Chapter 131: The Blood-Stained Steel Pipe

The morning sun cast long, slender shadows across the courtyard, where the dew still clung to the petals of the peonies like scattered pearls. A profound silence hung in the air, heavy with the scent of damp earth and ancient stone. Within the secluded garden, the master of the estate sat motionless, his gaze fixed upon the koi pond, where the ripples whispered secrets to the reeds. Time seemed to suspend its relentless march, allowing the world to settle into a fragile, fleeting equilibrium. Every breath felt deliberate, a quiet tribute to the stillness that reigned before the inevitable stirrings of the day.