“What about the disciples of the Celestial Palace?” Jared asked.

“The Celestial Palace only ever had twelve disciples. They were all orphans I took in from different places,” Gwendolyn said calmly. “I’ve already arranged for them to go somewhere safe. For them, the fall of the Celestial Palace is more of a release than anything else.”

Jared studied the woman in front of him—decisive, unwavering, never hesitating.

Too many thoughts surfaced at once, none of them settling cleanly.

She had prepared for all of this long ago.

Not today. Not yesterday. Maybe from the moment she chose to dual cultivate with him, she had already begun setting everything in motion.

“You weren’t worried I’d refuse?” Jared asked.