Draven and Tia focused on the mice before them.
At first, the creatures showed no resistance. After several minutes of waiting, Draven's patience wore thin.
"What's going on here? Why hasn't anything happened yet?" he asked, pointing at the mouse that still looked perfectly healthy.
Linhau remained calm. She didn't glance at him once; instead, a faint, knowing smile curved her lips as her eyes stayed locked on the animal.
Draven frowned, unease gnawing at him. Is she a maniac? Why is she smiling like that when nothing's happening?
But then he noticed it—the mouse was slowing down, its movements becoming sluggish until it suddenly froze completely.
Tia's eyes widened. "So… is it dead?" she asked, following Linhau's gaze.
Linhau gave a silent nod. She approached the mouse, rolled it onto its back, and searched the table until she found a thin needle. With one quick slice, she cut open its belly.
A putrid stench flooded the room.
Draven and Tia instinctively covered their mouths in disgust.
"First," Linhau said calmly, pointing inside the open body, "as you can see, the flesh has turned purple."
She looked at them both, her tone carrying weight. "I trust you understand the implications."
Draven's eyes narrowed as the realization struck him. "Its cultivation base… was crippled."
Linhau inclined her head in silence, then pulled out the intestines with the needle.
Draven's stomach lurched. He pressed a hand against his abdomen. "Are… are those roasted?" he asked, his voice cracking despite his attempt to sound bold.
Linhau's smile returned. "Why don't you take a closer look?" She held the needle up for him.
Draven hesitated, then leaned in. His face paled instantly. The intestines weren't just damaged—they were charred black, as though fire had consumed them from within. And all of it had happened in less than thirty minutes. A shiver ran down his spine.
"And like I said," Linhau continued, pulling the needle away, "it felt no pain until the very last moments of its life."
"So you mean the host doesn't feel anything… until it's too late?" Tia asked quietly.
"Exactly." Linhau's voice was firm.
The room fell into a heavy silence until Draven finally spoke. "Then what's the solution?" His face was shadowed with worry.
Linhau sighed, setting the needle down on the table. She turned to Tia, her tone grave. "Although I hate to say this, my lady… Draven must go to Orion."
Tia's eyes widened in shock. She opened her mouth to protest, but Linhau raised a hand to silence her.
"Listen," she said firmly. "There is almost no cure for the quin leaf. If he has any chance of surviving past the next week, he must reach Orion—and quickly."
She gathered the remains of the rat, preparing to dispose of them. At the door, she paused. "Have a blessed night," she said softly, before stepping out.
The room fell quiet.
"What a day," Tia muttered, moving closer to Draven, who sat deep in thought. She wrapped her arms gently around his shoulders. "To think that the physician could betray us like this…"
Draven shook his head slowly. His voice was barely a whisper. "Something doesn't add up, Tia. If he really is the traitor, why would he help us escape? Why give us all that information?"
"Maybe someone tampered with his supplies," Tia offered, "someone else who wanted you dead."
Draven frowned. "No. He's too experienced for that. He's been doing this for years. He can't possibly be that careless." He turned to her, his eyes troubled. "Something is wrong. And if he truly is allied with Han, then this is all a setup."
His hand clenched into a fist. "Which means… us being here is already part of their plan."
Tia bit her lip, unsure how to answer. Finally, she stood. "You need rest. I'll cultivate for a while."
Draven nodded, watching as she sat cross-legged on the floor, her breathing steady as she slipped into meditation. His own thoughts, however, refused to rest. He remembered the strange blockages in his cultivation lately. Was it really coincidence—or had the quin leaf already taken root inside him?
The questions circled endlessly until, exhausted, he finally drifted into uneasy sleep.
---
The sun had already climbed above the horizon when Tia stirred awake. Draven was fully dressed, already moving toward the door.
He muttered a quiet goodbye and stepped out.
"Wait—!" Tia sprang to her feet, heart racing. She chased after him and caught up just as he passed Linhau.
"You can't go like this!" she cried, panting. "You'll only get yourself killed."
Draven stopped, frowning in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Your clothes, Cao," Tia said urgently. "They scream royalty. The people of Orion will recognize you from a mile away—and they'll slaughter you before you can take a step inside."
Draven's face tightened with realization. He turned to Linhau, stunned.
"Don't worry," Linhau said calmly, already moving toward another room. "I'll get you something more fitting. Royals sentenced the outcasts—if you walk into Orion dressed like this, you won't live to see another sunrise."
She returned shortly after, carrying a rough set of clothing. She handed them to Draven, then, to his surprise, offered another bundle to Tia.
Draven raised a brow. "Why did you bring one for her? She's not with me, remember?"
Linhau smiled knowingly. "Then she can keep it," she said simply.
Draven stared, speechless.
Without another word, Draven slipped into the rough attire Linhau had provided. He fastened his sword at his side, then moved past her with a final nod of gratitude.
"Thank you… for everything," he said quietly before stepping outside.
The crisp morning air greeted him. He pulled a folded map from his bag, already stocked with supplies, and studied it with furrowed brows. The lines and markings seemed endless, and he muttered under his breath, trying to make sense of the path to Orion.
"Do you care for a ride?"
The soft voice came from behind him.
Draven turned to see Tia, dressed in the same coarse garments Linhau had given them. A shy smile touched her lips, and in one hand she held a broom—its polished handle glinting faintly in the rising sun.
For a moment, Draven only stared. Then, slowly, a faint smile broke across his face. He gave a small nod.
Together, they mounted the broom. Just as they were about to take off, Linhau stepped outside, her expression warm though tinged with quiet sadness.
"Safe travels," she called gently, lifting her hand in farewell.
Draven inclined his head, while Tia returned the gesture with a grateful smile.
the broom lifted from the ground. The morning sky opened above them as they soared higher, the wind rushing past their faces.
From below, Linhau watched their figures grow smaller, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile.