It was 2 a.m. Dawn Harbor had mostly fallen silent.
Cold Night Feather lay in bed, eyes closed. Suddenly, she opened them. Without a sound, she slipped from beneath the covers and landed lightly on the floor like a cat, padding silently to her bedroom door.
She wore a white silk robe—Bai Xin’s. It clung tightly to her frame, outlining every curve down to her navel. Her expression unreadable, Cold Night Feather glanced out the window. Several shadowy figures darted past.
*Hmph. Foolish. Targeting me?* Her brow furrowed. A faint glow shimmered—and the white trench coat materialized over her robe. She didn’t need armor for vermin, but she’d be damned if strangers saw her bare skin.
Creeping to the front door, she pressed her ear against it.
“So tonight’s target is this house?” A man’s hushed voice carried clearly to her.
“Yep! The detector shows two untouched maidens here—extremely beautiful ones. Their readings are off the charts!” A woman’s voice replied.
“Ah, our plan advances!”
“Enough chatter. Move.” Impatience edged her tone.
Cold Night Feather understood. They hunted pure maidens—preferably stunning ones. She and Bai Xin were marked. *Virgin flesh and blood… perfect for summoning rituals.*
She’d grown tired of bloodshed, content to laze at home guarding Bai Xin. But when rats crawled onto her doorstep? Unforgivable.
As the intruders reached for the knob, Cold Night Feather yanked the door open first.
Two figures in plain black robes stood there, crimson bats embroidered on their chests. Beneath their hoods, ordinary faces stared back in shock.
***“Bind!”***
Her icy command hung in the air. Invisible force locked their limbs.
“You wanted to capture me?” Her voice cut like frost.
Staring into her crimson, death-filled eyes, the pair exchanged a glance—and bit down hard on something hidden in their mouths.
Cold Night Feather’s pupils narrowed. *Poison. Suicide pills.*
Too late. Their faces darkened as they collapsed. She watched the corpses silently, then sighed.
“Tch. What organization breeds fanatics who value life so cheaply?” She spat. “If they were mind-controlled puppets, I’d understand. But they spoke like sane people.”
She crouched, checking for mental compulsion spells or artifacts. Nothing.
With a flick of her wrist, twin flames reduced them to ash. Face grim, she reentered the house.
*Can’t play night watch forever.* She reinforced the front door with a warding spell, then draped the entire house in a Seal Barrier. Most would instinctively avoid it now.
“Tomorrow, Bai Xin investigates.” She climbed back into bed, shamelessly murmuring, “This elderly person needs rest.”
*Earth truly breeds laziness.*
She slept—though true masters needed no slumber.
---
Dawn brought Bai Xin shaking her awake.
“Explain yourself reasonably,” Cold Night Feather growled, glaring at the 6 a.m. clock, “or I’ll strip you bare and spank that backside raw.”
The silly girl shivered but tugged her sleeve. “I *have* to show you something!”
Yanked from bed in the too-small robe, Cold Night Feather stumbled after her. A button strained at her chest—*ping!*—and shot off like a bullet, smacking Bai Xin’s forehead.
“Ow! You attacked me with hidden weapons!” Bai Xin glared like a snarling puppy, clutching her brow.
Cold Night Feather gestured helplessly at her gaping robe, revealing deep cleavage. “Not my fault! Your clothes are too small—especially *here*!”
Bai Xin lunged, sinking her teeth into Cold Night Feather’s breast.
“Damn it! What are you doing?!” Heat flooded her body as she pressed Bai Xin’s head away—gently, for fear of hurting her.
Bai Xin pulled back, leaving a damp imprint on the peak of Cold Night Feather’s breast. “Stop showing off!” she snapped.
Cold Night Feather rubbed her sore chest, face flushing. She pinched Bai Xin’s cheeks, stretching them like dough. “Enough! Why did you drag me up?!”
Released, Bai Xin rubbed her reddened cheeks. “Hmph! I don’t envy them! Heavy dead weight. Throws off your balance. Blocks your view on stairs…”
Amused, Cold Night Feather ruffled Bai Xin’s hair until she purred. “I never wanted these useless mounds either. But you’re young—you might still grow…”
“Don’t you dare say it again!” Bai Xin snapped, baring her teeth.
“Big-chested freaks can just die already!”
---
Cold Night Feather stood in Li Ming’s empty room, holding a small note. Her robe gaped open, twin damp imprints framing flushed pink peaks—a ridiculous, tempting sight. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “*This* is why you woke me?”
Bai Xin nodded worriedly. “Can Li Ming really handle it? He just woke up… still so weak.”
The note said Li Ming had left for the frontlines to grow stronger. *Don’t worry about me.*
Cold Night Feather chuckled softly. “He won’t die. Trust me—he’ll return.”
Bai Xin stared, confused. Yesterday, they’d nearly come to blows.
*(Flashback: Last night)*
A knock sounded soon after Cold Night Feather returned to bed. Not Bai Xin—Li Ming.
“What is it?” she called.
“It’s me. Li Ming. I need to speak with you.” His voice still held weakness.
She opened the door in the tight robe. Streetlight painted her silhouette. Li Ming’s pale face flushed. “Perhaps… change clothes first?”
“I don’t mind. Speak.” Her tone was flat.
His expression hardened. “Tell me—how to grow strong *fast*. How did *you*?”
*For Bai Xin.* Her crimson eyes locked onto his determined gaze. “True strength comes from battle. The frontlines.”
Silence. He bowed slightly. “Understood. Thank you.” He turned to leave, back straight as a knight riding to war.
“Your power is… unusual.” Cold Night Feather narrowed her eyes. “Why risk the frontlines? You could grow safely here.”
Li Ming didn’t turn. “To protect what matters.” His voice was low. “I swore to guard her forever. But if I don’t fight—if I don’t push myself—she’ll surpass me. *She’ll* end up protecting *me*.” He paused. “If someone must dirty their hands… let it be us.”
For the first time, Cold Night Feather felt a flicker of respect. In him, she saw her younger self—stubborn. Reckless.
She closed her door with a soft laugh. “I’ll await your return, young man. Try not to end up in an unmarked grave.”
*(Present)*
Bai Xin’s anxious voice pulled her back. “You really believe he’ll come back?”
Cold Night Feather tucked the note away, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I do.”
