Once a Graceful Swan Cast Its Shadow, Part 2

That night, the scent of wine filled the air, and Yingfeng Tower buzzed with song and dance, its lights casting a dazzling glow across the city.

Yun Yao had shared countless toasts in her life, dragging three generations of Qianmen disciples into her revelry, but this was the first time she had to care for someone “drunk.” And that someone was none other than Mu Hanyuan, once the epitome of saintly propriety and blameless conduct.
The thought alone felt like a dream.

“Don’t you demon lords pride yourselves on holding a thousand cups without falling?” Yun Yao grumbled.

Under the dark, gusty night, in the guest courtyard of the Vermilion Bird City Lord’s mansion, Yun Yao struggled to carry the head-and-a-half-taller Mu Hanyuan on her back. Stumbling and weaving, she dragged him toward the room, muttering in frustration.
“Perfectly good Chenquan Ganli, a thousand-year brew, and you used it to wipe your hands!”
“Thought you could handle a thousand cups, yet you collapse from a whiff? Why even touch the wine?!”

“…”

The man on her back breathed steadily, offering no response to her complaints, as if deeply asleep in his drunken stupor.

Yun Yao suspected that even if she secretly sold him off somewhere, he’d be none the wiser. For someone surrounded by wolves in the demon realm, his carelessness was astounding.

Grumbling to herself, she finally hauled Mu Hanyuan to the long couch in the bedroom.

After lighting the room’s candles, Yun Yao helped him onto the couch. As she straightened, a birdlike cry pierced the air from the courtyard.

Her hand, pulling the quilt over him, paused. Glancing at the night beyond the window, she hesitated, then drew the curtains and stepped outside.
Following the cry, she made her way to the bamboo grove behind the house.

Under the moonlight stood a figure in vibrant, feathered robes.

…The Phoenix Clan’s garish taste would never change.

Yun Yao approached, muttering, “Vermilion Bird City is full of prying eyes. It’s better we don’t meet privately.”

“You know it’s full of prying eyes,” Feng Qinglian snapped, turning with a scowl. “Yet you let Mu Hanyuan pull you around in front of everyone. Are you afraid Qianmen’s Little Martial Ancestor’s legend isn’t scandalous enough?”

Yun Yao rolled her eyes at his endless indignation. “As long as you mind your own business, no one in the demon realm knows his identity or past. Even Mu Hanyuan can’t be sure of who I am now—just a guard by the White Tiger City Lord’s side. No one can connect me to Qianmen’s Yun Yao. What I do here has nothing to do with Qianmen, so don’t try to guilt me with that name.”

“You’re really ruthless for him.”
Feng Qinglian’s anger flared. “Wasn’t the Two儀 City trap—luring the snake from its hole—enough to show you how cunning and ruthless your former saintly disciple is? You all thought him some paragon of virtue, but look at his ambition now. The Tianzhao Mirror’s prophecy clearly marks him as a harbinger of chaos!”

“Two儀 City was indeed orchestrated by someone,” Yun Yao said, her expression darkening. “But I believe it wasn’t Mu Hanyuan’s true intent. That’s why I need to stay by his side, to find out what’s causing his erratic behavior. Only by identifying and eliminating it can I protect Qianmen—”

“Stop deceiving yourself! What cause? Mu Hanyuan himself is Qianmen’s greatest calamity!”
Feng Qinglian’s fury erupted.
“When I returned to Vermilion Bird City, I investigated. The plan to feign defeat, lure the impregnable Black Tortoise Guard into a trap, and wipe them out at Tianyun Abyss was devised, spoken, and ordered by Mu Hanyuan himself!”

Yun Yao gritted her teeth. “What you claim wasn’t witnessed by us. But I heard him order ‘spare all who surrender’ with my own ears.”

“So what? Didn’t thirty thousand still die? The truth is bloody and plain before you—how long will you keep lying to yourself?!”

Yun Yao rarely felt so furious yet helpless.
She gripped her sword tighter. “I can’t prove anything to you, but between us, I choose to believe him.”

“Your belief—will you stake the lives of all immortal realm beings on it?”

“No. I stake my own life.”
Yun Yao raised her eyes, and the butterfly-shaped immortal seal, long hidden on her forehead, shimmered briefly in the night.

Though fleeting, its higher-realm aura made Feng Qinglian’s soul tremble.
His expression shifted. “What was that?”

“Think of it as a life-saving charm.”

“Whose life?”

“The lives of Qianmen’s beings, of course.”
Yun Yao relaxed her grip. “I’ve said it: if one day Mu Hanyuan truly becomes a calamity to the world, as his former master, I’ll personally end him.”

Feng Qinglian paused, then pressed, staring at her.

She frowned back.

“Don’t look at me like I’ve betrayed you,” Feng Qinglian said, turning away. “Even if I… hold deep loyalty to Qianmen, I can’t risk my clan or the lives of both realms on your word alone.”
He paused, then added, “Even if I were willing, your senior brother wouldn’t agree.”

“…Mu—”

“Mm.”

Yun Yao’s lips twitched, feeling a pang of “betrayal by all.” “Even he—”

“Who told you to pour everything into your former disciple, even daring to use a forbidden, life-sacrificing technique like the Cicada’s Substitution?”
Feng Qinglian sneered, turning his back. “I’ve reported everything to your senior brother. Their stance is clear: the realms have been at peace for three hundred years due to the demon realm’s infighting. The immortal realm won’t stand idly by if the demon realm unites and the Demon Sovereign Hall reemerges.”

“The Demon Sovereign Hall won’t reemerge,” Yun Yao said, frowning. “…Is that the ‘one day’ you’re setting?”

“Yes. If he unifies the demon realm and revives the Demon Sovereign Hall, the immortal realm will meet him with blades, giving him no quarter.”

“…Fine. I agree.”

Gripping her sword, Yun Yao turned, vanishing into the night.
Her cold voice echoed in the bamboo grove. “If that day comes, if Mu Hanyuan ascends the Demon Sovereign Hall and becomes the Demon Sovereign, I’ll personally offer his blood to the world.”

“…”

When Yun Yao returned to the room, the candle by the couch still glowed.
She meant to extinguish it, but as she looked up, her eyes met a pair of dark, fathomless ones in the candlelight.

Yun Yao stiffened slightly.
Facing Mu Hanyuan, who had sat up, his long hair cascading as he silently watched her enter, she felt an inexplicable guilt.
His damp, dark eyes, quiet yet tinged with grievance, made her feel like a heartless cad who’d left a beauty alone to sneak off for a midnight tryst.

After enduring his silent judgment for several breaths, Yun Yao finally reacted, albeit slowly.

She approached, waving her hand before his dark eyes.

“Mu Hanyuan?”
“…”
“Do you remember who I am?”
“…”

Perhaps annoyed by her waving, he finally reacted.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he reached out, suddenly grasping her hand. His fingers laced through hers, holding her palm tightly—
Then, slowly, he pulled her hand to his forehead, resting it there.
“Looks like tonight I’m thinking of you again… Master…”
His voice was low, like a sigh or murmur.

In the intimate gesture of his forehead brushing her hand, Yun Yao froze for an unknown time before snapping back.

“Mu Hanyuan, look clearly—who am I?” She tried to pull her hand back, but his grip held firm.

After her words, he narrowed his eyes, studying her for several breaths in the flickering candlelight.
Then, with a slight curve of his lips, he leaned down, kissing her fingertip.
“…Master.”

His low, husky voice carried a contented pleasure, as if still drunk.

Yun Yao: “…”
She’d never trust Mu Jiutian again.

What nonsense about needing soul fusion to see through her Full Visage Pill—Mu Jiutian must’ve sold her a fake!

—

The next noon, Yun Yao was roused from sleep by a cacophony of sharp, incessant bird cries.

Groggily sitting up, she rubbed her forehead. The room was empty.
She vaguely couldn’t recall how, while tending to Mu Hanyuan last night, she’d fallen asleep.
…They’d truly shared a bed.

Yun Yao rushed to the bronze mirror, confirming the Full Visage Pill’s effect still held, and sighed in relief.
The bird cries outside persisted, grating on her nerves. Annoyed, she pushed open the door.

In the courtyard, she looked up, startled.
It wasn’t morning as she’d thought, but midday.
The birds circling above were familiar—Vermilion Bird City’s unique beast, the Sun-Chasing Crow. Raven-like, with a hidden golden sheen in their black feathers, some called them Sun-Chasing Golden Crows. Their speed rivaled peak Unity Realm cultivators, making them ideal for delivering messages in the demon realm.

But so many Sun-Chasing Golden Crows at once…

What had happened?

Thinking of Mu Hanyuan, absent since she woke, Yun Yao felt a surge of unease. She grabbed her outer robe, took her sword, and strode out.

Outside, White Tiger personal guards stood watch.
Seeing her, they bowed. “My lord, please stay.”

Yun Yao halted, narrowing her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We received the City Lord’s orders. The demon realm is unstable, with unrest and traitors infiltrating the main city. For your safety, the City Lord commands us to guard this place and asks you not to leave.”

Yun Yao’s gaze cooled. “He wants to confine me?” She scoffed. “With you lot?”

“You’re favored by the City Lord, and we dare not offend you. Please don’t make this difficult.” The lead guard gave a perfunctory salute, his eyes betraying disdain, clearly seeing the beautiful youth as a spoiled, useless favorite.

Yun Yao didn’t care what they thought, but Mu Hanyuan’s apparent failure to recognize her—thinking these guards could stop her—stoked her anger.

Her low-grade sword, borrowed from the Vermilion Bird Guard, trembled faintly in her grip.
Eyes lowered, she said, “Three breaths. Move.”

“…Heh.”
The lead guard couldn’t hold back a sneer, gripping his sword. “My lord, with your delicate frame, we’re just worried we’d hurt you and couldn’t explain to the City Lord—”

*Swish.*

A flash of white light blinded the guards.
The next moment, a clatter like dumplings hitting the ground echoed as bodies collapsed, accompanied by heavy thuds.

In the ensuing silence, Yun Yao stepped over the dazed guards, heading toward the path beyond the grove.

After a step or two, she turned back, crouching before the lead guard—the only one still conscious.
He stared at her, wide-eyed, as if fearing the seemingly harmless youth would pull out some terrifying weapon.

“Don’t worry, I won’t touch you. Just two questions,” Yun Yao said. “Where’s your City Lord right now? And with all these Sun-Chasing Golden Crows acting like it’s a grand reunion, what’s happening outside?”

“…”

An incense stick later, in the main hall of the Vermilion Bird City Lord’s mansion.

“…Last night, the Qinglong Guard crossed the Changyi Mountains, launching a surprise attack on Two儀 City. The Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise Guards, still reorganizing, were caught off-guard and fought chaotically, suffering heavy losses. Now, Two儀 City is littered with corpses, Tianyun Abyss’s demonic flames have spread into the city, and the situation within is unclear…”
“Furthermore, tremors like thunder rumble beneath Tianyun Abyss, likely from ten thousand soul fires converging. The Demon Sovereign Hall may soon reemerge.”

The messenger’s report silenced the hall, as if chilled by frost.

The Vermilion Bird Guard’s heavy losses pained the City Lord and his men.
But the words “Demon Sovereign Hall may soon reemerge” struck like silent thunder, shaking every heart.

Suppressing their trembling, they stole glances at the figure on the main seat.

As months ago, when they first faced a life-or-death warning in Vermilion Bird City, he wore that grotesque bronze mask and plain white robes, resembling a frail zither master.
Nothing on him revealed his identity or origins.
All they could see were his dark, unfathomable eyes, still as an ancient well.

The oppressive silence in the hall was suffocating.
Finally, a Vermilion Bird Guard officer spoke. “The Qinglong Guard’s actions make no sense.”

Another chimed in, “Exactly. A mutually destructive fight—what’s in it for them?”
“Easy guess. They wanted to reap the benefits, but the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise alliance drove them back.”
“…”

Each harbored their own thoughts, their words cloaked in false courtesy.
Until the City Lord, wiping his face, stood slowly, saluting the main seat. His voice was dry. “Congratulations, my lord.”

The new Right Envoy, ever at odds with him, twitched, standing. “The Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise Guards suffered greatly, and you congratulate him? Are you blaming this on our lord?!”

“I said no such thing.”
The City Lord shot him a cold look. “I merely congratulate our lord on turning misfortune into fortune. After this battle, far more than ten thousand lives have filled Tianyun Abyss. The Demon Sovereign Hall’s revival is imminent.”

The Right Envoy sneered. “All the more proof our lord is destined to unify the demon realm!”
He turned, saluting with fervor.
“Congratulations, my lord! You’ll soon ascend Qianmen’s peak as the Demon Sovereign!”

The hall fell silent.

Chairs scraped as the Vermilion Bird officers, all smiles, bowed deeply to the figure on the main seat.
“Congratulations, my lord!”
“Congratulations…”
“…”

Amid the clamor, Mu Hanyuan, beneath the bronze mask, opened his eyes, their chill piercing.

Through the crowd, he saw her outside the hall.
The beautiful youth in light armor and cloak stood at the boundary of light and shadow, watching him silently.

Whether due to distance or the dim light, Mu Hanyuan couldn’t read her expression.

As they locked eyes across the hall, inside and out—

Suddenly, a messenger’s urgent voice rang from outside the mansion.

“The Qinglong Guard’s officer has reached the northern gate, delivering a surrender letter, proclaiming to both realms—”
“Qinglong City’s new lord, Yu Yan, pledges allegiance to White Tiger City’s lord, Mu Hanyuan, as the demon realm’s sovereign, to take the Demon Sovereign Hall.”
“To show sincerity and forge new ties, Qinglong City has sent Princess Changyong to Vermilion Bird City for a marriage alliance!”

“…”

Golden decree patterns turned to countless streams of light, spreading across both realms, to every corner of the seas and wilds.

Yun Yao stood frozen outside the hall, staring at the unstoppable streams of light.
It was as if an enormous net had unfurled from the darkness, inescapable, ensnaring them and dragging them toward a fated abyss.

In the hall, on the main seat, Mu Hanyuan’s clenched fingers slowly relaxed.

From the void, a low, mocking laugh echoed from the depths of darkness.