The silence of dawn still dominated the courtyard when Kyrian opened his eyes and woke up.

The first light of day had barely touched the horizon, the sky still painted in dark gray, with a faint golden line emerging in the east.

He rose, adjusted his clothes with simple movements, and stepped out of his room.

The air was cold and damp, and the calm before sunrise gave the surroundings a strange tranquility.

Outside, Yanyu remained seated, motionless like a statue.

Her body was upright, eyes closed, and a gentle flow of Qi circulated around her.

Kyrian approached with silent steps. He stood before her for a few seconds, observing.

Yanyu's face was serene, but something betrayed the opposite. Small dark circles, slightly irregular breathing, and a tired aura even while cultivating.

Without changing his impassive expression, Kyrian lifted a finger and flicked her forehead.

"Ow!" Yanyu's eyes opened immediately, her hand flying to her forehead in surprise. She blinked, looking around until she found Kyrian standing in front of her.

"Why did you do that?" she asked in confusion.

"Because you look worried." Kyrian's voice came firm, without much emotion, but carrying a weight that could not be ignored.

"And why are you cultivating the whole night? It's not the first time. I can see on your face that you haven't been resting."

Yanyu opened her mouth to respond, but Kyrian continued.

"Cultivation can replace part of sleep, but not completely. You still need to rest for a few hours. If you insist on continuing like this, you'll end up harming yourself more than helping."

Yanyu frowned slightly, but quickly averted her gaze.

"I understand… I know that… but I need to push harder, or I'll end up falling behind…"

Kyrian remained silent for a moment. He could have insisted, but chose not to.

Instead, he extended his hand and lightly touched the white fox curled in Yanyu's lap.

Luz was sleeping deeply, looking like a soft snowball. Yet, as he touched her, Kyrian felt the intense flow of energy circulating through the small body.

The fox's cultivation had already reached the limit of the Qi Accumulation Realm. When she awakened, she would likely already be a beast with the strength of the Qi Liberation Realm.

Withdrawing his hand, Kyrian let a thought slip out.

"She's growing fast…"

At that moment, Kyrian's eyes narrowed. Looking at the fox, his mind recalled Di Fei. The young man was also marked by hostility and the interrogation that had yielded no answers.

It was then that Yanyu asked.

"What happened yesterday?" Her voice came soft, but with a touch of concern.

Kyrian turned to her and explained. He summarized the previous day.

The mission, Long Xue's rescue, the city in chaos, the encounter with Di Fei, and finally the interrogation in the hall.

He spoke directly, without dragging on.

Yanyu listened in silence. In the end, she asked.

"And did you discover anything?"

Kyrian shook his head.

"Nothing. He didn't lie, but he doesn't remember anything that could help."

As he answered, Kyrian fell silent for a few seconds, reflecting.

Until an idea came to his mind. Long Xue.

He recalled hearing that she had suffered soul injuries when she touched the black mass.

If there were indeed remnants of that energy within Long Xue's soul, the book would probably react.

Kyrian then stood up.

"Don't push yourself too hard." It was the only thing he said to Yanyu before leaving through the door.

He walked alone through the few buildings at the sect's peak. The sky was brightening, and the green rooftops reflected the first golden tones of the morning sun.

When he reached Long Xue's room, he found Wu Jian coming out.

The young man's face was heavy, his expression burdened with frustration and guilt. He didn't even look at Kyrian, simply walked past him, his hard steps echoing against the stone floor.

Kyrian glanced at him from the corner of his eye.

"He ran. Abandoned Long Xue behind when the mist pressed against his mind… and now he finds out he left her still alive back there. That guilt won't leave him anytime soon."

Kyrian whispered to himself, then pushed the door open and entered the room.

The atmosphere was silent, lit only by a faint-flamed lamp. At the center, Long Xue's still figure lay on the bed. Her face was pale, her breathing faint, almost imperceptible.

The moment Kyrian crossed a few meters, something happened.

Inside his mind, the blank book reacted on its own.

Kyrian narrowed his eyes, sensing the connection.

He approached the bed and pulled a chair, sitting beside her.

Closing his eyes for an instant, he sought the link.

It didn't take long, out from the depths of his consciousness, the book emerged. It projected itself from his forehead, appearing in the air. Its pages turned on their own, one after another, until stopping above Long Xue's head.

And then it happened.

A dark energy began to leak from the young woman's forehead. It was like a black smoke, dense and heavy, that seemed to resist being drawn out.

However, the book pulled it with inevitable force.

The mist stretched like threads being torn, sucked into the blank open pages.

Kyrian only observed in silence, his expression still impassive, though his heart beat slightly faster.

The energy was completely absorbed, it didn't take long. The pages then snapped shut abruptly, and the book vanished, returning to lodge itself inside Kyrian's mind.

Silence returned.

Kyrian lowered his gaze to Long Xue, and in that instant, he noticed.

Her forehead, once furrowed, relaxed. Her breathing, once slow and irregular, became calm and steady.

Color returned to her face, and life seemed to pulse again beneath her rosy skin.

He stood still, watching. It was clear. She hadn't awakened yet, but she was better. Much better.

Kyrian rose slowly, looking at Long Xue one last time. Without delay, he left the room.

In the corridor, he drew in a deep breath and then quickened his pace. He needed to find Feng Yuan immediately.

Halfway, his body stopped for a moment. Inside his mind, the book reacted again.

And then, a translucent energy, soft as a breeze, spread through his consciousness. It was cold and clear, as if washing away all the dust accumulated in his thoughts.

Kyrian closed his eyes and breathed deeply, absorbing that ethereal sensation.

It lasted only a minute. But when it ceased, he noticed immediately. His limit had shifted once more. The time he normally had to wait before cultivating again, already reduced to seven days, had now dropped further, to only four days.

A small smile appeared on his lips as he realized it. A short, almost imperceptible smile, but full of satisfaction. His strength would rise again soon.

He resumed walking.

Just ahead, he found Feng Yuan in the main corridor. The leader was turning toward him, heading to meet him, his expression serious.

"Master Feng. I need to talk to you." Kyrian began without much preamble.

The sect leader narrowed his eyes at Kyrian's tone and expression.

"What happened?"

Kyrian then told him. He explained in detail what had occurred in Long Xue's room.

The book, the dark energy that left her mind, and how her condition seemed to improve immediately after.

Feng Yuan's eyes widened briefly, and he wasted no time.

"Let's go!" he said simply, already turning and striding down the corridor.

Together they went to the room.

When they opened the door, the scene before them made them stop.

Long Xue was awake. Sitting on the bed, her large eyes watched the entrance intently.

Her once pale face now had color, she looked well. But what caught their attention was not her recovery but the strangeness.

As soon as Feng Yuan stepped forward, Long Xue stiffened. Her gaze turned frightened, and she shrank slightly against the headboard, as if wanting to move away.

Feng Yuan froze. Kyrian also narrowed his eyes.

The leader drew in a breath, trying to remain calm.

"Long Xue…" His voice sounded firm but restrained.

"How are you feeling? What happened?"

No answer. The young woman only stared, her body tense, fingers clutching the sheet.

Feng Yuan frowned again. Then he turned his eyes to Kyrian.

"You try."

Kyrian then advanced with slow steps. Unlike Feng Yuan, Long Xue did not recoil when he approached.

She only watched him, her eyes still somewhat uncertain, but without resistance. When Kyrian pulled a chair and sat beside her, she remained still.

"Are you alright?" Kyrian's voice came low, gentle.

Long Xue hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Do you remember me?" Kyrian asked.

Long Xue shook her head.

"Do you remember the sect leader?" He pointed discreetly toward Feng Yuan.

Again, she moved her head from side to side.

A heavy silence fell over the room, both of them realizing immediately what was happening with Long Xue.

She seemed to have lost her memories.

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