Six months of training had passed. Xi Youran had grown stronger, wiser, and more determined. She lay beneath the sprawling trees, the wind lulling her to rest—but her mind was far from at ease. JianZi's updates on the capital had kept her informed, yet a creeping anxiety gnawed at her.
"This sudden change… is it TianZi again?"
Sleep overtook her, but the dreams returned. Once more, she was pulled into the memories of Grandpa Yan—Mu Fei—their tragedies replaying like cruel cinema in her mind.
The Calm Before the Storm
Xi Youran awoke in her bedroom, Hui curled beside her in his beast form. Grandpa Yan stood by the window, quiet, eyes scanning the horizon.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the courtyard, and Mu Fei stiffened.
"SOUL CLAN?!" Mu Fei's eyes widened. The Soul Clan was notorious for hunting Dou practitioners, devouring their souls to gain power. Even he knew their methods: once interrupted mid-devouring, the victim would fall into an eternal slumber, impossible to wake.
Quickly, Mu Fei activated his space rings.
"Xi Youran, take these!" he instructed, tossing her two small rings. "They contain everything you need to learn. The Soul Clan is clearly here for me, not you. But you must leave—now."
Xi Youran barely had time to comprehend before Hui transformed into his divine form.
"Let's go, master!" Hui's stripes shimmered as he carried her off. A strange, powerful skill enveloped them, and they shot away like lightning—but the Soul Clan pursued relentlessly.
The Ambush
Suddenly, a black pill bottle soared toward them. Instinctively, Xi Youran shattered it with a surge of Qi.
"Don't!" came a metallic kachak—a black chain shot from the bottle, wrapping her hand, suppressing her Qi. Suffocating, she struggled as Hui's shield flickered under the chain's pressure.
"M-master…" Xi Youran's voice cracked.
In a flash, Mu Fei was beside them, attempting to undo the seal—but the Soul Clan drew closer.
"Listen, Xi Youran… Whatever happens next, do not blame yourself. Continue chasing your dreams even if I am no longer by your side. You may not be my first disciple, but you are my last, and it is an honor to have taught you."
Xi Youran's sight blurred as darkness crept in.
"Hui… release the chain. The rest is up to you," Mu Fei whispered, using his remaining Qi to protect her and buy her time.
Hui hesitated for a heartbeat, then leapt into the sky, carrying Xi Youran to safety. His heart pounded, heavy with grief at leaving Mu Fei behind. These six months of shared warmth had been unprecedented for the proud divine beast.
Mu Fei's Sacrifice
"Shit! Hurry! Catch his shattering soul before it disappears!" The Soul Clan agents screamed as Mu Fei's Qi dissipated.
But they failed. One by one, the shadowy hunters withdrew, their mission incomplete.
Hui slowed only when he judged Xi Youran safe. She clutched the space rings tightly, tears falling freely.
Back at Zhang Kingdom
Cai Xiao stumbled into JianZi's study, nearly collapsing from wounds sustained during his reconnaissance.
"Cai Xiao!" JianZi's panic was immediate. The talented assassin rarely returned in such a state.
Meanwhile, TianZi gripped a mysterious letter, his suspicion growing. The disappearance of Xi Youran could no longer be ignored. Every thread now pointed toward the first prince—and perhaps something far more dangerous.
Sheng's Observation
Above, Sheng stood, unbothered by the sudden downpour. His century-old instincts tingled.
"Another returner died… little girl, I pray for your safety," he murmured, sensing the Soul Clan's dark presence. Even seasoned Dou Sheng practitioners could feel the unnatural shift in energy.
ZhaoYun, observing the aftermath, returned to his studies with a grim expression. "Another Dou Sheng… the Soul Clan strikes again," he muttered.
Xi Youran and Hui's Resolve
Far from the capital, Xi Youran caught her breath, staring at the rings Mu Fei entrusted her. Hui's black-and-white stripes shimmered in the sunlight, his gaze serious but protective.
"Master… I won't let your sacrifice be in vain," Xi Youran whispered, determination blazing in her eyes. "I will master this, become stronger, and face whatever comes next."
Hui nodded silently, a faint smile crossing his lips. Together, they vanished into the mountains, ready to continue training—and prepared to face the next storm.