Qin Tian looked at the four characters “Dongfang Mingyue” on the document, his brows slightly furrowed, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.The direct and collateral lines of the Oriental Family could be clearly distinguished by their names: those with single-character names were all core direct descendants, such as Marshal Oriental Mountain, Grand Elder Oriental Ke, or his comrade-in-arms Oriental Feather from the Demon Suppression Abyss; while those with double-character names were mostly collateral members, such as his good friend Mingyu, and his grandfather Eastern Yunhai.Clearly, Dongfang Mingyue was of collateral origin.But why would a collateral young woman alarm Marshal Lin, who was far away on the Imperial Star, to the extent of specially arranging for him to secretly escort her?Behind this, there must be a hidden secret unknown to others.He suppressed the questions in his heart and continued to read through the documents.Direct relatives: Mother Dongfang Qin (deceased), elder brother Eastern Haoyue; the father column was blank.“Eastern Haoyue—” Qin Tian’s fingertips lightly traced these three characters, a flicker of thought in his eyes.He seemed to have heard this name somewhere.A moment later, he suddenly remembered – back on Elf Star, Alan had once mentioned that a young disciple of the Oriental Family had entered the Elf Race’s sacred Silver Moon Lake a few years ago, and that person’s name was precisely Eastern Haoyue.At the time, he had thought that Eastern Haoyue must be a direct descendant genius heavily nurtured by the Oriental Family, after all, the restrictions of Silver Moon Lake on outsiders were extremely strict; even he only gained entry after helping the Elf Race solve several major problems.For Eastern Haoyue to be able to enter it, the Oriental Family must have paid a considerable price for him.But now, it seemed the matter was far more complex than he had imagined. Why would a collateral disciple receive such a disproportionate allocation of resources from the family?Qin Tian recalled Alan’s evaluation of Eastern Haoyue, a faint light flashing in his eyes; it seemed this brother and sister were far from as simple as they appeared on the surface.He continued to read, the description of Dongfang Mingyue in the document was not extensive, but the key point was exceptionally prominent: alchemy talent.Dongfang Mingyue was a rare genius alchemist, showing astonishing comprehension of the Dao of Alchemy from a young age, and after reaching adulthood, she repeatedly won awards in alchemy competitions across various star regions.Not long ago, she even advanced through all obstacles and forcefully entered the top eight in the “Starry Sky Cup” Qingmu Star Region division competition, organized by the General Alchemy Association.Although the “Starry Sky Cup” was limited to alchemists below rank six, it had no age restrictions, meaning Dongfang Mingyue’s opponents were mostly seasoned alchemists who had immersed themselves in the Dao of Alchemy for decades.And for a young woman in her early twenties to break through among these individuals, her talent and strength had already reached the pinnacle for her age group.The end of the document also noted: The “Starry Sky Cup” champion could directly enter the Imperial Capital Alchemist Association headquarters for advanced studies, guided personally by a ninth-rank alchemist.Marshal Lin sending him to escort Dongfang Mingyue to the capital, the subtext was self-evident—Marshal Lin believed this young woman could win the final championship.“What a truly talented young woman.” Qin Tian looked at the pure and bright smiling face in the photo, a look of understanding appearing in his eyes.The Oriental Family was already famous for producing alchemists, and Dongfang Mingyue’s talent, even within the talent-rich Oriental Family, was considered the cream of the crop. Her dazzling brilliance was very likely to arouse the jealousy of certain hostile forces.Organizations like the Blood Demon Sect, the Heretic God Society, or enemy spies, were always keen on eliminating such geniuses.Marshal Lin sending him was likely due to his strength and style of action, trusting that he could secretly clear all obstacles for Dongfang Mingyue.However—Qin Tian’s brows furrowed again.With Dongfang Mingyue exhibiting such outstanding alchemy talent, even if she was from a collateral line, the Oriental Family should have dispatched experts to protect her.But Marshal Lin still arranged for him to secretly escort her, which indicated that Marshal Lin seemed to distrust the guard forces dispatched by the Oriental Family.“Dongfang Mingyue is currently on Frost Flower Star. In five days, the ‘Starry Sky Cup’ top eight competition will officially begin there.” Yan Qing’s voice interrupted Qin Tian’s thoughts, “Marshal Lin commands that you depart immediately, protect Dongfang Mingyue’s safety throughout the entire journey until she successfully enters the Imperial Capital Alchemist Association headquarters.”Qin Tian put away the documents, straightened his body, and saluted Yan Qing with a standard military salute, his voice strong and clear: “Yes! Mission accomplished!”He turned to look out the window, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes—this journey to Frost Flower Star would likely not be peaceful.He had a vague premonition that protecting Dongfang Mingyue might just be the beginning, and what lay behind it could be a deeper game.And he himself had already entered this game.The morning light of Frost Flower Star carried a gentle coolness, casting slender streaks of light on the carpet through the gap in the hotel room curtains.The light slowly moved, eventually falling on the bed, gently caressing the young woman’s cheek.Dongfang Mingyue’s eyelashes trembled slightly, fluttering like butterfly wings twice, then she opened her eyes—clear—those eyes were as pure as autumn water, with a hint of haziness from just waking up.She sat up, the silk quilt sliding from her shoulders, revealing a small patch of fair skin.The young woman subconsciously raised her hand to cover her cheeks, her fingertips feeling the subtle warmth emanating from her skin, even the tips of her ears quietly turning a faint pink.“Miss, you’re awake? Why do you look like this?” A crisp voice came, as Xiaoyu, wearing a goose-yellow dress, walked in with a cup of warm water.Her face was round, her eyes as lively as grapes, and seeing Dongfang Mingyue covering her face, she immediately leaned in curiously, “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”Dongfang Mingyue lowered her hand, her gaze somewhat evasive: “N-not unwell—it’s just—I had a dream.”“A dream?” Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up, and she immediately sat on the edge of the bed, leaning in closer, “What did you dream about? Your face is so red, you didn’t dream about a handsome guy, did you?”At the mention of this, Dongfang Mingyue’s face grew even redder: “Mm—I dreamed about a man. I, I even took the initiative to hug him.”“Wow!” Xiaoyu instantly became excited, grabbing Dongfang Mingyue’s arm and shaking it gently, “Miss, Miss!Is he handsome? Is he your type? What else did you two do in the dream?”“Why are you so nosy!” Dongfang Mingyue said, embarrassed, reaching out a finger to lightly tap Xiaoyu’s forehead, pushing her back.“Oh, Miss, I’m just curious!” Xiaoyu persisted, shaking her arm and pouting, “Just tell me, just a little bit!”Seeing Xiaoyu’s pitiful look, Dongfang Mingyue sighed helplessly and finally compromised: “Alright, alright—”She closed her eyes, and the scene from her dream appeared in her mind—a street with snow falling everywhere, deserted, with only the warm yellow light of streetlights.She looked at the man, walking towards him step by step. He stood in the snow, his posture tall and straight, his profile cold and hard, like a meticulously carved ice sculpture.“He’s—quite handsome,” Dongfang Mingyue opened her eyes, “He’s the cold-faced handsome type, seems unapproachable.”“Cold-faced handsome guy!” Xiaoyu instantly stood up, her eyes sparkling with gossip, “Miss, do you know him? What’s his name? Have you met before, which is why you dreamed about him?”“You ask too many questions!” Dongfang Mingyue dodged her probing questions, threw off the covers and got out of bed, “I refuse to answer.”She was wearing pure white silk pajamas, the fabric light and clinging, outlining the young woman’s tall and well-proportioned figure, neither too thin nor with any excess flesh, just right.Dongfang Mingyue walked directly to the bathroom. The moment her hand touched the doorknob, the sensor light above the mirror automatically turned on, filling the entire space with warm white light.Her reflection appeared in the mirror—a bare face without makeup, skin fair and luminous, like a freshly peeled egg, not even a single pore visible; eyebrows long and soft, outer corners of her eyes slightly upturned, lips a faint pink, moist and full.“Miss, then I’ll go check for local specialty dishes, okay?” Xiaoyu followed behind, still persistently asking, “The Frost Flower Cake we ate yesterday was so delicious, do you want to try Snow Velvet Soup today? We can chat while we eat?”“I refuse to answer any of your questions.” Dongfang Mingyue interrupted her, picking up a facial towel nearby, “Remember to pick a highly-rated restaurant.”“Oh, alright.” Xiaoyu pouted and reluctantly turned to leave, but not before looking back, her eyes full of the persistence of “I’ll be back.”The bathroom door gently closed, leaving Dongfang Mingyue alone in the room. She turned on the faucet, cupped a handful of clear water, and gently patted it on her face, trying to suppress that inexplicable warmth.But as soon as the cool water touched her skin, fragments of her dream flashed through her mind again—the solid strength she felt when she threw herself into the man’s arms, and the faint scent on him, like a pine forest after snow.Dongfang Mingyue lifted her head, looking at herself in the mirror—the blush on her cheeks had not only not faded but had spread to her neck. She lightly bit her lower lip, a stir of emotion she herself didn’t understand rising in her heart.Who exactly was he?“Wow! This Snow Velvet Soup is too delicious!”Xiaoyu scooped a spoonful of milky white soup into her mouth. The sweet aroma mixed with the delicate texture exploded on her tongue. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she stared at the soup in the bowl as if she had discovered a treasure.“Haha, little girl, thank you for the compliment!” The boss behind the counter smiled, his face full of wrinkles, the cloth in his hand for wiping bowls paused. His tone was full of pride, “My shop has been open for thirty years. I can’t say much about other things, but for this Snow Velvet Soup, you won’t find many places on the entire Frost Flower Star that make it more authentic than mine!”“Boss, your craftsmanship is simply amazing!” Xiaoyu put down her spoon and gave the boss a thumbs-up. Her crisp voice, combined with her chubby face, made her look like an adorable lucky doll. Many customers in the shop were amused by her and laughed out loud.Dongfang Mingyue, sitting opposite, watched this scene, a faint smile spreading across her lips.Xiaoyu was just like that, like a little sun wherever she went, always easily making a dull atmosphere lively.If it weren’t for Xiaoyu by her side all these years, her life would probably have lacked too much warmth.Just then, a middle-aged man stood up, putting on a dark gray overcoat as he walked towards the counter. The bright red scarf with a small flower embroidered on it, around his neck, formed a strange contrast with his rough, even somewhat fierce, face.“Checkout.” The man slapped his smart watch on the counter.“Total 69 yuan.” The boss skillfully quoted the price.“Eating breakfast is so expensive!” The man grumbled, but his fingers quickly tapped to pay on his watch, “If it weren’t for my wife and kids craving your food, I wouldn’t come.”The boss wasn’t annoyed, still smiling cheerfully: “It’s clear, brother, you’re a genuinely caring husband and father. It’s rare to see men willing to get up early to buy breakfast for their families these days.”These words hit the man’s soft spot, and a smile appeared on his face: “Alright, boss, you know how to talk! Just for that, I’ll be back in a couple of days!”“Haha, I’ll give you a ten percent discount then!” The boss waved his hand.The man, carrying the packed Snow Velvet Soup, pushed open the glass door and walked out.A chill seeped in through the door crack. Xiaoyu subconsciously shrunk her neck, just about to complain to Dongfang Mingyue, “It’s so cold outside,” but then she noticed the young woman opposite her looked unwell. Dongfang Mingyue’s eyes were lowered, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath them, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the spoon tightly, her fingertips turning white.“Miss, what’s wrong?” Xiaoyu leaned over and asked softly.Dongfang Mingyue’s voice was as low as a whisper: “Two months ago—I dreamed of this man.”“Ah?” Xiaoyu’s eyes instantly widened, and she quickly pressed, “What happened in the dream? Was it something bad?”Dongfang Mingyue’s eyes darkened, and she nodded gently: “In the dream, his aircraft malfunctioned mid-flight, plummeted from high altitude, killing a young man passing by, and he himself didn’t survive.”“Then I need to tell him quickly! Tell him not to fly that aircraft!” Xiaoyu said, standing up, grabbing her coat, and rushing out the door.Dongfang Mingyue subconsciously raised her hand to stop her, but Xiaoyu had already rushed out like a gust of wind. She could only helplessly lower her hand, murmuring in a voice only she could hear: “It’s no use—fate cannot be changed. Those who try to change it will only make the outcome worse.”Outside the shop, Xiaoyu quickly caught up with the man, grabbing his arm and pointing at the personal aircraft parked by the roadside, speaking rapidly: “Brother, wait a moment! I’m an aircraft engineer. Just now, I heard an abnormal sound from your aircraft. The engine must have a problem! If you get in now, it might crash mid-flight!”The man looked suspiciously at the young girl in front of him—the shop door was clearly closed tightly, so how could she have heard an abnormal sound from the aircraft? “Girl, you’re not lying to me, are you? Your ears are a bit too sharp?”“I’m not lying to you! I’m a Spiritual Energy User too!” Xiaoyu grew anxious, quickly raising her hand, and a soft white light bloomed in her palm.Seeing that Xiaoyu was indeed a Spiritual Energy User, the man’s suspicion instantly vanished—why would a Spiritual Energy User lie to an ordinary person without reason?He quickly thanked her: “Oh, thank you so much, little girl! Then I’ll leave the aircraft here and wait for the insurance company to fix it!”“No problem, no problem!” She waved her hand, then asked, “How will you get home? Your wife and kids are still waiting for breakfast.”The man shook the packed box in his hand and said with a smile: “The ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) kids at home are in a hurry, I’ll just call an unmanned aircraft.”He quickly placed an order on the ride-hailing app, and in less than two minutes, an old black unmanned aircraft landed by the roadside. Its fuselage had several chipped paint marks, looking like an old model that had been used for many years.“Little girl, thank you, goodbye!” The man got into the aircraft and even turned back to wave at Xiaoyu.“Goodbye!” Xiaoyu smiled and waved goodbye, then bounced back into the shop.But as soon as she sat down, she noticed that Dongfang Mingyue’s complexion was even worse—the young woman’s eyes held helplessness, struggle, and a hint of sadness that Xiaoyu couldn’t understand, like a misty lake, so heavy it made her uneasy.“Miss, why are you still unhappy? We’ve already stopped that brother from flying the problematic aircraft, nothing bad will happen!” Xiaoyu tugged at Dongfang Mingyue’s sleeve, trying to comfort her.Dongfang Mingyue was about to say something when suddenly, a loud “boom” came from outside the door, as if a heavy object had smashed to the ground, making the glass cups in the shop tremble slightly.The two exchanged glances, then instantly stood up and rushed out. Following the sound, they saw a black aircraft hundreds of meters away in an open space, emitting black smoke, its fuselage already deformed from the crash, the surrounding snow melted by the explosive heat wave.Dongfang Mingyue and Xiaoyu quickly ran over. By this time, many passersby had already gathered.Two strong men in the crowd were the first to act—they were Spiritual Energy Users, and together they pulled out the unconscious man from the aircraft, then lifted the deformed fuselage and slowly moved it aside.And beneath the fuselage, the scene was so tragic that Xiaoyu instantly covered her mouth—a woman lay in the snow, tightly shielding two young children beneath her, clearly having used her body to form the last barrier for her children at the moment the aircraft crashed.But this flesh and blood body ultimately could not withstand the impact of steel. The woman and the two children had both stopped breathing, their small bodies appearing especially fragile in the snow.Xiaoyu’s hands and feet instantly turned cold, her face as white as paper, and tears uncontrollably welled up—she had clearly intended to save someone, how could it have turned out like this?Dongfang Mingyue stood rooted to the spot, looking at the blood-stained snow, her eyes swirling with complex emotions—regret, sorrow, and a hint of almost despairing powerlessness.She had known all along that once the gears of fate began to turn, they would never deviate from their trajectory because of anyone’s interference, only using more cruel methods to pull everything back to its original course.

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