The next morning dawned with a pale mist clinging to the fields.
Li Haoran hurriedly crossed dew-laden grass, his heart pounding as he searched for someone amidst the quiet hush of dawn.
The air was cool and filled with the distant chorus of waking birds.
As he reached the heart of the courtyard—where stone lanterns cast long, slanted shadows—he spotted Su Mei and Hou Yan standing together, their robes fluttering gently in the morning breeze.
He approached them, his voice tinged with urgency as he asked if they had seen Yue Chan—the person he sought above all others.
Both Su Mei and Hou Yan exchanged concerned glances before shaking their heads, their expressions apologetic.
Even the two most promising disciples had no idea where Yue Chan had gone.
The confusion had begun earlier that morning, when Li Haoran awoke inside the Resting Place—specifically, the Lady Quarters where he and Yue Chan had spent the night together.
Memories of Yue Chan's nightmare clung to him, recalling how he had stayed by her side, refusing to leave the room while she trembled in her sleep.
When he finally stirred awake, the main bed chamber where Yue Chan had been resting was empty.
He himself had spent the night in a vacant lounge just beyond the chamber, thinking he would be close enough if she needed him.
Yet, to his shock, Yue Chan had vanished without a sound or any trace left behind.
The realization sent a chill down his spine.
Panic surged through Li Haoran as he rushed from the quarters, his mind racing with possibilities.
He questioned everyone he encountered, disturbing disciples and even a few elders with his anxious inquiries.
Now, standing before Su Mei and Hou Yan, he had hoped desperately for an answer—only to be met with silence and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, at the main pavilion, Elder Yun poured himself a cup of tea, his gaze calm as he watched the junior disciples practice martial arts in the courtyard below.
Sensing a disturbance, he lifted his eyes, noticing Li Haoran's restless presence even from a distance.
Elder Yun's lips curved in amusement as he considered how Li Haoran had once again been outsmarted by his most formidable disciple.
Nothing ever seemed to change.
From afar, Li Haoran looked like a lost kitten searching for its mother.
Elder Yun let out a soft chuckle, gently blowing on his freshly brewed tea before pressing it to his lips, savoring the warmth and fragrance.
As expected, it wasn't long before Li Haoran approached him, anxiety etched across his features.
Sweat beaded at his temple and his breath came in quick, shallow bursts, betraying his restless state.
"Elder Yun." Li Haoran's voice was tight with worry.
Elder Yun Ji heard his greeting and lifted his head slowly, offering a calm, reassuring tone.
"Is it a tiring morning, Haoran? Why are you sweating so much?"
"I have no intention of bothering you. I just want to ask something."
"I knew it. But my response... I don't know either."
Li Haoran lowered his head in silence, a storm of thoughts swirling behind his downcast eyes.
Elder Yun Ji released a deep sigh and settled his teacup atop the small table, gathering his thoughts before responding.
"Haoran, your master is much like a fox—quiet, cunning, but always upright. If she left without a word, it's certain she's unraveling something on her own. Trust her instincts; she will return when the time is right."
Li Haoran stepped forward, shoulders hunched in concern.
"You're not even worried about her? She had another nightmare last night. I think that must be why she left so suddenly. I didn't leave the quarters at all—I stayed and accompanied her the whole night because I was worried about her state."
Elder Yun Ji paused, a quiet smirk playing at his lips.
"Haoran, may I ask you something as well?"
"Ask me anything, Elder," Li Haoran replied, trying to steady his voice.
Elder Yun lifted his head, a teasing smile on his face.
"As a disciple, it's only natural to worry about your master. But you… you care for her even more than I imagined. Yue Chan is my disciple too—more than that, she's like a daughter to me. I raised her, taught her everything, and worried over her countless times. But if I compare my actions to yours, I'd say you haven't acted much like a disciple at all. In my eyes, your feelings have already gone far beyond that."
Li Haoran stood stunned, his mouth opening slightly as if to speak, but no words came.
Silence clung to him, the weight of realization holding him captive.
Noticing Li Haoran's uneasy demeanor, Elder Yun Ji suddenly let out a hearty chuckle.
"Did I hit the mark, Haoran? A man's heart is hard to hide. You may not say it, but deep inside—" He paused, jabbing a finger at Li Haoran's chest. "It's rooted so deeply, it's almost impossible to pull it out."
"Elder Yun, that's impossible!" Li Haoran protested, his cheeks flushing.
"Impossible?" Elder Yun's eyes twinkled. "I know you, Haoran—better than anyone."
Li Haoran turned speechless.
"You never change," Elder Yun Ji added, his voice light with teasing affection.
Something about Elder Yun Ji's words made Li Haoran pause.
Five years had gone by since he first opened his eyes to this world, yet he'd only met Elder Yun Ji this year.
How could the elder claim to know him better than anyone, or so confidently say he'd never changed?
A strange suspicion flickered in Li Haoran's mind.
Could it be that Elder Yun's instincts—and perhaps Yue Chan's as well—were connecting the dots, hinting at a deeper conspiracy involving his own master, Elder Qing Yun?
What does he know?
"Yue Chan," Elder Yun Ji finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "She left before the rooster crowed. That child is extraordinarily vigilant—even her martial sisters, Su Mei and Hou Yan, cannot anticipate her movements. Seeing your state right now, Haoran, what do you make of it?"
"So, you know where she is?" Li Haoran pressed, hope flickering in his eyes.
"I don't know," Elder Yun replied, his tone softening. "I only caught a glimpse of her in the shadows, half her face revealed. She paused for a moment when she noticed me watching—that was her way of making excuses. As I've told you, she rarely speaks, but through her actions, I understand her completely. I know her true nature."
"So, she really left me like that," Li Haoran murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
Elder Yun Ji watched with clear amusement as Li Haoran's expression dimmed, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"A disciple wouldn't act like that, you know."
Li Haoran snapped to attention at his words, quickly forcing himself to regain composure.
"You're in love."
"That's not true... I mean, why would you think something more than what we expect? Elder Yun, Yue Chan is my master. She's not the type to be swayed by inscrutable emotions. The reason I admire her is because of her character. She might look intimidating with her mask and her demeanor, but... she's different beneath it." Li Haoran explained, lowering his head to hide his sheepish expression.
As Li Haoran spoke, Elder Yun Ji narrowed his eyes, subtly studying the younger man's face for any sign of deeper emotion.
When he caught a glimpse of Li Haoran's true feelings, he simply pretended not to notice, a knowing smile flickering at the corners of his mouth.
"That's true—it's impossible to say you could never fall in love."
Li Haoran managed a tentative smile, thinking Elder Yun Ji was agreeing with him—only for his smile to falter at the elder's next words.
This old man could not be so easily fooled.
Falling silent, Li Haoran pressed his lips together, unsure how to respond.
"You, young man, are still pretending. We're both men here, and as your master's master, you should be honest with me. What's wrong with admitting your feelings? Yue Chan is of age now—falling in love is her own choice. Wait a moment!"
Elder Yun Ji slowly stood up, leaning closer to Li Haoran with a piercing gaze.
"You said she's different beneath her mask. You've seen her face!"
Li Haoran didn't talk back, but simply replied with a tentative nod, unable to meet Elder Yun Ji's gaze.
"I knew it!" Elder Yun Ji exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with triumph. "Did you... kiss her?"
A thrill of nervousness shot through Li Haoran.
He wasn't sure if he could answer, but remembering Elder Yun Ji's insistence on honesty, he nodded again—even without words, his answer was clear.
The old man grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief, and—as expected—pressed him further.
"What was her reaction after you..."
Elder Yun Ji paused, pursing his lips in an exaggerated pout, leaving the question hanging in the air, half-censored.
"No—nothing."
"She didn't get mad?"
Li Haoran shook his head.
At that, Elder Yun Ji curled his index finger inward, using a beckoning gesture to signal Li Haoran to lean in closer.
In a conspiratorial whisper, he said, "With that, I will invite your master Qing Yun for a private talk."
Li Haoran stiffened, eyes widening as he stepped closer and lowered his voice, urgency trembling in his words.
"You shouldn't! I promised Yue Chan I wouldn't tell anyone. Elder Yun, if you do this, Master Yue will punish me—she'll definitely be angry and hate me."
Elder Yun Ji's lips curled into a sly smile as he leaned in, lowering his voice to a hush.
"Oh! Then, let's keep it between us."
Relief flooded Li Haoran's face and he bowed his head in gratitude.
"Thank you!"
Elder Yun Ji gestured to the bench beside him, patting the spot invitingly.
"Just stay here and keep me company. Don't worry—Chan'er is a clever woman; she won't be harmed by anyone. She'll be back soon."
A weary sigh slipped from Li Haoran's lips as he finally relaxed.
Resigned but reassured, he eased himself onto the bench beside Elder Yun Ji, the two men sitting together in companionable silence as the morning light filtered through the courtyard.
*****
–BLOOD SHADOW SECT – Underground Jail–
Gong Xie, once a formidable prodigy among the Blood Shadow Sect, stared in disbelief at the figure before him.
His breath caught; he blinked several times, half-expecting the vision to dissolve into mist.
But when he looked again, nothing had changed.
Yue Chan was truly standing inside his underground cell, her presence as real as the cold stone walls around him.
"Are you... real?" Gong Xie managed, his voice rough with shock.
Yue Chan stepped closer, her movements calm and deliberate, and knelt before him so their eyes met.
"Yes," she answered softly.
"Why are you here? This is the underground jail. You shouldn't have come," he said, confusion flickering in his eyes.
Yue Chan tilted her head, her gaze sharp behind the mask.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that? Why are you here, Gong Xie? What did they lock you up for?"
"It has nothing to do with you... Besides, how did you even get inside?" he countered, glancing around as if the shadows themselves might reveal her secret.
A faint, knowing smirk played beneath Yue Chan's mask.
She rose to her feet, refusing to answer, her silence sharper than words.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot—you're the god-tier, the unfathomable one," Gong Xie muttered, a trace of bitter humor in his voice.
At his words, Yue Chan turned back, the cold sharpness in her gaze unmistakable even with the mask concealing her features.
"Who told you that? Nonsense," she snapped, her tone icy.
Gong Xie's lips curled into a faint, pained smile as he watched her.
"You shouldn't admit it so easily. That's how you shattered my core, remember?"
"I came to ask you something important. Will you answer me honestly?"
Gong Xie tilted his head, brow furrowing in curiosity.
Yue Chan lowered herself again, leaning in so her words could not be overheard by any prying ears.
"I dreamed of you last night. It felt so vivid, as if we truly knew each other in that way. Why do you think that is?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Gong Xie replied, his brows knitting tighter.
"Li Haoran. Do you know him?"
"Li Haoran?" Gong Xie echoed, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Supreme Warrior, you came here to interrogate me, but I don't know why you're asking about this person. I don't know who he is."
Yue Chan nodded in silence, her eyes never leaving his face as she searched for any sign of deceit.
"Gong Xie, I'm serious. Let me explain first," she said, her tone turning earnest.
"Alright, I'm listening," Gong Xie replied, settling back against the wall, resigned.
"Li Haoran is my only disciple. I believe the two of you are about the same age."
"Your disciple? So after our clash in the tournament, you were enlightened enough to become a master? Oh, Yue Chan, Lord of all warriors in the realm—you really are something else," he said, shaking his head with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Yue Chan's eyes narrowed with disappointment.
"It seems you're not interested in my purpose here. Perhaps I should leave."
She turned to go, her robes whispering against the stone floor, but Gong Xie's hand shot out and caught her arm, his grip desperate.
"Wait—I'll listen. Please, continue," he said, voice softer this time.
"Last night, I dreamed of you," Yue Chan admitted, her voice almost a whisper. "In the dream, I told you that you should take care of someone. I'm not even sure who that someone is, or if it's someone I care about."
"It's just a dream, Yue Chan. Am I right? Should I call you by your name?" Gong Xie asked, searching her hidden expression.
Yue Chan nodded her assent, her eyes softening behind the mask.
She leaned in, her voice low.
"Do you remember what Xue Mo told you? Who exactly are you, Gong Xie?"