The woman dismounted before the guards could even announce her arrival. Dust clouded around her boots as she moved with the lethal grace of someone trained for danger, not diplomacy. Her cloak—dyed deep blue—billowed behind her, revealing a fitted cuirass marked with a golden phoenix.
The Emperor's personal envoy.
But more striking than her uniform was her presence: sharp, calm, and radiating authority.
General Feng stiffened. "State your identity!"
The woman reached into her cloak and held out a jade token carved with the imperial seal—a soaring dragon coiled around a sword.
"I am Lady Xie Yaling, Special Envoy of His Imperial Majesty."
Her voice was smooth, controlled, yet carried an undercurrent of urgency.
Jeng Minh stepped forward, posture straightening instinctively.Even Feng bowed at the sight of the token.
Xie Yaling's cold eyes found Jeng Minh immediately.
"Lord Zhou Chen," she said, each syllable precise. "I bring a sealed decree from the Emperor. You are to depart for the capital within five days."
"Five?" Feng blurted. "The journey takes twelve at best."
Her gaze flicked to him.
"Then I suggest your men ride hard."
She returned her attention to Jeng Minh—and for a moment, something flickered in her expression. Not contempt. Not fear. Something like… calculation.
She's assessing me just like Lianyin did.
Jeng Minh bowed slightly. "May I see the decree?"
She stepped forward, offering the scroll.
As he reached for it, her fingers brushed his—whether intentional or accidental, he couldn't tell—but he felt a sudden jolt of cold shoot through him.
Not magical.Instinctual.
A subtle shiver of danger.
She noticed his reaction. Her lips curved just slightly, almost a smile.
"You seem different today, Lord Zhou," she murmured. "Sharper."
Feng bristled, stepping between them. "Mind your tone. Our lord has just survived an ambush."
"Ah yes," she said lightly. "An ambush arranged by mercenaries with no clan, no banners, and—rumor has it—a masked commander."
Jeng Minh stiffened.
"Rumor?" he repeated carefully.
She tapped the jade token against her palm. "The capital hears whispers faster than armies travel."
He unrolled the decree. A single glance was enough to feel the weight of the words:
Zhou Chen is to present himself at the capital to answer charges of treason, misuse of military authority, and conspiracy with foreign tribes. Failure to appear will be considered admission of guilt.
At the bottom was the Emperor's personal insignia.
There was no escaping this.
Xie Yaling watched him read. "The Emperor expects your cooperation. He also expects…" She paused, voice lowering. "Clarity."
"Clarity on what?"
"On why three border clans reported sightings of a masked legion kneeling to you."
Every muscle in Jeng Minh's body locked.
Feng's hand flew to his sword. "Those reports are lies!"
Xie Yaling arched a brow. "Are they?"
Her eyes—sharp and unreadable—turned back to Jeng Minh.
"Tell me, Lord Zhou… if you had such a legion at your command, would you admit it?"
He held her gaze. "I command no such legion."
A diplomatic answer—technically true.He didn't command Bai Ye's forces.
But her eyes narrowed.
"You believe your own words," she said quietly. "Interesting."
Before he could respond, one of the outer guards rushed into the tent.
"Envoy Xie! Your horse—there's something—"
A shrill, unnatural scream echoed from outside.
The three of them sprinted out.
Xie Yaling's horse thrashed violently, foam dripping from its mouth, eyes rolling wildly. It reared, kicking the air, as though something invisible clawed at its mind.
Then—It collapsed.
Dead.
Soldiers scrambled back in shock.
Jeng Minh's heart lurched.
Xie Yaling knelt beside the fallen horse, placing a steady hand on its neck. Her expression was icy calm.
"This wasn't poison," she said. "Nor exhaustion."
Her eyes lifted to Jeng Minh.
"It was fear."
A whisper rippled through the men.
Jeng Minh swallowed. "Fear of what?"
She rose slowly. "You tell me."
Before anyone could respond, a cold gust swept through the camp—unnatural and biting, snuffing out several torch flames.
Soldiers shivered.
Xie Yaling turned toward the forest, hand on the hilt of her sword.Feng mirrored her.
And then—From the dark tree line—a faint, metallic chime echoed.
Like a chain being dragged across stone.
Jeng Minh froze.
Lianyin's warning thundered in his mind:
"The blade meant to sever fate is already near you."
Another chime.Then another.
Slow.Deliberate.Approaching.
Xie Yaling stepped closer to him without taking her eyes off the forest.
"Lord Zhou," she said, voice low and steady. "Whatever is coming… you will tell me everything."
Feng whispered fiercely, "My lord, get back!"
But Jeng Minh did not move.
Because he finally saw it.
From between the trees emerged a figure—armor dark, mask pale, etched with horns.
The same masked force that tried to kill Zhou Chen.
Xie Yaling exhaled a single word, barely audible:
"…Impossible."
Feng drew his blade, shouting:
"To arms!"
But the masked assassin lifted a hand.
The chains around his wrist rattled softly—
And every torch in the camp instantly died.
The world plunged into cold darkness.
And in that darkness, a voice whispered:
"Vessel.The chain must not break."
Jeng Minh braced himself—
Because the blade meant to sever fatehad finally arrived.