Lian Yuxi's POV
I couldn't tell Yifeng.
Not yet. Not until I knew what the Guild wanted.
Your Majesty, I said as we rushed back to the palace. I need to investigate the East Wing. Alone. The burned sections—that's where the attack started. There might be evidence the guards missed.
Yifeng stopped walking. Studied me with those sharp gold eyes.
You saw something at the fire. Something that scared you.
Of course he noticed. The man missed nothing.
I saw someone I used to know. Someone who shouldn't be in the capital. Truth, but not all of it. Let me investigate. If I'm right about who's behind these murders, I'll find proof tonight.
You're not going alone.
I have to. If Guild assassins are watching, they'll recognize imperial guards. They won't recognize me working alone—I'll look like I'm betraying you, which is exactly what they expect. I met his eyes. Trust me. Please.
The word hung between us. Trust.
He'd asked me to trust him. Now I was asking the same.
Finally, he nodded. Two hours. Then I'm sending Zhao to find you.
Two hours is enough.
I turned to leave—
His hand caught my wrist. Gentle. Warm.
Be careful, Yuxi. Whatever you're walking into... come back.
My throat tightened. I will.
I hoped I wasn't lying.
The East Wing was a skeleton of burned wood and collapsed roofs.
I moved through the ruins alone, moonlight painting everything silver and black. The smell of smoke still hung heavy. My footsteps crunched on charred debris.
Looking for something?
I spun, daggers drawn.
A figure emerged from the shadows—tall, broad-shouldered, wearing Shadow Guild black. The mask covered his face, but I knew that voice.
Knew those scars visible above the mask edge.
Wei Shen. My blood turned to ice. You're alive.
He pulled off his mask slowly. His scarred face smiled—the expression that used to mean punishment was coming.
Did you think they'd kill their investment? I trained you for eight years, little blade. Heishan doesn't throw away profitable weapons.
Little blade. The nickname I'd hated. The reminder that I was property.
What do you want? I kept my daggers ready.
What do you think? Heishan wants you back. Your contract wasn't completed—the Emperor still breathes. That's failure, Yuxi. And we don't tolerate failure.
I'm under imperial protection now.
Wei Shen laughed. Imperial protection? You think a crown stops the Shadow Guild? We've killed kings, little blade. Emperors. Gods. What makes you think this Dragon can protect you?
Because he's not alone. I'm not alone anymore.
No. You have friends now. Allies. People you care about. His smile turned cruel. That makes you weak. Vulnerable. Easier to control.
Warning bells screamed in my head. What did you do?
Nothing yet. But I will if you don't cooperate. He stepped closer. I raised my daggers. He ignored them. The Emperor's game ends now, Yuxi. You return to the Guild. Tonight. Or people die.
I'm not going back.
You don't have a choice. His voice dropped. Return, or everyone you've touched dies. Starting with that servant boy who helped you—Little Jin.
My heart stopped.
Jin. The sixteen-year-old who'd climbed Yifeng's window to report a murder. Who'd trusted me. Who'd helped me when he didn't have to.
Innocent. Kind. Everything the Guild taught me to eliminate without hesitation.
If you hurt him— My voice shook with rage.
Then come home. Tonight. Midnight. South gate. Wei Shen's expression held no mercy. Come alone. No Emperor. No guards. No tricks. Or tomorrow morning, you'll find pieces of Jin scattered across the palace gardens.
You're bluffing.
Am I? He produced something from his pocket. Tossed it at my feet.
A piece of torn fabric. Blue cotton. Jin's servant uniform—I'd seen him wearing it yesterday.
Stained with blood.
Fresh blood.
We already have him, Wei Shen said pleasantly. Grabbed him an hour ago while the palace was distracted with fires and murders. He's alive. For now. Whether he stays that way depends on you.
No. No no no.
Why? The word ripped from my throat. Why hurt him? He's nobody. Just a servant—
Because you care. That's your weakness, little blade. You always cared too much. Remember that dog you tried to keep when you were fourteen? Remember what Heishan did to it when you refused a mission?
I remembered. Nightmares still woke me sometimes—the dog's screams, Heishan's smile, the lesson burned into my brain: Caring means suffering.
Jin is innocent, I whispered.
So was the dog. Didn't save it. Wei Shen turned to leave. Midnight. South gate. Don't be late. Every minute you're tardy, Jin loses a finger. After ten minutes, we start on important things. Eyes. Tongue. You understand.
Horror crashed through me. Wait—
No waiting. No negotiating. Return to the Guild, or the boy dies screaming. He paused at the shadows' edge. Oh, and Yuxi? If you tell the Emperor, if you bring guards, if you try any clever assassin tricks? We kill Jin immediately. Then we kill that physician woman—Suyin, isn't it? Then we kill Commander Zhao's wife and children. Then we keep killing everyone you've spoken to until you learn: the Guild owns you. Forever.
He vanished into darkness.
I stood frozen, holding Jin's blood-stained uniform.
My hands shook. My heart hammered. My mind raced through scenarios—all ending in death.
If I went to Yifeng, told him everything, brought imperial soldiers... the Guild would know. They had spies everywhere. They'd kill Jin before we reached the South gate.
If I refused, went into hiding, let the deadline pass... Jin would die. Then Suyin. Then Zhao's family. Then more innocents. The Guild would turn the palace into a graveyard to prove their point.
If I returned to the Guild... I'd lose everything. Freedom. Choice. Yifeng. The life I'd just started building.
I'd become a weapon again. Property. Owned.
But Jin would live.
I thought of the boy's terrified face when I'd dragged him through Yifeng's window. How he'd stammered and apologized. How he'd risked everything to report a murder because it was the right thing to do.
He'd helped me when he had every reason to fear me.
Now he'd die because of me.
Think, Yuxi. Think.
I had two hours before Yifeng sent Zhao looking for me.
Four hours until the midnight deadline.
Not enough time to plan a rescue. Not enough time to find where the Guild was holding Jin. Not enough time to
A sound. Footsteps behind me.
I spun, daggers ready
Yifeng stood in the burned doorway.
You lied to me, he said quietly. Not angry. Sad. You said you needed two hours alone. But you're not investigating. You're being threatened.
How did he
I followed you, he continued. Stayed hidden. Watched the entire conversation. His gold eyes held mine. I know about Jin. About the Guild's ultimatum. About the choice they're forcing you to make.
Relief and terror crashed through me simultaneously.
Your Majesty
Don't. He stepped closer. Don't call me that. Don't retreat behind titles when you're drowning. I'm here. I saw. I heard. His voice softened. And I'm not letting you go back to them.
They'll kill Jin
Not if we kill them first. Yifeng's expression turned cold. Dragon-like. You think I'd let the Shadow Guild take you? After everything we've been through? After you saved my life, fought beside me, became— He stopped. Breathed. No. Absolutely not.
You don't understand. They have spies everywhere. If we mobilize guards—
Then we don't mobilize guards. We mobilize something better. He smiled, sharp and dangerous. We mobilize you and me. Two people. Precise strike. In and out before they realize what's happening.
Hope flickered in my chest. That's suicide.
So is sending you back to be their slave. He extended his hand. You trusted me with the truth. Now trust me with the plan. We save Jin. We destroy whoever took him. We send the Guild a message: you're mine now, and I protect what's mine.
The words sent warmth through my entire body.
Mine. Not property. Not weapon. His partner. His equal.
His.
They said midnight. South gate. I took his hand. Four hours.
Then we have four hours to plan the perfect counter-attack. Yifeng's smile turned deadly. Time to show the Shadow Guild what happens when they threaten the Dragon's shadow.