Free Web NovelChapter 4: Chapter 4—Illusion Intent
Chapter 4—Illusion Intent
Lei Cheng quickly went through the remaining prophecies.
’I can’t understand them.’
He frowned. He could only decipher a few lines—the rest remained incomprehensible. The third prophecy, as far as he could estimate, was related to the city itself.
Just then, loud voices broke through the realm.
"Young Master!"
"Young Master, are you all right?"
Before he could process what was happening, he vanished from the inner realm.
Lei Cheng felt his body being shaken. He snapped open his eyes.
It took a few moments for his vision to settle. He was lying on his bed, servants and maids crowded around him. An old man with a long beard, clad in a gray robe, pressed his fingers to his wrist and checked his pulse, then stroked his beard and nodded.
"Master Lei, he’s all right now."
He turned toward the middle-aged man sitting on a wooden rocking chair at the far end of the room. The man wore an embroidered blue silk robe, his face majestic—long black hair tied back neatly, jaw cleanly shaved. His entire bearing radiated the stern, unshakeable temperament of someone who had held power for many years.
"Doctor Chen—what went wrong?"
His voice was low, yet it filled the room completely.
"Master Lei Feng," the old doctor replied, saluting. "The Young Master fainted due to mental exhaustion. He’ll need to regain his mental strength."
"’Mental fatigue.’" Lei Feng rose from the chair and folded his hands behind his back.
Doctor Chen nodded. "Yes. It happens sometimes under certain conditions. He will be fine—please follow the prescription I’ve left, and it would be best to burn a Clear Purple Lily in his room."
"Good. Thank you, Doctor." Lei Feng saluted the old man and waved his hand. The room emptied swiftly.
Lei Cheng sat up on his bed and studied his father quietly.
’He really is handsome.’
He nodded to himself. Lei Feng, despite being middle-aged, was extraordinary—slightly muscular, with lightly tanned skin, though not as fair as Lei Cheng’s own complexion.
"Are you satisfied?"
Lei Feng’s voice remained low, but Lei Cheng straightened his back instinctively. His father was furious.
"I told you long ago—stop going to those kinds of places." Lei Feng’s face tightened. "You are a disgrace to the Lei Clan."
Lei Cheng let the words wash over him without reaction. As the scolding continued, his mind was already working elsewhere.
’Every detail points to the bride.’ He narrowed his eyes. ’I’ll have to save myself.’
Just as Lei Feng drew a long breath to calm himself, Lei Cheng rubbed the back of his head and said quietly, "I want to call off this marriage."
Lei Feng’s eyes went wide. "What did you say?"
A rare crack in his composure.
"Xiao Ming is too talented and powerful," Lei Cheng repeated, just as quietly. "I am unworthy of her. I want you to annul the marriage."
"Idiot." Lei Feng’s voice snapped like a whip.
In the corridor outside, the servants and maids who had been peeking in stumbled over each other and scattered. Yun Che paced the hallway, one ear pressed toward the room. ’What trouble have you caused this time, Young Master?’
"The marriage date was set for tomorrow," Lei Feng said coldly. "It will happen—whether you agree or not."
"I cannot agree to this, because—" Just as Lei Cheng was about to reveal the fox mark on his chest, Lei Feng cut him off.
He pointed his index finger directly at his son. "Do you know that the Xiao Clan is the strongest in Azure Cloud City?"
Lei Cheng’s memories rushed in. The Lei Clan was the wealthiest in the city. The Xiao Clan was the strongest. The Xiao had recently run into serious trouble and needed a large sum of money, so they had approached the Lei Clan and proposed an alliance, sealed by marriage.
’At least they aren’t completely unreasonable,’ Lei Cheng clicked his tongue inwardly. ’Unlike many powerful clans, the Xiao Clan didn’t force or massacre directly for money.’
"What do you think would happen if you went out and cancelled this marriage?" Lei Feng clenched his fist—then slowly unclenched it and turned away. He walked toward the door, leaving behind only a few words.
"You cannot bring destruction upon the Lei Clan. Remember that."
’Damn it.’ Lei Cheng gritted his teeth after his father had gone. ’Another way. There has to be another way.’
He stood up. His head still ached—but he had no time to rest.
’The Dao of Illusion.’
The thought clicked into place after a few minutes of pacing. He walked to the mirror and waved his palm.
[ Ding! You have activated Illusion Intent ]
A white light swept over his body and vanished.
"Yun Che," he muttered, staring at the reflection.
In the mirror stood a seventeen-year-old boy with dark skin, an ordinary face, medium build, long black hair tied neatly, and dressed in Lei Cheng’s discarded blue silk robe.
’Yes. This should work.’ Lei Cheng grinned. ’Finally—a solution.’
He waved his palm, and the illusion dissolved, his true appearance returning.
’It’s only an illusion. Not an actual body transformation.’
He reviewed how the ability had operated. Then—just as his thoughts began to drift—one small detail snagged his attention.
’...Gray hair.’
His eyes widened. A few thin strands of gray had appeared among his otherwise jet-black hair. He remembered clearly—when the golden light had washed over his skeletal body, every strand had turned deep black. All of it.
He touched the gray strands slowly.
They felt dry. Lifeless.
’Wait. Is this because of the fox mark—or is it the Illusion Dao?’
’Let’s test it.’ He waved his hand. White light flashed again. This time, the figure in the mirror was Lei Feng. He cancelled the intent, and his own face returned with a few more gray hair strands.
’So it really is the Dao.’
He nodded—bitterly.
’The Dao prophecy. Those who walk it rise only to be claimed in time.’
’So that’s what it means.’
He moved quickly to the third line.
’No height escapes its hunger.’ He rubbed his forehead. ’No height—the highest levels of cultivation. But hunger—what does the Dao consume? What is it hungry for?’
He rubbed his forehead. ’It doesn’t matter right now. The answers will come in time. Focus on the present—not the problems of the future.’
He clapped his hands. "Yun Che."
Swish!
Yun Che stepped through the doors and bent slightly, saluting with a palm-and-fist. "Young Master." freewebnøvel.coɱ
Lei Cheng looked at him sharply. "I want you to switch places with me—and marry Xiao Ming."
"What?!"
Yun Che’s hands dropped. His eyes went wide. "Young Master—this isn’t right."
Lei Cheng raised his palm. White light flashed—Yun Che’s appearance shifted into Lei Cheng’s, and Lei Cheng’s into Yun Che’s.
"This...." Yun Che’s mouth hung open.
He stepped back instinctively.
"Young Master... if this is discovered, we’ll both die."
"I don’t agree." Yun Che’s voice turned stiff.
"Why?" Lei Cheng asked.
