It had been a week since then. Yang Wei had become even more clingy toward Yang Luoya than usual. Yang Luoya simply assumed he missed him, which was why he acted that way. The day of departure finally arrived, the morning air unusually cold, as if warning them of what lay ahead.
"Take care on your travel. Unfortunately, our leave permission was only approved for next week, because we're just guests," said Wu Zhen."We will come on the day of the ceremony," Jing Lei added."Senior Brother, I'll make sure to come and bring many gifts," Bai Zhi said excitedly.
"Senior Brother… be careful. The forest isn't safe these days. Please don't let your guard down," Xu Yanran warned."Don't worry, we won't," Yang Luoya replied as he stepped down the stairs outside the sect gate, Yang Wei following close behind. Though he kept his voice steady, he could feel the faint sting of uneasiness at the back of his mind.
"The carriage is here."Outside the gate, two carriages waited, horses stamping the earth restlessly, their breath visible in the cool air. Guards mounted on horseback formed a protective formation around them.
"Big bro, why are there two carriages? Didn't we use only one before?" Yang Wei asked.
"Did you forget? You're almost an adult now. Of course Father would give you your own carriage. You rode with me before because you were still thirteen, not an adult yet," Yang Luoya explained.
"I'll ride in a different carriage than you?" Yang Wei felt hurt, as if being abandoned."Uh… but wouldn't it be cramped if two grown men sit together? You're literally taller and bigger than me. Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable?" Yang Luoya asked.
Yang Wei shook his head. "It's more uncomfortable if I have no one to talk to during a long journey."
Yang Luoya thought for a moment. What Yang Wei said did make sense."All right. Just this once, you can ride with me," he said.Yang Wei secretly grinned. "Thank you, big bro."
In the end, they rode together in the same carriage. The second carriage remained empty and followed behind. Hours passed, and the steady rumbling of wheels lulled Yang Luoya into drowsiness. His eyelids grew heavy, and he eventually fell asleep on Yang Wei's shoulder.
Yang Wei stared at him, his gaze dark and hungry. His mind churned. "(Why is there a barrier called blood relation between us… why is there a law prohibiting two alphas from being together… why can't I change fate?)"His hand hovered near Yang Luoya's face, trembling slightly—not from hesitation, but from desire.
Then the carriage violently shook.
The guards' horses shrieked, high and sharp, their hooves skittering on the ground. Rocks clattered and bounced, echoing like thunder.Yang Luoya jolted awake. "What happened?!"
"M–my lord… the carriage behind…" the coachman stammered.
Yang Luoya opened the door and stepped out—and froze. The second carriage had been crushed by falling rocks, its wooden frame splintered like fragile bones before it tumbled off the cliff. Dust and gravel still rained down around them. His vision blurred with panic."(W-what if Yang Wei had really ridden in the second carriage… h-he would have…)"
Yang Wei stepped out and saw him shaking. He wrapped his arms firmly around Yang Luoya from behind, grounding him. Yang Luoya inhaled shakily, gripping the arms around his waist.
His expression sharpened. "We continue our journey. We'll rush. The faster we arrive, the better.""Yes, my lord!" the guards responded.
In the end, only ten guards and one coachman remained. The rest had either been crushed in the rockfall or thrown off the cliff.
That night, they rested in the forest. The guards gathered around a fire, eating soup quietly, the usual chatter replaced by a heavy silence. The shadows between the trees seemed darker than usual. Yang Luoya stayed inside the carriage, replaying the accident over and over. Yang Wei sat beneath a tree, half-hidden from the firelight.
A guard approached him with a bowl of soup. "My lord, you haven't eaten yet. I brought this for you."Yang Wei accepted it. When the guard left, he poured the soup behind the bushes and smirked. "Heh… who would've thought Bai Zhi's endless chatter about poison traits would help me now." His expression twisted into something cold, almost cruel.
The next morning—
"Eh? We're short one person," Yang Luoya said."Maybe an accident happened. Our priority is to reach the capital as soon as possible. We don't have time to look for one missing guard," Yang Wei replied."You're right. We need to keep moving."
Unbeknownst to him, behind the bushes lay the guard's mangled body, torn apart beyond humanity.
Days later they reached the capital. As Yang Luoya stepped out from the carriage, Bai Qian greeted him warmly.
"My lord, welcome back." His smile was refreshing—but the gaze from Liu Ao beside him shattered the peaceful moment. His glare was sharp enough to cut.
Another presence dominated the atmosphere: his father, Yang Soren, waiting atop the stairs with a cold expression."Meet me in my room," he said before disappearing inside.
Yang Luoya stared at Bai Qian, "Bai Qian, can you escort Yang Wei to his room? he need some rest after a long journey", said Yang Luoya. "But brother, you also tired, you also need some rest", Yang Wei said beside him. "I will take a rest after i meet father", Yang Luoya smile at him to reassure him.
.
.
.
Yang Luoya knocked on the door."Come in," his father's voice called.
He entered, closing the door behind him. Yang Soren stood before him, eyes icy. Without warning, he slapped Yang Luoya hard.
Yang Luoya staggered, stunned.
"Do you think I don't know what you've done? I heard about the carriage accident. Who else but you would be the culprit?" he said coldly."It wasn't me! I would never harm Yang Wei!" Yang Luoya protested.
"It doesn't matter if it was you or your followers. Either way, it benefits you."Yang Soren turned away."Remember—my heir is Yang Wei, not you. And I won't allow any more 'accidents' to happen to him. Especially during the ceremony."