Southern banks of the Yangtze River, deep in the valleys of Mount Huangshan.

A man with a fan made of crane feathers clasped behind his back ascended the mountain, humming quietly to himself.

His steps appeared unhurried, even leisurely. Yet with every step he took, the landscape around him seemed to shift and blur—such was the astonishing skill of his light footwork.

At a certain point, the man stopped walking.

“...Hmm.”

He stood before a pit that had once served as a dumping ground where man-eating beasts discarded human corpses.

But now, there were no human remains. The pit was filled with the bodies of beasts alone.

Someone had passed through, slain the monsters of the forest, and disposed of their corpses.

“Hm, hm...”

From that spot, the man began to walk again—slowly, as though enjoying a peaceful stroll through the mountains. But his eyes swept the surroundings with sharp intent.

Eventually, he came to a stop atop a mountain peak.

“...Someone’s been here.”

His mouth, half-hidden behind the fan, curved into an amused smile.

His narrow eyes, too, arched slightly, glinting with sharpness as he surveyed the dismantled formation on the peak.

The clouds dispersed, and in their absence bloomed a dazzling array of rainbow-colored light.

In his dark pupils, brilliance flashed like a blade.

****

The Namgoong party returned safely from the Suro Stronghold.

Until they reached Hapbi, the Ghostshadow Division escorted the Namgoong vessel. Afterward, the division’s leader departed, stating he would return to Namgoong every three months—both to see Soyak and to report the situation.

Upon arriving at the Namgoong residence, Cheongun immediately secluded himself in Cheonodong for convalescence.

Healing the internal injuries he sustained at the stronghold and fully solidifying his cultivation would require a considerable length of time.

He had departed in haste, leaving little time for farewells. But before entering seclusion, for the first time, he kissed Seolhwa’s forehead.

“I’ll be back.”

Seolhwa remained motionless, her hand resting on her forehead, until the doors of Cheonodong closed behind him.

Soyak began living with the young martial trainees in the outer quarters.

There, he would strengthen his body, learn martial arts, and receive protection.

“You don’t need to overdo it. Your body is still weak.”

“No! I’ll get stronger! I’ll get strong enough to protect Father with my ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ own hands one day!”

He had been placed among children his age to help him socialize, but his determination turned out to be far greater than expected.

It seemed he genuinely enjoyed the idea of learning martial arts, something he had never been able to do due to his fragile health.

Yugang began receiving proper treatment.

After briefly regaining consciousness in the forest on the first day, he had yet to wake again.

Seolhwa asked the Medicine Hall Leader if it was due to blood-point sealing. The woman burst into laughter and replied,

“He just lost too much blood. But he’s still young, isn’t he? Don’t worry too much. He’ll recover and be up in no time.”

Seolhwa had considered telling her the truth—that she had indeed sealed his blood vessels—but in the end, she said nothing.

Instead, she gave Yugang one of the rooms in her own quarters and resolved to stay by his side for half an hour, three times a day.

****

“...Hoo.”

Namgoong Cheonghae sat at his desk, rubbing his tired eyes.

While Namgoong Mucheon was away, he had been assisting the Chief Steward with household affairs, and the schedule had proven more exhausting than usual.

As he returned to his residence, Yun Solran entered behind him, took his outer robe, and neatly folded it aside before preparing tea.

“...It’s a relief the children returned safely.”

“I heard we forged a pact with the Suro Stronghold. According to Cheongsan, it was Seolhwa’s doing.”

The hand that had been pouring the tea paused for a moment. Solran quickly resumed, smiling softly as she nodded.

“That child? She really is remarkable. I sensed it from the beginning—there’s nothing ordinary about her.”

“Indeed.”

Solran carefully placed a teacup before Cheonghae.

“Were there... no other developments?”

“They say the Yellow Dragon Lord betrayed the clan.”

At that, Solran’s smile faded.

That was why she had come looking for Cheonghae so late at night.

The one who had accompanied the young master and third son on a trip to Soho as their escort—he had failed to return.

Had something happened?

If he had been unable to see her for so long, he would have come to her the moment he arrived.

He was not someone who would need prompting—he would have told her the truth without hesitation.

But this...?

“...The Yellow Dragon Lord?”

Cheonghae glanced at her clenched hand. Then, as though it were nothing, he lifted the teacup. Solran’s hand twitched faintly.

“Yes.”

Cheonghae took a sip of the tea.

The delicate fragrance of Dragon Well leaves filled his mouth, leaving a bitter aftertaste.

He stared into the rippling surface of the tea within his cup and spoke again.

“The Yellow Dragon Lord was a mole for Hwaoru—the same Hwaoru who once held Seolhwa captive.”

He tilted the cup slightly. In the liquid, Solran’s reflection wavered faintly.

“They say he tried to kill the children.”

He could see her cover her mouth.

He didn’t need to look up to know what expression she wore.

“I told the Red Dragon Lord.”

“...The Red Dragon Lord...?”

The Red Dragon Lord had been confined in Namgoong’s dungeon since the Heavenly Martial Festival, continuously interrogated.

“He and the Yellow Dragon Lord were often seen together. I thought perhaps he knew something and told him.”

“What... what did he say?”

“He asked for a Council of Heavenly Guardians to be convened.”

Solran felt her heart drop.

The Red Dragon Lord had endured until now. Despite Namgoong Mugang’s harsh questioning, he had kept his promise and said nothing.

And now? He wanted to summon the Council?

“He said he had something to reveal about the Yellow Dragon Lord—something that concerns me, apparently. I haven’t the faintest idea what he meant.”

“....”

Cheonghae drank the tea to its last drop.

He felt every bit of the heat travel from his throat down into his chest.

“...I see.”

Solran’s voice trembled, just slightly.

Cheonghae stared down at the empty teacup, a bitter smile forming on his lips.

“...Thank you for the tea.”

“...I’ll take my leave.”

Yun Solran left the room in a near-sprint.

She appeared to be striving to maintain her composure, but her footsteps were more urgent than ever.

Even then, Cheonghae did not lift his gaze from the empty cup.

****

Night had fallen.

A darkness so deep even the moonlight was swallowed by cloud, leaving the path ahead indistinguishable.

Someone moved through that darkness, silent as shadow.

At the entrance to the dungeon, a cloaked figure stopped and looked around.

A moment later, taking advantage of the shift change between guards, the figure slipped inside.

The Red Dragon Lord was confined to the final cell at the far end of the dungeon.

As the intruder passed through the pitch-black corridor lit only by flickering torchlight, they glanced over the prisoners one by one, drawing closer to the end.

Sensing a presence, the Red Dragon Lord raised his weary eyes.

“...Lady Yun?!”

His eyes widened at the sight of his visitor.

“La—Lady Yun!”

The Red Dragon Lord scrambled forward on his knees, gripping the bars.

“M—My family...! Are they well? Are they safe? Nothing’s happened to them, has it?!”

“What is it you intend to say at the Council of Heavenly Guardians tomorrow?”

“...What?”

His face twisted in confusion.

Council? Say something?

“What are you—”

“What did the Yellow Dragon Lord tell you?”

“What... what are you talking about?”

“I know you asked for the council to be convened after hearing the Yellow Dragon Lord had betrayed Namgoong. Don’t act like you don’t know.”

But at her words, the Red Dragon Lord’s face filled not with guilt, but with pure shock.

“H—He betrayed Namgoong...? The Yellow Dragon Lord? Is... is that true?!”

“You...!”

Yun Solran gripped the bars tightly, frustration flashing in her eyes.

And in that moment, she realized it.

Too late.

It was a trap.

She sensed movement nearby. More than one person was approaching.

She felt the nape of her neck grow stiff.

Forcing her head to turn, she looked toward the figures now standing only paces away.

The first she saw was her husband—Namgoong Cheonghae.

Behind him stood the head of the household, Namgoong Mucheon. Alongside him were the Chief Steward and the Black Dragon Lord.

“...So this is all it took.”

Cheonghae’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smile.

“To think this was all it took to catch you, my wife.”

“...My lord.”

“To fall for something so shallow... You must have been desperate.”

“....”

Solran’s eyes darted between those who had gathered.

She’d been caught.

But she still didn’t know what they had caught. She didn’t know how much they had heard. Perhaps... if she handled it carefully—

Solran drew a deep breath and straightened her posture. Just as always, she put on a composed smile.

“I don’t understand what you mean. I came here only to check on the Red Dragon Lord’s condition. Surely you, of all people, know I’ve always cared for Namgoong’s people.”

But Cheonghae’s expression remained cold.

He stood silent, yet the oppressive presence of the three men behind him was impossible to ignore.

“I know I entered the dungeon without permission. But... knowing his children are waiting for word of their father with tears in their eyes... I couldn’t sit by...”

“You think I’m here to play games with you?”

Her arms had been folded across her chest, playing the part of the sorrowful wife. Now, they froze.

In fifteen years of marriage, she had never heard his voice like this—so cold it raised goosebumps across her entire body.