Chapter 194: Shadow Channels

The soldiers seized Ru Yi’s arms before she could take another step, and the rough grip around her wrists felt strangely insignificant compared with the emptiness spreading through her chest.

She kept staring at Qingyue, desperately searching for even the smallest sign that she had changed her mind, but Qingyue remained turned away from her, her shoulders rigid beneath her armor as though she were forcing herself not to look back.

"You made the correct decision, Princess Qingyue." General Sheng used her old title, but in a mocking tone. "My soldiers will retreat at once now that I have what I came for."

Qingyue’s fingers tightened around her sword. "Do not mistake my surrender for loyalty."

"I would never." GeneralSheng turned his attention back to Ru Yi. "She belongs to me now."

Yexue’s head snapped toward him. "She belongs to no one," she snapped. Lowering her eyes when she remembered she wasn’t in the position to lay claim on Ru Yi or be possessive.

But nothing could upset General Sheng anymore. He had the patience of someone that had finally obtained the one thing he spent years searching for.

The soldiers around Ru Yi immediately raised their weapons, but Sheng merely lifted a hand. "There’s no need for anyone to be agitated, I’m a man of my words. Be rest assured that she’ll be treated with care while in my custody."

Ru Yi said nothing as her gaze remained glued to her feet. Perhaps this was what she deserved. The soldiers began dragging Ru Yi out of the room. She stumbled once, catching herself before she fell.

"Wait." Qingyue’s voice came from behind her.

Ru Yi stopped so quickly that the soldiers had to halt with her. For one foolish moment, hope surged through her. Maybe...just maybe...they still wanted her.

Qingyue turned. Her face was pale, and her eyes were filled with the same pain she had been trying desperately to hide. "Give me the jade necklace," she said, her voice tight.

Ru Yi’s heart dropped as she stared at Qingyue. "The necklace?" She touched the jade pendant resting against her chest, unable to understand why she was asking for it now. "You gave it to me."

That calm blank expression was back on Qingyue’s face. "I know."

"You told me to keep it," Ru Yi stuttered.

"I know." Qingyue swallowed. "But our relationship no longer requires something of great significance."

Ru Yi’s hands trembled.

The necklace had become one of the most precious things she owned. She had worn it beneath her clothes almost every day, touching the cool jade whenever she felt afraid because it reminded her of the love the sisters gave her.

Slowly, she reached beneath her robe and her fingers found the chain. For a moment, she couldn’t make herself remove it.

Then she pulled it free.

The jade pendant rested in her palm. She walked toward Qingyue despite the soldiers attempting to restrain her.

Qingyue didn’t move.

Ru Yi placed the necklace into her hand.

Their fingers brushed. The contact lasted less than a heartbeat. Yet Ru Yi felt the ring on her finger grow warm.

Qingyue felt it too. Her eyes dropped to the ring but neither of them spoke. Then Qingyue closed her fingers around the necklace.

"Go." One word that shattered everything Ru Yi ever believed in.

Ru Yi’s eyes filled with tears, already mourning the love she would never get back. Not in this lifetime or the next. "I love you."

Qingyue’s expression twisted. "Don’t."

Ru Yi nodded before letting the soldiers pull her away.

Yexue took an instinctive step forward but didn’t go further than that. This was a test of its own. Whether she would choose to stand with her sisters, or pursue the only person that ever made her feel needed.

General Sheng and the soldiers guiding Ru Yi passed through the broken gates of Ashen Fortress, and Ru Yi looked back one final time.

The three sisters stood together.

Qingyue in the center. Lieyin on one side. Yexue on the other side. Even after everything, they still stood together.

Ru Yi had always feared being the reason they would turn against each other. At least she had not taken that from them. She hadn’t brought them to ruin like the fortune teller had said. Maybe, that would be enough for now.

General Sheng rode beside her as they left the fortress behind. For several minutes, neither spoke. The mountains swallowed the sound of Ashen Fortress until only the clattering of hooves remained.

Ru Yi finally broke the silence. "Where are you taking me?"

General Sheng looked ahead. "Somewhere no one will find you."

Ru Yi’s brows furrowed in confusion. "I thought you wanted my shadow."

He gave her a simple answer. "I do."

Ru Yi’s stomach tightened. "And how do you intend to do that? I’ve never been able to summon it at will."

General Sheng smiled faintly. "You truly don’t know anything about the powers you possess." Neither did the princesses. If not, they would’ve never let her go.

"No."

"Interesting." He studied her. "There’s a lot of people who would kill for the powers you possess."

Ru Yi frowned. "I don’t understand."

"You weren’t born with an ordinary spiritual core," General Sheng continued. "From what I learnt your meridians were shattered from birth."

Ru Yi stared at him before nodding.

"Your shadow is different." General Sheng really looked at her. "Because your meridians were so badly shattered, it could no longer circulate qi normally. Which made your qi start leaking through the cracks and it slowly started interacting with your soul."

Ru Yi pressed her palm to her chest.

"Those gaps are called shadow channels." General Sheng smiled. "So instead of cultivating through your physical meridians, you began cultivating through your spiritual shadow."

"But I’ve never learned cultivation," Ru Yi replied. "I’ve always been told that I couldn’t do it." This whole thing was becoming a nightmare she wanted to wake up from.

"It doesn’t matter," General Sheng answered. "You have a weapon inside of you, Ru Yi. It’s high time you use it."