"To this day, Prince Xin Yufeng has never left his residence."
Mu Qingye remained silent, unable to believe his second brother would do such a thing. Yet, it was not surprising; Xin Yufeng had always been unwilling to lose to him.
"What will you do next?" Xin Haoran asked.
"Definitely not here."
"Don't make Father even angrier; his illness always flares up," Xin Haoran warned.
"First Brother, there are things difficult to explain. I only hope you two can get along and guard the capital and Ti'an palace well. Out there, we might feel safe and sound. But the reality is never clear."
Hearing Mu Qingye's words, Xin Haoran looked at him deeply. He was curious about what his younger brother was saying.
"Get to the point," Xin Haoran urged.
"The Dark Sect, they have many human puppets. They are neither alive nor dead and are difficult to deal with."
"Just the Dark Sect? Why are you so worried? In the capital, they are merely moths fluttering around," Xin Haoran seemed relaxed and gave a small smile.
"Human puppets, illusion techniques. We cannot underestimate them, and they are also collaborating with the Red Moon Sect."
Hearing that, Xin Haoran stiffened. He looked at his younger brother seriously, as if wanting to know everything.
"WHAT?!"
"I failed the villagers of Qingyuan. I couldn't save them from the Red Moon Sect's cruelty."
"The full moon a few days ago, meaning their king's awakening su-"
"That's why I want you all to guard the capital together. I will guard the place I must guard," Mu Qingye interrupted.
"So, you think the Tianxia capital isn't important?"
"I trust you, and do you think other places aren't important?" Mu Qingye retorted.
"Alright, when will you move?" his elder brother asked.
"I will leave tomorrow, and for this matter, keep it a secret from Second Brother for now."
Xin Haoran looked at him, confused. "Are you suspicious of him?"
"No, I just feel there's something different about his body," Mu Qingye recalled their brief meeting earlier.
Strangely, that shadow and the illusion technique shifting places made him feel odd. Who in the capital possessed such illusionary power besides his master, Yi Wuji?
"Emperor, the Spiritual Fire Bird has appeared!" a eunuch ran towards the emperor's residence.
Hearing that, Xin Haoran and Mu Qingye walked out. However, moments later, the water in the lake below began to tremble, splashing water upwards.
"Protect the Emperor!" Xin Haoran shouted.
A moment later, a sword arrived and immediately grazed Mu Qingye's arm, causing his blood to drip into the water.
"Yu'er!" Xin Haoran exclaimed.
However, the tremor vanished, leaving Mu Qingye confused.
"There's an intruder!" Xin Haoran shouted, immediately making the guards and escorts rush to search.
The Spiritual Fire Bird approached Mu Qingye, stroking the man's arm with its head.
The Spiritual Fire Bird only stayed on the southern mountain; it hadn't appeared for 7 years. But for some reason, it appeared in the palace today.
"Are you detecting someone trying to harm Yu'er?" Xin Haoran asked. Only a small sound was heard from the bird's mouth.
"THE EMPEROR HAS ARRIVED!" the eunuch announced.
Xin Haoran and Mu Qingye immediately bowed respectfully.
"Who dared to harm the prince?" the Emperor raged, asking the chief eunuch to arrest the culprit.
But suddenly, the lake shook again, causing the building above to tremble violently. Mu Qingye, unable to hold on, fell straight into the water.
"Yu'er!" the Emperor exclaimed along with Xin Haoran.
"KraaAAAH—!" The Spiritual Fire Bird let out a loud cry.
"Save the prince!" the Emperor commanded.
Guards and escorts immediately jumped into the water, diving but finding no sign of the prince.
After an hour passed, the Emperor looked worried.
"Father, you should return; don't worry too much. It might trigger your illness again. As for Yu'er, I will try to find him and send more people to search."
The Emperor sighed deeply. He walked back, led by the chief eunuch.
At the bottom of the lake, Mu Qingye regained consciousness. He saw someone chained by the hands and feet, and a golden sword with ancient script 'Ti'an' etched on it. Its hilt was shaped like a bird's claw gripping a glowing red gem—the Fire Bird Core, the sword's energy source.
"Yu'er, help."
Mu Qingye was shocked. "Who are you?"
Suddenly, a black shadow entered Mu Qingye's head. He woke up seeing something very familiar to him, his happy childhood, as if time had rewinded.
'The illusion formation of beautiful memories makes it difficult for one to awaken and escape this formation. The happiness that once occurred in one's life is the most beautiful memory.'
"Can you remember it well?" a voice sounded, making Mu Qingye instantly snap awake!
He immediately swam, returning to the land.
"Ugh!"
"Yu'er, how are you?" Xin Haoran and Xin Jinlei asked.
"I saw something strange."
"What?" Xin Jinlei asked, immediately handing his brother a towel.
"Someone and a sword, he's sealed at the bottom of the lake."
They helped Xin Weiyu inside to rest. The physician checked his condition and gave him a warm herbal soup.
Xin Jinlei felt intrigued, taking a piece of paper and ink. He drew a sword and presented it to Mu Qingye.
"Like this?" he asked.
Mu Qingye nodded, which made Xin Jinlei try to confirm it. "Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"
"What's going on? Why am I the only one who doesn't know?" Xin Haoran interjected.
"I'm sure; it's exactly the same," Mu Qingye said, making Xin Jinlei stunned.
"When I led the war on the eastern border 2 years ago, the Tianxia army was almost defeated by the Mengjie Clan, and suddenly this sword appeared from nowhere. It moved as if by someone. In just a moment, it managed to bring down the Clan leader."
"So, this is the sword you investigated at the records bureau back then?" Xin Haoran asked, making Xin Jinlei nod.
"I asked the imperial supervisors, they knew nothing, and for a full year of investigating, I found no clues whatsoever."
Mu Qingye fell silent, wondering what was truly at the bottom of that lake, whether it was real or just an illusion.
"Could it be that the person you saw is the sword's owner?" Xin Haoran asked curiously.
"I don't know, he spoke for a moment."
"Tell me?" Xin Jinlei urged.
"He just said, 'Yu'er, help.'"
This left both of his older brothers surprised and confused. Was it their ancestor? But why was he sealed at the bottom of the lake?
"I will ask the Dean of the Academy," Xin Haoran said, immediately excusing himself.
"Is Father hiding something?" Xin Jinlei suddenly wondered.
He couldn't fathom it. If that sword was sealed at the bottom of the lake in Tianxia, it would take a very long time to reach the eastern border. And why was that sword sealed? And why was that person also sealed?