For a Disaster-Class Esper engineered in a lab, Wu Youran was monstrously strong and relentless. Her grey mist burned like wildfire around her body, devouring everything in its path.

But Xinyuan matched her every strike, collision and every burst of destruction.

His movements were sharp, pushing her farther and farther away from the main city, driving the fight toward the ruined districts of Yanjing away from civilians.

But when Xinyuan pulled away to answer Wenzhi’s panic through their bond and killed Min, Wu Youran took it as an opening.

Her fist crashed into him hard enough to send him tearing through concrete before slamming into the ground.

The earth split beneath him, dust rising.

Wu Youran rolled her wrist slowly as she approached him, grey mist pouring heavily off her frame.

She smiled with satisfaction.

Xinyuan rose from the crater, dragging blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb before running his fingers through his hair.

His breathing was uneven. His eyes still glowing red.

"You know," Wu Youran said, tilting her head, "you could make this much easier for both of us, Shao Xinyuan."

Xinyuan said nothing as every fiber of his being screamed to get back to Wenzhi.

Even though he had successfully teleported Wenzhi to a safe location, he couldn’t relax.

That shaken look... That panic. The trembling.

He had never seen Wenzhi look like that before.

Wu Youran sighed. "You could just come willingly."

Her mist thickened. "They won’t stop chasing you. You know that."

Xinyuan’s chest rose and fell heavily. He just wanted to go back to Wenzhi. He wanted to touch him... To make sure he was breathing.... Safe.

Wu Youran narrowed her eyes. "Are you listening?"

Her voice sharpened. "We’re both injured. We both know how this ends."

Her gaze darkened. "Or are you really so invested in this ridiculous little faction?"

She laughed coldly. "I don’t understand why you’re all fighting so hard for this."

Her grey mist surged forward. "Espers and Guides are weapons. That’s all. Espers kill the monsters, Guides guide. This freedom you’re trying to build?"

Her lips curled. "It’s pathetic."

The mist slammed into Xinyuan.

Darkness exploded out of him instantly, blocking it.

The collision split the ground.

Xinyuan lifted his eyes and frowned deeply like she had become unbearable to listen to.

"You talk too much." He breathed. "I need to go back to him."

Wu Youran pressed two fingers against her earpiece, her voice cold. "I’m bringing Shao Xinyuan in soon. Bring the jet."

Xinyuan’s expression darkened at that annoying confidence of hers.

That certainty like she had already won.

His red eyes narrowed and just from that, Wu Youran was violently thrown backward.

Dark mist burst from his body like starving beasts, wrapping around her throat and lifting her off the ground.

She struggled, her grey mist crashing against his.

But Xinyuan wasn’t interested in dragging this out anymore. He wanted this over.

A deafening siren suddenly echoed through the city.

Both of them froze.

Wu Youran’s eyes widened.

Xinyuan frowned. A Rift?

Before either of them could move, a massive glowing blue blade tore through the air.

Wu Youran barely twisted away.

Too slow.

The sword still clipped across her side.

"Ahh!" She gasped sharply, stumbling.

Xinyuan immediately recognized the ability.

Jiang Zhaohe.

She walked forward through the ruined street, a blue glowing sword in her grasp. Her expression was murderous.

Wu Youran looked genuinely stunned.

But Zhaohe had barely taken another step before Wu Youran wrapped herself in thick grey mist and vanished.

Zhaohe stopped and scoffed in disbelief. "Why did she run away so fast?"

Xinyuan exhaled heavily, brushing blood from his mouth. "She’s hard to kill."

He looked up toward the distant sirens. "Did a Rift really appear?"

Zhaohe crossed her arms. "No."

Her eyes narrowed. "It’s a false alarm."

She glared at him. "A sound check."

Then her voice sharpened. "What the hell were you and Wenzhi thinking?"

Xinyuan rubbed his temples. "We..."

"Do not pull stunts like this without me." Her jaw tightened. "I thought we were doing this together."

Xinyuan sighed. "There’s a mole. Someone tied to Old Blood."

His voice dropped. "They helped Jingxin."

Zhaohe frowned.

Xinyuan continued. "He never died, he just used Ru Yi’s face to blend in properly."

"Unbelievable." Zhaohe dragged a hand down her face. "Who do you think it is?"

Xinyuan shook his head. "I don’t know."

He looked toward the skyline. "But Wu Youran is stronger than we thought."

His eyes darkened. "And now Old Blood has information about Sovereign."

Zhaohe breathed out slowly. "I’ll handle the cleanup."

Xinyuan glanced at her. "Wu Youran seemed afraid of you."

A deeply unpleasant look crossed Zhaohe’s face. "We have history."

She didn’t elaborate and Xinyuan didn’t ask nor was he actually surprised.

"We are not letting anyone stop this, Xinyuan." Zhaohe stepped closer, her eyes sharp and serious. "Not Old Blood. Not the CEA. Not anyone."

Her jaw tightened. "We’re getting our freedom. So let’s find the bastard helping them."

Xinyuan smirked faintly. But it didn’t reach his eyes. "I need to go to Wenzhi."

That made Zhaohe pause. Then nod. "Go."

The dark mist immediately swallowed him whole and in the next second, he was gone.

~•~

Wenzhi stood in front of the broken bedroom door, his fingers brushing over the smooth wood that remained untouched.

It still hadn’t been fixed. Not since that night.

The night he broke it because of Xinyuan.

He hadn’t expected Xinyuan to bring him back here.

The house felt quiet... Empty.

And somehow, it made his chest tighten.

It hadn’t even been that long since they were here together, yet the place already felt like something nostalgic.

Wenzhi stepped into the room and moved toward the drawers. He pulled one open.

Inside sat a small box.

He opened it.

Suppressants. Only two vials remained.

Wenzhi stared at them for a moment before scoffing. "The doc was right."

He closed the box and shoved it back. Then sat at the edge of the bed.

For a while, he didn’t move until he decided to shower.

He stayed in the bath for a long time. Long enough for the water to go cold. Long enough to scrub away the feeling of hands on him.

This night had been terrible in too many ways.

When he stepped out, he didn’t bother with his own clothes.

Instead, he pulled on Xinyuan’s shirt and pants.

The fabric hung loosely around his frame and smelled like him.

That warm spice with a little vanilla.

It was ridiculously fitting and comforting.

Wenzhi hated how safe it made him feel.

Dark mist suddenly burst into the house.

Xinyuan appeared.

The shadows pulled back into his body as he moved fast through the rooms. "Wenzhi?"

His voice was rough as he searched. "Wenzhi, where are you?"

He pushed into his bedroom and froze.

Wenzhi was sitting there on the edge of the bed wearing his clothes.

Xinyuan exhaled. Relief hit his face so hard it almost looked painful.

"You look—" He stopped and walked toward him.

"Is she dead?" Wenzhi rose from the bed and met him halfway.

Xinyuan shook his head. "Zhaohe made her retreat."

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Wenzhi, pulling him close.

"How do you feel?" he buried his face in the crook of Wenzhi’s neck.

Wenzhi’s fingers twitched. "Jingxin escaped."

Xinyuan tightened his hold. "Wenzhi." His voice was softer.... Lower.

Wenzhi frowned and slowly lifted his hand, pressing it into the back of Xinyuan’s head, running his fingers through his hair.

"I don’t want to talk about it." His voice was quieter now. "Besides, she’s dead."

That should have been enough.

Xinyuan stayed silent for a long time and breathed. "I’m sorry."

Wenzhi’s fingers stilled for half a second. Then resumed, raking through Xinyuan’s hair.

"There’s nothing to apologize for." He pulled back just enough to look at him. "The night didn’t go the way we planned."

His grey eyes held Xinyuan’s glowing red ones. "That’s all."

He breathed out. "Whether Old Blood has our information or not, we keep moving. If they attack again..."

A faint coldness entered his voice. "They should understand by now that we bite back."

Xinyuan stared at him carefully. "Are you fine?"

His voice dropped. "You don’t feel fine."

Wenzhi sighed, his hand moving through Xinyuan’s hair like he was calming him. Or maybe himself.

"I’ll be fine, Sleeping beauty." His voice softened. "I’ll be fine."