She had escaped once.
Relying only on hazy childhood memories and astonishing determination, she had nearly reached the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
And then…
He had caught her with effortless ease, like a cat toying with a mouse.
That time, he beat her until she hovered on the brink of death.
Several of her bones were broken.
She had truly believed she was going to die.
Yet afterward, he summoned the finest medicines and personally treated her wounds.
His touch had been almost… gentle.
As he stroked her hair, his low voice whispered like a devil in her ear.
“Qinglan… my good disciple…”
“Why don’t you understand?”
“You think those lofty people…”
“…after abandoning you once…”
“…would ever accept you again?”
“You.”
“Covered in blood.”
“Filthy beyond redemption.”
He smiled.
“Stop dreaming.”
“You can never go back.”
“Only I…”
“Only the Nether Pavilion…”
“…are your true home.”
“Remember.”
“You are Qinglan.”
“My Qinglan.”
“Qinglan…”
“Qinglan…”
His voice, like a curse, still echoed in her ears.
Clang—!
A’Li’s wrist suddenly gave way.
Her sword slipped from her grasp and struck the ground with a sharp metallic ring.
It was as though every ounce of strength had been drained from her body.
She staggered backward several steps before collapsing against the cold trunk of a tree, barely managing to remain standing.
Xue Ji’s words…
Like the cruelest curse imaginable…
Had long ago carved themselves into her very bones.
Slowly, she lifted her hands.
They were pale.
Slender.
Beautiful.
And forever stained with blood that could never be washed away.
That’s right…
I’m a monster.
A tool built only for killing.
How could someone like me ever go back?
How could I possibly deserve…
…to be looked at with the same warmth in Brother’s eyes?
She slowly slid down the tree until she was sitting on the ground.
Burying her face deep between her knees, her shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
Like a wounded young animal silently licking its own wounds.
Following the faint sound of muffled sobbing, Xiao Yu made his way to the secluded clearing behind the mountain.
What greeted him was the sight of A’Li curled beneath a tree.
The cunning smile…
The cold authority…
The fearless composure she always carried…
Had completely disappeared.
All that remained was someone heartbreakingly fragile.
His heart felt as though an invisible hand had seized it and squeezed hard.
Without a second thought, he rushed over.
“Li’er…”
he called softly.
Almost instinctively, he crouched beside her, wrapped both arms around her trembling body, and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
The person in his arms shuddered violently.
Startled, she instinctively tried to struggle free.
But she had cried until every bit of strength had left her body.
She slowly lifted her face.
Tears still clung to her damp eyelashes.
Those eyes—
Eyes identical to his own—
Were filled with lingering pain and confusion.
Like a lost fawn.
The sight nearly shattered Xiao Yu’s heart.
He asked nothing.
He didn’t ask why she was crying.
He didn’t ask about the wounds hidden in her past.
He simply tightened his embrace.
Using his own warmth to wrap around her chilled body.
One hand gently stroked her hair…
Just as he had done countless times when comforting her after childhood scrapes and falls.
His voice was so gentle it seemed capable of melting anything.
“It’s alright…”
“It’s alright now…”
“Brother is here.”
“I’m right here.”
That familiar warmth…
That unconditional protection…
Burst through the final wall A’Li had built around her heart like a collapsing dam.
She could no longer hold herself together.
She buried her face deeply against her brother’s chest.
Both hands clutched tightly at the front of his robes.
She didn’t sob loudly.
Instead…
It was the quiet, broken crying of someone who had endured far too much for far too long.
She cried so softly…
Yet with such utter despair…
As though six years of grievance…
Fear…
Pain…
Loneliness…
Were finally pouring out all at once.
Xiao Yu’s heart ached beyond words.
He only held her tighter.
Resting his chin lightly atop her head, he whispered over and over,
“Cry if you need to…”
“It’ll feel better once it’s all out.”
“Brother’s here with you.”
“I’ll always be here.”
He didn’t know what she had gone through.
But he knew…
His little sister desperately needed somewhere safe to let it all out.
And he was willing to become the strongest support she could lean on…
No matter what she had become.
After an unknown amount of time, the sobbing gradually faded.
Only the occasional hiccup remained.
A’Li had finally cried herself empty.
She also realized how completely she had lost control.
Slowly, she lifted her head from Xiao Yu’s embrace.
Her eyes and nose were bright red.
Tear tracks still marked her cheeks.
Then she noticed the large damp patch she’d cried into on his robes.
When her gaze met Xiao Yu’s eyes—
Filled with nothing but worry and endless tenderness—
Embarrassment washed over her instantly.
She abruptly turned her face away.
Using the back of her hand, she wiped at her cheeks in a fluster.
Her voice was thick with tears and a stuffy nose.
Yet she deliberately tried to sound fierce.
“What are you staring at?!”
“It’s… it’s all your fault!”
“Who told you to keep sticking to me these past few days?”
“Now everyone in the stronghold is spreading ridiculous rumors!”
“I… I can’t even show my face anymore!”
“I wasn’t crying because I was sad!”
“I was angry!”
“That’s right!”
“I cried because I was mad!”
Watching her desperately pretend to be fierce despite looking so vulnerable, Xiao Yu felt both aching sadness and overwhelming tenderness.
How could he possibly expose such a transparent excuse?
He simply smiled softly.
His gaze remained as gentle as ever.
“Alright.”
“It’s Brother’s fault.”
“I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“I won’t let our A’Li lose face anymore.”
He lifted his hand.
With the pad of his thumb, he gently wiped away the remaining tears on her cheek.
His movements were impossibly delicate…
As though he were touching the most precious treasure in the world.
A’Li instantly stiffened.
Her heartbeat skipped.
Just as she was about to swat his hand away—
“Chief!”
A hurried shout shattered the delicate moment.
Qing Ren came rushing over, his expression grave.
Clearly, something urgent had happened.
The instant he saw the two embracing beneath the tree, he froze in place.
A flash of shock—and awkward embarrassment—crossed his face.
For a moment, he didn’t know whether to advance or retreat.
A’Li reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
She sprang backward immediately.
Turning away, she hastily straightened her clothes and put her mask back on.
When she faced them again…
The vulnerable young woman had vanished.
Standing there once more was the imposing Chief of Qinglong Stronghold.
“What is it?”
she asked coldly, deliberately disguising the lingering hoarseness in her voice.
Only then did Qing Ren snap back to himself.
Remembering why he had come, his expression turned deadly serious once again.
Whatever strange atmosphere existed between the Chief and this so-called “Madam” could wait.
He cupped his fists urgently.
“Chief!”
“Something’s wrong!”
“The imperial army has made a major move!”
Xiao Yu frowned slightly, his own expression turning serious as he looked toward Qing Ren.
A’Li’s heart sank.
“Explain.”
“They’ve mobilized a huge number of laborers and auxiliary troops!”
“They’re cutting down the forests at the foot of the mountain like mad!”
“From the look of it, they’re clearing a broad road by force!”
“And that’s not all.”
“They’ve also dispatched several teams toward the rear mountain.”
“They’re searching around as if looking for something.”
“They’re acting extremely suspicious.”
A’Li’s expression darkened instantly.
Cutting down the forest…
Searching the rear mountain…
That was not Shen Yi’s or Xie Yan’s style.
This…
Was the work of an experienced veteran commander.
Someone who had immediately targeted the two greatest advantages Qinglong Stronghold relied upon—
Its difficult terrain…
And its hidden tunnels.
Who’s arrived?
Has the Imperial Court sent reinforcements?
And not just anyone…
Someone truly formidable.
Her eyes shot toward Xiao Yu.
Having heard Qing Ren’s report, Xiao Yu had likewise realized how unusual the situation was.
His gaze met A’Li’s.
In his eyes, too, lay the same gravity…
And the same silent question.