[The Fragile Departure]
The next morning, fog clung to the camp. Gu Xingyu stood tall, her voice clear. "Today we move south. Cross the Three Bridges, measure the second water source, and set up two medical tents." She used the mission to press down the heavy emotions of the previous night.
The Five Yao responded in unison, but their hearts were far from quiet. Luo Ye shouldered the heavy cooking gear, his eyes stubborn; Lin Lie's fingers traced the maps, obsessively checking for safety; Sang Qi spun his needles with cynical precision; Cang Yuan leaned back with a lazy smile that hid a deep ache; and Li Yan stood as a silent wall before Xingyu.
As the Yao-Bo engine roared to life, the tension inside the vehicle was palpable.
"So quiet," Cang Yuan joked, though his eyes were dark. "Are we all thinking the same thing? What becomes of us if our Saintess leaves?"
"Shut up," Luo Ye snapped.
"Quiet," Li Yan rumbled, his single word cutting through the bickering like a hammer.
[The Sabotage at the Bridge]
As the Yao-Bo crossed the second wooden bridge, a sickening crack echoed from below.
"Hold on!" Lin Lie shouted, gripping the controls as the vehicle tilted into a gap.
Li Yan was the first out, his massive strength literally holding the bridge timbers together. "Get out! Now!" he roared.
Luo Ye leaped down, his flames illuminating the beams. "The pillars were cut! This wasn't rot—it was sabotage!"
The team moved with wordless synchronization. Lin Lie reinforced the structure, Luo Ye provided light, Cang Yuan scouted for ambushes, and Sang Qi monitored the bridge's stability. Xingyu watched them, her heart aching with pride. This is my Five Yao, she whispered to herself. Even with hearts breaking, they were an unbreakable shield.
[The Ghost Ledger]
Back in Yao Capital, in the Eastern Pavilion, Crown Prince Si Mo-yan received the messenger pigeon. Reading Xingyu's report about the "East Wing Archives" and the "dead names being erased," his face turned cold.
"So... he dares to touch the military records," the Prince hissed.
That night, his secret guards infiltrated the dusty, forgotten archives. Under the dim light of lanterns, they pulled a ledger. The names of soldiers killed years ago were listed as "Active," followed by dozens of new names written in fresh ink.
"They are replacing the dead with shadows," the guard whispered.
On the wall behind the shelves, they found a carved mark—the Crest of the Rift-曜 Army.
[A Message of Warning]
Returning to the Pavilion, the Prince examined the torn page brought back by his men. The killing intent in his eyes was no longer hidden. He sat down and wrote a reply to Xingyu:
"Xingyu: Your suspicions were correct. The military records have been tampered with. Dead names are being used to hide a ghost army, and the Crest of the Rift-曜 was found on the walls. This is extremely dangerous. Do not act recklessly. I will handle things in the Capital. Stay safe. —Mo-yan."
He released the pigeon into the night sky. The white wings carried a truth that could set the world on fire, flying toward a woman who was already standing on a bridge of broken dreams.