The Unrest Begins

"Hm?"

A sudden pang of dread seized Jiang Yan, jolting him awake from his deep sleep. His right hand instinctively covered his chest.

He remained lying on his back, merely turning his head slightly to gaze up at the ceiling, as if he meant to peer through it and see what was happening outside.

Jiang Yan's eyes turned golden, filled with an indescribable heat. In that moment, the whole world looked different to him:

The world's primeval energy was in turmoil. A terrifying force circled above Nanyan City, like a towering sacred mountain bearing down on the entire city.

"What's going on?"

Jiang Yan abruptly closed his eyes, but felt tears already streaming uncontrollably from their corners, each one stinging.

"My lord? What's wrong?"

It seemed Lu Lu had heard Jiang Yan's pained groan. She murmured drowsily and began to wake in earnest.

"It's nothing."

Jiang Yan took a quiet breath and blinked. Then he drew Lu Lu into his arms and held her, soothing her gently.

"I just had an unpleasant dream."

"Mm..." Lu Lu stirred, answered in a muffled voice, then wrapped her arms around Jiang Yan and shifted into a more comfortable sleeping position. Soon, she was fast asleep.

Jiang Yan kept his eyes open, his lips pressing together.

"As expected of the government. They don't even wait until morning to act.

"Tonight's bound to be full of bloodshed. I'd better not go wandering around. I should get some rest."

He raised the arm resting by the edge of the bed and lightly curled his fingers. The flow of energy around the room's perimeter immediately solidified.

At once, the oppressive sense of dread vanished, cut off from the room.

Then.

The window suddenly blazed with light, as if night had turned to day in an instant.

"Now