Lixuan stood near the window of his chamber. The cold night air was slowly brushing against his face, as if trying to calm the storm inside him. Outside, the torchlight flickered along the palace walls, but inside his heart the darkness was just as deep as before.
The whip marks on his shoulders were still burning. With every heartbeat, the pain seemed to run through his veins. He slowly closed his eyes and leaned his head lightly against the window wall. One question kept circling in his mind again and again —
will I ever truly receive love and belonging?
The chamber door opened with a soft sound. Minghzao walked in. In his hand was a small tray holding medicine and clean cloth for the wounds. His steps were firm as always, but the worry hidden in his eyes was easy to feel.
He stopped beside Lixuan without saying anything.
"Sit down," he said in a soft yet gentle voice.
Lixuan looked at him. For a moment, the exhaustion in his eyes seemed to melt. He quietly sat down. Minghzao carefully began applying the medicine on his shoulders. The medicine was cold, but there was so much warmth in his touch that a faint comfort spread through Lixuan's heart.
He thought —
maybe this is my belonging… whether the world gives me anything or not.
For a while, the room remained silent. Only the faint scent of medicine and the night breeze drifting inside. But beneath that silence, a strange heaviness still lived, as if the darkness had not left him at all.
After some time, Lixuan lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. His breathing slowly began to steady. But the night was not over yet.
As soon as sleep wrapped around him, a cold whisper echoed near his ear —
"Lixuan… you saved them once… but now the danger is moving toward the Shenqi Tribe…"
His heart suddenly started pounding fast. Between sleep and awareness, he heard the voice more clearly.
"There, Moyan's general Zhiyan will attack… and remember… the more you save people, the more the darkness will wrap you in its web…"
The final words sank deep into his chest.
Lixuan jolted awake. His breathing had quickened. A thin layer of sweat shimmered on his forehead. He understood immediately —
this was not a dream. It was a warning.
Only one name echoed in his mind — Fengli.
"If anything happens to him…" he whispered to himself,
"…I will hunt Zhiyan down even to the Qingyu Tribe."
He got up instantly and walked straight toward Minghzao's chamber. The night was deep, the palace corridors silent. Only the soft sound of his footsteps could be heard.
He slowly opened the door.
"Minghzao…" he called in a low but anxious voice.
Minghzao sat up immediately.
"What happened?" he asked, worry clear in his voice.
"The Shenqi Tribe is in danger. We have to go now."
Minghzao looked into his eyes for a moment — and understood everything.
No questions. No delay.
He picked up his sword and said,
"We'll go together."
Both brothers left the palace through the back gate without telling anyone. The night wind was strong, as if trying to stop them. But their steps would not halt.
The forest paths were drowned in darkness. Ruined ancient houses, scorched ground, and the faint smell of dried blood in the air — everything spoke of death passing through.
When they reached the Shenqi Tribe after midnight, the sight made them stop for a moment.
The palace was submerged in darkness. The courtyard was silent. As soon as they stepped inside, they saw Fengli's father lying on the ground — completely still.
Outside, Fengli's mother Shilan was on her knees, soaked in blood. Despite her pain, her gaze kept drifting toward the inside of the palace.
Minghzao rushed to her immediately. Shilan grabbed his hand tightly.
"Save my son…" her voice broke.
Minghzao stayed there, supporting her. But Lixuan's heart was pounding so loudly he could hear nothing else. Without a word, he ran inside the palace.
The scene inside was even more terrifying.
Strangers — who didn't even look human — stood silently. Their eyes lifeless, their movements cold. As if they were under the control of some other force.
For a moment, Lixuan stopped. Then he let out a very soft whistle.
The sound echoed through the air.
Instantly, all of their steps halted. As if time itself had paused for a moment.
Taking advantage of that moment, Lixuan moved forward.
As soon as he reached the inner chamber, he saw Fengli lying on the ground — and Zhiyan was just about to bring his sword down on him.
"Stop!"
Lixuan's voice was so deep and firm that even the air trembled. He rushed forward and pulled Fengli behind him.
Zhiyan's sword froze mid-air — as if an invisible force had grabbed it.
Zhiyan gave a faint laugh.
"So you've come in between again."
But this time, there was no trace of fear on Lixuan's face. His eyes had grown deep and sharp, as if darkness itself was burning within them.
"You won't be able to kill him today," he said in a slow but unwavering voice.
Lightning flashed outside. For a moment, the chamber filled with light.
In that light, Zhiyan realized for the first time —
this boy had not come just to save.
He had come to stand against the darkness.
And perhaps…
to understand it too.
And from that moment, everything was about to change.