Fengming Hall – Morning
At the center, the three Masters sat in solemn silence, their gazes heavy as stone. The Feng family stood at their side, the weight of judgment lingering in the air.
Boots echoed sharply across the marble floor as Master Mo Xiang's investigator entered, flanked by Mo Yuming. The investigator bowed low, scrolls and records in hand.
"Honored Masters, Feng Lords," he began, his voice steady, though tension coiled within it. "The investigation into the death of Master Lei… is complete."
The hall grew hushed. Every breath seemed to hang in wait.
The investigator unrolled the scroll.
"We examined his body. There were no traces of poison in his blood, nor on the cup he was said to have drunk from. His passing was not caused by foul means. It was—" he hesitated, then spoke firmly, "—the natural end of a man gravely ill."
A ripple of murmurs spread across the hall. Feng Xiaoyan's brows furrowed; Feng Lingxi exchanged a sharp glance with her sister. The three Masters shifted in their seats, the revelation unsettling the foundations of rumor and blame.
Mo Yuming stepped forward, her voice clear:
"This proves Ms. Ye did not kill Master Lei. His death was not by poison. However—"
The silence returned.
"Though the poison was never consumed, it was prepared. The attempt cannot be erased. By the laws of the clans, an attempt on a leader's life demands punishment."
The Masters leaned forward, their expressions grim.
"She will not face death," Master Yue intoned. "But she will bear the burden of her crime. A punishment befitting the weight of her attempt."
Whispers swirled through the Feng family. Feng Yangguang's jaw tightened, his hand curling into a fist. Feng Xiaoyan's expression hardened, though her voice wavered:
"Even so… if it was only an attempt, is there no room for mercy?"
"Mercy?" madam Yan snapped, eyes cold. "She lifted her hand against a clan leader. Mercy cannot cleanse that stain."
Mo Yuming, her face pale, spoke with quiet defiance:
"Then what of her father's loyalty? What of Ye Huayong's sacrifice for Master Lei? Will the clans forget so quickly the blood he shed to protect him?"
The hall erupted in tension—clan law against personal honor, justice against legacy.
Master Xiang shut Yuming with his eyes.
A hush spread through the chamber. The Masters exchanged knowing glances, and then Master Jian rose to deliver judgment.
"Then let it be known—the death of Master Lei was not at the hands of Ms. Ye. The clans must not waste more time chasing shadows. What is past, stays in the past."
The words hung heavy. The Feng family shifted uneasily, Madam Yan's lips tightening, Feng Yangguang bowing his head, Feng Lingxi glaring toward the floor.
The Master's gaze swept across the hall.
"However," he continued, voice like iron, "an attempt on a leader's life cannot be ignored. Though Master Lei did not fall by her hand, Ms. Ye did raise poison against him. Intent carries its own weight. For this, she will face punishment."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the elders.
"Her life will not be taken," the Master decreed, "but she shall bear hardship. Ms. Ye will serve under restraint, her movements bound to duty, her freedoms stripped. This is her penance—for attempting to wound the balance of the clans."
The Feng family remained silent. Though none dared speak against the ruling, the air trembled with hidden resentment.
The Master's staff struck the floor, finalizing the decree.
"The matter is settled. From this moment forth, the Ye family's past loyalty shall no longer be shield nor excuse. The clans will move forward."
Silence pressed down like a shroud.
And though the verdict was spoken, the bitterness in the Feng family's eyes promised that this story was far from over.
The investigator's report ended, leaving the hall in taut silence.
Master Yue stood, his voice calm but cutting.
"Then it is settled. Master Lei's death was of illness, not poison. The clans will not dishonor his memory with false accusations." A brief sigh of relief flickered across a few faces, but it vanished when his tone hardened.
"Yet—attempted crime remains crime."
Then, Master Xiang raised his hand.
"Command our men to search. Ms. Ye and her people are still in hiding. Find them, drag them back if you must, and bring them to face their sentence."
The words struck the room like thunder.
"And as for Feng Mei'yin…" he paused, letting the name linger heavily in the air. "…she is no longer bound to this hall, nor to the protection of her bloodline. If she stands with traitors, then she shall bear the same consequence. Do what needs to be done."
The guards bowed deeply, already preparing to spread word across the lands.
Feng Lingxi finally broke the silence, her voice like a knife.
"Father's honor cannot be restored by mercy. If Mei'yin dares shield them, then she chooses her side."
The hall emptied slowly, but tension lingered, whispering through the Feng family's hearts.
Under the ancient tree, Mei'yin sat cross-legged, her hands resting calmly on her knees. The glow of the protective barrier she had cast shimmered faintly.
Suddenly, Mei'yin's eyes snapped open.
A ripple—faint but undeniable—brushed against the barrier.
Her body moved before thought. Bow in hand, she rushed toward the disturbance, each step silent, deadly precise.
There—just at the edge of the barrier—stood a boy, no older than fifteen. He was thin, his frame wiry, his movements fast, darting like a startled fox. He tried to slip past the invisible wall, but Mei'yin's arrow whistled through the air and buried itself just an inch from his feet.
The boy froze, his wide eyes meeting hers. In a flash, Mei'yin closed the distance, her arm catching him and twisting with practiced precision until he was pinned against the ground.
"Who sent you?" Her voice was cold, her eyes narrowed like a predator's.
"I—wait! Please, don't kill me!" the boy stammered, trembling. "I'm… I'm a Ye!"
Mei'yin's grip tightened, distrust in her gaze. But before she could press further, footsteps thundered toward them.
"Lady Mei'yin, stop!" Ye Dushen's urgent voice cut through the tension.
She glanced up, still holding the boy down. "You know him?"
Dushen walk beside them, his expression heavy. "Yes. He's my cousin. His name is Ye Shanying."
Mei'yin's eyes narrowed, suspicion still sharp in her stare. "If he's truly a Ye, then why wasn't he with you when you were caught in Fengming?"
Dushen's gaze dropped for a moment before answering. "Because we told him to escape first. We needed at least one of us free… someone who could find help if things went wrong. That's why he wasn't captured with the rest of us."
Mei'yin studied Shanying's frightened face for a long moment. Finally, she released him, stepping back with a curt nod.
Shanying scrambled to his feet, bowing quickly. "Forgive me, Lady Mei'yin. I didn't mean to intrude. I only wanted to return… to find my family."
Mei'yin's expression softened, but only slightly. "Then you've found them. Stay within the barrier if you value your life."
The boy swallowed hard and nodded, while Dushen placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Mei'yin, however, turned away, her gaze drifting toward the glowing edges of the barrier.
Inside the old Ye residence, the flickering light of oil lamps cast long shadows across the worn wooden walls.
Dushen sat Shanying down at the low table, his brows furrowed in concern.
"Shanying, tell me everything. What's happening outside?"
The boy's face was pale, his breath unsteady. He clenched his fists on his knees, as though steadying himself before he spoke.
"I came here to warn you… Every Master has commanded their men to search for us. They've sent hunting parties across the mountains and forests. They're turning every stone to find where we're hiding."
The room fell into silence. Ms. Ye's hands trembled slightly as she set down the bowl she was holding. "So… it's begun."
A murmur rippled through the others—fear, anger, desperation.
Dushen's jaw tightened. "How close are they? Did you see them?"
Shanying nodded quickly. "Yes… I avoided two patrols on my way here. They were moving fast—like hounds on a scent. They're not far. Sooner or later, they'll find this place."
All eyes turned toward Mei'yin, who remained standing near the doorway, her posture steady, her gaze sharp as steel.
She finally spoke, her voice calm yet heavy with resolve.
"Let them come. This land is protected. As long as my barrier stands, no one can cross it without facing me first."
The villagers exchanged glances, torn between relief and worry.
Shanying, still shaken, looked up at her with wide eyes. "But… Lady Mei'yin, how long can you hold them off? They're coming with armies."
Mei'yin's lips curved into the faintest, deadliest smile.
"Then they'll learn the hard way that even an army cannot break what I've claimed."
------
The search parties moved swiftly through the forest, lanterns bobbing like restless fireflies in the night. Steel clinked at their sides, their voices low and urgent as they fanned out to scour every hidden path.
From the black canopy above, a shadow descended.
A great bird, its feathers darker than the night itself, swooped low. Its single crimson eye glowed like burning coal, glaring into their souls. The soldiers stumbled back, shielding their faces as its wings stirred a violent wind, scattering leaves and dust into their eyes.
One of the captains raised his sword. "Stay sharp! It's just a beast!"
But when the bird opened its beak, a strange aura poured out—an oppressive energy, heavy and suffocating. The men dropped to their knees, their breaths caught in their throats as if unseen hands pressed down upon them.
The captain's sword slipped from his grasp. His voice shook.
"T-this isn't… a normal bird…"
Above them, the crimson eye flared brighter. A distorted voice, almost human yet not, echoed in the soldiers' ears.
"Leave."
The soldiers scrambled backward, tripping over roots and stones in their haste. Fear spread through the group like wildfire. None dared move forward again.
Hidden in the shadows far from their sight, Mei'yin stood with arms crossed, watching through the eyes of her companion. Her lips curved faintly.
"Good work, Xihe," she murmured.
The bird tilted its head once in acknowledgment, before vanishing back into the dark canopy, her red-eyed bird.
For days, the forest outside the Ye residence was never quiet.
Every now and then, patrols of soldiers or wandering scouts stumbled too close to the concealed barrier. And every time—without fail—something stopped them.
A rush of wind. A cry sharp enough to cut through bone.
The moment a man dared to approach within a few paces of the invisible ward, a shadow would descend from the trees: Mei'yin's dark bird, its single crimson eye blazing like fire in the night.
Its wings spread wide, casting an enormous silhouette that seemed larger than life. The soldiers always froze, hearts hammering, as the weight of its aura pressed upon them.
If they still tried to push forward, Mei'yin herself would appear, stepping lightly from the mist—calm, unyielding, her gaze colder than steel.
"Turn back," she would say, her voice never rising.
Not once did she strike them. Not once did her bird tear into flesh. But the fear she left behind was heavier than any blade.
By the third time, whispers began to spread among the search parties.
"That bird with the red eye… it's a demon."
"The woman—she spares us, but that's worse! As if she knows we can do nothing against her…"
And so, though men still searched, none dared press too far when they saw shadows stir in the treetops.
Mei'yin's silent guardianship kept the Ye residence untouched—untouched, yet always on the edge of danger.
After the third failed search, the patrol leader finally returned, pale-faced and trembling.
Inside the great hall, before the three Masters, he knelt low, sweat dripping from his brow.
"Reporting to the Masters…" His voice shook. "Each time we neared the Ye residence, we were… stopped. A great dark bird with one crimson eye descended from the sky. Its cry froze our limbs, and the woman Mei'yin herself appeared. She did not strike, but her presence alone forced us back."
Murmurs rippled among the Feng family and gathered retainers.
Master Mo Xiang's brow furrowed. "So… she is guarding them."
Master Qin Jian gaze turned sharp. "A beast that obeys her command? Hmph. That is no ordinary pet. She dares to oppose our orders directly."
Master Bai Yue raised a hand, silencing the room. "And yet… she has not harmed your men. Only driven them away."
The patrol leader nodded quickly. "Yes, Master. She spares us each time, but the warning is clear—we cannot breach the barrier while she stands watch."
The hall grew tense.
The Feng family exchanged glances. To some, Mei'yin's act was defiance; to others, it was restraint, proof she sought no needless bloodshed.
At last, Madam Yan voice echoed:
"Report acknowledged. Whatever ties Mei'yin believes bind her to the Ye family, she must learn that the will of the Masters cannot be resisted forever. Strength is not shown in mercy alone."
The command was given—an unspoken pressure settling over the hall: Mei'yin's defiance would not go unanswered.
The chamber was heavy with tension. Masters and Feng family alike listened as Master Mo Xiang's voice echoed against the carved beams.
" She will not kill, but she will not let us through. This cannot continue."
The eldest Master, Jian leaned forward, his gaze stern.
"Then we will force her hand. Bring Mei'yin here. If she resists… her siblings will go. She will not ignore her own blood."
The words struck like thunder.
Feng Lingxi's face darkened instantly. She stepped forward, her voice rising like steel against stone.
"Are you saying we should be used as bait? To turn ourselves into chains around Mei'yin's neck? That's impossible!" Her eyes blazed, unyielding. "We are important to her, yes—but that doesn't mean you can dangle us like tools. You call yourselves wise men of the clans? Then use your brains and find another way!"
The hall erupted in uneasy murmurs. Madam Yan quickly moved, her hand gripping Lingxi's arm, while Xiao hurried to her side, whispering urgently.
"Enough, Lingxi… don't let your temper ruin us here."
But before calm could return, Bai Chengxing stepped forward, his voice sharp and cutting.
"You dare speak against the Masters so carelessly? Lady Feng Lingxi, do you even realize what Mei'yin is doing? She's defying the clans, protecting criminals! If using you can make her surrender, then so be it. Better that, than let her drag your family's name through the mud!"
Lingxi spun toward him, her fury igniting.
"You spineless coward!"
The two voices clashed, ringing through the hall until Master Jian slammed his hand against the armrest.
"Enough!" His deep voice silenced them at once. "This is not a place to quarrel like children."
The air was still tense when another voice broke through—steady, but carrying weight.
"I will go."
All eyes turned. Qin Yuxi stepped forward from the gathered youths, his expression calm but resolute.
"She may not listen to orders, but she will listen to me. I will bring her."
A ripple of silence spread through the hall. Then, another voice joined.
"I'll come too."
Mo Yuming stepped forward, standing at Yuxi's side. "Mei'yin trusts me. If the two of us go together, we may succeed where others fail."
Master Yue, who had been silent until now, stroked his beard thoughtfully before nodding.
"You two are her closest friends. If anyone can reach Mei'yin without bloodshed, it is you. Go—but remember: if persuasion fails, you return at once. Do not risk yourselves against her."
The decree settled, though unease still lingered in the hall. Lingxi's jaw was clenched, Chengxing's eyes glared coldly, Madam Yan and Xiao exchanged anxious looks, and Qin Yuxi and Yuming prepared themselves for the task no one else could take.
Ye Residence — Early Morning
The sun had just begun to rise, washing the courtyard in soft gold. Beneath the old tree, Mei'yin stretched lazily, her bow resting at her side. Nearby, Shanying was devouring a bowl of rice porridge with unrestrained enthusiasm.
"You're unbelievable," Mei'yin muttered, watching him slurp noisily. "Did you even chew that?"
Shanying shot her a mock glare, spoon still halfway to his mouth. "Don't blame me—your cooking's too good. You should be honored."
Mei'yin smirked, stealing a piece of fried dough from his bowl. "Honored? More like exhausted from feeding a bottomless pit."
"Hey!" Shanying protested, trying to snatch it back. "I risked my neck to get here, you know. The least you could do is not steal my breakfast!"
Their playful bickering filled the quiet morning air, almost like siblings squabbling over scraps. For a fleeting moment, it felt normal—peaceful.
Then—
A sharp jolt ran through Mei'yin's chest. Xihe's noise echoed in her mind, urgent and sharp. Her expression darkened instantly.
She stood at once, bow already in her grasp.
"Someone's near," she said flatly.
Without waiting, she dashed toward the barrier's edge, the morning light flickering across her figure.
Shanying scrambled after her. "Wait—don't leave me with the dishes!"
But as Mei'yin reached the boundary and drew her bow, her eyes widened.
Not soldiers. Not hunters.
Mo Yuming.
And beside her—Qin Yuxi.
Her closest friend.
Her fiancé.
…Or perhaps ex-fiancé.
Complicated, like everything else now.
Mei'yin froze as the figures stepped into view.
Mo Yuming's steady eyes searched the treeline first, but Qin Yuxi… his gaze went straight to her.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
The air shifted, thick and heavy with everything left unsaid. Mei'yin's grip tightened around her bow, yet her eyes betrayed her—lingering too long on the familiar curve of his face, the sharpness of his eyes softened only when they met hers.
And Yuxi… his lips parted as though to speak, but no words came. Instead, his gaze held her, almost hungrily, as if memorizing her—every scar, every shadow, every trace of the girl he once called his future.
Mei'yin's chest ached, though she forced her face into a mask of indifference. Still, the smallest flicker of longing betrayed her eyes.
It was Yuming who broke the silence, her voice gentle but firm.
"Mei'yin… we came to talk."
The bow in Mei'yin's hands lowered, just slightly, but her eyes—her eyes never left Yuxi's.
A thousand words between them, none spoken.
She stood rooted beneath the ancient tree, bow in hand, her eyes narrowing.
"Mo Yuming. Qin Yuxi." Her tone was cool, almost cutting. "You've come far… too far. Tell me—why should I believe you didn't lead others here?"
Yuming raised her hands calmly. "If we meant to harm you, Mei, the barrier would already be swarming with soldiers. We came alone."
But Mei'yin's gaze slid past her, landing on Yuxi. His eyes locked with hers, unflinching, filled with something raw and unspoken.
"You," Mei'yin said, her voice quieter, sharper, "have more reason than anyone to drag me back. Are you here for me—or for them?"
The air between them seemed to still. Yuxi's jaw tightened, but when he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight only she would hear.
"I came… for you."
Her heart clenched, but she masked it with a scoff, forcing a cold smile. "Sweet words, Yuxi. Do you think I'll lower my guard so easily?"
Yuming stepped forward, her tone firm but pleading. "Mei, stop pretending. You know us. You know we wouldn't betray you."
Silence stretched. Mei'yin's knuckles whitened on her bowstring, the barrier flickering faintly as her power wavered with indecision. Then at last, she sighed and raised her hand—the glow around them softened, dissolving the barrier's edge.
"Fine. Come in."
The villagers, who had gathered at the edge of their houses, shrank back instantly, fear etched into every face. Murmurs rose—accusations, worry, suspicion.
Mei'yin's sharp gaze cut across them.
"They are friends."
The words fell like iron, silencing the crowd. Still, unease lingered in their eyes as Yuming and Yuxi stepped past the barrier, the weight of Mei'yin's command shielding them from the villagers' doubt.
But Yuxi's eyes never left Mei'yin's, not even once—as if crossing that barrier had cost him something too.