[Southern Road to the Capital · Intersection of Fates]
Before the morning mist had dissipated, the group reached the foot of the mountains south of the Yao Capital. Suddenly, a line of attendants in grey-blue robes blocked their path. They bowed in silence as their leader stepped forward.
He was a stooped old man with snow-white hair, wearing a worn linen robe. Despite his age, his eyes were piercingly clear. He carried a wooden box and leaned on a finely carved cane.
Gu Xingyu's breath hitched. She took a few steps forward. "...It's you!"
She recognized him. He was the "Watch Grandpa" who had a stall behind the back gate of her university in the real world. The very man she had bought the mysterious pocket watch from—the day this journey began.
The old man smiled kindly. "Indeed, young lady. You have finally reached this stage."
"Why are you here? Are you from the Yao Realm too?" she asked, shocked.
"Yes, and no," he replied gently. "I am the Keeper of the Watch. My duty is to choose, to wait, and to guide. Would you walk with me? There are things you must finally know."
[The South-Hidden Manor · Abode of the Keeper]
They were led to a secluded manor deep in the forest. The courtyard was ancient, filled with rare Yao-flowers and sand-clocks—artifacts of time itself. Inside, the walls were lined with old Yao-atlases and portraits of the Saints from every era. At the very top, a crystalline pocket watch hovered in mid-air, vibrating in resonance with the one in Xingyu's hand.
"These are..." Lin Lie stared at the portraits, mesmerized. "The Saints of the Yao Realm?"
The old man nodded. "The Saint is the anchor of the Five Yao source-veins, the vessel of balance. Whenever the Five Yao are scattered, the realm fractures. And whenever the marks reappear, one person is chosen as the Saint. She doesn't need to be noble or powerful; she only needs a heart capable of drawing the Five Yao together."
He turned to Gu Xingyu. "And you are the one."
"Me? The Saint?" Xingyu pointed at herself, waving her hands dismissively. "I'm just an ordinary university student. I don't have the kind of power you're talking about."
The old man smiled. "The 'ordinariness' you speak of is exactly what this land craves. The Saints of the past came from all walks of life—some were poor, some were commoners, and some, like you, came from worlds far beyond. Their strength was not their Yao-power, but their ability to make the Five Yao choose to follow them."
"Luo Ye, Lin Lie, Sang Qi, Cang Yuan, Li Yan... they didn't accept you because of your power or duty. They gave you their lives and trust because of the choices you made. That is the true power of the Saint."
Gu Xingyu fell silent, looking at the watch in her palm. She thought of their smiles, their scars, and their trust. She bit her lip. "If I'm really that important... what do I do? What can I do?"
"Accept the power of the Five Yao, and accept their pain and wishes as well," the old man said. "A Saint does not just walk ahead of them; she walks with them."
He pointed toward the Capital. "The Holy Temple has been sealed for ages. Only the Five Yao together can open the Source Gate. When you step through, a choice will await you: embrace your destiny as the Saint, or use that power to return to your own world. But the Path of the Saint is never smooth."
[The Vow · Five Lights as One]
Logic warred with emotion in Xingyu's mind. She knew she would eventually have to leave. If these bonds grew too deep, how could she ever let go?
"I thought I came here to help them believe in themselves," she whispered. "I didn't know my own identity was this heavy. I don't know if I can do it."
Lin Lie was the first to speak, his voice soft but certain. "You've been helping us all along. 'Saint' isn't just a title; it's the sum of everything you've already done." He pressed his small notebook into her hand. "When you feel like you can't go on, write down one small thing you achieved today. You'll find that 'I can' is built from a thousand tiny steps."
Luo Ye stepped to her side, crossing his arms. "Don't make it so heavy. If you miss home, tell me what food you miss. I'll cook it for you. You said I made you feel like you had a home here—that makes us family." He spoke quickly, hiding his tenderness.
Sang Qi snorted and handed her a small, fragrant pill. "This is a 'Heart-Steadying Pill.' It's just herbs and sweet potato flour. If your mind is a mess, fix your breathing. If your heart panics, steady your pulse. How can a healer who saves lives fail to save her own breath? Take it. Don't waste my herbs."
Cang Yuan flicked her forehead playfully. "Saint or student, you're the same person. When a boat reaches the shore, the water is still water, but it brought you home. Whether you stay or leave, the river remains. And so do we. Water is never bound by its shape—neither are you."
Li Yan was the last. He tied a small cord, fashioned with a military knot, around her wrist. "Until the mission is over, this will remember us for you. When it's over and you want to leave, untie it yourself. As long as the knot remains, we are here. Even if it's untied, we will just protect you in a different way. We believe in you, because you're already doing it."
The five voices acted like five rays of light, melting the frost in her heart. Gu Xingyu took a deep breath and looked at the horizon.
"Alright. Then I'll focus on today's step first." She pointed toward the Capital. "I'll worry about going home after we pass through the Temple. But until then—let's save this world together."
"Together," Cang Yuan said, extending his hand.
"Together," Sang Qi added.
"And me," Lin Lie joined.
"Count me in," Luo Ye grinned, stacking his hand on top.
"Yes, together," Li Yan finished.
Gu Xingyu placed her hand on top of theirs. "Thank you. Let's do our best!"
The six of them raised their joined hands into the morning sun. At that moment, they truly became "Us." The old man watched them from the side, his eyes as peaceful as still water. "You will face more trials... but as long as you stand side-by-side like this, you will find a way."
[Shadows over the Capital]
At the same time, in the secret chamber, the Third Prince Si Moheng and the State Preceptor stood before their array. Suddenly, an emerald leaf pattern erupted in the projection, turning the screen dark.
"The South-Hidden Manor," the Preceptor muttered. "The 'Vow of the South' left by the late Empress. For seven days, no divination can enter, and no shadow-magic can touch them."
Si Moheng paused, his finger tapping the rim of his cup. "So, we cannot strike today?"
"No," the Preceptor lowered his staff. "A forced entry would alert the entire Imperial Guard. It is not worth the risk."
Si Moheng went silent for a beat, his voice cold as a blade. "Then we change tactics. Block the southern post roads. The day they leave the manor... that is when we strike. I will kidnap Gu Xingyu myself. I want to see this 'Saint' for myself."
The light of the array faded, leaving the room in darkness.