Yichen had another dream.
He stood at the center of a vast open-air hall. Silver-white architecture traced elegant lines around him, exuding grandeur and solemnity. Before him knelt tens of thousands of people in identical white robes. An elder in white-and-gold robes approached, holding a golden scepter. He knelt on one knee and raised the scepter high—just within Yichen’s reach. Yichen felt a surge of resolve, of willpower, flood his body. Taking this scepter meant shouldering an immense responsibility. His hands trembled slightly. After a moment, his dream-self reached for it.
Just then, a commotion erupted below.
A white-haired girl in lavish white-and-gold attire stood up. An aura of killing intent radiated from her. She ascended the steps toward Yichen’s platform, ignoring the shouts from the crowd above and below. As she drew near, Yichen finally saw her face—it was identical to his beloved elder sister. Her breathtaking beauty wore a perfect smile, her ruby-red eyes fixed on him. Yet beneath that smile, Yichen sensed deep love, fierce regret, and mad hatred.
The girl stopped beside the elder. He scolded her, urging her to leave. Suddenly, she pressed her pale hand against his chest. In an instant, an invisible force slammed him backward. He crashed into the white wall behind, blood staining the platform. Gasps and chaos erupted everywhere. Yichen’s dream-self stepped forward, speaking as if to stop her. But a powerful burst of Soul Power erupted from the girl, forcing Yichen and everyone else to their knees again. In her gaze, Yichen read another emotion—contempt. She seized the scepter and raised it high. Six massive pure-white wings unfurled from her back. As they spread fully, an even greater wave of Soul Power surged outward, engulfing the world. The scepter glowed white, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. More cracks appeared until, at a critical moment, it shattered into countless fragments that scattered across the floor.
“Hah!!”
Yichen gasped awake, drenched in sweat.
What was that? Why did he have such a dream?
He felt no rest at all—his body weighed down like iron blocks.
“Yichen, what’s wrong?”
Shiyue sat by his bedside, worry etched on her face. She looked pale and exhausted.
“Did you have a nightmare? You seem so strained. Should I call a doctor?”
Yichen shook his head quickly.
“No, it’s fine. Just a weird dream. What about you? Last night… did you… I heard you had a fever.”
“Mm.”
Shiyue nodded with a faint smile.
“Nothing happened to me. After you passed out, two girls our age showed up. They drove those guys away.”
“Two girls? They chased them off alone?”
“Mm. I was half-delirious, but I saw them fight those men. The thugs ran after just a few moves.”
“Wait, that’s insane. Girls aren’t as strong as guys, and there were only two of them.”
Shiyue shook her head.
“I don’t know how. But if they hadn’t come… maybe we…”
Her body trembled slightly. She couldn’t finish. Just recalling last night terrified her.
“Haha, I meant to be the hero saving the beauty, but ended up like this.”
Yichen tried to lighten the mood with a joke. Shiyue glared at him instead.
“Idiot.”
“Huh? Why are you calling me that?”
“Idiot.”
She turned her face away.
“Hey, wait—why am I getting yelled at?”
Yichen felt his head throb.
“And… thank you.”
“Ah… yeah.”
Silence fell between them. Both their faces flushed slightly.
“Shiyue, how’s your health? I heard you had a high fever.”
“Mm. The doctor said it was bad last night, but it’s gone now.”
“But you just recovered. Shouldn’t you rest at home?”
Shiyue’s expression turned gently angry.
“Do you not want to see me?”
“Ah, no, not at all.”
“Good. And…”
She seemed to struggle to say something.
“…I wanted to see you.”
“Why?”
Yichen blurted out the question without thinking. Shiyue’s face turned crimson. Realizing his mistake, Yichen shut his mouth. After a pause, Shiyue sighed as if giving up.
“How’s your injury? Did Miss Zixuan come?”
At the name “Zixuan,” Yichen’s expression dimmed.
“The injury’s fine. My sister… she was here earlier.”
“Huh? She already left?”
In Shiyue’s mind, Zixuan would stay until Yichen was discharged. Hearing she’d left, Shiyue felt a flicker of secret joy—then noticed Yichen’s sadness.
“Mm. I made her leave.”
Yichen turned his face away. Shiyue sensed he didn’t want to talk, so she stayed silent.
“Then… let me take care of you for now.”
“Huh?”
Yichen turned back, surprised. Shiyue beamed at him.
“Actually, I can be discharged today. I heal fast—I exercise regularly.”
“You still need full rest to recover.”
“Ugh. Do you want me sitting alone in your empty house every day?”
“Alone in my house!?”
Shiyue’s cheeks flushed red again.
“A-anyway, just let me care for you. I’ll bring food until you’re out.”
Seeing the unyielding will in Shiyue’s eyes, Yichen could only nod.
