After drawing in a long, steady breath, the young man launched himself forward with astonishing speed. In the span of a heartbeat, his figure blurred into the darkness and reappeared precisely between two covert scouts who had never sensed his presence. His arrival was so silent—so ghostlike—that not even the faintest rustle betrayed his approach. Without giving them the slightest chance to react, he delivered two rapid, decisive strikes. His palms collided with the base of their necks, sending a sharp shock through their nerves. Both spies collapsed instantly, their bodies going limp as consciousness fled them. A moment later, they toppled from their perch—falling nearly ten meters—before landing lifelessly on the forest floor. Fang Yun descended lightly after them, his feet touching the ground without a sound, and knelt beside the bodies. He checked their pulses with calm precision. Once he confirmed they were dead, he hoisted their lifeless forms with the ease of lifting feather

Without warning, he reached out and gently held her hands. A warm surge of internal energy flowed from his palms into her body, slowly dispelling the cold that had seeped into her bones. “Mei,” Fang Yun continued quietly, “if I’m being honest, I feel… strangely at ease when I’m near you. If, in the end, we are not fated to be together, I hope you won’t hate me. Right now, I don’t even know what has become of the two girls waiting for me out there. If they can’t endure waiting for my—” He stopped abruptly. His eyes sharpened. Something wasn’t right. Several silhouettes were moving toward the cave entrance. “Why did you stop talking?” Mei Hwa whispered, her heart pounding as she waited for him to finish what he had wanted to say. “Don’t speak,” Fang Yun whispered back. His right hand covered her lips. “Look over there.” By the warm glow of the bonfire at the cave entrance, Fang Yun could clearly see the shapes of several men—soldiers, judging by their uniforms. “There are three

The Next Morning…Inside his private chamber, Commander Liu Zun sat in silence, the weight of unease pressing heavily upon his chest. Dawn’s pale light slipped through the wooden lattice windows, but instead of bringing clarity, it only deepened the lines of worry on the seasoned commander’s face. Hours had passed—an entire night had slipped away—yet Han Zi, his trusted subordinate, had not returned.Han Zi was not just any soldier. He was one of Liu Zun’s most reliable field officers, a man he had entrusted with the task of investigating the disappearance of dozens of soldiers. The fact that a full day had passed without word was not merely troubling—it was alarming.A chilling intuition, sharp and unwelcome, coiled in Liu Zun’s gut.Something is wrong.Terribly wrong.His mind raced through scenario after scenario—ambush, betrayal, enemy infiltration—none of which eased the tension in his heart.“Could it be…” Liu Zun muttered under his breath, “…that enemy forces have already reach

Emperor Yan Yuan gave a slow, deliberate nod. “Regarding the security of the capital, I have entrusted everything to you. You may act freely as you see fit—just do not even think about overthrowing me.”The supreme ruler of the Dinasti Yuan burst into hearty laughter after making such a remark, a laughter that echoed through the grand hall like rolling thunder.“That is likely the only thing I could never bring myself to do, Your Majesty. From the very beginning, I swore unwavering loyalty to you. Even my life, should it be required, I will gladly risk to safeguard Your Majesty’s throne,” Liu Zun replied with firm conviction.“I believe in your loyalty, General. Now go, and handle whatever must be handled. I will take my rest for now.”Emperor Yan Yuan rose from his ornate seat. After casting one final glance at Liu Zun—his most trusted subordinate—he walked out of the hall with a calm yet imposing stride.Liu Zun lowered his head in respect after the Emperor left. His mind churned wi

Under the fading glow of the dying embers, the quiet of the night returned to the forest as Wan Fenli slipped away into the darkness.The leader of the Sect of the Sky Sword, graceful yet deadly, moved among the trees like a wisp of shadow torn from the night itself. Her steps left no sound; even the forest seemed to hold its breath as she vanished between towering trunks and dense layers of darkness.Fang Yun remained behind with Mei Hwa.He glanced at her and spoke softly, his voice unusually gentle, “Mei, get some sleep. I’ll keep watch tonight.”Mei Hwa shook her head, refusing instantly. She could not bring herself to rest while the young man beside her stayed awake alone. Something inside her ached at the thought of him guarding her without rest.“Mei,” Fang Yun repeated, even softer.His voice carried a warmth she rarely heard from him.A shiver ran through her chest.Since when did he call me like that? Why does it sound… so gentle? she wondered, suddenly losing focus.“Why ar