The next day.
Just as the sky began to show the first light of dawn, someone knocked urgently on his door.
"Is Lord Shen within?"
Shen Changqing opened the door to see a soldier standing at the doorway, his face etched with anxiety.
"What's the matter?"
"The Emperor has passed away!"
Inside the main residence's bedroom, Yan Jing and the others had already gathered. As Shen Changqing arrived, they managed to force faint smiles onto their faces.
"Defender Shen has come."
"Hmm."
Shen Changqing nodded, his gaze turning toward the bed where a person lay clothed.
Upon closer inspection, he saw that Gu Xuanji lay there with his eyes tightly shut, his face bloodless, wearing an expression that held a semblance of peace.
His Divine Soul reached out tentatively but could not sense the slightest hint of life.
Truly dead?
