Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: The Veil of Darkness

“Su Ziwen!” Leaning forward, Mo De lowered his voice, glaring angrily at the young woman before him.

“What’s the matter, Mo De?” With a delicate fork poised over her plate of pasta, Su Ziwen twirled it lightly before tasting the restaurant’s signature dish at a leisurely pace.

Mo De stared at the woman whose attention was mostly devoted to her plate, a torrent of words surging within him, yet not a single sentence could escape his lips. Since childhood, he had never known how to deal with the cool and resolute type. These people always pursued the most direct and optimal outcome, rarely caring about irrelevant opinions.

“Eat while it’s hot.” Su Ziwen continued her movements, glancing up to signal Mo De not to waste the best moment for tasting.

He stabbed a sausage with his chopsticks and chewed fiercely, all the while watching her and wondering to himself why Su Ziwen had chosen him as her deputy.

Suddenly, a burning sensation flared up on his wrist, interrupting his thoughts. He discreetly lowered his wrist to observe it; the bronze clasp hung quietly from the black thread, nothing amiss.

“What’s wrong?” Su Ziwen paused her knife and fork, asking, a trace of sauce lingering at the corner of her lips.

“It’s nothing.” Mo De gestured to his mouth, signaling her.

Without probing further, Su Ziwen naturally picked up a napkin and wiped her lips, her face free from any pretense or shyness.

“Hurry and eat. Once we’re done, we’ll discuss business.” She motioned for the waiter to clear her dishes. Su Ziwen pulled out the manual and pen Old Qiao had given her earlier, then fell silent, simply gazing at Mo De.

There was nothing for it—he had no choice but to eat. After all, he’d paid for this meal and couldn’t let it go to waste. The signature meat sauce pasta really was delicious...

...

Deep within the Archive Pavilion, Mu Qing withdrew her hand from the ancient bronze cauldron before her, her expression slightly weary. Of the five ancient artifacts housed in Qin City’s Archive Pavilion, none were her target. To say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie; Qin City, whose collection of ancient items was second only to the imperial capital, still lacked what she needed. Her last hope now rested on the final three ancient artifacts.

Leaving the hidden chamber where the relics were stored, the heavy stone door behind her not yet fully closed, Mu Qing suddenly stumbled, nearly falling. The black fire within her, which should have remained suppressed for several more days, suddenly became agitated before settling down again, coiling deep within her eyes.

After the shock came joy—her black fire had never responded to the outside world like this before. But after the joy came confusion; ever since Mu Qing started wearing those sunglasses, this was the first time she’d experienced such a situation.

“The way to break the deadlock is here,” Mu Qing muttered to herself, biting her lip in determination. She had to find the cause of the black fire’s reaction here. Her instincts told her that whatever was affecting the black fire might be the key to her liberation.

...

“In summary, that’s the entire plan for the Autumn Hunt. Are you clear on it?” Su Ziwen set down the manual and looked at Mo De.

“I understand, but—” Mo De started, only to be cut off.

“I chose you as my deputy for two reasons: first, your physical advantage complements mine. Together, we can eliminate most of the potential risks during the Autumn Hunt.” Her words were as sharp and direct as ever, leaving Mo De no room to think.

“Second, you yourself are the greatest risk. Keeping you by my side makes it easier to watch over you.”

Mo De looked at her, locking eyes with those cool, clear ones, but remained silent. No matter how well he hid it, to Class 20, he was always the biggest anomaly.

“Understood.” Mo De finally sighed in reply, deciding to follow Su Ziwen’s arrangement.

“Class leader, do you realize that right now, you really don’t... seem much like a girl?” As she tidied up the books on the table, Su Ziwen paused at his words, then slowly responded with a question, “And what of it?”

“Nothing, nothing...” Mo De waved his hand awkwardly, chuckling. This class leader really was impervious.

“Tomorrow, keep an eye on everyone in the bus. No shouting or commotion—save your energy.” Rising from the table, Su Ziwen said as she walked ahead.

“Alright, I’ll make sure the bus stays quiet so you can rest, Miss Su.” Mo De replied with a bright smile.

Near the restaurant exit, Mo De hurried forward to open the door and lift the curtain, recalling the way Su Ziwen had clutched her stomach in embarrassment on the ride over. He felt an immense relief and his mood soared.

“Motion sickness is just a matter of constitution...” Su Ziwen began, but her brows furrowed as she turned toward the opposite side of the street. Someone was watching them.

The mist in Qin City was light; across the street, several hurried figures could just be seen. One of them paused, then began walking directly through the mist and street toward them.

Mu Qing could never have guessed that simply searching for a place to eat would lead her to encounter the person who could break her deadlock.

Through the clarity granted by her sunglasses, Mu Qing recognized the person emerging from behind the girl as the boy who, days ago, had sprinted desperately for a final meeting with that man!

...

As Su Ziwen fell silent, Mo De also noticed the approaching figure through the thickening mist. He stepped forward, shielding Su Ziwen behind him, squinting toward the newcomer.

A tall silhouette broke through the mist and approached, grabbing Mo De’s wrist in a firm grip. Her voice was resolute and unquestionable: “Come with me.”

Su Ziwen turned her hand to her phone, her face wary as she asked the stranger, “Who are you?” Her finger hovered over the emergency call button, ready to press.

“Come with me,” Mu Qing repeated. At that moment, the black fire within her was raging, battering her already fragile body. She prepared to use force, intent on taking Mo De with her. She had no idea what destruction might be unleashed on this street if she failed to suppress the black fire now.

“I’m asking you—” Su Ziwen’s expression grew colder as she prepared to repeat her question, but Mo De, rigid in place, interrupted.

“It’s alright, class leader.” He twisted his hand to grasp the woman's wrist tightly, his tone now so cold it was almost unfamiliar to Su Ziwen.

“I happen to have something to discuss with this sister. Don’t worry, nothing will happen.” Adjusting his tone, Mo De turned and smiled at Su Ziwen, light and gentle.

He paid no mind to the burning pain in his other wrist. The black thread had silently become warped and blurred, but still held the ancient bronze clasp firmly.

His entire attention was now fixed on the tall woman before him.

For one reason only: the woman before him wore a pair of sunglasses—those tea-colored lenses he knew all too well.

“See you tomorrow.” With a parting word, Mo De vanished into the thickening mist alongside the woman.

Su Ziwen stood for a long moment, pursing her pale lips before turning back.

“Truly... the affairs of the important are always many,” she murmured, her tone tinged with worry and something else she couldn’t quite name. She pulled out her phone again, sending a message to Fat Wu Fan: “Mo De won’t be coming back tonight,” then extinguished the screen and walked alone through the fog-shrouded street.

As the night deepened and the mist thickened, the girl’s figure grew ever more indistinct, finally disappearing into the darkness where night and fog intertwined.