The night passed without another attack.
Yet neither Lin Xue nor Mo Yuan slept.
The corpse of the assassin had already been removed from the courtyard, and the damaged pavilion had been sealed by Mo Yuan’s guards.
By dawn, the Ghost Manor had returned to its usual silence.
But something had changed.
The manor no longer felt like a peaceful refuge.
It felt like the calm before a storm.
Lin Xue stood before the eastern window, watching the first rays of sunlight spread across the rooftops.
He had spent the entire night thinking.
Someone knew.
Someone knew that the future had changed.
And whoever stood behind the assassins was afraid of what Lin Xue and Mo Yuan might uncover.
That meant the Heavenly Oracle was more important than he had originally thought.
A soft knock came from behind him.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Mo Yuan entered carrying two cups of tea.
He wore a dark blue robe today instead of his usual black.
His silver mask was still in place, though his long hair had been tied neatly behind his shoulders.
He placed one cup before Lin Xue.
“You haven’t slept.”
Lin Xue looked at him.
“Neither have you.”
“I was making arrangements.”
“For what?”
“Our departure.”
Lin Xue frowned.
“You’re serious about sending me to Qingyun Sect.”
“I’m serious about accompanying you.”
Lin Xue’s eyes widened slightly.
“You?”
Mo Yuan sat across from him.
“The journey will take several days.
If someone is willing to send assassins into my manor, they won’t hesitate to attack you on the road.”
Lin Xue was silent.
“You don’t have to come.”
“I know.”
Mo Yuan took a sip of tea.
“I’m coming anyway.”
Lin Xue couldn’t help smiling.
“You’ve always been this stubborn?”
“Probably.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m beginning to think I might be just as stubborn.”
A faint smile appeared in Mo Yuan’s eyes.
“Then we’ll get along.”
Lin Xue lowered his gaze toward his tea.
For some reason, his ears felt slightly warm.
He blamed the sunlight.
By midmorning, the Ghost Manor was preparing for departure.
Three horses stood outside the main gate.
Two black.
One white.
Lin Xue stopped when he saw the white horse.
Its mane was long and silver-white, and a small jade bell hung beneath its neck.
“You brought this for me?”
Mo Yuan nodded.
“Snowfall.”
Lin Xue stroked the horse’s neck.
The creature immediately leaned into his hand.
“It likes you.”
“Apparently.”
Behind them, Xiao Yue stood with her arms crossed.
“Big Brother!”
Mo Yuan turned.
She looked upset.
“You’re leaving again.”
“It won’t be long.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“How long?”
“A month at most.”
“A month is too long.”
Mo Yuan sighed.
Lin Xue crouched before the girl.
“Your brother will return safely.”
Xiao Yue looked at him suspiciously.
“Promise?”
Lin Xue smiled.
“Promise.”
She glanced at Mo Yuan.
“And you’ll bring him back?”
Mo Yuan looked at Lin Xue.
“Yes.”
Xiao Yue finally smiled.
“Then I believe you.”
She suddenly hugged Lin Xue.
“Come back soon, beautiful gege.”
Lin Xue gently patted her head.
“I will.”
As he stood, he noticed Mo Yuan watching him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You were staring.”
“I was thinking.”
“About?”
Mo Yuan looked toward the road leading north.
“That you’ve changed.”
Lin Xue’s smile faded slightly.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No.”
Mo Yuan shook his head.
“I think…”
His eyes returned to Lin Xue.
“…it’s a good thing.”
Before Lin Xue could answer, Mo Yuan mounted his horse.
He extended his hand.
“Come.”
Lin Xue looked at his hand.
Then at Snowfall.
He could mount himself.
He knew that.
Yet after a brief hesitation…
He placed his hand in Mo Yuan’s.
Mo Yuan pulled him onto the horse behind him.
Lin Xue’s body stiffened when their shoulders touched.
The horse shifted beneath them.
Mo Yuan immediately steadied him.
“Careful.”
“I’m fine.”
“You nearly fell.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
Lin Xue frowned.
“I was simply adjusting.”
“Of course.”
There was something suspiciously amused in Mo Yuan’s voice.
Lin Xue narrowed his eyes.
“You’ve become rather talkative.”
“Only around you.”
The words were spoken so naturally that Lin Xue didn’t immediately understand their meaning.
Then he did.
His heartbeat stumbled.
Mo Yuan seemed to realize what he had said.
He looked straight ahead.
Neither spoke again.
But neither moved away.
The capital slowly disappeared behind them.
The road stretched toward distant mountains.
Fields of green spread beneath the morning sun.
Farmers worked beside narrow streams.
Children chased one another between village houses.
It was ordinary.
Beautiful.
Lin Xue watched everything quietly.
He had forgotten how large the world was.
In his first life, he had spent so much time fighting for the throne that he had forgotten there was a world beyond it.
“Do you regret it?”
Mo Yuan suddenly asked.
“Regret what?”
“Leaving the capital.”
Lin Xue considered the question.
“No.”
His answer came easily.
“I regret not leaving sooner.”
Mo Yuan was silent for a moment.
Then he asked,
“If you could change one thing from your previous life…”
“What would it be?”
Lin Xue looked toward the distant mountains.
“I wouldn’t meet Ji Chen.”
Mo Yuan’s grip on the reins tightened.
“And if you had never met him?”
“I might have lived a completely different life.”
“Would you be happier?”
Lin Xue looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
Mo Yuan turned slightly.
Their eyes met.
Then Lin Xue smiled.
“But this life hasn’t been decided yet.”
Mo Yuan looked forward again.
“No.”
“It hasn’t.”
They continued north.
Neither noticed the black bird circling high above them.
A tiny jade seal was tied around its leg.
The seal carried the emblem of the Imperial Palace.
Three days later, they reached the foothills of Qingyun Mountain.
The enormous mountain range disappeared into the clouds.
Ancient spiritual energy filled the air.
Lin Xue felt it the moment he crossed the boundary.
His cultivation stirred instinctively.
The familiar sensation nearly brought tears to his eyes.
Qingyun Sect.
His home.
The place where he had spent his childhood.
The place he had abandoned for Ji Chen.
He stared at the mountain gate in the distance.
For the first time since his rebirth…
He felt truly free.
Then—
A bell rang from the mountaintop.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Mo Yuan’s expression changed.
“That’s not a welcome bell.”
Lin Xue’s smile disappeared.
“What does it mean?”
Mo Yuan reached for his sword.
“It means Qingyun Sect is under attack.”
Far above them, black smoke rose into the sky.
And beneath the smoke…
A gigantic formation began spreading across the mountain.
End of Chapter 9