon to discuss a new Observatory Master?”

He had arrived at just the right moment to witness the Observatory Master’s disciples’ internal competition – these people planned to compete for the position of new Observatory Master to take control of the Celestial Observatory.

This competition was initiated by Yang Qianhuan, for a simple reason.

“A nation cannot go a day without its ruler. Though Master Observatory Master isn’t dead, he might as well be,” Yang Qianhuan said gravely.

“I believe we need to select a new Observatory Master to make a name for ourselves – no, to benefit the common people. As the most prestigious person in the Celestial Observatory, I should naturally become the new Observatory Master. I hope Xu Yinluo will put in a good word with Her Majesty.”

“In return, I will reveal all the details of how Heavenly Sect’s Holy Son Li Lingsu plotted against you.”

A nation can’t be without a ruler, but does it matter if your measly Celestial Observatory has an Observatory Master or not? Besides, you just want to be Observatory Master to show off, right?… Xu Qi’an waved his hand:

“Li Lingsu is already imprisoned. He’s pitiful enough; I don’t plan to hold it against him anymore.”

He then turned to Song Qing, saying with annoyance, “Senior Brother Song, I really didn’t expect you to be interested in the Observatory Master position too. Shouldn’t you be happy just doing your alchemy experiments?”

Song Qing shook his head and said solemnly, “The Celestial Observatory is Master’s legacy. I cannot allow it to be ruined in Yang Qianhuan’s hands. For this, I am willing to give up my beloved alchemy to compete for the Observatory Master position.”

He does show some loyalty and filial piety… Xu Qi’an thought, but then heard Chu Caiwei say:

“Senior Brother Song is afraid that Senior Brother Yang will donate the Observatory’s money to aid disaster victims again, like last time. Then he won’t have money for his alchemy experiments.”

“Moreover, once he becomes Observatory Master, he can use all the Observatory’s money for alchemy experiments.”

Song Qing said unhappily, “Sister Caiwei, how could you tell these things to an outsider?”

When you need me, I’m Young Master Xu, but when you don’t, I’m an outsider. Xu Qi’an’s head was full of retorts. He glared at the big-eyed cutie:

“Then why are you joining in the commotion?”

Chu Caiwei said seriously, “The senior brothers asked me to come. They said I’m also Master’s disciple and have inheritance rights.”

She looked proud, believing this showed the senior brothers’ respect for her, no longer treating her as a child but as an equal peer.

Hearing this, Xu Qi’an glanced sideways at Guardian Yuan.

Guardian Yuan understood and his azure eyes examined the artificers present, saying slowly:

“Everyone’s hearts tell me: ‘If Chu Caiwei becomes Observatory Master by dumb luck, it would be no different from me becoming Observatory Master.'”

This meant that with Chu Caiwei’s intelligence level, anyone could manipulate her… Xu Qi’an covered his mouth, almost laughing out loud.

It took Chu Caiwei several seconds to understand Guardian Yuan’s words. She stared at her usually respected senior brothers with disbelief.

She felt the deep malice from her senior brothers.

“What about Senior Brother Sun? Do you want to be Observatory Master too?”

Xu Qi’an looked at Guardian Yuan.

The latter immediately read Sun Xuanji’s thoughts:

“I am the second disciple. With First Senior Brother dead, I am first in the line of succession.”

“What about Zhong Li? Have you forgotten about Zhong Li?”

Xu Qi’an thought of his poor dear.

Yang Qianhuan snorted, “With Zhong Li’s fate, she cannot bear the destiny of Observatory Master. If she becomes Observatory Master today, the entire Celestial Observatory will be preparing for a funeral tomorrow.”

This world isn’t worth it… Xu Qi’an massaged his temples, suddenly understanding the Observatory Master very well.

“Fine, I will report this matter to Her Majesty as it is. You all await the news.”

Xu Qi’an cupped his hands, and his form dissolved into shadow.

The next moment, he appeared in the outer hall, seeing his obediently waiting younger brother and sister.

Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai unconsciously held their breath, their faces tense.

The person before them was both their elder brother and a Tier One warrior.

A Tier One warrior!

Xu Qi’an nodded slightly to them, without unnecessary words, and took them through a shadow leap, leaving the Observatory Tower.

In Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai’s vision, the world was covered in a layer of shadow, with scenes of the capital flashing past like a lantern show. When their vision cleared, they saw the main gate of the Xu mansion.

The Xu mansion in the capital, the Xu mansion… Yuan Shuang’s eyes widened slightly, and she suddenly turned her head to look at Xu Qi’an.

He had brought Mother back to the capital!

Earlier in the Observatory Tower, Yuan Shuang had vaguely suspected this.

Now seeing him bring her and Yuanhuai to the Xu mansion, she finally confirmed it.

Father had used him as a tool to contain fate, the royal family of Hidden Dragon City wished they could flay him alive and extract his tendons, and including herself and her brother, who had been influenced since childhood, they all harbored some hostility towards him in their hearts.

But even so, even if everyone wanted to harm him, kill him.

He still was willing to bring their mother back to the capital…

At this moment, Yuan Shuang’s heart felt as if it had been sharply pricked by a needle, making her nose tingle and her eyes turn red.

With slightly blurred vision, she looked at Xu Yuanhuai and saw him lowering his head in silence, his eyes flashing with confusion and shame.