Shadow Moon (2)

Chu Shihan's heart jolted violently as his gaze crashed straight into Shen Yuxi's eyes. Moonlight fell into those pupils, reflecting not the slightest gleam, only depths as heavy as an icy pool with no bottom in sight.

"When he cast spells, his hand seals were completely different from before. He mostly used his right hand to take things, but Junior Brother Jiang habitually used his left.

Those words were like a key, instantly throwing open the floodgates of Chu Shihan's memories. He suddenly recalled the posture "Gu Jingzhao" had used to hand over the fire striker while setting up camp at dusk—the curve of his curled fingertips, the position where his thumb pressed the top of the striker; all differed slightly from the Gu Jingzhao in his memory.

Those minute differences, taken separately, seemed no more than momentary carelessness. Put together, however, they became glaring flaws.

Before he could think further, Shen Yuxi spoke again. "The illusions here are mostly crude. Only he..."

He stopped halfway through, merely lifting his eyes toward Chu Shihan. His Adam's apple bobbed lightly, and everything left unsaid was understood without words.

Chu Shihan understood at once.

Those shoddily made illusions either had blurred faces or chaotic words and actions. Yet this "Gu Jingzhao" before him was identical down to his tone of voice, even that genuine attitude of not caring a whit about worldly affairs—except for his habits.

That sort of "perfection" was instead more suspicious than illusions riddled with holes. If Shen Yuxi had not pointed it out, he would likely still have been kept in the dark.

Chu Shihan's fingertips dug into the brocade within his sleeve. The cold silk wrinkled beneath his grip, and his knuckles turned bluish white.

That was right. Gu Jingzhao's words and actions along the way had