The sword platform was already alive with the sharp ring of steel on steel when Lin Feng arrived. Inner disciples moved through forms in orderly lines, their qi flaring in controlled bursts of color—crimson fire, pale frost, metallic gold. Yue Li stood apart from the rest, practicing alone near the eastern edge where the bamboo met the stone.
She saw him immediately.
Her movements slowed, then stopped.
The practice sword lowered until its tip rested against the boards.
Even from across the platform he could read the tension in her shoulders, the way her knuckles whitened around the hilt.
She waited until he was close enough to speak without raising her voice.
"You're late."
"I had to handle something."
Her gray eyes flicked to the faint smear of dirt on his sleeve—from the punishment cell stairs.
"Xiao Qing?"
He nodded once.
"She's safe. For now. I told her to wait at the frost pond until dusk."
Yue Li exhaled—a sound caught between relief and something sharper.
"You should have told me first. I could have—"
"You would have been seen going down there. Lin Hao's eyes are everywhere today."
She looked away, toward the distant inner residences where golden banners still fluttered from yesterday's awakening celebrations.
"I know. But I hate that you keep carrying everything alone. Like you don't trust me to bleed beside you."
The words landed like a quiet slap.
Lin Feng felt the amplified guilt twist deeper—2×, the system had promised, and it delivered.
"I trust you more than I should," he said, voice low enough that only she could hear. "That's the problem."
Her gaze snapped back to him.
"Then why push me away last night? After the kiss. After everything."
"Because if I let you in completely, the system will find a way to punish us both."
She stepped closer—close enough he could see the faint tremor in her lower lip.
"I'm not afraid of your system."
"You should be."
A long silence stretched between them.
Then she reached out and took his hand—right there on the open platform where anyone could see.
Several disciples faltered mid-form. Whispers started like wind through dry leaves.
Yue Li ignored them.
"I'm choosing this," she said. "Knowing it might cost me my place here. Knowing Lin Hao will twist it into a weapon. Knowing you might disappear into whatever darkness you carry and never come back the same."
Her thumb brushed over the back of his knuckles—once, twice, like she was memorizing the texture.
"But I'm still choosing."
Lin Feng felt the fracture inside him widen another hairline crack.
He wanted to pull her into his arms. Wanted to promise he wouldn't let the Sovereign Path devour what little humanity remained.
Instead he squeezed her hand once—hard—then let go.
"I can't promise I won't break what I touch."
"Then don't promise." Her voice cracked just slightly. "Just… don't disappear on me tonight. Come to the pond at dusk. Bring Xiao Qing if she's still hiding. We'll figure out the rest together."
Before he could answer, a shadow fell across them both.
Lin Hao approached with three followers in tow, armor still polished from yesterday's victory parade. Su Mei walked at his side—chin high, eyes glittering with something that looked very much like triumph wrapped in jealousy.
"Well," Lin Hao drawled, loud enough for half the platform to hear. "If it isn't the cripple and his newest charity case. How touching. Senior Sister Yue, I didn't realize your standards had fallen so far."
Yue Li turned slowly. Her expression went from vulnerable to ice in the space of a heartbeat.
"Standards?" she repeated softly. "You mean like bedding the woman who publicly humiliated her own betrothed on the execution platform?"
Su Mei's face flushed crimson.
Lin Hao's smirk faltered for half a second before he recovered.
"Careful, Senior Sister. Words like that could be seen as disloyalty to the clan."
Yue Li smiled then—thin, dangerous.
"Disloyalty is poisoning your own blood kin and calling it an accident. Disloyalty is framing a sixteen-year-old healer because she dared show basic decency. Disloyalty is you, Lin Hao."
The platform went deathly quiet.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Lin Hao's qi flared—metal-sharp, pressing against the air like a drawn blade.
"You dare—"
Lin Feng stepped between them.
Not aggressively.
Just there.
His presence alone was enough to make Lin Hao hesitate.
The half-brother's eyes narrowed.
"You think hiding behind a woman makes you safe, trash?"
Lin Feng met his gaze without blinking.
"I think you're afraid of what happens when no one's watching."
A ripple of unease passed through the onlookers.
Lin Hao laughed—forced, too loud.
"We'll see who's watching when the next gate opens tomorrow. And when your little healer friend 'accidentally' falls into it."
The threat hung naked in the air.
Yue Li's hand twitched toward her sword.
Lin Feng placed his fingers lightly over hers—stopping her.
"Not here," he murmured. Only for her.
Lin Hao turned on his heel, Su Mei trailing after him with one last venomous glance at Yue Li.
The platform slowly resumed training, but the atmosphere had changed. Eyes followed Lin Feng and Yue Li now—some curious, some hostile, some calculating.
Yue Li exhaled shakily once they were alone again.
"He'll come for her tonight. Or for me."
"I know."
She looked up at him—eyes wet but fierce.
"Then we protect her. Together."
Lin Feng nodded.
But inside, the doubt whispered louder.
*You'll fail her too. Just like you failed your mother. Just like you're failing yourself.*
The system chimed—soft, almost pitying.
[Ding! New Side Quest Unlocked: "Shield in the Storm"]
[Objective: Ensure Xiao Qing survives until dawn tomorrow without direct intervention that reveals your anomaly. Allies may act on your behalf.]
[Reward: Temporary Resonance Stabilizer (reduces emotional overload penalty by 50% for 72 hours)]
[Penalty for Failure: Permanent 10% reduction to all emotional suppression thresholds. Future bonds will amplify guilt 3× instead of 2×.]
[Hidden Condition: Allow Yue Li to take primary protective role. Reward multiplier ×1.5 if successful.]
Lin Feng read it once.
Then twice.
The system was forcing him to choose—trust someone else with a life, or risk breaking himself further.
He looked at Yue Li.
She was already moving—toward the bamboo path that led to the frost pond.
"Coming?" she asked over her shoulder.
He followed.
Because for once, the bad decision felt like the only right one left.
And somewhere in the inner vault, the elder with the sealed ring felt another inexplicable chill.
He rubbed the gold band absently.
And wondered why the shadows in his private chamber suddenly seemed deeper than they should.