The word fell heavily on the room, almost making Yan Hu nearly fall backward onto the bed. "You can’t!" he shouted, his voice cracking with genuine panic.I raised an eyebrow. "You don’t think I can?” "I don’t think anyone can Chen, because that’s not how demon brides work!" Yan Hu pointed a finger at me, his chest heaving. "A demon bride isn't property. She can’t be used as a hostage. She can’t be a prisoner, Chen, because she isn't a weakness.” His expression darkened. “She is an extension of his power. Trying to lock her up is like trying to put a lock on a storm. Or darkness. Or death itself."He took a deep breath, trying to calm his shaking hands. "Chen. Listen to me. Let’s just disappear for a few months. We can hide, we can plan, and we can actually get strong enough to rescue your sister and save the empire. Just a few months."I looked at Yan Hu, the concern and fear in his eyes weren’t for him, he was scared for me. The tension in my shoulders softened, just a fraction."I

Lin Xue’er’s voice was usually calmer than normal. "Your patience level has grown thinner over the years.” She exhaled softly, a tiny, chilling smile touching her lips.“I never imagined you were the sort of man who sneaks into a lady’s chamber at night, Long Chen."The name echoed in the dimly lighted room, but I didn't flinch. I came for a more gruesome business. Her eyes slowly opened. Silver-blue pupils met mine."Do you miss me that much?" she asked, her voice dropping into a dangerous, soft purr.I didn't answer her game. I dropped the posture of the polite guard, Shen Luo. I stood tall, dropping all etiquette, letting the raw identity of Long Chen fill the space between us.“There is no one else here Lin Xue’er.”Her smile widened. “I know.”I stepped forward."Why are you back?" I asked, my voice completely flat. "What is Malphas planning?"Lin Xue’er merely tilted her head, ignoring the questions entirely. Instead, her focus shifted completely onto me. The air grew thicker

The world stopped spinning and the room went completely silent. Yan Hu’s words hung in the air like a blade suspended over my neck.Tao Shuyin. The name rang out in my head like an alarm bell. For several long seconds, I simply stared at Yan Hu. He didn’t blink. He kept his eyes locked on mine, his breathing now steady, before he let the words fall again, heavier this time.“The person standing behind the masked swordsman... was Lady Tao Shuyin.”The weight came crashing again. I didn't yell. I didn’t leap from my chair, slamming my fists against the table. I just sat there, staring. My gaze was fixed on a small, knots-and-grain pattern on the weathered wood between us.Beside Yan Hu, Wei slowly lowered his head, unable to meet my eyes, his hands trembling as he gripped his knees. Yan Hu watched me with a hyper-vigilant intensity, tracking the little movements and expression on my face, bracing for a violent outburst.Several long, agonizing breaths passed.“No,” I found my tongue

I spent the remaining hour of the rat staring at the ceiling of the inn room while the revelation gnawed at my thoughts like a rat trapped inside a wall.Tao Shuyin is the shadow who has been helping me. It wasn't the first time she was helping, so why was she hiding her identity now? Why was she acting in the dark instead of helping me in the open like she normally does? What changed? Was it the game? The player? Or is this totally new game with fresh players? Every time I closed my eyes, the memories returned. The calming memories of before and the hunting memories of now. By the time dawn graced the entire capital, I was tired of thinking. Thinking wasn’t getting me answers.The moment the first sunlight touched the edge of the window, I sat up. Pain immediately shot through my ribs, but I ignored it, it was nothing compared to the tumbling in my chest. My left arm still felt wrong, even after releasing the heavenly script over and over again to heal it. Even my shoulder was sti

I couldn’t believe those words got to him that much. Han Ruo leaned back in his chair, his face still hardened but he didn’t look defensive, he just stared at my face for a long, quiet moment. Then, he let out a slow, heavy breath.What caught me off guard was what came next. A faint, barely visible smile appeared on his lips. If I hadn't been watching his face so closely, I would have missed it entirely. It looked like he had been waiting for this exact moment. It looked like he had been waiting for me to say that word.Sovereign."Pardon my manners, Your Sovereignty," Han Ruo said. He stood up slowly and offered a slight, respectful bow, just enough to acknowledge what I truly was, before sinking back into his seat.My mind raced, but I kept my face completely blank. What kind of game was this old fox playing now?"What game are you playing, Lord Han Ruo?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, my voice completely flat giving him no room to read my emotions. "It would be an insult for a mer