Li Haoran brushed aside the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind and quickly departed.
For now, questions about his identity or nature didn't matter. Yue Chan hovered on the brink of death; every second counted. Lingering here any longer was pointless—saving her was his highest priority.
After a long, silent evening, dawn finally broke. Sunrays spilled across the ground, carrying a gentle warmth amid the lingering chill. Trees and plants cast sharp shadows under the commanding light of sunrise.
Inside the cabin, the scent of mint and fresh herbs drifted through the air.
Beside the bed, a small fire pit brimmed with glowing embers. It had burned steadily through the night, keeping the cold at bay.
Yue Chan gradually returned to her senses. She was certain she was awake, but her body was unbearably tense—pain shot through her with every attempt to move, and she couldn't even lift a finger. Her breath caught, her eyes squeezed shut, as if trying to flee back into darkness.
Nonsense.
She tried to will herself calm, but her body refused. Everything felt impossibly heavy—too much to resist.
Numbness seeped through her limbs. She couldn't tell if this was a dream or reality.
The word broke from her lips; her throat was sore and raw.
"Water," she murmured, barely above a whisper. "I want water," she repeated, her voice trembling with desperation.
Suddenly, she heard someone approaching; footsteps echoed, deliberately unhurried.
She felt each step distinctly until the sound finally faded.
"At last, you're awake."
The voice made her freeze. She was certain she had never heard it before, yet it felt strangely familiar—uncannily so. Was she recognizing it from somewhere? Yue Chan sniffed, yearning desperately to see the light of the world.
"Who are you?"
Silence swallowed the room.
Unexpectedly, she heard a soft chuckle—light and unfamiliar.
A woman.
It wasn't Hou Yan, Su Mei, or anyone else she knew from the sect. Instinctively, she sensed it was someone she had never met before.
"Enough struggling, Your Grace. You'll only hurt yourself more."
Yue Chan went rigid, her mind racing.
Your Grace? Why did she call me that? Is she mistaking me for someone else?
"Your body was contaminated by a highly concentrated poison, which caused your temporary paralysis. Right now, you're going to feel numbness and persistent pain. But don't worry—I gave you medicine last night and again at dawn, which is already working to neutralize the poison inside you. If the pain is intense, it means the poison was particularly lethal. For now, you're under my care. Continue taking the medicine regularly until the effects of the poison subside. You'll also need plenty of rest to help your immune system recover. Take your medicine exactly as directed. Don't rush your recovery, don't stress or overthink. This way, you'll survive—but you won't be completely stable yet."
Listening to her instructions, Yue Chan swallowed hard, feeling a new awareness settle over her. She stayed silent, still preoccupied with figuring out where she was.
"Where am I?" she finally asked, worry in her voice.
"You're in my house," the woman replied. "You're being kept here to address your injuries urgently. You have authorization to stay for three days. After that, your recovery will be your own responsibility."
Confused, she exhaled, her chest rising and falling slowly. Then, suddenly, she remembered someone.
"Where is the man who brought me here? Where is he?"
"Are you referring to His Lordship?"
The title 'His Lordship' made Yue Chan jolt involuntarily. Searing pain shot through her body, as if thousands of needles were piercing her skin. A stifled grunt escaped her lips, and tears slipped free as she tried to steady herself.
The woman hurried to her side, her concern breaking through her calm demeanor.
"Easy, Your Grace. I remind you—you're still recovering. The more you struggle, the more it will hurt."
Yue Chan let out a long, shaky breath and didn't push her away. Her eyelids refused to respond, preventing her from seeing who this strange caretaker was. Still, she could sense a surge of spiritual power gently seeping into her skin and through her entire body.
She didn't move. She couldn't.
Her sudden jolt had been nothing more than a reflexive shock at hearing such an unfamiliar, significant title—words she hadn't expected to hear.
The words still felt utterly absurd.
She had never held any noble rank; it was strange—almost surreal—to be addressed with such high respect. And then there was Li Haoran. How could he possibly be addressed as someone mighty, someone possessing such authority? It was a title far greater than any leadership within the sects.
Maybe this was just a misunderstanding. Otherwise, it was a case of complete mistaken identity. How could anyone be sure?
"Your Grace?"
The woman finally broke the lingering silence. Worry was etched across her face, her expression searching and uncertain.
Yue Chan steadied herself and asked, suspicion lacing her voice, "Why did you call me that?"
"Because it was meant to be."
Her response was calm and direct.
The woman's answer only made Yue Chan more curious. She still couldn't see her surroundings clearly, yet she sensed something strange—something she couldn't quite name.
They had come to this town searching for evidence and clues about the tragedy that occurred twenty years ago, back when she was just sixteen months old. No one could have predicted that their investigation would lead to such a critical encounter, leaving her in this condition.
Yue Chan didn't know this woman at all, yet her words alone were intriguing.
Of course they were.
Perhaps, in this situation, she might find clues even without the aid of historical records. It wasn't that she was uninterested in the past; rather, the woman's open and unusual manner of addressing her felt like a bridge—a chance to close the gap between what was lost and what could be found.
She was authorized to stay for three days. Perhaps that was her chance. All she needed to do was follow the instructions for her recovery and go along with the flow.
It was perfect.
This was the best option she had, rather than exhausting herself for nothing.
Clutching the soft blanket in silence, she finally felt a measure of relief.
"You still haven't answered my question. Where is the man who was with me yesterday? I can't sense his presence."
Seeing her growing anxious, the woman beside her let out a quiet, amused snort.
"The bond between you two is remarkable—almost impossible to predict. Even with your eyes trapped in darkness, unable to open until you're healed, your senses are incredibly strong. So genuine."
Yue Chan's lips pressed into a thin line, her annoyance clear.
"Please, just tell me," she pleaded.
The woman didn't answer right away, her gaze lingering on Yue Chan. Then, without a word, she stood and fetched the brewed medicine, setting it on the table beside the bed.
"Here. Drink your medicine instead of worrying about someone else. Remember what I said—avoid stress. Calm yourself; it will help you recover."
She handed the brewed medicine to Yue Chan and guided her with practiced care. "He went to collect herbs for the next batch of medicine. Once he's gathered everything, he'll return. There's no need to worry—His Lordship is incredibly strong. No one would dare harm him."
At this point, Yue Chan's mind began to churn.
Why does she keep calling him 'His Lordship'? Li Haoran was just an ordinary man. And who is this woman, really?
"Overthinking again?"
The woman's voice startled her out of her thoughts.
"No, I was just thinking about him. What is he doing right now? Is he safe?"
"If I were you, I'd worry more about yourself than him. His Lordship isn't someone who can be harmed easily. If you only knew how fearsome he truly is… So fearsome, you might not even remember what he and you used to be. His personality may have changed, but his soul and heart remain the same. Fated souls, intertwined through lifetimes—too risky to ever be parted." She sighed, pausing to shake her head. "Your Grace, do you understand what I mean?"
Yue Chan listened, her face puzzled. She had no idea what the woman meant. Those cryptic, riddle-like words only deepened her confusion. Still, as far as Li Haoran was concerned…
She froze, lost once again in her spiraling thoughts.
Li Haoran, right? She remembered that he had once told her he didn't know his true origin or even his real personality.
He had said he was just a stranger, awakened in this world with no memories of his past. He couldn't recall anything, yet from time to time, he would dream of strange visions—visions that always left him unsettled and aware of some deeper mystery.
Could those strange visions be connected to his past? If so, it would make sense.
To be described as fearsome and nearly impossible to harm was remarkable—but she had witnessed it herself just yesterday.
She also remembered something else: the duel she and Li Haoran had fought on the vast lake. It was then she truly measured his own power—and, to her surprise, Li Haoran matched her skill effortlessly.
That day was also the first time she had ever been defeated, and she'd nearly died because of the Nether Abyssal Vine. Yet, somehow, Li Haoran managed to save her from those deadly vines. How had he done it?
Not to mention that day beneath the vast lake, when she had completely lost consciousness. In that darkness, a sudden vision appeared before her.
She saw herself chasing after a man, both of them smiling—their closeness unmistakable, almost like a couple. In the next moment, she was dressed in a lavish red robe, adorned with countless hair ornaments—a wedding outfit, perhaps. There was a groom waiting in the distance, but his face was blurred, impossible to recognize. Who was he?
Finally, she glimpsed a village.
A tranquil, secluded village—a place where they would live together after their marriage.
That vision had shaken her most of all, especially the memory of being so intimate with the man. Surely, if there were happy moments, laughter, closeness, and even a wedding, then the man she clung to in that vision must have been her husband.
Impossible!
Yue Chan snapped back to reality after her spiraling thoughts. A bead of sweat slid down the side of her face as she realized just how lost in thought she'd become.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath trembling. It was all so obvious—and so utterly ridiculous.
"Your Grace, you're sweating and anxious. What's wrong?"
It was a question Yue Chan hadn't expected. She shook her head and replied quietly, "It's nothing."
The woman accepted her answer without pressing further. She nodded and began to leave the bedside. But as she turned away, Yue Chan called out again.
"Madam," she said, pausing to steady her voice.
"Yes, Your Grace?"
"If Li Haoran returns, please tell him I want to see him. I need to speak with him."
The woman froze in surprise at the mention of the name.
"Li Haoran?" she repeated, as if to confirm she'd heard correctly.
"Yes. The man who brought me here—his name is Li Haoran. He's my only disciple."
At the mention of the unfamiliar name, the room fell into a heavy silence. For a moment, the woman wondered if she had misheard. No—the name was clear. But it felt wrong.
She nearly dropped the jade bowl of brewed medicine, stunned and utterly disbelieving.
Was she mistaken, or was Yue Chan?
Li Haoran? That man? Impossible! How could His Lordship be called a disciple? And Her Grace—a master? The thought was absurd. Both His Lordship and Her Grace were prominent beings; how could they possibly have fallen to such lowly ranks?
If His Lordship was now a disciple, then… was Her Grace truly his master?
The woman clapped a hand over her mouth, stunned into silence. Thankfully, Yue Chan's eyes were still unseeing; if she could see, she would surely be confused by the woman's strange reaction.
She steadied herself and replied calmly, "As you wish, Your Grace."
After that, the woman left quietly, her footsteps fading into silence.
Left alone, Yue Chan couldn't help but dwell on all the surprises she'd encountered. She thought to herself that the authorized days couldn't pass quickly enough—she wanted nothing more than to leave this place freely.
Trying to push away her spiraling thoughts, she sighed, letting out some of the turmoil inside her. Just a little longer, she told herself—just keep going, and the days would pass.
Yet Li Haoran's identity continued to trouble her. She turned, hugging the blanket closer, and murmured softly—
Li Haoran, what are you, really? What is it that you're after? One day, if fate allows, I'll keep searching for the truth about you and your intentions. Just don't let me find out that we were sworn enemies.