Yushen sat beside the bed, eyes fixed on the woman who lay pale and trembling before him. Her breaths came shallow, uneven, as if each inhale was a battle. Dark strands of hair framed her face, splayed across the pillow like ink on silk. He exhaled through his nose.
What a mess.
A moment ago, a loud scream followed by a thud had echoed through the cave, reverberating against stone and bone alike. When he had turned, he saw her collapsed to the ground, utterly unconscious. It had forced him to halt his investigation, an investigation that had been years in the making, a breakthrough finally within reach. And yet, she had fainted right in the middle of it. Annoyance simmered low in his chest.
He should have left her there. He should have ignored her.
But his eyes kept drifting back.
She had been useful. Unreasonably so.
He clicked his tongue, a sharp, dry sound.
I'm not grateful. Definitely not.
----------------------------------
A soft voice entered the room, lilting and composed.
"I must say, Yushen… I'm pleasantly surprised you called me here to treat someone else."
Mei Lian appeared like a breeze in human form, long lavender robes flowing behind her, hair pinned with jade, eyes twinkling with amusement. Even after ascending, her presence was deceptively youthful, almost innocent—and that innocence made her all the more dangerous.
Yushen crossed his arms. "I didn't call you. You barged in."
She waved a delicate hand. "Semantics."
Mei Lian moved beside the unconscious woman, placing her glowing palm over her stomach. Warm spiritual energy seeped from her fingers, flowing into the body, calming the tempest within. Her brows furrowed as she studied the faint lines of turmoil within the woman's core.
"Hmm… her core is still unstable."
Yushen stepped forward without thinking. His own spiritual energy surged, a silent tide flowing into her, brushing the chaos into order, stabilizing what had threatened to spiral beyond control.
Mei Lian smirked. "Well… wasn't that thoughtful."
"Tch. Don't you have better things to do?"
"Don't bring her to places like that next time. Demonic energy lingers, even after centuries—especially harmful to low-realm immortals." She flicked his forehead. "I taught you better than this. A delicate woman in a cave full of corpses? Honestly."
Yushen's jaw tightened. "When are you leaving?"
She pouted, the motion exaggerated and theatrical. "You're so mean to me."
He placed his hand back on the woman's stomach to check her core once more—when suddenly, a violent surge of spiritual energy shot up his arm. He staggered, his vision narrowing. A red symbol bloomed across the woman's neck, glowing like molten fire, intricate and alive.
Mei Lian inhaled sharply. "Yushen… I feel energy similar to yours."
The mark expanded, curling into sharp points and spirals, blooming into a lotus of crimson fire, delicate yet deadly. His spine stiffened, every instinct on edge. He pressed his own energy into the mark—probing, assessing, controlling.
Ruyan gasped awake, eyes flying open as though surfacing from drowning nightmares. She bolted upright, clutching the sheets, trembling. "W-Where… where am I?"
Mei Lian remained calm, serene even. "Don't worry, my dear. You are safe."
Ruyan blinked rapidly, overwhelmed, still grappling with the lingering pain. But Yushen's gaze sharpened like a blade, cutting through hesitation and confusion.
That mark…
His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Where did you get the mark on your neck?"
Ruyan froze, confusion plain on her face. "What mark?"
His patience snapped. A sudden tightening of energy coiled around his hands as he summoned a spell, ice and fire twisting together, ready to strike.
"I—I don't know what you're talking about!" she stammered, fear flaring.
Before he could release the spell, Mei Lian shoved him aside, scolding him like a delinquent child. "I've truly failed as a master!" she cried. "Is this how you treat a fragile woman?!"
"Fragile? Her? This woman—this woman had the audacity to steal—"
Before he could finish, Ruyan burst into exaggerated tears, wailing dramatically. "H-He's been bullying me all this time!"
Instinctively understanding the dominant relationship between master and disciple.
Yushen froze. "…You—" He took a threatening step forward. Mei Lian seized his ear.
"AH—Master?!" he hissed, struggling.
"You're going to hurt the patient?! Another lesson in discipline is what you need!" she shouted, dragging him out like a scolded child.
"Master—stop—this is humiliating!" he protested, flailing.
Ruyan stuck her tongue out from the bed. "You little—!"
"OW—MASTER PLEASE—!!!"
They disappeared down the hallway, leaving the room in stunned silence.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Ruyan's lips, a quiet thrill blooming in her chest as she watched the immortal who commanded fear across the realms now bow, obedient, to a presence even he could not resist. Satisfaction, settled over her like a cloak—sweet, dangerous, and wholly deserved.
----------------------------------------------
Ruyan exhaled shakily and whispered a spell.
A soft glow shimmered in the air, and Jinri materialized in his humanoid form—white hair, fox ears twitching, eyes wide with worry.
"Ruyan! What happened?! They took you, and I couldn't follow closely… I was terrified!"
"I'm okay," she whispered, hugging him. "It seems I was healed here. But… where is here?"
Jinri scratched his cheek. "We're inside Lord Yushen's domain."
Ruyan froze. Everyone knew where Yushen lived but no one was ever allowed within his walls. If information that a person was able to sneak inside, any noble would pay a fortune—a dangerous fortune.
Her body still ached, but her mind raced with the one truth she could not ignore: she was in a place where no one else could reach them. A place controlled by the devil himself. She whispered, voice trembling but determined, "We have to leave."
Jinri nodded, then grimaced. "I tried. The entire domain is wrapped in a strange barrier. I can't use space transfer."
"Then burn a hole using fox-fire."
"Can't," he admitted fearfully. "Shadow Tigers surround the barrier."
Ruyan stiffened. Shadow Tigers—the natural enemies of Sun Foxes, hunters of their kind.
"They're his familiars," Jinri added, whispering.
Her stomach dropped. We might never be allowed to leave.
Jinri transformed into a small furry ornament and settled onto her belt. Ruyan slipped out of the room, moving silently through the grand wooden halls: moonlit courtyards, lotus ponds, black stone bridges. The manor exuded cold elegance and authority, every shadow a reminder of the power contained within these walls.
Her breath caught. "This information would fetch a high price," she whispered.
"Heard that," came a cold voice.
She jumped. Yushen stood behind her, arms crossed. "Sneaking? Already?"
"I—I was just exploring!" she stammered.
"For someone who claims I bully her, you sure have a lot of energy."
Ruyan instantly pretended to wobble weakly. "Ah… my head…"
But Yushen paid no attention to her and instead flicked his fingers. A massive ice spear materialized in the air and shot toward her. She conjured a blazing fire barrier. The spear shattered into frost.
His eyes narrowed. "A Nascent soul who can block my spells… I checked your core myself. Twice. And yet your magic proficiency—" His gaze sharpened. "—exceeds your capacity in spiritual energy. Who are you really?"
Ruyan swallowed hard. "I… I just do these things. Maybe I'm just talented?"
In the next heartbeat, he vanished—reappearing in front of her, fist imbued with spiritual force. She ducked, countered with flame, and darted over a railing, landing in the courtyard.
"YOU SAVED ME AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO KILL ME?!" she shouted.
Yushen smirked. "Naturally."
He surged forward again, grabbing her wrist, pressing his palm against her neck where the mark had been.
"Stop—!" she yelled, blasting him back with golden force.
Everything froze.
A lattice of golden spiritual lines crawled across her face like threads of divine silk, revealing features radiant as moonlit jade—high cheekbones, delicate jaw, almond-shaped eyes that shimmered with quiet strength.
Yushen stared.
His breath slowed. She's…
Ruyan's breath came in quick, shallow bursts, her heart hammering not just from fear but from the realization that her true face is now revealed and she was standing in the presence of a being whose power dwarfed everything she had known.
Yushen's hand hovered just above her wrist, eyes locked onto hers with the precision of a hawk.
Ruyan swallowed. Her hands curled into fists, golden fire spiraling up her arms in response to his presence, her instincts screaming to protect herself.
"You… really are something," he said, smirking.
"And you… really like bullying people!" she shot back.
She drew upon Jinri's presence, weaving golden threads into a radiant cage. Yushen paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, then shattered it with ease. Yet the brief lag told her everything: there's always a way.
Flames twisted, whips of light lashed, spheres of gold arced through the air. Each attack forced him to react, subtle hesitation betraying even the Executioner of the Four Realms.
When her energy peaked, she unleashed a massive sphere above her head. It exploded, painting the courtyard in molten gold. Yushen staggered, expression sharpening—not anger, but something closer to admiration.
Exhausted, Ruyan stumbled. Jinri perched on her shoulder, eyes wide.
Yushen approached calmly, hand hovering above her wrist, brushing the fading golden lines. Warmth flowed into her, soothing the burn, the pain, the terror.
Her heart raced. She had survived… but he had seen everything. Strategy, cunning, defiance.
When the light subsided, the courtyard was quiet. Moonlight touched broken stones and still-pulsing spiritual lines that hung in the air like dust.
Yushen stepped closer, unscathed, aura calm but every inch radiating authority and power. He lowered his hand to her shoulder as her knees gave out from drained energy and for the first time, there was no immediate threat—just curiosity, weighty and unreadable.
He studied her for a long moment, then finally withdrew his hand, letting her regain her strength. Yushen raised a hand—not to strike, but to hover near her cheek. His fingers brushed the fading golden lines.
Ruyan flinched back. The glow shattered.
Yushen's brows drew together. He flicked his fingers and green spiritual energy flowed from his fingers to her body.
Warmth washed through her—calming, gentle, the pain slowly fading away.
"Spiritual arts?" she whispered. Her eyes met his but he was the first one to break eye contact.
It was only known that Yushen had mastered the paths of magic and forging. Now it was clear he had also mastered spiritual arts and controlled powerful familiars. Too much. She knew too much. Feign ignorance. You live longer that way.
Ruyan took a deep breath. I survived this time.
"Follow me," he said firmly. He turned—hands behind his back—and began walking.
"I can't run… not against him," she thought.
So she followed.
The manor's corridors were dim, lit by lotus-shaped lanterns drifting soundlessly through the air. The walls pulsed with ancient wards, softly like old spirits keeping watch.
Yushen stopped before a pair of towering doors marked by black and silver sigils. The doors parted at a flick of his wrist.
Inside—
A study.
Scrolls piled neatly on lacquered shelves. A single ink brush resting beside a jade paperweight. A low table in the center.
"Sit," he commanded.
She did. Yushen sat across from her and folded back his sleeve, exposing his wrist. A pulse of red spiritual energy surged beneath his skin, and the mark of four coiled serpents enveloping a Solaris bloom ignited into view.
"Do you know what this is?" he asked.
Ruyan shook her head.
Disappointment flickered across his face before he sighed. "This is a Seal. One of the highest forms of spiritual arts. True to its name, it binds a person. As to its effect…" he paused, contemplating. "It depends on the person who placed the mark."
He didn't give her time to absorb it.
"Let's start with the truth."
Her breath hitched.
"What truth…?"
"The mark on your neck."
"I don't—" Ruyan began.
With a snap of his fingers, a mirror of polished obsidian manifested in front of her.
It flickered—then showed her reflection.
And there it was.
A lotus-shaped brand—
Red.
Glowing.
Alive. Inked into her skin like a blooming wound.
She choked.
"What—what is that?!"
For the first time, Yushen did not look indifferent or amused. He looked… disturbed.
"You truly don't know?" he asked quietly.
"N-no! I've never—what is it?!"
"You," Yushen said slowly, "have a Seal. I tried breaking the seal with my energy, but it only broke your illusion spell. It can't be broken."
"What does that mean?"
"It means whoever placed it there…" he contemplated. "That person is more powerful than me."
She was perplexed. A being more powerful than Yushen… has something to do with a lowly immortal like me?
Ruyan touched her neck, but felt nothing. No heat. No pain. Just a creeping dread.
"How… how did you know it was there?"
"When I surged my energy into your core," Yushen said, eyes narrowing, "the seal responded."
"Why did it do that?"
"I don't know," his jaw tightened. "But my spiritual energy is intertwined with it."
They stared at each other.
Two puzzles.
No clues.
Only consequences.
Ruyan banished the mirror in a panic. She didn't want to see the mark again.
Yushen lifted a hand. With a small gesture, the seal vanished from sight.
"You won't see it anymore."
"Th-thank you…" she breathed.
His gaze hardened.
"You and I both have questions," he said. "And I intend to find answers—whether you like it or not."
Then he stood.
"You're free to roam the manor. Pick any room and settle in."
Without another glance, he left.
Ruyan remained seated at the low table, trembling, exhausted, frightened… and buried beneath questions she wasn't ready to face.