Joy runs like a swift river; the afternoon I spent playing with Lilith slipped away, and night fell like a velvet curtain.

We were warm by the hearth; elsewhere, frost crept in.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Moon Empire, at the Kage Family manor.

In a hall gilded like a sunlit garden, three black-robed figures sat across from the current head, Assasya Kage.

The one in the middle was a young woman with foxfire charm; at her sides sat two identical brothers in their twenties, mirror-still twins.

The air around them thrummed like a brewing storm; each was at least Sacred Realm, though only at the first rung.

A purple flame was stitched over their left chests, with Dark Demon seared at the heart; they were members of Dark Demon.

“Oh, so that’s how it is—amusing.” Aisha drew a crystal ball from her robe, glanced at it, and let a silver-bell laugh spill.

“Aisha, what’s in the ball? You’re smiling like moonlight on water,” the young man on her left asked, curious.

“Traus, see for yourself.”

She passed the crystal ball to Traus.

“Ah, so that’s it! Ha—now that’s fun.” Traus finished the view and laughed like a crack of fire.

“Brother Traus, let me see too, so I can cheer up,” the young man on her right reached out both hands.

“Here you go, Traufa.”

Traus set the crystal ball in Traufa’s palms.

“Oh, I see. It is a fun little thing,” Traufa watched, nodded, and let a thin smile bloom like a pale flower.

“Aisha, back to you.”

Traufa returned the ball to Aisha.

“Oh? Honored guests, what could delight you so? Share the spark and let me smile too,” Assasya asked, curiosity flickering like a candle flame.

“Patriarch Assasya, you’ll know in a moment; no need to say more now. Let’s speak about our matter,” Aisha said, stowing the crystal ball away like a pearl in a shell.

“Very well, then let’s discuss cooperation—”

“Patriarch, bad news!”

A middle-aged steward in livery burst in, breath ragged like wind through reeds.

“What happened? Why panic like leaves in a gale?” Assasya frowned, a storm-line crease darkening his brow.

“Young Master Ral—he’s hurt!”

“What!” Assasya shot to his feet—whoosh—like a bowstring released. “Where?”

“At the infirmary, Patriarch.”

“Then why are you rooted there? Take me!”

“Y-yes!”

“My honored guests, forgive me. I must excuse myself.”

Assasya strode out with the steward, feet tapping like urgent rain toward the infirmary.

“Heh, the play finally begins,” Aisha breathed, eyes bright as lanterns.

“Yeah. Let’s go too,” Traus said, a thin blade of a smile.

“Right. Lord Gu Aosun’s orders must be carried out,” Traufa murmured, voice cool as night water.

In the infirmary.

“Ral, what happened?”

Assasya rushed in and saw Ral on the bed, face pale as candle wax.

“Ral—your hand!” The missing arm slammed into his sight like a struck gong, and anger flared like wildfire.

“Ah, that’s severe,” Aisha said, tone soft as silk and cold as snow.

“Yeah,” Traus echoed, a chill blade in his voice.

“Didn’t expect them to be this ruthless,” Traufa added, like frost along the eaves.

“Them? You know who did this?” Assasya’s fury beat like drums; all he wanted was the culprit, wrung until life tasted like ash.

“Easy. Breathe first. Young Master Ral, a few questions,” Aisha lifted a hand, palm light as falling petals, then sat beside Ral. “Was it a boy with long golden hair, prettier than most girls?”

“Yes! That bastard with a girl’s face!” Ral spat, hatred coiling like a viper.

“Then that’s our man.” Aisha rose and drifted back to Traus and Traufa, eyes cool as lake glass.

“Aisha, do you know who he is?” Assasya’s temper settled like cooling iron; his voice steadied.

“I don’t know the boy’s name. But he offended our Dark Demon, and with us, it’s blood to the end,” Aisha said, fingertip resting at her lips like a white orchid, a smile planting itself there.

“Oh! So he even crossed the Dark Magic Guild. Hah, doesn’t know life from death,” Ral sneered, venom sharp as winter thorns.

“Does that boy have someone strong at his side?” Assasya’s thought flashed like lightning; to offend Dark Demon, one must lean on a mountain.

“Yes. There’s a Holy Peak powerhouse beside him. Because of that, we’ve had headaches,” Aisha said, a troubled look drifting over her face like passing cloud.

“Holy Peak, huh? Tricky,” Assasya nodded, the word heavy like iron. On the Eastern Moon Continent, that summit is near the sky.

Above the Sacred Realm stands the Divine Realm, a peak few ever touch; on the Eastern Moon Continent, known Divine Realm experts fit on one hand. Hidden ones may exist like tigers in deep bamboo, but not many.

“Patriarch Assasya, don’t worry too much. We share an enemy. Join hands with Dark Demon and deal with him together—what do you say?” Aisha smiled, like a lotus opening under rain.

“Join with you?” Assasya touched his chin, thoughts turning like millstones.

A moment passed like a held breath.

“Fine. We’ll join forces. Holy Peak or not, before the Kage Family and the Dark Magic Guild, he still falls.” Assasya lifted his head, resolve hard as forged steel. “But the boy must be executed by the Kage Family.”

On the hook.

Aisha’s smile curved like a crescent moon. “Of course. According to our vice guildmaster, they’ll come to the Eastern Moon Empire soon. Prepare well.”

“Hmph. I’ll make sure they’re properly ‘entertained.’ Don’t you worry.”