[Former Site of Xiling · Ruined City]
Between shattered walls and broken ramparts, the wind howled, sweeping ash and sand across the ground. The city walls had long since been eaten away by fire and time, collapsing into ruin. Half-buried bones gleamed stark white amid the dust.
This was the place that, only months ago, had once flourished—
Xiling City.
Tutan, clad in iron armor, rode into the city with several trusted subordinates. The sound of hooves echoed hollowly through the empty streets, each reverberation steeped in desolation.
He dismounted and issued a cold command, "Spread out and search. Any remains, any traces—leave nothing unchecked."
The soldiers answered and dispersed.
—
Half an hour later, someone returned with a charred fragment of a battle banner and several rusted weapons.
The banner was nearly destroyed, but within the ashes one could still make out the beast insignia of the Riftflare Army. The weapons were mottled with rust, yet faintly visible upon them were the forging stamps of Yao Capital.
Tutan's brows sank, a chill tightening in his chest.
"The Riftflare Army…" he muttered. "Why would they be using weapons forged in Yao Capital?"
—
Another soldier rushed in.
"General! Beneath the city lord's residence—we found a young man in the cellar!"
Tutan hurried over.
In a corner of the half-collapsed stone cellar, a young man lay curled up, covered in dust. His face was gaunt, eyes sunken, breath weak. Scattered beside him were tattered scrolls and rusted locks—clear signs that he had once served as an assistant in the city archives.
The collapsed stone had sealed the exit completely, trapping him underground for months. Had it not been for water seeping in through hidden channels and remnants of stored grain, he would have perished long ago.
Tutan crouched and asked gravely, "Can you still speak? How did this place fall? Did anyone from the city lord's family survive?"
The young man's lips trembled. His voice was hoarse.
"The city lord's household… none survived… not one…"
But suddenly, clarity flashed through his eyes. His voice shook, yet grew firm.
"I saw them… that day… not all were Riftflare soldiers… there were also… those wearing Yao armor…"
The moment the final word left his lips, his head slumped. His breath ceased.
—
Tutan stood frozen, his face iron-dark.
He clenched his fist.
"Riftflare forces and Yao troops…?" he murmured. "Or did someone act under the Riftflare name?"
The night wind roared, snapping his cloak against his shoulders.
He knew—once this reached the Third Prince, Si Moheng, it would stir a storm.
Because it meant that the destruction of Xiling City had not been a simple massacre by Riftflare forces.
There was another hand behind it.
[Yao South Hidden Estate · Main Hall]
The rain had just stopped. Water dripped from the eaves.
A Zhao Guard hurried in and dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness, Imperial Daughter—urgent news from Yao Capital. The Xiling young lord, Ling Shuo, has appeared in the capital!"
The hall erupted.
"What?!" Garo shot to his feet, his chair scraping harshly across the stone floor.
The guard continued, "Ling Shuo publicly wept in the marketplaces, claiming Xiling City was slaughtered by Riftflare forces. He says he was imprisoned underground and nearly had his body stolen, but survived by chance. His words moved the people deeply. Within days, he has gathered widespread support. Among the common folk, he is being hailed as a martyr's heir. Some scholars have even petitioned the court, urging the Crown Prince to grant him the title of 'Protector of the Nation.'"
Si Moheng's brows drew tight, his gaze cutting like frost.
"He steals another's body, yet dares walk openly in Yao Capital… and seeks to harvest public acclaim?"
Garo slammed the table.
"He's trying to wash himself clean and emerge a hero! If this continues, court factions will use him as a political piece!"
Lianyu added quietly, "More insidiously, he is spreading tales of Riftflare atrocities everywhere, claiming repeated brushes with death. There are even rumors he led men to repel Riftflare forces and saved several villages. Public sentiment is already shifting toward him."
Youqing's breath caught. Her fingers trembled as a familiar chill surfaced in her mind—the same cold aura she had once sensed within black obsidian.
She whispered, "Ye Yi… he truly has begun his scheme, using that identity."
Ye Qixiu spoke gravely, "This is not merely a play for public favor. It is an open provocation. If he gains control over reputation and influence, the consequences will be immeasurable."
Si Moheng's voice turned razor-cold.
"Relay my order. Send Xiao You to Yao Capital immediately. Investigate in secret. Dig up everything—no matter how small."
Youqing slowly lifted her head, her gaze steady and resolute.
"Not just investigate—be fast. Once the entire city believes his story, the truth will be seen as slander. We will become villains defaming a hero."
Silence fell over the hall.
Only the oil lamp flickered, casting shadows heavy with dread.
—
Not long after news of Ling Shuo's arrival reached them, Tutan returned to the estate.
The rain had just ceased. Pine branches outside still dripped cold water.
Armor unremoved, dust-stained and weather-worn, Tutan strode in and clasped his fists.
"Your Highness, Imperial Daughter. I have returned from the former site of Xiling."
All eyes turned to him.
Si Moheng, dressed in black, spoke first.
"Report."
Tutan's expression was grave.
"Xiling City is indeed a ruin—charred corpses, collapsed walls. A massacre beyond doubt. However, I found two anomalies."
He paused, then continued heavily, "First, Riftflare banners were found among the ruins—but every weapon recovered bore the forging mark of Yao Capital."
Shock rippled through the room.
"Yao weapons?" Garo growled. "How could Riftflare forces possess them?"
Tutan nodded.
"I dare not speculate—but the evidence is clear. This was not a simple Riftflare atrocity."
Ye Qixiu's brow furrowed.
"It resembles… someone acting under the Riftflare name."
Tutan added, "Second, in the city lord's cellar, we found a young man. Before he died, he said that besides Riftflare soldiers, there were also troops wearing Yao armor inside the city."
Deathly silence followed.
Youqing's heart clenched.
"Yao armor… does that mean… Yao troops?"
Si Moheng's eyes turned glacial. He slammed the table.
"So—using Riftflare as a mask! Destroying a city and framing others!"
Garo snarled, "If Yao troops were involved, then someone in the court must be colluding! Otherwise, how would Riftflare obtain Yao weapons?!"
Ye Qixiu spoke slowly, voice heavy.
"If that youth spoke true, then on the day Xiling fell, both Riftflare forces and Yao troops were present. Someone had to be coordinating them."
Youqing's face drained of color.
"How could this be? How could Yao troops slaughter a city alongside Riftflare?"
Tutan replied grimly, "Imperial Daughter, I checked old records. When Fengmian served as State Preceptor, he secretly controlled a faction of Yao generals. Though he has fallen, those men may still answer to him."
Garo shot to his feet.
"So this massacre wasn't solely Riftflare's doing—but Fengmian, acting under Riftflare's banner, mobilized remnants of the Yao army?"
Ye Qixiu exhaled slowly.
"Exactly. Riftflare stood in the open. Yao troops struck from the shadows. Together, Xiling was doomed. That is the most terrifying part—it appears to be chaos, but was in truth a carefully laid death trap."
Si Moheng let out a cold laugh.
"No wonder Ye Yi chose Ling Shuo's body. The Xiling city lord's line were victims from the start. Wearing the skin of a martyr's heir allows him to stand openly in Yao Capital—and gather the people's hearts."
A chill flooded Youqing's chest.
No wonder Ling Shuo was imprisoned rather than killed.
He had already been marked as a vessel.
The candlelight flickered, casting iron-dark shadows across every face.
Ye Qixiu closed his eyes slowly.
"Fengmian may have fallen, but the board he set remains. Ye Yi is inheriting it step by step. If we do not expose this in time, the world will be turned upside down—truth and falsehood reversed."
[Yao South Hidden Estate · Silent Chamber, Night]
The candle had burned down to its final inch. With a hiss, blue smoke rose, casting erratic light.
Sweat drenched Youqing's brow. Both palms were pressed against black obsidian, runes pulsing as dark mist surged upward along her arms toward her heart.
Her eyes flashed crimson. Red pupils mirrored the black fog—two forces colliding violently.
She clenched her teeth.
"Stabilize the soul… guard the mind!"
But the dark mist grew wilder. In an instant, it shattered her resistance and rushed toward her consciousness. Her vision went black. Agony tore through her chest, as if her soul were being ripped from her body.
"Cough—!"
Youqing spat blood and collapsed backward.
At that moment, the door burst open.
"Qing'er!"
Si Moheng rushed in. Seeing her spirit faltering, nearly swallowed by black mist, terror stabbed straight through his chest.
He lunged forward, catching her, and slammed his palm down on the obsidian.
Boom—!
The black mist dispersed violently. The runes shattered under his force. Only then did her breathing stabilize.
He held her tightly, staring at her pale face, voice shaking with fury.
"Stop learning this! I would rather see the world fall than watch you gamble your life!"
Her fingers trembled, yet she still clutched his robe, voice soft but unyielding.
"If I don't learn it, Ling Shuo can never return to his own body. If Ye Yi uses him to build his scheme, both the Yao Realm and the Nether Domain will fall."
Veins stood out on Si Moheng's forehead. His eyes burned with pain and barely restrained rage.
"You are not a tool to save the world! I won't allow you to wager your life!"
Youqing's lashes fluttered. She met his gaze, her voice light yet sharp as a blade.
"But if I don't gamble… no one else can win."
The words pierced his heart.
His chest heaved. His lips trembled—but no words came.
At last, he only pulled her into his arms, pressing his forehead against hers, voice hoarse.
"…Then I'll gamble with you. Win or lose. Life or death. I'll see it through with you."