Night settled slowly over the skies of the Tianhan Sect.
A thin mist crept down from the mountains, wrapping the outer courtyard like a soft curtain that hid the growing darkness. The lanterns lining the corridors had gone out earlier than usual tonight. But in the Inner Pavilion, a single dim light still flickered, swaying gently as if waiting for its final breath.
Lu Ming stood by the window overlooking the inner yard. The wind carried the scent of damp earth, mingled with the rustling of ancient pine trees. He took a deep breath, then turned toward Han Ye, who stood uneasily by the door.
"If we don't do this now," Lu Ming said quietly, "they'll take her to the main altar tomorrow."
Han Ye frowned. "Senior… you do realize this could be considered betrayal, right?"
"I know." Lu Ming's gaze was calm. "But do you really want to watch her be struck by Heavenly Lightning without even knowing what's truly happening to her?"
Han Ye didn't answer right away. He closed his eyes for a moment, as if weighing all the consequences. Ever since Yanzhi had been confined, her condition had worsened day by day. Some of the guards had started whispering that her body was rejecting the spiritual sealing. But none of them knew the real reason.
Han Ye was one of the few who had quietly observed the changes in her. Her aura had shifted, not demonic, not evil but something unfamiliar. Something none of them had learned about in any sect.
"I heard her murmuring in her sleep once," Han Ye said in a low voice. "She mentioned something about… a replacement body."
Lu Ming turned sharply. "When?"
"A few nights ago. I was on watch outside her door. I thought she was just delirious… but now, I'm not so sure."
Lu Ming closed his eyes briefly. "She's hiding something, no doubt. But she's not a demon. If we can get her far enough from the altar, I can try a cleansing method I found in an ancient text."
Han Ye looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "We have one window. Tonight, before the third guard shift. I can cause a distraction in the training hall to pull the rear guards away."
"Good," Lu Ming replied quickly. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small seal stone etched with jade symbols. "This still works on the inner gate. I'll slip down once you draw them away."
Han Ye took the stone, studying it carefully. "If we get caught…"
"Run," Lu Ming cut him off. "Pretend I forced you."
Han Ye let out a long sigh. "You're too reckless for a teacher."
Lu Ming smiled. "And you're too kind for an ordinary disciple."
Time passed slowly. Minutes stretched into hours. The mist grew thicker.
Just before the third shift, a loud clatter echoed from the training hall. The two guards usually stationed behind the Inner Pavilion rushed toward the noise. One of them cursed softly, no one was supposed to be using that room.
From the shadows behind a pillar, Lu Ming slipped out. The seal stone in his hand glowed faintly as it touched the engraved lock on the iron door. A low mechanical sound groaned, and the door began to open.
Faint light greeted him, along with the pungent scent of rust and mildew. His steps halted in front of the final chamber.
Yanzhi sat slumped against the wall, thinner than the last time he saw her. Her face was pale, eyes closed, and her breathing shallow.
"Yanzhi," Lu Ming whispered. "Wake up. We have to go."
Her eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first before settling on him. "Teacher… Lu Ming…?"
"Shh… keep your voice down. We're leaving now."
She tried to stand but staggered. Lu Ming caught her quickly.
"I… I don't think I can walk far…" Yanzhi murmured. "My body… it's burning inside."
(Suddenly, a cold voice echoed in her mind.)
"Oh? So this is your plan? Finally making your escape? I thought you humans liked dying quietly."
Yanzhi clenched her jaw. "Stay out of this. I didn't plan any of it."
"Of course. But you didn't resist either."
"Look at you. Being rescued like a dying dog. Pathetic."
"Almost there," Lu Ming said, unaware of the battle playing out inside her mind. "Once we get past the eastern gate, Han Ye will be waiting in the forest."
"Oh? So Han Ye's in on it too?"
"Interesting… Now I'm curious how long you all can stay alive."
Yanzhi took a deep breath, suppressing the pain surging through her body.
"Say whatever you want... But I'm not dying here. Not tonight."
A soft wind blew past the eastern gate of the Tianhan Sect. Beneath a cloud-covered moon, two shadows moved quietly through the stone corridors. Han Ye led with a small lantern wrapped in cloth, its light barely visible. Lu Ming followed behind, supporting the weakened Yanzhi.
Each step was a struggle. Yanzhi's breaths were rough, every inhale a battle against her failing body. She coughed several times, dark red blood staining her robes.
"I can walk on my own," Yanzhi muttered, her voice barely audible.
"Don't be stubborn," Lu Ming replied gently. "We're almost at the side gate. Once we're out, there's a narrow path to the northern valley. We'll be past the border by dawn."
Han Ye glanced back. "As long as no one's following us."
But they didn't know, on the roof of the old hall overlooking the corridor, someone had been watching in silence. Dressed in black robes, Wei Ran clung to a stone pillar, eyes fixed sharply on the trio below like a snake waiting to strike.
He didn't move, even when Yanzhi looked back briefly, sensing something.
The feeling passed quickly, drowned by her body's weakness. Inside her mind, the voice returned, hoarse, cold, and echoing like a whisper from the abyss.
"This vessel is fragile… pathetic. How much longer until it breaks completely?"
"If you can't handle it, just give me control."
Yanzhi curled her fingers into a fist. "You think I'll give up just because I'm weak? Hmph."
Lu Ming glanced over.
"Did you say something?"
Yanzhi shook her head weakly. "No… just pain."
Lu Ming and Han Ye quickened their pace, finally reaching the small gate that led outside the sect. But before they could open it—
"Senior Lu Ming. Han Ye. Yanzhi."
The cold voice froze them in place.
Wei Ran stepped out from the shadows, holding a red-glowing summoning talisman. "I suspected something when you met in the Inner Pavilion. Looks like I was right."
Han Ye moved instantly, trying to stop him before the talisman could activate.
But it was too late.
A flash of red light exploded from Wei Ran's hand, rising into the sky and forming the Tianhan Sect's sealing symbol. An emergency signal, summoning the sect elders.
Lu Ming hissed in frustration. "Wei Ran, what are you doing?!"
"I'm doing my duty," Wei Ran said calmly. "You know full well, if there's a foreign power inside someone, it could endanger the entire sect. I'm protecting our home."
"By betraying your own?" Han Ye snapped.
Wei Ran's expression didn't change. "I trust the sect's laws. The truth will come out in a proper trial, not through secret escapes."
Before anyone could respond, footsteps echoed from all directions. Elder Fan arrived first, followed by two more elders and several senior disciples carrying sealing talismans and weapons.
That night, under a pale moon, Yanzhi was taken again, dragged by fellow disciples back to the altar hall.
Behind the fading sound of footsteps, Yanzhi looked up at the sky through her tangled hair.
"I won't die on that altar," she whispered.
The spirit inside her laughed low, faint like embers reigniting.
"Anyone who dares touch you… I'll burn them to ashes. They think they can sacrifice my vessel so easily? Hmph. I'll show them the true meaning of destruction."