Hours later, rain fell without pause over the Abyss Serpent Clan.
The storm pressed low against the palace roofs, its rhythm soothing, almost suffocating.
Inside, however, the halls had quieted. What remained of the earlier chaos had settled into a heavy stillness.
Within the inner chamber, Lan Meishan lay unconscious upon the bed.
Lan Huiwen sat beside him, one hand resting gently against his forehead. A faint green glow lingered beneath her palm, her expression touched with quiet sorrow.
No one spoke.
Yan Wuhen reclined against the cushions, Ningyan seated across his lap, his tails swaying in slow, absent arcs. They watched in silence.
Rong Yue stood by the wall, arms loosely folded, gaze unreadable.
Jun Haoxuan remained closest to the bed.
After a long stretch of silence, Lan Huiwen finally spoke. "…Shiyu is dead?"
The words were soft. But they landed heavily.
Ningyan lifted his head, glancing at Wuhen.
Wuhen blinked.
