The ancient doors groaned as Li Hua — Qing Yue — stepped into the forbidden archives.
Dust hung in the air like memories. Shelves upon shelves of records, scrolls, and relics stretched endlessly, untouched by time, untouched by lies.
Her fingers traced over titles, the words glowing faintly with magic. Celestial War Records. Blood Moon Prophecies. Trial of the Nine-Tailed Clan…
She paused.
Her heart clenched as she pulled the scroll free. The seal was broken — someone else had read this recently.
Unrolling it, she read in silence.
> "On the Night of the Betrayal, the Nine-Tailed Fox fell at the Celestial Peak, surrounded by demonic fire. Witnesses claimed the War God stood still as she burned."
> "But no records show Jin Xuan Yue's presence. His celestial aura was last registered far from the battlefield."
Her breath hitched.
No presence?
He wasn't even there?
She staggered back, scroll trembling in her hands.
Then who…?
---
Meanwhile, in the inner garden, Jin Mei sat beside the koi pond, idly tossing pebbles into the water. Rui Shen flopped beside her, clutching his stomach.
"I think I'm dying."
"You're not dying," she said flatly.
"I am. Your dumplings were poisoned."
"They were steamed."
"Exactly. Steamed death."
She smirked. "Stop being dramatic."
He groaned and leaned against her shoulder.
She stiffened.
"…Don't get ideas," she warned.
"Too late," he mumbled.
She snorted and shoved him lightly. But she didn't move away.
---
Elsewhere, Jin Xuan Yue stood on the palace balcony, gazing at the rising blood moon.
His heart had no peace. The more he saw her — Li Hua, Qing Yue, whoever she was — the more the lines blurred.
And now… he wasn't sure if he wanted the truth.
Because if he'd been wrong…
If she'd died hating him for something he never did…
Could he bear it?
---
In the archives, Qing Yue pressed her forehead to the ancient scroll.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Then why… why did I see you there, that night…?"
Outside, thunder rumbled.
And in the shadows behind her, something slithered — not alive, not dead — watching.
Waiting.