"Master, is what you said true?"

A familiar voice reached Wenwu’s ears.

"Silver? Is that you, Silver?"

"It’s me."

Silver’s voice came from beyond the wooden door, and a spark of hope ignited in Wenwu’s heart.

"Silver, are you here to—"

"Master, quickly say if what you just said is true!"

"Huh?"

"Stroke my tail, hehe… hehehe…" Silver had already broken into a foolish grin.

"I’ll do anything to get out of here."

To escape this dungeon, he’d stroke anyone’s tail—even grow one himself if needed.

"Master, you must keep your word, okay?"

"Absolutely, absolutely."

"Then I’ll distract the guards now. You seize the chance to escape."

"Hey, hey! You say that, but open the door first!"

"Huh? Master, with your strength, breaking a wooden door should be easy. Besides, I’m just a young silver fox girl—I can’t smash it down for you."

These words hit Wenwu like a bolt from the blue. From Silver’s tone, his past self must’ve been powerful, but now he was just a useless weakling.

"Silver… there’s something I must tell you."

"Hmm?"

"Actually… I’ve lost my memory!"

Silence.

"As I thought. With your strength, how could you have been captured?"

"Huh?"

Wenwu expected shock, but Silver’s calmness stunned him instead.

"I sensed something was off, Master. You hid it well, but your every move screamed you forgot the past—except flirting with girls. You’re still great at that."

Wenwu wanted to retort, but had no heart for it.

"Silver… will you abandon me?"

He feared if she left, he’d truly face death alone.

*Thud!*

Silver punched the wooden door. "Master, you insult me," she snapped, shedding her foolish grin. "The silver fox clan is fiercely loyal!" she insisted.

Wenwu was startled. He’d never felt a young girl could be so reliable.

"Master, repeat after me: ‘Formless wind, accompany my body.’"

"‘Formless wind, accompany my body.’"

"‘Follow like a shadow, move like the Jade Star.’"

"‘Follow like a shadow, move like the Jade Star.’"

"…Master, did anything happen?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"So you truly lost your memory."

"Of course! Do you think I’ve been joking?!"

Wenwu snapped, his gratitude vanishing instantly.

"Then escaping tonight’s impossible. We act at tomorrow’s execution."

"Alright. Only way left."

Wenwu sighed. Tomorrow was do or die.

After Silver left, Wenwu couldn’t sleep. He replayed Princess Royal’s passionate kiss from last night, then Karida’s face. Unconsciously, he drifted off.

He woke late next day to the guard’s door creak. Shackled in cuffs and irons, he looked every bit a top-tier criminal.

At the palace gallows, a crowd gathered below. Judges took their seats. Wenwu scanned frantically for Silver.

Her silver hair caught his eye. She signaled silently: *Stay calm.*

As the sun climbed, execution time neared.

Finally.

"The time has come, exe—"

*BOOM!*

Before Chief Judicator finished, an explosion rocked the palace.

Wenwu’s eyes darted to Silver in the crowd.

She shook her head. This wasn’t her doing.

"Chief Judicator, execute the prisoner now," urged the fifth judge.

"No… the blast… seems to be… from Princess Royal’s quarters…"