A shiver ran down Miguel's spine. His face, marred with confusion.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.
Elric caught the shift in Miguel's expression. His eyes narrowed, realization dawning.
Elric's gaze lingered on Miguel for a moment longer before he turned to Liang Ren. A subtle shift crossed his face—something between respect and calculation.
Without another word, he rose to his feet and bowed slightly to Liang Ren. "I'll take my leave now, Senior Liang. I hope you recover soon."
Liang Ren gave a faint nod but said nothing more.
Elric straightened and turned, his voice curt as he snapped, "Miguel, come."
Miguel hesitated, uncertainty flashing across his face. His gaze flicked to Liang Ren again.
Under the combined weight of Elric's sharp tone and Liang Ren's silent threat, Miguel swallowed hard and bowed stiffly. "Senior Liang…" he mumbled, then hurried after Elric.
They walked in strained silence down the stone corridor. Their footsteps echoed in sync until, a few meters from the infirmary, Elric stopped abruptly. Miguel nearly bumped into him.
The shift in Elric's posture was immediate—sharp, poised, threatening.
"Who have you been in contact with lately?" Elric asked coldly, his voice low but biting.
Miguel blinked, confused. "What? What are you talking about?"
Elric's eyes narrowed, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "Don't play dumb. You've been acting strange for weeks. And today? You had no reason to provoke Arya unless someone put the idea in your head."
Miguel looked genuinely startled, but his silence spoke volumes.
Elric's eyes narrowed further, his voice a razor's edge. "Do whatever you want, Miguel. I won't stop you. But if it drags me—or anyone in our group—into your mess, I will make you regret it."
Without another glance, Elric spun on his heel and disappeared around the corner, leaving Miguel frozen in place.
A cold sweat broke across Miguel's brow. He leaned heavily against the wall, his heart racing. His knees threatened to give out beneath him.
"You couldn't even do one simple thing, could you?"
Miguel stiffened.
A smooth voice, laced with cold amusement, drifted from behind.
Sleek black hair fell to his jaw, and his dark eyes gleamed with cold amusement. He wore the academy's uniform, but something about his aura was entirely wrong—like a mask hiding a knife.
"Zhao Lanyue…" Miguel's voice faltered.
"I gave you one task," Zhao Lanyue said with a sigh, circling him like a predator. "Just one. And you let Liang Ren ruin it?"
"I was close," Miguel insisted. "She would've snapped. If he hadn't stepped in—"
"But he did step in," Zhao Lanyue cut him off, voice low but deadly. "And now Senior Liang's suspicious, and so is Elric. Acting on your own without waiting for orders—again—has consequences."
Miguel clenched his fists, frustration boiling in his eyes. "I was only trying to move things forward—!"
Zhao Lanyue's expression darkened. "We still have what you want, remember?"
Miguel froze.
"You should stay quiet," Zhao Lanyue whispered, his tone deceptively soft. "Do your part. Don't stir trouble. Or you may lose more than just your chance."
He turned without another word and disappeared into the shadows, his footsteps silent as a ghost.
Miguel stood there alone in the corridor, trembling.
And for the first time since arriving at Shaantvan Academy, he realized just how deep the game he was playing truly ran.
***
At Xingzhou City: Hotel Huaijin
Shen Yuhuan sat alone in her hotel room, the dim lamplight casting long shadows across the desk.
In her hand, she turned the key over and over—its worn edges cool against her palm. The faint inscription along its side caught the light once more, drawing her gaze to it.
She frowned, eyes narrowing at the riddle:
"Find the sky that holds no light,Where silver, moon, and stars unite!"
What the hell does that even mean?
This wasn't some game.She wasn't here to solve some damned poem.
Lives were at stake.
Her brother… her niece… were both hanging by a thread. And the answers were slipping further from her grasp.
Yet here she was—chasing shadows, holding on to clues that made no sense.
Frustration burned low in her chest.
I don't have time for this.
And just as that thought crossed her mind—
BZZZT—BZZZT.
Her phone buzzed sharply beside her—unknown number.
She hesitated—then answered. "Hello?"
A voice on the other end—urgent, anxious. "Miss Shen Yuhuan… I have something. It's about Xia Yunjin."
Shen Yuhuan's eyes widened. She sat up straighter. "Where?"
"The café… across from your hotel. Please come soon. I can't hold it long."
"I'm coming. Please wait there." Her voice left no room for argument.
She grabbed her jacket, slipped the key into her pocket, and left without a second thought.
The small café was quiet. Almost too quiet.
Shen Yuhuan entered, her coat drawn tightly around her, the key still cold in her pocket.
Her mind was racing. Eyes sharp, she scanned the quiet café—no familiar faces, no one she recognized.
Was this a mistake?
She had been in such a hurry that she hadn't even asked the caller's name.
Just as she reached into her bag to retrieve her phone—
"Miss Shen?"
A hesitant voice at her side.
She turned sharply.
A young man stood there—nervous, thin, eyes darting toward every shadow in the room. He gave an awkward smile and tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
"I'm Lu Zemin," he said in a low voice. "Xia Yunjin's classmate. I called you."
Shen Yuhuan's gaze narrowed, cautious.
So this was him.
"Come," Lu Zemin added quickly, glancing around. "Let's talk over there."
He led her toward a small table in the corner, tucked away from the windows.
Shen Yuhuan followed, her heels clicking softly on the tiled floor.
As soon as they sat, her voice cut through the air."How do you know me? And why did you call me?"
Lu Zemin hesitated, fidgeting. Then he drew a slow breath.
"Yunjin… he wasn't someone who talked much. But everyone who knew him knew this much—Shen Fuyue is the apple of his eye. And you… you are her only aunt. The only family she truly trusts. So it wasn't hard to find you."
He reached into his pocket, trembling slightly, and slid a small, unmarked pendrive across the table toward her.
"This," he said quietly, "is what Yunjin came for."