Chen Anyue smiled, her thin arms coming around her father's back. 

"I'm glad you're here, Father. I was scared by myself…"

Fatherly protectiveness rushed through his blood, he held her against him like she was the most precious jewel, and as if he were her only s.h.i.+eld from death and cruelty that permeated throughout the world. 

"There, there, my lovely daughter…do not worry about a thing. Father is here now… Father will protect you."

When he breathed in her scent, Chen Gaoyong was struck with a strong perfume. Since when did his cute daughter wear things like this? Ginger was much too strong a fragrance for a dainty girl. He pulled away from but instantly melted at her sweet and lovely face, those big gray eyes and charming lips. She really took after her mother.

"Lovely daughter of mine…" He said, blinking in wonderment. "Just what are you doing in here?" 

The state of his office was barely registering in his mind, and though a part of him did find it strange, he could not consciously accept that his pretty Anyue would ever do anything wrong.

Anyue's smile was everlasting, not falling from her face for even a second as she pulled away. The low lights danced upon her thin figure, draped in the fine fabrics of her robes. Since when had she become a woman? Chen Gaoyong wanted to protect her, spoil her as if she was still a child. That way, she would never have to suffer.

Her finger glided over the shelf, a subtle frown was there on her visage, eyes forlorn, "There was a weird man that appeared out of nowhere. He slaughtered everyone in a blink of an eye. I couldn't even see his face, he…I chased him down the hall to here…but he disappeared the moment he came."

Chen Gaoyong's eyes went wide in alarm, his hands instantly coming down on his daughter's shoulders, "Do you remember anything about him?"

Chen Anyue's brows knit, "Sorry…He was wearing all black. And a b.u.t.terfly mask…that's all I could make out. I'm sorry Father."

He deflated, "No, do not apologize, my lovely daughter, it's not your fault." His gaze turned toward the hidden shelf that was now revealed. A heavy sense of dread weighed in his heart. 

The Ten Thousand Eternal Star Bead was hidden within a pocket dimension hidden that shelf, sealed off in several layers of spells.

That treasure was what had begun all his problems. That d.a.m.ned treasure was what set his precious Anyue down a cursed path- It was what made him lose sleep at night, made him fear that Anyue's fortune might suddenly dissipate at a moment's notice.

Chen Gaoyong knew without a doubt that whatever it was that stalked his halls was clearly there for this d.a.m.ned treasure.

Anyue expression mirrored his alarm. Her lashes fanned as she pursed her lips in concern, "The Ten Thousand Eternal Star Bead is hidden here isn't it? Is that what he was after?"

"I believe so…"

"Is it okay…? He didn't manage to steal it did he? Father, I'm scared…"

Her pleading voice struck his heart. He frowned and checked the integrity of his spells. There was nothing that told him of damage. It was strange and disconcerting and his hand automatically raised, itching to check.

Lines and symbols were drawn in the air; they pulled together points of a hidden array within the bookshelf. Books at the center crumpled into dust; reality fluctuated within a vacant hole that sat there. 

Only Chen Gaoyong could reach into this distorted s.p.a.ce. It was a powerful spell meant to stave off any intruders.

Even G.o.ds would marvel at the construct of this power, for it was far from simple. Chen Anyue watched quietly as her father's fingers disappeared within the fold of s.p.a.ce, then a s.h.i.+ny bead was plucked out. 

"Father never ceases to amaze me," she hummed in praise. "Can Father explain what the foundation is for this spell?"

Chen Gaoyong's chest filled with pride, "Most certainly, my lovely daughter," and he began a monologue of explanation.

What he did not expect was to receive a dagger in his heart at the end of his lecture. His mind could not follow with reality, looking down blankly at the hilt that stuck out of his chest where a red flower blossomed upon his robes.

Chen Gaoyong's vision blurred. 

"Huh?" He said dumbly and looked at his daughter's face one last time. 

Chen Anyue's eyes were gray and gla.s.sy. The ethereal smile upon her lips was curved up slightly, like a smirk.

He fell to the ground. The Ten Thousand Eternal Star Bead rolled out of his fingertips and thudded against the leg of his desk.

"A fate altered cannot be reversed," the voice that came out of Chen Anyue's lips were low and cold, "Did you believe that sheltering your daughter from the world might save her from your mistakes? Chen Anyue's undoing will always lead back to your hand. I hope you remember that in death."

Chen Gaoyong's eyes widened in fear, his jaw croaked open, but no sound came out, life extinguis.h.i.+ng from him swiftly.

A scoff came out of Chen Anyue's lips. She reached down to pluck out Ten Thousand Eternal Star Bead from the floor and inspected the gem with disdainful eyes.

In that moment, a sudden string of spiritual energy caught her alarm, and she lunged toward the entrance of the room with speed that could not be followed with mortal eyes. 

A red b.u.t.terfly was plucked from the air. It was a spell, but clumsy. However...she knew the aura that pulsed on the end of the spell. 

A sneer stretched Chen Anyue's delicate features. 

'Silly bird. Stop interfering with my plans, now would you? There is no benefit for you here.'

She knew it was a mistake the moment the words were sent out into the spell. Annoyance gripped her, but a golden fire erupted from her fingertips, devouring the pathetic b.u.t.terfly. Chen Anyue began to cough; her hand came down on the desk to remain standing.

A piercing headache with enough force to rip apart souls crushed her breathing and set each nerve ending on fire. Maintaining full control over two bodies always caused so much unnecessary pain. But despite the agony, her fingers clasped tightly around the Forbidden Treasure. This was not ideal, but she could play the long game if necessary.

Chen Anyue turned her attention to the dismantled spells in Chen Gaoyong's study. 

Quickly, she recreated them, and placed the Ten Thousand Eternal Star Bead back into the pocket dimension hidden within the secret place in Chen Gaoyong's study.

There wasn't much time. She could already hear the echoes of footsteps down the halls of the Ascending Dawn Manor. They would discover her location soon. She sealed the bookshelves back up, erasing any traces of tempering and then plucked the dagger out of Chen Gaoyong's chest.

Without hesitation, she stabbed herself in the stomach but avoided any vital organs.

Like a puppet with strings cut; Chen Anyue fell to the ground.

Perfect timing as well. The echoes of Liu Sumeng and Yuan Xuelan's voices were approaching, and so was the other body that she was controlling. And when Chen Anyue's consciousness could finally fully fade, she could focus entirely on that other body.

…

Not long ago, Liu Sumeng was rus.h.i.+ng toward the north side of the city along with Yuan Xuelan, Zhao Fanyu, and Hui Moxiang.

But Yuan Xuelan suddenly halted, pulling back on Liu Sumeng's hand. 

The Ivory Sword Saint startled at the abrupt stop. Zhao Fanyu and Hui Moxiang stopped as well, curious but did not turn around fully.

"What's wrong?" Liu Sumeng asked.

A dazed expression clouded Yuan Xuelan's features but his face suddenly snapped toward Liu Sumeng, eyes ablaze with sparks of red and gold.

"Ivory Sword Saint," the soft inflection of the voice was enough to tell Liu Sumeng that it was not Yuan Xuelan that spoke to him, but actually the phoenix. But Huo Tang did not use her usual playful and teasing tone and instead spoke with tight urgency, "I have failed to re-establish any form of communication with the folk that were supposed to be holed up in that golden manor. But heed my warning well; I made brief contact with a very dangerous foe that has already infiltrated within. They have warned me to stay away and I advise the very opposite. It is imperative we interfere with whatever it is they are scheming right at this instant."

"Huh…" Zhao Fanyu's brow knit, sighing long, "Can you perhaps slow down a little? I only understood roughly half of that. What is this dangerous foe that you speak of?"

Yuan Xuelan's eyes snapped at him, sharp and intense in their gaze, "It is as I say. No other details can be said for certain, but all my words are true. If you choose not to listen then so be it. But do not be surprised at the losses suffered if you do not."

Hui Moxiang cut in with a frown, "Not sure if you've forgotten about the horde of demons attacking the wall. The ones that are basically on the brink of invading your precious city but uh, that's still a thing. Xiao Li's going to need our help soon."

When Liu Sumeng looked at Yuan Xuelan's eyes that beheld Huo Tang's soul, he saw that there was fear dancing behind the flicks of fire. He trusted the phoenix and knew that there had to be a reason as to why the communication spell suddenly dispersed and didn't get re-established.

"Will you two be alright on your own?" He asked Zhao Fanyu and Hui Moxiang.

Zhao Fanyu hummed and appeared more tired than alarmed with his half-lidded eyes, reminding Liu Sumeng of the first time they had met in this incarnation, when he was lazily tending to Yuan Xuelan's dying aunt. 

"I suppose we'll make do. It's not like I have anything else to do with my time nowadays."

"We'll be fine. Zhao-ge will be fine, because he'll have me protecting him," Hui Moxiang chirped, which incited a shrug from the man beside her. They parted ways, splitting when one path led to the northern wall and the other up the hilltop where the Ascending Dawn Manor sat.

But after a few steps, Yuan Xuelan suddenly swayed on his feet, his hand came up and held his head with a hiss, "Ouch, wish she'd give me a d.a.m.ned warning first." He groaned.

Liu Sumeng allowed the younger to lean against him for support and placed his hand at the small of his back to help him remain steady.

When he regained his bearings, Yuan Xuelan gave the Ivory Sword Saint a thankful nod and a secret smile, "Thank you." But his loving expression flipped into a grave one as they approached the manor that stood in front of them, silent. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"As do I," Liu Sumeng said. But they had no choice but to continue onward. And Liu Sumeng was ready to face whatever foe that hid inside the halls.