Guanlin slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. He sat up and stretched, feeling the hope of a new day settle in his chest. After straightening his clothes and fixing the bed, he stepped outside. The sun greeted him warmly, shining directly on his face.
"Bro Lin!" Wen Lu called, sitting by the fence as he munched on a piece of bread. "Ready to go home?"
Guanlin nodded slowly, still smiling as he turned his gaze to the clear sky.
Wen Lu got up and leaned against his shoulder. "Want some?" He offered the bread.
Without a warning, Guanlin snatched it and ran off playfully while laughing.
"Eh?! Bro Lin, give it back! I only took three bites!" Wen Lu cried, chasing after him.
From the terrace above, Song Yuanli watched them with a soft smile, clutching her satchel. When Zhong Jinxiao walked up beside her, arms crossed.
"The journey's over now," Yuanli said with a sigh. "Aren't you going to say anything to Lai Guanlin?"
Jinxiao's hand moved to the hilt of his sword. "What do I have to say?"
Yuanli chuckled. "You're such a terrible liar, Childe Zhong. Since when?"
"Since when what? What are you talking abou?" he scoffed.
"You're hiding it like a fat kid trying to hide behind a skinny tree. It's just that Guanlin hasn't noticed yet."
Jinxiao was quiet for a beat. Then, almost reluctantly, he said, "Since the day at Huemiang Mountain."
Yuanli raised a brow. "What happened there?"
"That's where we found the first cure... and where I first met Guanlin" His voice softened. "It was also the first time I had an attack that day."
He paused. "I collapsed to the ground, and he rushed over to my side carrying me on his arm on my vulnerable moment, he desperately called for help, holding on to me like I was about to disappear. That moment... something lit up inside me."
Yuanli looked down at the two boys still chasing each other. "So? What are you going to do about it?"
Jinxiao's thoughts drifted to the memory of last night-the unexpected kiss Guanlin gave him while drunk.
Was it just the liquor?
He shook his head. "I don't know yet. But I know this-I have to protect him. I owe him my life."
With that, he turned. "Let's go."
Yuanli followed quietly behind.
"Bro Lin, you look so happy today," Wen Lu said, catching his breath. "What's the reason?"
Guanlin giggled. "Nothing much... it's just that we're finally going home."
"We're finally going home," Jinxiao echoed, approaching them.
From behind, Feng Baiying appeared, drawing everyone's attention.
"Well, this is the second time I'm saying goodbye. I hope there will be more," Baiying smirked.
"Wish on," Jinxiao muttered.
"Childe Zhong, don't mutter things when I can still hear your words," Baiying teased. "Still, I'd be happy to see you again too."
Guanlin stepped forward and bowed deeply.
Baiying quickly pulled him up. "Don't kneel, I didn't ask you to."
"Master Feng, thank you for everything. You've helped us more than we can ever repay," Guanlin said earnestly.
"You are truly a great man for saving this town," Yuanli added, bowing with elegance. "We're off now."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Wen Lu cheered, dashing toward the path.
"Ah, Wen Lu! Wait for us!" Guanlin laughed, chasing after him.
Yuanli shook her head with a smile and followed.
Jinxiao lingered for a moment. Baiying stepped closer and placed a firm, comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I'd be happy to fight alongside you again someday, Childe Zong." he said before turning to leave.
Jinxiao hesitated, then turned around and called out, "Feng Baiying, if you ever want a drink sometimes... you're welcome at the Golden Palace."
Baiying glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. "Alright... I'll think about it."
Jinxiao allowed a rare smile to cross his face before following the others down the path.
Silent Hill
"Song Yuanli," Guanlin said, his tone softening with emotion.
She chuckled gently. "Why do you sound so sad?"
"I'll miss you," he admitted, pulling her into a warm hug.
Yuanli ran her fingers through his long, silky hair before pulling back. "You can always visit anytime. Come see Ā-Chen and Ā-Ning again, I'm sure they will miss you."
Guanlin's eyes brimmed with tears, and he pulled her into another hug.
Jinxiao stepped forward and gave a respectful nod. "Song Yuanli, thank you for staying by our side till the end. Your kindness carried us through more than you know. Please extend my gratitude to Master Song Lanjin as well."
"I will," she smiled. "Now go before it's too late, and take care on your way home."
Behind them, Wen Lu was crying like a child.
"Wen Lu, why are you crying?" Yuanli asked.
He turned away, arms crossed, face scrunched up. "It's better this way... you always scold me."
Yuanli burst into laughter. "When you come back, I won't scold you again. I'll do it ten times worse."
Wen Lu spun around and tackled her in a hug, sobbing into her shoulder. She gently pulled back and turned to leave.
"Bye now!" she called, waving.
Guanlin and Wen Lu cried like children while Jinxiao stood silently, arms crossed.
"Song Yuanli! Tell Ā-Chen and Ā-Ning I'll come back for them!" Guanlin shouted.
"Enough," Jinxiao muttered. "You're both acting like kids. Wen Lu, you're supposed to be a tough assassin and here you are, bawling your eyes out like a kid who lost his toy."
"Can't men cry too?" Wen Lu fired back, tears still clinging to his cheeks.
Jinxiao rolled his eyes and walked ahead. Guanlin and Wen Lu trailed after him, still sniffling.
Zhongyin Palace
Wen Yin sat in his hall, swirling his cup of liquor as He Xicheng stood awkwardly beside him, silent and stiff.
"What?" Wen Yin muttered. "Still thinking about what happened the other day?"
He Xicheng didn't answer. He clutched his sword tighter, his eyes lowered.
"You've seen my body. I've seen yours. So what?" Wen Yin snapped, eyes sharp.
"Young Leader Wen..." Xicheng finally said, voice low. "I need to leave the palace again tonight."
"Leave again?" Wen Yin stood, scoffing. "You've been running off so often lately-what exactly are you trying to do?" He stepped in, closing the distance. "Don't tell me you're avoiding me."
Before Xicheng could step away, Wen Yin pinned him against the wall.
"It's just that I..."
"Just what?" Wen Yin cut through, voice quiet but intense, their eyes locked.
"I need some space sometimes. To breathe," Xicheng said, his breath slightly shaky.
"Space?" Wen Yin's gaze darkened. "You won't even tell me where you go. What are you hiding, He Xicheng?"
He grabbed Xicheng's wrist-not to hurt, but to keep him close.
"Are you trying to disappear from my life?" he whispered.
"I'm not..." Xicheng started, but his voice faltered.
Wen Yin leaned in suddenly and kissed him. It wasn't gentle-impulsive, frustrated. But the moment their lips touched, Wen Yin paused, as if realizing something. He lingered, letting Xicheng pull away if he wished.
Xicheng didn't move.
For a second, he kissed back.
Then he broke away, breathless. "This isn't right... we're not supposed to-"
Wen Yin reached again, but Xicheng gently pushed him, causing him to stumble back and hit the edge of the table.
"Young Leader Wen!" Xicheng gasped, immediately stepping forward to help. "I'm sorry-I didn't mean to-"
Wen Yin his hands off, standing up with narrowed eyes. He walked back to his seat and sat down heavily.
"Maybe I was wrong about you," he muttered.
Xicheng bowed low. "Young Leader Wen, it's all my fault. You shouldn't have saved me that day. I only bring trouble to you."
He took a deep breath and placed his sword on the table in front of Wen Yin.
"I'm withdrawing as your right hand assistant. Please accept this as my resignation." Xicheng Bowed.
Wen Yin didn't speak.
Xicheng removed his outer robe slowly. "I'm leaving the Wen Clan." He bowed again. "Thank you for your kindness, I really appreciate it."
He turned and walked away, his steps heavy like stones around the halls.
Just as he reached the doors, they slammed shut.
"You think I'll let you go that easily?" Wen Yin's voice rang from behind.
Xicheng froze, then turned, stunned, as Wen Yin approached and suddenly lifted him into his arms.
"Young Leader Wen?! What are you-"
Wen Yin didn't speak. He carried Xicheng to his chamber and laid him gently on the bed.
He hovered above him, but didn't touch.
"You always run away from me without telling me," Wen Yin said, his voice shaking slightly. "But if you didn't matter, I wouldn't care this much."
Xicheng looked up at him, conflicted. "You care too much... and I-I don't know if I can return it the way you want it."
Wen Yin reached out and brushed a strand of hair from his face. "Then tell me to stop. And I will."
There was silence.
Then, Wen Yin slowly reached up, his fingers brushing He Xicheng's cheek.
"Young Leader Wen, I won't blame you for blaming me for what's ever going to come in the future," he whispered.
Wen Yin leaned down, kissing him again-softer this time. And this time, Xicheng kissed back with trembling lips, pulling Wen Yin close as they surrendered to the weight between them.
Their robes fell slowly, layer by layer-as their skin touched each other, not torn, but unwrapped like secrets.
"Young Leader Wen..." Xicheng murmured, his voice cracking. "I'm... I'm not who you think I am."
Wen Yin paused, but didn't pull away.
"I don't care who you are, just don't get out of my sight again," he said.
And with that, the curtains fell, as two men-bound by duty, secrets, and something dangerously close to love-held onto each other like the world outside no longer mattered.
Jade Palace
"Young Lord, don't you think it's time we paid a visit to Meng Fei?" Gu Huailin asked, standing respectfully to the side.
Zhao Lianyu looked up from his desk, his eyes shadowed with sorrow. "You're right, Gu Huailin. We should go... We must mourn for my elder brother. It breaks my heart that I wasn't there when he-" he cut himself off, voice tightening.
"It was said he was killed by a spy from the Qi Clan," Huailin added grimly. "They suspect the infiltrator may still be lurking near the Meng or Wen Clan territories."
Lianyu's eyes narrowed. "How did they get in?"
"There are only two possibilities," Huailin said. "Either one of them stayed hidden after the attack on Huding... or someone infiltrated long before that, and we failed to notice."
"But if the Qi Clan had already planted a spy before the Hueding attack," Lianyu mused, fingers tapping thoughtfully on the wooden table, "then why bother launching the assault just to steal the map?"
"To create a diversion, of course," Huailin replied. "They always rely on misdirection. Classic tricks."
"Hmm..." Lianyu gave a slight nod. "Cunning, but predictable."
"Even so, what should we do about the spy now?" Huailin asked. "If they're still moving freely among us, who knows what damage they'll cause?"
There was a moment of silence as Lianyu pondered, the rhythmic tapping of his fingers the only sound in the room.
"I also received word from the Wen Clan," Huailin said carefully. "It seems they've appointed an outsider as Young Leader Wen's right hand."
Lianyu's eyes flashed. "An outsider? Who?"
"He Xicheng," Huailin said.
"He Xicheng..." Lianyu repeated, the name rolling off his tongue with suspicion. "I've never heard of anyone with the surname He. Certainly not in our region."
He leaned forward, voice low and commanding. "Keep an eye on him. Something doesn't sit right."
"Yes, Young Lord. I'll go to the Wen Clan personally and speak with Young Leader Wen," Huailin bowed, preparing to leave.
As the door closed behind him, Zhao Lianyu smirked to himself, his fingers resuming their tap.
"So... the game begins. But I know Cao Laikuan will keep Jinxiao distracted."