The apartment fell silent after Lin Mo left. Ji Chen helped Su Wan change her bandages. The blackness around the wound had faded, but healing was still slow.
"Does it hurt?" he asked softly.
Su Wan shook her head. "I've had worse." She tried to sound tough, but the slight tremble of her lips betrayed her.
"Why were you following me?" Ji Chen suddenly asked. "You knew how dangerous it was."
Su Wan hesitated. "I couldn't let you face Qin Yue alone... especially after I got this." She pulled up a text message from her phone. The sender was "Unknown Number." It read: Ji Chen is the next target.
"When did you get this?"
"Half an hour before the party," she said, biting her lip. "I wanted to stop you, but I couldn't reach you."
Warmth surged in Ji Chen's chest. He gently held her hand. "Thank you."
Her hand was cold, but it slowly warmed in his palm. Their eyes met, and an unspoken emotion passed between them.
"I'll get you some water," Ji Chen mumbled, suddenly awkward, and got up to head to the kitchen.
The apartment had only one bedroom. They silently agreed the bed should go to the injured. Ji Chen lay on the living room sofa but couldn't sleep. The events of the night replayed in his mind like a movie—Qin Yue's gray mist, the eerie auction, Lin Mo's sudden appearance... and Su Wan stepping in front of him.
He opened his right hand, staring at the faint jade scroll imprint on his palm. What exactly is the Taixu Canon? Why does the Night Owl Society want it so badly?
With those thoughts swirling, Ji Chen eventually drifted into sleep.
In his dream, he stood before a massive door of light. Nine slots were carved into it. One of them glowed in response to the mark on his palm…
—
The next morning, Ji Chen was awoken by noises in the kitchen. Rubbing his eyes, he walked in and saw Su Wan frying eggs. The wound on her left arm had scabbed over.
"You shouldn't be moving around." Ji Chen took the spatula from her.
"Cultivators heal faster than normal people," she said lightly, but still stepped aside. "Besides, can't escape on an empty stomach."
"Escape?"
She turned on the TV. Morning news was reporting a "gas explosion." The footage showed Qin Yue's estate.
"…three people sustained minor injuries, no fatalities…"
"Cover-up," Su Wan said coldly. "The Night Owl Society has people in the government too."
As Ji Chen flipped the eggs, a thought struck him. "What about our jobs? Disappearing like this might raise suspicion."
"I already called in sick." She showed him her phone. "Said you had food poisoning too."
"Li-jie believed that?"
"Used a little spell," she said, winking. "Voice Confusion Charm. Basic stuff."
They had just finished breakfast when the doorbell rang. Ji Chen tensed, activating his Spirit Eye. A blue aura told him it was Lin Mo.
Lin Mo entered with breakfast—steamed buns and soy milk. He looked exhausted but energized, red-eyed but alert.
"We've confirmed it," he said, biting into a bun. "Qin Yue is really Qin Wuyan—missing for thirty years. One of the seven elders of the Night Owl Society. Master of parasite and poison techniques."
Ji Chen opened the file Lin Mo handed him. Inside were yellowed documents and black-and-white photos. A younger Qin Yue—no, Qin Wuyan—stood among a group of black-robed men, eyes cold and sinister.
"He escaped during the crackdown decades ago. Then reemerged as a businessman," Lin Mo said. "We believe he's building a massive formation in Jiang City. But we haven't found the core."
Ji Chen thought back. "Genesis Group has a city renovation project, right?"
"Exactly." Lin Mo's eyes lit up. "What did you find?"
"Last month, Qin Yue oversaw a sewer project himself. He was really specific about a few node designs," Ji Chen recalled. "Seemed excessive back then. But now…"
"They could be formation nodes!" Su Wan added. "The Nine Yin Spirit-Gathering Array needs nine unique nodes."
Lin Mo quickly pulled out his phone. "I'll get the blueprints checked. You two stay out of sight. Qin Yue's men are everywhere."
After he left, Ji Chen and Su Wan studied the Heavenly Tome's formation section. The knowledge was obscure and complex. They barely managed to understand a few basic setups.
That afternoon, Ji Chen felt his spiritual energy roiling. He sat cross-legged, meditating. The cyclone in his dantian spun wildly, condensing tightly.
"I think I'm breaking through," he murmured.
Su Wan set up a Spirit Gathering Array. "Focus. I'll guard you."
Ji Chen followed the Canon's guidance. His energy surged, scouring his meridians. A crisp crack echoed in his mind—as if a barrier shattered.
His power solidified, and new glowing text appeared in his consciousness: Taixu Canon – Layer 2: Basic Alchemy Techniques.
"Congrats. Spirit Awakening – Mid Stage." Su Wan smiled. "How does it feel?"
Ji Chen opened his eyes. The world was sharper. He could see every feather on a bird, hear a TV show downstairs.
"Amazing." He flexed his arms, feeling the strength. "The Canon also unlocked alchemy."
Su Wan's eyes sparkled. "Really? Then we can—"
Her words were cut off by a ringing phone. A strange number. Su Wan's face went pale.
"Grandfather?" she answered, her voice trembling.
Ji Chen couldn't hear the words, but Su Wan's expression grew darker by the second.
"I understand… Yes… I'll return in three days…" She hung up, hands shaking.
"What happened?"
"The clan summoned me," she said. "The Zhao family officially proposed marriage. Grandfather agreed."
"Marriage?" Ji Chen froze. "You mean—?"
"Zhao Mingyang." Su Wan sneered. "The eldest son of the Zhao family needs a Su-blooded wife to gain access to the Qingluan Flame. I'm just pure enough—and just low-ranking enough—not to threaten him."
Ji Chen felt his chest tighten. "You're going back?"
"I have to," she said, biting her lip. "I owe my grandfather. I can't defy the clan. But..." She looked at him. "We have three days."
Silence stretched. Ji Chen wanted to say something—anything—but the words wouldn't come. They'd only known each other two weeks, yet shared life-and-death trials. Now she had to walk away. What right did he have to stop her?
"Let's finish Qin Yue first," she finally said. "Before I leave, I want you safe."
Ji Chen nodded. But in his heart, a flame was lit—he would grow stronger. Strong enough to change unfair fates. Strong enough to protect those he cared about.
—