The Longyuan night market grew increasingly crowded as the night deepened. Lanterns swayed in the air, and the warm orange glow of the light danced on the passing faces. The smell of honey cakes, burning charcoal, and jasmine flowers blended together—an atmosphere Lin Xuan rarely enjoyed, but somehow tonight felt... pleasant.
Zi Yueyan walked beside him, her eyes busy watching the rows of vendors and attractions. Sometimes, unconsciously, their steps became more synchronized.
"It's rare for you to be willing to walk in a crowded place like this," Zi Yueyan said, glancing at him.
Lin Xuan shrugged. "I just want to know whether the merchants in Longyuan are prosperous or not."
Zi Yueyan snorted softly. "You care so much about the people."
Lin Xuan smiled faintly. "I don't care, but I need to know who I will eventually have to kill if they become corrupt."
Zi Yueyan spontaneously glared at him. "You...!"
But Lin Xuan's flat expression made her confused whether it was a joke or not.
Before she could reply, they both heard a scream from the end of the street.
"Stop! Bring that item back!"
They turned. A young woman with long purplish hair, wearing simple yet elegant clothes, was running after a thief carrying a small, carved box. Two men who looked like bodyguards dressed in civilian clothes were chasing behind them.
"Tch, someone else's problem," Zi Yueyan muttered, preparing to walk away.
But Lin Xuan held her back.
"Are you serious about just standing there?"
"It's none of our business," Yueyan replied quickly.
Lin Xuan looked at her for a moment, then walked toward the crowd. "You're right, it's none of our business—but for me, all business is interesting when it involves a chase."
With a relaxed gait, Lin Xuan darted through the crowd. In an instant, he disappeared.
Zi Yueyan sighed deeply, "Hmph... what a strange person," then ran to catch up.
It didn't take long—the thief ran into a narrow alley behind the stalls, but just as he was about to get away, a hand suddenly gripped the collar of his shirt and pulled him back hard.
Lin Xuan stood there, twisting the thief's wrist until the small box dropped.
"If you're going to steal," he said casually, "at least don't do it in a crowded place. You're too noisy."
The thief tried to fight back, but before he could, Zi Yueyan's thin sword was already pointed at his neck.
"If you move, I'll cut off your ear first," she said coldly.
Finally, the bodyguards and the young woman arrived. The woman immediately checked her small box, then looked at Lin Xuan and Yueyan with a gentle smile.
"Thank you," she said in a delicate yet authoritative voice. "You have saved me from unnecessary trouble."
Lin Xuan bowed slightly. "No problem. Besides, he was the one who caused the commotion first."
Zi Yueyan, who was about to speak, suddenly fell silent. Her eyes widened as she recognized the woman's face—her features, her gentle yet firm eyes, were not unfamiliar to her.
"P-Princess Ying Yue?" she said, almost whispering.
The woman smiled courteously. "So you recognize me too."
Lin Xuan turned slowly. "Princess...?"
He was momentarily stunned. He knew the name—the first daughter of Emperor Qin, who was almost married to General Hwang. But he had never imagined that the princess would be walking around the night market like a commoner.
Ying Yue raised her hand slowly. "Please keep my presence here a secret. Sometimes... I need to see the world outside the palace without protocol limitations."
Lin Xuan nodded. "We saw nothing, Your Highness."
The Princess smiled—a gentle smile that carried a natural authority. She took two small pouches from her bodyguard, each containing several gold coins, and handed them to them.
"As a token of my gratitude."
Zi Yueyan quickly refused. "T-there's no need, Your Highness. We don't expect a reward."
But Lin Xuan casually accepted the pouch and put it inside his robe. "Thank you, Your Highness. If we refuse, it might be considered an insult to the royal gift."
Zi Yueyan glared at him in annoyance. "You really..."
Princess Ying Yue chuckled softly instead. "You have an honest... and slightly bold friend."
Before leaving, the princess paused and looked at Lin Xuan.
"May I know your name?"
"Lin Xuan," he answered briefly.
Ying Yue repeated the name softly, as if weighing it. "A good name. Thank you once again, Lin Xuan."
She then turned with her two bodyguards, slowly disappearing behind the market crowds.
Lin Xuan watched them leave with a calm face.
But beside him, Zi Yueyan looked strange—her face slightly flushed, and her pace became faster.
"Hey," Lin Xuan called. "Why did you suddenly become so cold?"
"It's nothing," Yueyan replied shortly without turning.
"Sure?" Lin Xuan looked at her with a mischievous smile. "You look like someone who just lost something valuable."
Zi Yueyan stared at him sharply. "Be quiet."
Lin Xuan chuckled softly, walking behind her. "Sigh... women are complicated. Just being asked for a name, and she looks like she's just been attacked by a dragon."
Zi Yueyan stopped briefly, then looked up at the night sky.
In her heart, she didn't know why she felt annoyed.
Since the encounter with Princess Ying Yue, not a word had come out of Yueyan's mouth.
She walked slightly ahead, her face averted, but her small clenched fists at her sides showed something was bothering her.
Lin Xuan, on the other hand, seemed relaxed. He played with the gold coin gift from Princess Ying Yue between his fingers, observing its shine under the moonlight.
"Not bad tonight," he said softly. "Good food, a walk, and I received a gift directly from the royal princess. Maybe I should come to the night market more often."
His tone was light, but to Zi Yueyan, it sounded like mockery.
She glanced at him, looking flatly. "You seem very happy."
Lin Xuan looked at her in surprise. "Of course. It's rare for a princess to speak to me without a bodyguard interrupting. Besides, I only helped her, nothing more."
Yueyan looked down, not answering.
The night wind blew the tips of her hair, making her look soft in the streetlight. She didn't know why, but her left chest felt warm—or perhaps... uncomfortable.
After a few steps without words, they arrived at a crossroad. From there, the paths to Yueyan's and Lin Xuan's houses separated in different directions.
Zi Yueyan stopped first, then said flatly without looking up,
"I'm going home now. Thank you... for tonight."
Lin Xuan looked at her for a long time, trying to read the expression on her cold face, but it was futile.
"Be careful on your way," he said finally, his voice unconsciously soft.
Yueyan nodded, then walked away.
But before they were too far apart, Lin Xuan's voice was heard again behind her.
"Yueyan."
She turned slowly. The moonlight made Lin Xuan's silhouette faint, but his small smile was clearly visible.
And the night in Longyuan continued—two hearts that did not yet fully understand the direction of their feelings and did not realize that the small seed growing between them was now slowly taking root.
--
The next morning, the Guangming Academy training grounds were already filled with students. The sound of clashing swords, shouts of techniques, and the rustling wind filled the air. But amidst all that, Zi Yueyan looked slightly different today—her movements were still precise, but her mind was clearly not here.
"Yueyan, you're losing focus again,"
Feng Zhiren's voice was heard in front of her. He easily blocked Yueyan's slash, a gentle smile on his face. "You didn't even exploit my opening just now."
Zi Yueyan took a deep breath, stepping back one pace.
"Sorry. I... didn't sleep well last night."
Zhiren sheathed his sword, looking at her with concern. "You seem to have a lot on your mind lately."
His voice was calm, but there was a sincere tone that was hard to ignore.
Yueyan did not answer. In her mind, the image of Lin Xuan at the night market last night flashed again—his faint smile, his light voice, and his cold gaze that somehow... felt warm at the same time.
"Yueyan?" Zhiren called softly, breaking her reverie.
"Ah... sorry, Zhiren." She immediately straightened up. "Let's continue training."
But just as she was preparing, a relaxed footsteps were heard from the gate. Lin Xuan appeared with his hands behind his head, yawning widely while walking leisurely as if the world held no burden.
"Ah, a bright morning. I came, didn't I? Don't tell me I'm still being punished even though I'm on time," he said, smiling towards Yueyan and Zhiren.
Zhiren looked at him half-annoyed, half-amused. "You came on time, but you're still lazy."
"Better to be lazy but live long," Lin Xuan replied lightly while sitting on the edge of the field.
But Yueyan's eyes could not avoid that figure.
Zhiren noticed Yueyan's gaze occasionally drifting toward Lin Xuan, and somehow, something in his chest felt strange.
He smiled slightly, but that smile hid a complex feeling—between curiosity and something that was starting to resemble jealousy.
From afar, Lin Xuan looked at the two of them. He held back a small laugh while sighing softly.
("This world is truly funny. I, who was once alone on the battlefield... now have to suppress a strange feeling every time I see those two talking.")
A brief silence occurred between the three people, but the morning wind carried something different—not just training, but also the beginning of a change in feelings that even they themselves hadn't realized.
A few days had passed since that night at the market, but the echoes of laughter, the lantern light, and the aroma of sweets from the night market still occasionally crossed Lin Xuan's mind. Sometimes he smiled softly when he remembered the way Zi Yueyan looked at him after the meeting with Princess Ying Yue—cold on the surface, but her eyes held something he couldn't yet interpret.
At Guangming Academy, the days went on as usual. Han Jie was busy training, Zi Yueyan seemed more serious than before, and Feng Zhiren was still the center of attention for many students. Meanwhile, Lin Xuan, as usual, sat relaxed under a tree, avoiding theory lessons and sleeping during training hours. No one knew that behind that tranquility, something was moving.
Towards the evening, a thin mist descended from the north. Lin Xuan had just woken up from his nap in the backyard when a figure in a black robe stepped silently among the trees.
Without a sound, the person stopped in front of him.
Xu Heng.
The Head of the Imperial Shadows looked at Lin Xuan deeply.
"It's been a while since I called you for a new mission, First Shadow," he said softly.
Lin Xuan yawned lazily, but the faint red eyes behind his gaze reflected the twilight. "Did you come to the academy just to wake a sleeping person?"
Xu Heng smiled faintly. "You are the only Shadow who can speak casually in front of a superior. But it's okay, because you are also the only one the Emperor fully trusts."
He stepped closer, handing over a black scroll with a silver dragon seal.
"New mission. From His Majesty the Emperor himself."
Lin Xuan took the letter unhurriedly, then opened it. His eyes narrowed as he read the content of the order.
"Target: not an enemy, nor an official," Xu Heng said softly. "But someone who must be protected."
"Protected?" Lin Xuan looked at him. "That's not a shadow hunter's job. We're usually ordered to kill, not guard."
Xu Heng looked towards the setting sun. "The Emperor is worried about the safety of Princess Ying Yue."
That name made Lin Xuan silent for a moment. His memory returned to the market night a few days ago—the princess's soft voice, her gaze, and the way she respectfully called his name.
Xu Heng continued, his voice low but steady.
"You must know, after the Thousand Shadows Valley attack failed, they will look for a new opening. And their next target is most likely... the royal blood itself."
Lin Xuan stared at the letter for a long time, then folded it back.
"In that case, I will consider this not a murder mission. But if anyone tries to touch the princess..."
He tucked the letter behind his robe.
"...I will ensure they don't even have time to take a second breath."
Xu Heng smiled faintly. "That's why I'm sending you alone. Don't let the palace know you are involved. This is a secret order directly from Emperor Qin."
"Then what should I say if I suddenly disappear from the academy again?"
Lin Xuan asked half-lazily.
Xu Heng glanced at him. "You're good at lying, First Shadow. I'm sure you can figure that out yourself."
Lin Xuan merely shrugged, then walked away past the bamboo garden behind the academy.
The twilight light hit his face—half calm, half cold.
("So now I have to protect her, huh... Princess Ying Yue.")
He looked up at the slowly reddening sky, then smiled faintly.
Night descended slowly.
From the Guangming academy tower, the sound of bells was faintly heard in the distance. Under the moonlight, Lin Xuan walked alone across a small stone bridge leading to the western gate of Longyuan city. In his hand, the black scroll with the silver dragon seal was still neatly folded behind his robe.
Along the way, the aroma of the night market was still faintly noticeable—flowers, incense, and perfume mixed in the humid air. He looked towards the distant light of the palace, where the golden towers of the imperial palace reflected the moon's glow.
That place, the center of power. A place where a single decree could save thousands of lives... or erase them.
Lin Xuan slipped both hands into his robe pockets.
"Guarding a royal princess," he muttered. "I'm a shadow hunter, not a personal bodyguard."
But behind his complaint, there was something else—an unexplainable curiosity.
He had seen the look in Princess Ying Yue's eyes that time, gentle but holding a loneliness similar to his own.
The next day, in the northern region of Longyuan, the scenery looked peaceful. The streets were clean, merchants were selling, and imperial guards patrolled around the noble residences.
In a high pavilion near the plum blossom garden, Princess Ying Yue stood looking at the sky. In her hand was a small letter from the palace—an order for her to prepare for the Royal Winter Festival, one month away.
However, unbeknownst to her, a shadow was moving from afar—a man, his steps light but sharp. He stopped on the roof of the house across the garden, right under the shadow of the moon.
Lin Xuan.
He looked towards the pavilion where the princess stood. His movements were calm, but his eyes never left every direction.
He had been there since early morning, monitoring the changing guards, exit routes, and possible infiltrators.
Like a shadow, his presence was undetected by anyone.
An hour later, two imperial guards walked past the side road. One spoke softly.
"I heard the Thousand Shadows Valley hasn't been completely destroyed. They might come back."
The other looked around nervously. "Hush! Don't speak carelessly! If the palace finds out, we could lose our heads."
Lin Xuan heard the conversation, but remained silent.
In his heart, he remembered Xu Heng's message: "Don't let anyone know you're there."
Towards evening, Princess Ying Yue decided to walk in the outer garden accompanied by two ladies-in-waiting and one bodyguard. They crossed a small wooden bridge over the pond, enjoying the lantern light reflected on the water.
Everything seemed ordinary... until one of the lanterns suddenly went out due to a strange cold gust of wind.
A faint scent of metal filled the air.
Lin Xuan, on the pavilion roof, immediately straightened up.
His pupils narrowed.
"...The smell of blood."
From behind the bushes, three figures dressed in black appeared without a sound. They moved quickly, like living night shadows.
The princess's bodyguard immediately drew his sword, but in one swift attack, two of them were thrown back.
Princess Ying Yue recoiled. "Who are you!?"
One of the attackers spoke with a hoarse voice.
"We only want the princess to come with us. There's no need for blood to spill, unless you resist."
But before they could step forward, something moved quickly above them.
A black shadow fell from the sky like lightning.
Lin Xuan landed between the princess and the attackers, his robe fluttering in the wind.
His gaze was cold.
"You chose the wrong night to die."
In a flash, his sword came out of its sheath, the blade gleaming darkly under the lantern light.
Three shadows attacked simultaneously—but Lin Xuan moved faster.
One slash to the left, one stab forward, one sweep to the right.
The sound of clashing steel echoed loudly, followed by short screams.
The bodies of the three attackers were thrown back, falling to the ground.
Princess Ying Yue was silent—the red-masked figure before her made her breath catch.
"That mask... you—"
But Lin Xuan had already vanished.
His shadow simply disappeared, leaving behind only the cold wind and blood on the ground.
From the high roof, he stood again looking at the garden.
"It seems true, their target is the princess," he muttered softly. "And this is just the beginning."
The next morning, the news of the attack on Princess Ying Yue was not released publicly. Xu Heng himself came directly to the palace and reported to Emperor Qin with a tense face.
"Your Majesty," he said. "An attempted kidnapping occurred last night. However, Princess Ying Yue survived thanks to the intervention of... the First Shadow."
Emperor Qin, sitting on the golden throne, nodded slowly.
"Good. Do not mention this incident to anyone. If the people know, panic will spread."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xu Heng bowed.
But in his mind, he could only think one thing:
("Lin Xuan... even in the dark, you still move faster than the shadow itself.")
The Xiyang Kingdom looked peaceful on the surface, but small reports began to reach General Hwang's hands:
border villages burned for no reason, several royal envoys disappeared on the northern route, and signs of demonic spirits reappeared in the Heiyan forest.
A few days after that report, behind the marble walls and gold-layered floors, a subtle current of power began to move.
Emperor Qin sat in his private chamber, looking at the large map of the Xiyang Kingdom spread on the jade table. Around the map, red metal pins marked important locations: fortresses, trading cities, and points vulnerable to infiltration.
Before him stood Xu Heng and General Hwang. The two people the Emperor trusted the most, but also the most different.
Xu Heng—silent, sharp, and mysterious.
Hwang—sturdy, bright, and honest like the midday sun.
"The Thousand Shadows Valley has been shaken," the Emperor finally said. "However, as long as the remnants of Mo Cangwu's followers are not caught, we cannot breathe easy."
General Hwang bowed respectfully. "My troops are still sweeping the northern region, Your Majesty. But the latest reports indicate they are likely to cross the old route again."
The Emperor frowned. "That means they are trying to infiltrate again through the Northern border route."
Xu Heng interjected softly, "If that is true, then they are not just fleeing. They are trying to reopen the old door of attack from Han. The Tianmen Fortress."
The room was silent for a moment. Only the sound of soft breathing was heard.
Emperor Qin finally looked at his two subordinates alternately.
"If Han truly dares to touch our border again... I want us to be ready before they have time to think twice."
Then he looked at Xu Heng longer. "And ensure the First Shadow remains free to move. Do not tie him down with palace orders. I know how he works. The world needs people who can walk outside the light."
Xu Heng bowed deeply. "Your Majesty's command will be carried out."
General Hwang remained silent, but his gaze shifted slightly—there was a mix of admiration and question there.
Who exactly was the First Shadow that the Emperor himself praised so highly?
Meanwhile at Guangming Academy,
In the main hall of the academy, Teacher Wei announced big news:
"In the next few weeks, the Inter-Sect Tournament will be held in Longyuan! All eligible students must participate in the selection process."
Cheers echoed throughout the hall, but Lin Xuan merely yawned.
Han Jie immediately patted his shoulder.
"Lin Xuan! This is our chance to show our skills! Don't just sleep all the time!"
Zi Yueyan, standing not far away, only glanced towards Lin Xuan.
She knew very well that if the man were serious, perhaps all the other contestants wouldn't have a chance at all.
"If I participate," Lin Xuan said flatly, "I'll be accused of cheating."
"Why is that?" Han Jie asked innocently.
Lin Xuan smiled faintly. "Because I don't know how to lose."
That sentence made Zi Yueyan look at him for a long time, a faint smile appearing on her face unconsciously.
In her heart, she thought—that man is truly dangerous, but behind all that, there is something that makes her... calm.
One week passed since the announcement of the Inter-Sect Tournament.
Longyuan slowly changed: winter lanterns began to be hung along the streets, merchants were busy preparing food stalls, and thin snow began to fall from the northern sky.
For the students of Guangming Academy, this was not just a festival—it was a matter of pride.
But for Lin Xuan, the festival was just one thing: an added distraction that made it difficult for him to nap.
In the training grounds, Han Jie ran carrying two practice swords.
"Lin Xuan! Come on! Today is the first selection!" he exclaimed breathlessly.
Lin Xuan was still sitting under the tree, holding a piece of bread and a cup of warm tea. "Is the selection mandatory?"
"Of course it's mandatory!" Han Jie cried out. "If you don't participate, your name could be removed from the active student list!"
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow slowly. "Hmm... sounds like a threat, but not enough to make me move."
Before Han Jie could reply, a cold voice was heard from behind them.
"If you don't participate in the selection, I will be the one to force Teacher Wei to remove it now."
Zi Yueyan stood with her arms crossed, her hair gleaming in the cold wind. She looked at Lin Xuan flatly, but her eyes were not as tense as usual—there was a note of concern there.
Han Jie immediately stepped aside. "Wow, I don't want to get involved if you two start arguing."
Lin Xuan slowly stood up, then stretched. "Alright, alright. Just for the peace of this Academy... I'll participate."
The selection took place in the main training hall.
Dozens of students lined up, showing off their signature moves.
When it was Lin Xuan's turn, all eyes were on him—some hoping to see chaos, others curious if the slacker could really fight.
Lin Xuan took a practice sword from the rack, then stood in the center of the arena.
No complicated poses, no great force.
Only one movement.
Swish.
The wind in the room suddenly stopped.
A single bamboo leaf that fell in front of him was split in two, so smoothly that it took a few seconds before both pieces touched the ground.
Silence.
All the students were stunned.
Teacher Wei, standing on the podium, stared sharply. "Your technique... it's too refined for mere practice. Lin Xuan, have you really never practiced seriously before?"
Lin Xuan shrugged. "Maybe I just have a natural talent for sleeping."
A small laugh was heard among the students, but Zi Yueyan only looked at him for a long time.
She knew what she had just seen was not just a coincidence—that movement... was perfect.
That night, after training ended, Zi Yueyan found Lin Xuan sitting alone in the backyard.
Snow was slowly falling on his shoulders.
She approached him silently.
"You don't look interested in participating in the tournament," she said softly.
Lin Xuan opened his eyes slightly. "I have other business that night."
"Other business?"
Zi Yueyan looked at him suspiciously. "You're not taking a secret mission again, are you?"
Lin Xuan smiled faintly. "Maybe."
Yueyan sighed. "You always talk as if everything is just a game."
"If I were too serious, this world wouldn't be funny enough to live in," he replied casually.
Then he looked up at the sky, towards the moon covered by clouds. "Besides... not all battles have to be seen by many people."
Yueyan was silent. She didn't know why, but her heart felt calm when she heard those words.
Two weeks later.
The Winter Festival finally arrived.
Longyuan transformed into a sea of light—thousands of lanterns hung in the air, merchants shouted offering their wares, and music was heard from all directions.
In the midst of the crowd, a large arena stood majestically in the eastern field.
On the honored tribune, sat Emperor Qin, the Empress, Prince Zhuang, General Hwang, and Princess Ying Yue, wearing a white robe adorned with plum blossoms in her hair.
The roar of the spectators echoed as the inter-sect competition began.
The Guangming Sect performed second—led by Feng Zhiren and Zi Yueyan.
Meanwhile, far above the pagoda roof, a figure silently watched the honored tribune from a distance.
His eyes stared straight at Princess Ying Yue.
Lin Xuan.
He bowed his head slightly, ensuring the small dagger on his wrist was secure.
He was not wearing the mask tonight—just a black robe and the Imperial Shadow jade token hidden inside his clothes.
(Mission: protect the princess without being seen.
If there is an attack, ensure no one knows who the protector is.)
The match was fierce.
Zi Yueyan fought against a student from the Eastern Heaven Sect—her sword danced, luminous cherry blossom petals spun in the air.
The roar of the spectators echoed.
But backstage, something began to move.
Three mysterious people infiltrated through the corridor beneath the stage, carrying a small inverted star symbol—the old emblem of the Thousand Shadows Valley.
Lin Xuan immediately noticed the change.
He leaped down silently, slipping into the narrow corridor.
The three assassins didn't have time to scream.
In three seconds, their bodies fell one by one, and the shadow returned to silence.
However, at the same time—a gleaming arrow shot from a distant tower, aimed directly at the tribune where Princess Ying Yue sat.
Swish!
A sharp sound pierced the air.
But before the arrow reached its target—the sound of metal was heard.
Clang!
The arrow was split in two in the air.
For just a moment, Princess Ying Yue saw a faint figure on the roof—fiery red eyes behind the shadow.
"That shadow..." she whispered softly. But when she blinked, the figure had vanished.
Some time later, Xu Heng received a secret message via a black bird with a jade seal.
Only one sentence was written in it:
"Target secured. Thousand Shadows Valley has started moving again."
Xu Heng stared at the writing for a long time.
Outside the window, snow fell slowly, covering the city of Longyuan which was still shining with festival lanterns.
And elsewhere, Lin Xuan walked alone down a quiet street, resting his sword on his shoulder.
A few days after the Winter Festival ended, Longyuan returned to calm. The lanterns that once lit the night were now just residual candle shadows on the roadside, and above the palace tower, the silver dragon flag fluttered slowly in the winter wind.
But that tranquility was just an illusion. Inside the palace, the wheels of power continued to turn.
Xu Heng walked quickly down the main corridor, the sound of his shoes echoing on the jade floor. In his hand, a red-sealed letter with a dragon emblem—a direct order from Emperor Qin.
"Summon the First Shadow to the palace. This time, not to kill."
At Guangming academy, Lin Xuan had just finished his afternoon nap under the plum tree. When he opened his eyes, a figure in a black robe was already standing in front of him.
"Xu Heng," he said lazily. "You came again. Don't tell me there's a new target."
Xu Heng looked at him flatly. "Not a target. An invitation. From His Majesty."
Lin Xuan looked at him for a moment, smiling faintly. "An invitation from Emperor Qin... or from someone in the palace?"
Xu Heng did not answer. "You will know later."
A few hours later, the large palace gate opened slowly. Lin Xuan walked in wearing the formal attire of Guangming Academy—simple but neat. Without a mask, without dark signs on his body, he looked like an ordinary student. But his steps remained calm like someone who was accustomed to crossing battlefields.
In the main hall, the afternoon sun reflected on the golden walls, penetrating the soft black silk curtains.
And in the middle of the hall stood Princess Ying Yue.
Her black-silver gown was adorned with gold dragon embroidery, with a green jade belt at her waist. Her dark purple hair was tied up high, decorated with small jade flowers. Her gaze was gentle but sharp, like the eye of the moon piercing through the fog.
When she saw Lin Xuan entering the hall, her eyes sparkled slightly—a look that was not just curiosity, but recognition.
"So it is true," she said slowly, her voice soft yet authoritative.
"The person who saved me that night... is you."
Lin Xuan bowed deeply. "Only by chance, Your Highness. I was merely carrying out a duty."
Ying Yue smiled faintly. "The world is so funny. I still remember your face... not from that night, but a few weeks earlier—at the Longyuan night market."
Her eyes looked at Lin Xuan meaningfully.
"You and your friend, the girl with the pink sword... helped me when a thief stole an item I had just bought."
Lin Xuan looked at her in surprise, then smiled softly. "It turns out at that time... Your Highness was disguised as a commoner."
Ying Yue looked down slightly, her eyes glowing softly. "I just wanted to know how the people live without seeing me as a princess. And at that time, somehow I felt strange—as if fate brought us together more than once."
She paused for a moment, then stepped closer slowly, her long gown rustling on the jade floor.
"And it turns out, the person who helped me at the night market... is also the figure who saved me from assassination in the palace garden."
Lin Xuan bowed again, his voice flat yet deep.
"I was only following the Emperor's orders. But... it seems fate enjoys playing jokes."
The princess smiled faintly. "Perhaps. Or maybe the world owes you, Lin Xuan."
A heavy voice was heard from the end of the hall.
Emperor Qin walked in, wearing a black dragon robe with eyes sharp like steel. Every step he took shook the air.
"Lin Xuan," he said. "I have heard everything. First Shadow—you have carried out your duty perfectly."
Lin Xuan knelt. "I merely executed Your Majesty's decree."
Emperor Qin stared at him for a long time, then said in a calm yet deep tone.
"This world stands because of the balance between light and shadow. Now I know... the shadow I protect is not only an assassin, but also a shield."
Lin Xuan remained kneeling without speaking.
The Emperor looked at Xu Heng. "Ensure the First Shadow remains free. Do not restrict his steps, not even by this palace."
Xu Heng bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty."
After the emperor left the room, Princess Ying Yue approached Lin Xuan, who was still standing in the middle of the hall.
"My father is right. The world needs people like you... but I wonder," she said softly, her eyes looking straight at Lin Xuan.
"Can a person like you still live under the light without being burned by it?"
Lin Xuan looked back, calm yet sharp.
"A shadow cannot exist without light, Your Highness. As long as that light is still there, I will not vanish."
Ying Yue smiled faintly—this time with an unexplainable warmth.
"Perhaps... one day, I would like to know what your face looks like when you are no longer hiding in the shadows."
She turned to leave slowly, the black gown adorned with gold dragons swaying gently on the jade floor.
The scent of jade flowers and royal incense lingered in the air.
When Lin Xuan exited the hall, at the palace gate, Zi Yueyan was already waiting to hand over an official letter from Teacher Wei to a palace official on behalf of Guangming Academy.
But her eyes were only focused on one person—Lin Xuan.
She saw him walk out of the palace with Princess Ying Yue behind him, and somehow, her chest felt tight for no reason.
When Lin Xuan approached her, Yueyan looked down slightly, hiding her expression.
"You just met Princess Ying Yue?"
Lin Xuan only replied with a faint smile. "Something like that."
"And?" Yueyan asked again, her eyes glancing briefly but quickly looking away.
Lin Xuan smirked. "And there's nothing for you to worry about. She won't fall in love with me just because I once saved her."
"Who said I was worried?" Yueyan retorted quickly, yet her cheeks flushed slightly.
Lin Xuan chuckled softly. "I know how you deny things, Yueyan."
Yueyan snorted softly, then turned her face away, pretending to be busy clutching the letter scroll in her hand.
But in her heart, those words echoed non-stop.
She turned to leave the palace grounds, her steps quick.
Meanwhile, behind her, Lin Xuan still stood in place, watching her receding back.
"Why do I always like making her angry, huh..." he muttered softly, looking at the slowly dimming evening sky.
The wind blew gently, carrying the scent of plum blossoms from the palace garden.
Between the two of them—one who always hid in the shadows, one who shone under the light—something was beginning to grow.
A feeling that even Lin Xuan himself had not dared to name.