The invitation arrived before they reached the outer road.
Not delivered by messenger.Not announced by decree.
It manifested.
A thin strip of pale light unfolded across the air ahead—precise, restrained, unmistakably Court-made.
Yan Ming stopped at once.
"…So they've chosen their tone."
Su Qingyue frowned.
"That's an invitation format."
Zhou Shan squinted.
"WHY DOES AN INVITATION LOOK LIKE A TRAP—?"
The light condensed into a symbol—an ancient Court sigil reserved for mutual audience.
Not summons.
Not command.
Request.
Lian Hong felt it settle into place—not pressing against him,but aligning with him.
"They can't force me," he said quietly.
Yan Ming nodded.
"No."
"So they ask."
Yan Ming studied the sigil carefully.
"This symbol hasn't been used in decades."
Su Qingyue raised an eyebrow.
"Why now?"
Yan Ming answered without hesitation.
"Because it binds both sides."
"If they overstep,the Court itself bears consequence."
Zhou Shan blinked.
"…THEY'RE PUTTING THEMSELVES ON THE LINE—?"
"Yes," Yan Ming said.
"Which means they are uncertain."
The light shifted.
Words formed—clean, formal, restrained:
The Court of Ascendant Orderrequests the presence ofLian Hongfor consultation regardinganomalous stabilization.
No accusations.No demands.
Just acknowledgment.
Lian Hong exhaled slowly.
"They're calling it 'consultation.'"
Yan Ming's mouth twitched.
"They always do when they don't have leverage."
Su Qingyue turned to Lian Hong.
"You don't have to accept."
Yan Ming added quietly:
"…But declining will escalate matters."
Zhou Shan panicked.
"WHY IS EVERYTHING A POLITICAL NIGHTMARE—CAN'T WE JUST SAY WE'RE BUSY—?!"
Lian Hong didn't answer immediately.
He felt the fracture's quiet presence—not urging,not warning.
Listening.
"…If I go," he said,"I step into their structure."
"And if you don't," Yan Ming replied,"they'll try to rebuild the structure around you."
Silence.
Lian Hong nodded.
"Then I'll go."
Su Qingyue stiffened.
"Alone?"
"No," Lian Hong said calmly.
"With conditions."
The light pulsed once—acknowledging response.
Lian Hong stepped forward.
"I accept," he said clearly.
"But I will not be confined."
"I will not submit to binding oaths."
"And I will not be separated from my companions."
The sigil hesitated.
Yan Ming watched closely.
"That pause matters."
The words reshaped:
Terms acknowledged.Court representatives will be assigned.No binding seals will be applied.
Zhou Shan's jaw dropped.
"THEY AGREED—?!"
Yan Ming nodded slowly.
"They can't risk refusal."
Su Qingyue's hand tightened on her sword.
"They're afraid."
"Yes," Yan Ming said.
"And fear makes institutions polite."
The sigil dimmed slightly,then displayed one final line:
Purpose of consultation:Assessment of carrier viability.
Su Qingyue scowled.
"They're evaluating him like an object."
Yan Ming corrected gently:
"They're evaluating whether the world can afford him."
Lian Hong absorbed that quietly.
"…And if they decide it can't?"
Yan Ming met his gaze.
"Then they'll look for alternatives."
Zhou Shan screamed:
"I DON'T LIKE THAT WORD—'ALTERNATIVES'—!!"
Lian Hong's shadow shifted faintly—not aggressive.
Alert.
The sigil folded inward,leaving behind a faint directional pull—not compulsion,but coordination.
Yan Ming gestured down the road.
"They'll prepare a neutral hall."
Su Qingyue walked closer to Lian Hong.
"We'll be with you."
Yan Ming nodded.
"I'll handle protocol."
Zhou Shan sighed dramatically.
"I'M GOING TO DIE IN A COURTROOM—THIS IS HOW IT ENDS—"
Lian Hong looked back once—toward the Sixth Mountain.
The fracture remained silent.
Not resisting.
Not yielding.
Trusting him to walk forward.
"…Then let's see what the Court really wants."
They stepped onto the road.
And far away, within the Court's inner halls,preparations accelerated.
Not for judgment.
But for negotiation.
Because something the Court could not commandwas about to walk through its doors.