[The Residual Warmth]
His approach hadn't been for a scheme, nor for imprisonment. He had simply wanted to see her.
He had said: "Thank you... for letting me know I could be human."
Those words were like a barb embedded in Gu Xingyu's heart—not painful, but impossible to ignore. It was a vulnerability she had never imagined hearing from him. She suddenly realized that in this grand chess game, she wasn't the only one probing the depths of his soul. He, too, was slowly baring his scars to her, one by one.
Xingyu took a deep breath and sat on the edge of her bed. She didn't lie down. She looked up at the moonlight spilling through the window, the silver spots on her knees like the whispered secrets of the night.
If a man is willing to struggle against his own darkness for you... can you believe that a part of him truly wants to change?
[A Morning of Commotion]
Before the sun had fully risen, a bustle had already begun at the Yao-Nan Manor. Outside Xingyu's door, the Five Yao were gathered. The atmosphere was more tense than the morning mist.
"She's usually the first one up. Why hasn't she come out yet?" Luo Ye asked, arms crossed, his brow furrowed. "Did she catch a cold? Should we knock?"
"Weren't you the one who just said 'don't disturb her dreams'?" Sang Qi retorted, his tone slightly sour. "Now you're so nervous. Did you dream she was kidnapped or something?"
"Shut up! Why wouldn't it be you getting kidnapped instead!" Luo Ye glared and gave him a shove.
Cang Yuan leaned against a pillar, his smile casual yet sharp. "Why don't we let Old Sang go in and take her pulse? Check if she really caught a chill."
"Hey! Don't push me in there!" Sang Qi scrambled back. "It's improper! What if she's still dressing? I am a refined gentleman; I won't ruin a lady's reputation!"
"Then find a maid to ask," Lin Lie interjected, his voice calm but commanding.
"Right, right! I'm so worried I didn't think of that. You go find one," Luo Ye said, pointing at Cang Yuan.
Cang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Me? Why don't you go? What if Xingyu needs me specifically?"
"Needs you for what? To sing her a morning ballad with that big mouth of yours?" Sang Qi sneered.
"At least it's more pleasant than your nagging face," Cang Yuan shot back with a grin.
As the corridor descended into chaos, Lin Lie rubbed his temples and finally said, "I'll knock."
But just as his hand rose, the door creaked open.
Xingyu stood there in a light gray cloak, her gaze clear and calm, though tinged with a hint of confusion. "...Why are you all here?"
The five men froze in unison.
"You're finally awake!" Luo Ye stepped forward, his worry obvious. "Are you feeling unwell? Did you stay out in the wind too long? Do you need some hot soup?"
"I'm fine," she gave a low laugh, her voice slightly raspy.
Sang Qi's brow twitched. He leaned in to inspect her. "Your voice is hoarse and you look pale. Come, let me check your pulse."
"No need," Xingyu raised a hand to stop him, her tone uncharacteristically soft. "I just... had a lot on my mind last night. I didn't sleep well."
The five of them exchanged looks. Lin Lie's gaze lingered on her face before he finally asked, "Did something happen last night?"
Xingyu paused. She didn't deny it, only gave a slight nod. "I thought about some things. And now... I've made up my mind."
[The Unspoken Distance]
As they left, Cang Yuan lingered at the back and whispered to Lin Lie, "Do you think she's changed a bit?"
Lin Lie remained silent for a moment before replying, "There's... something else in her eyes."
"What kind of something?" Luo Ye asked.
Lin Lie looked at Xingyu's retreating figure. "It's like... she encountered something that made her hesitate, and then she chose to be firm about something else."
Cang Yuan blinked and whistled thoughtfully. Sang Qi, chewing on a piece of candy, muttered, "If she doesn't want to talk, we won't push. But seeing her like this... I'm not used to it."
"Me neither," Luo Ye grumbled.
Only Li Yan walked silently at the very back. He wasn't doubting her, but he instinctively felt it: a part of her heart was quietly drifting away from them.
But they didn't know that on that night, she had made a choice that even she hadn't expected.
[By the Sunlight Pond]
In the afternoon, the sun glowed over the pond, casting flickering gold over the water. Xingyu sat alone on the stone steps, her back straight, but her gaze was distant.
The Five Yao had never seen her like this. She was always the one who was decisive and calm, the one who steered the ship through the storm with logic. But now, she looked as if she were staring at her own reflection in the water without truly seeing it.
The Five Yao gathered under the veranda, watching that familiar yet suddenly distant figure.
"Should we ask her what's wrong?" Luo Ye finally broke the silence. "She's never spaced out like this."
"I've never seen her so troubled," Sang Qi added, his usual teasing gone.
"What could she be troubled about?" Cang Yuan stood up. "Could it be... she doesn't want to be the Saintess anymore?"
Lin Lie said nothing, but his grip tightened on the mechanical parts in his hand.
"She wasn't herself this morning," Luo Ye muttered. "Her voice was hoarse, her eyes were drifting... that's not how a person looks just from being 'sleepy'."
"The dark circles under her eyes are as deep as my medicine pouches," Sang Qi sighed.
Cang Yuan turned to Lin Lie. "What do you think? You understand her best."
Lin Lie looked toward the pond. "Whatever she's thinking... we might not be able to reach it."
Suddenly, Li Yan spoke up. "She isn't troubled by her identity as the Saintess."
Everyone turned to him. Li Yan remained in the shadows, his eyes never leaving Xingyu. "She is thinking about whether or not to trust someone."
The silence that followed was heavy. Luo Ye's brow twitched. "You mean... she saw someone last night?"
"Very likely," Sang Qi frowned. "That kind of distraction... it looks like someone touched her heart."
"If that's the case..." Cang Yuan started, but Lin Lie was already walking toward the pond.
"Don't ask her who it is," Lin Lie said softly. "If she wants to tell us, she will. For now... we just need to stand behind her. Let her know that no matter what she chooses, we are here."
[The Circle of Companions]
At the pond, Xingyu heard footsteps and turned. Lin Lie sat down beside her in silence, looking at the water.
Then came Luo Ye, holding a bowl of hot soup. "If you don't drink this, I'm drinking it myself."
Then came Cang Yuan, who sat on her other side with a sigh. "The water here is too quiet; I'll give it some life."
Sang Qi crouched nearby, grumbling, "If you have something on your mind, talking to a medicine jar is better than keeping it in."
Finally, Li Yan stood a short distance behind her. He said nothing, but as the sun moved, his shadow fell perfectly across her back, shielding her.
Xingyu froze. She looked at these men—the ones she thought she had to protect and lead. Now, they were the ones surrounding her.
She suddenly understood. Some people don't wait for an explanation to stand by your side. They were her true "comrades"—not people to be pushed, but people willing to walk with her.
A faint light flickered in her eyes, and she smiled. It was a small smile, but it sent a gentle ripple across the once-still pond.