Xue Yunxue and Lin Yuan slipped out of the city through the river that flowed quietly beneath the shadow of the defensive walls. Water became their greatest ally; within the cold current, their aura and scent dissolved, concealed by the smell of mud and algae.
Fortunately, Lu Xiao was stationed at the far end of the border. If the vampire had been anywhere near the city, it would have been impossible for him not to notice Yunxue's departure.
In the dark water, the pearl gifted by Lin Tianhai glowed softly against Xue Yunxue's chest. Its warm energy enveloped her lungs, allowing her to breathe freely as though she were on land.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Lin Yuan's slender waist.
The merman's body remained warm despite the icy water. His muscles felt firm yet supple beneath Yunxue's touch. With a single powerful sweep of his silver tail, they shot forward through the current like an arrow.
Each flick of Lin Yuan's tail carried Yunxue several kilometers in a single motion. Their speed was so great it barely disturbed the surface.
Gradually, the river water grew darker.
The closer they drew to the Territory of the Dark Sovereignty, the slower the current became—as if the river itself was reluctant to flow into that land.
When they finally stopped—
The difference was unmistakable.
The air above the surface felt heavy and gray. The forest surrounding the river grew thick but unnatural; tree trunks twisted at disturbing angles, and their leaves were dark as if coated in soot. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy.
A low growl echoed in the distance.
Then came a long, ear-piercing shriek.
This place felt like another world.
No longer part of the kingdom.
Xue Yunxue was still holding Lin Yuan's waist when they reached the shallow water. Her grip unconsciously tightened, her body instinctively seeking security beneath the invisible pressure weighing down upon them.
She scanned their surroundings cautiously.
A thin black mist drifted low across the ground, moving like a living creature.
"It's too late to turn back now, isn't it?" Lin Yuan's voice sounded lazy, tinged with teasing amusement. "Do you regret it?"
He turned his head slightly, a sly smile curving his handsome face. His silver hair floated gently in the water, making him look like a sea spirit far too beautiful to exist in such a dark place.
Xue Yunxue met his gaze without hesitation.
"I won't regret it."
Her answer was firm.
Lin Yuan clicked his tongue softly.
This girl was truly stubborn. He was beginning to suspect her head was carved from unbreakable jade.
"In that case…" he said casually, lowering himself slightly so their faces were level, "let go of me and get on land."
Only then did Xue Yunxue realize how tightly she had been holding him.
Her cheeks heated, even in the cold river water.
She released him at once—perhaps a little too quickly—and swam toward the bank with movements that tried very hard to appear calm.
Lin Yuan emerged seconds later, his tail gradually transforming into a pair of legs as he stepped onto solid ground.
His gaze swept across the dark forest ahead.
"Where do we go now?" he asked, his voice relaxed though his eyes remained sharp, watching the shifting shadows among the trees.
Xue Yunxue did not answer immediately.
She knelt and pressed her palm against the cold, damp earth. Her dark eyes slowly closed.
The next second, plant-element energy flowed out from her body.
Soft green light mixed with a faint glow seeped into the soil, slipping through hidden roots and spreading from tree to tree like a vast, living nervous system.
The Territory of the Dark Sovereignty was vast.
Far too vast.
Corrupt energy within the earth attempted to erode her power, making her meridians sting painfully. But Yunxue forced herself to continue. Her breathing slowed, her brow furrowed slightly as she expanded her search.
Ancient roots whispered to her.
Half-dead trees reflected fragmented information.
Energy traces.
Footprints.
A faint scent of blood.
And finally—
She found it.
Her body trembled slightly as her consciousness caught Yun Wu's trail.
"He…" she whispered.
About fifty kilometers from here.
But that wasn't all.
There were others around him.
Several.
Dark. Unstable.
And Yun Wu's own aura… chaotic.
Xue Yunxue opened her eyes quickly, her breathing uneven.
"About fifty kilometers, nine o'clock direction," she said firmly. "We need to move immediately."
Lin Yuan had been watching her with a gaze that was difficult to define.
Excited.
Impressed.
This girl truly knew how to utilize her abilities. She was learning to read the world like a living map.
Without another word, Lin Yuan stepped closer.
He pulled Yunxue into his arms.
The motion was quick and natural, as if it were habitual, yet it still made Yunxue's breath hitch for a fraction of a second. His body felt warm against the cold air of the dark territory.
"Hold tight," he whispered near her ear.
The next instant, Lin Yuan's body dissolved into shimmering blue mist, like luminous vapor rising from the deep sea. The mist enveloped Yunxue completely.
The wind spiraled around them.
In a single breath, they vanished, shooting swiftly through the dark forest toward Yun Wu's location.
Trees flashed past like shadows.
And the closer they drew—
The heavier the air became.
The scent of blood thickened.
Xue Yunxue held her breath.
Moments later—
The blue mist slowly condensed upon a high branch of a towering tree.
Xue Yunxue and Lin Yuan appeared soundlessly, concealed behind dense leaves darkened and sticky with corrupt energy.
From their vantage point, everything below was clearly visible.
And what they saw—
Made Yunxue's breath catch in her throat.
Yun Wu stood at the center of a circle formed by roughly a dozen beastmen clad in red and black armor. Strange insignias were carved into their chests, faintly gleaming beneath the dim forest light.
Xue Yunxue did not recognize the symbol.
But beside her, Lin Yuan murmured softly,
"Rebel soldiers."
Yunxue's eyes widened.
So these were the rebels who had been causing unrest in the capital?
Yet her attention was quickly drawn back to the figure at the center of the circle.
Yun Wu.
His body was covered in wounds.
Dried blood stained his arms and chest. His skin had been torn open in places, exposing white bone beneath. His usually calm and handsome face was bruised, and the corner of his lips was split.
One of his legs bent at an unnatural angle.
Yet he was still standing.
Still conscious.
One of the soldiers yanked his long hair roughly, forcing his head upward. A cold blade pressed against his throat.
"What a pity," a heavy voice said. A large man with black tattoos crawling up his neck sneered. "A traitor like you will never free that girl."
He grinned.
"Even though you brought a large ransom, we never intended to release her."
A thin line of blood trickled down Yun Wu's neck as the blade pressed deeper.
"You… liars…" Yun Wu's voice was hoarse, yet his eyes still burned with hatred.
The tattooed man gave a short laugh.
"Liars?" he scoffed. "You're nothing but a slave of that coward emperor. You're just as filthy as we are."
His sword rose.
Ready to strike.
Time seemed to slow.
Xue Yunxue stopped thinking.
She simply acted.
Suddenly—
A golden vine burst from the ground.
Beautiful. Majestic. Radiant like dawn breaking through darkness.
It shot forward and coiled around the tattooed man's wrist before his sword could fall.
Everyone froze.
Including Yun Wu.
The ground around them trembled.
Golden vines burst forth in rapid succession, piercing through cracked earth saturated with dark energy. Within a matter of breaths, several rebel soldiers were tightly bound by the radiant plants.
"Who—?!"
Panicked shouts rang out.
Swords were swung wildly, hacking at the vines in brutal arcs. But these were no ordinary plants. They pulsed with pure spiritual energy, resisting the corruption of this land with blinding golden light.
From atop the tree, Xue Yunxue stood.
The wind lifted the hem of her robes.
Her eyes were dark and cold.
Their bodies shot downward like two shadows breaking free from the darkness.
The moment Lin Yuan's feet touched the ground, he lifted his hand with a casual motion—as though merely brushing aside the air.
But in the next instant—
Hundreds of blue spiritual blades materialized in the sky.
Their frigid light tore through the black mist, forming a lethal ring around the rebels.
"How dare you lay hands on what belongs to us," Lin Yuan murmured lazily.
With a flick of his wrist, the blades shot forward.
The wind howled.
Screams erupted from every direction.
The blue blades struck without leaving a single gap, piercing from above, from the sides, even bursting up from beneath the ground. Lin Yuan's movements were smooth and elegant—an almost graceful performance that stood in stark contrast to the brutal carnage it produced.
Meanwhile—
Xue Yunxue ran toward Yun Wu just before his body fully collapsed.
She caught him swiftly.
"Xue'er…"
Yun Wu's voice was barely audible, filled with disbelief.
He had never imagined she would appear in a place like this.
In the Territory of the Dark Sovereignty.
"Hold on," Yunxue said firmly, though her eyes were already shimmering with tears. "I'll heal you."
She gently laid him down on a relatively clean patch of ground, then quickly retrieved several potion bottles from her storage space.
Golden-green healing powder was sprinkled over his open wounds. The moment it touched his skin, it merged with his blood, instantly stopping the bleeding.
But it wasn't enough.
Xue Yunxue closed her eyes briefly and channeled her plant-element energy.
Soft light enveloped Yun Wu's body.
The energy was warm.
Gentle.
Like spring slowly melting away winter snow.
Yun Wu felt his pain recede rapidly. Cracked bones began to knit together. Torn flesh regenerated. The bruises on his face faded without leaving a single scar.
He stared at Yunxue from such close proximity.
Her face was serious, deeply focused, faint beads of sweat forming on her forehead from overexertion.
For a moment—
Yun Wu forgot the pain entirely.
He could only look at her, wondering if this was nothing more than a hallucination.
Behind them—
The battle had already ended.
Lin Yuan stood amid the fallen bodies. His spiritual blades gradually dissolved into particles of blue light.
Not a single rebel soldier remained standing.
Yun Wu slowly pushed himself upright. His wounds had closed, though his face remained pale from blood loss. Xue Yunxue continued kneeling before him, both hands wrapped around his broken calf, golden-green energy flowing steadily to mend the fractured bone.
A soft clicking sound echoed as the bone fused back into place.
"What are you doing here?" Yun Wu asked quietly.
His tone held no anger—only shock… and worry.
Xue Yunxue lifted her face, her brows tightly drawn together.
"What am I doing here?" she repeated irritably. "If we hadn't come, you'd be dead."
Her voice trembled slightly, caught somewhere between anger and relief.
A few steps away, Lin Yuan wiped the blood from his fingertips with a bored expression.
"What exactly were you doing with those rebel soldiers?" he asked, tilting his head. "Traitor? Ransom? A girl? I don't enjoy riddles."
The forest fell silent once more.
A faint breeze stirred the blackened leaves.
Yun Wu's eyes slowly dimmed.
There was a shadow of the past within them.
"Did you know…" His voice was low and heavy. "That I was once part of the rebel army?"
Xue Yunxue and Lin Yuan fell silent.
Neither of them had expected that.
"Weren't you once an officer in the imperial army?" Lin Yuan asked, this time without his usual lazy tone.
Yun Wu let out a quiet chuckle, but there was no humor in it.
"Imperial officer… that was only the second half of my life."
He lowered his gaze to the ground.
"Before that, I was a rebel spy sent to infiltrate the kingdom. I entered as an ordinary soldier. They wanted me to rise through the ranks and feed them information from within."
Xue Yunxue said nothing. Her hands continued working, but her heartbeat quickened.
"And then?" she asked softly.
Yun Wu exhaled slowly.
"When I was truly inside the kingdom… I saw something they never told me. The rebels didn't just want to overthrow the empire. They slaughtered villages. Killed innocent people. Even children."
His eyes hardened.
"That was when I realized… I was on the wrong side."
The silence that followed felt heavy.
"I severed ties with them," he continued. "I stopped being a spy and focused on becoming a real soldier. I fought to protect civilians, not destroy them. That's why my rank rose."
Lin Yuan crossed his arms.
"Then why were you dishonorably discharged?"
A faint smile curved Yun Wu's lips.
"Because my past was eventually exposed. They learned I had once been a rebel. The empire never truly forgives a traitor, even if he changes sides."
Xue Yunxue finally finished healing his leg. She slowly withdrew her hands.
"And… the ransom?" she asked gently.
Yun Wu was silent for several seconds.
When he spoke again, his gaze had softened considerably.
"I grew up in the slums," he said quietly. "I had no family. No one."
He glanced at Yunxue.
"There, I had an adopted little sister. Her name is Xuxu. She's… about your age. I consider her my only family."
His voice changed.
Softer.
Almost fragile.
"When I cut ties with the rebels, they took her. They demanded fifteen billion chakra coins as ransom."
Xue Yunxue and Lin Yuan exchanged a glance.
Fifteen billion.
That number explained many things.
Why Yun Wu always accepted dangerous missions.
Why he was obsessed with earning money.
"I managed to gather it," Yun Wu continued heavily. "I paid everything."
His hand clenched into a fist.
"But they never intended to release her."
His gaze fell upon the lifeless bodies of the rebels scattered across the ground. His expression was hard, yet something beneath that calm surface had cracked.
"They only lured me here."
Silence enveloped the three of them.
A faint wind rustled through the blackened leaves, carrying the scent of blood and damp earth. Suddenly, Yun Wu's wolf ears twitched. His eyes sharpened, focusing toward the west.
"They're coming."
His voice was low but firm.
"You two need to leave immediately. The rebel army is heading this way."
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, completely unbothered.
"I think we can still handle them."
His tone was relaxed—almost dismissive.
But Yun Wu shook his head.
"No. There's someone among them… far stronger than you." He looked at Lin Yuan seriously. "He has reached the Taigu level."
The word dropped like a massive stone.
Taigu.
A realm that no one in the current generation of the Yanhuo Kingdom had reached.
"You won't be able to fight him," Yun Wu continued.
A brief silence followed.
"And what about you?" Xue Yunxue asked softly, her gaze sharp.
"I have to find a way to free Xuxu," Yun Wu replied without hesitation. "I can't leave with you."
"No." Yunxue immediately grabbed his arm. "You nearly died just now."
Her grip tightened, as if afraid he would disappear the moment she let go.
Yun Wu sighed.
"I didn't expect what happened earlier. They set a trap. I let my guard down." He looked at her gently. "But this time is different. I know they're coming. I won't fall into another trap."
His eyes hardened.
"I have to keep my promise to Xuxu. After I free her… I'll come back."
Lin Yuan clicked his tongue irritably.
He grabbed Yunxue's hand, trying to pull her away. "We don't have time for family drama."
But Xue Yunxue shook off his hand.
Lin Yuan was nearly driven mad by her.
This girl truly was the reincarnation of a stubborn jade stone.
Her eyes locked onto Yun Wu without the slightest hesitation.
"I'll help you rescue her."
Her voice was not loud.
Not emotional.
But firm.
Yun Wu remained silent for a long moment.
His gaze shifted between Xue Yunxue and Lin Yuan, as if weighing which was more dangerous—the Territory of the Dark Sovereignty… or the stubborn girl standing before him.
"But it's extremely dangerous," he said at last, still attempting to refuse in a rational tone.
Xue Yunxue merely smiled faintly.
A smile far too calm for a situation like this.
"Lin Yuan said even the God of Death avoids me."
Silence fell.
Yun Wu's eyes slowly turned toward Lin Yuan.
The look wasn't angry.
It was… accusatory.
Lin Yuan raised both hands slightly, his expression still relaxed.
"I'm just stating statistical facts," he said lightly. "So far, her survival rate has been… abnormal."
Yun Wu closed his eyes briefly, as if suppressing an oncoming migraine.
Finally, with a long sigh that sounded like surrendering to fate itself, he slowly stood up.
"Fine," he said quietly. "Follow me."
He began walking north, pushing through black trees that twisted like giant bones. Xue Yunxue followed immediately behind him without hesitation.
Lin Yuan walked at the rear, his face still wearing that deliberately lazy expression.
Midway, Yun Wu slowed slightly and moved closer to Lin Yuan's side.
He whispered, his voice low but firm.
"Stop saying ridiculous things."
He glanced toward Yunxue's back as she walked ahead.
"And stop bringing up the God of Death."
Lin Yuan fell silent for a second.
Then he snorted softly.
"Believe it or not, that girl is unbelievably stubborn. She almost drove me insane dragging me here."
He glanced at Yunxue's back—her steps were small, but never once did they falter.
---------
Luo Shixin arrived at the main residence of the Luo Family just before sunset.
The moment the black iron gates opened, every servant immediately lowered their heads in respect. The military aura clinging to him was so overwhelming that even the veteran guards instinctively straightened as he passed.
His steps were steady.
Calm.
Commanding.
He did not pause in the main hall, nor did he greet anyone. He walked straight toward his father's study in the deepest part of the estate.
The heavy wooden door opened slowly.
Inside, Luo Jin sat in his grand chair, his back straight as a war spear. His sharp, aged eyes immediately locked onto his eldest son.
"I've arrived, Father," Luo Shixin said, giving a formal salute.
Luo Jin studied him for a long moment.
The young man before him was his pride. At only twenty-five years old, Luo Shixin already held an important military position. His talent in strategy and combat had surpassed even the previous generation.
His finest son.
And that was precisely why his anger burned even hotter.
Luo Shixin took the seat opposite him with perfect posture—neither bowing nor challenging.
"I want you to divorce that woman of unknown origin immediately," Luo Jin said bluntly. "Do you know that Princess Hu Lian has taken an interest in you? She does not even mind your status as a widower."
The room fell silent.
Luo Shixin remained calm. His expression did not change in the slightest.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Father," he replied evenly. "I am very satisfied with my current partner."
Those words were like sparks thrown onto oil.
Luo Jin shot halfway to his feet and grabbed a vase from the side table. In a burst of fury, he hurled it toward Luo Shixin.
The vase shattered at his feet.
Luo Shixin did not even blink.
"You unfilial brat!" Luo Jin roared, his face flushed red, chest rising and falling with rage. "Do you intend to anger your father to death?!"
Luo Shixin finally spoke again, his voice calm but firm.
"In our family, there has never been divorce. Loyalty to one's partner is the foundation of the Luo Family." He met his father's gaze directly. "Does Father intend to destroy that foundation by forcing me to abandon my wife? I believe that would be impossible."
The veins at Luo Jin's temples throbbed.
"I raised you to become part of the royal family," he growled, "not to become a slave to love like this!"
For the first time, Luo Shixin stood.
Without hesitation, he opened the top of his shirt.
On the left side of his chest, directly above his heart, a name was etched in ink—
Xue Yunxue.
It was no ordinary tattoo. The ink had fused with his skin, emitting a faint glow—a vow bound by spiritual energy.
Luo Jin's face darkened further.
"Get out!" he barked. "Get out of my sight!"
Luo Shixin calmly closed his shirt, gave a brief salute, and turned to leave without another word.
As soon as the door shut—
Light footsteps sounded from behind a side curtain.
Luo Mei stepped out, a faint smile on her lips.
Clearly, she had heard everything.
"Why is Father so opposed to Brother's marriage?" she asked gently. "Wouldn't it be better to simply grant him your blessing?"
Luo Jin shot her a sharp look.
"What do you mean? Are you planning to rebel like your brother?"
Luo Mei smiled sweetly.
"Of course not."
She stepped closer.
"I've investigated his partner."
Luo Jin narrowed his eyes.
"She truly has no background. Her previous records are blank—as if she simply appeared in this world out of nowhere."
Luo Jin snorted. "A rootless woman."
"However…" Luo Mei continued softly, "what's interesting is… that girl possesses plant-element power."
The room fell into sudden silence.
Luo Jin's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Plant-element power?"
His tone shifted.
No longer angry.
But wary.
Because in the Yanhuo Kingdom—
the plant element was not an ordinary power.
Luo Shixin closed the door to his room calmly. Naturally, he would remain at the estate for another day to handle military affairs.
His expression remained indifferent, though his steps were slightly faster than usual.
Once alone, he raised his hand and activated his chakra computer. A transparent blue light unfolded in the air, displaying communication symbols and regional energy maps.
He immediately opened a special channel.
The pendant.
The protective pendant he had given Xue Yunxue before returning to the family estate.
She had promised to wear it at all times.
And Yunxue was not the type to break even a small promise.
A holographic map slowly formed.
A small point of light appeared.
At first, Luo Shixin looked at it casually.
But within seconds—
his brows furrowed.
The point was not in Wulong City.
Not at home.
It was… moving.
And its position—
was growing farther from the city.
Luo Shixin enlarged the map.
The territorial boundary lines became clear.
And that small point of light was located directly inside the darkened zone—
His usually stable and calm aura turned heavy in an instant. The air around him trembled faintly, like a battlefield before the first arrow was loosed.
"Xue Yunxue… what are you doing there…?"
His voice was low.
Not angry.
Something more dangerous than that.
He stood abruptly, the wooden chair scraping harshly across the marble floor. Without wasting time, he attempted to contact Yun Wu.
The call was sent.
But it never connected.
The screen flickered… then fell silent.
His jaw tightened.
He tried again.
The same result.
Luo Shixin immediately switched to Lin Yuan.
No different.
No signal.
No response.
The Territory of the Dark Sovereignty did distort transmissions—but two people at once?
His gaze sharpened.
Were they both with her right now?
Or—
had something happened to all three of them?
His hand clenched until his knuckles turned white.
Only one name remained on his contact list.
He stared at it for several seconds.
Lu Xiao.
The vampire.
Ever since he and Yunxue had grown closer, his relationship with Lu Xiao had never been harmonious. The vampire's crimson eyes always carried silent provocation, and their conversations often felt like two predators forced to share the same territory.
Luo Shixin clicked his tongue softly.
He truly had no desire to deal with that vampire.
But now—
dislike was a luxury he could not afford.
Without further hesitation, he suppressed his pride and pressed Lu Xiao's number.
The ringing tone began to echo.