Heavens' Laughter

Sitting beneath a large pavilion adorned with crane designs and surrounded by a vast lake, Cai Xiu and Hè Jun settled into the comfortable, oversized wooden seats on opposite sides.

The tea had already been set out and prepared, accompanied by small pieces of bread.

The Royal Guards stood a short distance away on the stone bridge, granting the two childhood friends some privacy.

Of course, if anything were to happen, they would react in an instant; covering that distance was nothing to them. Besides, every area within the Royal Imperial Palace was strictly prohibited and heavily secured.

"This is strange. Where is Shadow, your bodyguard? Doesn't she usually accompany you?" Hè Jun asked, beginning the conversation as she sipped her tea.

She had noticed her childhood friend's bodyguard wasn't present.

In the Royal Imperial Palace, no one was permitted their own personal space or allowed to hide themselves; it was a divine rule set by the Emperor himself.

And so, Hè Jun found it strange that someone who was always by her childhood friend's side was suddenly absent.

Of course, at the unexpected question, Cai Xiu choked slightly on her tea, caught off guard by its suddenness. She set her cup down on the marble table:

"Shadow? Um… she's not feeling well, so I've given her some time off!"

"You gave Shadow time off? You? Of all people?" Hè Jun exclaimed, her disbelief clear.

It struck her as even stranger; earlier, she had seen her childhood friend's smile, and now she realized her friend had granted her bodyguard some time off.

'What the fuck happened to her?' Hè Jun wondered to herself. While these changes were positive, the speed at which they had occurred seemed impossible.

Itching her cheek, Cai Xiu replied, "Well, let's just say I've been humbled recently."

She didn't want to delve into the details, especially since she didn't want her childhood friend to know about her current state of impurity.

After all, it would be quite embarrassing.

Hè Jun felt her mouth nearly drop open as she processed the word "humbled" in her mind.

However, sensing that her childhood friend didn't want to discuss it further, she quickly shifted gears, her curiosity piqued by other matters:

"Ah! Speaking of recent… how did the whole cancellation of the engagement go? Are you finally free from that coward? The Second Young Master of the Feng family?"

Silence.

Cai Xiu fell silent for a couple of seconds; it felt uncomfortable for her Master to be brought up in such a manner.

After all, she knew his true self, and he was by no means a coward.

However, Cai Xiu bit the bullet and responded with a forced smile, "Yeah, our families agreed on the cancellation."

"That's great!" Hè Jun exclaimed, leaping from her seat with excitement, her hands landing firmly on the table. "This is truly a day to celebrate!"

She had seen how trapped her childhood friend had felt in that engagement for so long, and listening to her and all her brothers complain about it had become rather annoying.

So, Hè Jun was glad it was finally broken, as it brought her some much-needed peace.

"Let me pour you a cup! You're a free woman!" she said, grabbing the teapot and motioning for her childhood friend to extend her cup.

"Thank you…" Cai Xiu extended her cup as the tea was poured in. Once it was filled, she took a sip.

She wanted to laugh at the idea of being "free," as she was by no means free—she was now a slave… a maid who would eventually be worked like a horse.

This was something Cai Xiu knew she could never share with her childhood friend.

She knew she would immediately rush to confront her Master, and that would only lead to death.@@novelbin@@

'It would be like leading a chicken to a dragon…' Cai Xiu mused, envisioning the bloody scene playing out in her mind.

She knew that would only lead to her childhood friend's death.

Despite her childhood friend being at a higher level of cultivation, her Master was far more experienced in life-and-death battles.

And from what Cai Xiu had witnessed firsthand, her Master's ease in killing was proof of this experience.

Having sat back down, Hè Jun poured herself some tea:

"I have to warn you: now that your engagement was cancelled, my brothers are going to bother you a lot more... so be prepared, especially when we enroll in the Soaring Academy."

Hè Jun was a bit worried about her childhood friend's safety when the day came for them to enroll in the academy.

She knew her brothers all too well; they would do anything to win her childhood friend's hand in marriage, especially using the academy as a means to get closer to her.

After all, Hè Jun knew that some of her brothers were very shameless and would resort to drugs or any means necessary to get the women they wanted.

Though that was on the rare side. It usually wasn't that hard for them, given their status, power, wealth, and good looks.

Hearing her childhood friend's concern, Cai Xiu offered a genuine smile and replied, "Don't worry. I'll be fine. Plus, we haven't even been accepted yet; we still have to pass the trials."

She felt confident in that regard; after all, her Master had assured her that she would be able to cultivate in peace.

Despite not knowing him very well, Cai Xiu guessed he was likely quite possessive and wouldn't want her to stray far from him.

'Wait, is Master even enrolling?' The thought crossed her mind.

Cai Xiu knew that most of the younger generation in the upper realm aimed to enroll in the Soaring Academy, hoping to pass all the trials for acceptance.

It was the most prestigious academy, designed to nurture young men and women by enhancing their strength in every aspect.

The Soaring Academy prepared them to enter the cultivation world, allowing them to join any sect or temple of their choosing and significantly boosting their chances of success.

'What am I thinking? Of course Master will enroll; the benefits are too significant to ignore...'