CHAPTER 161 — THE KING WHO RETURNED
Snow fell for three days without pause.
The mountain did not quiet.
It did not settle.
It groaned.
The summit remained split where the cave had once been—stone jagged like torn flesh, black and white residue still faintly streaking the rock face like frozen lightning.
And the Shadow King did not return.
On the fourth day—
He walked out.
No avalanche warning.
No sound of stone shifting.
He simply appeared from the misted ridge.
Alone.
The five saw him first.
Kieran's breath caught in his throat. Rhea narrowed her eyes sharply. Damon straightened like a drawn blade. Silas stopped mid-step.
The teenage boy froze.
Long Hao descended without hurry.
No limp.
No stagger.
No frostbitten fingers.
His cloak moved naturally with the wind, snow parting around his boots like it did not dare cling.
His face was calm.
Too calm.
Kieran stepped forward first.
"What happened in there?"
Long Hao stopped three paces away.
