In the royal gardens of the Azure Light Kingdom, beneath the glow of spirit lanterns and blooming Moon lotus flowers, Yue Ling walked side by side with "Lin Mu" — the quiet scholar from the south who had, somehow, begun to occupy her thoughts.
Her guards stayed at a distance, not daring to intrude upon the Princess of Purity. Few ever got this close to her without being burned by her holy aura. Yet this man—humble, unreadable, ordinary—walked beside her as if he belonged.
And somehow… he did.
"You speak often of truth," Yue Ling said softly, brushing her fingers along a lotus petal. "But truth is subjective. What one calls justice, another calls tyranny."
Priyanshu gave her a calm smile. "Exactly. That's why I don't chase justice—I seek understanding. A tyrant may cry for peace, and a saint may kill in rage. Morality is but a mask over necessity."
She paused, eyes narrowing. "That sounds dangerously close to heresy."
"Or wisdom," he replied gently. "Even gods fall. Should men not be allowed to doubt?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Never had anyone dared to say such things in her presence—let alone with such calm sincerity.
She should've rebuked him.
Yet she found herself… listening.
Her soul, forged in righteousness, felt a tremor she could not name.
DING! Corruption Progress: 31%Status: Emotional Connection Initiated
Far away, within the Mind Shadow Hall — the headquarters of Priyanshu's secret organization — Elira stood before a pool of black mist, monitoring the corruption thread.
"She's falling," Elira said with amusement. "The great Saint Princess, tempted by a mask."
Han Xie leaned against a pillar. "It won't last. She's too pure. She'll see through him eventually."
Elira licked her lips. "Then she'll fall even harder. The purer the flame, the sweeter the ashes."
The mist pool shimmered. A new figure appeared—a pale man cloaked in death qi.
"Master Priyanshu's orders?" he asked.
Elira smiled darkly. "None. Let him handle this. He wants her to fall on her own. No poison. No soul techniques. Just words."
The man shivered. "That's scarier than any curse…"
Back in the palace, Yue Ling sat alone in her chamber, staring at the half-written scroll in her hands.
She couldn't focus.
Her heart was conflicted. Thoughts of Lin Mu—his voice, his questions, his gaze—looped in her mind like a cursed melody. He made her question the world… and herself.
Could righteousness be manipulated?
Could evil wear a smile?
She closed her eyes—and saw his.
And in that moment, she felt it.
A bloom.
Not of love.
But of doubt.
A tiny seed in her soul began to bloom… and it wasn't bathed in light.
It was fed by shadow.
DING! Hidden Villain Achievement: "First Fracture of the Saint" UnlockedCorruption Progress: 47%
Priyanshu, meditating in a quiet inn chamber across the city, opened his eyes.
"She's ready," he whispered.