Chapter 1875 — 1875: A Potential Trap

"Have you heard? Some madman has been waging war against the Nine Immortal Clans. I can't even begin to imagine what kind of grudge he must hold to go this far," Elder Jing remarked, her tone laced with curiosity and disbelief as she addressed the stunning woman before her within the Immortal Monastery.

"With everyone and their mother talking about it, it'd be a miracle not to know by now," Elder Sun replied in a tone of utter disinterest, as if the chaos shaking the Nine Immortal Clans was nothing more than idle gossip unworthy of her concern.

Elder Jing fell silent, her gaze lingering on Elder Sun's face—once radiant, now clouded with an unspoken gloom. The reason behind her unhappiness was evident, yet Elder Jing dared not voice it, fearing that even the slightest mention might deepen the shadows in her companion's heart.

Meanwhile, Ren Xia found herself back at the Immortal Sword Clan after being called back by her parents.

Inside a quiet room, facing her parents, Ren Xia spoke, "If you're worried about my safety, I would have been far safer at the Celestial Sword Sect than here."

However, her father merely sneered, as if he found her concern amusing. "That madman may be attacking the Nine Immortal Clans, but most of his victims belong to the Immortal Gu Clan. Our Immortal Sword Clan has yet to suffer any casualties, which means there's a good chance we're not his target."

Ren Xia's eyes widened in surprise.

"What? We haven't been attacked?"

When she had chosen to help Tian Yang, she did so fully aware that it would bring harm to her own family—something she had already come to terms with.

Patriarch Ren shook his head and said, "To begin with, this whole thing started with Gu Lim. Our Immortal Sword Clan has done nothing to offend him."

"That's…"

Although Ren Xia didn't fully understand the depth or reason behind Tian Yang's hatred for the Nine Immortal Clans, she had a feeling it stemmed from more than just Gu Lim. Even so, she chose to stay silent, knowing some things were better left unsaid.

"Even if that madman attacked us, I'm confident you're strong enough to handle it alone," her mother added.

After a brief pause, her father continued, "Anyway, the real reason we called you back today is to see whether you have come to a decision regarding your next partner."

"It hasn't been that long since you last asked me…" Ren Xia said.

"No, but a lot has happened, and we can no longer wait for you. If you don't have a decision by the time you leave this room, we will make the decision for you."

Ren Xia clenched her fists in frustration. Despite her brilliance and countless achievements, she knew that none of it would ever be enough to free her from the fate of being a mere pawn in a political marriage.

After a moment of silence, she said, "Do as you wish. Now that I think about it, it doesn't matter who I marry since I won't have feelings for any of them."

"Then we will do just that," her father responded with no hesitation in his voice.

Her mother merely shook her head in silence.

"If this is all, I would like to return to my cultivation," Ren Xia said a moment later.

"You may leave, but do not return to the Celestial Sword Sect and stay home for now. I plan on inviting your future partner for dinner next week, after all."

"I understand."

Ren Xia returned to her room shortly after and lay on her bed, her gaze empty as she stared at the ceiling in silence. After a while, she reached for a jade slip and held it above her, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotion—contemplation, longing, or perhaps an unspoken resolve.

She brought the jade slip to her lips and began mumbling, "It's me. Let's meet at the same place we last met in five days. I know you probably don't need my help, but I have a way to ensure you'll receive the location of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon with minimal risk. Don't worry, this isn't a trap—I swear on my

Soul."

A few moments after Ren Xia lowered her arm, Tian Yang received her message. He held the jade slip in his hand with a pondering expression as he mulled over its contents.

Though he trusted Ren Xia to some extent, he didn't fully trust her. The timing was too convenient, not to mention that the Nine Immortal Clans had just declared war on him.

There was a real possibility that Ren Xia was trying to lure him into a trap. Yet, Tian Yang couldn't bring himself to dismiss her message outright—mostly because of the tone of her voice.

She hadn't sounded coerced, nor did she carry her usual composure. Instead, there was something else in her voice… something unguarded, almost fragile. It wasn't desperation, but a quiet distress, as if she were struggling with something she couldn't put into words.

Five days later, Ren Xia arrived at the designated meeting place.

"He'll come… right?" she murmured under her breath, uncertainty in her voice. Yet, even if Tian Yang chose not to appear, she wouldn't blame him. Given the circumstances, his wariness was justified.

A few hours later, the door to her room suddenly creaked open.

Ren Xia's body tensed as she instinctively turned toward the entrance, only to find an unfamiliar middle-aged man standing in the doorway. Yet, instead of confusion, a wave of relief washed over her.

"You sure know how to make a lady wait," Ren Xia said, swiftly regaining her composure. Her voice carried its usual teasing lilt, as if she hadn't spent hours anxiously anticipating this moment.

"I had to make sure I wasn't going to be ambushed," Tian Yang said as he sat before her.

"Do you think so little of me? I already swore on my soul that it wasn't a trap," Ren Xia sighed.

"You can never be too careful," he said before continuing after a slight pause. "So, how are you going to help me?"