Night had grown quiet.
Only the soft crackling of firewood and the distant murmur of the forest stream remained.
Lin Shuan sat beside the flames unmoving, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes fixed on the unconscious girl sleeping beneath his folded cloak.
Moonlight filtered through branches overhead.
Silver light fell across her face.
For a long while—
he simply watched.
Her breathing had steadied.
Her expression, once twisted with terror, now seemed strangely peaceful.
And without realizing it—
a name escaped his lips.
"...Lin Yun."
Barely a whisper.
Yet hearing himself say it made his chest tighten.
Because she was not Lin Yun.
He knew that.
And yet…
when she had cried—
Save me… brother…
for one brief shattered instant,
time had gone backward.
He had become that powerless boy again.
And perhaps because of that—
he could not leave her behind.
Would not.
Across from him, the fire crackled.
Inside the golden pendant, Tian Wuchen remained silent.
Even he said nothing.
As if some memories required no interruption.
Dawn
Morning sunlight slipped through the leaves in pale gold.
Birdsong stirred the forest.
Mist hovered over the stream.
Lin Shuan had not slept much.
He remained seated where he had kept watch all night.
Then—
the girl moved.
Her eyelashes trembled.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
At the same moment Longshe, sensing movement, gave a tiny hiss and slipped quietly into Lin Shuan's sleeve.
Only his golden eyes remained hidden there.
Zi Xianyi blinked in confusion.
The fire's embers glowed.
The unfamiliar forest.
The stranger sitting before her.
Then memory rushed back.
She jerked upright.
Immediately dizzy.
Lin Shuan instinctively reached out.
"Careful."
She froze.
Her eyes met his.
And found him… staring.
Not threatening.
Just…
lost.
As if looking through her.
That made her suddenly awkward.
She lowered her gaze.
"…Were you watching me sleep?"
Lin Shuan snapped back from thought.
Almost embarrassed.
"A little."
She stared.
Then looked even more uncomfortable.
He coughed lightly.
"That sounded worse than intended."
For the first time—
she almost smiled.
Almost.
Lin Shuan was about to say—
"My name is Lin Shuan—"
But suddenly Tian Wuchen's voice echoed in his mind.
"Not everyone should know your true identity."
"Use caution."
Lin Shuan paused.
Then smoothly changed course.
"My name is…"
small pause.
"Shuan Hao."
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen sounded mildly pleased.
"Better."
Zi Xianyi repeated softly,
"Shuan Hao…"
as if testing it.
Then she bowed slightly.
"…Thank you for saving me."
Lin Shuan studied her.
Purple robes damaged.
Sleeves torn.
Small cuts along her arms.
Too delicate for a fugitive.
Something was wrong.
He asked quietly,
"Who are you?"
She hesitated.
Then answered.
"My name is Zi Xianyi."
A breeze stirred.
Her face dimmed.
Lin Shuan noticed.
"There's more."
She lowered her eyes.
For a long moment—
said nothing.
Then finally—
began.
Zi Xianyi's Story
"I came from Starlight City."
Her voice was soft.
Almost ashamed.
"I went to a merchant company there… to buy medicinal herbs."
She looked down at her hands.
"I only had a few gold coins."
"Not enough."
Lin Shuan listened silently.
She continued.
"Then… a man approached."
"He looked wealthy."
"He gave me two hundred gold coins."
Lin Shuan frowned.
"Just like that?"
She nodded.
"He said…"
Pay me back whenever you can.
"No conditions."
"No demands."
"I thought…"
maybe kindness still existed.
Her fingers trembled.
"But…"
Her expression changed.
Disgust.
Fear.
"His eyes…"
"…were filthy."
She whispered it.
As if the memory itself dirtied the air.
Lin Shuan's eyes narrowed.
She continued.
"Later his men came."
"They said the gold had a price."
Silence.
Then almost inaudibly—
"They wanted me…"
"…to spend a night with him."
Lin Shuan's aura chilled.
Frost lightly gathered on nearby grass.
She noticed.
But continued.
"I refused."
"They laughed."
"They tried to force me."
Her breathing became uneven.
"So I ran."
"Even if I had to die…"
"…I would rather die than let them take me."
Silence.
Only wind.
Lin Shuan said nothing for a while.
Then—
very quietly—
"You did right."
She looked up.
Surprised.
As if she had expected pity.
Not certainty.
Then she looked at him again—
this strange youth who had killed seven cultivators like wind slicing leaves.
And another thought surfaced.
She asked carefully—
"Are you…"
"…training for the Empire Warriors Tournament?"
Lin Shuan smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Her eyes widened.
So she had guessed right.
That impossible speed.
That terrifying frost halberd.
No ordinary wandering cultivator.
She leaned slightly forward.
"Then you must return soon."
"Only five days remain before the tournament."
Lin Shuan blinked.
"Five days?"
He had lost sense of time.
Inside the pendant Tian Wuchen muttered:
"You were busy nearly dying."
Lin Shuan ignored him.
Five days.
His pulse quickened.
The tournament.
Da Cang Empire.
The promise.
He rose immediately.
"Then we leave today."
Zi Xianyi looked startled.
"With me?"
Lin Shuan simply said—
"You're coming."
She stared.
No hesitation.
No question.
As if obvious.
For some reason—
that made her chest warm.
She nodded softly.
"…Thank you."
Longshe peeked from sleeve and hissed suspiciously.
Lin Shuan muttered,
"Behave."
Journey Toward the Empire
They traveled through the forest together.
At first awkwardly.
Then easier.
Zi Xianyi soon discovered Shuan Hao—
or whatever his real name was—
was not cold as he first appeared.
Only quiet.
Sometimes unexpectedly dry.
Sometimes unintentionally funny.
And sometimes—
lost in thought.
They crossed rivers.
Mountain paths.
Ancient cedar groves.
She often watched him cultivate during rest.
Luo essence spiraling around him like silver mist.
She whispered once—
"…Monster."
He opened one eye.
"I heard that."
She smiled.
First real smile.
Later—
while walking—
she asked,
"How strong are you really?"
Lin Shuan thought.
Then answered honestly.
"I'm still too weak."
Inside the pendant Tian Wuchen scoffed.
"Arrogant lies disguised as humility."
Lin Shuan nearly sighed aloud.
Zi Xianyi laughed.
"You sound like an old man."
If only she knew.
At the Forest Border
By sunset of the second day—
they reached the edge of Eastern Forest.
Ahead—
massive defensive walls.
Watchtowers.
Imperial banners.
Border soldiers.
Civilization.
Zi Xianyi almost sighed in relief.
"We made it…"
As they approached—
several soldiers stiffened.
Hands went to weapons.
Then one older guard stared hard at Lin Shuan.
His expression changed.
Shock.
Impossible recognition.
He stepped forward.
Pointed.
"You—"
His voice nearly cracked.
"It's… you?"
Lin Shuan stopped.
Frowned.
The guard stared at his clothes.
Then—
his forehead mark.
Recognition exploded.
"No…"
"It can't be…"
Other soldiers looked confused.
The guard almost shouted:
"That boy…"
"The one who entered Eastern Ancient Forest a year ago—"
His eyes widened further as he sensed Lin Shuan's aura.
"And…"
"And now…"
"Energy Core Rank?!"
Disbelief.
Pure disbelief.
Nearby guards erupted.
"What?!"
"The death forest survivor?"
"He was only Luo Initiate then!"
"Nine-Star Luo Initiate!"
Someone whispered—
"How did he survive a year?"
Another murmured,
"…What kind of monster…"
Lin Shuan looked mildly uncomfortable.
Zi Xianyi stared.
She had known he was strong.
But this reaction—
this awe—
said more.
The older soldier stepped closer.
Still stunned.
"I thought you died in that cursed forest…"
Lin Shuan smiled slightly.
"Almost."
The soldier laughed nervously.
Then saluted.
Unexpectedly.
"With such strength…"
"Perhaps the empire will remember your name."
Lin Shuan said nothing.
But something stirred in him.
Once—
he entered these woods as someone insignificant.
Now—
even soldiers reacted in shock.
Growth felt real.
They passed through the gates.
And entered Starlight City.
Starlight City
Evening lights glittered.
Lanterns burned crimson.
Markets buzzed.
Street vendors shouted.
Spice and roasted meat filled the air.
After wilderness—
it felt overwhelming.
Alive.
Zi Xianyi smiled for first time freely.
"Home…"
Lin Shuan looked around.
Crowds.
Cultivators.
Merchants.
Carriages.
Empire life.
A different battlefield.
Longshe peeked from his sleeve wide-eyed.
Apparently fascinated.
Lin Shuan muttered,
"Don't eat anyone."
Longshe looked offended.
Zi Xianyi laughed.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
He led them through busy streets.
Finally stopping at a refined inn.
A high-class hotel near the central district.
Golden lanterns swayed outside.
Zi Xianyi blinked.
"This place is expensive…"
Lin Shuan casually took out beast crystal fragments and gold.
The innkeeper's eyes nearly shone.
Rooms arranged immediately.
As they entered—
Zi Xianyi looked around in amazement.
Silk curtains.
Carved wood screens.
Warm incense.
Soft beds.
After fleeing through forests—
it felt unreal.
She turned.
"You're spending this much on me?"
Lin Shuan shrugged.
"You nearly died."
"That deserves proper sleep."
She looked at him.
Speechless.
For some reason—
her heart beat strangely.
Lin Shuan, oblivious, walked toward window.
Looking out over city lights.
Quiet.
Thinking of the tournament.
Thinking of old friends.
Thinking—
something was coming.
Behind him Zi Xianyi watched.
This mysterious "Shuan Hao."
Strong enough to terrify killers.
Gentle enough to carry a stranger to safety.
Who was he?
And why did he seem burdened by memories older than his years?
Inside his sleeve Longshe peeked at her suspiciously.
Still unconvinced.
Inside the pendant Tian Wuchen murmured,
"This girl will complicate your life."
Lin Shuan answered inwardly—
"When has it ever been simple?"
"…Fair."
He almost smiled.
Outside—
Starlight City glowed beneath moonlight.
And somewhere in those same streets—
shadows were already moving.
Because Yin Jing had not forgotten.
Nor had the one who sent him.
But for tonight—
there was warmth.
Rest.
And a strange fragile peace.
Before the storm.
To be continued…