I alone am the Honoured One!

The morning sun bathed the courtyard in a golden hue.

Zhao Tian sat leisurely on the chair, one leg crossed over the other as he sipped his tea.

Yan Zijin sat across from him as she poured another cup of tea for herself.

Her expression was calm, but her eyes occasionally darted to his face, watching him with subtle concern.

Though she said nothing and continued to drink their teas.

Just then, the sound of quick steps approached the pavilion.

"Lady Zijin! Brother Tian!"

Both turned to see Fen Cheng approaching from the path, her maid robes fluttering slightly as she bowed with an eager smile.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said brightly, "but Lady Rui Lian wishes to see you both. She said it's urgent."

Yan Zijin set her cup down with a gentle clink, her gaze sharpening slightly. "I see..."

Zhao Tian stood up and muttered "Master..."

With a nod, Yan Zijin rose as well, smoothing her robes. "Let's hope it's not bad news."

...

The soft crunch of gravel echoed beneath their steps as Zhao Tian and Yan Zijin followed Fen Cheng through the winding stone paths of the Rui Clan manor.

Morning mist clung to the flowerbeds, and gentle birdsong mingled with the rustle of plum leaves overhead.

They arrived at a quiet wing of the manor, guarded by two silent cultivators in Rui Clan armor.

At their approach, one of them stepped aside and pushed open a polished wooden door with reverence.

"This way," Fen Cheng whispered in a soft voice.

Zhao Tian and Yan Zijin stepped into the room.

Sunlight filtered in through the paper-screen windows, casting golden patterns over the floor.

Rui Lian sat on a couch beside her bed, her long green hair was loosely tied behind her back, and a faint sheen of sweat clung to her brow.

Despite that, her eyes were bright and unwavering as she looked up.

When her gaze met Zhao Tian's, her lips curved into a soft smile "Little brother.."

Then her gaze shifted, falling upon Yan Zijin.

Rui Lian slowly stood up from the couch, clutching the edge of her robe for support.

"…Master," she said with reverence.

Yan Zijin gave a faint nod and her eyes softened.

Without saying anything more, she moved forward and sat beside Rui Lian on the cushioned couch, placing a hand gently atop the girl's hand.

Zhao Tian said nothing, only watching them closely as he took a seat on the opposite couch.

A strange unease settled over him as something about Rui Lian's pale complexion and that forced smile gnawed at his gut.

Looking at her up close, Yan Zijin let out a soft sigh. "We rushed here as soon as we could. You didn't get into any big trouble, did you?"

Rui Lian shook her head, though her lips trembled "No. Master... I'm glad you came. Truly."

She looked down at her hands, as if ashamed of something, her knuckles tightening until they went white.

"The thing is… I have a problem with my family," she said quietly.

Zhao Tian's eyes narrowed slightly and Yan Zijin's fingers stopped their gentle motion.

Rui Lian took a deep breath, then looked up "They're trying to revive our ancient matriarch… through me."

Both Zhao Tian and Yan Zijin were stunned and stared at her in silence.

"…Trying to revive your Matriarch?" Yan Zijin asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.

Rui Lian gave a small, reluctant nod. "Yes. The founder of our branch family… She died over thousands of years ago. Her soul has been preserved in an ancestral jade urn. And now, the elders… they're planning a ritual."

Yan Zijin's eyes narrowed. "What kind of ritual?"

Rui Lian hesitated and her fingers twisted into the fabric of her robe, her eyes trembling as if she feared the words themselves.

"…They want her soul to take over my body."

Zhao Tian's eyes shrunk in shock 'A soul taking over another body...'

Yan Zijin's lips parted in disbelief. "You're… serious?"

Rui Lian nodded again. "They said I'm the only compatible vessel. The direct descendant with the purest bloodline."

"They say that the Matriarch's soul will merge with mine, and her wisdom and power will return… to restore the glory of our clan."

"I asked what would happen to me, but no one answered that part."

Yan Zijin's gaze lowered "…That's not a 'merging.' That's possession. How do they even do this?"

"They're going to kill you and replace you with a dead woman."

Rui Lian flinched but didn't deny it.

"I didn't want to believe it either at first," she whispered. "They spoke of it as a sacred rite and said it is an honor beyond all comprehension. But…"

She raised her head and looked directly at Yan Zijin "…I don't want to die."

Yan Zijin let out a deep sigh, contemplating the things she just heard "What did your grandfather say and your parents?"

With a shake of her head, Rui Lian replied "My grandfather opposed it, but my parents didn't say anything."

"Who exactly is behind this?" Yan Zijin asked. "Give me names."

"I… I don't know all of them," Rui Lian muttered.

"But the High Priestess was the one who told me first. And Elder Yun and then my father. They were the ones who said the soul had been stirring ever since I came of age."

Zhao Tian's gaze lowered in thought 'Needs a compatible vessel... For Jing'er, it's her own body. It should be compatible. If only I get the technique to let a soul take over a body.'

Rui Lian's lips trembled "But... I don't want to die. I don't want to wake up one day and no longer be me."

Yan Zijin leaned forward and hugged her in her arms "Don't worry, now that we are here... nothing will happen to you."

She gently patted Rui Lian's back 'Reviving a dead person? I have never heard about stuff like that...'

'After death, a soul naturally vanishes, but there might be powerful artifacts that can hold a soul before it departs.'

'But still... letting that soul take over another body. That's ridiculous.'

'What is this clan thinking?'

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I hope you guys liked this chapter!