Without wasting even a single moment, Lixuan swung his sword and launched a second strike at Mo Yan.
Just as the blade was about to reach him—
the ground suddenly shook violently.
"Dhhaddd!"
It was as if the entire Yuzhen Clan had trembled from its very foundations.
The soldiers lost their balance.
Many of them fell to the ground.
"What is this—?"
Xiangu said as he struggled to steady himself.
Just then—
a massive wave of flames surged from behind, so fierce that even the air itself seemed to burn.
"Aaaahhh!"
Several soldiers were engulfed by the flames...
and within moments, they were reduced to ashes.
For an instant, the entire battlefield froze.
Everyone slowly lifted their eyes toward the sky.
And then—
they saw it.
Amidst the clouds and thick smoke,
a gigantic dragon hovered in the sky.
Its body was shrouded in black and crimson smoke...
its eyes glowed like blood...
and strange black markings covered its body—
as though someone had forcibly bound it with a mysterious power.
The moment Zhichen saw the dark energy pouring from the dragon's body,
his eyes narrowed.
"Yin Mo Ji..."
The dragon let out a deafening roar.
The entire sky echoed with its cry.
Compared to it,
humans truly looked no more than insects.
The dragon opened its mouth once again...
and unleashed another torrent of fire toward the ground.
People began running in every direction.
The battlefield was filled with screams.
Standing far away,
Li Chen heard everything—
the trembling earth...
the roaring flames...
the terrified screams of the people...
and her heart began pounding even faster.
Zhiyun, the elder of the Yuzhen Clan, spoke in a stern voice,
"This is an enchanted dragon..."
Everyone turned their eyes toward him.
"It will not be easy to defeat it."
"To kill it..."
"the union of two powers is essential."
Zhichen's expression changed,
as though he had suddenly realized something.
Zhiyun was just about to continue speaking—
when Mo Yan burst into loud laughter.
"Ha!"
"Go on, Zhiyun..."
His voice was venomous.
"Why don't you tell everyone the truth?"
He slowly stepped forward.
His eyes were gleaming with a dangerous light.
"One power..."
he said, looking at Zhichen,
"is with you."
Zhichen froze for a moment.
Mo Yan laughed again.
"But the unfortunate thing is..."
"The second power..."
He slowly dragged out each word—
"...died together with Lixuan."
The entire battlefield fell silent once again.
Lixuan's fist clenched even tighter.
Zhichen's gaze immediately fixed on him.
The air had grown heavy.
The dragon was roaring in the sky...
And below—
another truth was on the verge of being revealed.
Lixuan, or rather Xiu, was now burning with rage like blazing fire.
Mo Yan's words were reopening old wounds inside him...
Every single word felt as though it were piercing his chest.
Watching all of this from afar—
Zhichen's suspicion kept growing deeper.
His eyes remained fixed on Xiu again and again.
Only one question kept echoing in his mind—
"Who exactly is he...?"
Just then—
Mo Yan suddenly swung his sword.
A fierce strike came straight toward Lixuan.
"Clang!"
Lixuan tried to block it—
but the attack was so powerful that he was thrown a few steps backward.
Before he could fall—
Zhichen immediately rushed forward and caught him.
"Be careful!"
Zhichen said in a stern voice.
At that very moment—
Lixuan's mask slipped slightly.
Just enough—
for Zhichen to catch a glimpse of a small part of his face.
Zhichen froze completely for a moment.
His eyes widened slightly.
As if he had recognized something...
or perhaps was on the verge of recognizing it.
But Lixuan immediately adjusted his mask.
And without saying a single word—
he stood up again.
The dragon continued roaring in the sky.
Its flames were spreading in every direction.
Many soldiers were caught in its fire—
and within moments, they were burned to death.
The entire battlefield echoed with screams.
Jinhai said anxiously,
"Father! There has to be another way!"
Zhiyun's face grew heavy.
He said softly,
"No..."
There was regret in his voice.
"If only..."
"We had understood that day..."
"...then none of this would have happened today."
Just then—
the dragon suddenly opened its mouth toward them.
A massive stream of fire came rushing straight at them.
Zhichen immediately stepped forward.
He blocked the attack with his power.
Wind and light collided at the same time.
But—
he couldn't destroy the dragon.
His power was falling short.
Lixuan saw this.
His heart grew restless.
"I have to do something..."
But he knew—
if he used his true power...
then his identity would be revealed before everyone.
And he did not want that to happen yet.
He was still trapped in that dilemma when—
suddenly, a swift attack came toward him.
Han Zeyu.
His sword struck directly near Lixuan's shoulder.
"Ahh
Lixuan couldn't keep his balance.
Blood began to spread across his clothes.
Zhichen immediately turned around.
"Xiu!"
Far away—
Li Chen, who was standing near the children, suddenly clutched her chest.
As if someone had squeezed her heart with great force.
Her breathing became rapid.
"Master..."
she said softly.
She felt it—
something had gone terribly wrong.
Without thinking for even a moment—
Li Chen immediately ran toward the battlefield.
On the other side—
Rongwei was still standing in Qingshui Village.
His heart had become even more restless.
Everything he had heard—
had raised even more questions within him.
Rongwei asked the old man again,
"Uncle..."
"So... that girl was really found by them in the forest?"
The old man slowly nodded.
"Yes, son."
"But we don't know..."
"how they found her..."
"when they found her..."
"or who abandoned her there."
He took a deep breath.
"We only know this much..."
"that ever since that girl was with them..."
"her eyes had always been covered with a blindfold."
Rongwei fell silent for a moment.
His heart slowly grew heavier.
"A blindfold over her eyes...?"
he repeated softly.
The old man replied,
"Yes."
"We never saw her eyes."
"Since childhood, her eyes had always been covered with a piece of cloth."
An elderly woman sitting nearby said in a sorrowful voice,
"That poor girl was very quiet..."
"She hardly ever talked to anyone."
"But..."
The woman's voice trailed off.
"She never received any love in that house."
Rongwei's expression grew even more serious.
The old man said softly,
"Who knows where that poor girl is now..."
"Whether she's even alive or not..."
Hearing this, Rongwei slowly clenched his fist.
He said to himself,
"She is alive..."
"And she is safe as well..."
He looked toward that old house.
Broken...
Silent...
As if it too was hiding some truth.
Rongwei said softly,
"Perhaps..."
"I should take a look inside that house."**
Rongwei slowly walked toward the old house.
The door was half broken.
He gently pushed it—
The door creaked as it opened.
Inside, there was complete silence.
The air was filled with the smell of old dust and dampness.
As if no one had properly lived there for many years.
Rongwei slowly walked inside.
His eyes wandered through every corner of the room.
Old wood...
Broken chairs...
Walls covered in dust.
But suddenly—
his gaze fell on the floor.
There were several dried bloodstains there.
Old...
Dark...
And clearly visible.
Rongwei crouched down.
He examined the stains carefully.
His expression grew even more serious.
"Something really happened here..."
he said softly.
But there was nothing else inside the house.
No papers.
No clues.
Nothing that could provide any answers.
Rongwei stood up and walked back outside.
The wind had grown even stronger.
He looked around and said softly,
"Lao Ban... Mei Lian..."
"Perhaps I'll have to visit your house instead."
"I have to uncover the truth."
Rongwei slowly made his way toward Bao Lin's house.
His mind had become even more alert.
He stopped in front of the house.
Then he knocked on the door.
Knock... Knock...
A woman's voice came from inside,
"I'm opening it!"
A few moments later—
the door opened.
Standing before him was a middle-aged woman.
Her face was stern.
There was a strange, sharp, cunning gleam in her eyes.
She was—
Mei Lian.
She looked Rongwei up and down.
Then asked bluntly,
"What is it?"
"What do you want?"
Rongwei immediately understood—
this woman was not easy to deal with.
And perhaps quite cruel as well.
Keeping his composure, he said,
"Could I have some water and a little food?"
Then he took a gold coin out of his pocket.
"In return, I can give you this."
The moment Mei Lian saw the gold coin—
her eyes lit up.
The sternness on her face instantly faded.
"Oh, yes, yes! Why not?"
"Come inside."
Her voice had suddenly become sweet.
Rongwei thought to himself,
"Just as I expected... she's exactly as I imagined."
And he quietly stepped inside the house.
Mei Lian led Rongwei inside.
The house was quite ordinary on the inside—
an old wooden table, a few utensils, and old clothes hanging on the walls.
But there was a strange coldness in the atmosphere.
As if peace had never existed in this house.
"Sit down."
Mei Lian said.
Her eyes kept drifting toward the gold coin in Rongwei's hand.
Rongwei quietly sat down.
He was carefully observing everything around him.
Every corner.
Everything.
Just then, a man walked out from inside.
A thin body.
Slightly hunched.
Weariness and irritation filled his eyes.
This was Bao Lin.
He looked at Rongwei and asked,
"Who is this?"
Mei Lian immediately replied,
"A traveler."
"He's offering a gold coin in exchange for food and water."
Hearing this, Bao Lin's expression changed slightly.
He sat down in front of him.
Mei Lian placed the food down and sat opposite him.
Rongwei remained silent for a few moments as he drank some water.
As if he were nothing more than an ordinary traveler.
Then he softly said,
"Qingshui Village is quite peaceful."
Bao Lin let out a faint laugh.
"Peaceful?"
"You probably haven't spent much time here."
Rongwei smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
He remained silent for a few moments.
Then, in a casual tone, he asked,
"By the way..."
"I heard that a girl used to live in your house?"
The moment they heard this, both of them froze for a second.
Bao Lin immediately asked,
"Who told you that?"
Rongwei shrugged.
"It's a small village."
"People are bound to talk."
Mei Lian's expression turned cold.
"What business do you have with that girl?"
Rongwei calmly replied,
"Nothing important."
"I just heard that she couldn't see."
Hearing that, Mei Lian said in a cold voice,
"So what?"
Rongwei slowly placed his cup down.
His eyes were fixed directly on the two of them.
"I was just wondering..."
"She couldn't see..."
"...yet where could she have gone all alone?"
Silence filled the room.
Bao Lin and Mei Lian remained silent for a few moments.
As if they were thinking of an answer.
Then Bao Lin said in a dry voice,
"We don't know."
"One day she left..."
"...and never came back."
Rongwei remained silent.
But he noticed something—
Bao Lin wasn't looking into his eyes while answering.
And Mei Lian's hands were trembling slightly as well.
These two are lying.
Rongwei understood it immediately.
He thought to himself,
"You two are definitely hiding something..."
Rongwei quietly sat there, eating his meal.
But his eyes kept drifting toward Bao Lin and Mei Lian.
Both of them seemed strangely restless.
As if they were afraid that Rongwei might ask more questions.
Silence filled the room.
Only the faint clinking of utensils could be heard.
Just then—
A panicked man's voice suddenly came from outside.
"Bad news!"
"Bad news!"
Bao Lin immediately stood up.
Mei Lian also looked toward the door in alarm.
Outside, many villagers had gathered together.
One man, breathing heavily, shouted,
"The Yuzhen Clan has been attacked!"
Hearing this, Rongwei immediately stood up.
His expression turned serious.
"The sky has turned red!"
the man said in panic.
"People are saying that a terrifying dragon has been seen there!"
Rongwei's heart pounded violently.
Dragon...
Just then, another villager said,
"The Shenmei Clan's army has also arrived there!"
Hearing this, Rongwei immediately thought of Li Chen and Xiu.
A sudden sense of unease began to grow inside him.
"Xiu..." he whispered softly.
"I hope you're all safe..."
Without saying another word, he placed the gold coin on the table.
Then he immediately headed outside.
Mei Lian called out from behind,
"Hey! At least finish your meal!"
But Rongwei didn't stop.
He quickly left Qingshui Village.
His steps were now heading straight toward the Yuzhen Clan.
And only one thought echoed in his mind—
"I have to get there quickly..."
Battlefield
Li Chen immediately ran toward the battlefield.
But she was running carefully—
because she couldn't see.
Around her echoed screams, the clash of swords, and the roaring of flames.
Just then—
Lixuan noticed her.
His expression changed instantly.
"You foolish girl!" he shouted loudly.
"Why are you coming here?!"
"I told you not to!"
Zhichen's gaze immediately turned in the same direction.
He saw—
Li Chen was truly making her way toward the middle of the battlefield.
Just then—
a huge burning piece of wood came flying through the air—
and landed directly in front of Li Chen.
"Boom!!"
Flames burst up right in front of her.
Frightened, Li Chen immediately stepped back.
Her heart began pounding violently.
"Li Chen!!"
Lixuan shouted at the top of his lungs.
For the first time, there was such panic in his voice.
Just then—
Mo Yan's gaze also shifted toward her.
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Li Chen.
"Who is she...?" he asked softly.
Then his gaze shifted toward the dragon.
The dragon had suddenly become calm.
Its black eyes were fixed directly on Li Chen.
The very next moment—
the dragon slowly began moving toward Li Chen.
The earth trembled with every step it took.
The dragon continued advancing toward Li Chen.
Its scorching breath was burning the air.
The attention of the entire battlefield was now focused solely on her.
Lixuan's expression changed.
His eyes were fixed only on Li Chen.
He said anxiously,
"You foolish girl..."
"Why did you come here...?"
"I told you not to..."
Just then—
a cold glint appeared in Mo Yan's eyes.
He slowly looked toward his general.
Then gave a slight signal.
The very next moment—
the general raised his sword.
And struck Xiu directly from behind.
"Slash—!"
The sword pierced straight into Lixuan's abdomen.
Lixuan's eyes widened.
Blood spilled from his lips.
At that same moment—
Li Chen, standing far away, suddenly trembled.
As though that very strike had landed on her own body.
She clutched her abdomen.
Her breathing began to break.
"Ahh..."
She slowly bent over in pain.
Zhichen immediately rushed forward.
He forcefully pushed the general back.
Then he caught the falling Lixuan.
"Xiu!"
Zhichen panicked.
"Are you alright?!"
But Lixuan didn't care about his own pain at all.
His eyes were still searching only for Li Chen.
"That foolish girl..."
he said through the pain.
"Why did she come here..."
"I told her not to..."
Just then—
the general attacked once again.
This time, the strike was aimed directly at Zhichen.
Zhichen tried to block it—
but the sword slashed across his arm.
Blood began dripping onto the ground.
And at that very same moment—
Li Chen trembled in pain once again.
As if her own arm had been cut.
She tightly clutched her arm.
Her breathing became rapid.
"What... what's happening...?"
she said in a trembling voice.
But this time—
along with the pain,
something else awakened inside her.
Anger.
A very deep anger.
The bracelet on her wrist slowly began to glow.
The air suddenly became heavy.
The dragon was now standing right in front of her.
It opened its enormous mouth.
Fire began burning inside its throat.
And the very next moment—
it was about to attack Li Chen directly.
But then—
the same dream began replaying inside Li Chen's mind.
The same darkness...
the same blood...
and the same person kneeling on the ground.
Someone else was standing in front of him—
as if trying to protect him.
Everything slowly began to blur.
Then—
faster.
Even faster.
Faster still.
As if thousands of voices were echoing inside her mind all at once.
Li Chen tightly held her head.
Her breathing began to break apart.
"Ahhhhh!!"
she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Her scream was so powerful—
that the air across the entire battlefield changed.
Violent winds began to blow.
The earth shook.
Dark clouds gathered across the sky.
The dragon froze for a moment.
Its pitch-black eyes locked directly onto Li Chen.
As if it had recognized something.
Just then—
the bracelet on Li Chen's wrist began to shine.
First a faint light...
then brighter...
then so bright—
that even the flames around her began to waver.
Zhichen suddenly stood frozen.
He clutched his chest.
He felt a strange sensation—
as if Li Chen's energy was connected to him.
As if that power...
was somehow calling out to his own power.
On the other side—
Lixuan also fell silent for a moment.
The energy within him began to grow restless.
As if the power flowing out of Li Chen was reaching all the way to his heart.
He slowly looked toward Li Chen.
For the first time—
there was genuine fear in his eyes.
"What... what's happening...?"
Zhichen said softly.
The smile on Mo Yan's face slowly disappeared.
He could sense it—
this was no ordinary energy.
The dragon was no longer roaring in rage—
it was roaring in unease.
As if it was afraid of that power.
Li Chen was still standing there,
holding her head.
She couldn't understand anything.
The blindfold tied over her eyes fluttered violently in the fierce wind.
And the air around her had turned into a raging storm.
Just then—
a terrifying light burst out from Li Chen's bracelet.
The entire battlefield was engulfed in that radiance.
The dragon let out a deafening roar.
Its roar was no longer one of anger...
it was one of fear.
And the very next moment—
that terrifying energy shot straight toward the dragon.
At that moment...
not only did the earth tremble—
but forgotten memories...
ancient sins...
and the truth that had been buried for years...
also awakened.