But..

  Wang Lee's movements stutter—just slightly—as he catches Jiyin staring. Behind the fox mask, his cheeks burn hotter than any fire spell could make them.

  He whirls away with a sharp turn of silk sleeves, pretending to focus on the other dancers. But his steps are too stiff now, betraying him entirely as heat crawls up from beneath the porcelain mask and spreads across every inch of skin it touches.

  (next morning)

  In a hidden hall deep within the palace walls, General Taishi stands before a map laid out on a massive table, a group of high-ranking officers gathered around him. The room is filled with tension as the officers discuss the upcoming attack on Xian Tian Empire.

  General Taishi surveys the map, his eyes tracing the borders of the two empires as he strategizes the best way to approach the battle. "Let's go over the plan again."

  Meanwhile : 1 pm - market place

  Wang Lee moves through the streets of the city, disguised as a commoner. He moves quickly, his steps sure and steady, keeping his head low to avoid drawing attention. Along the way, he passes by a familiar figure—the person from that day restaurant, who had slipped him the red beans.

  The person gives him a subtle nod as he nears, and then discreetly passes him a cloth, handing it off with practiced ease. Wang Lee takes the cloth without breaking stride, tucking it away safely inside his clothes.

  Wang Lee stiffens as a loud voice suddenly rings out through the crowds, ordering him to halt. He turns to see who it is, and his heart sinks as he sees the imposing figure of Yàn Lín—the infamous royal knight.

  Yàn Lín stands tall and muscular, his face set in a stern expression. He looks down at Wang Lee.

  "You there," he barks, pointing a finger at the unsuspecting Wang Lee. "Halt! Identify yourself!"

  Wang Lee remains frozen, his heart in his throat, waiting to see how this plays out. Then, to his surprise, the knight steps past him and goes directly to the person behind him—the one who had handed him the cloth earlier.

  The knight towers over the other person, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he addresses them.

  "You there," he barks again, "Identify yourself. What is your purpose in this area?"

  Wang lew sees the knight ruthlessly-

  behead

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  the person who had given him the cloth. His heart sinks as he realizes what just happened. That person had been his only connection, his only link to the outside world. Now they were dead, and he was completely alone.

  As the knight straightens up, turning to inspect the area around him, Wang Lee quickly ducks into the nearest alley, heart pounding.

  The knight mutters under his breath, his voice low and dangerous. "Didn't they read the notice? Anyone who doesn't identify themselves within five seconds is considered a spy and will be immediately killed. No exceptions."

  Wang Lee's heart pounds with dread, but he fights to remain calm. He keeps his face neutral, his body tense as he keeps his eyes fixed on the knight.

  The knight and the other guards leave, disappearing around a corner. Wang Lee stays frozen in place, his heart still racing in his chest. The sound of their footsteps slowly fade away, leaving him alone in the alleyway.

  He exhales a shaky breath, pressing a trembling hand to his chest as he tries to regain his composure.

  (After 3 days)

  Three days passed since Jiyin's near-death experience. Empress and Emperor continues to recuperate in a private corner of the palace, with the Loyal Ministers and the Commander of Kai Fu's imperial guards—Taishi.

  The five of them gathered in the Empress' quarters, speaking in hushed voices as guards patrol outside. Taishi stands next to the door, arms folded in front of him as he speaks in a low tone.

  The Emperor's eyes narrow, his voice low and calculating. "Only the Xian Tian royal family knows that blood-awakening ritual. So whoever saved Jiyin... is definitely from their ranks."

  A heavy silence follows. Then the Empress speaks, her fingers tapping against the table. "Unless... he doesn't want to be a spy anymore?"

  Taishi scoffs but doesn't argue—because if this assassin has gone rogue? That changes everything.

  The Emperor is livid, his brow furrowed and eyes dark. He slams the table with his fist.

  "How the hell did a spy get so close to Jiyin without anyone catching him?! The palace is fortified with the best guards in the kingdom... how was the intruder not caught?!"

  Before he can get angrier, the Empress lays a hand on his arm. "Calm down."

  The Empress speaks, firm but measured. She squeezes her husband's arm, a reminder to keep his temper in check.

  "Yes, this spy helped us... but that doesn't change the fact that he's a spy." The Emperor's gaze hardens, his anger not quelled in the slightest. He's ready to go on a rampage like a wounded tiger, but the Empress holds him firm.

  "And for now... we need to increase security."

  The Emperor's voice is sharp and demanding, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What did Jiyin say? Who saved him?"

  The minister speaks, answering with all the composure of a seasoned attendant. "His Highness said he doesn't remember anything that happened."

  The Empress takes over, her eyes locked on the Emperor.

  "It's likely that his memories are still hazy. It took three days for him to fully recover. We need to give him time to remember."

  The Empress nods, her eyes sharp and hard as a hawk. "Make the security tight. Whoever that spy is, if we catch him—we won't kill him. Not yet."

  Taishi raises an eyebrow, looking at the Empress. "You're going to spare him? Even though he's a spy?"

  The Empress's gaze snaps to Taishi—sharp, calculating but a sinful smirk. "He saved our son's life. Yes, we're going to spare him."

  Taishi's expression turns surprised, eyes flickering between the Empress and the Emperor. The other Loyal Ministers look equally stunned, taken aback by this unexpected decision. Only the Emperor is silent, his expression pensive and unreadable.

  The Emperor leans forward, his gaze intense. He speaks, his voice low and commanding. "Tell everyone. If someone catches the spy, they will be rewarded with a fortune."

  The ministers all look at one another, all of them processing the words. A fortune? A reward like that... would drive just about anyone to try. Taishi doesn't even try to hide his smirk, his thoughts clearly spinning.

  The Emperor raises his hand—a sharp, silencing gesture. The ministers freeze in place, and the guards at the door straighten immediately.

  "Dismissed." His voice is cold steel—the kind of tone that leaves no room for argument.

  One by one, they bow deeply before turning on their heels to leave. Only when the last shadow disappears beyond palace doors does His Majesty finally lower his fist... still clenched tight enough to bruise bone beneath silk gloves.

  The Empress's voice is quiet, laced with suspicion as she studies the Emperor's face. "That spy... he was strong enough to use Lightness Technique—flying over Jiyin's bed like a shadow. But..."

  She pauses, her eyes narrowing. "The talisman I placed on the door? It reacts to any malicious intent toward our son. If that man had even a single thought of harming him... it would've burned him alive on contact."

  The Emperor rubs his temples, frustration and confusion warring in his gaze. He mutters under his breath, "Why would a Xian Tian royal—one of their best assassins—save Jiyin?"

  His fingers tighten around the edge of the table. "If he's loyal to them... then

  this was never about espionage. It was something else."

  A shadow flickers across the Empress's face as she murmurs back: "...Or maybe loyalty doesn't mean what we thought it did."