The first rays of the morning slowly began to spread across the Shenmei Kingdom. The sounds of the disciples' training echoed through the palace courtyard. A short while later, all the senior and main members gathered in the council chamber. A deep silence had settled over the chamber. Yunshen slowly looked toward Xiangu.
"Xiangu."
"Tell everyone briefly what happened in Yuzhen."
Xiangu slowly lowered his head.
"Yes."
He began speaking in a calm voice.
"When we reached Yuzhen, Mo Yan had brought a magical dragon under his control. The power of that dragon was not ordinary. We all faced it together. After some time, something strange suddenly happened inside Li Chen's body. At that very moment, the dragon suddenly disappeared."
Xiangu paused for a few moments.
"How this happened…"
"Or what kind of power caused it…"
"No one has an answer to that yet."
Everyone sitting in the council remained silent. Yunshen slowly said, "For now, all we know is this much… There was some kind of power behind that incident… a power that we have not been able to understand yet. Until we obtain more evidence, it would not be appropriate to draw any kind of conclusion regarding this matter."
Everyone quietly nodded in agreement. Yunshen looked at everyone and said, "For now, this matter will remain limited to this council. No one will discuss it outside."
"Yes, Senior."
Everyone answered together. Yunshen slowly stood up.
"Today's council is concluded here."
Everyone began getting up from their respective places…
As soon as the council ended, everyone slowly stood up from their places. The heavy doors of the chamber slowly opened, and everyone began walking outside. Some disciples surrounded Xiangu, and he walked away with them while talking to them.
Rongwei straightened his back and took a long breath.
"Looks like I'm finally feeling the exhaustion from yesterday's battle."
Li Chen smiled slightly.
"Rongwei, you didn't even fight in the battle."
Rongwei burst out laughing.
"So what? I was there, wasn't I?"
"Even if it was only for a short while."
Li Chen nodded.
"Then let's go."
"I'll come with you too."
"Alright."
The two of them slowly headed toward another part of the palace.
…
On the other side…
Zhichen was still standing outside the council chamber. Everyone had already left, but his feet seemed to have stopped right there. The scene from yesterday kept appearing in his mind again and again. The magical dragon… Li Chen's sudden change in power… and then… the dragon disappearing without being attacked by anyone.
He slowly closed his eyes.
"This cannot be merely a coincidence…"
"If there is some truth behind this…"
"Then there must surely be some mention of it in an ancient text somewhere."
As soon as he thought this, he immediately started walking toward the Royal Library of Shenmei.
…
At the same time…
Lixuan was also walking alone through the long corridor of the palace. His face was calm as always. But the same question kept echoing in his mind again and again.
"What exactly happened yesterday…?"
He slowly clenched his fist. He had clearly felt it… that at that moment, his power and Zhichen's power had reacted together. But what happened afterward… even he had no answer for it.
He had read countless ancient texts over all these years, but he had never heard of an incident like this. After thinking for a few moments, he quietly said to himself,
"Perhaps…"
"I might find something in the Royal Library."
He immediately changed direction. His steps were now also heading toward that same ancient library of Shenmei… where thousands-of-years-old texts, forgotten histories, and countless mysteries were preserved—mysteries that very few people knew about.
Neither Zhichen had any idea…
Nor did Lixuan…
That while searching for the answer to the same question…
Both of them were about to arrive at the same place.
The Royal Library of the Shenmei Kingdom was one of the oldest places in the palace. High stone walls… enormous wooden shelves… and thousands-of-years-old texts arranged upon them. It was so quiet here that even the sound of turning a page could be heard clearly.
Zhichen slowly walked between the shelves. An old book was in his hand. He carefully looked through its pages. But after some time, he slowly let out a breath.
"…No."
He had found nothing in that book either. He was just about to move toward another shelf…
when the heavy door of the library slowly opened.
Zhichen instinctively turned around. A familiar figure entered through the door. White robes… a silver mask covering his face… and calm footsteps.
Xiu.
Lixuan also noticed Zhichen as soon as he entered. He stopped for a moment, as if he had not expected anyone else to be here. For a few moments, both of them remained silent.
Then Zhichen was the first to ask in a calm voice,
"You?"
Lixuan answered without any hesitation.
"Me?"
"I just…"
"…came to get some old music texts."
He pointed toward the shelf in front of him.
"They're kept there."
Zhichen looked at him for a few moments. Then he slowly said,
"Really?"
Lixuan raised his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?"
Zhichen closed his book.
"I thought…"
"You had also come to look for something about yesterday's incident."
Lixuan immediately said,
"You thought wrong."
"I am the Royal Musician."
"Coming to the library is not strange for me."
Zhichen only said,
"Hmm…"
There was the same calm expression on his face as always. But for some reason… he did not completely believe Lixuan's words.
On the other side… Lixuan also understood that perhaps his excuse was not very convincing. So, changing the subject, he said,
"And you?"
"Did you also come here to learn singing?"
For the first time, Zhichen replied with a very faint smile.
"No."
"To learn how to lie."
For a moment…
Lixuan became completely silent. He looked at Zhichen.
"…"
"You…"
"You didn't talk this much before."
Zhichen said calmly,
"Perhaps."
"Or perhaps…"
"You didn't pay this much attention before."
Hearing this, Lixuan could not say anything. He gave a slight cough… and without saying anything, walked toward another shelf.
A very faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips. He picked up his book as well… and walked toward another side.
The two stood in front of different shelves…
But both were looking for the same thing.
Only…
Neither of them was ready to admit it.
The library became silent once again. Lixuan took out a few old music texts lying in front of him. He began turning their pages… but his eyes were paying less attention to the words… and more to his surroundings.
A short distance away… Zhichen climbed a wooden ladder and took a thick book from the upper shelf. He wiped the dust away and slowly opened it.
The first book…
The second…
Then the third…
But every time, all he found was disappointment.
On the other side, Lixuan also closed a book. He slowly let out a breath.
"Nothing here either…"
He raised his eyes unconsciously. Zhichen was still reading the book with complete seriousness. Seeing his concentration, a faint smile appeared on Lixuan's lips.
"…How stubborn."
He murmured it very softly.
Just then…
Zhichen said without raising his eyes,
"I heard that."
Lixuan froze for a moment.
"Your ears…"
"…Have they always been this sharp?"
Zhichen answered calmly,
"Your voice wasn't that quiet either."
Lixuan slowly turned his head.
"Alright."
"My mistake."
Saying this, he walked toward another shelf.
For some time, both of them continued searching through the books without saying anything. Time slowly passed. The sunlight coming through the library windows also began shifting from its place.
Just then…
Lixuan's eyes fell upon a very old wooden chest. It was placed at the very bottom of a shelf. A thick layer of dust had gathered over it.
Lixuan knelt down and slowly began pulling the chest out. But… the chest was quite heavy. He applied a little more force.
"Khrr…"
The sound of wood scraping against the floor echoed throughout the library.
Zhichen immediately looked in that direction.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Lixuan answered without looking at him.
"This chest just…"
"…doesn't want to listen to me."
Zhichen came straight over to him.
"Move aside."
Lixuan immediately frowned.
"I'm not that weak."
"I didn't say that."
Zhichen said calmly,
"All I said was…"
"Two people can take it out easily."
Lixuan remained silent for a few moments. Then he slowly moved to one side.
"Alright."
"Only this once."
Zhichen grabbed the other corner of the chest.
"One…"
"Two…"
"Slowly."
The two of them pulled together. This time, the chest came out easily. Both released their grip at the same time…
But at that very moment…
The lid of the chest suddenly opened.
A large cloud of dust rose into the air.
"Khh…"
Lixuan immediately began coughing. Without thinking, Zhichen placed his arm in front of him so that the dust would not hit his face directly.
After a few moments…
The dust settled.
Both of them looked inside the chest at the same time.
Inside…
There were several very old scrolls and some books bound in leather. On the scroll lying at the very top was an ancient symbol…
Both recognized it at the same moment.
And without saying anything…
They reached toward the scroll together.
Both their hands stopped on the old scroll at exactly the same time. For a moment, they looked at each other.
Lixuan slowly pulled his hand back.
"You look at it."
Zhichen said calmly,
"No."
"You saw it first."
Lixuan slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Are you always this stubborn about everything?"
Zhichen answered without any expression,
"Less than you."
Hearing this, Lixuan remained silent for a few moments. Then he slowly picked up the scroll.
He carefully untied its string. The scroll was so old that even the slightest carelessness could cause it to tear. Slowly… he spread it across the table.
Both leaned over it and began looking.
Something was written upon it in an ancient script. Along with it, there were also some strange symbols.
Zhichen said while looking carefully,
"This script…"
"It is very old."
Lixuan nodded.
"Perhaps three or four hundred years old…"
"No."
Zhichen said slowly.
"Older than that."
For some time, both remained silent, trying to understand the writing.
Just then…
Lixuan's eyes stopped on one particular line.
He slowly read,
"When two different spiritual powers react at the same moment…"
The words after that had become blurred. Most of the ink had faded away.
Lixuan frowned.
"The rest cannot be read."
Zhichen looked at another part of the scroll.
"Something else is written there."
Lixuan leaned toward him.
In that section, only a few words could be seen clearly—
"…third power…"
"…bond…"
"…guardian…"
The entire section after that was torn away.
Both fell silent at the same time.
Lixuan slowly rolled the scroll closed.
"That's all?"
Zhichen slowly let out a breath.
"It seems…"
"The rest has been lost long ago."
Silence once again filled the library.
Lixuan slowly said,
"Even in such an ancient text, only half the matter has been written."
Zhichen's eyes remained fixed on the scroll.
"Sometimes…"
"An incomplete truth…"
"Is even more dangerous than a complete lie."
Lixuan looked at him.
"…Did you read that in a book?"
Zhichen answered with a calm expression,
"No."
"I just thought of it."
Lixuan unknowingly smiled faintly.
"That was good."
Zhichen remained silent for a few moments as he looked at that faint smile. For the first time, he realized… that when Xiu smiled without thinking… the coldness on his face became a little less.
But the next moment…
Lixuan again put on his usual calm expression.
As if nothing had happened just now.
And once again…
Both became absorbed in trying to understand the mystery of that incomplete scroll.
Both were still looking at the old scroll…
when suddenly…
The sound of footsteps came from outside the library.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
Lixuan's eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"Someone is coming."
Zhichen immediately looked toward the door. The sound of footsteps was slowly coming closer. It seemed as though someone was heading directly toward this very room.
Lixuan quickly reached out to gather the scroll.
But at that very moment…
Zhichen grabbed his wrist.
"Here."
Saying this, he pulled Lixuan toward him in one swift movement. The two quickly moved behind a huge wooden shelf standing nearby.
There was very little space.
So little…
that they had to stand directly facing each other.
Lixuan was just about to say something…
when Zhichen gently held his shoulder and moved him farther inside. One of his hands unintentionally rested near Lixuan's waist… so that he would not lose his balance or be visible from outside the shelf.
His other hand rested on the edge of the shelf.
Only a few inches remained between them.
Lixuan's breath seemed to stop for a moment.
He said in a low voice,
"…Zhichen."
But Zhichen's eyes were fixed outside the shelf.
"One moment."
His voice was as calm as always.
The next moment…
The heavy door of the library opened.
"Krrrr…"
An elderly librarian entered.
He was carrying several old scrolls in his hands. He slowly walked between the shelves.
Both of them held even their breaths without making a sound.
Lixuan slowly looked down.
Then his eyes fell upon Zhichen's hand…
which was still near his waist.
He said in a very low voice,
"…Your hand."
Zhichen first looked at him…
Then, as soon as he realized it…
his eyes immediately moved toward his own hand.
For a moment, even his calm face showed a slight trace of confusion.
Without saying anything, he slowly removed his hand.
"Forgive me."
Lixuan slightly raised his eyebrows and said quietly,
"You always grab me first…"
"…and apologize afterward."
Zhichen could say something…
but before he could…
the librarian's voice echoed—
"Hmm… strange…"
"It seems someone was here just a short while ago."
Both became completely still at the same time.
The librarian slowly began moving toward the very shelf behind which they were hiding…
The librarian slowly came to a stop near the old chest. He bent down and looked at the open scroll.
For a few moments, he stared at it without saying anything.
Then he quietly said to himself,
"…So someone finally found it."
He carefully picked up the scroll with both hands. His eyes remained fixed on the ancient symbols drawn upon it.
Letting out a faint breath, he murmured,
"But it is of no use…"
"This text is incomplete."
Lixuan and Zhichen, standing behind the shelf, looked at each other at the same time.
Neither said anything.
The librarian slowly turned the scroll over.
Then he shook his head.
"The second part of this…"
"…was taken away from here many years ago."
Lixuan's eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Zhichen was also listening to the librarian without even blinking.
The elderly librarian slowly looked toward the ceiling, as if lost in old memories.
"It is said…"
"That this text had two parts."
"One was kept in Shenmei…"
"And the other…"
"…Qingyu."
He slowly closed the scroll.
"I don't know whether it is still safe there."
"But here…"
"You will never find the complete truth from this incomplete text."
Saying this, he placed the scroll back inside the chest.
Then, while closing the lid of the chest, he slowly said,
"So many years have passed…"
"Yet even today, people have not stopped chasing that mystery."
After saying this, the elderly librarian slowly walked away.
The sound of his footsteps gradually faded into the distance…
and once again, a deep silence filled the library.
Behind the shelf…
Lixuan and Zhichen still stood there completely silent.
Only one word was echoing in both their minds—
"Qingyu…"
Once again, a deep silence filled the library.
The sound of the elderly librarian's footsteps slowly faded away…
and after a few moments…
everything became quiet again.
Behind the shelf…
Lixuan and Zhichen continued standing there without saying anything.
Now, only one name echoed in both their minds…
"Qingyu…"
If the second part of that text truly was in Qingyu…
then perhaps the answers to all their questions were hidden there as well.
For some time, neither of them said anything…
nor did either of them move.
Then…
Lixuan slowly raised his head.
At that very moment…
Zhichen also looked toward him.
Their eyes suddenly met.
One moment…
Two moments…
Neither of them could look away.
As if both were thinking the same thing.
Then suddenly…
Lixuan realized…
that he was still standing directly in front of Zhichen.
There were barely a few inches between them.
His breath seemed to stop for a moment.
Zhichen realized it at the same moment.
Without saying anything, he immediately took one step back.
Lixuan also gave a slight cough, turned his face away, and took two steps backward.
The same silence filled the library once again.
Lixuan was the first to speak.
"…Looks like…"
"We can go outside now."
Zhichen slowly nodded.
"Hmm."
Both came out from behind the shelf.
Lixuan adjusted his robes, then, as if nothing had happened, said calmly,
"So…"
"What now?"
Zhichen thought for a few moments.
His eyes were still fixed on the chest.
"Qingyu."
He said slowly.
"It seems…"
"We have to go there."
Lixuan looked at him.
The face hidden behind his mask was calm…
but his eyes clearly showed…
that he had made the same decision.
Lixuan and Zhichen slowly walked out of the library.
For some time, they walked together without saying anything.
For some reason…
the same word was still echoing in both their minds…
"Qingyu…"
Just then…
Rongwei could be seen approaching from the front.
He noticed the two of them together from a distance.
He stopped.
Then a mischievous smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"Oh…"
"This is quite an interesting sight."
Lixuan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Rongwei came closer to them and said,
"I always thought…"
"Zhichen only liked the company of books in the library."
"But it seems…"
"…he is now getting used to someone's company as well."
Hearing this, Lixuan immediately said,
"You're talking nonsense."Rongwei burst out laughing.
"Really?"
"Then what were the two of you doing in the library for so long?"
Lixuan was just about to say something…
when Rongwei continued,
"By the way…"
"When you two stand together…"
"People watching you would think that someone assigned you both to the same task."
Lixuan angrily said,
"Rongwei.""Try using your imagination a little less."
Rongwei tried to hold back his laughter.
"What can I do?"
"I'm only saying what I'm seeing."
Hearing this, a faint redness appeared near Lixuan's ears.
He immediately turned his face away.
"I don't have time for pointless talk."
Saying this, he walked ahead with quick steps.
Rongwei looked at his back and quietly asked Zhichen,
"Did I say something wrong?"
Zhichen watched Lixuan walking away with a calm expression.
Then he said in a very low voice,
"…Perhaps."
Rongwei laughed.
"Perhaps?"
Zhichen only said,
"He looked less angry…"
"…and more embarrassed."
Rongwei's laughter became even louder.
"So that means…"
"I guessed correctly."
Zhichen gave no answer.
He simply followed silently behind Lixuan.
For some time, there was only silence between the two of them in the palace corridor.
Finally, Lixuan stopped.
He slowly said,
"…Zhichen.""Hmm?"
"What you heard in the library…"
"…don't tell anyone."
Zhichen looked at him."You were thinking the same thing?"
Lixuan slowly nodded.
"Until we know the complete truth…"
"It would not be right to tell an incomplete story."
Zhichen remained silent for a few moments.
Then he slowly said,
"There is one more thing."
Lixuan looked at him.
"Yesterday…"
"Just before the dragon disappeared…"
"I felt your power."
Lixuan's eyes widened slightly for a moment.
But the next instant, he hid his expression.
"You are mistaken."
Zhichen said calmly,
"No."
"I never make a mistake when recognizing my own power."
"At that moment…"
"Your energy and mine…"
"…were moving in the same rhythm."
Lixuan's heart beat hard for a moment.
This was something…
he had not told anyone until now.
Because he had felt the same thing.
But…
he slowly looked away.
"It is only your illusion."
Saying this, he walked ahead without saying anything else.
Zhichen remained standing there, watching him leave.
For some reason…
only one question kept echoing in his mind—
"If this was an illusion…"
"…then why did Lixuan immediately deny what I said?"
Lixuan, walking in the distance, had also slowly clenched his fist.
The same moment kept returning to his mind again and again…
the moment when both their powers…
had reacted together.
And neither of them…
could now consider that incident merely a coincidence.