"He is not like that!" I shouted, my voice trembling. "Bai Long always treated my brother well. I can't believe you... not now."
Liyu didn't flinch. Her expression remained calm, her tone unwavering.
> "I understand, Master. But I'm telling you the truth."
The room fell silent. Only her steady breathing echoed between us. I bit my lip, tears breaking past my defenses.
She lowered her gaze.
> "I'm sorry, Master... but this is true. Please—don't lose your heart. You have to stay strong. Strong—for your revenge."
Revenge. The word tasted bitter, but it lingered in the air.
> "Revenge?" I whispered.
Liyu nodded.
> "Maybe Bai Long isn't the true culprit. But that doesn't matter now. You can't turn back, Master."
I narrowed my eyes.
> "Why do you care so much about my revenge?"
Her face stayed composed, but her eyes sparked.
> "Because the late Emperor gave me a mission. A chance to get close to you. To earn your trust. And now... I've seen it. I've seen your eyes. You want revenge, even if you won't admit it."
The fire in her voice was unmistakable. Steady. Loyal.
I stood tall again.
> "Alright. But before I go—"
> "We go," she interrupted. "We should get ready."
The air between us shifted—heavy with purpose. This wasn't just about grief anymore. This was war.
Two years later
Liyu's voice rang out through the open courtyard.
> "Master? Master, where are you? Hey, did you see my Master?"
From behind a tree, I chuckled.
> "I'm right here. Why are you looking so worried?"
She turned around, relief flooding her face.
> "Oh, thank goodness! We got news!"
> "News?" I raised a brow, curious.
> "This month's sales are thirty percent higher than last month!"
I smiled. There was peace in small victories.
> "That's good. Let's have dinner together tonight, alright?"
Liyu beamed.
> "Okay, Master. And—let me remind you of everything, as you asked me to do every day."
She took a breath and began.
> "After we left Tianxia Guo, we came here to Yongning. We started a jewelry business to raise money... for revenge. Prince Xiao is still missing. We still don't know who the real enemy is, but we're getting closer.
> Bai Long became emperor. He hasn't shown himself publicly for a long time. There's no news about him. But I discovered something—he's only holding the throne until he finds you, the real princess.
>But he's not searching for you with good intentions. A year ago, he was hunting you down—but not to protect you. That's when you changed your name… to Mengxia Liu.
> You became cold. Unforgiving. So you could take revenge without weakness.
> And... some months ago, we found a sword. A sword made by your father—for you."
She bowed slightly.
> "Master, I'm done."
I nodded.
> "You did well. You can go."
Liyu left, and the room grew still. I turned toward the sword resting on the stand—its blade slender and curved like moonlight.
I touched its hilt gently
> "Beautiful... but dangerous."
It was light—far lighter than any normal blade. And there, engraved along the silver spine, was one word: Xuanyue.
My father's handwriting.
The name of the sword.
The name of fate.