A Pact in the Dark

Chapter 30: A Pact in the Dark

The corridors of the Imperial Palace were always cold at night.

Ye Xian and Han Yue walked in silence, their footsteps light against the polished stone. Neither spoke, but the weight of what had just happened lingered between them.

A silent agreement had been made.

They would work together—for now.

But neither truly trusted the other.

And in Jianghu, trust was the most dangerous thing of all.

The Conditions of an Alliance

Han Yue led her to an isolated pavilion near the eastern garden, away from the prying eyes of the court.

Only when they were out of sight did he speak.

"I need to know exactly what you've uncovered about Lan Huai's murder," he said. His voice was steady—but there was an edge to it.

Ye Xian tilted her head slightly. "That sounds like a demand, General."

Han Yue exhaled. "If we are going to work together, I need to know what I'm dealing with."

Ye Xian studied him for a moment before responding. "Zhao Fengyun believes the real killer is still alive."

Han Yue's gaze sharpened instantly. "And you trust him?"

"No."

A pause.

Then—Ye Xian smiled faintly.

"But I trust that he never lies when it comes to revenge."

Han Yue remained silent, his hands tightening slightly at his sides.

Then—he spoke carefully.

"Who else knows?"

Ye Xian exhaled. "Aside from us? The ones pulling the strings."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Han Yue's expression.

Then—he nodded.

"Then we move carefully," he said. "The moment we start pulling at these threads, someone will try to cut them."

Ye Xian smiled faintly. "So we force them to act first."

Han Yue studied her.

Then—for the first time, he smiled too.

"Agreed."

A Dangerous Request

The wind shifted slightly as Han Yue reached into his sleeve and pulled out a sealed document.

He extended it to Ye Xian.

She took it without hesitation, her fingers tracing the Imperial insignia pressed into the wax.

"What is this?" she asked.

"An Imperial decree," Han Yue said. "One that was never made public."

Ye Xian carefully broke the seal, unfolding the parchment.

Her eyes flickered over the writing—and then she froze.

It was an order issued nearly a decade ago.

An order for a series of experimental treatments conducted under the Emperor's command.

Subjects: Selected martial artists of Jianghu.Purpose: Enhancement and resistance training.Result: Failed.

Ye Xian inhaled slowly.

Because one name stood out among the list of test subjects.

Shen Liwei.

The Secret Buried in His Blood

Han Yue watched her reaction carefully. "Now you understand."

Ye Xian lowered the decree, her mind already moving ahead.

Shen Liwei's immunity to poisons—it wasn't natural.

It was a result of Imperial experimentation.

And if that was true—then the people behind his assassination attempt weren't just sect rivals.

They were people from within the Imperial Court itself.

Ye Xian exhaled. "Who else knows about this?"

Han Yue's expression darkened. "Not many. The files were erased years ago. This copy is one of the last that remains."

Ye Xian's fingers tightened slightly. "And why are you giving it to me?"

Han Yue met her gaze.

"Because I need you to find out how far this conspiracy goes."

A pause.

Then—he added something else.

"And because if you're going to kill Shen Liwei… you should at least know why he was meant to die."

Ye Xian's pulse remained steady.

But deep inside, something shifted.

Because she wasn't sure if she wanted to kill Shen Liwei anymore.

Not when he might be just another victim in a much larger game.

The Shadow That Moved First

Before Ye Xian could respond, the sound of footsteps cut through the silence.

Both she and Han Yue turned sharply—but they were already too late.

A figure stood at the far end of the garden, his silhouette barely visible under the moonlight.

Not a court official.

Not a hidden assassin.

But Zhao Fengyun.

He leaned against a wooden pillar, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"You two look very serious," he remarked lazily.

Ye Xian exhaled lightly. Of course.

Zhao Fengyun was always watching.

And he had seen far more than he was supposed to.

The Hunter Becomes the Hunted

Zhao Fengyun stepped forward, his gaze flickering between Ye Xian and Han Yue.

"You're exchanging secret documents now?" he mused. "I should be jealous."

Han Yue stiffened slightly, his fingers twitching toward his sleeve—a tell Ye Xian caught immediately.

He didn't trust Zhao Fengyun.

But then again—neither did she.

Ye Xian exhaled. "How long have you been listening?"

Zhao Fengyun smiled faintly. "Long enough to know you're asking all the right questions."

A pause.

Then—his gaze darkened slightly.

"But not long enough to hear the answers."

Han Yue's expression remained unreadable, but his stance shifted subtly—ready for a fight.

Zhao Fengyun saw it. And smirked.

"Relax, General," he murmured. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have heard me coming."

Han Yue exhaled sharply. "That doesn't make me feel better."

Ye Xian sighed. "Enough."

Both men looked at her.

She turned to Zhao Fengyun. "What do you want?"

Zhao Fengyun's smirk didn't fade. "A simple trade."

Ye Xian narrowed her eyes. "For what?"

Zhao Fengyun took another step forward.

"You tell me what's in that decree," he murmured. "And I'll tell you something you actually need to know."

A silence stretched between them.

Han Yue's hand tensed slightly. "You don't get to bargain with information you don't have."

Zhao Fengyun chuckled. "Then test me."

A pause.

Then—his next words sent a chill through the air.

"You're looking for the people who ordered Shen Liwei's death."

He tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening.

"What if I told you they were the same ones who ordered Lan Huai's?"

Ye Xian inhaled sharply.

Because she knew.

This had just become more than a game.

Now—she was being hunted too.

End of Chapter 30