The air in the Moonlit Recovery Hall tightened like a bowstring.
Footsteps echoed from outside — calm, steady, confident.
The kind of steps taken by someone who believed every door should open for them.
Ling Wei moved instinctively, placing himself between Shen Yu and the entrance.
Shen Yu's heart thudded painfully. His hands curled into the blanket.
Azure Sky Sect… what do they want now? After all these years?
The doors slid open.
A man entered dressed in azure robes threaded with silver. His long hair was tied high, and he carried a jade scroll case at his waist — a symbol given only to official envoys.
His gaze swept over the hall… and stopped on Shen Yu.
His eyes widened with shock — and something like disbelief.
"Shen Yu…"
Shen Yu flinched, looking down. He didn't recognize the man at all.
The Sect Leader approached calmly. "Elder Lanhe. You came quickly."
The envoy bowed sharply. "The celestial signal your Sect released—was that truly necessary? It shook half the region. I had to come."
Ling Wei narrowed his eyes. He's not here for courtesy. He's here because he felt Shen Yu's awakening.
Elder Lanhe stepped closer.
Ling Wei unsheathed his sword an inch.
The envoy froze, raising both hands. "I mean the child no harm."
Shen Yu whispered, voice barely audible, "Child? Why are you calling me that? You don't even know me."
The envoy's expression twisted.
"Shen Yu… I do know you."
Shen Yu felt a cold shock at the back of his neck.
The envoy inhaled deeply.
"I was present the night you arrived at Azure Sky Sect… as an infant."
Shen Yu's blood ran cold.
Ling Wei looked at Shen Yu sharply.
Yu Zhen's eyes widened.
Xiao Rong gasped loudly, but Yu Zhen immediately slapped a hand over his mouth.
The Sect Leader's expression darkened. "Elder Lanhe. This is not the time—"
But Shen Yu clenched his fists.
"Say it," he whispered. "Just say it."
The envoy swallowed.
"You were not abandoned. You were delivered to us — by two strangers — in the middle of a storm, with a seal wrapped around your spiritual core."
Shen Yu's breath caught. "Strangers…?"
"They left you with a single instruction: 'Protect this child. He must never enter Celestial Veil.'"
The room fell silent.
Ling Wei's hand tightened around his sword hilt.
Shen Yu's head felt like it was spinning.
"Never… enter Celestial Veil…?" he whispered. "Then why—why did they send me here later?"
The envoy's face twisted with shame.
"Because we could not protect you anymore."
Shen Yu's heart dropped.
The envoy continued quietly:
"When you turned sixteen, the seal on your core began to crack. We did not have the ability to restrengthen it. And if a child with unknown power suddenly lost control within our Sect… the consequences would be catastrophic."
"So you sent him away," Ling Wei said coldly. "You abandoned him when he became inconvenient."
The envoy winced. "We never wished to. But the Sect Leader at the time believed it was better for him to be among strangers than to remain with us and risk… destruction."
Shen Yu felt something inside him rip.
"So I wasn't good enough to keep," he whispered.
"No!" Elder Lanhe stepped forward before Ling Wei blocked him with a blade. "That is not true. Shen Yu, we wanted to protect you—"
"By throwing him out?!" Ling Wei snarled.
Yu Zhen whispered to Xiao Rong, "He's never been this angry."
Xiao Rong nodded, whispering, "Yeah… it's kinda hot."
Yu Zhen punched him.
The Sect Leader finally stepped forward.
"Elder Lanhe. What exactly does Azure Sky want?"
The envoy straightened, revealing the jade scroll.
"Azure Sky demands Shen Yu be returned to us."
Ling Wei's killing intent exploded.
"Over my dead body."
Shen Yu felt the words hit him like a physical strike.
Return? After ignoring him? After pushing him away? Now that something awakened inside him, they wanted him back?
The envoy insisted, "His awakening poses danger to many Sects. We have the facilities to contain his instability."
Shen Yu shook, voice cracking. "Contain? Like… a prisoner?"
"No," the envoy said quickly. "We only wish to—"
Ling Wei's voice sliced the air like a blade.
"He stays. Here. At Celestial Veil. With us."
The Sect Leader's eyes hardened. "Elder Lanhe, your Sect abandoned this child once. That forfeits your claim."
Elder Lanhe's expression turned desperate. "This is not about claiming! This is about survival! You do not understand what lies in him—"
"We understand more than you think," the Sect Leader said sharply.
The envoy paused.
"…Do you know what he carries?"
The Sect Leader didn't deny it.
Elder Lanhe exhaled in disbelief. "Then you must know that if the Remnant Veil fully awakens—every Sect, every elder, every demon cultivator—everyone will come for him."
Shen Yu trembled.
Ling Wei immediately knelt beside him, gripping his shoulders.
"I don't care who comes," Ling Wei said fiercely. "I will cut down every last one of them before they touch you."
Shen Yu stared at him, breath shaking.
"Ling Wei… why would you go that far for me?"
Ling Wei met his eyes.
"Because you're important to me."
Shen Yu's heartbeat stuttered.
But before he could say anything—
A cold ripple swept through the hall.
Another presence.
Uninvited.
Unannounced.
Unmistakable.
Everyone turned toward the window.
A familiar, elegant silhouette stood outside the boundary.
Feng Lan.
And beside him, smiling with dangerous amusement—
Mo Qing.
Ling Wei's jaw clenched.
Shen Yu's breath hitched.
Mo Qing inclined his head politely, voice carrying through the open window.
"Celestial Veil Sect seems lively today." His smile sharpened. "And it would be rude not to pay a visit… when such interesting secrets are being discussed."