His thoughts in utter turmoil, Xiao Yu suddenly shot to his feet and began pacing the room restlessly. His arm swept carelessly across the corner of the desk.
Click.
A faint sound came from the direction of the bookshelf.
Xiao Yu froze and turned sharply, his guard instantly up.
A tiny hidden compartment had sprung open from the side of the bookshelf.
Something was inside.
His heartbeat quickened. A powerful premonition urged him forward.
The moment his eyes fell upon its contents, he froze.
Lying quietly inside the compartment was a jade pendant.
Its material, color, and carved patterns…
…were identical to the half-pendant he had carried on his person all these years.
Except this half…
…was the Phoenix Pendant.
His hands trembled as he slowly picked it up. Though the jade was icy cold, it burned against his palm.
He reached into his robes and took out his own Dragon Pendant, then, with almost reverent care, fitted the two halves together.
They matched perfectly.
Not the slightest gap.
Whole once more.
Xiao Yu clenched the complete jade pendant tightly in his hand.
The cold stone nearly dug into his palm, but that sting was nothing compared to the storm raging within his heart.
Every inconsistency.
Every unanswered question.
Every impossible coincidence.
In that instant, they were all split apart by a bolt of lightning.
Why had A-Li’s eyes always felt so inexplicably familiar, as though he had looked into them countless times before?
Why had he felt such overwhelming protectiveness and closeness toward a girl he had known for only a short time?
His little sister…
The sister he had searched for all these years…
The little girl who used to sweetly call him “Brother”...
She hadn’t died during the assassination attempt.
Instead…
She had become this.
The leader of a mountain stronghold.
A woman commanding an entire band of outlaws.
What…
What had she endured during these six years?
What had happened to transform her into the calculating, inscrutable A-Li of today—
Someone willing to manipulate even her own brother?
He thought of how she had remained at his side all this time.
How she had watched him worry over her.
Watched him risk his life searching for her.
And yet she had looked on with those unfamiliar eyes, never once revealing who she truly was.
His heart clenched so tightly that he could scarcely breathe.
Did she truly hate them that much?
Hate them enough to become an outlaw…
To stand against the Imperial Court…
Rather than return to his side—to the home that had once been hers?
The clues had been everywhere.
Yet he had been blinded by the identity of “A-Li,” never daring to consider the most impossible answer.
An overwhelming sense of guilt flooded him.
It was his fault.
He had failed to protect her.
He had allowed her to be lost, to suffer alone, to become the person she was today.
And now…
She had been standing right before him.
Yet he still hadn’t recognized her.
“Li’er… A-Li…”
He whispered the two names, his voice hoarse and breaking, filled with boundless pain and bewilderment.
Night had fallen.
Torches crackled in the darkness.
Xie Yan held a longsword, its gleaming blade flashing like snow as he moved across the training ground with the grace of a soaring dragon.
Every strike carried a sharp whistle through the air, as though he were venting all the frustration and pent-up irritation that had built over the past several days.
“Xiao Yu” walked over quietly and stood at the edge of the field, silently observing.
She needed to familiarize herself with Xie Yan’s swordsmanship.
Know your enemy, know yourself.
After finishing the set, Xie Yan lowered his sword and exhaled slowly.
Turning toward the “Crown Prince,” he suddenly spoke, his voice carrying clearly through the quiet night.
“Your Highness seems to be in a leisurely mood today. I’ve long heard of Your Highness’s remarkable swordsmanship. Would I have the honor of receiving a few pointers?”
A flicker crossed “Xiao Yu’s” eyes.
Xie Yan had never sparred with the real Xiao Yu.
This was an opportunity to personally gauge the young general’s true abilities.
After a brief pause, she nodded.
“Very well. It will do me good to loosen up.”
She accepted a sword from a nearby soldier, weighed it in her hand, and took her stance opposite Xie Yan.
Steel flashed.
A-Li did her utmost to imitate Xiao Yu’s style—steady, dignified, emphasizing solid defense before offense.
Xie Yan’s swordsmanship, in contrast, was sharp and aggressive.
But after a dozen exchanges…
His brows gradually knit together.
The Crown Prince’s sword techniques appeared flawless.
Yet in subtle details—his power, his timing, the way his strength flowed—something felt inexplicably…
…off.
Like a masterful copy of a famous painting.
Every detail was accurate.
Yet its spirit was missing.
Just as suspicion was beginning to grow—
A sharp whistle split the air.
Something shot toward “Xiao Yu’s” face from the side at incredible speed.
Her reaction was almost instinctive.
She spun her sword around to intercept it.
Clang!
A steel-ribbed folding fan was knocked flying.
Shen Yi stepped out from the shadows.
His face was darker than it had ever been.
He stared fixedly at “Xiao Yu,” all his usual carefree humor gone.
“Your Highness has excellent reflexes,” he said coldly.
“But that defensive move…”
“…why does it look so much like the tricky, underhanded style of a wandering martial artist?”
The moment his words fell—
Torches flared to life all around them.
Soldiers who had been lying in wait surged out from every direction, surrounding the training ground completely.
A-Li immediately realized something had gone wrong.
Even so, her expression remained perfectly composed.
“Shen Yi! Xie Yan!”
Her voice rang with righteous indignation.
“What is the meaning of this?
Are you planning to rebel?”
Shen Yi let out a cold laugh.
“Rebel?”
He stepped closer, fury simmering beneath every word.
“I should be asking who you really are.“
He advanced one step at a time.
“Today we captured Black Wind Stronghold. Their chieftain spilled something rather interesting to save his own life.”
He fixed her with a piercing stare.
“The elusive leader of Qinglong Stronghold is not only an extraordinary martial artist…
She also possesses a unique talent.”
“…She’s exceptionally skilled at imitating others.”
“…Especially the art of disguise.”
Xie Yan slowly raised the tip of his sword.
“Your Highness’s behavior has indeed been subtly different these past few days.”
“Just now, during our exchange…”
“Your swordsmanship resembled His Highness’s…”
“…but it lacked the unmistakable elegance cultivated in the Eastern Palace.”
Shen Yi could no longer contain himself.
He roared,
“Speak!
Where is the real Crown Prince?!
What have you done to him?!”
Surrounded on all sides, facing the relentless pressure from both men—
“Xiao Yu” showed not the slightest trace of panic.
She lowered her head and laughed softly.
It was no longer the calm, steady laugh of the Crown Prince.
Instead, it carried a strange, almost bewitching mockery.
“Where is he?”
She tilted her head casually.
“He’s in my Qinglong Stronghold…”
“…as a guest.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ve treated him…”
“…far better than you’ve treated me.”
“You—!”
Shen Yi’s rage exploded.
“You’re courting death!”
He lunged forward, another folding fan appearing in his hand.
Although A-Li’s martial arts were exceptional, facing Shen Yi’s furious assault while simultaneously dealing with Xie Yan’s calm, calculated attacks quickly put her at a disadvantage.
She could only barely hold her ground.
Shen Yi pressed forward relentlessly, his attacks crashing down like waves.
“Talk!
Who are you?!
Why are you impersonating His Highness?!”
A-Li parried one of Xie Yan’s strikes before twisting aside to avoid Shen Yi’s razor-sharp fan.
Her breathing had begun to grow uneven.
As Shen Yi launched another fierce attack, she stepped back half a pace.
Then—
Her voice suddenly changed.
No longer the Crown Prince’s deep, composed tone.
Her own clear female voice returned, laced with unmistakable amusement.
“Who am I?”
“Young Master Shen…”
“It’s only been a few days.”
“And you’ve already forgotten me?”
The familiar feminine voice hit Shen Yi like a thunderbolt.
His movements stopped instantly.
Disbelief flooded his face.
His eyes widened in horror.
“Y-you…”
“…You’re A-Li?”