Night fell too easily.
Like the palace was waiting for it.
Li Xuan Makes His Move
The southern district was quiet.
Too quiet.
Lanterns flickered in uneven lines, casting long shadows across empty streets.
Perfect.
Li Xuan walked alone.
No guards.
No disguise.
No attempt to hide.
The Bait
"If you're watching," he said calmly into the silence,"this is your chance."
No response.
But he knew.
They were there.
And Then—
A shift.
A presence.
Subtle—
but wrong.
The First Strike
A blade cut through the air.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
Li Xuan moved before it reached him—
his body turning just enough—
the blade grazing fabric instead of flesh.
More Shadows Appear
Not one.
Not two.
Five.
All masked.
All silent.
All trained.
Confirmation
So it wasn't random.
Good.
The Fight Begins
Li Xuan didn't draw attention.
Didn't shout.
Didn't hesitate.
His movements were smooth—
controlled—
lethal.
One step.
One strike.
One body down.
But Something Feels Off
They weren't trying to win.
They were testing him.
Watching him.
A Second Layer of the Trap
Another figure appeared above.
On the rooftop.
Still.
Observing.
Not attacking.
Li Xuan Notices
Of course he does.
His eyes flicked upward for just a second.
And that was enough.
The Real Threat
The one above—
was the one that mattered.
A Flicker of White
Before he could react—
another shadow moved.
Faster.
Cleaner.
More precise.
Shen Lian
White silk.
Silver bells—
soft.
Barely there.
He Enters the Fight
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
Just—
there.
And suddenly—
everything shifts.
They Move Together Again
Unspoken.
Unplanned.
Perfect.
Li Xuan steps forward—
Shen Lian cuts behind—
two movements—
one result.
Another body falls.
But Then—
A blade comes too close.
Too fast.
Too precise.
And Time Slows
For a second—
Shen Lian sees it.
Too familiar.
Too close.
Flash
A different courtyard.
Smaller.
Colder.
Blood staining the ground.
A figure kneeling.
Breathing uneven.
"Don't hesitate."
A blade falls.
Clean.
Merciless.
And the voice—
that always stayed with him—
"Stay alive…"
Back to the Present
Shen Lian freezes.
Just for a second.
Too long.
Li Xuan Reacts Instantly
He steps in—
blocking the strike—
his dagger catching the blade mid-air.
"Focus," he says sharply.
Reality Returns
Shen Lian moves again.
Faster.
Harder.
More precise.
This time—
he doesn't hesitate.
The Fight Ends
Quick.
Clean.
Final.
Bodies on the ground.
Silence returns.
But the Rooftop—
Empty.
The observer—
gone.
The Realization
"They were watching," Li Xuan said.
"Yes."
"Not just testing me."
A pause.
"Testing us."
Too Close Again
They stood there—
closer than necessary.
Breathing uneven.
Adrenaline still high.
Li Xuan Notices Something
"You hesitated."
Shen Lian went still.
"It didn't matter."
"It did."
The First Crack Appears
For a moment—
Shen Lian said nothing.
Then—
quietly—
"I won't do it again."
Li Xuan Doesn't Let It Go
"Why did you hesitate?"
Silence.
A Line He Doesn't Cross (Yet)
Shen Lian turned away.
"You ask too many questions."
"And you avoid too many answers."
End Scene
The wind moved through the empty street.
The lanterns flickered.
And for the first time—
Li Xuan looked at him not just with curiosity—
but with intent.
With focus.
With something deeper.
"You're hiding something," he said quietly.
Shen Lian didn't respond.
But his grip on the fan tightened.