Second Brother, that's enough.

Killing has never made Gui Ming so much as blink. Yet this time, his lashes fluttered ever so slightly, a trace of regret flickering across his expression.

As the dark light shot toward Yun Feiyue’s throat, she let out a soft laugh—did they really think it would be so easy to claim her life? Her meridians had been severed and her vengeance unfinished; how could she die now?

That laugh startled him as well. He couldn’t understand where things had gone wrong.

In the shadowy gloom, a figure clad in pure white moved. A white sword pierced the heavens, its light like the break of dawn in the darkness, running straight through the black-clad body.

She had gambled that he would never let her die.

Yun Feiyue retreated swiftly, her red whip unfurling once more and striking toward her enemy. Black robes were shredded in an instant, revealing pale skin—or rather, skin crisscrossed with white scars. Normally unobtrusive, the scars now stood out in the firelight, uneven and jarring.

Gui Ming retreated rapidly, slipping from Mo Feiyuan’s grasp and parrying the whip’s renewed strike. He had been careless—his form flashed, and he vanished into the night.

Yun Feiyue bit her lip, watching his fleeing silhouette. She couldn’t pursue; her body was at its limit. Meanwhile, Mo Feiyuan showed no interest in Gui Ming’s escape, turning instead to look at Yun Feiyue as her body suddenly weakened.

Yun Feiyue leaned against a great tree, head tilted back slightly, her breathing ragged.

“Why would someone from the Ghost Path try to kill me?” she asked, still puzzled.

Even if light and dark cannot coexist, there must be a reason for bloodshed.

He slipped off his white cloak and draped it over her shoulders. The coolness of it cleared her mind.

“This time, I owe you one,” she forced herself to stand, taking Xiao Mumu by the hand and slowly making her way to Consort Yun.

Consort Yun seized Yun Feiyue’s hand, worry etched across her face. “Are you all right?”

Yun Feiyue shook her head, a dazzling smile blossoming. “Of course I’m fine. It’s just that I haven’t fought in a long while—my meridians are a bit stiff. Aunt, you should go back first! I’m heading to the Yun estate as well.”

Consort Yun wanted to protest further, but Yun Feiyue nudged her playfully, “Go on, Aunt! I’m perfectly fine, truly!” She spread her arms and spun in a circle.

Only after seeing her unscathed did Consort Yun relax. “Yue’er, take good care of yourself. Your martial skills have improved again, haven’t they? Our Yun family’s fortune must have been accumulated over generations to have you. I’m sure the old master can rest easy now.”

Her voice faltered a bit. “As for that Ghost Path man, don’t trouble yourself over him. Focus on healing—I'll ask the emperor to assign you the finest guards.”

Yun Feiyue merely nodded. No matter how skilled the guards, before someone like that, they’d be little more than cannon fodder. For now, her only assets were herself and the Crimson Lotus token.

Once Consort Yun had departed, Yun Feiyue turned to Mo Feiyuan. “Hey, Icy Mountain, come here.”

Mo Feiyuan’s expression chilled. On the Jinge Continent, no one else would dare speak to him this way. This woman was bold indeed—fortunately, she was the mother of his son.

Though displeased, his feet obeyed and carried him straight to Yun Feiyue, his manner still cold and aloof. “What is it?”

“Let’s go back to the Yun estate together.” Yun Feiyue pointed to a luxurious carriage in the distance. “Ride with me? We have something to discuss.”

Mo Feiyuan frowned slightly, glancing at Yun Feiyue’s sly smile. He couldn’t guess what she was up to.

Yet, surprisingly, he didn’t refuse and climbed into her carriage.

Seated inside, Yun Feiyue suddenly realized—the carriage had no coachman. On the way here, Yun Hai had driven; naturally, he’d returned by now. Where could she find a coachman?

Mo Feiyuan sat in silence, unmoving as a mountain, as if he hadn’t noticed the issue.

Yun Feiyue pressed her hand to her forehead in dismay. The world was so inconvenient now—not even a phone call was possible.

Lost in her frustration, she heard Yun Hai’s voice outside.

“Princess Ye Qi, come ride home in my carriage! My eight-sided fragrant carriage was crafted especially for ladies—there’s only one like it on the entire Jinge Continent…”

“Was there a fire here just now?” Ye Qi’s voice sounded suspicious.

“Whether it was fire or sunlight, as long as my Princess Ye Qi is unharmed, that’s all that matters. Princess, please, step into my carriage,” Yun Hai’s voice drew nearer.

With that, the carriage curtain was lifted by Yun Hai, who came face to face with Yun Feiyue, her eyes narrowed with a ‘gentle’ smile.

“Ah?! So it’s you, Yue’er! Why are you in my carriage?” His gaze then fell on the Lord of Hidden Shadows beside her, and his expression changed. He’d only been boasting—he meant to take Princess Ye Qi home first, then return for Yun Feiyue. Who would have thought he’d be caught in the act?

Yun Feiyue shot Yun Hai a look that clearly said, ‘Behave and drive, or else.’ Yun Hai understood immediately. Still, with a beauty to embolden him, he could die without regret.

“If you want to ride with me, Yue’er, go ahead! I’ll take the horse.” With that, Yun Hai strode over to Yun Feng’s tempest steed. If he couldn’t share a carriage with a beauty, maybe riding together would be just as romantic—perhaps even lead to some close contact. The thought alone made him happy.

Yet Yun Hai seemed oblivious to the barrage of murderous glares aimed his way.

“Second Brother, enough. Come home with me!” Couldn’t he see Princess Ye Qi had already left?

Yun Hai turned to protest, only to catch a glimpse of a dark red steed and a sweep of violet skirts disappearing into the sky like a drifting cloud.

“Wuwuwu, abandoned again! Yue’er, am I truly not worthy of Princess Ye Qi?” Yun Hai wailed in despair.

Crushed by his disappointment, he did something quite out of character—just as the man before Yun Feiyue now had.

Yun Feiyue patted Yun Hai’s shoulder. “Second Brother, just drive the carriage nicely and I promise not to hit you. Crying won’t help your cause with me.”

Yun Hai instantly stopped crying, climbed onto the driver’s seat, and shot her a fierce glare over his shoulder. Hmph, just you wait!