The Road of No Return
Chapter 18: The Road of No Return
The wind carried the scent of damp earth as the party rode deeper into the valley. The storm had passed, but the mist still clung to the trees, curling like unseen fingers around the branches.
Ye Xian kept her posture relaxed, her cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders. She wasn't cold. But she didn't like what the silence meant.
Ji Rui had disappeared, but his words still lingered.
"If you go to the Imperial Meeting, you won't come back."
Warnings from dead men were never meaningless.
And yet—she was still going.
---
A Game Between Demons and Swordsmen
Zhao Fengyun was the first to break the silence.
"You never told us you had such powerful friends, Ye Xian."
Ye Xian didn't look at him. "He's not my friend."
Bai Zhen, riding just ahead, let out a soft chuckle. "Could've fooled me. He seemed quite concerned about your well-being."
She exhaled, keeping her tone flat. "He was only delivering a message."
Zhao Fengyun hummed thoughtfully. "Then the real question is—was he telling the truth?"
A pause.
Then—Bai Zhen spoke again.
"It doesn't matter."
Ye Xian turned slightly. "You believe that?"
Bai Zhen smiled, but it wasn't his usual carefree grin. "I believe that once you step into the Imperial Court, there's no turning back."
His voice lost its usual humor, dropping lower.
"Not for you. Not for any of us."
---
The Emperor's Invitation
They reached the Imperial Road by mid-afternoon.
It was impossible to mistake—the stone pathway was too clean, too deliberate. A path carved for rulers, not travelers.
At the entrance stood a small group of Imperial Guards, their silver armor gleaming even in the dim light.
One of them stepped forward. "State your names and purpose."
Zhao Fengyun dismounted first, his expression the same easy, unreadable mask he always wore.
"Zhao Fengyun, envoy of the Demonic Clans."
The guards stiffened slightly but did not question it. They knew who he was.
Bai Zhen was next. He stretched lazily before placing a hand on his heart in acknowledgment. "Bai Zhen, representative of the Azure Wind Sect."
The guard turned to Ye Xian.
She stepped forward smoothly, placing a hand over her heart and lowering her gaze slightly.
"Physician Xie Yan, traveling under the Azure Wind Sect's banner."
The guards exchanged looks.
Then, the leading officer nodded. "The Imperial Court welcomes you. You will be escorted directly to the Golden Orchid Pavilion. Your audience with His Majesty will be held at dawn."
Ye Xian exhaled softly. So. It begins.
---
The Palace of Lies
The Golden Orchid Pavilion was quiet, but Ye Xian knew better than to trust the silence.
Servants moved gracefully through the halls, their gazes lowered, their voices barely above a whisper. But their ears—those were always listening.
Even the walls had eyes.
As they entered, Zhao Fengyun let out a low whistle. "The Emperor must be feeling generous. This is usually reserved for honored guests."
Bai Zhen dropped onto one of the embroidered couches, stretching. "Generous? Or just preparing us for something worse?"
Ye Xian didn't comment. She was already scanning the room.
The Imperial Court did not invite people without reason.
And she would find out what that reason was—before it killed her.
---
The Woman Who Knew Too Much
She didn't have to wait long.
Barely an hour had passed before the doors slid open, and a new figure entered.
Dressed in flowing silk, her movements quiet, but not submissive.
Her presence demanded attention—not because she forced it, but because she knew she didn't have to.
Ye Xian recognized her instantly.
Princess Zhao Ling.
The Caged Orchid of the Imperial Court.
The woman whose very existence terrified the Emperor.
She stopped before them, her dark eyes scanning the room before settling—unmistakably—on Ye Xian.
Zhao Fengyun raised a brow. "A royal visit? How fortunate we are."
Princess Zhao Ling ignored him. "Leave us."
Her voice was soft, but the guards obeyed instantly.
Bai Zhen let out a low whistle. "Well. That's never a good sign."
Zhao Fengyun smirked but rose smoothly. "Try not to kill each other."
And just like that—they were alone.
Ye Xian met the princess's gaze evenly.
"To what do I owe the honor?" she asked lightly.
Princess Zhao Ling exhaled softly.
"You need to leave the palace," she murmured.
Ye Xian didn't blink.
Another warning.
Another attempt to stop her.
She tilted her head slightly. "And why is that?"
Princess Zhao Ling's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Because someone has already decided you must die."
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End of Chapter 18