Night had fallen on Shadow Mountain. The stars shimmered gently across the vast, open sky while cool moonlight bathed the ancient trees in silver.
Xuan Long returned to his room, expecting to find his sisters sleeping peacefully as usual. However, as he pushed open the carved jade door, he paused.
Inside, Yue Li stood, mid-change, her bare back glowing under the soft candlelight. Her dress had slipped past her shoulders, revealing pale skin and a flustered, delicate figure. Her eyes widened as she turned, startled.
"Lord Xuan!" she gasped, instantly pulling her robes over her chest.
Xuan Long blinked. He knew he should turn and leave—but he didn't. His heart thudded louder than any battle drum. Instead, he stepped forward.
"Where are the little ones?" he asked softly, almost pretending not to notice the awkward tension.
Yue Li, her cheeks flushed red, whispered, "They're playing in the garden still... I thought they'd be back already."
Xuan Long moved even closer, until their breaths met in the air. He gently lifted her chin with two fingers.
"Then why do you always blush around me? Why do you look away lately?"
Yue Li couldn't respond. Her lips parted, but no words came. Her heart pounded like thunder.
Without warning, Xuan Long leaned down and kissed her.
It was soft, warm, hesitant at first—but then she responded, clutching his robe.
"I love you," he said.
Tears welled in her eyes. "I love you too, my Lord."
They embraced, falling gently to the bed as the candles flickered.
---
About an hour passed.
*Knock knock!*
"Brother! Open the door! I'm sleepy!"
"Brother! Sister! Let us in!" Yue Mei cried.
Both adults froze in panic.
Xuan Long chuckled awkwardly. "We... forgot the kids."
Yue Li gasped and quickly dressed. Xuan Long flung on his robes and opened the door.
Xiou Xue stood there with teary eyes, her lips pouting.
Yue Mei sniffled. "You locked us out... you don't love us anymore?"
Xuan Long immediately scooped them into his arms, hugging them tightly.
"Forgive me, my princesses. I was... distracted."
The two girls huffed but leaned into his chest. "Hmph, you better tell us a story tonight."
Yue Li smiled watching the scene. Soon, they were all curled in bed. The children giggled at the tale of the shadow fox and the silly frog.
---
Elsewhere on the mountain, Hei Mo stood with several shadow members.
"We've confirmed it," Hei Mo said grimly. "The Crimson Blade Fangs have a branch operating nearby. They're trafficking mortals."
The room darkened as killing intent swirled.
"Can we wipe them out?" one asked.
Hei Mo nodded. "We may not end their entire organization, but we can make this city their grave."
He laid out the map. "Fifty enemies. Core Formation level. They're holed up in a valley bunker east of Red Mist Peak."
The two demi-human twins stepped forward.
"Leave it to us. If stronger cultivators arrive, we'll teleport back."
Xuan Long had previously distributed high-grade teleportation talismans. Each member of the inner circle carried ten.
The demi-humans, now at Nascent Soul Realm Level 3, could fight up to Level 6 cultivators due to their illusion, soul, and mental attack arts. Few in the region could match them.
That night, the duo slipped into the valley like shadows.
The Crimson Blade Fangs were mid-transaction, chaining up mortals and laughing cruelly.
"Hurry, load the goods! Lord Fang will reward us if we meet the quota!"
Then...
*Boom!*
Illusions surged into the minds of the slavers. Spectral wolves, flashing lights, and whispers invaded their senses. Some screamed in terror. Others collapsed.
"Who dares!?" their leader roared—before a piercing soul arrow silenced him.
One by one, the slavers were dismantled.
"We are from the Crimson Blade Fangs! Our brothers will avenge us!"
One shouted as he fled.
But the demi-humans were cold and ruthless.
"Let them come," one said.
"And we'll send them to meet their brothers," the other replied.
Within an hour, all fifty slavers were dead.
The mortals were unchained. Many wept, some knelt in gratitude.
"Thank you, Immortals! Thank you..."
---
Back at Shadow Mountain, the demi-humans returned.
Xuan Long welcomed them with a proud smile.
"You two have done well. Justice suits you."
He glanced toward the horizon.
Though the Crimson Blade Fangs stretched across the world... they would learn this:
Shadow Mountain was not a place they could ever step into again.