Shi Yang flies low over the sea, robes snapping violently in the wind as he heads toward the mainland.
His breathing is uneven.
While flying, he frantically absorbs spiritual energy from the surroundings, pulling it into his dantian to stabilise his cultivation. The breakthrough to Stage Four of Spiritual Refiner was rushed, forced under pressure, and though successful, it left his foundation slightly unstable.
Days ago, to stall the Dao Partner ceremony with Yi Miran of the Yi Clan, he entered a closed-door retreat under the excuse of breaking through.
Last night, he succeeded.
At dawn, when the sect's internal defences were at their weakest, because the Purple Lotus Sect's array was always stronger against outside intrusion than inside escape, he fled.
No one expected it.
He is the son of the sect master.
The next in line for the position.
Why would he run?
If he became Dao Partner with Yi Miran, the alliance between the Purple Lotus Sect and the Yi Clan would be solidified permanently. No core disciple would ever be able to challenge his succession.
That is precisely why he left.
He does not want a marriage arranged for power.
He wants control of his own fate.
At noon, he lands on a small, uninhabited volcanic island.
The island is barren, black rock jagged against the blue sea.
He enters the crater of a long-cooled volcano. The inner stone walls are smooth and hollow, offering concealment.
He quickly arranges several array plates on the ground, forming a minor illusion array. As it activates, faint smoke begins to rise from cracks in the stone.
From afar, the volcano now appears active.
No ordinary cultivator would approach.
Shi Yang sits cross-legged.
From his spatial bag, he removes several spiritual stones and places them around him. Pure spiritual energy seeps out as he begins regulating his breathing, stabilising his newly advanced realm.
Hours pass.
The sun moves across the sky.
When his breathing finally steadies, he reaches again into his spatial bag.
This time, he takes out a glowing light egg.
It radiates soft golden brilliance.
He obtained it after killing a Spiritual Refiner from the Star Singer Tower. The egg is the seed of an Angel War Puppet, an advanced spiritual construct.
He had examined it before.
After thorough analysis, he concluded it is not merely a puppet core but a spiritual item capable of being refined into a natal item.
Currently, his natal item is the sect's holy spiritual treasure, the Three Petals Purple Lotus.
But each Three Petals Lotus is linked to the Nine Petals Purple Lotus, the true holy object of the sect.
Through that connection, the sect can trace his general whereabouts.
He pulls out a shining golden locket from beneath his robe.
The glow is dimming.
The locket conceals his position from the sect's holy object, but only for a week.
Worse,
For one hour each day, it stops working entirely.
During that hour, his location is exposed.
Which means,
He must remain in motion during that time.
Before the week ends, he must replace his natal item with the Angel Egg.
He begins refining.
Golden threads of spiritual power extend from his palms into the egg.
The shell pulses faintly in response.
Time passes.
The sun reaches its zenith.
Then begins to descend.
As twilight approaches,
Shi Yang's eyes snap open.
He feels it.
The locket has stopped working.
Stars begin to shine in the moonless sky.
Without hesitation, he retrieves the array plates, storing them quickly in his spatial bag.
He rises into the air and flies toward the mainland.
For the next hour, he cannot stay in one place.
He must continue moving.
Far away,
In Dongji City.
Chu Feng walks along the bustling street, his expression calm but alert.
He and Diexin arrived a few hours ago.
Their final destination is not Dongji City.
They intend to sail toward the eastern islands ruled by the spiritual refiner sects.
But when they arrived, the sun had already begun to set.
No ships depart at dusk.
They must wait until tomorrow.
Chu Feng left Diexin at an inn under a false identity.
He now heads toward the hidden base of his organisation to gather information.
Throughout their journey from the capital, they avoided major cities.
They stayed in villages and small towns.
They concealed their movements.
With Diexin pregnant and her identity exposed to the Shen Family and unknown forces behind them, caution is necessary.
He would not have entered Dongji City at all,
If not for necessity.
Dongji City houses the headquarters of his organisation.
And more importantly,
It is one of the few ports capable of launching ships to the eastern sea islands.
The only alternative is Jingji City in the Zhao Kingdom.
But reaching it would require crossing national borders.
Too dangerous.
So even knowing there is risk,
They chose Dongji City.
Chu Feng's steps slow slightly as he nears a quiet alley.
He senses the city's pulse.
Dongji is lively by day, but beneath its surface, currents of hidden forces move quietly.
He tightens his cloak and continues forward.
Night deepens.
The stars shine above both the sea and the city.
Fate continues weaving its threads.
Chu Feng slips into a narrow courtyard behind a modest tea house in Dongji City.
The night is deep.
Lantern light flickers along the alley walls.
A man dressed like an ordinary merchant steps out from the shadow of a wooden pillar and bows slightly.
"Master."
Chu Feng nods.
"Report."
They move into a small storage room below the tea house. The door closes softly behind them.
His subordinate lowers his voice.
"Four important matters."
Chu Feng's gaze sharpens.
"Speak."
"First," the man says, "the Song Kingdom has not issued an official wanted notice for you or Lady Yu. However, in the black market, there is a reward circulating quietly. The source is unclear."
Chu Feng's brows furrow slightly.
"Amount?"
"High enough to attract mid-level cultivators. Not high enough to alarm major factions."
So someone wants them discreetly removed.
Not publicly.
That means it is not the court.
Likely the Shen Family's backers, or another hidden force.
"Second," the subordinate continues, "Marquis Duan Merin is to be married to Song Xingli, the First Princess of the Song Kingdom. She is also a core disciple of the Purple Lotus Sect."
Chu Feng's breathing pauses for half a heartbeat.
His eyes narrow.
"Confirmed?"
"Yes. The royal edict has already been delivered."
A slow heat rises inside his chest.
Third news.
"The Shen Family of Anxi Town has been massacred. Completely wiped out. Rumour says it was done by an unknown force. My guess, Divine Guards."
Chu Feng absorbs that silently.
So the court moved.
Or someone framed the court.
Fourth.
"The Dao Partner ceremony of Shi Yang, son of the Purple Lotus Sect leader, will take place any day now. The bride is Yi Miran, daughter of the Yi Clan head."
Chu Feng nods once.
His mind sorts through the information rapidly.
Of the four,
The second is the most important.
Duan Merin marries the princess.
For Chu Feng, it is not political.
It is personal.
Because of himself, he lost Diexin to Duan Merin.
At that time, he thought sacrificing her for greater power was the right decision.
Now,
Spending these days travelling with her.
Watching her silence.
Her resilience.
Her restrained sorrow.
His longing has grown unbearable.
Yet she maintains distance.
Cold.
Composed.
But now,
This marriage.
It is an opportunity.
If Duan Merin marries the princess, Diexin's position becomes secondary at best.
Perhaps abandoned.
Perhaps replaced.
Perhaps forgotten.
He feels a dangerous hope bloom in his chest.
"Arrange a ship," Chu Feng says firmly. "The earliest one heading toward the eastern islands. Dawn, if possible."
"Yes, Master."
With that, Chu Feng leaves the hidden base and returns toward the inn.
The streets are lively even at night.
Rumours travel faster than ships.
Inside the inn's dining hall, the air is warm with chatter.
Chu Feng steps inside and hears it immediately.
"…Marquis Duan marrying the First Princess…"
"…poor Cai Wenji…"
"…barely a month since his wife disappeared…"
"…men of power are all the same…"
"…Dongji girl too…"
They whisper curses.
They pity Cai Wenji.
They speak of her disappearance.
Of Duan Merin's swift remarriage.
Chu Feng's lips curve faintly beneath his calm expression.
He sees Diexin seated quietly at a table, eating slowly.
He walks over and sits across from her.
She does not look up immediately.
He lowers his voice, gentle.
"Shall we return to our room to eat?"
She lifts her eyes.
"Why?"
He hesitates.
"I just… thought…"
"No need to worry about me," she says calmly. "Even if I were back at Duan Estate, I wouldn't stop the marriage."
Chu Feng's eyes widen.
"Why?"
"The marriage is good for the Duan Family."
Her tone is steady.
Practical.
Political.
Not emotional.
Chu Feng freezes.
For a brief moment,
He wonders if he made the greatest mistake of his life.
If he had chosen her,
Instead of ambition,
Would she have been his?
A waiter approaches with more dishes.
Chu Feng collects himself.
They eat in silence.
After finishing, Diexin rises.
"When is our ship?" she asks.
"My people will inform us," Chu Feng replies quickly. "I told them to book the first ship at dawn."
She nods.
"I am going to my room to rest."
She turns and walks upstairs.
Chu Feng watches her back until she disappears.
Inside her room,
The door closes softly.
Diexin walks to the bed.
Sits.
Then lies down.
The calm mask cracks.
Tears spill silently across her cheeks.
Today,
She understands how little she meant to Merin.
She remembers his face.
Emotionless.
Measured.
Detached.
She once believed,
He liked her.
Not love.
But something.
Now,
He marries again within a month of her disappearance.
No public search.
No delay.
No waiting.
She is not crying because of the marriage itself.
She understands its value.
It strengthens the Duan Family.
It stabilises tension with the royal family.
It may prevent future conflict.
She is crying because,
No one searched for her.
Because she feels,
Replaceable.
Crying quietly into the pillow,
Exhaustion finally claims her.
She falls asleep.
Outside,
The stars shine.
Unaware of human sorrow.
And fate continues to move.