Notice: If there is a character confusion, the character's description will be given at the end of this chapter.
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"There was once a world without walls, without strangers, and without war—only people who trusted one another and lived in peace.
But nothing good could last forever."
She paused, letting the weight of her words hang in the air.
Her eyes rested on the young prince lying in bed, untouched by the world, listening with quiet intensity.
Her pale jade robes draped loosely over her frail frame. Veined hands rested neatly in her lap, and dark hair streaked with white was coiled into a tidy bun.
"Slowly, people began to lose faith in one another," she continued, deliberate in every word.
"Fights broke out. Wars followed. Destruction spread."
Her gaze drifted toward the kingdom below, pale light catching on the distant rooftops.
"And now… it might come for us."
Her eyes turned far beyond this world, lost in thought.
"Even the heavens have hurt," she whispered.
"Grandmother?" a small voice tugged at her attention.
She turned to see the boy looking up at her, eyes bright and earnest.
"Then I'll protect this world," he said firmly, "so the heavens won't hurt anymore."
For a heartbeat, she froze. Then she smiled—gentle, almost wistful.
"Yu'er will save the world."
---
The bell rang—low and resonant—its sound echoing through the heavens.
Heavenly officials gathered in the Celestial Hall.
After many years of the Crown Prince's absence, he had finally returned.
The court buzzed with whispers as the doors opened. No herald stepped forward to announce him. Still, the bell tolled once more—low and ancient.
Pale robes flowed as he entered, an ivory ribbon draped at his waist, its end trailing lightly behind him. A single hairpin secured his long chestnut hair.
Whispers rippled through the hall.
"I thought he was dead."
"He should have vanished for good."
"After years of absence, he returns now."
Yet despite the murmurs, all remained under his authority. The entire hall sank to its knees.
"Long live the Crown Prince!"
Before Huaiyu could signal them to rise, the gong rang—deep and commanding, reminding all that the Emperor's presence took precedence.
The herald bowed deeply and announced, voice echoing through the hall:
"All rise… for the August Sovereign of the Nine Skies—the Emperor of Heaven—approaches!"
The doors opened again. A hush fell over the hall.
The Emperor entered, robes of gold and white flowing, his presence commanding even the tallest officials to straighten instinctively. Though he appeared young, his gaze carried the quiet weight of centuries.
They bowed deeper, voices rising as one:
"Heaven bless the Emperor!"
His gaze settled on the Crown Prince, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath.
"So… you have returned," the Emperor said calmly.
Even as the hall remained bowed, all eyes were fixed on the silent exchange between ruler and heir.
Huaiyu offered a faint smile and bowed deeply.
"This one greets the August Sovereign of the Nine Skies."
The chamber glowed with golden light, translucent walls revealing distant stars beyond.
Huaiyu stepped lightly onto the polished jade floor.
"It is good to see you again, after so many years," the Emperor said, brushing past a floating scroll.
"It is good to see you as well," Huaiyu replied, lips curving faintly.
The Emperor nodded, eyes calm yet unreadable as they met Huaiyu's.
"You look worn," he said.
"Go and rest in your chamber."
"I have fallen too far behind in my duties as Crown Prince," Huaiyu replied.
"I must make up for it."
"After all these years, you remain stubborn," the Emperor sighed.
"If you are to journey to the mortal world on duty, allow me to assign an official to accompany you."
"As long as the heavenly official consents, I agree," Huaiyu replied.
"Just do not overexert yourself," the Emperor said.
Huaiyu nodded solemnly.
To reach the mortal realm, gods passed through the Verdant Ascension Array.
It hovered suspended in light, clouds drifting beneath it—a perfect circle of green jade etched with ancient runes.
Qing Ling, Huaiyu's personal attendant, stood a step behind, her posture flawless.
Her hands were folded at her waist, yet her eyes lingered on him a moment too long, betraying unspoken concern.
"I will need you to remain in contact with me at all times," she said evenly, fingers flexing subtly at her sides.
Huaiyu smiled faintly. "Alright, alright. You've already said it a thousand times."
Qing Ling's gaze stayed steady, though a flicker of worry passed across her eyes.
"I cannot fathom why Your Highness must journey to the mortal realm so soon. You have only just returned, and your strength is not yet fully restored. I pray you take care and do not overexert yourself."
Huaiyu sighed, the weight of his duty pressing heavily upon his shoulders.
"I am fine." His voice remained calm. "It is my duty to oversee the mortal realm from time to time."
Clouds swirled around his feet, cool and faintly luminous. Light gathered around him.
"If not for the work at the palace, this servant would have departed with Your Highness," she said, certainty in her tone.
"I know," Huaiyu replied. Aside from Qing Ling, no one would have come to accompany him—after years of neglecting his duties, he had earned their resentment.
A subtle shift in the air behind them caught his attention, barely stirring the clouds around their feet.
He turned, gaze drifting over the lightly stirred clouds.
The movement ceased, and a man stood tall before them, robes of pure white flowing like clouds, trimmed with delicate violet embroidery that traced the insignia of his office.
The pale colors gave him an ethereal calm, yet the sharp lines of his robes and the intensity in his dark eyes betrayed a temper simmering just beneath the surface.
"Tian Xuan…" Huaiyu murmured, a trace of shock threading his voice.
Tian Xuan stiffened as his gaze met Huaiyu's. Then, maintaining composure, he bowed slightly, the disciple behind him mirroring the movement.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Tian Xuan said.
"Rise," Huaiyu replied.
Huaiyu stepped onto the Verdant Ascension Array, Tian Xuan following closely. Behind them, his disciple moved with precise grace, keeping his gaze fixed on Huaiyu.
Yun Ze's dark eyes rested on the Crown Prince—not with curiosity, but careful appraisal, weighing his worthiness.
Light pulsed along the jade runes, green and white spiraling gently around their feet.
A gentle wind rose, carrying the faint fragrance of Heaven. Slowly, the light wrapped around them like a cocoon, blurring clouds and space alike.
When the light faded, they found themselves in the mortal realm.
---
They were nestled in a green valley, hills rolling gently on all sides.
A slow river wound through the landscape, its surface catching the sunlight like shards of jade.
Small wooden houses, with curved eaves and tiled roofs, were scattered across the village.
"Are we at the right place?" Tian Xuan asked, frowning as his gaze swept over the quiet village.
Huaiyu's eyes fell on a stone near the entrance, its surface roughly carved with the characters: Linguan.
"Yes," he said calmly, barely disturbing the silence around them.
"Looks like the village is already abandoned," Yun Ze muttered, suspicion in his tone.
No sound came from the streets. The air was still—almost unnaturally so.
Only days ago, the village had hummed with life. The plague swept through like a silent shadow, leaving empty streets and abandoned homes in its wake.
It was called the Shadow Vein Plague. Its first sign was always the same: a faint crescent-shaped mark, usually on the wrist or neck—black as ink, nearly invisible at first.
Those marked would soon grow feverish and weak, their veins dark and twisted beneath the skin. Many also felt a strong burning pain in the chest.
Tremors shook their bodies, breathing grew shallow and uneven, and eyes lost all light, staring blankly as life slowly slipped away.
Not even the most skilled doctors of the realm could find a cure.
The moment they stepped into the village, Huaiyu and Tian Xuan felt a sudden, oppressive aura press against them.
"A demon," Huaiyu said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge.
"The presence is strong," Tian Xuan replied, tone precise. "They must still be nearby."
Huaiyu stepped onto the main street with measured calm, gaze sweeping the empty streets, alert yet unhurried.
The village's silence heightened the unease.
Without warning, Yun Ze appeared ahead of them, bowing with exaggerated formality.
"As Your Excellencies, the supreme beings, stand here, I, your most humble disciple, shall take the lead—for at any moment, the demons may strike from the shadows!"
Huaiyu inclined his head slightly, a trace of surprise crossing his features.
Leaning closer, he murmured to Tian Xuan, "So… this is his first assignment?"
Tian Xuan exhaled, eyes narrowing slightly as restrained amusement flickered across his expression.
"Apparently."
At the edge of their vision, a basket at the side of the street twitched.
Yun Ze stiffened, hand snapping to the hilt of his sword.
Demons were cunning; they could appear utterly ordinary, blending seamlessly into their surroundings.
"Be careful, Your Excellencies," he warned, voice sharp with focus.
Sword drawn, Yun Ze advanced cautiously toward the basket. He extended his hand slowly, expecting it to strike back.
Then—without warning—the basket leapt into the air.
A cat burst out with a sharp hiss, lunging straight at Yun Ze.
The basket flipped, landing squarely over his head. Yun Ze crashed to the ground, stunned.
Huaiyu's lips curved into a faint smile as Tian Xuan pinched the bridge of his nose at his head disciple's clumsiness.
Yun Ze's face flushed crimson, a single leaf still caught in his hair as he scrambled to his feet.
"This disciple merely thought it wiser to be cautious."
Huaiyu reached out and plucked the leaf from Yun Ze's hair, letting it fall soundlessly.
"Perhaps," he said, "you are right."
A sudden guttural lurch froze them in place. Before Yun Ze could react, a shadowy figure lunged straight at him.
Huaiyu stepped forward with effortless calm, his hand cutting through the air as a ripple of force struck the demon.
It staggered violently, as if an invisible wall had slammed into it, claws scraping the ground as it recoiled.
Yun Ze stumbled back, eyes wide, heart hammering.
From alleys and rooftops, shadows poured forth—demons scattering in three directions like a living storm.
Huaiyu's gaze swept over them, sharp and measured.
"We must split. Cover the directions and track them."
He moved silently, stepping from rooftop to rooftop with precise footfalls. Each leap and landing was effortless, the village below a blur of tiles and shadows.
Then a sudden, sharp pain tore through his chest. His step faltered, and he slid to the edge of the roof, then to the ground, one hand braced hard against his side.
By instinct, his gaze flicked to his wrist.
A chill ran through him as realization struck—he had been infected.
The wind tugged at his robes and ribbon. The plague had found him, yet Huaiyu stayed poised, grace unbroken even in the first sting of the demonic curse.
Though a demon's curse might not kill a celestial outright, it could weaken them, inflict unbearable pain, and leave marks that would never fully fade.
Huaiyu let out a measured sigh, muscles tense beneath the sting.
Suddenly, a single red blossom hovered in the air, its petals drifting like whispers on the wind. It shimmered faintly, glowing with inner light, before dissolving.
The air shifted—not with force, but with gravity that drew everything into stillness. Even the ache in Huaiyu's chest seemed to dull.
He lifted his gaze.
A man approached, unhurried, extending his right hand with effortless grace, fingers relaxed and deliberate.
A faint smile rested on his lips, calm and measured, carrying a gentleness that softened the space between them.
The wind lifted the fall of his dark robes—and the peculiar white ribbon tied at his right wrist, its pale length drifting like a stray thread caught between moments.
---
Character Descriptions
Main Characters
• Crown Prince of Heaven
Name: Shen Huaiyu
Courtesy Name: Shen Ziyu
Divine Title: Moonlight of the Celestial Expanse
Weapons:
° Sword — Han Yue
° Ribbon — Yue Ying
• Supreme Demon
Name: Xie Wujiu
Courtesy Name: Xie Wushen
Demonic Title: Dark Bloom of the Endless Night
Weapon:
° Sword — Ming Hua (rarely used)
Side Characters
• Heavenly Emperor
Name: Jin Cangyuan
Divine Title: The August Sovereign of the Nine Skies
Weapon: Halberd — Tian Feng
• High Heavenly Official (leader of Celestial Tian Sect)
Name: Lin Yue
Courtesy Name: Lin Ziwei
Divine Title: Tian Xuan
Weapon: Thousand Sword — Qian Ze
• Personal Attendant of Crown Prince
Name: Qing Ling
Weapon: Celestial Ring (wrist-worn) — Jing Huan
• Head Disciple of Celestial Tian Sect
Name: Yun Ze
Weapon: Common Celestial Disciple's Sword — Qian Ling