Chapter 77: A Desperate Morning and a Secret Revealed

When the knock echoed through the door, Lu Chen had just plummeted from the ceiling beam.

Lacking any sturdy ropes at home, he had resorted to twisting bedsheets together, using them as a makeshift noose.

He had purchased the bedsheet last year, specifically to cater to Xia Shi’s preferences, and its resilience should have been more than sufficient. However, shortly after Lu Chen kicked away the chair, the carefully tied knot was ripped apart by an unseen force. He crashed heavily to the ground, emitting a dull thud.

The knocking from outside grew increasingly frantic.

Lu Chen rubbed his neck, slowly rising from the floor. He stumbled toward the entrance, his hand reaching for the doorknob.

The security door creaked open, revealing the uncle from next door. His face was a mask of irritation as he spoke in a rushed tone:

“Can you keep it down? It’s barely past five, the sun isn’t even fully up yet, and my wife and kid were sound asleep until your loud—”

The uncle’s words abruptly caught in his throat. He had finally registered the state of Lu Chen’s shirt.

Originally a pale blue, Lu Chen’s shirt was now saturated with large, dark crimson stains. The soft fabric had become stiff and mottled from the congealed blood.

Before attempting the noose, Lu Chen had first tried using a dinner knife and fork. However, Silvermoon would instantly heal any minor wounds, resulting only in an increasing amount of blood.

The middle-aged man’s expression froze, his face suddenly turning ashen. Lu Chen stared blankly at his visitor, his dull pupils devoid of any light.

After several seconds of silence, he finally grasped the uncle’s words. He responded calmly:

“I am truly sorry. I didn’t think things through. I assure you, there won’t be any more noise.”

The sky was still faintly lit, and the corridor remained dim and chilling. The uncle’s shoulders twitched as he snapped back to reality.

“Your—your clothes—”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you for your concern. It’s just a bit of blood; it’ll wash right out.”

The uncle exclaimed in shock:

“That’s not ‘a bit’ of blood! What exactly are you doing in there?”

Lu Chen stepped aside, allowing a faint, metallic scent of blood to drift into the corridor with the breeze.

“Nothing at all. If you’re truly concerned, would you like to come in and see for yourself?”

The uncle’s pupils constricted. He recoiled two steps, then turned and fled back into his own home, locking the door tightly behind him.

Moments later, panicked shouts and urgent cries erupted from beyond the wall, soon joined by a groggy female voice. The uncle had clearly woken his wife.

Having just been startled awake by Lu Chen’s fall, and now roused again by her husband’s frantic commotion, the wife was clearly brimming with suppressed fury. She immediately began a chattering argument with him.

Lu Chen listened quietly to the boisterous, clamorous argument, a sudden wave of irritation washing over him.

He stripped off his blood-soaked shirt, tossing it carelessly onto the floor, then changed into a fresh, neat outfit. Opening his door, he stepped into the empty corridor.

The day was brilliantly clear, the sky a vast expanse of blue without a single cloud. A gentle spring breeze stirred, hinting that summer was drawing near and such perfect weather would soon be a fleeting memory.

The commercial street teemed with bustling crowds. Couples and friends strolled in twos and threes, chatting and laughing, eager to spend this late spring day together.

Lu Chen found the sunlight a little too harsh, so he pulled the brim of his hat lower. He wandered down the street, casually observing the storefronts, his mind preoccupied with what he needed to buy.

If bedsheets proved inadequate, then a thicker, sturdier hemp rope should suffice.

However, since last night, the crow that typically refused to stay indoors had uncharacteristically remained nearby, keeping a vigilant eye on him.

Upon reflection, even if he managed to successfully break his own neck, Arrogance would likely arrive immediately.

‘What about sleeping pills?’

‘No. Those would undoubtedly fall within Silvermoon’s healing capabilities. More potent poisons would be difficult to acquire.’

The sword Silvermoon had given him might work, but he couldn’t even draw it from its sheath. Though the maiden had stated it was “his to use,” she seemed unwilling to assist him in this particular endeavor.

‘Why? Is Silvermoon simply unwilling to harm her host? Or has he failed to meet some condition for its use?’ Lu Chen lacked the mental energy to investigate.

Lu Chen walked past shop after shop, his mind racing with possibilities, yet he struggled to find a viable solution.

Ordinarily, he was a man of boundless energy, capable of staying awake for several consecutive nights. Yet now, after merely standing for a short while, he found himself utterly drained. His usually straight back slumped, and his steps grew increasingly unsteady.

He decided to clear his mind, lowering his gaze to his shoetips, allowing his feet to simply drag him forward.

The street had been recently renovated, its pale grey flagstones neat and gleaming, coated in a thin, golden film under the sunlight.

Other shoes constantly trod on the flagstones beside him, and cheerful chatter rose and fell around his ears, creating a cacophony that felt both intrusive and distant.

A faint, sweet fragrance drifted past him. He halted, looking up, only then realizing he had unconsciously arrived in front of “A Bite of Sweetness” cake shop.

Business was brisk today. A long queue snaked before the refrigerated display case, which was laden with an array of colorful pastries.

Arrogance didn’t appear to be nearby. Only an ordinary couple stood at the counter, selecting a cake. They were clearly at odds, frowning and arguing incessantly, much to the impatience of the customers behind them, who began to tap their feet.

****

‘I should buy a cake.’

Lu Chen thought, slowly approaching the shop door.

Before he could even push the door open, a familiar figure approached him, carrying a plastic bag.

“Mr. Lu, are you alright?”

The young man slowly turned his gaze towards the speaker, seeing Lily of the Valley looking at him with a worried expression.

He managed to force a faint smile.

“I’m fine, just a little tired after staying up all night. This is the first time I’ve seen you buy cake.”

Lily of the Valley lifted the plastic bag and nudged its contents. Inside was a box of plump, pale yellow cupcakes.

“Yes, I seem to have bought a bit too many. Would you like to try one?”

“No, thank you for the offer.”

Lu Chen was not in the mood for conversation. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he intended to leave the young woman and continue his quest for a cake.

However, Lily of the Valley called out to him.

“I—I’m sorry, Mr. Lu. Could I please ask you to listen to a few more words from me?”

The young woman kept her voice low, her neat hair swaying slightly in the sunlight. A hint of unease and pleading shone in her eyes.

Lily of the Valley rarely asked for favors. If she did make a request, it was almost certainly for something considerably troublesome, likely not solvable in a short amount of time.

Lu Chen observed the young woman, whose lips were pressed together, and let out a soft sigh.

“Of course. Is it something that needs to be kept secret?”

“Yes, it is. It would be best to keep it confidential. I actually sent you a few messages yesterday, but you never replied.”

The young man glanced at the crow perched atop a utility pole, then instructed the young woman:

“I was occupied then. This isn’t a suitable place for a clandestine conversation. Please transform immediately, take me, and fly out of the city at maximum speed.”

“…Understood.”

Lily of the Valley blinked in surprise but asked no further questions.

She promptly tapped her earring to complete her transformation, then swiftly wrapped the plastic bag in vines. Ignoring the gasps of passersby, she seized Lu Chen and shot straight into the sky.

The fierce wind howled around them as the streets below rapidly shrunk and receded into the distance.

The crow initially flapped its wings, striving to keep pace, but the young woman quickly outdistanced it.

Lu Chen had been contemplating how to evade its master, but as soon as they reached the skies above the outskirts, he received a message from “Xia Shi.”

[I’m waiting for you at the cake shop. Have a good time.]

A surge of revulsion and disgust welled within him, scrunching the young man’s brows together. He immediately wanted to delete the message, but in the end, he merely shoved his phone back into his pocket.

Lily of the Valley paid no mind to the young man’s actions. She slowed her flight and said to him:

“We’ve left the city. This should be suitable, shouldn’t it?”

“Yes. Please speak.”

Lily of the Valley drew a soft breath of the crisp air.

“Not long ago, Ms. Fireworks went with you to the vault to retrieve half of the Heart of the Moon, only to discover it had been replaced. Is that correct?”

Upon returning from the vault, Xia… Arrogance had reported the news of the Heart of the Moon’s replacement to Lin Wan. Lu Chen had been present at the time but hadn’t paid much attention to it.

“Yes. What about it?”

“I know where the real half is.”