The entire group froze after hearing the bird speak Xu Yang's name. For a moment, the street fell completely silent. Xu Yang stared at the black messenger bird, his expression slowly changing from surprise to disbelief. "It... called your name?" Chen Yu looked at Xu Yang, then back at the bird. "How could it know your name?" His voice dropped as he instinctively moved closer to Xu Yang. Qing Li's hand settled near his weapon, his eyes narrowing. "This is strange. A messenger bird sent by the Demon Palace should have no reason to know who you are." Hei Long looked toward the soldiers, then at the bird again. "Could it have been ordered to find him?" Lin Chen's expression tightened. "But how would they know he was here?" No one answered.
Xu Yang slowly shook his head. "I don't know." His voice was quieter than usual. "I've never seen that bird before."Why does a royal messenger know my name? Xu Yang kept staring at it. I've never met anyone from the Demon Palace. I wasn't even supposed to be part of this world in the first place. I came here by accident. I knew this was a novel, and I thought I understood how the story was supposed to unfold. But the more I stay here, the more things change. His gaze shifted toward the soldiers. If the palace knows my name now, then something has already gone wrong. Or maybe... He stopped himself. Maybe this was never supposed to happen in the story at all.
"Xu Yang!" Chen Yu called quietly. Xu Yang looked at him. Chen Yu lowered his voice. "Are you certain you have never encountered anything from the Demon Palace before?" Xu Yang frowned. "I would remember." Qing Li glanced at him. "Think carefully. A bird like this would not speak a person's name without being taught it." "I know." Xu Yang's eyes remained on the messenger bird. "That's what troubles me."
Yan Luo slowly stepped closer, his gaze never leaving the bird. "It may not have learned your name from you." Xu Yang turned toward him. "Then from whom?" Yan Luo did not answer immediately. His eyes shifted toward the soldiers. "That is what we should find out."Hei Long's expression darkened. "Whatever the reason, we cannot remain here waiting for an explanation." He pointed toward the narrow passage Wei Han had opened. "The formation is already recovering." A faint blue-green light crawled across the stones again. Several thin strands slowly stretched between the old houses, closing the gap little by little.
Before anyone could move, the soldiers began advancing.The leading soldier raised one hand,and the men behind him immediately divided into two groups.Several moved toward the narrow passage, while the others spread across the road and began closing the distance from both sides. Their weapons remained sheathed, but their hands stayed close to the hilts.
The formation around the group tightened with every movement. Xu Yang's expression changed. "They're blocking the passage." Hei Long glanced toward the soldiers. "They noticed it too."Qing Li stepped forward, placing himself slightly between Xu Yang and the nearest soldier. "Stay where you are." The soldier stopped only for a moment. His eyes moved briefly to Qing Li's hand near his weapon. "We have no wish to fight." "Then stop advancing," Qing Li replied.
The soldier's jaw tightened. He did not move back.Instead, he slowly lifted two fingers. Two soldiers immediately broke away from the group and rushed toward the eastern lane. Yan Luo's eyes narrowed. "They're sealing the roads again." One of the soldiers reached the mouth of the lane just as Lin Chen moved toward it. The soldier drew his blade halfway and blocked the way. "Not there." Lin Chen stopped. His eyes moved to the blade, then back to the soldier's face. "You intend to trap us here." The soldier said nothing. Behind him, another soldier moved into position. Lin Chen slowly stepped back. "They've closed the eastern lane," he said. Hei Long looked toward the opposite side of the street. More soldiers were moving there as well. "And the western road."
One of the soldiers had moved closer. Qing Li immediately shifted his stance. The soldier stopped only a few steps away. "Do not make any sudden movements." Qing Li's eyes became colder. "You entered this village with enough men to surround us. Yet you ask us not to move?" The soldier's fingers tightened around his weapon. "We have been ordered to take the Demon Prince." "Then take him," Qing Li said. "Why are your men surrounding everyone else?"
The soldier's eyes flickered toward Xu Yang. That brief glance did not escape Qing Li. Before he could speak,the commander raised his hand. The soldier immediately stepped back.At the same time, three more soldiers moved into position behind him, quietly cutting off another route.One stepped onto the roof of a nearby house, while another moved toward the alley behind the group. Hei Long looked around. "They're closing every direction." Lin Chen's face tightened. "Then the gap Wei Han opened is our only way out." Wei Han looked toward the passage. Another blue-green strand appeared across its entrance. His expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened. "Not for long."
Su Yuan heard him and instinctively looked toward the passage. His breathing became uneven. "We need to leave now." Wei Han nodded.Su Yuan took one step forward. A soldier immediately stepped into his path. Su Yuan stopped.The soldier bowed slightly. "Your Highness." Su Yuan's face went pale. "Move." "I cannot." Su Yuan's fingers tightened at his side. "I said move." The soldier's hand settled on his weapon. "Please do not make this difficult." Wei Han's gaze became cold.He stepped forward.The soldier immediately drew his blade. Several others followed. The sound of steel leaving its sheath spread through the street. Wei Han stopped. "Stay behind me." he said to Su Yuan. Su Yuan looked at him but did not move.
Then a soldier's voice came from the side. "Commander." The commander turned his head. The soldier leaned closer and spoke in a low voice, but several people still heard him. "Is that him?" The commander's expression immediately hardened. "Mind your tongue." The soldier lowered his head. "Yes, Commander." Xu Yang went still. Him?.. His eyes slowly moved toward the commander. The commander was already looking at him.Xu Yang's body stiffened, and he instinctively took a small step back. His eyes darted from the commander to the soldiers around him. Why am I so unlucky? What does this have to do with me?! I was only trying to get out of the village. How did I suddenly become the one they're looking for? Xu Yang swallowed and forced himself to stay calm, but his fingers tightened against his sleeve. He looked toward Su Yuan, then back at the commander. Please don't tell me this has something to do with me...
The soldiers around them had also begun watching him. Their attention was no longer scattered. Several eyes had settled on him, and the men nearest to him had subtly changed their positions. They were surrounding him. Xu Yang took a small step back. Chen Yu immediately moved with him. "Stay behind me." Xu Yang glanced at him. Qing Li's hand tightened around his weapon. "Whatever they intend, they are no longer here only for the Demon Prince." Yan Luo looked toward Su Yuan. Su Yuan's face had gone pale. Wei Han noticed. "You knew."Su Yuan shook his head. "You knew something like this was possible." "I didn't."
Wei Han's gaze remained on him. Su Yuan swallowed. "I swear I didn't know they would come for him." Xu Yang looked sharply at him. "Come for me?" Su Yuan did not answer.Xu Yang's expression darkened. So they really are looking for me.The messenger bird suddenly tilted its head to one side. Xu Yang stared at it. The bird blinked, then tilted its head the other way and kept staring. Xu Yang frowned. "What?" The bird puffed up its feathers and gave a short, irritated squawk. Xu Yang almost laughed. "You're the one who called my name."
The bird turned away as if it had lost interest in him, then suddenly looked toward the soldiers. Its body went still. Xu Yang followed its gaze. One of the soldiers was already moving closer. The bird gave a low sound and tapped its beak against the stone railing. Xu Yang's smile faded. He looked at the bird again. It tapped the stone once more, then looked straight at him. "You want me to move?" he whispered. The bird gave a sharp flap of its wings. Xu Yang barely had time to react before a wave of cold demonic energy swept through the street.
The flames in the nearby lanterns bent sideways and almost went out. Xu Yang's expression changed. "What is that?" Chen Yu looked toward the soldiers. Dark energy was slowly gathering around their bodies, crawling over their armor like smoke.The nearest soldier raised his hand, and black-red energy gathered around his fingers. The stone beneath his feet cracked. Qing Li immediately drew his weapon. "Everyone, get back." A second wave of demonic energy burst through the street. Dust and broken leaves were thrown into the air. Su Yuan staggered and caught himself against the wall. "They've started." Wei Han's eyes narrowed. "They're not holding back anymore."
The commander slowly raised his hand. Every soldier around them drew closer. One soldier stepped behind Xu Yang, cutting off the path he had just taken. Another moved in from his left, while two more advanced from the front. Their demonic energy continued to spread, darkening the ground beneath them. Xu Yang felt the pressure against his chest and took a slow breath. So this is what they were waiting for. A soldier suddenly rushed toward him. Xu Yang lifted his hand instinctively. Golden light flashed beneath his feet. A thin formation appeared across the stone road, its lines spreading outward in a perfect circle. The soldier's blade struck the golden barrier with a violent crack. The impact sent sparks across the street, but the barrier held. Xu Yang stared at the formation for a moment. "It worked." The soldier's eyes widened. Dark demonic energy immediately poured into his blade. The golden formation began to tremble. Cracks of light appeared across its surface. Xu Yang's expression tightened. "Not for long."
He stepped back and moved his fingers through the air and more golden lines appeared beneath the soldiers, spreading between the cracks in the old stone road. The formation suddenly flared and powerful golden force burst upward, throwing two soldiers several steps back. Their demonic energy exploded outward like black smoke. One soldier crashed against an old wall hard enough to shake loose dust from the roof.
Another landed on one knee and pushed himself up.Xu Yang owered his hand slightly. The golden lines around him flickered.This is taking more power than I expected...Before he could recover, a dark shadow rushed through the golden light. Xu Yang turned sharply. A soldier had forced his way through the formation, his hand covered in black-red demonic energy. He reached for Xu Yang's shoulder. Chen Yu moved first and struck his arm away. Qing Li followed with a slash that forced the soldier back. "Don't let them get close to him." Qing Li said.
The commander watched the chaos without changing his expression.Then he slowly lowered his raised hand. The soldiers immediately changed formation. Instead of attacking from one direction, they began moving around the group, cutting off every opening. Dark demonic energy spread across the ground like creeping flames.The golden formation beneath Xu Yang's feet flickered again.He looked down, then toward the soldiers surrounding them. "They're breaking my formation from the outside."
Wei Han stepped beside him and silver light began gathering around his ring. "Then we break theirs first." A deep rumble suddenly passed through the street. The blue-green sealing strands above the old houses pulsed at the same time as the soldiers' demonic energy. The entire village seemed to tighten around them. Xu Yang looked up. The messenger bird had already flown to the roof. It was watching the soldiers from above. For once, it wasn't making a sound. Xu Yang swallowed. "I think that bird was trying to warn me." Another soldier charged.
Wei Han raised his hand, and silver light collided with black demonic energy in the middle of the street. The explosion shook the old houses. Xu Yang immediately strengthened the golden formation, and a wall of golden light rose between the group and the advancing soldiers. The soldiers closest to the barrier were forced back, but the dark energy around them quickly gathered again.
Black-red wisps crawled over the ground and struck against the golden wall, making the entire formation tremble. Xu Yang gritted his teeth and held his hand steady. "It's not going to hold for long." A crack appeared across the golden barrier. Then another. Through the gaps, he could see the soldiers already preparing to attack again.One of them suddenly raised his weapon and slammed it into the barrier and violent shock ran through the formation.
Xu Yang staggered half a step. "Now!" Wei Han shouted. "Don't wait for it to break."
The golden wall suddenly split open at the center. The soldiers immediately surged forward through the opening.The soldier lunged. Chen Yu knocked the blade aside. Qing Li intercepted another attack, his weapon striking against steel with a sharp clang. Yan Luo moved through the opening between them and forced a third soldier back. "Go!" he shouted.Hei Long grabbed Lin Chen and pulled him toward the narrow passage. "We have to move!" Wei Han raised his hand, and the dark ring on his finger began to glow with silver light.
A soldier rushed toward him.Wei Han turned his wrist, and the silver pulse struck the ground. The soldier was thrown backward. "Now!" Su Yuan moved toward the passage. Xu Yang followed.Chen Yu stayed close behind him. But before Xu Yang could cross completely, a soldier lunged from behind and grabbed the back of his clothing. Xu Yang was pulled backward. "Xu Yang!" He twisted around. The soldier tightened his grip. Xu Yang's eyes widened. Before the soldier could drag him away, Qing Li struck the man's wrist with the flat of his blade. The soldier released him. Xu Yang stumbled forward, and Chen Yu caught him. "Are you hurt?" Xu Yang shook his head. "No."
Behind them, more soldiers were already rushing toward the passage. Wei Han turned around. His expression became cold. Silver light gathered around his ring. "We have one chance."Hei Long looked at the approaching soldiers. "Then what are you waiting for?!" Wei Han released the silver pulse. The blue-green formation exploded outward in a wave of light. The soldiers were forced back. The group rushed through the opening."Move!" Hei Long shouted. "Don't stop until we're clear." Lin Chen hurried after him, glancing back only once.
The broken formation was beginning to recover, and the soldiers were forcing their way through the fading light. Qing Li slowed and turned around. Wind gathered around his fingers, lifting the dust from the stones. Yan Luo stopped a few steps behind him, flames quietly forming in his palm. Neither spoke. The others continued ahead while the two remained at the rear.A soldier broke through the fading light and rushed toward them.Qing Li swept his hand forward. The wind caught the man's movement and twisted him off balance.
Before he could recover, Yan Luo's fire swept across the ground in front of him, forcing him to retreat. Another soldier came through the smoke. Qing Li stepped aside, leaving an opening. Yan Luo's flame passed through it without touching him and struck the ground behind the soldier, cutting off his retreat. The man froze between them. Qing Li glanced at Yan Luo. Yan Luo gave the smallest nod. Qing Li raised his hand, and a sudden gust sent the soldier stumbling backward into the others.
More soldiers appeared. Yan Luo's flames rose higher, filling the narrow passage with flickering light.Qing Li used the wind to drive the smoke toward them, making it difficult for the soldiers to see. One soldier pushed through anyway and swung at Qing Li. Qing Li turned, but the blade was already close. A thin wall of fire appeared between them. The weapon stopped against it. Qing Li's eyes flicked toward Yan Luo for only a moment. Yan Luo had already turned his attention to another soldier. Qing Li took the opening and sent the attacker backward with a burst of wind.
The next attack came from behind Yan Luo. Qing Li noticed that and moved without calling out, sweeping the air sideways. The sudden gust knocked the soldier's blade away from Yan Luo's back. Yan Luo turned, saw the disarmed weapon falling to the ground, and immediately sent a small burst of fire beneath the soldier's feet. The man jumped back. Yan Luo looked briefly at Qing Li. Qing Li had already turned toward the rest of the soldiers.
They moved together again. Qing Li's wind cleared a path through the smoke while Yan Luo's fire lit it just long enough for them to see the soldiers' movements. When one tried to push through, the wind forced him sideways. When another followed, the flames closed the gap. Neither needed to speak. Their attacks came one after another, leaving no space between them.
Then a heavy strike shattered part of the wall beside Qing Li. He stepped back as pieces of stone fell around him. Yan Luo immediately reached out, caught the back of Qing Li's robe, and pulled him away from the falling debris. Qing Li regained his balance and looked at him. For a moment, neither moved. Their eyes met through the drifting dust. Yan Luo's hand was still holding the back of Qing Li's robe. Qing Li glanced at his hand, then looked back at him. "You can let go." Yan Luo released him. "Be careful." Qing Li gave him a small look. "You too." Another burst of demonic energy struck the ground nearby. Yan Luo turned toward the others. "They're getting ahead." Qing Li looked at the passage. "Let's go." Yan Luo nodded and moved forward. Qing Li followed close behind.
Hei Long was already several steps ahead when he looked back and saw them catching up.He slowed down and frowned. "What took you two so long?" Qing Li glanced at him. "A wall fell." Hei Long looked past them at the broken stones and then at Yan Luo. "And you stopped to admire it?" Yan Luo walked past him without answering. Qing Li followed, a faint smile appearing on his face. Hei Long shook his head and hurried after them. "Forget it. Just keep moving. They're still behind us." The group continued through the narrow passage. The sounds of the soldiers had become fainter, but they had not disappeared. Every now and then, another heavy impact echoed through the old streets and dust drifted down from the roofs,and the ground trembled.
Wei Han stayed near the front, watching the opening ahead.Hei Long kept checking behind them.Lin Chen moved beside Chen Yu, helping him over broken stones whenever the road became difficult. Su Yuan remained close to Xu Yang, his face still tense from everything that had happened. Xu Yang barely noticed any of it. His mind kept returning to the black messenger bird.
He slowly tilted his head and looked toward the trees beside the path, then stretched his neck slightly and glanced between the branches. Still nothing.
Why did it call my name? And why did it warn me? Xu Yang frowned. Maybe it was only watching the soldiers. But then why look at me? He rubbed his forehead and sighed quietly. I really don't understand what is going on. First Su Yuan, then the soldiers, and now some strange bird knows my name. I was supposed to stay out of trouble. Somehow trouble keeps finding me anyway. He looked up at the trees once more. Xu Yang lowered his head and continued walking, though his eyes kept drifting back toward the trees.
"Xu Yang." He didn't react. "Xu Yang." The voice came from somewhere beside him, but it barely reached his thoughts. He kept walking. "Xu Yang." Lin Chen stepped in front of him and stopped. Xu Yang nearly walked into him. He blinked and looked up. Lin Chen frowned. "I've called you three times." Xu Yang looked around, suddenly aware that everyone had moved several steps ahead. "Sorry. I didn't hear you." Chen Yu came closer, his expression concerned. "What happened?" Xu Yang hesitated. Chen Yu studied his face. "Are you still thinking about the bird?" Xu Yang nodded. "Yes." Lin Chen glanced back toward the street they had left behind. Xu Yang lowered his voice. "I don't think it was there to hurt me."
Chen Yu looked at him."Then why was it there?" Xu Yang shook his head. "I don't know. But I think it was trying to warn me." Lin Chen's expression changed slightly. "Warn you about the soldiers?" "Maybe." Xu Yang looked toward the passage behind them. "It kept looking at them before it told me to move.It knew one of them was coming." Chen Yu thought for a moment. "Then maybe it was sent to watch them." Xu Yang frowned. "If that's true, why would it say my name?" Neither Lin Chen nor Chen Yu answered.
Hei Long called from ahead, "Stop talking and move!" Lin Chen turned. "We're coming." He looked back at Xu Yang. "Think about it later. We need to get out first." Xu Yang nodded, but his eyes remained troubled. "Right." Chen Yu lightly touched his shoulder as they started walking again. "We'll figure it out." Xu Yang looked at him. "You really think so?" Chen Yu gave a small nod. "We have enough strange things following us already. One more won't make much difference." Xu Yang almost laughed despite himself.
Chen Yu continued walking. Xu Yang followed, still thinking about the bird. The passage finally began to widen. The old houses became fewer, and the walls on both sides gave way to open ground. Ahead, the trees beyond the village were visible through the thinning mist. Wei Han stopped near the edge and looked back. The blue-green light that had been broken earlier was beginning to gather again between the old houses. Thin strands of light stretched across the road, one after another. "We're out." Wei Han said. Everyone hurried toward the edge. Su Yuan stepped into the open ground and stopped for a moment.He looked back at the village, his breathing still uneven.Chen Yu came to his side. "Come on." Su Yuan nodded and followed him. Xu Yang crossed the boundary last, turning his head once toward the old streets.
The instant he stepped beyond the village, the blue-green formation closed behind them. Light rushed across the road and connected the broken strands. The narrow gap disappeared completely. The formation became a solid wall of blue-green light, cutting off the village once again.Hei Long let out a breath. "Looks like we made it." Lin Chen looked back at the sealed village. "They won't get through that easily." Qing Li watched the glowing formation for a moment. "It won't hold forever." Yan Luo stood beside him, his eyes fixed on the distant streets. "Then we shouldn't stay here." Wei Han nodded. "Let's go."Su Yuan finally relaxed his shoulders a little. He looked at the others, as if he still couldn't believe they had actually escaped. "Thank you." Hei Long waved a hand. "Save it until we're somewhere safer." Su Yuan gave a small smile.They followed the forest path. The village slowly disappeared behind them.
Xu Yang stayed near the back, still unable to shake the feeling that something was watching him. Then he heard it short, rough call came from somewhere above the trees. Xu Yang stopped. His expression changed. The others took a few more steps before noticing that he was no longer with them. Lin Chen turned first. "Xu Yang?"Xu Yang didn't answer. His eyes slowly moved upward. Far above them, on a distant branch between the dark leaves, sat the black messenger bird. It had followed them.
Xu Yang's breathing became still.Chen Yu noticed the bird a moment later and frowned. "That's the same one." Hei Long turned around. Qing Li and Yan Luo also looked up.Wei Han's hand moved slightly toward the ring on his finger. The bird remained completely still. Xu Yang took one slow step forward. "Why are you following me?" The bird tilted its head. For a moment, nothing happened. Then it opened its beak. Its voice carried strangely through the trees, quiet but clear enough for everyone to hear. "You're the one they're after." The bird spread its wings. Before anyone could react, it flew into the darkness between the trees and disappeared.