SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

Red Silk City…

The grand court of the Kai Empire…

The Kai family’s ancestral throne, carved from obsidian and jade, loomed high at the center.

Seated atop it, Emperor Kai rubbed his temples in frustration. His once-proud gaze now appeared clouded, wearied by sleepless nights and boiling fury. Months had passed since his beloved daughter, Princess Chi Kai, was abducted by Kent King, the prideful cultivator from the King family. They had vanished into the accursed Eternal Forest—a place no sane man dared enter.

“Summon the ministers!” his voice roared across the hall earlier that morning. Soon, they stood before him, robes fluttering, faces tense, voices faltering.

The court was heavy with silence until Minister of Defense, Wu Tianlong, stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, we must expand the search. If the princess still lives, we owe it to the royal bloodline to retrieve her.”

A few ministers nodded.

“But if not… perhaps…” he hesitated, voice thick with caution, “we must prepare to name a new heir. The court cannot be left uncertain for long.”

The Emperor’s knuckles whitened on the throne arms. “So you’ve decided she’s dead, Tianlong? Is that the coward’s solution now?”

Tianlong quickly bowed, sweat beading on his brow. “No, Your Majesty… merely a contingency. Rumors spread like wildfire. Other families are growing ambitious.”

“Ambitious dogs can bark all they want,” Yuheng spat. “Do you think I don’t know what they say? But if Kent is dead, who the hell is sending threats to my court every full moon?”

Gasps filled the room.

Everyone had heard of the strange full moon warnings: divine runes burnt into the sky, floating letters sealed with forbidden qi, sometimes even bodies of rogue soldiers returned with chilling inscriptions.

Not one person dared answer.

Then, Minister of Public Rites, Zhao Menzi, coughed and stepped forward. “Your Majesty… the people grow uneasy. Many believe the princess is being punished by heavenly retribution. That this union between her and Kent was fated. The stars—”

“The stars are liars!” the Emperor thundered, standing abruptly. His royal robes fluttered like storm clouds. “Do not speak to me of fate when my daughter is missing, and her captor walks free under the same sky!”

Minister Zhao bowed so low his forehead grazed the stone tiles.

Another minister stepped up—General Liang Feng, a battle-hardened man with a long scar down his jaw. “If I may, Your Majesty. Allow me to lead a group of Spirit Realm experts into the forest. We shall find her—or bring her bones and Kent’s head.”

The Emperor paused.

“For months, you have promised the same thing,” he said slowly, venomously. “Every week, a new troop vanishes or returns with nothing. What of the ten Shadow Mist assassins we sent last month?”

No answer came.

“Dead. All dead. The Eternal Forest devours fools and heroes alike.”

He turned away, pacing the dais.

“Recruit more,” he finally said. “Not soldiers. Seek cultivators who don’t care for politics. Rogue spirits. Wandering saints. Hell, I will even accept mercenaries—if they can prove results.”

There was a stunned silence, then a reluctant nod from many ministers.

“And until I confirm that Chi is truly dead…” he stopped, his gaze hardening like frozen lava, “I will not name another heir.”

Suddenly, Minister Han, an elderly man with a hunched back and long beard, hobbled forward. “Your Majesty, forgive my intrusion… but what of the King family?”

At that name, many ministers stirred. Some smirked. Others whispered.

Minister Han continued, voice croaky. “Despite all restrictions placed on them… they still survive. Prosper, even. It is as if Kent’s disgrace did not shake them.”

A wave of murmurs rose like a tide.

“They spit on our decrees!” barked another minister. “Their shops remain open, their disciples still train, and their name has not withered in shame!”

“Your Majesty,” Han pressed, “If you would allow me… let us enact pressure. Publicly.”

Yuheng narrowed his eyes.

“What do you suggest?”

A cold silence.

Then Han spoke, “On the next full moon… for every letter, every sign of rebellion Kent sends… execute one member of the King family. Drag them here. Let the city watch.”

Even for this hall, those words fell like thunder.

“That is… ruthless,” murmured one minister. “Some of them are innocent—children.”

“The innocent have died because of Kent’s arrogance!” barked General Liang. “Let their blood teach others not to defy the Empire!”

Yuheng clenched his fists. Rage burned his mind, but also a sliver of doubt. Still…

“I am tired of this,” he whispered, then raised his voice.

“Fine. If one more full moon comes with a threat—start the executions. One family member per warning. I want the King bloodline to weep before I break them entirely.”

Just then, the doors swung open.

A palace guard rushed in, falling to his knees. “Your Majesty… urgent news… Lady Lanxia, daughter of the Lake Master, waits outside. She claims to have crucial knowledge about Kent—no, about Kaban King.”

That name silenced the court like a blade across the throat.

“Bring her,” the Emperor commanded.

Moments later, Lanxia entered. Draped in shimmering blue and silver robes, her presence was both regal and haunting. Her eyes, lined with long lashes, glinted with restrained fury.

She bowed with grace. “Your Majesty. I thank you for this audience.”

The Emperor studied her. “You say you know of Kent’s origin?”

She nodded. “Indeed. The man you seek, Kent… is none other than Kaban King—my defiler in his past life.”

Gasps again.

The Minister of Truth, Weng Shuo, shouted, “Blasphemy! A lady dares speak nonsense?”

Lanxia stared him down. “Not nonsense. A memory. You all must know one thing. When Kaban entered the Immortal World, he passed through our Lake Domain Garden. He appeared before me… Before I could restrain him, he-escaped.”

The Emperor leaned forward. “And why did you wait this long to speak?”

“Because I only connected the names now. Kent… Kaban… I watched him from-afar. All these, I stayed in closed cultivation and never knew about the abduction of princess Chi Kai.”

“You say you can find him?”

Lanxia smiled, cold. “Not directly. When I spotted Kaban, he has tens of wives with him. I can find his women. I’m sure that… they are hidden here, in Red Silk City. I can help you capture them. If we take them, he will crawl from the forest like a beast. Then, your Majesty, we can leash the Kaban King.”

The Emperor stood slowly.

“General Bao!” he barked.

The general stepped forth.

“Form a new strike team. Lady Lanxia shall lead. Search every district. Every scroll-house. Every herb stall. Find Kent’s women. Find his weakness.”

General Bao bowed.

“As for the King Family—” the Emperor continued, “From this-moment, they are no longer people of privilege. Strip them of last titles, last guards. Let them live-like beggars until their boy shows his face. Then execute them all.”

Emperor stood up and walked down the steps, stopping before Lanxia.

“If you lie, I’ll let the forest spirits devour you.”

Lanxia bowed again, lips curled in triumph.

“Then may they feast on others, Majesty.”

As she turned to leave, her eyes gleamed like a hunter. The game had begun.

And this time, it wasn’t Kent chasing fate—

Fate was chasing him.