The wind blew softly through the willows, rustling the tall green reeds by the riverbank.
The young man standing by the thicket blinked once, then twice, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand to make sure the sight in front of him was real.
A grown woman, covered in silver fur, torn silk, and deep red gashes, was lying face down right at the water's edge.
Her silver tails were spread out like a ruined fan, half-soaked in the gray river mud, not moving at all.
Ye Fan, the adoptive son of Ye Family, adoptive brother of Ye Hongyan.
That was his identity.
To the people living inside the thick stone walls of the Ye Heavenly City, he was just a lucky boy picked up from the dirt years ago.
An orphan who had been given a clean bed, three meals a day, and a fine surname because of an old promise made by the clan patriarch.
He wore the fine robes of someone only those rich heirs can afford, and with his intellect, he was able to gain the recognition of the clan elders.
