As soon as the journey through the dense forest came to an end...
The towering walls of the Shenmei Kingdom appeared before them.
The evening sunlight was slowly spreading across the rooftops of the palace.
A few moments later...
They all reached the front of the palace's main gate.
As soon as the soldiers stationed at the gate saw Xiangu and the others, they immediately stood straight.
"Open the gate!"
A soldier's voice echoed.
The heavy gates slowly began to open.
Several servants and soldiers came out from inside.
At the very front...
Yunshen and Mingxia were already standing there.
It seemed that they had already received news of their return.
As soon as everyone came closer...
Yunshen said in a calm voice, "You all returned safely... It is a relief to see this."
Xiangu slightly lowered his head. "The battle was difficult. But we all returned safely."
Yunshen's gaze slowly passed over everyone. Zhichen... Rongwei... Li Chen... And finally... it stopped on Xiu, who was standing there wearing a mask.
He looked at Xiu for a few moments. Then he smiled slightly. "It seems... you have once again worked beyond your limits."
Lixuan replied in a calm voice, "The task had to be completed."
Mingxia slowly approached Li Chen. She carefully looked at her face. "You are tired."
Li Chen smiled faintly. "A little."
Mingxia gently placed her hand on her head. "The rest can wait. First, everyone come inside."
Just then, Rongwei said while suppressing his laughter, "It seems we will not even get a chance to rest first."
Yunshen said with a faint smile, "You can rest later. First, we need to hear everything that happened in Yuzhen..." "...in detail."
Hearing this, everyone looked at one another. Then, without saying anything... everyone walked toward the inside of the palace with Yunshen and Mingxia.
The heavy palace gates slowly began to close behind them... And they had absolutely no idea... that the news of their return... had already reached someone else before them.
As soon as Yunshen finished speaking, everyone slightly lowered their heads. After that, they all walked in their respective directions. The atmosphere inside the palace was peaceful, as always. Some servants moved aside when they saw them and respectfully lowered their heads. Xiangu said softly, "Everyone rest first. Tomorrow morning, we will meet again."
Zhichen nodded. "Yes."
Saying this, he turned toward the other side. Before leaving, his gaze fell on Xiu for a moment. Their eyes met... but neither of them said anything. There was only a brief silence... and then Zhichen continued walking forward without looking back.
Lixuan also said nothing. As if he had not attached any meaning to that glance at all.
...
Some time later... Rongwei, Lixuan, and Li Chen were standing in front of their residence. The wooden door was still just as it had been when they had left it. Rongwei opened the door. Everything inside was neat and clean. A veena and a flute were carefully placed in one corner. Some old musical instruments hung on the wall.
Li Chen slowly walked inside. She looked around and a faint smile appeared on her face. "It doesn't even feel... like we are returning after so many days."
Rongwei smiled as well. "The servants of Shenmei clean every day. That is why everything is just as it was before."
Hearing this, Li Chen took a deep breath. "Really... It feels like home."
Lixuan quietly entered. He placed his sword to one side and, without saying anything, went and stood near the window. His gaze remained fixed on the evening sky outside.
Li Chen looked toward him. "Master... Does your wound still hurt?"
Without turning around, Lixuan replied, "No."
Li Chen immediately frowned. "A lie."
Rongwei looked at the two of them in surprise. "Master is lying?"
Li Chen immediately nodded. "Yes. Even after the battle, he has not admitted even once that he is in pain. But last night... when I held his hand... his breathing seemed to stop for a moment."
Lixuan slowly closed his eyes. "Li Chen..." His voice was completely calm... but there was a slight warning hidden within it.
Li Chen immediately fell silent. But the very next moment, she looked at Rongwei and quietly said, "See? I told you... Master also knows how to scold."
Rongwei burst out laughing. "This is the first time I have seen anyone answer Xiu like this."
Li Chen proudly folded her arms. "I am his disciple. I have the right."
Hearing this, Rongwei laughed even harder. Lixuan, who was standing near the window, could only slowly shake his head. There was no smile on his lips... but for some reason... after so many days, the sternness on his face had finally softened a little.
The darkness of night had completely fallen over the Shenmei Kingdom. The moon was shining magnificently in the sky. A gentle, cool breeze was slowly swaying the bamboo trees in the palace garden. The entire palace had almost become silent. Occasionally, the sound of a guard's footsteps would break the silence.
...
In his room... Li Chen and Rongwei had already been asleep for quite some time. But there was no sign of sleep in Lixuan's eyes. He stood near the window for a while, looking at the moon outside. Then, without making a sound, he opened the room's door and stepped outside.
There was a small lake in the back garden of the palace. Moonlight was spread across the lake of the Shenmei Kingdom like milk. The gentle, cool breeze created ripples across the surface of the water.
Lixuan stood silently at the edge of the lake. His gaze was fixed ahead... but it seemed as though he was not really seeing anything.
A very faint sound of footsteps came from behind. Without turning around, Lixuan quietly said, "Your footsteps are still the same. If it were anyone else, they probably would not even hear them."
Zhichen came to a stop beside him. "Your habit of listening has not changed either."
A very faint smile appeared on Lixuan's lips... which disappeared the very next moment.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, looking toward the lake. For some time, there was only silence. Neither asked a question... nor gave an answer. As if both of them were accustomed to that silence.
After quite some time... Zhichen said softly, "I heard some news."
Without looking toward him, Lixuan asked, "What kind of news?"
"Your elder brother..." "Mingzhao."
As soon as he heard this name... Lixuan's fingers slowly curled into a fist. He said nothing.
Zhichen looked at his face. Then he said calmly, "His marriage has been arranged." "With Princess Yuhuan of the Zhilan Tribe." "This proposal was personally sent by Liyuan, the Chief of Zhilan."
A strong gust of wind passed by. The water of the lake broke into gentle ripples. Lixuan was still silent. His gaze remained fixed on the water. But something had shifted deep within his eyes.
After a long while... he slowly asked, "...When?"
"A few days ago."
Zhichen's answer was equally quiet.
Lixuan closed his eyes. Some blurred memories from his childhood appeared before him... A boy... who used to follow him everywhere... who would take the blame for his mistakes every time... who used to say... "I will always stay by your side."
Lixuan slowly exhaled. "...That's good."
His voice was completely calm. But Zhichen had known him for a very long time. He understood at least this much... that saying those two words... was not easy for Lixuan at all.
"You are not happy." Zhichen said softly.
Lixuan slightly shook his head. "I am happy. Mingzhao has always deserved a good life. He is getting one."
Zhichen looked at him. "You are not telling me this..." "...you are trying to convince yourself."
For the first time, a crack appeared on Lixuan's face. He lowered his gaze. "...Perhaps."
For a few moments, silence once again fell between them. Then Zhichen slowly moved a little closer to him. Their shoulders were now almost touching one another. He said in a low voice, "You miss him."
Lixuan did not answer immediately. After a long while... he said with a faint smile, "Every day." "It's just..." "I have lost the right to miss him."
Hearing this, Zhichen's heart filled with a strange ache. He slowly reached out his hand... and without saying anything... gently held Lixuan's wrist. This time... Lixuan did not pull his hand away. Nor did he say anything. He simply stood there beneath the moonlight... and after many years... for the first time, he allowed his silence to break in front of someone.
Lixuan slowly tried to pull his wrist free. But this time... Zhichen did not hold him tightly... he simply held him enough to make it seem as though he was saying... "Don't go."
For a few moments, the two remained standing like that. The wind had grown colder. Lixuan slowly lowered his gaze. "...You didn't need to tell me all this."
His voice was as calm as before... but there was a slight tremble in it.
Zhichen quietly said, "You needed to know."
Lixuan gave a faint laugh. It was not a happy laugh... it was one filled with self-mockery. "Know?" "Know what?" "That someone else will take my place?" "Or..." "that even after all these years, I am still standing at the same place where everything ended?"
Zhichen remained silent.
Lixuan looked toward him for the first time. His eyes had become slightly red. "You know, Zhichen..." "When we were children..." "Whenever I was scolded..." "My brother would always step in front of me." "Every single time." "He would take the blame for every mistake."
Lixuan's voice slowly began to break. "And I..." "...I could never do anything for him."
He closed his eyes. A warm tear rolled down his cheek. He immediately turned his face away. As if he did not want anyone to see him in this state.
But the very next moment... Zhichen came and stood directly in front of him. There were only a few steps of distance between them.
Lixuan wanted to step backward... but the edge of the lake was behind him.
"You..." Lixuan said softly, "...what are you looking at?"
Zhichen replied in a very calm voice, "You." "Just you."
As soon as he heard those two words... Lixuan's breath seemed to stop for a moment. He immediately looked away. "You are strange."
A very faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips. "You used to say that before too."
Another tear escaped from Lixuan's eyes. This time, he did not even try to wipe it away.
Zhichen slowly raised his hand... then stopped for a moment. As if he himself could not understand... whether he should do this or not.
Finally, very carefully... he wiped away the tear running down Lixuan's cheek with his fingers.
For a moment, both of them became completely still. Lixuan looked at him in surprise. His heart was beating unusually fast.
And Zhichen... he also could not understand... why seeing someone else's tears caused such restlessness inside him.
Neither of them had a name for this feeling... and so that night... beneath the moonlight... they said nothing. But their silence... was deeper than any words.
Their gazes remained connected. Neither of them said anything. Only the faint sound of their breathing and the gentle rustling of the lake's waves blended into that silence.
No one knew how much time had passed... Then suddenly... as if both of them had come to their senses at the exact same moment.
They both stepped back at the same time. For a moment, the same slight confusion appeared on both their faces. As if neither of them could understand the meaning of what had just happened.
And at that very moment... both of them said at the same time— "I am going to sleep."
Silence fell for a moment. Both looked at each other... and then, despite themselves, a very faint smile appeared on their lips.
Lixuan slowly frowned. "You..." "Why do you repeat what I say every time?"
Zhichen replied with a completely calm expression, "I did not repeat what you said." "I said it first."
Lixuan immediately said, "Liar." "I said it first."
Zhichen looked directly into his eyes and said, "No." "You only opened your mouth."
Lixuan stared at him for a few moments... then, slightly wrinkling his nose, said, "You have started arguing more than before."
A very faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips. "It only happens with you."
Hearing this, Lixuan fell silent for a moment. For some reason... his heart began beating a little faster again. He immediately looked away and lightly cleared his throat.
"...Whatever." "I am really going to sleep."
Zhichen slowly nodded. "Me too."
This time, both began walking in the same direction. After taking two steps... they both stopped again at the same time.
Without turning around, Lixuan said, "You..."
At the same moment, Zhichen said, "You..."
Both fell silent again.
A moment later... Lixuan exhaled softly and said, "...You speak first."
Zhichen looked toward him and quietly said, "...No." "You speak."
Lixuan closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. "You really are very strange."
This time, Zhichen's smile became a little deeper.
And after so many years... for the first time between the two of them, there was a kind of silence... that was not a burden... but brought peace.
Lixuan and Zhichen looked at each other once again. Then, without saying anything... they walked away in different directions. The night was growing deeper. The air still carried the same chill.
...
Lixuan slowly returned to his residence. As soon as he opened the door, he saw... Rongwei was fast asleep. Li Chen was also lying peacefully on her bed. Only a small lamp was burning in the room.
Lixuan quietly placed his sword to one side and sat down on his bed without making a sound. Without realizing it, he placed his hand on his cheek. The same cheek... where Zhichen's fingers had touched a short while ago.
As soon as he realized that... he immediately removed his hand. "..." "What are you doing..." he quietly said to himself.
Then he let out a soft breath. "Strange man..."
Who knew whether he was saying it to Zhichen... or to himself.
He slowly lay down. He tried to close his eyes. But every time... the same lake... the same moonlight... and Zhichen's calm face appeared before him.
Lixuan opened his eyes. "I can't even sleep..." he muttered softly.
...
At the same time... in another part of the palace... Zhichen had also returned to his room. He placed his sword against the wall. Then he went and stood near the window.
The moon was still shining peacefully in the sky. He slowly looked at his fingers. For some reason... he kept remembering the same moment... when he had wiped away Lixuan's tears without thinking.
Zhichen slowly clenched his fist. "Why..." "...did I do that?"
It was the first time he had asked himself this question. He had no answer for it.
He only knew one thing... when tears had appeared in Lixuan's eyes... seeing him like that had caused something restless to rise inside him. And this feeling... was completely new to him.
Outside... the same moon was spreading its light over both their rooms. And both of them... even though they were in different places... were awake on the same night... with the same confusion.
At the same time... the Lianyu Tribe. The cool night breeze was slowly flowing throughout the palace. The full moon was spreading its moonlight across the sky.
On the highest pavilion of the palace... the Chief of the Lianyu Tribe... Mingzhao stood silently. The weight of his responsibilities was clearly visible on his shoulders. The white jade pendant tied around his waist swayed gently in the breeze.
Mingzhao slowly took it into his hand. His fingers began to move lightly over the jade. For a long time, he simply looked at it. A very faint smile appeared on his lips... which turned into pain the very next moment.
He murmured softly, "...Li." "I wonder..." "If you were here, how much noise you would have made by now."
He let out a soft breath. "Perhaps after hearing the news of my marriage..." "you would have made fun of me first."
There were no tears in his eyes... but there was a deep sadness within them.
"Sometimes..." "I feel..." "I became the Chief..." "but I could never become a good elder brother."
Having said this, he slowly closed his eyes. A cold gust of wind brushed against his face.
Just then... a soldier came from behind and knelt down. "Chief." "His Majesty Chen Yu is calling you to the council chamber immediately."
Mingzhao tied the pendant back around his waist. The sadness on his face disappeared in an instant. Once again, the same serious and calm Chief stood before everyone.
"I will come now."
Saying this... he slowly walked toward the inside of the palace. But in his heart... the same name was still echoing— "Li..."
Mingzhao slowly walked toward the council chamber. The light from the torches burning outside the palace fell across the marble walls. As soon as he opened the door of the chamber... Chen Yu was already seated in his place. There was the usual seriousness on his face.
Mingzhao entered and said calmly, "Father."
Chen Yu slowly looked toward him. His gaze immediately stopped on the white jade pendant hanging from Mingzhao's waist.
For a few moments, silence filled the chamber. Then Chen Yu said in a cold voice, "You still keep it with you."
Without looking toward the pendant, Mingzhao replied, "Yes."
Chen Yu slowly rose from his seat. "I thought..." "After all these years, you would have given up this habit."
He walked a few steps and stopped in front of Mingzhao. "He is dead." "Many years ago." "What is the point of still holding on to his memories?"
Mingzhao's face remained completely calm. But his fist slowly tightened. He said in a quiet voice, "Not everything has meaning in words."
Chen Yu's brows furrowed slightly. "You are now the Chief of Lianyu." "A Chief should not live in the past." "Especially not in a past..." "that will never return."
Mingzhao gave no answer. His silence said everything.
Chen Yu took a deep breath and changed the subject. "Tomorrow..." "Chief Liyuan of the Zhilan Tribe will be coming to Lianyu with his sister Yuhuan."
"This marriage is not merely a bond between two people..." "It is a connection that concerns the future of two tribes."
His voice became even more stern. "I do not want..." "you to show such sadness on your face in front of them." "Welcome them like a Chief." "Not like..." "...a person who is still living in his memories of the past."
The chamber became silent once again.
After a long while... Mingzhao slowly lowered his head. "As you see fit."
Saying this, he turned to leave.
Just then, Chen Yu's voice echoed once again. "Mingzhao."
He stopped.
"The sooner you forget the past..." "the better it will be for you."
Mingzhao stood silently for a few moments. He did not turn around. He simply said, "Some people cannot be forgotten, Father."
And without saying anything else... he left the chamber. The door slowly closed behind him.
Mingzhao went to his room and stood near the window. Mingzhao remained standing there motionless for some time. His gaze was fixed on the darkness spread outside his room. Then he slowly took the jade pendant hanging from his waist into his hand. His fingers moved gently over it.
After a very long time... his lips slowly moved. "...Li."
Just one word. But within that one word were hidden years of memories, regret, and affection.
He slowly closed his eyes. "If only..." "Just once..." "I could see you."
Silence filled the room once again. Outside, the full moon was shining across the entire sky.
Beneath that same moon... on one side, in the Shenmei Kingdom, Lixuan had just closed his eyes. And on the other side... in the Lianyu Tribe, Mingzhao was also looking at that same moon.
Between the two of them there were not only distances... but also years of separation.
Lixuan did not know... that his brother still remembered him by calling him "Li." And Mingzhao had not the slightest idea... that the younger brother he had lost many years ago... was still alive in this world.
But... fate had now slowly begun turning their paths toward each other once again.