[The Strength of the Earth]
When Gu Xingyu returned to her tent, her tears had dried, but her spirit was shattered. She sat on the edge of her cot, trembling, until a large, warm hand covered hers.
Li Yan knelt by her side. "Xingyu," he said, his voice a low rumble. "I am not good with words. But seeing them force you to choose... it hurts me. Don't be sad. There will be a way."
He spoke of the Master of the South Villa and the possibility of other paths. "I believe you will find your way. Because you are the Saintess, and because... you are you."
For the first time, Xingyu felt the weight on her shoulders lighten. She leaned into his silent strength and finally fell into a peaceful, exhausted sleep. Li Yan stayed by her side, clad in his armor, a silent shield against the night until dawn broke.
[The Reprimand]
The next morning, the other four Yao rushed to the tent, only to find Li Yan blocking the entrance. He led them away and confronted them with a sternness they had never seen.
"Let her breathe," Li Yan commanded. "You all claim to love her, yet you forget she is just a girl. She carries the fate of the world and the burden of your emotions. She is not a saint; she is human. Stop tearing her apart."
The silence that followed was heavy with guilt.
"It's my fault," Luo Ye whispered, looking at the ground.
"I thought I was giving her support," Lin Lie admitted, "but my 'logic' was just another form of pressure."
Cang Yuan sighed, a self-mocking smile on his lips. "It took Li Yan to remind us that she doesn't need us to fight for her, but to stand with her."
[The Shadow of the Capital]
Xingyu emerged from the tent, her eyes still swollen but her gaze steady. She looked at the five of them—standing in a neat row like naughty students in the principal's office—and felt a flicker of warmth.
"This is the Prince's reply," she said, sliding the bamboo tube onto the table.
The news was grim. The East Wing Archives confirmed the "Ghost Army." The Preceptor was erasing the dead to hide the living. Si Mo-yan's warning was clear: The Capital is being watched.
As the team discussed the strategy for the Sanctuary, Li Yan's heart suddenly missed a beat.
The Capital is being watched...
His thoughts flew to the Princess. He remembered her proud gaze, her teasing smile, and her quiet command: "Don't get hurt again." He didn't share his fear. He simply tightened his grip on his gauntlets, locking the worry deep within his stone-like heart. But the shadow had been cast—his loyalty was no longer just to the mission, but to a woman who had secretly stolen his heart.