Confusion churned through his mind. He suddenly sprang to his feet and began pacing the room in agitation. His arm accidentally swept hard across the corner of the desk.
Click.
A faint sound came from the bookshelf.
Xiao Yu froze and turned sharply toward it.
A hidden compartment, cleverly concealed in the side of the shelf, had popped open. Something lay inside.
His heart began pounding again. An overwhelming instinct urged him forward.
The moment his eyes fell upon its contents, he stopped breathing.
Inside the compartment rested a jade pendant.
Its texture, color, and intricate carving were identical to the half-pendant he had carried against his chest for years.
Only this one was the Phoenix Pendant.
With trembling hands, Xiao Yu carefully lifted it out. The cool jade should have felt soothing, yet it burned against his palm.
He drew out the Dragon Pendant from inside his robe and, almost reverently, fitted the two halves together.
They aligned perfectly.
Without the slightest gap.
Complete.
Xiao Yu gripped the now-whole jade pendant so tightly that the cold stone nearly cut into his palm. Yet that slight pain was nothing compared to the storm raging inside him.
Every unanswered question.
Every inconsistency.
Every strange feeling.
At that moment, they all shattered beneath a single flash of realization.
Why had A’Li’s eyes always seemed so painfully familiar, as though he had looked into them countless times before?
Why had he felt such inexplicable affection and such an overwhelming urge to protect a girl he had only recently met?
His little sister…
The sister he had searched for all these years.
The little girl who had once sweetly called him “Brother.”
She hadn’t died in that assassination attempt.
Instead…
She had become this—
The leader of a bandit stronghold.
What had she endured during those six years?
What suffering had transformed her into the calculating, inscrutable A’Li who could even manipulate her own brother?
The thought that she had stayed by his side all this time—
Watching him with unfamiliar eyes…
Listening as he worried over her…
Risking his life to search for her…
Yet never once revealing who she truly was—
Made his heart feel as though it were being crushed in an iron grip.
Did she truly hate them that much?
Enough to choose life as an outlaw…
To stand against the imperial court…
Rather than return to him…
Return to the home that had once been hers?
The signs had been everywhere.
Yet he had been blinded by the identity of “A’Li,” never daring to imagine the most impossible truth.
A crushing wave of guilt engulfed him.
He had failed to protect her.
He had allowed her to be lost, to suffer alone, to become who she was today.
And now…
She had been standing right in front of him.
Yet he still hadn’t recognized her.
“…Li’er… A’Li…”
He whispered the two names in a broken, hoarse voice, filled with endless pain and bewilderment.
The night was deep.
Torches crackled in the darkness.
Xie Yan stood in the training yard, sword in hand. Its blade gleamed like fresh snow as he moved with the grace of a soaring dragon.
Every strike split the air with razor-sharp force, as though he were venting all the frustration and restlessness that had built up over the past several days.
“Xiao Yu” walked over quietly and stopped at the edge of the arena, silently observing.
She needed to familiarize herself with Xie Yan’s swordsmanship. Know the enemy, know herself.
When he finished the set, Xie Yan lowered his sword, breathing only slightly heavier than before.
Turning toward the “Crown Prince,” he spoke into the stillness.
“Your Highness seems to be in rather good spirits tonight. I’ve long heard that your swordsmanship is exceptional. Would you honor this humble general by giving me a few pointers?”
A’Li’s eyes flickered.
Xie Yan had never crossed blades with the real Xiao Yu before. This was an excellent opportunity to personally gauge the young general’s abilities.
After a brief pause, she nodded.
“Very well. A little exercise won’t hurt.”
She accepted a sword from a nearby soldier, tested its weight, and faced Xie Yan.
Steel flashed.
A’Li meticulously imitated Xiao Yu’s style—steady, dignified, emphasizing balanced offense and defense.
Xie Yan’s swordsmanship, in contrast, was sharp and aggressive, pressing relentlessly forward.
But after a dozen exchanges, his brows gradually knitted together.
The Crown Prince’s techniques appeared flawless.
Yet something about the way he generated power in subtle movements felt…
Wrong.
It was like looking at an exquisite copy of a masterpiece.
Every detail was correct.
Yet somehow…
Its soul was missing.
Just as the duel continued and Xie Yan’s suspicions deepened—
A sharp whistle suddenly cut through the air.
A steel fan shot toward “Xiao Yu’s” face from the side.
Without thinking, she instinctively swung her sword to intercept.
Clang!
The steel fan was knocked away with a crisp metallic ring.
Shen Yi stepped out from the shadows.
His expression was darker than anyone had ever seen. Gone were his usual playfulness and teasing smile. He stared fixedly at “Xiao Yu.”
“Your Highness truly has remarkable reflexes.”
His voice was cold.
“But that defensive move… doesn’t it resemble the crafty tricks of a wandering martial artist rather than the orthodox swordsmanship of the Eastern Palace?”
The instant his words fell—
Torches flared to life all around them.
Soldiers who had been lying in ambush surged out from every direction, completely surrounding the training ground.
A’Li immediately realized something was wrong, though her expression remained calm.
“Shen Yi. Xie Yan.”
She spoke with measured authority.
“What is the meaning of this?
Are you planning to rebel?”
Shen Yi let out a cold laugh.
“Rebel?”
He stepped forward, anger barely restrained.
“I should be asking you—
Who exactly are you?”
He continued, each word heavy with fury.
“Today, after we captured Black Wind Stronghold, their chieftain revealed something… interesting.”
“The mysterious leader of Qinglong Stronghold—who has vanished without a trace—not only possesses exceptional martial arts…”
“…but is also renowned for one extraordinary skill.”
“She is a master of disguise.”
“And unparalleled at impersonating others.”
Xie Yan slowly raised the tip of his sword as well.
“Your Highness’s behavior has indeed been subtly different these past few days.”
“Just now, while exchanging blows with me…”
“…your swordsmanship resembled His Highness’s…”
“…but it lacked the unique spirit of the Eastern Palace by three parts.”
At last, Shen Yi could no longer contain himself.
He roared,
“Talk!
Where is the real Crown Prince?!
What have you done to him?!”
Surrounded on all sides and confronted by the two men, “Xiao Yu” showed no trace of panic.
She lowered her head and laughed softly.
The laugh no longer carried the Crown Prince’s calm composure.
Instead, it was strangely enchanting…
Mocking.
“Where is he?”
She tilted her head and answered lightly,
“He’s in my Qinglong Stronghold…”
“…as my guest.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ve treated him…”
“…far better than you’ve treated me.”
“You—!”
Rage overwhelmed Shen Yi.
“You’re courting death!”
He lunged forward, another steel fan somehow already in his hand.
Although A’Li’s martial arts were formidable, facing Shen Yi’s furious assault together with Xie Yan’s calm precision quickly put her at a disadvantage.
She could do little more than barely hold them off.
Shen Yi attacked in relentless waves.
“Speak!”
“Who are you?!
Why are you impersonating His Highness?!”
A’Li deflected one of Xie Yan’s strikes before twisting aside to avoid Shen Yi’s fan. Her breathing became slightly uneven.
As Shen Yi launched another fierce attack, she suddenly retreated half a step.
Then—
Her voice changed.
Gone was the Crown Prince’s deep, composed tone.
Her own clear feminine voice returned, laced with unmistakable amusement.
“Who am I?”
She smiled.
“Prince Shen…”
“It’s only been a few days.”
“Have you already forgotten me?”
The familiar female voice made Shen Yi’s attack falter instantly.
His face filled with utter disbelief.
“You…”
“You… you’re A’Li?”
It was only a split second of hesitation.
But A’Li’s eyes flashed with killing intent as she seized the fleeting opening.
Slash!
The fabric over Shen Yi’s shoulder split apart.
Blood burst from the wound at once.
He grunted and stumbled backward.
“Shen Yi!”
Startled, Xie Yan rushed forward to check his injury.
In that instant of distraction, A’Li didn’t hesitate.
She flicked a small black pellet into the air.
Boom!
A cloud of thick white smoke exploded outward, engulfing the entire training ground and blotting out everyone’s vision.
“Careful! The smoke is poisonous!”
Xie Yan shouted, immediately holding his breath as he retreated.
The soldiers fell into chaos.
Coughing.
Shouts.
Panic spread in every direction.
By the time the smoke had begun to thin…
The fake Crown Prince had already vanished.
Only Shen Yi remained, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
Beside him stood a grim-faced Xie Yan.
Around them, the soldiers stared at one another in stunned silence.
Covering his wound, Shen Yi’s face was deathly pale. Whether from blood loss or fury, even he could no longer tell.
He stared blankly in the direction A’Li had disappeared and murmured,
“A’Li…”
“So she really was…”
“…the leader of Qinglong Stronghold?”
“She’d been by our side the whole time?”
Night had grown deep.
Candlelight flickered softly.
A’Li staggered back into the stronghold, a shallow cut across her shoulder still slowly seeping blood.
She hastily bandaged the wound, changed back into her fitted black attire, and put on her familiar silver half-mask that concealed everything above her nose, revealing only her well-defined jawline and those striking eyes so uncannily similar to Xiao Yu’s.
She immediately summoned Qing Ren.
Spreading a carefully prepared map of the imperial army’s supply depots across the table, she tapped several relatively weakly defended positions.
Her voice was slightly hoarse from blood loss and exhaustion, yet still carried the decisiveness of a battlefield commander.
“Xie Yan wants to starve us into submission.”
“Then we’ll burn his supplies first.”
“Qing Ren.”
“Take a few skilled men.”
“Follow the locations marked here.”
“At midnight tonight, set every one of these supply points ablaze.”
“Move fast.”
“Withdraw the moment the job is done.”
“Don’t get drawn into a fight.”
“Yes, Chief!”
Qing Ren accepted the order.
Seeing her pale lips and the blood staining her shoulder, he wanted to say something.
In the end, he merely clenched his jaw and turned away to make the preparations.
Only after finishing the important matters did A’Li truly begin to feel the throbbing pain from her wound.
Taking a slow breath to steady herself, an inexplicable impulse came over her.
She wanted to check on the “honored guest” she had personally “invited” up the mountain.
As she walked along the stone paths of the stronghold, she overheard several guards on night watch whispering among themselves.
Their voices carried clearly through the quiet night.
“Hey, have you heard?”
“The man the Chief brought back…”
“He’s unbelievably handsome.”
“No kidding.”
“They say he’s been staying in the Chief’s room every day without causing any trouble.”
“I’d say he’s definitely going to become the Chief’s husband.”
“Our Chief is powerful, capable…”
“So what if she kidnapped herself a handsome husband?”
“Exactly!”
“I think they make a pretty good match…”
A’Li stopped in her tracks.
Beneath her mask, one eyebrow shot upward.
The Chief’s husband?
A good match?
Did these people really have nothing better to do?
Her first instinct was to scold them.
But the rumor was so absurd that she almost laughed.
In the end, she merely shook her head and ignored the gossip, continuing toward the room.
Inside, Xiao Yu sat beneath the lamplight with a book in his hands, completely absorbed in reading.
The warm glow softened the sharp lines of his profile.
His long eyelashes cast delicate shadows across his face.
An air of quiet elegance surrounded him.
It was utterly out of place amid the rugged mountain stronghold…
Yet somehow…
The contrast created a strangely beautiful picture.
He looked…
Unexpectedly comfortable here.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, a faint sense of annoyance stirred inside her.
Remembering the rumors she’d just heard, a mischievous thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Deliberately lowering her voice into a rough, bandit-like drawl, she leaned lazily against the doorway.
“Well now~”
“Your Highness seems to be enjoying himself.”
“So comfortable…”
“Could it be you’ve really decided to marry me and become this stronghold’s husband?”
She waited expectantly to see embarrassment.
Or outrage.
Or at least awkwardness.
Instead…
Xiao Yu calmly closed the book and slowly looked up at her.
His face remained perfectly composed.
Only the fingers resting on the pages tightened slightly, the knuckles paling with the effort.
His gaze pierced straight through her mask, as though he could already see her true face.
His voice was just as gentle as she remembered.
Yet it carried a depth that unsettled her.
“Does A’Li…”
“…want to become family with me?”
The teasing smile froze on A’Li’s face.
She stood rooted to the spot.
He…
He knew?
How?
When?
Instinctively, she straightened.
Disbelief—and a flicker of panic at being exposed—flashed through her eyes.
But she quickly forced herself back under control.
Without another word, she walked inside and casually shut the door behind her.
Moving to the table with deliberate ease, she picked up the teacup Xiao Yu had been using.
Without the slightest hesitation, she poured herself a cup.
“Your Highness must be joking.”
She took a sip, her eyes gleaming provocatively.
“There are many ways to become family.”
“For example…”
“If Your Highness is willing to put on a crimson wedding gown…”
“…live here in Qinglong Stronghold from now on…”
“…and raise children as my husband…”
“That would make quite a romantic tale, wouldn’t it?”
Just as she had expected, Xiao Yu showed neither anger nor embarrassment.
He simply watched her.
Watching the forced ease that barely concealed the tension beneath.
After a long moment…
He sighed softly.
Then he rose to his feet and walked toward her.
He stopped so close that they could feel each other’s breath.
His voice was low…
Gentle…
As though afraid of frightening something fragile away.
“Or…”
“…Li’er.”
“Would you be willing…”
“…to acknowledge me as your brother?”
“Pff—”
“Cough! Cough! Cough!“
The mouthful of tea A’Li hadn’t yet swallowed sprayed straight out.
She doubled over, coughing violently.
When she looked up again, she stared at Xiao Yu as though he were some unimaginable monster.
The composed smile she had worn so effortlessly finally shattered.
Only shock…
Confusion…
And utter disbelief remained.
Xiao Yu’s gaze was unbearably gentle.
Filled with a compassion so deep it seemed capable of melting even the hardest ice.
For a fleeting instant…
It felt as though time had reversed.
She was no longer the feared Chief of Qinglong Stronghold.
She was once again the little girl who had run crying into her brother’s arms after scraping her knees.
And he…
Had always comforted her with that same gentle voice.
Always wiped away her tears.
As if bewitched…
She almost surrendered to that familiar warmth.
Almost…
Her head gave the faintest unconscious nod.
But then—
Xue Ji’s hoarse, venomous voice tore violently through her mind.
“With the filthy, hideous person you’ve become… they’ll only find you disgusting.”
“They’ll fear you.”
“Despise you.”
“And abandon you all over again.”
“Qing Lan…”
“Your heart has never been hard enough.”
“Someone shows you the tiniest bit of kindness…”
“And you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.”
No.
She couldn’t allow herself to weaken.
She was no longer the helpless little girl who needed protecting.
She was Qing Lan—
Her hands stained with blood.
The ruler of Qinglong Stronghold.
Affection.
Promises.
Family.
They were all lies.
Only strength.
Only control.
Those were real.
The hesitation vanished from A’Li’s face, replaced by a coldness that bordered on merciless.
She turned her head slightly, avoiding the eyes that unsettled her so deeply.
When she spoke again, her voice had gone cold.
“Your Highness…”
“What are you talking about?”
“What family?”
“What promise?”
“I don’t understand a single word.”