Suddenly, a knock on the door pulled xingtian from his thoughts. Lian yue open her eyes, breaking her meditation and glanced toward the door. The innkeeper's voice came through, polite yet hesitant "sir, madam, do you need anything?"
Both lian yue and xingtian exchanged a glance, silently asking if the other needed anything. when neither spoke, xingtian finally replied, "No, we're fine. thank you." The innkeeper nodded and left.
Lian yue returned to her meditative posture her expression calm. She meditated through the night while xingtian,lying on the bed, Occasionally glanced at her. When first light of dawn broke through the window, he finally asked, "lady lian don't you need Rest?"
whithout opening her eyes, lian yue Replied, "Meditation is also a form of Rest for martial artist. You should know that by now, Mr.Xing
Xingtian chuckled softly, saying no more.
Later that morning, they had breakfast in the Common Room of the inn. The place was lively, filled with travelers and local exchanging news. Amid the chatten, lian yue's eans caught a particularly grim conversation "its the skinner again", a man whispered to his Companion, his voice low but heavy with fear." Another victim in Tuhulyan Town. Skinmed.... Same as the others!"
"yes" another added, "They say the murderers not even human, "who else could commit such brutal kilings?"
lian yue's grip on her sword tightened, her eyes narrowing. She stood abruptly, Ready to leave. I should get going, "She Said decisively.
xinglan, looked up from his meal. "lady lian, I'll go with your."
Lian yue shook his head." Mr. Xing, you've already helped me twice and even got injured. I can't trouble you anymore."
xinglian leaned back in his chair, his tone firm." no need to apologize. I chose to help, and if I didn't want to, no one could force me. let's go."
Relizing he wouldn't take 'No' for an answer, lian yue Retented. Together, they set out for Tuhulyan Town.
After a day's Journey' They arrived. The air in the town was heavy with dread, the streets unnaturally quiet. It wasn't long before they heard whispers of another murder. Following the trail of Onlookers, they worived at the crime Scene.
The body was a horrifying Sight-Skinned and mutilated, as if the killer had vented pure rage on the victim. Lian yue stepped closer, her sharp eyes Catching Something on the victim's wrist. A faint Red dragon mark stood out against the torn flesh.
She stared at it, her mind Racing. where have I seen this before?
"it's a mark from the demon Realm," xingtian said, as though Reading her thoughts.
Lian yue Stiffened. "I have seen this before.... during the fell of chunyang city. The demons left this same mark on their victims." Her grip on her sword tightened.
"It must be Xing mu, the Demon lord."
xingtian's eyes nerrowed. "why do you think it's him?"
who else could commit Such atrocities?" she replied, her voice sharp. " he was the one who led the demons to wipe out chunyang city."
xingtian folded his arm." I've heard that Xing mu in Seclusion when chunyang city fell."
Her eyes Snapped to him." How do yo know that?"
He gave a small,enigmatic Smile. "I've heard things. As for the dragon mark, I've read about it."
lian yue frowned, suspicion flickering in her gaze. "It seems you know great many things, Mr. Xing."
"Not all things," he replied Smoothly. "But enough!"
They decided to Rest before investigating further. The Journey had been tiring, and they checked into a quieter inn on the out skirts of town. Unlike the bustling inns of the city, this one was sparsely populated. They took seperate Rooms, and lian yue quickely Resumed her meditation.
Meanwhile Xingtian met with his shadow guard, zhao xi, who greeted him with a bow.
"your majesty."
Xingtian's tone was cold and Commanding. "find out who's behind this-who dares use my name to commit these Crimes. clear them...." He paused, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "No. Report to me first."
zhao xi nodded and left silently.
when Xingtian Returned to the inn, he found lian yue Standing in the hall way, her expression tense.
"Where were you?" she demanded.
"I went for a stroll" he replied Casually. "why are you outside?"
Her eyes narrowed. "The waiter was knocking at your door But you didn't answer. He informed me,I thought you might have been taken by that murderer."
Xingtian raised an eyebrow." lady lian, were you worried about me?"
She looked away, her tone defensive. "you're Our guest and have helped me twice, it's natural to worry under the circumstances."
xingtian's lips Curved into a rare Smile." I see."
without another word, they returned to their rooms, each lost in their own thoughts.