Smoke Cloud Lake, shimmering waves, clear lake water.
Carp leap out of the water.
The Imperial Palace is in an uproar and chaos, yet this place remains quiet. Chen Jingxuan refused the Black Scale Guards' following, but Sang Zheng had already led people to completely block off Smoke Cloud Lake... not only to prevent outsiders from entering, but also to prevent anyone from leaving.
Lakeside.
Yan Xie stands quietly with a cane, Blazing Sun hangs high. The scorching light casts his shadow beneath him, twisted like smoke.
"Let your men withdraw..."
He suddenly spoke, his voice carrying self-mockery: "If I wanted to escape, I would have done so long ago."
"..."
Chen Jingxuan frowned slightly, turning his head to look behind him.
No words were needed.
Soon rustling sounds came from the dense forest not far from the lakeside.
