CHAPTER 96: GARDEN OF BLUE ROSES

The next day.

Hei Long arrived at the Ocean City royal estate again, this time walking calmly past stunned guards who were told not to stop him.

The whispers trailed behind him.

"That’s the guy?"

"The one who stole from Lady Yinyin... and lived?"

"They say she invited him back. Voluntarily."

He didn’t bother to acknowledge them. His eyes were focused ahead, where a private archway led to a serene garden no outsider had stepped foot into in over a decade.

Inside the Garden

The scent of ocean dew and wild jasmine filled the air. Blue roses—delicate, glasslike petals—lined the winding paths. Water streamed from floating lotus fountains, enchanted to form soothing musical notes as they flowed.

Lan Yinyin stood in the center. Dressed in flowing pale blue, her long hair braided with pearls, she looked less like a cultivator and more like a divine priestess awaiting a god.

Hei Long paused at the entrance.

She turned slightly. "You’re late."

"I came precisely when I meant to," he replied smoothly.

She blinked.Bold. Again.

"Most men kneel when I invite them here."

"I’m not most men." He walked past a flowerbed, fingers grazing the air. "Besides, you don’t want them. You want the ones who make you feel something."

Lan Yinyin’s eye twitched.

She crossed her arms. "You think you can read me that easily?"

Hei Long smirked. "You wouldn’t have left your family’s seal in that auction item if you didn’t want someone like me to notice you."

Her cheeks flushed ever so slightly. "I did that to prove a point."

"You proved you had bad luck."

"...!"

Tea, Ego, and Subtle Seduction

They sat down by a small koi pond under a crystal canopy.

She poured him tea with the grace of royalty. "You’re very strange."

"You’re very interested."

"...You’re not wrong."

Hei Long raised the cup to his lips.

"You invited me to this private place. You’re dressed like it’s a date. And you’re staring at me like I’m the rarest pill you’ve never managed to consume."

Lan Yinyin, the Royal Daughter of Ocean City, almost spit her tea.

She turned her face away, pink rising in her cheeks. "Y-You’re too much..."

Hei Long leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "And yet... you don’t want me to stop."

Her heart pounded. She hated that he was right.She hated even more how much she wanted to drag him into the koi pond and drown in his arrogance.

Meanwhile...

Outside the garden walls, one of Lan Yinyin’s maids was reporting to the Prince.

"She’s smiling, Your Highness."

"Smiling?! My sister doesn’t even smile when she gets Spirit Stones!"

The Prince’s face twisted in horror. "We must stop this!"

But then the maid added:

"She said if anyone interrupts, she’ll feed them to her Ice Serpent."

"...We must let this run its course."

Back in the Garden

As the koi fish swam lazily beneath them, Lan Yinyin finally sighed. "You know you’re dangerous, don’t you?"

Hei Long sipped his tea. "That’s why you invited me."

She gazed at him. "...If you weren’t so infuriating, I might like you."

He stood up.

She blinked. "Where are you going?"

He walked to the exit. "I don’t need to hear ’might.’ When you’re ready to chase me instead... I’ll be waiting."

Lan Yinyin stared in stunned silence as he disappeared through the archway.

"...He really... just walked away?"

She placed her hand over her heart.

Badum.

"...I’m going to kill him."

A pause.Then a smile.

"After I marry him."

After Hei Long’s infuriating departure—no bow, no thanks, and certainly no apology—Lan Yinyin remained standing in the garden like a statue.

The koi fish were no longer peaceful.

They were swimming in panicked circles, sensing the cold spiritual pressure she was subconsciously letting off.

"That arrogant... smug... stupidly handsome... bastard."

She clenched her fists.

No one had ever left her mid-conversation.

No one had ever walked away while she was talking.

No one had ever made her heart beat like this while also triggering her blood pressure.

And so, Lan Yinyin did what any emotionally repressed, prideful royal genius would do.

She stormed back to the palace.Burst into the inner family meeting room.And declared with all the weight of her royal title—

"I have chosen my next mission. I will either defeat Hei Long... or tame him."

The entire room fell silent.

Even the Prince, her older brother—who had just taken a sip of tea—choked and spit it out.

"You what?"

Lan Yinyin ignored him.

She turned to the royal steward. "Send word to the Ocean City Tournament Committee. I want to oversee every match he participates in."

"But Lady Yinyin—"

"Also," she added, tossing her long hair with dramatic flair, "inform my subordinates that no one is to interfere. No one is to touch him. No one is to even breathe near him without my permission. If I hear of any plot, I will personally shave their heads and exile them to the Frozen Islands."

The guards saluted in absolute fear. "Yes, Lady Yinyin!"

The Prince slammed his fist on the table. "You’re obsessed!"

"Correction," she replied, walking toward the window overlooking the distant tournament grounds."I’m interested. Deeply."

Then, with a smile—

"And no man has ever earned that."

Meanwhile... Hei Long

Back at the sect’s guest manor, Hei Long was leaning on a balcony, sipping wine casually.

A soft breeze rustled his robes.

Sheng Moxian popped up behind him, arms wrapped around his waist like a possessive ghost. "You’ve got another woman on your trail."

"I know," he replied.

"You like it."

He chuckled. "Of course I do."

. . . .

Lin Fan had barely recovered from his brutal Spirit Realm training. His robe was half-burned, his hair had patches missing, and he smelled faintly of river fish.

And yet—despite all odds—he felt good.

The old man in his head had finally given him praise.

"Boy... for once, you’re not completely hopeless."

It was the first genuine compliment he’d gotten in 70+ Chapters.

So, when he marched into the arena courtyard for the next round of the Ocean City Tournament, his chin was high, his spirit confident...

...until he saw her.

Lan Yinyin.

Sitting in a massive elevated viewing booth made entirely of glimmering blue ice and gold coral. Surrounded by royal guards. Glistening under sunlight like a divine being.

And just as Lin Fan was about to gawk in awe—She leaned forward...

...and stared directly at Hei Long.

The booth had a telescope. She adjusted it like she was locking onto a rare beast in the wild.

"Hei Long..." she muttered, "what will you do this time?"

Lin Fan’s jaw dropped.

"She’s... here for HIM?!"

His knees buckled.

His confidence evaporated.

His cultivation spirit nearly died again.

"No. No! This is my arc! This is my fated meeting!"

Suddenly, Lin Fan’s brain began to spiral. Fast.

—She’s royalty.—He’s a random Saint with a smug face.—You, Lin Fan, are the protagonist!—You’re supposed to win her over, marry her, and become a dual cultivation legend!

So he stood up on the railing of the arena. Screamed out across the crowd:

"LAN YINYIN!"

Everyone stopped.

Even Hei Long raised an eyebrow.

Lan Yinyin blinked and looked down. "...Who?"

"I AM YOUR FATED MAN!" Lin Fan shouted, fists clenched. "FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, YOU ARE MY PERSONAL MISSION!"

The entire arena went silent.

And then—

"PFFFFT—!!" Hei Long actually choked on air and started laughing.

Sheng Moxian fell off her seat.

Mu Qianxue leaned over and whispered, "Did he hit his head in the Spirit Realm?"

Bai Luoluo just shook her head like he was a sad dog.

Meanwhile, in the royal booth—

Lan Yinyin turned to her assistant.

"Who is that...?"

"I believe he’s the one who keeps challenging trash cans and losing."

Lan Yinyin paused.Shrugged.

"Unimportant."

Back in the stands, Lin Fan collapsed to his knees.

"Why didn’t that work? I yelled it with everything I had..."

Inside his head, the old man sighed so hard, it caused an internal earthquake.

"You idiot... That’s not how women work."

"BUT SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE MY ARC!" Lin Fan sobbed.

"She didn’t even look at you until you screamed. I’d say you lost even more face than before."

Later that Night...

Lin Fan could be found sitting alone in the sect courtyard, hugging his knees.

Hei Long passed by with two girls leaning on each shoulder, sipping wine.

"Hey, Fan-boy," Hei Long smirked. "I heard you made a personal mission today. How’s that going?"

Lin Fan sobbed louder.