Atlas raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Finally willing to talk instead of making threats? That's progress."
Shen Jue's gaze sharpened. "This isn't a game. The Emperor will not tolerate interference."
Atlas chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.
"Please, if I wanted to interfere, I'd be running a kingdom, not a trade empire."
He leaned back, his grin widening as he gestured toward Layla.
"But I think I've had enough fun. This is, after all, her sect. So, how about we let the leader of Silver Lotus decide what to do with you?"
Atlas casually handed the figurative reins back to Layla, watching with amusement as all eyes turned toward her.
Layla, for her part, was still trying to process what the hell just happened.
How? How did Atlas put it all together so quickly? How did he go from playing dead to figuring out that this 'Jian Ren' was lying about his identity, that he was a high-ranking noble within the regime, and—worst of all—close to Jinhai himself?
She clenched her fists.
He hadn't just threatened a noble—he had mocked the Emperor's influence like it was a street merchant peddling rotten fruit. And he had done it all with that infuriatingly casual smirk.
Layla's stomach churned, not from fear, but from sheer disbelief.
What kind of man does that and thinks he can walk away unscathed?
More importantly—how much worse would it have been if Atlas had been an enemy instead of an ally?
Layla had already admitted to herself before—she didn't know if she could have controlled him even when she was queen. And now, watching him effortlessly unmask a high-ranking noble, mock imperial power, and turn a potentially fatal confrontation into a negotiation, she was certain of one thing:
It was far better to have Atlas Ryland on their side than to ever have to face him as an opponent.
She inhaled deeply, steadying herself. Enough standing in shock—it was her turn now.
Layla took a step forward, her golden eyes locking onto Shen Jue's. "You came here to gather information, but you've lost more than you've gained" she said, her voice even, calculated.
"If you go back now, you'll return with nothing useful except the fact that you were bested in a battle of wits by a merchant. That's not a good look for someone close to the Emperor, is it?"
Shen Jue's jaw tightened. "I wouldn't call this a loss just yet."
Layla smirked. "Wouldn't you? Because from where I'm standing, you've been unmasked, outplayed, and now you're being given a chance to walk away instead of being dealt with permanently. That sounds merciful to me."
Meyu grinned from the side. "Damn, she's good."
Ignoring the remark, Layla continued. "Here's what I propose. You walk out of here alive and with a choice. You can report what little you've learned and hope your Emperor sees the value in that… or, you can align with us. Work with us, rather than against us, and you'll find that we can be far more useful to you than you initially thought. You probably already know this, but Ryl Trading is our personal merchant. That means opposing us is the same as opposing them. And let's be honest—does your Emperor truly want to cut ties with the biggest economic force in the region? The one responsible for keeping trade routes smooth and the market thriving? If you report back that Ryl Trading stands against him, what do you think happens next? Do you think he'll thank you for putting him in a position where he might have to make an enemy of the force keeping his economy stable? Think hard on that, Jian Ren."
She let the words settle, her gaze unwavering. "I leave that choice to you, Jian Ren."
A quiet chuckle came from the side. Atlas, now comfortably laid down across Meyu's lap, tilted his head slightly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"She's kinda good" he mused, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion.
"Can see why you were interested in her."
Meyu, caught between mortification and amusement, smacked his shoulder lightly. "Shut up. You're supposed to be half-dead."
Atlas just grinned, unfazed. "Exactly. Let a dying man have his observations."
After some time, Lin Wuye and Yuxe Wuye came outside the chamber and stood frozen in place, their mouths so wide open they looked ready to swallow an elephant. The weight of what had just transpired hit them like a tidal wave.
"Our Meilin… our sweet, baby Meilin…" Lin Wuye whispered, voice trembling.
"She just signed a deal with a high-ranking noble?!"
Yuxe Wuye clutched her husband's sleeve, equally dumbfounded.
"A noble directly tied to Jinhai! What just—what just happened?!"
Jiang, passing by, raised an eyebrow at the two utterly bewildered elders. With a sigh, he gently closed both their mouths with one hand and patted their heads like comforting lost children. "Master Lin, Lady Wuye, let's get you both back to your quarters before you pass out from shock."
Still dazed, they let Jiang guide them away, muttering under their breath about how their little girl had just outmaneuvered a noble.
Back inside, Atlas gave Layla a slow clap, still sprawled across Meyu's lap.
"Congratulations. You're now officially a leader worthy of Silver Lotus."
Layla turned toward him, expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she softly punched his shoulder.
"Ow—hey! What was that for?" Atlas groaned.
"For nearly getting us all killed, you absolute idiot." Layla huffed, crossing her arms.
"Your plan was so risky the sect could've gone up in flames."
Atlas only scoffed, completely unbothered. "But it didn't. And it never would have. I never get it wrong."
Layla rolled her eyes, exasperated. "One day, you will. And I hope I'm not there to see it."
Late into the night, the sect was quiet, its members having retreated to their quarters. The weight of the day's events had settled, leaving only the distant hum of the wind outside.
In one of the private rooms, Meyu wrapped her arms around Layla, holding her close in the dim glow of a lantern. They had slept together for the entire month of December, a habit neither had seemed eager to break.
Meyu sighed contentedly. "What a day, huh? Never thought we'd be making deals with high-ranking nobles before bedtime."
Layla hummed, too exhausted to offer much of a response. Just as she was about to drift off, a third voice interrupted.
"You two are so warm. I might never leave."
Layla's eyes snapped open. Slowly, she turned her head—only to see Atlas nestled on the other side of Meyu, hugging her like a damn body pillow.
A moment of stunned silence.
Then—
"ATLAS, GET OUT!"
Atlas groaned, tightening his grip on Meyu.
"Nope. Always slept with Meyu. You're the intruder here."
Layla sputtered, her face heating. "Wha—you—Meyu, say something!"
Meyu, the traitor, only smirked. "Well, he's not wrong… we have always sleep in bed together."
Layla's face turned even redder. "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
She glared at Atlas. "Explain yourself!"
Atlas, completely unbothered, nestled deeper into Meyu's side and sighed.
"Look, I almost died, Meilin. Don't I deserve a little warmth after everything I've been through?"
Layla's eye twitched. "You—! That has nothing to do with this!"
Meyu chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation far too much. "You know, he's got a point. Nearly getting killed is exhausting. Maybe you should let him stay just for tonight."
Layla gaped at her. "Meyu! Whose side are you on?!"
Atlas grinned, tightening his hold on Meyu.
"The side of comfort, obviously. And you should be grateful—I could've just taken your side instead."
Layla turned completely red. "OUT! NOW!"
Before Atlas could retort, the door slid open.
Jiang stood there, arms crossed, an amused look on his face. "You know, I was just passing by, but this is not what I expected to hear."
His eyes landed on Atlas, still shamelessly hugging Meyu like a pillow. Without hesitation, Jiang walked over, grabbed Atlas by the back of his collar, and lifted him effortlessly off the bed like a sack of rice.
"Alright, you've had your fun. Let's go."
Atlas flailed. "Meyu, help me! Betrayal! Treachery! I'm being kidnapped!"
Meyu just smirked, turning over and pulling Layla into a hug instead. "Mmm, goodnight, Atlas."
Layla, still flustered, refused to look at him. "Serves you right."
Jiang carried Atlas out without a shred of effort, completely ignoring his protests. As they reached his own quarters, Jiang slid the door open and tossed Atlas inside—right onto another bed where Bao was already lying down, half-asleep.
Bao cracked one eye open. "...Do I even want to ask?"
Atlas groaned, lying sprawled on the floor. "No. Just let me die."
Jiang patted his shoulder. "Goodnight, Atlas."
Back in Meyu and Layla's room, the warmth between them remained as Meyu gently ran a hand through Layla's hair, calming her down after the chaotic night. Layla exhaled, letting herself relax for the first time in hours.
"You know" Meyu murmured
"I really am grateful for what you did today and yesterday."
Layla scoffed, but her fingers absently rubbed over Meyu's hand in quiet agreement. "You say that, but it was reckless. Atlas had no plan, and we could've lost everything."
Meyu chuckled. "That's just how he is. Infuriating, but never wrong."
A pause.
Then, Layla frowned slightly. "Why didn't Atlas bring Lianhua back?"
Meyu sighed, guessing the answer. "Because he probably gave her the choice. You know how he is by now. He would've let her decide, gave her a choice and he probably insisted that Shrouded Peaks was safer, more comfortable than traveling with him."
Layla was quiet for a moment, then hummed. "Hmph. That does sound like him."
Meyu smiled, hugging her a little closer. "Get some sleep, Meilin. The madness will just get worse with him here now."
Layla remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Does he seriously waste money like that? If the person he saves is truly innocent or worth saving, I get it, but… he spent two gold on Lianhua."
Meyu hummed in thought before answering. "That's just how he is. There was a blind man—an old slave. Logically, he had no real value left. Even I thought so. But Atlas? He didn't care. He bought him, nursed him back to health, fed him, clothed him, treated him like a human being."
Layla blinked. "And?"
Meyu sighed. "And then, after a few months, the man left. Just walked away. Atlas never stopped him. Didn't demand repayment, didn't try to keep him, nothing. Just let him go."
Layla stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. "That's… ridiculous."
Meyu smirked. "Welcome to dealing with Atlas Ryland."