The academy gates stood open.
Quiet.
Still.
A sharp contrast to the noise of the courtyard behind them.
A small group had gathered.
The Chief Instructor.
A few selected students.
Han.
And Li Xian.
The carriage was already waiting.
Horses restless.
Wind brushing lightly against the fading festival banners nearby.
Li Xian's father stepped forward, unhurried as ever.
Like a man who was never bound by time.
"Thank you for the hospitality," he said calmly.
The Chief Instructor bowed slightly. "It is our honor."
Everything was proper.
Polite.
Perfect.
Li Xian stood a step behind.
Straight.
Composed.
His expression back to that familiar calm.
As if nothing had happened.
As if nothing was wrong.
But his eyes—
Were watching.
Always watching.
His father placed a foot onto the carriage step—
Then paused.
Slowly—
He turned back.
His gaze landed on Li Xian.
Not soft.
Not warm.
Just… there.
Li Xian didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward slightly and bowed his head.
"…Safe travels, Father."
His voice was steady.
Respectful.
Unshaken.
A brief silence passed.
Then—
As if remembering something—
Li Xian looked up again.
"…How is the kingdom doing?"
A normal question.
A son asking about his home.
But the moment it left his lips—
Something changed.
His father's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Not amused.
Not kind.
Something else.
"My son…" he began slowly.
His voice calm.
Measured.
"It is not a problem of how…"
A pause.
Just enough to let the words settle.
"Not whom…"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"Nor where."
The wind seemed to still.
Then—
His gaze moved.
Past Li Xian.
To Han.
And in that exact moment—
He smiled.
"…The real problem is when."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
Han's expression didn't change.
But his eyes—
Darkened.
Just slightly.
Li Xian felt it.
That shift.
That invisible thread pulling everything tighter.
His chest tightened.
"…What are you planning?" the thought flickered through his mind.
But he didn't speak.
Didn't react.
Because reacting—
Was exactly what his father wanted.
The man turned away.
As if nothing had happened.
As if those words meant nothing at all.
And stepped into the carriage.
"Take care of yourself, Li Xian," he added lightly.
The door closed.
The carriage began to move.
Slow at first.
Then faster—
Until it disappeared beyond the gates.
And only then—
Did the air feel breathable again.
No one spoke.
Not immediately.
Because everyone felt it.
Even if they didn't understand it.
Something had just happened.
Something quiet.
Something dangerous.
Li Xian stood still.
Eyes fixed on the now-empty road.
"…When," he repeated softly.
Beside him—
Han finally moved.
Turning slightly.
His gaze lingering on Li Xian for a brief moment.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Thinking.
"…Seems like your father enjoys speaking in riddles," Han said.
Li Xian let out a small breath.
A faint smile forming.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
"…He enjoys control."
A pause.
Then, lightly—
As if brushing it off—
"Well, nothing we can do about it now."
He turned.
Walking back toward the academy.
Same relaxed steps.
Same easy posture.
But this time—
Han didn't look away.
Because now—
He knew for sure.
This wasn't just about Li Xian anymore.
And whatever was coming—
Had already begun.