The night faded into memory as a new dawn stretched its golden fingers across the sky, ushering in a fresh day.
The crisp morning breeze, still tinged with the chill of night, was quickly embraced by gentle warmth as Long Jianyu and Yu Xiao emerged side by side from the sanctuary.
Together, they retraced their steps to the place they had visited the day before and quiet conversation weaving through the stillness of early morning.
Time seemed to slow around them while the first rays of sunlight spilled over the landscape, bathing everything in a soft, luminous glow.
They lingered in the sun's embrace, letting its gentle warmth seep into their skin, until the glow sharpened into a heat that began to prickle and sting.
Sensing the change, Long Jianyu glanced at Yu Xiao with a small, regretful smile.
"Let's go back," he suggested softly.
Just then, his communicator chimed—a message from Yun Qingjue interrupted their tranquil ritual.
With a silent nod, Jianyu took Yu Xiao's hand, and they made their way back to the sanctuary.
As they stepped onto the ground outside, Yu Xiao immediately noticed Yun Qingjue waiting, his usually composed face shadowed by quiet worry.
The tension in his posture was unmistakable.
Yu Xiao's concern flared. She stepped forward, her tone gentle but direct.
"Qingjue, you're waiting for us?"
Yun Qingjue's gaze flickered past her to where Long Jianyu stood behind.
With a subtle, barely noticeable gesture, Jianyu signaled for silence—a silent plea to keep something hidden from Yu Xiao for now.
Catching the cue, Yun Qingjue quickly masked his anxiety with a faint, reassuring smile.
"Yes, I'm always here waiting for you, Dijun," he replied smoothly, dipping his head in a respectful nod.
But Yu Xiao was not so easily reassured. Her brows knitted in suspicion, and she turned to meet Long Jianyu's eyes, searching his face for answers.
Hadn't they settled everything last night? Wasn't their discussion supposed to be over?
Uncertainty churned in her chest, her lips pressing into a thoughtful line as her mind raced with questions she dared not yet voice.
Her silence was shattered by the sound of Long Jianyu's deliberate footsteps approaching.
She looked up, only to meet his serious gaze fixed upon her.
Instinctively, she glanced at Yun Qingjue, hoping for reassurance, but he too avoided her eyes, his expression shadowed with concern.
What's going on here? she wondered, her eyes widening as her brows drew together in confusion.
Long Jianyu's calm voice broke the tense silence.
"Qingjue and I have some important matters to discuss. I suggest you go inside first. When we're done, I'll come back to you immediately."
Yu Xiao's anxiety flared. "Where are you going?" she pressed, her voice soft but urgent.
Long Jianyu averted his gaze, hands clasping behind his back in a gesture of restraint.
"Yu Xiao, this matter is only for us. Stay here, we will return after the discussion," Yun Qingjue interjected, his tone gentle but firm.
At his words, Yu Xiao fell speechless, uncertainty swirling in her chest.
Long Jianyu noticed her unease and stepped closer, his expression softening. He turned to face her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders and offering a faint, comforting smile.
"Go back now," he said softly, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.
Before Yu Xiao could voice another question, Long Jianyu and Yun Qingjue exchanged a silent glance.
In an instant, both men vanished into thin air, leaving her standing alone beneath the morning sky, her questions echoing in the quiet.
We've been just fine lately, so why do I suddenly feel so heavy inside?
Yu Xiao wondered, pressing a hand to her chest as uneasy thoughts swirled within her.
Are they keeping something from me—something so important they have to hide away just to discuss it? How valuable could this meeting possibly be?
Trying to ease the tightness in her chest, she closed her eyes and let out a slow, shaky sigh.
Forget it, she told herself. I'll find out soon enough what they're hiding.
With that, Yu Xiao straightened her back, turned on her heel, and made her way into the underground sanctuary, her footsteps echoing softly as the doors closed behind her.
As soon as Yu Xiao disappeared from sight, Yun Qingjue and Long Jianyu silently reappeared at the same spot.
In truth, they had never left at all—only created the illusion of departing to spare Yu Xiao from overhearing their discussion about the looming crisis.
Long Jianyu moved quietly to the threshold, peering into the distance to ensure Yu Xiao had truly gone inside the sanctuary.
Once he was certain she was out of earshot, he relaxed, letting out a slow breath.
Yun Qingjue did the same, the tension in their shoulders easing as they prepared to confront the matter at hand.
"She's gone. That's good," Yun Qingjue said with a nod, breaking the silence. "Dijun, are you certain you want to keep this from her?"
Long Jianyu's gaze hardened.
"It's better she doesn't know. I won't allow her to risk herself. Now, tell me—what happened outside?"
Yun Qingjue hesitated for a moment, clearing his throat before responding.
"The Central Domain has started to breach the borders. The barrier won't hold much longer, Dijun. What are we going to do?"
"What exactly is their purpose in trying so hard to infiltrate the neighboring domain?" Long Jianyu asked, his tone edged with suspicion. "Why are they going this far?"
Yun Qingjue's expression grew grave.
"Dijun, have you forgotten? The Central and Northern Domains—along with the South—have been locked in a feud for generations. It's not surprising that they're taking this chance to seize control by slipping into a peaceful domain. They've spent centuries studying ways to break through the barriers. Now that they've found a solution, it's only a matter of time before chaos erupts in the Northern Domain. It's unfair—undeserved."
Long Jianyu shook his head, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"A feud alone isn't enough. Even with deep misunderstandings, they wouldn't act so recklessly without a true motive. Don't you wonder why they're stirring up disorder right now? Remember what you reported to me just a few days ago—they're hunting for someone."
Yun Qingjue's breath caught as realization dawned. He stared at Long Jianyu, momentarily frozen by the implications of his words.
"Right… you're right, Dijun. I almost forgot," Yun Qingjue replied, a hint of unease in his voice.
Long Jianyu exhaled slowly, his gaze turning cold and unwavering as he fixed Yun Qingjue with a piercing look.
"I want to ask you something," Long Jianyu said, stepping closer. "The person they're hunting—the one accused of slaughtering their men—is that correct?"
Yun Qingjue nodded immediately.
"Yes, that's what the reports say."
Long Jianyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Can you tell me more about this so-called villain? Do you have any clues about their true nature, or anything that might help us identify them?"
Yun Qingjue narrowed his eyes, clearly deep in thought as he tried to recall any useful detail.
After a moment, he shook his head in frustration, jaw clenched as a quiet hiss escaped between his teeth.
"Clues? I… don't have any," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret.
Long Jianyu looked away, folding his arms across his chest in silent contemplation.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Yun Qingjue absentmindedly stroked his chin, lost in thought.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up and he raised his index finger with a spark of confidence.
"I remember now!" he exclaimed, a sly grin spreading across his face. "During the clash in the forest—when forces from the Central and Northern Domains battled—we came out on top. Afterward, we examined the official edict, the one detailing the orders to search for this so-called villain."
"Aside from the order, what else did it say?" Long Jianyu pressed.
Yun Qingjue hesitated, searching his memory.
"The villain's description—it said the person was a…"
"It was what?" Long Jianyu urged, impatience creeping into his voice.
"A… woman," Yun Qingjue finished, almost in disbelief.
"A woman?" Long Jianyu echoed, his brows arching in surprise.
"Yes. But the description is almost unbelievable at times," Yun Qingjue replied, shaking his head. "It's nothing like what we'd expect."
Long Jianyu's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me everything."
Yun Qingjue closed his eyes for a moment, rifling through his memories of reading the edict.
"The edict ordered them to find the villain alive. As for the description—it specified a woman, with amber eyes and a golden mark on her forehead. A sigil, right here," he said, gesturing to his own brow.
As Yun Qingjue spoke, Long Jianyu's posture shifted. He straightened, growing visibly tense as the details registered.
"Dijun, have you figured it out?" Yun Qingjue asked, curiosity in his tone.
For a moment, Long Jianyu let out a short snort, a sly smirk playing on his lips.
Yun Qingjue noticed immediately, confusion flickering across his face at Long Jianyu's unexpected reaction.
"Why are you smirking, Dijun? I'm not joking here."
"You're not," Long Jianyu replied, his eyes glinting. "I just find it amusing how desperate they are—trying to catch a whale with a tiny net. It's laughable."
"Laughable? How so?" Yun Qingjue pressed, still puzzled.
"Qingjue, listen carefully," Long Jianyu said, his tone dropping. "They're barking up the wrong tree."
"What do you mean by that?" Yun Qingjue demanded, his confusion deepening.
"No wonder Xuanyuan's warriors were wiped out so completely," Long Jianyu continued, tone turning grim. "They underestimated their opponent. Most of the fallen were from the Central Domain—there wasn't a single trace of Northern Domain warriors among them. Yet countless civilians and commoners lost their lives in the massacre. The woman they're hunting and the recent breach in the barrier—it's all connected. It's likely the villain they're searching for is hiding somewhere within the Northern Territory. That's why they're so desperate to infiltrate."
As Long Jianyu finished his explanation, Yun Qingjue's lips parted in realization, finally piecing together the details.
"Dijun… so you're saying the information in the edict wasn't just empty words? But I haven't seen any woman matching that description. Could it really be possible?"
Long Jianyu shook his head, his expression firm.
"I told you, that villain is not someone to be underestimated. Identifying the woman from the edict isn't impossible—they exist, but they're skilled at concealing their true power from mortals."
"Concealing their true power from mortals? Are you saying the villain isn't even mortal?" Yun Qingjue asked, with disbelief.
"Not even immortal," Long Jianyu replied, his tone grave.
Yun Qingjue's eyes widened in shock. He clasped his hands over his mouth, struggling to process the revelation.
"In that case… her power must be unfathomable," he murmured, shaken. "Even my abilities are nothing compared to hers."
A heavy silence hung between them.
"Yu Xiao…" Yun Qingjue murmured, realization dawning in his eyes.
Long Jianyu's head snapped up at the mention of her name.
"That's right—Yu Xiao!"
"What about Yu Xiao?" he demanded, his voice tense. "How is she involved in all this?"
"Dijun, think back to the day of the massacre. Yu Xiao was at the outbound market too. If we hadn't found her mask and veil, we never would have realized she'd been there. She fled from that place and ended up in your domain—badly injured, without permission. The answer lies with her. She knows more about the incident than anyone."
Long Jianyu was about to respond, but he paused as memories of their first meeting flooded back. He recalled how Yu Xiao had lain on the cold floor, weak and broken, barely clinging to consciousness.
Most vividly, he remembered the haunting words she had spoken when he'd threatened her, asking if she sought death. Her response echoed in his mind, heavy with despair and hopelessness:
'Sir, would you kill me too?'
"Yu Xiao."
Her name slipped from Long Jianyu's lips as the memory replayed in his mind. He lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Yun Qingjue.
"Make sure none of this conversation leaks out."
"Understood, Dijun," Yun Qingjue replied firmly.
Without another word, Long Jianyu strode quickly to the threshold, urgency in his movements as he left Yun Qingjue behind, determined to find Yu Xiao.