For the first time since arriving in this world, Xiaoyu woke up feeling... normal.
Not terrified.
Not confused.
Not overwhelmed.
Just normal.
As sunlight filtered through the windows of Yuchen's residence, she found herself remembering the events of yesterday.
More specifically—
Zichen.
The younger brother's endless teasing.
His ridiculous stories.
His shameless confidence.
His insistence that he was the most handsome man in the Heng Ming Sect.
The memory alone almost made her laugh.
Almost.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Young Master."
Shen Wei's voice sounded from outside.
Xiaoyu immediately sat upright.
His tone carried none of yesterday's calmness.
Something had happened.
"Enter."
The door opened.
Shen Wei stepped inside.
His expression was serious.
"We found something."
Just four words.
Yet Xiaoyu immediately understood.
The investigation.
A clue had finally appeared.
---
Less than half an hour later, the two stood before Elder Han's former residence.
The estate had remained sealed since his death.
Several guards stood watch outside.
No one had entered.
No one had left.
At least officially.
The moment Xiaoyu arrived, the guards immediately bowed.
"Sect Master."
She nodded.
The gates slowly opened.
Inside, everything remained untouched.
Books.
Furniture.
Documents.
Even a cup of tea still sat upon a table.
As though Elder Han might return at any moment.
The sight felt strangely depressing.
A life ended so suddenly.
Leaving behind countless unfinished things.
---
"The disciples discovered a hidden compartment."
Shen Wei explained as they entered the elder's study.
"It was concealed behind a bookshelf."
Xiaoyu's interest immediately rose.
"A hidden compartment?"
Shen Wei nodded.
Moments later, he guided her toward a section of the wall.
The bookshelf had already been moved aside.
Behind it was a small stone cavity.
Inside rested several scrolls.
Notes.
Records.
And a wooden box.
---
Xiaoyu carefully opened one of the scrolls.
Her eyes narrowed.
Investigation notes.
Not recent ones.
Months old.
The late elder had apparently been conducting a private investigation long before his death.
Name after name appeared throughout the records.
Sect disciples.
Elders.
Merchants.
Visitors.
Some names appeared only once.
Others appeared repeatedly.
One name appeared more than all the others.
Elder Luo.
---
Xiaoyu paused.
She recognized the name immediately.
Elder Luo was the very elder who had addressed the sect after the coronation attack.
The elder currently helping coordinate the investigation.
At first glance, nothing seemed unusual.
Yet Elder Han had written his name again and again.
Almost obsessively.
Why?
---
"Did Elder Han suspect him?"
Xiaoyu asked.
Shen Wei folded his arms.
"I don't know."
The servant frowned slightly.
"But Elder Han clearly believed Elder Luo was connected to something."
---
The answer only created more questions.
---
As they continued searching, Xiaoyu finally opened the wooden box.
Inside rested a single object.
A black metal token.
Small.
Ancient.
Covered in strange symbols.
The moment she touched it—
Pain exploded inside her head.
---
The room vanished.
---
Darkness swallowed everything.
---
Then—
Images appeared.
Broken.
Incomplete.
Like shattered pieces of a dream.
---
A stone corridor.
Hidden deep underground.
Torches burning against ancient walls.
A massive stone door covered in symbols.
Dozens of men dressed in black kneeling silently.
And upon their robes—
The same symbol.
The exact same symbol found upon Elder Han's wrist.
---
Xiaoyu's heart nearly stopped.
---
The kneeling figures lowered their heads.
As though greeting someone.
Respecting someone.
Obeying someone.
---
Then a voice echoed.
Cold.
Calm.
Familiar.
---
The memory shattered before she could hear more.
---
Xiaoyu stumbled backward.
The room immediately returned.
Her breathing became uneven.
The token slipped from her fingers.
Clattering against the floor.
---
"Young Master."
Shen Wei was instantly beside her.
"What happened?"
---
Xiaoyu stared at the token.
Fear slowly spreading through her chest.
---
Because for the first time—
She had seen something through Yuchen's memories.
---
And whatever she had just witnessed...
Was connected to the assassins.
---
Far away, across another section of the sect—
Li Jianhong stood before his father's grave.
The wind gently stirred his robes.
The young man's expression remained calm.
Too calm.
---
Ever since Gu Liang's death, something inside him had changed.
Not broken.
Changed.
---
The grief remained.
The pain remained.
Yet beneath both emotions was determination.
A determination growing stronger with each passing day.
---
"You should rest."
A familiar voice sounded nearby.
---
Li Jianhong didn't need to turn around.
"Tianyu."
---
The elder brother approached quietly.
His hands rested behind his back.
His expression as calm as ever.
---
"You've been here every day."
Tianyu's voice carried a hint of concern.
---
Li Jianhong remained silent.
---
Eventually he spoke.
"If I stop."
His eyes settled upon the grave.
"I'm afraid I'll forget."
---
Tianyu frowned.
"You won't."
---
"Maybe."
Li Jianhong smiled weakly.
"Maybe not."
---
The two stood together in silence.
Neither needing many words.
The friendship between them had long surpassed that stage.
---
Finally Tianyu spoke again.
"Revenge will not bring him back."
---
Li Jianhong laughed softly.
"I know."
---
His smile disappeared.
---
"But I still want answers."
---
For once—
Tianyu had no response.
---
Night gradually descended upon the Heng Ming Sect.
The mountain peaks disappeared beneath darkness.
Lanterns illuminated pathways.
Patrols increased.
The investigation continued.
---
Inside his residence, Elder Luo sat alone.
Several investigation records covered his desk.
The elder rubbed his temples.
Exhaustion filled his face.
---
Ever since Elder Han's death, something had felt wrong.
Too many missing pieces.
Too many unanswered questions.
---
And now—
Some of Elder Han's old findings were beginning to make sense.
---
The realization unsettled him.
---
A cold breeze entered through the room.
---
Elder Luo frowned.
The windows were closed.
Weren't they?
---
Slowly, he looked up.
---
One of the windows now stood open.
---
The elder immediately rose.
His spiritual senses expanded.
Scanning the surroundings.
---
Nothing.
---
No movement.
No presence.
No intruder.
---
Yet something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
---
His gaze slowly returned to the desk.
---
Then his body froze.
---
A black token rested upon the documents.
---
It hadn't been there before.
---
The token was identical to the one discovered among Elder Han's belongings.
---
Elder Luo's face instantly lost all color.
---
Impossible.
---
Nobody had entered.
Nobody should have entered.
---
Then how—
---
The candlelight flickered.
---
Once.
---
Twice.
---
Three times.
---
The shadows inside the room suddenly seemed deeper.
Longer.
More alive.
---
Elder Luo's hand slowly moved toward his weapon.
---
Outside, the wind howled across the mountain.
---
Inside, silence reigned.
---
And resting upon the desk—
The black token seemed to stare back at him.