Chapter 7 – Under the Moonlit Peach Tree
The night had settled deep over the Minister's compound, shrouding the grounds in shadows that flickered and danced like restless spirits. The moon, a pale silver guardian, cast its gentle glow on the ancient peach trees that lined the gardens, their blossoms whispering secrets in the still air.
Mei Lian moved silently, her breath steady but her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. She had noticed the figure slipping beyond the guest wing's latticed windows earlier, and curiosity — mingled with a streak of fiery courage — had driven her to follow.
Her footsteps were soft against the stone path, petals crunching faintly beneath her feet. The figure paused beneath the gnarled branches of the oldest peach tree, the same one that had stood sentinel during the examination day. Moonlight traced the contours of a slender frame cloaked in a deep indigo robe, the hood pulled low to conceal their face.
Mei Lian cleared her throat softly, trying to summon her usual boldness. "You called my name."
The figure turned slowly, revealing a sharp jawline and eyes that glittered like onyx — cold, calculating, but laced with something else: regret, perhaps, or desperation.
"I had to find you," the voice was low but urgent. "There's no time for hesitation."
Mei Lian narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? Why do you follow us?"
The figure hesitated, then pulled back their hood, revealing a young man with pale skin and dark hair streaked with silver. A thin scar ran along his left cheek — a mark of battles past.
"My name is Shen Yu," he said quietly. "I was once part of the Shadow Pavilion."
Mei Lian's breath caught. The words hung between them like a blade suspended by a thread.
"I left," Shen Yu continued, "because I could no longer stand their cruelty. But they have not forgotten me — or you."
Her fingers curled into fists. "Why come to me?"
"Because you and your companions are the key to stopping what they plan next. The power hidden beneath the western mountains is awakening, and the Pavilion seeks to control it — or destroy it."
Mei Lian's mind raced. The training with Madame Luo, the mark on Wen's sleeve, the song on the river — it was all connected. "Why should we trust you?"
Shen Yu's gaze was steady. "Because if you don't, they will kill you before dawn."
Back in the guest wing, the rest of the group awaited Mei Lian's return with mounting concern. The flicker of candlelight cast shadows on their faces, each lost in thoughts as tangled as the moonlit gardens outside.
When Mei Lian returned, she found Wen pacing near the window, his face set in deep contemplation.
"We need to talk," she said, voice low but resolute.
Wen's gaze lifted, searching hers. "What did you find?"
"Someone who can help us — or betray us. Shen Yu. He says he was part of the Pavilion but escaped."
Yin Xue's eyes widened slightly, but her calm remained unbroken. "If his story is true, he's a valuable ally. But we must be cautious."
Shen Rui laughed softly. "Since when did caution ever win a fight?"
Mei Lian shot him a sharp look. "Since we're trying to live."
The four gathered around the table, Mei Lian recounting every word Shen Yu had said. The tea house, the ancient scrolls, the whispered warnings — everything pointed toward a storm brewing far beyond their immediate struggles.
"We are not just students taking an exam," Wen said, voice steady but heavy. "We are the last guardians of a legacy that could change the fate of the empire."
Yin Xue nodded. "And the Shadow Pavilion will not stop until that legacy is in their hands — or destroyed."
Mei Lian's fingers tightened around the edge of the table. "Then we have no choice but to fight."
Shen Rui grinned, a spark returning to his eyes. "Finally, something worth waking up for."
As the night deepened, they planned their next move. Shen Yu's knowledge of the Pavilion's inner workings was invaluable — secret routes, safe houses, and hidden allies scattered throughout the city.
But the risks were clear. Every step they took toward uncovering the truth was shadowed by danger, and trust was a fragile thing in a world built on secrets.
Yet in that fragile trust, a new strength began to grow — forged in the shared resolve of four souls bound by fate, friendship, and something far deeper.
Outside, the moonlight caught on the falling petals of the peach blossoms, a silent promise that even in darkness, hope could bloom.