The guest residence assigned to Lingyin-Jun sat in a quiet, heavily shaded corner of the palace grounds. It was isolated, tucked away from the main thoroughfares, the kind of place designed for honored guests who preferred their privacy, or perhaps, the kind of place easily monitored if the hosts grew suspicious.The moment the heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind us, the thick, stifling tension of the outer gates finally fractured. The noise of the palace seemed to vanish.It was strangely quiet here, or rather ….peaceful. Before either of us had taken more than a few steps, hurried footsteps echoed from the inner hall.A young woman dressed in simple servant robes hurried toward us. The moment she saw Shuyin, relief washed across her face.“Lingyin-Jun…” She bowed deeply.“You’re safe.”There was no attempt to hide the worry in her voice.Shuyin gave a small nod. “I am.”Without another word, she walked into the reception hall and sat gracefully beside the low wooden tea table. O

The night had deepened and the patrol guards were on high alert when I left Wei Weizhi residence. Keeping my presence concealed, I retraced my steps toward Lingyin-Jun’s guest residence. I melted through the shadowed alcoves and quiet courtyards, while avoiding the soft metallic clock sound of armored guards on patrol. I made it back without suspicion. The residence was dimly lit, shrouded in the calm glow of a few oil lamps. I slipped through the entrance without disturbing a single guard and walked down the silent corridor toward the reception room where we had met that morning.When I pushed the wooden door open, Shuyin was already seated at the low tea table, her posture as composed as ever. Her maid stood quietly behind her, hands folded before her, as motionless as a statue.Neither of them spoke. It was obvious they had been waiting for me.The moment I entered, the maid silently poured another cup of tea then placed it before the empty seat across from Shuyin.I walked over

I followed Shuyin in silence until the training grounds were far behind us. Only then did I quicken my pace to catch up.“What was that?”She looked ahead. “What do you mean?”“You could have said anything.” I lowered my voice.“You could’ve told him Shen Luo was running some kind errand for you. There were dozens of excuses.”“So why tell him… that?” I almost yelled. “You just blew his cover .”“There’s no Shen Luo.” She said flatly without slowing down. “You and I both know that. It’s about time we erase the alias."I frowned. “That wasn’t part of Chen’s plan.”“No. It wasn’t.” She replied without hesitation. “But Chen’s identity can no longer remain divided. We are at the boiling point.” Her voice softened. “The Empire cannot continue remembering him as guard. It must begin remembering him as Long Chen.”I stared at her, her steps never hurried, never slow. She wasn’t wrong.But… Something about it still unsettled me. Chen had worn the name Shen Luo for months. We still don’t kno

The isolation barrier dissolved into drifting strands of spiritual light as Qing returned from the inner room.Both hands supported a long, polished wooden chest. She carried it with unusual care. Without a word, she knelt before Shuyin and gently placed it on the table. She quietly opened the lid. Inside rested a Da Dai. An ancient ceremonial waist sash.I watched in silence as Shuyin lifted the sash and fastened it securely around her waist. The silver sash settled neatly against her immaculate white Lingyin-Jun regalia. It wasn’t flashy. The silver sash carried delicate carvings that had softened with age rather than faded. Pieces of dark jade dangled softly from the silk tassels as she moved.Yet the moment the knot was tied, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The Da Dai wasn't just decorative ornament. It was a relic of ancient governance, a symbol worn only by those holding supreme authority under the Coalition’s highest laws. Though hers was not as long as those of the coa

The vibration beneath the ancestral hall lingered only a few breaths before fading into silence.The incense sticks snapped in half. Their smoke dispersed as though an unseen hand had scattered it.I remained kneeling for several moments, my palm still pressed against the altar stone where my blood had disappeared.It had not soaked into cracks. It had been accepted.Slowly, I rose to my feet. The cracked ancestor tablet no longer trembled. Everything had returned to stillness.Yet the hall no longer felt empty.It felt… Occupied.My gaze drifted beneath the altar.“…So this is what Father protected.”I turned and stepped outside.Outside, Wei stood leaning against his iron staff, his eyes wide. He felt the faint pulse radiating from the ground. “What happened, Brother Chen? I felt.. ” His voice croaked out. “There isn’t time to explain.”I looked toward the darkening sky. “What we’re about to awaken…”My voice became quieter. “…will not go unnoticed.”Wei’s expression grew solemn.