“What do we do, Master?”

  Min Li’s quiet voice pulled Jin Yu out of his thoughts.

  Haozi looked up, lowering his voice.

  “Will she… devour us too, after she's done with the garden?”

  Jin Yu looked at him, his expression darkening.

  “Don’t worry. Both of you focus on your cultivation. I’ll handle her.”

  “Yes, Master." they both nodded quickly.

  “How about the children?” Jin Yu asked.

  “They’re all fine… except one,” Min Li answered carefully.

  Jin Yu raised a brow, sweeping the mansion with his senses. A moment passed before he spoke again.

  “He’s showing signs of forming a cultivation root. Weren’t they just mortals a few days ago?”

  Min Lei gave a small nod.

  “It seems the beast meat they’ve been eating caused it. Their bodies are beginning to absorb the lingering spiritual essence.”

  Jin Yu frowned, a flicker of frustration in his eyes.

  There’s so much for me to do.

  Rainbow needs my attention, and now this…

  So young, yet burdened with so many responsibilities.

  “I’ll get back to you both soon. Don’t worry.”

  He sent his will into the formation room, replacing the spent spirit stones with new ones. One by one, they lit up, breathing fresh life into the Mansion’s veins.

  Then, without a word, he moved his sight to the garden, burying spirit stones gently into the soil, letting their energy seep into the roots.

  A small offering. A quiet effort.

  To help the flowers hold on just a little longer.

  After finishing his task, Jin Yu withdrew his consciousness from the Mansion. The glowing Orb pulsed once in his hand before vanishing into his spatial ring.

  Without a word, he rose to his feet and stepped out of the room.

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  Behind him, Seer’s eyes flickered open. His expression was unreadable as he stared at the closed door Jin Yu had just passed through. Then, without a word, he shut his eyes again and resumed his cultivation, the coin-shaped disc spinning slowly before him.

  ---

  Outside the inn, Jin Yu mounted his horse and rode off in silence, the familiar streets of Sigil City blurring past.

  Minutes later, he stopped before a shimmering structure veiled in a soft, ethereal glow. A delicate plaque hung at its entrance, carved with graceful, blooming strokes:

  GARDEN OF COMPLAINT.

  He dismounted, his boots landing with a soft thud on the paved stone. With no hesitation, he walked in.

  “Welcome, essteem—”

  He didn’t wait for the attendant to finish her greeting. He brushed past her, past the scattered crowd, past the lounging customers, and the towering beings whose heads bloomed with vibrant, otherworldly flowers.

  These creatures looked nearly identical to Rainbow.

  Her kind... Her origin...

  Whoever owns this place might know what’s happening to her.

  His pace didn’t slow as he approached the spiraling staircase made of thick, twisting vines, each step radiating a soft glow underfoot.

  Just as his foot touched the first stair, a voice called out, polite yet firm:

  “Please stop, Young Master. Patrons are not permitted upstairs. The garden below is the only accessible space.”

  Jin Yu turned his head slowly, gaze sharp. He stared at the attendant in silence for a moment, considering whether to respond at all.

  Forget it. he thought. Let’s try polite.

  “I want to see your boss.” he said flatly.

  The attendant blinked, caught off guard by the direct request.

  “O-oh... Do you have an appointment, Young Master?”

  “No,” Jin Yu replied, voice still cold, still flat.

  The attendant blinked.

  “Oh, then may I know what you wish to discuss? I can deliver your mess—”

  “Take me there.” Jin Yu interrupted, his voice cutting cleanly through the air.

  “I’m sorry, Young Master, I can’t do th—”

  “Then scram.”

  His words dropped like a blade, low and sharp, echoing behind him as he turned and ascended the stairs without another glance.

  The attendant stood frozen for a moment, startled. Then he rushed forward in a panic, his steps frantic on the vine-woven steps.

  “Young Master, please stop! You must schedule an appointment before—!”

  Jin Yu’s irritation flared.

  Without turning back, he waved a hand.

  In an instant, a sword formed from condensed spiritual essence surged toward the attendant, striking him squarely on the forehead. It didn’t pierce or injure, but the sheer pressure sank deep into his sea of consciousness, flaring with dominance.

  The sword vanished the next heartbeat.

  But the aftermath lingered.

  The attendant froze mid-step. His limbs locked. A single bead of sweat rolled slowly down his pale face as his breath hitched, and for one terrifying moment, his heart ceased to beat.

  He stood there trembling, unable to speak or move, as Jin Yu continued upward in silence, every step echoing with cold finality.

  DING!

  Dominion recognized!

  [Reward: 1 DP]

  Jin Yu’s steps faltered mid-stride.

  That... worked too?

  A flash of surprise crossed his face. He quickly tapped the small [?] icon hovering in his vision.

  [Control a cultivator below your realm for one second.]

  He froze.

  What.... kind of trash is this? One second? Are you serious?!

  His fingers twitched in frustration. He almost rubbed his eyes.

  The first two Dominion Points gave me an twenty four hours. But this? This is a damn joke.

  His gaze narrowed, an internal rant bubbling.

  You stingy, point-grubbing system. That was intentional, wasn’t it?

  He grit his teeth.

  I need to get my hands on some virus cultivation manual or something... What in all the heavens can I do with just one second?

  Still seething inwardly, he resumed walking through the shimmering corridor, boots tapping softly against the polished floor.

  Forget it. I’ll use it when I need it... even garbage has its use.

  The upper floor was quiet, eerily so.

  Unlike the bustle below, this level felt suspended in stillness. The hallway stretched forward, long and silent, its path lined with glimmering vines that pulsed faintly with life.

  After about a minute of walking, the corridor opened into a spacious chamber. At each corner stood a door, four in total. But only one stood out.

  The wood was deeper, its grain like flowing ink. Elegant carvings shimmered faintly along its surface, subtle but precise. Power hummed from it like a sleeping beast.

  This must be the one.

  Jin Yu walked forward without hesitation.

  He stopped in front of the door.

  And knocked.

  Once.