Third-Person POV
"Mmmm! The food here tastes so good!" Guanlin exclaimed, sipping the soup from his bowl with delight.
"It is indeed delicious," Wen Lu agreed, nodding with a smile. "This might be one of the best places for a warm meal."
Meanwhile, Jinxiao sat silently in the corner of the tavern, his eyes fixed on the bustling street outside. His food remained untouched.
"Why isn't he eating?" Guanlin whispered to Wen Lu.
"To be honest, he's always like that. It's a little strange at first," Wen Lu replied quietly—only to meet Jinxiao's sharp gaze. "Ah, Childe Zhong. I didn't mean it in a bad way…"
"Are you worried about your poison?" Guanlin asked, turning to Jinxiao.
Jinxiao simply shook his head, his gaze returning to the window, where nightfall veiled the streets in a sea of murmuring voices and flickering lanterns.
"I think Childe Zhong is more concerned about Xue Wuren attacking the Golden Palace again," Wen Lu said. "He's probably anxious that he won't be there in time to stop him."
"You must be really skilled then for you to be that important to be there," Guanlin said softly. "It's just the poison that's holding you back."
Before they could continue, two men burst into the tavern, laughing and talking loudly as they sat at the table beside them.
"I swear, I saw another fairy up north," one of them said, waving his hands animatedly.
"I thought all of them were wiped out sixteen years ago," the other replied in disbelief.
"Well, who knows? Maybe a few of them are still wandering the world," the first man replied.
"What are they talking about?" Guanlin asked, lowering his voice.
"They're probably referring to the old sect in the Golden Palace—the one that was banned sixteen years ago," Wen Lu replied. "The Magic Sect."
Guanlin looked startled for a moment, but returned to his food. The warmth of the soup helped him push his worries aside.
"It's too late to head out now," Jinxiao said suddenly. "We'll return to the tavern and rest for the night."
"Yes, Childe Zhong."
Despite the calm, Guanlin couldn't shake the anxiety pressing down on him. Every moment spent resting was a delay in finding the cures for his mother. Yet with these two assassins by his side, he felt, somehow, that they would make it.
Jinxiao finally took a sip of his now-cold soup. "It is… delicious," he said, his face unreadable.
Guanlin chuckled, nearly choking. "What's so funny?" Jinxiao asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Guanlin replied quickly, waving his hands.
Wen Lu passed him a napkin. "You really should slow down when drinking soup."
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The Next Day
"AHHH!" Xiayou's scream pierced the air, her voice hoarse with agony as she soaked in a tub filled with steaming water.
"Niáng!" Xinyu cried, held back by Li Wei.
Li Huan held Xiayou's trembling hand. "It's going to be alright. I promise," he whispered.
"AHHHHH!" she screamed again as the divine doctor pushed her back, tracing glowing symbols across her back with swift, practiced hands. Sweat poured down her face.
"Aunt Lai, you have to fight through this!" Li Wei encouraged.
Xinyu, crying beside him, nodded desperately. "Brother will be back soon. Everything will be okay…"
At last, the doctor finished the final pattern. Xiayou collapsed into Li Huan's arms, unconscious.
"Quick—get her clothes," the doctor ordered.
Li Wei rushed off and returned moments later. After helping her dress, they carefully carried her to her bed.
"She should be stable for now," the doctor said.
Li Huan exhaled deeply. "Thank you. Truly. I owe you."
"There's no need for thanks," the doctor replied. "We've known each other since we were children. I'll always be there for those I care about. But I'll have to return in three days to repeat the process."
"Will it hurt her more?" Li Wei asked.
"I'm afraid so. If we delay the cure any longer, the pain will only worsen," the doctor replied, his tone low.
Xinyu ran to the doctor, gripping his hand as tears streamed down her face. "Please… don't let it hurt so much. She's suffered enough."
"Ā-yu!" Li Wei gently pulled her away.
The doctor sighed, gazing out the window. "I'll do what I can."
"Xiè xiè nǐ," Li Wei said, bowing.
When the doctor left, silence settled over the house. Xinyu approached Li Huan slowly. "Thank you, Uncle Li, for helping our family."
Li Huan bent down, wiping her tears with a gentle smile. "You're all like family to me. Even your brother. Your father and I were close friends—before you were even born."
"What happened to my father?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Li Huan looked down at the floor, unable to answer her question. Before he could answer, Li Wei stepped in.
"Ā-yu, let Uncle rest for now. Come help me with breakfast," he said, leading her away.
Li Huan stood up and sat beside Xiayou, brushing the hair from her face as she slept.
"I made a promise to him," he murmured. "And I'm not going to break it."
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The Following Morning
"Niáng? Niáng?! Niáng!!"
Guanlin jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
"Ahhh! What's going on?!" Wen Lu sat up with a start, rubbing his eyes. "Why is everyone yelling…?"
Guanlin tried to catch his breath, looking across the room. Jinxiao was already awake, sitting silently on the edge of his bed.
"How long have you been up?" Guanlin asked.
"Since dawn," Jinxiao replied.
"Since dawn?!" Wen Lu gasped. "Childe Zhong, did you even sleep at all?"
"Did your wound act up again?" Guanlin asked, his voice low.
Wen Lu turned toward him, concern filling his tone. "Childe Zhong… did it?"
Jinxiao shook his head and rose, hand gripping the hilt of his sword. Without a word, he turned toward the door.
"Let's not waste time."
Later in the Forest
"We've been walking for hours. This forest never ends…" Guanlin groaned, trailing behind Jinxiao.
Wen Lu leaned close to whisper, "We assassins don't usually walk this far. We'd fly over the trees. But I think Childe Zhong is worried about you."
Guanlin flushed, caught off guard. "You'd do the same if it were just the two of us."
"Not really. I'd gather all the cures myself and give you half," Wen Lu said with a grin.
Touched, Guanlin nudged him playfully with his shoulder. "We've only known each other for a day, yet it feels like decades."
"I guess I'm just too friendly," Wen Lu chuckled.
Unbeknownst to them, Jinxiao was silently listening ahead.
"We're getting close. I see snow," Jinxiao said, stopping.
They rushed to his side. Before them, the forest ended, giving way to a white field blanketed in snow.
Jinxiao stepped forward—but Guanlin blocked his path, sword drawn. "Can you handle it?"
Jinxiao gave him a look and gently pushed the sword aside, unfazed, and continued walking.
"What's with him?" Guanlin asked, confused.
"Just let him be," Wen Lu replied with a smile.
Jinxiao began drawing a heating seal across his skin. Wen Lu followed suit.
"Want one?" Wen Lu asked Guanlin.
"The heating technique? Oh, no. Give it to him instead," Guanlin replied.
Wen Lu handed a second seal to Jinxiao.
"You didn't have to," Jinxiao said.
"It's fine, Childe Zhong. I'd rather see you safe than suffering," Wen Lu replied.
They stepped into the snow-covered plains, the chill brushing against their skin.
"It's been so long since I've seen snow!" Guanlin exclaimed.
Jinxiao, however, frowned. Something felt wrong.
"Childe Zhong, what is it?" Wen Lu asked.
Suddenly, a stream of gas hissed through the air. Children's laughter echoed from nowhere.
Jinxiao and Wen Lu drew their swords in sync. Guanlin, startled, took cover behind Wen Lu.
"What's that noise?" he asked.
Before anyone could answer, the gas overtook them. One by one, they collapsed into the snow, their eyes closing as darkness took hold.
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"One! Two! Three!"
"Master." Shen Yao approached with a bow.
"Keep going, everyone!" Gu Huailin called to the trainees before turning to face him. "What is it, Shen Yao?"
"The Young Leader wishes to speak with you in his study," Shen Yao said.
"I'll be there in a minute."
Shen Yao bowed once more before departing.
Huailin turned back to the group. "Keep practicing on your own. I'll return shortly!"
He made his way through the quiet halls of Jade Gong, eventually arriving at the Young Lord's study. Inside, Zhao Lianyu sat behind his desk, calmly sipping a cup of liquor, his gaze distant.
Huailin entered and bowed respectfully. "Young Lord, what is it you require of me?"
"Gu Huailin," Lianyu said, setting the cup down with a soft clink, "I want you to send a message to all the Clan Leaders. From now on, no outsider is to enter the Golden Palace without being checked thoroughly. Emperor's Orders"
Huailin nodded. "Understood, Young Lord."
Lianyu's voice darkened. "Just like last time… We didn't even realize one of the Qi clan had slipped in to spy after Xue Wuren's attack. Sixteen years ago—and we still make the same mistakes."
"Yes, Young Leader. I'll make sure Young Leaders Meng Fei and Wen Yin receive your message. I'll also assign someone to guard and inspect the gates from now on."
As Huailin turned to leave, Lianyu spoke again, quieter this time.
"Zhao Huailin... any word from Jinxiao or Wen Lu?"
"I haven't heard anything yet," Huailin admitted. "But my gut tells me they're together."
A pause. Then Lianyu exhaled softly, waving his hand.
"All right. You may go."
Huailin bowed once more and left the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
Zhao Lianyu remained at his desk, the liquor untouched now. His fingers curled tightly around the cup, anger and unease tightening like a noose in his chest.