The sky was still dark.
Dawn hadn't broken yet.
Li Xian and Zhao Han moved quickly through the shadows, the academy walls rising ahead of them.
Without a word—
Li Xian stepped forward and leaped.
His hand caught the edge of the wall, pulling himself up smoothly.
Zhao Han followed just as silently.
In seconds—
They were over.
Both landed inside the academy grounds without a sound.
For a moment—
They didn't move.
Only the faint sound of the wind filled the silence.
"…Clean," Li Xian muttered under his breath.
Zhao Han's eyes scanned the area.
"…For now."
Li Xian smirked faintly.
"Relax. No one saw us."
But even as he said it—
Something felt off.
A presence.
Faint.
Gone the moment he tried to sense it.
Li Xian's smile faded slightly.
"…Let's go," Zhao Han said quietly.
They moved through the academy, keeping to the shadows, separating only when they reached the inner corridors.
By the time the first light of dawn touched the sky—
Everything looked normal again.
Students began to wake.
Voices slowly filled the halls.
Nothing unusual.
Too normal.
Later that day—
During training—
Li Xian moved as he always did.
Fast. Sharp. Effortless.
But his focus—
It slipped.
Clang—
His sword missed by a fraction.
Zhao Han noticed immediately.
"You're distracted."
Li Xian smirked lightly.
"Me? Never."
"…You're lying."
Li Xian laughed softly.
"You've been saying that a lot lately."
Zhao Han didn't respond.
But his gaze lingered.
Then—
A voice called out.
"Li Xian."
Both turned.
The academy chief stood at a distance.
Watching.
Li Xian's expression didn't change—
But his eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Chief."
The man stepped closer, calm as ever.
"You seem quite energetic today," he said.
Li Xian chuckled lightly.
"Shouldn't I be?"
A pause.
The chief's gaze lingered on him.
Longer than usual.
"…Be careful," he said quietly.
Li Xian tilted his head slightly.
"Of what?"
Another pause.
"…Of where you go at night."
Silence.
For just a second—
Everything froze.
Li Xian's smile remained.
Perfect.
Unshaken.
"…I don't understand," he replied lightly.
The chief said nothing more.
He simply turned—
And walked away.
The moment he disappeared—
Li Xian's expression dropped.
"…He knows."
Zhao Han didn't deny it.
"…Maybe."