The cave hummed.
Not loudly.Not threateningly.But with a quiet pulse that felt… aware.
Soft ribbons of moonlight dripped from cracks in the ceiling, gathering into glowing pools that cast white halos across the cavern floor. The air smelled like lotus petals and old magic.
Jiao Shui slowly scooted backward.
"Where," she whispered, "is the Emperor?"
Song Lingfang exhaled, resting one hand on the stone floor as if to steady himself.Teleportation clearly wasn't his Tuesday hobby.
"He's alive," Lingfang said calmly. "But I couldn't bring all three of us. The barrier would have collapsed."
Jiao Shui stared at him.
"You left the Emperor behind.With assassins.Forty assassins."
Song Lingfang gave a tiny shrug.
"He's very difficult to kill."
"That's not an excuse!" she exploded. "You know he's going to be furious, right? I've literally seen him angry enough to scare the walls."
Song Lingfang's lips curved ever so slightly.
"He's always furious when it concerns you."
Jiao Shui's breath tangled in her throat.
"Why?"
Lingfang's gaze turned gentle.
"You matter to him."
Her heart did a confused little somersault.
But before she could ask anything else, Song Lingfang moved closer and lifted her sleeve. The tear left by the poisoned dart earlier exposed a faint mark on her forearm—one she definitely didn't remember having.
A soft crescent-shaped glow shimmered beneath her skin.
She yelped."What is THAT?! Why am I glowing like a limited-edition dumpling?!"
He traced the air above the mark, not touching her, but close enough that warmth brushed her skin.
"That," he said softly, "is the Celestial Tear."
Jiao Shui froze.
"You… mean it's STUCK inside my ARM?!"
"Not inside," he said. "Bound. To your soul."
That was worse.So much worse.
[System: Host's panic is valid.][System: Recommend deep breaths or unconsciousness.]
Her breathing wobbled.
Song Lingfang knelt in front of her fully now. Moonlight turned his features soft, almost unreal.
"You reincarnate," he explained. "Every hundred years. Always with the Tear hidden within you. You were born to protect it."
Jiao Shui blinked rapidly.
"Protect it from WHO? Why does everyone want to stab me for it?!"
"Because," he murmured, "the Celestial Tear can alter fate."
She stared."What kind of 'alter fate' are we talking? Change destiny? Turn back time? Win the lottery?"
"All of it."
Her soul left her body again.
Song Lingfang continued, expression turning unreadable.
"In your first life, you used the Tear to seal a great evil.In your second life, it nearly consumed you.In this life… we don't know yet."
She swallowed painfully.
"And the Emperor? Does he know all this?"
Lingfang looked away.Expression complicated.Shadowed.
"He suspects. But he does not know the truth."
"Well," she snapped, "that's going to be a fun conversation when he finds us."
A crack of air echoed through the cave—distant but sharp, like thunder being pressed through stone.
Song Lingfang's eyes flew open.
"He's here."
"What? The Emperor?!"
"No."His voice tightened.
"The assassins."
Jiao Shui's heart stopped.
"How did they find us?! Aren't we in some secret moon cave?!"
"The sanctuary was meant to be hidden," he said. "But the Tear is too active. It's drawing enemies."
Jiao Shui threw her hands up.
"SO IT'S MY SOUL'S FAULT?!"
He didn't deny it.
A shadow flickered at the cave entrance.A tall figure stepped inside.
Jiao Shui screamed.
Song Lingfang drew his blade in a single fluid motion.
The figure stepped into the moonlight—
And the world stopped.
"Jiao Shui," Emperor Yang said, voice low and dangerous, "you disappeared."
He was covered in dust, blood on his shoulder, hair disheveled, robes torn.He looked wrathful enough to scorch mountains.
And he was staring not at her…but at Song Lingfang's hand, still close to her arm.
Lingfang didn't move.Didn't flinch.Didn't look away.
"Your Majesty," he said quietly, "you arrived quickly."
Emperor Yang's jaw flexed.
"You took her from me."
"You couldn't protect her."
"You underestimate me."
"You overestimate yourself."
The air thickened.Magic pulsed.Possessiveness rumbled.Violence shimmered like heat.
Jiao Shui slapped her hands between them.
"STOP! Both of you! Can we not have a territorial argument in a glowing cave while murder ninjas are following us?!"
Both men looked at her.Then at each other.
Then—
The cave trembled violently.
A blast hit the entrance.Dust rained down.
Dozens of assassins poured in, surrounding them.
"Hand over the girl," the leader hissed.
Emperor Yang stepped forward, blade raised.
Song Lingfang stood beside him, another blade sliding from his sleeve.
Jiao Shui shrank behind them.
And then—
Her arm began to glow again.
Brighter.Brighter.Blinding.
[System: Host… is activating.][System: This is bad.][System: Or good.][System: Hard to tell.]
Jiao Shui gasped as a burst of silver light exploded from her skin—
And the entire cave shook with celestial force.