Once a Graceful Swan Cast Its Shadow, Part 1

“What do you mean, ‘it was Mu Hanyuan, but not me’…”

Before being pulled into the dark abyss of his gaze, Yun Yao’s last thread of reason surfaced, barely holding her back. She took a deep breath and swatted away Mu Hanyuan’s hand gripping her chin.

“City Lord, you seem to have mistaken me for your old acquaintance again.” Yun Yao gritted her teeth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, or who this Mu Hanyuan is.”

Mu Hanyuan held the posture of her pushing his wrist away, his long lashes lowering, veiling his emotions.
The bronze mask obscured his expression, leaving Yun Yao unable to discern his thoughts. After a slight hesitation, she cleared her throat. “But if the City Lord has something to say to this old acquaintance and can’t find her, you could… tell me instead. That wouldn’t be an issue…”

“If you’re not her, what right do you have to hear it?”

With a flick of his sleeve, Mu Hanyuan leaned back, his tone cold and distant. The intimacy of moments ago vanished, replaced by a chasm as vast as the heavens and seas, pulling them apart within the confines of the carriage.

The stark shift in his demeanor left Yun Yao momentarily stunned.

Mu Hanyuan closed his eyes. “Except for her, I have no need to explain my actions to anyone.”

Yun Yao fell silent for a long moment before whispering, “Did this old acquaintance of yours betray you?”

“…”
The carriage fell deathly still.
Mu Hanyuan’s eyes snapped open, turning to her.

His masked gaze was so intense it nearly made Yun Yao want to bolt, but she held her ground, forcing a casual smile. “Xiao Ling told me.”

“…What did she tell you?”
His voice, for some reason, grew low and hoarse.

Yun Yao hesitated. “Not much. Just that you had a… deeply entangled old acquaintance who hurt you gravely, nearly costing your life. You said you’d cut all ties with her, never to meet again.”

“…”
No response came from Mu Hanyuan, and Yun Yao’s heart sank slightly.
She lowered her head. “Not long ago, you mentioned her too. It seems you hate her. If that’s the case, why cling to seeing her again?”

“Hate?” Mu Hanyuan echoed softly. “I should hate her. I should hate her to the core. The more I do, the more I must never forget her, must carve her into my bones—so that in this life, in this world, I can never forget her, nor will I allow her to forget me.”

“…”

His voice was calm, like a natural, flowing confession.
Yet each word stiffened Yun Yao’s body.

The carriage, pulled by flying beasts, lifted off, and a long silence settled within.
The encroaching night cast shadows through the window, draping Mu Hanyuan’s silhouette. Whether he’d fallen asleep, she couldn’t tell.
Yun Yao gazed outside, and after a long while, she murmured softly.

“…I believe you.”

—

As night fell, the carriage reached the outskirts of Vermilion Bird City.

A messenger must have preceded them, for the Vermilion Bird City Lord, accompanied by a few retainers, awaited outside the northern gate. Upon seeing the escort, he bowed deeply to the slowing carriage.

“Welcome, my lord!”

No sooner had he spoken than another voice, no less fervent, rang out beside him. “Congratulations, my lord, on seizing the Black Tortoise’s northern domain without bloodshed!”

The City Lord’s face twitched, and he stepped forward, gritting his teeth. “My lord’s divine wisdom ensures the Demon Sovereign Hall’s revival is imminent!”

“…”

Even without divine sense, Yun Yao lifted the curtain, glanced outside, then sat back.
She looked at Mu Hanyuan. “That’s the Vermilion Bird City Lord outside?”

“Mm.” Beneath the bronze mask, his eyes remained half-closed, his voice low.

“And the one nearly standing equal to him?”

“The new Vermilion Bird Guard’s Right Envoy.”

“…Someone you propped up to check the City Lord?”

“Perhaps.”

Yun Yao studied him thoughtfully.

If his words were true—that this wasn’t his doing, but “Mu Hanyuan’s”—did that mean his demonic state?

She’d heard demonic possession could warp one’s mind, but to make someone so cunning, predicting and exploiting their “sane” actions to achieve such ends?
The thought unnerved her.

But the carriage had entered Vermilion Bird City, where eyes and ears abounded, so she held her questions.

Past the gate, someone from the welcoming entourage approached the carriage, asking respectfully, “My lord, to celebrate your triumphant return, we’ve prepared a banquet at Yingfeng Tower to honor you and your soldiers. Would you grace us with your presence tonight?”

“…”

Yun Yao sensed Mu Hanyuan’s cold reluctance in the brief silence.

But after a breath or two, he said, “Very well.”

The carriage rolled on.

Yun Yao turned, incredulous. “?”

“What?” Mu Hanyuan’s eyes flicked to her, his tone flat. “You don’t want to go?”

“If I don’t, can we skip it?”

“You can’t.”

“?” Yun Yao gripped her sword, suppressing her irritation. “Then why ask me?”

Mu Hanyuan leaned back, his voice cold as he glanced out the window. “To make it clear: as my personal guard, you follow my orders. Spare your thoughts.”

“…”

The solemn carriage procession moved through Vermilion Bird City, lamplight glinting off the dark iron, casting a cold, lethal sheen. Even without clearing the way, the city’s diverse clans parted, gazing in awe at the carriage borne by four flame-treading vermilion beasts at the center of the escort.

Yun Yao suddenly recalled a day three hundred years ago, under bright daylight. She’d ridden a flame-treading beast, led by a stunningly handsome white-clad youth into a city.

Back then, too, eyes and whispers followed, the youth’s profile lingering like a dream from another life.

“What are you thinking?”

A warm, clear voice, like the one from her memory, broke the silence in the carriage.
Yun Yao snapped back, about to speak.

“Thinking I should dismount and lead your mount?” Mu Hanyuan’s voice teased lightly.

“—”
Yun Yao froze.

Before she could see if his gaze was probing or certain, the carriage halted on Vermilion Bird City’s main street.

Outside, the City Lord bowed respectfully. “My lord, we’ve arrived at Yingfeng Tower. Please alight.”

“…”

Mu Hanyuan rose, bending slightly to pass Yun Yao, still rigid in the carriage.
His robe brushed her knees, like a fleeting cloud of crimson, both near and distant.

The carriage’s curtain fell.
Staring at its folds, Yun Yao debated whether to pretend she hadn’t heard and follow or stay and plot an escape, when—

Outside, the City Lord, smiling obsequiously, was about to lead the way into Yingfeng Tower when he noticed the bronze-masked lord standing motionless, robe trailing.
Hesitating, he turned. “My lord, is something unsatisfactory?”

“No. I’m waiting for someone.”

“Huh?” The City Lord glanced around, meeting only the confused gazes of others. “Who is my lord waiting for…?”

“My personal guard.”
Mu Hanyuan lifted his sleeve, his slender fingers parting the carriage curtain again.
Beneath the mask, his dark eyes glinted with a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
“Not coming down?”

Yun Yao, having heard everything, sat expressionless. “…”

If she had a choice, she’d never step out.
But she didn’t.

Moments later, under gazes that made her wish for a hole to crawl into, Yun Yao stiffly entered the resplendent, ornately carved Yingfeng Tower.

“City Lord,” she hissed through gritted teeth, “aren’t you afraid people will think you have a penchant for men?”

Mu Hanyuan replied calmly, “They haven’t seen my face. What’s there to fear?”

Yun Yao: “…”

Tonight, Yingfeng Tower, the premier venue in Vermilion Bird City, had been reserved by the City Lord.
From the first floor up, the halls brimmed with song and dance.
Beautiful demon clan courtesans performed, some swaying like serpents, clinging to the carved railings leading upstairs. One, veiled in gossamer, adorned with gold and silver, her sheer attire revealing tantalizing glimpses, was particularly striking.

Among the escorting guards, many were captivated, unable to look away.

The courtesan’s sultry gaze swept the group, settling on the green-robed figure with the grotesque bronze mask.

“My lord…”
Her laugh was melodic, her sheer sleeve brushing past with an intoxicating scent. She leapt lightly, reaching for Mu Hanyuan’s robe.

But just before her delicate fingers landed, her wrist was seized.

The courtesan blinked, looking up to see a youth in light armor, stepping protectively before the green-robed lord.

“Sing your songs, dance your dances,” Yun Yao said with a faint smile, eyeing her warningly, “but keep your hands to yourself.”

Under the youth’s sharp gaze, the courtesan’s expression shifted.
Instinctively, she reached for a hidden dagger at her waist, but as she gathered her strength, her spiritual energy seemed sealed, unable to muster.

Seeing the courtesan relent, Yun Yao sighed inwardly. With a subtle surge of force, she made the courtesan gasp and collapse into her arms.
The warm, perfumed figure fell against her. Yun Yao paused, then tossed her gently aside—
*Thud.*
The fainted courtesan landed softly among the startled courtesans.

“Throw her out.”

The tower fell silent.
Eyes turned, some to Yun Yao, others to Mu Hanyuan behind her.

Through the mask, he gazed down at the armored “youth” before him, his dark eyes unreadable.

“And the rest of you,” Yun Yao addressed the courtesans, now pale as they supported their fainted companion. “I don’t like you either. Take her and leave.”

“…”

The crowd’s reactions varied.
Some exchanged knowing glances between Yun Yao and Mu Hanyuan, while others, confused, whispered about the brash youth’s identity. Moments later, those whispers turned to ambiguous smirks.

Yun Yao: “…”
She endured it.

“My lord!”

But some courtesans, likely assassins, refused to give up. One, teary-eyed, knelt before Mu Hanyuan. “We only wish to dance and serve you. Please, have mercy…”

As she looked up, her gaze met his cold, dark eyes beneath the mask.
In an instant, her feigned pity froze, like spring flowers wilting under an icy seal.

Cold and indifferent, he allowed no intrusion.

“What she says, goes.” Mu Hanyuan tilted his head slightly. “Throw them out.”

“…”

The City Lord, hearing his command, darkened his expression. “Guards, drag them out and flog—”

“I faint at the sight of blood,” Yun Yao interrupted suddenly.

The City Lord blinked, turning. “Huh?”

The armored youth stood with hands behind her back, exuding arrogance. “No harming or bloodshed. Just ban them from the city henceforth.”

The City Lord hesitated, glancing at the unresponsive Mu Hanyuan, then nodded. “Very well, as the young lord says.”

“…”
Yun Yao’s forced composure nearly cracked.
Under the varied gazes, she felt like a pincushion, ready to cover her face and turn away, when she spotted a face in the crowd below, more alluring than any courtesan—

*Feng Qinglian?*

Why was he here?!

Her expression shifted, and she frantically signaled Feng Qinglian to leave. Though Mu Hanyuan hadn’t met him in the immortal realm, with his current cultivation, detecting Feng Qinglian’s phoenix true form would be easy.
If he found out…

As she panicked, a divine sense transmission hit her ears.

“No wonder you remind me of my Master.”

“—”
Yun Yao froze, about to turn.
But behind her, Mu Hanyuan steadied her by the railing, leaning down, his wide sleeves nearly enveloping her.

Across the crowd, his cold gaze met the man Yun Yao had locked eyes with.
Beneath the mask, his lips curved faintly, his divine sense sneering, “You’re somewhat like her… always finding kindred spirits wherever you go.”

His final words nearly brushed her earlobe like a kiss.

“!”

The crowd’s gazes cut like blades.
Yun Yao, too overwhelmed to care, turned to push him away, but her wrist was caught before she could lift it.
Then her waist tightened—

Amid gasps, Mu Hanyuan scooped her up, her struggles effortlessly subdued in his arms.

“My… my lord?” The City Lord’s smile faltered.

“Pardon the scene,” Mu Hanyuan said coolly, carrying Yun Yao toward the main seat. “My new guard is a bit spoiled. I need to set some rules. Carry on.”

“…”

The resumed music and dance couldn’t compete with the spectacle at the main seat.
All eyes, overt or covert, fixed on the screen before it.

Yun Yao, initially mortified, went blank until she was set down on the gilded silk cushion at the main seat, finally regaining her senses.

“You—”

“I told you, as my personal guard, you follow my orders. Who gave you permission to decide for me?” Mu Hanyuan knelt on one knee, looming over her.

Her mind was a mess, humiliated and muddled, following his words instinctively. “When did I…”

A server, carrying a prepared jade wine jug, approached, unnoticed amid the gawking crowd.
Bowing low, he placed it on the table, fawning, “My lord, this is a thousand-year Chenquan Ganli, exceedingly rare. Vermilion Bird City has only this one jug. Please, savor it—”

“A cloth.”

“Huh?” The server blinked, then grabbed a clean hand cloth from the table, offering it to the masked man.

Mu Hanyuan took it, lifted the jug, and, amid gasps, poured the fragrant wine onto the cloth, its aroma flooding the tower.

Yun Yao, sensing something amiss under his intense gaze, tried to crawl away along the cushion.

Too late.

Her wrist was seized, yanked back.

Pinning her, Mu Hanyuan leisurely picked up the wine-soaked cloth.
He lowered his eyes, staring intently, then slowly wiped the courtesan’s lingering perfume from Yun Yao’s fingertips.

“You always loved flirting and cherishing beauties…”

His grip on her wrist tightened.
After cleaning the last trace, he didn’t let go, instead pulling her hand—and her—closer, ignoring her resistance.

Leaning down, he seemed to inhale the wine’s scent on her fingers.

Her fingertips pressed against his cold mask, as if branded by a searing kiss.

Unable to pull free, Yun Yao heard his cool, suppressed voice by her ear. “Has this Phoenix Clan leader ever seen you so easily bullied?”