The chamber, which had been decaying in a deathly silence just moments ago, was now flooded with spiritual energy. A frigid breeze drifted in from the window, fluttering the curtains and gently brushing against Mo Yan’s hair. After a playful lick on Duie’s hand, Ai Yin retreated back into the folds of Mo Yan’s robes, as if he had claimed that space as his sanctuary. Duie remained mesmerized, a sweet sense of joy bubbling within him at the kitten’s innocent antics.

  Once more, Duie’s gaze drifted toward the closed door a sharp, deep look that could set fire to the soul. Despite the cosmic energy in the room, Mo Yan remained motionless. He sat like a stone statue before the sacred, ancient Dragon Zither an artifact so legendary that even myths had forgotten its existence.

  When Duie turned his attention back to Mo Yan, he saw no reaction. It was as if Mo Yan were trapped in a world of absolute darkness where nothing else existed. He spoke no words, but the silence in his eyes and the heaviness of his posture could only be understood by someone who had felt that same soul-crushing weight.

  Duie lowered his eyes, but gathered the courage to speak. His voice was soft and natural:

  "Your Majesty... through this talisman, you can communicate with anyone."

  He hesitated, his voice barely a whisper now:

  "You can... speak to Yu Sui."

  A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Mo Yan’s lips. It was so subtle that it felt as though his soul were smiling while his body refused to cooperate.

  Mo Yan remained silent, but he understood. He remembered the melodies Yu Sui had played for him the silent conversations they once shared through music. But now, his hands felt frozen. His breath grew heavy, and his heart began to race a frantic rhythm that Ai Yin felt from within his robes. The kitten stared at Mo Yan’s chest as if expecting his heart to leap out at any moment.

  Suddenly, Mo Yan’s gaze fell. His ears turned a deep crimson, and a flush crept onto his cheeks. Seeing the Emperor in such a rare state of bashfulness made Duie flush as well. Attempting to maintain a shred of dignity, Duie prepared to leave. His face grew even redder than Mo Yan’s, his brows furrowing as if his own soul were scolding him for his awkwardness.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  Before leaving, Duie grabbed a parchment and a brush, scribbling a line in Chwen before sliding it across the table to Mo Yan.

  The words read:

  "Vixion taun du jo zhaio sko."

  As Mo Yan read those words and looked up, Duie found no place to hide his embarrassment. His face, and even his hands, turned a vivid red. Before any more "accidents" could occur, Duie stood up and bolted out of the room.

  Outside, the first person to see him was Su Nian. Seeing Duie’s flushed face, Su Nian’s expression fell. But before Su Nian could utter a word, Duie grabbed his wrist and dragged him away in front of all the disciples. Su Nian tried to protest, but it was futile; Duie was taller and far stronger.

  The disciples stood there, jaws dropping especially Bao Fang. In a moment of pure disbelief, Bao Fang clasped his hands and clapped three times, silently praying for Su Nian’s soul.

  Inside the chamber, Mo Yan was locked in an internal battle. He didn't know how to find the courage to say those words to Yu Sui. Words had never been their medium. They had always spoken through gestures, through touch, and through the profound silence they shared. In those moments, silence was their language, and the world seemed to stop in their presence. Mo Yan’s hesitation wasn't just shyness it was the fear of finally putting his heart into words.

  Meanwhile, Duie had dragged Su Nian into his own chamber and slammed the door shut. With a swift hand seal, a bolt of lightning-like aura erupted, extinguishing every candle in the room. Su Nian stood frozen, staring at Duie in the dark. His warm cloak slipped from his shoulders, pooling at his feet.

  Duie took a step forward. Su Nian took a step back. The room was as dark as a moonless night, save for the faint glow filtering through the window.

  Duie did not stop, and neither did Su Nian?until Su Nian’s back hit the wall. He glanced at the wall behind him, and when he looked back, Duie was so close that his breath fanned against Su Nian’s eyelashes. Their breathing grew heavy and synchronized. Su Nian felt paralyzed; his eyes couldn't look up, his voice was gone, and his lips felt parched from the heat of the moment.

  Back in the Emperor’s chamber, a spark of life returned to Mo Yan’s desolate face. As he reached out to touch the Dragon Zither, he bowed his head slightly. The white flower Ai Yin had placed in his hair slid down and landed softly on the instrument.

  A genuine smile bloomed on Mo Yan’s face. He looked at the parchment again, at the words Duie had written.

  As his eyes scanned the lines, a tender, radiant beauty returned to his features. There was something in those words something that had always existed in their silent gazes. His eyes had always said these things whenever he looked at Yu Sui. This was the language of his heart the confession he had always yearned to make.