In the inner room, Yang Ning lay alone on the bed, hands pillowed behind his head as he stared at the dim outline of the rafters in the darkness.
Yun Zishan's suspicions, Shi Xuanfei's sudden "favor"—all these tangled matters seemed unable to claim the forefront of his thoughts just now. He had successfully silenced that deranged Undercover Agent, and in the end, there was little suspicion surrounding him. That had certainly been a relief, but it wasn't what made him feel most at ease at this moment.
What echoed again and again in his mind was the conversation he'd had with Sun Kai (Poison Bee) at dusk.
In a month, he would officially take charge of all the Demon Cult's remaining operatives within Cloudsky Sword Sect territory, becoming their leader in practice. More importantly, the Deadly Poison that tormented him every day would finally have a complete antidote.
Freedom. The word felt both heavy and distant to him. Now, it seemed he could finally see a glimmer of real hope.
As he thought, his tightly knitted brows gradually relaxed, and the tension that had gripped his mind for days began to ease. Drowsiness crept over him. He closed his eyes, and his breathing grew steady and slow.
Yet those familiar red eyes, stubborn and cool, surfaced once more beyond the edge of the dark dream into which he sank, beyond his control.
[Fragments of memory surged forth.
Yang Ning and An Han stood above a bottomless abyss, wreathed in clouds and mist. The rough Chang Kong Plank Road clung to the sheer, knife-cut cliff face, winding onward. The weather-worn planks creaked beneath their feet, groaning as if they could snap at any moment.
At first, An Han had only dared to clutch the corner of his sleeve. Now she clung