The shattered porcelain cup lay scattered across the polished wooden floor.
Tea seeped into the woven carpet like ink spreading across paper.
Lin Xue stared at the fragments, his chest rising and falling as though he had just escaped drowning.
It was real.
He was alive.
Not a dream.
Not an illusion.
He had truly returned.
His fingertips curled into his palm until his nails dug into his skin.
A faint sting spread through his hand.
Pain.
Warmth.
A beating heart.
Everything felt so vivid that he almost laughed.
“Young Master?”
The maid knocked once more, concern lacing her gentle voice.
“Are you alright?
The Heavenly Envoy has already entered the palace.
If we delay any longer, His Majesty will surely be displeased.”
Lin Xue closed his eyes.
He remembered this day better than any other.
Five years ago, he had dressed in robes of moon-white silk embroidered with silver clouds.
Every noble son had congratulated him, convinced that Heaven itself favored him.
By sunset…
The Heavenly Oracle would proclaim Ji Chen as his fated dao partner.
The beginning of his happiest dream.
And the beginning of his greatest nightmare.
Lin Xue slowly exhaled.
“Come in.”
The wooden doors opened with a soft creak.
A young maid hurried inside carrying folded robes over her arms.
The moment she saw the broken teacup, her face turned pale.
“Young Master, forgive this servant!
I’ll clean it immediately.”
She knelt without hesitation, gathering the shattered porcelain pieces with trembling fingers.
Lin Xue watched her quietly.
He recognized her.
Qing’er.
She had served him since childhood.
In his previous life…
She had been executed alongside the Lin Clan.
His throat tightened.
“Leave it.”
Qing’er looked up in confusion.
“…Young Master?”
“I said leave it.”
His voice remained calm.
“I’ll have someone clean it later.”
Qing’er hesitated before bowing.
“As you command.”
She rose and unfolded the ceremonial robes.
Snow-white silk shimmered beneath the morning light.
A silver belt.
A jade pendant carved into the shape of a soaring crane.
Everything was exactly as he remembered.
Lin Xue reached for the robe.
His movements suddenly stopped.
Hidden beneath the sleeve…
A faint crimson mark glowed briefly upon his wrist.
His pupils contracted.
The Soul Lotus Seal.
It had followed him into this life.
Impossible…
That seal had only appeared after his death.
Before he could inspect it further, the crimson light vanished as if it had never existed.
“…Young Master?”
Qing’er tilted her head.
“Did something happen?”
Lin Xue lowered his sleeve.
“…Nothing.”
If the seal had truly returned with him…
Then perhaps…
His rebirth was not a coincidence.
Someone…
Or something…
Had sent him back.
The Hall of Heavenly Decree stood atop the highest terrace of the Imperial Palace.
Thousands of white jade steps led toward its towering golden doors.
Today, every influential family in the empire had gathered.
Cultivators wearing embroidered sect robes stood beside court officials dressed in crimson.
Princes.
Generals.
Peak Masters.
Clan Leaders.
Every gaze turned toward the magnificent altar at the center of the hall.
Floating above it…
Hovered a scroll of golden light.
The Heavenly Oracle.
An artifact said to be written by Heaven itself.
It never lied.
It never changed.
Its words determined destinies.
Marriages.
Wars.
Successions.
Even life and death.
At least…
That was what everyone believed.
Lin Xue stepped into the hall.
Instantly, countless eyes landed upon him.
“There he is.”
“The Heaven’s Chosen.”
“They say his cultivation reached the Golden Core Realm before twenty.”
“No wonder Heaven favors him.”
Whispers followed him like shadows.
In his previous life, those same voices had praised him.
Years later…
They would curse him as a traitor.
Lin Xue remained expressionless.
Praise.
Scorn.
Neither mattered anymore.
Near the front of the hall stood the imperial princes.
The eldest wore black robes and stood alone beneath a stone pillar.
His face was partially hidden by a silver mask.
Cold.
Silent.
As though the bustling hall had nothing to do with him.
Prince Mo Yuan.
The Ghost King.
Even before his exile, no one dared approach him.
Rumors claimed he cultivated forbidden techniques.
Others whispered he had slaughtered an entire mountain fortress alone.
Some even believed he had become half-demon.
No one knew the truth.
Lin Xue’s gaze lingered on him for only a heartbeat.
Yet somehow…
Mo Yuan slowly raised his head.
Their eyes met.
Deep black eyes.
Cold as winter.
For the briefest instant…
Lin Xue saw something unfamiliar.
Not indifference.
Recognition.
As though those eyes had searched for him through countless lifetimes.
Before either could react…
A loud voice echoed through the hall.
“His Imperial Majesty has arrived!”
Every official immediately knelt.
“Long live His Majesty!”
Golden robes swept across the marble floor as Emperor Ji Chen ascended the Dragon Throne.
He looked exactly as Lin Xue remembered.
Handsome.
Elegant.
His smile warm enough to fool an entire empire.
The moment Ji Chen noticed Lin Xue…
His smile deepened.
“Young Master Lin.”
His voice carried effortlessly through the hall.
“It seems Heaven has blessed us with another beautiful day.”
Lin Xue lowered his head.
“This subject greets Your Majesty.”
No warmth.
No affection.
Only perfect etiquette.
Ji Chen frowned almost imperceptibly.
Something…
Felt different.
Before he could dwell on it, the Heavenly Oracle suddenly trembled.
Golden light burst across the hall.
Ancient runes spun through the air like countless stars.
The Heavenly Envoy stepped forward, his white beard fluttering in the spiritual wind.
“The decree…”
His voice boomed.
“…is about to descend.”
The entire hall held its breath.
Lin Xue slowly lifted his eyes.
This time…
He would not allow Heaven—or anyone else—to decide his fate.
End of Chapter 2