"We're turning in; night's curtain is down. You should head back."
Xinuo glanced at the manor, lamps blinking like fireflies, then turned and spoke calmly to Eastern Moon Aotian.
"Okay. If anything comes up, call me—I'll take my leave like a polite breeze."
He gave us a bow, a ripple in still water, then turned and left, footsteps fading like a receding tide.
"Alright, let's head in and drift back into the night's quiet."
Xinuo pushed the manor gate; it swung open like a quiet lake rippling, and she stepped inside like a shadow.
"We should go too, like ducks to a calm pond."
"Mm-hm! Let's go sleep—back into a soft cloud."
So Hill and I followed, our steps soft as spring rain.
"Wow! Such a huge room!" Her voice leapt like a skylark.
Once inside, Hill's eyes lit up, roaming like swallows as she took in every corner.
"Yeah, it really is—big as a hall, clear as new snow."
I nodded in full agreement; the room was vast as a hall, spotless as new snow, and the furniture gleamed like polished jade.
"Stop staring; sleep now, like the moon settling behind clouds."
At some point, Xinuo was already on the bed, quiet as a pale moon.
"Got it, on my way—like a fish slipping into warm water."
We changed into sleepwear and dove under the covers, a warm cloud wrapping us up.
"Mm! At a time like this, sleep's still the best—like rain on dry fields."
Buried in the bedding, I stretched; comfort flowed through me like a warm tide.
"Exactly! If not for those buzzing flies, I'd still be sound asleep—like a bear in winter!"
Hill hugged my arm, her gripe puffing out like steam.
"Then sleep. Save the talk for tomorrow—let words rest like fallen leaves."
Xinuo turned and cut us a glare, eyes cold as frost on stone.
"..."
"..."
Our silence dropped like two stones; we traded a look, shut our mouths, and closed our eyes like shutters at dusk.
Not everyone could sleep like us; some lay awake like trees in wind.
Meanwhile, at the Kage Family mansion, night hung heavy like ink.
In the living room, lamplight pooled like honey.
"What! You mean Grand Elder Jiafa and the Dark Demon Guild's men all fell, and no bodies were left—like ash in the wind?!"
From the crystal sphere carrying Eastern Moon Aotian's message, Asasya's face drained white, like paper in rain.
Losing one Holy Peak and two high-tier Sacred Realm experts was a thunderstrike no house could endure.
Besides, the Kage Family had only two Holy Peak experts; now there was just one, and barely a couple at the high tier—like candles guttering in a draft.
In short, Grand Elder Jiafa's fall cleaved the Kage Family's strength like an axe through a tree.
"Asasya, it's true. And you still don't know who the other side is, do you?" A calm voice moved like a winter river.
"I-I don't. Your Majesty, do you know?!" Fear rippled through him like cold water.
Asasya had smelled trouble already; anyone who keeps a Holy Peak dragon at his side isn’t ordinary—like a storm with a thunderhead.
"I only learned it myself. Let me tell you—the youth came from the Mizumi Clan on the Central Continent." His words landed like stones.
"What! The Mizumi Clan of the Central Continent?!" Asasya's eyes flew wide, shock flaring like lightning.
"Yes. The Mizumi Clan. So drop this matter—let it sink like a stone."
"If you offend them, the Kage Family could be erased in minutes, like snow in noon sun."
In the image, Eastern Moon Aotian sighed, a heavy breath like autumn wind.
The Mizumi name was thunder on the Central Continent, rolling like storm drums.
Their ancestor was the lord of the world, and they've ruled the center for a thousand years, roots deep as ancient oaks.
Who knows how deep their strength runs—like the sea at night?
"...The Mizumi Clan, huh. Looks like the Kage Family will be struck from the Eastern Moon Continent's top ten—like a star falling from its place."
Asasya seemed to age decades at once, shoulders drooping like wilted leaves; he muttered to himself like a tired brook.
"I did say we needed to think this through..." The old butler beside him shook his head, helplessness hanging like morning mist.
In the underground palace beneath Crescent Forest, several black-robed men spoke to a crystal sphere, voices low as owls.
"Is this the main hall? We need to report—about the operation..." Their words tiptoed like cats.
"...That's it. The mission failed, and everyone we sent has fallen, like candles snuffed."
"Including Vice President Gu Aoson!" The name dropped like iron.
These black robes were the ones Gu Aoson left on standby, ready to relay news at any moment, like messengers at a gate.
"I see. Gu Aoson has fallen." From the sphere came an ancient voice, its pressure heavy as a mountain on the brow, making breath tight as a drum.
"From what you described, that Mizumi youth clearly has a Divine Realm expert at his side—like a hawk shadowing a dove."
"That complicates things—knots tighten like vines."
"Report again if anything changes—send word like arrows."
"I need to discuss our next move with the God King—under stars like steel."
"Yes, President!" The reply snapped like a taut string.
...
Time slipped by like sand, and dawn arrived on quiet feet.
The next day, eight in the morning, light spilled like milk.
"Mwah, that sleep felt so good." Warmth hummed in my chest as I looked at the sun hanging like a gold coin.
I stretched, comfort pouring through me like spring water.
"Servant, go make breakfast," Xinuo said, her voice cool as a shaded bamboo grove.
"Right! After last night's battle, my belly's flat as paper!" Hill rubbed her stomach, hunger rumbling like a drum.
"Alright. I'll wash up now, then cook," I said, heading out like a stream.
I swung out of bed, slipped on my shoes, and headed for the washroom, my steps quick as water over stones.
Twenty minutes later, fresh and tidy, hair smoothed like silk, I left the room and made for the kitchen like a swift breeze.
Elsewhere, morning glinted like frost.
"Wow, Aixue, no matter how many times I visit, the Proud Moon Palace still looks majestic—like mountains in moonlight."
Faya stepped in and let out a breath, awe rising like a tide.
"Hehe, of course! The Eastern Moon Empire is called the number-one empire on the Eastern Moon Continent. My father is its king—his home can't be shabby," Eastern Moon Aixue said, pride bright as sunlight.
"Yeah, yeah. We know your dad's great—stop showing off," Faya teased, words flitting like sparrows.
"Hmm~ I am showing off. What can you do about it?" Aixue laughed it off, carefree as wind over grass.
They walked and chatted, their voices stringing the corridor like beads.
But as they passed a graceful, beautiful manor, Faya halted, feet rooted like a sapling.
She peered inside, surprise flashing like a falling star. "Th-that is!"
"Faya, what's wrong?" Eastern Moon Aixue followed her gaze into the manor, eyes narrowing like a hunter’s.
A youth was walking there, casual as a morning breeze.
"Who is he? I haven't seen him. And he's in the best quarters of the Proud Moon Palace..." Suspicion sharpened like a blade.
"Hey? Wait!" Aixue narrowed her eyes, taking a closer look, sight keen as falcon wings.
"Young. Cute. Blond. Isn't that exactly the type you like?" Her smile curved like a crescent.
Thinking that, Aixue grabbed Faya's hand and rushed into the manor, their steps pattering like sparrows.
"Hi there!" Reaching the youth, Eastern Moon Aixue smiled and greeted him, her voice bright as bells.
...
