Shun Mansion, Blazing Dawn Sect, Gunghua Province,

The night’s cold winds howled softly through the snow-covered landscape, their mournful song accompanying the faint glimmer of the moon high above. The snowfall had finally eased, leaving the Shun Mansion cloaked in a blanket of white. Guards patrolled the grounds in warm fur cloaks, their breath misting in the frigid air. Within the mansion, the servants slept soundly in their quarters, lulled by the rare quiet of the winter night.

In the main bedroom, the atmosphere was heavy with an oppressive silence. Lu Shun lay motionless on the large, ornately carved bed, his face pale and serene, as though he were merely lost in a deep, dreamless sleep. Moonlight filtered through the narrow cracks in the shuttered windows, casting faint, silvery lines across his still form. Beside him sat Chuang Chi, her posture betraying both weariness and resolve.

Her slender fingers grazed Lu Shun’s face, tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. The touch was light, almost hesitant, as if afraid to disturb him. Her heart clenched painfully as she stared at him, willing him to awaken. No change, she thought, her lips pressing into a tight line. It had been weeks since he had fallen into this state, and though the bedchamber was kept warm, a cold dread lingered in her chest.

Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment longer before she let out a quiet sigh, her breath visible in the dim light. The Heavenly Doctor… She could only hope that the reply to Li Mei’s urgent message would come with good news. As Chuang Chi studied Lu Shun’s features, memories of their shared moments surged to the forefront of her mind—his laughter, his fierce dedication, the way his eyes lit up when he spoke of their future together. Now, all of it felt fragile, slipping through her fingers like grains of sand.

Her thoughts turned inward, and doubt crept in like an unwelcome guest. She had made a choice—a calculated decision to align herself with Edina’s faction. But now, watching the man she loved lying unconscious, she questioned if it had truly been the right path.

Chuang Chi had her reasons for joining Edina. She was no stranger to difficult decisions; her life had been a series of them. An orphan taken in by the sect leader himself, she had been trained rigorously within the Blazing Dawn Sect. This place was her home, and though she often prioritized her personal goals, the sect’s welfare was never far from her mind.

Her heart had always leaned toward Ming Fe, Lu Shun’s father, as the most suitable candidate for the position of sect leader. He was honorable, capable, and, most importantly, supportive of her relationship with Lu Shun. If Ming Fe ascended to leadership, her path to marriage with Lu Shun would have been assured. But Ming Fe had never openly declared his intentions to pursue their marriage, leaving her with little leverage. Now, with Lu Shun in a coma, those possibilities seemed more distant than ever.

Li Mei, on the other hand, was a formidable leader—unquestionably the best candidate for sect leader. Her love for the sect and her family ran so deep that she would stop at nothing to protect them. Li Mei had even approached Chuang Chi with an offer to amend the sect’s strict rules, paving the way for her marriage to Lu Shun. It was a tempting proposal, one that seemed tailor-made for Chuang Chi’s desires.

Stolen novel; please report.

Yet, Li Mei’s disdain for Edina and the Jinwei Mansion gave Chuang Chi pause. The animosity wasn’t just a matter of prejudice against Edina’s mixed heritage. Chuang Chi had seen it firsthand—Li Mei’s overt hostility toward Edina and the lingering bitterness over the past. It was puzzling. Chuang Chi vividly remembered a time when Li Mei had been close to Edina’s mother, Elara, and her brother, Jinwei. That warmth had turned to ice a year into Elara and Jinwei’s marriage, and Li Mei’s resentment only grew with time.

Even so, Chuang Chi had chosen Edina’s faction. The young half-blood had offered a straightforward deal that aligned with Chuang Chi’s personal priorities. But was it right to prioritize myself over the sect—the family that raised me?

Her mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts, but she forced herself to steady her resolve. She had chosen this path, and she would see it through. Her loyalty now lay with Edina’s faction, and she would do her best to support it.

With a quiet sigh, Chuang Chi leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Lu Shun’s forehead. Her voice barely above a whisper, she murmured, “Wait for me, my love. I’ll make things right.”

She rose from her seat and exited the bedroom, her steps purposeful despite the weight of her emotions. Making her way to the mansion’s library, she moved with practiced ease. The dimly lit shelves, lined with ancient texts, felt like silent witnesses to her secret. At the far corner of the room, she reached for a worn, unassuming book on a high shelf and pulled it, triggering a hidden mechanism. The shelf shifted, revealing a narrow passageway behind it.

This secret tunnel, painstakingly constructed by Lu Shun himself, had been their sanctuary for years—a private escape from the prying eyes of the sect. Now, it was her path to the Jinwei Mansion.

The cold air bit at her cheeks as she emerged onto the open training grounds. Waiting there was a young figure, sword in hand, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Wei, shorter than her and visibly younger, turned his attention toward her as she approached.

“I’m done,” Chuang Chi said softly. “Let’s get going, young master Wei.”

He nodded, sheathing his sword before falling into step beside her. They walked in silence for a time, the crunch of snow underfoot the only sound. Wei occasionally glanced at her, his expression unreadable. When they reached the Jinwei Mansion, Chuang Chi paused to part ways with him.

Before she left, she turned to him with a faint smile. “It’s good to see you doing well, young master. And thank you, as always, for being my lookout.”

Wei waved dismissively, though his voice carried a hint of warmth. “It’s nothing. I’m only doing this because Brother Shun asked me to. But now that he’s… like this, I think you should spend more time with him. Mother says love heals all wounds.”

Chuang Chi chuckled, her tone soft but teasing. “You try to sound tough, but you’re quite soft, young master Wei.” Without waiting for his reply, she turned and disappeared into the mansion.

“Wait, I—” Wei began, but she was already gone. He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

As Wei returned to Mu Mansion, his thoughts lingered on Chuang Chi’s words. She had been saying similar things ever since the incident with the Chomug parasite. He had only helped Edina during the kidnapping because the parasite’s effects made him feel intoxicated and disoriented. Yet Chuang Chi believed his actions had stemmed from newfound confidence—a refusal to follow others blindly.

Wei wasn’t so sure. He didn’t particularly enjoy bullying Edina, but he did it because his mother and sister despised her. It made sense to align with his family’s wishes, didn’t it? He didn’t need to be different; just following them was enough. Wasn’t it?

The questions gnawed at him as he entered his room. Placing his sword carefully on its stand, he collapsed onto his bed. The exhaustion of the day weighed heavily on him, but sleep didn’t come easily. His thoughts drifted once more to Brother Shun—the warrior and martial artist he admired so deeply. Seeing him in such a state filled Wei with a frustration he couldn’t quite articulate.

In the quiet of his room, as the night deepened, Wei stared at the ceiling, lost in a swirl of uncertainty.