### Born to Protect, Meant to Die
The elderly woman's words were still echoing in Lixuan's mind.
Very few people... return the way they were... when they first left.
He turned around once more and looked behind him. But the woman seemed to have vanished into thin air. There was no sound of footsteps, nor was there even a trace of her shadow. Lixuan slowly furrowed his brows, wondering where she could have disappeared so quickly.
"...Where did she go so suddenly?"
Zhichen replied in his usual calm voice, "Perhaps she knows the paths through this forest better than we do." Lixuan slowly nodded. "Perhaps..." With that, the two resumed their journey. However, the forest now seemed even quieter than before. The wind was blowing, yet not even the rustling of leaves could be heard.
After a while, the dense trees gradually began to thin out. And then, before them, a long flight of stone steps came into view. Ancient pillars stood on either side of the staircase. Many had crumbled, while others were covered in thick layers of green moss. Lixuan slowly raised his gaze towards the top.
At the end of the staircase, hidden among the clouds and mist, stood the Eastern Divine Temple. Its towering roof, enormous entrance, and strange figures carved into its walls made the entire structure look impossibly ancient, as though no one had touched it for centuries.
Lixuan spoke quietly, "...So this is the Eastern Divine Temple."
Zhichen gazed at the temple for a few moments. "Hmm."
Lixuan glanced at him and smiled. "Do you have only one answer for everything?" Zhichen replied calmly, "No. I have two." Lixuan looked at him in surprise. "Two?" "Hmm."
This time, Lixuan genuinely burst into laughter. "Was that a joke?" "Perhaps." Lixuan shook his head, still smiling. "...Looks like Rongwei's influence is finally rubbing off on you."
The two began walking towards the staircase. But the moment Lixuan placed his foot on the first step, a strange uneasiness swept through his heart. Without any particular reason, he turned around and looked towards the forest. He couldn't explain why, but he suddenly had the feeling that someone was standing far away, silently watching the two of them.
Lixuan turned around once again, but the forest remained as quiet as before. He slowly let out a breath. "...Perhaps it was just my imagination."
Zhichen looked at him. "Did you sense something?" Lixuan thought for a few moments before answering, "I'm not sure... But it felt as though someone was watching us."
Zhichen glanced around their surroundings. "I can't see anything." Lixuan turned towards him. "That doesn't mean there's no one there." Lixuan gave him a faint smile. "Sometimes, you really do manage to frighten me."
Zhichen replied without changing his expression, "That wasn't my intention. Just stay alert." Lixuan slowly nodded. "All right."
The two began climbing the stairs. With every step they took, the Eastern Divine Temple appeared even more enormous. Ancient stone statues of deities stood along the edges of the staircase. Some had lost their eyes, others were covered in thick green moss, and several had deep cracks running across their surfaces.
Lixuan stopped in front of one of the statues and remarked, "Look at these. It seems no one has taken care of them for hundreds of years."
Zhichen came and stood beside him. He carefully examined the inscription carved into the statue. "This script... It doesn't belong to Shenmei."
Lixuan looked at him in surprise. "Can you read it?" Zhichen slowly shook his head. "No. But I can tell one thing... It's extremely ancient."
Lixuan brushed away the dust covering the statue with his finger. As the dust disappeared, a strange symbol carved into the statue's chest became clearly visible. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"This symbol..." He stared at it for a moment. "I feel as though I've seen it somewhere before."
Zhichen immediately turned towards him. "Where?"
Lixuan tried to recall where he might have seen it. He remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking. "...I can't remember. But it doesn't feel completely unfamiliar either."
Zhichen looked away from the statue. "Perhaps we'll find the answer inside the temple." Lixuan nodded in agreement, and the two continued climbing the stairs.
At last, they reached the enormous main entrance of the temple. A thick layer of dust covered the doors, and vines had wound themselves around the ancient structure, as though it had not been opened for centuries.
Lixuan murmured, "No one really comes here..."
Zhichen took out the metal seal Yunshen had given him. He brought it towards the ancient symbol carved into the centre of the doors. The moment the seal came close to the symbol, a faint sound echoed from somewhere inside the temple.
"Grrrrrr..."
Lixuan immediately became alert. His hand moved towards the hilt of his sword.
"...Did you hear that?"
Zhichen replied quietly, "Yes."
But the sound hadn't come from outside the temple.
It had come from within.
The faint growl that had emerged from inside the temple disappeared into silence within moments. Lixuan and Zhichen stood motionless for a while, staring at the enormous doors.
"...That sound..." Lixuan spoke quietly. "...Was it some kind of creature?"
Zhichen didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the ancient entrance. "It's difficult to say."
He slowly placed the metal seal in his hand against the symbol carved into the centre of the doors. Click...
The moment the seal touched the symbol, the ancient lines carved across the entire entrance began glowing with a faint golden light.
Lixuan stared in astonishment. "This... is strange."
The light lasted only a few moments. Then—
Grrrr...!
This time, the entire stone entrance began trembling slowly. Dust that had accumulated over centuries rose into the air. Another low rumbling sound echoed through the surroundings.
Grrrrrr...
The two enormous stone doors slowly began opening on their own. A powerful gust of cold air rushed out from inside. It carried the scent of old manuscripts, damp earth, and something faintly resembling incense.
Lixuan furrowed his brows. "The temple was sealed... Then how is there a smell of incense inside?"
Zhichen noticed it too. "That means..." He paused briefly. "...Someone must have visited this place at some point."
Lixuan immediately looked at him. "Or..." His gaze shifted towards the dark entrance. "...Someone is still inside."
Both of them turned towards the darkness within the temple. It was so dark that they couldn't make out anything clearly. Only deep inside the temple, a tiny flame-like light flickered for a brief moment before disappearing again.
Lixuan whispered, "...Did you see that?"
"Yes."
"Was it a lamp?"
"I don't know."
Lixuan tightened his grip around his sword. "Now I'm certain someone is inside."
Zhichen replied calmly, "Don't rush. Let's look around first."
Lixuan took a deep breath and nodded. Slowly, the two began approaching the dark entrance of the Eastern Divine Temple. But just as they were about to cross the threshold, a bell rang somewhere deep inside.
Gooooong...
Both of them stopped at the same time.
The temple sank into silence once again.
And that silence...
Was the most frightening thing of all.
The sound of the bell that had echoed through the temple gradually faded away. Once again, complete silence descended upon the entire place.
Lixuan spoke quietly, "...I really don't like this place."
Zhichen looked at him. "Do you want to go back outside?"
Lixuan immediately straightened his posture. "Who said that?" He quickly added, "I was only saying... that I don't like this place. I'm not frightened."
Zhichen replied without changing his expression, "I didn't say the word 'frightened'."
Lixuan fell silent for a moment.
"..."
Then he muttered under his breath, "You do that on purpose."
"Do what?"
"Make me go quiet."
Zhichen raised his eyebrows slightly. "You don't need anyone's help with that."
Lixuan's eyes widened. "...Did you just make fun of me?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Hmm."
Lixuan placed both hands on his waist. "First Rongwei... and now you too. It seems my dignity has absolutely no value here."
A very faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips. Lixuan immediately pointed a finger at him. "You're smiling! I saw it this time."
Zhichen maintained a perfectly straight expression. "You're imagining things."
"Am I imagining things every single time?"
"Yes."
"You're terrible."
"You're the first person to say that to me."
"Really?" Lixuan narrowed his eyes. "Then remember this. I won't be the last either."
The two stared at each other for a few moments. Then, for some reason, Lixuan suddenly burst into laughter.
Zhichen looked at him. "Why are you laughing?"
"I don't know. Perhaps..." Lixuan smiled. "...spending time with you is slowly ruining my habits."
Zhichen was just about to reply when—
Drip...
A drop of water fell straight from the temple ceiling onto Lixuan's forehead.
He flinched. "What—"
He looked upwards. Another drop was about to fall when Zhichen instinctively caught his wrist and pulled him one step towards himself.
The next instant—
Drip... Drip... Drip...
Three or four large drops fell exactly where Lixuan had been standing.
Lixuan stared at the spot in surprise. "...That was close. Otherwise, I would've been completely drenched."
He turned towards Zhichen. Only then did he realise that Zhichen's hand was still wrapped around his wrist.
For a moment, both of them fell completely silent.
Zhichen immediately released his hand. "...Forgive me."
Lixuan glanced briefly at his wrist. "...No. You were just... helping me."
The same strange silence settled between them once again. Lixuan pretended to clear his throat.
"Shall we go?"
"Hmm."
The two continued deeper into the temple. But this time, for some reason, Lixuan couldn't stop remembering the faint touch of Zhichen's fingers against his wrist.
And Zhichen...
For a brief moment, he turned back and looked at the place where the drops of water had fallen, as though an unspoken thought had begun taking shape in his own heart.
The two slowly continued further inside the temple.
The moment they crossed the entrance, the light from outside gradually began to fade. A cold breeze drifted through the interior, and the ancient lamps attached to the walls had long since gone out. A thick layer of dust covered everything around them.
Lixuan glanced around and spoke quietly. "It really does seem as though no one has come here for centuries."
Zhichen pointed towards the ground. "Look carefully."
Lixuan lowered his gaze. Across the thick layer of dust, there were only two pairs of footprints.
Their own.
"So..." Lixuan murmured. "No one really has come here."
Zhichen replied quietly, "Or..." He paused. "...whoever came here didn't leave any footprints behind."
Lixuan looked at him. "You make everything sound frightening."
Zhichen answered directly, "I'm only explaining the possibilities."
Lixuan let out a quiet breath. "One day..." He glanced at Zhichen. "...you should spend an entire day with Rongwei. Perhaps then you'll learn how to have a normal conversation."
Zhichen asked calmly, "Would that be a punishment or a reward?"
Lixuan stared at him for two moments before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha..."
"For the first time..."
"You've made such a good joke."
Zhichen frowned slightly. "I wasn't joking."
Lixuan laughed even harder. "That's exactly what made it funny."
Zhichen fell silent. His expression remained as calm as ever, but Lixuan clearly noticed the corners of his lips turning into the faintest smile.
"See! You're smiling again. Do you think I can't notice?"
Zhichen turned his attention towards the path ahead. "Your attention wanders too easily."
"Only towards you."
The words slipped out of Lixuan's mouth before he could even think about them.
The moment he heard what he had said, he went completely still.
"..."
"...I mean..."
"...You're always walking right in front of me."
He hurriedly tried to explain himself.
Zhichen slowly turned towards him. He didn't say anything for two moments before finally replying with a simple,
"Hmm."
Lixuan quietly turned his face away. "What did I just say..."
The tips of his ears had turned slightly red.
Just then—
Thud...
The sound of something falling echoed through the deep silence of the temple.
Both of them immediately became alert. The smile disappeared from Lixuan's face in an instant, and his hand moved towards the hilt of his sword.
"This time..." he said quietly. "I heard that too."
Zhichen slowly nodded. "Yes. And..." He looked towards the dark room ahead. "...The sound came from the chamber in front of us."
Both of them looked towards the same dark chamber...
Where only an impenetrable silence seemed to be waiting for them.
"Thud..."
After the sound echoed from somewhere inside the temple, neither Lixuan nor Zhichen spoke. Their eyes remained fixed on the dark chamber. The air seemed to grow even colder.
Lixuan slowly drew his sword from its sheath. "Whatever it is..." His grip tightened. "...It's hiding in there."
Zhichen drew his own sword as well. "Don't go inside without thinking."
Lixuan gave him a faint smile. "Do you really think I'm that reckless?"
Zhichen answered directly, "Yes."
Lixuan glared at him. "One day..." He began, "...this habit of yours..."
Before he could finish—
Thud...
This time, the sound came from much closer.
Both of them immediately moved towards the chamber...
And—
"Thud..."
After the sound echoed from somewhere inside the temple, neither Lixuan nor Zhichen spoke. Their eyes remained fixed on the dark chamber. The air seemed to grow even colder.
Lixuan slowly drew his sword from its sheath. "Whatever it is..." His grip tightened. "...It's hiding in there."
Zhichen drew his own sword as well. "Don't go inside without thinking."
Lixuan gave him a faint smile. "Do you really think I'm that reckless?"
Zhichen answered directly, "Yes."
Lixuan glared at him. "One day..." He began, "...this habit of yours..."
Before he could finish—
Thud...
This time, the sound came from much closer.
Both of them immediately moved towards the chamber...
And—
### Meanwhile, in the Lianyu Clan...
A deep silence filled the assembly hall of the royal palace.
Mingzhao was seated upon his throne, with a map of the kingdom spread out before him. Soldiers and ministers stood on either side of the hall, awaiting their ruler's instructions.
Just then, a soldier hurried inside.
"Lord!"
Mingzhao looked towards him. "Speak."
The soldier bowed and reported, "The Zhilan Clan's leader, Liyuan, and Princess Yuhuan have crossed the border. They will arrive at the royal palace within a few hours."
Mingzhao slowly nodded. "Make all the necessary arrangements for their welcome."
"Yes, my lord."
The soldier was just about to leave when Chen Yu's stern voice rang through the hall.
"Wait."
Everyone turned towards him.
Chen Yu slowly stepped forward. His eyes held the same sternness they always did.
"Liyuan isn't coming here merely as a guest. Behind this marriage..." He paused. "...there is politics."
Several ministers standing in the hall exchanged glances with one another.
Mingzhao spoke in a calm voice, "I know."
Chen Yu studied him carefully. "Then don't make any mistakes. One wrong decision..." His expression grew even more serious. "...could bring the entire Lianyu Clan into trouble."
Mingzhao replied without showing any emotion, "I understand."
And yet, for some reason, an unusual restlessness stirred within his heart. Without realising it, his fingers touched the old jade pendant hanging from his waist—the very pendant that had once belonged to Lixuan.
His gaze remained fixed on it for a few moments.
"Li..."
"Have you really left..."
Even amidst the voices filling the assembly hall, only one name continued echoing in his heart.
### Meanwhile, at the Eastern Divine Temple...
Lixuan and Zhichen were standing directly in front of the dark chamber. Its door was half open. From somewhere inside, it almost sounded as though someone was breathing quietly.
Lixuan glanced towards Zhichen.
"Ready?"
Zhichen gave him a single-word reply.
"Hmm."
Together, they stepped inside the chamber...
Lixuan and Zhichen entered the chamber at the same time.
...
Silence.
The entire room was covered in dust. Broken wooden cabinets, ancient stone pillars, and faded paintings covered the walls. Lixuan slowly glanced around.
"...There's no one here."
Zhichen took a few steps forward. His gaze fell towards the ground.
"Wait."
Lixuan immediately approached him. "What happened?"
Zhichen bent down. An old wooden tablet was lying on the ground. One of its corners had broken off.
Lixuan furrowed his brows. "Was this what fell?"
Zhichen slowly picked it up. "Perhaps."
Lixuan glanced around. "But how did it fall on its own? There isn't even any wind here... and there's no one around either."
Zhichen didn't answer. He carefully turned the tablet over in his hands. Something had been written on it in an extremely ancient script, but half of the characters had already faded away.
Lixuan came and stood close to his shoulder. "Can you understand anything?"
"No. This script resembles the one we saw earlier."
Lixuan let out a quiet breath. "It seems we'll have to understand the language of this temple more than the temple itself."
Zhichen nodded.
At that very moment—
Click...
This time, the sound came from behind them.
Both of them immediately turned around.
But...
There was no one there either.
Lixuan tightened his grip around his sword. "...I really don't like this."
Zhichen spoke quietly, "Stay calm. It seems..." He glanced around the chamber. "This temple may be ancient, but it isn't lifeless."
Lixuan looked at him. "Not lifeless?"
Zhichen pointed towards the wall.
Lixuan raised his gaze, and his eyes froze for a moment. The dust covering the wall appeared to have been lightly wiped away by an invisible finger. It looked as though someone had touched that very spot only moments before they arrived.
Lixuan spoke slowly, "...We're not alone here."
Zhichen replied directly, "Or..." His gaze remained fixed on the wall. "The temple itself is watching us."
Both of them stood there for a few moments. Then Lixuan tried to suppress a nervous laugh.
"You know..." He glanced at Zhichen. "When you say things like that..." He paused. "...you genuinely start frightening me."
Zhichen looked at him. "Then don't be afraid."
Lixuan immediately replied, "Oh, really? Then you go ahead."
Without saying anything, Zhichen began walking forward.
After taking two steps, Lixuan smiled and muttered under his breath, "...Does this man ever refuse anything?"
Even after exploring several chambers of the temple, they found no one, nor did they discover the source of the strange sounds.
Gradually, the sun began sinking behind the mountains. The light filtering through the temple's broken windows slowly grew dimmer.
Lixuan looked towards the sky outside. "...It's evening."
Zhichen nodded. "We'll have to spend tonight here."
Lixuan let out a deep breath. "I know. Besides, Master Yunshen instructed us to inspect this temple for three days. There's no point in running away now."
Zhichen replied calmly, "Tomorrow morning, we'll search the western chambers. But tonight..." He glanced around. "...it would be better to get some rest."
Lixuan looked around. In the middle of the enormous assembly hall stood an old stone platform.
"At least we've found somewhere to sit."
He went straight over and sat down. A cloud of dust rose into the air.
"Kh... kh..."
Lixuan immediately began coughing.
"Even the dust in this temple attacks people!"
Without saying anything, Zhichen brushed the dust off the stone surface with his sleeve. Then he spoke calmly, "You can sit now.
Lixuan looked at him. "...Why do you sometimes become so considerate?"
Zhichen answered directly, "Should I be unpleasant instead?"
Lixuan chuckled softly. "No... This is fine. I'm just not used to it."
Zhichen sat down opposite him.
Silence once again settled over the temple. The only sound was the faint echo of the wind blowing outside.
Lixuan slowly raised his hand. A faint blue spiritual light began glowing at his fingertips. He carefully drew a small formation in the air with his fingers.
The next instant, the old lamps placed in the four corners of the temple began lighting up one after another.
Fwoosh...
Fwoosh...
Fwoosh...
A soft golden glow spread throughout the assembly hall, illuminating the entire chamber.
Zhichen watched silently.
"When did you learn that?"
Lixuan smiled. "When I was a child. Master used to say..." He paused, recalling the words. "'Wherever there is no light, light a lamp first.' That's all... I've had the habit ever since."
Zhichen spoke quietly, "...It's beautiful."
Lixuan looked at him in surprise. "What?"
"This power."
Lixuan remained silent for a few moments before smiling gently.
"...Thank you."
The light from the lamps surrounding the temple gradually became steady. The assembly hall was no longer swallowed by the darkness that had filled it earlier.
Lixuan looked at his work with satisfaction. "Now this place at least looks somewhat like a place meant for humans."
Zhichen spoke quietly, "Are you afraid of the dark?"
Lixuan immediately replied, "No. It's just..." He paused briefly. "I don't like things hidden in the darkness."
Zhichen looked at him. "Is there a difference?"
"A huge difference. But you wouldn't understand."
Zhichen said nothing. Instead, he began examining the temple walls carefully. Ancient carvings covered every surface. Some depicted deities, others showed dragons, while a few contained symbols neither of them had ever seen before.
Lixuan slowly stood up and joined him. He brushed the dust away from one of the symbols with his finger.
"Look at this... This is the same symbol that was carved into the statue outside."
Zhichen came to stand right beside him. Both of them were looking at the same carving. They were standing so close that Lixuan could feel Zhichen's shoulder lightly brushing against his own.
For a moment, he became completely still.
When did he get so close...?
He tried to take a small step backwards, but there was a stone pillar behind him.
"Ah..."
His back lightly bumped against it.
Zhichen immediately turned towards him. "Are you hurt?"
Lixuan quickly straightened up. "N-no. I'm fine."
Zhichen studied his face for a few moments. "All right."
He turned back towards the wall.
Lixuan quietly let out a breath. I don't know why... but whenever he comes this close, I start feeling strange.
He quickly shook his head.
"What's wrong with me..."
Just then, a strong gust of wind swept into the temple from outside. The flames of all the lamps flickered at the same time.
Flicker... Flicker...
Shadows began dancing across the entire chamber.
Lixuan spoke quietly, "But the windows are closed... How did the wind get inside?"
Instead of answering, Zhichen looked directly towards the centre of the assembly hall. His eyes became fixed on one particular spot.
Lixuan followed his gaze.
"Zhichen?"
"What happened?"
Zhichen spoke slowly, "...Just now..." He paused. "...There was a shadow here."
Lixuan immediately grabbed the hilt of his sword.
"Where?"
"Right here."
Both of them looked towards the same spot.
But...
There were only the burning lamps and their shifting shadows, as though nothing had happened at all.
The deep silence returned to the temple.
Lixuan stared at that spot for a while. "...Perhaps you imagined it."
But his eyes remained fixed in the same direction, as though he wasn't entirely convinced by his own words.
The temple fell silent once again.
Lixuan took a deep breath and sat down on the stone platform.
"All right... That's enough investigating for today. We'll explore the remaining chambers tomorrow morning."
Zhichen nodded. He placed his sword beside him, but his watchful gaze continued scanning the entire assembly hall.
The flames of the lamps flickered gently. Every shifting shadow seemed to create the illusion that something living was moving around them.
Lixuan let out a slight yawn.
"You know... if Rongwei were here, he would've said at least ten times by now..." He imitated Rongwei's voice. "'Didn't I tell you not to come here?'"
A faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips.
"Hmm."
Lixuan laughed. "See? This time I caught you smiling!"
Zhichen was just about to say something when—
Drip...
The sound of a drop of water falling echoed from somewhere far away.
Then—
Drip...
Another drop followed.
Both of them turned towards the sound.
Deep within the darkness of the temple, a long corridor was visible. The sound seemed to be coming from there.
Lixuan spoke quietly, "At this hour? Water inside the temple..."
Zhichen replied in a low voice, "...Tomorrow morning. First of all, we'll investigate that very corridor."
Lixuan nodded.
Neither of them had the slightest idea that the corridor they considered nothing more than an ancient passageway held the greatest secret of the Eastern Divine Temple at its very end.
And that secret...
Was waiting for them.