The battlefield had forgotten what silence sounded like.

Smoke crawled across the earth in black ribbons, swallowing the horizon and staining the evening sky. Spears stood upright like graves. Broken banners twisted in the wind. The metallic scent of blood clung heavily to the air, mixed with ash and the fading heat of burning siege carts.

Bodies covered the ground.

Thousands.

The war between the Northern Coalition and the Heavenly Frontier Army had lasted seven days and seven nights.

Seven nights of screams.

Seven nights of steel colliding beneath thunderous skies.

Now only the dying remained.

A soldier dragged himself across the mud, leaving a trail of crimson behind him. His vision blurred. Around him were shattered shields and lifeless faces he once called brothers.

"...help..."

No one answered.

Then—

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Footsteps.

Strange footsteps.

Not hurried.

Not cautious.

Steady.

The soldier's trembling eyes lifted.

Through the curtain of smoke, a figure slowly emerged.

Red.

A woman clothed entirely in red.

Not the ceremonial crimson of nobles.

Not the scarlet armor of generals.

Her robes were a deeper shade—like fresh blood beneath moonlight. Long sleeves drifted with the wind as though they were alive. Silver threads woven into the fabric shimmered faintly across the edges, forming ancient symbols no mortal kingdom would recognize.

Her black hair flowed freely down her back, untouched by ash or dirt.

And her face—

Beautiful enough to make men forget fear.

Cold enough to remind them.

She walked through corpses as if crossing an ordinary road.

Not stepping over them.

Not avoiding the blood.

Simply walking.

The dying soldier stared.

Anyone seeing such a scene would panic. A lone woman wandering through a battlefield untouched by war?

Impossible.

Yet her expression never changed.

No sadness.

No disgust.

No fear.

No pity.

Her dark eyes moved across the corpses around her with distant curiosity.

Like someone observing fallen leaves.

Nothing more.

Because from the moment she was born, she had never possessed empathy.

No one knew why.

No one had lived long enough to understand.

The woman paused beside the soldier.

He reached toward her weakly.

"Please…"

His fingers trembled.

"Save..."

Her eyes lowered to him.

Silence.

Several moments passed.

Then she tilted her head slightly.

Not out of concern.

Not confusion.

Curiosity.

"Why?"

Her voice was soft.

Too soft.

The soldier stared blankly.

"...what?"

She looked at him with genuine interest.

"No mockery."

"No cruelty."

"Only a question."

As if she truly wished to understand.

"Why do humans ask strangers for salvation?"

The soldier's face paled.

Something felt wrong.

Terribly wrong.

The woman crouched before him, red fabric spilling across blood-soaked earth.

Her eyes remained fixed on his face.

Watching.

Waiting.

Studying.

"Does pain frighten you?" she asked.

No answer.

"Does death?"

The soldier suddenly felt cold.

Not because of blood loss.

Not because of fear.

But because for the first time in his life…

Someone was looking at him as though he were not a person—

but a puzzle.

The wind suddenly stopped.

Everything stopped.

Even the smoke froze.

The woman slowly turned her head.

Far away, beyond mountains of corpses and broken siege towers...

Something had shifted.

A presence.

Powerful.

Ancient.

Watching.

Her emotionless eyes narrowed slightly.

Meanwhile—

At the center of the battlefield stood a man clad in black and gold armor.

His spear was planted into the earth.

The armor upon his body carried countless scars, yet he stood straight like an unshakable mountain. Blood stained his shoulders, though none of it seemed to belong to him.

Behind him stood thousands of soldiers.

No one dared speak.

Because this man alone had ended the battle.

The Heavenly War God.

The undefeated general of the empire.

A name feared by enemies across all realms.

Even demons avoided his path.

His eyes suddenly opened.

Cold golden eyes.

Sharp enough to split heaven itself.

The soldiers behind him stiffened.

Because their general had moved.

Slowly, his gaze shifted toward the distant smoke.

Toward the western field.

Toward her.

The War God's expression darkened.

He had felt it.

A foreign power.

Not spiritual energy.

Not demonic qi.

Not immortal essence.

Something else.

Something that did not belong beneath heaven.

For the first time in years—

Unease entered the battlefield.

Far away, standing amidst countless dead, the woman in red stared back through layers of smoke.

Though mountains separated them...

Though neither could clearly see the other...

Their eyes met.

And heaven trembled.

The woman blinked once.

Then softly said—

"...interesting."

Far away, the War God gripped his spear.

For reasons he could not explain—

Instinct screamed only one thing.

Danger.

And beneath the blood-red sky...

A destiny neither of them understood had finally begun.

The sky above the battlefield remained stained red long after the woman had turned away.

Wind swept through broken banners and over mountains of corpses.

Far away, at the center of the battlefield, a man in black and gold armor stood unmoving. His spear remained planted in the blood-soaked earth, and around him, thousands of soldiers held their breath.

The Heavenly War God.

A title feared across kingdoms and realms alike.

Moments earlier, he had felt it.

A foreign power.

Something that did not belong beneath heaven.

Not spiritual qi.

Not demonic essence.

Not immortal energy.

Something… different.

The strange aura had appeared only briefly before disappearing entirely.

His golden eyes narrowed.

The faint dragon-shaped markings beneath his skin slowly surfaced.

This was one of the powers that shook the Six Realms:

Celestial Dragon Battle Soul — a divine martial soul capable of transforming spiritual energy into overwhelming battle force. Legends claimed that when fully awakened, dragon souls could split mountains and shatter heavenly laws.

At the same time, golden qi gathered around his body.

The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth bent toward him.

His second power:

Heaven Suppression Divine Meridian — a legendary physique that allowed its owner to command spiritual energy itself and suppress weaker beings merely by existing.

The War God looked toward the distant western battlefield.

Yet the foreign presence had already vanished.

"Find her."

The generals behind him froze.

No one dared question him.

Because if the War God personally ordered a search...

The matter had already become extraordinary.

Thousands of li away...

A lone figure stood atop a mountain cliff beneath the night sky.

Long black hair drifted with the wind.

Her crimson robes fluttered softly.

Then—

The red faded.

Ancient silver symbols embroidered along her sleeves slowly disappeared.

The terrifying attire she wore upon the battlefield dissolved into plain blue robes.

Moments later, she looked no different from an ordinary young woman.

Lu Yinyin lowered her gaze toward her hands.

Silence.

"...Strange."

Sometimes things around her changed.

Objects moved on their own.

Time occasionally felt slower.

People looked at her strangely.

Bad things happened.

Always.

Since childhood.

She simply never understood why.

And because she never understood...

She stopped asking.

Below the mountain lay a mortal village.

Cloud River Village.

And within it—

Lu Manor.

Home.

Or perhaps...

The place she happened to live.

By sunrise, Lu Manor had become unusually lively.

Servants hurried beneath hanging lanterns.

Red silk draped over corridors.

Musicians entered through the gates.

The entire estate overflowed with excitement.

Because today was the engagement banquet of Lu Manor's treasured daughter—

Second Young Lady Lu Meirong.

Meanwhile, at the very edge of the estate stood a forgotten residence.

Broken walls.

Cracked roof tiles.

Neglected gardens.

The servants privately called it:

Ghost Yard.

Because the person living there brought misfortune.

Inside the courtyard, beneath an old osmanthus tree, Lu Yinyin sat silently with one arm supporting her cheek.

Motionless.

Completely motionless.

A butterfly landed on the stone table before her.

She stared at it.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three.

The butterfly flew away.

She continued staring at the empty space where it had been.

"..."

"...Miss."

No response.

"...Miss."

Silence.

"...MISS!"

Lu Yinyin finally turned her head.

Her maid, Xiao Qing, stood nearby carrying a basket of clothes with an expression filled with despair.

"Why are you staring at nothing again?!"

Lu Yinyin blinked.

"I was thinking."

Xiao Qing froze.

Thinking?

About what?

"The butterfly."

Xiao Qing waited.

Silence.

"...And?"

"...Nothing."

Xiao Qing nearly coughed blood.

Again.

Always like this.

Sometimes she truly felt her young miss was strange.

Not stupid.

Not slow.

Just...

Different.

As if she looked at the world from somewhere far away.

Before Xiao Qing could continue speaking, footsteps echoed outside the courtyard.

Several servant girls passed nearby.

Naturally, they lowered their voices.

Naturally, Lu Yinyin still heard every word.

"Did you hear? Second Young Lady received another gift from Young Master Su."

"So romantic."

"I heard it cost thousands of gold coins."

"Of course. Second Young Lady is talented and beautiful unlike..."

The servant lowered her voice.

"...that jinx."

Silence.

Another servant shivered.

"Keep your voice down."

"But it's true."

"My aunt worked here years ago. Ever since that illegitimate daughter arrived strange things kept happening."

"The Third Madam fell down the stairs."

"The kitchen caught fire."

"The fish pond dried up."

"Young Master Chen nearly drowned."

"Bad luck follows her."

The girls quickly hurried away.

Silence returned.

Xiao Qing looked toward Lu Yinyin nervously.

No reaction.

No anger.

No sadness.

Nothing.

Lu Yinyin merely stared toward the sky.

After a while—

"...What is a jinx?"

Xiao Qing froze.

Lu Yinyin looked at her.

"If bad things happen around me..." she paused slightly, "...does that make me strange?"

For some reason, Xiao Qing's heart tightened.

Others mocked Lu Yinyin.

But Xiao Qing knew something.

Her young miss never defended herself because she truly did not understand.

She did not understand anger.

Did not understand hatred.

Did not understand why people cried.

Or laughed.

Xiao Qing quickly smiled.

"They're just saying nonsense."

Silence.

"...Really?"

"...Really."

Lu Yinyin looked away.

At that moment—

Crack.

The tree branch above them suddenly split apart.

Xiao Qing screamed.

"MISS!"

The thick branch crashed downward directly toward Lu Yinyin—

Then suddenly twisted.

As if an invisible hand gently pushed it aside.

BOOM!

The branch smashed into the ground several feet away.

Dust rose.

Silence.

Xiao Qing stared blankly.

Lu Yinyin blinked once.

"...Again."

Xiao Qing slowly turned.

"...Again?"

Lu Yinyin looked thoughtful.

"This happens often."

Silence.

Wind brushed through the courtyard.

For a brief moment—

Something crimson flickered within Lu Yinyin's eyes.

Ancient symbols.

Mysterious.

Unfamiliar.

Then disappeared.

No one noticed.

Not even her.

Because Lu Yinyin still did not know the powers sleeping within her.

Void Heart Constitution — a forbidden existence born without emotional restraints; immune to illusions, fear, charm techniques, and mental laws.

And—

Scarlet Fate Eyes — eyes capable of seeing threads of destiny and catastrophe once fully awakened.

One stood outside fate.

The other could see fate itself.

Powers that should never have existed together.

Far away, within a military camp near the empire's borders—

The War God suddenly opened his eyes.

Golden spiritual energy exploded outward.

Nearby soldiers immediately knelt.

Because he had felt it again.

Very briefly.

Very faintly.

That foreign aura.

This time—

From the mortal realm.

His gaze slowly shifted southward.

Toward Cloud River Village.

Toward Lu Manor.

Meanwhile, inside Lu Manor's grand hall, laughter filled the air.

Nobles and guests arrived one after another.

Musicians played.

Servants rushed through the corridors.

Yet beneath the celebration, hidden schemes quietly stirred.

Because Lu Meirong had just received unexpected news.

A servant knelt before her.

"S–Second Young Lady..."

"What is it?"

"The Crown Prince's envoy has arrived."

Silence.

Lu Meirong stood abruptly.

The Crown Prince?

Why would royal representatives appear at Lu Manor?

Another servant hurried inside.

"S-Second Young Lady..."

"What now?!"

"The envoy asked..."

The servant hesitated.

"...who the eldest daughter of Lu Manor is."

The room instantly fell silent.

Because everyone knew.

No matter how ignored she was—

No matter how unwanted—

Lu Yinyin was still Lu Manor's eldest daughter.

And outside, beneath the old osmanthus tree, Lu Yinyin remained seated quietly.

Completely unaware...

That trouble had already begun walking toward her.

The grand hall of Lu Manor had never been this lively.

Musicians sat beneath carved pillars playing soft melodies. Noble guests from neighboring towns filled the estate with endless chatter. Servants moved hurriedly between tables carrying wine and delicacies.

Outside, red lanterns swayed gently beneath the morning wind.

Everyone smiled.

Everyone laughed.

At least on the surface.

Because beneath the celebration, many eyes continuously drifted toward one person.

Or rather—

Toward the person who had yet to appear.

Inside the eastern pavilion, Lu Meirong sat before a bronze mirror while maids adjusted her hair ornaments.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Perfect.

Yet her expression remained dark.

"The Crown Prince's envoy is still asking questions?"

A servant immediately knelt.

"Y-Yes, Second Young Lady."

Lu Meirong's fingers slowly tightened.

"About what?"

The servant hesitated.

"He... asked whether the eldest daughter of Lu Manor possesses talent."

Silence.

Crack.

The jade hairpin in Lu Meirong's hand snapped in half.

The surrounding maids immediately lowered their heads.

No one dared speak.

Because everyone knew Lu Meirong hated one thing above all else:

Being overshadowed.

Especially by her.

Lu Yinyin.

The illegitimate daughter.

The jinx.

The stain on Lu Manor.

Lu Meirong's eyes narrowed.

"Why would royal people suddenly care about her?"

No one answered.

Because no one knew.

Meanwhile...

Ghost Yard remained peaceful.

Far too peaceful.

Lu Yinyin still sat beneath the old osmanthus tree.

Motionless.

Completely motionless.

Xiao Qing looked at her in despair.

"...Miss."

No response.

"...Miss."

Nothing.

"...MISS!"

Lu Yinyin slowly blinked.

Xiao Qing nearly cried.

"Everyone in the manor is busy today! Why are you sitting here staring at leaves?!"

Lu Yinyin looked upward.

Several leaves drifted through the air.

"...They were falling."

Xiao Qing stared.

Silence.

"...So?"

"...I wanted to see where they landed."

Xiao Qing nearly fainted.

Again.

Always strange things.

Others her age discussed embroidery, handsome young masters, cultivation talents...

Meanwhile, her young miss observed falling leaves.

Sometimes for an entire afternoon.

Suddenly—

Footsteps approached.

Several servants entered the courtyard.

At their front stood Steward Sun.

The old man looked around before his gaze landed on Lu Yinyin.

Displeasure instantly flashed across his face.

"Third Miss."

Lu Yinyin looked over.

Silence.

Steward Sun frowned.

"...The master requests your presence."

Xiao Qing froze.

Master?

Requesting her young miss?

Impossible.

Since childhood, Lord Lu rarely acknowledged Lu Yinyin's existence.

Outside necessary appearances, he practically treated her as invisible.

Today of all days?

Something felt wrong.

Lu Yinyin stood slowly.

"...Why?"

Steward Sun's expression stiffened.

"I do not know."

A lie.

A very obvious lie.

But Lu Yinyin merely nodded.

"...Oh."

That was all.

No suspicion.

No curiosity.

No concern.

Because if she did not understand emotions very well...

Schemes naturally became harder to notice too.

A short while later—

Lu Yinyin entered the grand hall.

And instantly—

Silence.

The noisy hall suddenly quieted.

Countless eyes turned.

Some carried ridicule.

Some curiosity.

Some disgust.

Lu Yinyin stopped walking.

She blinked.

Why were they staring?

Had something happened?

She looked down at herself.

Nothing seemed strange.

Her blue robes remained plain.

Her sleeves remained clean.

Silence spread through the hall.

Because despite everything—

Despite her status.

Despite being called a jinx.

Lu Yinyin was beautiful.

Too beautiful.

Clear eyes.

Snow-like skin.

Delicate features untouched by arrogance.

She carried no ornaments.

No expensive jewelry.

Yet simply standing there made others strangely unable to look away.

At the head seat, Lord Lu's expression darkened slightly.

For years he had hidden this daughter away.

Today of all days—

Too many people were seeing her.

Beside him, Lu Meirong nearly cracked her nails.

Hatred flashed briefly through her eyes.

Then vanished.

A moment later—

Laughter suddenly sounded.

A richly dressed young noble sneered.

"So this is Lu Manor's famous jinx?"

Several nobles laughed quietly.

Another added:

"I heard disasters follow wherever she goes."

"Is it true?"

"Should we sit farther away?"

Laughter spread.

Xiao Qing clenched her fists.

Too much.

They had gone too far.

Yet Lu Yinyin simply stood there.

Silently.

Then after several moments—

"...What is funny?"

The laughter abruptly stopped.

Silence.

The young noble stared.

"...What?"

Lu Yinyin looked genuinely puzzled.

"You laughed."

Silence.

"...So I asked."

No anger.

No embarrassment.

No hurt.

Only confusion.

Because she truly wanted to understand.

And somehow...

That made the atmosphere even stranger.

Several guests exchanged looks.

Something felt off.

Very off.

Then—

A voice suddenly echoed from outside:

"The Crown Prince's envoy has arrived!"

Instantly, everyone stood.

Footsteps approached.

One.

Two.

Three.

A man wearing royal robes entered the hall.

His gaze calmly swept across everyone.

Then—

Paused.

Directly on Lu Yinyin.

Silence.

The envoy stared.

Then stared longer.

A strange expression gradually appeared on his face.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Confusion.

Because hanging at his waist was a spiritual artifact.

An artifact capable of sensing unusual qi fluctuations.

And just now—

For one brief moment—

The artifact had reacted.

Toward her.

Toward the girl everyone called...

The jinx.

Far away, several thousand li beyond Lu Manor—

The War God suddenly opened his eyes.

Again.

That foreign aura.

This time—

Clearer than ever.

His golden gaze darkened.

Because now...

He had found the direction.