The stars above blinked like soft eyes, but the mountain wind whispered danger.
Inside the crumbling shrine, Yue Yan stood over an old scroll, tracing the ancient symbols with a
glowing feather brush. Wen Shouye leaned against the wall behind her, arms folded, always
watching. He hadn't left her side since they returned.
Not once.
And tonight, that mattered more than ever.
Because high above the clouds, in the marble halls of the Celestial Court, a new decision had
been made.
"Yue Yan has returned," said Divine Lord Jinlan, her golden crown heavy with starlight.
"She brings the Demon Lord with her," added Divine Lord Taihua, voice like cold steel. "It's a
provocation."
Divine Lord Mingzhu, once silent, finally spoke:
"She has not broken the laws."
"But her presence may break the balance," Taihua replied sharply. "And if the Eleventh Divine
Lord falls to shadow before her ascension, the heavens may never recover."
So they sent someone. -
Not a soldier.
Not a beast.
But an assassin in white.
He came at night, cloaked in silver, his footsteps silent across the sky.
He didn't speak. Didn't hesitate.
And he didn't miss.
He found Yue Yan alone — standing by the spirit pond beneath the trees, watching her fox drink
water.
She turned when the wind shifted — too late.
A blade, glowing white like moonlight, sliced toward her.
But another shadow moved faster.
Wen Shouye.
His hand clashed with the blade mid strike, flames bursting from his palm. The force shattered
the pond's edge, sending water into the air like shattered glass.
The assassin spun back, landing lightly.
Yue Yan's eyes widened.
"Wen—?"
He stood in front of her now, breathing heavily, his right hand smoking.
"She's under my protection," he growled.
The assassin didn't reply. Instead, he looked directly at Yue Yan.
> "The Celestial Realm no longer trusts you."
Wen Shouye's power rose like a wave, darkness swirling in his aura. "Then they can come
themselves. Not like cowards."
But the assassin didn't fight again. Instead, he vanished into mist — a message sent and
delivered.
Later that night, Yue Yan sat beside the broken pond, her thoughts quiet.
-
"I told you this would happen," Wen Shouye said gently.
"I thought I had time," she whispered.
Wen Shouye crouched beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.
"You still do," he said. "But not alon