The chamber was illuminated only by the red glow of the ancient book. The book trembled in Lixuan's hands, as though something inside it possessed a heartbeat of its own. Blood continued to drip from above, falling at regular intervals, almost as if someone were counting.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
Zhichen's eyes pierced through the darkness, fixed on the place from which the strange sound had come. Something had moved. He was certain of it. Yet now, there was nothing but silence.
"Lixuan, put the book back—"
He never finished his sentence.
Lixuan suddenly clutched his throat. The book slipped from his hands and fell into his lap. His eyes widened, and his breathing seemed to stop. He wanted to say something, but no sound escaped his lips. Only blood emerged—first a thin trickle, then a heavier stream.
Black blood.
Poisonous.
Zhichen immediately steadied himself and looked at Lixuan's throat. The claw marks that had been faintly red were now turning black. The poison was spreading.
"Poison," Zhichen said. His voice remained calm, but there was something beneath that calmness.
Lixuan wiped the blood from his lips. His breathing was uneven, and his face had grown pale, yet he still managed to grip the hilt of his sword.
"Yes. Poison. And this isn't over yet."
Zhichen said nothing. He simply looked at him. He knew that once Lixuan had raised his sword, it meant he intended to fight. There was no point in trying to stop him. And stopping him had never been an option for Zhichen in the first place.
Just then—
Srrrrr...
A strange sound came from the darkness, as though someone were dragging their feet across the ground.
Srrrrr... Srrrrr...
Then another sound followed. And another.
Figures began to emerge from the darkness. They were thin, withered, and hunched over. Their movements were unnatural, as though their bones had once been broken and they were now struggling to walk despite their damaged bodies. Their clothes were torn and faded. Their faces were impossible to make out, swallowed entirely by the darkness. And their eyes—if they even had eyes—were lost somewhere within it.
Their hands ended in claws. Long, withered claws.
The same kind of claws that had left marks on Lixuan's throat.
Lixuan raised his sword. Black light ran along its blade. His breathing was still uneven, and blood continued to trickle from his mouth, but his eyes burned with determination.
"That's enough darkness. Let's bring in a little light."
Zhichen drew his sword as well. Blue light raced along its blade. Without saying a word, he moved into position beside Lixuan.
Together, they advanced.
The first figure lunged at them. Zhichen's sword swept through the air, cutting through its hand. But no blood came out. Only dust.
As though it were not human at all, but a puppet made of earth.
A second figure attacked. Lixuan struck it down. Then a third. A fourth.
Together, they began cutting through the creatures. Zhichen's sword held them back while Lixuan's blade struck them down. Blue and black light flashed together throughout the chamber. One after another, the figures crumbled into dust, until a thick cloud filled the room. It became difficult to breathe.
The poison continued spreading through Lixuan's body. With every strike, his breathing grew more laboured. Blood dripped from his mouth, yet he never once stopped fighting.
Zhichen watched him. He knew better than to stop him. He had no desire to hold him back either. He simply fought alongside him, matching every step and every strike.
At last, the final figure crumbled into dust.
Only dust remained in the chamber.
The book.
The falling blood.
And the two of them.
Lixuan let his sword fall to the ground before collapsing onto his knees. The blood flowing from his mouth had increased. It was black and poisonous.
Zhichen immediately caught him and placed his palm against Lixuan's throat. Blue light flowed from his fingers and seeped into Lixuan's skin. Slowly, the marks began to fade. The black turned red, and then the red gradually grew lighter.
"Stop. Breathe," Zhichen said calmly.
Lixuan opened his eyes. His gaze went straight to Zhichen's face.
"You didn't stop me."
"If I had, you wouldn't have listened."
A faint smile appeared on Lixuan's bloodstained lips.
"You know... you understand me."
Zhichen did not reply. His palm remained against Lixuan's throat as the blue light slowly faded.
After a long while, Lixuan's breathing finally began to return to normal. The marks had become nothing more than faint lines. The poison had stopped spreading.
Zhichen withdrew his hand. Relief was visible in his eyes.
"Can you stand now?" he asked.
Lixuan picked up his sword and rose to his feet. His legs trembled, but he looked at Zhichen and nodded.
"Yes. I can stand now."
Both of them looked up. The chamber's ceiling was so high that only darkness could be seen above them. The blood drops had finally stopped falling. The book rested on the stone platform, its red glow now calm and steady, as though it had already said everything it needed to say.
"We need to get out of here," Lixuan said.
"Hmm."
They looked around the chamber. The black threads lay scattered across the floor. The walls were silent. There was no door, no staircase—nothing. Only far above them, a tiny point of blue light still shone in the darkness. It was the same place from which they had fallen.
"We need to reach that," Zhichen said.
"Together?"
Zhichen looked at him.
"As always."
Lixuan extended his hand. Without hesitation, Zhichen placed his hand over it. Their powers began to glow in their palms—black and blue, shining together in a single rhythm.
Then, together, they leapt towards the light above.
Darkness swallowed them as the tiny blue light drew closer. The wind rushed past them, cold and fierce. Yet their hands remained clasped together.
And neither loosened their grip.
Crash!
They landed together on the floor of the temple's main chamber.
Lixuan opened his eyes. The first light of morning was filtering through the windows. The lamps had gone out. The stone platform was still there, and the pillar stood in its original place.
It was as though nothing had happened.
Zhichen was already on his feet. He extended a hand towards Lixuan, who accepted it and stood up.
"It's morning," Lixuan said.
"Hmm."
"Have three days passed?"
"Hmm."
Lixuan touched his throat. The marks were still there, faint lines against his skin. The poison was gone, but its traces remained.
Zhichen looked at him.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes. Shenmei."
They began walking towards the temple's main entrance.
Behind them, in the darkness of the corridor, something was still standing.
Watching.
Waiting.
But this time, the door was closed. The black threads were back in their places. Whatever was inside would remain there—for now.
The temple's enormous doors slowly opened. The first rays of morning light cut through the darkness and spread across the floor. A cold breeze swept past them, as though the temple itself had finally released a long-held breath.
Lixuan stepped outside. His eyes narrowed against the brightness of the morning sun. After three days, he was finally seeing daylight again. The marks on his throat were still visible, but the poison was gone.
He took a deep breath.
The air was cold and fresh, as though life itself were returning to him.
Zhichen followed him outside. He stepped into the morning light, but before leaving, his eyes turned towards the temple one last time.
That corridor.
That chamber.
That book.
Those drops of blood.
Those strange figures.
Everything had been left behind.
For now.
"Shall we go?" Lixuan asked.
Zhichen nodded.
"Hmm."
They walked towards the stairs. The same old stone steps, covered in green moss. With every step they took, the temple doors slowly closed behind them. At the very last moment, Lixuan turned around.
The doors had shut completely.
As though they had never been opened at all.
"What happened?" Zhichen asked.
"Nothing. I was just thinking... perhaps no one else has ever seen what we saw."
"Perhaps that was the temple's secret."
"Or perhaps its punishment."
They continued down the steps in silence. The morning birds were singing throughout the forest. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering golden patches across the ground. Everything seemed so peaceful, so ordinary, as though nothing had happened over the past three days.
The same old statues stood along the path. The same broken pillar. The same symbols that Lixuan now remembered clearly.
"Zhichen."
"Hmm?"
"These symbols. They're the same ones we saw on the pages of the book."
Zhichen looked at the symbol carved into the statue's chest, then turned towards Lixuan.
"And the ones in the incomplete scroll we found in the library."
"That means whatever was written there... it wasn't only about the temple."
"I don't know. But now we need answers."
Lixuan clenched his fist but said nothing more.
Not yet.
For now, they only needed to return to Shenmei. They needed to return to their people.
The two continued along the forest path. For a while, neither spoke. Then Lixuan suddenly stopped and turned towards Zhichen.
"You know... when that claw was around my throat, for a moment, I thought everything was about to end."
Zhichen stopped as well and looked at him.
"But then I heard your voice. 'Lixuan!' Just two words. And I knew I wasn't alone."
Zhichen remained silent for a few moments. Then he spoke softly.
"You were never alone."
A faint smile appeared on Lixuan's lips. It was the kind of smile that appeared only when he was with Zhichen.
"I know. I know that now."
They continued walking. The forest gradually came to an end, and in the distance, the walls of Shenmei came into view. The palace rooftops. The trees in the courtyard.
And there...
Perhaps Rongwei was practising his sword. Lichen might be sitting on the steps, her hand resting on her bandage. Xiangu would probably be in one of the chambers, reading documents.
Everything seemed just as it had been before.
But Lixuan knew that nothing would ever be quite the same again.
"Zhichen."
"Hmm?"
"We'll have to tell Rongwei everything."
"Hmm."
"And Lichen... not yet. We need a little more time."
"Hmm."
"And then... we'll have to prepare for what comes next."
"Hmm."
Lixuan stopped and turned towards him.
"That's three hmms already. Say something."
Zhichen looked into his eyes. The morning sunlight fell across their faces. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves around them.
"We are together. That is enough."
Lixuan watched him for a few moments before slowly nodding.
"Yes. That is enough."
Together, they walked towards Shenmei's main gate.
Behind them lay the forest. Behind them stood the temple, the dark chamber, the drops of blood, and the ancient book.
But ahead of them was Shenmei.
Home.
And the next step of their journey.
As they reached the palace gates, Lixuan looked up. The sound of Rongwei's sword striking against another blade echoed through the courtyard. He was practising vigorously, as though he had not stopped for the past three days.
Lixuan glanced at Zhichen.
"Are you ready? Rongwei is going to have a lot of questions."
A faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips.
"Hmm."
"Just 'hmm'? Rongwei won't spare you."
"Handling the two of you isn't my responsibility."
Lixuan burst into laughter. For the first time in three days, he laughed so freely.
"Fine. Let's go, then."
Together, they stepped into Shenmei Palace.
News of their return spread like the wind. Servants hurried through the corridors. Rongwei's sword came to a sudden halt. Lichen lifted her face.
And the moment they entered the courtyard, Rongwei shouted from a distance—
"Master Xiu! Your Highness! Three days! Three whole days without a single word! Where have you two been? Did the temple collapse? Or did the two of you break each other instead?"
Lixuan looked at Zhichen.
Zhichen looked back at Lixuan.
"I'll handle Rongwei," Lixuan said.
"And me?"
"You go to Lichen. You should tell her."
Zhichen nodded and walked towards Lichen, while Lixuan turned towards Rongwei.
"Rongwei, the sound of your sword was reaching quite far. It seems your practice has become even worse over these three days."
Rongwei's mouth fell open.
"MY practice has become worse? Master Xiu, you return after three whole days, and the first thing you say is that MY practice—"
Lixuan drew his sword and pointed it towards his disciple. A glint appeared in his eyes.
"Come on. Let's see how much your practice has improved."
Rongwei's eyes lit up.
"Now that's what I wanted to hear! Come on!"
The two stepped into the courtyard with their swords drawn. The sound of clashing blades echoed once again.
But this time, it was not a battle.
It was a homecoming.
A reunion between master and disciple.
Not far away, Zhichen sat beside Lichen. She lifted her face towards him, her fingers resting on her bracelet.
"Zhichen, is Master all right?"
Zhichen nodded.
"Hmm. He's fine."
"And you?"
Zhichen remained silent for a few moments. His gaze fell on the bandage covering Lichen's eyes.
"I'm fine."
A faint smile appeared on Lichen's lips.
"Liar."
Zhichen raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Both your 'hmm' and 'I'm fine' are lies. You're tired. And you're hiding something."
For the first time, Zhichen looked at Lichen more carefully.
How had this blind girl figured that out?
"How do you know?"
Lichen slowly turned her bracelet around her wrist.
"Master does the same thing. He says he's fine even when he isn't. The two of you are alike."
A very faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips.
"Perhaps."
"What happened there?"
Zhichen remained quiet for a moment. Then he answered softly.
"A lot happened. But we've returned now."
Lichen nodded. She asked nothing more. She knew this was not the time for more questions.
For now, it was enough that they had returned home.
And so, morning slowly unfolded over Shenmei.
Two travellers had returned from the darkness of the temple and the silence of the forest to the people waiting for them. Yet the temple still lingered in their eyes. The ancient book, the drops of blood, and the mystery that remained unsolved.
Their next step was waiting for them with the dawn of another day.
But before that, there was today.
This morning.
This moment of peace.
And the two of them had returned home together.
---
Shenqi Clan — The Chief's Chamber
The morning sunlight streamed through the window. Fengli sat at his desk, surrounded by maps of Shenqi's border regions. Some were old, while others were newly drawn.
There was not a trace of sleep in his eyes. He had spent the entire night working, yet his mind remained restless.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
A soldier entered and bowed his head.
"Chief, a message has arrived from Shenmei."
Fengli immediately raised his head.
"From Shenmei? Give it to me."
The soldier stepped forward and handed him a small letter. Fengli unfolded it and began to read. As his eyes moved across the words, his eyebrows gradually drew together. At times, his eyes narrowed; at others, surprise appeared on his face.
The letter was from Xiangu.
To Chief Fengli,
I hope this message finds you in good health. I am writing from Shenmei to inform you of an important matter.
Yesterday, our Prince Zhichen and the Royal Musician Xiu returned safely from the Eastern Divine Temple. During their three-day stay there, several unusual incidents took place—incidents that cannot be dismissed as ordinary occurrences. They discovered an ancient book, which may be connected to the history of all our clans.
The book contains several references that may prove important to all of us in the days ahead. To discuss its contents in detail, we are arranging an assembly at Shenmei within the next two days. Your presence is required.
I must also inform you that the marks left on Xiu's throat during the incident at the Eastern Divine Temple are still visible. He was affected by poison, but he has now recovered. This incident has made us realise that certain forces are active around us—forces we do not yet fully understand.
We request that you arrive as soon as possible.
— Xiangu, Shenmei Clan
Fengli slowly placed the letter on his desk. His eyes remained fixed on the distant wall, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Marks on Xiu's throat... poison... and they discovered something in the temple..." he murmured to himself.
Then he turned towards the soldier.
"Are the messengers from Shenmei still here?"
"Yes, Chief. They are waiting outside."
"Send them in. And tell them on my behalf that I will depart tomorrow morning."
The soldier bowed and left.
Fengli was alone once again.
He picked up the letter and read it one more time. His gaze stopped at the words:
The marks on Xiu's throat.
That Xiu.
The musician he had first seen in Shenmei's assembly hall. His face had been hidden behind a mask. Calm and composed, yet there was something else in his eyes.
Whenever Fengli had seen him, he had felt as though he had met him somewhere before.
As though Xiu was someone else entirely.
"Who are you, Xiu?" Fengli whispered.
He folded the letter and placed it inside the pouch at his waist. Then he stood and walked towards the window.
Beyond it stretched the mountains of Shenqi.
The same mountains where he had lost his father.
The same land where he had watched his mother die.
A gust of wind swept through the room. Fengli closed his eyes.
He would have to leave for Shenmei tomorrow morning. He had to attend the assembly.
And perhaps...
Perhaps he would finally find some answers there.
And if he did not, he would not hesitate to ask the questions himself.
---
Shenmei Clan
Night had fallen.
The dining hall of Shenmei Palace glowed beneath the soft light of the torches. A long, low dining table was covered with a variety of dishes—steaming meat dumplings, fish roasted over an open fire, duck glazed with honey and sesame, vegetables stir-fried with spring onions and ginger, and soup prepared with rice wine.
Rongwei's eyes lit up at the sight of the food.
Several kinds of chutney and pickles had also been placed on the table, including amla and ginger.
Everyone gathered around the table.
Senior Yunshen and Xiangu took their seats first. Zhichen sat to their right, followed by Lixuan. Rongwei chose the seat directly opposite Lixuan so that it would be easier for him to talk to his master.
Lichen sat beside Lixuan. Rongwei had already placed a pair of wooden chopsticks beside her plate.
Soon, the wine was brought in.
Rice wine was poured into an earthenware vessel, and Xiangu personally began filling everyone's cups.
"Today is a special day," Xiangu said, raising his cup. "Zhichen and Xiu have returned safely after three days. And they have brought back something that may change our future."
Everyone lifted their cups.
"To the safety of Zhichen and Xiu," Xiangu said.
"To the safety of Zhichen and Xiu!" Rongwei repeated loudly.
Everyone drank together. The warmth of the wine spread through their throats.
The moment Rongwei set down his cup, he began asking questions.
"Master Xiu, now tell us. What happened at the temple that left those marks on your throat?"
Lixuan lightly touched his throat. The marks had faded into faint lines, but they were still visible.
He glanced at Zhichen, who calmly lifted his cup.
"It's an old temple," Lixuan replied. "The walls were weak. Some stones fell in one of the passages."
Rongwei frowned.
"Stones? Do stones leave marks like those? Master Xiu, do you think we're fools?"
Lichen smiled faintly.
"Master, Rongwei has figured it out."
"Be quiet," Lixuan scolded her gently.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Xiangu slowly turned his cup in his hand.
"Rongwei, save a few of your questions for tomorrow's assembly."
"I'll bring an entire list to tomorrow's assembly," Rongwei replied, picking up some roasted vegetables with his chopsticks. "But at least tell us a little tonight. You two disappeared for so long. Surely there's something worth hearing."
Zhichen looked down at his plate.
"We found an ancient book in the temple."
Silence fell over the table.
"An ancient book?" Rongwei repeated, pausing with a piece of vegetable suspended in the air.
"The same book whose fragment we found in the library," Lixuan added. "The complete version was inside the temple."
"What was written in it?" Xiangu asked.
Zhichen looked at Lixuan.
Lixuan looked back at Zhichen.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lixuan finally said, "We'll tell everyone at tomorrow morning's assembly. Tonight... let's just enjoy our meal."
Rongwei put down his plate.
"Don't do that, Master Xiu. Leaving a story unfinished is the worst thing you can do!"
"Then wait until tomorrow," Lixuan replied with a smile.
"Wait? Me? I've already been waiting for three days!"
Everyone laughed again.
The meal continued amid laughter and conversation. More rounds of wine were poured, and the plates of dumplings gradually emptied. The aroma of roasted fish spread throughout the dining hall.
Lichen ate carefully, using her fingers to guide the food. She had been learning to use chopsticks, but tonight Rongwei helped her by arranging everything on her plate beforehand.
When the meal was over, everyone washed their hands, and the servants came to clear the table.
Lichen stood and approached Lixuan. Her fingers moved unconsciously over her bracelet.
"Master..."
"Hmm?"
"Next time... I'll come with you too."
Lixuan looked at her. Her eyes were hidden behind the bandage, but he knew how much determination lay behind those words.
"All right," he replied softly. "Next time."
A small smile spread across Lichen's lips. She lowered her head.
"Good night, Master."
"Good night. Go to sleep now. You have to wake up early tomorrow. We have an assembly."
Lichen nodded and slowly made her way towards her chamber.
Rongwei also stood up. He glanced at Lixuan and raised an eyebrow.
"Master Xiu, Your Highness, good night."
"Good night, Rongwei."
As soon as Rongwei left, Lixuan let out a long breath. He reached into the pouch at his waist and took out a small earthen bottle of rice wine.
Then he looked at Zhichen.
"On the rooftop?"
Zhichen nodded.
"Hmm."
The two made their way to the rooftop.
The night air was cool. Stars glittered across the sky, and the moon, still large after the full moon, bathed all of Shenmei in its milky light. The distant mountain peaks appeared blue beneath the moonlight.
Lixuan sat on the rooftop railing and opened the bottle. He took a sip before offering it to Zhichen.
Zhichen drank as well.
For a while, the two sat in silence. The warmth of the wine, the touch of the cool breeze, and the star-filled sky above them made the night feel strangely peaceful.
Then Zhichen asked quietly,
"Lichen... who is she? How long has she been with you?"
Lixuan remained silent for a few moments. He took another sip of wine before looking towards the distant mountains.
"She has been with me for many years. I found her in the forest. She was alone, lost, and had wandered into my path. A bandage covered her eyes, but I was surprised by her courage. She never complained about anything."
Zhichen looked at him.
"You took her in."
"Hmm." Lixuan smiled faintly. "I couldn't leave her alone in the forest."
For a few moments, neither spoke.
The moon slowly climbed higher, and the air grew colder.
"There is a strange bond between the two of you," Zhichen said.
"Perhaps. I take care of her, and she takes care of me. Even without her eyes, she manages to see everything."
"Just like she interrupted you today."
Lixuan laughed.
"Yes. That's one of her habits. She's very stubborn."
"Just like you."
Lixuan turned towards Zhichen. Beneath the moonlight, Zhichen's expression was calm, but there was something else in his eyes.
Something he was not putting into words.
"Was that all you wanted to ask me?" Lixuan said quietly.
Zhichen remained silent for a moment.
"No."
"Then what else?"
Zhichen slowly turned his cup in his hand and drank the last drop of wine. Then he spoke softly.
"I wanted to see whether you were all right."
Lixuan looked at him.
"You said the same thing at dinner."
"Because it's true."
Lixuan extended his hand, offering the bottle to Zhichen. Zhichen held out his cup, and Lixuan began pouring the wine.
During the movement, Lixuan's finger accidentally brushed against Zhichen's.
Both of them went completely still for a moment.
A drop of wine spilled from the cup and landed on Zhichen's finger. Without thinking, Lixuan reached out and gently wiped it away.
As his finger brushed against Zhichen's once more, their eyes met.
Moonlight rested upon their faces. The breeze rustled softly around them, and somewhere in the distance, a night bird called.
Between them, there was something neither Lixuan nor Zhichen could name.
"The bottle... is empty," Lixuan said quietly, withdrawing his hand.
"Hmm."
"Your 'hmm' again."
Zhichen lifted his cup with the faintest smile.
"You seem to like it."
Lixuan said nothing. He simply turned his face towards the moon. His eyes were closed, but the same small smile remained on his lips—the one that appeared only when he was with Zhichen.
"There's an assembly tomorrow," Lixuan said.
"Hmm."
"We'll have to tell everyone everything."
"Hmm."
"Fengli is coming too. A letter arrived."
"Hmm."
"And after that... we'll have to decide what lies ahead."
"Hmm."
Lixuan opened his eyes and turned towards Zhichen.
"That's four hmms already. Can't you say something else?"
Zhichen placed his cup on the rooftop railing and looked into Lixuan's eyes. In the silence of the night, beneath the moonlight, his gaze seemed especially deep, as though it held countless secrets.
As though he wanted to say everything, yet could not find the words.
"We are together," he finally said. "That is enough."
Lixuan immediately replied, "You said the same thing yesterday."
He watched Zhichen for a few moments before slowly nodding.
"Yes. That is enough."
Together, they looked up at the moon.
The night was slowly passing. A new beginning awaited them the following morning—a new assembly and another step forward.
But tonight, in this moment, there were only the two of them.
The moon.
The last drop of wine.
And the silence between them, speaking far more than words ever could.