After unloading the things they brought in Zoe's room, the two of them took a moment to rest. Noticing Tian's fatigue, Zoe quietly poured a cup of water and handed it to him.
"Thanks." Tian took the glass, but his gaze lingered on Zoe. "Your hair's gotten messy."
"Huh?" Startled, Zoe turned toward the mirror. He pulled out the ribbon and gently combed his hair before retying it
Tian watched him in silence—then suddenly, a memory surfaced without warning.
In that fleeting moment, he saw himself standing behind Zoe, gently combing Zoe's hair… his expression soft, filled with a kind of affection that ran deep and unquestioned.
"Tian… Tian…"
Zoe's voice pulled him back.
"Pass me the ribbon," Zoe said, gesturing toward the strip of cloth lying near Tian's foot.
But still caught in that lingering haze, Tian didn't hand it over.
Instead, he stepped closer.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he gathered Zoe's hair and began tying it himself.
Zoe froze slightly, eyes lifting to meet Tian's reflection in the mirror. For a brief second, something about him felt different… familiar.
Like Yuzhen.
"What?" Tian asked, noticing the look on Zoe's face.
Only then did it hit him—what he had just done. It hadn't been part of his plan. He had intended to make Zoe fall for him… but this?
"D-Doesn't it look good? Here… take a look." Tian tried to brush it off, masking the awkwardness in his voice.
Zoe paused, then simply went along with it, choosing not to question anything as if afraid his doubts might turn out to be true.
Meanwhile, at the Chen Long Sect…
"Finally, it's ready. Now I can test it on our Bai Lu."
Holding the newly crafted magical pendant in his hand, Chen Zeon set off in search of the fox cub.
He first headed toward Rui's clinic, expecting to find Bai Lu there. But when he arrived, neither Rui nor the cub was anywhere in sight.
After a brief moment of thought, he turned toward another place.
Chen Zoe's residence.
...
"Catch Bai Lu—hey, slow down!"
Playing with his new friend, Rui kept a careful watch over Zoe's residence, doing his best to prevent anyone from entering.
"Good boy. Now let's rest for a bit. Here, have some meat." Sitting on the steps, Rui handed Bai Lu some homemade food.
"You really like it, huh? Have more…"
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows.
He looked almost god-like.
Nine tails swayed behind him, just like Bai Lu's—but far more majestic. His fur was pure white, and he wore red silk robes adorned with ornaments of gleaming gold.
Sensing danger, Bai Lu quickly hid behind Rui.
Suppressing his fear, Rui stepped forward and faced the stranger, unaware of his identity. "Who are you?"
Zhihao's gaze fell on the collar around Bai Lu's neck, and his expression turned cold.
"Treating a beast cub like a mere pet… Do you have a death wish?" he asked, his voice filled with fury.
"You've misunderstood." Rui remained cautious, sensing that the man before him was no ordinary person. "That's not a pet collar. Medicine has been applied to it—the scent helps calm his mind—"
Before he could finish, Zhihao attacked.
One of his tails lashed out without warning.
Rui was struck and sent staggering back.
Seeing this, Bai Lu barked at Zhihao, but it only made him angrier.
"How dare you?" Zhihao snapped. "Raising your voice against your own kind for the sake of an outsider? Have they brainwashed you?"
Rui struggled to his feet, barely able to stand, but his eyes burned with anger.
"Don't touch him," he said firmly. "Unless you want to regret it later."
Zhihao let out a cold laugh.
"Then I'd truly like to see… how capable you are."
Zhihao's voice carried a clear challenge.
—
Moments later—
Hearing Bai Lu's frantic barking, Chen Zeon rushed over. But the sight that greeted him made him stop short.
Zhihao was already on the ground.
His body trembled slightly, a faint bluish tint spreading across his skin—the unmistakable sign of poison.
"It seems no one ever taught you something important," Rui said coldly, standing in front of him. "Never make an enemy out of a physician… unless you have a death wish."
"What the hell happened here?" Chen Zeon quickly knelt beside Zhihao, lifting him carefully. Concern was evident in his voice. "What did you do to him?"
"I only poisoned him a little," Rui replied casually.
"A little?" Chen Zeon's expression darkened. Anyone could see the poison was no joke—if it spread any further, Zhihao wouldn't survive.
"Rui, give me the antidote. Now."
"Tell him to apologize first," Rui shot back without hesitation. "He attacked me for no reason. Why should I save him?"
"Rui," Chen Zeon's tone sharpened, authority slipping into his voice for the first time, "that's an order. Hand over the antidote."
"I don't need your pity." Even in his weakened state, Zhihao's voice remained cold and unyielding. "I'd rather die than be saved like this."
Rui paused for a brief second—then let out a small scoff.
"Fine. Then die."
He pulled his hand back, the antidote slipping out of reach.
"Rui…" Ignoring Zhihao's stubborn words, Chen Zeon moved swiftly. He grabbed the antidote from Rui and forced it into Zhihao's mouth.
"Bai Lu… you're not hurt, right?"
Rui's attention immediately shifted to the fox cub. Ignoring his own injuries, he crouched down and gently checked him over, concern evident in his eyes.
"I'm fine, see?" he said with a light grin, trying to reassure him. "Ah… just kidding. Nothing happened."
But the slight tremor in his right hand—and the way he subtly avoided using it—betrayed the pain he was enduring.
—
Watching this, Zhihao fell silent.
He had misunderstood.
Completely.
As strength slowly returned to his body, he lifted his hand. A faint glow spread outward, wrapping around Rui.
In the next moment, every wound on Rui's body vanished, as if they had never existed.
"I shouldn't have attacked you without hearing your side," Zhihao said, his voice quieter now, tinged with guilt.
"When have you ever listened?" Chen Zeon muttered under his breath.
Zhihao didn't respond immediately.
"…Because of certain things in the past, I've come to despise humans," he said after shooting Zeon a furious glance.
"That's why I acted on instinct… without trying to understand the situation."
He hesitated.
The apology sat at the edge of his lips—but refused to come out.
"…I'm leaving."
—
"Hey, wait."
Rui's voice stopped him.
Zhihao turned slightly, only to see Rui stepping forward, holding out a small bottle.
"This is the real antidote," Rui said. "Drink it after thirty minutes."
Zhihao stared at him, disbelief flickering in his eyes. If he hadn't healed Rui just now… what would have happened to him instead?
After Zhihao left, Rui tried to slip away with Bai Lu, avoiding Chen Zeon's gaze. But in the next moment—
"Stop."
Chen Zeon's voice rang out, sharp and furious.
Rui froze.
With no other choice left, he exhaled and decided to face it head-on.
"I know it's against sect rules to disobey a senior," Rui said, his tone firm despite the situation. "But I'm not kind enough to forgive someone who tried to hurt the people I care about."
He lifted his head slightly.
"He started the fight. I only acted when he was about to harm Bai Lu. If you want to punish me after that… go ahead."
Chen Zeon looked at him for a moment, then spoke calmly—
"I'm not interested in that."
Rui blinked, caught off guard.
"Then…?"
"Where is my nephew?"
For a split second, Rui hesitated—then answered without missing a beat.
"You don't know? Senior Zoe is in secluded training, working hard to improve himself and bring honor to the sect."
Chen Zeon raised a brow slightly.
"Oh? Secluded training?
I'd really like to watch him do something on his own." Knowing it's a lie, Chen Zeon played with Rui. Because he knew his nephew wasn't someone who stays in the closed room after hearing such commotion outside.
Rui's heart sank.
"Uncle… you shouldn't go in," he said quickly, stepping forward to block the way. "He's training very seriously. It wouldn't be good to disturb him."
But that excuse held no weight.
Not for Chen Zeon.
Rui tried to retreat, thinking of escaping before things got worse—but before he could take even a second step, he was grabbed and dragged inside along with Chen Zeon.
"Wow… how impressive." Chen Zeon's voice turned deliberately exaggerated as he glanced around the empty room. "I can't believe my eyes. Has my nephew mastered invisibility? It seems he's reached the peak—I can't see him at all."
His grip on Rui's neck tightened slightly.
"What do you think, Rui?"
Rui forced an awkward smile. "If I say he has… will you believe me?" Seeing Chen Zeon's cold expression, he continued. "No...
Fine. He's not here," Rui admitted under his breath.
Chen Zeon's eyes narrowed. "Then where is he?"
With no way out left, Rui finally gave in and told the truth.
As Chen Zeon listened, a slow smile appeared on his face instead of anger.
Seeing that reaction, Rui cautiously relaxed.
"Uncle… can I ask something?"
"Go ahead."
Rui hesitated for a second before speaking. "That beast man who came earlier… who is he? You seem to know him well."
Hearing that question, Chen Zeon's expression stiffened. For a brief moment, something unreadable passed through his eyes.
"What is our relationship…?" he murmured, almost to himself.