Silence swallowed the Star Mirror Pavilion.
Shards of broken mirrors floated in the air like suspended starlight, refusing to fall. The entire chamber felt frozen — as if time itself was afraid to move.
Ling Wei was the only sound, breathing hard as he held Shen Yu's trembling body against his chest.
"Shen Yu… I'm here. I'm here."
Shen Yu blinked slowly, pupils unfocused. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Ling Wei gently brushed the hair sticking to Shen Yu's forehead, trying to soothe him even as dread curled in his gut.
The Sect Leader finally lowered the barrier.
He approached, face solemn in a way that made even Xiao Rong shut up without being threatened.
Yu Zhen asked in a low voice, "Sect Leader… what was that symbol? That crest—wasn't that… forbidden?"
The Sect Leader didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Shen Yu with eyes filled with something that wasn't fear—but wasn't reassurance either.
Something… older.
Something like recognition.
"Carry him," the Sect Leader murmured. "Ling Wei, bring him to the Moonlit Recovery Hall. There is much to discuss… and very little time."
Ling Wei gathered Shen Yu in his arms without hesitation. Shen Yu's fingers weakly curled into Ling Wei's robes, as if instinctively searching for safety.
A pang went through Ling Wei's chest.
Whatever this is… you don't deserve to go through it alone.
Moonlit Recovery Hall
The hall was dim, its lanterns flickering with soft blue flame.
Shen Yu lay on the bed, complexion pale, breaths shallow. Threads of qi rippled under his skin like something new was trying to settle inside him.
Xiao Rong hovered nervously at the foot of the bed.
Yu Zhen stood behind him like a worried parent pretending to be stern.
The Sect Leader stood near the window, leaning on his staff.
And Ling Wei sat at Shen Yu's side, refusing to move an inch.
After several long, heavy minutes…
Shen Yu finally whispered, "…my head hurts."
Ling Wei let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "You scared me."
Shen Yu blinked groggily. "I scared myself…"
He looked around slowly. "Did I… break something?"
Xiao Rong raised his hand. "Uh. Yes. You broke everything."
Yu Zhen slammed his hand down. "RONG!"
The Sect Leader cleared his throat. "Shen Yu… what you saw were not illusions. They were echoes—pieces of a past sealed within your qi."
Shen Yu frowned. "How can something be sealed… inside me? I'm not a treasure box."
Ling Wei's lips twitched despite the tension.
The Sect Leader continued calmly:
"You were not born with ordinary spiritual roots. The crest that appeared is part of a lost lineage… one believed to have vanished centuries ago."
Shen Yu stiffened. "Lost lineage? But—I'm just an Azure Sky disciple. I joined later than everyone else, I barely keep up with training—how can I be—"
"You are not 'just' anything," the Sect Leader interrupted gently. "And the Azure Sky Sect… may not have told you everything."
Shen Yu stared, confused. "What does Azure Sky have to do with this?"
The Sect Leader hesitated — a rare sight.
"They hid you," he said finally. "Or rather… they hid something within you."
Shen Yu felt his heart drop.
"Why would they hide me?"
No one answered.
Ling Wei reached for Shen Yu's hand, squeezing it gently. Shen Yu clung back as if grounding himself.
Meanwhile — In The Northern Forest
A cold wind swept through the dark pines.
Mo Qing stood alone, hood drawn low, tracing the remaining fragments of the shattered spiritual ripple that had erupted from Shen Yu.
Feng Lan arrived moments later, steps quick, breath visible in the cold air.
"What did you see?" Feng Lan asked.
Mo Qing smiled thinly. "The Remnant Veil has awakened."
Feng Lan stiffened. "…Then the stories were true."
"Yes," Mo Qing whispered. "And now all the Sects will be circling him like vultures."
Feng Lan moved closer, expression complicated. "So what do we do now? You said we couldn't touch him yet."
Mo Qing's eyes glinted with dangerous amusement.
"Oh, we won't touch him."
He leaned in, voice a dark whisper:
"We will protect him."
Feng Lan blinked. "Protect… the person who ruins our plans?"
"Protect him," Mo Qing repeated, "so that every other Sect fails to claim him."
His smile deepened, voice quiet and chilling.
"And when the Remnant Veil fully awakens… Shen Yu will walk—and fall—where I decide."
Feng Lan exhaled shakily.
So this was the man he had married.
So brilliant.
So terrifying.
And the only one he could not bring himself to leave.
Back in Celestial Veil
Shen Yu rubbed his temples softly, still dizzy.
"Ling Wei… am I going to explode?"
Ling Wei choked. "No. Absolutely not."
"Glow uncontrollably? Turn into a star? Sprout feathers?"
Xiao Rong jumped. "Feathers?! Can that happen?!"
Yu Zhen facepalmed. "Rong, sit down."
The Sect Leader stepped forward.
"Shen Yu. Starting today… your path will no longer be the same. Once the Remnant Veil begins awakening, there is no stopping it."
Shen Yu's voice wavered. "…What if I don't want it?"
Ling Wei instantly answered, voice firm but warm:
"Then we'll fight it. Or control it. Or throttle the destiny that thinks it owns you."
Shen Yu looked at him with wide, vulnerable eyes.
"Really?"
Ling Wei squeezed his hand.
"Always."
Shen Yu swallowed hard — and for a moment, fear gave way to something steadier.
Trust.
But then—
The lanterns flickered.
A ripple passed through the entire hall.
The Sect Leader's expression tightened. "Someone has crossed our boundary wards."
Ling Wei stood immediately, hand on his sword.
Xiao Rong squeaked. "Are we being attacked? Right now?! I'm not emotionally ready!"
Yu Zhen dragged him behind a pillar.
Shen Yu pushed himself up weakly. "Who is it?"
The Sect Leader answered with a grim voice:
"A message bearer from Azure Sky Sect."
Everyone froze.
Shen Yu's heart stopped.
Azure Sky…
The place that sent him away.
The place that never once visited him.
The place that now knew his power had awakened.
Ling Wei stepped closer, protective.
Shen Yu whispered:
"…Why are they coming now?"
No one could answer.
But the truth was simple:
Azure Sky didn't come to visit.
Azure Sky came because they were threatened.
And Shen Yu's peaceful days…
Were gone.