For over a month, Mimi had not returned, Lianyi has search almost the whole capital but she was nowhere to be found. Each day his hope dimmed, yet his heart refused to let go.
How am I supposed to live without her? The thought pressed against him like a stone on his chest. His face tightened into a frown, lines etching deeper with each sleepless night. Suddenly, a spark lit in his eyes. Or could it be… she is hiding in her house?
That evening, cloaked in plain robes, he slipped out of the palace gates. His horse's hooves beat against the road until he reached a shaded spot near Mimi's home. From the shadows, he waited, breath held, hoping to see her silhouette pass by, to hear her laugh drifting from behind the gates.
Hours crawled past. The house remained still, its windows dark. His eyelids grew heavy, his body slumping in the saddle until exhaustion claimed him. At dawn, he returned home, empty-handed.
The next day, and the next after that, he tried again. Each time, the house mocked him with silence. Finally, a restless thought pushed into his mind: I'm wasting my time here. If anyone knows where she is, it must be Leng Yue in Lianhua.
The following evening, Lianyi entered the dining hall where the emperor and empress shared their meal. His figure was gaunt, shadows beneath his eyes betraying many sleepless nights.
"Father, Mother," he said quietly, "I will go to Lianhua tomorrow to visit my friends."
The emperor's chopsticks paused mid-air. He studied his son's face and his heart sank. "Have you been ill? You've grown so thin."
The empress lowered her gaze, but her hands clenched in her lap. She had never thought Mimi's absence would wound the prince so deeply.
"Must you go?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
Lianyi forced a faint smile. "I promise to be careful. I won't stay long." With that, he bowed and left
The empress stared after him, then turned to the emperor, sorrow welling in her eyes. The emperor caught her expression and raised a brow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Did you not notice? Our son has not been happy," she said.
"Not happy?" He frowned. "Why should he not be happy?"
"He misses Mimi," the empress whispered.
The emperor blinked. "Misses Mimi? You mean… he is attached to her?"
"I think so. They quarreled, kind of misunderstanding or set. He did not trust her enough, he fall for the trapped. Without given her time to explain,he took a decision that really hurt her. I asked Mimi to give him space. "
The emperor sat back, stunned. "Where is she now?"
"She traveled to the countryside to visit my parents."
"Ah… I see. You've already accepted her." He shook his head, rising. "Whatever game you and Mimi are playing, do not let it hurt him more than this." With that he left the dinning.
Later that night, as the empress made her way to Lianyi's chambers to tell him the truth about Mimi where about. a maid rushed toward her.
"Your Majesty—the prince asked me to tell you and the emperor. He has already departed."
The empress froze. "What? When?"
"Two hours ago."
Her heart leapt into her throat. She hurried to the emperor's study, breathless.
"What! Has he lost his mind?" the emperor thundered as the empress told him what the maid has told her. "Guards! Send a hundred men at once. They must catch up with him on the road. Protect him at all costs!"
Within the hour, the clatter of armored boots and the thunder of hooves shook the palace gates as soldiers rode out into the night, racing after the prince toward Lianhua.
Lianyi had barely stepped across the border when he caught sight of two figures waiting by the roadside—one seated casually on a mossy stone, the other standing quietly behind him. The moonlight glinted faintly across their faces.
"You finally grew tired of lurking around Mimi's house and decided to come chasing her out here?" Leng Yue's voice carried a mocking snirk as his cold eyes studied him.
Lianyi smirked back. "Better than being a seer who spends his days peering into people's lives from afar." they teased each other.
"This is Lian Yu," Leng Yue introduced, gesturing toward the tall young man beside him. "Princess Yuyan's husband. And this… is Lianyi, our old friend."
Lianyi inclined his head politely. "An honor."
Lian Yu returned the greeting with a faint smile before asking, "And how is Princess Yuyan these days?"
The question seemed genuine, but before Lian Yu could answer, Leng Yue cut back in, his tone sharper.
"You've grown reckless, old friend. Sneaking out of your kingdom… chasing shadows… blind to the dangers that follow you. Do you even realize you forced your father to send a hundred soldiers after you?"
Lianyi frowned, brows knitting. "What are you talking about?"
"They are already here," Lian Yu muttered, his voice low but edged with urgency.
"My shou—" before Lianyi could complete a statement, the words caught in his throat.
Lianyi barely had time to process Lian Yu's warning before shadows slithered across the clearing. Figures emerged—tall, pale, with eyes glowing like dying embers. Their movements were unnatural, too fast, too fluid.
Lianyi froze for half a heartbeat, his pulse thundering in his ears. "What are These creators?. They are not human, I have never seen anything like this before." He screamed. As his hand tightened against his blade.
Leng Yue's expression tightened, his hand already on his blade. He had faced these creatures once before in the depths of a mountain, and he knew their cruelty, their hunger. "Stay sharp," he muttered, his gaze narrowing. "They are stronger than men, and far faster."
Lian Yu stepped forward, calm, almost cold, though his eyes glinted with a predatory light. "Stronger, yes," he said, drawing his weapon, "but not invincible."
The first vampire lunged—an unearthly blur of claws and teeth. Lianyi instinctively raised his sword, the clash reverberating up his arms. The creature's strength nearly wrenched the blade from his grip. His chest burned with shock—he had never faced such power before.
Before the vampire could rip through him, a flash of steel cut across its throat. Leng Yue moved with practiced precision, pushing Lianyi back. "Focus, Prince. Don't let your fear slow your blade."
More shapes poured from the treeline, hissing, circling. Then, the ground tremble. Lianyi's army, stationed not far behind, surged forward like a tide. The clash of steel and screams of men filled the night.
The battle had begun.