The first rays of morning were slowly spreading across the Yuzhen Tribe.
The signs of last night's battle were still present everywhere.
Burnt ground... broken walls... and wounded soldiers.
The entire tribe had still not recovered from last night's incident.
Some people were engaged in repairs.
Some were treating the wounded.
And some were talking about only one thing in hushed voices—
"What exactly happened last night...?"
In a quiet part of the Yuzhen Tribe—
Lixuan stood alone.
His gaze was fixed on the distant mountains.
But his attention was not there.
In his mind, Li Chen's pale face was revolving again and again.
And hearing Rongwei's footsteps, he slowly looked back.
Rongwei was coming towards him.
"How is Li Chen?"
he asked as soon as he came near.
Lixuan said softly,
"She is still sleeping."
Both remained silent for a few moments.
Then Lixuan asked directly—
"What did you find out about Li Chen?"
Rongwei's expression became serious.
He took a deep breath.
"It seems her past is far more complicated than we thought."
Lixuan remained silent.
Rongwei slowly began to tell everything.
The child found in the jungle...
The bandage tied over her eyes since childhood...
The villagers' talks...
Her loneliness...
And then—
Bao Lin and Mei Lian.
When Rongwei mentioned both of them—
Lixuan's eyes slowly turned cold.
"Those two lied."
Rongwei said in a determined voice.
"I can say this for sure."
"When I mentioned Li Chen..."
"both of them panicked."
Lixuan's fist slowly tightened.
Rongwei continued, "I also went inside that old house."
Hearing this, Lixuan's gaze fixed on him. "What did you find there?" "Nothing special." Rongwei said slowly. "But there were old bloodstains on the floor."
The wind seemed to stop for a moment.
Lixuan's face became even more stern.
"Blood...?"
"Yes."
Rongwei slowly nodded.
"It was quite old."
"But this much is certain..."
"that something bad had happened in that house at some point."
Lixuan said nothing.
His eyes were lost somewhere in the darkness.
Rongwei looked at him.
Then he said softly,
"I think..."
"Li Chen has endured a lot in her childhood."
Hearing this—Lixuan's fist tightened further.
In his mind, the face of a small girl emerged.
Scared...
weak...
and silent.
But the very next moment, he closed his eyes. As if he wanted to push that memory away.
On the other side—
Zhichen was sitting alone in an old courtyard of the Yuzhen Tribe.
A cup of tea was placed before him.
But he wasn't even touching it.
That same face kept appearing in his mind again and again.
Lixuan.
Alive.
Still alive after so many years.
Zhichen slowly closed his eyes.
He still couldn't believe it.
Last night, he had held himself back with so much difficulty.
If he had wanted, he could have told the entire Yuzhen Tribe.
But he didn't do that.
Because he knew—
if Lixuan had hidden his identity for so many years...
there must be some reason behind it.
But one question was not letting him rest.
"What is Li Chen's relationship with him...?"
At that same time—
In the oldest chamber of the Yuzhen Tribe—
Elder Zhiyun stood alone.
The room was filled with ancient scriptures and scrolls.
The soft light of the torch was flickering on the walls.
Zhiyun slowly went near an old cupboard.
He opened an old wooden chest.
Many old documents were kept inside.
He took out a very old scroll from among them.
The marks of time were clearly visible on it.
Zhiyun slowly opened it.
And kept reading silently for some time.
As his gaze moved forward—
his face kept becoming more and more serious.
Just then—
Xiangu's voice came from behind.
"Elder..."
Zhiyun turned slowly.
Xiangu had come near him.
His gaze went to the scroll.
"Did you find something?"
Zhiyun remained silent for a few moments.
Then he slowly closed the scroll.
"Not yet."
"But I fear..."
"That something wrong might happen, like what happened that day."
Xiangu's eyes narrowed.
But Zhiyun said nothing more.
The day slowly began to pass.
Li Chen was in her room.
Her health was better than before.
But her head still felt slightly heavy.
She slowly touched her bracelet.
Since last night, a strange warmth was being felt in that bracelet.
As if something had awakened inside it.
"What exactly is this...?"
she said softly to herself.
But there was no one to answer.
The cold wind coming through the window was moving her hair.
And somewhere far away, an unknown storm was slowly taking birth.
At that same time...
In the Qingyu Tribe
Mo Yan was sitting alone in a dark chamber.
The flame of the burning torch before him was flickering.
But his gaze was not on it.
That same scene kept revolving in his mind again and again.
A blind girl...
Bright light...
And the dragon's fear.
Suddenly—
the door opened.
A soldier knelt on his knees.
"Chief."
"We have received some information."
Mo Yan's eyes slowly lifted towards him.
"Speak."
The soldier said, bowing,
"The Yuzhen Tribe has kept those people as their guests."
"That girl is also there."
Mo Yan remained silent for a few moments.
Then he smiled slowly.
But that smile had coldness in it.
"Alright..."
"Keep an eye on them."
"Every moment."
The soldier immediately bowed his head.
"As you command."
And he left from there.
Silence fell in the room again.
Mo Yan slowly looked towards the window.
"Li Chen..."
he said very softly.
"Just who are you...?"
Night slowly began to descend on the Yuzhen Tribe.
The torches lit up.
Everyone returned to their respective chambers.
And in just a while—
the entire tribe sank into deep silence.
Li Chen too slowly drifted into the embrace of sleep...
And then—
that same dream.
The same darkness...
the same cold wind...
and that same strange pain that made her heart heavy every time. A person was kneeling on the ground before her.
His body was drenched in blood.
But as always—
Li Chen couldn't see his face.
Everything was blurry.
Just then—
another person, holding a sword in hand, slowly began moving towards him. His footsteps were heavy. The edge of the sword was stained with blood.
Li Chen's heart grew anxious.
"No..."
she said softly in the dream.
But her voice seemed as if it wasn't reaching anyone.
The person with the sword came even closer. He raised his sword. And was about to strike directly when—
suddenly, a third person came running in between.
"Clang!"
The sword struck the hand of that person.
Blood scattered in the air.
At that very moment—
a painful scream echoed.
"Lixuan!!"
Li Chen's heart pounded loudly.
Lixuan...
This name again.
The same name she had heard before too.
The person on his knees was now in the arms of that third person.
As if he was trying to save him.
But everything was happening very fast.
Just then—
the person holding the sword angrily separated the two of them. He grabbed the person on his knees by the hands and pulled him away.
"No!" Li Chen wanted to scream. But her voice was lost somewhere again.
The very next moment, that person was pushed forcefully. Behind was a flowing river.
"Thud!"
He fell straight into the river.
The rushing water immediately engulfed him.
And just then—
two different voices echoed simultaneously.
"Lixuan!!"
"Lixuan!!"
There was pain in those voices...
fear...
and also the restlessness of losing something.
Everything slowly began to become blurry. Darkness.
Only darkness.
"Ahh!"
Li Chen sat up with a jolt.
Her breathing was very rapid.
Her entire body was drenched in sweat.
Her heart was beating so loudly as if it would come out of her chest.
Just then—
the bracelet worn on her hand suddenly began to glow brightly.
Blue and golden light began swirling around her wrist.
Li Chen looked at it in astonishment.
"What..."
Her voice was trembling.
She slowly held her head.
The fragments of the dream were still revolving in her mind.
"Lixuan..."
she repeated softly.
This name was creating a strange pain in her heart.
But she couldn't understand why.
Her eyes tightened beneath the bandage.
"Who are all of them...?"
she said softly.
"Why can't I see their faces...?"
Deep silence filled the room.
Only the soft glow of the bracelet and her rapid breathing could be heard.
And somewhere very deep—
as if some old memory was slowly awakening...
The darkness of night had grown deep.
Silence had spread throughout the Yuzhen Tribe.
Far and wide, only the soft light of torches was visible.
Lixuan was sitting on a high rooftop.
In his hand was a small flask of liquor.
He was drinking slowly while silently looking at the sky.
Just then, a soft sound came in the wind. Someone had landed on the roof. Lixuan didn't even turn to look.
"What do you want?"
he asked in a cold voice.
Zhichen came and sat beside him.
Without saying anything, he took the flask of liquor from Lixuan's hand and took a sip. Seeing this, Lixuan raised an eyebrow.
"You never used to drink."
Zhichen didn't answer.
He just extended the flask back towards him.
For a few moments, silence prevailed between the two.
Then Zhichen said softly, "It's been so many years." "Did you never remember us?"
Lixuan laughed slightly.
But that laughter had no warmth in it. "Is this what you came here to ask?"
Zhichen looked at him. "I asked a question."
Lixuan took another sip of liquor.
"So?"
"Whether I remember someone or not, what does it matter to you?"
Zhichen remained silent for a while.
"Your brother searched everywhere for you."
Hearing this, Lixuan's fingers stopped for a moment. But the very next moment, he looked away.
"Don't bring up old matters."
"They might be old for you."
Zhichen said in a calm voice.
"Not for him."
Lixuan slowly let out a breath.
"I told you, I have no interest in those things."
Zhichen kept looking at him.
"You are lying."
Lixuan's eyes immediately narrowed.
"You think you know me that well?"
"No."
Zhichen answered directly.
"But I definitely know this much—when you lie, you become even harsher."
Silence fell for a few moments.
The wind was blowing slowly.
Lixuan kept his gaze fixed on the sky.
As if he didn't even want to look at Zhichen.
After a long while, he said softly,
"Zhichen."
"Hm?"
"Stop interfering in my matters."
Zhichen raised an eyebrow. "And what if I don't?" Lixuan looked at him.
His eyes were cold. "Then it will be your loss." Zhichen laughed slightly.
"You were always weak at giving threats."
Lixuan immediately threw the flask at him.
Zhichen caught it easily.
And for the first time, a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Lixuan turned his face away.
He didn't know that even after so many years—
Zhichen still remembered his habits.
For a few moments, silence remained between the two. The cold wind was blowing slowly and in the distant sky, the moon shone brightly, spreading its calm light.
Finally, it was Zhichen who broke the silence.
"What is Li Chen's relationship with you?"
Hearing this, Lixuan's face became a little hard. He put the flask of liquor aside and looked at Zhichen with cold eyes.
"I told you before too. Don't bring her into this."
But Zhichen was not going to back down this time.
"On the battlefield, when she stood before the dragon, her power had both yours and my energy. Why was that?"
Lixuan's eyes slowly narrowed.
"What do you want, Zhichen?"
"Answers."
Zhichen said without hesitation.
Lixuan immediately stood up. The suppressed anger on his face was clearly visible.
"I told you once, I don't know!"
"Then why do you keep bringing up the same thing again and again?"
Zhichen also slowly stood up. The moonlight was falling on both of them and their clothes were slightly waving in the wind.
"Because you are hiding something."
"I am not hiding anything."
Lixuan answered immediately.
Zhichen looked into his eyes and said, "Then why are you getting so agitated?"
For a moment, Lixuan became silent. But the slight unease that came on his face didn't escape Zhichen's eyes.
Then Zhichen said softly, "And one more thing..."
Lixuan raised his eyebrows.
"What?"
Zhichen remained silent for a few moments, as if remembering an old memory.
"I met Li Chen before you did."
Hearing this, Lixuan's face changed.
For the first time, there was genuine surprise in his eyes.
But before Zhichen could say anything more, Lixuan pulled out his sword in a flash.
The gleam of the sword shone like lightning in the moonlight.
"Clang!"
Zhichen immediately drew his sword and blocked the attack. Both their swords clashed and sparks scattered in the air.
"Lixuan!"
Zhichen said, frowning.
But Lixuan's gaze was fixed on him.
"When did you see her?"
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
In his voice, there was less anger and more restlessness.
Zhichen looked at him for a moment. Then suddenly, he removed his sword and grabbed Lixuan's hand, pulling him towards himself.
"Lixuan, calm down."
But Lixuan immediately tried to free his hand.
"Let go of me!"
"Listen to me first."
Both were standing very close to each other. The wind was blowing faster, but neither of the two looked away.
Both were standing very close to each other.
Zhichen's hand was still on Lixuan's wrist.
The wind was slowly getting faster.
The moon shone brightly in the sky and its light was falling on both of them.
"Lixuan, calm down."
Zhichen said softly. "I didn't come to fight with you."
"But what I felt on the battlefield..."
"After that, staying silent is not easy for me either."
Lixuan immediately tried to free his hand.
"Then don't ask me questions about her."
"Why don't you understand?"
In his voice, there was less anger and more restlessness.
Zhichen looked at him.
"Are you really not seeing it, or are you simply choosing to ignore it?"
Lixuan's eyebrows narrowed.
"I told you, I don't know anything."
"That's enough."
Zhichen was just about to say something when—
suddenly, the sound of footsteps was heard from below.
Both became silent at once.
"You two are here?" It was Jinhai's voice.
Lixuan's face immediately changed.
Unknowingly, he touched his face.
The mask.
He still didn't have it with him.
Zhichen also understood this immediately.
Jinhai was coming up the stairs of the rooftop.
With every step, he was getting closer.
Lixuan's eyes narrowed.
For a moment, he tightened the grip of his sword.
But Zhichen looked at him and shook his head very slightly.
As if saying, "Don't do anything."
The very next moment—
Zhichen raised his hand.
A soft wave of blue light shimmered between his fingers.
The wind suddenly became faster. The flames of the torches flickered.
And a thin mist began spreading around the rooftop.
Slight at first.
Then denser.
And in just a few moments, the entire rooftop was filled with fog.
Jinhai immediately stopped. "What is happening?"
He looked around in surprise.
Everything had become blurry before him.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lixuan stepped back.
He immediately picked up his mask lying on the ground and put it on his face.
His heart was still beating fast.
A few moments later—
Zhichen pulled his power back.
The fog slowly began to clear.
Jinhai blinked his eyes.
Now the same Xiu stood before him—
wearing a mask as always.
Jinhai furrowed his brows. He felt as if something strange had just happened.
But he couldn't understand what. "Are you two okay?"
He asked.
Zhichen looked completely calm. "Yes."
"Just talking a bit."
Jinhai's gaze fixed on Xiu for a moment.
Then he said softly,
"Elder Zhiyun has called everyone."
Hearing this, both became a little serious.
"At this time?"
Zhichen asked.
Jinhai nodded.
"Yes."
"He said that it is necessary to talk about what happened yesterday."
Then his voice became softer.
"And it seems..."
"This matter is especially related to Li Chen."
Hearing this—
the expressions on both Lixuan and Zhichen's faces changed.
Both looked at each other.
Whatever they had left unfinished moments ago—
there was no time to complete it now.
Because it seemed—
that tonight, another old secret of the Yuzhen Tribe was about to be revealed.
For a few moments, no one said anything.
The cold wind was blowing slowly.
Jinhai looked at both of them.
As if he felt that something was going on between them that he couldn't understand.
"Let's go." He finally said.
"Everyone is waiting for you both."
Zhichen slowly nodded.
But his gaze fixed once more on Lixuan for a moment.
As if he still wanted to ask him something.
But this time, he didn't say anything.
Lixuan didn't look at him either.
He just adjusted his mask
and without saying anything, moved towards the stairs.
But a strange restlessness was rising in his heart.
For some unknown reason...
he felt that after tonight,
many things would not remain the same as before.
And perhaps...
his biggest secret would not remain hidden for much longer.