As Xue Lang spoke, something clicked in Yin Mo's mind. Recalling the appearance of Song Yan, her eyes narrowed sharply, slicing through the night.
"You're right." Frost laced her words. "Chi Ruo already sent the image — how did it slip my mind? I should have killed her the moment I saw her."
A cold gleam flashed in Yin Mo's eyes. "If not for those two, we wouldn't have needed to alter our original plan."
"Now's not the time for regret," Xue Lang replied, his voice low and urgent. "If we don't hurry, we'll miss the sect meeting."
Without another word, he surged ahead, his robes fluttering under the moonlight.
"Wait—" Yin Mo frowned and followed swiftly.
Two figures shot through the vast starry sky, tearing across the desolate land like fleeting shadows under the moon.
Heavenreach Citadel — Shen Yao's Manor
The courtyard lay wrapped in silence, disturbed only by the faint chirping of night insects. Silver moonlight spilled gently across the tiled roofs and glimmering lanterns, bathing the manor in a tranquil glow.
Suddenly, the void rippled. A spatial rift opened soundlessly, and Ye Kaishan stepped out from within. His gaze swept over the illuminated manor.
"Looks like Shen Yao has already arrived," he murmured to himself.
Then, his eyes paused.
A lone figure sat upon the roof, bathed in moonlight, gazing silently at the twin moons hanging in the sky.
"Song Yan?" Ye Kaishan's lips curved faintly as he leaped up, his figure light as mist. He landed beside her soundlessly.
Song Yan turned her head, her calm eyes meeting his. She sat with one leg bent, the other stretched gracefully, her hands resting lightly at her sides. Her fair legs glowed faintly beneath the moonlight, like smooth jade under silver light.
"Where were you?" she asked softly.
"I was with Shen Yao, wandering near the meadows," Ye Kaishan replied casually, sitting beside her.
"When Shen Yao returned, he looked pale and lifeless," Song Yan said, her tone composed but tinged with concern. "Did something happen in the meadows? Did you encounter anything strange?"
Ye Kaishan's expression grew solemn. "Well… yes."
He began recounting everything that had happened that afternoon — the wandering through the meadows, the corpses they found in the woods, and Shen Yao's odd behavior afterward.
Song Yan listened silently, her eyes reflecting the distant starlight. The mention of so many deaths made her expression tighten slightly, but her voice remained steady.
"I expected as much," she murmured at last. "But I didn't think they'd send the true disciples of their sect. That means they didn't come just to kill aimlessly… they have a greater purpose." Her gaze deepened as she pondered.
A soft flicker of concern surfaced in her eyes — fleeting, yet Ye Kaishan noticed it.
He reclined on the roof, folding his hands behind his head as a pillow. "You look worried," he said gently. "Did something happen to you?"
"Not exactly," Song Yan sighed. "Just like you, I've been sensing strange movements in the city. The recent massacres… I can't understand their intent. I just hope it's my imagination, but my intuition tells me darker days are coming."
Her eyes lifted to the sky, her tone low and steady. "The Grand Martial Tournament of Yaochi will be held in two or three days. In this chaos, I can't help but worry."
Ye Kaishan chuckled softly and sat up, meeting her gaze. "What's there to be afraid of? Even if the city falls into turmoil, we'll face it together. You're not alone in this."
His smile carried a rare warmth that lingered between them.
Song Yan blinked — and then, to his surprise, a small laugh escaped her lips.
"What's so funny?" Ye Kaishan asked, frowning slightly.
"Nothing," she replied with a gentle smile. Though his words hold no concrete promise… hearing them truly eased my mind.
"But words alone won't suffice," she continued, her smile fading into a resolute calm.
"I'm still at mid-Nirvana. Progress slows considerably at this stage. Within two days, I must reach late Nirvana if we are to stand a chance in the tournament — or against those Corpse Sect disciples."
She rose gracefully, moonlight tracing the edge of her figure. "I'll cultivate in my room. The soul energy within this city is dense — it should be enough for my breakthrough."
Her hand lifted, a soft glow of soul power shimmering around her fingers. She looked back at Ye Kaishan.
"You should continue studying your sword manual in the meantime. Master what you can."
"I will," Ye Kaishan replied, giving a slight nod.
Song Yan leapt lightly from the roof, her silhouette fading into the courtyard's glow.
Ye Kaishan remained lying there, his gaze wandering over the glittering city. Gradually, the vibrant lights dimmed as the night deepened. His eyelids grew heavy, and soon, soft snores drifted through the quiet courtyard.
A breeze swept across the roof, rustling the leaves and carrying a faint chill through the night.
"Achoo—!"
Sniff. "Huh? Who's calling my name?" Ye Kaishan rubbed his nose groggily. "Did I actually fall asleep here?"
He yawned, glancing over the city that still flickered faintly with life.
"Song Yan must be cultivating… maybe I should study the sword manual too."
He waved his hand through the air. Space rippled — the void split open, revealing a long sword and a worn sword manual that floated into his grasp.
"I haven't practiced this in half a month," he muttered. "Let's hope it hasn't become too difficult."
Crack!
A faint sound echoed behind him. Ye Kaishan turned sharply, his eyes gleaming as he thrust his sword through the air, stopping just short of piercing a chest.
"Wait—! Brother Ye, it's me!" Shen Yao's face turned pale, the sword tip trembling inches from his heart.
"Shen Yao?" Ye Kaishan blinked, retracting his sword. "What are you doing here?"
Shen Yao exhaled shakily. "I… I came to find you."
The night was quiet, the faint shimmer of moonlight spilling through the courtyard trees. A soft breeze carried the scent of damp earth, rustling the lanterns that swayed gently above the stone path.
Shen Yao came beside Ye Kaishan and sat down without a word.
"I apologize, Brother Ye," Shen Yao said, his usual carefree tone replaced by unexpected politeness. "Was I disturbing you?"
Ye Kaishan glanced at him, momentarily caught off guard by the humility in his voice. "Ah, no, not at all," he replied with a faint smile. "I just thought you needed some space, so I didn't come to you."
Shen Yao chuckled softly, though the sound lacked its usual warmth.
"I'm all right now—and that child is fine as well.
I've made some arrangements for him in the city. Though I may have left Yaochi, I still have a few connections. And since he was the lone survivor from the outer district, it wasn't too difficult to find him shelter."
He exhaled slowly, his eyes dimming. "Still, nothing in life comes free. That boy has lost his entire world... it'll take time for him to adjust."
His lips curved into a small smile, but the pain beneath it was unmistakable. Ye Kaishan could see it clearly—the quiet ache Shen Yao tried to hide.
Perhaps he had shared the same suffering as that child.
Though this manor appeared peaceful within, outside its walls, the world was no different from those crumbling thatched houses they had once passed.
Ye Kaishan sighed softly and turned toward him. "Shen Yao," he said, His tone was calm and direct, piercing straight to the heart of Shen Yao's hesitation.
Shen Yao's faint smile faltered. His throat tightened as if the words were caught there, but after a pause, he took a deep breath and spoke.
"I'm sorry, Brother Ye," he began quietly. "Earlier… I overheard your conversation with your Dao companion. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. It just happened—I was lighting the lanterns outside."
Ye Kaishan raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity crossing his face. "Is that what you came to tell me?"
"Ah, no. There's something else."
His tone turned urgent. He shifted, then knelt on the cold stone roof, bowing deeply before Ye Kaishan. The lantern light flickered across his bowed form, throwing long shadows behind him.
"Brother Ye," he said with solemn resolve, "I know this might sound presumptuous, but please—teach me the martial arts you've learned.
I know you are not a cultivator, though you are a Dao companion. Yet your strength is undeniable. Please, teach me. I'll do anything—climb mountains, cross rivers, endure any hardship! "whatever it takes!"
He spoke in one breath, his voice trembling as it echoed faintly in the quiet courtyard.
"This feeling of powerlessness…" his voice broke slightly, "…I don't want to experience it ever again."
A gust of wind swept through, dimming one of the lanterns. The flame flickered unsteadily, mirroring the turbulence within Shen Yao's heart.
Ye Kaishan blinked, somewhat caught off guard as he looked at Shen Yao.
I thought he had something on his mind… but I never expected him to ask me to teach him martial arts, he thought, his gaze flicking to Shen Yao with a mix of surprise and contemplation.
But there's a problem. Even if I can teach him, the power behind my martial arts is directly tied to the laws I manipulate. I have no idea how his body will respond, or what the result of his efforts will be.
And more importantly… Shen Yao's physique is built for fists, not swordplay. My sword techniques would be useless to him.
Ye Kaishan's lips curved into a wry smile, though his mind was far from amused. How should I even explain this to him? He found himself tangled in a quiet dilemma, the evening wind rustling faintly around him
Authors note
If you're reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my first novel—it truly means the world to me.
If you enjoyed the story, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave a review, share your thoughts in the comments, or even give some powerstones. It might seem small to you, but for us authors, it is a huge source of motivation and encouragement. Your support keeps our stories alive!