Outside the imperial palace—
the night had become dreamlike.
Silver moonlight covered the endless roofs of Da Cang Empire like flowing water.
The wind moved gently through ancient trees.
Somewhere far away—
palace bells echoed softly beneath the sky.
And within one quiet courtyard—
two butterflies drifted among blooming spirit flowers.
One was small.
Its wings still uncertain.
It fluttered clumsily through the cold night air as though it had only recently learned how to fly.
The second butterfly was larger.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
And no matter where the smaller butterfly moved—
the larger one remained close behind.
Protecting it silently.
Like a guardian unwilling to leave even for a moment.
The moonlight illuminated them softly.
And strangely—
their reflection resembled the two lonely souls hidden within the crimson chamber nearby.
---
Inside the chamber—
everything had become silent again.
The white frost scattered around the room still had not fully melted.
The Heart Purification Jade floated quietly in the air like an ancient star.
Pure white Luo Essence flowed endlessly from it.
The atmosphere felt sacred.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
Yet at this moment—
none of Lin Shuan's attention remained on the jade anymore.
Because Protector Yi was still hugging him.
Tightly.
Warmly.
And for the first time in countless years—
she felt peace.
Real peace.
Not the false calm she showed before the empire.
Not the cold silence she carried while standing above countless lives.
But genuine warmth.
The kind of warmth she had almost forgotten existed.
Meanwhile—
Lin Shuan stood frozen.
Completely frozen.
Because even now—
his mind still could not process what was happening.
This girl—
the terrifying Empire Protector—
the woman feared throughout the entire Da Cang Empire second only to the Emperor himself—
was embracing him gently.
And strangely—
her touch did not feel frightening at all.
It felt delicate.
Soft.
Fragile.
Like touching the petals of a crimson lily blooming beneath snowfall.
Or a red hibiscus flower trembling under moonlight.
Lin Shuan could even smell the faint fragrance drifting from her body.
A light floral scent mixed with cold spiritual energy.
It entered his senses silently.
Hypnotically.
His heartbeat gradually became chaotic.
And without realizing it—
Lin Shuan slowly lifted his hands.
He wanted to return the embrace.
Because at this moment—
he no longer saw Protector Yi as a terrifying existence.
He only saw a lonely girl.
A lonely girl who had protected him silently from the shadows.
His fingers slowly moved toward her back.
Closer.
Closer—
And the instant he touched her warm body—
SLAP!!
A loud sound echoed throughout the chamber.
Lin Shuan's head snapped sideways instantly.
His cheek turned red immediately.
The entire room became silent.
Lin Shuan stood there blankly.
Completely stunned.
Even the floating Heart Purification Jade seemed to become awkward.
Slowly—
very slowly—
Lin Shuan turned back toward Protector Yi.
His eyes were wide open.
"…huh?"
Protector Yi stepped backward immediately.
Her expression had returned to its usual coldness.
But strangely—
her ears had become slightly red.
Her crimson eyes glared at him sharply.
"If you think…"
"…you can take advantage of me…"
"…then keep dreaming."
Lin Shuan's brain nearly exploded.
Protector Yi crossed her arms coldly.
"I am staying beside you so you remain safe."
A pause.
"Not so you can touch me carelessly."
Lin Shuan almost coughed blood internally.
"What was THAT?!"
Inside his mind—
even Tian Wuchen nearly burst out laughing from inside the pendant.
"Hahahaha—"
Lin Shuan roared mentally.
"MASTER STOP LAUGHING!"
Tian Wuchen sounded completely entertained.
"You deserved it."
"You moved too quickly."
Lin Shuan's face twitched violently.
"What do you mean TOO QUICKLY?!"
"She hugged ME first!"
Tian Wuchen laughed harder.
"Boy…"
"You truly understand nothing about women."
Lin Shuan almost wanted to smash the pendant against the wall.
Meanwhile—
Protector Yi quietly avoided looking directly at him.
Because truthfully—
even she herself did not understand what she had just done.
One moment—
she felt emotional seeing his lonely eyes.
The next—
she had hugged him instinctively.
And when he tried hugging her back—
her body reacted automatically.
Even now—
her heart was beating chaotically beneath her calm expression.
The atmosphere inside the room became indescribably awkward.
Lin Shuan held his burning cheek while staring at her in disbelief.
"What kind of girl IS she…"
One moment terrifying.
One moment lonely.
One moment gentle.
Next moment violent.
Even ancient cultivation manuals were probably easier to understand than Protector Yi.
Before either of them could speak again—
suddenly—
footsteps echoed outside the chamber.
Clank.
Clank.
Clank.
Heavy armor moved beyond the doors.
Protector Yi's expression instantly changed.
All emotion disappeared.
The terrifying Empire Protector returned immediately.
"Enter."
Creeeeak—
The chamber doors opened partially.
An armored soldier stepped forward before instantly kneeling respectfully outside the room.
His entire body was covered in dark imperial armor.
Even his face remained hidden beneath a metal helmet.
Yet despite kneeling—
an astonishing aura spread from him naturally.
The soldier lowered his head deeply.
"Empire Protector…"
"The Western Gate and Northern Gate have both reported their status."
Protector Yi's crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"Speak."
The soldier immediately continued.
"There are currently no unidentified individuals within sight across either gate."
"All defensive units remain prepared for immediate mobilization."
"Every stationed soldier awaits your command."
His voice remained steady and disciplined.
Not even the slightest nervousness appeared despite standing before the terrifying Empire Protector herself.
Protector Yi listened silently.
Then calmly ordered—
"If any unusual movement appears…"
"…report immediately."
A faint pause followed.
"And without direct orders…"
"…prioritize preserving your lives first."
The armored soldier instantly bowed deeper.
"Yes, Empire Protector."
Then without another word—
he rose and disappeared into the darkness beyond the chamber.
The doors closed once more.
Silence returned again.
But this time—
Lin Shuan's expression had completely changed.
Because even after the soldier left—
he could still faintly sense that terrifying aura lingering outside.
His heart shook deeply.
"…that was just a messenger?"
His thoughts became chaotic.
Because he had clearly sensed it.
That armored soldier—
was already within the Soul Spark Realm.
Soul Spark Realm.
Such experts could dominate entire regions within smaller kingdoms.
Yet within Da Cang Empire—
someone like that merely delivered messages inside the palace.
Lin Shuan finally began understanding something terrifying.
The true strength hidden beneath Da Cang Empire's surface…
was far deeper than outsiders imagined.
Meanwhile—
Protector Yi quietly looked toward him again.
Her gaze landed directly upon his still-red cheek.
And instantly—
she understood why he looked so stunned.
For a brief moment—
something almost resembling guilt flashed through her crimson eyes.
Almost.
But it disappeared immediately.
Instead—
she calmly changed the topic.
"Lin Shuan."
"When you eventually reach that realm yourself…"
"…you will receive a surprise."
Lin Shuan blinked.
"A surprise?"
Protector Yi simply looked toward the moonlit window quietly.
"You'll understand later."
Her mysterious answer only made Lin Shuan more curious.
What surprise?
What exactly happened upon reaching Soul Spark Realm?
But before he could continue asking—
Protector Yi suddenly spoke again.
"And tomorrow morning…"
"…prepare yourself."
Lin Shuan immediately focused completely.
Protector Yi slowly turned toward him.
"As promised after your victory…"
"…you will be taken to the imperial treasury."
The moment those words entered his ears—
Lin Shuan's breathing stopped briefly.
Imperial treasury.
The royal treasure grounds of Da Cang Empire.
A place filled with ancient inheritances.
Ancient weapons.
Secret techniques.
Forgotten relics.
Treasures gathered throughout generations.
His heartbeat instantly accelerated.
Because he understood something clearly.
This was his opportunity.
A true opportunity.
The kind capable of changing fate itself.
Lin Shuan unconsciously clenched his fists tightly.
Finally.
Finally—
he would obtain something extraordinary.
Something no ordinary cultivator could ever possess.
Something powerful enough to help him survive the dangerous future ahead.
Excitement surged through his body like lightning.
Even Tian Wuchen became interested again inside the pendant.
"Oh?"
"The imperial treasury?"
The old monster sounded amused.
"Perhaps there truly are interesting things hidden there."
Lin Shuan's eyes burned slightly with anticipation.
Meanwhile—
Protector Yi quietly watched his excited expression.
And unknowingly—
a faint softness appeared inside her eyes again.
Because seeing him motivated like this…
made her strangely happy.
For a few silent moments—
neither spoke.
The moonlight continued flowing quietly through the chamber window.
The Heart Purification Jade floated silently nearby.
And the atmosphere became strangely peaceful.
Then finally—
Protector Yi turned away.
Her crimson robes fluttered softly behind her.
"I'll return tomorrow."
Lin Shuan instinctively nodded.
"…okay."
Protector Yi paused briefly near the chamber doors.
As though she wanted to say something else.
But in the end—
she remained silent.
Then—
she disappeared into the night beyond the chamber.
The doors slowly closed behind her.
And once again—
Lin Shuan remained alone inside the frozen room.
Well—
almost alone.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen lazily muttered—
"That girl truly worries about you."
Lin Shuan quietly looked toward the closed doors.
His expression became complicated.
"…yeah."
For a while—
he simply stood there silently.
Remembering everything that had happened tonight.
The hug.
The slap.
Her loneliness.
Her words.
The way her crimson eyes trembled.
Nothing about Protector Yi made sense.
Yet strangely—
he no longer feared her.
Instead—
his chest felt warm whenever he thought about her.
Outside—
the moonlight deepened further.
The small butterfly continued flying uncertainly among the flowers.
And the larger butterfly still followed closely behind.
Protecting it silently beneath the endless night.
---
But neither Lin Shuan nor Protector Yi noticed something else.
A hidden movement.
A silent watcher.
Far beyond the chamber—
behind one distant palace wall—
a black shadow quietly moved.
At first glance—
it looked almost human.
But its body slowly melted like liquid darkness.
No face.
No eyes.
Only shadow.
It had remained hidden there the entire time.
Watching silently.
Observing everything.
And now—
after Protector Yi left—
the shadow slowly sank into the ground.
Like black water disappearing beneath stone.
Then—
it vanished completely.
As though it had never existed at all.
Only the cold night remained.
And somewhere deep within the darkness—
an unknown pair of eyes slowly opened.