The mist over Jade Valley hung like unyielding thick ink, blurring the craggy rocks into faint, hazy silhouettes. Cyno tightened his grip on the Staff of the Scarlet Sands. The patterns on its surface glinted with faint golden light in the dimness, echoing the cold glint that occasionally flashed from Candace's halberd.
The two crouched behind a massive boulder, their gaze piercing through layers of fern fronds to fix on a temporary camp not far away, lit by torches.
"The guards at the southeast corner change every incense stick's time," Candace whispered, her voice low and crisp, bearing the sharp decisiveness of one raised in the desert. "I counted just now—each patrol has three men, and their crossbows have a range of roughly thirty paces."
Her fingertips traced the camp's layout lightly on the ground, sand shifting with her movements. "Aether and Yun Jin are locked inside the stone hut at the very back. Two shielded heavy infantry stand guard at the door. They won't be easy to deal with."
Cyno nodded slightly. His pale pupils blazed startlingly bright in the shadow.
"I'll draw their main force away. You rescue them while they're distracted. Use this."
He pulled a small Anemo talisman from his robes. "Stick it on them. It will lighten their load temporarily and make them faster."
The swirling Anemo energy on the talisman made Candace raise an eyebrow—even the General of the Darshan prepared such unorthodox support tools.
No more words were needed.
Cyno burst from behind the rock like a black bolt of lightning. Instead of charging directly at the camp, he circled to the slope on its side and flicked three Electro-infused darts. The sharp whistling of air had barely faded when a blinding burst of lightning erupted from the grain supplies on the west side of the camp. Dry fodder ignited at once, roaring into flames.
"Enemy attack!"
Panicked shouts shattered the valley's peace. Torches blazed like scattered stars. Countless soldiers poured out of tents with blades and spears, rushing chaotically toward the fire.
Cyno watched coldly. The Staff of the Scarlet Sands spun in his grasp. Electro energy spread along the ground, exploding in a spiderweb of crackling lightning at the camp's center and felling another wave of disoriented soldiers.
"Now!"
Candace lunged toward the camp's edge like a cheetah. Her halberd swept sideways, the gust it generated sending two unprepared guards flying. The heavy wooden palisade shattered like paper before her charge.
The stone hut's lock split under her halberd's strike. When she kicked the door open, she saw Aether and Yun Jin sitting back-to-back in the corner. Both bore minor scrapes, but their eyes remained clear and unyielding.
"Candace?" Aether looked up in surprise, then spotted the Anemo talisman in her hand. He immediately tugged Yun Jin close. "Quick, stick these on!"
Though Yun Jin was experiencing such danger for the first time, she showed no panic. Her fingers brushed the talisman's patterns, and she spoke softly, "Thank you." Her tone carried the steady composure of a seasoned opera performer.
The three had barely rushed out of the stone hut when a deafening roar boomed from behind.
"Don't you dare escape!"
A general under Yuan Shao charged toward them with personal guards, sword and spear glinting fiercely under the torchlight.
Candace told Aether and Yun Jin to flee, then turned to block the pursuers. Her halberd whirled into an impenetrable wall, each swing heavy with the force of desert sand, holding the enemy firmly in place.
"This way!"
Cyno had circled ahead at some point, waving them over. Dust speckled his black robes, and the tip of the Staff of the Scarlet Sands still hummed with warmth, but his gaze remained sharp as an eagle's.
The four sprinted along the western path of the valley, the shouts of battle gradually fading behind them, drowned out by the wind. Moonlight filtered through the mist, illuminating the rugged stones beneath their feet.
Although Yun Jin's stamina was not on par with the others, her steps remained unusually steady—clear proof of her years of disciplined training. Aether glanced back repeatedly, only relaxing once he was certain no pursuers were close.
Just as they were about to exit Jade Valley and step into open grassland, a cold, sharp shout cut through the air ahead.
"Where do you think you're going?"
A heavily armored general stood blocking the path, spear planted and horse reined. Behind him marched dozens of cavalry, all holding long spears, their gazes fierce.
Torchlight glinted off a scar on the general's face—and off the gleaming spear in his grip.
It was Zhang He, a fierce warrior under Yuan Shao.
"Cyno, you go on ahead!" Candace immediately leveled her halberd, shielding the group. Her dress flapped violently in the wind, sweat beading on her forehead and glinting under the moon, but her eyes burned with unshakable resolve.
Cyno placed a hand on her shoulder. The Staff of the Scarlet Sands turned gently in his grip.
"You take them and leave. I'll handle this." His voice was calm, as if he was merely heading to complete a trivial task.
"But—"
"I will catch up soon," Cyno cut her off. His gaze flicked to Aether and Yun Jin. "Keep her safe."
Aether nodded firmly, taking Yun Jin's hand and stepping back. He knew this was no time for hesitation. He trusted Cyno's strength—but Zhang He was no ordinary foe. The battle ahead would not be easy.
Seeing that only one robed figure remained to block him, Zhang He let out a cold laugh.
"You? Alone? You dare stand in my way?"
He dug his heels into his horse's flanks. The steed reared, letting out a thunderous neigh.
Cyno did not reply. He slammed the Staff of the Scarlet Sands violently into the earth.
Crack.
The ground split with fine fissures. Electro energy snaked out like venomous vipers, coiling toward Zhang He's mount. The horse panicked, rearing again—but Zhang He remained steady in the saddle. He swept his spear sideways, actually cleaving through the Electro energy.
"Interesting." A flicker of surprise crossed Zhang He's eyes, quickly replaced by excitement. He lived for duels with strong opponents. The strange, oppressive aura coming from this robed figure stirred a long-dormant battle lust within him.
His spear pierced toward Cyno's face with a shrill whistle, its tip almost tearing through the air. Cyno pushed off the ground, gliding several steps to the left like a phantom.
As he dodged, the Staff of the Scarlet Sands slammed toward Zhang He's waist, roaring with Electro. Zhang He reacted instantly, whirling his spear to block.
Clang!
The deafening crash of metal echoed through the valley, stinging the ears.
The two clashed at once.
Zhang He's spear technique was wide and brutal, each strike carrying immense weight, as if intending to crush everything before him. Cyno's movements, however, were eerily agile. The Staff of the Scarlet Sands struck like a striking viper one moment, then swept like a storm the next, Electro bursting repeatedly, leaving charred craters across the ground.
The horse circled and neighed between them. Zhang He used its momentum to make his strikes even more ferocious. He noticed Cyno's raw strength was inferior to his own, so he deliberately forced power exchanges, hoping to end the fight quickly.
Yet Cyno evaded his killing blows by the narrowest margins, every jab of his staff targeting the flaws in Zhang He's form, leaving his blood roiling.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Weapon collisions rained down like a storm. In mere moments, the two had exchanged more than twenty blows.
On the twentieth exchange, Zhang He's spear swept toward him again. This time, Cyno did not retreat—he advanced.
He slid almost flat against the ground, driving the Staff of the Scarlet Sands upward at an impossible angle, striking the horse's belly.
The beast let out a shrill, pained neigh and lunged forward. Caught off guard, Zhang He was thrown from his back, slamming into the dirt in a cloud of dust.
His spear flew from his grasp, quivering as it stuck into the grass nearby.
Zhang He struggled to rise, only to find the tip of Cyno's staff pressed against his throat. The cold metal sent a chill through his body. He looked up. Cyno's eyes held no killing intent—only utter calm.
"Why… why not kill me?" Zhang He panted, confused and resentful.
Cyno did not answer. He slowly pulled back his staff. Glancing at the terrified cavalry behind Zhang He, he turned and chased after the direction Aether and Candace had taken.
Zhang He stared at his fading silhouette in the night, then at his own trembling, numb hands. He finally let out a long, heavy sigh.
He knew. He had lost fairly.
Several days later, the great gates of Sumeru City slowly opened.
Cyno walked at the front, his black robes fluttering gently in the sun. Candace followed closely behind; the blood on her halberd had long been washed away, leaving a warm, polished sheen. Aether and Yun Jin walked side by side, both wearing smiles of relief after narrowly escaping death.
The city guards bowed respectfully at their sight.
Sunlight streamed through the towering gates, casting long shadows behind them, leaving behind the peril and bloodshed of Jade Valley, far, far away.
The wind of Sumeru brushed their cheeks, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees.
Everything was safe now.