Miles away from Brightmoon Mansion, in the Evernight Estate. Lucien Evernight—the eldest son of current family head Everard Evernight—was shouting orders at his family's guards.
"Who was assigned to this corridor?" He barked. "Come over now."
A young man with a pale face came running.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I just went to..."
Slap!
Lucien was in no mood to listen. He slapped the guard right across his face.
"You useless scum! Haven't I told you not to leave your post?"
"I... I..."
"I don't want excuses," Lucian roared. "My sister is going to be a cultivator. Do you know how many people would want her dead? And you dare to slack off?"
"I... I am sorry, my lord. I won't repeat it again." The guard shivered.
"You better not. Or I will take your head," Lucien growled.
"Lucien, calm down." A voice came from the end of the corridor. An old man, in his late fifties, walked towards Lucian and the guard.
"Father," Lucien bowed. "This fool just abandoned his post."
"It's alright." Everard Evernight patted the guard on his shoulders. "I forgive you this time. Don't slack off again; be vigilant. Or you will be severely punished."
"I will, my lord. Thank you." The guard said in relief. Lucien looked at his father with puzzlement.
"Follow me, Lucien," Everard gestured as he walked out. Lucien followed.
"Are you wondering why I forgave him?" Everard asked as they walked.
"Actually, yes," Lucien said. "You are not the type to forgive that easily, Father."
"I am not," Everard Nodded. "But today is different. My daughter—she is going to change the destiny of our family. We need to keep her safe. For that, we need cooperation from everyone. We can't antagonise our own people, even if it's a guard or a kitchenmaid."
"I understand, Father," Lucien exhaled. "I just feel so anxious. "Are you sure Vivienne possesses a spirit root?"
"Who knows?" Everard sighed. "I am not a cultivator. For now, we can only trust young Lord Alden."
"Young Lord Alden is only an ordinary disciple." Lucien was still worried. "I don't know—can we trust him?"
"Again, I have no idea," Everard said. We will know the truth once the elder from the dawn sect arrives."
"When will he arrive?" Lucien looked at her sky, wondering. "From what Alden told us, he must arrive at any moment now."
"He will come whenever he feels like it," Everard said indifferently. "It's not something we can decide."
"I guess I will have to stay patient," Lucien nodded.
Back in her chamber, thirteen-year-old Vivianne Evernight looked pale like a ghost. She had never been the centre of attention like this. But now, the entire family laid their hopes on her.
"Don't be nervous," Beatrice smiled, gently hugging her daughter.
"But, Mother, what if it's a mistake? What if I don't possess..."
"Then things go back to the way they were," Beatrice assured her. "It's not like we have anything to lose."
"But what if the Dawn sect gets angry and..."
"That won't happen," Beatrice laughed. "A cultivation sect won't bother dealing with mortals over such petty matters. The stronger cultivators don't even interact with mortals."
Vivienne nodded. She still looked nervous. But her mother's words calmed her down a bit.
"I will go and meet your father now. Stay here, okay? Don't leave this room."
Vivienne nodded to Beatrice. Beatrice smiled and walked out, closing the door behind her.
A few moments later, the wooden door creaked open. A guard came in and bowed.
"Young lady, your father called you. The Dawn sect elder is here."
"But Mother told me not to get out," Vivienne hesitated.
"Lady Beatrice is in the corridor. You may ask her if you wish." The guard made way for her.
Vivienne hesitantly walked towards the door. The moment she passed the guard, the guard's eyes flickered with a cold gleam. He suddenly pulled out a dagger and covered Vivienne's mouth from behind, placing the cold metal on her neck.
"Sorry, but this is my mission," he muttered. He was about to slit her throat, but then he froze.
The assassin stood still. His eyes widened. He was unable to move. None of his muscles were budging. Vivienne, who was horrified, realised something and struggled out of his grip.
"Guards!" She cried out loud.
The sounds of boots hitting the ground were heard, and guards ran in, one after the other. They saw the frozen assassin and saw the dagger in his hand. They quickly surrounded him.
"What happened?" Beatrice ran in, her breathing heavy. "Vivienne, you okay?"
"She is. Thanks to me," A cold snort was heard from the other end of the corridor. A young man in his twenties appears out of nowhere, as if he just materialised out of thin air.
"Young Lord Alden!" Beatrice bowed. "Thank you for protecting my daughter."
Two more figures entered the room. Everard and Lucien. Lucien's eyes burnt with fury as he found out what happened.
"I told you idiots to guard everywhere! "Why were you not guarding here?"
"There was somebody guarding here, milord," the head guard gulped. "But he is the one who—"
Everyone looked at the frozen assassin. He was the guard assigned to guard the corridor outside Vivienne's room.
"Bastard! Have you grown senile?" Lucien kicked the head guard hard. He stumbled and fell on his back.
"F... forgive me, milord," The head guard was shaking with fear.
"If young Lord Alden wasn't here, my daughter would be dead," Everard said coldly. "Forget about not being able to discern a spy; you even had him guard the most important position. This negligence can't be pardoned."
Everard turned towards other guards.
"Throw him in the dungeons for now. We will decide his punishment later on."
A group of guards grabbed the head guard right away.
"Forgive me, milord... give me a chance," He kept crying as they dragged him away.
Alden, meanwhile, looked uninterested in all this. Everard turned towards him.
"Young lord, this assassin..."
"Just get rid of him," Alden said dismissively. "Finding a spirit root holder is highly rewarding. I won't forgive him after he nearly took it all away from me."
"Understood, young lord." Everard was planning to interrogate the assassin first, but since Alden told him to kill, he would kill.
"Off with his head," Everard ordered.
The guards grabbed the frozen assassin and dragged him out to be executed. Everard turned to his daughter. Vivienne was in tears.
"Father, I am scared. I don't want to be a cultivator. "I just want to live peacefully," she cried. Beatrice held her close, consoling her.
"My daughter. "It's alright now." Everard stepped forward and stroked her head. "Nobody will try to harm you again. I will protect you."
"But...but..."
"Don't cry. 'As soon as the Dawn sect elder arrives, all of these will be over,' Everard smiled gently. He then turned to his wife. "Take her inside. You stay with her all the time. Don't leave her."
"Understood, husband." Beatrice held Vivienne close and guided her inside. Once they closed the door, Everard turned to Lucien.
"Son, you guard this door yourself."
"Of course, Father," Lucien bowed.
"Young Lord Alden. Are you..."
"I am staying here too," Alden said, yawning. "I can't risk losing my reward."
Everard nodded and walked out through the corridor.
"I hope he arrives before any more attempts at my daughter's life," Everard muttered.