The Centaur chief entered Ismomene’s hut with several elders behind him. He possessed the upper body of a broad-shouldered man and the lower form of a dark brown stallion. Silver ornaments marked his position, while an old spear rested across his back. “I am Abdille,” he said. “Chief of this tribe.” Guo Jiang rose carefully and bowed according to the customs of Yin Continent. His wounds prevented a perfect movement, but he still lowered himself deeply enough to show respect. “Junior Guo Jiang greets Chief Abdille and the honored elders. Thank you for sheltering me and preserving my life.” The courtesy surprised several villagers gathered outside. Some had expected a recognized heir to behave as though the tribe owed him service. Abdille’s expression warmed. “You do not need to call yourself junior before u

Night settled over Saitani Pari Lake while the small boat moved silently toward its center. The Sirens swam beside it without singing, their hands guiding the hull through dark water that reflected almost no starlight. Guo Jiang watched Talilina and Limonea exchange brief signals. Their caution was far greater than it had been near the shore. “Why have all of you stopped singing?” he asked. Talilina answered without raising her voice. “Our voices contain magic. Near the center of the lake, the wrong note may disturb the guardian.” “Talos?” “Yes.” Limonea swam closer to the boat. “Talos protects the route to the island. He does not respond to ordinary speech, but spiritual sound travels deeply through the water.” Guo Jiang looked toward the darkness ahead. “Is Ye Bing Qing t

Guo Jiang stood before the open stone chamber for several breaths before entering. He had already buried Ye Bing Qing, completed the rites owed to a senior, and accepted the burden contained in her final message. Only then did he cross the threshold.The chamber was smaller than he expected. There were no mountains of treasure, no rows of glittering artifacts, and no jeweled pedestals designed to overwhelm the eye. The place held only what mattered.At the center rested Pedang Yueliang.The sword lay upon an ancient blackwood stand. Its blade was formed from dark iron, its guard was plain, and its hilt carried no gemstones or decorative carvings. No blinding radiance surrounded it. No pressure shook the walls.Guo Jiang stared at it for a long moment.“This is the sword that made experts from Wonderland cross worlds?”At first glance, it looked less impressive than many Gold or Diamond-grade weapons displayed by wealthy sects. Yet the longer he observed it, the more clearly he sensed

The occupation deepened after the Logun Sages departed. Permanent checkpoints appeared along western and southern roads. Foreign officers inspected merchants, travelers, cultivators, and even local officials before allowing them to pass. Energy stones were seized as military contributions. Medicinal herbs, spirit-beast materials, metals, food, and transport animals disappeared into Logun warehouses. The occupation authorities called these collections taxes. The people called them extortion. At one checkpoint outside Southern City, a small merchant arrived with three carts of dried herbs. He had spent half a year gathering them from mountain villages and intended to sell them to local healers. A young Logun officer examined the goods and claimed two carts for military use. “That leaves nothing after transport costs,” the mercha

Ya Yi kept one armored hand on the table and looked down at the young man by the window. “You have heard me,” he said. “Leave before I finish counting to three.” The young man placed his chopsticks beside the bowl. His expression remained calm. “I paid for this seat,” he said. “Why should I surrender it before finishing my meal?” An Gui leaned closer to Ya Yi and lowered his voice just enough for the nearby diners to hear. “These locals need reminders. Logun officers should never wait behind weak men.” Ya Yi’s pride swelled under the attention of the room. Calm resistance before witnesses made retreat impossible in his mind. “You ask why?” Ya Yi pulled a dagger from his belt and drove it into the table. The blade sank halfway through the wood. “Because my rank is the answer.&r