Lin Xue could no longer hear the wind.
The world around him seemed to have fallen into an unnatural silence.
Mo Yuan’s hand still held his wrist.
The crimson lotus mark glowed faintly between them, each petal pulsing like a second heartbeat.
Lin Xue stared at the man before him.
“You…”
His voice came out quieter than intended.
“You remember?”
Mo Yuan did not answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed upon the mark.
Then, slowly, he released Lin Xue’s wrist.
“Yes.”
One word.
Yet it carried the weight of years.
Lin Xue’s mind went blank.
He had spent the entire day believing his rebirth was a miracle granted only to him.
He had thought the strange changes surrounding him were caused by his own decisions.
But Mo Yuan…
Mo Yuan had also returned.
The realization sent a chill through him.
“How?”
Mo Yuan turned away.
“I don’t know.”
He walked toward the edge of the pavilion and looked out across the moonlit pond.
“When I opened my eyes this morning, I was twenty-five again.”
Lin Xue’s breath caught.
Twenty-five.
That was the age Mo Yuan had been when Lin Xue died.
The age at which the Ghost King had stormed into the Cold Palace.
The age at which he had held Lin Xue in his arms.
The age at which he had confessed his love.
Mo Yuan continued quietly.
“I thought it was a dream.”
“I remembered the war.”
“The palace.”
“The executions.”
“The night the capital burned.”
His fingers tightened around the railing.
“And I remembered you.”
Lin Xue lowered his gaze.
Something painful twisted inside his chest.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t certain.”
Mo Yuan turned back.
“You were different today.”
Lin Xue smiled faintly.
“So were you.”
A strange silence followed.
Then Mo Yuan asked,
“Do you remember everything?”
Lin Xue hesitated.
“Almost.”
“Your death?”
“Yes.”
Mo Yuan’s expression darkened.
“And me?”
Lin Xue’s heart stopped.
He looked away.
“I remember.”
The words were barely audible.
“I remember what you said.”
Mo Yuan went completely still.
The night seemed to hold its breath.
Lin Xue’s fingers curled around his sleeve.
“You said…”
He couldn’t bring himself to repeat the entire sentence.
Mo Yuan understood anyway.
A faint sadness crossed his face.
“I shouldn’t have said it then.”
“Why?”
“Because you were dying.”
His voice was low.
“You didn’t need to carry my feelings with you.”
Lin Xue looked at him.
“But I did.”
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Lin Xue asked the question that had haunted him since waking.
“Why did you come to the prison?”
Mo Yuan’s jaw tightened.
“I found out about your execution too late.”
“And you came alone?”
“Yes.”
“Against the entire Imperial Guard?”
“Yes.”
Lin Xue stared at him.
“You could have died.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Mo Yuan’s gaze softened.
“Because you were there.”
The answer was so simple that Lin Xue didn’t know how to respond.
In his previous life, he had spent years chasing someone who had never truly loved him.
Yet the person he had never noticed…
Had been willing to walk into certain death for him.
Lin Xue lowered his head.
“Mo Yuan.”
It was the first time he had called him without a title.
The prince’s eyes flickered.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
Mo Yuan’s expression changed slightly.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do.”
Lin Xue smiled.
“Because this time…”
“I don’t want you to die for me.”
Mo Yuan stared at him.
Then he gave a quiet nod.
“Then we won’t die.”
The words sounded like a promise.
Not a declaration.
Not a dramatic oath.
Just a simple certainty.
Lin Xue found himself believing it.
Suddenly—
A sharp whistle cut through the night.
Mo Yuan’s expression changed.
He immediately stepped in front of Lin Xue.
Three black arrows flew from the darkness.
Clang!
Mo Yuan drew his sword.
The first arrow shattered against the blade.
The second was deflected into the pond.
The third—
Came directly toward Lin Xue.
Lin Xue raised his hand.
A golden talisman appeared between his fingers.
The arrow stopped inches from his palm.
Then fell.
Mo Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
“Three assassins.”
Lin Xue looked toward the rooftops.
“No.”
“Four.”
The fourth figure was already behind them.
A blade flashed.
Mo Yuan turned.
Too late.
Lin Xue stepped forward.
Their shoulders collided as Lin Xue pushed him aside.
The blade missed Mo Yuan and sliced through Lin Xue’s sleeve.
A thin line of blood appeared across his arm.
Mo Yuan’s expression became terrifyingly cold.
The spiritual pressure that erupted from his body shook the entire manor.
The assassin stumbled backward.
“Impossible…”
“His cultivation shouldn’t be this strong!”
Mo Yuan raised his sword.
“Who sent you?”
The assassin said nothing.
Mo Yuan took one step forward.
The assassin immediately swallowed something hidden between his teeth.
His body collapsed.
Dead.
Lin Xue’s expression hardened.
“Poison.”
Mo Yuan crouched beside the corpse.
He searched the man’s robes and found a small jade token.
A golden dragon was engraved upon it.
Lin Xue recognized it instantly.
His blood ran cold.
“The Imperial Guard.”
Mo Yuan’s eyes darkened.
“Yes.”
Lin Xue stared at the token.
His mind raced.
The Imperial Guard had only been sent against him once in his previous life.
When Ji Chen ordered his arrest.
But this time…
Ji Chen had no reason to kill him.
Not yet.
Unless—
Lin Xue looked toward the dark palace skyline.
Someone already knew the future was changing.
Someone was afraid.
Mo Yuan stood.
“You’re leaving the capital.”
Lin Xue looked at him.
“What?”
“The people behind this will strike again.”
Mo Yuan sheathed his sword.
“And the palace is no longer safe.”
Lin Xue frowned.
“Where do you intend to send me?”
Mo Yuan looked toward the distant mountains.
“Qingyun Sect.”
Lin Xue froze.
His old home.
The sect he had abandoned in his first life because of Ji Chen.
Mo Yuan continued.
“If you return there, you’ll have the protection of the elders.”
Lin Xue slowly shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if someone has begun changing the future…”
He looked at the dead assassin.
“…then hiding won’t be enough.”
His gaze sharpened.
“We need to find out who altered the Heavenly Oracle.”
Mo Yuan was silent.
Then he nodded.
“Agreed.”
Lin Xue looked toward the moon.
For the first time since his rebirth…
A clear purpose settled within his heart.
He would protect the Lin Clan.
He would uncover the truth behind the Oracle.
He would stop Ji Chen from taking the throne through blood.
And this time…
He would not allow Mo Yuan to die for him.
But somewhere beyond the palace walls, another figure was already reading a secret report.
The report contained only three sentences.
The Oracle has cracked.
Young Master Lin has rejected the Crown Prince.
Prince Mo Yuan has begun protecting him.
The figure slowly crushed the paper in his hand.
“Then…”
A cold voice whispered through the darkness.
“We’ll have to kill them both before they remember everything.”
End of Chapter 8