Rover pondered thoughtfully. As mentioned earlier, she did not believe Jinhsi would go back on her word, so she suspected Changli was acting on her own initiative to scheme something.
If they could all go together to ask Jinhsi directly, Changli's intentions would naturally be exposed—provided Changli didn't secretly contact Jinhsi beforehand.
Thus, she proposed a compromise: "Changli, you just said yourself that you cannot speak for Jinhsi, so we need to hear Jinhsi's opinion directly."
"And starting now, you are not to contact Jinhsi privately."
To their slight surprise, Changli also smiled and agreed without hesitation: "Very well."
"But... if Jinhsi also wishes for Lucian to remain in Jinzhou, then you, Rover, must not interfere."
Rover crossed her arms and replied expressionlessly: "Fine, as long as Lucian agrees to it himself."
Lucian: "..."
A faint smile tugged at Changli's lips as she recalled the scene from a few days prior...
...
"Where am I...?"
After the battle at Mt. Firmament, Jinhsi had fallen into a long coma from exhaustion.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Changli sitting by her bedside, gazing at her tenderly.
"You're awake?"
"Teacher..."
Jinhsi propped herself up and immediately asked, "What of Mt. Firmament?"
Changli smiled softly. "You... the moment you wake up, you worry about Mt. Firmament. Why not care a little for your own health?"
Jinhsi's cheeks flushed slightly. "Mt. Firmament is of utmost importance. I cannot afford even the slightest neglect or mistake."
Changli sighed. "Rest assured, the frost sealing Mt. Firmament has been lifted. Life there will now return to normal."
Hearing this, Jinhsi finally relaxed. "Then I can be at ease."
Changli chuckled. "But I am not so at ease."
Jinhsi frowned in confusion. "Has something gone wrong?"
Changli shook her head lightly. "It is not Mt. Firmament that worries me—it is you, Jinhsi."
Jinhsi was deeply puzzled but replied, "Me? I feel perfectly fine now, thanks largely to Lucian."
Changli sighed. "Yes, thanks to Lucian... Have you considered keeping him in Jinzhou?"
Jinhsi was taken aback. "Keeping Lucian in Jinzhou? Would Rover agree? And I already promised—"
Changli shook her head again, reaching out to pluck a white rose from Jinhsi's hair.
Jinhsi's face reddened. "That's—"
Changli smiled. "Lucian gave this to you, didn't he?"
"Hehe... He is a rare talent. You should hold onto him tightly."
Jinhsi stared at the white rose twirling between Changli's fingers, conflicted.
"Lucian is indeed capable, but I already told him to prioritize Rover's safety."
"Moreover, he and Rover share a deep bond. Even if Rover agreed, Lucian himself might not..."
Changli waved it off. "If he were ordinary, I wouldn't press the matter. But for someone like Lucian... we must strive to keep him, no matter what."
"This isn't just to ease your burdens—it's for Jinzhou's long-term future."
Jinhsi bit her lip, torn. "For Jinzhou's sake... I-I'll think it over..."
...
Mountain Gate
Xinyi looked curiously at the trio approaching. "What brings you three here at this hour?"
Changli stepped forward and relayed the earlier findings.
Xinyi frowned in thought. "I see... suspicious Tacet Discords in the mountains, along with undiscovered temporal disturbances..."
"From Changli's account, there are still many uncertainties..."
Changli's gaze turned pensive as she glanced at Lucian. "What do you think?"
Lucian stroked his chin. "That Wuli claimed he'd only been in the mountains for half a day, yet seven days passed in Mt. Firmament."
"Assuming Wuli wasn't deliberately lying, the only explanation is that he truly encountered a temporal disturbance—though a minor, hidden one."
Changli nodded slightly. "After the Sentinel's battle, I ordered the Midnight Rangers stationed in Hongzhen to sweep the mountains, ensuring no anomalies remained before reopening the entrance."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Meaning this temporal disturbance appeared after Wuli entered?"
Changli affirmed. "Precisely. But... why would it emerge at this time?"
Rover, now also frowning, recalled: "That area was abnormal..."
Changli chuckled. "So you noticed it too."
"The frequency disturbance there was faint, but it did carry traces akin to a temporal rift—though distinct from Mt. Firmament's past disturbances. Hard to confirm."
"According to the notes left by the Mystic Sage, the last known location of the chess manual aligns almost exactly with where that explorer appeared."
Lucian smirked. "What a coincidence. Perhaps the rift Wuli encountered is tied to that legendary chess manual."
"And since the manual points to the complete Timeweave Art, then..."
Changli finished his thought with a smile: "Then we won't be the only ones searching for it."
"After all, this Wuli wasn't entirely truthful about his sources."
"His knowledge of Mt. Firmament far exceeds that of a first-time visitor."
Lucian mused. "Wuli's desire to save someone is genuine. He was likely misled by a third party."
"Only one possibility comes to mind: the Fractsidus..."
Rover nodded slightly. "The situation is unclear. We shouldn't alert them prematurely."
Xinyi decisively declared: "Understood. I'll order the Midnight Rangers to temporarily seal the mountain entrance. Additionally, the authority granted earlier to Changli to command the garrison remains in effect."
Changli: "Our descent was rushed. I wish to return to investigate thoroughly—certain hypotheses require verification."
"Its exact location and scope of influence remain unknown. Regardless, the reappearance of temporal rifts demands immediate resolution."
Lucian declared firmly: "I'm going too! Phrolova's arrest happens today!"
Changli smiled. "Very well. But whether it's truly the Fractsidus remains to be seen..."
Rover hooked her arm around Lucian's. "If Lucian's going, so am I—to prevent certain schemers from stealing him away."
Changli's eyes curved into amused crescents. "With so much help, how could I refuse...?"
Xinyi stared at the three, baffled. What in the world is this strange atmosphere...?