At the Uninhabited Height
Facing the Setting Sun West
Clouds Dyed in Sunset Hues
Flute’s Solitude at Dusk
Stars Gleam After Night’s Deep Shroud
A Carefree, Transcendent Wind Sweeps Through
Shan Xi stood atop the round spire of a 56-story skyscraper, hands clasped behind his back. The howling wind swept around him, giving him a fleeting sense of weightless transcendence. Alone, he savored the magnificent sea of clouds and the cityscape below, bathed in the breathtaking glow of the setting sun.
Beneath Shan Xi’s feet lay the very building where Yan Lingxuan now lived—the Green Garden Building.
Inside the Yan family’s living room on the 22nd floor of this mid-tier high-rise:
“No wonder—she’s Yuyan’s daughter. You look just like her. I could tell at a glance.”
The middle-aged office lady who’d opened the door was Zhang Yilian, mistress of the Yan household and Yan Lingxuan’s adoptive mother. The Xia Yuyan she mentioned was the biological mother of both Yan Lingxuan and Bai Lingyue. Zhang Yilian smiled warmly at Bai Lingyue across from her, her expression sincere and joyful. At forty, she showed no signs of age; clad in business attire with stockings hugging her long legs and shoulder-length black hair, she radiated quiet charm.
Only Yan Lingxuan grumbled inwardly: *If you recognized her as my sister instantly, then that girlfriend comment earlier was pure nonsense…*
“Though we’ve never met,” said Yan Yi, head of the household and Yan Lingxuan’s adoptive father, “I don’t feel like a stranger. Probably because we’ve seen your Valhalla Academy photos all these years.” A middle-aged man with a short beard and a kind, honest face, he spoke gently.
Of course, those photos came from Yan Lingxuan himself—a caring, responsible older brother. (Society would call him a classic siscon.)
Yan Lingxuan and Bai Lingyue’s biological parents, Bai Jun and Xia Yuyan, died when the twins were six. They’d been caught in a mage-orchestrated terrorist attack. As a result, Bai Lingyue awakened as a mage and was whisked away to Atlantis by protective mages, enrolling at Valhalla Academy. Yan Lingxuan, left behind, became the Yans’ adopted son.
In truth, Yan Lingxuan shared no blood with Yan Yi or Zhang Yilian. Why no relatives took him in? Likely because his sister was a mage. Ten years ago, “MGI” didn’t exist. Ordinary people and mages clashed bitterly, fueled by mage-perpetrated atrocities. The Exorcists League ran rampant then—any mage or their kin risked attack. Yan Lingxuan, tainted by his sister’s magic, was shunned by all relatives. For a six-year-old orphan, that despair cut deep. Only Yan Yi and Zhang Yilian opened their home to him.
Zhang Yilian and Xia Yuyan had been inseparable friends since middle school. Learning her friend’s son languished in an orphanage, Zhang rushed there and signed adoption papers immediately. Yan Yi, as kind as he looked, fully supported her. Thus, after second grade, Bai Lingxuan became Yan Lingxuan.
“Who’s this?” Zhang Yilian asked, glancing at Catherine beside her.
“I’m Catherine Claswell. Call me Catherine. A pleasure to meet you both,” Catherine replied. She rose gracefully, hands sweeping outward as if lifting a gown—though she wore trousers—and gave a slight nod. Her noble bearing evoked royalty; with golden hair restored, she might pass for a princess. Even Zhang Yilian, a woman herself, felt charmed by Catherine’s solemn grace and flawless smile.
“Catherine, you’re Lingyue’s academy friend, right? I may overstep, but… thank you for caring for her there. Please stay by her side as her friend in the days ahead.” Zhang Yilian’s earnest words flustered Catherine.
“Friends? Yes! Of course I’ll look after her—Bai Lingyue’s such a scatterbrain. I’m like her big sister, hehe…” Catherine stammered, her face flushing crimson. Bai Lingyue merely tilted her head, wearing an innocent, puzzled expression.
Naturally, dinner followed—a warm invitation for the two girls to join the Yan household.
Afterward, Yan Yi beckoned Yan Lingxuan to the balcony under a pretext. Night had fully fallen; the autumn breeze felt crisp and soothing.
“When do you leave?” Yan Yi asked bluntly.
“What leaving?” Yan Lingxuan parried, though he knew the meaning.
“Ate. Lingyue’s here to take you. Don’t overthink it—your Aunt Lian and I planned this long ago. With identical twins, if one’s a mage, the other likely is too. You want to be with your sister. Go freely.” Yan Lingxuan had never called them “Dad” or “Mom,” only “Uncle” and “Aunt Lian.”
“But…”
“No beating around the bush. Say it plainly: you want your sister. Besides, you’re stifled here. Don’t think I’m blind—I raised a smart son for ten years. Stay if you wish; I’d be glad. Just wait for Jiajing to graduate university, marry her, and call me Dad.”
*Marry Jiajing?* Yan Lingxuan knew “Jiajing” meant Yan Jiajing, his adoptive sister. *Graduation straight to marriage? What plot twist is this?!* Thankfully, she boarded at school—rumor said she’d joined the boxing club. If she heard this, he’d be beaten half to death…
The balcony door slid open. Bai Lingyue approached after a nod.
“The Association recalled us. The flight back to Ate arrives at Shanghai International Airport tomorrow at 9 AM.” Her report was crisp. She turned to Yan Lingxuan, her gaze purely questioning.
“I didn’t report you as a mage to the Association. Staying here won’t cause issues.” It was the first time in ten years she’d called him “Brother.” Yan Lingxuan’s heart clenched, but words failed him.
“Don’t worry. Your brother will go with you,” Zhang Yilian assured.
Night on Sanjing Street hung heavier than expected. No neon billboards glowed; streetlights were broken or absent; window lights were scarce. In the deep dark, truck headlights stabbed painfully bright.
Three heavy-duty trucks halted before the derelict old city hall. Waiting figures swarmed them. Rear doors swung open, revealing rows of firearms gleaming with cold metallic light.
“Truly looking forward to tomorrow,” Bernie Butterworth murmured, a pleased smile curling his lips.
“The plan proceeds on schedule,” Alexei Domic reported. “At 8 AM tomorrow, we surround Cloud Gate City No. 2 High School. Hostages: all students and staff. First demand: the Chinese government releases Waste Law Society members captured in Shanghai. Then, the ransom…”
Behind them stood five mages in identical blood-red robes. Each bore the Waste Law Society emblem on their back—a skull hand clutching a black rose.
