The sun crested gently above the quiet fishing village, bathing the humble rooftops in soft gold. Seagulls cried in the distance, and the salty breeze from the sea carried the scent of kelp and roasted sweet potato.
Inside the small inn tucked near the edge of the village, Crown Prince Longxuan stood beside the battered front counter, his posture regal despite the disheveled collar and damp sleeves. Beside him, a stooped figure dressed in loose robes, long raven hair falling in lazy tangles around his neck, handed a small gold ingot to the innkeeper with an expression of carefully crafted indifference.
The innkeeper's eyes sparkled like copper coins in the sun the moment he saw the gold.
"Oh! Your—ah—generosity, esteemed guests! No worries, none at all. Just a tub. I'll buy a brand new one for you, no trouble, no trouble at all!" she grinned toothily, nearly bowing over the counter. "In fact, I'll even add extra padding this time! For... comfort."
Longxuan cleared his throat and coughed into his sleeve to suppress a laugh.
Mo Tianzun narrowed his eyes, voice raspy with mock annoyance. "We were just drunk. Slipped. That's all."
"Yes, yes, of course. Terrible balance, those wine jars," the innkeeper said, still grinning from ear to ear as she pocketed the gold. "Many couples—ah, I mean, travelers—fall in that tub. Cursed tub, that one. Broke during spring rain, you know!"
Longxuan turned slightly to glance at Tianzun, who refused to meet his eye. Both of them gave a small, knowing smile before stepping toward the front door.
But before they could leave, a sudden pair of voices echoed like a crash of thunder outside the inn.
"PRINCE LONGXUAN!?"
The air shifted instantly.
Mo Tianzun froze, the casual slouch vanishing in a blink. His fingers twitched. Without another word, he turned on his heel and darted toward the back alley behind the inn. His speed was quiet but graceful, like wind weaving through reeds.
Longxuan stood still at the doorway, hand resting loosely on the doorframe. A bead of sweat trailed down his temple.
Standing a few paces ahead, wearing travel-worn robes and familiar expressions of stunned disbelief, were the Liu Twins—Liu Zhenhai and Liu Fenglan—with Jiang Fenglie striding behind them like a shadow cast by a storm.
"Prince Longxuan?" Fenglan repeated with a half-jump, already rushing forward. "You are here!?"
Longxuan lifted a hand and scratched the back of his head, lips quirking into a sheepish smile. "I… needed fresh air. The imperial court's been driving me mad with politics and marriage talk."
"Politics?" Fenglan echoed, arching a brow.
"Marriage?" Zhenhai, arching his eye brow too.
Longxuan blinked. "Yes. I had to… escape for a bit. Relax. Clear my head."
Fenglie folded his arms. "You vanished for nearly two weeks."
"I left a note," Longxuan muttered, barely audible.
"No one found it," Fenglie replied flatly.
Fenglan, ignoring the rising tension, suddenly gasped. "Anyway! Since you're here, let's explore! This village is kinda cute. I saw a cat on the roof earlier. Maybe there are more!"
Before Longxuan could reply, Fenglan had already grabbed his wrist and began tugging him toward the narrow street lined with vendor stalls. Longxuan staggered slightly, glancing once behind him toward the alleyway.
But Mo Tianzun was gone.
There was no sign of the raven-haired man, no drifting sleeves in the wind, no glint of concealed eyes watching from the shadows.
Just the quiet flutter of laundry lines, the creak of fishing nets in the breeze.
Longxuan exhaled a long breath through his nose, tension sitting deep in his chest. He's still hiding. Even now.
And though his face remained composed, his fingers curled slightly at his sides.
He was close—but not close enough to hold him yet.