Chapter 36: Guarding Each Other

She was born after the gods fell. Most ancient texts were lost in the immortal realm’s great war.
Many truths sank in time. No complete record remained.
What she knew of ancient fallen gods was incomplete—much still guesswork.
Looking at Yi Ke’s still clear eyes she opened her mouth—and swallowed the words she might have said.
Before truth arrived fully she only wanted her girl to live as ordinary and steady as possible. That was enough.
Past midnight Yi Ke finally sank into sleep—a rare rest. In the dream she sensed familiar breath.
She opened her eyes at once—fully awake. No sleep left.
That was—Zhen Yao’s spiritual flame!
After the moon trip her power had grown this far.
Even asleep, anyone she’d touched—any distance—she could sense flame shift in time.
Since her resignation Ji Chengfeng had put her on leave. Jiang Ran held SI for now. The team still ran without her—just slower, cases dragging.
SI was older than she was.
Once SI had never had a fallen god on staff. No direct power over flame—but a mature system handled Jintian’s spiritual-flame cases fine.
Jade Dust came to the mortal world for private gain—seizing flame to harm the balance.
Her appearance had happened to hold the scale.
Jade Dust was unreadable. Yang Yufei served her wholly, cruel in action. Zhen Yao in their hands—every second counted.
“Ke-ke, what is it?” When she sat up she found Bai Yanci seated beside her—not asleep.
“Zhen Yao’s in danger. I sense her—at Qixie.”
“You’re on leave. Someone else will save her, won’t they?” Bai Yanci said. “SI or the bureau—that’s their job. You shouldn’t get involved.”
Familiar words—Bai Yanci’s constant warning.
She’d always known—in these flame cases they didn’t see eye to eye.
Whatever Bai Yanci thought, she indulged her everywhere—never left her alone in danger.
“Sister, I can’t stand by.” After thought her decision was firm. “No matter what, I’m going to save her.”
Leave or no leave.
Even if she weren’t SI leader Yi Ke—only a college student—she wouldn’t watch Qixie win.
Bai Yanci took her hand, gentle as always: “All right. I’m with you.”
When they arrived Jiang Ran had already brought SI and surrounded Qixie.
Yang Yufei stood at Qixie’s gate, eyes pure provocation.
Jiang Ran faced her, cold: “Yang Yufei, hand over Zhen Yao or don’t blame us for what comes next!”
“Well, well—the acting team leader. SI must be desperate to send useless you.” Yang Yufei mocked. “Where’s your Team Leader Yi? Scared—too afraid to show?”
Jiang Ran wasn’t moved. A wave of her hand—SI moved into combat stance.
Yang Yufei’s ability had been exposed at the Sun-Moon Cup opening. SI were all ability users, on guard—not easily swayed.
Yang Yufei smiled wider, brow raised: “What? Your holding cell was loose, someone was taken—you come demand us back? What logic is that?”
“Stop bluffing, Yang Yufei.” Jiang Ran sniffed. “Want your people safe—release Zhen Yao!”
“Dying for Qixie is their honor!” Yang Yufei spread her arms, careless. “Useless in your hands—Qixie doesn’t keep useless people. Only the strong walk the peak with Lord Jade Dust!”
“You’re insane!” Qiyang Sword left its sheath and flew at Yang Yufei!
Yang Yufei mocked on but stayed wary—one dodge and the strike missed clean.
Yi Ke’s heart sank. Yang Yufei dodging that easily—Jade Dust must have done something again.
“Team leader!” Jiang Ran cried out.
Hearing the voice Yang Yufei looked up and laughed cold. “Team Leader Yi—here to die too?”
She ignored Yang Yufei. “Jiang-jie, hold them. I’m going in for Zhen Yao.”
“You won’t set foot in Qixie!”
Yang Yufei waved. Qixie swarmed SI.
She could sense clearly—Zhen Yao was inside. Jade Dust sent Yang Yufei to stall—Zhen Yao would be in the lab.
No time to fight. Rescue first.
Qixie had moon barrier arts. She looked at Bai Yanci. Bai Yanci understood—one strike broke the ward.
The instant it fell she drove immortal power and blinked inside, running toward Zhen Yao.
The door opened on a large laboratory.
Zhen Yao had dense tubes in her body, hooked to familiar instruments—unconscious.
The sight blurred her back to years ago—Mu’s lab at the bureau—same picture.
Zhen Yao hadn’t awakened as ability user yet—but her flame was different. Purer. Brighter.
No wonder Yang Yufei had stormed SI to take her.
“Team Leader Yi—we meet again.” Jade Dust’s voice.
Only the barrier had been broken. Bai Yanci hadn’t come in yet.
Suspicion rising—Jade Dust laughed, easy: “Yang Yufei holds a phantom of the Spirit Tide jade pendant. Even with a great immortal beside you, she won’t break free fast.”
Jade Dust lifted a hand. Immortal power started the machines.
In an instant flame was torn from Zhen Yao’s body by force. Pain crossed her sleeping face.
She looked at Jade Dust, rage shaking her voice: “She’s just a child!”
“A child? So what?” Jade Dust watched, bored. “She’s gifted—strong flame. Take hers and I kill fewer others. For you—a good trade, no?”
“Beyond saving!”
She tried to smash the equipment. Jade Dust read her intent and blocked. “Team Leader Yi—you insist on opposing me?”
Reason was useless.
Last time she’d broken into Qixie as a limited ordinary ability user—no defense against Jade Dust.
Now on the moon she’d held against Qingxi. As one of four great immortals under the ruler, Qingxi and Jade Dust should be near equal.
She drove spiritual flame. Qiyang Sword answered, white light on the blade, straight at Jade Dust.
Jade Dust smiled, didn’t move, and dodged everything with ease.
“Not bad—much stronger than before.” Jade Dust clapped—then shifted. “But have you noticed your power is fading?”
She looked up sharp. When had the lab been warded again?
Pale yellow glow around the barrier—not ordinary.
Jade Dust walked toward her, long sword forming in her hand. “In my barrier, immortal or fallen god—power is cut hard.”
A light lift—restraints on Zhen Yao ran faster.
She flashed to the machines to pull Zhen Yao out—Jade Dust blocked her, blade at her throat.
Jade Dust held the pose, looking down: “Team Leader Yi, stop struggling. You’ve lost.”
Jade Dust was right. She’d lost.
On the moon she’d beaten Qingxi because Qingxi had no artifact and had fought Bai Yanci long—already drained.
Jade Dust’s immortal power was full. How could she win?
Timing ripe, Jade Dust opened her hand. The true Spirit Tide jade pendant appeared.
Flame centered on Zhen Yao was dragged by the pendant, pouring into the artifact, filling it.
When the pendant’s power peaked a frame flashed in her mind—unbidden.
When an artifact’s power was forced to peak from outside, it backlashed—wide violent explosion.
At that level an unawakened child like Zhen Yao would die.
No time to ask where the memory came from. Body moved first.
She broke Jade Dust’s hold with everything she had—blade cut her and she didn’t care—ran for Zhen Yao.
Losing part of her flame was survivable. Life remained—moon forbidden arts could mend broken flame. Room to turn back.
She crushed unconscious Zhen Yao in her arms. The pain she expected never came.
Jade Dust stepped in front, raised barrier art, held the pendant’s force outside the ward.
Overflow still leaked—tore the barrier, cut Jade Dust’s wrist raw.
Jade Dust lifted her hand again, blood flowing, poured vast immortal power out, and at last reined the runaway pendant in.
She didn’t treat the wound at once. Turned. Expression under the mask unreadable.
Yi Ke started to rise on guard—and heard Jade Dust say, clear and calm: “Go.”