Chapter 2 — Ten Years Later

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Ten years had passed since the night the moon turned red. The world had moved on, but the legend of the Yue Clan’s destruction had not. Stories about that night spread across the lands like wildfire. Some said the Yue Clan betrayed the empire. Others whispered that dark spirits devoured them from within. And a few believed something far more terrifying—that the Yue Clan had been erased on purpose.

Morning sunlight poured over the busy streets of Qingyuan City, one of the largest cities in the empire. Vendors shouted across the marketplace while children ran through the narrow streets. Spiritual cultivators passed by in elegant robes, their weapons hanging proudly at their sides. Life here was loud, chaotic, and completely normal. It was the perfect atmosphere—peaceful, too.

Inside a crowded herbal shop, a young woman stood behind the counter organizing jars of herbs. Her long silver hair was tied loosely behind her back, and her calm silver-tinted eyes watched the surroundings carefully, a small smile tugging at her lips.

A customer suddenly slammed a hand on the counter.

“I asked for moonleaf powder, not frostroot!”

Lan Yue blinked. “Oh… right.” She looked down at the jar in her hand. “…That explains why it smelled weird.”

The customer groaned. “You’ve worked here three years and you still mix herbs wrong?!”

Lan Yue scratched her cheek awkwardly. “I’m improving.”

From the corner of the shop, a small voice snorted. “That’s a lie.”

Lan Yue turned. Sitting on a wooden beam near the ceiling was a tiny mystical fox, its purple-silver fur glowing faintly in the light. Its name was Hoshi, and it looked very unimpressed.

“You almost poisoned someone yesterday,” Hoshi said.

“That was an accident!”

“You gave him sleeproot instead of healing root.”

“He slept very well.”

“That wasn’t the goal.”

Lan Yue puffed her cheeks in annoyance. “You’re supposed to support me.”

Hoshi rolled its eyes. “I support competence.”

Lan Yue smiled slyly and leaned on the counter. “Hmm… I have some cookies here. But too bad they’ll probably go to waste.”

Hoshi instantly jumped down from the beam. “Ptui! Not everyone is perfect. You’ve done great already, Ah Lan.”

Lan Yue smiled in satisfaction and handed her a cookie.

Just then, a loud boom echoed from outside. The entire street shook.

Lan Yue froze. “…What was that?”

Hoshi’s ears twitched, her playful expression disappearing instantly. “That… was a spiritual battle.”

Outside, people began shouting. “Someone’s fighting!” “Run!”

Lan Yue rushed to the door and pushed it open. Across the street, a group of cultivators had formed a circle. In the center, two warriors were clashing violently. Steel rang through the air while spiritual energy cracked like lightning.

One of them moved with terrifying speed, his sword flashing with streaks of purple light.

Lan Yue narrowed her eyes. “…That sword style…”

Something about it felt familiar.

Before she could think further, the warrior unleashed a powerful strike. Dark energy burst outward like a storm. The ground cracked, nearby stalls collapsed, and people screamed as they ran.

Hoshi’s eyes widened. “Oh no.”

Lan Yue glanced at her. “What?”

Hoshi sighed dramatically. “…You’re about to get involved, aren’t you?”

Lan Yue was already stepping forward. “I can’t just watch people get hurt!”

“Of course not.”

“You sound sarcastic.”

“I am.”

Across the battlefield, the mysterious warrior landed on the ground as dust slowly cleared around him. For a moment, no one moved. Then whispers spread through the crowd.

“That’s him…”

“The Bo Clan’s strongest warrior…”

“The Dark Blade…”

Lan Yue stepped closer, her eyes widening slightly.

Standing there was a tall young man with sharp features and cold, unreadable eyes. His beauty was overwhelming, and his gaze seemed to draw people in without effort. A massive sword rested in his hand. The blade looked strange—almost alive—and it pulsed faintly with dark power.

Bo Ye Chen locked eyes on the man opposite him, paying no attention to the crowd. He pointed his sword forward and slowly circled his hand.

The man across from him burst into wild laughter. He scratched his face violently, acting completely out of control. His eyes were empty and his mouth mumbled incoherent words.

Bo Ye Chen frowned.

“Another one again…”

A deep, dark voice echoed beside him, though no one else seemed to hear it.

Bo Ye Chen’s frown deepened, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he rushed forward at lightning speed. Steel flashed through the air.

Blood gushed as the man collapsed with a loud groan.

But then something strange happened.

His body began to crumble. Cracks spread across his skin before it suddenly turned into black ash. The ashes scattered into the wind, dissolving into a faint dark aura.

The crowd gasped in shock.

Lan Yue stared quietly. “…That wasn’t a normal cultivator.”

Hoshi’s tail flicked slowly. “No.”

His voice was unusually serious.

“That was something much worse.”

Across the street, Bo Ye Chen slowly lowered his sword.

For a brief moment—

His cold gaze lifted.

And landed directly on Lan Yue.

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